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ILLINOIS  STATE  LIBRARY 
SPRINGFIELD 


977.34-65  G84.7 

Gridley 

Historical  sketches 

515219 


DATE  DUE 


-MAR- 


b  la^b 


tr- 


'RINTED  IN  USA 


HISTORICAI 


V 


SKETCHES 


^  VOLUME  ONI 


3    M29    00041    2296 


...BY... 

ILLINOIS  STATE  LIBRARr 

515219 


J.  N.  Gridley  and  Others 

y^Py-^yp-^^^^^    <S^g^O>l^.«,XT»-^-    ^^^y^^X^j?^ 


Introdtiction. 

The  undersigned  gathered  Jnformrtion  used  in  the  construction  of  some 
half  dozen  sketches  of  an  historical  nature  to  be  published  in  the  Virginia 
Enquirer.  These  productions  attracted  the  favorable  attention  of  numerous 
readers  of  that  journal,  which  induced  the  writer  to  prepare  additional 
slcetches.  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder  kindly  offered  to  furnish  a  series  of  sketclies  of 
the  early  physicians  of  the  county  to  be  added  to  the  series  which  offer  was 
gladly  accepted  and  his  contributions  make  the  series  worthy  of  publication 
in  book  form.  Had  the  result  of  the  venture  been  foreseen  tiie  series  would 
have  been  prepared  in  different  form.  Tlie  sketch  of  the  Doctor  upon  Early 
Illinois  should  have  been  tiie  initial  number  of  the  series,  and  tiie  arrange- 
ment would  have  differed  in  other  respects.  Newspaper^  offices  are  not  ar- 
ranged and  conducted  as  regular  book  publisliitig  concerns,  and  therefore 
numerous  typographical  errors  are  to  be  found  which  somewhat  mar  the 
effect  of  the  volume.    The  more  important  errors   are    noted    upon    another 


The  sketches  herein  prepared  by  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder  are  the  following: 
Early  Illinois,  page  21;  Dr.  Pothicary,  page  60;  Dr  II.  II.  Hall,  page  94; 
William  Holmes,  page  1.39;  Dr.  Schooiey,  page  151;  Dr.  Tate,  page  l(i7;  Dr. 
Elder,  page  209;  Dr.  Lippencott,  page  23H;  Dr.  Chandler,  page  275;  Dr.  Mc- 
Clure,  page  296;  Dr.  Logan,  page  354;  Dr.  Christy,  page.  .384 

The  sketch  of  Pioneer  L'fe  in  Illinois,  on  page  179,  was  written  l)y  Mrs. 
Emily  C.  Burton,  of  Hebron,  Nebrnska. 

The  sketch  of  Ambrose  Buraker,  page  4,  was  dictated  by  himself. 

The  sketch  of  Col.  J.  W.  Judy*  on  page  14,  was  prepared  by  him,self. 

The  sketch  of  Judge  Rearick,  on  page  40,  was  written  by  ttie  Judge,  ex- 
cept the  last  paragraph. 

The  sketch  of  Captain  Campbell,  on  page  H7,  was  written  1)\'  tlie  C.iptain. 

The  sketches  of  Tiios.  J.  Collins,  page  85  and  of  Ciuules  Brady,  page  88, 
were  written  by  Mrs.  Emily  Collins  Brady,  of  Pomona,  California. 

The  sketch  of  Zachariah  Hash,  on  page  271,  was  prepared  by  iiis  grand- 
son. 

Tiiere  are  many  historical  facts  to  be  found    in    this    volume    that    liave 
never  before  been  published,  and  which  are  deemed  to  be  worthy  of   preserva- 
tion.   The  writer  has  in  his  possession  other  matter  of  the  same  nature  which 
may  appear  in  a  second  volume. 
Virginia,  III.,  August,  1907.  J.  N.  GBIDLEY. 


(5,  ^Vl 

Index  to  tKe  SketcHes. 

Buraker,  A 4 

Business  Directory  18(i0 37 

Bennett,  Wra.  J 47 

Bridgman,  Frank , 56 

Brady  Charles 88 

Black  Laws  of  111  inois 322 

Beard,  Thomas 404 

Buckley.   Mark 421 

Beggs,  Captain  Charles 424 

Campbell,  Captain  J.  6 67 

Collins,  Thomas  J 85 

Crews,  Jesse 161 

Crews,  Rev.  Hooper 161 

Collins,  Rev.  W.  H 218 

Cl'.andler,  Dr.  Charles 275 

Christy,  Dr.  Samuel .384 

Dyer,  .Joseph 258 

Dunavvav,   Jacob 289 

Early  Illinois 21 

Election  of  1837 51 

Election  of   18.38 106 

Election  of  1842 1.32 

Elder,  Dr.  A.  W .- 209 

Early  Virginia  History 369 

(latton  Mrs.  S.  C 1 

Graveyard  Field 7 

Graveyards  No.  2 303 

(Traveyards  No.  3 308 

G  raveyards  No.  4 312 

G  raveyii  rds  No.  5 318 

Graveyards  No  6 376 

G  raveyards  No.  7 379 

G  raveyards  No.  8 382 

Graveyards  Mo.  9 398 

Hull,  Henry    \l .35 

Hiisted  liaid 90 

Hall,  Dr.  11.   11 94 

Holmes,  William 139 

Ihirdii.g,  Martin 256 

Hash,  Zachariah 271 

Haskell,  Jolm  E 401 

J udy,  Col.  .1 .  W 14 

Lippencott,  Dr.  C.  E 236 

Logan,  Dr.  D.    M -354 

McConnell,  Mrs.  C.  A 32 

Madden,  W.  J.  Letter  81 

Madden,  F.  M.  Letter 83 


McClure,  Dr.  Samuel < ,   29() 

Needham,  Rev.   James 2()1 

Pothicary,  Dr ()0 

Pratt,  John  W 221 

Pioneer  Life  in  Illinois 171) 

Rearick,  Judge  F.  H 40 

Schooley,  Dr.  M.  H.  L 151 

Tegg,  Mrs.  M.  F IH 

Tate,  Dr.  Harvey 1<)7 

Thaclier,  W.  H.  Letter .mi 

Virginia  H.  S.  Graduates 44 

Virginia  of  1860 1 1 1 


Index  to  tKe  Illustrations. 

Ruraker  A 4 

Bennett,  W.  J 47 

Bridgman,    Frank 57 

Brady,  Mrs.  Emily 85 

Brady,  Mrs.  M 88 

Brady,  John  T 88 

"Boston   Brick" 122 

Burton,  Mrs.  Emily 180 

Buckley,  Mark 421 

Beggs,  Capt.  Charles 424 

Beggs,  W.  II 438 

Beggs,  James   L 439 

Beggs,  John 441 

Campbell,  Capl .  JO (57 

Coilifis  Sisteis 85 

Collins,  Thos.  H S5 

(Collins,  Ira 87 

Collins,  W.    n 87 

(\)llins  Home 117 

C.  P.  Church 120 

Crews,  Jesse .hil 

Crews,  Ivev.   Hooper hil 

Clary's  Creek    Valley 184 

Collins,  Rev.  W.  II 218 

Chandler,  Dr.  Charles 275 

Chandler  Home 281 

Clay.   Henry 350 

Christy,  ')r.  Samuel   .■584 

Dyer,  .loseph 2oS 

Diniaway.  J;ieoi) 28Vt 

Elder,  Dr.  A    W 200 

Epier,  M  rs.   S;i  i  ah 434 

Epler,  Mrs,  Mary 435 

Gall. )ii,  Mrs   S.   (' 1 

Greenwood.  D 11 

Hull,  Henry    I! 35 

Hallowell.  Mrs    A 8(3 

Hosted,  .lohn 02 

Hal  I   1 1  ome 112 

Haskell  Home 121 

Holme.s,    William 13!» 

Harding.    Martin 25(i 

nash,Zachariali 271 

Haskell,  John  E 4ol 

Hopkins,  l>Irs    E 433 

.1  udy ,  Col    .1 .    W 15 

Lippencott.  Dr.  C.   E 236 


Logan,  Dr.  D.  M 354 

McConnell,  Mrs.  C.  A  32 

McClure,  Dr.  Samuel 296 

Needham,  Rev.  James 261 

Oliver  home 123 

Pothicary,  Dr.  and  wife 60 

Pollard  office 119 

Pratt,  John  W 221 

Pratt  home 234 

Rearick,  Judge  F.  H 40 

Robinson,  James   M 181 

Robinson,  Mrs.  J.  M 181 

Robinson,  Charles  C 182 

Robinson  home  site 183 

Robinson's  Mill 185i 

Robbins,  Mrs.    Hellen 195 

Robinson,  Seth 201 

Roodhouse,  Mrs.  Lucy 206 

Snyder,  Dr.  J.  F 21 

Schooley,  Dr.  M.  IL  L 151 

Sisson,  Mrs.  Clara  201 

Stribling,  Mrs.   M 440 

Sinclair,  Mrs.  D.  B 441 

Tegg,  Mrs.   M.  F 18 

Tate  home 121 

Tate,  Dr.   Harvey 167 

Talbott,  Mrs.  Eva 206 

Van  DeMark,  J.  AT. 343 


PRINTED  BY  THE  ENQUIRER,  VIRGINIA,  ILLINOIS. 


Errata. 

Page  21.  The  sketcli  beginning  on  this  page  slioukl  be  entitled  Early 
Illinois. 

Page  41.  Tlie  name  .John  Christy  in  Kith  line  from  bottom  of  page  should 
read  Samuel  Christy. 

Page    46.     The  date  1892  in  middle  of  page  should  read  1902. 

Page    8.5.    The  sketch  on  this  pnge  is  that  of  Thomas  .J.  Collins. 

Page    88.    The  sketch  on  this  pnge  is  that  of  Charles  Brady. 

Page  101.     In  7th  line  the  name  .Jack  Manley  should  read  .Jack  Moseley. 

Page  106.    Name  in  .5th  line  John  A  Pratt  should  read  ,h)hn  W.  Pratt. 

Page  122.  Second  line  under  tlie  cut,  name  Henjainiti  Bensley,  sliould 
read  Benjamin  Beesley. 

Page  124.     In  last  line  tlie  word  Xaple  should  read  Yaple. 

Page  128.     In  10th  line  the  name  Ileeley  slionid  read  Neeley. 

Page  164.     In  line  13  the  tigiires  18-9  should  read  17  R   9. 

Page  179.     This  sketch  is  entitled  Pioneer  Life  In  IlHnois. 

Page  195.  Line  under  cut  sliould  read:  In  the  rear,  at,  the  light.  Mrs. 
Emily  Burton,  at  the  left.  Mrs.  Clara  Sisson. 

Page  244.  In  lotli  line  from  bottom  of  page  the  date  7tli  of  .Inly,  should 
read  14th  of  .July. 

Page  308.     Second  line  should  read  Number  Three. 

Page  414.     The  word  Zumuli  on  this  page  should  read  'I'limuli. 

Page  445.  Fourth  line  from  bottom  of  page,  tJie  date  iNiil  slhuild  read 
1871. 


MRS.  SARAH  C.  GATTON, 


MIJS.  Sarah  C.  Gatton  was  born  on  the  18tli  day  of  May,  in  the  year  1822, 
at  Madison,  Ohio.    Her  father  was  Arthur  St.  Clair  Miller,  who  was 
born  in  Middletown,  Connecticut,  in  1790.    In  1827,   the  family  re- 
moved to  Covington,  Kentucky,  where  Mr.  Miller  died  in  1834. 

In  1811,  Miss  Sarah  C.  Miller  came  to  Beardstown,  this  county,  to  visit 
lier  brother,  Abram  Miller,  who  was  an  engineer;  after  a  short  visit  she  re- 
turned to  Kentucky,  but  in  a  few  months  returned  to  this  county  where  she 
lias  since  lived.    At  that  time  Beardstown  was  a  small  town  containing  about 

thirty  liouses;  there  was  no  church  in 
the  place.  Religious  services  were 
held  in  a  schoolhoiise  several  blocks 
back  from  the  river  among  a  lot  of 
black  jack  trees.  Beardstown  was 
one  station  on  a  circuit  of  the  Method- 
ist conference,  and  that  denomination 
held  services  once  in  three  weeks. 
The  circuit  riders  were  Enoch  G. 
Faulkner  and  John  Mathers:  tiie  lat- 
ter becam.e  a  very  prominent  Jackson- 
ville citizen,  was  one  of  the  proprie- 
tors of  the  town  of  Ashland;  his  son 
became  mayor  of  Jacksonville.  One 
of  the  family,  William  D.  Mathers,  is 
well  known  to  the  people  of  this  city. 
The  Protestant  Methodists  were  well 
represented  here  in  those  days;  per- 
haps the  most  prominent  of  their 
clergy  in  this  part  of  the  country  was 
Reddick  Horn,  who  owned  a  farm  in 
Township  18  Range  11:  he  was  well 
SA  HAH  C.  (J  ATTON.  known  to  all  the  people  of  this  sectioi* 

of  the  country,  and  very  frequently  preached  in  Beardstown.  Tlie  people  of 
tlie  town  went  to  hear  all  the  preachers,  who  came  in  turn,  week  after  week. 
On  a  certain  Sabbath  day  Henry  E.  Dummer,  a  well  known  lawyer  and  judge, 
and  a  very  religious  man,  publicly  announced  that  on  the  following  Sabbath 
The  President  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  would  hold  services  at  that 
place.    The  name  President  was  used  to  indicate  tiie  office  in  that  churcii. 


M 


—  2  — 

which  corresponds  to  the  ortice  of  Bishop  of  the  M.  E.  church.  On  the  clay 
appointed  tlie  building  was  crowded  to  hear  this  President  of  the  church;  in 
walked  Uncle  Reddick  Horn,  who  took  possession  of  the  pulpit,  and  began  the 
ceremonies,  to  the  great  disappointment  of  many,  who  had  not  heard  that 
Uncle  Reddick  had  been  selected  to  the  office  of  President.  This  is  the  only 
practical  joke  of  which  Judge  Dummer  was  ever  guilty  so  far  as  the  writer 
knows. 

Rev.  Cyrus  Wright,  was  the  standby  of  the  Baptists,  and  he  regularly 
went  to  Beardstown  to  preach  the  word.  He  often  preached  without  a  coat, 
and  had  the  old  time  habit  of  drawling  his  words  in  a  solemn  way,  adding  the 
syllable  ah,  to  the  word  and,  as  well  as  to  many  others.  He  had  a  droll  habit 
of  turning  his  head,  first  to  the  right,  then  to  the  left  to  spit;  and  when  he 
uttered  tlie  word  and-ah,  he  would  spit,  either  to  the  right,  or  to  the  left,  in  a 
manner  which  would  certainly  attract  unusual  attention  in  these  degenerate 
days. 

On  the  25th  day  of  March,  1847,  Sarah  C.  Miller  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Zachariah  Gatton  by  the  Rev.  George  Rubledge,  of  the  M.  E.  church. 

The  father  of  Z.  W.  Gatton  was  Thomas  Gatton,  one  of  the  very  early  set- 
tlers in  what  is  now  Cass  county.  On  September  18,  1820,  Tliomas  Gatton 
entered  the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  Sec  3.5-17-10,  being  now 
owned  by  Wm.  Stevenson;  it  is  the  80  just  south  of  Little  Indian  station.  The 
eldest  son  of  Thomas,  was  Carrolton  Gatton,  who  entered  the  land  just  north. 
They  sold  to  James  Stevenson  in  182^'.  The  same  year,  Thomas  Gatton  en- 
tered 80  acres  in  Sec  33-18-10  being  the  80  on  which  the  1.  M.  Stribling  resi- 
detice  is  situated;  the  80  just  north,  was  entered  in  1827  by  William  Miers, 
who  sold  to  Thomas  Gatton  in  1830,  when  the  family  removed  to  the  new  loca- 
t  ion.  and  later  acquired  an  additional  40  acres  on  the  south,  making  a  farm  of 
2i)()  acres  being  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  width.  Here  the  Gatton  fsmily  re- 
mained until  1830  wlien  Thomas  sold  the  farm  of  200  acres  to  P.  S.  Outten  for 
$2;!00  and  purcliased  of  Jesse  Allred,  the  farm  in  Sees.  24  and  25  in  17-10  known 
as  the  Phil.  Buraker  farm  or  the  Walnut  Grove  farm. 

In  1838  Thomas  Gatton  conveyed  this  farm  to  his  two  sons,  Z.  W.,  and 
Richard  Gatton.  This  conveyance,  was  in  fact,  a  distribution  by  Thomas,  be- 
tween his  children,  he  tlien  being  04  years  of  age;  apart  of  tlie  consideration 
wont  to  tlie  three  orpluin  children  of  Thomas  Payne  who  was  the  deceased 
husband  of  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Gatton;  one  of  these  three  children  became 
the  wife  of  Dr.  L.  S.  Allard,  long  a  resident  of  this  city.  The  following  year 
Z.  W.  Gatton  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brotlier  Ricliard,  and  in  1844  sold 
to  .lesse  Petefish  00  acresof  the  farm.  Thomas  Gatton  and  wife  remained 
members  of  the  family  of  Z.  W.  Gatton  so  long  as  they  lived;  the  mother. 
Ruth  Gatton  died  Feb.  19,  18.50,  aged  07  years,  and  Thomas  Gatton  died  in  1853 
aged  71)  years:  they  are  buried  on  the  family  burial  lot  in  Walnut  Ridge  Cem- 
etery.    Mr.  Gatton's  ancestors,  were  natives  of  the  state  of  Maryland. 

Ill  ?ilarcb  1851  Mr.  Z.  W.  Gattoti  sold  and  conveyed  his  farm  to  Phil  A. 
Buraker.  and  purchased  from  P.  S.  Outten  the  same  200  acre  farm  winch  his 
faliier  had  owned,  (now  owned  by  the  I.  M.  Stribling-  heirs.)  For  this  200 
acres  he  paici  sj^is  per  acre.  He  remained  here  but  one  year,  selling  to  Samuel 
F.  Campbell,  for  $24  per  acre,  and  with  Thomas  Heslep  bougtit  a  farm  in  Sees. 
s  and  17  in  T.  17  R.  o,  whicli  is  now  owned  by  William   Coleman.      This   farm 


-3" 

lies  upon  the  State  Road  one  mile  and  a  half  westerly  from  Philadelphia:  on 
the  north  end  of  tlie  farm  was  a  tract  of  valuable  timber,  and  the  owners 
erected  a  saw-mill  which  produced  the  timbers  which  were  used  in  the  build- 
ing of  many  of  the  structures  in  this  town.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Gatton 
conveyed  his  interest  to  Thomas  Heslep,  and  purchased  the  Whitmire farm  ad- 
joining Virginia  on  the  east,  where  he  remained  up  to  the  date  of  his  death: 
the  property  now  belonging  to  his  heirs.  This  farm  of  173  acres  was  sold  to  him 
for  $31  per  acre. 

Vflien  Mrs.  Gatton  tirst  saw  Virginia,  she  came  here  from  Beardstown  to 
attend  a  quarterly  meeting  held  in  the  Court  House  in  this  town  which  stood 
in  the  west  square  where  the  primary  school  building  is  located.  The  Presid- 
ing Elder  Eev.  Peter  Akers  preached  to  the  patient  liearers  for  three 
mortal  hours,  a  frequent  habit  of  the  good  old  man.  Mrs.  Gatton  says,  that 
upon  one  occassion,  when  Dr.  Akers  was  Instructing  a  class  of  young  preachers 
at  a  conference  at  Lincoln.  Illinois,  he  warned  them  against  the  bad  habits  of 
preaching  too  long,  and  too  loud;  he  then  added:  "as  for  mj^self,  I  reserve  the 
right  to  preach  as  long  and  as  loud  as  I  please." 

The  day  this  sketch  is  prepared,  Is  the  83d  anniversary  of  the  birth  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Gatton;  her  health  is  good;  her  intellectual  powers  are  unim- 
paired; she  can  readily  read  ordinary  print  without  the  aid  of  glasses.  She  is 
a  very  active  woman,  spending  mucli  time,  in  pleasant  weather,  with  plants 
and  flowers,  which  have  always  been  her  delight.  To  this  fondness  of  out- 
door life,  may  be  attributed  the  fact  that  she  has  attained  her  present  age  so 
well  preserved. 

Her  husband,  Mr.  Z.  W.  Gatton  was  one  of  the  solid  and  substantial  men 
of  this  county;  he  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity,  of  firmness  of  purpose,  and  of 
excellent  habits.  For  years  he  was  the  President  of  the  Farmer's  National 
Bank  of  this  city;  lie  died  at  his  home  on  the  29th  day  of  July  in  the  year  1896 
at  the  age  of  84  years. 


AMBROSE  BURAKER, 


[The  following  sketch  was  dictated  by  Mr.  Buraker  and  is  here  presented 
in  liis  own  language.    J.  N.  G.] 

fwas  born  June  1st,  1830,  near  Marksville,  Page  Co.,  Mrglnia.  My 
schooling  was  limited  to  about  eighteen  months.  A  log  house  furnished 
with  crude  wooden  benches  and  desks,  wooden  ink  wells  and  goose  quill 
pens  was  the  only  school  I  ever  attended.  My  parents  owned  a  farm  and  tan- 
nery. I  learned  a  little  of  both.  My  mother  died  when  I  was  but  fourteen 
of  years  age.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  I  came  to  Illinois,  county  of  Cass,  where 
brother  Phil  Buraker,  Uncle  John  Rosenberger  and  Gideon  Koontz  were  lo- 
cated.   Piailroads  being  few  I  came  (in  company  with  Wesley  Rosenberger  and 

William  White  by  stage  and  steam- 
boat) landing  at  Beardstown,  111., 
then  each  of  us  loaded  our  baggage  on 
•Shank's  ponies'  and  heafled  for  Vir- 
ginia, Illinois,  where  we  rested  over 
night  then  took  a  short  cut  across  the 
wild  prairies  to  Princeton  and  the 
house  of  Uncle  John  Rosenberger. 
Among  my  first  acquaintances  was 
that  good  old  soul  Uncle  Jake  Bergen. 
In  these  early  days  I  frequently 
tramped  from  Princeton  to  the 
Lancaster  P.  O.,  then  called  the  'Wal- 
ker House'  kept  by  Richard  Walker, 
who  was  at  one  time  representative 
of  Cass  county.  This  was  the  princi- 
pal point  for  voting  in  these  days. 
Among  the  first  most  prominent  doc- 
tors of  Cass  Co.,  at  tliis  time  was 
Clu-isty,  of  Philadelphia,  Chandler,  of 
Cliaiidlerville,  and  Tate,  of  Virginia, 
later  on  the  much  appreciated  Doctor 
AMBROSE  BLTRAKER.  .1.  ^\  Snyder,  of  Virginia. 

Jacob  Strawn  was  the  great  cattle  king  of  the  western  country.  His 
good  advice  was  "when  you  wake  up  in  rha  morning  don't  roll  over  but  roll 
out."  The  rival  religions  weie  Old  r.aitti.-ts  and  Methodists.  The  Bap- 
tists had    for   their  cliampions  Billy   Crow,  and   Cyrus    Wright,    the   Metho- 


dists  Peter  Cartwright,  Jimmy  W.vatt,  Jerry  Mitchell  and  Sam  Sinclair.  At 
these  times  camp  meetings  were  quite  common  but  Anally  Peter  Cartwright, 
the  leader,  admitted  that  the  "devil  had  beaten  him"  and  thought  best  to 
stop  them.  I  knew  him  as  one  of,  if  not  the  greatest  preacher  of  the  west, 
a  peculiar  character  because  of  his  odd  statements  and  ways  of  expressing 
them.  The  religion  of  those  early  days  was  somewhat  different  from 
that  of  the  present  day.  Seekers  for  it  were  led  to  a  mourner's  bench 
where  they  frequently  knelt  for  hours,  then  came  loud  singing,  sliouting. 
praying,  hand-shaking  and  often  falling  together  in  heaps  upon  the  ground 
or  floor.  At  Harmony  log  schoolhouse  sea'.ed  upon  a  slab  bench  I 
have  listened  to  Uncle  Jimmy  Wyatt  and  others;  have  also  listened  to  Uncie 
Billy  Crow  at  the  Old  Baptist  church  near  Yatesville,  111.,  and  took  notice 
that  Julius  Elmore  made  numerous  nods  as  the  long  sermon  was  continued 
without  any  regard  to  fatigue  or  time.  The  roads  of  Illinois  were  then  a  bee 
line  across  the  prairies.  I  have  helped  to  chase  deer  on  horse  back  over  the 
prairie  where  Ashland  now  stands,  have  stood  hours  on  the  long  prairie 
grass  listening  to  Jim  Judy  (now  Col.  Judy)  crying  of  the  sale  of  lots  in  what 
is  now  the  city  of  zVshland,  have  heard  Henry  Phillips  and  Henry  Savage  de- 
bate on  politics.  On  my  first  arrival  there  was  yet  some  land  to  enter  at 
$li  per  acre.  Archibald  Job  had  timber  land  that  he  could  have  sold 
at  $25.00  per  acre  and  purchased  the  tine  prairie  land  around  him  at  $3.00 
per  acre.  In  the  fall  of  '48  the  gold  fever  took  hold  of  me  and  many  othei's. 
With  the  aid  of  my  brother,  Phil  Buraker,  I  prepared  an  outfit  and 
with  others  made  ready  to  go  to  California.  Quite  a  number  of  us  met  to- 
gether at  Virginia,  111.,  among  them  Thomas  Deal,  Wesley  Rosenberger, 
John  Yaple,  High  Maston  and  Lee  Conover  all  now  in  their  graves. 
Others  who  were  fitted  out  to  go  was  Squire  Brady,  Zirkle  Robinson,  Joe 
Robinson.  Lou  Bunce,  Mole  Bjard  and  others  I  cannot  recall.  Among 
those  wlio  fell  in  with  us  at  Beardstown,  HI.,  was  Richard  Dutch..  On 
the  morning  of  March  26  we  shouldered  our  long,  slim  hickory  poles  with  lash 
about  equal  in  length  (12  to  U  feet  long  with  buckskin  cracker  attaclied) 
climbed  on  our  wagons  and  started  our  long  team  of  oxen  for  the  gold 
mines  of  California.  Our  first  mishap  was  a  miring  down  in  quicksand  of 
what  is  now  the  ceni,er  of  Beardstown.  The  Illinois  river  was  high  and  we 
found  great  difficulty  in  reaching  solid  ground  at  Frederic.  Driving  leisurely 
along  the  line  of  Missouri  and  Iowa  we  passed  through  Alexander  and 
later  on  arrived  at  the  village  of  St.  Joseph  situated  on  what  was  at  that 
time  the  boundary  line  of  the  U.  S.  From  that  on  to  California  the  coun- 
try was  claimed  by  the  red  man  and  supposed  to  be  only  a  wilderness  of 
trees  and  wild,  rugged  scenery. 

After  laying  in  a  supply  of  food  for  our  cattle  or  oxen  at  St.  Joseph  we 
crossed  the  Missouri  River  and  wound  our  way  through  bottom  lands  which 
were  tlien  only  a  vast  wilderness  halting  at  the  bluffs  where  dwelt  the 
Indians.  Here  we  camped  for  some  two  weeks  waiting  for  the  grass  to  be- 
come fit  for  food  for  our  animals.  We  had  formed  a  company  of  twenty-six 
wagons  which  we  placed  in  a  circle  at  night  to  corral  our  cattle.  Acting  as 
driver  I  was  not  expected  or  called  upon  to  pick  Bufl'alo  chips  or  assist  in 
tlie  cooking.  Breaking  camp  we  passed  on  to  Platte  River  where  from 
the  top  of  a  high  blufl:   we  could  look  out  over  broad,   beautiful  bottom 


]ancls.  Here  we  could  count  upwards  of  five  hundred  wagons  or  more  on 
their  way  to  California.  This  low  land  began  at  Fort  Kearnney,  Neb. 
We  followed  the  rivers  and  low  lands  mostly.  Out  side  of  being-  surprised 
by  a  severe  blizzard  and  a  stampede  of  buffaloes,  which  we  thought  for  a 
time  would  destroy  a  Bm-lington  Iowa  wagon  train,  also  great  persecution 
from  big  mosquitoes  and  the  gaunt  condition  of  our  oxen  from  lack  of  sus- 
tenance while  crossing  a  barren  sar)cly  stretch  of  land  or  desert  our  trip  was 
an  enjoyable  one.  We  were  not  molested  by  the  Indians  although  we 
saw  many  bands  of  them,  their  bodies  being  decorated  with  war  paint, 
feathers  and  gaudy  attire.  We  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains  with  a 
gradual  ascent  and  descent  following  the  Sierra  Nevada  whose  sides  were 
very  steep  and  rugged  the  descent  being  almost  perpendicular.  From  these 
mountains  we  entered  the  village  of  Ilangtown  where  we  made  our  first 
gold  diggings.     Arrived  there  Sept.  2o. 

The  state  of  California  was  then  a  lawless  state,  no  assessor  or  collector. 
Mining  laws  were  10  feet  square  to  eacli  man,  earning  from  $16.00  to 
$24.00  per  day.  Stockton  which  we  found  as  a  city  of  tents  in  one  year 
became  a  city  of  buildings.  San  Francisco  was  a  city  of  gamblers.  The 
climate  vvas  pleasant  and  mild,  so  warm  that  we  slept  out  of  doors  with 
out  feeling  any  discomforts  from   it. 

During  my  sojourn  of  two  years  in  the  rocky,  rugged  mining  districts  of 
California  I  became  separated  from  my  mates,  later  on  falling  in  with 
Michael  Whittlinger,  who  is  still  living  near  Ashland,  Illinois.  We  mined 
together  the  last  six  months  returning,  by  water  mostly,  to  Illinois, 
March  20,  IbSl.  Reward  for  my  hard  labor  and  daring  adventure  vvas  $2000. 
I  remained  in  Illinois  but  a  sliort  time  going  on  to  the  state  of  A'irginia, 
my  father  s  home.  At  this  time  I  was  but  21  years  old.  In  one  year  I  re- 
tuined  again  to  Illinois  passing  through  Springfield  when  lots  were 
worth  $400  about  the  square.  Aug.  ,3,  1854  was  married  to  Margarette  I. 
Stout,    daughter  of  Philemon   Stout  then   living  on   Little  Indian  Creek. 

Those  days  cattle  were  driven  on  foot  to  New  York  market.  I  farmed 
some,  ti'aded  also  in  cattle  and  hoys  running  a  cattle  pump  (my  own  and 
Joe  Black's  invention)  for  seven  years.  Subsequently  I  followed  the  meat 
business  about  twenty  years.  Came  to  Memphis,  INIo.,  in  1892,  have  a 
farm  near  the  city  and  a  good  home  witiiin  the  corporation. 

I  am  seventy-flve  years  old  my  healtli  fairly  good,  but  two  children 
living     My  religion  is:  '-Learn  the  laws  of  Nature  and  live  up  to  them." 


THE  GRAVE-YARD  FIEIvD. 


NEARLY  one  mile  west  of  the  Court  House,  on  a  high  point  of  ground  be- 
longing to  Robert  and  Henry  Hall  is  the  spot  where  lie  many  of  the 
first  of  the  dead  of  Virginia. 

In  the  fall  or  early  winter  of  the  year  1838  John  Lindsey  died  in  this  town 
then  a  mere  hamlet.  There  were  no  nearby  church  yards  in  this  section  at 
tliat  date.  The  dead  were  to  be  found  upon  the  farms  of  their  survivors, 
scattered  here  and  there.  The  body  of  Lindsey  was  borne  across  the  south  line 
of  the  addition  to  the  town,  and  buried  on  the  prairie,  where  tiie  present 
residence  of  Ernest  P.  Widmayer  is  now  situated  on  lots  one  and  two  in  the 
addition  of  Mrs.  Ann  Hall  and  Richard  S.  Thomas  which  was  laid  out  and 
platted  eighteen  years  later  on.  Tliis  body  was  removed  to  the  grave  yard 
fleld  several  years  afterward  by  Edward  Dirreen  and  Tlioraas  Elliott. 

About  1844  Dr.  Hall  granted  permission  to  the  people  of  the  town  to  bury 
their  dead  at  the  place  above  indicated  in  the  grave  yard  field.  The  first 
man  buried  there  was  one  Swift,  a  blacksmith,  who  was  a  helper  of  Allen 
Miller.  The  first  woman  buried  there  was 'Clara  E.  Hardy,  wife  of  John  W. 
Hardy,  who  died  in  this  town  on  the  8th  day  of  October  1845. 

Since  the  establishment  ot  Walnut  Ridge  Cemetery  by  this  City  in  the 
year  1873  many  of  the  dead  have  been  removed  from  the  grave  field  to  the  new 
place.  Many  were  buried  in  the  old  field  and  no  monument  erected,  and  their 
graves  were  long  since  plowed  over. 

Last  Sunday  I  visited  the  burial  place,  with  two  boys,  to  see  what  re- 
mained of  the  head  stones.  We  picked  up  the  broken  and  scattered  frag- 
ments and  replaced  them  as  best  we  could  to  decipher  the  inscriptions.  Somft 
of  them  were  where  they  were  originally  planted,  but  most  are  lying  about  on 
the  sod  in  a  greater  or  less  damaged  condition. 

The  inscriptions  upon  the  remaining  stones  here  follows: 

William  Elliott,  husband  of  Agnes  Elliott,  died  April  -22,  1857,  aged  38 
years,  2  months  and  22  days. 

Thomas  Proctor,  born  January  9,  1785,  died  April  17,  1855. 

Anna,  wife  of  Thomas  Proctor,  born  May  5,  1796,  died  September  2:},  1859. 

Elizabethj3^wifej)£Wjlliam  Finny,  died  October  4,   1855,   in  the  22nd ^ 
year  of  her  age. 

Matilda,  wife  of  William  Ferguson,  died  March  10,  1S53,  aged  42  years, 
11  months  and  23  days. 

Dennis  O'Brien  died  February  2:),  1851,  aged  02  years. 


Ida  W.,  daughter  of  L.  and  V.  C.  Carpenter,  died  ^S^ovember  2.'3,  ISOii,  aged 
2  jears  and  1  month. 

Jenn3\  consort  of  John  Davison,  died  June  11,  18()2,  aged  30  years,  7 
montiis  and  8  days. 

Our  father,  Thomas  Luttet,  died  January  19,  1870,  aged  50  years.  Erected 
by  liis  son. 

William  L.,  son  of  R.  and  E.  Jacobs,  died  February  4,  1859,  aged  7  months 
and  4  days. 

-Tolm  F.,  born  August  13,  1855:  died  December  19,  1855.  Robert,  born 
January  19,  18H0:    died  May  10,  1800.     Sons  of  R.  and  C.  Thompson. 

Simon,  son  of  A.  and  M.  Mobley,  died  November  0,  1857,  aged  17  years, 
11  months  and  21  days. 

James  ElHort,  died  April  10,  1850,  aged  29  years,  10  months  aud  21  days. 

Cliarles  W.  Tate,  son  of  Dr.  H.  and  Lydia  E.  Tate.  Passed  by  the 
second  birth  to  bloom  in  the  second  sphere  August  29,  1854,   aged  19  months. 

In  memory  of  Ellen  Maloney,  died  October  11,  1851,  aged  22  years.  May 
she  rest  in  peace.     Amen. 

In  memory  of  Michael  J.,  son  of  James  and  Ann  ^Nlaloney,  died  August  30, 
1858,  aged  13  montlis  and  5  days. 

Robert  Thompson,  died  December  19,  1859,  aged  35  years,  8  months  and 
5  days. 

Kata  E.,  duiglitef  of  M.  and  R.  F.  Wiiite.  died  Ssptembor  li),  1857,  aged 
0  days. 

Albert  T.,  son  of  M.  and  R.  F.  Wliite,  died  Nov.  10,  1850,  aged  1  month 
and  IS  days. 

.lames  MacCarthy,  died  Sept.  25,  1870,  aged  5  year.  0  months  and  4  days. 

Our  little  Eve,  died  March  29,  1852,  aged  0  j^ears,  0  months  and  3  days. 

Edward  C,  son  of  W.  and  C.  Armstrong,  died  Jan.  11,  1850,  aged  4  years. 

Lewis  W.  and  Charles  F.,  sons  of  Wm.  and  C.  Armstrong,  died  Jan.  29, 
1845,  aged  5  years  and  27  days,  and  Feb.  19,  1845,  aged  15  months  and  29  days. 

in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  we  went  to  Walnut  Ridge  wliich  is  re- 
garded by  visiting  strangers,  as  a  beautiful  burial  ground.  To  Dr.  J.  F.  Sny- 
dei'  of  tliis  city,  tlien  a  member  of  the  city  council,  is  due  the  thanks  of  this 
connnunity  for  the  part  he  took  in  tlie  purchase  of  this  ground.  His  active 
and  persistent  efforts,  with  the  co-operation  of  John  A.  Peteflsh  induced  the 
l)uirhase  of  the  ground  from  the  Elliott  heirs  by  the  city  of  Virginia.  Here, 
many  tlioi'.sand  dollars  luive  been  expended  by  surviving  relatives  and  friends, 
as  a  proof  of  their  affection  for  their  de;id,  and  as  a  proof  of  the  advancement 
of  civilization,  in  tliis  county.  The  youth  of  to-day  mav  wonder,  why  the 
pioneers  ware  so  heedless  as  to  bury  their  dead  upon  ground  to  which  they 
liad  not  the  shadow  of  a  title,  wlien  land  was  so  cheap,  when  a  little  reflection 
would  liave  convinced  tliem  tliat,  in  a  few  years,  the  place  of  burial  would  be 
lost,  and  forgotten:  but  that  seems  to  be  the  history  of  all  pioneer  settle- 
ments. In  Kansas,  as  late  as  1805.  the  traveler  in  passing  througli  tlie  sparse 
tracts  of  so-called  timber  in  tliat  then  tire-swept  state,  would  find  along  the 
■roadway  pens  of  poles  or  rails,  and  would  be  told  for  explanation,  tliat  the 
pieces  of  wood  were  t^hrown  down  to  protect  dead  human  bodies  from  the  rav- 
ages of  wild  animals.  The  settler  would  say,  "There  lies  a  fellow,  who  came 
over  from  Missouri  to  steal  horses:  we   hung  him   to  that   tree  yonder,   and 


buried  him  under  it."  That  these  early  Virginia  settlers  were  mindful  of 
their  dead,  is  proven  by  the  amount  of  money  which  they  expended  in  grave 
stones  to  mark  their  resting  place.  At  one  time  Mrs.  Ann  Hall,  the  widow  of 
Dr.  Hall,  promised  a  deed  to  the  county,  of  this  burial  place  if  the  persons 
who  had  friends  buried  there  would  erect  a  fence;  a  man  who  had  several 
members  of  his  family  there  buried,  gathered  up  something  like  $80  with 
wliich  to  pay  for  the  fence;  a  few  posts  were  hauled,  and  perhaps  the  fence 
begun,  and  there  the  matter  ended;  it  is  believed  by  some,  that  this  man 
appropriated  the  greater  portion  of  the  money  to  his  private  use. 

A  visitor  of  this  burial  place  in  the  old  grave  yard  field,  standing  among 
the  broken  bits  of  marble  lying  on  the  grass  between  heaps  of  earth  thrown 
up  by  those  who  have  removed  their  dead  will  instinctively  recall  the  famous 
poem,  a  favorite  of  President  Lincoln,  whicli  closes  with  the  following  stanzas: 
.      "They  died,- -ah!    they  died:— we  things  tliat  are  now, 
That  walk  on  the  turf  that  lies  over  their  brow, 
And  make  in  their  dwellings  a  transient  abode. 

Meet  the  things  tliat  they  met  on  their  pilgrimage  road." 
"Yea,  hope  and  despondency,  pleasures  and  pain, 

Are  mingled  together  in  sunshine  and  rain: 
And  the  smile  and  the  tear  and  the  song  and  the  dirge. 

Still  follow  each  other  like  surge  upon  surge." 
' 'T'is  the  wink  of  an  eye:    t'is  the  draught  of  a  breath 
From  the  blossom  of  health  to  the  paleness  of  death, 
From  the  gilded  saloon  to  tiie  bier  and  the  shroud: 
O  why  should  the  spirit  of  mortal  be  proudV" 


DECATUR  GREENWOOD. 


MR.  Greenwood  was  born  in  Franklin  county  in  the  state  of  Virginia  on 
tlie  fifth  clay  of  January,  1821,  and  has  passed  the  S-ttli  mile-stone  of 
his  useful  life,  and  is  as  active  and  vigorous  as  the  average  man  of 
fifty.  He  came  to  this  county  with  his  wife  and  four  children  when  he  was 
.SI  years  old  and  settled  in  Chandlerville,  this  county,  in  ls52,  where  lie  re- 
mained for  two  years.  The  town  then  contained  less  than  twenty  houses. 
Mr.  Greenwood  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  but  during  the  first  winter  of  his 
residence,  as  mechanical  work  was  not  rushing,  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Chandler  and  Olcutt,  who  were  engaged  in  packing  pork.  By  the  spring 
following  they  had  1500  hogs  packed  in  rail  pens,  covered  with  lumber.  Mi'. 
Greenwood  insists  that  thieves  were  very  scarce  here,  in  those  da}\s  for  when 
they  removed  the  pork,  not  a  piece  was  missing.  It  was  all  taken  to  Beards- 
town  by  farmers'  wagons  which  returned  with  merchants"  goods.  These  hogs 
were  sold  for  four  and  a  half  cents  per  pound. 

Chandler  and  Olcutt  owned  a  general  store  and  William  L.  Way  was  also 
a  merchant  there  at  that  time.  Dr.  Chandler  was  the  leading  physician  in 
this  part  of  the  county  and  has  gone  as  far  as  fifty  miles  from  his  home  to 
visit  patients.  He  would  have  several  horses  stationed  at  different  points 
which  he  used  one  after  another.  Sometimes,  he  would  send  out  several 
men,  with  as  many  horses  to  meet  him  in  his  rounds;  he  was  full  of  energy. 
When  people  came  to  him  for  medicine  on  Sunday  he  refused  to  charge  for  it 
for  a  time,  until  he  found  his  good  nature  was  being  imposed  upon  by  people 
who  made  it  a  point  to  delay  their  applications  until  that  day;  then  he 
charged  the  applicants  and  turned  the  money  over  to  the  Congregational 
church,  of  which  he  was  a  member. 

The  Methodists  liad  regular  services  in  Chandlerville  when  Mr.  Green- 
wood settled  tliere.  Among  the  early  preachers  of  the  town  lie  remembers 
Lippencott  (the  father  of  Genera!  Charles  E.  Lippencott)  and  a  preacher 
named  Beane. 

Thomas  Plaster,  the  father  of  Jeptha  Plaster  who  lived  a  few  miles  be- 
low Chandlerville  was  a  justice  of  the  peace.  A  man  named  Haynes  and  a 
woman  named  Doty  went  to  his  house  to  be  married.  When  the  sijuire 
learned  their  business  he  solemnly  sb.ook  his  head  saying:  I  married  tliis 
woman  once  to  Doty,  and  as  the  marriage  did  not  turn  out  well,  I  am  not  go- 
ing to  marry  her  any  more:"  the  disappointed  couple  went  away  to  find  an- 
other justice.  Squire  Plaster  used  to  say  that  he  owned  stock  in  but  two  en- 
terprises: one  was  in  McKee's  scales  and  the  other  in  Lippencott's  preaching. 


515219 


/ 


I 


DECATUR  GREENWOOD. 


-I'2- 

Mr.  (rreenwood  rented  land  of  Dr.  Chandler,  the  rent— one-third  of  tlie 
crop— delivered  in  the  field.  Part  of  the  land  was  sown  in  oats.  Prices  were 
so  low,  that  Mr.  Greenwood,  under  tlie  direction  of  Dr.  Chandler  set  the  oat 
shocks  on  tire  as  they  were  not  wortli  hauling  in.  Childs,  a  tenant  of 
Chandler's,  hauled  corn  to  Beardstown  and  sold  it  for  ten  cents  per  busliel. 

Lippencott  (Charles  E. )  was  a  pliysician,  wlio  married  Emily  Chandler,  a 
daughter  of  the  Dr.  At  the  time  of  the  marriage  Mr.  Greenwood  accommo- 
dated the  groom  with  a  loan  of  thirty  dollars  and  helped  him  gather  up  his 
hou.sekeeping  effects.  Dr.  Lippencott  had  some  considerable  medical  practise 
—at  one  time  liaving  a  number  of  small-pox  patients  on  his  hands.  Later  on, 
lie  went  to  California  leaving  iiis  wife  in  Chandlerville.  Mr.  Greenwood  de- 
livered to  her,  in  her  door-yard  the  letter  giving  her  the  account  of  the  duel 
fought  by  her  husband  in  the  Golden  Stare. 

Mr.  (Greenwood  recalls  the  canvass  made  by  Cyrus  Wright,  a  candidate  for 
the  state  legislature.  Some  temperance  legislation  was  being  agitated:  at  a 
public  meeting  in  Chandlerville,  Mr.  Wright,  altliougli  a  Baptist  preacher, 
ex|)iessed  himself  as  bitterly  opposed  to  the  proposed  temperance  law  and  stated 
that,  rather  than  voteforit,  he  would  vigorously  fight  against  it.  Squire  McKee, 
a  political  opponent  in  answering  him,  said  he  knew  something  of  Wright's 
military  history;  that  on  one  occasion,  he  ( Wriglit)  had  kicked  an  old  woman 
out  or  her  house  and  was  fined  five  dollars  for  it.  Candidate  Wright  lost  his 
temper  turned  upon  McKee  and  savagely  threatened  that  if  he  repeated  that 
statement,  he  would  knock  his  teeth  down  his  throat.  It  was  about  tliat 
time  proposed  to  prepare  the  Sangamon  river  for  navigation:  a  steamboat  was 
purchased,  Amos  Dick  became  the  captain  of  it:  for  several  miles,  trees,  logs 
:iiid  drilts,  were  removed  from  the  charuiel.  The  town  of  Richmond  was  laid 
out  near  the  Dick  farm,  and  upon  the  plat  a  slough  was  marked  "Harbor  for 
Boats."  This  enterprise  was  short  lived,  the  boat  was  seized  and  sold  by  tlie 
sheriff  for  debt.  John  Gum  bought  the  boiler,  hauled  it  to  California  and 
back  and  aHerwards  it  was  used  by  Jerry  Davis  in  running  a  saw  mill. 

After  a  two  year's  residence  in  Chandlerville,  Mr.  Greenwood  moved  to 
^Middle  Creek  near  the  present  site  of  Oakford,  but  soon  after  went  upon  the 
farm  of  John  P.  Dick,  about  four  miles  above  Chandlerville,  where  lie  re- 
mained lor  six  years.  While  living  on  this  farm  Mr.  Dick  rode  a  horse  upon  a 
sidewalk  for  which  he  was  arrested  and  lined  by  Raines  police  magistrate. 
Dick  demanded  an  appeal  and  offered  as  sureties  on  the  appeal,  two  men  who 
were  supported  in  whole  or  in  part  by  the  county.  Upon  the  refusal  of  tlie 
Court  to  accept  this  bond  Mr.  Dick  gravely  assured  the  Court  he  would  not  be 
able  to  make  a  bond,  and  would  become  a  victim  of  injustice.  The  bond  was 
finally  signed  by  his  brothers,  Amos  and  Levi,  and  the  papers  sent  to  the  cir- 
cuit court.  Wishing  to  avoid  the  expense  of  litigation  over  so  trifiing  a  mat- 
ter. Dr.  Boone  on  behalf  of  the  town  sent  a  proposition  by  Mr.  Greenwood  to 
Mr.  Dick  that  the  town  would  remit  the  fine  if  he  (Dick)  would  pay  tlie  costs. 
Tills  oft'er  was  declined,  and  Mr.  Greenwood  took  back  a  message  to  the  effect 
tliat  if  the  town  would  remit  the  fine,  and  pay  the  costs,  and  remit  two  other 
fines  standing  against  two  friends  of  Mr.  Dick  and  build  a  certain  bridge,  that 
the  matter  would  end.  This  not  beiti-;-  agrei^l  upon,  the  cas3  proceeded:  the 
town  lost,  and  for  a  long  time  afterward  Diclc  would  not  use  the  town  walk, 
but  kept  in  the  "middle  of  the  road." 


-13- 

Some  years  later  on  Mr.  Greenwood  lived  on  land  adjoining  a  farm  of  John 
E.  Guin  in  Menard  county.  Mr.  Gum,  one  season  harvested  2500  acres  of 
wheat  using  seven  harvesting  machines  which  were  run  day  and  night  until  the 
work  was  done.  Gum  had  a  blacksmith  shop  on  one  of  his  farms,  and  a 
stranger  came  along  and  wanted  to  rent  it;  Mr.  Gum  asked  him  if  he  (the  pro- 
posed tenant)  would  be  willing  to  do  his  (Gum's)  blacksmith  work  for  the  use 
of  the  shop  and  tools;  the  stranger,  supposing  he  was  an  ordinary  farmer,  glad- 
ly closed  with  the  offer.  A  few  days  afterward  Gum  came  with  fifty  mules  to 
be  shod;  the  smith  said  he  could  not  stand  that,  and  a  new  contract  was 
patched  up. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Greenwood  helped  Col.  Judy  drive  hogs  from  Sang- 
amon, Menard  and  Cass  counties  to  Beardstown,  often  passing  through  this 
city  with  as  many  as  fifteen  hundred  in  a  single  drove. 

Thementalfacultiesof  Mr.  Greenwood  are  excellent;  he  can  walk  a  half 
dozen  miles  or  more  with  perfect  ease;  he  is  a  man  of  tlie  highest  sense  of 
honor  and  of  the  strictest  integrity.  May  he  live  to  see  the  remainder  of  a 
hundred  years. 


COL.  J.  W.  JUDY. 


I  was  born  in  Clarke  Countj',  Ky.,  May  8th,  1822.  My  grandparents  on 
my  father's  side  came  from  Switzerland  and  on  my  mother's  side  were 
Scotch  Irish  My  father  was  a  farmer  and  a  very  quiet,  industrious  man 
and  I  being-  the  eldest  son  and  well  grown  for  my  age  soon  found  myself  be- 
tween the  plow  liandles  and  did  all  the  work  usually  done  on  a  farm.  Have 
lived  on  a  farm  all  of  ray  life. 

My  education  was  very  limited  never  having  attended  scliool  over  three 
months  in  one  year  There  were  no  free  schools  in  those  days.  Scliool  houses 
were  very  different  then  than  what  they  are  at  the  present  day.  They  were 
usually  of  logs  and  one  log  left  out  on  one  side  to  give  light.  The  writing 
desk  was  arranged  under  this  long  window  and  consisted  of  a  slab  the  length 
of  the  window,  a  bench  made  out  of  a  split  log  with  holes  bored  and  legs  driven 
in  from  the  under  side  for  a  seat.  This  composed  the  writing  desk  for  the  en- 
tire school. 

In  those  days  our  mothers  made  almost  all  the  wearing  apparel  for  the 
family  besides  table  linen,  bed  clothes,  etc.  Every  farmer  kept  his  flock  of 
sheep  and  also  raised  a  good  sized  flax  patch  which  furnished  with  tlie  spun 
cotton  added  all  the  material  to  make  the  necessary  wear  for  the  family. 

The  spun  cotton  was  bought  at  the  stores,  the  wool  and  flax  part  of  the 
material  was  all  prepared  at  home. 

When  I  was  seventeen  years  old  my  father  engaged  in  a  speculation  which 
was  very  disastrous  to  him,  in  fact  broke  him  up.  I  remained  with  him  until 
I  was  twenty-one.  I  then  engaged  with  a  wealthy  farmer  at  ten  dollars  per 
month  and  worked  the  first  year  without  losing  a  day.  Wages  increased  the 
next  year  to  twelve  dollars  per  month.  The  third  year  began  to  trade  some 
and  do  business  for  other  men,  worked  for  Col.  Tom  Johnson,  of  Mt  Sterling, 
Ky.,  who  had  a  large  trade  of  mules,  horses  and  hogs  in  Georgia  and  South  Car- 
olina. I  kept  that  up  for  several  years,  but  all  the  time  had  the  Horace 
Greeley  idea  in  my  head:    '  Young  man  go  West  and  grow  up  wich  the  country.'" 

I  visited  Illinois  in  1849,  again  in  18.jO  and  1851  wlien  I  married  Miss  Kate 
A.  Simpson,  of  Menard  Co.,  daughter  of  Dr.  .lames  W.  Simpson.  I  have  lived 
in  this  country  ever  since.  The  change  in  the  country  from  tifty-six  years  ago 
is  wonderful.  There  were  no  railroads,  no  telegraph  or  telephones.  Fat 
cattle  were  driven  from  Illinois  on  foot  to  Philadelphia  and  New  York.  Hogs 
were  slaughtered  at  Beardstown  and  oilier  points  on  the  river  and  the  pro- 
duct shipped  by  boat  to  southern  markets.  No  market  for  fat  hogs  only  in 
December,  .lanuary  and  February. 


COL.  J.  W.  JUDY, 


-16- 

All  diT  ^oods  and  ^n'uceries  were  sliipped  by  steamboat  and  hauled  by 
teams  to  the  different  towns.  The  best  farm  lands  in  Menard  Co.,  could  be 
bought  wlien  for  sale  in  1819  from  $10.00  to  $15.0!)  per  acre  and  there  was  much 
condemned  swamp  land  that  sold  for  twenty-tive  cents  per  acre.  The  above 
lands  could  b3  sold  to-day  from  $75.00  to  $150.0:)  per  acre. 

When  I  came  to  Illinois  in  ISli),  I  left  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky.,  in  stage  for 
Maysville,  then  a  boat  for  Cincinnati,  took  a  larger  boat  for  St.  Louis,"  then 
an  Illinois  river  packet  for  Baardstown,  then  the  stage  for  the  old  Dutch 
stan;l  near  Ashland  and  there  was  not  a  fence  from  there  to  the  head  of  Clary's 
Grove  which  was  eiglit  miles  away. 

While  I  have  always  lived  on  the  farm  I  have  done  some  other  business. 
I  have  probably  sold  more  thoroughbred  registered  cattle  at  public  auction 
t'lan  any  man  in  the  world  and  traveled  farther  to  do  it.  Have  sold  from 
Canada  to  California  and  from  Minneapolis  to  San  Antonio,  Texas,  and  all  of 
the  intermediate  states  where  such  cattle  are  raised.  Commenced  as  auc- 
tioneer in  1856. 

In  186;)  and  01  our  political  troubles  began  and  South  Carolina  seceded 
and  other  southern  states  followed.  Hence  our  civil  war  and  the  battle  was 
on.  In  August,  1862,  raised  a  company  of  100  men  at  Tallula,  Illinois,  and 
was  elected  captain  of  the  same  and  was  ordered  to  camp  Butler  near  Spring- 
field. Tiiere  was  organized  with  9  other  companies  as  a  regiment  and  num- 
bered the  lU  Regt.  III.  Vol.  Infantry  and  I  was  unanimously  elected  its  Col- 
onel and  soon  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  front  where  it  did  good  service 
until  the  close  of  the  war. 

When  I  was  quite  a  young  man  I  often  heard  my  father  and  others  speak 
of  the  great  West.     Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa  in  those  days  constituted  the 
great  West  as  the  people  understood  it.    I  will  give  you  a  few  lines  written 
by  a  gentleman  traveling  froin  the  East  to  his  western  country  with  the  view 
of  selecting  a  home  which  portrays  very  vividly  the  conditions  that  existed 
not  a  great  while  before  my  first  visit  to  Illinois: 
Suppose  in  riding  tlu'ough  the  West, 
A  stranger  found  a  Hoosier's  nest: 
In  other  words,  a  Buckeye  cabin, 
Just  big  enough  to  hold  Queen  Mahin. 

Its  situation  low,  but  airy, 

Was  on  the  borders  of  a  prairie. 
And  fearing  he  might  be  benighted 

He  liailed  the  house  and  then  alighted. 

The  Iloosier  met  him  at  the  door, 

Their  salutations  soon  were  o'er: 
He  took  the  stranger's  horse  aside. 

And  to  a  sturdy  sapling  tied. 
Then  having  stripped  the  saddle  off. 

He  fed  liim  in  a  sugar  trough: 
Tile  stranger  stooped  to  enter  in. 

The  entrance  closed  with  a  pin, 
Wliere  half  a  dozen  Hoosierroons 

With  mush  and  milk,  tin  cups  and  spoons. 


-17- 

White  heads,  bare  feet,  and  dirty  faces, 
Seemed  much  inclined  to  keep  their  places. 

But  Madam,  anxious  to  display 
Her  rough  and  undisputed  sway, 

Her  offspring  to  the  ladder  led. 
And  cuffed  the  youngsters  up  to  bed. 

Invited  shortly  to  partake 
Of  venison,  milk  and  johnny  cake, 

The  stranger  made  a  hearty  meal, 
And  around  the  room  a  glance  would  steal. 

One  side  was  lined  with  divers  garments. 
The  other  strung  with  skins  of  varmints; 

Dried  pumpkins  over  head  were  strung. 
Where  venison  hams  in  plenty  hung. 

Two  rifles  placed  above  the  door, 

Three  dogs  lay  stretched  upon  the  floor. 
In  short  the  domicile  was  rife 
In  specimens  of  a  Hoosier's  life. 
Dictated  by  Col.  J.  W.  Judy. 


MARY  FLETCHER  TEGG, 


MARY  Fletcher  Tegg  was  born  at  May  Hill,  Bertie  County,  North  Caro- 
lina, within  one  huiiclred  miles  of  the  Atlantic  Seaboard  on  the  8tli 
day  of  December  1825.    Her  father  John  W.  Hardy,  was  born  in  the 
same  county.  ' 

In  May  18.3(5,  John  W.  Hardy  and  family  started  for  Illinois  to  join  some 
of  his  relatives  who  preceded  him  named  Hardy  and  Buck,  who  had  settled  on 
the  sand  ridge  about  ten  miles  southwest  of  this  town.  They  arrived  on  the 
15th  of  August,  and  settled  down  near  these    relatives  where  they  remained 

till  tlie  following  year  when  Hardy 
bought  of  John  Schaeffer  lot  14  block  1 
in  the  town  of  Monroe,  seven  miles 
southwest  of  here,  where  he  began  his 
business  of  a  wagon-maker.  The  phy. 
sician  who  had  the  leading  practice  in 
tlie  sand  ridge  neighborhood  was  Dr. 
Ephraim  Rew;  Squire  Clemons  taught 
school  near  Monroe;  Benjamin  Beesley 
kept  a  store  in  Monroe. 

In  the  fall  of  18.38  the  Hardy  fami- 
ly removed  from  Monroe  to  Virginia, 
moving  into  a  log  cabin  which  stood 
near  the  northeast  corner  of  the  ad- 
dition to  the  town  and  very  near, 
where  the  Randall  property  is  now  sit- 
uated. Mary  F.  Hardy  was  tlien  be- 
tween twelve  and  thirteen  years  of 
age.  In  1841  Mr.  Hardy  purchased  lot 
S2  in  the  addition  to  the  Town  and  in 
1S47  he  added  lot  83  to  it,  these  lots 
are  those  on  which  Mrs.  Gore  now 
lives,  across  the  street  east  of  the  Christian  church.  The  first  school  Mrs 
Tegg  remembers  in  Virginia  was  kept  by  WillimiL-Caxeeiltei',  abrotlierof  Mrs. 
^Bfi^  wlio  afterwards  became  county  clerk  of  this  county,  and  emigrated  to 
Texas  where  he  died.  This  school  was  opposite  the  Murray  residence  which 
stands  on  lot  80  in  the  addition  to  the  town,  and  near  the  electric  light  liouse. 
Another  school  was  taught  in  the  second  story  of  the  ]\Iethodist  church  build- 


MARY  FLETCHER  TEGG 


-19- 

ing  which  stood  on  lot  64  in  the  original  town— just  back  of  the  Slciles  lumber 
yard.  A  man  named  Morgan  taught  there;  Robert  and  Henry  and  Eliza  Hail, 
George  Harris  and  James  Harris  went  tliere  to  school  wlien  Mrs.  Tegg  was  a 
pupil.  The  Harris  family  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square  where 
the  Hillig  shoe  shop  now  stands.  George  Harris,  the  father,  made  furniture. 
In  this  church  Mrs.  Tegg  experienced  religion  in  the  year  1840,  when  but  a 
child  of  15  years, 

Among  the  preachers  of  those  early  days  were  Levi-Springer,  Rev.  Fox,  of 
Jacksonville;  Guthrie  White,  oj  Menard  county,  and  Rev.  William  Whipp,  a 
local  MethodistTprg'acher, 'the  last  named  was  born  September  19,  1797,  and 
died  February  2.S,  1869,  more  than  71  years  old  and  is  buried  in  the  old  ceme- 
tery in  Beardstown.  For  several  years  he  kept  a  drug  store  in  that  city;  lie 
was  a  large  man,  weighing  more  than  200  pounds;  his  children  were  John  W. 
Whipp,  William  Wliipp,  Elizabeth  Munsell,  Sarah  Peteflsh  and  Jane  Orwig. 
His  last  wife  was  Harriett  Hinchee,  a  sister  of  the  first  wife  of  William  Wat- 
kins,  of  this  city.  William  Wliipp  and  Harriett  Hinchee  were  married  on 
December  30,  1854,  by  Rev.  William  Clark  whose  wile  was  a  sister  of  the  bride. 
The  wife  of  Hon.  Milton  McClure,  of  Beardstown,  is  a  grandaughter  of  Rev. 
Whipp.  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Gatton  gratefully  remembers  h'm  for  the  follov\ing 
reason:  She  was  afflicted  with  a  bad  case  of  chills  and  fever  wlien  a  >oung 
girl,  at  Beardstown,  and  nothing  she  could  find  seemed  to  help  her.  Mr. 
Whipp  mixed  up  some  pills  and  gave  them  to  her,  with  the  assurance  they 
would  surely  break  up  the  chills.  Her  sister,  Mrs.  James  C.  Leonaixl,  advised 
her  to  let  them  alone,  but  the  patient,  in  a  desperate  mood,  swallowed  the 
pills  and  never  had  a  chill  afterward. 

Mrs.  Tegg  well  remembers  the  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  I.  M.  Stribling 
to  Miss  Margaret  Beggs,  his  first  wife.  The  day  following  the  wedding,  the  bridal 
couple  accompanied  by  the  wedding  guests  came  through  Virginia  on  their 
way  to  the  home  of  Benjamin  Stribling,  father  of  the  groom,  who  lived  a 
short  distance  northwest  of  this  town.  This  company  of  young  people,  some 
seventy-five  in  number,  were  all  on  horseback  and  made  a  gay  procession 
reaching  from  the  present  George  Conover  residence  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  the  public  square. 

When  a  young  girl  she  worked  as  a  domestic  servant  in  the  family  of  Dr. 
Pothicary,  who  kept  the  hotel  on  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square,  where 
the  Centennial  Bank  now  stands:    Mrs.  Pothicary  taught  her  to  make  butter. 

The  town  of  Monroe  was  laid  out  by  John  Schaeffer  on  June  27,  1836,  a 
month  after  A^irginia  was  platted.  Mr.  Benjamin  Beesley  bought  a  lot  in 
Monroe,  in  January,  1837,  and  three  months  later,  he  and  John  SchaetTer  laid 
out  an  addition  to  Monroe.  The  stage  line  from  Jacksonville  to  Beardstown 
then  passed  througli  this  town.  Mr.  Beesley  was  a  merchant  in  Monroe,  but 
concluding  that  Virgniia  would  be  a  better  business  point,  in  September,  istl, 
purchased  of  Dr.  Hall,  then  acting  as  a  commissioner  for  Cass  county,  lot  87 
in  the  Public  Grounds  addition,  at  southeast  corner  of  the  west  squai'e  for 
$210  and  built  the  two  story  brick  building  long  known  as  the  "Boston  Brick." 
Here  he  sold  goods.  In  1853  he  sold  the  property  to  one  Perrin  Fay,  who 
made  the  purchase  on  credit,  and  not  being  able  to  pay  for  it,  it  fell  back  to 
Beesley,  in  1855,  and  on  September  6,  18.56,  he  sold  and  conveyed  it  to  William 
Boston  for  $8oo,  who  remained  its  owner  up  to  the  date  of  his  death. 


-  20  - 

On  Christmas  Day,  18«,  Mary  Fletcher  Hardy  was  married  to.lamesTecrg 
by  John  IT.  Daniel,  a  Baptist  preacher  who  lived  in  Virginia.  Mrs.  Tegg  was 
then  but  18  years  old:  her  husband,  Englisli  by  birth,  was  then  43  years  old. 
They  began  housekeeping  in  a  log  cabin  wliicli  had  been  used  as  a  house  for 
sheep  on  land  in  Sec  S,  T.  17,  R.  K),  about  2  miles  southwest  of  Virginia,  now 
owned  by  tlie  heirs  of  Henry  Quigg.  The  first  year,  Mr.  Tegg  put  up  prairie 
hay:  his  young  wife  would  take  their  dinner  and  lier  knitting  work  and 
spend  the  day  with  him,  knitting  in  tlie  sliade  of  hay  shocks.  They  went 
from  place  to  place,  living  for  a  time  on  the  Dick  farm  in  Sangamon  bottom, 
on  the  William  Campbell  farm,  on  the  Lynn  Grove  farm,  on  the  land  of 
Elliott  near  Sugar  Grove,  and  came  to  this  town  to  live  in  a  house  on  lot  1.5. 
in  tlie  addition  to  Virginia  wliicli  was  afterward  conveyed  to  Mrs.  Tegg  and 
hercliildren  by  Iier  fath(?r,  .John  W.  Hardy,  on  October  7,  18,50.  This"  house 
was  burned  about  three  years  ago:  here  her  son  .lames  Tegg,  jr.,  a  resident  of 
this  city,  was  born  on  May  3.  1848.  He  helped  his  father  to  plant  the  sugar 
maple  trees  in  front  of  the  Rodgers  property,  lots  44,  45  and  4(i  in  the  addition 
of  the  town  and  in  front  of  the  Cosner  property,  then  owned  by  Spaulding.  a 
scfiool  teacher,  at  northwest  corner  of  the  square,  in  the  year  18.56.  These 
trees  were  dug  up  about  a  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  town  on  land  now 
owned  by  .T.  T.  Robertson  and  are  as  tine  specimens  asare  growing  in  the  town 

Mrs.  Tegg's  mother  died  in  1845,  after  she  had  been  blind  for  tifteen  years! 
Her  husband  died  in  this  town,  .June  4.  18(54,  at  tiie  age  of  78  years:  both 
tliese  people  were  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  field  two  miles  west  of  tlie  town. 

Mrs.  Tegg  is  now  more  than  79  years  of  age:  she  remembers  that  on  the 
day  lier  fatlier  moved  into  Virginia,  the  first  load  of  brick  to  be  used  in  tiie 
building  of  the  court  house  was  then  lying  in  tlie  old  square  at  west  end  of 
the  city. 

Slie  remembers  that  Dr.  H.  H.  Hall  practised  his  profession  in  her 
father's  family:  she  remembers  Tliomas  Finn,  the  first  of  the  family  who 
lived  here,  who  never  was  married:  he  owned  a  distillery  north  of  this 
town  wliere  pure  and  unadulterated  whiskey  could  be  bought  for  twenty-five 
cents  per  gallon.  Her  memory  of  old-time  events  is  clear:  her  physical  condi- 
tion, considering  her  age,  is  exeellent. 


HISTORICAL  SKETCH, 


[By  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder,  of  Virginia,  Illinois,  ex-president  of  the  Illinois  Historical  Society.    Read 
by  the  author  at  a  public  reception  given  by  the  Virginia  Travelers  Club  on  May  15, 1905.  J 

FOR  convenience  of  description,  the  history  of  Illinois  is  divided   in  two 
parts:    the  term  '-Early  Illinois,"  comprises  that  part  of  its  history  ex- 
tending from  the  discovery  of  tlie  Mississippi  river,  in   1673,   to  its  ad- 
mission as  a  stata  in  the  Union  in  1818,   a  period  of  145  years:    part  second 
comprehends  the  annals  of  its  existence  as  a  state. 

By  the  middle  of  the  17th  century  the  Canadian  French  had  penetrated 
the  wild  region  of  the  north,  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  western  extremity 
of  Lake  Superior,  and  were  told  bv  the  Indians  there,  that  at  a  comparatively 

short  distance  farther  west  was  a 
large  river  flowing  from  the  north  in  a 
southern  direction,  they  knew  not 
where.  That  information,  when  re- 
ported in  Canada,  proved  of  startling 
importance.  For  two  centuries  the 
dream  of  Europe  had  been  tlie  discov- 
ery of  a  direct  western  passage  by 
water  to  Ciiina  and  India.  It  was 
tiiat  object,  Columbus  had  in  view  in 
his  voyage  that  resulted  in  the  dis- 
covery of  America  in  1492. 

In  1510  Balboa  had  discovered  the 
eastern  shore  of  the  Pacilic  ocean  at 
the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  in  15:54 
the  ships  of  Cortez  had  traced  its 
coast  up  as  far  as  the  Gulf  of  Cali- 
fornia. Into  that  Gulf,  it  was  con- 
jectured by  the  Canadians,  emptied 
the  large  western  river  mentioned  by 
tlie  Lake  Superior  Indians:  that  by 
its  proximity  to  the  cliain  of  great 
lakes,  and  their  connection  vvitli  the 
DR.  J.  F.  SNYDER.  St.  Lawrence,  might  alTord  to  France 

the  long  and  eagerly  sought  waterway  to  the  distant  Orient. 

Frontenac,  the  governor  of  Canada,  with  sanction  of  the  French  court, 
arranged  to  send  an  expedition  to  explore  tluit  unknown  river,  and  definitely 
ascertain  its  extent  and  course. 


-22- 

For  that  liazardous  undertaking-,  he  selected  Louis  Joliet,  a  merchant  and 
educated  native  of  Quebec,  who  was  joined  by  Jacques  Marquette,  a  Jesuit 
missionary  priest,  and  they,  talcing  a  simple  outfit  of  parched  corn  and  dried 
buffalo  meat,  with  necessary  blankets,  guns  and  ammunition,  in  two  birch- 
bark  canoes  with  five  Canadians  to  row  them,  set  out  from  the  Straits  of 
Mackinaw  on  the  10th  of  May,  1673,  on  their  long  and  dangerous  journey.  Ar- 
riving at  the  mission  that  Marquette  had  before  established  on  Green  Ray, 
they  passed  to  the  mouth  of  Fox  river,  and  ascending  it  to  its  sources  they 
made  tlie  portage  of  their  canoes  and  equipage  over  the  divide  to  the  liead- 
waters  of  the  Wisconsin,  and  descending  that  stream  to  its  mouth,  on  the 
19th  of  June,  tliey  glided  upon  the  broad  and  rapid  current  of  the  Mississippi. 
They  proceeded  down  the  great  river  to  near  the  moutli  of  the  Arkansas, 
where  De  Solo  and  his  cavalcade  had  crossed  133  years  before.  Assured  there 
that  the  Mississippi  held  its  course  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  not  to  the  Pa- 
cific ocean,  they  turned  the  prows  of  their  canoes  up  stream  and  started  on 
their  return.  When  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  they  were 
told  by  the  Indians  they  met  there,  that  to  follow  that  stream  up  to  its  head- 
waters would  materially  lessen  the  distance  to  Green  Bay;  and  that  course 
they  pursued. 

At  that  day  and  less  than  lialf  a  century  ago,  there  stood  near  the  river 
bank  at  Keardstown,  one  of  the  finest  Indan  mounds  of  Central  Illinois.  It 
was  a  sepulchral  mound,  conical  in  form,  50  feet  in  height,  about  200  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  base,  and  made  of  clay  brought  from  the  bluffs  four  miles  dis- 
tant. For  ages  there  were  clustered  near  it,  the  wigwams  of  a  large  Indian 
village.  In  imagination,  we  can  readily  restore  the  primitive  conditions  ex- 
isting there,  when,  on  one  sultry  day  in  August,  1H73,  the  swartiiy  denizens  of 
tliat  village,  in  wild  excitement,  ruslied  to  the  water's  edge,  and  covered  tlie 
western  face  of  the  great  mound  from  base  to  apex,  to  gaze  in  awe  and  speech- 
less wonder  at  two  strange  canoes  approaching  from  below,  bearing  strange, 
bearded  white  men  of  a  race  never  before  seen  by  them.  In  token  of  friend- 
sliip  the  dusky  chief  extended  to  the  weary  Frenchmen,  tiie  pipe  of  peace, 
who,  understanding  that  signal  of  welcome,  came  ashore  and  here,  on  the  soil 
of  future  Cass  county,  the  discoverers  of  Illinois  were  entertained  by  the  red 
natives  with  generous  hospitality.'^ 

Resuming  their  voyage,  after  a  needed  rest,  the  explorers,  in  time,  pad- 
dled up  and  out  of  the  Illinois  into  the  Des  Plaines  river,  then  carrying  their 
canoes  over  to  the  south  branch  af  the  Cliicago  river,  soon  were  once  more 
afloat  on  Lake  Michigan,  and  arrived  at  Green  Bay  in  September.  Thus  was 
Illinois  discovered  by  the  wliites,  and  sucli  is  the  beginning  of  its  written 
liistory. 

But  our  State  has  a  much  older  and  unwritten  history  extending  from  the 
dim  archaic  past  to  that  daring  canoe  voyage  of  Joliet  and  Marquette.  Along 
its  picturesque  ranges  of  bluffs:  on  the  shores  of  its  beautiful  lakes  and 
streams:  on  its  fertile  prairies  and  alluvial  bottoms,  abound  the  curious  relics 
of  its  earliest  human  occupants  of  a  by-gone  age-evidences  of  the  primitive 
arts,  as  well  as  of  the  highest  culture,  of  a  people  of  unknown  origiOB,  who 
disappeared,  leaving  no  otiier  record  of  their  history.  In  Illinois  are  the 
works  of  the  mound  builders,  as  numerous,   and  varied   in   form,   design  and 

i^  i^t^^sCi-iii^  u^Cu^  4Lt^e.*^  ^7^i^C*-u^  /^  ^2U  T^^-s-^-x^c^ 


-23- 

dimensions,  and  of  as  fascinatinp^  interest  as  any  elsewliere  found  in  tlie  United 
States.  In  tlie  Rock  i-ivei-  valley  are  seen  the  singular  "Etliury"  mounds,  rep- 
resenting figures  of  the  luiman  form,  of  birds,  animals,  and  nondescript 
objects,  projected  on  gigantic  scales.  The  mounds  of  the  Illinois  river  region, 
are  of  a  distinct  and  different  type,  corresponding  with  those  of  southern 
Ohio;  while  In  the  American  bottom,  opposite  St.  Louis,  are  the  huge 
"teocali,"  or  truncated  pyramids,  identical  in  structure  with  those  of  the 
southern  states  from  Georgia  to  Arkansas,  and  very  probably  the  product  of  the 
same  people.  Of  that  class  is  the  Cahokia  mound  on  Cahokia  creek.  7  miles 
east  of  St.  Louis,  the  largest  of  all  the  earthen  motnniments  of  the  vanished 
race  north  of  Mexico.  It  is  almost  a  hundred  feet  in  height,  with  level  top  of 
three  acres,  and  square  base  measuring  700  feet  in  length,  by  500  feet  in  widtli. 
From  it  can  be  seen  <>!  otiier  large  mounds  of  various  forms  scattered  through 
the  Bottom  between  the  river  and  the  bluffs. 

Then  again,  from  the  Ohio  river  along  the  Mississippi  bottoms  and  bluffs 
as  far  as  Alton  can  be  traced  the  ancient  colonies  of  still  another  race  of 
prehistoric  aborigines  differing  from  tiie  others,  and  easily  distinguished  by 
their  peculiar  mortuary  custom  of  burying  their  dead  in  stone-lined  graves: 
and  by  the  superior  workmanship  of  their  pottery,  ornaments,  and  stone  im- 
plements. Illinois  also  offers  to  the  Ethnologist  a  limitless  Held  for  studying 
the  migrations,  affinities  and  characteristics  of  the  numerous  tribes  of  no- 
madic and  semi-sedentary  Indians  of  later  date,  that  replaced  tlie  mound 
builders,  and  for  ages,  chased  the  buff'alo  and  elk  over  our  broad  prairies, 
and  made  this  fair  region,  the  theratre  of  their  interminable  wars  for  su- 
premacy. 

At  Green  Bay  Marquette  and  Joliet  separated,  the  priest  remaining  there 
to  continue  his  missionary  work  among  the  Indians,  and  .loliet  proceeding  to 
Quebec  to  report  the  results  of  their  expedition  to  the  Governor.  Fortune 
had  especially  favored  them  throughout  their  wonderful  voyage  of  27()7  miles, 
having  met  on  their  way  neither  serious  sickness,  loss  or  accident.  Rut  as 
Joliet  was  nearing  the  French  settlements,  when  almost  in  sight  of  Montreal, 
his  canoe  was  capsized,  two  of  his  men  drowned,  and  a  box  containnig  all  liis 
journals,  notes  and  maps  was  lost.  Marquette,  however,  had  kept  an  account 
of  their  daily  travels,  with  recorded  observations  of  what  he  saw,  which  has 
been  well  preserved  to  the  present  day.  Of  tlie  Illinois  river  he  wrote:  "We 
liad  seen  nothing  like  this  river  for  the  fertility  of  the  land,  its  prairies,  woods, 
buffalos,  elks,  deer,  wildcats,  wild  turkeys,  ducks,  parrots,  and  even  beavers: 
its  many  little  lakes,  and  (tributary)  rivers.  That  on  which  we  sailed  is 
broad,  deep  and  gentle,  for  sixty-flve  leagues.  During  the  spring  and  part  of 
the  summer,  the  only  portage,  (between  its  headwaters  and  the  great  lake,) 
is  but  half  a  league." 

About  where  the  town  of  Utica  now  stands,  in  LaSalle  county  on  the  Illi- 
nois river,  the  French  explorers,  upon  their  return,  found  a  large  Indian 
village  called  Kaskaskia:  and  there  they  halted  for  a  few  days'  rest  and  to  re 
plenish  their  store  of  provisions,  and  were  very  kindly  treated  by  the  natives. 
Asking  the  Indians  who  tliey  were  they  answered,  "We  are  Illini,"  a  term 
meaning  "true  or  brave  men;"  in  contradistinction  to  tribes  surrounding 
them,  whom  they  designated  as  beasts.  That  name,  pronounced  by  the 
French,  "Illinois,"  they  very  appropriately  adopted,  not  only  for  the  Indians 


-  2^  - 

of  Mie  villag'e,  but  for  all  the  newly  discovered  country  north  of  the  Ohio 
river,  and  for  Lake  Michigan,  wliich  for  many  years  was  known  to  the  Canad- 
ians as  Lake  Illinois.  Two  years  later,  Marquette,  then  in  the  last  stages  of 
consumption,  revisited  those  Illinois  Indians,  as  he  had  promised  he 
would,  and  zealously  ministered  to  their  spiritual  wants  during  the  entire 
winter.  The  next  spring,  feeling  a  premonition  of  his  approaching  end.  he 
departed  for  Canada,  but  died  from  exhaustion,  on  the  southeastern  shore  of 
Lake  Michigan,  and  was  buried  in  the  sand  by  his  attendants.  Tlie  Illinois 
country,  with  the  then  limited  means  of  transportation,  was  too  remote  from 
the  Atlantic  seaboard  to  invite  colonization;  but  it  at  once  attracted  a  few 
adventurous  traders,  priests  and  bush-rangers,  who  were  welcomed  to  the  In- 
dian villages  and  readily  assimilated  with  the  natives. 

Four  years  later,  in  December,  1709,  there  came  to  the  Illinois,  Robert 
Cavalier,  Sieur  de  La  Salle,  a  young  Frenchman  of  education  and  the  self- 
reiyiiig  energies  of  modern  enterprize,  authorized  by  the  French  king  to  take 
up  the  work  of  exploration,  and,  if  need  be,  of  conquest,  where  Marquette 
had  left  it:  and  to  solve  definitely  the  problem  of  the  Mississippi's  ultimate 
coui'se.  lie  was  accompanied  by  his  trusty  lieutenant,  Henry  Tonti,  and 
Louis  Hennepin,  a  Recollet  friar,  together  with  thirty  enlisted  men,  three 
Jesuit  priests  and  several  Canadian  employes.  He  built  Fort  St.  Louis  at  the 
Starved  Rock,  and  Fort  Creve  Coeuer  (Broken  Heart)  on  the  southeastern 
blutTsofLake  Peoria.  He  later  descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and.  with  formal  ceremonies,  took  possession,  for  the  King  of  France, 
of  all  the  country  he  traversed  from  Canada  to  Texas.  His  genius  and  iron 
resohit ion  are  indelibly  stamped  upon  the  early  history  of  Illinois;  but  the 
hardships,  disappointments  and  disasters  that  befell  him,  with  the  sacrifice  of 
all  lie  possesse  1,  and  finally,  of  his  life,  form  one  of  its  most  pathetic  chapters. 

The  village  Indians  found  by  Marquette  and  Joliet  on  the  upper  Illinois 
river  were  an  o'"ganized  federation  of  five  tribes,  named  the  Kaskaskias^ 
Caliokias,  Peorias,  Tamarwahs  aiui  Michigamies,  subsequently  collectively 
known  as  the  "Illinois  Indians."  a  once  powerful  confederacy,  but  at  that 
t  iiiie  greatly  reduced  and  weakened  bv  the  frequent  forays  of  the  fierce  Iro- 
<|Uois  Indians  of  New  York.  To  escape  total  annihilation  by  that  unrelent- 
ing enemy,  the  Illinois  Indians,  intUtenced,  no  doubt,  by  advice  of  their 
solf-con>t!tuted  guardians,  the  .Jesuit  prjpsts,  decided  to  abandon  their  an- 
cient village  and  ancestral  hunting  grounds  and  seek  safety  in  another  local- 
ity. In  the  early  spring  of  1()78,  having  made  all  necessary  preparations,  they 
embar'.ced  in  a  fleet  of  canoes,  and  passing  down  the  Illinois  river  continued 
down  the  Mississippi,  until  arriving  at  a  point  seven  miles  below  the  present 
city  of  St.  Louis  they  halted  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  and  there, 
under  the  guidance  of  Father  Pinet.  a  .Jesuit  missionary,  they  establislied 
their  village  named  Cahokia.  In  this  exodus  of  the  Illinois  Indians  the 
Peoria  tribe  stopped  temporarily  at  the  expansion  of  tlie  Illinois  river  that 
has  since  retained  their  name,  "Peoria  Lake.'' 

Two  years  later  in  1700,  the  Kaskaskias,  led  by  Father  Marest,  another 
.Jesuit  priest,  left  Cahokia,  and  moving  40  miles  farther  down,  built  a  village 
of  their  own,  known  as  the  Kaskaskia  village,  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of 
the  stream,  also  taking  their  name,  the  Kaskaskia  river.  A  dozen  or  more 
Canadian  Frenchmen,   some   with   their   families   brought    with   tliem   from 


-  25  - 

Canada,  and  others  wlio  had  married  Indian  squaws,  in  each  of  those  villag-eg 
constituted  tlie  nucleus  of  civilization  that  entitled  them  to  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  actual  settlements  of  white  people  in  Illinois—Cahokia,  the 
first,  dating  from  1H98,  and  Kaskaskia  from  1700.  Gradual  accessions  of  other 
Canadians  and  French,  in  time  displaced  the  Indians  and  constituted  those 
settlements  permanent  French  towns. 

The  wonderful  discoveries  by  Marquette  and  Joliet,  and  peaceable  acquisi- 
tion, by  La  SalVe,  of  a  new  empire,  produced  at  first,  but  little  excitement  iii 
France.  The  magnitude  and  remote  distance  of  the  new  possessions  were  be- 
wildering; and  not  until  the  nine  years  war  with  England  was  terminated  by 
the  treaty  of  Ryswick,  in  1697,  did  Louis  XIV,  King  of  France,  give  the  mat- 
ter serious  consideration.  He  then  sent  Le  Moyne  d'Iberviile,  an  officer  of 
his  navy,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  to  assert  formal  authority  over  his 
vast  and  new  domain;  and  that  officer,  on  his  arrival  there,  built  a  fort  and 
founded  a  settlement  on  a  sand  bar  which  he  named  Biloxi.  Tlijn,  to  en- 
courage the  colonizing  and  development  of  that  region,  the  French  govern- 
ment, in  1712,  granted  to  Antoine  Crozat  and  company,  the  commercial 
monopoly  of  all  the  lower  Mississippi  country,  then  named  Louisiana  in  honor 
of  Louis  XIV,  who  died  in  1715.  Two  years  after  the  King's  death,  the 
Crozat  Company  failed,  and  surrendered  its  cliarter  to  the  crown,  and  Jean 
Baptiste  de  Bienville  was  appointed  Governor  of  Louisiana,  and  he,  in  1711)? 
founded,  what  is  now,  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  by  settling  there  a  number  of 
emigrants  that  followed  him  from  France. 

About  that  time,  Pierre  Duque  de  Boisbriant  was  sent  with  a  small  mili- 
tary force  up  the  Mississippi  as  Commandant  of  the  Illinois  country,  ^lak. 
ing  Kaskaskia  his  head-quarters,  he  at  once  set  about  planning  the  defense  of 
his  territory  from  threatened  invasion  by  the  Spaniards  at  Santa  Fe.  Select- 
ing a  site  near  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  16  miles  above  Kaskaskia,  lie 
there,  in  1721,  built  a  stockade  fort,  which  he  named  Fort  Chartres.  in  honor 
of  the  Duke  de  Chartres,  son  of  the  Regent.  There  he  established  his  seat  of 
military  government,  and  there  upon,  jy  royal  decree,  the  Illinois  passed  from 
the  jurisdiction  of  Canada  to  that  of  Louisiana. 

In  1719  John  Law  originated,  in  Paris,  his  celebrated  Mississippi  scheme, 
styled  "The  Company  of  the  West,"  and,  granted  by  tlie  French  government 
more  extraordinary  powers  than  had  been  given  to  the  Crozat  company;  lie 
frenzied  all  Europe  with  dazzling  promises  of  immediate  fabulous  wealth. 
One  of  his  chief  agents,  Phillip  Francois  Renault,  Superintendent  of  the  Im- 
perial Mining  company  of  Paris,  arrived  at  Kaskaskia,  from  France,  in  1721, 
with  200  employees  and  .500  negro  slaves  to  work  the  reported  gold  and  silver 
mines  of  Illinois;  and  thus  planted  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  the  baneful  curse 
of  African  slavery.  He  secured  from  the  commandant  a  large  grant  of  land 
five  miles  above  Chartres  where  he  built  the  town  of  St.  Phillip,  and  to-day 
his  descendants  are  still  contesting  in  the  Illinois  courts  for  possession  of  that 
land.  The  influence  of  John  Law's  wild  enterprize  was  sensibly  felt  in  Illi- 
nois. It  gained  some  accessions  to  its  population.  In  1722,  the  village  of 
Chartres  sprung  up  at  the  gate  of  the  Fort;  quite  a  settlement  was  made  at 
n»e  foot  of  the  rocky  cliff  four  miles  to  the  east  of  Chartres  named  Prairie  de 
Rocher;  Cahokia  gained  impotance  as  a  trading  point  and  Kaskaskia  became 
the  central  emporium  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 


"  26  - 

But  tlie  g-littering  bubble  of  speculation  soon  bursted.  The  John  Law 
company  collapsed  and  went  into  bankruptcy.  Renault  found  neither  mines 
of  ^-old  or  silver  in  Illinois;  but  discovered  and  opened  tlie  deposit  of  lead  ore 
at  Potosi  on  tlie  west  side  of  tlie  Mississippi  whicli  has  ever  since  been  pro- 
fitably mined. 

The  depressing  reaction  that  followed  failure  of  the  -John  Law  Company 
Itiighted  every  prospect  of  the  Illinois,  and  for  twenty  years  its  dwindling  col" 
onists,  left  to  shift  for  themselves  in  profound  obscurity.  Fort  Chartres  was 
almost  deserted;  its  stockade  rotted  away,  and  the  country  was  on  the  verge 
of  abandonment.  So  desperate  was  its  condition,  that  the  Marquis  de 
(lallissonaire,  Governor  General,  of  Canada,  implored  King  Louis  XV  to  come 
to  its  rescue.  "The  little  colony  of  the  Illinois,"  he  pleaded,  "ought  not  to  be 
left  to  perish.  The  country  is  extremely  productive,  and  its  connection  with 
Canada  and  Louisiana  must  be  maintained.  The  land  is  mostly  a  plain  ready 
for  tlie  plow,  and  is  traversed  by  an  innumerable  multitude  of  buffalo.  These 
animals  are  covered  with  a  species  of  wool  sutHciently  tine  to  be  employed  in 
various  manufactories."  He  further  suggested,  and  doubtless  correctly,  tliat 
the  buffalo,  if  caught,  and  attached  to  the  plow,  would  move  it  at  a  speed 
superior  to  that  of  the  domestic  ox. 

At  length  the  dissolute  King  was  aroused  to  the  importance  of  preserving 
his  western  empire.  In  1751,  he  sent  to  Fort  Chartres  a  regiment  of  grena- 
diers, and  a  large  number  of  artisan -i  and  laborers  who  began  at  once  the  erec- 
tion of  a  new  and  larger  Fort  Chartres,  of  stone,  a  mile  above  the  old  one, 
which  was  built  at  the  cost  of  $1,-500.00,  and  when  completed  in  17(il,  was  the 
grandest  and  strongest  fortress  in  America.  But  before  its  completion. 
France  was,  in  1755,  engaged  in  a  war  with  England,  which,  continuing  for 
seven  years,  was  practically  terminated  by  the  English  victory  on  the  Plains 
of  Abraham,  and  the  fall  of  Quebec,  on  the  13th  of  September  1759.  To  in. 
demnify  Spain  for  her  los?  of  Florida  tiie  weak  French  King  ceded  to  her,  in 
17()1,  New  Orleans  and  all  of  Louisiana  west  of  the  Mississippi;  and  by  the 
treaty  signed  at  Paris  on  the  loth  of  February,  17(13,  he  transferred  to  Eng- 
land all  the  rest  of  his  possessions  in  America. 

However,  for  two  years  after  its  cession,  Pontiac,  the  great  Ottawa  chief, 
the  friend  and  ally  of  the  French,  stood  in  the  path  of  the  victorious  English 
and  frustrated  all  their  attempts  to  take  possession  of  the  Illinois.  And  not 
until  assured  by  St.  Ange  de  Belle  Rive,  the  old  commandant  at  Fort  Chartres, 
that  further  opposition  to  the  victors  was  helpless,  did  he  relent  and  sullenly 
retire  beyond  the  Mississippi.  Tiie  way  then  open,  Captain  Sterling,  with  his 
42iid.  liigldanders  marched  to  Fort  Chartres,  and  on  the  lOth  of  October, 
17(i5,  received  from  St.  Ange  formal  surrender  of  the  Fort,  and  all  of  the  Illi- 
nois country.  And  thereupon,  to  the  deep  humiliation  of  the  French  soldiers 
and  settlers,  the  wliite  lillies  of  France  were  lowered  from  the  bastion  llag- 
staff  and  replaced  by  the  red  cross  of  St.  George. 

For  the  following  thirteen  years  the  Illinois  was  a  province  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, governed  by  an  English  garrison,  at  Fort  Chartres  until  1772,  when  the 
Mississippi  still  loyal  to  tlie  French,  ever  murmuring  the  names  of  IManiuette 
and  LaSalle  arose  in  wrathful  indignation,  and  sweeping  over  the  American 
bottom,  carried  away  one  wall  and  a  bastion  of  the  Fort,  forcing  the  detested 
English  to  evacuate  it,  and  take  refuge  at   Kaskaskia.      There  th.ey  enclosed 


■   -27- 

the  old  deserted  Jesuit  college  with  pickets,  upon  which  they  mounted  a  few 
small  guns  and  dignified  it  with  the  title  of  "Fort  Gage,"  in  honor  of  General 
Thomas  Gage,  then  Governor  of  New  York  and  commander  of  the  English 
forces  in  America. 

Under  Britisli  rule  the  Illinois  remained  in  its  almost  primitive  condition. 
As  a  subjugated  province  it  repelled  immigration,  and  its  white  population, 
of  scarcely  more  than  800  confined  to  a  few  small  villages,  remained  stationary. 
In  its  wilderness  solitude,  so  completely  isolated  from  the  outside  world,  not 
a  sound  reached  it  of  the  momentous  events  occurring  a  few  years  later  in  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  colonies.  The  French  inhabitants  of  Illinois  knew  nothing 
of  that  political  upheaval  that  produced  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  nor 
did  they  hear  the  faintest  echo  of  the  "resounding  clash  of  arms,"  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord,  on  the  18th  of  April,  1775,  that  began  the  mighty  struggle  of 
the  American  Revolution.  But  the  English  heard  it,  and  their  garrisons  at 
Kaskaskia,  Vincennes  and  Detroit  were  hurried  to  the  east  to  iielp  subdue 
Washington  and  his  revolting  colonists,  leaving  at  each  western  post  but  a 
corporal's  guard  to  maintain  there  the  authoriny  of  George  the  Third. 

Fort  Gage,  in  Kaskaskia,  was  left  in  command  of  Chevalier  de  Rociieblanc, 
a  renegade  Frenchman,  who  had  joined  the  English,  with  but  a  few  invalid 
soldiers  ,  unlit  for  eastern  service.  Sleeping  in  fancied  security,  far  from  the 
turmoil  and  dangers  of  war,  about  the  middle  of  the  night,  July  4th,  1778,  his 
Fort  was  rudsly  entered  by  CtI.  George  Riger-;  Clark  an.l  his  b:ind  of  Vir- 
ginia back-woodsmen,  who  made  the  commander  and  his  soldiers  prisoner.s, 
and  took  possession  of  his  Fort  and  of  the  town. 

While  Washington  and  his  valiant  rebels  were  battling  in  the  Atlantic 
colonies,  with  British  despotism  for  independence  and  liberty.  Col.  Clar'<  con- 
ceived the  plan  for  wresting  the  Illinois  country  from  English  power.  By  per- 
mission and  authority  of  Patrick  Henry,  Governor  of  Virginia,  iie  raisid  four 
small  conpanies  of  volunteers,  and  set  out  through  an  unknown  wilderness  on 
his  perilous  venture.  Landing  from  his  flat  boats  near  old  Fort  Massic,  on 
the  Ohio  river,  with  117  men,  all  afoot,  he  marched  100  miles  to  Kaskaskia, 
through  a  strange  country,  infested  with  hostile  Indians  to  attack  an  English 
fort  of  (to  him)  unknown  strength.  The  French  people  of  Illinois  who  enter- 
tained hereditary  hatred  for  their  British  rulers,  ondiscovering  who  Col.  Clark 
was,  joyfully  hailed  him  as  their  deliverer,  and  unhesitatingly  theirallegiance 
to  the  cause  he  represented. 

In  the  middle  of  the  following  winter,  on  Feb.  5th,  177;),  Col.  Clark,  with 
177  men,  left  Kaskaskia,  and  marching  afoot  through  trackless  prairies  and 
swimming  overflowed  streams,  to  Vincennes,  there  captured  Fort  Sackville, 
with  Col.  Hamilton  its  English  commander,  and  then  completed  his  conque.st, 
for  the  .state  of  Virginia,  of  the  country  between  the  Ohio  and  the  northern 
lakes.  That  new  acquisition  of  territory  was  annexed  to  Virginia,  and  by  its 
legislature,  organized  as  a  county  of  that  state  entitled  the  county  of  Illinois, 
with  Col.  John  Todd  appointed  its  civil  commandant. 

The  Revolutionary  war  ended,  and  peace  with  England  was  restored  by 
the  treaty  signed  at  Paris  on  the  .3d  of  September,  1783;  and  then  the  1.')  in- 
dependent colonies  joined  the  confederacy  since  known  as  the  United  States 
of  America.  To  that  new  born  republic  the  state  of  Virginia  ceded  tlie 
County  of  Illinois,  in  1787,  organized  it  into  the  Northwestern  Territory,  and 


^^8- 

General  Arthur  St.  Clair  was  appointed  its  Governor.  Congress,  by  its  or- 
dinance of  1787,  provided  for  the  ultimate  divison  of  the  Northwestern  Terri- 
tory into  not  less  than  three,  nor  more  tVian  five  States,  and  prohibited  slav- 
ery therein,  though,  unfortunately,  slavery  already  existed  there  since  the 
advent  of  Renault. 

Tlie  tirst  settlement  of  Americans,  in  the  Illinois  country  dates  from  the 
close  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Then  many  of  the  rugged  followers  of  Col. 
Clark  who,  in  their  campaign  of  conquest  through  it,  had  been  charmed  with 
its  magnificent  prairies,  its  beautiful  streams,  and  picturesque  woodlands 
and  evident  fertility  of  its  soil,  returned  with  their  families  and  neighbors  of 
the  east  and  south,  to  the  new,  and  now  free  country,  to  make  their  perman- 
ent homes.  Braving  the  murderous  hostilities  of  the  Indians,  and  innumer- 
able hardships  and  privations  incident  to  frontier  life,  those  sturdy  pioneers 
built  their  cabins  and  blockhouses,  and  held  tlie  country. 

By  subsequent  act  of  Congress  the  Northwestern  Territory  was  divided 
into  five  prospective  states:  and  in  1802,  Ohio,  the  one  of  them  nearest  the  old 
colonies,  was  admitted  as  a  state  into  the  Union,  and  the  rest  were  comprised 
in  the  Territory  of  Indiana  with  Vincennes  as  its  capital.  The  few  settle- 
ments in  Illinois  Territory  at  that  time  were  near  the  Mississippi.  Their 
remoteness  from  Vincennes.  and  the  ditticulties  and  dangers  of  maintaining 
communication  with  it,  impelled  the  Illinoians  to  desire  division  of  Indian 
Territory  and  establishment  of  Illinois  as  a  separate  Territory.  After  much 
discussion  that  object  was  accomplished  by  act  of  Congress  of  March  7th,  1809, 
which  gave  to  Illinois,  including  Wisconsin,  a  separate  Territorial  organiza- 
tion with  Kaskaskia  as  its  capital.  To  set  in  motion  the  political  machinery 
of  tiie  new  Territory,  President  Madison  appointed  Ninian  Edwards,  a  Ken- 
tucky Judge,  its  Governor,  and  Nathaniel  Pope,  also  of  Kentucky,  Secretary. 
Its  population,  gradually  increasing,  Illinois  was  raised,  in  1812,  to  a  Territory 
of  the  second  grade  with  a  legislative  assembly  of  its  own  for  local  self-govern- 
ment. 

On  June  19th,  1812,  the  United  States  declared  war  against  Great  Britian. 
Though  Illinois  was  far  distant  from  the  conflict  that  followed,  it  maintained 
a  military  force  in  the  tield  to  protect  its  northern  frontier,  then  reaching  a 
]ine  drawn  from  Alton  to  Vincennes,  from  ravages  of  hostile  Indians  in  the 
interest  and  pay  of  the  Britisli.  It  was  on  Aug.  15th,  of  that  year,  1812,  that 
2r)  regular  soldiers,  12  militiamen,  2  women  and  12  children,  occupants  of  Fort 
Dearborn  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago  river,  were  massacred  by  the  Indians. 
Among  many  other  atrocities  then  committeed  here  by  the  savages  was  the 
murder,  on  the  10th  of  July  18U,  of  Mrs.  Moore  and  7  children,  on  Wood 
river,  a  few  miles  east  of  the  present  city  of  Alton. 

In  December,  1814.  peace  with  Great  Britian  was  restored,  with  the 
result,  the  year  following,  of  greatly  increasing  the  tide  of  immigration  to 
Illinois  from  all  the  older  states  By  1816,  in  all  that  portion  of  Illinois  Terri- 
tory south  of  the  Kaskaskia  river  the  Indian  title  to  the  land  had  been  ex- 
tinguished and  cabins  of  the  pioneers  had  displaced  the  Indian  lodges.  Salt 
in  sutlicient  quantities  to  supply  the  settlers,  was  produced  by  primitive 
methods  from  saline  springs  on  the  Big  Muddy  and  in  Gallatin  County,  and 
quite  a  commerce  was  maintained,  by  flat-boats,  with  New  Orleans.  Then, 
too,  the  introduction  of  steam  power  was  beginning  to  revolutionize  the  means 


-  29  ^-- 

of  river  transporation.  The  tirst  steam  boat  on  our  western  waters  was  tlie 
"New  Orleans,"  built  at  Pittsburg  in  1811,  by  Livingston  and  Roosevelt,  (the 
President's  grandfather,)  and  descended  to  New  Orleans.  The  fli-ststeam  boat 
to  ascend  the  Mississippi  above  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  was  the  General  Pil<e, 
that  arrived  at  St.  Louis  on  August  1st,  1817.  In  1827  the  "-Mechanic"  was 
the  first  steam  boat  to  cautiously  venture  into  the  Illinois  river.  It  reached 
Fort  Clark,  now  Peoria,  and  returned  to  St.  Louis  in  safety.  The  first  steam 
driven  vessel  arrived  at  Chicago  in  182.'i.  The  first  newspaper  publi-shed  in  Ill- 
inois, the  Illinois- Herald,  was  issued  at  Kaskaskia  by  Capt.  Matthew  Duncan, 
in  1814.  The  tii'st  American  school  teacher  ni  Illinois,  was  Samuel  John  Seeley, 
who  ta'.tght  a  school  at  New  Dssigti.  in  Monroe  County,  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  in  1783. 

With  the  large  influx  of  emigrants  that  poured  into  Illinois  Territory, 
after  termination  of  the  second  war  with  England,  from  the  southern  and 
eas'-ern  states,  there  came  the  politican  and  office  seeker  in  full  force:  and 
then  soon  began  the  agitation  for  advancing  Illinois  from  the  status  of  a 
Territory  to  that  of  a  State.  Very  fortunately,  indeed  for  the  future  of  Illi- 
nois, Nathaniel  Pope  was  elected,  in  ISK),  to  represent  it  as  a  delegate  in 
Congress.  He  secured  an  act  enabling  Illinois  to  apply  for  admission  into  the 
Union.  And,  with  far-seeing  sagacity,  provided  in  that  act  that  rhe  northern 
boundary  of  the  State,  which  Congress,  in  1787,  had  designated  to  be  a  line 
running  west  from  the  extreme  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan,  be 
moved  61  miles  farther  north,  from  which  extension  of  territory  the  fourteen 
northern  counties  of  our  State,  (including  Chicago  and  Galena)  were  sub- 
sequently formed.  He  also  secured  an  amendment  of  the  law  I'ecjuiring  a 
population  of  ()0,000  to  qualify  a  State  for  admission  into  the  Union,  reducing 
the  number  to  40,000;  and  had  Congress  grant  to  Illinois  a  certain  percentage 
of  the  proceeds  of  sales  of  its  public  lands  to  promote  the  cause  of  public 
education. 

The  enabling  act  demanded  a  census  of  the  Territory  to  be  talcen  as  the 
initial  step  in  its  application  for  statehood.  The  actual  number  of  white 
residents  in  Illinois  in  1818  was  .34,620,  but  the  census  enumerators  knew  tiieir 
duty,  and  stationed  at  the  main  cross-roads,  counted  all  who  passed  and  re- 
passed, including  wandering  Indians,  and  emigrants,  passing  through  to 
Missouri  and  elsewhere,  with  the  result  of  reporting  a  large  excess  of  popula- 
tion over  the  stipulated  40,000.  Then  the  necessary  elections  were  held.  In 
August,  1818,  a  properly  constituted  convention  framed  a  state  constitution. 
Shadrack  Bond  was  elected  first  Governor  and  Pierre  Menard  Lieutenant 
Governor.  John  McLean  was  the  first  congressman  elected.  Then  on  the 
.3d  day  of  December,  1818  Congress  passed  the  crowning  act  of  admission  of 
Illinois,  as  a  soverign  State  into  the  Union. 

Such  is  Part  1st  of  the  History  of  Illinois,  of  which  I  have  hurriedly  pre- 
sented but  the  mere  outlines.  It  comprizes  a  story  of  hazardous  adventure 
and  heroic  daring  that  will  in  all  time  claim  the  interest  and  admiration  of 
every  intelligent  citizens.  In  the  achievements  of  those  fearless  pioneers  of 
civilization,  the  trapper,  the  trader,  the  explorer,  the  priest,  wlio,  two  hun- 
dred years  ago,  braved  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  the  savage  wilderness  to 
found  a  new  empire  and  promulgate  old  faith  there  is  an  element  of  romance 
worthy  of  the  finest  efforts  of  the  poet  and  artist.      To  the  hardy   Canadian 


-  30  - 

French  is  due  the  credit  of  discovering  Illinois  and  planting  upon  its  soil  the 
germs  of  European  civilization.  But  their  faculty  for  ready  assimilation  with 
the  inferior  race  they  came  in  contract  with  blasted  their  energies  and  par- 
alyzed all  progress.  For  nearly  a  century  they  were  in  sole  control  of  this 
prolific  country,  of  unlimited  natural  resources;  yet,  at  the  end  of  that  period 
they  surrendered  it  to  the  British  almost  in  the  same  condition  in  which  they 
had  found  it.  The  only  products  of  their  long  tenure  were  a  splendid  stone 
fortress  on  a  sandy  foundation:  a  few  villages,  with  a  Catholic  church  in  each, 
on  the  alluvial  banks  of  treacherous  streams:  rudely  built  water  mills  on 
creeks  that  were  dry  half  the  year,  and  a  white  population  not  exceeding  one 
thousand  in  number. 

Their  agriculture,  little  more  than  supplied  their  immediate  wants:  their 
dwellings  were  of  simple  and  antiquated  construction;  their  commerce  little 
more  than  trade  and  barter  with  the  natives  for  the  natural  products  of  the 
forest,  streams  and  prairies,  and  their  roads  the  ancient  trails  of  the  buffalo 
and  Indian.  But,  shut  out  from  the  world,  with  no  artiticial  wants,  and  free 
from  the  restraints  of  law;  free  from  the  tyranny  of  fashions  and  exactions  of 
public  opinion,  and  exempt  from  the  curse  of  taxation,  they  enjoyed,  if  not 
supreme  happiness,  the  highest  degree  of  contentment. 

The  thirteen  years  of  British  rule  added  nothing  to  the  physical  in- 
tellectual or  industrial  condition  of  Illinois;  but,  by  continually  inciting 
Indian  hostilities  retarded  its  advancement.  A  new  era  dawned  upon  this 
region  with  its  conquest,  in  1778,  by  Col.  George  Rogers  Clark.  In  his  track 
came  a  new  people,  of  the  aggressive  Anglo-Saxon  stock,  fresh  from  their 
baptism  in  the  spirit  of  liberty  through  the  tires  of  the  Revolutionary  war. 
From  the  coming  of  those  hardy  pioneers  dates  the  beginning  of  the  wonder- 
ful developuient  of  our  great  State.  By  the  necromancy  of  their  genius  and 
industry  they  converted  the  barren  wilderness  of  the  French,  into  the  garden 
spot  of  the  world.  Illinois  was  admitted  into  the  Union  scarcely  86  years  ago, 
about  the  extreme  space  of  a  human  iife,  and  in  that  comparatively  brief 
period  the  marvellous  unfolding  of  its  latent  riches  and  possibilities  has 
amazed  humanity.  An  honored  citizen  of  Cass  County,  Mr.  Wm.  Stevenson, 
often  seen  driving  through  our  streets,  still  "hale  and  hearty,"  was  born  five 
years  before  Illinois  became  a  State.  He  has  lived  here  under  all  the  Gover- 
noi-s  from  Ninian  Edwards,  to  Charles  S.  Deneen.  He  was  here  when  Jack- 
sonville and  Springfield  were  small  collections  of  log  cabins,  and  Indians 
occupied  the  northern  half  of  the  State.  He  was  here  long  before  Illinois  had 
either  a  canal,  railroad,  or  telegrapli:  and  saw  the  2,000  volunteers  called  for 
by  Governor  Reynolds,  rendezvous  at  Beardstown,  in  18.32,  and  march  to  Rock 
Island  to  repeal  the  invasion  of  the  State  by  Black  II;i\vk  and  his  band.  Even 
in  the  space  of  my  own  life  time  and  certainly  no  one  in  this  audience  will 
class  me  among  the  old  men.  I  have  seen  the  population  of  Illinois  expand 
from  100,000  to  over  5,000,000.  I  saw  the  construction  of  the  first  rail  road 
built  in  this  State,  which  was  also  the  first  built  in  the  Mississippi  valley:  and 
I  saw  the  wires  stretched  across  onr  prairies  for  the  first  telegraph  line  in  Illi- 
nois. In  my  time,  Illinois  has  arisen  from  the  verge  of  ruin  and  bankruptcy, 
unable  to  pay  the  interest  on  its  enormous  indebtedness,  incurred  for  its  insane 
scheme  of  internal  improvements,  of  1837,  and  with  giant  strides  march  on 
and  up  through  every  obstacle  to  the  pirniacle  of   wealth  and   power   it  now 


-  31  - 

occupies.  And  keepino^  pace  witli  its  astounding  growth  of  material  wealth 
were  all  the  multifarious  interests  of  education,  religion,  social  refinement, 
and  other  factors  of  modern  civilization. 

It  is  our  proud  boast  that  in  arts  and  sciences;  in  the  domain  of  classic 
learning  and  literature;  in  the  field  of  politics,  diplomacy  and  statesmanship; 
in  the  realm  of  mechanical  inventions  and  discoveries,  the  sons  and  daughters 
of  Illinois  are  found  in  the  front  ranks,  and  are,  to-day  in  all  lines  of  in- 
tellectual activity,  the  peers  of  any  in  the  world. 

To  the  patriotic  citizens  of  our  State,  its  history  must  always  inspire 
sentiments  of  pride  and  exultation.  Illinois  has  become  the  key-stone  of  the 
great  arch  spanning  this  continent  from  ocean  to  ocean,  and  one  of  the  strong- 
est and  most  important  States  of  the  American  Union. 

By  tlie  genius  of  its  people  and  successful  developement  of  its  innate 
capabilities,  it  has  progressed  from  on  obscure  Canadian  colony  and  conquered 
British  province  to  its  present  proud  preeminence  among  the  commonwealths 
of  this  mighty  Republic;  ranking  First  of  the  States  in  extent  of  railroad 
mileage. 

Second  in  wealth  and  educational  institutions  and  Third  in  population. 

"Not  without  thy  wondrous  story, 

Illinois,  Illinois, 
Can  be  writ  this  nations  glory, 

Illinois,  Illinois; 
Throughout  the  records  of  thy  years, 
With  all  their  varying  hopes  and  fears, 
Thy  true  greatness  there  appears, 

Illinois,  Illinois." 


CYNTHIA  ANN  McCONNELL. 


THE  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  Dr.  Ephraim  Rew,'  who  was 
'  born  in  the  State  of  Massachusetts  in  the  year  1778.  He  started  on 
liorsebaclc  in  December,  1829,  from  his  home  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
on  a  western  trip,  hoping-  to  benetit  his  liealth.  Six  weeks  later,  he  arrived 
at  Meredosia,  Illinois,  in  Morgan  county;  he  had  greatly  improved  in  healtli, 
and  being-  pleased  with  the  western  country  returned  for  liis  family.  As 
tliere  were  two  physicians  in  Meredosia,  he  concluded  he  would  settle  at 
Beardstown,  in  which  there  was  but  one  house,  at  the  foot  of  Lafayette  street 

in  whicli  lived  Thomas  Beard  and 
family,  and  also  another  family  with 
them.  Dr.  Rew  came  from  St.  Louis 
on  a  tlatboat;  he  was  six  weeks  in 
making  the  river  trip.  He  covered 
the  deck  of  an  old  boat  in  the  river 
with  Hat  stones,  on  which  to  build 
flies  for  cooking  purposes,  and  began 
cutting  timber  in  the  woods  on  the 
Schuyler  side  of  the  river,  for  lus  cab- 
in, the  family,  in  tlie  meantime  living 
on  the  boat  in  the  river.  At  tlie  end 
or  a  few  weeks.  Dr.  Rew  and  his  fam- 
ily consisting  of  himself,  wife  and  his 
son.  Bradford,  upon  the  earnest  solici- 
tation of  Thomas  Beard  moved  into 
the  cabin  Ki  feet  s(iuare  with  the 
otlirr  two  families.  In  the  meantime 
he  proceeded  with  his  building  enter- 
prize,  and  erected  a  cabin  1.5  feet 
s(|uare  on  the  northeast  corner  of  Sec- 
ond and  State  streets  on  part  of  lots  n 
and  7  in  block  11,  which  property  he 
He  lived  i'.  this  cabin  which 
he  sold  it  to  John 
south,  on  lots  ;]  and 
f  and  family.  The 
fiison    f\)r   the    west 


('YN  1  111  \    \N\ 

pu;vlia>H(l  ni    i  hoiii  i^ 

Sl.KHl     uIm    1         tJK^    ()\H    1 

S.  Will.oiirn  the  saui 
4  in  block  111.  (in  \vlii( 
next  \ear  Dr.  Ivt'A-  n 
half  of  the  riorllicast 


I  Ik 


ded 


/NNLLL         a 
I    \I  n   Mih,    1- 

NC  \,i)\\  1-.  but  a  few  days  wh'  ,i 
itb  and  moved  across  tlie  s*  eet 
as^aiii  biiiit  a  cabin  for  oiuise 
I  bis  proiiertv    witli    I'eiiry    M; 


2!)T  IS    U    1 


which 


aljoiit    one   mile 


-  33  - 

west  of  BInff  Springs  and  he  then  moved  into  a  house  on  Second  street,  in 
wliich  house  Cyntliia  Ann  Rew  was  born  on  tlie  6tli  day  of  April,  1832.  Tliis 
liouse  was  afterwards  moved  5  or  (5  blocks  south,  where  it  remained  until  last 
fall  wlien  it  was  burned,  73  yeai-s  after  it  was  built,  in  1831.  At  the  date  of 
her  leaving  Virginia  in  tlie  spring  af  1905  with  lier  liusband,  David  J.  McCon- 
nell,  to  make  their  home  at  McCook,  Nebraska,  wliere  their  son,  Lewis  W. 
McConnell,  resides,  she  was  the  oldest  native  of  Beardstown  living  in  Cass 
county. 

Dr.  Rew  was  the  flret  physician  at  Beardstown,  and  while  there,  he  prac- 
tised medicine,  and  continued  his  practise  after  removing  to  his  farm  near 
Bluff  Springs,  and  up  to  his  death.  He  was  a  widower,  witii  five  children, 
wlien  he  married  his  second  wife,  tlie  subject  of  tliis  sketch,  being  the  only 
cliild  of  tlie  second  marriage.  Wliile  living  in  Beardstown,  Mrs.  Rew  as- 
sisted her  husband  in  a  tinancial  way,  by  making  men's  clothing.  In  18.33, 
the  Doctor  moved  from  Beardstown  to  the  tract  in  29-18-11,  wliich  he  had 
procured  of  Madison,  and  on  May  17th,  183(5,  purchased  of  John  Gains  an  ad- 
ditional 120  acres  adjoining.  This  land  is  now  a  part  of  the  Oetgen  farm. 
Mrs.  McConnell  remembers,  that  her  father  dug  ditches  along  the  boundnrits 
of  his  lands,  to  protect  Iris  crops  from  cattle,  as  fences  were  expensive  in 
tliose  days. 

Here  Dr.  Rew  remained,  raising  crops,  and  practising  medicine  until  his 
deatli  which  occurred  on  tlie  23d  day  of  May,  1842,  when  liis  daughter,  Cyn- 
thia, was  ten  years  and  one  month  old.  She  well  remembers,  that-  on  the 
morning  of  his  death,  he  told  his  wife,  tliat  his  time  liad  come;  that  he  had 
some  business  matters  witli  his  neighbors,  that  ought  to  be  settled:  he  mounted 
liis  saddle  horse  and  rode  away  to  finish  that  work;  in  a  few  liours  lie  re- 
turned, and  complaining  of  being  cold,  asked  the  wife  to  put  away  the  liorse, 
and  lie  went  to  liis  bed,  and  slept  for  a  short  time,  and  upon  his  awakening, 
his  wife  asked  him  if  he  would  have  some  gruel  made;  he  replied  that  he 
would  prefer  heartier  food,  and  she  went  to  the  smoke  house  to  get  a  slice  of 
ham  to  cook  for  him,  his  little  child  remaining  at  his  bedside.  Wliile  the 
mother  was  cooking  the  meal,  he  turned  his  head,  looked  long  and  earnestly 
into  the  eyes  of  his  young  daughter,  and  died  without  uttering  a  word.  He 
was  a  Free  Mason,  and  the  members  of  his  order  came  from  long  distances  to 
attend  his  funeral  services,  which  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Levi  Springer,  who 
lived  for  many  years  on  his  farm  three  miles  east  of  Virginia.  He  was  buried 
in  the  old  cemetery  in  the  city  of  I>eardstown  which  he  as.^isted  to  establi^ii. 
The  stone  at  his  grave  has  crumbled  away,  and  the  spot  where  he  lies  can  not 
now  be  located. 

The  estate  of  Dr.  Rew  was  settled  by  his  son,  Horatio  G.  Rew;  tlie  sale  of 
the  personal  property  was  held  on  Saturd  ly.  July  30,  1842,  at  tlie  farm. 

An  extract,  from  the  sale  bill,  may  be  of  interest,  as  as  it  shows  the  pre- 
valing  prices  paid  at  sales  in  that  day: 

One  large  cow  and  calf  sold  to  Nathan  F.  Horn  for  $;». 

One  dun  cow  sold  to  John  B.  Bell  for  $8.25. 

One  brindle  cow  sold  to  Jesse  Ankrum  for  $10.12. 

One  brown  cow  sold  to  Stephen  Holt  for  $ht. 

One  red  cow  sold  to  John  McKown  for  $8.50 

Two  cows  taken  by  the  widow  at  appraised  value. 


-34- 

One  three-year-old  white  steer  sold  to  iViigustns  Krohe  for  $12. 

One  three-year-old  red  steer  sold  to  Augustus  Krohe  for  $11.75. 

One  two-year-old  red  steer  sold  to  John  Duchart  for  $8.75. 

One  red  yearlihg  heifer  sold  to  Amos  Bonney  for  $5. 

One  red  lineback  heifer  sold  to  John  Duchart  for  $.3.25. 

One  bay  mare  sold  to  John  Decker  for  $57. 

One  bay  mare  sold  to  Mrs.  Lucy  Arm  Rew  for  $10. 

One  two-year-old  roan  lilley  sold  to  George  White  for  $11. 

One  yearling  bay  filley  sold  to  Weslev  Daugherty  for  $20. 

One  three-year-old  brown  gelding  sold  to  J.  C  A.  Seeger  for$()1.5(). 

One  small  sucking  colt  sold  to  Amos  Bonney  for  $19. 

Ten  bbls.  corn  sold  to  John  J.  Moseley  for  $6.06. 

Five  bbls.  corn  sold  to  W.  B.  Gaines  for  $2.50, 

Joseph  M.  McLane  was  the  crier  of  the  sale  and  X  B.  Thompson  was  the 
clerk.    John  Savage  was  the  collector  of  taxes  in  1813. 

The  mother  of  Mrs.  ]\rcConnell,  Mrs.  Lucy  Ann  Rew,  married  Benjamin 
Stribling.  on  March  26th,  1816.  The  ceremony  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Red- 
dick  Horn,  a  Methodist  protestant  pi'eacher.  Mr.  Stribling  was  the  father  of 
Isaac  Milton  Stribling;  lie  entered  180  acres  of  land  in  Sees  32  and  33  T  18 
R  10,  in  1830:  most  of  this  land  now  belongs  to  the  heirs  of  I.  M.  Stribling. 
Mr.  Benjamin  Stribling  brought  his  new  wife  and  her  daughter  to  this  farm, 
and  here  Mrs.  McConnell  was  married  to  David  J.  McConnell  on  September 
4,  1855,  by  Rev.  L.  C.  Pitner,  a,  noted  Methodist  preacher,  the  year  previous 
to  her  marriage  Mrs.  McCorniell  professed  religion  at  a  camp-meeting  con- 
fhicted  by  Peter  Cartwriglit  at  the  Garner  Ciiapel  grove,  six  miles  east  of  Vir- 
giniii.  Her  husband  was  then  a  clerk  in  a  store  owned  by  William  Chase,  of 
Beard.stown;  this  store  was  in  Virginia,  on  lot  109,  where  the  shoe  shop  of 
John  Menzies  now  is:  immediately  after  the  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCon- 
nell removed  to  Beardstown  where  he  was  employed  by  Chase  in  his  Beards- 
town  store;  Cliase  married  Susie  Miller,  who  was  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Sarah  C 
Gatton,  of  this  city.  Here  they  remained  for  nearly  twenty  years,  or  until 
1871,  when  Mr.  Benjamin  Stril)]ing  purchased  the  Bevis  property  in  Barden 
and  Wood's  addition  to  Virginia,  and  invited  Mrs.  McConnell  to  come  and 
live  with  llieiii.  They  moved  into  tlie  Stribling  property,  and  here  remained 
unt  11  t!ie  spring  of  19)5.  Nfr.  Stribling  died  June  25,  1880,  and  his  widow,  the 
mother  of  Mrs.  McConnell,  died  January  11,  1896. 

Mrs.  McConneli's  memory  of  past  events,  is  excellent;  the  first  church 
sei'vice  she  recollects  was  held  by  Rev.  Levi  Springer  at  the  farm  liouse  of 
lier  lilt  licr.  when  she  was  14-  years  old:  the  liouse  contained  one  room,  18  feet 
.square:  benches  and  cliairs  were  br'^ught  in  for  the  hearers:  among  whom 
were  Mr.  GarlicU  and  wife,  Mrs.  Frank  Hammer,  of  Beardstown,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Higgins,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaines.  Wiien  she  was  seven  years  old  a  school 
house  was  built  where  Bluff  Springs  now  is  situated.  Mr.'^  Henry  Babb  was 
the  iii-st  teacher,  M  iry  Ann  Lindsley,  who  afterward  married  John  L.  Buck- 
lev,  was  the  second  teacher:  tiie  next  was  a  man  named  Humingston,  wlio 
was  a.  brutal  wretch  wlio  deserved  hanging.  Of  her  step-father,  Mr.  Strib- 
ling, she  says  that  lie  always  regarded  lier  as  if  she  was  his  own  child,  and  she 
declares  that  he  was  one  of  the  best  men  tliat  ever  lived. 

Mrs.  McConnell's  liusband,  David  I.  was  born  January  4,  1830  iti  the  state 
of  Tennessee;  when  he  was  a  year  old,  his  father,  John  M.  McConnell,  a  tailor, 
brought  him  to  Missouri:  lie  came  to  Beardstown  in  1848.  He  died  in  the 
west,  a  few  weeks  after  their  departure  from  this  city. 


HENRY  R.  HULL. 


HENRY  I\.  Hull  was  born  on  the  11th  day  of  September,  1823,  in  Marion 
county,  Illinois,  near  the  town  of  Mt.  Vernon.  His  father,  Seth 
Hull,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  the 
state  of,  Massachusetts.  This  family  came  to  Beardstown,  in  1834;  they  came 
up  from  St.  Louis  on  the  steamer  "Utility,"  in  a  run  of  seven  days,  whicli 
was  then  a  quick  trip.  This  boat  was  rebuilt  for  running  on  the  Sangamon 
river  and  made  a  trip  or  two  to  Petersburg,  and  then  gave  it  up. 

When  Mr.  Hull  tirst  saw  Beardstown,  then  a  boy  of  11  years  of  age,  it  was 

a  little  town  of  some  four  stores,  a 
grist  mill  and  saw  mill,  with  one 
church,  in  which  all  the  d liferent  de- 
nominations held  religious  service, 
situated  on  Sth  street,  if  he  correctly 
remembers  the  location.  Among  the 
merchants  were  the  Wilbourn  broth- 
ers, who  were  the  first  pork-packei's  of 
the  town;  and  Knapp  and  Pogue.  wIh^ 
owned  both  a  store  and  a  mill.  The 
tifst  physician  whom  Mr.  Hull  remem- 
bers, was  s  Dr.  Giljson.  who  came 
from  Kentucky.  I'eiuained  about  tpu 
years,  and  w(>nt  to  P>erlin,  Illinois, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Turpin.  also 
a  Kentuckian,  wlio  practised  there 
some  eight  y(>ars,  and  went  to  (Mii- 
cago.  One  of  the  lirst  preachers  he 
knew,  was  Levi  C.  I'itner,  a  M(>[ho(i- 
isl :  Cyrus  Wi'ight.  a  larj^e  heav\  m.in, 
was  a,  Paptist  preacher,  who  lived  in 
the  northeast  paitol'the  count\.  !>nt 
IIENKi    b.  JH  LL.  freipienllv  was  iicard    in    beard, -tow  n. 

Tlie  first  time  Mr.  Hull  met  George  Plahn 
Tinsley,  a  merchant  and  commission  man 
corner  of  the  junction  of  Washington  s! 
Shaw,  and  liis  brother.  .John  B.  Shaw,  wen- 
was  tiien  unmarried,  but  hUer  weni  to  Ch; 
of  Dr.  Chandler. 


,  he    \vas 

n    1  h 

'    employ    of   S. 

M. 

w  ho  \\as    1 

)cai(M 

1    at    the    noi'th. 

■ast 

|-cet     with 
•  ^  at  t oiaiiM' 

Mail 

s  of  tl 

str.-et.     .].    II( 
(■  town:  the    la 

nry 
Icr 

i.ndler\'il  le 

and 

narried  a  (iaii;^! 

itur 

-  :ui  - 

Mr.  Hull  assisted  in  running-  the  terry  boat  when  quite  a  boy:  this  terry 
was  owned  by  Thomas  Beard,  and  was  a  great  money  maker,  wlien  emigra- 
'.ion  was  pouring  into  Missouri  and  Iowa;  often  the  receipts  would  amount  to 
one  liundred  dollars  per  day. 

The  tirstsciiool  Henry  Hull  attended  was  conducted  by  his  father,  Setli 
Hull,  assisted  by  a  man  named  Smith,  supported  by  voluntary  contributions. 
Francis  Arenz  he  remembers,  as  a  taller  man  tliaii  his  brother.  John  A. 
Arenz,  but  thin  in  flesli;  he  did  not  remain  long  at  Beardstown,  but  removed 
to  Arenzville,  which  town  he  founded. 

The  name  of  Heru'y  R.  Hull  is  found  on  the  Beardstown  list  ot  voters  at 
the  general  election  held  in  Illinois,  on  August  3d  LSKi.  The  judges  of  elec 
tion  were  Amos  Atwater,  Plorjir^e  Ho  wen  and  Mclveever  Dellaven;  the  clerks 
were  James  C.  Leonard  and  Edward  R.  Saunders.  Upon  the  democratic 
ticket  were  the  following  named  candidates: 

For  governor,  Augustus  C.  French. 

For  lieutenant  governor.  N.  G.  Wilcox. 

For  representative  in  congress,  Peter  Ciirtwright. 

For  representative  in  state  legislature.  Edwaid  \V.  Turner. 

For  slieritf,  W.  J.  DeHaven. 

For  coroner,  H.  Springer. 

For  county  commissioner,  Thomas  Plaster. 

Upon  tlie  whig  ticket  were  the  following  names: 

I'^or  governor,  Thomas  M.  Kilpatrick. 

For  lieutenant  governor,  J.  B  Wells. 

For  represenrative  in  congress,  A.  Lincoln. 

l^'or  i-epresentative  in  stnte  legislature.  F.  Arenz. 

Foi-sheriir.  .John  Savage. 

For  coroner,  .lames  L6;,an. 

For  county  conimissionei',  11.  McIIenry. 

The  (luestion  as  to  whether  a  Constitutional  Convention  should  be  held, 
was  also  voted  upon. 

This  election,  was  lield  uufler  a  law  retiuiring  each  voter  to  name  the 
candidates  of  his  choice,  and  the  votes  vvere  rhus  recorded  by  the  officers  hold- 
ing the  election.  A  resident  of  the  county,  was  allowed  to  vote  at  any  vot- 
ing place  in  the  county,  and  the  name  of  Samtiel  Petetisli,  is  found  on  tlie 
P>eai'dstown  Poll  book,  and  the  name  of  Dr.  Chandler,  of  Chandlerville,  is 
foinid  upon  tlie  X'irginia  Poll  book.  The  election  at  Virginia  on  the  same  day 
was  lield  by  A.  Xavlor,  .lohii  C.  Scott  and  .Julius  Elmore  judges,  David  Whit- 
mire  and  David  Iilair  clerks.  At  Virginia  there  were  135  votes  foi-  Kilpatrick 
for  governor,  and  100  votes  for  French  for  governor:  127  votes  for  Lincoln,  and 
98  votes  for  Cartwright:  109  votes  for  Arenz,  and  105  votes  for  Turner:  135  votes 
for  McIIenry,  and  ss  votes  for  Plasters:  122  vol  es  for  Savage,  and  i)S  votes  for 
DeHaven:  i2(i  votes  for  Logan,  and  95  votes  for  Springer.  There  vvere  U>< 
votes  cast  for  the  convention,  and  47  votes  against  it. 

In  1.S51,  Mr.  Hull  vva.s  married  in  Morgati  county,  near  the  present  town 
of  Literberry,  to  Miss  Lydia  Ann  Hudson,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Hudson,  and  a 
sister  of  William  Hudson  and  of  >Irs.  Nancy  M.  T'etetish  of  this  city.  This 
lafly  died  at  Beardstown.  in  isiio.  Mr.  Hull  remained  a  widower  until  IStw, 
vvlien  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  Case,  a  widow,  who  was  a  Henderson,  b.y  birth, 
related  to  tlie  Henderson  family  of  Morgan  county:  she  died  in  the  state  of 
Kansas  in  the  year  1.S95,  while  visiting  a  daughter  who  resided  in   tliat  .state. 

In  1S07,  Mr.  Hull  came  to  Virginia  to  build  a  house  for  Ids  brother-in-law, 
Ml'.  Samuel  II  Petetish,  and  has  resided  here  ever  since,  making  his  home  at 
the  Petetish  residence.  .Mthough  nearlv  eightv-two  years  of  ag\-.  he  eiijo\s 
good  health.  He  i.s  ii(»t  ijuite  so  vigorous  as  when  in  i.S()7  he  was  iii:iisliai  or 
the  city  of  Beardstown,  still,  he  is  well  preserved,  considering  his  years.  ]lo 
i.s  a  very  quiet,  and  unassuming  man,  of  excelle  it  liabits,  and  of  strict  inU'g- 
rity.  He  deserves  to  live  as  long  as  he  desires.  The  above  engraving  was 
made  from  an  old  dicture  taken  at  P>eardstown,  in  lS(iO. 


BUSINESS  DIRECTORY. 


Business  Directory  of  Cass  county,  Illinois,  for  tlie  year  eig-iiteen  hundred 

and  sixty: 

CITY  OF  BEARDSTOWN. 

Attorneys  at  Law:  Henry  E.  Dumnier,  Thomas  M.  Tiiompson,  Thos. 
H.  Carter,  C.  H.  Houselveeper,  J.  H.  Sliaw,  James  M.  Epier,  G.  rollard. 

Physicians:  Cliarles  E.  Parl<er,  F.  Ehrhardt,  H.  H.  Littlelield,  .1.  R. 
Dowler,  Johivlfeei  liomeopathic  pliyscian;  T.  A.  Hoffman,  chemist  and  pliysi- 
cian;  E.  S.  Cartiei',  surgeon  dentist;  Dr.  D.  Wnitney,  surgeon  dentist. 

Printers:  ShurtletT  &  Jones,  publishers  Beardstown  Democrat;  Thomp- 
son, Fulks,  and  Irwin,  publishers  Weekly  Illinoian. 

Magistrates,  Notaries  Public,  Agents,  Etc:  C.  H.  C.  Havekluft, 
county  judge;  J.  A.  Arenz,  Notary  public  and  magistrate;  Thomas  S.  Wiles, 
notary  public  and  magistrate;  Thomas  M.Thompson,  notary  public;  S.Em- 
mons, magistrate  and  land  agent;  L.  F.  Sanders,  tire  and  life  insurance  agent; 
D.  C.  Meigs,  insurance  agent;  C.  H.  Housekeeper,  police  magistrate:  I.  H. 
Harris,  land  agent. 

Dealers  in  Boots  and  shoes:  Sanders  &  Stettenus,  Tread  way  &  Bro., 
Adam  Fisher,  J.  Livermore. 

Blacksmith  Shops:  Thomas  B.  Clayton,  Christian  French,  William  II. 
Ewing. 

Proprietors  of  Brick  Yards:    Fred  Potter,  John  Baujan. 

Bankers:    J.  C.  Leonard  &  Co.,  Bankers  and  dealers  in  exchange. 

Hotels:  Park  House,  II.  Billings;  National  House,  C.  P.  Dunbangh; 
Virginia  House,  Campbell  &  Goodloe;  Farmer's  Home.  G.  Thompson. 

Druggists:    Menke  &  Fletcher,  William  Whipp,  Rice  &  Maxwell. 

Dealers  in  General  Merchandise:  D.  M.  Irwin,  Chase,  Parker  & 
McLaughlin,  Ed  P.  Chase,  Dutch  &  Brother,  George  Plahn  &  Co.,  Leonard 
Montgomery  &  Co..  Nolte  &  McClure,  M.  L.  Read  &  Co.,  George  Kuhl,  Isaac 
W.  Overall,  C.  F.  Frauman,  C.  Nicholson,  G.  F.  Sielschott,  II.  Boemler,  Alex- 
ander Lammers,  G.  H.  Seeger,  John  Quigg;  dealer  in  stoves  and  hardware;  F. 
H.  Rearick  &  Bro.;  H.  B.  De  Sollar;  C.  F.  Morton. 

Dealers  in  Lumber:    II.  F.  Foster  &Co..  Hitchcock  &  Montgomery. 

Dealers  in  Groceries:  Low  &  Billings,  wholesale  &  retail;  Tiiompson 
&  Fames,  commission  merchants;  Fred.  Krohe,  J.  C.  Eberwein,  R.  F.  Kippen 
berg. 

Manufactories,  Etc.:  Thom,  Webb  &  Co.,  proprietors  of  the  Phoenix 
foundry  and  machine  shop;  C.  A.  Bussman,  manufacturer  of  sash,  doors  and 


-38- 

blinds;  II.  Molilmaiin  &  Co.,  manufacturer  of  sash,  doors  and  blinds;  Durand 
&  Co.,  undertakers  and  manufacturers  of  all  kinds  of  cabinet  ware;  Jienjamin 
Eyre  &  Treadway,  manufacturer  of  vvag-ons  and  plows;  H.  B.  De  Sollar, 
manufacturers  of  carriages  and  wagons;  J.  II.  Pfeil,  manufacturer  of  carri- 
ag-es  and  wagons:  A.  Wetterau,  wagons  and  plows;  C.  II.  Bockmeier,  manu- 
facturer of  plows;  John  Lehmberger.  manufacturer  of  cigars  and  tolDacco;  A. 
J.  Wevers.  cigar  manufacturer;  G.  W.  Weaver,  proprietor  of  steam  saw  mill; 
Fisli,  proprietor  of  flouring  mill;  E.  S.  Houghton,  proprietor  of  flouring  mill; 
W.  E.  Pearce,  proprietor  of  flouring  mill;  Rearick,  proprietor  of  flouring  mill. 

Miscellaneous:  Charles  Sprague,  President  of  the  Rock  Island  &  Alton 
Railroad  Co.;  Ira  Crow,  proprietor  of  feed  stable;  John  Putman,  proprietor  of 
jewelry  and  music  store;  John  J.  Pappmier,  watchmaker  and  jeweler;  C.  A; 
Kulil,  brick  mason;  A.  Orlopp,  builder  and  contractor;  August  Hoyer,  car- 
penter and  joiner:  S.  Harper,  carpenter  and  joiner;  J.  H.  Reitz,  architect  and 
carpenter;  J.  II.  Nickel,  dealer  in  harness,  saddles,  whips  and  truhks;  A. 
Petri,  gunsmith;  J.  W.  McClure,  baker  and  confectioner;  William  McCrndden, 
marble  dealer;  F.  W.  Tracy,  proprietor  steam  ferry;  Moehring,  proprietor 
barbershop;  J.  Duchart,  meat  market;  Mrs.  S.  Harper,  milliner;  Joseph  Rutf, 
proprietor  of  Lafayette  saloon;  J.  Montgomery  &  Bros.,  proprietors  eating 
and  ice  cream  saloon;  Jacob  Bohrmann,  proprietor  of  Washington  brewery; 
Miss  Sarah  Whipp,  millinery  and  fancy  store;  II.  Steinkuhler,  carpenter;  Gr- 
Moore,  saloon  proprietor. 

TOWN  OF  VIRGINIA. 

Hezekiah  Naylor,  Proprietor  Cass  County  Independent. 

I.  H.  Miller.  President  of  Union  College. 

R.  S.  Thomas,  attorney-at-law,  and  President,  Illinois  River  R.  R.  Co. 

Cr.  Pollard,  attorney-at-law. 

N.  B.  Thompson,  merchant. 

C.  H.  Oliver,  merchant. 

Pierce  &  Co.,  merchants. 

(t.  W.  (Joodspeed  M.  D.,  physician. 

E.  Loomis,  family  grocery. 

W.  E.  Martin,  grocer  and  corn  merchant. 

William  Kendall,  grocer  and  produce  dealer. 

Dr.  Phillips,  proprietor  of  flouring  mill. 

John  E.  Haskell,  proprietor  of  woolen  manufactory. 

N.  B.  Beers,  house  builder. 

C.  Brooks,  carpenter  and  joiner. 

William  Armstrong,  proprietor  of  Glen  Cottage  Nursery. 

Jacob  Dunaway,  proprietor  of  Virginia  Hotel. 

H.  E.  Warcl,  Proprietor  of  Livery  Stable. 

Robison  &  Brother,  carriage  and  wagon  makers. 

L.  F.  Briggs,  proprietor  of  "Cass  County  Union." 

Robert  IT.  Cliittick,  carriage  and  plow  maker. 

J.  B.  Arthur,  blacksmith. 

H.  Hiiichclilf,  blacksmith. 

C.  E.  Lawson,  saddle  and  harness  maker. 

J.  G.  Campbell,  boot  and  shoe  dealer. 

C.  Magel  &Co.,  boot  and  shoe  dealers. 


39 


E.  B.  Randal],  lumber  dealer. 
L.  S.  AUard,  druggist, 
W.  Sliiiiey,  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
Jacob  Wise,  butcher. 

TOWN  OFCIIANDLERVILLE. 

S.  Paddock  &  Bro.,  merchants. 

W.  L.  Way,  merchant. 

II.  McKee  &  Co.,  merchants  ,' 

L.  P.  Renshaw,  dealer  in  grain. 

L.  McKee,  postmaster  and  justice. 

K.  II.  Chandler,  Police  Magistrate. 

A.  Englis  &  Co.,  plow  makers. 

A.  Englis  and  McKee,  carriage  and  wagon  makers. 

J.  Robinson,  miller. 

R.  Ward  &  Co.,  .saddle  and  harness  makers. 

C.  L.  Robinson,  builder  of  (rilmore's  patent-  bee  houses. 

J.  W.  Gladden,  carriage  and  wagon  maker  and  sign  painter, 

G.  Mayreis,  boot  and  shoe  maker. 

W.  T.  Sprouse.  blacksmith. 

Charles  During,  Bakery  and  saloon. 

J.  Raworth  and  A.  J.  Bruner,  attorneys  at  law. 

R.  Boles,  Merchant  tailor. 

Thomas  J.  Brook,  carpenter  and  joiner. 

Charles  E.  Chandler,  druggist. 

N.  S.  Read,  M.  D..  physican. 

Charles  E.  Lippencott,  M.  I).,  physician. 

Charles  Chandler,  M.  D.,  physician. 

TOWN  OF  ASIIL.'VND. 
W.  R.  Hunter,  merchant  and  grocer. 
J.K.  VanDemark.  county  surveyor  and  justice. 

TOWN  OF  PRINCETON. 
O.  H.  Flickwir,  merchant  and  grocer. 

D.  Ridpath,  merchant  tailor. 

Hugh  B.  Elliott,  carriage  and  wagon  maker. 
Robert  Putman,  pliysician. 

TOWN  OF  ARENZVILLE. 
J.  B.  Glass,  physician  and  surgeon. 
Charles  E.  Yeck  &  Bro.,  mercharjts  and  grocers. 
J.  L.  Cire,  merchant  and  justice. 
H.  Englebaugh,  merchant  and  miller. 
Charles  Coerper,  miller. 
H.  Schatfer.  boot  and  shoe  dealer. 
Charles  Pillney,  carpenter  and  cabinet  maker. 
N.  Brill  &  S.  Gephart,  wagon  makers  and  blacksmitlis. 
A.  Boehme,  merchant. 

TOWN  OF  NEWMAMVILLE. 
T.  B.  Way,  merchant. 
A.  Oakley,  .school  teacher. 
C,  King  &  Son,  chair  manufactory. 

E.  Smith,  brickmaker. 

TOWN  OF  PIIILADELPrilA. 
S.  Christy,  pliysician. 
J.  F.  Black,  machinist. 
H.  Be  vis.  merchant, 


JUDGE  FRANCIS  H.  REARICK. 


FRANCIS  H.  Rearick,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Berle. 
burg,  in  tlie  province  of  Westplia- 
lia,  in  the  Kingdom  of  Prussia,  Octo- 
ber 12,  1829.  Was  one  of  five  sons  of 
Jacob  Rearicl<,  wlio  was  a  copper  and 
tinsmith  in  ihe  old  country  and  lav- 
ing a  large  family  of  live  sons  and  one 
daughter  conceived  the  idea  of  mov- 
ing to  the  rnitod  States.  Having  a 
gieat  horror  of  i  he  forced  military 
senice  which  his  sons  would  have  to 
render  to  the  king  of  Prussia,  he  de- 
cified  to  go  to  a  new  countiy,  the  Uni- 
ted States,  the  "home  of  the  brave 
and  the  land  of  the  free,"  and  emi- 
grated in  is;',(i  ill  the  the  month  of 
.lune  from  his  home  in  Prussia  for  the 
United  States  of  America  and  after  a 
two  months"  sea  voyage  with  many 
tempestuous  storms  and  privations 
reached  Baltimore  in  iVugust  of  the 
JUDPtE  FRAXCUS  H  RKARICK.        same  year. 

After  having  sought  for  a  brief  time  for  employment  lor  himself  and  fam- 
ily in  Raltimore  and  having  failed  to  lind  it  he  moved  bv  wagon  to  Franklin 
county,  l^a  ,  and  located  at  Mount  Alto  in  that  county,  where  his  family  grew 
up  about  him.  Here,  the  subject  of  this  si<etch  grew  to  manhood,  having  re- 
ceived such  education  as  the  village  schodl  alforded  him.  which  was  very  im- 
perfect, as  not  over  three  months  a  3 ear  of  schools  were  then  conducted  iiithe 
village,  and  these,  very  crude  and  imperfect,  At  the  age  of  14,  he  was  obliged 
to  stop  school  and  give  himself  to  various  employment,  largely  doing  farm 
work  and  other  manual  labor  and  at  intervals  working  with  his  father  at  the 
tinner's  trade  which  he  learned,  and  so  continued  until  he  arrived  at  the  age 
of  21  wlien  he  determined  to  go  westward  and  in  September  1S50  he  left  his 
home  in  Pennsylvania  and  came  west  and  located  at  Beardstown  in  November 
1850,  where  he  commenced  work  at  his  trade  for  an  older  brother,  who  had 
preceded  him  to  this  place.      Thei'e   he  continued   to   work  for  his  brother 


-  41  - 

using  call  his  spare  hours  to  improve  his  laclc  of  education  in  his  younger  years, 
and  by  reading  and  studying  the  history  of  our  country,  and  becoming  famil- 
iar with  the  prominent  men  of  tlie  land  became  interested  in  the  politics  of 
that  day. 

His  political  leanings  were  with  the  democratic  party.  At  this  time  the 
political  parties  in  Cass  county  were  very  evenly  divided  numerically,  the 
whigs  sometimes  filling  the  offices  of  the  county,  and  sometimes  the  democrats. 
At  this  time  the  office  of  circuit  clerk  was  filled  by  Thomas  R.  Saunders.  The 
county  clerk's  office  was  held  by  L.  F.  Sanders.  The  slieriff's  office  was  filled 
by  Col.  J.  B.  Fulks  all  of  whom  were  whigs.  Soon  after  this,  the  democratic 
party  rather  gained  in  streng-th  in  the  county  and  the  offices  were  filled  more 
generally  by  democrats  than  whigs. 

About  these  times,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  active  in  his  political 
preferences  and  having  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  young  men  of 
the  county  in  political  affairs,  was  elected  to  the  office  of  city  treasurer  of  the 
city  of  Beardstown.  About  this  time  Beardstown  was  the  commercial  center 
of  all  that  region  of  country,  drawing  nearly  all  the  trade  of  Cass  county, 
a  large  part  of  Menard  county  and  also  drawing  largely  from  Morgan  and 
Sangamon  counties,  for  at  this  time  there  were  no  railroads  in  the  state  of 
Illinois,  except  a  short  piece  of  railroad  running  from  Naples  on  the  Illinois 
river,  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  all  grains,  pork  and  other  farm  produce  had 
to  be  hauled  to  the  river  in  wagons,  then  carried  mostly  to  St.  Louis  by  steam- 
boat. 

At  this  time  the  leading  merchants  of  Beardstown  were  such  men  as  John 
McDonald,  E.  E.  Saunders,  Billings,  McGee  &  Warner,  Miller  Hagerman  & 
Bros.,  Nolte  &  McClure.  Most  of  these  firms  were  engaged  at  the  same 
time  in  buying  and  packing  pork,  which  was  a  very  important  business  carried 
on  at  Baardstown  at  this  time.  The  hogs  were  driven  from  adjoining  counties 
often  as  far  as  from  Logan  county,  in  this  state,  to  Beardstown  to  be  there 
slaughtered  and  packed  and  shipped  to  the  market. 

Among  the  prominent  professional  men  of  Beardstown  at  this  time,  of  the 
attorneys  were  Henry  E.  Dummer,  John  B.  Shaw,  J.  Henry  Shaw,  Isham 
Eeavis,  Sylvester  Emmons.  And  among  the  leading  doctors  were  Dr.  Cliaries 
Sprague,  John  Christy,  Dr.  J.  R.  Dowler  and  Dr.  Francis  Erhardt.  The  only 
newspaper  in  Beardstown  at  this  time  was  the  "Beardstown  Gazette."  which 
was  published  by  Sylvester  Emmons,  who  was  elected  clerk  of  the  circuit 
court  in  18.52.  About  this  time  L.  U.  Reavis  made  his  appearance  at  Beards- 
town, and  became  the  publisher  of  a  newspaper  called  the  "Center  Illinoisan," 
now  called  "Illinoian-Star;"  associated  witli  him  in  tlie  publication  of  this 
paper  was  Mr.  J.  B.  Shaw.  L.U.  Reavis  took  Horace  Greeley  as  a  patron  saint 
and  his  great  hobby  was  to  remove  the  capitol  from  Washington  to  St.  Louis 
and  his  enthusiasm  in  this  direction  made  him  tlie  butt  of  ridicule  oftentimes, 
and  newspapers  were  known  to  caricature  him  as  bearing  on  his  back  the  cap- 
itol from  Washington  to  St.  Louis.  Reavis  was  lame,  one  leg  being  shorter 
tlian  the  other.  He  lengthened  the  sliorter  leg  by  adding  to  the  heighth  of 
the  heel  of  the  shoe. 

Durin^j  these  years  between  1850  and  1853,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  con- 
tinued to  work  at  his  trade  for  his  brother.  In  the  spring  of  185.3  his  brother 
sold  out  his  interest  to  him  and  went  to  California.    Tlien  he  began  to  con- 


-42- 

duct  the  business  on  his  own  account  and  continued  in  this  business  for  many 
years,  almost  continuously  for  20  years. 

In  the  fall  of  1853,  Oct.  12th,  he  was  married  to  Helen  M.  Shaw,  who  was 
the  daughter  of  Joseph  Shaw,  a  man  well  known  in  Morgan  and  Cass  counties, 
and  she  was  the  tlie  sister  of  John  B.  Shaw  and  J.  Henry  Shaw.  By  this  un- 
ion were  born  nine  children,  six  surving  and  three  dying  in  cliildhood. 

In  the  year  1858  his  politital  friends  prevailed  on  him  to  accept  the  office 
of  SherilT  of  Cass  county  to  which  he  was  elected  in  the  fall  of  1858  and  served 
his  term  of  two  years,  going  out  of  ollice  in  1860.  In  the  meantime  he  contin- 
ued Ills  interest  in  the  hardware  and  tin  business  in  connection  with  a  young- 
er brother,  William  J.  Rearick.  In  1861  he  was  again  prevailed  upon  to  accept 
the  nomination  of  his  party  to  the  office  of  Judge  of  the  County  Court  of  Cass 
County  and  was  in  the  fall  of  1861  duly  elected  to  this  place  of  honor  and 
served  his  term  of  four  years.  During  his  term  of  office,  his  associates  were 
William  Mcllenry  and  G.  W.  Shavven.  At  this  time  the  offices  of  the  county 
were  all  tilled  by  democrats,  Allen  J.  Hill  being  county  clerk,  Henry  Phillips 
being  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  and  James  Taylor  being  sheriff  of  the  county. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  again  gave  his  undivided  at- 
tention to  his  business  for  a  time.  In  the  year  1870  upon  the  death  of  Judge 
Hoffman,  who  was  then  filling  the  office  of  county  judge,  he  was  re-elected  to 
lill  tlie  unexpired  term  of  Judge  Hoifman  with  unanimity,  without  any  op- 
posing candidate  in  the  field,  both  parties  supporting  him.  After  the  expira- 
tion of  his  second  term  as  Judge  of  the  county  court,  in  the  spring  of  1874,  Mr. 
Rearick  found  a  family  growing  up  about  him  of  sons  and  daughters  and  hav- 
ing a  desire  to  give  them  the  benefit  of  a  good  education  he  sought  for  a  new 
location  and  upon  investigation,  finding  he  could  purchase  an  interest  in  the 
hardware  business  of  Boyd  &  Brother,  of  Galesburg,  he  decided  to  make  a 
change  of  location  and  in  the  spring  of  1871  moved  to  Galesburg,  the  firm 
name  being  Boyd  &  Rearick.  which  lirm  continued  in  the  hardware  business 
in  Galesburg  for  about  ten  years,  when  he  purchased  the  interest  of  his  part- 
ner and  has  since  continued  in  the  hu'dware  business  part  of  the  time  being 
the  sole  proprietor  of  the  business,  a  ifl  afterwards  associating  with  him  in  the 
business,  his  oldest  son  Harry  F.  Rearick.  To  the  business  at  Galesburg,  he 
has  given  his  undivided  attention  in  all  these  years  and  is  still  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  business  with  his  son,  doing  as  H.  F.  Rearick  &  Son.  Since  com. 
ing  to  Galesburg,  he  has  several  times  served  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of 
Knox  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rearick  were  permitted  to  enjoy  a  long  and  happy  married 
life,  having  lived  together  as  husband  and  wife  for  over  fifty  yea.is,  sharing  in 
each  others  joys  and  sorrows  of  life;  were  permitted  to  live  to  celebrate  their 
Golden  Wedding  on  the  12th  of  October,  1903,  on  which  occasion  all  their  child- 
ren were  permitted  to  enjoy  this  happy  event  with  their  parents.  Mrs.  Reai'- 
iok's  days  were  few  after  this  occasion,  being  taken  away  April  1st,  1904,  6 
months  after. 

The  church  relations  of  Judge  Rearick  have  always  been  with  the  Con- 
gregational church.  He  united  with  the  Congregational  church  at  Beards- 
town,  in  1855,  and  contiimed  his  membership  and  united  with  the  First  Con- 
gregational church  at  Galesburg  with  his  family  and  entered  on  the  union  of 
the  two  churches,  the  old  First  and  the  Congregational  church  and  became 


-  43  - 

a  member  of  the  Central  church.  He  was  always  in  his  younger  years,  active 
in  the  Sunday  School  work  and  other  cluirch  work  and  has  always  been  ready 
to  contribute  of  his  means  to  the  lielp  of  the  church  and  other  Christian 
work. 

At  the  time  Judg-e  Rearick  held  the  office  of  county  judge  of  this  county, 
he,  with  his  two  associates  performed  the  duties  which  now  devolve  upon  the 
board  of  county  commissioners.  Some  of  the  latter  named  officials  have  been 
charged  with  being  very  zealous  in  their  efforts  to  benefit  the  neighborhood 
of  their  residence  to  the  neglect  of  other  portions  of  the  county,  but  no  such 
charge  was  ever  made  against  Judge  Francis  H.  Rearick.  He  possessed  such 
breadtli  of  mind  as  to  be  absolutely  impartial  and  was  watchful  of  the  inter- 
ests of  every  section  of  Mie  county  he  so  faithfully  and  efficiently  served.  IVo 
more  capable  or  honorable  man  ever  filled  an  office  among  us,  and  his  de- 
parture from  Beardstown  was  a  serious  loss  to  Cass  county. 


VIRGINIA  HIGH  SCHOOL  GRADUATES 


A  Complete  list  of  the  graduates  from  the  Virginia  High  School,  from 
its  foundation  to  the  present  time.  We  are  indebted  to  Miss  Kate 
Wilson,  for  the  loan  of  her  full  collection  of  the  programs  for  the  sev- 
i  eral  years,  which  she  has  preserved.  Had  these  programs  been  published  with 
j  any  respectable  degree  of  uniformity,  the  names  of  the  High  School  instruct- 
I  ors  might  have  here  been  given,  which  would  have  added  much  to  the  value 
i  of  the  article.  We  expect  to  publish  a  correct  history  of  the  Virginia  Hicfh 
j  School,  before  this  series  of  sketches  end,  provided  we  are  able  to  find  all  of 
!  the  necessary  records. 

187(i. 
Flora  B.  Rergstresser  J.  C.  Cherryholmes  Sallie  R.  Readies 

Nellie  Snyder. 
1877. 
Katie  Wilson 


Lee  Jolley 


Flora  Bevis 


Edwin  Allison 
Elijah  Needham 
Edward  Massie 

Minnie  M.  Berry 
Ella  Ivnowies 


Allen  (I.  Dunavvay 
.Jennie  C.  Rodgers 
Elizabeth  L.  Savage 


Emma  Cherry 
Nellie  Clill'ord 

Clara  McIIenry 


1878. 
Emma  A.  Ruracker 
Mary  E.  Rillings 
Relle  Snyder 

1871). 
ICate  A.  Downing 
Nellie  M.  Bunce 
Ret  tie  R.  .ToUey 

18S(I. 

Carrie  R.  RIack 

1881. 
Florence  1.  Savage 

18S2. 

.Tennie  M.  I?unce 
Cecelia  A.  Need  ham. 

I8,s;}. 
Emilia  Tate 

1SS4. 
Cora  Detrick 
Rlanche  Lowry 

1885. " 
Josie  Costigan 


Lewis  W.  McConnell 
William  R.  Dunaway. 

George  J.  Kelly 
Nellie  Cosgro 
Emma  L.  Stribling. 

Lelia  R.  Humphrey 
Nellie  W.  Epler 
Charles  T.  Kemper. 

Mamie  McDonald 

Sadie  A.  McConnell 

Fannie  M.  Rlack. 


Ada  Beard. 

.James  Needham 
Leonard  Bryan. 


Lyman  Savage 


-45 


Emma  Black  PhilBevis  George  Moul ton. 

1886. 
Nellie  E.  Epler 
John  Payne 
May  Thacker 
Don  Beatty 

&eorge  Phillips, 
1887. 
Lizzie  Schaffer 
1888. 
Charles  W.  Eussell 

1889. 
No  graduates  this  year  on  account  of  change  in  course  of  study 

1899. 

Minnie  Oldridge  Grace  Finney 


Etta  Savage 
Mamie  Turner 
Ida  Wilhite 
William  Rawlings 


Anna  Freeman 


Ella  Walker 
Harry  Downing 
Jennie  Phillips 
Elton  Simmons 


Cora  Black. 


Belle  Hutchings. 


Ella  Bowers 


i-ay 


Apple  Graves 


Ella  Wilson 
Jessie  Black 


Halle  Mu 
Maggie  Collins 

1891. 
Anna  Hillig 
Nellie  Suffer n 

1892. 
Myrtle  ITickox 
Nelia  Widmayer 
1893. 
Bettie  Kikendall  Sarah  Chittick 

Mamie  Wyatt 

1894. 
Robert  C.  Finn  Frank  H.  Wilson 

1895. 
Loren  Thompson 
Ella  Kikendall 


Jennie  Beard 

Alfred  Edward  Schaffer 


Alice  Taylor 


Ida  Black 
Lou  McIIenry 
Emily  Treadway 

Myrtle  Baker 
Edward  Clifford. 

Jennie  Davidson 
Charles  McDonnel 

Maud  Duffield 
Henry  Jacobs 

Anna  B.  Mitel lell 

Nellie  Davis 
Harry  Buracker 
Oren  Gould. 


George  Dirreen 
Robert  E.  Lee  Plummer 
Flora  Belle  Jones 

Mary  Josephine  Finn 
Vida  Viola  Crum 
Gertrude  Emma  Duffield 
Virginia  Ann  Kikendall 
Alice  Cary  Wilson 

George  H. 

Grace  Davidson 
Mabel  Anna  Leeper 
Margaret  Ethel  Black 


189(i. 
Edward  O.  Phillips 


Edith  Alba  Mains 
John  Howard  Jokisch 
Thomas  H.  Wright 


Verne  Gertrude  Wyatt 
Sadie  Hurst 


Eva  Grace  Ater 
Francis  William  Bristow 

1897. 
LaVergne  Gatton 
Arthur  Crum 
Lavenia  Ednah  Robinson  Pearl  Barkley 
Elizabeth  Lee  Crum  Mary  Earnestine  IT 

Harry  N.  Gridley  Frederick  C.  Bishop 

Widmayer  Burton  E.  Gridley 

1898. 
Mary  Jane  Bowers 
Mary  Sarah  Killam 
Mabel  Skiles  Mitchell 


Floy  Zillah  Dunaway 
Frederick  T.   Dunaway 
Charles  Judy  Savage 


Mary  Jean  Chittick 


Lola  May  Berry 


46- 


1899. 

Alice  Runj'an  Leeper 

Carrie  Edna  Plummer 

Arthur  Jolin  Ilueffner 

Emma  Etliel  Horrom 

Minnie  Margaret  James 


Edna  W.  Widmayer 
Alice  Goodspeed  Sutfern 
Roscoe  Brice  Gatton 
Kathryn  Amanda  Abney 
Olive  Dobson 

William  Leslie  White 

1900 
Kathryn  B.  Savage  Matilda  L.  Musch 

Beatrice  Mains  Edith  A.  Turner 

Lee  D.  Springer  Thomas  L.  Finn 

Daisy  V  Gruer  Viola  M.  Coleman 

Dorothy  F.  Clark  Nellie  Schaffer 

Lee  E.  Robinson 

1901. 
Grace  Louise  Todd 
Orlando  Chester  Crowtlier 
Rose  Martha  ITueffne'- 
Edna  Jennie  Berry 
Eva  No  1  sell 
Iva  May  Lancaster 


Edith  ColemaJi_ 
Clarence  Noeker 
Clarence  Evans  Bishop 
Edith  D.  Thornsbury 
Marcus  Dyer 


Lewis  Earl  Lancaster. 

Clara  B.  Lang 
Frank  M.  Robertson 
Howard  Stribling 
Florence  L.  Black 
Richard  G.  Martin 
Burton  O.  Springer. 


Esther  Massey 
Alma  Louise  Widmayer 
Maude  Louise  Martin 
Lola  Grace  Treadway 
Fred  Dayton  Savage 
James  Franklin  Phillips 
Nellie  (]ecil  Springer 

Graduates  of  the  fou 


George  Bone  Conover 
Florence  J.  Crawford 
Edgar  Bishop 
Mabel  Pearl  Wilson 
Lee  Widmayer. 
Charles  Noeker 
Louis  Lee  Savage, 
year's  course. 


Edith  Adelaide  Turner 


Nadine  Robertson 
Nora  Thompson 
Ida  Mae  Dunaway 
Harry  Edward  Paul 
Robert  Howard  Campbell 
Dorothy  Ann  Walker 


Gifford  Matthew 
Norman  Luther  McNeill 
Helen  Louise  Angler 
Grace  Hiilig 
Ethel  Plummer 
Grace  Nowers  Taylor 


Florence  Leah  Black 

1892. 
No  Graduates,  on  account  of  change  of  length  of  course  of  study 

1903. 

Lewis  William  Riley 

Charles  Chase  Savage 

Clara  Louise  Gridley 

Oarrie  Maud  Horrom 

Harry  Jacobs 

William  Thomas  Gordley 

P"'lorence  Mae  Morris 

1904. 
Leslie  Nay  lor  Martin 
William  Earl  Rexroat 
Daisie  C.  Beadles 
Louise  Massey 
Ruth  Sinclair 
Dorothy  E.  Virgin 

1905. 
Robert  Dimcan  Taylor 


Kathryn  Belle  Savage. 


Grace  LaVesta  Martin 
Edith  Massey 
Edward  R.  Widmayer 
Mary  Strain  Plummer 
Bertha  E.  Anderson 
Lillian  Gertrude  Ray 


George  Otto  Maurer 

Nace  Yaple 

Jessie  Rachel  Beadles 

Hazel  Orr 

Eva  Jane  Struble 

Minnie  Zillion 


Leo  Harry  Finn  Robert  Dimcan  Taylor  Joseph  Roy  Hunter 

Samuel  Rutherford  Turner  Ted  Anderson  Jacob  Tenny  Hill 

Harry  Tilden  Petitt  Margaret  Ellen  Wilson  Hat'-ie  May  Norris 

Mary  Eieanora  Hageman      Essie  Mae  Harris  Nellie  Mabel  Irvine 

Rose  Margaret  Widmayer     Lcora  Venetta  Ater  Grac^  Edna  Kors 
Rebecca  Lillian  Black 


WILLIAM  J.  BENNETT. 


ISAAC  R.  Bennett,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  on 
February  2nd,  1799,  in  Barren  county,  Kentuclcy.  He  came  to  Morg-an 
county,  Illinois,  in  1820,  and  on  April  10th,  1822,  was  married  to  Mary 
Jones,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky.  For  one  season,  they  lived  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  Cass  county,  not  far  from  the  location  of  Bluff  Springs. 
On  September  1.5th,  1826,  he  purchased  from  the  government  the  southwest 
quarter  of  Sec  12,  T  16,  E  9,  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  theve  he  settled 
down  to  remain  for  life.     He  shortly  added  other  adjoining  lands  to  his 

posessions  and  on  July  16th,  18.57,  he, 
and  Joseph  Hayes,  laid  out  upon  their 
lands,  the  little  town  on  the  line  of 
the  Tonica  and  Petersburg  railroad, 
whicli  they  named  Yatesville,  in 
honor  of  Richard  Yates,  so  well 
known  as  tlie  War  Governor  of  the 
state  of  Illinois. 

Isaac  R.  Bennett  went  into  the 
Black  Hawk  war  with  many  of  his 
neighbors  among  whom  were  Royal 
Flynn,  William  Cooper,  William  Mill- 
er and  Travis  Elmore.  He,  with  his 
comrades  followed  up  the  murderous 
red  men  into  the  state  of  Wisconsin, 
and  staid  \^ith  his  job,  until  it  was 
completed.  Again  in  LSKi  he  should- 
ere  I  his  gun,  and  under  the  command 
of  John  J.  Hardin  went  to  Mexico,  to 
tight  the  battles  of  liis  country.  He 
was  elected  to  the  legislature  of  Illi- 
inois  in  the  year  1854;  he  served  as  an 
WILLIAM  J.  BENNETT.  Associate  Justice  of   Morgan  county, 

he  was  a  democrat,  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  and  f  )r  many  a  year  was 
a  Justice  of  his  community,  widely  known,  and  universally  respected.  He 
reared  a  family  of  eleven  children,  the  first  born  in  1824,  and  the  last  in  1848. 
He  died  on  .June  24,  1881,  at  the  age  of  82  years,  4  mouths  and  22  days. 

William  J.  Bennett  the  second  child,  was  born  on  November  2:5,   182(i,   on 
the  Yatesville  farm.     His  education  was  limited  to  the  pioneer  conditions  of 


-48- 

that  early  day.  He  wenfc  to  a  log  school  house,  sat  on  a  slab  before  a  Are  of 
green  timber,  with  an  old  English  Reader,  and  a  Ray's  Arithmetic,  over  which 
he  puzzled  his  brains  as  many  a  lad  has  done  before  and  since.  His  first  in- 
structor was  a  man  named  Graham,  who  took  for  his  pay,  the  small  contribu- 
tions, the  parents  could  afford  to  make  to  him,  and  when  the  springtime 
came,  worked  in  the  fields,  until  fall  came  round,  when  he  would  resume  his 
duties  of  an  early  Illinois  teacher.  The  first  church  in  the  neighborliood,  was 
built  by  the  Baptist  brothers,  and  the  lirst  of  their  preacliers  was  William 
Crow  in  1827.  Cyrus  Wright,  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  county,  often 
came  and  preached  to  them.  Their  Associations,  were  great  events  in  those 
days.  The  members  came  for  miles  around,  and  were  gladly  entertained  by 
the  local  brethren;  often  fifty  were  cared  for  at  one  iiome,  the  women  sleeping 
in  the  cabin,  and  the  men  in  the  stables  and  sheds. 

The  Bennett  family  being  numerous,  William  J.  went  to  work  for  a  year 
for  Wright  Flynn,  for  twenty-iive  cents  per  day;  he  plowed  with  a  wooden 
plow,  and  cut  grain  with  a  sickle.  As  he  grew  older  he,  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  breaking  raw  prairie  land,  and  ran  the  first  grain  thresher  in  his 
neighborhood.  Later,  he  engaged  in  the  livestock  business,  buying  cattle  in 
Illiiiois  and  Iowa  avd  driving  t!iem  to  St.  Louis  to  market  He  was  married 
Fiances  S.  Fitzhugh,  on  the  27th  day  of  November  1850  by  Rev.  William  Crow 
and  began  living  on  a  farm  south  of  Philadelphia,  in  Cass  county  where  he  re- 
mained for  eight  years  and  then  removed  to  a  farm  a  mile  from  Princeton,  on 
wliich  he  lived  until  i87(),  and  tlien,  on  account  of  the  failing  health  of  his 
wife,  moved  to  'I'allula  where  she  died  August  18,  1878  in  the  51st  year  of  her 
age.  leaving,  surviving  her  husband  and  one  child,  now  the  wife  of  M.  L.  Nev- 
ins.  a  larmei'.  residing  near  Cuba,  in  Missouri. 

In  1 -'7!),  Mr.  Bennett  moved  to  the  town  of  Ashland,  in  this  county,  but 
soon  (Mine  to  Vii-ginia,  and  was  elected  coroner  of  the  county  in  1880,  and 
solved  I  wo  terms.  He  was  mariied  to  Elizabeth  A.  Gridley  on  .June  23d.  1881, 
and  the  following  year  removed  to  Beardstown,  and  went  into  the  employ  of 
theQ  \\.  R.  Co.  Some  time  thereafter  he  moved  to  .Jacksonville  and  became 
manager  of  the  stable  of  Howard  Thompson:  built  a  home  on  Chambers 
street,  which  was  sold  the  following  spring,  and  a  residence  purchased  in 
Springfield,  Illinois,  in  which  he  resided  until  his  appointment  as  an  examin- 
er of  live  stock  at  Chicago  by  J.  Sterling  Morton,  the  secretary  of  that  de- 
partment at  Washington.  Here  he  remained  for  several  years,  and  until  his 
wife's  health  reciuired  a  different  climate,  when  they  went  to  Colorado  for  a 
year,  and  then  went  on  to  Southern  California,  where  tliey  remained  another 
year,  returning  to  St.  Louis  in  the  fall  of  1903.  At  the  present  time,  he  and 
his  wife,  are  visiting  his  relatives  in  Missouri. 

Mr.  Bennett  recollects  the  time  of  the  old  stage  lines  through  the  county. 
One  line  ran  from  Virginia  to  Springfield,  and  another  from  Virginia  to 
Beardstown,  and  a  third  from  Virginia  to  Jacksonville.  The  half-way  house, 
a  hotel  conducted  by  John  Dutch  was  situated  three  miles  southeast  of  Phila- 
delphia, on  the  state  road,  and  when  built,  was  the  only  house  on  the  road 
between  the  home  of  Archibald  Job,  three  miles  southeast  of  Virginia,  and 
Pleasant  Plains,  in  Sangamon  county.  This  Half-way  liouse,  stands  where 
the  present  residence  on  the  farm  of  Mrs.  Mary  Skiles-Black  is  located,  in 
Sec  25,  T  17,  R  9,  long  known  as  the    Duling   farm.     On   July   S,    I83fi,    Arclii- 


-  49  - 

bald  Job,  and  Alexander  Beard,  trustees  of  tlie  school  lands  in  T  17,  R  9.  laid 
out  the  town  of  Philadelphia  in  this  county,  then  Morgan  county.  This  town 
covered  one  hundred  acres  of  ground,  and  when  the  -lots  were  sold  on  that 
year,  there  were  buyers  from  Jacksonville,  and  from  Springfield,  and  from 
other  towns.  Among  these  crazy  investors  in  real  estate  was  the  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglass.  In  May  18.37,  John  Dutch,  the  owner  of  the  Half-way 
house,  three  miles  down  the  state  road  from  Pliiladeiphia  laid  out  the  town  of 
Lancaster  using  one  hundred  acres  of  his  farm  to  put  it  upon.  On  the  same 
year  Dutch  conveyed  about  one-half  of  the  town  lots  to  Erastus  W.  Palmer, 
who  was  a  real  estate  man;  in  these  days  he  would  be  called  a  "promoter." 
In  about  a  year  Palmer  sold  one  of  his  lots  for  a  dollar  and  the  next  year 
turned  all  the  balance  back  to  Dutch,  and  quit  Lancaster  in  disgust.  There 
were  a  few  buildings  erected  there  but  it  seems  that  Dutch  built  them: 
there  was  a  postofflce,  a  blacksmith  shop,  and  in  all  probability  a 
whiskey  shop,  one  or  more.  That  was  the  day  for  wild-cat 
speculation;  when  railroads  and  canals  were  contemplated:  when 
so  many  seemed  to  have  gone  insane,  over  the  "great  internal  improvement 
system!"  At  that  time  the  prairies  were  covered  with  wild  grass,  swamps 
and  rattlesnakes  in  summer,  while  in  winter  the  roaring  and  rushing  winds 
sweeping  over  the  snow-covered  level  and  bleak  waste,  convinced  the  few  ear- 
ly settlers,  hovering  over  their  miserable  tires  of  green  wood  in  their  cabins 
along  the  edge  of  the  "brpph,"  that  the  prairie  lands  would  never  be  set- 
tled.'' Even  as  late  as  1854.  wlien  the  writer  lirst  saw  the  prairies  of  Illinois, 
the  winter  winds  howled  over  the  vast  tracts  of  unsettled  lands,  in  true  Kan- 
sas style.  In  the  winter  of  1854-55  the  rail  fences  in  Cook  county  were  buried 
under  drifts  of  snow,  and  loaded  sleds  were  safely  driven  over  them.  Why 
men  would  plat  towns  three  miles  apart,  as  was  done  by  these  early  boomeis, 
when  people  were  so  scarce,  is  a  matter  of  wonder.  The  then  proposed  rail- 
roads and  canals  would  have  sufHced  to  carry  to  the  market,  the  entire  pro- 
duct of  a  vear,  within  one  week. 

An  occurrence  quite  out  of  the  ordinary,  is  related  by  Mr,  Bennett,  and  is 
vouched  for  by  other  witnesses.  Many  years  ago  his  brother-in-law  William 
Fitzhugh,  left  his  home  on  liorse-back  in  the  spring,  or  early  summer,  upon  a 
neighborliood  errand  across  Indian  creek.  His  horse  returned  after  darkness 
liad  set  in,  with  the  bridle  dragging  upon  the  ground.  A  heavy  rain  of  that 
day  had  caused  the  overflow  of  the  Creek  which  Mr.  Fitzhugh  had  crossed  in 
the  morning.  A  search  was  instituted  by  the  alarmed  neighborhood, 
without  success.  After  some  hours  vainly  spent  in  the  effort  to  find  the  miss 
ing  man,  someone  in  the  crowd  suggested  that  a  worthless  character  of  the 
ne'ighborhood  had  been  guilty  of  foul  play:  it  was  soon  after  suggested,  to 
hang  the  man  up  at  the  end  of  a,  rope,  and  endeavor  to  extort  from  him  a  con- 
fessFon,  One  of  the  cooler  men  of  tlie  party,  proposed  that  he  would  go  to 
Springfield,  to  consult  a  fortune  teller,  if  the  others  would  await  the  result. 
Upon  their  promise  so  to  do,  he  departed  on  his  errand.  Arriving  at  the 
home  of  the  woman,  he  was  told  that  she  could  do  nothing  for  him,  without 
the  presence  of  some  article  of  the  personal  property  of  the  missing  man.  The 
messenger  returned  to  the  home  of  Fitzhugh,  obtained  a  pocket  handkerchief, 
and  delivered  it  to  the  Springfield  woman.  She  told  the  messenger,  tliat  if 
she  was  successful  in  getting  into  communication   with  Fitzhugh,   he  would 


-  50  - 

talk  to  him.  Then  she  seemed  to  become  unconscious,  and  soon  after  began 
talking  to  the  waiting-  man.  The  communicant  claimed  to  be  William  Fitz- 
iuigh,  and  told  the  messenger,  that  in  trying  to  ford  Indian  Creek,  which  was 
very  high,  tliat  liis  horse  was  swept  below  the  road,  and  an  overlianging  tree 
limb,  brushed  liim  from  the  horse,  and  he  was  soon  drowned.  lie  then  went 
on  to  carefully  describe  the  location  of  his  body,  de.scribing  stumps  known  to 
the  listenei:.  The  body  was  found  without  delay,  by  tlie  person  who  received 
the  information,  located  as  described,  and  was  buried  in  the  neighbord  burial 
plat  on  William  Ward  farm,  southeast  of  Philadelpha. 

Mr.  Bennett  is  a  man  of  even  temper,  thoroughly  honest,  of  a  very  kind 
disposition,  and  has  a  very  large  circle  of  warm  friends.  He  is  well  preserved 
physically  and  mentally,  While  in  the  employ  of  the  government  in  Chicago, 
he  was  known  as  the  "old  reliable  inspector,"  enjoying  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  all  his  associates. 


CASS    COUNTY   ELECTION   A.    D.    1837. 


The  first  election  in  the  county  was  held  on  Monday,  August  7,  1837. 
There  were  three  voting  places:  one  at  the  house  of  Moses  Perkins  in  Beards- 
town  Precinct;  one  at  the  house  of  John  Deweber  in  Virginia  Precinct,  and 
one  at  the  liome  of  John  Lucas  in  the  Lucas  or  Richmond  Precinct,  in  the 
nortlieast  part  of  the  county. 

The  olection  officers  were:  Thomas  Reard,  James  Arnold  and  John 
Schaeffer,  Judges,  and  C.  W.  Clarke,  and  T.  W.  Webb,  Clerks,  at  Reiirdstown: 
Isaiali  Paschal,  William  M.  Clarkand  James  Daniel,  Judges,  and  William  I'.lair 
and  M.  H.  Beadles,  Clerks,  at  Virginia;  and  Jolin  Taylor,  Matthew  Lownsbury 
and  Robert  Leeper,  judges,  and  Robert  B.  Taylor  and  Cyrus  Wright,  Clerks,  ;it 
Richmond. 

Tlie  candidates  voted  for  at  said  election  were: 

For  Probate  Justice— J.  S.  Wilbourn,  William  Scott  and  James  Hori-y. 

For  County  Commissioners— A.  Bonny,  Joshua  P.  Crow,  George  F.  Miller, 
Benjamin  Stribling,  Henry  McKean  and  Henry  McHenry. 

For  Slieriff— Lemon  Plasters,  Jolin  B.  Bueb  and  Martin  F.  Higgiiis. 

For  County  Clerk  (then  called  County  Commissioner's  Clerk)— Robert  G. 
Gaines  and  John  W  Pratt. 

For  Recorder— N.  B.  Thompson,  O.  M.  Long,  Alfred  Elder  and  Tliomiis 
Graham,  jr. 

For  Surveyor— William  Clark  and  William  Holmes. 

For  Treasurer— I.  C.  Spence  and  Thomas  Wilbourn. 

For  Coroner— Ephraim  Rew,  Jacob  Anderson  and  Halsey  Smith. 

Upon  the  election  returns  from  the  Virginia  Precinct  two  of  the  judges 
make  the  following  recital: 

"The  county  not  being  organized  and  of  course  no  justice  of  peace  or  ap- 
pointed judge,  Mr.  William  Clark  administered  the  oatli  to  tlie  other  acting 
judges,  and  Mr.  James  Daniel  administered  it  to  him  and  to  the  clerks." 

In  Shaw's  history  of  Cass  County  the  names  of  the  voters  at  this  election 
are  given  in  the  order  in  which  their  names  appear  upon  the  returns,  but 
quite  a  number  of  typographical  errors  appear  in  that  history.  The  names  of 
these  voters  are  here  given  in  approximately  alphabetical  order  so  that  tliey 
may  be  preserved  in  this  series  of  sketches,  and  for  the  further  reason  that 
use  will  be  made  of  this  list  in  sketches  to  follow.  As  this  was  the  first  elec- 
tion in  the  new  county,  it  is  likely  that  it  was  quite  generally  attended,  al- 
though the  familiar  names  of  Andrew  Cunningliam  and  Thomas  Pothicary  do 
not  here  appear.    Some  of  the  names  were  not  spelled  by  the  officers,   as  they 


were  usually  spelled  in  aftei'  years:  for  instance  the  name  of  the  father  of  II. 
E-Juix&-uais_ace]lecl  with  a  "C"  and  the  name  of  Carr  was  spelled  with  a  "K" 
but  it  is  said  the  Carrs  then  used  the  letter  K  in  the  construction  of  their 
name.  It  should  be  remembered  that  a  voter  of  that  day  was  allowed  to  vote 
at  any  polling  place  in  the  county  which  accounts  for  names  on  the  Beards- 
town  list,  of  people  who  lived  in  Virginia  and  in  the  Lucas  or  Richmond  pre- 
cincts. It  should  further  be  remembered  that  this  election  was  held  before 
the  three-mile  strip  on  the  south  was  arlded. 

Names  of  tHe  voters  \xpoi*  tKe  Beardsto^wrk  list: 

A 

Alexander,  Joshua 

Ayers,  John 

Arnold,  James. 


Anderson,  Elijah 
Arenz,  Arnold 
Arnold,  Butler 


Bailey,  J  F 
Boyd,  Chares 
Buck,  Thomas  E 
Boyne,  Daniel 
Buck  John 
Bassett,  William 
Bell,J..m'=',s 
Bell,  Peter  B 
Bracken, John 
Braker  He   ry 

Crewdson,  J  W 
Cnwjn.  Louis 
Cuppy, John 
Cross,  W   liam 
Carrol',  Thomas 
CofCran,  Seymout 
Clayaan,  Louis 
Clark,  C  W 

Dickens,  James 
Dirgy,  Moses 
Deckhart,  John 


Fissall,  Jacob 
Felix  Wm  S 

Groshong-,  Samuel 
Graves,  Richard 
Gillett,  William  W 
Green,  D  D 

Hoskins,  Thos 
Horn,  William  S 
Hocks,  Irwin 
Holtman,  John 
Hoffman,  T  A 
Harvey,  I  P 


Anderson,  John  W 
Ankrom,  Jesse 
Anderson,  Jacob 


Alexander,  Reuben 
Arenz,  Francis 


Beasley,  Benjamin 
Beast,  Banner 
Britton,  Daniel 
Brown,  George 
Buck,  Stephen 
Bowen,  Jeremiah 
Boynes,  Herman 
Briaut,  Lucien 
BuUer,  William 
Beard  Thomas 

Cox,  William 
Cactawas,  Nicholas 


B 

Bitten,  Joseph 
Britton,  Benjamin 
Brown,  Jacob  J 
Burns,  John 
Bridgewater,  Zach 
Baker,  Joseph 
Bonney, G  A 
Baml^r  Henry 
Babb,  Wil  iam  W 
Bapti^te,  Andrew 

c 

Cole,  R 
Chandler,  Marcus 


Ciemmons,  Joseph  H  Collins  Henry 


Cook,  James 
Cole,  Christian 
Colli  s,  Edward 
Clark,  William 
Cashmere,  John 


Cowan.  Thomas 
Cole,  George 
Course,  Frederick 
Crow,  Joshua  P 


Dick  John  P 
Dowi.ing,  Jscob 
DeHaven  W  I 


Fletcher,  Samuel 
Fediking,  H 

Garliek,  James 
Gordon,  WW 
Gil  lis,  John  W 


D 

Davidson,  James 
Douglas,  Peter 
Duvdll,  William 

Emerick,  David 

F 

Foster,  H  T 
Feby,  Henry 

G 

Garliek,  George 
Gil'ett,  E  R 
Garland,  Charles 


Hoskins,  Joseph 
Haines,  Bluford 
Hiclis,  John 
Harmeiker,  Henry 
Hager.  Reuben 
Higgins,  M  F 


H 

Hunt,  Samuel 
Horham,  John 
Hager,  Curtis 
Hemminghouse,  Wm 
Hill,  Charles 


Briant,  George 
Briant  William 
Brown,  Leander 
Bridgewat  r,  John 
Boyce,  Demsey 
Buck,  Jasper 
Bennett,  James 
Bowman,  Joel  K 
Bueb,  J  B 
Blackman,  I  H 

Cowan.  George 
Cauby,  Joseph 
Ciemmons  W  W 
Chandler,  Charles 
Cole,  George  the  2nd 
Capper,  Meredith 
Chittenden,  Austin 


Davis,  James 
Decker,  John 


Frooman,  Christian 


Gutlip,  Godfrey 
Gains,  W  B 
Graham,  J  W 


Hensley,  Edmund 
Halfklutt,  H 
Haines,  Louis 
Hardy, John 
Holmes,  Wm 


Inkell.  Fred  H 


53 


Jenkins,  Evans 

King,  Alexander 
Karr,  James  A 
Krogh,  Adam 
Kemper,  Morgan 


Lamberth,  Louis  G 
Light,  Peter 


McCoy,  George 
McKee,  Samuel 
McKean,  H 
Marshall,  John 
Moody,  M 
Miller,  WC 
Melms,  WH 

Nuper,  Joseph 
Nolte,  Louis 


Jenkins,  John 

Keltner,  Andrew 
Karr,  James 
Krough,  Frdk 
Kallenbach,  Moritz 


Lindsey,  John  C 
Lee,  Caleb 


McCaulley,  W  H 
MeKowen,  James 
Marshall,  Ellsha 
Marshall,  David 
Miller,  John 
Miller,  H  B 
Morgan,  Ralph 


J 

Jones,  David 
K 

King,  James 
Krohe,  P 
Kimball,  Hensy 
Kashner.  Henry 
Knapp,  Augustus 
L 

Lindsey, R 
Lippencott,  John  W 
Long, O  M 

M 

McBride,  Mathew 
McClure,  Joseph  M 
Marshall,  William 
Moore,  William 
Moseley,  T  J 
Moore,  Peter 


Newman,  Christ 
Norbury, C  J 


N 

Newman,  John 


Keatherly,  John 
Krogh,  August 
Kuhn,  Phillip 
Kelly,  Nicholas 


Logan,  James 
Logan,  Carleton 


McKain,  John 
McClain,  J  W 
Mills,  P  C 
Morris,  Joshua 
Moore,  Robert 
Miller,  G  F 


Newman,  DaviJ 


Olcott,  Elisha 

Pearson,  Michael 
Proctor,  Thomas 
Phlllippi,  I 
Pierce,  Jesse 
Pogue,  Thomas 


Quaite,  John 

Randige,  C  F 
Ratliff,  Alexander 
Richardson,  Rusey  M 
Rohn, John 


Shank,  Christian 
Steward,  Jackson 
Street,  Asa 
Scott,  James 
Sanders,  Edward 

Shepherd,  Wm 
Smith,  H 
Schneider,  B  W 


Turkemeir,  Wm 
Treadway,  Edward 


Wilson,  Jeremiah 
Warren,  Amos 


Oatman,  Hammer 


Parmalee,  Milton 
Payton,  J  W 
Phlllippi,  A 
Price,  John 
Parking,  Moses 


Quigg,  Wm 


Reavls,  Isham 
Roach,  James 
Ream,  Michael 
Ritchy,  William 


P 

Pounds,  James 
Parks,  William  R 
Philiippl,  P 
Pierson,John 
Plasters,  Lemon 
Pratt,  John  W 

Q 

Quaite,  Joseph 
R 

Reeves,  Amasa 
Rohn,  Henry 
Ross,  Henry  P 
Resides,  Wm. 
Rew,  E 

s 

Stewart.  Hankland 
Shortt,  Isaac 
Shoopman,  Wm. 
Soubeling,  Louis 
Spence,  David 


Seaman,  J  J 
Scott,  John  C 
Scott,  Jackson 
Stoke,  Thomas 
Shupon,  Adolph 

Sewall,Wm  Spence,  Absalom 

Spence,  I  C  Shaw  Samuel 

Scot  ,  Daniel  Stover,  Louis 

Scott,  William 
T 
Toukeris,  Godolph       Thomas,  John  \ 
Treadway,  John  N       Tureman,  David 

Thompson,  N  B 

White,  David  White^Mude 

White,  Wm  R  WilToourn,  John 


Pierce,  John 
Powell,  Aaron 
Patagen,  John  G 
Peep?r,  Loui  i 
Plasi.ers,  Isaac 


Rew,  Bradford  B 
Richardson  Monlillion 
Richardson,  John 
Riggle,  Daniel 


Schaeffer,  Henry 
Schaeffer,  George 
Sallee,  Edward 
Schaeffe",  Phillip 
Steel,  John 

Saunders,  T  R 
Sheldon,  David 
Schaeffer,  John 


Treadway,  S  H 
Thompson,  Samuel 


Wells  or  Wills,  Richd 
Waggoner,  John 


5^ 


Wells,  Daniel 

Wells,  Otto 

Wilkey,  L  H 

Whlttock,  H 

Williams,  Andrew 

Wilson,  I  B 

Wilbourn  Thomas 

Webb,  Timothy 

Wllbourn,  John  S 

Y 

Yonkers,  John 

Yonkers,  Gottlieb 

Names  of  tKe  voters  upon  the  Virginia  list: 

A 

Anderson,  Charles  P 

B 

Blair,  William 

Brady,  Charles 

Bland,  James 

Bonney,  Aaron 

Bonney,  Amos  L 

Berry,  T  L 

Boicourt,  Thomas 

Boon, A 

Blantin,B  A 

Beadles,  James 

Bair,  Alex 

Readies,  John 

Beggs,  George 

Biddlecome,  John 

Berry,  James 

c 

Beadles,  M  H 

Cunningham,  G  S 

Cameron,  Felix 

Cameron,  Benedict 

Craig,  John 

Carpenter,  John 

Corby,  Benjamin 

Craig,  William 

Carpenter,  L 

Clark  John 

Clark,  Lee 

Cauby,  Daniel 

Cunningham,  John 

Cochrane,  Phillip 

Clark,  WmM 

D 

Darlel,  John 

Daniel,  Joseph  W 

Davison,  Robert 

Dutch,  Ebenezer 

Daniel,  Wm 

Davis,  James  B 

DeWebber,  John 
E 

Daniel,  James 

Elder,  A 

F 

Finch,  WP 

Finn,  Thos. 

Freeman,  L  B 
G 

Fields,  Wm 

Graves,  William 

Glover,  John 

Garner,  Green 

Garner,  James 

Horn,  Joel 

Howard,  Thomas  G 

Hopkins,  Henry 

Holland,  James 

Hoffman,  Alex 

Horn,R 

Hall,  HH 

I 
Thomas  J 

Ivey, 

J 

Johnston,  W  B 

Jump,  Joe 

Job,  Arch 
K 

Kiik,  Wm  B 

Kirk,  John  A 

Kirk,  Wm  T 

Lee,  Thomas 

Long,   John  T 

M 

McDaniel,  John 

McLean,  I  M 

McDonald,  Jonas 

Moseiy,  Ephraim 

Matthew,  Ellas 

N 

Northern,  Jere 

O 

Outten,PS 

Osborne.  H 

Oliv  r,  C  H 
P 

O'Brien  M 

Paton,  Wm 

Paschal,  Green  H 

Phelps,  Young 

Phelps,  Anderson 

Plasters,  Thomas, 

sr.          Price,  Joshua 

Price,  Perry  G 

Phelps,  Titus 

Powell,  J  T 

Pierce,  John 

Paschal,  Isaiah 
R 

Reed,  Mich! 

Ross,  L  B 

Redman  John 

Ross,  James  sr. 

Robinson,  John 

Ross,  I  M 

s 

Springer,  Levi 

Stark,  John 

Soicer,  Jesse 

Scott,  Pleasant 

Stribllng,  B 

Stevenson, S 

55 


Thornberry,  Louis 


Watson,  Onflower 


T 

Thomas.  Charles  Thew,  George 

u 

Underwood,  P  1r. 

w 

Wood,  Zebedee  Williams,  James 


West,  A  S 


Names  of  tHe  voters  upon  tKe  R-icKmond  list: 

B 

Bixler,  Jaeob  Bennett,  James  Bolden,  John  Bonny,  Amos 

c 


Chisser,  John 
Carter,  Robert 


Dick,  Peter 
Daniel.  Washington 
Dick,  Henry 


Fanchier,  John 


Gaines,  Coleman 


Hickey,  James 


Carter,  Gibson 
Cox,  Eli 


Dick,  Levi 
Dutch,  Henry  S 
Davis,  John      • 


Connor,  James  T: 
Cooper,  Marcus 
Cook,  John 
D 

Davis.  Jerry  W 
Daniel,  Alfred 


Elmore.  Cyrus 
F 
Fanchier,  Jacob  Foster,  Abner 

Fryor,  John 

G 

Gaines,  Robert  G 

H 

Hickey,  Ashley  Hash,  Zachariah 

Hathorn,  John 


Clemmons,  W  S 
Claxton,  Riley 


Daniel,  Wiil  s 
Dick,  Amos 


Fanchier,  George 


Hathorn,  James 


Jones,  Thomas 

Lounsbury,  Matthew 
Lseper,  John 
Logue, Jonathan 


McHenry,  Hen  y 
Myers,  Wm 


Nichols,  Henry 


Robbards,  James 


Scaggs,  Charles 
Taylor.  Henry 


Johnson,  John 

L 

Lodermar,  Thomas       Lex^  is,  Azariah 
Logue,  Oliver  Lucas,  William 

Libbeon,  H  W  Lucas,    ohn 

Lounsburv,  Matthew 

M 


McDonald,  Frank 
Myers,  William 


Nance,  Cary 


Plasters,  Thorns 


Rose,  Pleasant 


Miller,  John 
Mays,  Isham 

N 

Nance,  Robert 
Nance,  Eaton 

P 
3         Purdy,  Horatio 

R 

Robinson,  Daniel 

s 


Sutton,  Silverton 
Thompson,  John  B 


T 

Taylor,  John 

Wright,  Aaren 
Witty,  John  B 


Linn.  William 
Lockerman,  Stanly 
L"eper,  Robert 


Morgan,  Obidlah 
Morgan,  W  P 


Nance, Joshua 


Pratt,  John 


Roles,  James 


T.iylor,  Robert  B 


Wing.  James 
Wilson,  Calvin 


Wheelock,  Enoch  Wilson,  John 

Wilson,  Henry  D  Witty.  John  L 

Wilson,  Clinton  Wright,  Cyrus 

Of  this  list  of  four  hundred  and  ninety  six  voters  but  one,   Mr.   Zacharial 
Hash,  of  Cliandlerville,  is  known  to  be  living. 

This  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  the  following  officers: 


For  Probate  Justice,  John  S.  Wilbourn 
For  TJecorder,  N.  B.  Thompson 
For  Surveyor,  William  Holmes 
For  County  Clerk,  John  W.  Pratt 
For  County  Commissioners,  Joshua  P. 
F.  Miller 


For  Sheriff,  Lemon  Plasters 
For  Treasurer,  Thomas  Wilbourn 
For  Coroner,  Ilalsey  Smith 

Crow,    Amos    Bonny    and    Geeorge 


FRANK  BRIDGMAN. 


N  the  year  1799,  in  Wythe  county,  Virginia,  was  born  Hezel<iah  Bridgman^ 
who  became  the  husband  of  Sarah  Jane  Brown,  a  native  of  tiie  same 
county,  and  to  them,  their  first  child,  Frank,  tlie  subject  of  this  sketch, 

was  born  on  the  23d  day  of  March  A* 
D.  1820. 

Ten  years  later,  in  1830,  Hezekiah 
Bridgman  purchased  a  wagon  for  $50 
Into  which  he  loaded  his  few  articles  of 
property,  and  his  wife  and  four  young- 
er children,  and  started  for  the  wilds 
of  Illinois,  the  boy  Frank,  bareheaded, 
and  barefooted,  following  in  the  rear, 
and  in  tliis  forlorn  condition,  plodded 
iiis  weary  way  the  entire  distance, 
with  a  favorite  dog  for  his  companion. 
On  numerous  occasions,  tiie  ground 
being  too  wet  to  camp  upon,  the 
horses  spent  the  night  upon  their  feet 
attaciied  to  the  wagon,  wliile  tlie  fam- 
ily waited  for  the  coming  day. 

Tiiey  arrived  a  ta  place  some  three 
miles  nortiieast  of  Jacksonville,  Mor- 
gan county,  where  they  rented  an 
L"     ^^^^^  empty  cabin  twelve   by  fourteen  feet 

C     i^^^^v  '"    ^'^^®'    °^   ''•'  ™^'i  named  Ausmus, 

"'^^^^^^         and    here   they    remained    for    some 
,     ^^^^^f  three  years.    In  the  spring  20  acres 

^^^W  of  sod  was  broken  with  a  plow  of  wood 

and  corn  planted  for  the  coming  fall 
and  winter,  the  family,  in  the  mean 
time,  living  as  best  tiiey  could  on 
game  and  parched  corn,  furnished  by 
the  neigliboring  settlers.  They  tiien 
removed  a  few  miles  farther  on,  in 
Morgan  county,  a  sliort  distance  from 
where  Arenzville  is  now  situated. 
Mr.  Bridgman  was  anxious  that 
FRAKK  BBIDGMAN.  his  cliildren  should  acquire  some  edu- 

cation, and  there  being  no  school  in  liis  neighborliood,  he  induced  his  neigh- 


-  57- 

bors  to  assist  in  building  a  log  hut  for  a  school  room,  and  he  then  succeeded 
in  finding  a  man  named  Williamson,  a  widower  with  four  young  children  to 
come  into  the  neighborliood,  where  he  remained  four  or  five  years,  teaching  a 
subscription  school  In  the  winter,  and  working,  about,  as  best  he  could,  be- 
tween terms. 

Modern  people,  who  often  feel  inclined  to  complain  of  hard  times,  cer- 
tainly know  but  little  of  the  conditions  surrounding  the  early  settlers  of  Illi- 
nois, otherwise,  they  wonld  keep  their  troubles  to  themselves.  The  wheat 
and  corn  used  for  seed  by  those  pioneers  must  first  be  "acclimated"  as  Mr. 
Bridgman  expressed  it;  he  says  that  the  first  wheat  was  shriveled  and  very 
small  in  quantity,  but  by  continuous  sowings  and  reapings,  it  gradually  in- 
creased in  quality  and  quantity,  and  the  same  was  true  in  relation  to  the 
corn.  Hezekiah  Bridgman  raised  wheat  which  he  threshed  by  driving  oxen 
over  it,  cleaned  it  up  and  hauled  it  to  St.  Louis  and  sold  it  for  forty  cents  per 
bushel.  He  beat  the  corn  off  the  cobs  with  sticks,  and  took  it  to  Meredosia, 
where  he  obtained  the  price  of  ten  cents  per  bushel  for  it.  Deer  were  shot, 
and  the  hams  smoked  in  pits  dug  in  the  ground,  covered  with  poles  and  grass, 
and  sold  at  Jacksonville  for  50  cents  each.  Frank  had  no  shoes  for  four  or 
five  winters  after  reaching  this  country;  his  mother  gave  him  ra^s,  which  lie 
tied  about  his  feet  to  keep  them  from  freezing.  At  one  time  his  father  had  a 
horse  hide,  which  an  itinerant  shoemaker  converted  into  shoes  for  the  family 
for  25  cents  per  pair:  it  took  all  the  money  Bridgman  had  to  pay  for  the  mak- 
ing of  these  shoes. 

When  troops  were  called  for  to  go  north  to  fight  Black  Hawk,  and  his 
band,  a  very  large  number  of  the  able-bodied  of  the  Morgan  county  settlers, 
marched  away.  The  wives  left  at  home  were  called  the  "Black  Hawk  war 
widows."  Young  Frank  was  sent  away  with  corn  to  grind  into  meal,  for  tiie 
"widows"  in  his  neighborhood;  lie  drove  to  a  little  water  mill  on  the  creelc 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  location  of  the  "Q"  depot  in  Ai-enzville. 
The  miller  lived  in  a  small  cabin  without  a  floor  near  his  mill  covered  with 
grass.  The  boy  was  compelled  to  stay  f  r  two  or  three  days  awaiting  liis 
turn;  he  camped  out  in  the  open  air,  with  nothing  to  eat  but  parciied  corn. 
The  miller's  wife,  one  morning,  gave  him  a  cup  of  hot  "coffee"  made  of  corn 
meal,  and  Frank  says  it  was  the  best  drink  he  had  ever  tasted.  No  other 
building  on  the  present  site  of  Arenzville  then  existed;  the  timber  was  all 
confined  to  the  valleys  along  the  streams;  the  annual  prairie  fires  kept  all  the 
up-lands,  free  from  trees  or  bushes. 

The  settlers  were  much  harassed  from  the  inroads  made  by  wolves  and 
other  "varmints"  upon  their  pigs  and  poultry;  and  when  it  was  learned  that 
an  uncle  of  a  settler  was  coming  from  Tennessee,  an  urgent  letter  was  sent 
him  requesting  that  he  bring  dogs  with  him.  Tlie  emigrant  started  with  a 
slut,  which  upon  her  arrival  in  Morgan  county,  was  the  proud  mother  of  nine 
puppies;  these  animals  were  cared  for  with  great  attention  and  affection,  and 
when  they  were  old  enough  to  be  hunters,  the  boys  of  the  neighborhood  set 
out  upon  a  grand  hunting  expedition;  they  started  from  the  neighborhood 
where  Bluff  Springs  now  stands,  and  travelled  on  to  Meredosia  and  Valley 
City,  securing  a  choice  lot  of  pelts  which  were  converted  into  money  at  Jack- 
sonville. 

Governor  Ford,  in  his  History  of  Illinois,  states  that  in  1816  and  1817  this 


-38- 

country  was  overrun  with  counterfeiters  and  horse  thieves:  among  them  be- 
ing sheriffs,  justices  of  the  peace,  constables,  with  now  and  then  a  county 
judge.  Tiie  people  organized  against  these  criminals,  by  forming  bands  of 
"Regulators"  which  administered  summary  justice,  without  the  assistance  of 
the  "Justices,  and  County  Judges."  They  broke  up  many  of  the  worst  gangs, 
but  these  criminals  were  troublesome  down  to  a  time  within  the  recollection 
of  Mr.  Frank  Bridgman.  While  on  the  hunt  above  alluded  to  the  party  came 
upon  an  underground  stable,  covered  with  poles  and  brush,  which  contained 
nine  horses;  the  hunters  went  off  to  give  the  alarm,  but  before  their  return 
the  thieves  had  removed  their  plunder.  A  few  days  later,  the  youi]g  hunters 
found  seven  other  horses  concealed  in  an  underground  pen;  this  time  Frank 
Bridgman  remained  on  guard,  until  help  could  be  obtained,  and  the  animals 
were  taken  to  Jacksonville,  and  appraised  and  advertised  for  sale.  Before 
the  sale  day  arrived  a  doctor  from  Springfield,  having  heard  of  the  matter, 
came  in  and  proved  himself  the  owner  of  a  very  fine  mare  among  the  lot:  he 
was  so  much  pleasod  to  recover  his  property,  that  he  gave  Frank  $100;  the 
others  were  sold  at  an  average  of  $.50  each,  no  owner  appearing  to  claim  them. 
At  least  one  hundred  horses  were  stolen  from  that  part  of  the  country,  Nich- 
olas Houston,  being  the  loser  of  twanty-flve.  Bridgman.  happening  to  be  in 
Monmouth,  soon  after  identified  three  of  Houston's  animals,  which  he  subse- 
(juently  recovered:  the  possessor  of  them  proved  that  he  had  purchased  them 
from  strangers. 

.Teremiah  Cay  wood,  the  father  of  John  and  Charles  Cay  wood,  residents  of 
this  county,  built  the  first  house  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town  of 
Areii/.viiJe.  lie  was  a  teamster,  liauling  goods  froin  Beardstown  to  Waverly. 
A  n  an  named  Comstock  was  taken  seriously  ill,  at  the  home  of  Caywood,  and 
.soon  alter  one  Freer,  was  attacked  with  a  deadly  disease  at  a  place  near  by. 
The  liitter  sent  for  Bridgman  and  confessed  that  he  and  Comstock  were 
counterfeiters,  and  told  Bridgman  where  their  dies  and  other  appliances 
were  hidden,  and  believing  he  would  die,  asked  Bridgman  to  make  way  with 
tiiem.  Both  men  died  within  one  week,  and  were  buried  in  what  was  called 
the  Newman  graveyard  west  of  Arenzville.  After  these  burials,  Mr.  Bridg- 
man, found  these  dies  in  the  locality  described  hidden  in  the  earth,  and  they 
were  destroyed  by  a  committee  of  settlers,  who  were  in  charge  of  hunting  out 
criminals. 

In  1833  there  was  a  large  temporary  encampment  of  Indians  on  the  Cem- 
etery hill  east  of  Arenzville.  The  chief,  was  a  tall  man,  over  6  feet  in  heights 
dressed  in  fine  style.  Mr.  Bridgman  tells  of  a  visit  he  made  to  this  camp, 
taking  along  as  presents,  some  whiskey  and  tobacco,  which  he  delivered  to 
the  chief,  who  shared  them,  with  aselect  few  of  the  braves;  in  honor  of  the  vis- 
itor, who  had  brought  the  most  acceptable  presents,  they  formed  a  circle 
about  him,  and  danced,  and  went  througli  with  other  ceremonial  motions, 
much  to  liis  amusement  and  delight.  Tiiese  red  men,  were  gathering  to  go 
to  some  point  across  the  Mississippi  river. 

Mr.  Bridgman  was  married  in  1847,  and  that  season  he  bought  two  young 
cows  with  their  calves  for  sixteen  dollars.  He  began  his  married  life  as  a 
tenant  farmer,  but  soon  entered  land  in  Morgan  county,  where  he  resided 
until  about  1898  when  he  became  a  resident  of  trie  town  of  Arenzville,  where 
he  now  lives  with  one  of  his  children. 


-59- 

The  wagon,  brought  from  old  Virginia,  was  the  only  wagon  in  the  Bridg' 
man  neighborhood  in  Illinois  for  a  number  of  years,  after  which  it  was  sold 
for  $150  to  a  man  named  Spearman  who  was  leaving  for  Iowa;  about  fifty 
years  ago,  Frank  Bridgman  while  visiting  in  Iowa  came  across  the  same 
wagon,  then  valued  as  a  relic  of  early  times. 

Mr.  Bridgman,  Icnew  John  Musch,  now  an  honored  citizen  of  Virginia, 
soon  after  his  coming  here  from  Germany,  when  he  could  not  speak  the  Eng- 
lish language.  He  is  an  uncle  of  County  Commissioner  Henry  A.  Bridgman; 
there  is  but  one  man  left,  of  those  he  knew  when  he  came  to  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  he  is  Siielton  J.  Mattingly,  more  than  ninety  years  of  age.  resid- 
ing near  Arcadia  in  Morgan  county. 


DR.  AND  MRS.  THOS.  POTHICARY. 


'? 


THE  town  of  Virginia  wlien  platted  by  Dr.  Henry  II.   Ilall.   in  May  1836, 
was  in  Morgan  county,  but  an  Act  of  the  legislature,  passed  on  March 
3d,  1837,  placed  it  in  the  new  county  named  Cass  organized  by  that  act 
from  all  that  part  of  Morgan  lying  north  of  a  line  running  east  from  the   Illi- 
nois river  tlirough  the  middle  of  Township  17  to  the  Menard  county  line. 

Tlie  first  physician  to  locate  in  the  village  of  Virginia  was,  of  course,  its 
proprietor,  Dr.  Hall.  The  next  one  was  Dr.  Thomas  Pothicary,  who  arrived 
tlieie  with  his  wife  and  three  children,  from  Beardstown,  in  a  wagon  drawn 


MRS.  nr.i^i   POTHICARY.  DR.  THOMAS  POTHICARY. 

by  oxen,  oti  the  -Ith  day  of  July,  1836.  The  town  then  consisted  of  three 
houses,  tlie  residence  of  Dr.  Hall  and  his  store  house  just  across  from  it  on 
the  road  leading  from  Beardstown  to  Springfield,  and  a  small  building  north 
of  the  public  scjuare  near  the  lot  on  wiiich  Casper  Magel  resides,  in  wliich 
whiskey  was  sold  by  a  man  named  Thomas  Howard.  Residing  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  embryo  town  were  John  DeWeber,  Col.  Amos 
West,  Rev.  Reddick  Horn,  and  a  few  others  to  whom  Dr.  Hall  had  sold  a  few 
of  the  lots  to  constitute  them   promoters  of  the  enterprise.     Just   what   in- 


-  61  - 

duced  Dr.  Pothicary  to  cast  his  destinies  in  this  place  will  probably  never  be 
known  nor  can  it  now  be  ascertained  wliere  he  lived,  or  wliat  lie  did,  for  a 
year  or  more  after  his  arrival;  but  a  reasonable  presumption  is  tliat  lie  prac- 
ticed medicine.  The  records  show  that  he  purchased  of  Rev.  Reddick  Horn, 
on  September  11,  1837,  for  the  sum  of  $68,  lot  No.  102,  on  the  south  side  of  the 
square,  on  which  the  Thompson  building  now  stands,  and  thereon  he  immedi- 
ately proceeded  to  erect  a  two-story  frame  building,  that  as  soon  as  completed 
he  threw  open  to  the  public  as  a  tavern,  or  "inn,"  as  he  styled  it.  And  he 
continued  entertaining  travelers  and  boarders  there,  in  connection  with  his 
very  limited  medical  practice  and  the  sale  of  some  standard  drugs  and  medi- 
cines, which  displayed  on  a  few  shelves  constituted  Virginia's  first  drug  store, 
until  he  removed  to  Beardstown  in  1845. 

(The  records  show  that  Dr.  Tnomas  Pothicary  also  purchased  of  W.  F. 
De Weber  lot  No.  103  on  March  29,  1841,  of  John  Ream  lot  No.  104  in  May, 
1844,  and  lot  No.  1  of  Jas.  Thornsbury  on  April  10,  1848;  and  that  he  conveyed 
to  John  H.  Irwin  lots  102,  103,  104  and  105,  on  April  22,  1851,  the  entire  south 
side  fronting  the  court  house  square  excepting  106  in  the  Robertson  block.) 

Dr.  Pothicary  was  born  in  Wilkshire  , England,  on  the  21st  of  .April,  17!)7. 
Of  his  boyhood  life  nothing  is  now  known,  excepting  that  his  Quaker  parents 
who  were  not  of  the  patrician  class,  apprenticed  liim  when  a  mere  lad  to  a 
tailor,  that  he  might  learn  that  art,  and  there  he  served  the  period  of  his 
indenture  with  very  meagre  educational  advantages.  Having  served  his  time 
and  arrived  at  manhood's  estate  he  came  to  this  country,  and  for  some  time 
worked  as  a  journeyman  tailor  in  the  city  of  New  York  and  its  vicinity.  He 
was  very  ambitious  to  acquire  education,  and  after  his  day  labors  attended 
night  schools,  and  devoted  every  spare  moment  to  reading  and  study,  and 
storing  his  mind  with  varied  knowledge  that  he  never  applied  to  pr;ictical 
use.  In  Jefferson  county.  New  York,  he  was  married,  on  February  14,  1S2;), 
to  Miss  Betsey  Pierce,  who  was  born  in  the  town  of  Adams  in  that  county  on 
the  24th  of  July,  1803,  and  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  girls  and  one  boy. 
She  was  given  but  limited  literary  education,  but  learned  to  spin  wool  and 
flax,  and  weave  and  make  her  own  clothing. 

Concluding  that  the  South  presented  to  young  beginners  in  the  struggle 
for  bread  advantages  for  getting  along  superior  to  any  he  observed  in  the 
crowded  towns  of  New  York,  he  left  that  state  with  his  wife  a  short  time 
after  their  marriage,  and  journeyed  southwest  to  Memphis,  Tennessee,  where 
he  set  in  to  work  at  his  trade. 

He  may  have  settled  first  in  Kentucky  and  then  made  his  way  to  Mem- 
phis, having  probably  had  in  contemplation  the  purpose  of  undertaking  tlie 
study  of  medicine.  With  his  characteristic  pertinacity  he  labored  in  the 
shop  all  day  and  often  sat  up  half  the  night  poring  over  medical  books  he 
borrowed  or  could  afford  to  buy.  It  may  be  that  when  he  thought  himself 
sufficiently  prepared  he  left  the  shop  and  sought  localities  wherein  to  launch 
out  in  professional  life,  as  it  is  known  that  he  resided  for  a  time  in  Kentucky 
and  also  in  Vicksburg,  Mississippi.  It  is  claimed  by  some  of  his  descendants 
tliat  he  returned  to  New  York  City  and  received  a  diploma  from  one  of  its 
medical  institutions;  but  it  is  altogether  probable  that  he  was  not  a  graduate 
of  any  college,  and  that  his  knowledge  of  medicine  was  neither  extensive  nor 
profound.    Nevertheless,  on  his  arrival  in  the  incipient  city  of  Virginia  he  at 


once  took  rank  in  the  noble  profession,  and  maintained  that  status— at  least 
nominally— throughout  life;  and  no  doubt  found  it  ahiiost  as  respectable,  if 
not  so  remunerative,  as  tailoring,  which  plebeian  calling  he  thereafter  for- 
ever renounced. 

The  aspiration  to  enter  the  medical  profession  was  doubtless  entertained 
by  Thomas  Pothicary  while  plying  his  trade  in  New  York,  probably  before  his 
marriage;  and  that  was  the  motive  that  induced  him  to  leave  the  east  and 
descend  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  Memphis,  believing  that  the 
malarial  and  benighted  South  presented  a  far  more  encouraging  field  for  the 
professional  novice  than  did  the  more  progressive  and  enlightened  region 
north  of  the  Ohio.  Persevering  in  that  idea  by  a  course  of  hard  study  and 
training  he  finally  subjected  it  to  a  practical  test  that  proved  it— in  his 
case— to  be  a  delusion  and  mistake.  He  failed  as  a  practitioner,  and  discov- 
ered—as  hundreds  of  other  physicians  have— that  he  was  destitute  of  all 
natural  aptness  for  that  business,  and  that  though  fascinated  by  the  theo- 
retical study  of  medicine  its  practical  features  were  to  him  distasteful,  if  not 
disgusting,  and  he  very  sensibly  abandoned  it.  Boarding  a  steamboat  at 
AMcksburg,  with  his  wife  and  two  young  children  and  a  few  household  goods, 
lie  ascended  the  Mississippi  and  then  the  Illinois  to  Beardstown,  determined 
to  carve  out  a  new  career  in  a  new  country  that  presented  more  genial,  social, 
polil  leal  and  physical  aspects. 

For  eight  years  Dr.  Pothicary  continued  to  run  his  "inn"  and  drug  store 
in  Virginia,  buying,  in  the  interim,  other  lots  and  selling  some,  and  by  the 
exercise  of  thrift,  industry  and  economy  gradually  accumulating  some  wealth. 
In  the  meantime  Dr.  Hall's  little  prairie  village  was  rapidly  improving, 
buildings  were  going  up  in  all  directions,  several  of  tiiem  designed  for  various 
branches  of  business.  Virginia  in  1839  became  the  county  seat  of  Cass  and 
Dr.  Hall  built  a  court  house  on  the  west  square.  Charley  Brady  moved  his 
carding  maciiine  from  Prmceton  to  the  county  seat;  N.  B.  Beers  built  a 
steam  mill  down  on  the  branch;  Beadles  and  Jack  Powell  built  a  new  hotel  on 
the  corner  diagonally  across  from  the  Pothicary  tavern;  DeAVeber  had  moved 
into  town  and  also  built  a  tavern  on  the  east  side  of  Washington  square:  W. 
H.  n.  Carpenter  was  a  practicing  attorney,  and  the  medical  staff  of  the  vil- 
lage included  Doctors  Scliooley,  Tate,  Lord,  Conn  and,  Stockton. 

But  the  flourishing  town  of  Virginia  received  a  rude  sliock  by  the  result 
of  a  special  election  held  on  the  4th  of  September,  1843,  when  the  people  of 
Cass  county  voted,  (by  453  votes /or  to  288  against),  to  remove  the  county  seat 
from  that  place  to  Beardstown.  Very  general  depression  of  business  and 
property  values  followed  that  action,  and  several  Virginians,  losing  confi- 
dence in  the  ultimate  success  of  the  place,  left  it  to  seek  more  promising 
localities.  On  the  other  hand  the  success  of  Beardstown  in  acquiring  the 
county  seat  gave  that  place  quite  an  impetds  iti  the  line  of  material  prosperity. 

Dr.  Pothicary  pluckily  stuck  to  Virginia  for  two  years  after  its  bitter  de- 
feat; but  general  reduction  of  patronage  and  active  competion  impelled  him 
to  move  to  Beardstown  in  the  spring  of  1845,  where  he  opened  out  another 
tavern  near  the  river  on  Main  street.  That  venture,  however,  was  not 
crowned  with  the  success  he  had  anticipated,  and  after  trying  business  there 
one  year  returned  to  Virginia  in  1840.  That  spring  Mexico  declared  war 
against  the  United  States,  and  was  promptly  invaded  by  thousands  of  Ameri- 


-63- 

can  volunteers.  Dr.  Pothicary's  martial  spirit  was  not  aroused  as  he  had 
matters  of  greater  personal  importance  than  killing  Mexicans  to  attend  to  at 
home.  In  the  early  months  of  1847  he  moved  up  in  Sugar  Grove  precinct,  six 
miles  east  of  Virginia,  having  purcliased  of  David  B.  Ayer  the  wi  of  the  sej 
and  ei  of  the  swj  of  Sec  4  in  Township  17,  of  Range  9,  for  which  he  received  a 
deed  on  March  6th.  1849.  There  he  built  a  home  and  settled  down  in  bucholic 
contentment  and  peace,  and  there  his  son  and  two  danghters  grew  to  matur- 
ity and  married,  his  wealth  increased,  and  his  days  were  unmarred  by  mis- 
fortune or  disaster.  But  soon  the  peaceful  tranquility  of  his  rustic  life  was 
disturbed  by  the  insiduous  whisperings  of  the  demon  of  avarice.  In  1848  Jim 
Marshall,  in  digging  a  tail  race  for  Capt.  Sutter's  sawmill  at  Coloma,  Cali- 
fornia, discovered  gold.  That  fact,  soon  known,  kindled  a  furor  of  excite- 
ment that  swept  over  the  country— over  the  world— with  the  impetuous 
velocity  of  an  old-time  prairie  fire. 

Dr.  Pothicary  was  one  of  its  early  victims.  Without  the  sacrifice  of 
property  or  material  interests,  he  hastily  began  preparations  to  reacli  tiie 
newly-discovered  land  of  Ophir.  Several  other  citizens  of  Cass  county,  in- 
cluding some  of  his  neighbors,  were  simultaneously  attacked  by  the  same  in- 
fection, then  known  as  the  "gold  fever,"  that  soon  "carried  them  off."  C;i!i- 
f or nin  WHS  then  n  terra  incognita  only  accessible  by  the  long,  dreary  I'oiite 
across  the  plains  and  mountains;  or  by  tlie  equally  dreary  and  hazardous  voy- 
age by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama.  Each  route  seemed  to  present  some 
advantage  over  the  other,  to  those  profoundly  ignorant  of  both;  that  by  Pan- 
ama promised  greater  speed,  the  otlier  greater  safety  and  economy.  Dr. 
Pothicary  preferred  the  more  expeditious  voyage  by  Panama.  He  liacl 
crossed  the  Atlantic  and  knew  something  of  ocean  transportation.  He  also 
knew  something  of  the  slow  movement  of  oxen,  that  some  intended  to  em- 
ploy as  means  of  locomotion  over  the  land  route.  Said  he:  "Come  arul  go 
along  with  me  by  way  of  Panama,  and  we  will  get  there  and  have  all  Ihe  gold 
we  want  before  those  bull-whackers  are  half  way  across  the  plains." 

The  early  spring  of  1849  saw  great  bustle  and  activity  on  the  part  of  sev- 
eral adventurous  spirits  in  Cass  county,  as  at  many  other  localities  through- 
out the  country.  With  Dr.  Pothicary  went  Dr.  M.  H.  L.  Scliooley,  John 
Buckley,  Jos.  Cosner  and  Mike  Whitlinger,  by  way  of  St.  Louis,  New  Orleans 
and  Panama.  They  arrived  in  California  in  good  time  without  incident  or 
accident  of  note,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  mines.  With  ex- 
ception of  Whittlinger,  their  success  in  scooping  up  gold  fell  far  short  of  their 
expectations.  Doctors  Scliooley  and  Potliicary  soon  separated  after  their 
arrival  in  the  modern  El  Dorado,  but  before  the  expiration  of  a  year  bolh 
were  heartily  disgusted  with  their  quest  of  the  golden  fleece,  and  resolved  to 
return  home  as  quickly  as  possible.  Dr.  Scliooley  had  not  exhausted  the 
means  he  had  taken  with  him,  and  at  San  Francisco  took  cabin  passage  for 
New  Orleans  on  the  same  steamship  that  brought  him  to  California.  He 
changed  to  another  ship  after  transit  across  tlie  Istiimus,  and  on  arrival  at 
New  Orleans  great  was  his  surprise  to  meet  Dr.  Pothicary  who  had  come  on 
the  same  vessel  working  his  passage  back  as  cook!  Tiie  two  Doctors  had  not 
met  on  shipboard  as  tlie  one  was  in  the  after  cabin,  and  the  other's  functions 
contlned  liim  to  the  forecastle  galley.  Dr.  Pothicary  was,  of  course,  flat  broke, 
and  Scliooley  generously  advanced  him  the  necessary  funds  to  pay  his  way 
back  to  Cass  county. 


-64- 

Dr.  Pothicary  had  many  strongly  marked  characteristics  and  peculiarities. 
He  was  not  at  all  handsome  in  personal  appearance;  six  feet  in  height,  lean, 
bony,  slightly  stoop-shouldered,  with  harsh,  furrowed  features,  small  gray 
eyes  and  reddish  brown  hair,  and  dark  complexion  Abrupt  in  manners, 
austere  and  reserved,  and  generally  dressed  very  plainly,  he  presented  but  few 
surface  indications  of  culture  or  refinement.  Usually,  absorbed  in  his  own 
thoughts,  he  was  not  inclined  to  sociability,  and  in  speech  was  dogmatical, 
often  snappish,  and  seldom  indulged  in  levity  or  laughter.  But  he  was  really 
of  gentle  nature,  with  most  kind  and  sympathetic  impulses,  and  to  those  who 
enjoyed  his  contidence  and  friendship  he  was  an  entertaining,  pleasant  and 
genial  associate.  All  of  his  life  he  was  an  observant  reader  and  meditative 
student,  and  though  not  a  profound  scholar,  was  a  remarkably  well-informed 
man  of  sound,  practical  education.  His  portrait  illustrating  this  sketch  was 
electrotyped  from  a  dingy,  faded,  old  ambrotype,  the  only  portrait  of  him 
now  extant. 

He  was  nominally  a  Quaker,  but  so  broadly  liberal  were  his  views  concern- 
ing tlie  momentuous  questions  of  man's  final  destiny,  and  Biblical  higher 
criticism,  that  he  might  properly  have  been  classed  with  Agnostics 
Thougli  one  of  the  most  honest,  moral  and  honorable  of  men  he  belonged  to 
no  secret  society  and  artiliated  with  no  local  church  organization.  In  his  per- 
sonal luibirs,  his  abhorence  of  vice,  immorality,  profanity  and  vulgarity,  his 
utter  intolerance  of  depraved  and  evil  conduct,  lie  was  essentially  a  Puritan. 
In  all  these  matters— in  fact,  in  the  most  of  his  opinions— he  was  an  extremist 
with  lixed,  immovable  convictions.  Expressed  in  the  dialect  of  Arkansas,  he 
was  "powerfully  sot  in  his  ways." 

An  incident  that  occurred  at  his  "inn,"  in  Virginia,  in  the  spring  of  IS'IS 
well  illustrated  his  extreme  regard  for  social  decorum  and  propriety — the 
more  noticeable  because  of  its  general  rarity  at  that  period.  Governor 
Thomas  Ford,  with  his  staff  and  acompany  of  Morgan  county  militia,  stopped 
for  the  night  in  Virginia  after  the  day's  journey  from  Springfield  when  en- 
route  to  Carthage  to  investigate  the  Mormon  troubles  brewing  there.  The 
Governor  and  his  Aids  were  entertained  at  the  Pothicary  tavern,  and  the 
soldiers  camped  on  the  public  square.  In  stature  Governor  Ford  was  a  small 
man  little  more  than  five  feet  tall,  and  by  no  means  prepossessing  in  appearance. 
He  was  an  eminent  jurist  of  clear,  strong  mind,  well  versed  in  the  law,  but 
totally  out  of  place  as  chief  executive  of  the  state.  His  elevation  to  that  posi- 
tion proved  unfortunate  to  him,  as  its  associations  led  him  into  habits  of  in- 
temperance, arrogance  and  profligacy  that  wrought  his  utter  ruin.  When  in 
convivial  mood,  or  specially  irritated— as  was  often  the  case— he  was  a  boist- 
erous, profane  talker,  not  at  all  choice  in  the  ti>;ures  of  speech  he  employed  to 
emphasize  his  discourse. 

On  the  evening  mentioned  he  was,  after  supper,  beginning  to  assert  his 
authority  with  his  usual  blasphemies  and  anathemas,  when  Dr.  Pothicary 
politely  but  firmly  told  him  that  he  did  not  permit  profanity  or  vulgarity  in 
his  house,  and  that  he  (Ford)  must  desist  from  its  use.  The  Governor  was 
speechless  with  astonishment  for  a  moment,  but,  recovering  himself, 
straightened  up  to  his  full  five  feet  one  inch,   and   retorted:     "Do  you   know, 

G— d you,  sir,  who  you  are    talking    toV    I'll    have    you    to    understand, 

B- G—,  sir,  that  I  am  the  governor  of  Illinois."     "I  don't  care   who  you   are, 


-  65  - 

sir,"  replied  the  Doctor,  "but  I'll  have  you  to  understand,  sir,  that  I  am  the  j 
governor  of  this  house,  and  if  you  continue  such  profane  and  nngentlemanly  j 
Slanguage  I'll  kick  you  out  of  it."  Tliereupon  the  Governor  of  Illinois  sub-  ' 
sided  and  soon  thereafter  went  to  bed. 

No  one  ever  liad  a  kinder  or  more  oblighig  neiglibor  than  Dr.  Potliicary. 
Thougli  he  had  but  few  intimate  friends  and  no  confidants,  he  entertained  all 
who  called  upon  him  with  blunt  but  genuine  hospitality,  and  was  esteemed 
by  all  for  his  probity  and  integrity  of  character.  He  never  refused  a  neigh- 
bor the  loan  of  a  horse,  or  team  of  horses,  wagon,  or  anything  he  had  on  tlie 
farm;  but  never  borrowed  anything,  doing  without  such  thiiigs  as  he  needed 
and  was  without  until  he  could  buy  them.  A  total  stranger  to  the  arts  of 
flattery,  and  to  deception  in  all  forms,  he  was  strictly  correct  and  reliable  in 
all  business  transactions,  exact  and  methodical  in  all  his  private  and  public 
dealings,  industrious,  economical  and  frugal,  and  rigidly  temperate  in  all 
things. 

In  political  opinion  Dr.  Potliicary  was  in  his  earlier  life  in  this  country  a 
whig,  and  after  organization  of  the  republican  party  transferred  to  it  liis  al- 
legiance, and  was  for  the  rest  of  his  days  one  of  its  stalwart  and  most  loyal 
supporters,  but  refraining  from  taking  an  active  part  among  politicians.  He 
was  an  ultra  republican  because  lie  thought  that  party  better  represented  his 
views  of  correct  government  and  human  liberty  and  equality,  and  not  from 
motivesof  personal  gain  or  benefit.  His  residence  in  the  ^outh  acquaintt'd 
him  with  the  institution  of  slavery  which  he  cordially  detested,  and  vehe- 
mently denounced  on  all  occasions— in  Illinois;  but  probably  was  more 
guarded  in  expression  of  his  radical  opinions  when  south  of  Mason's  and 
Dixon's  line.  In  regard  to  his  adopted  country  he  was  intensely  patriotic 
and  faithful  to  every  duty  of  the  American  citizen.  During  the  civil  war, 
though  far  passed  the  age  for  miltary  service,  he  accepted  the  posit  ion  of  dis- 
trict'provost  marshal,  and  was  unremitting  and  unrelenting  in  the  dischai'ge 
of  every  duty  connected  with  drafting  recruits  for  the  Union  armies,  until 
restoration  of  peace.  So  assiduous  was  he  in  that  service  that  he  gained  tlie 
bitter  enmity  of  every  "copperhead,"  and  of  some  of  the  stay-at-home  "trooly 
loyal,"  in  his  district.  He  was  shot  at  from  ambush,  on  one  occasion  causing 
his  horse  to  tlirow  him,  from  which  he  received  severe  injuries.  He  was 
threatened  with  lynching  and  mobbing,  but  still  went  on  fearlessly  with  liis 
enrollment  work. 

At  length  the  weight  of  advancing  years  admonished  hsm  to  retire  from 
further  active basiness  pursuits  and  situated  himself  and  wife  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  well-earned  rest  and  quietude  for  the  remnant  of  their  days.  Pre- 
paratory to  leaving  the  farm  he  purchased  lot  No.  4  in  Stowe's  first  addition 
to  Virginia,  and  there  rebuilt  the  liouse  thereon  into  which  he  moved   in   the 

year  1870. 

Surrounded  with  all  accessible  comforts  and  conveniences  the  Doctor  was 
well  situated  for  enjoyiTient  of  the  few  pleasures  of  life  remaining  in  his  de- 
clining years.  But  unfortunately— as  often  occur  in  old  age— a  chronic  disor- 
der, tolerated  for  some  years,  intensified  by  his  failing  vitality,  rendered  his 
existence  a  torture  and  burden.  In  his  eightietli  year  lie  underwent  the  op- 
eration of  lithotomy,  successfully  performed  by  Doctor  David  Prince,  the  fa- 
mous Jacksonville  Surgeon.    From  that  ordeal  he  rallied,  but  though  the  sur- 


-66-  . 

g-ical  woiinrl  speedily  healed,  it  all'orded  him  onl}'  temporary  relief,  and  his 
protracted  suffering  again  became  intolerable.  A  year  or  more  passed  without 
amelioration  of  his  condition.  lie  then  thanked  his  attending  physicans  for 
their  untiring  efforts  to  mitigate  his  misery,  and  told  them  he  well  knew  that 
at  his  age  recovery  was  impossible,  and  even  permanent  relief  from  pain  was 
lioi  eless.  and  said  lie  had  resolved  to  endure  the  agony  no  longer.  As  usual  in 
such  cases,  but  little  attention  was  given  to  his  intimation  of  suicide  not- 
withstanding his  well-known  trait  of  obstinate  determination  of  purpose. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  July  3,  1878,  when  the  inmates  of 
the  h"use  and  neighborhood  were  asleep,  he  stealthily  descended  the  stairs 
from  his  room  to  the  moonlit  lawn  in  front  of  his  residence,  and  there  sitting 
down  on  the  grass,  with  the  coolness  and  skill  of  an  expert  surgeon,  he  cut 
down  with  a  razor,  and  severed  the  left  inguinal  artery,  and  then  called  to 
his  wife  and  calmly  told  her  the  deed  was  done.  A  neighbor  was  im^mediately 
aroused,  but  the  Doctor  expired  before  he  could  be  returned  to  his  room. 

Several  days  before  he  had  given  his  relatives  special  instructions  as  to 
tlie  manner  in  wliich  he  desired  to  be  buried,  and  that  was  with  the  strictest 
regard  to  economy,  and  as  quickly  after  his  death  as  practicable.  With  his 
usual  circumspection  he  chose  tlie  lawn  for  the  place  of  his  self-immolation  in 
Older  TO  avoid  soiling  the  bedding  and  carpet  of  his  apartment,  and  on  leav- 
ing to  descend  the  stairs  he  wrote,  by  the  light  of  the  full  moon,  with  chalk, 
on  his  grandchild's  blackboard  in  the  hall,  his  last  earthly  message  as  follows: 
"Rui-y  me  as  I  have  directed."  There  was  in  his  suicide  not  the  sligiitest 
tiace  of  aberration  of  mind,  and  it  was  evident  he  had  made  all  prepai'ations 
for  it  with  tlie  most  deliberate  premeditation.  His  age  at  the  time  of  his 
deatli  was  81  years,  2  months  and  12  days.  He  was  buried  next  day  in  the 
nobinson  burying  ground  three  and  a  half  miles  east  of  Virginia.  He  was 
survived  by  his  wife  and  three  children:    Mary  E.,   Joseph  M.,   and  Julia  L. 

His  wife  died  at  the  residence  of  her  daughter  Mary  in  Seneca,  Kansas, 
on  February  1,  1886,  aged  82  years,  5  months  and  2-4  days. 

Mary  E.  was  born  in  Kentucky,  on  October  G,  183.3,  was  married,  in  Cass 
county.  111.,  to  Thomas  Byron  Collins  on  the  27th  of  Sept-ember,  1850,  and 
died  in  Seneca,  Kansas,  on  tlie  (ith  of  December,  1899. 

Joseph  M.  was  born  in  Kentucky,  July  13tli,  1835,  was  married  on  May 
18,  1870,  and  died  in  Illinois,  January  4.  1878. 

Julia  L.  was  born  in  Virginia,  111.,  January  16,  1841,  was  married  in  Cass 
county.  111.,  October  19, 1860,  to  Charles  C.  Robinson,  and  now  resides  witli 
lier  oldest  son,  C.  M.  Robinson,  in  Portland,  Oregon. 


JAMES  GRAY   CAMPBELL. 


JAMES  Gray  Campbell  was  born  at  Bonnington  (a  suburb  of  the  city  of 
Edinburgh)  Scotland,  on  February  24th,  1828,  the  eldest  son  of  Blair 
Campbell  and  his  wife  Isabella  (nee  Gray.) 
As  soon  as  old  enough  he  attended  the  common  schools  of  Edinburgh  and 
Leith.  His  father  having  removed,  with  his  family  to  the  town  of  Leith, 
which  is  the  seaport  of  Edinburgh  and  about  two  miles  distant.  His  scliool 
days  ended  when  he  reached  the  age  of  twelve  years.  He  was  then  put  to 
work  assisting  his  father,  who  was  a  shoemaker  doing  business  on   liis  own 

account. 

When  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years, 
Philip  C.  Gray,  a  bookseller  and  sta- 
tioner of  tiie  city  of  Edinburgh  de- 
sired to  have  James  for  a  clerk  in  liis 
store. 

He  remained  with  Mr.  Gray,  in 
that  employment,  for  two  years,  dur- 
ing which  time  he  made  large  use  of 
tlie  books  in  the  store,  during  the  in- 
tervals between  waiting  on  customers. 
As  tlie  books  were  all  for  sale  no 
thumb  marks  or  dog  ears  on  tlieiu 
would  go,  so  the  careful  handling  of 
books  became  a  confirmad  habit. 

Mr.  Gray  was  a  man  of  fine  educa- 
tion, a  perfect  gentlemen  and  of  most 
amiable  disposition,  but  of  rather 
quick  temper.  About  the  end  of  tlie 
second  year  of  said  clerkship  the  boss 
lost  his  temper,  for  slight  cause,  and 
told  James  to  go  home.  James  went 
and  absolutely  rerused  to  return. 

At  the  age  of  seventeen  years  he 
JAMES  GRAY  CAMPBELL.  went  to  the  city    of    Glasgow,    as   a 

journeyman  shoemaker  and  remained  there,  on  his  own  resources  entirely,   for 
about  a  year,  and  tlien  returned  to  Edinburgh. 

In  the  early  spring  of  1849  his  health  failed.     It  seemed  as  if  his  time   was 
to  be  short.    His  physician  called  the  trouble  functional  derangement  of  the 


-68- 

] lino's,  and  palpitation  of  the  heart,  caused  by  wealcness  resulting?  from  the 
lung  trouble.  Early  in  May  of  that  year  an  elderly  gentleman  and  his  three 
young  lady  daughters  were  going  to  Kane  county,  Illinois,  where  a  son  of  tha 
father  had  already  settled.  They  were  to  be  accompanied  by  another  young 
lady,  tlie  fiancee  of  said  son,  and  lier  brother.  Campbell  desired  a  kih  or  cure, 
and  thought  that  such  a  trip  would  be  one  or  the  other.  The  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  the  doctor  and  he  liiglily  approved  of  tiie  idea.  So  James  also  ac- 
companied the  party. 

Sometime  in  May,  1S4!),  the  party  started  by  railway  for  Glasgow  on  tlie 
river  Clyde.  Campbell  was  so  much  exhausted  by  tlie  trip  that  his  father  and 
eldest  sister,  who  had  accompanied  him  that  far,  urged  him  to  return.  Ilg 
refused.  So  passage  was  secured  for  the  party  on  an  American  vessel  bound 
for  New  York.  On  the  voyage  which  lasted  live  weeks,  he  recovered  rapidly 
and  on  arriving  at  New  York  he  was  able  to  help  materially  in  handling  the 
baggage  of  the  party. 

After  a  short  stay  at  that  city  passage  was  secured  by  steamboat,  up  the 
river  Hudson,  to  the  city  of  Troy,  and  from  thence  by  canal  to  the  city  of 
I'.iill'alo.  and  then,  by  steamboat,  by  the  lakes  and  Detroit  river,  to  Chicago. 
(^iiica:;o  was  then  a  dirty  little  frontier  town:  but  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
caiia,!  li;ii!  then,  lately,  been  opened  from  tiiere  to  LaSaJle  on  the  Illinois 
river  an  1  the  founrlation  of  the  greatness  01  that  city  liad  been  laid.  There 
was  then  a  railway  running  west  perhaps  forty  or  iifty  miles  from  Chicago, 
and  \  hat  was  the  route  to  the  destination  of  his  aid  friends,  and,  so  far,  his 
fellow  t  raveleis.  lie  would  have  accompanied  tliem:  it  was  painful  to  part 
fnan  them,  but  he  had  undertaken  a  trust  whicli  he  felt  bound  to  execute, 
although  lie  had  accepted  it  when  he  had  no  realizing  sense  of  the  magnifi- 
cent  liL^tances  in  t!ie  geography  of  the  United  States.  It  came  about  in  this 
wise:  A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Cunningham  in  his  youth  emigrated  to 
America  and  afterward  returned  to  Scotland.  Either  by  inheritance  or  pur- 
chase he  became  the  principal  owner  of  the  real  estate  in  said  suburban  vjll- 
;,ige  of  !5oniiington  and  was  known  among  the  people  there  as  the  "Auld 
Laird."  There  he  raised  a  family  of  five  sons  and  three  daughters.  The 
father  of  James  Campbell  was  also  born  and  reared  at  the  same  place;  was  a 
playmate  of  such  of  the  Cunninghams  as  were  about  his  age  and  there  was 
always  a  very  friendly  feeling  between  the  two  families.  One  of  the  Cun- 
ningham girls  married  a  Mr.  Blair.  She.  with  lier  husband  and  three  of  the 
/^aid  sons,  John,  George  and  Andrew,  went  to  Canada  and  linally  located  in 
Cass  county.  Illinois;  and  about  the  same  time  three  other  members  of  the 
Elair  family  settled  there  also.  As  soon  as  the  Cunninghams,  at  tlie  Ilon- 
nington  liome,  learned  that  James  Campbell  was  going  to  Illinois,  they  said: 
"He  will  see  our  brothers,"  and  they  wrote  letters  (International  mails  were 
tiien  much  slower  and  uncertain  and,  with  all,  more  expensive  than  now), 
and  prepared  little  packages  of  remembrances  to  be  sent}  to  their  friends  in 
Illinois,  and  the  members  of  the  Blair  family  did  likewise;  these  packeges 
were  packed  in  Campbell's  little  trunk.  So,  when  he  got  to  Chicago,  he  had 
those  tokens  of  love  in  his  keeping,  and  he  knew  no  way  of  delivering  them 
except  by  hand,  wliicli  meant  to  him,  a  trip  on  ttie  canal  to  LaSalle  and, 
then  by  steamboat  down  the  Illinois  river  to  Beardstown.  That  was  prac- 
tically the  only  way  to  get  there  then  from  the  north.     Arriving  at    Beards- 


-  69  - 

town  in  the  afternoon  of  July  3rd.  he  was  put  ashore  on  the  river  bank,  with 
his  little  trunk  by  his  side.  As  he  stood  and  wondered  what  next  would  be- 
fall this  solitary  stranger  in  a  strang-e  land,  a  young- Swiss  came  up  and  said, 
"Want  hotel?"  who,  on  being  informed  that  his  guess  was  right,  shouldered 
the  trunk  and  led  the  way  to  the  liotel,  then  kept  by  a  Mr.  Foster  who  soon 
made  the  traveller  feel  almost  at  home. 

Early  next  morning  (July  4,  1849)  our  traveler  learned  from  Mr.  Foster 
that  it  was  not  the  day  for  tlie  stage  to  go  east  and  that  every  team  for  hire 
as  well  as  the  other  city  teams  had  gone  to  Virginia,  as  there  was  to  be  a  big 
celebration  there,  and  a  Barbecue.  Mr.  Foster  did  some  scouting  about  town 
and  came  in  and  reported  that  a  Mr.  Davis  and  his  two  daughters  had  come 
from  Virginia  to  spend  the  holiday  and  would  return  in  the  afternoon  and 
that  he  had  engaged  a  seat  in  their  rig  for  the  "new  Scotchman."  Mr.  Davis 
proved  a  pleasant  companion  and  his  two,  really  and  truly,  handsome  girls 
were  not  less  so.  This  Scotchman  had  no  knowledge  of  Barbecue  and  as  he 
had  a  craving  for  knowledge  he  inquired  of  Mr.  Davis  what  it  meant.  He 
explained  tliis  wise:  A  big  crowd  get  together  in  the  hot  sun  and  dust  and 
they  bring  a  beef  or  two  and  hogs  and  try  to  cook  them  whole,  or  ne:ui.v  so, 
over  big  lires  in  the  smoke  and  dust  out  of  doors  and  when  they  get  them 
half  cooked  they  get  the  stuff  spread  on  dusty  benches  and,  ■sweating  and  roll- 
ing in  dust,  they  gather  around  and  eat  the  stuff  like  hogs."  As  James 
learned  that  the  Davis  farm  adjoined  Virginia  (almost  so  at  least)  on  tlie 
north,  he  concluded  that  Mr.  Davis  must  have  thought  himself  slighted  in 
some  way  by  the  "management"  and  concluded  to  have  notliing  to  do  with 
the  patriotic  gathering. 

The  sun  was  getting  low  in  the  west,  when  Mr.  Davis  with  his  load, 
drove  on  to  the  west  square  of  the  town.  The  exercises  of  the  day  being  over 
the  crowd  was  dispersing.  Notwithstanding  Mr.  Davis'  description  of  the 
Barbecue,  the  departing  people  all  looked  liappy,  and  just  as  if  they  had  en- 
joyed a  grand  good  time. 

Of  course  the  Cunninghams  and  the  Blairs  and  their  cousins,  their  uncles 
and  their  aunts  were  there  in  force  and  the  "new  Scotchman"  was  soon  in- 
troduced. 

Our  traveller  soon  found  himself  in  the  Andrew  Cunningham  wagon,  with 
Jack  Cunningliam  as  driver,  and  a  tine  crowd  of  young  folks  from  the  "Tan 
yard;"  so  it  was  then  generally  called,  because  Andrew  Cunningham  then 
had  a  tan  yard  there;  but  the  name  of  the  place  was  Allendale,  named  after 
the  family  name  of  Mrs.  Cunningham,  his  amiable  aud  talented  wife.  She 
was  born  in  Sweden  and  had  her  early  education  tiiere,  but  by  blood  and  gen- 
eral temperament  she  was  thoroughly  Scotch,  perhaps  mellowed  and  refined 
by  much  travel  and  residence  in  lands  other  than  the  homes  of  her  ancestors. 

In  that  wagon  load,  the  Russell  family,  for  sixty  years  well  and  favorably 
known  in  the  neighborhood  of  Virginia,  was  largely  represented,  including 
Eliza  (now  Mrs.  Menzies.) 

At  the  home  of  Andrew  Cunningham  our  subject  had  a  cordial  welcome 
to  a  delightful  home,  and  as  he  was  not  seeking  particularly  for  fortune,  but 
anxiously  for  health,  and  the  smell  of  tan  bark  being  healthful  he  went  to 
work  at  nominal  wages  at  the  tan  yard.  Mr.  Kussell,  the  father  of  said 
Russell  family  was  foreman  there  and    Richard    (Dick   as    we   called   him) 


-70- 

Thompson  was  his  right  hand  supporter.  John  Cunningham  had  died  some 
years  before  this,  leaving  sons,  James,  Thomas,  Archibald  and  the  aforesaid 
Jack;  also  a  daughter  who  was  then  the  wife  of  Eobert  Taylor.  Some  of 
them  have  passed  to  the  great  beyond:  but  all  old  settlers  will  remember 
them  as  in  all  respects  above  reproach.  George,  the  other  of  the  three  origin- 
al Cunninghams,  was  a  man  of  sterling  honesty  and  intelligence.  He  left  a 
large  family,  the  members  of  which  are,  or  were,  well  and  favorably  known 
to  most  of  tlie  readers  of  this  paper.  In  those  days  the  children  of  Andrew 
Cunningham  were  all  young.  Willie,  a  line,  handsome  boy,  most  of  the  resi- 
dents of  the  Virginia  precinct  before  the  war  of  1861,  will  remember,  with 
regret,  that  he  went  to  the  front  and  gave  up  his  young  life,  so  full  of  prom- 
ise, in  defence  of  his  country's  flag.  James,  you  have  still  with  you;  always 
genial,  and  yet,  an  old  bachelor.  Who  can  explain  why?  Floy  was  the  baby 
then;  Maggie  just  blossoming  into  womanhood,  but  now  both  among  the  very 
dear  old  ladies. 

So  far  the  Blairs  had  little  notice  in  this  reminisence,  but  we  must  not 
pass  tliem  lightly  by.  They  performed  well  their  part  in  the  early  days  of 
\'irgi Ilia  and  Cass  county.  In  1819,  William  and  David  Blair  were  residing 
ai  N'ir^inia  and  there  on  that  July  4th  the  said  "raw"  Scotchman  met  them. 
Tlu'ii' sistar  Melville  also  resided  there.  Both  of  said  brothers  died  within  a 
few  years  after  that.  They  were  both  honorable  men.  William  was  a  farm- 
er: David  had  been  a  partner  of  Mark  Buckley,  but  at  that  time  with  John 
Kodgers  as  cabinet  maker.  William  left  surviving  him  two  line  daughters 
wliogrew  up  to  a  noble  womanhood,  in  and  about  Virginia.  David  left  one 
daughter,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Hillig.  Miss  Melville  Blair  resided  many 
years  in  a  cottage  nearly  opposite  the  home  of  ''Jimraie"  Finn, ^  a  once  noted 
ciiaracter  of  Virginia.    There  she  gave  lessons  in  music  to  lady  pupils. 

Karly  in  the  spring  of  1850.  he  boarded  at  the  home  of  John  Robertson,  a 
widower  with  a  tine  family  of  sons  and  daughters,  about  a  mile  from  the  tan 
yard  and  on  the  west  side  of  Sugar  Grove.  Around  that  grove  at  that  time 
there  was  a  choice  lot  of  genial  homes.  Tlie  little  log  schoolhouse  in  the 
middle  of  the  grove,  with  punchon  floor  and  benches,  was  the  church  as  well 
as  schoolhouse  of  the  settlement.  Tliere  they  had  Sunday  School  regularly 
and  preaching,  when  they  could  catch  a  preacher;  their  singing  classes,  when 
a  teacher  came  along  and  got  up  a  class  at  a  dollar  a  head:  and,  through  the 
winter  montlis,  their  debating  society  meeting,  in  which  an  intense  interest 
was  taken. 

In  the  summer  of  1850  our  Scotclmum's  father,  mother,  tlu'ee  sisters  and 
two  brothers  arrived  at  Virginia,  and  first,  for  a  short  time,  made  their  home 
In  part  of  the  house  of  George  Cunningham  in  tlie  country,  not  far  from  the 
"tan  yard."  In  the  summer  of  1851  his  sisters  Isabella  and  Margaret  arrived 
from  Scotland.  They  were  accompanied  by  David  McLauglilin,  afterward 
the  wife  of  Isabella;  David  Redpath,  who  settled  at  Princeton— or  Jersie 
prairie— and  was  intimately  associated  with  Jacob  Bergen.  Miss  Ann  Boyln 
also  was  of  the  party.  She,  a  fe\V  years  after,  married  William  Ferguson. 
David  Redpath  was  a  very  lovable  man.  He  married  at  Princeton,  had  a  tine 
family,  but  Death  claimed  him  while  they  yet  needed  a  father's  care;  but  he 
left  them  in  charge  of  a  good  mother. 

In  the  summer  of  1851,  this  subject   had  a  job  on  the  farm   of   William 


--  71 


Wood  about  a  mile  or  two  east  of  Virginia,  at  Lhe  then  fair  wages  of  $11.00 
per  month,  in  the  fall  of  that  year  he  resigned  tlie  job  in  favor  of  David  Mc- 
LaucThlin  wlio  was  out  of  a  job  and  gladly  accepted  the  situation  and  held  it 
all  winter  In  the  spring  David  got  a  situation  at  Virginia,  as  clerk  in  the 
-eneral  store  of  Henry  11.  Hall  and  in  the  summer  of  1852  he  married  said 
sister  Isabella,  at  the  home  of  her  father,  at  that  time  in  a  little  log  cabin  at 
the  tan  yard.  David  soon  afterward  removed  to  Beardstown  as  clerk  in  one 
of  the  principal  stores  and,  afterward,  became  partner,  in  the  Arm  of  Chase, 
Parker  and  McLaughlin.  There  he  had  live  sons  born  to  him  christened  re- 
spectively WilliamBlair,  David  Chase,  James  Campbell,  John  Kcssell  and 
Andrew  Cunningham.  Late  in  1  he  fall  of  18()4.  David  McLaughlin  with  his 
family  removed  to  Muskegon,  Michigan.  There  he  prospered  and  rose  to 
more  than  local  distinction.  For  twenty  one  years  he  was  a  member  of  tlie 
Board  of  Education  of  the  city  and  then  declined  further  service.  A  bank- 
er's wealth  and  not  the  banker's  ability  (by  the  general  judgment)  was  all 
that  prevented  David  from  being  the  congressman  from  his  district  at,  one 
time  He  was  for  a  time  collector  of  customs  for  the  western  district  of 
Michigan,  and  had  the  high  compliment  of  being  relieved  from  that  ollice  l)y 
President  Cleveland  on  the  ground  of  beingan  "obnoxious  partisan,'  so  it  \\a,s 
called,  and  it  was  convenient  for  opening  a  place  for  some  hungrij  pafUsan. 
His«on  William  is  now  one  of  the  leading  bankers  of  Micliigan.  Daviii.  jr., 
went  to  Utah:  was  at  one  time  the  only  "Gentile"  in  tlie  Utah  tenitnnal 
leo-islature.  He  died  there,  wealthy,  a  few  years  ago.  James  is  now  a  pronn- 
ne'nt  member  of  the  Bar  of  Michigan.  John  died  while  still  a  boy.  Andrew 
was  for  many  years  professor  of  history  ui  tlie  Ann  Arbor  university  ot  M  ic!i- 
io-an  and  is  now  a  historian  whom  Theodore  Roosevelt  cites,  as  an  authority, 
in  one  of  his  (Roosevelt's)  historical  works  on  the  early  settlement  ot  t.  e 
west  of  this  country. 

The  sister  Margaret  became  the  wife  of  John  Rodgers,  the  former  partner 
of  David  Blair.  She  had  five  children,  but  husband  and  children  are  all  gone 
and  all  that  is  left  to  her  of  her  own  family  is  one  granddaughter.  She  now 
resides  with  her  sister  Jeanie,  Mrs.  George  Ellis,  in  Minnesota.  Euphemia, 
next  older  to  James  of  the  Campbell  family,  became  the  wife  ot  Alfred  Car- 
man and  within  two  years  afterward  died.  At  all  times  she  was  the  special 
friend  and  champion  of  her  brother  James.  Slie  left  a  baby  girl  which  soon 
had  to  be  laid  upon  her  breast  in  the  cold  ground.  Tiie  sister  Mary  became 
the  wife  of  George  Wilkie.  She  died  on  their  farm  north  of  town  in  1805  or 
'GO.  She  left  two  sons  and  two  daughters,  who  will  be  remembered  l)y  most 
of  the  readers  of  this  paper. 

The  brother  John  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Needham,  one  of 
the  early  settlers.     He  now  resides  in  Nebraska,  as  do  all  his  numerous  family. 

ThebrotherArcliibald,  (generally  called  Archie),  was  the  flower  of  the 
Campbell  familv.  After  the  installment  of  Abraham  Lincoln  in  tlie  pres- 
idency, a  movement  was  started  to  have  James  appointed  postmaster  at  Vir- 
ginia That  was  without  his  request  or  even  knowledge:  but  the  commission 
came  at  about  the  time  Capt.  L.  S.  AUard  led  his  company,  afterward  Com- 
pany F  of  the  19th  Infy.  Vols,  to  camp  at  Springfield.  James  felt,  that  with 
his  short  but  intensive  history  as  a  "precinct  politician"  immediately  behind 
him,  and  with  his  reputation  as  the  blackest  sort  of  black   republican,   a  due 


-72- 

repfard  to  consistenci'  required  that  he  should  follow.  Archie  was  then 
teaching-  school,  in  what  was  known  as  the  Needham  schoolhouse.  James 
went  there  and  almost  by  force  compelled  him  to  give  up  his  school  and  take 
charge  of  the  postoffice. 

Archie  was  put  in  possession  of  the  postoflice  as  deputy,  and  James  left 
for  the  war. 

After  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  it  was  evident  that  the  war  was  going  to  be 
no  ninety  day  picnic,  so  James  resigned  his  postoffice  commission  and  Archie 
was  appointed  instead. 

Arciiie  considered  it  his  duty  to  stay  and  care  for  his  father  and  mother, 
(then  well  along  in  years),  and  other  family  interests;  but  on  the  return  of 
James,  and  the  call  for  recruits  being  urgent,  he,  although  not  personally 
named  in  the  call,  thought  it  meant  him  and  that  he  ought  to  obey.  With 
a  squad  of  other  Virginia  boys,  (among  them  Rudolph  Oliver  and  Henry 
Hinchcliff),  he  went  to  Jacksonville.  Neither  of  the  three  returned.  They 
enlisted  in  the  a.^rd  Regt.  Ills.  Infy.  Vol.  in  February,  1865.  That  regiment 
was  then  commanded  by  Charles  E.  Lippencott,  of  Chandlerville,  and  was 
somewhere  on  the  shore  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Tiiey  were  immediately  sent 
forward  to  join  that  regiment.  The  last  letter  from  Archie  was  dated  at 
Memphis,  Tenn..  on  March  2,  1865.  The  next  report  of  him  was  from  a  com- 
rade, who  wrote,  that  tlie  boat  they  were  on.  upon  a  dark  and  stormy  night, 
struck  a  snag  and  sunk.  Rudolph  being  sick,-  had  been  provided  with  a  state- 
room and  the  last  seen  of  Archie  indicated  that  he  was  bent  on  the  rescue  of 
Rudolph.  Rudolph's  body  was  found  afterward  in  the  stateroom  and  \Nas 
buried  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  near  the  mouth  of  the  White  and 
Arkansas  rivers.  Immediately  on  getting  the  sad  news.  James  went  down 
there,  but  got  no  tidings  of  his  lost  brother,  or  his  body. 

Archie  was  one  of  the  bravest  and  the  best:  kind  and  gentle,   but   firm 
and  steadf;i.st.    To  know  him  well,  was  to  love  and  respect  him. 
"He  was  the  loved  of  all,  yet  none 
O'er  his  low  bed  may  weep." 

But  let  us  go  back  to  the  Virginia  of  1849  for  a  while.  There  was  little 
business  then  at  what  is  now  the  court  house  square.  What  little  mercantile 
business  was  done  then,  was  mostly  at  the  old  couit,  house  squai'e.  At  the 
south  end  of  the  west  side,  was  the  general  store  of  N.  B.  Thomp.son,  a  large 
good  looking  man,  with  a  tine  family  of  boys  and  girls;  a  rabid  domoerat,  but 
with  all  a  very  good  fellow:  and,  adjoining  on  the  north  was  the  general  store 
of  H.  II.  Hall.  Angling  across  to  the  west  end  of  the  south  side  was  the  store 
and  dwelling  of  "Honest"  Charlie  Oliver.  His  estimable  wife  was  one  of  the 
daughters  of  the  Hon.  Archibald  Job,  who  was  reputed  to  have  been  present 
at  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  and  who  settled  near  the  stream  east  of  town, 
afterward  known  by  his  name,  when  the  nearest  postottice  was  at  St.  Louis, 
who  had  been  a  member  of  the  Illinois  legislature  and  who  mounted  his  tine 
gray  horse  and  went  to  the  Mormon  war  at  Nauvoo.  In  the  "Boston  brick" 
at  the  southeast  corner  of  that  s(iuare  dwe't  and  dispensed  druggist'ssupplies. 
Dr.  L.  S.  Allard.  He  afterward  built  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  east 
square.  On  the  south  side  of  that  square  there  was  a  long  stretch  of  vacant 
space,  but,  near  the  east  end,  Mr.  Erwin  had  a  small  store;  and,  angling 
ac'oss  from  there  to  the  east  side  of  that  sciuare,  was  the  hotel,  operated  then 


-  73  - 

by  William  Armstrong.  On  the  west  side  of  this  square, 
looking  painfully  lonesome,  although  within  one  hundred  feet  of  the 
Harris  home,  stood  tlie  postofflce,  with  Jack  Mosley  as  postmaster.  He  had 
two  liandsome  daughters,  not  to  speak  of  line  sons,  and  sad  and  lonesome 
though  that  office  looked  at  a  distance,  it  did  not  seem  so  to  the  young  men 
when  they  called  there,  for  their  mail,  and,  with  it,  got  a  smile  from  the 
daughter  Lucy,  for  she  was  the  belle  of  the  town  in  those  days. 

In  those  days  Virginia  had  no  lawyer  unless  we  count  R.  S.  Thomas,  who 
resided  somewhere  in  the  vicinity,  and  a  year  or  two  after  that  had  his  resi- 
dence and  office  there.  He  became  the  prime  mover  and  member  of  the 
enterprise  that  built  the  first  railroad  into  Virginia,  and  Cass  county.  His 
chief  clerk  was  John  Naylor,  and  ardent  politician  of  the  old  Whig  scliool,  a 
fine  conversationalist  and  an  all  around  good  fellow,  and  who  would  have  been 
a  great  man  had  he  not  been  constitutionally  tired. 

We  had  Doctors  Schooley,  Hathwell,  Tate,  Allard (already  mentiond,)  and 
about  that  time  Phillips:  all  fine  gentlemen  and  good  country  doctois.  Per- 
haps, in  this  connection,  Logan  Proctor  should  be  mentioned,  lie  was  a 
brother-in-law  of  Dr.  Tate;  and,  being  an  old  bachelor,  he  was  much  at  tlie 
doctor's  home,  and  being  quite  a  student,  he  used  tiie  doctor's  library  and  tlie 
doctor's  counsel  to  train  himself  in  medical  science.  During  a  stormy  night 
an  urgent  call,  for  a  doctor  came.  All  the  doctors  were  out  of  town.  The 
lady  patient  was  in  dire  distress.  Logan's  sympathies  w'ere  excited.  He 
thought  he  might  help  till  better  skill  arrived.  He  saddled  the  doctor's 
spare  horse;  put  a  few  "simples"  in  the  saddle  bags  and  rode  through  the  deep 
mud  and  darkness.  He  was  introduced  to  the  sick  chamber  and  assured  tlie 
patient  that  the  doctor  would  soon  arrive  but  meanwliile  he  could  help.  He 
felt  the  pulse,  saw  the  tongue  and  began  to  prescribe.  A  lady  attendant  then 
remarked,  "Mr.  Proctor,  perhaps  you  don't  know  what's  the  matter."  "In- 
deed I  do,"  he  said,  "I  have  been  often  that  way  myself."  The  laugli  which 
followed  astonislied  Logan,  but  he  understood  iiow  the  laugh  came  in  shortly 
afterward  when  tlie  lady  had  a  fine  new  boy  and  was  doing  as  well  as  could  be 
expected.  Logan  bore  tlie  title  of  doctor,  after  that,  given  him  by  the  boys, 
and  Logan  took  it,  with  great  meekness,  for  he  was  one  of  the  meekest  of 
men.  He  was  really  a  dear,  good  soul,  bnt  somehow  he  did  not  seem  to  relish 
that  title.  Some  years  afterward,  in  due  form  and  manner,  by  proper  ecclesi- 
astical authority,  the  prefix  "Rev."  was  added  to  his  name. 

Between  the  years  1851  and  1855  the  subject  of  this  sketch  knocked  about, 
ready  to  put  his  hand  to  any  work  that  offered  at  what  was  considered  then 
fair  pay.  He  spent  one  year  with  John  Wear  on  his  farm  northeast  of  town; 
and  John,  long  years  afterward,  and  often,  remarked  that  "Jim"  was  the  best 
hand  he  ever  had.  As  circumstances  led  he  worked  at  his  trade,  farmed  for 
hire,  and  on  his  own  account,  worked  on  a  brickyard,  and,  with  Joseph  and 
Isaac  Robertson,  run  a  threshing  machine.  Jn  the  spring  of  1854  or  '55  he 
opened  a  shop  at  Virginia.  He  took  an  active  part  during  the  winter  mouths 
in  the  lyceum  debates  at  the  old  court  liouse  where  Dr.  Harvey  Tate  was 
usually  president,  and  Henry  Phillips,  (then  school  teacher).  Dr.  Allard, 
Henry  Savage  and  many  other  able  men  participated. 

On  tlie  nomination  of  Fremont  and  Dayton,  for  the  presidency,  and  vice 
presidency  in  lS5(i  Campbell,  at  first,  stood  almost  alone,   in  support  of  that 


ticket  in  tlie  AMrg-inia  precinct.  In  those  days  it  was  customary,  in  the  front 
yards  of  dwelling's  and  in  front  of  business  houses  to  raise  poles  and  hoist 
flags.  "Buchanan  and  Breckenridge,"  "Fillmore  and  Donaldson"  were  very 
much  "in  evidence."  "Fremont  and  Dayton"  on  Campbell's  pole  was  very 
conspicuous  by  its  lonesomeness.  In  1858  he  was  a  delegate  from  Cass  county 
to  the  first  regularly  called,  republican  state  convention  in  Illinois.  It  met 
at  Springfield,  nominated  a  full  state  ticket  and  named  Abraham  Lincoln  as 
its  choice  for  U.  S.  senator. 

As  has  been  stated  the  Virginia  company,  afterward  "F"  of  the  l!)th 
Regt.  Infy.  Vols.,  entered  camp  at  the  state  capital  early  in  May,  1801. 

In  the  spring  of  1858,  a  military  company  was  formed  at  Virginia  under 
the  name  of  "Virginia  Guards."  L.  S.  AUard  was  elected  captain,  Abraham 
Bergen,  first  lieutenant,  and  James  G.  Campbell,  second  lieutenant.  The 
state  had  no  arms  then  to  give  it  and  it  was  never  armed  nor  uniformed,  but 
it  was  drilled  in  company  movements  by  Capt.  AUard,  who  had  been  an  officer 
in  the  Mexican  war.  At  that  time  the  Northern  people  were  incredulous  as 
to  the  Southerners'  threats  of  war  and  the  organization  did  not  appear  to  be 
oiganized  with  any  view  to  such  war,  but  that  it  was  thought  of  just  as  such 
tilings  are  thought  of  at  any  time.  Beardstown  had  a  company,  "Why  not 
\'ii-;;ininV"  seemed  to  be  the  thought. 

When  war  did  come,  Capt.  AUard  promptly  tendered  his  company  to  Gov. 
Yates,  (the  original  "old  Dick"),  but  Dick  had  at  his  command  more  than 
enough  of  fuliy  organized,  and  well  drilled  and  fully  eijuipped  companies  to 
till  the  quota  at  that  time  called  for. .  So  he  told  Allard  to  hold  his  company; 
that  it  would  be  called  for  soon.  The  men  were  hard  to  hold.  Many  of  tbem 
drifted  away  hunting  gaps  in  the  ranks  of  the  accepted,  which  they  might  te 
allowed  to  till. 

Knowlton  II.  Chandler,  of  Chandlerville,  had  organized  a  company  there, 
but,  it  not  then  being  accepted,  there  was  the  same  drifting  away  from  it  as 
in  Allard's  case.  When  soon  the  "call"  came  to  Allard,  in  order  to  till  the 
ranks  to  the  required  number  Allard  and  Chandler  united  forces.  The  ladies 
■of  Chandlerville  presented  that  company  with  a  flag  of  silk,  they  carried  it 
with  them,  and,  when  camped  alone,  it  floated  over  its  headquarters.  Camp- 
bell has  it  now  as  a  sacred  relic. 

It  was  tacitly  understood  that  Allard  should  be  captain  of  the  consoli- 
dated companies  and  Chandler  tiist  lieutenant,  but  that  the  form  of  an  elec- 
tion should  be  had  of  the  three  commissioned  officers.  Tlie  only  contest  was 
on  second  lieutenant.  Campbell  did  not  attend  that  election  or  take  any  part 
in  it.  Thomas  Job,  son  of  the  aforesaid  Archibald  .lob,  was  duly  elected  sec- 
ond lieutenant:  which  was  a  first-class  selection  and  entirely  satisfactory  to 
Campbell.  Lieut.  Job  had  all  the  qualities  in  full  measure  necessary  to  make 
a  good  soldier  and  officer. 

Campbell,  as  stated  joined  the  company  at  Springfield,  and  soon  there- 
after it  was  moved  by  rail  to  Chicago.  It  received  one  months'  pay  from  the 
state.  On  arrival  at  Chicago  it  was  with  other  nine  companies  formed  into 
a  regiment  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Col.  J.  B.  Turchin,  who  had 
seen  service  in  the  Russian  army,  and  was  afterwards  brigadier  general  of 
volunteers.  The  work  of  drilling  in  hard  earnest  now  began.  The  regiment 
was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  June  17,  ISGl. 


-  75  - 

Early  in  July,  the  regiment  liaving  been  furnished  (all  except  one  com- 
pany) with  smooth  bore,  altered  flint  lock  muskets,  (it  soon  after  got  Spring- 
field rifle  muskets),  was  ordered  into  active  service,  and  was  carried  by  rail  to 
the  Mississippi  river  and  passed  over  into  Missouri,  somewhere  above  and 
near  Palmyra.  It  was  rapidly  moved  from  place  to  place  and  before  the  end 
of  that  month  company  F  was  doing  garrison  duty  at  Hannibal  and  there 
while  Lieut.  Job  was  at  Ills  post  of  duty  with  his  company  he  was  killed  as 
lately,  in  tliis  paper,  was  grapliically  described  by  the  pen  of  Comrade  H.  E. 
Ward.  To  give  even  a  skeleton  from  the  history  of  that  company  and  Camp" 
bell's  part  in  it  would  fill  a  good  sized  volume.  The  regiment,  sometimes  to- 
gether, sometimes  in  detached  companies,  was  coutinually  in  motion,  with 
weary  marches.  In  August.  1866,  it  was  for  a  few  days  at  Norfolk  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Missouri,  There  came  a  commission  as  second  lieutenant  to 
Sargeant  Campbell. 

The  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to  Washington;  but  one  of  the  trains 
carrying  it  east,  in  crossing  a  bridge  on  the  O.  &  M.  R.  R.,  had  a  wreck. 
The  bridge  broke.  The  engine  and  baggage  car  got  over  safely;  one  car  went 
down,  end  up,  the  next  crashed  into  it  and  the  third  car  telescoped  tiie 
second  one  and  a  fourth  car  telescoped  the  third  one.  In  this,  companies  F 
G  H  and  I  suffered  severe  loss  in  killed  and  wounded.  Tliat  accident  changed 
the  destiny  of  the  regiment  and  after  a  short  time  for  I'ecuperation  it  was 
sent  into  Kentucky,  entering  at  Louisville.  From  there  it  worked  gradually 
southward,  with  wayside  excursions  and  skirmishes  till  about  the  time  of  the 
battle  of  Shiloh  or  Pittsburg  Landing,  it,  with  tiie  command  of  Gen.  O.  M, 
Mitchell,  cut  the  Confederate  communications  (west  and  east)  at  Eluntsville, 
Ala.,  by  a  forced  march  in  the  night  from  Fayetteville,  Tenn.  Soon  after- 
ward Gen.  D.  C.  Buell  assumed  command  of  the  U.  S.  forces  in  that  region 
and  began  to  gather  large  supplies  and  mass  troops  in  northern  Alabama, 
north  of  the  Tennessee  river,  with  the  evident  purpose  of  crossing  and  get- 
ting behind  Chattanooga  to  capture  that  place,  ahd  with  it,  all  of  east  Tenn- 
essee; General  Bragg  by  a  bold  dash,  with  his  army,  through  Cumberland 
Gap  spoiled  the  plan  of  Buell  and  changed  the  program  to  a  race  for  Louis- 
ville and  the  Ohio  river.  It  was  determined  to  hold  the  capital  of  Tenn- 
essee, so  a  garrison  was  left  there  under  the  command  of  General  James  Neg- 
ley.    The  19th  111.  was  part  of  the  garrison. 

Company  G  of  the  19th  was  by  his  order  detached  from  the  regiment  to 
act  as  an  artillery  company  and  its  offlcers  being  all  on  staff  duty,  by  a  special 
order  of  Gen.  Negley,  Campbell,  who  had  been,  about  a  year  before  that,  pro- 
moted to  flrst  lieutenant,  was  detached  from  his  company  to  command  com 
pany  I.  With  tiu'ee  pieces  of  artillery,  that  company  was  sent  to  Gallitan,  on 
the  line  of  the  L.  &  N.  R.  R.,  south  of  Nashville.  After  Christmas,  1862,  he 
had  orders  to  tui'n  over  his  military  equipments  and  proceed  by  rail  to  Nash- 
ville; to  assume  the  muskets  and  infantry  equipments  of  the  company  and 
rejoin  the  regiment:  but  the  battle  of  Stone  river  was  on;  the  confederate 
cavalry  were  in  force  between  Nashville  and  the  army  of  Rosecrans,  and,  by 
order  of  the  post  commander  at  Nashville,  he  camped  his  company  by  the 
Murfreesborough  pike  and  "reported"  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  flrst 
body  of  troops  going  to  tiie  front.  It  was  on  December  .31st,  1862,  when  the 
right  wing  of  Rosecran's  army  was  struck,  early  in  the  morning,  on  its  ex- 


-76- 

treme  right  and  doubled  back  upon  itself,  and  it  looked  like  defeat;  but  the 
left  wing  was  intact.  By  night  order  had  been  brought  out  of  confusion  on 
the  right,  and,  althougli  it  liad  suffered  severe  loss,  a  new  line  had  been 
formed  for  said  wing  at  right  angles  to  its  first  line  and,  at  the  point  of  the  • 
angle,  was  protected  by  the  embankment  of  the  L.  &  N.  R.  R.,  and  there 
Rosecrans  massed  a  large  portion  of  his  artillery. 

In  the  afternoon  of  January  2,  1S().%  Gen.  Bragg  directed  his  attack  on  the 
Union  left  wing.    The  l&th  was  on  a  high  bluff -on  the  left  barjk  of  Stone 
river.    The  Confederates  were  advancingi-apidly,  driving  the  union  forces  be- 
fore them.    To  the  left  of  the  U)th  was  a  ford.    The  Confederates' were  cross-  ■ 
ing  there.    Gen.  Negley,  commandingthe  Union  division   there,   galloped  up- 
to  where  tiie  19th  lay,  shouting:     "Who  wHl  save  my  left?"    The  gallant'Col. 
Scott  calmly  but  quickly  mounted  his  horse  and -said,  •  "Tlie  19th   is  ready 
General."     "The  19th  be  itthen."     In  an'instant  tAie  19th  we-i-e  in-ranks'and 
by  the  left  flank  on  the  double  quick  tliey  were  quickly  in   front  Of  the'  fOrd, 
Then  "Halt!     Front!     Ready!     Aim!     Fire!"     One  sheet  of  fire;  o>ie  clOud  of^ 
smoke,  and  one  great  report,  as  if  It  were  the  discharge  of- one  great  ■  musket  ' 
instead  of  many.    Then,   as  qufck  as  thought,   the  orders,  "Fix   bayonets!' 
Charge  bayonets!    Forward,  double  (lui'ck,' march!    Charge!"    and- the  19th 
was  on  them  and  tlie  "Confederate  yell"  was  hushed.    The  battle  was  won. 
The  initiative  of  the  19th  was  followed  up  by  the  whole  Union  left  wing.     It 
became  good  generalship  th^ri  on  the  part  of  Gen.  Bragg,  as  rapidly   with  as- 
little  loss  of  materialas  possible,  to  withdraw  hrs'gallant  arnfiy.-         ^ 

But  the  Union  losses  were  heavy.  Capt.  Chandler  led  his  company  across' 
tlie  river,  but  on  the  farther  bank  a  Confederate  'bullet  pierced  his  head:  a' 
brave  soldier  and  admirable  man  was  honorably  mustered  out.  Col;  Scott 
was  wounded  also  so  that  soon  after  reaching  home  lie  died  from  the  effect 
of  it.  Early  in  the  morning  of  January  ;5rd,  Cumpbell  with  a  party  of  com- 
rades found  Chandler's  body  wheie  he  fell  (night  had  closed  in  at  the  close  of 
the  battle  of  tlie  2nd)  and  dug  a  grave,  by  the  foot  ^of  the  tree,  which  wks 
marked  for  identitication;  and,  wrapped  in  his  great  coat  with  its  cape 
thrown  over  his  face,  he  was  gently  laid  away.  -  ■ 

Campbell,  that  morning  took  command  Of  his  own -company,  and  his  com- 
mission coming  soon  after,  gave  him  ranlcrts  captain  from  January  2,  '18(i;}, 
"Vice  Capt.  (Chandler,  killed  in  battle."  "  .■...: ...      ..;. 

Campbell  was  then  constantly  with  his- company- arid  regiment  up  to- 
through  the  Chickainauga  campaign,  and  the  two  days'  hard  light  of  Sep-' 
tember  19tli  and  20th,  18(i;^;  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  20th' they  were  with 
Gen.  Thomas  on  the  left  curve  of  the  Horse  Shoe  bend  on  the  Snodgrass  hill 
whereby  the  Confederates  were  held  and  pursuit  prevented  of  the  shattered 
right  and  center  of  Rosecrans' army,  until  night  covered' all.  Then  the  can- 
non wheels  were  muffled  and  silently,  without  haste  and  in  perfect  order,' 
the  men  who  had  held  that  hill  against  three  desperate- assaults  of  the  Con- 
federate troops,  marched  toward  Chattanooga.  Tired  and  hungry  they  lay 
down  to  sleep  in  a  corn  field  in  front  of  Rossville  Gap.  Early  next  morning 
a  defensive  line  was  formed  again  to  check  the  advance  of  the  Confederates 
till  Rosecrans  had  made  defensive  preparations  immediately  in  front  of  Chat- 
anooga.  About  mid-day  the  Johnnies  began  to  show  up.  They  made  a  few 
efforts  to  break  our  lines,  but  they  seemed   to  have  lost  the   "wire  edge"  of 


-  77  - 

their  valor  and  made  no  impression.  When  night  came  this  rear  guard 
passed  quietly  through  the  Gap  and  formed  in  the  hastily  constructed 
trenches  prepared  the  day  before.  Tlien  began  the  siege  of  Chatanooga  by 
the  "rebs."  The  daily  cannonade  of  solid  sliot  and  explosive  shells  became 
so  common  that  they  excited  little  fear  and  hardly  any  curiosity,  except 
among  the  extremely  nervous  and  they  were  in  a  very  small  minority. 

The  greatest  trouble  then  was  the  short  supply  of  rations  for  men  and 
mules.  There  were  large  supplies  at  Stephenson,  farther  down  the  Tennessee 
river  but  the  Confederates  held  the  south  bank  thereof,  and  the  only  way  to 
get  them  to  the  army  was  by  mule  power  over  two  high  ranges  of  mountains 
and  the  roads  in  the  valleys  and  on  the  flats  of  the  mountain  tops  were  axle 
deep  in  mud.  Along  the  whole  of  that  long  road  dead  mules  were  never  out 
of  sight.  When  the  creatures  pulled  till  they  conld  do  so  no  more,  the  har- 
ness was  pulled  off  and  they  were  left  to  die,  or  recover  if  they  could. 

When  Gen.  Grant  came,  his  first  move  was  to  take  and  occupy  the  south 
bank  of  that  river  to  within  a  short  distance  of  Lookout  Monntain,  and  sup- 
plies were  brought  there  by  small  steamboats  up  the  river  and,  from  there  a 
"cracker"  road  was  made,  across  the  big  bend  there  of  the  river,  making  a 
short  mule  haul  of  the  crackers  and  pork  to  the  bank  of  the  river  opposite 
Chattanooga— and  the  famine  was  over. 

Early  in  September,  Gen.  Grant  having  been  reinforced  by  troops  from 
the  east  under  Gen.  Hooker,  and  Gen.  Sherman,  with  the  army  of  the  Tenn- 
essee, he  placed  Hooker  on  his  right  and  Sherman  on  his  left.  In  the  night 
he  threw  a  strong  force  of  Hooker's  corps,  across  the  river,  westerly  of  where 
Lookout  Mountain  rises  abruptly  from  the  bank  of  the  river.  This  body  after 
a  severe  skirmish  held  the  ground  taken.  Sherman  established  himself  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  river  above  Chatanooga. 

On  September  24th  battle  was  opened  in  earnest  by  General  Hooker,  who 
attacked  the  left  wing  of  Bragg's  army,  in  the  valley  west  of  the  mountain, 
which  runs  from  the  river  bank  by  a  very  deep  slope,  covered  with  great 
boulders  and  scrub  trees  and  bushes  till,  at  about  one  hundred  or  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  feet  from  the  top,  it  rises  perpendicularly  to  where,  on  the 
plateau  above,  tnere  were  Confederate  batteries.  Hooker  pressed  the  enemy 
up  against  the  mountain  and  they  fell  back,  disputing  every  foot  of  ground, 
over  and  around  the  steep  slope,  under  the  precipice,  and  into  the  valley  east 
of  the  mountain.  Sherman,  meanwhile,  was  thundering  on  tlie  right  flank  of 
Bragg's  army,  near  the  east  end  of  Missionary  Ridge,  On  the  next  day 
Hooker  was  still  following  up  Bragg's  left  wliile  Sherman  was  tliundering  on 
his  right,  and  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  Thomas,  was  formed  in  one 
long  line  of  battle  facing  Missionary  Ridge.  In  the  af^,ernoon,  with  a  thin 
line  of  skirmishers  in  front,  it  advanced  rapidly  without  tiring  a  shot,  except 
from  the  skirmishers,  under  artillery  Are  from  the  top  of  the  ridge  and  mus- 
ketry from  the  rifle  pits  at  the  bottom.  They  seized  the  pits  and  had  orders 
there  to  halt. 

The  position  there  was  galling.  Exposed  to  a  dropping  fire  from  men 
under  cover  at  the  top  of  the  ridge,  and  the  captured  rifle  pits  furriishing 
poor,  really  no,  protection  on  the  reverse  side;  as  if  by  general  consent,,  the 
whole  line  advanced  and  crowned  tlie  ridge.  The  enemy's  center  was  broken. 
Bragg  was  defeated  and  the  siege  of  Chattanooga  was  raised. 


-78- 

Capt.  Campbell,  leading  his  company,  when  about  two-thirds  of  the  way 
up  the  hill  was  halted  by  a  bullet  in  the  lower  abdomen,  toward  the  right 
side,  which,  coming  from  above,  trended  downward  and  lodged  under  the 
skin  of  his  right  hip.  When  he  recovered  sufflciently  he  had  a  leave  of  ab- 
sence and  made  his  only  visit  home  during  his  service.  He  returned  in  the 
following  March  to  duty  with  his  company  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  ad- 
vance on  Atlanta.  Company  F  participated  in  the  actions  along  that  hard 
contested  advance  till  it  reached  Muriette,  Georgia,  near  Atlanta.  Its  three 
year  term  having  expired.  What  were  left  of  the  men,  who  three  years  be- 
fore had  been  mustered-in  were  ordered  back  to  Chicago  to  be  mustered-out. 
They  were  mustered-out,  July  9,  18()4.  In  the  winter  of  that  year  he  joined 
his  brother  Archie  in  a  general  store  at  Virginia. 

That  arrangement  was  broken  up  by  Archie's  death,  as  stated,  and 
Archie's  interest  in  the  business  was  sold  to  William  Hitchcock. 

In  May,  1865,  he  married  Martha  Jane  Hitchcock,  a  sister  of  Mrs. 
Dr.  Goodspeed.  By  her  he  had  two  children,  Archibald  James  and  Mattie 
May.  The  marriage  relation  was  very  happy,  but  was  cut  short  and  ended  by 
pulmonary  consumption.  She  died  in  the  early  summer  of  1870.  Mattie  May 
soon  followed  her  at  the  age  of  eleven  months. 

In  the  fall  of  1871,  he  married  at  Malone,  New  York,  Mrs.  Harriet  Meigs, 
a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  and  removed  to  Muskegon,  Michigan,  and  first  went 
into  the  general  hardware  business.  His  wife  and  other  friends  strongly 
urged  him  to  seek  admission  to  the  bar;  so  he  sold  his  hardware  business 
and  devoted  three  months  to  special  study  of  law.  at  home,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  a  regular  term  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  county  of  Newaygo, 
Mich.,  was  to  be  held  at  the  county  seat  of  that  county.  Accompanied  by  his 
brother-in-law,  David  McLaughlin,  he  went  there  and  applied  for  admission. 
He  knew  no  one  there  except  his  said  brother-in-law.  A  committee  of  the 
bar  was  appointed  by  the  court  to  examine  him.  After  a  lengthy  examina- 
tion in  open  court  in  all  the  main  branches  of  the  law,  he  was,  by  the  commit- 
tee recommended  for  admission  and  was  at  once  admitted  and  commissioned 
as  an  attorney  and  counselor  at  law,  and  a  solicitor  and  counselor  in  chancery. 
He  immediately  went  into  practice  of  the  law  at  Muskegon,  He  was  after- 
ward admitted  to  practice  in  the  United  States  courts  of  Michigan  at  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan.  In  1875,  his  said  wife,  Harriet,  also  succumbed  to  the  fell 
destroyer — consumption. 

He  continued  in  the  fairly  successful  praciice  of  law  at  Muskegon,  until 
in  1878,  he  got  drawn  into  the  newspaper  and  general  printing  business, 
though  first  assisting  a  young  man  (related  to  him  by  marriage)  in  the  edit 
ing  of  a  weekly  paper,  said  young  man,  a  printer  by  trade,  had  started.  In 
the  same  year,  1878,  Campbell  married  his  present  wife,  Miss  Alice  Elizabeth 
Davis,  then  in  her  18th  year.  Said  marriage  was  a  very  happy  one— notwith- 
standing disparity  of  their  years.  Campbell  soon  found  that  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  for  him  to  buy  out  his  partner  to  get  rid  of  him:  and  for  that  reason 
also  to  wind  up  his  law  business  by  refusing  new  cases.  He  soon  made  the 
"Journal"  a  daily  as  well  as  weekly.  The  ottice  was  the  best  equipped  in  that 
city  and  county.  Had  good  steam  power  and  a  large  cylinder  press  for  news- 
paper work;  ample  fonts  of  type  and  all  necessary  appliances;  two  foremen, 
both  experienced:  printers  and  newspaper  men,  one  for  job  work,  the  other 


-  7^1  - 

for  the  paper:  a  good  shorfchand  reporter:  a  circulation  cleric,  pressman  and 
all  the  typesetters  required.  With  proper  manag-ement  there  was  a  fortune 
in  it;  but  he  needed  a  good  business  manager,  a  practical  printer  and  news- 
paper man,  so  that  he  might  give  sole  attention  to  the  editorial  department. 
The  charge  of  all  the  details  of  such  business;  .was  too  much  ^  for  oqe.  The 
publisher  of  the  rival  republican  paper,' of  the  city,  offered  to  buj/  him  out,  at 
a  good  price,  which  Campbell  took  in  an  iwur  of  weariness,  a,nd,  aftierward 
regreted.  He  publislied  the  Journal  four  years.  His  law.busiijess  at  Muske- 
gon having  been  broken  up,' he  might  have  renewed  it.  but  jiis,  mind  being 
prejudiced  by  Jay  Cook's  literature  ..regarding,  the  "Great-lf^orthwest,"  he 
went  out  to  view  tlie  land  of  promise:  went  into  it  as  far  .west, as.  Miles  City, 
Montana,  which  was  as  far  as  he  couldgO',  theni.by  rail, iJtnd  coming  back  in- 
vested in  this,  Stark  coiirtty,^IStorth  Dakota.'  It.,,  was:  ti.h^n  ,a  wilderness. 
There  was  not  a  town  orA'illage  betweenvMajndafl  -,01}  pjtip.iiM,lsspuri  riyer,  and 
Glendive  in  Montana,,a  distance;  of  .ovgrijtwc^ihundredlifli.iles.,  .Buffalo  were 
then  so  numerous  that  sometimes  raiiroad.tTfiins.  l>M,j  actijally,.t9  stop  to  al- 
low a  herd  of  them  to  cross  the  tjack-rTlie  rail rot^d  track  and  "section 
houses"  were  the  only  signs  tlien  {sprJ^g  of  18^2)  of  cjviUzi:},tiou  tliere. 

In  the  confusion  attendant  upon  hpiisekeeping  tj,t.  Muskegon,  his  theji 
youngest  child,  Glenlyon  Drysdale,  found  a  yi.al  of  liqiyd.pqisqn,  of.  which  his 
father  and  mother  had  no  Ivnowledge-  H^  tasted.  ,it  and  ,  witliin  .a  very  few 
minutes'it  was^evident  that  the  matter  vvas.serioju3.  Medical,  aid  was  ijn-, 
mediately  called  with  all  speed,  but,  within  about  one  haltj,Jiour  he  died  in 
his  father's  arms.    He  was  a  beautiful  boy  of  aboutthe  age;.of  two  years.        . 

About  the  end  of  August,  1882,  wi'.h  two  car  loads  of  .goods  he  and  his 
family  then  consisting  of  his  wife  and  sons,  Archie  and  Clyde,  arrived  at,  a 
station  on  the  N.  P.  R.  R.,  about  one  hundred  miles  west,  of  the  Missouri 
river.  Therea  colony  of  settlers  from  Wisconsin  ,hii,d  started  a  settlement 
about  the  time  that  Campbell  first  passed  through  viewing,  ttie  land,.  He  had, 
brought  the  lumber  from  Minneapolis  to  build  a  house  and  lie  built  it  at  said, 
point,  which  had  been  called  '.'Gladstone,"  and  was  the  tirst  town  platted  in 
that  region.  He  built  a  liouse  there  which  is  now  the  Gladstone  Hotel,  and, 
wintered  there,  and  there  his,  first  daugliter,  Alice  Isabella,  was  born,  in 
December  next  following. ;        r-.'  ..: 

Tlie  next  spring  he  built  on  his  land,,  about  four  miles  from  Gladstone, 
early  in  the  spring  of  188.3.  In  the  fall  of  1882,  Dickinson  had  been,  platted 
and  was  beginning  to  be  settled,  largely  by  .railroad  men,  as  it  was  a  division 
center  on  the  railway. .  The  spring  before  vvJienCampbell  tirst  saw  it,  aside 
from  what  buildings  the  railway  company  had,  it ,  consisted  of  one  two-story 
frame  buildingiunplastered,  and  two  shades— all.  three  being  saloons.  It  is. 
now  a  thriving  city, of/abaut'3,500. inhabitants.  ,v 

Early  in  the  spring  of  18S3,!  Dickinson  andGlad^tone  were  both  aspirants 
for  county  seat  hoaoxs.j  A  petition ol  itifty. voters  was  then  only  ^necessary,  to 
move  the  governor  of, the,'territory.  to  appoint  c,qmmisssoners  to  organize  a 
county.  Petitions  were  presented  to  him  from  ,botli , places.  Dickinson  won 
by  getting  two  of  the  three  commissioner^.  They  were  appointed,  and  of 
these  Dickinson  had  two  and  Gladstone  got  one.  Tliat  one  was  Campbell. 
They  became  the  county  board  and  selected  Dickinson  for  the  county  seat, 
and  appointed  all  the  other  county  officers,  who  held    .intil   the  next  general 


-  80  - 

election  in  18S4.  In  tlie  summer  of  1885,  he  was  appointed  county  commis- 
sioner for  the  (iladstone  commissioner  district,  to  lill  a  vacancy,  and  soon 
thereafter  resigned  tliat  position  to  accept  the  office  of  judge  of  the  probate 
coui't,  and,  in  the  fall  of  ISSfi,  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office,  for  two  years 
(regular  term.)  In  1887,  he  was  elected  district  attorney  for  the  county  and 
held  over  into  statehood,  in  the  state  of  North  Dakota.  lie  declined  further 
service  in  that  office  and  was  nominated  and  elected  to  live  successive  terms 
of  judge  of  the  county  court  and  after  an  interval  of  two  years  he  was  again 
selected  county  attorney  (now  called  states  attorney.)  He  is  now  out  of  office 
but  doing  a  fair  law  business  as  head  of  the  firm  of  Campbell  &  Field— Field 
being  an  ex-Confederate  colonel.  Ills  daughter  Alice  has  been,  for  about  four 
years,  steriogniplier  and  typewriter  in  his  law  office;  his  daughter  Nina  has 
just  graduated  from  the  high  school  here.  His  sons  Archie  and  Cljde  are 
locomotive  engineers,  with  families  of  their  own.  Archie,  as  round  house 
foreman  on  the  C.  E.  &  I.  R.  R.  at  station  for  Chicago,  called  Dalton.  Clyde 
is  located  at  the  city  of  Fargo,  as  a  road  engineer  on  the  N.  P.  R.  R.  His 
oi  lier  children,  all  at  home,  are:  boys,  Clarence,  James  and  Theodore,  and 
gills.  Clementine  and  lone— ail  shooting  upward  with  good  promise  of  being 
well  worth  the  raising. 

The  I^resbyteriaiis,  with  whom  he  had  been  formerly  associated,  having 
nbandoned  about  teti  years  ago  this  field  of  opei'ations:  and  his  wife  and 
children,  by  her,  having  become  attached  by  full  membership,  or  connection 
witii  the  choir,  or  Sunday  School  of  the  Episcopal  church,  he,  with  them,  at- 
tended the  regular  services  of  that  church  also.  For  about  six  years,  last 
past,  he  has  been  clerk  of  what  is  called  the  "Bishop's  Committee,"  but  did 
not  receive  "confirmation,"  as  a  communicant,  till  lately. 

Among  fraternal  orders,  he  is  Senior  Post  Grand  of  the  Odd  Fellow  lodge 
and  also  Post  Patriarch  of  Encampment,  and  member  of  Degree  of  Rebekah: 
also  a  Master  Mason  and  member  of  order  Eastern  Star. 


[Note— Mr.  .James  A.  Cunningham  calls  attention  to  an  error  in  relation 
to  his  mother,  Helen  Cuimingham.  In  the  first  part  of  Captain  Campbell's 
sketch,  he  says  that  Helen  Cunningham  was  born  in  Sweden;  her  son  says  she 
was  born  in  Scotland,  and  when  twelve  years  of  age,  went  to  Sweden  where 
she  lived  from  four  to  six  years.     J.  X.  Cr,] 


WILLIAM  J.  MADDEN. 


FIFTY  years  may  not  be  considered  a  very  long  period  in  the  life  of  a  na- 
tion or  a  people,  but  when  a  half-century's  grip  is  clapped  on  the  head 
of  an  individual  and  the  frosts  of  sixty  years  are  encircling  his  brow  he 
at  least  realizes  in  that  span  of  time  there  "has  been  a  whole  lot  doin'." 

To  my  mind,  Cass  county,  and  especially  Virginia,  contained  an  atmos- 
phere at  the  time  I  write,  that  was  particularly  satisfactory  in  vvhicli  to 
nourish  political  disputation  and  controversy.  Possibly  this  condition  hiis 
not  appreciatively  changed,  and  if  so  I  see  neither  cause  for  alarm  nor  a  nec- 
essity for  calamity  apprehensions,  as  in  a  country  based  on  free  institutions, 
such  as  constitute  the  foundation  of  this  republic,  in  my  judgment  it  is  tlie 
most  healthful  symptom  when  the  public  is  stirred  concerning  its  own  wel- 
fare and  the  voter  is  aroused  in  his  own  behalf. 

I  like  to  dwell  on  the  view  that  in  the  material  world  there  are  no  acci- 
dents, and  if  we  are  but  patient  and  seek  to  fathom  the  reason  for  results  we 
without  great  ditTlculty  can  find  an  antecedent  cause  for  either  the  mountain 
peak  of  wrong  or  the  smiling  valley  of  blessedness  that  seem  to  be  the  an- 
tagonistic forces  always  lighting  for  supremacy.  Accepting  this  premise  as 
correct  there  must  of  necessity  be  as  great  a  duty  facing  the  present  genera- 
tion as  was  performed  by  the  preceding  one,  yes,  even  as  was  established  by 
the  forefathers  in  building  the  free  land  now  grown  so  great  and  majestic, 
viz.,  to  maintain  the  same  and  transmit  it  pure  and  :mdetlled  to  posterity. 

While  yet  preserving  a  recollection  of  the  presidential  campaign  of  1852, 
I  find  so  far  a  greater  interest  in  the  one  succeeding,  that  of  18.5(),  the  issues 
of  which  being  more  portentous  in  consequence  of  a  new  party  coming  on  tlie 
scene  and  the  gradual  dissolving  views  of  one  of  the  others,  with  the  conse- 
quence of  its  final  going  out  of  existence,  this  period  can  be  chronicled  as  an 
epoch  in  the  political  liistory  of  the  country,  bringing  tlie  nation  to  the 
threshold  of  dissolution  and  finally  the  harvest  of  civil  conflict  that  required 
an  ocean  of  blood  and  tens  of  thousands  of  lives  as  a  sacrifice  in  order  to  main- 
tain national  unity. 

As  is  familiar  to  all,  the  contestants  in  the  political  battle  of  185()  were 
Buchanan  and  Breckenridge,  representing  the  democratic  cohorts:  Fremont 
and  Dayton,  the  newly  organized  republican  party,  and  Fillmore  and  Donel- 
son  the  Native  American  idea,  termed  by  way  of  obloquy  the  "know-noth- 
ings," speedily  going  on  the  rocks  of  oblivion  after  that  tussle  with  the 
electorate.  It  is  not  violently  interpreting  the  verdict  of  history  to  assert, 
that  the  potency  of  the  people's  voice  was  never  more  righteously  displayed 


-82  - 

nor  their  verdict  more  universally  approved  than  when  they  drove  into  outer 
darkness,  without  hope  of  resurrection,  a  cabal  founded  on  prejudice,  nour- 
ished on  bigotry  and  fed  on  the  offal  and  venom  of  all  that  is  vile  in  the  in- 
firmities of  human  nature. 

To  return  to  the  subject  in  hand,  that  of  a  few  of  the  scenes  in  a  notable 
campaign  in  your  beautiful  and  prosperous  city  a  half  ceutury  ago,  asking  in- 
dulgence for  this  lengthy  and  somewhat  tiresome  digression,  let  me  ask  the 
readers  to  follow  me  at  least  for  tiie  outlining  of  one  of  tlie  half-amusing  in- 
cidents that  I  was  a  witness  of  and  one  of  the  participants  in  almost  fifty 
years  ago.  But  for  fear  the  lesson  may  not  be  received  in  full  I  must  put  the 
lesson  first  and  the  story  second.  The  lesson  I  desire  impressed  is  that  no 
great  movement  ever  had  the  advantage  of  numbers  and  equipment,  but 
grew  inconsequence  of  the  persistence  of  its  disciples  and  in  spite  of  the  an- 
tagonism of  those  who  opposed  it.  In  thumbing  tlie  pages  of  history  from 
Calvary  to  Appomattox  I  find  unvarying  indorsement  of  this  conclusion.  In 
fact  it  seems  impossible  to  install  any  important  change  from  existing  condi- 
tions without  misjudging  the  motive  of  those  who  seek  to  bring  the  change 
about  and  often  the  disciples  of  the  reform  must  endure  martyrdom  for  their 
convictions. 

Along  about  the  last  or  closing  days  of  the  campaign  of  1856,  in  Virginia, 
the  incident  took  place  which  fully  illustrates  this  point.  Tliere  liad  been  a 
nuuiber  of  political  rallies  of  each  of  the  old  parties  and  the  ground  had  not 
only  been  covered  quite  thoroughly  but  in  many  places  had  been  actually  torn 
up  by  the  vigor  and  energy  of  the  disputants. 

Not  wishing  to  be  completely  submerged  by  their  opponents  the  followers 
of  Fremont  determined  to  "ratify"  just  like  the  democrats  and  "know- 
notliings,"  but  when  they  came  to  count  noses  their  number  was  so  small 
tliat  they  realized  how  lonesome  it  would  all  be,  and  gave  it  up  as  far  as  Vir- 
ginia was  concerned,  but  as  fortune  always  favors  the  brave  a  way  soon  ap- 
peared that  took  tiie  place  of  a  home  rally.  Jacksonville  housed  a  consider- 
able number  of  the  adherents  of  the  "wooly  horse,"  as  the  Fremonters  were 
dubbed  at  that  time,  and  announced  a  grand  ratification  meeting,  with  dele- 
gations from  the  surrounding  counties,  including  Cass.  This  was  quickly 
seized  on  by  the  liandful  of  Virginia  republicans  and  they  resolved  to  partici- 
pate. The  principal  of  the  faithful  junta  and  somewhat  of  an  agitator 
against  the  iniquity  of  slavery  was  Professor  Spaulding,  tiie  school  teacher, 
wlio  with  his  faithful  wife  and  two  grown  daughters  kept  the  watchfii'es  of 
republicanism  ablaze,  and  to  these  were  added  .James  G.  Campbell,  .John 
Rodgers  and  William  Owen,  the  tinsmith.  This  delegation  started  for  Jack- 
sonville on  the  road  leading  from  the  west  end  of  town,  and  while  there  were 
few  fiags  or  banners  in  the  retinue  their  enthusiasm  ran  high. 
Before  reaching  the  bridge  crossing  the  "big  brancli"  a  misadventure  over- 
took the  determined  rati  fiers  and  almost  brought  their  journey  to  disaster. 
It  is  related  as  one  of  the  verities  of  the  history  of  the  time  that  a  number  of 
bad  democrats,  juveniles,  but  emphatic  in  their  conviction  that  no  republi- 
can should  celebrate  the  nomination  of  Fremont  if  they  could  head  it  off,  lay 
concealed  in  the  corn  near  where  the  -'procession"  passed  and  bombarded 
from  their  place  of  security  the  entire  republican  party  of  Virginia.  In  the 
excitement  the  horses  became  uinnanageable,  started  to  run  and  came  within 


-  83  - 

an  ace  of  running  off  the  bridge,  with  possible  calamity  to  the  occupants  of 
the  wagon.  Of  course  when  the  party  returned  tlie  democratic  adherents 
came  in  for  a  scoring  in  consequence  of  tliis  latest  outrage  to  tlirottle  free 
speech  and  endeavoring  to  prevent  the  enjoyment  of  tlie  fundamental  rights 
of  American  citizenship.  Of  course  the  party  had  no  more  to  do  with  the 
"assault"  than  the  man  in  the  moon,  but  the  "victims"  had  a  grievance  and 
nursed  with  keen  satisfaction  their  soreness.  Tlie  election  followed  in  a  few 
weeks  and  as  Fremont  knocked  the  "know-nothings"  into  kingdom  come,  it 
left  the  two  parties  wliich  have  faced  each  other  practically  ever  since,  to  oc- 
cupy the  stage  of  action.  In  my  observation  Cass  county  has  never  failed  in 
its  devotion  to  the  glorious  principles  of  democracy,  and  as  even  rock-ribbed 
Missouri  has  left  the  ancient  moorings  of  the  faithful,  I  feel  that  I  must  soon 
return  to  the  beautiful  horizon  of  Virginia,  if  only  for  a  brief  spell  to  grasp 
the  honest  hands  and  commune  again  with  the  noble  natures  that  have  held 
aloft  the  banner  of  the  common  people— the  principles  of  pure  democracy. 


AN  INTERESTING  LETTER. 


The  following  communication  was  received  by  J.  N.  Gridley  fi'<im  Mr.  E. 
F.  Madden,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Hays  City,  Kansas: 

"Answering  yours  of  recent  date,  will  say  that  I  have  just  returned  home 
after  an  absence  of  sometime  and  And  your  letter  before  me. 

"While  I  was  born  in  Virginia,  I  have  been  away  from  there  for  forty 
years.  I  spent  a  very  pleasant  day  there  about  fifteen  years  ago,  and  I  expect 
to  return  there  for  at  least  a  day  off,  as  soon  as  I  can. 

"I  pass  through  Jacksonville  very  often,  but  always  at  night  and  in  a 
sleeper,  and  I  assure  you  that  if  I  was  awake  I  would  get  out  and  go  over  to 
A^irginia.  I  have  the  kindest  recollections  of  the  pretty  little  town,  and  her 
clever  and  hospitable  people  were  to  my  childish  memory,  the  nicest  people  in 
the  world. 

"I  remember  how  the  successful  farmers  used  to  bring  in  the  most  lus- 
cious peaches,  the  most  beautiful  and  fragrant  nice  big  apples,  the  sweetest 
cider,  and  the  largest  melons,  and  really  such  men  as  Sam  Petefish,  Jack 
Tureman,  Ned  Davis,  Dr.  McClure,  and  others,  whom  I  cannot  now  call  to 
mind,  tilled  up  barefooted,  red-headed  and  freckled-faced  boys  like  1  liap- 
pened  to  be  at  that  time,  with  all  the  nice  fruits  and  cider  free  of  co.st  before 
they  commenced  to  sell  their  produce  to  their  other  customers. 

"I  remember  the  old  schoolhouse  in  the  square  in  the  west  part  of  town 
where  T  usually  went  to  school.  My  teachers  were  the  Spaldings,  Goodell. 
Miss  Hart,  Miss  Gaines,  Mr.  Phillips  and  Mr.  Rich,  in  the  school  on  the  hill, 
south  of  town,  Mr.  Rei'ry  and  Mr.  Prince,  all  to  ray  young  memory  were  kind- 
ness indeed. 

"I  guess  I  knew  about  all  the  places  the  boys  used  to  go  fishing  and  swim- 
ming, about  as  well  as  anyone  did.  I  was  the  boy  with  the  .stone  bruise  on  his 
lieel,  and  the  nail  off  of  one  of  his  big  toes  every  summer,  and  was  unnoticed, 
and  likely  unseen,  and  not  now  remembered  by  the  average  citizen  ot  the 
beautiful  village. 


-80- 

election  in  1884.  In  the  summer  of  1885,  he  was  appointed  count}'  commis- 
siotier  for  the  Gladstone  commissioner  district,  to  till  a  vacancy,  and  soon 
thereafter  resigned  that  position  to  accept  the  otTice  of  judge  of  the  probate 
court,  and,  in  the  fall  of  1886,  he  was  elected  to  the  same  ottice,  for  two  years 
(regular  term.)  In  1887,  he  was  elected  district  attorney  for  the  county  and 
held  over  into  statehood,  in  the  state  of  North  Dakota.  He  declined  further 
service  in  that  ollice  and  was  nominated  and  elected  to  five  successive  terms 
of  judge  of  tlie  county  court  and  after  an  interval  of  two  years  he  was  again 
selected  county  attorney  (now  called  states  attorney.)  He  is  now  out  of  office 
but  doing  a  fair  law  business  as  head  of  the  firm  of  Campbell  &  Field— Field 
being  an  ex-Confederate  colonel.  His  daughter  Alice  has  been,  for  about  four 
years,  stenographer  and  typewriter  in  his  law  office;  his  daughter  Nina  has 
just  graduated  from  the  high  school  here.  His  sons  Archie  and  Clyde  are 
locomotive  engineers,  with  families  of  their  own.  Archie,  as  round  house 
foreman  on  the  C.  E.  &  I.  R.  R.  at  station  for  Chicago,  called  Dalton.  Clyde 
is  located  at  the  city  of  Fargo,  as  a  road  engineer  on  tlie  N.  P.  R.  R.  His 
other  children,  all  at  home,  are:  boys,  Clarence,  James  and  Theodore,  and 
girl.s.  Clementine  and  lone-all  shooting  upward  with  good  promise  of  being 
well  worth  the  raising. 

The  Presbyterians,  with  whom  he  had  been  formerly  associated,  having 
abandoned  about  ten  years  ago  this  field  of  operations;  and  his  wife  and 
children,  by  lier,  having  become  attached  by  full  membership,  or  connection 
with  the  choir,  or  Sunday  School  of  the  Episcopal  church,  he,  with  them,  at- 
tended the  regular  services  of  that  church  also.  For  about  six  years,  last 
past,  he  has  been  clerk  of  what  is  called  the  "Bishop's  Committee,"  but  did 
not  receive  "confirmation,"  as  a  communicant,  till  lately. 

Among  fraternal  orders,  he  is  Senior  Post  Grand  of  the  Odd  Fellow  lodge 
and  also  Post  Patriarch  of  Encampment,  and  member  of  Degree  of  Rebekah; 
also  a  Master  Mason  and  member  of  order  Eastern  Star. 


[Note— Mr.  James  A.  Cuimingham  calls  attention  to  an  error  in  relation 
to  liis  mother,  Helen  Cunningham.  In  the  first  part  of  Captain  Campbell's 
sketch,  he  says  that  Helen  Cunningham  was  born  in  Sweden;  her  .son  says  she 
was  born  in  Scotland,  and  when  twelve  years  of  age,  went  to  Sweden  where 
she  lived  from  four  to  six  years.    J.  N.  G.] 


WII.LIAM  J.  MADDEN. 


FIFTY  years  may  not  be  considered  a  very  long-  period  in  the  life  of  a  na-, 
tion  or  a  people,  but  when  a  half-century's  grip  is  clapped  on  the  head 
of  an  individual  and  the  frosts  of  sixty  years  are  encircling  his  brow  he 
at  least  realizes  in  that  span  of  time  there  "has  been  a  whole  lot  doin'." 

To  my  mind,  Cass  county,  and  especially  Virginia,  contained  an  atino,s- 
phere  at  the  time  I  write,  that  was  particularly  satisfactory  in.  which  to 
nourish  political  disputation  and  controversy.  Possibly  this  condition  liiis 
not  appreciatively  changed,  and  if  so  I  see  neither  cause  for  alarm  nor  a  nef- 
essity  for  calamity  apprehensions,  as  in  a  country  based  on  free  institutions, 
such  as  constitute  the  foundation  of  this  republic,  in  my  judgment  it  is  t)ie 
most  healthful  symptom  when  the  public  is  stirred  concerning  its  own  wel- 
fare aud  the  voter  is  aroused  in  his  own  behalf. 

I  like  to  dwell  on  the  view  that  in  the  material  world  there  are  no  acci- 
dents, and  if  we  are  but  patient  and  seek  to  fatliom  the  reason  for  results  we 
without  great  difficulty  can  find  an  antecedent  cause  for  either  tiie  mountain 
peak  of  wrong  or  the  smiling  valley  of  blessedness  that  seem  to  be  the  an- 
tagonistic forces  always  fighting  for  supremacy.  Accepting  this  premise  as 
correct  there  must  of  necessity  be  as  great  a  duty  facing  the  present  genera- 
tion as  was  performed  by  the  preceding  one,  yes,  even  as  was  established  by 
the  forefathers  in  building  the  free  land  now  grown  so  great  and  majestic, 
viz.,  to  maintain  the  spaiie  and  transmit  it  pure  atid  'jndetlled  to  posterity. 

While  yet  preserving  a  recollection  of  the  presidential  campaign  of  1852, 
I  find  so  far  a  greater  interest  in  the  one  succeeding,  that  of  185H,  the  issues 
of  which  being  more  portentous  in  consequence  of  a  new  party  coming  on  the 
scene  and  the  gradual  dissolving  views  of  one  of  the  others,  with  the  conse- 
quence of  its  final  going  out  of  existence,  this  period  can  be  chronicled  as  an 
epoch  in  the  political  history  of  the  country,  bringing  the  nation  to  the 
threshold  of  dissolution  and  finally  the  harvest  of  civil  conflict  that  required 
an  ocean  of  blood  and  tens  of  thousands  of  lives  as  a  sacrifice  in  order  to  main- 
tain national  unity. 

As  is  familiar  to  all,  the  contestants  in  the  political  battle  of  185()  were 
Buchanan  and  Breckenridge,  representing  tlie  democratic  cohorts;  Fremont 
and  Dayton,  the  newly  organized  republican  party,  and  Fillmore  and  Donel- 
son  the  Native  American  idea,  termed  by  way  of  obloquy  the  "know-noth- 
ings," speedily  going  on  the  rocks  of  oblivion  after  that  tussle  with  the 
electorate.  It  is  not  violently  interpreting  the  verdict  of  history  to  assert, 
that  the  potency  of  the  people's  voice  was  never  more  righteously  displayed 


"  82  - 

nor  their  verdict  move  universal!}'  approved  than  wlien  tliey  drove  into  outer 
darlcness,  without  hope  of  resurrection,  a  cabal  founded  on  prejudice,  nour- 
ished on  bigotry  and  fed  on  the  ott'al  and  venom  of  all  that  is  vile  in  the  in- 
tirmities  of  human  nature. 

To  return  to  the  subject  in  hand,  that  of  a  few  of  the  scenes  in  a  notable 
campaign  in  your  beautiful  and  prosperous  city  a  half  ceutury  ago,  asking  in- 
dulgence for  this  lengthy  and  somewhat  tiresome  digression,  let  me  ask  the 
readers  to  follow  me  at  least  for  tiie  outlining  of  one  of  the  half-amusing  in- 
cidents that  I  was  a  witness  of  and  one  of  the  participants  in  almost  fifty 
years  ago.  But  for  fear  the  lesson  may  not  be  received  in  full  I  must  put  the 
lesson  first  and  the  story  second.  The  lesson  I  desire  impressed  is  that  no 
great  movement  ever  had  the  advantage  of  numbers  and  equipment,  but 
grew  inconsequence  of  the  persistence  of  its  disciples  and  in  spite  of  the  an- 
tagonism of  those  who  opposed  it.  In  thumbing  the  pages  of  history  from 
Calvary  to  xippomattox  I  find  unvarying  indorsement  of  this  conclusion.  In 
fact  it  seems  impossible  to  install  any  important  change  from  existing  condi- 
tions without  misjudging  the  motive  of  tliose  who  seek  to  bring  the  change 
alioiit  and  often  the  disci pks  of  tlie  reform  must  endure  martyrdom  for  their 
coiivict  ions. 

Along  about  the  last  or  closing  days  of  the  campaign  of  is.jd,  in  Virginia 
the  incident  took  place  which  fully  illustrates  this  point.  There  had  been  a 
number  of  political  rallies  of  each  of  the  old  parties  and  the  ground  had  not 
only  been  covered  quite  thorouglily  but  in  many  places  had  been  actually  torn 
up  by  the  vigor  and  energy  of  the  dis[)Utants. 

Not  wishing  to  be  completely  submerged  by  tlieir  opponents  the  followers 
of  Fieinont  determined  to  "ratify"  just  like  the  democrats  and  "know- 
notiiiiigs,"  but  when  they  came  to  coimt  noses  ttieir  number  was  so  small 
that  (hey  realized  how  lonesome  it  would  all  be,  and  gave  it  up  as  far  as  Vir- 
ginia was  concerned,  but  as  fortune  always  favors  the  brave  a  way  soon  ap-. 
peared  that  took  the  place  of  a  home  rally.  Jacksonville  housed  a  consider-, 
able  number  of  the  adlierents  of  the '"wooly  horse,"  as  the  Fremonters  were 
dubbed  at  that  time,  and  announced  a  grand  ratilicatipn  meeting,  with  dele- 
gations from  the  sui'ronnditig  counties,  including  Cass.  This  was  quickly 
seized  on  by  the  liandful  of  Virginia  republicans  and  they  resolved  to  partici- 
pate. The  principal  of  the  faithful  junta  and  somewhat  of  an  agitator 
against  the  iniquity  of  slavery  was  Professor  Spaulding,  the  scliool  teacher, 
who  with  his  faithful  wife  and  two  grown  daughters  kept  the  watchfii'es  of 
republicanism  ablaze,  and  to  these  were  added  James  G.  Campbell,  John 
Ilodgers  and  William  Owen,  the  tiiismith.  This  delegation  started  for  Jack- 
sonville on  the  road  leading  from  the  west  end  of  town,  and  while  there  were 
few  Hags  or  bannei's  in  the  retinue  their  entliusiasm  ran  high. 
Before  I'eaching  the  bridge  crossing  tlie  ''big  branch"  a  misadventure  ov-^er- 
took  the  determined  ratifiers  and  almost  brought  their  joui'ney  to  disaster. 
It  is  related  as  one  of  the  veritiesof  tire  history  of  the  time  that  a  number  of 
bad  democrats,  juveniles,  but  emphatic  in  tlieir  conviction  that  no  republi- 
can should  celebrate  the  nomination  of  Fremont  if  they  could  head  it  off,  lay 
concealed  in  tlie  corn  near  wliere  the  "procession"  passed  and  bombarded 
from  their  place  of  security  the  entire  republican  party  of  Virginia.  In  the 
excitement  the  iiorses  became  unmanageable,  started  to  run  and  came  within 


-  83  - 

an  ace  of  running  off  the  bridge,  with  possible  calamity  to  the  occupants  of 
the  wagon.  Of  course  when  the  party  returned  the  democratic  adherents 
came  in  for  a  scoring  in  consequence  of  this  latest  outrage  to  throttle  free 
speech  and  endeavoring  to  prevent  the  enjoyment  of  the  fundamental  rights 
of  American  citizenship.  Of  course  the  party  had  no  more  to  do  with  the 
"assault"  tlian  the  man  in  the  moon,  but  the  "victims"  iiad  a  grievance  and 
nursed  with  keen  satisfaction  their  soreness.  The  election  followed  in  a  few 
weeks  and  as  Fremont  knocked  the  "know-nothings"  into  kingdom  come,  it 
left  the  two  parties  which  have  faced  each  other  practically  ever  since,  to  oc- 
cupy tlie  stage  of  action.  In  my  observation  Cass  county  lias  never  failed  in 
its  devotion  to  the  glorious  principles  of  democracy,  and  as  even  rock-ribbed 
Missouri  has  left  the  ancient  moorings  of  the  faithful,  I  feel  that  I  must  soon 
return  to  the  beautiful  horizon  of  Virginia,  if  only  for  a  brief  spell  to  grasp 
the  honest  hands  and  commune  again  with  the  noble  natures  tliat  have  held 
aloft  the  banner  of  the  common  people— the  principles  of  pure  democracy. 


AN  INTERESTING  LETTER. 


The  following  communication  was  received  by  J.  N.  Gridley  from  Mr.  E. 
F.  Madden,  president  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Hays  City,  Kansas: 

"Answering  yours  of  recent  date,  will  say  that  I  have  just  returned  home 
after  an  absence  of  sometime  and  find  your  letter  before  me. 

"While  I  was  born  in  Virginia,  I  have  been  away  from  there  for  forty 
years.  I  spent  a  very  pleasant  day  there  about  fifteen  years  ago,  and  I  expect 
to  return  there  for  at  least  a  day  off,  as  soon  as  I  can. 

"I  pass  througli  Jacksonville  very  often,  but  always  at  night  and  in  a 
sleeper,  and  I  assure  you  that  if  I  was  awake  I  would  get  out  and  go  over  to 
Virginia.  I  have  the  kindest  recollections  of  the  pretty  little  town,  and  her 
clever  and  hospitable  people  were  to  my  childish  memory,  the  nicest  people  in 
the  world. 

"I  remember  how  the  successful  farmers  used  to  bring  in  the  most  lus- 
cious peaches,  the  most  beautiful  and  fragrant  nice  big  apples,  the  sweetest 
cider,  and  the  largest  melons,  and  really  such  men  as  Sam  Peteflsh,  Jack 
Tureman,  Ned  Davis,  Dr.  McClure,  and  others,  whom  I  cannot  now  call  to 
mind,  filled  up  barefooted,  red-headed  and  freckled-faced  boys  like  1  hap- 
pened to  be  at  that  time,  with  all  the  nice  fruits  and  cider  free  of  cost  before 
they  commenced  to  sell  their  produce  to  tlieir  other  customers. 

"I  remember  the  old  schoolhouse  in  the  square  in  the  west  part  of  town 
where  I  usually  went  to  school.  My  teachers  were  the  Spaldings,  Goodell, 
Miss  Hart,  Miss  Gaines,  Mr.  Piiillips  and  Mr.  Ricii,  in  the  scliool  on  tlie  hill, 
south  of  town,  Mr.  Berry  and  Mr.  Prince,  all  to  my  young  memory  were  kind- 
ness indeed. 

"I  guess  I  knew  about  all  the  places  the  boys  used  to  go  fishing  and  swim- 
ming, at)out  as  well  as  anyone  did.  I  was  the  boy  with  the  stone  bruise  on  his 
heel,  and  the  nail  oil  of  one  of  his  big  toes  every  summer,  and  was  unnoticed, 
and  likely  unseen,  and  not  now  remembered  by  the  average  citizen  ot  the 
beautiful  village. 


-  84  - 

"I  worked  on  the  farms  a  little  foi'  Mr.  Robt.  Hall,  Mr.  Frank  Stribling-, 
Jolin  Sallee.  Wm.  Wilson.  Dwight  Angier,  and  also  Newt  Wilson,  around  his 
grain  wareliouse  and  in  his  stock  trading.  All  these  gentlemen  paid  me  more 
than  tlie  agreed  price,  and  treated  me  as  nicely  as  if  I  had  been  their  own 
boy.  Things  like  the  pay  proposition  mentioned,  would  make  anyone,  even 
after  forty  years  feel  kindly  to  such  people  and  such  a  community.  I  remem- 
ber all  tlie  children  with  whom  1  went  to  school:  but  as  I  was  the  dull  boy, 
tliat  all  the  otliers  could  lick.  I  presume  I  am  forgotten.  I  assure  you  that 
in  my  mind,  Virginia  is  the  grandest  spot  on  the  map. 

"I  only  regret,  that  the  success  in  business  and  trade  that  I  set  out  early 
to  accomplish  has  kept  me  away  from  Virginia  so  long,  and  that  I  have  not 
been  able  to  return  often  and  renew  my  early  acquaintance  with  the  citizens 
of  your  community. 

"Thanking  you  for  writing  me  and  sending  me  copies  of  your  well  edited 
paper  and  assuring  you  and  all  my  old  friends  that  should  they  ever  pass 
through  my  town  nothing  would  please  me  better  than  for  them  to  pay  me  a 
visit.  "E.  F.  Madden." 


MRS.  EMILY  COLLINS  BRADY. 


MRS.  EMILY  (COLLINS)  BRADY. 

THOMAS  Jefiferson  Collins,  bom  near  Culpepper  court  house,    Viro^inia, 
May  13,  1802.     When  three  weeks  old  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to 
Brownsville,  Pa.,  and  later  on  to  Ohio.    On  November  29th,    1827,    lie 
was  married  to  Miss  Julia  Fowler. 

In  1841,  he  came  with  liis  wife  and  five  children  to  Cass  county,    Illinois. 
From  his  home  in  Tumbull  county.  Ohio,  he  hired  his  neighbors  to  take  t  hem 
to  Pittsburg,  where  they  waited  three  days  for  a  boat  to  take  them   to  St. 
Louis,  where  they  changed  boats  and  came  up  the   Illinois  river  to  Beards- 
town.     Here  the  travelers  were  met 
with  teams  by  liis  brother,  Rev.    Wm. 
H.  Collins,  who  resided   at  Virginia, 
Illinois,   to    which    point    they    were 
taken.    A  few  days  later  Thomas  .1. 
'.'ollins  purchased  about  600  acres  of 
land,   between  two  and  three    miles 
cast  of  Virginia,  for  $0.30  per  acre  and 
the  family  were  soon  at  home.     (This 
farm,  or  part  of  it,  was  later  known  as 
the  Wm.  Wood  farm,  and  Jake   Ward 
fiirm.)     After    selling    part    to     INIr. 
Reading  from  left  to  richt,  Wood,  the  family  made  a  home  on  the 

Miss  Esther  Collins       Mrs.  Emily  (Collins)  Brady  ,  •      ,^^.,,^^.    ,,„„,.„       rT^^,._ 

Mrs.  Mary  (Collins)  Allen  west  i.>o  acies  toi    man\    \eais.     ueie 


-86- 

the  seven  children  grew  to  man  and  womanhood,  and  six  of  them  are  still 
living:  Byron,  Will  and  Emily,  in  Pomona,  Cal.,  Jane,  (Mrs.  J.  W.  Allen),  in 
DuBois,  Nebraska,  Miss  Esther,  in  Washington,  Kan.,  and  Ira.  in  Sabetha, 
Kan.     Almira,  (Mrs.  J.  R.  Hallowell),  died  in  Ontario,  Cal.,  1893. 

When  Thomas  J.  Collins  moved  from  Ohio  to  Illinois,  he  brought  with 
him  a  large  new  up-to-date  wagon,  with  a  cast  steel  thimble.  In  about  a 
year  he  traded  it  to  Bradley  Thompson  for  35  sheep,  3  cows  and  $35  in  cash. 
Sheep  were  tnen  worth  50c  a  head  and  cows  $10  each.  He  also  brought  a  new 
two  seated  buggy,  which  he  later  sold  to  Dr.  Chandler  for  $80.  Tliese  ve- 
liicles  were  very  rude  as  compared  to  those  in  use  in  this  20th  century. 

He  also  brought  a  handsome,  red-painted  cast  iron  plow,  but  it  was  no 
good  and  soon  sold  because  of  its  handsome  color;  then  he  went  down  below 
Arenzville  and  had  a  blacksmith  named  Clark  make  him  a  wrought  iron  plow. 
After  working  on  it  several  days  with  brick  and  sand  he  got  it  to  "scour"  and 
that  was  the  first  plow  in  that  region  that  ever  "scoured,"  and  all  the  farm- 
ers for  miles  around  came  to  see  it. 

He  was  of  a  genial,  happy  disposition,  quite  gcod-looking  and  sociable, 
ana  a  fluent  talker.    He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  on  Sun- 


HOX.  THOMAS  HVHON  COLLIXS. 

day  wore  a  blue  hroiulcldrii  Colonial  coar  wlrh  brass  buttons,  and  over  tins  in 
winter  a  firal)  cloth  c.ipe  which  J'ell  to  his  boot  tops.  His  occiipiition  in  Ohio 
was  that  of  ;i  iniher.  and  t  he  frontier  hardships  soon  wrecked  his  heiilth  and 
lie  passed  away  Febi  uaty  8rh,  1818,  at  the  early  age  of  45  years,  leaving  to  the 
wife  and  children  the  heritage  of  an  honorable  name  which  they  have  never 
blemished. 


-  87  " 
With  acliin^"-  henrt  and  willing  hands  the  mother  took  up  lier  burden   and 


x'        ^^B 
^^M 

L 

il 

fk- 

-- 

^m 

^^^ 

fev,. 

HON.  IRA  F.  COLLINS.  WILLIAM  U.  COLLINS. 

bravely  lived  her  life.  In  1865,  she  went  to  live  in  Monmouth,  111.,  to  be  witli 
her  daughters  and  in  1870  moved  with  them  to  Washington,  Kan.,  where  she 
passed  away  April  5th,  1883,  with  her  seven  children  at  her  bedside,  and 
mourned  by  all  who  knew  her. 


MRS.  MAHAIvA  BRADY. 


CITAPiLES  Brady  was  born  December  (ith,  1801,  in  Kentucky.    He  was  mar- 
ried, in  182:5,  to  Mabala  Graves.    From  tliis  union  there  was  born  to 
tliem  eleven  children,  four  of  whom  are  yet  livitijif:    Mrs.  W.  S.  White, 
of  'i'emple,  Arizona;  John  T.  Brady,  of  Pomona,  Cal.:  Alexander,  of  Neodesha, 
J\aii.;  Wni.  C,  of  Perkins,  Okia.  Ter. 

Ill  1S29,  with  his  young  wife  and  two  children,  (one  of  whom  later  be- 
oiimt-  Mrs.  .Tohti  E.  Haskell),  he  emigrated  via  "Prairie  Schooner  Route"  to 
Jiiiiioi.s.     J! is  object  in  leaving  Kentucky  was  to  raise  his  family  away  from 


MPvS.  MAIIAL.V  BRADY.  .I()U\j     i.ivADY 

the  evil  intliiences  of  slaveiy.     Tlie    Kentuck\    lhail\!5   were   tione 
slave  holders  and  did  not  l)elieve  in  slavery.     Mi 
Charles,  was  a  large  slave  lioldei'.  and  wished  to  present  his  daughter  Maliala 


le  of   them 
ves,  the  father-in-law    of 


89 


with  two  young  slaves,  a  man  and  his  wife,  when  she  started  with  her  little 
family  for  Illinois,  but  tliis  offer  was  refused.  Mr.  Brady  was  an  abolitionist 
and  a  staunch  whig. 

In  early  youth  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brady  became  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  remained  such  as  long  as  they  lived. 

He  was  a  man  of  sterling  integrity  and  lionesty,  whose  word  was  as  good 
as  his  bond;  of  a  quiet  and  unassuming  disposition,  and  even  temper,  but 
with  strong  convictions  and  decided  opinions  on  any  subject  he  investigated. 

On  arriving  in  Illinois  he  settled  on  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  Sugar  Grove, 
known  later  as  Wilson  Farm,  where  lie  remained  until  1838,  when  he  moved 
liis  family  to  the  little  town  of  Virginia,  which  at  this  date  had  perhaps  200 
inhabitants,  who  lived  in  small  frame  or  log  houses,  with  clap  board  roofs. 

Here  he  became  associated  witli  John  E.  Haskell  in  a  carding  machine 
and  cloth  factory,  receiving  wool  direct  from  the  farmers,  carding  and  weav- 
ing it  into  tlie  cloth  desired  by  the  farmers,  or  returning  to  the  owners, 
carded  in  rolls  ready  for  spinning. 

By  endorsing  notes  for  a  friend  he  became  involved  in  debt  and  decided 
to  go  to  California  to  recoup  his  fortunes,  in  1849,  as  California  was  then  in 
the  lieighth  of  its  gold  excitement. 

He  returned  to  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1852.  witli  about  $1200,  whicli  he 
paid  on  the  notes  amounting  to  $2000,  and  was  released  from  further  obliga- 
tion. Two  years  later  he  succumbed  to  an  attack  of  typhoid  fever,  and  on 
October  18th,  1851,  he  peacefully  "went  home,"  at  the  early  age  of  5.3  years. 

Tlie  remains  of  the  father  were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Robison  graveyard,  be- 
side the  four  tiny  mounds  of  his  little  ones  "gone  before." 

The  brave-hearted  and  sturdy  pioneer  mother,  who  renouncing  slaves  and 
slavery,  and  saying  a  last  good-bye  to  parents,  relatives,  and  home  of  her 
childhood,  went  in  a  covered  wagon,  with  husband  and  babies,  far  away  into 
an  unknown  wilderness,  and  witli  unflinching  courage  bore  her  share  of  all 
the  hardships  of  that  rugged  frontier  life,  struggled  on  and  in  the  same 
gentle,  but  firm  way.  bore  the  burden  laid  upon  her.  After  a  long  and  useful 
life  slie  laid  her  burdens  down  at  the  ripe  age  of  88,  in  Virginia,  February  19, 
1892,  honored  by  all  who  knew  her. 

We  talk  much  of  "The  Winning  of  the  West."  Yes,  "Winning  of  tlie 
West"  with  railroads,  telegraph,  telephones  and  automobiles,  to  say  nothing 
of  money  easily  made,  good  roads,  unexcelled  postal  service  and  other  luxuries 
the  real  frontiersman  never  dreamed  of.  These  two  pioneers  in  "The  Win- 
ning of  the  West"  liad  only  brave  hearts  and  iron  muscles,  a  little  helpless 
family,  a  wagon  and  team  and  tlie  bare  necessities,  and  before  them  an  "un- 
bla/.ed  trail"  into  a  vast  wilderness. 

All  iionor  to  tliese  sturdy  pioneers  of  Illinois! 


THe  liusted  or  JacRso!:iville  H.aid. 


THE  political  atmosphere  in  1863  and '64  in  Central  Illinois  was  red  hot. 
For  many  years  political  prophets  insisted  with  great  earnestness  that 
the  discussion  of  the  slavery  question  in  this  country  would  result  in 
civil  war.  The  friends  of  human  slavery,  in  an  early  day  in  this  state 
sought  to  legalize  the  institution  in  Illinois.  The  battle  was  fouglit  for  two 
years,  ending  in  1824. 

An  eminent  historian  of  that  day  says: 

"The  convention  question  gave  rise  to  two  years  of  the  most  furious  and 
boisterous  excitement  and  contest,  that  ever  was  visited  on  Illinois.  Men, 
women  and  children  entered  the  arena  of  party  warfare  and  strife;  and  the 
families  and  neighborhoods  were  so  divided  and  furious  and  bitter  against 
one  anooher,  that  it  seemed  a  regular  civil  war  might  be  the  result.  Many 
personal  combats  were  indulged  in  on  the  question,  and  the  whole  country 
seemed,  at  times,  to  be  ready  and  willing  to  resort  to  physical  force  to  decide 
the  contest." 

The  writer  of  the  above  history  laid  down  his  pen  before  the  advent  of 
the  great  war  of  the  slaveholder's  rebellion,  but  history  repeats  itself. 

The  democratic  party  of  the  United  States,  before  that  war,  was  one  of 
the  most  powerful  political  organizations  that  ever  had  an  existence.  It  had 
been  dominated  by  southern  leaders  who  had  become  intensely  arrogant  and 
overbearing.  Douglas,  who  was  perhaps  the  strongest  and  most  skillful  de- 
bater of  his  day,  was  a  "compromizer."  The  southern  leaders  had  resolved  to 
dissolve  the  union,  and  in  pursuance  of  their  plan  defeated  the  nomination  of 
Douglas  for  the  presidency  in  1860.  Lincoln  was  nominated  by  the  repub- 
licans and  the  southern  democrats  took  a  course  which  tliey  knew  would  re- 
sult in  Lincoln's  election.  They  were  tired  of  the  constant  and  growing  op- 
position of  the  people  of  the  north  to  African  slavery  and  sought  a  pretext  to 
dissolve  the  union.  When  the  government  was  organized,  slavery  was  recog- 
nized; the  northern  slave  states  got  rid  of  it,  not  for  conscience  sake  but  be- 
cause it  did  not  pay.  The  southern  democrats  and  a  large  majority  of  the 
northern  democrats  believed  in  what  was  called  the  doctrine  of  state  rights, 
which  included  the  right  of  a  state  to  leave  the  Union  when  its  people  chose 
to  do  so.  No  force  was  used,  or  even  tiiought  of,  to  induce  any  one  of  the 
tiiirteen  independent  colonies  to  join  the  union  of  states,  although  two  of 
them,  North  Carolina  and  Rhode  Island,  held  out  for  nearly  two  years.  The 
representatives  of  New  York,  who  were  reluctant  to  assent  to  the  terms  of 
the  proposed  constitution,  did  so,  at  last,  but  made  this  declaration: 


-  91  - 

"The  powers  of  government  may  be  reassumed  by  the  people  whensoever 
it  shall  become  necessary  to  their  happiness." 

In  1811,  on  the  bill  for  the  admission  of  Louisiana  as  a  state  of  the  Union, 
Josiah  Qiiincy  member  of  congress,  of  Massachusetts,  said: 

"If  the  bill  passes,  it  is  my  deliberate  opinion  that  it  is  virtually  a  disso- 
lution of  the  Union;  that  it  will  free  the  states  from  their  moral  obligation: 
and  as  it  will  be  the  right  of  all,  so  it  will  be  the  duty  of  some'  definitely  to 
prepare  for  a  seperation — amicably  if  they  can,  violently  if  they  must." 

We  have  not  time  here  and  now  to  follow  down  this  discussion,  but  the 
gi-eat  majority  of  the  democratic  party  believed  a  state  had  the  right,  volun- 
tarily to  go  out  of  the  union,  just  as  It  voluntarily  came  into  it.  Horace 
Greely,  the  publisher  of  the  l^ew  York  Tribune,  then  the  most  influential 
newspaper  in  the  north,  advised  that  the  southern  states  be  allowed  to  se- 
cede; his  language  was,  "Wayward  sisters,  go  in  peace,"  not  many  of  his  read- 
ers endorsed  this  course,  however,  as  they  tliought  as  did  Lincoln  that  a  few 
men  in  a  few  days  would  coerce  the  states  back  from  secession. 

Douglass,  the  great  leader  of  Illinois  democracy,  having  brains  enough  to 
see  that  secession  would  fail,  announced  his  purpo>e  to  support  Lincohi  in 
suppressing  the  rebellion,  but  he  died  early  after  secession  began.  Logan,  a 
prominent  leader  of  Illinois  democrats,  for  a  time  seriously  considered  fiie 
plan  of  gathering  his  neighbors  together  to  cross  the  border,  and  figlit  foe  the 
south;  but  he  soon  concluded  to  enlist  with  the  north,  and  became  tlie  great- 
est of  the  volunteer  generals  who  had  never  received  military  training. 

In  Cass  county,  many  prominent  democrats  were  southern  symputiiizers. 
Dr.  Samuel  Christy,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  living  upon  liis  larin  :,, 
few  miles  east  of  Virginia  in  this  county,  and  who  had  an  extended  medical 
practice  was  an  out  and  out  opposer  of  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  vei-y 
many  agreed  with  him. 

When  the  government  could  no  longer  rely  upon  patriotism  or  money  to 
keep  the  ranks  filled,  but  was  compelled  to  resort  to  force,  the  situation  in 
Cass  county  became  tense.  The  pro-slavery  men  banded  together  in  a  secret 
organization  calling  themselves  "Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle:"  their  object 
was  to  resist  the  draft,  and  obstruct  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  Those  in 
favor  of  the  war,  joined  a  secret  order  called  the  "Union  League,"  and  their 
aim  was  to  render  all  the  assistance  they  could  to  prosecute  the  war. 

There  was  a  company  of  "Knights"  nearly  or  quite  a  hundred  in  number 
living  in  the  neighborhood  of  tlie  Oregon  precinct.  The  captain  of  tliis  com- 
pany was  Alex  Robison,  now  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this  city;  one  of  the 
lieutenants  was  John  P.  Chilton,  a  well-known  farmer,  still  among  us.  Tliere 
was  an  open  tract  of  land  of  KIO  acres  in  extent  in  Sec  31,  T  is,  U  8,  now 
owned  by  William  Emerson,  upon  which  this  company  held  weekly  drills,  in 
18()4.  The  writer  lias  seen  them,  many  a  time,  mounted  on  horses  riding  back 
and  forth  for  hours  at  a  stretch  going  througli  with  some  kind  of  cavalry 
drill,  preparatory  to  "resisting  the  draft."  As  the  time  for  the  "draft"  drew 
near,  these  amateur  soldiers  found  their  bravery  becoming  weaker  and  still 
weaker,  and  then  concludefi  to  hire  enough  substitutes  to  fill  the  quota  of 
their  precinct.  A  meeting  was  called  to  be  held  in  the  Panther  Grove  school - 
house.  This  meeting  was  well  attended.  Barney  Troutman  made  a  speecli 
in  which  he  said,  describing  the  character  of  the  war: 


q9 


"Father  is  a.rra}'ed  ag-ainst  son;  brotlier  is  arrayed  against  brother,  and 
comrades  who  stood  side  by  side  on  tlie  rield  of  Waterloo,  are  now  arrayed 
against  eaeli  other." 

Tiie  demand  of  the  government  was  met  by  tlie  hiring  of  negroes,  and  the 
crisis  was  past,  without  a  clash  of  arms  in  Cass. 

In  tlie  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1863  occurred  the  noted  Husted  or 
Jacksonville  raid.  John  Stokes,  of  Meredosia,  a  Knight  of  the  Golden  Circle, 
went  to  Springfield  and  divulged  the  secrets  of  the  order  as  was  reported,  and 
the  feeling  against  him  was  murderous.  Another  Xniglit,  was  John  Ilustedf 
of  Beardstown,  who  was  then  a  well-known  character,  and  was  much  better 
known  soon  thereafter. 

Ilusted  was  a  native  of  Connecti- 
cut and  had  long  been  a  resident  o, 
Beardstown:  he  was  a  constable  and 
an  auctioneer;  he  had  much  to  do  in 
the  county  seat  tight  of  1872  and  '73 
and  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to 
him  later.  He  died  in  Quincy,  111., 
within  the  last  two  years. 

Very  soon  after  ttie  report  of  Stokes' 
treachery  was  generally  known  Husted 
was  standing  on  the  platform  of  the 
Wabash  railroad  in  Jacksonville.  A 
west  bound  train  came  in  and  Stokes 
was  a  p;)ssenger  seated  by  an  open  car 
window,  on  the  south  side  of  the  car. 
Husted  engaged  him  in  conversation 
and  just  as  the  train  started  it  is 
claimed  that  Husted  seized  Stokes  by 
the  arm,  with  the  intent  to  drag  him 
through  the  window  and  throw  him 
under  the  moving  train.  Husted  did 
JOHN    HUSTED.  not  succeed  in  getting  Stokes  out  of 

the  car,  if  that  was  his  intent,  but  w;is  arrested  upon  a  warrant  issued  at  the 
in.stance  of  Stokes  at  Meredosia.  charging  him  with  an  attempt  to  commit 
murder.  It  was  agreed  that  the  ti'ial  should  take  place  at  Jacksonville  on  the 
following  Monday.  Husted  retained  James  M.  Epler,  then  an  attorney  of 
Beardstown,  and  the  latter  drove  the  next  day  (Sunday)  to  .Jacksonville  and 
engaged  Cyrus  Epler  to  assist  in  the  defense. 

In  the  meantime  the  news  spread  like  wild  tire  that  Huested  was  to  be 
dragged  off  by  U.  S.  soldiers  to  Springfield  to  be  court  martialed  and  word  was 
sent  to  the  friends  of  liberty  to  rally  to  tlie  support  of  Husted,  that  he  might 
receive  a  fair  trial  in  a  civil  court.  Judge  Epler  says  that  when  he  proceeded 
the  next  Monday  morning  to  the  court  hou.se  in  the  Jacksonville  public 
square  he  was  greatly  surpi'ised  to  find  the  building  and  the  square  and  the 
streets  tilled  with  people — many  of  whom  were  acquaintances  of  his  from  Cass 
county.  M)-.  F.  M.  Davis,  of  this  city,  estimates  the  "raiders"  at  two  thous- 
and in  number;  they  came  from  Beardstown,  Monroe,   Chandlerville.    Peters- 


-93- 

burg,  Mason  City  and  all  the  way  between.  There  were  wagons  containing 
scores  of  loaded  guns  concealed  under  straw.  Lest  the  reader  might  conclude 
that  tliese  raiders  were  a  rough  and  disreputable  set  it  is  only  necessary  to 
say  that  many  of  our  best  people  were  among  them,  including  Thomas  Dyson, 
of  Chandlerville,  Samuel  IT.  Petefish  and  John  A.  Petetish,  of  Virginia.  Gov- 
ernor Yates  was  appealed  to,  for  assistance,  and  he  replied  that  Husted 
should  be  tried  by  a  magistrate,  under  the  laws  of  Illinois,  and  that  was  all 
that  the  raiders  demanded. 

There  is  no  proof  there  was  any  other  intention,  but  the  fact  that  such  a 
report  as  above  stated  was  started  and  circulated  with  the  results  which  fol- 
lowed is  enough  to  demonstrate  the  fact  that  the  people  were  expecting  and 
were  preparing  for  trouble. 

The  hearing  was  had  in  the  regular  way:  Husted  waived  an  examination, 
gave  bonds  for  his  appearance,  and  no  bill  was  found  against  him;  and  thus 
ended  the  .Jacksonville  Raid. 


DR.  HENRY  HAMMOND  HALL. 


:NRY  HAMMp^ 


MORGAN  county  was  org'anized  by  act  of  the  third  g-eneral  assembly  on 
the  olst  of  January,  1S23,  from  the  northern  part  of  Greene  county, 
and  comprised  all  the  territory  between  Greene  county  on  the  south 
and  the  Sano-amon  river  on  the  north,  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Illinois 
river,  and  on  tlie  east  by  Sangamon  county,  and  included  the  present  Scott 
a  nrl  t^ass  counties.  Its  county  seat,  Jacksonville,  was  platted  in  1825.  Mor- 
gan county  was  part  of  tiie  "Sangamon  country,-'  as  the  region,  for  eighty 
miles  in  width,  extending  along  the  Sangamon  river  from  the  Illinois  to  tlie 
Waliash  river,  was  long  known  to  the  Indians,  and  later,  to  all  emigrants 
lx)uiid  for  Illinois  territory;  and  justly  regarded  as  the  most  beautiful  and 
fextile^part  of  Illinois— not  excelled  by  any  district  of  the  same  limits  in  the 
United  States. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1S12  its  fame  as  a  land  literally  "flowing 
with  milk  and  honev"  spread  far  and  wide,  and  attracted  to  it  manv  of  the 
more  adventurous  immigrants  who  then  began  to  pour  into  Illinois  from  all 
the  older  states  of  the  Union.  The  intrusive  whites  moved  in,  however, 
very  cautiouslv,  as  the  Sangamon  country  was  then  still  in  possession  of  those 
implacable  enemies  of  all  Americans,  the  Kickapoo  Indians.  In  1811)  the  gov- 
ernment quieted  their  title,  by  purchase  and  treaty,  and  sent  them  to  a  res- 
ervation southwest  of  Fort  Leavenwortli.  A  few  small  bands  of  them  ling- 
ered here  for  some  years  later.  They  were  here — in  what  is  now  Cass  coun- 
ty—until 1821,  and.  farther  east,  were  on  the  Embarrass  and  Wabash  rivers 
until  18.32.  As  the  red  sovereigns  left  the  state  such  of  their  ceded  lands  as 
had  been  surveyed  and  thrown  open  for  pre-emption  and  sale  began  to  be 
settled  up  rapidly. 

Among  the  many  prospectors,  from  a  distance,  who  came,  at  a  later  date, 
to  inspect  this  fair  and  productive  land  with  the  view  of  founding  here  his 
future  liome,  was  Dr.  Henry  H.  Hall.  He  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in 
July  17i)5,  in  county  Antrim,  almost  in  sight  of  the  Giants'  Causeway,  of 
Protestant  parents  whose  lineage  had  some  admixture  of  Scotch  blood.  From 
local  schools  he  received  the  usual  elementary  education,  completing  his  liter- 
ary and  classic  studies  at  the  University  of  Glasgow  where  he  graduated. 
Afterward  he  attended  the  medical  college  in  Belfast,  which  conferred  up- 
on Idm  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  and  subsequently  took  a  special 
course  in  surgery  at  the  Royal  Hospital  in  Dublin.  Thus  equipped  for  pur- 
suing his  chosen  profession,  the  influence  of  his  family  secured  for  him  a  sur- 


-  95  - 

geon's  commission  in  the  British  navy. 

While  serving  in  tliat  capacity  on  an  English  war  vessel  a  few  years  after 
cessation  of  liostilities  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britian  in  1814, 
he  obtained  a  furlough  when  in  the  harbor  of  New  York,  and  made  a  tour 
through  several  of  the  eastern  states.  So  well  pleased  was  he  with  what  he 
then  and  there  saw  of  this  country  that  upon  returniiiiir  to  England  he  at  once 
resigned  his  commission,  and,  as  soon  as  he  conveniently  could,  came  back  to 
the  United  States  to  become  an  American  citizen  and  find  here  a  permanent 
home.  His  first  trial  of  the  general  practice  of  medicine  was  in  the  city  of 
Baltimore  where  he  located  and  offered  to  the  public  his  professional  services; 
buTlilsstay  there,  so  far  as  can  now  be  learned,  was  of  comparatively  short 
duration — long  enough  perhaps  for  him  to  discover  the  vast  difference  be- 
tween the  study  of  medicine  as  a  sublime  tlieory,  and  its  practice  as  a  dreary 
reality. 

It  is  altogether  probable — as  has  been  the  case  with  hundreds  of  other 
young  physicians  who  were  endowed  by  nature  with  sense  enough  to  know 
themselves— that  when  he  came  to  realize  the  fact  that  he  had  prepared  him- 
self for  a  life  business  for  which  lie  found  he  had  neither  taste  or  altinir.v .  he 
wisely  dropped  it,  and  concluded  to  try  something  else  in  which  he  mighi.  at 
least,  feel  some  interest  and  pleasure.  In  that  settled  conviction  he  leir  the 
Monumental  City  and  made  his  way  aown  into  Accomac  conoty  in  <  Id 
Virginia  where  he  transformed  himself  into  a  farmer,  or  "planter"  a^  agricul- 
turists were  styled  in  the  South.  Finding,  by  experience',  tliat  calling  more 
genial  to  his  talents  and  notions,  he  laid  aside  his  profession  as  reserve  capital 
for  exigencies  tliat  might  occur  in  the  future.  In  the  course  of  his  residence 
there  he  became  acquainted  with  Miss  Ann  Pitt  Beard,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  a  wealthy  neighboring  planter,  and  their  rapidly  growing  mntii;il 
I'egard  ripened  into  a  higher  sentiment  that  culminated — ;is  sucli  affaiis  usual- 
ly do— in  their  marriage  on  the  1st  day  of  December,jL_818.  The  young  cnuple 
then  settled  down  on  a  well-stocked  plantation'  in  tliat  county,  known  as 
"Pitt's  Neck,"  apparently  for  the  rest  of  their  natural  lives.  Dr.  Hall  was 
not  of  the  same  race  as  the  descendants  of  the  cavaliers  to  whom  he  had 
joined  his  destinies  by  marriage;  nor  was  he  of  the  Puritan  stock  that  fought 
with  Cromwell,  and  later  made  I'lymouth  Rock  famed  in  history:  but  he  was 
the  scion  of  a  people  known  the  world  over  for  energy,  industry  and  ambitious 
enterprise.  He  faithfully  tried  for  some  years  to  coerce  wealth  from  the  poor, 
sandy  soil  of  that  old  plantation  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  but 
with  discouraging  results. 

Becoming  disgusted  witli  the  sterility  of  that  part  of  the  Old  Dominion, 
and  its  slow,  anti(iuated  business  methods,  Dr.  Hall  concluded  not  to  waste 
his  life  in  a  continuous  struggle  for  subsistence  there,  but  try  to  find  in  the 
West  a  fresher  and  better  field  where  his  efforts  and  energies  would  meet 
with  more  generous  reward.  Near  by,  in  Maryland,  he  lieard  of  Archibald 
Job,  originally  from  that  state,  who  had  gained  political  prominence  in  Illi- 
nois, and  was  then  a  state  senator  representing  one  of  its  large  central,  or 
western,  districts  in  the  legislature,  and  wrote  to  him  for  information  regard- 
ing the  physical  features  and  economic  prospects  of  that  country.  Mr.  Job's 
answer  was  so  favorable  that  he  determined  to  go  and  personally  examine 
that  new  and  promising  region  as  soon  as  practicable. 


-  96- 

Having  made  all  necessary  arrangements  for  a  protracted  absence,  he  left 
his  home  in  tlie  spring  of  1831,  and,  by  the  then  customary  route  of  travel, 
by  way  of  Baltimore  and  over  the  Alleghany  mountains  by  stage,  tlience 
down  the  Monongahela,  and  Ohio  rivers,  and  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois, 
by  boats,  he  arrived  in  due  time  at  Beardstown.  He  landed  in  that  village 
when  it  happened  to  be  an  especially  lively  place.  The  volunteers  called  out 
by  Gov.  Reynolds  to  repel  the  invasion  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  half-starved 
band  of  Sacs  and  Foxes,  ordered  to  rendezvous  there,  were  camped  in  and  all 
around  the  place,  and  still  coming  in  daily  by  hundreds.  On  both  sides  of  the 
river  their  horses  were  grazing  on  the  bottom  in  all  directions,  and  the  dark- 
ness of  night  was  dispelled  by  their  innumerable  camp  tires. 

The  Doctor,  however,  had  not  journeyed  to  the  western  prairies  in  quest 
of  military  glory,  and  saw  nothing  in  tlie  appearance  of  the  motley  mob  gath- 
ered on  the  banks  of  the  placid  Illinois  to  inspire  him  with  martial  ardor; 
consequently,  he  did  not  join  the  militia,  but  got  away  from  them  as  quickly 
as  he  could. 

From  Beardstown  he  made  his  way  to  the  farm-house  of  Archibald  -Job  in 
Sylvan  Grove,  and  made  it  the  basis  of  Ills  further  explorations.  Securing  a 
horse,  saddle,  and  bridle  he  began  a  systematic  inspection  of  the  country  as  far 
as  Jacksonville  on  the  south  and  Springfield  on  the  east,  closely  examining 
its  soil,  timber  and  streams.  The  Sangamon  country  was  a  new  revelation  to 
him.  He  had  seen  nothing  approaching  it  in  grandeur  of  landscape,  fertility 
of  soil,  either  in  Ireland,  Scotland,  England  or  Old  Virginia.  The  prairies 
covered  with  tall  waving  grass  flecked  with  brilliant  wild  flowers,  skirted  by 
large  groves  of  dark  green  woods,  through  which  coursed  rivulets  of  clear 
spring  water:  all  enlivened  by  song  of  birds  and  whirring  flight  of  startled 
quails  and  flocks  of  prairie  chickens,  presented  a  scene  of  rural  beauty  that 
cluu'med  ;n)d  captivated  him.  He  was  charmed  and  enchanted  by  liis  novel 
surroundings,  not,  however,  in  a  poetic  sense— for  the  Doctor  was  totally  des- 
titute of  either  poetry  or  music— but  liis  practical  mind  saw  in  that  grand  ex- 
panse of  virgin  soil  the  latent  possibilities  of  its  future  production  of  wealth, 
and  certainty  of  its  speedy  development  and  rapid  increase  in  value. 

He  wasted  no  time  in  sentimental  musings,  but  set  about  selecting  sev- 
eral hundred  acres  of  land  that  Messrs  .lob,  Murray  McConnell,  and  himself 
considered  averaging  well  with  the  best  in  that  part  of  Morgan  county,  lying 
principally  in  the  prairie  some  three  miles  west  and  southvvest  of  Mr.  Job's 
place,  then  went  to  the  land  office  at  Springfield  and  tiled  his  pre-emption 
claims  to  hold  possession.  And  the  verdict  of  the  past  seventy-four  years  has 
fully  sustained  the  soundness  of  his  judgment  in  making  that  investment. 

Archibald  .lob  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  in  1784,  and  came  to  Illi- 
nois, settling  at  Sylvan  Grove  in  1819.  In  1822  he  was  elected  to  represent 
Greene  county — organized  the  year  before  from  the  northern  part  of  Madison 
county— in  the  lower  iiouse  of  the  legislature.  The  next  year,  Morgan  county 
having  been  formed  from  the  northern  part  of  Greene,  Mr.  .lob  was  again 
elected  to  the  legislature  in  1824  to  represent  Greene  and  Morgan.  In  lS2(i  he 
was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  his  district  comprisfng  the  present  counties 
of  Calhoun,  Pike,  Adams,  Brown,  Schuyler,  Fulton,  Morgan,  Scott,  Cass, 
Mason,  Tazewell  and  Peoria.  He  was  a  whig,  and  again  was  a  candidate  for 
the  senate  in  1830,  but  was  defeated  by  James  Evans,   a  .lackson   democrat. 


-  97  - 

In  1839  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  three  commissioners  to  build  the  first 
state  house  at  Springfield — the  one  since  converted  into  the  Sangamon  county 
court  house  there.  Mr.  Job  died  at  Ashland,  in  this  county,  in  1874  at  the 
age  of  90  years.  Having  tentatively  secured  all  the  land  he  was  able  to  pay 
for  Dr.  Hall  returned  to  Virginia  in  the  fall  to  arrange  his  affairs  preparatory 
to  his  final  removal  to  the  West.  The  records  of  the  land  office  show  that  his 
lands  were  entered  in  November,  1833,  by  bounty  land  warrants  issued  by  the 
government  to  the  soldiers  of  the  war  of  1812,  which  Dr.  Hall  bought  in  the 
east,  and  sent  to  Springfield.  He  then  came  back  to  Illinois  in  1834  for  tlie 
purpose  of  providing  suitable  buildings  for  hfs  future  habitation.  Fixing  on 
a  spot  approximately  near  the  center  of  Section  3  in  Township  17  of  Range  10, 
on  the  main  road  leading  from  Beardstown  to  Springfield,  he  engaged  rural 
mechanics  who  had,  like  himself,  recently  come  into  this  part  of  the  country, 
to  build  two  one-and-a-half  story  houses,  framed  and  weather-boarded,  the 
one  for  his  residence  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  mentioned,  and  the  other 
for  a  store  house  on  its  north  side  opposite  the  first.  After  seeing  his  build- 
ings well  under  way,  he  went  back  to  Virginia  in  the  fall,  and  sold  his  plan- 
tation there  for  $10,010 — about  half  of  its  real  value  and  disposed  of  his  live 
stock,  and  other  movable  property,  then,  with  his  family,  left  Virginia  and 
took  up  his  abode  for  the  winter  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  While  there  he 
carefully  selected,  at  his  leisure,  a  large  stock  of  general  merchandise  suitable, 
as  he  thought,  for  the  western  trade,  that  cost  him  over  $10,000.  which  he 
shipped,  with  his  household  furniture,  wagons,  agricultural  implements,  etc., 
to  New  Orleans,  thence  up  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  rivers,  to  Beardstown. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1835,  himself  and  wife  and  children  took  their  departure 
from  the  city  of  Brotherly  Love,  by  stage  over  the  mountains,  and  proceeding 
as  before,  by  steam  navigation  to  Beardstown,  thence  thirteen  miles  fartliei' 
east  to  his  domicile  in  the  prairie.  His  two  houses  were  not  quite  completed 
when  he  arrived,  but  were  finished  during  the  summer,  and  are— in  sound 
condition— still  serviceable  dwellings  to  this  day. 

Before  leaving  Philadelphia  Dr.  Hall  employed  there — and  brought  west 
with  him— Charles  Oliver,  a  young  store  clerk,  to  assist  in  his  mercantile  ven- 
ture; and  also  hired  James  Thompson  and  wife,  a  stout  young  Irish  couple 
not  long  married,  for  general  work  about  the  premises,  and  in  putting  some 
of  his  land  in  cultivation.  Tliey  remained  liere  the  rest  of  their  lives:  Mr. 
Oliver,  a  few  years  after  his  arrival,  married  one  of  Mr.  Job's  daughters,  and 
became  one  of  the  prominent  merchants  of  Cass  county:  and  Mr.  Thompson 
was  a  successful  and  wealthy  Sugar  Grove  farmer. 

While  Dr.  Hall  was  passing  tlie  winter  in  Philadelphia,  when  writing  to 
Mr.  Job,  on  one  occasion,  in  regard  to  the  progress  of  his  buildings  and  other 
business  affairs  here,  he  enclosed  in  his  letter  a  ten  dollar  bill  whicli  he  re- 
quested Mr.  Job  to  invest  for  him  in  the  purchase  of  black  haws.  His  idea 
was  to  plant  the  seeds  of  the  haws  in  the  spring,  and  when  they  came  up  to 
utilize  the  young  haw  bushes  for  hedges  to  enclose  his  prairie  land.  He  had 
observed  when  here  some  similarity  between  the  Illinois  haw  bush  and  the 
English  hawthorn,  and  thought  the  one  would  make  as  servicable  hedges  as 
the  other.  Mr.  Job  perhaps  dissuaded  the  Doctor  from  trying  that  experi. 
merit,  as  his  farms  were  in  time  enclosed  with  the  old-fashioned  Virginia 
rail  fences,  and  hedge  fencing  was  not  tried  on  Illinois  prairies  of  this  locality 


-  98  - 

until  tlie  Osage  orange  was  introduced,  and  put  in  practical  use  for  that  pur- 
pose, by  Prof.  Jonathan  Baldwin  Turner,  of  Illinois  College,  in  1853. 

Immediately  upon  arrival  of  the  stock  of  goods.  Dr.  Hall  and  young 
Oliver,  assisted  by  another  young  man  named  Bartlet,  opened  and  arranged 
them  in  the  store  room  and  commenced  active  business.  The  first  sale— made 
by  Charles  Oliver— was  three  pairs  of  shoes  for  the  family  of  Wm.  S.  Berry 
purchased  by  his  son  Keeling  Berry.  But  Dr.  Hall  soon  discovered  that  he 
was  no  better  adapted  for  the  sedentary  occupation  of  merchandising  than  he 
was  for  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  required  a  freer  scope  for  the  exercise 
of  his  nervous  energy  and  spirit  of  enterprise.  Leaving  the  management  of 
his  store  in  great  part  to  his  clerks,  he  busied  himself  about  everything  that 
tended  to  the  aevelopment  and  prosperity  of  the  country,  and  the  substantial 
improvement  of  his  own  real  estate.  This  region  was  filling  up  with  sturdy 
settlers  whose  cabins  skirted  the  timber  lines  and  began  to  invade  the  prairies. 
Beardstown  was  the  gateway  for  many  who  came  to  this  locality,  and  the 
road  from  that  place  to  Springfield  had  become  a  widely  known  and  much 
traveled  thoroughfare.  Immigrants,  teamsters  and  prospectors  taxed  the 
few  dwellers  alongside  the  road  for  entertainment  and  supplies  beyond  the 
capacity  and  resources  of  their  cleai'ings. 

When  Dr.  Hall  commenced  liis  active  career  in  Illinois  a  new  era  was 
dawning  upon  the  state.  The  rage  for  speculation,  fostered  by  abundance  of 
paper  currency  in  circulation,  and  prospects  of  extensive  internal  improve- 
ments became  epidemic.  "New  towns  were  projected  everywhere.  Sedate 
business  men,  lawyers,  preachers,  mechanics,  farmers,  were  seized  with  the 
belief  that  towns  they  platted  would  soon  grow  to  the  proportions  of  cities, 
and  large  fortunes  could  be  realized  by  sale  of  towh  lots.  More  reliance  was 
placed  in  improved  river  navigation  for  commercial  transportation  and  de- 
velopment of  the  country's  resources  than  in  railroads  or  canals,  that  people 
knew  little  or  nothing  about.  Consequently,  every  eligible  site  along  the 
principal  streams— and  at  many  cross  roads  between  them— was  staked  out 
for  a  new  town." 

Dr.  Hall  was  early  a  victim  of  the  town-building  mania.  He  shrewdly 
foresaw  that  the  large  county  of  Morgan  very  probably  would  be  subdivided 
within  a  few  years,  and  a  new  county  created  from  its  northern  portion.  In 
that  event  his  location  would  be  centrally  situated  in  the  new  county,  and 
the  proper  place  for  its  seat  of  justice.  His  residence  and  store  were  at  the 
intersection  of  the  main  lines  of  travel  from  the  Illinois  river  eastward,  and 
from  Jacksonville  to  the  nortii,  on  a  beautiful  rolling  prairie  at  the  edge  of 
timbered  barrens  extending  to  the  Sangamon  river  ten  miles  distant.  It  was 
an  ideal  location  for  a  town,  and  town  lots,  he  wisely  concluded,  would  sell 
more  readily  and  for  more  money  than  raw  prairie.  His  buildings  were  on 
the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Section  ,3  in  Towi^liip  17  of 
Range  10,  and,  as  he  owned  the  greater  part,  if  not  all,  of  that  Section,  he 
projected  a  town,  with  those  buildings  as  a  nucleus,  to  which  he  gave  the 
name,  V44'^jnm,  as  a  compliment  to  his  wife's  native  state. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1836  he  employed  Johnston  C.  Shelton  to  survey 
and  plat  the  town,  assisted  by  Charles  Oliver  and  Fent  Sanders  as  chain  car- 
riers. Because  of  the  favorable  "lay  of  tlie  land"  the  Beardstown  and  Spring- 
field road  was  taken,  without  regard  to  the  cardinal  points  of  the  compass,   as 


-99- 

the  basis  of  the  survey  and  made  a  street,  the  other  streets  running  parallel 
with,  and  at  right  angles  to  it.  The  result  was— as  the  course  of  that  road 
was  not  directly  east  and  west  through  Section  3— the  town  deviates  seven 
degrees  from  exact  orientation.  The  plat  of  Virginia  was  recorded  on  May 
n,  1836,  and  the  first  public  sale  of  lots  was  made  on  the  6th  of  the  following 
August,  the  day  of  the  general  state  election.  Many  of  them  were  sold  at, 
what  then  was  considered,  good  prices,  and  several  of  the  purchasers  began  at 
once  to  build  houses  upon  them. 

Already  a  movement— originating  in  the  loss  of  harmony  between  the  in- 
terests of  Beardstown  and  Jacksonville— had  commenced  for  the  creation  of  a 
new  county  to  be  carved  from  the  northern  portion  of  Morgan  county,  in 
which  Dr.  Hall  took  a  particularly  active  part  and  became  a  very  important 
factor.  That  was  probably  the  busiest  period  of  Dr.  Hall's  busy  life.  The 
promotion  of  liis  town,  the  contest  for  a  new  county,  the  improvement  of  his 
large  tracts  of  land,  and  the  care  of  his  family  and  many  financial  interests, 
severely  taxed  his  energies,  and  fully  occupied  every  waking  hour. 

The  ink  on  his  town  plat  had  scarcely  dried  when  he  employed  two  car- 
penters. Matt  Beadles  and  Jack  Powell,  to  build  a  two-story  framed  house  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  the  block  upon  which  his  residence  was  situated— 
where  the  Mann  House  now  stands— designed  ultimately  for  a  tavern:  and 
with  other  workmen  he  contracted  for  the  construction  of  a  saw  and  grist 
mill  on  Job's  Creek,  a  mile  or  more  north  of  his  store  house,  to  be  run  by- 
water  power.  A  dam  was  made  across  the  little  stream — remains  of  which  are 
yet  to  be  seen — and  the  mill  when  completed  was,  for  a  few  months  aniuuilly, 
of  vast  service  and  convenience  to  the  community  for  several  years. 

The  strenuous  efforts  of  Dr.  Hall,  aided  by  Thos.  Beard.  Francis  Arenz, 
Archibald  Job,  Richard  S.  Walker,  and  others,  for  organization  of  a  new 
county  were  crowned  with  success  by  the  act  of  the  legislature,  placing  up- 
on the  map  of  Illinois  the  county  of  Cass,  signed  and  approved  by  Gov.  Dun- 
can on  the  3d  of  March,  1837.  That  legislature  also  decreed,  on  February  25, 
the  removal  of  the  state  capitol  from  Vandal  ia  to  Springfield,  and  it  was  so 
removed  on  the  4th  of  July,  1839. 

"That  legislature,  elected  August  6th,  1836,  including  some  of  the  hold- 
over senators,  was,  for  mental  strength  and  ability  of  its  members,  the  most 
remarkable  of  any  yet  chosen  in  Illinois.  No  previous  general  assembly  of 
our  state,  and  very  few  since,  has  comprised  such  an  array  of  brainy,  talented, 
men;  or  as  many  who  subsequently  gained  such  eminence  in  the  annals  of  the 
state  and  nation.  In  the  senate  were  Orville  H.  Browning,  Cyrus  Edwards, 
Wra.  J.  Gatewood,  John  S.  Hacker,  Robt.  K.  McLaughlin,  Henry  I.  Mills, 
Wm.  Thomas,  John  D.  Whiteside  and  John  D.  Wood.  And  in  the  House 
were  Edward  D.  Baker,  John  Hogan,  Milton  Carpenter,  Newton  Cloud,  Rich- 
ard M.  CuUom  (father  of  U.  S.  Senator  Shelby  M.  CuUom),  John  Dement, 
John  Dougherty,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Jesse  K.  Duboise,  Ninian  W.  Edwards, 
Wm.  L.  D.  Ewing,  Augustus  C.  French,  John  J.  Hardin,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Usher  F.  Linder,  Dr.  John  Logan  (fatlier  of  Genl.  John  A.  Logan),  John  A 
McClernand,  James  Semple,  Jolui  Moore,  Wm.  A.  Richardson,  James  H.  Ral- 
ston and  Robert  Smith.  In  this  list  are  found  one  president  of  the  United 
States,  six  who  have  occupied  seats  in  the  U.  S.  senate,  eight  congressmen, 
three  governors,  three  lieutenant  governors,  two  attorney  generals,  five  state 


-  100  - 

treasurers,  two  state  auditors,  one  superintendent  of  public  instruction,   and 
several  supreme  and  circuit  court  judges." 

And  yet,  it  was  that  body  of  learned  and  distinguished  statesmen  who 
committed,  at  that  session,  the  supreme  folly  of  enacting  the  famous  Internal 
Improvement  measures  that,  in  tlu'ee  years,  placed  the  state  on  the  verge  of 
bankruptcy  burdeiied  with  a  public  debt  of  over  $14,000,000.  In  that  assembly 
Morgan  county  had  three  senators,  Wm.  O'Rear,  Wm.  Thomas,  and  Wm. 
Weatherford,  and  seven  representatives,  Newton  Cloud,  Stephen  A.  Douglasi 
Wm.  W.  Happy,  John  J.  Hardin,  Jos.  Morton,  Richard  S.  Walker  and  John 
Wyatt. 

In  1837  Dr.  Hall  sold  his  residence  to  Rev.  Reddick  Horn,  and  moved  his 
family  into  the  unfinished  tavern  building.  Having  no  time  to  devote  to 
merchandising,  and  finding  that  many  of  the  goods  he  purchased  in  Philadel- 
phia were  too  tine  and  costly  to  suit  his  western  patrons,  he  sold  his  store  in 
1838  to  Col.  Amos  West,  who  removed  it,  taking  Charley  Oliver  along,  to  the 
west  side  of  the  public  square.  Dr.  Hall  then  built  an  addition  to  his  empty 
store  room,  into  whicli  he  moved,  and  tliere  resided  for  several  years. 

After  attaining  the  cherished  object  for  which  he  had  expended  so  much 
time,  labor  and  money,  the  new  county,  the  Doctor  was  sorely  disappointed 
by  having  Beardstown  specified  as  its  county  seat  in  the  organic  act— provided, 
however,  that  the  citizens  of  that  town  would,  in  the  course  of  a  year  there- 
after, contribute  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  erection  there  of  a 
court  house  and  jail.  That  time  was  extended  another  year  by  the  special 
session  held  in  July  1837.  Beardstown  failing  to  comply  with  the  condition 
imposed,  the  next  legislature  passed  a  bill,  on  the  2nd  day  of  March,  1839,  de- 
claring the  town  of  Virginia  to  be  the  county  seat  of  Cass  county,  upon  the 
same  condition  it  had  been  offered  to  Beardstown,  that  its  citizens  would  pro- 
vide a  court  house  and  jail  there  for  public  use  at  their  own  expense. 

In  laying  out  the  town  of  Virginia  Dr.  Hall  set  apart  several  lots  for 
churches,  and  the  entire  block  west  of  the  one  his  residence  was  on  for  a  pub- 
lic park.  He  also  donated  to  the  county  commissioners,  for  public  use,  fifteen 
acres  of  land,  subsequently  known  as  "the  public  grounds,"  adjoining  tlie 
town  on  the  west. 

The  citizens  of  Virginia  unhesitatingly  accepted  the  county  seat  with  ob- 
ligations specified  in  the  act  of  March,  1<S39,  whereupon  Dr.  Hall  proposed  to  tlie 
board  of  county  commissioners  that  if  the  fifteen  acres,  or  public  grounds,  he 
had  given  to  aid  the  county  in  the  erection  of  future  public  buildings,  were 
reconveyed  to  him  he  would  himself  build  thereon  for  the  county  a  court 
house  and  jail.  That  very  liberal  offer  was  agreed  to  by  the  county  author- 
ities, and  as  quickly  as  practicable  Dr.  Hall  set  a  troop  of  laborers  and  me- 
chanics at  work  to  execute  his  part  of  the  contract.  A  court  house  square 
was  surveyed,  and  the  balance  of  the  public  grounds  surrounding  it  platted 
lots,  streets  and  alleys.  Near  by  bricks  were  made  and  burned,  while  lumber, 
shinglas  and  other  necessary  building  materials,  were  procured,  f.iom  wiiich 
arose  during  the  summer  a  substantial  brick  liouse  of  two  stories  with  ample 
rooms  for  the  courts  and  county  offices.  The  jail,  also  constructed  of  brick, 
was  placed  on  the  interior  lot  of  another  block  near  by. 

The  November  term,  1839,  of  the  circuit  court  was  held  in  Virginia  by 
Judge  Samuel  H.  Treat,  who  appointed  N.  B.  Thompson  circuit  clerk.    The 


-101- 

sheriff  was  Lemon  Plaster. 

At  the  time  Dr.  Hall  had  the  bricks  manufactured  for  the  public  build- 
ings, a  sufficient  quantity  were  made  for  the  building-  of  a  roomy  story  and  a 
half  house,  erected  the  next  year,  on  his  Lin  Grove  farm,  a  mile  south  of  the 
court  house;  to  which  he  moved  early  in  1841,  and  resided  there  until  his 
death.  He  sold  his  tavern  in  Virginia  to  Matt  Beadles  in  1838;  but  his  store- 
liouse  was  not  disposed  of  until  his  heirs  sold  it  to  Jack  Manley  in  1850. 

Providing  for  establishing  the  county  seat  of  Cass  county  in  Virginia,  in 
1839,  by  legislative  enactment,  and  prompt  compliance  by  Dr.  Hall  and  his 
friends  with  the  conditions  that  enactment  imposed,  awakened  the  citizens  of 
Beardstown  to  a  realization  of  the  mistake  they  made  by  neglecting  to  ac- 
cept the  same  conditions  first  offered  to  them;  and  incited  a  spirit  of  envious 
rivalry  between  the  two  towns  not  entire  dissipated  after  the  life  of  two  gen- 
erations has  passed.  So  strong  was  the  feeling  of  resentment  in  Beardstown, 
and  open  threats  were  made  there  at  the  time,  that  Dr.  Hall  employed  men 
to  guard  the  court  house  and  jail  (he  was  having  constructed)  every  night  un- 
til thev  were  completed  and  accepted  by  the  county  commissioners,  for  fear 
of  their  destruction  by  hired  incendiaries. 

The  Beardstown  people  then  laid  their  plans  for  retrieving  the  conse- 
quences of  their  previous  indifference.  Their  town  was  unquestionably  very 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  the  center  of  the  county's  population,  as  all  the  region 
east  of  Virginia  was  very  sparsely  settled;  and  it  was,  moreover,  the  busines^ 
center  and  emporium,  not  only  of  the  county,  but  of  an  extensive  scope  of 
country  on  both  sides  of  the  Illinois  river.  The  tactics  they  adopted  were  the 
same  that  Mrginia,  years  later,  employed  with  success  in  final  solution  of" 
that  aggravated  contest.  They  offered  to  build  there,  for  the  county,  a  court 
house  and  jail  at  their  own  expense  if  the  county  seat  was  removed  to  that 
place;  and,  in  the  spring  of  1843,  petitioned  the  county  commissioners  to  order 
an  election — in  accordance  with  provisions  of  the  general  statutes— for  and 
agaiiist  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Virginia  to  Beardstown.  Having 
no  opinion  in  the  matter,  tfie  commissioners  ordered  such  an  election  to  take 
place  on  the  first  Monday,  (the  4th)  of  September,  1843,  which  resulted  in  453 
votes  cast  for  removal,  and  288  against  it.  The  following  year,  1844,  was  re- 
markable for  the  unprecedented  overflow  of  all  the  western  streams,  inundat- 
ing all  the  river  bottoms  and  converting  them  into  great  lakes,  and  making  of 
Beardstown  an  isiand  on  both  sides  of  which  steamboats  freely  passed.  During 
that  year  the  citizens  of  that  town,  faithful  to  their  agreement,  built  on  the 
block  east  of  the  public  park,  a  suitable  two-story  brick  court  house,  and  jail, 
which  they  conveyed  to  the  county.  When  both  buildings  were  fully  com- 
pleted the  records  and  papers  of  the  county's  seat  of  justice  were  removed 
from  Dr.  Hall's  town  into  them,  on  February  5th,  1845,  and  remained  there- 
on the  border  of  "the  great  national  highway"— with  two  strenuous,  but 
unsuccessful,  attempts  on  the  part  of  Virginia  to  recover  them — until  1872, 
when  after  another  election  the  county  seat  was  again  established  in  Dr.  Hall's 
town,  after  exhaustive  litigation,  by  a  majority  of  just  eight  votes  of  all  cast 
in  the  county. 

The  people  of  Cass  county  were,  from  its  first  organization,  dissatisfied 
with  its  narrow  limits,  and  soon  began  agitating  the  annexation  of  a  strip  of 
territory  from  Morgan  county  three  miles  in  width,   extending  across  that 


-  102  - 

county  from  east  to  west.  Dr.  Hall  was,  as  usual,  one  of  tlie  tirst  to  advocate 
that  measure,  and  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  workers  to  accom- 
plish it.  He  was  untiring  in  his  efforts,  and  unsparing  of  his  means,  to  se- 
cure the  necessary  legislation,  and  to  win  the  residents  of  that  part  of  Mor- 
gan county  over  to  the  interests  of  Cass.  He  personally  visited  every  voter  in 
it,  and  by  various  arguments,  embellislied  with  a  good  deal  of  Irish  blarney, 
persuaded  a  good  many  of  them  to  favor  secession  from  Morgan  county, 

By  an  act  of  the  legislature,  passed  on  February  26,  1^45,— just  after  the 
county  seat  had  been  moved  from  Virginia— the  voters  residing  on  the  cov- 
eted three  mile  strip  were  directed  to  express,  at  an  election,  their  wish  as  to 
which  county  they  preferred  to  belong.  Tliat  election  was  lield  on  tlie  first 
Monday  of  the  following  May,  the  voting  places  designated  being  at  Arenz- 
ville,  Princeton,  and  the  farm  houses  of  Wm.  Berry  and  Henry  Price.  The 
proposition  to  again  reduce  the  area  of  Morgan  county  by  seventy-five  square 
miles,  or  more,  of  its  territory,  met  witli  violent  opposition  from  a  few,  but 
was  carried  at  the  polls  by  246  of  the  settlers  voting  for  attachment  to  Cass 
comity,  and  78  for  remaining  a  part  of  Morgan.  Thereupon  the  three  mile 
strip  was  transferred  to  tlie  jurisdiction  of  Cass  county. 

Feeling,  to  a  certain  extent,  consoled,  if  not  compensated,  by  that  victory 
for  the  late  defeat  of  Virginia  by  Beardstown,  i)r.  Hall  avoided  further  prom- 
inence in  the  management  of  public  affairs,  and  gave  all  his  time  and  atten- 
tion to  his  large  landed  interests,  content  to  bide  his  time  when  limitations 
of  the  statutes  would  permit  A'irginia  to  renew  the  contest  for  regaining  the 
county  seat. 

There  were  but  few  noints  in  tlie  personality  of  Dr.  Hall  that  were  par- 
ticularly striking  or  impressive.  In  stature  he  was  of  medium  height,  5  feet 
S  inches  tall,  erect,  muscular  and  well-proportioned,  with  the  usual  weight  of 
about  190  pounds.  His  face— always  smoothly  shaved— was  regular  in  every 
feature,  and  expressive  of  firmness  and  self-reliance.  With  ruddy  complexion 
he  had  dark  hazel-colored  eyes,  and  (wlien  young)  auburn  hair.  He  was  of 
nervous  temperament,  active  and  quick-motioned,  having  frank  and  rather 
abrupt  manners,  a  temper  easily  irritated,  strong  resentments  and  much  de- 
termination of  purpose.  There  was  nothing  of  tlie  comedian  about  Dr.  Hall; 
no  dissimulation;  no  habitual  smile:  no  fondness  for  practical  jokes  or  idle 
amusements;  no  quibbling  or  temporizing:  but,  looking  only  upon  the  ser- 
ious aspect  of  life,  he  was  always  earnest,  straightforward,  and  very  careful 
of  his  own  interests. 

He  generally  dressed  neatly,  and  in  appearance,  habits,  and  speech— from 
which  latter,  education  had  almost  entirely  eliminated  the  native  Irish 
brogue — he  was  more  like  an  Englishman  of  tlie  middle  class  than  a  product 
of  the  peat  bogs. 

For  the  highly  educated  scholar  his  descendants  represent  him  to  have 
been,  Dr.  Hall,  wlieii  in  Illinois,  was  not  a  student,  and  manifested  but  little 
taste  for  books  and  literature.  Nor  was  he  particularly  noted  for  culture  and 
refinement,  or  courtly  graces  in  social  intercourse:  or  very  choice  of  terms  and 
Idioms  to  express  liimself  when  irritated.  His  proficiency  as  a  physician  or 
surgeon  is  not  known,  as  his  very  limited  (and  reluctant)  practice  here  was 
confined  to  occasional  prescriptions,  and  emergency  treatment  not  regarded 
by  him  as  a  source  of  revenue.    Clear  headed,  and  well   infoi-med  on   matters 


•    -103- 

of  general  interest,  he  was  pleasant  and  entertaining  in  conversation.  Not 
always  in  amiable  mood,  or  ostentatiously  benevolent  or  charitable,  he  was 
kind-hearted  and  generous,  and  ever  ready  to  aid  a  friend,  or  relieve  suffering 
and  distress,  though  not  a  church  member  or  attached  to  any  secret  society 
Conforming  to  the  universal  custom  of  that  day,  he  kept  liquors  on  his  side- 
board and  in  his  cellar— as  adjuvants  to  his  cordial  hospitality— and  in  their 
use,  as  in  diet,  was  not  restrained  by  any  puritanical  notions  of  abstem- 
iousness. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Jacksonian  democrat,  but  not  a  politician,  and  con- 
cerned himself  very  little  about  the  management  of  his  party,  or  of  the  gov- 
ernment. His  highest  ambition  in  public  affairs  was  to  advance  his  own  wel- 
fare by  promoting  the  progress  of  the  country  and  the  community  in  which  he 
lived.  Selfishness  sufficient  for  self  protection,  honesty,  truthfulness  and  per- 
sonal integrity  were  the  leading  traits  of  his  character.  He  drove  sharp  bar- 
gains, and  got  the  best  end  of  every  transaction  if  he  could;  but  all  that  he 
promised  could  be  implicitly  relied  on.  His  highest  intellectual  ability  was 
manifested  in  his  business  and  financiering  sagacity.  When  the  country, 
flooded  with  cheap  paper  currency,  was  on  the  crest  of  fictitious  prosperity. 
Dr.  Hall  made  wise  and  safe  investments  in  real  estate.  Shrewdly  foreseeing 
the  inevitable  reaction  in  business  when  all  the  banks  suspended  specie  pay- 
ment in  1837,  he  "unloaded"  his  stock  of  unsaleable  goods  on  Col.  Amos  West 
in  the  spring  of  1838,  and  sold  liis  tavern  building  to  Matt  Beadles,  at  good  fig- 
ures and  secured  the  pay  for  them.  Collapse  of  the  wild  Internal  Improve- 
ment scheme  in  1839  completed  the  crash,  and  placed  Illinois  on  the  verge  of 
financial  ruin.  All  branches  of  trade  and  commerce  were  paralyzed,  all  sound 
money  was  driven  out  of  the  country,  and  the  "shinplaster"  currency  (bank 
notes)  in  circulation  daily  depreciated  in  value  until  it  was  practically  worth- 
ess.  Yet;  in  that  appalling  business  depression  Dr.  Hall  built  the  coint 
house  and  jail  in  Virginia,  and  the  brick  house  on  his  Lin  Grove  place,  and 
made  many  improvements  on  his  other  farms,  meeting  all  his  obligations 
promptly  without  incurring  any  indebtedness. 

But  wary  and  astute  as  he  was  in  all  his  dealings,  he  got  badly  caught  in 
the  purchase  of  that  Lin  Grove  farm  and  lost  it  by  oversight  of  an  obscure 
principle  of  law.  The  land  on  which  tlie  grove  stood  was  bought  from  the 
government  by  Thomas  Payne,  (the  father  of  Mrs.  Dr.  L.  S.  Allard.  Mrs.  Dr. 
Parmenio  L.  Phillips,  Mi*s.  I.  N.  White,  and  the  wife  of  D.  M.  Irwin)  who 
entered  tlie  south  80  acres  in  1830  and  the  north  80  acres  in  1834,  together 
comprising  the  west  half  of  the  west  half  of  Sec.  9  of  T.  17  in  R.  10.  Mr. 
Payne,  who  resided  on  the  land,  when  about  to  die  made  a  will,  on  the  fourth 
day  of  September,  1835,  in  which  he  directed  that,  after  his  death,  all  his  land 
and  personal  property  should  be  sold  by  his  executor  for  the  interest,  support 
and  education  of  his  children,  and  the  remainder  to  be  distributed  in  equal 
parts  to  them  upon  their  marriage  or  when  they  became  of  age;  the  land, 
however,  not  to  be  sold  until  it  would  bring  eight  dollars  per  acre.  But  he 
named  no  executor  in  his  will  and  died  shortly  after. 

On  September  9,  1835,  the  court  appointed  Benjamin  H.  Gatton  admin- 
istrator, with  will  annexed,  of  Mr.  Payne's  estate,  who  duly  qualified  and 
gave  bond.  He  then  sold  to  Dr.  Hall,  who  owned  land  east,  west  and  north 
of  it,  the  IflO  acres  of  Payne's  for  $1400,  which  was  more  than  $8  per  acre,  and 


-  104  - 

made  a  deed  for  it  to  ITall  on  the  second  of  October,  1835. 

It  was  there  Dr.  Hall  blundered  in  totally  disregarding  the  ancient  legal 
maxim,  caveat  emptor,  (''let  tlie  purchaser  beware").  N.  B.  Thompson,  as 
sliarp  a  business  man  as  Dr.  Hall,  wanted  Lin  Grove  and  told  the  doctor  he 
intended  to  get  it  yet;  but  Hall,  secure  in  possession  of  a  deed,  went  on  and 
built  his  house  and  outhouses  on  the  land  and  moved  his  family  there. 
Payne's  heirs  grew  up,  and  N.  B.  Thompson,  or  some  other  person,  pointing 
out  to  them  the  invalidity  of  Dr.  Hall's  title  emanating  from  an  adminis- 
trator not  named  in  Payne's  will,  who  sold  the  land  without  an  order  from 
the  court,  they  commenced  an  ejectment  suit  against  Dr.  Hall  to  regain 
possession  of  it. 

The  suit  was  commenced  in  Cass  courrjy  in  184.3  and  was  taken  by  change 
of  venue  to  the  Sangamon  circuit  court  and  tried  there,  before  Judge  Samuel 
H.  Treat  and  a  jury,  in  18U.  It  was  decided  against  Dr.  Hall  and  he  appealed 
to  the  supreme  court  by  his  attorney,  Flon.  Wm.  A.  Minshall,  of  Schuyler 
county.  Tlie  lawyers  for  Payne's  lieirs  were  Wm.  Tliomas,  of  Morgan,  and 
Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Sangamon.  That  court  also  decided  against  Dr.  Hall, 
by  sustaining  the  decision  of  the  lower  court.  The  opinion  of  the  supreme 
court  was  delivered  by  Justice  Koerner.  who  held  that  Gatton  had  no  author- 
ity to  act,  as  he  was  not  named  as  executor  in  the  will.  Two  of  the  judges, 
however,  dissented  from  that  opinion,  Young  and  Scates,  wlio  held  that,  as 
Payne  did  not  name  an  executor,  he  evidently  intended  that  the  court  would 
appoint  one  who  would  thereby  have  all  the  authority  to  convey  title  under 
the  will.     Judge  Young  in  his  dissenting  opinion  said: 

'•I  catmot  perceive  that  either  justice  or  equity  will  be  promoted  by  an- 
nulling the  acts  of  the  administrator  and  confiscating  the  rights  ot  an  in- 
nocent Ijona  IMe  purchaser,  for  a  full  and  valuable  consideration,  after  the 
lapse  of  ten  years,  where  no  fraud  is  imputed  to  him.  and  where  all  the  pro- 
ceedings, for  aught  that  appears  in  the  record,  seems  to  have  been  conducted 
acorrling  to  the  forms  prescribed  by  law." 

The  statute  granted  a  second  trial  to  defendents  in  ejectment  cases,  and 
Dr.  Hall  again  took  the  matter  into  court,  but  died  before  a  decision  was 
rendered.  It  was  again  decided  in  favor  of  the  Payne  heirs  later  after  which 
four  of  them  sold  their  undivided  interest  to  X.  B.  Thompson  and  the  remain- 
ing one-tifth  was  purchased  by  Henry  IT.  Hall,  jr.,  and  they  divided  the  land 
between  them  Hall  taking  one-tifth  off  the  north  end  and  Thompson  taking 
the  remainder  with  the  buildings. 

The  stringency  of  money  matters  in  Illinois  reached  the  point  of  greatest 
distress  in  1841  wlien  tlie  state,  without  a  dollar  in  its  treasury,  could  make  no 
provision  to  pay  the  interest  due  on  its  enormous  indebtedness,  and  stagnation 
checked  all  lines  of  trafflc.  Yet,  in  the  spring  of  that  year,  before  moving  to 
his  Lin  Grove  farm.  Dr.  Hall,  at  a  public  sale,  disposed  of  a  large  lot  of  sur- 
plus movable  property  at  good  prices,  and  collected  all  of  his  sales  at  maturity 
In  that  year,  1841,  congress  passed  a  bankrupt  law— to  enable  dishonest  peo- 
ple to  legally  rob  their  confiding  creditors— but  Dr.  Hall  had  taken  such  pre- 
caution that  he  suffered  very  little  loss  from  that  class.  During  all  the  mem- 
orable "hard  times",  from  1837  to  1842,  he  not  only  retained  all  his  large 
landed  possesion,  but  added  to  them  by  purchasing  other  tracts,  and  in- 
creased their  value  by  improvements. 


-105- 

In  lS4fi  Dr.  Hall's  health  began  to  fail.  Much  of  the  time  during  that 
year  he  was  confined  to  liis  house  b}^  malarial  disorders  that  permanently  de- 
ranged the  functions  of  circulation,  ancl  resulted  in  dropsy.  The  winter's 
cold  brought  him  no  relief,  and  by  return  of  milder  weather  in  the  spring  he 
was  an  invalid  passed  any  reasonable  prospect  of  recovery.  The  best  physi- 
cians of  the  country  exhausted  their  efforts  and  skill  to  arrest  the  progress  of 
his  malady  without  success.  Among  them  Dr.  David  Prince,  then  Professor 
of  Surgery  in  the  medical  department  of  Illinois  College,  came  repeatedly 
from  Jacksonville  and  gave  him  temporary  respite  from  suffering  by  tapping 
him.  But  he  gradually  grew  weaker  and  less  able  to  resist  the  ravages  of 
disease,  until  death  ended  the  unequal  struggle  on  the  Uth  of  July,  1847. 

At  his  country  home  near  the  town  he  founded,  surrounded  by  his  family 
and  friends,  and  all  the  comforts  wealth  could  command,  when  but  little 
past  the  meridian  of  life.  Dr.  Hall  died  at  the  early  age  of  52  years,  leaving  to 
his  heirs  the  largest  and  most  valuable  landed  estate  in  the  county.  He  was 
buried  in  the  beautiful  grove  near  his  residence,  and  there  his  unmarked 
grave  remained  undisturbed  until  in  the  autumn  of  1880,  when  his  ashes  were 
exhumed  and  reinterred,  near  those  of  the  other  dead  of  his  family  collected 
together,  in  the  Virginia  cemetery. 

Ann  Pitt  Beard,  wife  of  Dr.  Hall,  was  born  November  loth,  1798.  and 
reared  on  a  plantation  well  stocked  with  African  slaves,  in  Accomac  county. 
Virginia,  and  retained  all  her  life  a  partiality  for  the  customs,  manners,  and 
institutions  of  the  South.  Tall,  straight,  and  handsome  featured,  a  brunette 
with  black  eyes  and  glossy  black  hair,  sprightly  in  motion  and  speech,  intelli- 
gent and  well  educated,  she  justly  ranked  as  a  beauty  in  girlhood,  and  as  a 
matron  was  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  her  for  beauty  of  character  and 
her  many  womanly  virtues.  She  died  at  the  residence  of  her  son,  Boliort 
Hall,  in  Philadelphia  precinct,  Cass  county,  on  the  2d  day  of  January,  18S(), 
at  the  age  of  81  years,  1  month  and  17  days. 

Besides  his  wife,  five  of  their  children  were  living  at  the  time  of  Dr. 
Hall's  death,  namely: 

Mrs.  Ann  Pitt  Shackelford,  who  was  born  in  Accomac  county,  Virginia, 
Aug.  19th,  1821,  and  died  in  Virginia,  111.,  on  March  Uth,  1902. 

Henry  H.  Hall,  born  Aug.  26,  1820,  still  living. 

John  Pitt  Hall,  born  March  17th,  1829,  and  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  at 
Peoria,  Ills.,  on  the  29th  of  October,  ISoO. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Tomlin,  born  March  Uth,  1831,  still  living. 

Robert  Hall,  who  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  tii'st  child  born  in  the 
town  of  Virginia,  Cass  county.  111.,  made  his  advent  here  on  the  19th  day  of 
June,  1835,  and  is  yet  very  much  alive. 

Previous  to  Dr.  Hall's  death  the  following  named  live  children  were  born 
and  passed  away  in  childhood: 

.lohn  Hall,  born  Dec.  31st,  1819,  died  July  19th,  1821. 

Henry  Hall,  born  Feb.  10th,  1823,  died  Oct.  22d,  1823. 

Henry  H.  Hall,  born  Oct.  31st,  1824,  died  Jan.  22d,  1820. 

Eliza  Hall,  born  Nov.  12th,  1827,  died  Aug.  Uth,  1828. 

.lane  Hall,  born  Sept.  18th,  1837,  died  Aug.  4th.  1S39. 

No  portrait  of  Dr.  Hall  is  now  extant. 


CASS   COUNTY   ELECTION,   A.  D.  1838, 


ON  Ang-ust  14,  1S37,  a  few  days  after  the  election  described  on   page  51 
the  newly  elected  county    commissioners    Joshua    P.    Crow,     Amos 
Bonney  and  Geo.  F.  Miller  met  and  organized  their  court:  the  oath  was 
administered  by  Thomas  Pogue  a  justice. 

Jolin  A.  Pratt  tlie  elected  county  clerlv  tiled  his  bond  and  took  the  oath 
of  ottice. 

The  court  proceeded  to  divide  tlie  county  in  magistrate  and  constables 
districts  six  in  number  named  Beardstown,  Monroe,  Virginia,  Sugar  Grove, 
Richmond  and  Bowen's  districts.  The  voting  place  in  Sugar  Grove  was  es- 
tablished at  Philadelphia,  in  Richmond  district  at  the  town  of  Richmond;  in 
Bowen's  district  at  the  house  of  David  Karr.  The  judges  in  Beardstown  dis- 
trict were  Peter  B.  Bell,  William  L.  Felix,  and  Jasper  Xeiper;  at  Monroe  Alex 
Huffman,  Jasper  Buck  and  James  Arnold:  At  Virginia  John  Scott,  James 
Ross  and  Jacob  T.  Brown:  at  Sugar  Grove  Henry  Hopkins,  John  Slack  and 
.Idtm  Wilson:  at  Richmond  Robert  Leeper,  Carey  Nance  and  John  Taylor;  at 
]]()vveii's  John  Waggoner,  Jeremiah  Northern  and  William  Cole. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  these  districts  were  the  sections  of  terri- 
toi'v  in  which  justices  and  constables  were  elected  and  served  the  people;  the 
general  election  districts  yet  remained  three  in  number;  Beardstown,  Vir- 
ginia and  }\iciuiiond. 

Thomas  Plasters  and  John  P.  Dick  at  this  August  meeting  of  the  county 
commissioners'  court  tendered  their  resignations  as  constables  of  the  Lucas 
precinct  which  had  been  changed  in  name  to  the  Richmond  precinct. 

On  September  4,  1S37,  Thomas  Plasters,  jr.,  was  appointed  school  commis- 
sioner for  Cass  county;  on  same  day  Thomas  Wilbourn  resigned  as  county 
treasurer  and  on  September  (i,  William  W.  Babb  was  appointed  treasurer. 

On  September  1(),  a  tavern  license  was  issued  to  Wm.  P.  Finch  at  New 
Philadelphia:  and  a  license  to  sell  goods  at  Monroe  was  issued  to  lieasley  & 
Schaetfer. 

In  December  is;n  a  tavern  license  was  issued  to  Eaton  Nance.  Richmond 
precinct. 

On  January  1,  is.is  a  license  was  issued  to  .lames  H.  Ross  to  sell  goods  in 
Virginia. 

At  the  March  term  ls;}S.  .$2-3  was  allowed  to  Augustus  Knapp  for  rent  of 
the  court  house  in  13eardstown,  and  at  same  time  a  tavern  license  was  issued 
to  M.  H.  Beadles  and  to  John  De  Webber  and  a  license  to  John  De  Webber  to 
sell  goods. 


-107- 

On  June  6,  1838.  A.  Dunlap  was  allowed  $13.50  for  conveying-  N.  Graves 
prisoner  from  New  Philadelphia  to  Virginia  and  guarding  him  and  John  Creel, 
A.  Bowen,  J.  W.  Pa3'ton,  I.  M.  McClain  and  each  allowed  $3.75  for  guarding 
said  prisoner  and  to  Levi  Conover,  Alfred  Elder,  Jolin  W.  McClure,  Isaac 
Mitchell,  Richard  Gatton  and  H.  D.  Wilcox  were  allowed  pay  for  guarding 
said  prisoner  Graves;  and  to  William  Scott  was  allowed  $2.00  as  justice  for 
trying  said  Graves. 

On  August  6,  1838,  a  general  election  was  held  in  Illinois;  the  election  at 
Beardstown  was  held  in  the  rooms  rented  of  Knapp  by  the  county 'commis- 
sioners, called  the  court  house:  the  judges  were  Benjamin  H.  Gatton,  John 
McKown  and  John  Williams;  the  clerks  were  John  Ayers  and  Thomas  Gra- 
ham, jr.  At  Virginia  the  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  Madison  H. 
Beadles;  the  judges  were  Jackson  T.  Powell,  James  Daniel  and  William  Moore 
and  the  clerks  were  Tiiomas  Pothicary  and  W.  H.  H.  Carpenter.  In  Rich- 
mond precinct  the  election  was  held  at  the  store  house  in  Richmond;  tlie 
judges  were  John  Taylor,  Robert  Leeper  and  Peter  Dick;  the  clerks  were  Or- 
ren  Hicks  and  Lucius  Lyon. 

The  candidates  voted  for  at  said  election  were: 

For  governor,  Cyrus  Edwards  and  Thomas  Carl  in. 

For  lieutenant  governor,  William  IL  Davidson  and  Stinson  IT.  Anderson. 

For  member  of  congress,  John  T.  Stuart  and  Stephen  A.   Douglas. 

For  state  senator,  Josiah  Lam  born  and  William  Thomas. 

For  state  legislature,  Thomas  Beard,  Henry  McKean  and  William  riolines. 

For  sheriff.  Lemon  Plasters  and  Charles  H.  Oliver. 

For  county  treasurer,  William  IT.  Nelms,  William  Scott  and  Isaiah 
Paschal. 

For  county  surveyor,  James  Berry  and  Lawrence  Clark. 

For  coroner,  William  Cox,  Ilalsey  Smith  and  John  De Webber. 

For  county  commissioner,  Joshua  P.  Crow,  Amos  Bontiey,  George  F. 
Miller,  Isaac  C.  Spence,  Henry  McIIenry,  Charles  Brady  and  John  B.    Wiity. 

The  names  of  tlie  voters  at  this  election,  which  are  not  found  among  the 
voters  at  the  election  of  1837,  here  follow:  opposite  tlie  name  of  one  voter  at 
Beardstown  is  entered  "Winnebago  Co;"  opposite  another,  '-Schuyler  Co;"" 
opposite  another,  "Morgan  Co."  These  were  probably  visitors,  and  to  them 
was  extended  the  conrtesy  of  the  voting  privileges,  as  new  settlers  are  tioted 
for  hospitalfty  to  guests: 
Names  of  tHe  voters  upon  tHe  Beardsto-wn  list: 

A 
Anders,  George  Alexander,  Thomas  Altman,John  Artquast,  Michl 

B 
Barnett,  D  Butler,  Wm  Bunn,  Jacob  Brazel,  Seymour 

Barger,  John  Brooks,  Linus  Benson,  Daniel  Bair,  Charles 

Blackman,  Jas  H  Benner,  John  S 

c 

Carr,  Jas  Carr,  David  Cowan ^Lewis  Canfleld,  J  L 

Clark,  Lawrence  Crane,  Silas  Carpenter,  Geo  W       Clemmons,  Owen 

Cross,  David 

D 

Dunsmore,  Daniel  Duchardt,  John  Dutch,  Henry  S  Dummer,  Henry  E 

DeHaven,  McKeever  Dowler,  J  R  Dutch,  Ezra  Dunsmore,  Hosea 

Duchardt,  Chris  Dardec,  George  Decker,  Henry  Daugherty,  Robt.  B 


108 


Names  of  tHe  voters  upon  the  Virginia 

B 


Beall,  Thos  O 
Boicourt,  John 


Bane,  Daniel 
Berry,  Thomas 


Bright.  \Vm 


list: 

Bright,  Daniel 


Campbell,  Jas  Crow,  Ira 

Cunningham,  Andrew        Cole,  William 


Collins,  Greenbury 
Carver,  Elijah 


Clifford,  Lawrence 
Carpenter,  W  H  H 


Dirreen.  Edward 


Gatton,  Thomas 
Forall,  Fredk 

Gaedking,  Henry 

Holms,  John 
Hermeyer,  Henry 
Holtzmann,  C 


Daniel,  Eliiah 


Goltra,  John  W 
Farrall,  John 


Gender,  Fredk 


Holt,  Charles 
Hinkel,  Fredk 
Holtmeler,  Henry 


F 

Fuller,  Sidney 

G 

Gorham,  Wm  C 
Fulks,  John  B 

G 

Gatton,  B  H 

H 

Hager,  Amos 
Hoffman,  John 


Haskins.  Wm 
Hill,  Sylvester 


Ingram.  Allen 


Ingram,  James  M 


Jokisch,  Gottlieb 

K 

King,  Azariah 

Kettler,  Gottlieb 

Kuhl,  Chris 

Kuhl,  Geo 

L»mon,  Albert 

Liberkarr,  Jno 

M 

McHaven,  Jno 

Marshall,  Simeon 

Miner,  Antone 

Marks,  James 

Moore,  Pf^ter 

Mai  1,  Frederick 

Moss,  Simeon 

Mler,  Henry 

Mos-,  E  W 

Miller,  Henry 

Musser,  James 

Miller,  Henry  B 

Means,  James 

Marshall,  James 

N 

Niekle,  Henry 

Northern,  Ed  M 

Nelms,  W  H 

o 

Oetgen,  W 

Oyerall,  I  W 

p 

Patterson,  Wm 

Q 

Quaite,  James 

R 

Revis,  Charles 

Rice,  Harry 

Rhuman,  Moses 

Ruckel,  John 

Rich,  Francis 

Robinson,  Francis 

s 

Smith,  .-Xmos  sr 

Smith,  Amos  jr 

Smith,  Benj  F 

Seibert,  Gideon 

Seeger,  J  C  A 

Steven,  Sylvester 

T 

Turner,  Joseph 

Treaaway,  Lflwson 

Tiele,  Charles 
V 

Taylor.  John  B 

Van  N 

ess,  George 

Wells,  John 

Walker,  Cyrus 

Wedeklng,  Henry 

Willis,  Nathan 

Wells,  Jacob  D 

Wirt,  David 

Wallace,  Jam^s 

Wheeler,  Harris 

-109 


H 


Harris.  George 

Hamilton,  Absalom 

J 

Jennings,  Thos 

K 

Kassinger,  Wm 

Kelley  Joseph 

I. 

Lindsay,  John 

M 

McCord,  David  A 
Mosely.  John  J 

McDonald,  Joseph 
Murray,  Wm 

Martin 

McDonald,  John 
Matthew,  Jas  D 
, Ebenezer  F 

N 

McGilland,  Wm 
Mosely,  Thomas 

Newman,  David 

o 

Outten,  Luther 
P 

Pelrsen,  John 

Powell,  Yancy 

Parker,  Wm  R 

Pothicary,  Thomas 

Robertson,  John 

Ross,  Henry  I 

Ross,  George  O. 

Reed  Adam 

Shaw,  George 
Samuel,  Jas  D 

Shattuck,  Calvin 
Samuel,  Andrew 

Samuel,  Thos 
Sanders,  L  F 

T 

Samuel  Benj  F 

Taylor,  Ellis 

Thompson,  Jas 

Thornsbury,  Jas 

Underwood,  Phineas  sr 

Wiseman,  Solomon 
Names  of  tH 

Williams.  Thomas 
e  voters  uponi  tHe  RicHmon 

.A. 

Alexander,  R 
B 

id  list: 

Bonny,  George 

Brockway,  Jos 

Briant,  Lucien 

c 

Clodfelter,  Jacob 

Clodfelter,  Chas 

Clodfelter,  Jacob 
D 

Crawford,  Josiah 

Dick,  John  P 
Dare,  Samuel 

Dick,  Levi 
Dew,  Wm 

Davis,  Stephen 
Dew,  Joseph 

G 

Daniel,  Major 

Goodell,  Horace 

Golf,  Daniel 

H 

Hickey,  Willard 

Hash,  Thomas 

Hawthorn,  Jas 
I 

Is,  Henry  L 

Hicks,  Orren 

Ingal 

Lee,  Stephen 

Lyon,  Lucien 

M 

McCaulley,  W  H 

McDonald,  Richard 

Martin,  Wm 

Morgan,  Wm  P 

Rogers,  Wm 


Maray,  Dwight  S 
N 

Nance,  Allen 

R 

Richardson,  J  C  Ray  Daniel 


-  no  - 

Sutton,  Bent— -^ 

Vannetten.  Anthony  Vannetten,  John 

"W 

Watkins,  Elijah       - 

As  stated  in  the  sketch  of  the  election  of  1837,  neither  tlie  name  of  Tliom- 
as  Pothicary  nor  of  Andrew  Cunningham  appeared  as  a  voter  of  this  county 
of  that  year,  althougli  it  is  Icnown  they  were  here.  The  name  of  Henry  E. 
Dummer  did  not  appear  in  that  list,  but  does  appear  in  this:  so  the  reader 
may  know  that  Judge  Dummer  was  on  the  ground  in  little  Cass  as  early  as 
1838,  if  not  before  that  time.  The  list  of  voters  of  1837  numbered  four  hund- 
red and  ninety-six,  and  in  this  list  of  additional  names,  one  year  later  appear 
two  hundred  and  two,  which  gives  the  reader  some  idea  of  the  growth  of  the 
population  of  the  county  during  twelve  months.  It  should  be  remembered 
that  the  three  mile  strip  was  not  acquired  until  after  this  time. 

This  election  resulted  in  the  election  of  Lemon  Plasters  sheriff,  William 
IT.  Nelms  treasurer,  Lawrence  Clark  surveyor,  Halsey  Smith  coroner,  and 
Isaac  Spence,  Amos  Bonney  and  .losliua  P.  Crow  were  declared  elected  coun- 
ty commissioners,  although  the  returns  show  that  Henry  McHenry  received 
more  votes  than  either  Bonney  or  Crow.  Thos.  Carlin  democratic  candidate 
for  governor  received  1.5.5  votes  and  Cyrus  Edwards  candidate  for  governor  re- 
ceived 31(i  votes,  which  proves  that  Cass  was  then  a  strong  whig  county. 
Stuart  was  elected  to  congress,  Thomas  to  state  senate,  William  Holmes  to 
the  legislature  and  Thomas  Carlin  elected  governor  of  Illinois. 


VIRGINIA,  ILLINOIS,  IN  A.  D.  I860, 


IT  is  the  purpose  of  tliis  article  to  give  a  fairly  accurate  description  of  the 
town  of  A'irginia  twenty-four  years  after  its  location  by  Dr.  Henry  H. 
Hall,  and  three  years  after  its  incorporation  by  the  legislature  of  the 
State  of  Illinois.  It  will  be  necessary  for  the  reader  to  give  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  it,  as  some  portions  of  the  description  are  rather  difficult 
to  make  sufficiently  clear. 

Many  of  the  readers  of  these  sketches  now  being  published  in  the  Enquir- 
er, are  greatly  interested  in  them,  while  others  have  expressed  contempt  for 
them:  to  the  latter  it  may  be  said  there  is  no  obligation  on  the  part  of  any 
subscriber  to  read  all  the  contents  of  the  paper;  it  is  published  for  all  mem- 
bers of  the  community,  and  all  can  find  somethiug  to  their  taste,  and  if  these 
sketches  are  wearisome,  the  wearied  ones,  might  turn  back  to  the  neighbor- 
hood items,  regularly  sent  in  over  the  rural  routes,  and  "till  up"  on  them. 

The  original  town  of  Virginia  is  1340  feet  square,  covering  an  area  of 
about  41  acres,  and  was  laid  out  on  the  24th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1836,  and 
consisted  of  nine  blocks,  of  which  block  numbered  77  is  marked  on  the  plat  as 
Market,  Washington  Fountain  Square,  Court  House,  on  which  the  present 
court  house  now  stands. 

The  size  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  lots  is  60  feet  by  120  feet,  and  are  153 
in  number.  These  lots  sold  so  rapidly,  that  on  July  1st.  1837,  Dr.  Hall  laid 
out  an  addition  to  the  original  town  which  consisted  of  three  blocks  added 
on  the  easterly  side  of  tlie  original  plat,  and  also  three  blocks  added  on  the 
westerly  side  of  said  original  plat:  the  lots  in  this  addition  running  from  1  up 
to  118. 

It  is  unfortunate  for  a  child  to  be  born  and  reared  in  a  small  town  which 
is  not  laid  out  "square  with  the  world." 

This  town  was  laid  out  upon  an  angle  of  north  thirty-three  degrees  east. 
It  is  both  ludicrous  and  pathetic  to  see  an  average  man  try  to  examine  a  map. 
He  will  look  at  the  map,  then  look  out  of  the  window:  next  he  will  get  up 
and  move  his  chair,  take  another  observation,  and  give  it  up;  if  he  is  trying 
to  find  a  farm,  he  will  then  begin  to  make  marks  upon  the  floor  or  upon  paper. 
He  does  not  know  tliat  the  top  of  the  map  is  north;  probably  was  never 
taught.  The  average  lady  shopper  who  makes  regular  trips  to  Jacksonville  or 
Springfield,  does  not  know  the  south  side  of  the  square  from  the  east  side, 
and  must  feel  herself  lost  until  she  gets  home  again.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  lady  members  of  the  Travellers  Club,  do  not  belong  to  the  class  indicated. 
Dr.  Snyder  in  his  sketch  of  Dr.  Hall,  says  the  town  was  laid   out  with  tlie 


Sprinotield  and  Beardstovvn  state  road:  old  settlers  say  that  this  road  passed 
the  Dewebber  tavern  which  stood  upon  the  north  half  of  the  soutliwest 
quarter  of  Sec  2  T  17  R  10  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  the  present  C.  P. 
&  St.  L.  depot,  and  from  there  ran  north  of  the  present  town  plat  and  thence 
nearly  straight  west,  through  the  land  now  owned  by  Daniel  Biddlecome 
more  than  a  half  mile  south  of  its  present  location.  The  act  to  locate  said 
road  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  the  state,  January  2nd,  1S;}3,  and  au- 
thorized John  Morris  and  Pliram  Penny,  of  Sangamon  county,  and  Isaac  R. 
Bennett,  of  Morgan  county,  to  locate  the  road  from  Springfield  to  Beards- 
town,  (which  was  then  in  Morgan  county).  They  were  directed  to  locate  it 
upon  the  nearest  and  most  direct  route  regarding  only  the  highest  and  driest 
ground,  so  as  to  do  the  farms  as  little  injury  as  practicable:  to  have  the  same 
accurately  surveyed  and  staked  and  make  a  full  report  to  the  county  commis- 
sioners' courts  of  Sangamon  and  Morgan  counties  as  soon  after  April  1,  183:>, 
as  possible.  What  these  commissioners  did  in  the  matter,  is  unknown.  Con- 
cerning the  location  of  this  road,  Mr.  ftraff  the  county  clerk  of  Morgan  coun- 


Dwell! 


of  Dr.  ITiill  in  which  Bobert  Hall  was  born 
I  is;;.").    Still  occupied  as  a  residence. 


ty  sent  the  writer  a  letter  of  date  November  l;>.  liior),  in  whicli  he  says:  '•! 
have  looked  carefully  tlu'ough  our  indexes  and  records,  also  through  plats  in 
Judge  Kirby's  ottice  and  am  unable  to  find  any  record  of  road  as  referred  to  in 
your  letter."  Dr.  ITall  built  his  dwelling  and  store  building  on  the  prairie  in 
is:i4  and  is;;;"):  the  dwelling  still  stands  upon  its  origi?ial  foundation  upon  lot 
S7  of  the  original  plat,  and  the  store  building  stood  upon  lots  VA  and  44  of  said 
plat;  the  store  was  almost  directly  east  of  the  dwelling,  and  Robert  ITall  says, 
that  when  his  father  laid  out  the  town,  he  located  Springfield  street  to  run 
between  these  two  buildings,  and  tlip  angle  happened  to  be   north   ;;;;   degrees 


-  113- 

east.  Tliis  explanation  is  Ukely  to  be  the  correct  one.  The  state  road  struck 
the  g-round  on  whicli  Ashland  hes  coming  from  the  southeast,  but  the  pro- 
prietors of  that  town  in  1857  located  it  "square  with  the  world,"  and  the 
travelers  upon  the  state  road,  went  through  the  town  on  an  east  and  west 
line:  it  is  a  pit}'  that  Dr.  Hall  did  not  use  a  compass  in  erecting  his  first 
buildings. 

When  the  town  and  the  addition  thereto  were  platted  the  county  was 
Morgan,  and  when  afterward,  in  the  year  18.37.  Cass  county  was  organized, 
the  act  of  the  legislature  establishing  the  county  of  Cass  provided  that  the 
county  seat  should  be  located  at  Beardstown,  upon  condition  that  the  people 
of  that  town  should  erect  county  buildings  of  the  value  of  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars within  one  year,  and  in  case  of  neglect  so  to  do,  the  county  commissioners 
were  authorized  to  remove  the  seat  of  justice  to  Virginia,  if  fifteen  acres  of 
land  should  be  donated  to  the  county  for  public  use.  Tlie  people  of  Beards- 
town  failing  and  neglecting  to  erect  the  buildings  as  provided,  the  county 
officials  contracted  witli  Dr.  Hall  for  fifteen  acres  of  land  adjacent  to  the  plat 
upon  the  west,  and  in  order  to  locate  tlie  court  house  upon  a  square  in  the 
center  of  a  plat  of  fifteen  acres,  it  was  removed  a  little  west  of  the  addition 
to  the  town,  on  account  of  a  depression  in  the  surface  of  the  prairie  adjoinirig- 
the  said  addition.  The  tifteen  acres  was  platted  as  the  Public  Grounds  of 
Cass  county,  on  the  21st  day  of  June,  1838,  and  at  the  same  time  tlie  nnrrow 
strip  797  feet  long  and  252  wide  lying  between  the  Public  grounds  and  the  ad- 
dition was  subdivided  into  13  lots  and  denominated  the  "Addition  to  the 
Public  Grounds." 

Soon  after  the  plat  was  made  a  contract  was  entei'ed  into  between  Dr. 
Hall  and  the  county,  under  which  the  county  transferi'ed  the  title  back  to 
Hall  upon  the  condition  the  latter  would  erect  the  buildings,  which  were 
completed  in  September.  1839,  and  the  records  and  county  offices  were  re- 
moved from  Beardstown  into  tlie  new  court  house  standing-  upon  the  west 
square  .300  feet  wide  by  450  feet  in  length.  The  lots  in  the  Public  Giounds 
were  100  in  number  running  from  1  to  100. 

After  the  additional  three  mile  strip  off  the  north  end  of  Morgan  county 
was  added  to  Cass  an  election  for  the  permanent  location  of  the  county  seat 
of  the  county  resulted  in  favor  of  Beardstown,  the  people  of  that  town  agree- 
ing to  erect  the  court  house  and  jail.  These  buildings  were  constructed  in 
1844,  and  in  the  montli  of  March,  1845,  the  offices  were  returned  to  Beards- 
town, and  the  court  house  in  Virginia  turned  into  a  school  building.  This 
removal  of  the  seat  of  justice  was  so  discouraging  to  the  few  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  that  several  of  the  leading  citizens  sold  out  and  went  away  to  the 
town  of  Bath,  Mason  county,  and  to  other  points,  and  the  growth  of  the 
town  was  seriously  checked. 

Some  years  later,  through  the  efforts  of  Richard  S.  Thomas,  Dr.  M.  H.  L. 
Schooley  and  others,  a  railroad  was  projected  between  Pekin,  in  Tazewell 
comity,  to  Virginia,  in  Cass  county  to  be  called  the  Illinois  River  Railroad. 
Many  of  the  farmers  were  induced  to  subscribe  for  stock  in  this  new  railroad 
company  in  sums  from  .$500  to  .$3000,  being  led  to  believe  that  such  an  enter- 
prize  would  be  a  rapid  money  maker.  The  building  of  this  railroad  caused 
Virginia  to  look  up  again  and  in  order  to  furnish  more  room  for  prospective 
builders  and  settlers  another  addition  was  laid  out  by  the  widow  of  Dr.   Hall 


-  114- 

and  Richard  S.  Thomas,  on  the  loth  day  of  October,  1856,  which  was  called 
Hall  &  Thomas  addition  to  the  town  of  Virginia  and  consisted  of  2  blocks 
and  54  lots.  The  lots  in  the  original  town  and  the  several  additions  above  de. 
scribed  now  nambered  438,  wliich  was  the  number  the  town  contained  in  the 
year  1860. 

In  laying-  out  the  town  of  Virginia,  Dr.  Hall  did  not  follow  the  usual 
plan  of  dividing  each  block  into  two  rows  of  lots  with  an  alley  through  the 
center.  Of  the  nine  blocks  in  the  original  town,  the  four  blocks  at  the 
four  corners  of  the  plat  are  460  feet  square;  the  block  in  the  center  of  tlie 
plat  is  300  feet  sciuare  and  the  remaining  four  blocks  are  300  feet  by  460  feet 
in  size.  The  corner  blocks  are  cut  by  4  alleys  20  feet  wide,  called  streets  on 
the  plat,  which  leave  a  lot  in  the  center  of  each  corner  block  180  feet  square. 
The  four  blocks  300  by  460  feet  are  subdivided  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  16 
lots  a  front  of  60  feet  upon  the  outer  edge  of  the  block  with  an  alley  20  feet 
wide  in  the  rear  of  each  and  consequently  there  remains  a  strip  in  the  center 
of  each  of  these  four  blocks  40  feet  wide  by  180  feet  in  length  surrounded  by 
an  alley  20  feet  in  width.  What  to  do  with  these  long  narrow  strips  must 
have  been  a  puzzling  question.  As  the  plat  was  recorded  a  portion  40 feet  by  60 
feet  was  cut  off  the  end  of  each  of  these  four  strips  most  remote  from  the  pub- 
lic 8(iuare  and  each  of  these  tracts  was  marked  "school."'  There  was  left  four 
pieces  40  feet  wide  by  120  feet  long  and  these  four  were  marked  respectively; 
I'iesl>\terian  church.  Baptist  church,  Methodist  church,  and  Episcopal  church. 
Tiiese  four  plats  of  ground  forty  feet  in  width  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
feet  in  length  situated  in  the  center  of  these  four  blocks  bounded  on  two 
sides  and  one  end  by  an  alley  20  feet  wide,  the  other  end  adjoining  a  "school 
lot"  are  rhe  plats  of  ground  wliich  Dr.  Snyder  says  that  Dr.  Hall  donated  for 
cliiiivh  purposes.  It  is  beyond  reasonable  belief  that  Dr.  Hall  seriously  in- 
1  elided  any  such  use  would  be  made  of  these  plats  of  ground.  Imagine,  if  you 
can,  our  Virginia  society  ladies  wending  their  way  of  a  holy  Sabbath  morn 
down  one  of  these  alleys  in  the  rear  of  the  north  side,  or  south  side,  or  east 
side,  or  west  side  stores,  saloons  and  shops,  daintily  avoiding  the  heaps  of  an- 
cient tish,  deceased  cats,  spoiled  sauer  kraut,  broken  glass,  smashed  crockery, 
rotten  eggs  and  other  unsightly  objects  profusely  deposited  in  these  alleys  by 
our  good  natured  but  careless  business  men,  to  find  themselves  in  a  house  of 
worship  bordered  by  lines  of  cow  stables,  asli  barrels,  swill  tubs  and  hog  pens 
situated  upon  the  rear  erids  of  the  adjacent  lots  just  across  the  alley. 

Dr.  Hall  certainly  knew  there  would  never  be  built  four  schoolhouses 
within  the  area  of  ten  acres  of  ground,  and  he  had  no  reason  to  believe  that 
these  remaining  fractions  would  be  accepted  as  church  lots.  Perhaps  these 
entries  were  made  upon  the  plat  by  some  wag  at  Jacksonville  who  was  set  to 
work  to  copy  the  plat  upon  the  records:  if  Dr.  Hall  authorized  it,  then  he 
certainly  was  a  practical  joker.  There  is  nothing  to  indicate  niggardliness  in 
his  manner  of  laying  out  the  town.  In  other  towns  in  the  county  we  find 
alleys  10  or  16  feet  wide;  here  they  are  20  feet  in  width.  In  other  towns 
the  streets  run  from  45  to  50  feet  in  width:  (nearly  all  the  streets  in  Beards- 
town  are  but  50)  but  Dr.  Hall  gave  to  the  public,  streets  60  feet  wide.  The 
prices  at  which  he  sold  the  lots  upon  the  plat  were  very  reasonable.  For  in- 
stance, lot  22  on  the  original  plat,  now  owned  by  James  Clifford,  just  north  of 
the  Bailey  residence,  was  sold  to  Henry   T.    P'oster   for   five   dollars.     Lot  97 


-  fl5- 

just  west  of  the  Cliristian  churcli  lot,  was  sold  to  Green  Paschal  for  four  dol- 
lars and  tifty  cents;  to  Isaac  Mitchell  was  sold  lots  112  and  113,  (now  the 
county  jail  lots),  for  four  dollars  and  twenty-five  cents,  and  to  John  Daniel  for 
fourteen  dollars  and  seventy-tive  cents  Dr.  Hall  sold  and  conveyed  four  of  the 
most  valuable  lots  in  the  town,  being  lots  90  and  yl  (the  Cox  property,  on  the 
corner  of  Cass  and  Springfield  streets),  lot  92,  (the  Theodore  Stout  lot),  and 
lot  41,  the  corner  opposite  the  Cox  lots  (now  owned  by  Mrs.  Elian  Cunning- 
ham). Dr.  Hall  was  anxious  to  build  up  the  town,  and  doubtless  would  have 
donated  any  lot  in  it  to  any  chm'ch  organization  that  would  have  erected  a 
good  church  building.  Dr.  Hall  was  not  a  church  member  and  not  very  much 
of  a  church  goer,  but  his  house  was  always  open  to  preachers  to  come  as  often 
as  they  pleased  and  stay  as  long  as  they  wished.  Strange  to  relate,  the  Meth- 
odist Pi'otestant  people  actually  took  possession  of  lot  64  mariced  on  the  plat 
"Methodist  church"  in  the  rear  of  the  Skiles  lumber  yard  and  built  thereon  a 
two-story  building  in  which  religious  services  were  held  on  the  ground  floor, 
and  tlie  upper  portion  was  used  as  a  schoolroom,  but  when  this  building  was 
thus  used,  there  were  but  two  or  three  otlier  buildings  upon  that  block. 

Aside  from  the  alleys  20  feet  wide,  tliere  were  but  four  streets  in  the 
original  town  each  (50  feet  wide  and  1340  feet  long.  The  court  house  square 
was  located  upon  all  these  four  streets;  the  one  on  the  easterly  side  being 
Main  street;  the  one  on  the  westerly  side  being  Front  street;  the  one  on  the 
northerly  side  being  Springlield  street;  and  the  one  on  the  southerly  side  be- 
ing Beardstown  street.  When  Byron  Collins  built  his  house  on  lot  4  (since 
rebuilt  by  Dr.  Snyder)  he  built  it  fronting  upon  the  20  foot  alley  on  t.hesontli. 
There  was  no  street  north  of  this  lot  until  the  year  1866  when  Henry  Hall, 
junior,  laid  out  his  addition,  north  of  the  original  plat.  The  house  of  Laur- 
ence Clifford  on  lots  1  and  2  in  the  addition  fronted  south  upon  a  20  foot  alley, 
there  being  no  street  adjoining  the  lots,  and  when  the  house  was  built  on  lot 
24  in  the  addition,  (the  W.  B.  Kikendall  lot),  it  was  erected  at  the  east  end, 
fronting  the  alley  of  20  feet,  altlio  there  was  a  street  sixty  feet  wide  along  the 
west  end  of  the  lot,  which  seems  to  prove  that  the  early  \'ivginia  settlers. 
cared  very  little  for  streets— alleys  were  good  enough. 

When  the  addition  to  the  original  town  was  platted  in  July,  1S3T,  Beards- 
town  and  Springfield  streets  were  lengthened  520  feet  at  eacli  end  so  as  to 
cross  the  two  sections  of  the  addition  and  a  street  60  feet  wide  and  1340  feet 
long  was  platted  along  the  easterly  side  of  the  original  plat  called  Cass  street: 
and  a  street  60  feet  wide  by  1340  feet  loiig  named  Morgan  street  was  laid  out 
along  the  westerly  side  of  the  original  plat.  The  street  westerly  of  the  addi- 
tion, between  it  and  the  addition  to  tlie  Public  Grounds  was  named  Job 
street  in  honor  of  Archibald  Job.  The  narrow  street  westerly  of  the  addition 
to  the  Public  Grounds  is  named  Horn  street  in  honor  of  Rev.  Reddick  Horn, 
a  prominent  early  settler.  Tl>e  street  running  along  the  easterly  side  of  the 
west  S(iuare  was  named  Pitt  street,  in  honor  of  his  wife  whose  family  name 
was  Pitt.  The  street  along  the  west  side  of  the  west  sc^uare  was  named  Hall 
street. 

In  the  addition  of  Hall  &  Thomas,  Morgan,  Job,  Pitt  and  Hall  streets 
were  extended  through  it.  The  street  I'unning  westerly  along  the  south  side 
of  the  addition  to  the  town  was  named  Washington  avenue,  and  the  street 
south  of  tliat,  running  westerly  through  the  Hall  &  Thomas  addition  (north 
of  tlie  Joseph  Wilson  residence)  was  named  Hardin  Place. 


-  116  - 

Althoug-h  Robert  Hall's  first  addition  to  Virginia  was  laid  out  June  27, 
1856,  and  his  second  addition  on  August  29,  1859,  it  is  quite  certain  no  houses 
were  erected  upon  either  prior  to  18(J0.  Mr.  Hall  says  the  first  house  in  his 
first  addition  was  the  Robert  Stafl'ord  house  and  the  first  house  in  the  second 
addition  was  built  by  Jolni  Peters:  tlie  Start'ord  lot  was  not  purchased  until 
1864  and  it  was  the  same  year  Peters  purchased  lots  3  and  4,  in  block  5,  and 
tlierefore  we  have  not  included  either  of  these  additions  in  the  history  of 
Virginia  in  A.  D.  1860. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  sketch  the  testimony  of  Casper  ^Nlagel,  (i.  F. 
Hillig  and  Alex  Robison  has  been  principally  relied  upon,  for  the  reason  that 
these  gentlemen  made  their  appearance  here  about  that  time,  atid  can  better 
remember  what  buildings  were  in  existence  in  the  town  at  tliat  date  than 
those  who  have  been  here  much  longer.  Mr.  Magel  came  liere  from  Beards- 
town  in  September  185i)  and  built  his  shop  on  west  side  of  the  east  square  in 
1861:  he  had  known  Mr.  Hillig  before  then  at  Lynnville,  Morgan  county,  and 
at  Reardstown,  and  wrote  for  him  to  come  to  Virginia,  and  he  made  his  ap- 
pearance in  November  1859. 

The  boundary  of  the  town,  taking  into  account  the  original  plat  and  the 
additions  which  were  then  built  upon  in  1860  was  as  follows: 

Beginning  at  the  northCfist  corner  of  lot  1  in  the  addition  which  is  the 
norrlivvest  corner  of  the  Anderson  brick-yard,  and  from  thence  running 
souilierly  1340  feet,  passing  the  west  side  of  the  flouring  mill,  to  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  C.  M.  Tinney  residence:  thence  westerly  to  Morgan  street  a 
distance  of  18(i()  feet,  passing  along  the  south  line  of  the  Matt  Yaple  property; 
thence  sonfiierly  along  Morgan  street,  440  feet  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
.losiqih  Wilson  lots:  thence  westerly  1227  feet:  then  northerly  820  feet  to  tho 
l\ihlic  (Jrminfls:  then  westerly  120  feet  to  tlie  southwest  corner  of  the  Public 
fi  round:  then  nortlierly  52;)  feet  to  the  south  line  of  the  old  Fair  Ground:  then 
easirrly  ii5I  feet  to  .lob  streel :  then  northerly  200  feet  ^o  the  northwest  corner 
of  t  he  property  of  Mrs.  James  Tegg  (lot  14  in  the  addition);  then  easterly  on  a 
sli;iight  line  to  the  place  of  beginning,  passing  along  the  north  line  of  the 
property  of  Mrs.  Zillion.  Ben  Simmon.  Dr.  Snyder, F.  C.Lang  to  the  beginning. 

This  tract  was  certainly  large  enough  to  contain  a  great  many  buildings, 
but  we  shall  presently  see  they  were  few  and  far  between.  East  of  the  plat 
was  the  Steam  Mill,  and  the  Beer's  residence  (where  George  Conover  now 
lives  on  lots  3  and  4,  block  3  of.  the  Beer's  addition),  and  from  there  ea.st  came 
the  G.itton  farm  residence.  From  the  Matt  Yaple  property  south,  there  were 
corn  lields-not  even  a  farm  house  for  a  mile  or  more  out.  Tlie  Haskell  addi- 
tion was  a  pasture  and  no  buildings  south  of  it.  From  the  Joseph  Wilson 
property  were  fields  up  to  the  college  ground— now  the  high  school  property. 
West  of  the  town  R.  Jacobs  owned  a  house  on  north  side  of  state  road,  after- 
wards known  as  the  .les.se  Way  residence,  and  a  short  distance  north  of  that 
was  rlie  --Olds""  rivsidence.  The  first  addition  of  Robt.  Hall  was  a  Held,  and 
the  addition  of  Ilern-y  11  Hall  nortli  of  the  plat  was  farm  land  up  to  isdii. 
The  Jonarhan  Looker  residence  and  biick  yiird  were  north  of  the   town    plat. 

To  indicate  the  number  of  buildings  then  standing  in  the  town,  it  will  be 
convenient  to  describe  the  several  blocks  begiiniing  with  the  northea.st  block 
on  which  stand  the  residence  of  F.  C.  Lang.  R.  Lancaster  and  Hugh  Ktiowles 
and  numbering  to  the  south  then  hack  to  the  north,    then    to  the   .soutli   and 


-11/  - 

so  on. 

On  the  first  block  there  were  four  houses:  the  Lawrence  Cliflford  house 
on  lots  1  and  2:  one  on  lots  6  and  7  (now  owned  by  F.  C.  Lang);  one  on  the 
rear  end  of  24  owned  by  Joseph  Zieglemeier  (now  the  W.B.  Kikendall  lot;  and 
one  on  35.  then  owned  by  Sarah  Deeds;  now  the  Lancaster  lot. 

On  the  second  block  was  but  one  house  situated  on  lots  69  and  70  (east  of 
tlie  C.  W.  Savage  property. 

On  the  third  block  there  were  two  houses:  one  the  Murray  house  (now 
owned  by  Mrs.  Jacobs:  and  a  house  built  by  John  W.  Hardy  on  lots  82  and  83 
(now  owned  by  Mrs.  Gore.) 

Upon  the  fourth  block  there  were  six  houses;  a  log  house  on  lot  134  re- 
cently torn  away  by  its  owner,  John  Thompson:  a  house  north  of 
that  on  lots  132  and  13.3,  where  Joiin  Thompson  now  lives:  two  houses 
on  lot  96,  one  of  them  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Martin  Harding, 
and  another  on  same  lot  east  of  it,  since  removed;  a  house  on  lot  129  long 
known  as  the  Rev.  Collins  residence,  still  standing;  on  lot  128  on  which 
Miss  Green  lives  was  a  house  in  early  days,  the  James  Needham  home.  In 
addition  to  these  six  houses  on  this  block  there  was  a  livery  stable  of  wood 


Former  residence  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Collins. 
Built  in  1843. 
on  lot  100  where  the  brick  barn  of  Hiles  is  now  located. 

Upon  the  tiftli  block  tliere  were  seven  houses,  besides  the  Virginia  Hotel 
whicli  was  on  lot  82  wliere  the  Mann  House  now  stands;  on  lot  83  where  t!ie 
new  Metiiodist  church  is  situated,  was  tne  Weaver  house,  long  afterwards  oc- 
cupied by  Tliomas  Dunaway;  on  lot  94  where  tlie  Cumberland  church  stands 
there  was  a  house:  on  lots  90  and  91  where  Mrs.  Cox  lives  was  a  house  built  by 
Rev.  Daniel,  a  Baptist  preacher;  a  house  stood  on  lot  88  and  on  lot  87  was  tiie 


NoTE~Mr.  James  H.  Clifford  tells  me  that  tlie  first  house  in  Robert 
Hall's  first  addition  to  Virginia  was  built  in  1863,  on  lot  2,  for  Ben  Sims  by 
Proctor  and  Rosson.  As  Mr.  Clifford  afterwards  purchased  the  property  and 
Hved  in  it  for  many  years  his  statement  is  doubtless  a  correct  one.  Mr. 
Frank  Davis  says  the  Tliomas  Heslep  house  was  built  in  1861,  and  must  have 
been  the  first  house  erected  in  Robert  Hall's  second  addition  to  the  town. 


-  118  - 

first  residence  of  Dr.  Hall:  on  the  east  side  of  tlie  square,  nortli  of  the  Hotel, 
there  were  two  buildings;  one  of  them  was  the  old  Dewebber  Hotel  which  at 
first  stood  with  its  side  to  the  street  and  was  afterwards  turned  the  end  to 
the  street.  In  later  years  this  building  was  owned  and  occupied  by  W.  S 
Brobst  who  had  a  stove  and  tin  shop  helow  and  lived  in  the  upper  part;  it 
was  burned  in  the  east  side  tire,  in  1900:  next  to  this  Dewebber  building  was 
one  owned  by  a  Mrs.  Williams,  this  building  became  the  property  of  Mrs. 
Julia  Knowles  and  remained  an  ancient  land  mark  until  it,  too,  went  up  in 
smoke  in  tlie  tire  last  mentioned. 

On  the  sixth  block,  there  were  six  houses:  on  lots  4()  and  47  was  the  old 
Dewebber  residence  which  in  its  last  days  was  used  as  a  lime  house  by  Bailey 
&  Stout  in  their  lumber  business  at  northeast  corner  of  the  square;  on  lot  42 
was  a  house  formerly  owned  by  "Granny  Paschal,"  in  this  liouse  N.  B. 
Thompson  lived  wlien  he  first  came  to  Virginia:  on  lot  41,  tlie  corner  where 
Mrs.  Ellen  Cunningham's  new  house  was  a  liouse  in  which  Mrs.  Deeds  long 
lived;  north  of  this,  fronting  the  east  on  lot  40  was  the  Elliott  house;  on  lot 
4  was  the  Byron  Collins  house,  now  owned  by  Dr.  Snyder:  on  the  south  halves 
of  lots  ()  and  7  was  the  house  in  which  the  mother  of  Hugh  Elliott  lived,  now 
the  residence  of  .John  Greer — Mrs.  Knowles  lived  here  for  many  years. 

On  the  seventh  block  there  were  three  houses:  one  on  lot  ;52  where  Casp- 
er Magel  lives;  one  on  lot  28  built  by  Harris  and  now  the  home  of  Dr.  Hum- 
phrey which  he  has  rebuilt;  and  on  lot  51  stood  the  house  now  owned  by  Mrs. 
McDonald,  then  called  the  big  white  house,  the  only  building  on  the  north 
side  of  the  square.  In  this  house  then  boarded  Rev.  Webster,  the  pastor  of 
the  M.  E.  church  in  Virginia.  He  was  a  young  man  without  a  family:  the 
church  paid  his  board  and  in  addition  paid  him  one  hundred  dollars  per  year; 
not  very  good  pay,  but  it  had  to  do  in  those  days. 

The  eighth  block  was  Washington  Square;  a  patch  of  ground  where  the 
b().\s  played  marbles  and  ball  and  where  the  circus  people  stretched  their 
tents    IK)  I'ence,  no  tree,  no  bush. 

On  the  ninth  block  there  were  but  five  buildings;  an  old  log  house  on  143 
where  Dr.  McGee  lives,  torn  down  after  1800;  ahouseon  120and  127,  long  known 
as  the  Chittick  house;  the  old  Pothicary  Inn  on  lot  102  owned  by  E.  W.  Turner 
in  1800:  a  two-story  building  on  lot  104  owned  by  Mr.  Greenwood  and  used  by 
.1.  N.  Wilson  as  a  drugstore:  and  a  one-story  building  on  lot  10;5,  then  oc- 
cupied by  Pierce  &  Co.  as  a  general  store.  The  Greenwood  building  was 
later  moved  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  west  square  and  is  now  the  liome 
of  Robert  Norris. 

On  the  tenth  block  there  were  seven  buildings.  On  lot  120  was  the  house 
built  by  L.  B.  Ross  in  18:57,  long  known  as  the  Dwelle  house,  which  is  still 
standing  and  occupied  by  William  Zillion;  on  lot  107,  (the  Gatton  corner),  was 
the  two-story  frame  drug  store  of  L.  S.  Allard  which  was  burned  two  years 
ago;  on  lot  108  was  Dr.  Allard's  one-story  residence;  across  tlie  alley  west  on 
109  was  the  feed  store  of  Ed  Loomis,  the  building  is  still  standing  and  used  as 
a  cigar  shop;  on  110,  where  Mrs.  Caldwell  lives,  was  a  two-story  building,  oc- 
cupied for  several  years  by  tlie  Hinchcliff  family,  on  lot  HI  was  the  Presby- 
terian church  lately  transformed  into  a  pliotographer's  quarters,  and  in  the 
rear  on  lot  117  was  Squire  Haskell's  wool  carding  factory. 
On  the  eleventh  block  there  were  nine  buildings,  tive  of  them   were  on    the 


-119- 

property  of  John  E.  Haskell,  and  west  of  that  on  lot  (>9  was  a  one-story  build- 
ing used  to  sell  wniskey  in:  on  lot  64,  back  of  the  lumber  yard  was  the  two- 
story  building  used  as  a  church  by  the  Protestant  Methodist  people,  which 
burned  up  in  the  west  side  tire  in  the  1880's. 

On  the  twelfth  block  were  six  buildings:  a  one-story  house  owned  by  Prof. 
Spalding  on  lots  5;i  and  54,  at  northwest  corner  of  square;  on  lot  25  where  the 
Sherman  house  stands  was  the  one-story  house  of  Robert  Thompson  and 
family;  on  lots  15  and  16,  back  of  Miss  Hickox's  property,  was  a  log  house  in 
which  the  John  Costigan  family  lived  in  an  early  day,  which  was  torn  down 
long  since;  on  lot  57,  where  Fred  HilJig  lives,  in  the  same  house.  Miss  Melville 
Blair  then  lived:  on  lots  58  and  59  (the  S.  W.  Bailey  corner)  stood  the  Meth- 
odist church,  and  just  in  the  rear  of  it,  on  lot  22.  owned  by  J.  H.  Clifford,  was 
a  house  of  li  stories,  now  in  Grand  Villa  owned  by  G.  McDowell. 

On  the  thirteenth  block  there  were  five  houses;  on  lot  3<i,  where  J.  N. 
Gridley  lives,  was  a  one-story  house,  built  by  Rev.  Nathan  Downing;  on  lot  42, 
on  southwest  corner  of  block,  was  the  home  of  Prof.  McDowell,  who  had 
charge  of  the  college:  the  house  still  stand.s.  the  home  of  Mrs.  Mary  Turner 
Suffern:  north  of  that,  on  lot  15,  was  the  house  of  Mrs.  Tegg:  the  house  was. 
burned  ten  years  ago:  north  of  that,  across  the  alley,  was  the  house  of 
Jonathan  Looker,  now  occupied  by  Ed  Hudson,  and  east  of  that,  on  lots  of 
JT.  II.  Hall,  was  a  log  house  in  which  Robert  Stafford  lived  and  l)oaided  iiiett 
who  worked  on  the  Illinois  River  railroad, 

On  the  fourteenth  block  there  were  eight  buildings:  the  Amos  Woodward 
smith  shop,  still  stands,  occupied  by  Ben  Simmon;  just  west,  on  lot  54,  w;is 
the  Amos  Woodward  residence,  still  standing:  west  of  this,  a-ross  the  alley, 
on  lot  51,  was  the  one-story  building  occupied    by  Garland   Pollard   as  a    law 


Law  ( )riice  of  (Jarland  Pollarrl,  isno. 
oftice,  now  owned   by  Hetuy  Warner,  known   as  the   Niles 
that,  on  the  corner,  was  a  one-story  huild 
lias  been  rebuilt,  the  origin 
v'here  Mrs.  Ratlibu 


property:  west   of 

ig.  long   used   as  the   post-office:  it 

building  still    Miere;  north   of  that,  on   lot  4,s. 

ives,  was  rhe  twostory  "Chase"  residence:  north 


the  corner,  on  lot  4:>.  was  a  orie-sto-ry  liMise:  e  ist  of   thir.oii    lot    44.  was  the 


V20  " 

bride  residence  of  .lohn  Rogers  and  east  of  that,  wiiere  William  Eyi'e  w 
lives,  on  lot  46,  stands  the  IJ  story  buildini^-,  built  by  the  Buckley  brothers  in 
1S30.  foi'  a  cabinet  maker's  shop. 

On  tlie  til'teenth  block,  there  were  seven  buildings;  on  the  northwest 
corner,  on  lot  !M),  (the  Mrs.  Crandall  lot)  was  the  TSTaylor  residence:  east  of 
this,  on  lots  «7  and  88,  was  the  Dr.  Schooley  home,  (the  11  nest  in  the  town) 
now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Petetisli:  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  block  was 
the  Robert  Chittick  shop:  on  lot  113,  facing-  soutli,  was  the  Boyd  house:  at  the 
soutliwest  corner  of  tlie  block  was  tlie  two-story  residence  of  Mr.  White, 
which  burned  to  the  ground  soon  after:  nortli  of  that,  on  lot  91,  was  the 
Cumberland  church,  wjiich  is  now  the  Holiness  church  on  lot  85  insame block, 
and  on  lot  94  in  the  center  of  the  block  was  the  brick  builditig  built  for  the 
counfy  jail  and  in  istio  aiui  for  long-  thei'eafter  tlie  liome  of  Robert  Chittick, 
the  blacksmith. 


Old  Cumberland  I'resln  terian  Church. 

T^OTE— The  following  letter  is  just  received  from  (Jeorge  W.  Martin,  a 
Cliicago  lawyer: 

"Hon.  J.  N.  Gridley.  Virginia,  III.  Pear  sir  and  friend:  Your  historical 
sketches  of  early  \'irginia  are  deeply  interesting  to  n-ie,  and  I  believe  tliey  are 
quite  reliable.  In  speaking  of  the  block  in  which  was  situated  the  Lawrence 
Clifford  house,  you  fail  to  mentior]  my  father's  gunsmith  shop,  vvliieh  was 
directly  north  of  the  liouse  on  lots  ()  and  7,  in  whicli  I  was  born  on  the  4th 
day  of  January,  18,"')().  My  father  owned  the  lots  and  I  believe  he  sold  them  to 
Dr.  Tate,  when  he  moved  to  the  northeast  pai't  of  Cass  comity,  having  pur- 
chased S(»  acres  either  of  Parr  or  Carr,  I  have  forgotten  whicih  I  have  the 
original  deed  somewhere  among  my  papei's. 

"My  father  died  in  August.  1862,  in  tlie  war.  W^e  retui-ned  to  \'irginia 
in  November.  18(;i',  and  bougtit  tlie  house  just  in  front  of  the  Cummings  prop- 
erty at  the  extreme  end  of  Springfield  street.  Bob  Hall  owns  the  propertv 
now:  we  bouglit  it  from  Pherigo.  We  then  repurchased  from  Dr.  Tate  the 
old  two-room  house  on  lots  H  and  7,  of  the  first  block  vou  mention  in  your 
sketch.  Preacher  Merriam  then  lived  in  the  hou.se  that  Dr.  Snyder  has  since 
remodeled.  My  mother.  Rose  A.  Martin,  sold  the  property  to  James  Turner 
(my  uncle)  and  he  to  F.  C.  Lang,  who  had  the  old  building  removed  and 
turned  his  new  residence  so  that  it  would  face  the  nortliwest  instead  of  north- 


east.    Say,  Mr.  Gridley,  I  was  a  "kid"  in  tliose  days  but  my  memory   is  good, 

"Respectfully  yours, 

"George  W.  Martin." 
"P.  S.    I  thank  yon  and  tlirough  you,  the  Enquirer,  lor  tliese   most  in- 
teresting sketches.     "G.  W.  M." 

Crossing  Job  street  we  find  lots  11  and  12  and  13  at  the  soutli  end  of  the 
addition  to  the  Public  Grounds  on  south  side  of  Beardstown;  here  is  standing- 
the  residence  of  Dr.  Harvey  Tate,  of  1860,  now  occupied  by  IVIr.  K'ester:  the 
building  just  west  of  it,  then  adjoined  the  residence  and  was  Dr.  Tate's  office. 
On  lots  9  and  10  just  across  Beardstown  street  on  north  side  of  it  was  the 
Christian  church,  reir.oved  several  vears  ago  to  the  ea.^t   side  of  the  town. 


■■'•^^^.  m^ 


Former  Residence  of  Dr.  Harvey  Tate. 
The  only  remaining  houi^e  on  tliis  addition  in  1860  was  the  John   E.    W 


Tiie  old  Utsideiice  of  Jolm  E.  Ilaskel 

Kuilt  18;!S. 


-  V22  - 

residence  on  lets  1  and  2,  still  affording- shelter  for  two  families;  this  house 
was  built  for  James  Samuels,  in  1S38,  by  the  Buckley  Brothers. 

We  now  come  to  the  Public  Grounds:  on  lots  35  and  36  was  the  Henry 
Arthur  property  at  northeast  corner  of  the  west  square,  and  still  there:  on 
tlie  east  side  of  the  square  there  were  tnree  houses:  on  lot  100  was  the  house 
Mrs.  Sherrill  lives  in  at  north  end  of  east  side — in  1860  tlie  house  was  on  the 
east  end  of  tlie  lot  which  extends  bade  120  feet;  it  was  moved  to  west  end  of 
lot  where  it  now  is,  after  1860:  on  lots  94  and  95  near  the  middle  of  the  east 
side  was  tiie  liouse  of  Mrs.  Emily  Pratt,  to  which  a  room  has  since  been  added 
on  the  soutli  and  now  the  home  of  the  Willvs  family;  in  this  liouse  lived  Hon. 
.7 oh n  W.  Pratt,  when  tlie  first  county  clerk  of  the  county;  to  the  south  of 
this  house  on  lot  92  was  thfe  P.  M.  Madden  house  which  has  been  torn  away 
in  later  years. 

Crcssing  Beardstown  street  to  the  south  we  find  the  old  "Boston  Brick," 
with  the  wooden  hoii^e  ad loniui^'-  on  the  east,  still  in  a  j^ood  state  of  preserva- 


T]ie  ••Boston  Brick"     lUiiit  l.y  ]>.  Beesle\. 
tioir.  in  the  brick  building-  William  Boston  kept  a  general  store:  the   building 
was- erected  by  Benjamin  Bensley  in  the  year  1S42. 

On  the  soutii  side  of  tlie  west  S(iuare  there  were  six  buildings:  at  east  end 
was  a  saloon  building;  next  west  was  th.e  twn-story  brick  building  known  as 
the  "Bluford  Thompson  brick."  which  llien  extended  to  the  street  line: 
ten  feet  was  i-einoved  from  the  front  end  by  N.  B.  Tliompson,  a  subsequent 
owner  in  lirting  it  up  for  a  private  residence,  after  llie  business  left  the  west 
s(|aai'e:  next  came  a  building- of  wood  (still  standing)  huill  by  Leland  C;ir- 
penter  and  by  him  occupied  as  a  residence  and  tailor  shop  uril  il  he  removed  to 
J')atli:  next  wesi  c;ime  the  two-story  -'Cherry  house/'  which  stood  on  Mie 
slreet  line,  and  was  moved  back  since  1870:  this  was  the  home  of  Dr.  Hall's 
widow  and  lier  family  for  several  years:  next  west  was  the  "Ptabouvn  liouse' 
and  postoffice,  now  owned  by  F.  M.  Davis:  and  west  of  tliis.  near  the  corner 
was  the  Cliarles  H.  Oliver  residence  and  store,  still  in  good  CDiulition  owned 
Ij.V  Mrs.  Looker. 


-  V23 


Old  TTome  <  f  ("liarles  IT.  Oliver. 

Crossing-  Hall  street  to  the  west  we  tiiu'l  the  old  residence  of  N  11.  Th  )iim>- 
son,  in  very  fair  condition  on  lot  71  at  southwest  corner  of  the  v\esi  >ti!iaie: 
Mr.  Thompson  boufJ^ht  this  lot  of  Dr.  Hall,  February  8,  IStO,  and  built  ti;e 
liouse  on  it  the  same  year.  On  tlie  west  side  of  the  square  was  the  double 
store  building' on  lots  ()()  and  ()7:  then  used  by  N.  B.  Thompson  and  Henry 
Hall  as  store  rooms,  and  at  tlie  north  end  of  the  west,  side  was  tlie  Hatbwel! 
house,  now  owned  by  Mre.  Sarah  J.  Collins  in  which  Dr.  Ilathwell  lived  in  an. 
early  day  and  kept  drugs  for  sale  tlierein. 

On  the  north  side  of  tlie  west  square,  there  were  Init  three  houses  in  ]Siii)„ 
and  only  one  of  them — the  Hamilton— liouse  is  now  standing;  the  I^alxuun 
house  and  the  Gormley  house  havinu''  Ijeen  torn  down  and  removed.  Noith  of 
the  square,  on  the  alley  was  the  residence  of  Jacob  Metzmaker,  the  father  of 
Jacob  Metzmaker,  of  Cluindlerville,  and  of  the  widow  of  George  E.  Harris  of 
this  city.  Upon  the  west  square  was  the  old  court  house  then  used  as  the 
public  school  building.  East  of  the  plat  were  two-houses,  still  standing:  one 
was  the  R.  Jacobs  house,  west  of  the  Thompson  store  building,  and  the  other 
tlie  Olds  residence,  north  of  the  Jacobs  place  about  200  feet. 

There  remains  the  addition  of  Hall  &  Thomas,  and  beginning  at  the 
southeast  corner,  we  find  on  lots  5  and  fi  the  Joseph  Wilson  residence,  then 
the  home  of  Charles  Lawson  the  harness  maker:  west  of  that  on  lot  12,  where 
J.  F.  Wyatt  lives  was  the  home  of  Squire  VanEaton:  the  house  lias  been 
added  to,  since  1S60:  west  of  the  VanEaton  liouse  on  lot  13,  where  Mr.  Lane 
now  lives  was  then  the  home  of  Mrs.  Gordley.  the  mother  of  W.  M.  Gordley., 
esq.,  who,  left  a  widow,  came  here  with  her  children,  in  is.>i),  to  send  them  to 
the  college,  then  a  flourishing  institute  of  learning:  west  of  the  Gordley 
home  on  lots  20  and  21  was  a  house  afterwards  the  residence  of  George  Wilson; 
on  lots  32  and  33,  now  the  home  of  Ben  McDowell,  lived  Oliver  Pratt. 

On  the  north  side  of  tlie  street  on  lots  30  and  31  was  the  William  Shirley 
property  still  there  in  good  condition:  on  the  corner  east,  was  the  home  of 
L.  P.  Px.  Yaple,  now  owned  by  MoUie  Weaver:  north  of  that,  on  lots  2(1  and  27, 
the  present  home  of  John  Menzics.  lived  Rev.  Joseph  Roacli,  who  kept  college 


boarders. 

Opposite  and  east  of  tl:e  Roacli  property,  on  lots  l(i  and  IT.  was  tlie  resi- 
dence of  .lames  C.  Greenwood,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  E.  M.  Dale:  next  east  on 
lot  15  lived  J.  N  Wilson  and  family:  tlie  next  house  east  on  lots  9  and  io,  now 
the  home  of  Alex  Robison,  was  a  liouse  whicli  belonged  to  J.  ,C.  Greenwood. 
On  the  south  side  of  the  block  on  lots  11  and  14  lived  Dr.  G.  W.  Goodspeed 
and  family;  and  on  lots  18  and  19  on  the  corner  of  the  (roodspeed  place  lived 
Dr.  P.  L.  Phillips  who  operated  the  steam  mill  here:  at  west  end  of  the  street 
on  lots  ;{()  and  ."57  lived  William  P.oston. 

North  of  the  Roach  property,  where  Dr.  Tate  resided  in  later  years,  and 
where  his  children  now  live,  was  the  home  of  Richard  S.  Thomas,  and  south 
of  the  house  in  the  building  in  which  J.  Frencli  and  family  reside,  was  the 
ortice  of  Thomas:  the  next  house  north  of  the  Thomas  house  was  then  owned 
and  occupied  by  Isaac  Bell,  who  sold  it  to  Mrs.  Mahala  Brady  in  1X()5. 

Now  to  re-capitulate:  Classing  as  buildings,  shops,  churches,  stores  and 
liouses  we  have  found  in  the  original  town  49  buildings:  in  the  addition  to  the 
town  27  buildings:  in  the  addition  to  the  Public  Grounds  4  buildings:  in  the 
I'libiic  (Jrounds  22  buildings:  in  the  addition  of  Hall  and  Thomas  17  buildings: 
and  to  these  by  adding  the  .hicobs  and  Olds  houses  on  the  west,  the  Looker 
bouse  on  the  nortti.  the  steam  mill  on  tlie  east  and  the  college  on  tlie  south 
we  have  a  total  of  124  buildings  in  the  town  of  Virginia  in  ISfiO,  strung  out 
from  the  Lawrence  Clifford  house  on  the  northeast  to  the  William  lioston 
house  on  the  southwest,  a  distance  of  three-fourths  of  a  mile.  There  are.  at 
the  present  time,  more  buildings  in  the  corporation  north  of  SpringHeld  street 
than  there  were  in  the  entire  town  in  the  year  isiiu. 

As  for  sidewalks  there  were  practically  none:  a  few  feet  of  walk  along  the 
west  side  of  Washington  s»iuare  in  front  of  the  old  Dr.  Hall  store:  a  few  feet 
in  front  of  the  Pothicary  building  on  south  side:  a  brick  walk  in  front  of  Mrs. 
I  hill's  home  on  south  side  of  the  west  square,  and  a  walk  from  the  Rabourn 
post-oMice  to  the  store  room  of  Charles  II.  Oliver  at  southvvest  corner  of  the 
west  scjuare. 

As  late  as  1S()7  there  was  no  walk  on  north  side  of  the  s(|uai'e:  ncne  on 
Springfield  street  east  of  the  S(iuare:  none  on  the  stieet  north  of  Springfield 
street:  no  walk  from  Beardstown  street  to  the  college  where  a  select  school 
was  taught  that  year:  the  bridge  across  the  creek  was  so  low  tliat  every  heavy 
rain  caused  the  stream  to  overtiovv  the  road  and  the  school  children  stripped 
oil  their  shoes  and  stockings  and  waded  through  mud  and  water. 

There  were  very  few  trees  in  N'irginia  in  18(i0:  the  west  square  liad  i)een 
supplied  with  locust  trees  by  the  county  authorities  in  an  early  day  and  about 
the  same  time  locusts  were  planted  about  the  N.  I>.  Thompson  residence,  the 
Amos  Woodward  residence,  the  Dwelle  place,  add  the  McDowell  property  at 
the  corner  of  Job  and  Springfield  street.  Dr.  Allard  had  planted  trees  on  his 
lots— still  there:  James  Tegg  and  his  father  planted  the  hard  maples  along 
the  .John  Rodgers  lots  in  18o()  and  the  same  year  about  the  Spalding  lots  at 
northwest  corner  of  the  east  s(iiiare.  If  there  were  anyotiier  ornamental 
trees  in  the  corporation  in  IHfiO  no  one  knows  about  them. 

In  18()7  and  18(i8  a  great  many  soft  maple  trees  were  brought  from  the 
Sangamon  river  bottom  and  planted  along  the  Virginia  streets.  In  the  spring 
of  IsitS  the  writer  set  out  the  ti-ees  on  the  north  line  of  the  M.  Xaple  property 


-  125  - 

—some  of  tliem  now  twenty-four  inches  in  diameter.  A  soft  m«ple  planted 
on  Springfield  street  in  1867  is  to-day  (December  1905)  thirty-five  inches  in 
diameter,  which  illustrates  the  rapid  growthof  that  plant  in  a  favorable  spot. 

Washingtcn  Square  was  fenced  and  trees  planted  within  the  enclosure  in 
the  year  1870.  The  committee  entrusted  with  the  duty  of  planting-  the  trees 
was  about  to  set  them  in  rows,  but  Mr.  Henry  Dittoe,  then  a  merchant  here 
strenuously  urged  that  they  be  planted  at  irregulardistances  from  one  another 
as  they  grew  in  forests,  and  his  wish  was  complied  with.  These  trees  are 
principally  soft  maples  and  are  beginning  to  rapidly  decay:  the  city  council 
should  have  begun  the  planting  of  hard  maples  long  since  to  supply  the  loss 
of  the  soft  variety. 

The  town  of  Virginia  was  incorporated  by  the  legislature  of  the  state  in 
1857.  The  area  of  the  corporation  is  one  square  mile;  the  center  is  located  in 
the  middle  of  Morgan  street  at  a  point  equidistant  between  Beardstown  and 
Springfield  streets,  within  a  few  feet  of  the  public  well  north  of  Ben  Simmons' 
shop.  The  lines  run  parallel  with  the  city  streets.  The  charter  provided 
for  the  annual  election  of  a  board  of  five  trustees  and  a  president;  and  this, 
board  was  empowered  to  manage  the  public  schools  in  the  town— employ 
teachers,  build  or  repair  school  buildings  and  levy  and  collect  necessary  taxes 
for  such  use. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  board  was  held  on  the  IDth  day  of  August  1857; 
the  officers  elect  were  Charles  PI.  Oliver,  president,  and  John  E.  Hasl<ell, 
Stephen  P.  Guinn,  Alexander  Samples,  John  Bluford  Thompson  and  S.  W. 
Neeley,  trustees.  The  board  proceeded  to  elect  the  following  officers:  James 
H.  Harris,  town  constable:  L.  S.  Allard,  assessor  and  treasurer:  John  A. 
Giles,  street  commissioner  and  John  W.  Naylor,  town  clerk. 

On  September  15th,  1857,  Mr.  Branson  was  chosen  to  take  charge  of  the 
public  school;  Mr.  Branson  having  declined  to  serve  Mr.  Main  and  lady  were 
employed  as  teachers  on  September  22nd. 

The  value  of  all  the  property  within  the  corporate  limits  subject  to  taxa- 
tion was  found  to  be  «173,190.50. 

On  October  27,  1857.  Mr.  J.  Bradley  Thompson  appeared  before  the  board 
and  urged  that  the  town  agree  to  raise  one  tliousand  dollars  for  the  erectior* 
of  a  court  house  in  Virginia  in  case  the  people  of  the  county  should  decide  to 
remove  it  from  Beardstown  at  the  approaching  election,  and  the  board  agreed 
to  the  proposition.  The  people  by  a  decided  majority  decided  to  leave  the 
seat  of  justice  on  the  border  of  the  Illinois  river. 

On  November  loth,  1857,  C.  II.  Oliver,  John  E.  Haskell  and  J.  Bluford 
Thompson  were  chosen  by  the  board  to  act  as  directors  of  the  school,  and  on 
December  1st.  Mr.  Oliver  reported  to  the  board  that  on  November  30th  he 
visited  the  school;  that  there  were  about  23  scholars  present,  that  he  heard 
two  classes  recite  in  reading:  that  good  order  was  maintained,  and  the 
scholars  generally  attentive  and  studious.  That  on  January  14,  1858,  the 
school  was  visited  by  C.  H.  Oliver;  about  28  scholai-s  were  present;  classes  re- 
cited in  reading,  spelling,  grammar  and  parsing:  all  appeared  attentive  and 
studious  and  under  control  of  the  teacher. 

These  directors  were  certainly  deserving  of  commendation  for  their  fre- 
quent visitation  of  the  school;  times  liave  changed  since  then. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  April  20,  18.58.  it  was  recorded  that  the  subject  of 


-  126  - 

the  last  regular  town  election  was  taken  up  and  after  some  talk  the  ballots 
were  opened  and  the  poll  book  was  missing  and  could  not  be  found,  and  on 
motion  of  Mr.  Haskell  the  last  election  was  declared  a  nullity  and  a  new 
election  was  ordered,  and  the  ordinance  authorizing  the  sale  of  spii-ituous 
li([Uors  was  repealed. 

At  the  next  meeting  it  was  found  the  election  had  resulted  in  tlie  choice 
of  the  following:  R.  M.  Taggart.  president;  and  J.  Bluford  Tliompson, 
William  Shirley,  I.  N.  White,  R.  B.  Mitchell  and  J.  N.  Wilson,  as  trustees: 
and  Henry  Rabourn  as  town  justice:  I.  N.  White  was  chosen  town  clerk,  and 
.1.  W.  Croodell  constable  and  street  commissioner,  and  J.  G.  Camptjell  assessor 
and  treasurer. 

The  first  action  taken  by  this  board  was  to  pass  an  ordinance  prohibiting 
the  sale  of  liquors  within  the  town  or  within  two  miles  of  it. 

On  July  6,  1858,  a  petition  was  read  by  a  number  of  citizens  asking  the 
passage  of  an  ordinance  prohibiting  swine  or  hogs  from  running  at  large  with- 
in the  corporate  limits  of  the  town:  on  motion  the  clerk  was  ordered 
to  draw  up  such  an  ordinance:  also  one  against  jacks,  Jennys  and  dogs:  if  the 
clerk  obeyed  the  order,  the  records  fail  to  show  It;  it  is  altogether  likely  that 
tlu'  idea,  to  shut  up  hogs  was  so  preposterous,  that  it  was  ridiculed  to  death. 

On  September  9,  1858,  Mr.  John  W.  Goodell  was  employed  to  teach  the 
school  for  the  following  six  months  at  a  salary  of  $4-5  per  month,  and  Sarah 
E.  Hart  engaged  as  his  assistant  at  a  salary  of  $25  per  month.  The  west  up- 
per room  of  the  sclioolhouse  was  rented  to  the  Virginia  Dramatic  Society  for 
H  per  month,  (^n  October  5,  1858,  Dr.  Harvey  Tate  was  appointed  trustee 
in  place  of . I.  X.  Wilson,  who  had  resigned,  and  A.  Bergen  appointed  town 
attorney. 

The  first  mention  of  sidewalks  in  the  records  of  the  town  appears  at  the 
meeting  of  November  hi,  185S.  when  a  sidewalk  of  six  feet  in  width  was  order- 
ed built  along  the  south  side  of  Beardstown  street,  one- half  to  be  paid  by  the 
owners  of  the  property  fronting  on  that  side  the  street:  from  subsequent  rec- 
ord entries  it  would  appear  this  walk  was  not  laid  till  long  after  this  order 
was  made. 

On  February  1,  1859,  Alexander  Samples  was  paid  $1()  for  the  Ijnilding  of  a 
walk  in  front  of  lots  102  and  10:5,  which  is  the  east  end  of  the  south  side  of 
Washington  Square:  at  the  same  meeting  Mr.  James  (1.  Campbell  offered  to 
furnish  the  lumber  for  a  crossing  where  Job  street  crosses  Beardstown  street 
if  the  town  would  lay  it  down,  which  very  liberal  proposition  was  agreed  to. 

At  the  spring  election  in  1859  the  following  were  the  otHcers  elect: 

.1.  E.  Roach,  president,  and  Harvey  Tate,  X.  B.  Thompson,  Jerry  Cox.  S. 
P.  Guin  and  Robert  Taggart,  trustees;  S.  W.  X'^eeley,  ju.stice.  This  board 
appointed  ,Je.sse  M.  Chapman,  street  commissioner:  John  Bluford  Thompson, 
town  constable:  Jacob  Foltz.  town  clerk,  and  Jacob  Dnnaway,  assessor  and 
treasuier. 

On  April  20tl),  on  motion  of  Dr.  Tate  it  was  ordered  that  Mary  Proctor  be 
allowed  to  occupy  the  lower  school  room  until  her  present  school  shall  be  out: 
afid  leave  granted  R.  B.  Mitchell  to  occupy  the  upper  east  school  I'ooivj  for 
three  months,  for  a  school.  At  same  meeting  the  board  passed  ati  ordinance 
allowing  spirituous  liquors  to  be  sold  in  the  town. 

On  June  1,  1859,  Mr.  J.  Rosson  was  appointed  street  commissiDner. 


-  V21  - 

On  July  20,  185n,  a  motion  prevailed  to  employ  II.  riiillips  to  teacli  and 
stiperintend  as  principal  of  the  district  school  for  six  months  of  twenty  days 
each  at  a  salary  of  $50  per  month.  (The  H.  Phillips  above  mentioned  is  Judge 
Henry  Pliillips,  of  Beardstown.)  Miss  Miranda  Gaines  was  chosen  as  liis  as- 
sistant at  a  salary  of  $25  per  month. 

On  August  7,  1869,  an  ordinance  was  passed  for  the  building  of  a  sidewalk 
beginning  at  southwest  eorner  of  lot  67  in  the  public  square  (the  west  sciuare), 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  same  lot,  tlience  south  to  tlie 
northeast  corner  of  lot  71:  thence  east  on  the  south  side  of  Beardstown  street 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  lot  101  in  the  original  town  of  Virginia:  thence 
north  to  the  southwest  corner  of  lot  82:  thence  east  to  the  southwest  corner 
of  lot  94:  then  south  to  the  northwest  corner  of  lot  96:  the  ownere  of  lots 
along  tlie  line,  to  pay  one-half  the  cost  of  the  walk. 

The  reader  may  better  understand  tlie  route  of  tlie  proposed  walk  by  this 
description:  beginning  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  lot  on  which  the  N.  B. 
Thompson  store  building  formerly  stood:  then  east  120  feet  to  tlie  southeast 
corner  of  the  same  lot:  then  south  across  Beardstown  street:  then  east  on  the 
soutli  side  of  Beardstown  street  to  the  Widmayer  shop:  then  north  across  the 
street  to  the  hotel  corner;  then  east  along  the  north  side  of  Beardstown  street 
to  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Cumberland  church  lot:  then  south  across  the 
street  to  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Martin  Harding  lot. 

On  August  25th,  1859,  leave  was  granted  to  the  Petersburg  String  Band 
to  use  tlie  schoolhouse  during  the  fair  for  the  purpose  of  holding  a  concert- 
by  the  payment  of  live  dollars. 

On  November  2nd,  1859,  Mr.  Henry  Phillips  was  appointed  town  clerk. 

On  December  21st,  18.^9,  S.  P.  Guin  resigned  as  trustee  and  (larland  Pol- 
lard was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 

On  April  2nd,  18()0,  Henry  Phillips  was  declared  trustee  to  till  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  resignation  of  N.  B.  Thompson. 

The  election  in  18(iO  resulted  in  the  choice  of  I>r.  G.  W.  Goodspeed,  presi- 
dent, and  William  E.  Martin.  Charles  E.  Lawson,  Isaac  Bell,  Harvey  Tate 
and  William  Shirley,  trustees.  Dr.  Tate  declining  to  serve,  James  G.  Camp- 
bell was  chosen  to  act  in  his  place.  F.  H.  Van  Eaton  was  appointed  treasur- 
er: L.  S.  Allard,  clerk:  Levi  R.  Cavender,  constable  and  street  commissioner. 

On  April  24,  1860,  the  following  committees  were  appointed: 

On  common  schools.  James  G.  Campbell  and  Lsaac  I^ell. 

On  streets  and  sidewalks.  Bell  and  Lawson. 

On  ordinances,  Shirley  and  Martin. 

On  finances,  Campbell  and  Shirley. 

The  board  requested  the  committee  on  ordinances  to  frame  an  ordinance 
prohibiting  people  from  plowing  up  the  street,  sidewalks  and  commons  withiit 
the  corporation. 

On  August  15,  18()0,  Mr.  Hodge  was  employed  to  teach  tlie  school  and  on 
Ts'ovember  7,  Miss  Hanna  White  was  chosen  as  his  assistant. 

On  November  21,  1860,  street  committee  directed  to  build  a  crossing  fromt 
L.  S.  Allard's  drug  store  on  lot  107,  north,  accross  the  street. 

On  February  ,  1861.  a  petition  was  presented  for  the  building  of  a  side- 
walk on  the  west  side  of  the  east  square  and  a  sidewalk  on  the  east  side  of  the 
west  S(tuare.     The  town  constable  was  ordered  to  look  up  the  "Town  Wagon." 


-  VIS  - 

Mr.  Grirtin  was  granted  the  use  of  the  school  house  for  a  subscrip- 
tion school  for  three  months,  beginning  April  15,  1861. 

At  the  election  in  the  spring  of  1801  the  following  officers  were  chosen: 
President,  N.  B.  Beers;  Trustees,  E.  B.  Randall,  John  Rogers,  Jacob  Duna" 
way,  Thomas  Heslep  and  S.  W.  Neel.y. 

The  new  board  chose  L.  F.  Briggs  for  clerk:  \.  G.  Sims,  assessor  and 
treasurer;  John  Blutford  Tliompson.  constable  and  William  Wood,  street 
commissioner,  the  latter  refused  to  act  and  Louis  B.  Griffith  was  chosen  in  his 
place. 

The  Cass  County  Union  was  made  the  official  organ  of  the  board:  ITeeley 
and  Briggs,  committee  on  ordinances:  Ileslep  and  Dunaway  on  finance:  Ran- 
dall and  Sims  on  streets  and  sidewalks. 

On  April  3,  1862,  the  record  shows  that  a  petition  was  presented  signed 
by  a  large  number  of  citizens  praying  for  a  sidewalk  across  tlie  west  side  of 
the  east  sciuare. 

The  records  have  been  examined  thus  far.  in  order  to  show  that  the  side- 
walks in  \'irginia  in  18(iO  were  not  worth  mentioning,  and  the  footpaths, 
where  sidewalks  ought  to  have  been  were  periodically  torn  up,  by  shiftless 
people  in  an  effort  to  scour  the  rust  from  their  neglected  plows. 

NoTK  In  that  part  of  the  sketch,  which  appeared  in  the  ExtiUiUEii  la.st 
we(  k  one  paragraph  began:  "On  August  7,  1869  an  ordinance  was  pas.sed  for 
t  he  hiiildiiig  of  a  sidewalk;"  the  date  should  have  read  August  7,  1859. 

The  wi-iters  of  historical  facts  ought  to  contine  themselves  to  the  strict 
truth,  and  in  the  matter  of  biography,  should  state  all  the  facts  necessary  to 
a  full  knowledge  of  the  life  and  character  portrayed;  when  this  is  done  it  is 
the  rare  exception  ratlier  than  the  rule.  Biographers  write  as  if  they  thoup-ht 
by  covering  their  subjects  wil  h  a  "tlood  of  glory."  the  reflection  might  make 
them  immortal. 

To  ilUistratethis.  it  isnot  necessary  to  go  back  into  ancient  history;  the  case 
of  a  man  in  our  day  and  generation  who  grew  up  in  this  section  of  the  country 
will  answer:  That  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  We  liave  had  many  histories  of 
Lincoln,  by  men  and  womeir  The  most  accui'ate,  was  written  in  three  vol- 
umes, by  the  man  who  knew  him  better  than  any  other  living  man.  This 
truthful  biographer  tells  us  that  Nancy  Hanks,  the  mother  of  Lincoln,  was  a 
bastard.  Lincoln  and  his  biographer,  in  isoo,  were  driviuir  to  Petersburg  in 
a  one-horse  buggy,  and  on  that  occasion  Lincoln  said  his  motlier  was  tlie  ille- 
gitimate daugliter  of  Lucy  Hanks  and  a  well-bred  Virginia  farmer  or  planter: 
that  from  this  broad-minded  unknown  Virginian,  Lincoln  claimed  that  he 
(Lincoln)  inherited  his  mental  activity  and  ambition  that  distinguished  him 
from  the  other  members  and  descendants  of  the  ILanksfamily.  Elsewherethis 
truthful  biographer  tells  of  an  act  committed  by  Lincoln  wlien  a  young  man 
that  richly  merited  a  severe  and  public  cow-hiding. 

When  this  biography  was  published  what  a  howl  of  indignation  arose 
over  the  country!  A  Chicago  newspaper  said  it  was  shameful  to  tell  such 
things  even  if  they  were  true.  It  would  lie  rather  difficult  now  to  obtain 
this  truthful  history  of  the  life  of  Lincoln,  as  one  never  hears  of  it,  or  sees  it 
advertised  as  are   the  otheis:  perhaps  some   Lincoln    lick-spittle   with   more 


-]29- 

money  than  honesty,  bought  up  and  suppressed  the  edition.  A  ti'utliful  man, 
now  a  citizen  of  this  city,  iieard  Lincoln  tell  a  nasty  story  to  a  promiscuous 
crowd,  in  a  hotel  in  this  town.  Suppose  all  these  facts  were  generally  known 
as  they  ought  to  be,  would  their  knowledge  change  the  general  opinion  that 
Lincoln  was  tlie  greatest  of  tlie  presidents,  save  Washington?  Suppose  the 
great  Englishman,  who  wrote  a  historical  review  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
of  tlie  southern  states,  had  read  Ilerndon's  Life  of  Lincoln,  would  lie  liave 
changed  his  opinion  expressed  in  these  words:  "Of  all  the  great  men  who 
took  part  in  that  struggle,  two  tower  far  above  all  the  rest:  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  Robert  E.  Lee.'"  Phineas  T.  Barnum,  the  great  American  showman 
was  right  when  he  said:     "The  people  enjoy  being  humbugged." 

The  English  Press  of  last  week  contains  a  notice  of  the  fact  that  the  Earl 
of  Lovelace  who  is  a  grandson  of  Lord  Byron  has  written  a  book  which  con- 
tains the  evidences  of  the  truth  of  the  charge  long  since  made  by  Harriett 
Beecher  Stowe  that  the  great  poet  was  guilty  of  criminal  intimacy  with  his 
own  half-sister,  and  the  latter's  confession  of  the  fact  to  the  injured  wife  was 
the  cause  of  her  separation  from  the  black-hearted  monster. 

The  "Byronites"  of  course  raised  a  great  howl  against  Mrs.  Stowe,  and 
the  new  crop  of  those  lunatics  wiU  renew  the  out  cry,  for  they  can  not  pos^- 
ibly  understand  how  a  man  who  could  write  "like  a  god,''  should  be  so  in  - 
moral  as  to  deserve  death  by  strangulation. 

The  older  readers  of  this  sketcli  will  well  remember  the  history  of  the 
famous  Henry  Ward  Beecher  scandal.  Theodore  Tilton,  a  noted  writer  aud 
lecturer  made  the  gravest  charges  of  immorality  against  Beecher,  giving  to 
the  public  the  fact  that  he  held  a  letter  written  by  Beecher;  that  he  could 
prove  the  truth  of  his  assertion  by  Francis  Moulton,  of  Brooklyn,  who  had 
been  endeavoring  to  settle  the  trouble  between  Tilton  and  Beecher.  The 
latter  publicly  denied  the  charge,  but  made  no  mention  of  the  letter  Mid 
practically  admitted  that  Moulton  knew  all  about  it.  As  Beecher  was  then 
easily  the  greatest  preacher  in  America  if  not  of  the  Engliah-speakiiig  world 
the  public  was  much  interested.  During  tlie  early  part  of  our  great  civil  war 
Beecher  had  been  sent  to  England  to  stem  the  tide  of  popular  sentiment  tlien 
rapidly  rising  against  us.  He  made  public  speeches  in  the  large  cities  to 
great  crowds  of  people  and  by  his  wonderful  powers  of  reasoning  and  oratory 
completely  changed  the  current  of  public  opinion.  Beecher  was  an  intellect- 
ual giant.  It  was  learned  tliat  Moulton  was  a  man  of  highest  standing  and 
it  was  generally  conceded  that  his  statement  should  settle  the  controversy. 
In  the  meantime  the  matter  got  into  the  courts  and  the  people  instead  of 
suspending  judgment  until  the  facts  could  be  determined  by  a  judicial  ir- 
vestigation  began  to  take  sides  and  discuss  the  matter;  eagerly,  at  first;  an- 
grily and  bitterly  later  on.  Before  the  case  could  be  heard  the  "Beecherites"' 
had  thoroughly  made  up  "the  things  tliey  called  their  minds."  Beecher  ad- 
mitted he  wrote  the  letter,  and  Moulton's  testimony  clearly  corroborated 
Tilton's  statement,  but  this  made  not  a  particle  of  difference  with  tlie  Beecli- 
erites,  who  accepted  the  preacher's  silly  and  lame  explanation  of  the  meaning 
of  the  letter  and  turned  upon  poor  Moulton  and  denounced  him  as  a  liar  and  a 
perjurer. 

God  created  man,  and  gave  him  reason  for  a  guide;  he  is  not  controlled 
by  it.  but  is  swayed  by  passion  and  prejudice,  like  a  tall  weed  in  a  strong  gale 


-  130  - 

of  wind. 

It  will  be  generally  admitted  that  the  greatest  defect  in  Illinois  as  a 
home,  is  its  bad  roads.  The  soil  of  these  broad  and  fertile  prairies  is  loose  and 
rich  and  a  few  extra  rains  convert  them  into  lakes  of  horrible  mud.  These 
prairies  were  worse  in  ISfiO  tlian  now  since  tile-drainage  has  become  common. 
In  the  sketch  of  John  E.  Haskell,  our  present  deputy-sheriff,  described  the 
"frog  pond"  that  existed  a  mile  or  two  east  of  this  town,  and  the  prairie  just 
south  of  us,  then  owned  by  Richard  S.  Thomas,  was  excessively  wet,  and 
mai]y  crop  failures  were  experienced.  Look  at  the  miles  of  excellent  side- 
walks we  now  enjo}%  and  how  pleasantly  we  give  up  our  hard  earned  money 
paid  by  the  saloonkeepers  in  adding  to,  and  improving  these  walks,  many  of 
concrete,  most  of  hard  bricks.  The  suburbs  of  Chicago  laid  out  in  Parks, 
Lots  and  Blocks  ,  without  a  house  barn  or  shed,  contain  excellent  streets  and 
benutiful  shade  trees;  and  then  imagine  this  town  when  it  was  twenty-four 
years  old,  witli  almost  no  shade  trees,  no  sidewalks— no  crossings,  the  streets 
and  foot-paths  torn  up  by  a  set  of  plow-scourers  who  ought  to  have  been  trans- 
ported west  to  live  among  the  savages  of  the  plains— a  perfect  sea  of  mud  and 
s'op  for  months  every  year.  There  were  good  churches,  a  good  public  school 
building,  a  college  in  good  condition,  all  to  be  reached  in  the  wet  season  by 
wading.  The  streets  full  of  bawling  cows,  grunting  hogs,  squalling  jacks  and 
wandering  horses.  What  a  tine  place  to  reside  in,  poor  old  Virginia  must  have 
been.  Were  there  no  people  here  with  any  enterprise  or  ambition?  There 
were  as  many  of  that  class  then  as  now  in  proportion  to  numbers,  the  resi- 
dents of  that  day  numbered  men  of  good  ability,  among  them  being  Richard 
S.  Tliomas,  .Jacob  Dunaway,  N.  B.  Tliompson,  Drs.  Goodspeed,  Tate  and 
Schooly.  .J.  X.  Wilson,  James  G.  Campbell,  X.  B.  Beers  and  others  that  might 
be  nami'd.  Why  did  not  these  men  get  their  wives  and  the  school  children 
and  t  he  c-hinch  goers  out  of  the  horrible  mud?  We  give  it  up:  wecannot  even 
imagine   a  reason. 

Nor  is  this  all:  when  these  men  came  into  control  of  business  affairs  in 
\'irgiriia,  there  were  two  excellent  public  roads  from  this  town  to  Sangamon 
bottom;  one  ran  in  a  nortiierly  direction:  the  other  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
tion: the  public  had  a  good  title  to  these  roads  and  in  dry  weatlier  a  heavy 
load  could  be  transported  over  them  with  a  common  team.  These  "busi- 
ness'" men  allowed  these  roads  to  be  fenced  up  by  in-coming  settlers,  and  we 
liave  never  since  had  a  decent  road  to  the  Sangamon  valley.  For  this  neglect, 
they  deserve  severe  condemnation.  Tlie  writer  has  heard  more  than  one 
farmer  of  Cass  county  as  late  as  18()4  declare  that  a  public  road  passing  a  farm 
was  a  damage  to  it.  What  better  things  could  we  expect  of  a  community  in 
whicli  land  owners  held  sucli  "digger-Indian"  notions  as  that! 

After  having  duly  censured  the  citizens  of  the  last  generation,  let  us 
see  Low  much  better  are  we,  their  immediate  successors,  in  order  that  we 
may  be  able  to  know  how  our  children  will  regard  us,  aftei'  we  are  dead  and 
gone. 

We  have  a  public  park  in  which  the  court  house  is  located,  in  which  soft 
wood  trees  were  planted  35  years  ago:  of  late  years  "the  powers  tliat  be"  al- 
lowed the  tops  of  these  trees  to  be  slashed  and  butchered,  in  to  a  dying  con- 
dition; now  in  January  1906  a  lot  of  them  are  being  cut  down  and  dragged 
away.    WHiy  did  not  the  city  council   long  ago  begin  the   planting  of  sugar 


-131- 

nmples  in  the  city  park  to  take  the  place  of  the  dying  soft  trees?  Years  ago, 
the  old  unsightly  elms  in  Walnut  Ridge  cemetery  were  cut  out  and  sugar 
maples  planted:  wliat  a  howl  there  was  over  it,  at  that  time  by  a  lot  of 
cussers  and  growlers.  Where  is  there  a  more  beautiful  cemetery  than  ours 
to-day?  The  chief  glory  of  it,  is  the  beautiful  maple  trees  therein.  Why 
does  not  our  council  provide  for  the  future  by  planting  the  same  variety  in 
the  park? 

Look  at  the  miserable,  disgraceful  roads  we  have  in  Cass  county!  Sup- 
pose a  reader  of  this  paper  should  take  an  artist  to  the  Sangamon  valley,  and 
procure  pictures  of  the  wonderful  farms  there:  the  beautiful  brick  churcli 
with  all  the  modern  improvements:  the  comfortable  parsonage  in  which  is  in- 
stalled the  faithful  preacher:  the  pleasant  and  elegant  liomes  along  the  val- 
ley supplied  with  pure  water  from  living  springs  and  warmed  with  steam 
plants,  and  at  the  same  time  get  views  of  the  wretched  hills  over  which  pass 
the  roads(?)^the  ''Hickory  church  hill,"  the  "Houck  hill:"  then  let  him  take 
these  views  on  a  visit  to  a  New  York  or  New  England  or  Michigan  com 
munity  and  tell  those  people  that  the  Cass  county  farmers  who  owned  those, 
grand  farms  and  who  lived  in  those  tine  homes  and  who  worshipped  (Jod  in 
that  neat,  comfortable  church,  travelled  over  those  '-bloody  hills"'  to  get  to 
their  county  seat  less  than  ten  miles  distat)t  and  this  Cass  county  visiior 
would  be  set  down  and  written  up  as  the  biggest  liar  who  ever  cauie  out  of 
the  wild  and  woolly  west. 

Then  cotisider  the  thousands  of  dollars  that  are  being  expendetl  in  buy- 
ing and  installing  steel  bridges,  and  many  of  them  upon  roads  not  fir  \n  ride  a 
horse  over.  There  is  a  road  running  north  and  south  across  sections  tbiiteen 
and  twenty-four  on  T  lS-9,  in  which  are  located  several  costly  steel  hri(l<:es  at 
the  foot  of  hills  wliich  rise  at  an  angle  of  not  less  than  forty-five  degrees.  \\c- 
fore  any  eastern  community  would  submit  to  such  conditions,  they  udnid 
turn  out,  men,  women,  and  children,  and  cut  down  tliose  hills,  if  tiiey  had  to 
work  with  tire  shovels,  and  hand  baskets  by  moonlight.  As  late  as  tiie  mid- 
dle of  November  1905  within  five  miles  of  this  city  there  were  men  at  work 
grading  public  roads;  tilling  the  road  beds  with  fresh  earth,  wlien  every  man 
of  sense  knows  or  ought  to  know  that  if  an  Illinois  prairie  road  can  not  be 
worked  before  mid-summer  it  ought  to  go  without  work.  Hard  roads  are  too 
expensive  to  be  considered,  but  we  can  cut  the  hills  down:  we  can  drain  the 
surface  water  from  the  road-beds;  and  we  can  (luit  tearing  them  up  in  tlie 
fall  of  the  year. 

Of  recent  years,  the  people  ef  this  city  have  exhibited  a  spirit  of  pride  and 
emulation  in  the  keeping  of  their  homes  in  good  order:  houses  are  kept  fresh- 
ly painted,  lawns  in  good  condition,  trees  are  planted,  flowers  cultivated.  It 
is  a  matter  of  common  remark  by  visitors  that  Virginia  is  a  nice  little  city—a 
good  town  to  live  in.  We  have  extra  tine  horses  and  the  la^^est  style  of  carri- 
ages; our  churches  are  the  best;  our  school  buildings  are  a  credit  to  the  com- 
munity, and,  last  but  not  least,  we  have  the  handsomest  ladies  who  ever  lived 
anywhere.  All  things  considered,  Virginia  of  190(i  has  made  good  progress 
from  the  status  of  Virginia  A.  D.  ISiii) 


CASS  COUNTY  ELECTION,   A.    D.   1842. 


AT  the  September  term,  18;5S,  the  county  commissioners  elected  in  Aug-- 
ust  of  that  year  drew  lots  to  determine  tlieir  term  of  otlice  with  tlie 
following  result: 

Isaac  C.  S  pence,  one  year: 

Joshua  P.  Crow,  to  serve  two  years: 

Amos  Bonney,  to  serve  three  years. 

A  permit  was  granted  Thomas  (rraiiam  to  sell  goods  at  auction. 

Tavern  license  was  granted  to  Bradford  E.  Uew,  Frederick  Krohe, 
George  Nolte  and  Isaac  W.  Overall. 

.1.  and  T.  S.  Wilbourn  were  granted  a  store  license. 

I.  C.  Spence  was  granted  a  store  license  for  one  year. 

On  November  13,  18;58.  William  Thomas  was  appointed  agent  for  Cass 
county  to  receive  Iier  proportion  of  money  which  was  appropriated  to  Cass 
county  by  tiie  18th  section  of  an  Act  to  establish  and  maintain  a  system  of 
internal  improvements. 

On  December  4,  18:58,  Augustus  Knapp  was  allowed  $2.")  rent  for  the  house 
used  as  a  court  house. 

Tavctii  license  issued  to  15.  W.  Schneidei'  and  store  license  issued  to  11.  T. 
Foster. 

On  March  •"),  18:5!),  store  license  issued  to  Amos  West. 

(ieorge  W.  Heggs  appointed  supervisor  of  road  district  No.  4,  and  James 
Garner,  Henry  Nichols  and  Charles  Brady  chosen  fence  viewers  foi'  T  IT,  R  9. 

On  March  8,  18:5',),  tavern  rates  established  as  follows: 

Each  meal  of  victuals,  ."57.^  cents: 

Each  night's  lodging.  25  cents: 

Feed  for  one  horse,  25  cents: 

l\eeping  horse  each  night.  50  cents: 

One-lialf  pint  of  whiskey,  12i  cents: 

( )ne-lialf  pint  of  brandy,  25  cents: 

( )ne-half  pint  of  gin,  25  cents: 

One-half  pint  wine,  cordials,  etc..  25  cents. 

Bates  of  B.eardstown  ferry: 

llonse  and  carriage.  Ttl  cents; 

Two-horse  wagon,  50  cents: 

Four  horse  wagon,  75  cents; 

Six  horse  wagon,  one  dollar; 

Man  and  horse,  25  cents: 


-133- 

Loose  cattle,  (ii-  cents: 

Hogs,  goats  and  sheep,  3  cents; 

Each  footman,  6J  cents. 

Rates  also  established  for  landing  at  the  Bluffs,  on  June  3,  1S?>9.  Tavern 
license  issued  to  C.  S.  A^analstine  beginning  February  2,  1839. 

On  June  4,  1839,  S.  T.  Logan  allowed  $10  for  fees  as  attending  as  council 
in  three  cases  in  the  circuit  court. 

Ira  Crow  allowed  $3  for  liauling  tables,  benclies.  etc.,  from  Beardstown  to 
the  court  house. 

Ordered  the  clerk  be  directed  to  advertise  for  sealed  proposals  to  be  pre- 
sented on  or  before  June  22  for  enclosing  the  square  of  100  yards  around  the 
court  house  with  a  substantial  plank  fence;  also  for  painting  and  pencelling 
the  court  house. 

John  W.  Pratt,  of  Virginia,  appointed  agent  for  Cass  county,  witli  full 
power  to  demand  and  receive  money  appropriated  to  Cass  county  for  internal 
improvements. 

Painting  of  the  court  liouse  sold  to  J.  P.  Crow  for  $17.\  and  enclosure 
around  court  house  to  I.  C.  Spence  for  $18.3. 

September  2,  1839,  notice  having  been  given  the  court  l:)y  Henry  II.  IlalU 
contractor  for  public  buildings  and  ^commissioner  for  Cass  county  lor  the  sale 
of  real  estate  belonging  to  said  county,  tiiat  the  court  house  and  jail  had  l)een< 
completed  and  were  ready  for  delivery,  and  the  county  commissioners  for  Cass- 
county  after  examining  said  buildings  having  reported  said  court  house  niul 
jail  had  been  erected  and  completed  according  to  the  contract  ma/le  and  en- 
tered into  between  the  county  cominissioneis  of  Cass  county  and  said  Hail  on. 
April  21,  1838. 

It  was  ordered  said  buildings  be  received  and  said  Ifenry  II.  Hall,  be  and 
he  hereby  is  released  from  all  responsibility  incurred  by  or  under  saiil  con- 
tract and  in  consideration  of  the  performance  of  said  contract  in  .iccoiilance 
with  its  stipulations,  the  proceeds  that  have  been  or  may  be  derived  Iroin  i  he 
sale  of  the  15  acres  of  land  (except  the  public  square  deeded  by  tiie  said  Hen- 
ry H.  Hall  to  the  county  commissioners  of  Cass  county  and  their  successors) 
be  and  the  same  is  hereby  relinquished,  surrendered  and  confirmed  unto  said 
Hall  and  his  heirs. 

September  5,  1839.  ordered  that  the  clerk  of  this  eonrt  advertise  that  the 
public  oHices  in  thecourt  house  are  now  ready  for  the  different  officers  of  the 
court  wlio  by  law  are  entitled  to  have  the  same  furnished  by  the  county. 

Tlie  general  election  for  18+2  was  held  on  Monday,  the  tirst  day  of  August, 

The  candidates  were  as  follows: 

For  governor— Josepli  Duncan,  and  Thomas  Ford: 

Lieutenant  governor —Wm.  II.  Henderson  and  John  Moore: 

State  senator— Henry  E.  Dummer  and  James  Gillam: 

Pepresentative in  state  legislature-  John  W.  Pratt  and  .loshua    P.   Crow: 

Sherilf— John  Savage  and  Thomas  Plasters: 

Probate  justice  (or  county  judge)-  Alexander  Hoffman.  Pobert  (1.  (Jaines^ 
Dr.  Harvey  Tate,  Ezra  J.  Dutcii  and  John  Richardson: 

County  commissioner — Robert  Deeper  and  Marcus  Chandler: 

Clerk  of  the  county  court— William  II.  II.  Carpenter,  Oliver  Friend,  Isaac 
Pinage  and  J.  ("irant: 


--  134  - 

Coroner— Jolin  Dewebber.  Ricbard  S.  Cole  and  Josepli  Iloskinson: 

The  officers  at  this  election  were: 

Beardstown— Amos  Atwater,  A.  S.  Mille*,  jNlcIveever  E)eIIaven,  judges: 
James  C.  Leonard  and  Edward  R.  Saunders,  clerks:  place  of  voting,  tlie  liouse 
formerly  occupied  bj'  William  E.  Farrell: 

A'irginia— Alexander  Naylor,  James  Daniel  and  Jesse  15.  Pearce,  judges: 
David  Blair  and  F.  S.  D.  Marshall,  clerks;  place  of  voting,   the  court  house. 

Riclimond— Henry  Dick.  Otway  B.  Xance  and  John  Hawthorn,  judges: 
Ezekiel  Friend  and  Samuel  C.  Lyon,  clerks:  place  of  voting,  the  house  of  John 
Friend: 

Bowen  precinct— David  Carr,  Mirhael  I'iersoi?,  and  .leremiah  Bowen, 
judges:  William  Sevvall  and  John  H.  Hurd.  clerks:  place  of  voting,  the  liouse 
of  Isham  Reavis: 

Monroe- Henry  McKean.  John  Shaifer  and  August  Krobe,  judges:  Adam 
Ilagerman  and  Xicholas  Summers,  clerks:  place  of  voting,  the  house  of  An- 
drew Williams. 

Sugar  Grove  James  Garner.  Elijah  Cai'ver  and  Ellas  Afattbew,  judges: 
R.  T.  Roberts  and  Lewis  Matthew,  clerks:  place  of  voting,  tlie  house  of 
James  (Tarner. 

The  cut  ire  nu.mber  of  votes  polled  were  oiil\-  (l-iM.  which  would  indicate 
but  lit  t  le.  if  any  growth  in  population  for  the  |)revious  four  years.  These 
vot.\s  v\ere  thus  divided:  Reardsl  own.  1n7:  X'irginia.  2.')7:  Richmond,  119: 
Boweiis.  44:  ^louioe.  •';>:  Sugar  (irove.  2;t.  Joseph  Dutican  received  .'US  votes 
and  Tiiomas  Ford  ;5lH  votes:  Hein'y  E.  Dunner  received  ;!;>7  votes,  and  James 
(Jiham  ;;.)T  votes:  .hjlin  W.  Pratt  received  338  votes,  and  Joshua  P.  Crow  .310 
votes:  -John  Savage  received  343  votes,  and  Thomas  Plasters  303  votes;  Robert 
Lemper  received  .323  votes,  and  Marcus  Chaiidler  .319  votes:  Alexander  Huff- 
m;ni  received  240  votes.  Robert  Ct.  Gaines  l.)S  votes.  Harvey  Tate  153  votes, 
E/ra  J.  Dutch  37  votes  and  John  Richardson  2S  votes:  W.  IT.  H.  Carpenter 
recei\'ed  :>  ;l  votes.  ( )liver  Friend  2:57  votes.  Isaac  Rinage  is  votes,  and  J. 
Grant  4  votes. 

Richard  S.  Cole  received  IS]  votes,  .lohn  Deweber  loi)  votes,  and  Joseph 
Hdskinson  '.»7  votes. 

Altlunigb  the  vvhi^s  carried  the  election  their  majt)rily  shrank  from  Kil 
in  1S3S  down  to  27  in  1S42. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  three  mile  strii)  had  not  yet  been 
added  to  the  county. 

The  foll(n\itig  list  contains  the  names  of  voters  at  the  election  of  ls42. 
which  are  not  to  l)e  found  on  the  poll  books  of  ls37  or  is;;s: 

Naimes  of  tKe  Voters  oi^  tS\e  Beartistcwn  List. 

A 

n    revvs,  Phillip  Alwater,  Amos 

B 

Brown,  John  Boy,  Lewis,  Buhnc,  Henry  II  Britton,  DaniPl 

Brown,  David  Bridgewater,  Israel  Berber,  Jno  Gottlieii    Baker,  Adolphus 

Brisbin.John  Buclc,  .James  Broeekel,  John  Butterworth,  Isham 

Bell,  J,, ha  B 

c 

Cowen,  Horace  Carstnei-,  Henry  Collin.s,   Thomas  Cross,  Abel 

D 


-135 


Dragen,  Lewis 
Dunn, John 


Desarme,  Albert  Dickel,  Frederick 

Duchardt,  John  Banner,  Wm 

Eyre,  Thomas 


Dougherty,  Wm 
DeHaven,  McKeever 


Fudge,  Jacob 


Fox,  Christian 


Falconer,  Enooh  G 


Gorman,  Joseph 
Gill,  Jonathan 


Hoskinson,  Joseph 


Gray,  Dayld  Grund,  Phillip 

Gill,  Andrew  Gill,  Richard 

Glover,  George 
H 

Hagor,  Reuben  Hope,  James 


Hemminghouse,  Hy  W        Hendricker  Fi  ederick 


Jewett,  Oliver 
Kick, John 

Lambert,  Wash 


Mitchell,  G 
Menke,  Augustus  F 


Jones,  Luther  A 
Kelley,  George 


Kuhl,  Wm. 
Krohe,  Adoloh 

L 

Logan,  Milton  Lutz,  Loren 

Leonard,  James  C 
M 
Meyer,  Henrv  McKown,  John 

Maine  Loderick  L  Miller,  Abrahams 

N 

Nolte,  George  H 


Gray,  Jesse 
Greshe,  Daniel 


Harris,  Joseph 


Kesterson,  Richard 


Lasley,  James  M 


Marvin,  Israel 


Powers,  Michael 
Rohn, John  H 


Smith,  William 
Seeger,  Henry 


Turpln,  Virginus  A 
Thompson,  Wm 


Winner,  Alex 
Whitesides,John 


Powell,  Richard 
Riggin,  Mitchell 


S 


Plattner,  Andrew 


Riggin,  Jesse 


Pip  r,  Lewis 
Robinson.  Allen 


Schwartzkaupt,  George 
Savage,  James  S 


Thompson,  John 


Adkins,  James 
Eyas,  Jesse  D 

Chandler,  Thomas  H 


Smith,  Francis  Shaffer,  Christ 

Simmons,  George  Stock,  Henry 

Stock.  Thomas 
T 
Tureman,  George  Thron,  Valentine 

Treadwav,  Wm  Thompson,  George  B  Treadway,  Martin 

V 
VanAlstine,  Cornelius 
"W 
White,  George  Winhold,  George  Waddell,  Wm 

Wedeking,  Frederick 
Names  of  Voters  on  tKe  R-icKmond  List. 
A 
Adkins,  Wn  Adcock.  Irwin 


Bonney,  Al  Beard,  John 

Brown,  Vincent 

c 

Comstock,  Augustus  Clark,  John  I 

Carmel,  B  I 
D 
Douglass,  Isaac  P 


Briggs,  Chas 


Chamberlain,  Young 


Friend,  John 
Fanchier,  John 


Friend,  Wm 
Friend,  Ezekial 


Friend,  Oliver 


Foxworthy,  T  A 


-136- 

G 

Goble,  Joseph 

Goben,  John 

H 

Holland,  Henry 

Hawthorne,  Robt  J 

Hicks,  Ellis 

Hedricks,  Chaa 

Hlckey,  John 

Hefflin,  Coleman  B 

Harman,  Benjamin 

I 

Ingles,  C  F 

Ishmael,  Wm 

L 

Leeper.Wm  D 

Lockaway,  Robt 

Lane,  Isaac 

Lane, Jacob 

Lane,  Richmond 

Lewis,  Ezekial 

Lyon,  S  C 
M 

Meyers,  Price  W 

Morris,  John 

Marcy,  Moses 
N 

Moore,  John 

Ni 

ince,  0  B 

Richardson,  Ebenezer 

Ray,  Daniel  jr 

Ray,  Philander 

Rice,  Richardson 

Robertson,  Francis 

Reccord,  John 

Rose,  John 

s 

Ray,  Lewis 

Skilman,  Wm 

Satton,  M  N 

Sutton,  Nathan 

Sutton.  Phenlx 

Skinner,  Jno  F 

Scholes,  Francis 

T 

Thomas,  J  B 

U 

Underwood,  Mason 

Names  of  Voters 

on  t}\e  Bowens 

List. 

B 

Briar.  Geo 

Briar,  Jas 

Briar,  Joseph 

c 

Briar,  Jas  sr 

Cooper,  Wm 

Cheetham,  John 

Cole,  Wm  W 

Carter,  Britton 

Horham,  Leman 


F 

Fielding,  John 

G 

George,  Matthew 
H 

Horliham,  Hiram  Horham,  Benjamin        Hiird.JohnA 


Jones,  Runnels 
L 

Lyonkiller,  Phillip  Logue,  Wm  Leonard,  Samuel  H 

N 

Nichlon,  John 

P 
Pearson,  Joseph 

R 

Reed,  .\dam 

s 

Scott,  Daniel 

w 

Wagner,  David 

Names  of  Voters  on  the  Monroe  List 


Addington,  Sablrd 
Buxton,  Peter 


Arnold,  James 
Buck,  Charlton 


Bee-sley.  James  L 


13' 


Hudson,  Peter  S 


Morgan,  John 


Richatt,  Chas 


Singer,  Andrew- 
Smith,  W  H 


Thompson,  Warren 


G 

Grant,  James  L 
M 
Hagerman,  Adam 

K. 

King,  William  R 
LidgPt,  William 

M 

INIcCarthv,  Dennis 

P 
Peterson,  William 
R 

Ruby,  Geo  Rawlings,  Greenbury  Russel,  Amasa 


Warren,  Joseph 


Spalding,  Lucius 
Summers,  Nicholas 


Tureman,  Leonard 


Williams,  Alec  E 


s 

T 


Shoopman,  Jacob         Springer,  Harvey 


White,  Ephraim 


Wigons,  Thomas 


Allen,  Andrew  L 

Bridgewater.  Zach 
Brownaugh,GeoC 
Blair,  David 

Church,  T  M 
Clay,  Porter 
Clark,  David 
Colwell.  Patrick 
Cross,  Jesse 

Dunbar,  Joseph  T 
Dye,  Greenville 
Daniel,  Paschal  H 

Eaton,  Joseph  S 

Farrow,  John 
Farrell,  Wm  E 


Names  of  tHe  Voters  on  tl\e  VirginLia  List. 

A 

Abby,  Nelsoa  H 


Ashlock,  P  N 

Beard,  Martin 
Beard,  John  M 
Bailey,  Alvin 

Cottrell,  John  A  sr 
Craig,  David 
Cook, Joseph 
Clark,  Thomas  C 
Crowder,  Daniel 


Davis,  John 
Davis,  Thos  M 
Davis,  Elijah 

Elliot,  David 

Freel,  Charles 
Fielding,  Edmund 


Bailey,  Robert 
Buckley,  ]Mark 


Conner,  Geo 
Cavender,  Daniel 
Cams,  Asa 
Coggshall,  Wm 


Brainard,  Sylvester 
Buckley,  John  L 


Collins,  John  W 
Collin's,  Thomas  J 
Clark,  Thos  ir 
Clark,  Thomas 


Daugherty,  ^^ressby  J  Daugherty,  Ralph 
Davis,  Edward 
Daniel,  James 


Elliott,  Thomas 


Fre°l.  John  W 
Ferguson,  William 


Dalson,  James 

Eaton,  David 
Free',  Wesley  II 


Glover, 

Hinchee,  W  H 
Haynes,  Wm 
Havekluft,  C  H  C 
Hoffman,  Alex 

Isahm,  Uriah 

Judd,  Supplina 

Kerr,  James  A 

Lucas,  Charles 

McElwee,  John 
Miller,  Allen 
M(;Kenzie,  James 

Naylor,  Wm 

O'Brien.  Dennis 

Phelps,  R  J 

Rose.Tsaiah 


Gaines,  Coleman 


Horn,  Nathan  F 
Hoyt,  Stephen  F 
,JIanijr,  John  W 
^Hil^gins,  Martin  F 


Inches,  James 

Jackson,  William 

Krohe,  C  F 

Leonard, W  J 

Miller,  Peter 
McClure,  Joseph  W 
Moore,  J  L 

Needham,  James 

O'Brien.  David 

Paschal,  Coleman 

Russell,  Thos 


Havekluft,  Henry 
Horrom,  Cyrus 
Holmes,  Wm 

I 

J 

Jackson,  James 
K 

Kemper,  J  M 

L 

Lane,  Wm 

M 

McClure,  John 
Madden,  P  M 
Miller,  John  H 
N 

Nelch,  John 

o 

O'Neal,  Ilarvev 
P 


Royse,  Robt  A 


Hayues,  Geo 
Har  well,  E 
Haskell,  John  E 


Knowles,  James 

Lee,  Joseph 

McNeil,  Lochlan 
Miller,  Wm 
Marshall,  F  S  D 

Naylor,  Alex 


Richardson,  esse  J 


138 


Rinage,  Isaac 

Swift,  RH 
Slack,  Wm 
S.  ribling,  Isaac  M 
CTSutton,  Martin 
Scholes,  Edward 
Samuel,  Robert  H 
Stevenson,  Samuel 


Thompson,  John 
Taylor,  Robert 
Ta.ylor,  John 
Taylor,  Alex 


Williams,  John 
Will  ams,  A  K 
Whitmire,  John 


Stockton,  \lien 

Shirley,  Wm 

Stribling,  B  F  W 

Summers,  Wm 

Stockton,  G  W 

Stone,  Thos  J 

Smith,  Albertson 

Smith,  Halsey 

Sims,  V  G 

Stevenson,  J  W 

Shaw,  Samuel 

Schovley,  M  H  L 

Samuel,  James  M 

Samples,  Alex 

Samuel,  George  W 

Samuel,  Andrew 

Stevenson,  James 

Slack,  John 

Samuel,  Thos  A 

T 

Savage,  John 

Thompson,  Robert 

Thompson,  David 

Taylor,  Woodford 

Turner,  W  G 

Taylor,  Arch 

Taylor,  Duncan 

Taylor,  Wm 

Taylor,  Angus 

Trotter,  David 

Tiger,  Lewis 

Tegg,  James 

V 

Thornsbury, David 

Vermi 

lion,  William 

Watkins,  Lewis 

Webb,  Timothy 

West,  Amos  C 

Ware.  John 

Warren,  Jas  C  sr 

Woodwa.d,  Amos 

Wilson,  Thomas 

Y 

You 

ng,  S  las 

Names  of  tKe  voters  on  Sugar  Grove  list: 

A 

Akers,  Peer  Akers,  William 


Foster,  George  W 

H 

Hinehy,  Reason  M 
I 

Lshatn.  James  J 

L, 

Lee,  Stephen  Leonard,  John 

N 

Neale,  John  M 

R 

Roberts,  R  T 

s 

Smith,  Samuel  Smith.  Thomas  Sloate,  George 

T 
Thomas,  Richard  S 

Weaver,  George  W  Willson  John 


WILLIAM  H 


LMCS, 


'7 


■/^ 


I '!^  his  Pioneer  History  of  Illinois  Go\.  Reynolds  classed  as  "pioneers''  onlj^ 
those  who  were  inhabitants  of  Illinois  before  its  admission  to  the  Union 
in  1818.  But  the  Old  Settlere  Association  of  Morgan  and  Cass  counties, 
when  organized,  finding  so  few  of  that  class  of  residents  still  living,  extended 
the  limit  and  considered  all  persons  who  resided  in  Morgan  couuty  prior  to 
"the  winter  of  the  deep  snow,  1830-31,"  as  pioneers  and  eligible  to  member- 
ship. 

By  that  latter  standard  William  Holmes  was  a  pioneer,  as  lie  was  an  early 

settler  in  that  part  of  Morgan  now 
comprised  in  the  county  of  Cass. 

His  parents,  John  and  Phebe 
(Doughert})  Holmes,  of  English  de- 
scent, were  natives  of  Connecticut, 
who,  after  their  marriage,  left  the 
Nutmeg  state,  and  crossing  over  the 
state  line  into  New  York  settled  on  a 
small  farm,  eight  miles  from  that 
line,  near  Clinton  Corners  in  Duchess 
county.  New  Yorl<:  of  which  Pough- 
keepsie  is  the  county  seat.  They 
were  members  of  tlie  Society  of 
Friends,  commonly  known  as  Quak- 
ers—as were  their  parents  before 
them  and  in  very  moderate  circum- 
stances financially.  But  they  were 
young,  strong  and  hopeful,  and  by 
industry  and  economy  succeeded  in 
life's  only  mission,  the  raising  of  a 
family.  Of  their  eigiit  children 
seven  sons  and  one  daughter  William 
WILLIAM  HOLMES.  Holmes  was  the  Hftii,  born  on  the  7th 

of  February,  17!)!>.    Thus,  as  he  often  facetiously  remarked,   he  came   within 
eight  miles  of  being  a  native  born  Yankee 

His  boyhood  was  uneventful  as  that  of  most  boys  brought  up  in  the  rura^ 
districts  of  a  region  not  remarkable  for  fertility  of  soil  or  other  natural 
sources  of  wealth.     When  old  enough  he  was  assigned  his  share  of  tlie  farm 


-140- 

work  durino- tiie  farming  seasons,  and  was  sent  to  tlie  district  school  in  tlie 
winters.  lie  early  manifested  a  marked  dislilce  for  the  routine  drudgery  of 
the  farm,  and  a  marked  predilection  for  books  and  study,  in  which  he  made 
rapid  progress.  Seeing  the  boy's  bent  of  mind,  his  father  very  sensibly  en- 
couraged his  thirst  for  knowledge,  and  assisted  him  in  his  efforts  to  acquire 
education,  so  far  as  his  limited  means  would  permit.  When  a  grown  up 
young  man,  and  still  eager  for  learning,  he  entered  the  academy  at  Pough- 
keepsie.  on  the  Hudson  river,  and  was  there  a  diligent  student  for  two  or 
three  terms.  His  parents  fondly  hoped,  and  expected,  that  he  would  confine 
his  attention  to  the  course  of  studies  that  would  tit  him  for  the  Quaker 
ministry.  But  though  very  partial  to  the  Quaker  faith  in  which  lie  had  been 
reared,  he  felt  but  little  interest  in  the  study  of  theology,  prefering  to  ([ual- 
ify  himself  for  a  more  active  and  practical  business  calling  than  that  of  the 
church.  His  ruling  talent  was  mathematics,  in  which  he  gained  great  pro- 
ticiency,  easily  mastering  the  most  intricate  problems  of  higher  arithmetic, 
algebra,  geometry  and  surveying. 

About  tliat  time  the  people  of  the  older  eastern  states  were  becoming 
stirred  up  with  intense  interest  in  the  rapidly  developing  voung  states  of  the 
far  west,  particularly  Illinois  and  Indiana,  which  had  escaped  the  incubus  of 
slavery,  and  were  represented  as  offering  the  most  tempting  opportunities  for 
success  and  advancement  in  every  path  of  life.  A  fiu'or  to  emigrate  to  the 
\ve^t  |)revailed  similar  to  that  occurring  in  lS49-'50,  upon  the  discovery  of  gold 
ill  ('alironiia.  Among  others,  young  Holmes — who  was  well  aware  that  upon 
his  own  unaided  exertions  must  depend  success  in  his  future  career— was 
sci/.cd  witii  an  irresi.->tible  desire  to  try  his  chances  in  that  new  and  promis- 
ing li.'UI. 

AMli()U)^h  it  was  intimated  to  him  i)y  the  trustees  of  tlie  academy  that  if 
lie  remained  there  until  his  graduation  he  would  be  appointed  one  of  the 
faculty  and  given  the  position  of  instructor  in  the  department  of  astronomy 
and  matlieinatics,  he  declined  tlie  offer,  partly  because  of  his  impatience  to 
coiiuiience  his  western  journey,  but  cliielly  from  lack  of  funds  to  continue  his 
St  iidies.  P.idding  adieu  to  t  he  old  homestead  and  its  irunates  he  set  out  into 
the  broad  open  world  with  all  the  earthly  goods  he  possessed  in  a  Ijiindle  car- 
ried on  a  stick  over  his  shoulder.  Going  down  the  Hudson  river  he  landed  at 
llackensack  in  Bergen  county,  New  .Jersey,  and  from  there  proceeded  afoot 
to  Paterson,  in  Pasaic  county,  and  in  that  neighborhood  secured  employment 
as  teaclier  of  a  country  school.  He  taught  there  two  or  three  terms,  and, 
with  the  wages  he  earned,  started  on  his  way  to  the  setting  sun.  He  passed 
through  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania,  and  by  tlatboat  from  Brownsville,  on 
the  Monongahela,  floated  down  that  stream  and  the  Ohio  to  Henderson,  in 
Iveiitucky,  where  only  the  width  of  the  river  separated  him  from  the  long 
wished  for  promised  land. 

Crossing  the  river  he  found  that  he  was  in  Posey  county,  Indiana,  a 
stranger  in  a  strange  land,  with  cash  capital  exhausted,  but  in  sound  health 
and  good  spirits.  His  first  move  was  to  look  around  for  employment,  which 
he  .soon  obtained  as  teacher  of  a  country  school  a  few  miles  from  the  town  of 
Mt.  Vernon.  The  marshy,  mosciuito-infested  Hats  and  poor  post  oak  ridges 
of  Posey  county,  where  fever  and  ague  and  milk  sickness  were  the  principal 
products,  and  coonskins  and  hoop  poles  passed  as  legal   tender  and    were   the 


-  141  - 

chief  articles  of  commerce  and  export,  fell  far  short  of  realizing  Mr.  Holmes' 
high  ideals  of  the  great  west.  He  was  disappointed  and  discouraged,  and 
concluded  if  that  was  a  fan-  sample  of  Indiana  and  its  adjoining  states,  the 
best  thing  he  could  do  would  be  to  worli:  his  way  to  New  York  and  stay  there. 
But  poverty  compelled  him  to  continue  for  sometime  at  his  task  In  order  to 
earn  money  enough  to  enable  him  to  get  away.  While  debating  this  matter 
in  his  own  mind  he  heard  of  a  man  named  Henry  Hopkins  who  came,  with 
his  family,  from  Kentucky,  and  after  trying  Indiana  awhile,  had  pushed  on 
to  the  Sangamon  country  in  Illinois,  where,  it  was  reported,  he  had  found  the 
garden  spot  of  the  world.  Those  reports  revived  Mr.  Holmes'  Hagging  hopes 
and  caused  him  to  change  his  plans.  Instead  of  returning  home  a  poverty- 
stricken  failure  he  determined  to  go  on  into  Illinois,  as  soon  as  he  could,  and 
share  with  Mr.  Hopkins  the  paradise  he  was  said  to  have  discovered. 

In  the  midst  of  Mr.  Holmes'  last  term  of  teaching  another  Kentuckian> 
named  Joseph  McDonald,  came  into  that  neighborhood,  with  two  or  three 
teams  and  a  large  family  of  grown  sons  and  daughters,  looking  for  a  new 
location  in  which  to  enter  land  and  settle  himself  and  children.  In  a  short 
time  the  young  teacher  became  well  acquainted  with  the  new  comers,  par- 
ticularly with  one  of  the  boys  named  John  McDonald,  who  was  about  of  his 
own  age,  and  his  sister,  Polly,  a  year  or  so  younger.  The  old  gentleman  was 
not  pleased  with  the  outlook  for  a  permanent  home  in  that  part  of  Indiana: 
the  soil  was  too  poor,  and  there  was  too  much  ague  and  milk  sickness:  so,  he 
thought,  he  would  go  on  farther  up  and  look  at  the  White  river  country 
But  when  Mr.  Holmes  told  him  of  the  accounts  received  froui  Mr.  Hopkins  of 
the  Sangamon  region  in  Illinois,  and  of  his  own  intention  of  going  there  wlien 
that  term  of  his  school  expired,  Mr.  McDonald  came  to  the  conclusion  lie 
would  remain  there  until  he  heard  from  him. 

When  Mr.  Holmes  finally  dismissed  his  school  he  lost  no  tiir,e  in  getting 
out  of  Posey  county  and  going  into  Illinois  in  search  of  Henry  Hopkins. 
What  method  of  traveling  he  adopted  is  not  now  known:  but  most  probal)ly 
he  made  the  journey  on  horseback.  Mr.  Hopkins  came  from  Indian;!  to  the 
northern  part  of  Morgan  county  in  the  early  spring  of  1825,  and  passed  the 
first  season  near  the  town  of  Princeton,  moving  from  there  the  next  winter 
to  Sugar  Grove  where  he  took  up  a  claim  and  built  a  cabin  in  which  himself 
and  family  resided  for  many  years.  On  his  arrival  here  in  the  spring  of  182(i, 
Mr.  Holmes  stopped  for  a  few  weeks  with  Sam  Sinclair  who  had  made  a  clear- 
ing not  far  from  where  the  Centenary  church,  in  Oregon  precinct,  now 
stands.  He  immediately  wrote  to  Mr.  McDonald  that  though  the  report  of 
Mr.  Hopkins  regarding  the  Sangamon  country,  received  in  Indiana,  seemed 
very  extravagant,  he  had  not  told  the  half  of  its  grandeur,  fertility  and 
beauty,  and  advised  Mr.  McDonald  to  come  on  at  once— which  he  did. 

Viewing  the  country  over,  with  its  few  scattered  settlers,  and  its  line  tim- 
ber and  water  courses,  and  its  grand  prairies  of  exceedingly  productive  soil, 
Mr.  Holmes  saw  here  the  elements  of  vast  future  wealth.  And  he  also  saw 
that  the  only  industry  a  person  without  capital  could  engage  in  with  prospect 
of  success  was  agriculture  and  gradual  acquisiton  of  land.  Farming  on  the 
rocky  clay  hills  of  New  York  had  been  very  distasteful  to  him;  but  here  neces- 
sity together  witli  the  certain  generous  rewards  of  labor  quickly  changed  his 
youthful  disposition,  and  there  not  yet  being  children  enough   in  a  township 


-142- 

to  make  up  a  scliool— he  made  up  his  mind  to  ''lay  a  claim  and  make  a  clear 
ing."  In  that  resolve  he  was  strongly  encouraged  by  all  the  settlers  he  con- 
sulted. He  was  received  into  the  Hopkins  family  as  a  boarder  and  lodger,  and 
taking  up  a  claim  adjoining  that  of  Mr.  Hopkins  on  the  west,  resolutely  went 
to  work  at  cutting  away  the  trees  and  brush,  grubbing  up  the  stumps,  and 
plowing. 

Josepii  McDonald  received  the  Horid  letter  of  Mr.  Holmes,  in  due  time, 
and  the  next  day  left  the  state  of  Indiana,  with  his  family  and  teams,  with 
tlieir  faces  set  to  the  west.  There  was  no  loitering  or  waste  of  time  on  tlie 
way,  and  in  the  course  of  ten  or  twelve  days  the  McDonald  cavalcade  hove  in 
sight  and  rounded  to  in  the  prairie  grass  at  the  edge  of  Sugar  Grove.  Rest- 
ing there  a  little  while,  to  look  around  and  take  his  bearings,  Mr.  McDonald 
decided  to  move  his  camp  two  miles  farther  east  and  settle  down  in  Panther 
Grove,  where  he  and  his  boys  right  away  built  a  cabin  and  broke  up  a  patch 
of  sod  and  planted  it  in  corn  and  garden  truck.  The  records  show  that  on 
the  5tli  of  June,  182i),  Jos.  McDonald  entered  the  e\  of  the  nwj  of  Sec.  11  in 
T.  17.  R.  9,  eighty  acres.  Tliere  he  and  his  sons  passed  the  winter  in  chop- 
ping, clearing,  grubbing,  making  rails,  and  preparing  for  making  and  burn- 
ing bricks  early  the  next  spring  for  building  a  house.  And  in  tlie  eany  sum- 
mer of  tiie  next  year,  1827,  the  brick  house  was  built,  and,  still  in  sound  con 
dition  and  good  repair,  with  the  tine  farm  upon  which  it  stands,  belongs  to 
the  granddaughter  of  Joseph  McDonald,  Mrs.  Wm.  Barkley,  of  this  city. 

That  brick  house— the  first  one  built  between  Beardstown  and  Spring- 
lit.'ld,  with  the  possible  exception  of  the  residence  of  Archibald  Job  at  Sylvan 
(Jrove— possessed  a  peculiar  attraction  for  William  Holmes.  He  often  spent 
the  evening  there  after  plowing  all  day  with  a  wooden  mold-board  plow 
drawn  by  two  or  three  yokes  of  oxen,  and  wasthereSundays  whether  there  was 
pleaching  in  the  neighborhood  or  not.  By  force  of  example,  or  perhaps  other 
motive,  lie  too  built  a  house  that  summer  on  his  claim;  but  not  of  bricks.  It 
was  a  very  modest  log  cabin  situated  a  little  north  of  the  (present)  old  Cun- 
ningham burying  ground  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  west  of  the  Hopkins  cabin. 
In  those  pioneer  days  in  Illinois  old  maids  were  very  scarce,  as  the  paramount 
duty  of  life  impressed  upon  the  daughters,  after  tl)eir  graduation  in  the  arts 
of  cooking,  spinning,  weaving,  etc.,  was  to  get  married.  Miss  Mary  Mc- 
Donald—"Polly,"  for  short— was  occasionally  reminded  of  thisduty  by  precept 
and  example,  her  sisters  being  soon  married  and  gone,  while  she,  born  in  Ken- 
tucky on  September  7,  1802.  nearing  the  quarter  century  mark  in  age,  was 
still  single.  But  in  William  Holmes  she  recognized  her  natural  affinity,  and, 
having  his  cabin  ready  and  his  crop  gathered,  they  were  married  in  lier 
father's  new  house,  on  the  7tli  cf  December,  1827. 

The  appearance  of  several  speculators,  known  in  those  days  as  "land 
sharks,"  who  came  into  the  frontier  settlements  with  the  annual  stream  of 
immigrants,  with  money  to  enter  settler's  improvements  on  government 
land,  early  warned  Hopkins  and  Holmes  that  they  had  better  not  delay  too 
long  the  securing  of  legal  titles  to  their  homes  from  the  land  office.  Conse- 
quently, they  hustled  around,  and  by  scraping  together  all  the  money  they 
jointly  had,  and  borrowing  more,  they  succeeded  in  raising  the  necessary  $20o, 
when  INIr.  Holmes  went  to  the  land  office  at  ^pringfleld  and  there,  on  Septem- 
ber 1.).  lS2(i,  entered  two  eighties,  the  sw]-  of  Sec.  .5,  in  T.  17.  IL  !•.   comprising 


-  143  - 

botli  tlieir  claims.  Tliat  success  seems  to  liave  developed  in  Mr.  Holmes  a 
greed  for  the  acquisition  of  more  land.  Late  that  fall  he  again  visited  the 
land  office  and,  on  the  9th  of  November,  (1826),  lie  entered  the  eighty  acres 
adjoining  his  tirst  entry  on  the  west,  (the  e.}  of  sei  of  Sec.  6,  in  T.  17,  R.  9,) 
which  he  sold  to  Thomas  Cunningham  in  1851.  On  November  30th,  1829,  he 
entered  another  eighty  acres— the  w.^  of  the  sej  of  S.  31,  T.  18,  R.  9— a  mile  or 
more  northwest  of  his  first  clearing,  upon  which  he  built  the  frame  house 
into  which  he  moved,  where  he  and  his  wife  passed  the  remainder  of  their 
lives  and  died.  A  short  time  after  that  last  entry,  on  December  29,  1829,  he 
executed  a  deed  to  Mr.  Hopkins  for  ninety  acres  that  included  the  original 
Hopkins  claim  of  eighty  acres  and  ten  acres  of  his  own  upon  which  he  had 
tirst  squatted  and  built  his  cabin;  and  some  years  later  sold  Mr.  Hopkins  the 
remaining  seventy  acres  of  that  quarter  section. 

After  Mr.  Holmes  had  removed  to  his  new  home,  in  North  Grove,  yield- 
ing to  the  persuasion  of  his  neighbors,  he  taught  two  or  three  winter  schools 
for  the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation,  which  was  rapidly  increasing  in  num- 
bers by  the  constant  infiux  of  settlers  His  first  school- in  1831,  the  next 
winter  after  the  deep  snow— was  taught  in  the  house  of  Stephen  Lee,  (whose 
wife  was  Mrs.  Holmes' sister),  at  the  eastern  border  of  Sugar  Grove,  suhse- 
quently  known  as  the  "Trotter  place;''  and  he  later  converted  liis  deserted 
cabin,  west  of  the  Hopkins  house,  into  a  schoolroom  and  "wielded  the  birch" 
there.  Mrs.  Jas.  Cunningiiam  was  one  of  his  scholars,  and  says  in  all  her 
school  days  she  had  no  better  teacher.  Wm.  H.  Lee,  another  of  his  first 
Sugar  Grove  pupils,  writing  from  Rose  Hill,  111.,  on  September  13,  19(>r),  says: 
"Mr.  Holmes  was  an  excellent  teacher,  but  most  too  kind-hearted  to  en- 
force good  discipline. 

"When  a  big  boy  was  more  than  usually  unruly  Mr.  Holmes  would  ;issume 
a  fierce  look  and  rush  out  to  a  liazel  thicket  near  tlie  house  and  bi'eak  off  a 
stout  switch  or  t  wo  and  come  in  trimming  otf  the  twigs  and  dead  leaves.  l>y 
that  time  he  would  find  the  boy  badly  scared  and  crying,  then  going  to  him 
would  pat  him  on  the  head  and  speak  kindly  to  him  and  in  the  meaiitnne 
break  his  switches  in  pieces  and  throw  them  in  the  fire.  He  was  never  known 
to  whip  one  of  us." 

In  those  days  Mr.  Holmes  also  did  considerable  land  surveying  for  his 
neighbors,  as  much  for  accommodation  as  lor  pay.  and  his  work  in  that  line 
was  always  carefully  and  accurately  done. 

He  took  no  part  in  the  RIackhawk  war  of  18;52.  as  by  liis  Quaker  faith  and 
training  he  was  a  non-combatant  in  principle  and  opposed  to  war  upon  any 
pretext.  Naturally  of  kind  and  gentle  nature,  lie  was,  in  fact,  a  negative 
man  with  no  aggressive  or  obtrusive  force  of  character,  preferring  a  life  of 
(juiet  obscurity  and  slavish  toil,  and  slow  but  certain  acciuisition  of  wealth. 
INIrs  Holmes  was  his  counterpart  in  active  industry,  economy  and  frugality, 
with  only  occasional  help  she  did  all  the  household  work  extending  toa  watch- 
ful care  of  the  poultry,  the  fruits  and  the  garden.  Their  style  of  living  and 
dress  was  rigidly  plain,  and  their  only  recreation  was  attending  periodical 
preaching,  and  visiting  neiglil)ors  and  relatives.  Tlie  gains  of  their  thrifty 
management  invested  in  adjoining  lands  amounted  with  the  passing  of  vears 
to  over  sixteen  hundred  acres.  Their  home,  though  plain  and  simply  fur- 
nished, wasalwaysthe  abode  of  cordial  and  liberal  hospitality.     All  who  came 


-144- 

met  a  sincere  vvflconie  and  were  pleasantly  entertained  as  lon^^  as  they  chose 
to  stay. 

In  183(),  party  lines  had  become  well  defined  in  Illinois.  Tiie  whig-s  were 
greatly  strengtliened  by  President  .Tackson's  strenuous  exercise  of  the  veto 
power,  and  the  democrats  carried  tlie  state  for  VanBuren,  that  fall,  by  only 
2983  majority.  IVIr.  Holmes  was  a  whig-— perhaps  because  his  friends  and 
neighbors,  the  McDonald's,  Honry  Hopkins  and  Archibald  .lob,  were  whigs. 
Or.  it  may  be,  that  his  fatlier,  .John  Holmes,  was  a  whig,  as  the  majority  of 
men  inherit  politics  from  their  father  and  religion— if  they  have  any— from 
their  mother.  Let  that  be  as  it  may,  in  18:5(i,  lie  voted  for  Daniel  Webster 
for  the  presidency  in  opposition  to  Martin  VanHuren,  and  voted  the  straight 
whig  ticket  for  state  and  local  officers.  Agitation  of  the  movement,  irrespect- 
ive of  party  lines,  for  creating  anew  county  from  the  nortliern  part  of  Mor- 
gan county  started  at  Beardstown  a  year  or  two  before,  in  1836,  assumed  def- 
inite form  and  was  made,  in  a  manner,  an  issue  in  the  territory  interested 
for  election  of  representatives  in  the  legislature.  Mr.  Holmes  took  quite  an 
active  part  in  the  state  elections  tiiat  year,  particularly  for  the  election  of 
Wm.  Thomas  to  tlie  state  senate,  and  Newton  Cloud  and  .lohn  .1.  Hardin  to 
tlie  lower  liouse,  all  three  whigs  and  his  personal  friends. 

That  legislature,  chosen  in  August,  183(i,  passed  the  bill  for  organizing 
Cass  county,  which  was  approved  by  Governor  Duncan  on  ^March  .3,  1837. 
And  it  was  that  same  legislature  that  enacted  the  famous  internal  improve- 
ment scheme  which  three  years  later  collapsed  leaving  the  state  over  $14,009- 
000  in  debt  with  practically  nothing  to  show  for  it. 

The  county  of  Cass  having  been  formed,  an  election  was  held,  on  the  Tth 
(lay  of  the  following  August,  for  officers  to  put  its  legal  machinery  in  motion, 
vvhifli  resulted  in  the  election  of  .John  S.  ^^'ilbourne.  for  probate  judge:  Lem- 
cti  Plaster,  sheriff:  John  W.  Pratt,  county  clerk:  X.  B.  Thompson,  recorder: 
Joshua  P.  Crow  Amos  l^onney  and  (reorge  F.  Miller,  county  commissioners: 
William  Holmes,  county  surveyor,  and  Halsey  Smith,  coroner.  Mr.  Holmes' 
opponent  in  the  race  for  sui'\eyoi' was  Wm.  Clark  whom  he  defeated  by  (i7 
majority. 

Before  that  general  election  l^eaidstown,  even  that  early,  jealous  of 
Dr.  Hall's  new  town  in  the  prairie.  N'irginia.  in  order  to  steal  a  marcli  upon 
it,  or  perhaps  misconstruing  the  organic  county  law,  called  a  special  election 
of  its  own  on  the  first  day  of  July  and,  all  alone,  elected  Thomas  Wilbourn. 
to  represent  the  county  in  the  legislature.  But  tiiat  scheme  was  too  pre- 
mature. At  the  special  session  of  the  tenth  general  assembly,  that  met  at 
Yandalia  on  the  10th. of  July,  Capt.  Wilbourn  was  present  and  Hon.  P.  S. 
Walker  presented  his  Beardstown  credentials,  which  were  referred  to  the 
committee  on  elections.    The  House  Journal  of  July  12.  183!i.  states: 

'•Mr.  Shields  (Genl.  James  Shields),  from  the  committee  on  elections  to 
which  had  been  referred  the  poll  book  and  return  of  an  election  for  a 
representative  in  the  legislature  from  the  county  of  Cass  reported, 
that  the  county  of  Cass  was  formed  out  of  the  county  of  Morgan  by  an 
Act  passed  during  the  last  session  of  the  general  assembly,  and  organized  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of  the  same:  that  at  an  election  held  at  Beardstown. 
in  said  county,  on  the  first  day  of  July  last,  Thomas  Wilbourn  was  elected  to 
represent  said  county  in  the  legislature  of  this  state.     i;y   referring  to  the 


-"  145  - 

seveiitli  section  of  tlie  Act  above  mentioned,  the  only  section  bearing  directly 
upon  this  subject,  we  find  the  following- provisions:  "Incase  said  county  of 
Cass  shall  be  created  under  provisions  of  this  Act,  then,  until  the  next  appor- 
tionment of  senators  and  representatives  to  the  general  assembly,  the  said 
county  shall  be  entitled  to  one  representative  to  tlie  general  assembly,  and 
shall  at  the  next  election  vote  with  the  county  of  Morgan  for  one  senator,  and 
the  county  of  Morgan  shall  be  entitled  to  five  representatives  and  two  sena- 
tors." By  the  last  apportionment  the  county  of  Morgan  was  entitled  to  six 
representatives  and  three  senators,  and  it  is  clear  that  whatever  disposi- 
tion its  citizens  may  choose  to  make  of  their  county,  and  into  whatever  num- 
ber of  distinct  counties  they  may  choose  to  partition  its  territory,  they  cannot 
expect  to  increase  their  proportion  of  representation  until  the  next  general 
apportionment,  whatever  quantum  therefore  of  representation  is  given  to 
Cass  must  be  deducted  from  Morgan.  It  then  remained  to  consider,  wliether 
the  new  county  was  entitled  to  elect  its  own  representatives  at  the  time  above 
stated,  and  then  supply  the  place  of  a  member  of  the  Morgan  delegation  who 
had  previously  resigned.  The  Act  above  referred  to  was  approved  the  third 
of  March  last,  and  provides  that  Cass  shall  be  entitled  to  one  representative, 
and  shall  at  the  next  election  vote  with  the  county  of  Morgan  for  one  senator. 
Tills  evidently  means  the  next  general  election;  that  contemplated  by  ttie 
second  section  of  the  second  article  of  our  state  constitution,  and  could 
bear  no  reference  to  a  special  election  for  a  specific  purpose,  such  astliat 
which  has  lately  occurred  in  Morgan  county  to  till  tlie  vacancy  occasioned  bv 
the  resignation  of  one  of  its  members,  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  This  will  appear 
still  more  obvious  if  we  consider  that  had  no  vacancy  occurred  this  question 
could  not  have  arisen,  and  the  representative  who  had  been  elected  to  till 
such  vacancy  stands  upon  the  same  ground  occupied  by  his  predecessor  previous 
to  his  resignation.  Besides,  the  members  of  the  present  delegation  from  the 
county  of  Morgan  were  not  elected  by  the  present  county  of  ^Morgan,  but  by 
the  counties  of  Morgan  and  Cass,  and  are  consequently  not  the  representatives 
of  the  county  ot  Morgan:  but  of  the  present  counties  of  Morgan  and  Cass: 
thus  the  citizens  of  the  new  county  of  Cass  cannot  justly  complain  that  they 
are  left  unrepresented.  Your  committee,  therefore,  unanimously  conclude 
that  the  new  county  of  Cass  is  not  entitled  to  a  separate  representative,  and 
that  the  election  held  as  above  stated  was  wholly  null  and  void." 

The  rtrst  convention  for  nominating  party  candidates  for  state  offices  in 
Illinois  was  held  by  democratic  delegates,  at  Vandalia,  on  tlie  4th  of  Decem- 
ber. 18;57,  when  Col.  J  as.  W.  Stephenson,  of  (ralena,  was  nominated  for  gov- 
ernor, and  John  S.  Hacker  for  lieutenant  governor.  Upon  discovery  that  Col. 
Stephenson  was  a  defaulter,  as  receiver  of  the  land  office,  in  the  sum  of  $.'58,- 
()(»().  the  ticket  was  retired,  and  the  same  delegates  again  met.  at  \'andalia. 
on  June  Kith,  183S,  and  nominated  a  new  ticket  with  Thomas  Carl  in  in  place 
of  Col.  Stephenson,  and  Stinson  H.  Anderson  in  place  of  Hacker.  The  whigs 
held  no  convention,  but  agreed  upon  Cyrus  Edwards  for  governor,  and  A¥m. 
II.  Davidson  for  lieutenant  governor.  Neither  party  held  conventions  for 
nominating  local  otTicers,  leaving  it  free  for  all.  in  the  counties,  who  chose   to 

I'Ull. 

Tlie  next  general  state  election  was  held  on  the  (ith  of  August,  1838.  It 
w;is  the  lirst  gencrnl  election  for  ('ass  county,  and  as  a  test  of   its   party   com- 


-146- 

ple X ion  proved  the  whigs  to  be  in  control.  The^' cast  for  Edwards,  for  gov- 
ernor, 335  votes,  and  for  Carlin  188.  For  congress  John  T.  Stuart  received 
220  votes  and  Steplien  A.  Douglas  214.  For  state  senator  Wm.  Thomas  27(;, 
and  Josiah  Lamborn252.  There  were  three  candidates  for  representative  in 
the  legislature:  Thomas  Beard,  Henry  McKean—both  democrats—  and 
Wm.  Holmes,  a  whig,  who  was  elected  receiving  208  votes  to  l!)S  for  Beard, 
and  111  for  McKean.  At  that  election  Carlin  was  elected  governor  by  the 
slender  majority  of  996,  and  John  T.  Stuart,  a  whig,  beat  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
for  Congress  just  11  votes. 

The  eleventh  legislature  in  which  iVIr.  Holmes  served  as  Cass  county's 
first  representative,  met  at  Vandalia  on  the  3rd  of  December,  183.S,  with  a 
whig  majority  in  both  houses.  Of  the  91  members  of  the  House  16  were 
whigs,  10  democrats,  and  5  were  independents.  In  its  organization  Abraham 
Lincoln,  of  Sangamon— who  evidently  had  not  yet  attained  his  apotheosis- 
was  presented  as  the  whig  candidate  for  speaker  and  was  opposed  by  the  can- 
didate of  the  democrats,  Genl.  W.  L.  D.  Evving.  Though  the  whigs  had  a 
majority  of  one  over  the  combined  vote  of  the  democrats  and  independents, 
on  the  fourth  ballot  Genl.  Ewing  was  elected  having  received  13  votes  to  38 
for  Lincoln.  Personally,  Mr.  Holmes  disliked  Lincoln  and  had  no  faith  in 
him:  but,  moved  by  party  zeal,  or  fear  of  the  party  lash,  he  voted  for  him  on 
all  four  of  the  ballots.  In  that  legislature  Wm.  Thomas  was  the  senator 
jointly  for  Morgan,  Cass  and  Scott  counties.  He  resigned  on  March  1th,  1839, 
to  accept  the  circuit  judgeship,  and  Wm.  L.  Sergeant  was  elected  in  his 
place.  ^Morgan  county  had  two  other  senators  beside  Thomas,  and  five  rep- 
resentatives—Newton  Cloud,  Wm.  Gilham,  Wm.  W.  Happy,  John  J.  Hardin 
and  John  Henry.  In  the  standing  committee  assignments  the  democratic 
speaker  complimented  Mr.  Holmes  by  appointing  him  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds. 

Already  the  people  had  become  alarmed  at  tlie  enormous  public  debt  ac- 
cumulating by  sale  of  state  bonds  for  constructing  the  wild  scheme  of  intern- 
al improvements  originated  by  the  last  legislature,  and  were  clamoring  for  its 
curtaihnent  or  repeal.  But,  instead  of  so  doing,  the  eleventh  general  as- 
sembly increased  the  state's  indebtedness  by  authorizing  an  additional  issue 
of  $1,000,000  of  bonds  in  aid  of  the  canal,  and  over  $11,000,000  more  for  building 
new  railroads  and  for  improvement  of  river  navigation.  >rr.  Hohues  voted 
for  those  measures  in  obedience  to  party  dictation,  but  at  no  time  an  en- 
thusiastic supporter  of  the  visionary  folly,  he  would  have  much  piel'erred  to 
vote  for  its  immediate  abandonment. 

He  was  a  very  attentive  member:  never  absent,  very  watchful  of  evei'v- 
thing  transpiring,  busy  in  presenting  petitions  and  serving  on  special  com- 
mittees: but  took  no  part  in  discussions  or  acrimonious  political  debates  that 
fritted  away  two-thirds  of  the  session.  He  voted  for  Mr.  Lincoln's  proposi- 
tion 10  issue  state  bonds  for  the  purchase  of  all  the  public  lands  within  the 
state  from  the  general  government  (20,000,000  acres)  at  2')  cents  per  acre— 
which,  of  course,  resulted  in  nothing.  He  also  voted  for  the  successful  bills 
to  supply  the  supreme  court  with  a  library:  to  incorporate  the  Chicago  Lyce- 
um: to  establish  the  deaf  and  dumb  asylum  at  Jacksonville:  to  require  the 
governor  to  reside  at  the  state  capital,  and  to  prohibit  the  banks  issuing 
notes  of  less  than  Hve  dollars  denomination.     The  legislature     the  last  one;to 


-  147  - 

meet  at  V anda I i a— adjourned  on  the  4th  of  March,  IS.'iD,  and  the  capitol  of 
tlie  state  was  removed  to  Sprhigfleld  on  the  4th  of  the  following  July.  One 
of  the  last  acts  of  that  session  was  to  pass  a  bill— -approved  by  Gov.  Carlin. 
March  2,  18.39— introduced  by  Mr.  Holmes,  providing  that,  Beardstown  hav- 
ing failed  to  comply  with  the  conditions  specified  in  the  Acts  of  March  ;>  and 
July  18th,  1837,— to  erect  a  court  house  and  jail  there  free  of  cost  to  the 
county— "the  county  seat  of  Cass  county  shall  be  fixed  at  Virginia,  in  said 
county,  upon  the  same  conditions  it  was  ottered  to  Beardstown." 

The  citizens  of  Virginia  accepted  the  conditions  with  alacrity,  and  Dr. 
Hall  at  once  proposed  to  build  a  court  house  and  jail  if  the  county  would  re- 
convey  to  him  the  fifteen  acres  of  "Public  Grounds"'  he  had  donated  to  it 
when  he  laid  out  the  town:  and  his  proposition  was  immediately  accepted  by 
the  county  commissioners.  Mr.  Holmes  then,  employed  by  Dr.  Hall,  sur- 
veyed the  "Grounds'"  and  platted  them  into  lots,  streets  and  alleys,  together 
with  an  addition  made  thereto  by  Dr.  Hall,  and  marking  off  the  public 
square  he  drove  a  stal<e  down  in  its  center  as  the  spot  where  the  court  house 
should  be  built,  and  Dr.  Hall  built  it  there  accordingly.  The  completed  phu 
was  filed  by  Mr.  Holmes  on  tiie  18th  of  June,  18;W. 

Before  adjoununent  of  the  legislature  Gov.  Carlin  appointed  Ex-Gov. 
Tveynolds  and  C.  S.  Senator  Kichard  M.  Young  special  commisssoners  to  sell 
state  bonds  in  our  eastern  cities  and  in  England.  Those  distit)guished  g-  ntle- 
men  thereupon  went  to  Europe  on  a  junketing  excursion  at  the  state's  ex- 
pense, taking  along  two  of  the  state  fund  commissioners.  Col.  Oakit\v  and 
Genl.  Rawlings,  and  the  four  together  disposed  of  the  bonds  to  sharpeis  ;iiid 
bankrupts  resulting  in  loss  to  tlie  state  of  nearly  a  million  of  dollars.  \',y 
that  time  with  tlie  state's  credit  exhausted,  a  friglitful  waste  of  public  mon- 
ey on  all  sides,  the  public  debt  ran  up  to  over  *14,(»00,0i)0,  and  scarcely  an.\  - 
thing  accomplished,  the  bank's  suspension  of  specie  payment,  their  ciirrency. 
as  well  as  state  bonds,  woefully  depreciated,  followed  by  distressing  shrink- 
age of  all  property  values,  the  people,  disgusted  and  panic  stricken,  demanded 
abandonment  of  the  ruinous  folly. 

Governor  Carlin  awoke  to  the  gravity  of  the  situation,  and  called  the  leg- 
islature togetlier  again  in  special  session.  It  met  at  Springfield  on  December 
9,  18;W.  As  the  new  statehouse  was  not  finished  the  senate  met  in  the  Metho- 
dist churcli,  the  house  in  the  newly  built  Second  Presbyterian  church 
and  the  supreme  court  in  the  Protestant  Episcopal  building  During 
tJiat  called  session,  wliich  adjourned  on  tiie  ;}rd  of  February,  1840.  ail 
internal  improvements,  with  exception  of  tlie  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  and 
the  railroad  from  Meredosia  to  Springfield,  nearly  completed,  were  abandoned; 
all  laborers  and  surplus  officials  discharged,  and  a  general  .settlement  and 
reckoning  made  that  showed  the  state  to  be  on  the  very  edge  of  bankruptcy. 
Though  Mr.  Holmes  made  no  speeches  in  favor  of  the  retrenchment  measures 
he  gave  them  his  earnest  support.  At  tliat  session  a  resolution  was  adopted 
ordering  an  investigation  of  the  atTairs  of  tlie  the  three  commissioners  ap- 
pointed before  for  superintending  the  building  of  the  state  liouse,  one  of 
wliom  was  Mr.  Holmes'  friend  and  neighbor,  Archibald  Job,  which  ultimately 
resulted  in  his  retirement.  In  the  famous  "coon-skin  and  hard  cider"  cam- 
paign of  tlie  Whigs  in  1840— the  most  exciting  and  sensational  political  contest 
in  tlie  history  of   Illinois  -Mr.   Holmes  took  a  very  conspicuous  part:    but 


-148- 

thougli  TIan-isou  and  Tyler  were  elected  president  and  vice-president  by  the 
Whigs  in  November,  the  democrats  at  the  same  election  carried  Illinois  for 
Van  Buren  by  a  majority  of  li)39,  and  at  the  state  election  on  August  2nd 
they  elected  a  majority  of  both  branches  of  the  legislature.  After  that  cam- 
paign Mr.  Holmes'  interest  in  politics  gradually  declined,  yet,  he  retained  his 
prominence  in  the  waning  Whig  party  for  some  years  longer,  but  paid  less  and 
less  attention  to  public  affairs,  and  applied  himself  more  closely  to  his  own  in- 
terest. On  the  subject  of  slavery  he  was  very  conservative,  emphatically  op- 
posed to  the  extension  of  the  institution  in  the  territories,  and  equally  op- 
posed to  congressional  interference  with  it  where  it  already  existed,  believing 
that  gradual  emancipation  by  the  agency  and  wisdom  of  the  southern  people 
themselves  was  the  probable,  and  only  logical,  solution  of  the  question. 

He  held  John  J.  Hardin  in  high  esteem,  and  was  quite  an  admirer  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  personally;  but  never  could  discover  in  Abraham  Lincoln 
-  whom  he  styled  a  "vulgar  buffoon''— any  element  of  greatness,  or  more  than 
ordinary  ability.  At  the  congressional  election  of  1846  in  this,  the  then  7th 
district,  Mr.  Flolmes  voted  the  Wliig  ticket  excepting  for  congress,  casting 
his  vote  for  his  friend  Rev,  Peter  Cartwright,  the  democratic  candidate, 
against  Lincoln  the  Whig  nominee. 

For  this  act  of  party  treason— as  the  whigs  termed  it— Mr.  Holmes  was 
severely  censured  by  his  party  in  Cass  county.  In  a  communication  to  the 
Jacksonville  Journal,  written  at  the  time,  presumably  by  Ricliard  S.  Thomas, 
of  Virginia,  Mr.  Holmes'  defection  was  criticized  in  scathing  and  abusive 
terms:  and  in  order  to  fully  convey  the  writer's  indignation  he  harl  >rr. 
Holmes'  name  name  oecuring  in  it  printed  in  type  upside  down. 

In  18+8  Mr.  Holmes,  though  not  highly  impressed  with  tiie  tittness  of 
(Jeiil.  Taylor  for  the  p-esidency.  was  still  loyal  to  the  whig  party,  and  contin- 
ued so  until  185().  When  he  saw,  at  the  Bloomington  convention,  on  the  2fith 
of  May  of  that  year,  the  whigs  of  Illinois  coalesce  with  the  anti-Douglas  dem- 
ocrats and  organize  the  republican  party;  and  saw  John  C.  Freemont,  the 
hare-brained  apostle  of  abolitionism,  enter  the  Held  for  the  presidency  bearing 
a  thirteen-star  flag,  with  a  sectional  following— nine-tentlis  of  whom  were  old- 
line  whigs— who  at  the  November  election  gave  him  Ih")  electoral  votes,  he 
joined  the  democrats  in  support  of  Buchanan,  and  voted  the  (leu)ocratic  ticket 
the  balance  of  his  life,  but  took  no  further  active  part  in  politics. 

Mr.  Holmes  was  eminently  a  good  man.  With  conscientious  honor  and 
probity  of  character;  in  kindness,  benevolence  and  charity,  purity  of  moral 
life,  and  a  mild,  affable  disposition,  he  possessed  in  high  degree  all  personal 
traits  and  characteristics  of  the  best  type  of  what  is  understood  by  the  term 
"Cln-istian  gentleman."'  His  habits  were  most  exemplary.  He  probably  never 
tasted  liquor  of  any  kind,  never  used  tobacco  in  any  form,  and  never  expressed 
himself  iti  coarse,  profane,  obscene  or  vulgar  language.  Though  not  a  nieml)er 
of  any  secret  society,  he  always  willingly  accommodated  fi-Jends  and  neigh- 
bors, and  did  all  lie  could  to  relieve  distress  and  sutt'eriiig.  and  assist  the  [kh)v 
and  needy. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  (juite  spruce  and  good-looking  in  his  younger  days: 
then  five  feet  eight  inches  tall,  with  black  hair  and  eyes,  pleasant  expression 
of  face  and  very  agreeable  address  and  maiu)ers.  His  feelings  and  emotions 
were  of  devotional  cast  in  I'eady  syin|intliy  with  sacred  service  or   music.      lie 


-  14Q  - 

was  naturally  a  religiousi  man.  with  true  Quaker  humility  and  kindly  regard 
for  his  fellow  men.  Had  the  Society  of  Friends  had  an  organization  here  lie  would 
doubtless  have  been  one  of  its  most  steadfast  members.  Mrs.  Holmes  joined 
tlie  Metliodist  church  in  her  early  girlhood,  and  lived  and  died  in  that  faith, 
a  sincere  practical,  as  well  as  theoretical,  cln'istian.  Before  religious  denomi- 
nations liere  were  strong  enough  to  build  houses  for  worship,  Peter  Cart- 
wright,  and  other  Methodist  ministers,  occasionlly  held  services  and  preached 
at  the  Holmes  farm  for  assembled  settlers  of  tlie  neighborhood.  By  request 
and  invitation  of  Mrs.  Holmes  a  two-days'  meeting  was  held  there  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1852,  during  wliich  Mr.  Holmes  was  formally  admitted  into  the  INIetho- 
dist  church.  In  1S54  a  Methodist  camp  ground  was  established  in  the  grove 
just  south  of  his  liouse,  and  was  largely  attended  for  three  or  four  weeks.  The 
meeting  was  held  again  the  next  year  with  greatly  increased  attendance. 
With  tlieir  customary  prodigal  hospitality  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  invited  and 
pressed  all  who  came  to  the  camp  meeting  to  eat  at  their  table,  and  to  feed 
their  horses  during  tlieir  stay  from  their  crib  and  oats  and  )iav  stacks,  and  to 
use  at  will  their  stables  and  pastures.  Noticing  the  general  acceptance  of 
that  invitation  by  the  crowd-  in  fact  the  outrageous  imposition  upon  tlie  gcMi- 
osity  of  brother  and  sister  Holmes,  the  managers  of  the  camp  meeting,  very 
considerately  for  their  welfare,  closed  and  moved  it  away  after  the  second 
season. 

The  Methodist  church  of  the  United  States  divided  upon  the  (piestion  of 
African  slavery  in  1844-:  and  on  May  1,  1845,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  chuicli. 
South,  was  organized  as  a  distinct  denomination  by  a  convention  or  confeieiK-(> 
of  delegatesheld  for  the  purpose  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Mrs.  Holmes,  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  was  always  much  attached  to  the  customs  and  institutions  of 
the  south,  particularly  those  of  her  native  state.  She  believed  -as  also  did 
Mr.  Holmes— that  the  schism  in  the  church  was  altogether  due  to  the  meddle- 
some interference  of  northern  abolitionists  in  southern  domestic  affairs  that 
did  not  concern  tliem,  and  they  would  gladly  have  transferred  their  member- 
ship to  tlie  southern  branch  of  tlie  church  if  they  could  have  done  so.  When 
therefore,  in  185(5,  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  had  become  so  frenzied  as 
to  leave  no  neutral  position,  and  the  Methodist  church,  Xorth,  pronounced  in 
unequivocal  terms  in  favor  of  abolition  of  slavery,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes  could 
tolerate  it  no  longer.  They  did  not  formally  withdraw  from  the  church  by 
letter,  but  simply  abandoned  it,  attended  no  more  of  its  meetings  and  con- 
tributed nothing  more  for  its  support. 

None  of  Mr.  Holmes'  brothers  followed  him  to  Illinois,  but  his  sister,  with 
lier  husband,  X.  B.  Beers,  came  to  Virginia  in  183—,  and  resided  here  until 
her  death,  which  occurred  on  the  9th  of  March.  1872.  leaving  two  daughters. 

.Joseph  McDonald,  the  father-in-law  of  William  Holmes,  was  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Kentucky:  he  was  the  father  of  six  sons  and  five  daugh- 
ters: William,  Frederick.  Joseph,  Bicliard,  .Jonas,  .Tolin,  Sarah  Thompson, 
Nancy  Slack,  Elizabeth  Lee,  Priscilla  Gaines  and  Mary  Holmes.  The  second 
and  third  sons  were  never  married:  the  daughter,  Sarah  Thompson,  re- 
mained in  tlie  state  of  Kentucky. 

Two  children  were  bora  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holmes.  The  first,  Xancy  P., 
was  born  on  December  7,  1828;  was  married  to  James  R.  Miles,  of  Indiana,  a 
Metliodist  minister  and  farmer,  and  died  at  Chandlerville.  111.,  on  the  .".0th  of 


-1nO- 

April,  l!)02,  survived  by  tliree  sons  and  two  daughters. 

The  second  child,  John  J.,  was  born  May  1,  183;},  was  educated  at  the 
neighboring  country  scliools,  married  Miss  Anna  Mary  Dunaway,  and  in  IS— 
removed  to  Tecumseli,  Xebrasl<a.  with  liis  family,  and  there  died  on  tlie  1st  of 
January,  1894. 

In  1808  Mr.  Holmes  transferred  tlie  management  of  liis estate  and  business 
to  his  son,  John,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  <iuiet  retirement  at 
liis  old  homestead. 

Mrs.  Holmes  died  tliere  on  June  l!»,  isTl.  aged  (;<»  years,!'  months  and  7 
days,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  little  family  burying  ground,  a  short  distance 
south  of  the  liouse.  After  six  and  a  lialf  lonely  years  Mr.  Holmes  followed 
her,  breathing  liis  last  on  the  18th  of  January,  1S78,  at  the  age  of  78  years,  11 
months  and  11  days,  and  was  buried  by  her  side.  Subsequently  their  daugh- 
ter, Mrs.  Nancy  Miles,  caused  their  remains  to  be  removed  to  her  burial  lot  in 
the  Virginia  cemetery. 


DR.  M.  H.  Iv.  SCHOOIvEY. 

EYEPiY  intelligent  man  raising  a  familj'  of  children  should  leave  for 
them  at  his  death— or  before— an  account  of  his  ancestral  history,  oi" 
genealogy,  so  far  as  he  can  ascertain  it,  and  a  sketch  of  his  own  bi" 
ography.  Not  that  American  genealogies  are  of  any  material  or  financial 
value:  but  because  it  is  to  all  persons  of  education  and  culture  very  satisfac- 
tory to  know  from  what  stock  they  descended,  what  sort  of  people  their  fore- 
fathers were,  and  what  their  parents  did  iu  their  day  and  generation.  Dr. 
bchooley  neglected  that  duty— as  indeed  a  large  majority  of  our  people  do— 

and  consequently  very  little  is  now 
'  ^    known  of  his  lineage,  and  of  his  early 

j    life. 

He  was  born  of  Quaker  parents  at, 
j    or  near,  Leesburg,  in  Loudown  coun- 
ty. Virginia,  on  the  12th  of  December, 
1S12.    Of  his  father's  vocation,   or  his 
station  in  society,    nothing    is    now 
I    known.    Some,  if  not  all,  of  the  fam- 
}    ily  migrated  from  Virginia  to  southern 
;    Ohio,  as  the  records  show  that  young 
j    Mahlon  H.  L.  Schooley  taught  a  coun- 
try school  in  1835-'36  at,  or  near,   Lex- 
ington,  in   Highland  county  in  that 
state,   and,    while  teaching  there  he 
boarded,  and  made  his  home  with   liis 
sister,  Mrs.   Elizabeth  Johnson,   wlio. 
no  doubt  preceded  him  there.     And, 
from  the  fact  that  he  taught  school, 
I    it    must    be    inferred    that    he     had 
I    either  in  \'irginia  or  Ohio,  ac(iuired   a 
fail'  common  school    education.    An- 
DI{.  -M.  H.  L.  SCHOOLEY.  other  plausible  inference  is.   that   not 

being  backed  by  much  ready  capital,  or  broad  manorial  estates,  and  sensible 
of  tlie  fact  that  he  must  depend  upon  his  own  etfoi'ts  and  resources  to  make 
his  way  tbrougli  the  world,  and  perhaps  not  greatly  fancying  school-teaching, 
for  a  life  avocation,  lie  concluded  to  strike  out  for  a  newer  country  where  lie 
might  have  better  chances  to  "catcli  dame  Fortune's  golden  smile."  At  any 
rate,  he  came  1c  Jll'nois  t-"^  look  it  over,  and.  if  it  fulfilled  his  expectations,  to 


-152- 

sta.v  and  become  a  part  of  \t. 

In  the  spring  of  1837  it  was,  he  one  day  walked  the  gang  plank  from  a 
little  steamboat  at  Beardst  own,  and  landed  in  that  town  in  good  healtli, 
strong  and  hopeful,  but  dead  broke,  and  a  total  stranger  in  a  strange  land. 
He  found  the  citizens  there  in  great  glee  and  rejoicing  over  the  passing  of  an 
Act,  a  montli  before,  by  the  state  legislature  creating  the  county  of  Cass,  in 
which  Beardstown  was  designated  as  its  county  seat.  But  he  was  then  in  no 
mood  to  feel  much  interest  in  the  organization  of  a  new  county,  as  he  re- 
garded the  bread  and  meat  (luestion  a  mucli  more  important  matter.  On  the 
way  up  the  Illinois  river  lie  had  frankly  told  the  captain  of  the  boat  that  pay- 
ing for  his  passage  to  Beardstown  entirely  exiiausted  his  funds,  and  that  lie 
would  have  to  look  for  immediate  employment  to  tide  him  over  until  lie 
found  an  opening  for  permanent  occupation. 

That  steamboat  captain  happened  to  be  a  kind,  sympathetic  man.  and 
knowing  Doctor  Chandler,  who  had  landed  from  that  same  boat  at  Beards- 
town five  years  before,  and  knowing  how  he  was  flourishing  at  the  Panther 
Creek  settlement-  as  it  was  then  called  -up  the  Sangamon  Bottom,  advised 
young  Scliooley  to  go  up  there  and  seek  the  Doctor's  advice.  When  told 
what  manner  of  man  Dr.  Chandler  was,  and  tlie  magnificence  of  the  Sanga- 
mon l-)Ottom  where  he  was  located,  the  young  man  concluded  to  act  upon  the 
captairrs  suggestion  at  once;  and  set  out,  afoot,  upon  the  journey  that  same 
afternoon,  carrying  all  his  eartlily  possessions  in  an  old-fashioned  carpet  bag. 
He  finished  his  eighteen-mile  walk  by  sunset,  and,  happening  to  find  Dr. 
Chandler  at  home,  was  entertained  by  him  with  his  cordial  hospitalitv— that 
lie  accorded  all  wayfarers  who  came  that  way.  Then,  after  hearing  the  ac- 
count the  young  carpet  iDagger  gave  of  himself,  and  seeing  in  him  outcrop- 
pings  of  certain  manly  traits,  lie  insisted  upon  retaining  him  in  his  cabin  as  a 
member  of  his  household. 

Schooley  was  a  close  observer,  and  (juick  to  observe  opportunities.  He 
soon  discovered  that  Illinois  was  a  malarious  sickly  region  demanding  a  large 
ratio  of  physicians  in  proportion  to  its  rapidly  increasing  population,  and  saw 
tliat  the  rates  charged  by  the  few  doctor's  in  practice  there  for  their  services 
were  considerably  in  excess  of  the  earnings  of  other  vocations.  He  also  saw 
that  the  physician's  station  in  society— he  being  presumed  to  be  an  educated 
gentlemanvvas  one  of  honor  and  respectability.  With  probably  some  prior 
inclination  to  preparing  himself  for  the  medical  profession,  the  great  success 
of  Dr.  Cliandler  decided  him  in  adopting  that  course:  for,  he  thouglit,  it 
would  beyond  doubt  suit  him  as  well  as  any  other  calling— certainly  better 
than  that  of  school-teaching  or  manual  labor.  He  was  deterred,  however,  in 
this  aspiration  by  the  great  obstacles  of  time  and  poverty  in  the  way  of  ob- 
taining the  end.  While  pondering  this  matter  in  silence,  aud  scheming  to 
devise  ways  and  means,  he  was  one  day  much  surprised  and  gratified  bv  Dr. 
Chandler  suggesting  to  him  the  proposition  to  study  medicine  with  him.  with 
the  assurance  that  in  two  or  three  years  he  could  become  well  (|ualitied  to  en- 
gage in  the  practical  work  of  the  lu'ofession  without  the  beneficent  aid  of 
college  lectures  or  any  Board  of  Health.  Without  hesitation  he  accepted  the 
Doctor's  proposal,  and  lost  no  time  in  commencing  the  rudimentary  studies 
of  the.  so-called,  science. 

At  that  early  day  in  the  west  collegiate  medical   education   was  not    con- 


-  153  - 

sidered  so  indispensably  necessary  to  fit  a  physician  for  the  active  duties  of 
liis  profession  as  it  now  is.  Sound  judgment,  quick  perception  and  strong- 
common  sense,  with  some  learning,  were  regarded,  very  justly,  as  more  es- 
sential to  success  than  Latin-printed  parcliments  or  Board  of  Health  certifi- 
cates. Students  who  could  not  afford  the  expense  of  medical  college  instruc- 
tion, studied  witli  establislied  physicians  and  "rode  with  them,"  as  it  was 
styled,  accompanying  them  on  tlieir  rounds  of  professional  visits,  thereby  ac- 
quiring clinical  knowledge  and  practical  training  of  value.  Schooley  "rode" 
with  Dr.  Chandler  when  convenient:  and  when  not  riding  applied  .  himself  to 
his  text  books,  took  care  of  the  Doctor's  horses  and  made  himself  generally 
useful  about  the  premises. 

Three  years  of  that  pracical  pupilage  turned  Schooley  out  a  full-fledged 
Doctor— a  graduate,  so  to  speak,  of  "Brush  College,"— as  competent  to  admin- 
ister calomel  and  Do  vers  powder,  and  to  bleed,  blister  and  purge,  as  he  could 
have  been  with  half  a  dozen  diplomas  and  board  of  health  certificates.  With 
perfect  confidence  in  liis  ability  to  take  care  of  himself,  and  of  all  patients 
who  might  entrust  their  bodily  ailments  to  his  treatment,  by  advice  of  Dr. 
Chandler,  he  left  the  Sangamon  Bottom  in  tlie  Spring  of  IS-to  and  located  it» 
the  town  of  Virginia..  Already  well  kown  in  that  community  by  his  associa- 
tion witli  Dr.  Chandler,  and  highly  recommended  by  him,  his  success  was  at 
once  assured,  and  for  years  fie  ranked  as  one  of  the  best  physicians,  and  most 
influential  citizens,  of  Cass  county.  Without  the  illusorv  prestige  of  a  diplo- 
ma he  successfully  stood  the  test  of  an  extensive  circuit  of  practice  upon  liis 
merits  as  a  practioneer  alone:  but  in  later  years  obtained  a  Doctor's  degree  in 
due  form  from  one  of  the  medical  institutions  of  Chicago. 

In  February.  1841,  Dr.  Schooley  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Catherine 
.1.  Gatton,  daughter  of  Mr.  Thomas  Gatton,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Mor- 
gan county,  a  farmer  and  merchant,  who  resided  near  the  present  station  of 
Little  Indian.  In  tliose  days  young  folks  didn't  fool  away  much  time  or  mon 
ey  on  honey-moon  excursions;  but  regarding  marriage  as  t)ie  initial  step  in 
the  only  real  mission  of  life,  they  settled  down  and  began  in  earnest  the  nev- 
er-ending task  of  earning  bread  by  the  sweat  of  their  brows.  Following  tliat 
precedent  Dr.  Schooley  brought  his  wife  to  Virginia,  and  they  commenced 
house-keeping  in  a  small  frame  house  on  lots  87  and  88  in  Hall's  first  addition, 
now  known  as  the  Sam.  Petefish  residence,  which,  with  his  characteristic 
prudence,  the  Doctor  had  bought  of  Dr.  Hall  in  IS-tO.  For  the  next  several 
years  Dr.  Schooley  applied  himself  very  closely  to  his  business,  gradually  ex- 
tending ttie  area  of  his  medical  practice  beyond  the  limits  of  the  county  in  ;ill 
directions,  and  finally  establishing  himself  in  the  front  ranks  of  public  spir- 
ited citizens. 

Cass  county  in  tliose  days  was  dominated  by  the  whig  party,  of  which 
Schooley  was  an  active  member.  He  really  had  no  taste,  or  aptitude,  for  poli- 
tics or  public  life;  but,  impulsive  and  resentful,  he  liecame  an  ultra  whig,  not 
so  much  from  the  strengtli  and  candor  ef  his  convictions,  as  from  prejudices 
engendered  by  his  associations.  Those  who  early  befriended  and  sustained 
him— Dr.  Chandler,  R.  S.  Thomas,  the  Gattons,  Naylors,  Beesleys,  and  others 
—were  all  wliigs;  while  tliose  who  ignored  him  and  contemptuously  called  him 
"Dr.  Chandler's  stable  boy"— the  Dunaways,  Rabourns,  N.  B.  Thompson. 
Petefishes,  and  retainers,  whom  he  thoroughly  detested —were  all  sti'ong  dem- 


-154- 

ocrats.  For  several  years  the  entire  community  in  and  aroUnd  N'iryinia  was 
divided— with  bitter  hostility— not  only  upon  strictly  party  lines,  but  also  up- 
on tlie  respective  professional  merits  of  Doctors  Schooley  and  Tate,  the  demo- 
crats, with  few  exceptions,  sustaining  Tate,  and  the  whigs  adhering  to  School- 
ey, yet,  neither  of  the  Doctors  was  a  representative  leader  of  the  political 
party  backing  him. 

The  convention  system  for  nominating  party  candidates  for  county  of- 
ficers had  not  then  been  adopted  in  Illinois,  and  was  not  adopted  for  several 
years  later;  nor  liad  King  Caucus  yet  asserted  his  power.  Elections,  without 
registrations,  petitions  or  primaries,  were  free  for  all  wlio  chose  to  enter  tlie 
lists,  and,  literally,  "the  lojigest  pole  knocked  tiie  persimmons,"  as  ballot  box 
stuffing,  and  other  election  frauds  had  not  yet  been  invented.  In  is^;},  by 
tacit  agreement  of  leading  democrats  of  Cass  county,  C.  H.  C.  Havekluft,  a 
young  lawyer  and  poet  of  Beardstown.  was  announced  as  their  candidate  for 
county  recorder.  The  jealous  rivalry  of  Beardstown  and  A'irginia,  originating 
before  the  county  was  organized,  was  intensified  that  year  by  tlie  declared  in- 
tention of  Beardstown's  citizens  to  apply  to  the  county  commission- 
ers for  an  order  for  an  election  to  remove  the  county  seat  from  Virginia  to 
tlieir  town.  Tiie  whigs  desired  very  much  to  defeat  Havekluft.  Correctly 
calculating  upon  the  county  seat  tight  aiding  them  by  making  the  recorder's 
election  as  much  a  sectional  as  political  contest,  they  brought  out  Dr.Schooley 
as  their  candidate.  The  election  was  held  on  the  7th  of  August,  resulting  in 
Scliooley's  election,  as  lie  received  451  votes  to-f;i7  for  Havekluft,  and  ;{2  for 
Dr.  George  Van  Ness,  also  a  whig,  who  was  the  father-in-law  of  Hon.  Henry 
E.  Dummer  and  a  pitiable  wreck  of  a  once  brilliant  man. 

On  tlie  4th  day  of  the  next  month,  September,  the  county  seat  removal 
election  was  held,  when  Virginia  lost  it,  having  but  28S  votesagainst  removal, 
and  Beardstown  453  for  removal.  The  recorder's  office  proved  more  of  a  detri- 
ment to  Dr.  Schooley  than  a  profit  as  it  interfered  considerably  with  his  pro- 
fessional business  and  returned  but  small  emoluments.  He  retired  from  it 
when  the  transfer  of  the  county  seat  from  Virginia  to  Beardstown  was  made, 
in  February,  1845,  and  was  succeeded  by  Sylvester  Emmons,  a  whig,  of  Beards- 
town, who,  by  re-elections,  held  it  until  the  constitution  of  184S  legislated 
him  out  of  office  by  abolishing  it.  Tiie  only  other  public  position  to  which 
Dr.  Schooley  was  elected  by  popular  vote  was  that  of  school  director,  the 
duties  of  which  he  well  and  faithfully  discharged. 

To  many  of  the  most  intelligent  and  competent  country  practitioners  of 
medicine  the  everlasting  drudgery  of  their  calling  becomessooner  or  latei-, 
very  irksome— sometimes  intolerable.  Thus  it  is  that  many  of  them,  seeking 
rest  and  respite  in  change  of  some  .sort,  embark  in  other  pursuits  or  enter- 
prises of  which  they  know  practically  lit  tie  or  nothing.  Such  was  the  case 
with  Dr.  Schooley.  Office  liolding  proving  not  altogether  satisfactory,  his 
next  venture  was  in  the  milling  business.  The  first  steam  mill  established 
in  Virginia  was  built  on  the  branch  in  the  eastern  edge  of  the  village  bv  .\. 
B.  Beers,  a  New  Yorker  and  brother-in-law  of  Wm.  Holmes.  Hito  that  enter- 
prise Dr.  Schooley  invested  .some  of  his  surplus  earnings,  as  partner  and  jun- 
ior member  of  the  firm  of  Beers  &  Schooley.  Tlie  partnership  continued 
about  two  years  wlien  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Dr.  Schooley  re- 
tiring with  some  aciiuired  experience,  but  no  material  addition  to  his  wealth. 


-  155  - 

As  may  be  iiiferred,  his  experience  was  gained,  not  in  tlie  work  of  the  mill,  to 
which  he  paid  little  or  no  personal  attention,  but  in  its  financial  outcome. 

The  war  with  Mexico,  in  1846-48,  had  no  perturbing  influence  on  the  medi- 
ical  practitioners  of  Cass  county,  and  not  one  of  them  offered  his  services  in 
aid  of  his  country.  They  no  doubt  liad  sufficient  exercise  of  their  patriotism 
in  the  caseless  war  they  waged  at  home  upon  the  chills  and  fever,  and  other 
local  endemics.  Medical  practice  in  the  Virginia  district  was  nearly  equally 
divided  between  Doctors  Schooley  and  Tate,  who  still  hotly  contested  for  su- 
premacy. Dr.  Hall,  an  invalid  for  several  months,  died  in  July  1847,  and  Dr. 
Pothicary  had  moved  to  Beardstown.  Three  other  doctore— Conn,  Stockton 
and  Clark— had  located  in  Virginia,  but  not  being  able  to  wait  until  Tate  or 
Schooley  died,  they  left  in  disgust.  A  short  time  before  Dr.  Hall's  death,  in 
1847,  Dr.  Kufus  S.  Lord,  with  a  newly  married  wife,  came  to  Virginia  and 
quietly  settled  down  for  business.  His  thorough  education,  affable  disposition 
and  cultured  manners  favorably  impressed  the  peop'e:  and  Dr.  Schooley,  tak- 
ing quite  a  fancy  to  him,  entered  into  partnership  with  him  in  the  general 
practice  of  medicine,  moved  no  doubt  by  the  selfish  desire  to  get  rid  of  some 
of  liis  slavish  toil  and  thereby  have  more  time  for  deer  and  turkey  hunting. 
Just  what  attraction  the  little  squalid  village  of  Virginia  had  for  the  medical 
profession  at  that  time  is  now  difficult  to  comprehend.  Though  tlie  field  was 
fully  and  ably  supplied,  Dr.  Charles  Aust  Hathwell  moved  in  and  "perma- 
nently" establislied  liimself  in  a  dwelling  he  had  built  in  the  northwest  cor- 
ner of  tlie  town. 

The  discovery  of  gold  in  California,  in  1848,  was  liailed  by  Dr.  Schooley 
with  pleasant  and  intense  interest:  as  it  seemed  to  present  a  loophole  through 
whicli  he  might  escape  for  all  time  his  dreary  and  monotonous  avocation.  He 
quickly  concluded  to  go  there  and  gather  up  all  the  gold  he  wanted  to  enable 
liim  to  retire  from  all  active  business,  and,  with  his  guns  and  dogs,  pass  the 
remainder  of  his  days  in  the  blissful  slaughter  of  wild  game.  After  all  need- 
ful preparations,  leaving  his  patients  in  care  of  Dr.  Lord,  and  his  family  at 
home,  he  left  in  the  spi'ing  of  1849,  witli  Dr.  Potliicary  and  other  Cass  county 
friends,  for  the  new-found  Ophir,  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama.  Their  voyage  was  pleasant  and  uneventful,  and  they  arrived  in  the 
promised  land  in  safety  and  good  health.  From  San  Francisco  they  proceeded 
up  the  Sacramento  river  to  the  mountains,  and  there  separated,  each  taking 
the  route  to  the  gold  diggings  he  thought  the  most  advantageous. 

Dr.  Schooley  was  in  California  just  a  year,  and  was  always  very  reticent 
about  what  he  did  while  there.  He  did  not  find  gold  laying  around  loose  re- 
quiring only  to  be  shoveled  up  in  sacks:  but  disappointed  in  all  his  expecta- 
tions, homesick  and  disgusted,  he  returned  to  Cass  county  in  1850  by  the  same 
route  he  went;  having  with  prudent  forethought  taken  with  liim  ample 
means  to  defray  expenses  botli  ways.  Again  taking  up  liis  old  pill  bags  and 
lancet,  he  began  anew  to  trudge  along  the  familiar  well-worn  ruts,  and  with- 
out effort  resumed  his  former  prominence  in  his  profession  and  in  social  and 
public  affairs,  although  Dr.  I'armenio  Lyman  Pliillips  had  located  in  Virginia 
early  in  1849  to  supply  his  vacancy  in  the  medical  staff  there.  His  partnership 
witli  Dr.  Lord  continued  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  tliat  gentleman  seeing 
that  Virginia,  a  village  with  less  than  400  population,  was  overstocked  with 
Doctors— having  five:  Schooley,  Tate,  Hathwell.  Lord  and  l^hillips    concluded 


-156- 

to  pull  out  and  look  out  a  more  promising  location.  He  went  to  Chester,  in 
Randolph  county,  taking-  young  Henry  H.  Hall  with  him  to  assist  in  running 
a  drug  store  there  in  connection  with  his  practice  of  medicine. 

The  Virginians  had  lost  the  county  seat,  but  had  by  no  means  lost  the 
hope  of  some  day  regaining  it;  and  were  united  in  endeavoring  to  secure  every 
advantage  for  their  town  that  would  promote  that  object.  The  citizens  of 
Beardstown  projected  a  plank  road  over  the  sand  from  the  river  east  to  the 
bluffs  that  promised  to  be  a  great  advantage  to  their  commercial  interests. 
Not  to  be  left  in  the  lurch  by  their  successful  rival,  the  Virginians  organized 
a  joint  stock  company  to  build  a  similar  plank  road  over  the  sticky  clay  hills 
and  mud  flats  from  their  town  to  Bluff  Springs.  Of  that  company  Dr. 
Schooley  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  as  appears  from  the  following 
notice  in  the  Beardstown  Gazette  of  tliat  date: 

**PlanR  K-oad  Notice." 

'•Notice  is  hereby  given  that  Bot)ks  for  the  subscription  for  Stock  in  the 
Plank  Road  leading  from  the  Bluffs  to  Virginia  will  be  opened  at  the  office  of 
Di'.  M  H.  L.  Schooley  in  the  town  of  Virginia,  on  Saturday  the  1-lth  day  of 
June,  1851,  and  continue  open  from  day  to  day  until  a  suHicient  amount  of 
Stock  shall  have  been  subscribed. 

Virginia,  May  21st,  1851." 

liow  long  the  books  for  subscriptions  remained  open  at  Secretary  School- 
eys  office,  and  how  mucii  of  tlie  capital  stock  was  subscribed,  is  now  impos- 
sible to  ascertain;  buttiie  "wind  work"  of  the  enterprise  was  all  of  it  ever  ac- 
complished. 

Among  t!ie  many  results  produced  in  the  business  world  by  the  amazing 
(luantities  of  gold  yielded  by  the  California  mines  was  the  stimulus  given  to 
railroad  building  in  all  parts  of  our  country  east  of  the  great  western  plains. 
And  in  no  state  of  the  Union  was  that  class  of  enterprises  prosecuted  with 
greater  vigor  than  in  Illinois.  In  1853,  Major  J.  M.  Ruggles,  representing  the 
counties  of  Mason,  Menard  and  Sangamon  in  tlie  state  senate,  secured  the  en- 
actment of  a  charter  for  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Pekin,  in  Tazewell 
county,  down  the  eastern  side  of  the  Illinois  river  to  some  indetinite  point, 
to  be  known  as  the  'Tllinois  River  Railroad."  The  right  of  way  was  secured 
to  Bath,  in  Mason  county,  and  orer  $100,000  subscribed  for  its  stock,  when 
ti»e  influence  of  Dr.  Chandler.  R.  S.  Tliomas  and  Dr.  Schooley,  of  Cass  count.r, 
and  certain  influential  citizens  of  Jacksonville,  succeeded  in  eft'ectinga  di- 
vergence of  the  route  of  the  road  from  the  Illinois  river,  at  Bath,  directly 
south  through  ChandlerviUe  and  Virginia  to  Jacksonville,  and  the  name  of 
the  road  changed  to  the  Peoria,  Pekin  &  Jacksonville.  In  September,  1857, 
the  company  for  building  the  road  was  formally  organized,  at  ChandlerviUe, 
by  selecting  Judge  Wm.  Thomas,  of  Morgan,  Hon.  R.  S.  Thomas,  of  Ca.ss,  J. 
M.  Ruggles  and  Francis  Low,  of  Mason,  and  Joshua  Wagonseller,  of  Tazewell, 
as  a  board  of  directors.  The  directors  then  perfected  the  organization  by  the 
election  of  Hon.  R.  S.  Thomas,  as  president,  Dr.  Schooley,  secretary,  and 
Thomas  Piasters,  treasurer. 

The  grand  opportunity  Dr.  Schooley  had  long  looked  for,  to  emancipate 
hiiii  from  professional  servitude,  was  at  last  presented  to  him.  and  he  seized 


-  157  - 

it  with  avidity.  Casting  aside  the  oldshacliles  of  medical  practice,  he  entered 
upon  tlie  duties  of  his  new  position  with  devoted  entluisiasm.  Mason,  Cass 
and  Morg-an  counties  were  industriously  canvassed  by  President  Thomas  and 
other  officials  of  the  company  and  their  citizens  urged  to  subscribe  for  stock 
in  the  railroad,  which  they  did  with  open-handed  liberality.  Work  on  the 
road  was  prosecuted  with  energy  and  Beardstown  saw,  with  envy,  the  daily 
onward  march  of  iron  rails  and  locomotive  in  the  direction  of  Virginia. 

As  a  railroad  magnate  Dr.  Schooley's  social  status  was  suddenly  much 
exalted.  Considering  that  his  new  dignity  should  be  sustained  with  more 
refined  surroundings,  he  caused  the  old  house,  serving  for  some  years  as  his 
home,  to  be  moved  on  the  corner  lot  across  the  street,  and  upon  the  lots  where 
it  formerly  stood  erected  a  fine  mansion  (still  in  good  condition  there,)  at  that 
time  the  most  stylish  and  costly  residence  in  the  town,  and  excelled  by  few, 
if  any,  in  the  county.  In  corresponding  style  he  refitted  his  domestic  estab- 
lishment, converted  his  pill  shop  into  a  railroad  office,  and  for  a  time  occupied 
a  sphere  in  life  he  had  long  desired  and  was  eminently  well  qualified  to  fill. 

About  that  time— in  1857— the  .Jacksonville  and  Tonica  railroad  company 
was  pushing  its  road  nortli  across  the  southeastern  corner  of  Cass  county,  re- 
sulting, in  its  anticipation,  the  founding  of  the  town  of  Ashland  (in  that  year) 
and  quite  an  influx  of  immigration  to  the  east  end  of  the  county.  Tlie  cer- 
tainty that  Virginia  would  in  a  short  time  be  in  railroad  communication  witli 
the  large  centers  of  trade  gave  the  village  a  big  "boom"  that — together  with 
the  increasing  vote  of  the  east  end  of  the  county,  inflated  its  leading  citizens 
with  their  importance  and  strength.  They  thought  the  time  had  arrived  for 
wresting  the  county  seat  from  Beardstown.  that  was  yet  without  anv  im- 
mediate prospect  of  a  railroad,  and  applied  to  the  county  commissioners  to 
order  a  special  election  for  tliat  purpose.  In  compliance  therewith  an  elec- 
tion was  ordei'ed  to  be  held  on  the  3rd  day  of  November,  1857,  upon  three 
propositions,  namely:  for  and  against  subscription  by  the  county  of 
Cass  of  $50,000  in  aid  of  the  Keokuk  and  Warsaw  railroad  (to  pass  through 
Beardstown);  for  and  against  adoption  of  township  organization,  and  for  and 
against  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Beardstown  to  Virginia.  The  elec- 
tion was  held  accordingly,  resulting  in  defeat  of  the  railroad  tax  by  the  vote 
of  636  for  and  792  against;  defeat  of  township  organization  by  385  votes  in  its 
favor  and  1921  opposed  to  it:  and  defeat  of  county  seat  removal  by  986  for  and 
l(iO()  against  it. 

At  that  election  unblushing  frauds  were  perpetrated  by  the  partisans  of 
both  Virginia  and  Beardstown,  the  latter  casting  against  removal  almost  as 
many  votes  as  the  whole  number  of  legal  voters  in  the  county.  At  the  hotly 
contested  presidential  election  a  year  before— Nov.  4th,  1856— the  total  num- 
ber of  votes  cast  in  Cass  were:  303  for  Fi'emont,  438  for  Filmore,  and  914  for 
Buclianan,  aggregating  1655. 

The  old  adage,  "Misfortunes  never  come  alone,"  often  proves  well 
founded.  The  failure  to  regain  thecounty  seat  was  alraosta  "solar  plexus  knock- 
out blow"  to  Virginia.  It  survived  the  shock,  however,  but  another  came  in 
less  than  three  years,  wlien,  by  foreclosure  of  mortgages,  the  ownership  and 
management  of  the  P.  P.  and  J.  railroad  was  transferred  to  another  company, 
whereby  President  Thomas  and  Secretary  Schooley  were  relieved  of  ail  con- 
nection with  it.    To  make  matters  worse,  by  that  transfer  of  the  road,   the 


~  I5S  - 

many  citizens  wlio  liad  bought  the  bonds  of  the  road  lost  every  dollar  they  in- 
vested in  them.  And  worse  yet  for  Dr.  Schooley,  about  that  time  his  health 
began  to  fail  with  serious  symptoms  of  pulmonary  disease.  Once  more  he 
took  up  the  discarded  pill  bags  and  lancet  and  began  again  his  old  treadmill 
rounds  of  professional  toil.  Dr.  Hathwell  was  gone — went  in  lS5(i,  with  his 
family,  to  California  by  way  of  New  York  and  Panama.  Dr.  Parmenio 
Pliillips  had  engaged  in  the  steam-milling  business  with  old  Bill  Armstrong, 
and  practically  retired  from  the  medical  arena:  but  Dr.  Tate  was  still  doing 
business  at  the  same  old  stand,  and  had  a  new  competitor  in  Dr.  George 
Washington  Goodspeed  wlio  moved  into  Virginia  irom  old  Princeton  in  1859. 

Dr.  Schooley's  host  of  friends  were  steadfast  in  their  devotion  to  him; 
but,  disappointed  and  dispirited,  the  charm  of  his  old  associations  was  gone, 
and  lie  saw  little  hope  for  regaining  his  former  prestige  in  the  community 
Impelled,  in  a  measure,  by  financial  reverses,  and  by  the  desire  to  change  his 
mode  of  life,  in  order  to  improve  his  failing  health,  he  sold  his  mansion, 
closed  up  his  business,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863,  when  the  nation  was  reeling 
from  the  shock  of  civil  war,  he  left  Virginia  and  moved  over  to  Mason 
county.  There  he  quietly  settled  clown  on  a  little  sandy  farm  he  had  pre- 
viously purchased,  and  which  constituted  about  all  of  his  available  assets,  he 
continued  his  professional  work. 

In  his  palmy  days  Dr.  Schooley  was  a  man  of  attractive  appearance^six 
feet  in  heiglit.  sti'aight  as  an  Indian,  with  well  developed  and  tinely  propor- 
tioneil  figure,  regular,  well-formed  face,  high  cheek  bones,  and  black  hair  and 
eyes.  His  features,  strong  and  impressive,  but  habitually  immobile,  neither 
reflected  his  feelings,  or  revealed  iiis  thoughts.  With  usually  s^rave  expres- 
sion of  countenance  he  laughed  but  little,  and  seldom  indulged  in  jests  or 
ribaldry. 

These  personal  and  mental  traits,  coupled  with  his  immoderate  love  of 
hunting— the  lowest  and  most  brutal  of  all  human  instincts— gave  color  to 
the  frequent  intimation  of  his  adversaries  that  he  was  of  Indian  de.scent. 
lie  dressed  neatly,  and  was  invariably  dignified,  courteous,  and  gentlemanly. 
Though  not  wanting  in  energy  his  movements  were  deliberate,  and  marked 
with  a  degree  of  reserve  indicating  ade(iuate  self-respect.  Polite  in  his  inter- 
course with  the  people,  he  was  not  vei'v  talkative,  and  generally  mild  in 
speech  and  manner,  but  when  irritated  displayed  a  fiery  temper  and  pugna- 
cious disp  sition  backed  by  reckless  courage.  At  his  hospitable  home,  or  in 
society,  his  affability  could  not  be  exceeded,  and  when  with  genial  friends  he 
was  a  pleasant  and  jovial  companion  and  entertaining  talker.  Music  and 
oratory  were  not  among  his  natura:  gifts:  nor  did  he  make  any  claim  to  sanc- 
tity or  piety,  but  he  was  kind,  benevolent  and  charitable:  and,  without 
blemish  in  character  or  personal  habits,  was  g-iided  in  all  aft'airs  of  daily  life 
by  a  high  sense  of  honor  and  morality. 

As  a  financier  Dr.  Schooley  was  not  a  conspicuous  success.  His  income 
was  ample,  but  was  readily  absorbed  in  expensive  tastes,  stylish  mode  of  liv- 
ing, and  requirements  of  a  growing  family  of  sons  and  daughter.  In  all  his 
dealings  he  was  exact,  prompt  and  scrupulously  honest.  Not  having  been 
one  of  the  canvassers  for  subscriptions  to  railroad  stocks  he  escaped  the  bit- 
ter censure  heaped  by  many  of  the  victims  of  misplaced  confidence  upon  R. 
S.Thomas:  and  at  no  time   was   any   charge   of  corruption   ever   insinuated 


-  159  - 

against  him. 

Knowing  and  caring  nothing  about  politics,  or  questions  of  public  policy, 
when  he  came  into  Illinois  he  followed  Dr.  Chandler  into  the  whig  ranks; 
and  when  that  party  in  the  state  was  merged  into  the  new-born  republican 
organization,  at  tlie  Bloomington  convention  in  May,  1856,  by  logical  transi- 
tion lie  became  a  republican.  He  was  at  times  quite  an  aggressive  politician, 
not,  however,  of  the  office  seeking  variety,  but  from  fixed  prejudices  and  to  be 
of  service  to  his  party  friends. 

Dr.  Schooley's  education,  literary  and  medical,  was  fair,  but  not  of  the 
ighest  class.  He  was  probably  never  a  deep  student,  and  as  a  man  of  learn- 
ing passed  for  much  more  than  his  real  value.  He  was,  by  the  standards  of 
that  era.  a  good  physician;  but  his  success  and  reputation  as  such  were  due 
not  so  much  to  his  book  learning  as  to  his  intuitive  perception,  sound  judg- 
ment and  self-reliance — in  a  word  to  his  clear,  strong,  practical,  common 
sense.  In  the  sick  room  he  was  formal,  positive  and  silent,  seldom  indulging 
in  idle  conversation,  or  expressions  of  opinions  simply  for  effect.  There  was 
no  hesitancy  in  his  conclusions  or  prescriptions,  and  he  gave  his  directions  to 
the  nurses  or  other  attendants  like  a  geneva!  issuing  his  orders  to  subord- 
inates, with  no  explanations  of  the  nature  of  medicines  prescribed,  or  their 
expected  effect.  That  course  passed  for— and  really  was — profound  wisdom, 
as  it  impressed  the  patients  with  faith  in  the  doctor  and  confidence  in  liis 
treatment.  For,  as  a  rule,  the  more  a  physician  palavers  in  presence  of  tlie 
sick,  and  assumes  to  explain  the  properties  of  his  remedies  and  their  modus 
operandi — of  which  he  is  himself  often  totally  ignorant— the  less  will  they 
believe  in  him,  and  the  less  will  be  his  success.  In  diagnosis  Dr.  Scliot)ley 
was  not  very  often  at  fault:  but,  as  is  the  case  with  all  other  practitioners  of 
medicine,  his  deductions  from  correct  premises  were  not  always  infallible. 
Some  of  his  notions  would  at  this  day  be  condemned  as  singularly  absurd:  as, 
for  an  instance,  he  adhered  to  the  antiquated  idea  that  two  diseases  cannot 
possibly  exist  in  the  human  system  at  the  same  time,  and  upon  that  theory 
he  conquered  fevers  by  establishing  an  artificial  disease,  that  of  mercurial 
ptyalism  (salivation)— a  remedy  worse  than  the  original  disorder. 
Strange  as  it  may  now  seem  to  us,  he  was  considered  peculiarly  successful  in 
the  treatment  of  typhoid  fever  by  that  barbarous  method.  It  is  but  just  to 
add  that  the  same  plan  of  treatment  was  then  practiced  by  physicians  of  the 
highest  reputation  everywhere. 

It  is  a  fact,  with  a  few  exceptions,  that  the  man  specially  fond  of  his  gun 
and  dog  is  a  worthless  member  of  society.  Dr.  Schooley  was  one  of  the  few 
exceptions  to  that  rule,  although  his  fondness  for  hunting  amounted  almost 
to  a  mania.  Often  in  his  busiest  seasons,  when  demands  for  his  professional 
services  were  crowding  upon  him  from  all  directions  he  would  drop  every- 
thing and  strike  out  for  the  Sangamon  Bottom,  or  Mason  county,  to  kill  deer 
and  turkeys;  and  be  gone  for  days,  and  sometimes  weeks.  It  mattered  not 
what  important  cases,  or  pressing  business,  he  had  on  hands  if  a  brother 
Nimrod  came  along  and  proposed  going  on  a  hunt,  he  was  ready  to  start  off 
at  once  and  made  no  promise  when  he  would  return. 

In  regard  to  religion  Dr.  Schooley  was  always  inclined  to  be  a  Christian 
and  certainly  was  a  moral  and  conscientious  man.  He  attended  church  with 
his  wife  when  convenient,  contributed  liberally  for  support  of   the  creed  and 


preaclier  and  entertained  a  wholesome  respect  for  the  sanctuary,  but  was  by 
no  means  a  puritan.  In  a  general  way  he  accepted  the  blessed  truths  of  the 
bible,  without  making  any  fuss  or  display  about  it,  and  never  seemed  to  be 
distressed  with  doubts  as  to  his  final  destiny.  In  middle  life  he  joined  the 
Cumberland  Presbyterian  church— more  to  gratify  his  wife  than  to  quiet  any 
qualms  of  conscience— and  then  quit  swearing,  excepting  when  angry  or  much 
provoked. 

His  prospects  in  Mason  county,  where  lie  was  located  on  poor  soil  in  a 
poor  community,  with  health  declining  and  earning  capacity  reduced,  could 
not  have  been  otherwise  than  gloomy  and  discouraging,  but  he  bravely  faced 
the  situation  and  did  the  best  he  could  to  be  reconciled  to  it.  His  new  res- 
idence, however,  had  the  advantage  of  being  near  his  favorite  hunting  ground 
where  game  was  abundant,  and  removed  from  the  dead  beats  and  loafers  that 
infest  tlie  villages  and  mark  the  doctors  as  theu-  especial  prey.  He  remained 
there  two  years,  with  no  improvement  of  his  health  or  finances,  when  his 
friends  persuaded  him  to  get  out  of  the  Illinois  river  valley  and  try  the  effects 
of  a  more  elevated  and  open  region.  Acting  upon  that  suggestion  he  sold  his 
farm  in  1865  and  left  the  state  of  Illinois,  establishing  himself  at  Harrison- 
ville,  the  county  seat  of  Cass  county,  Missouri.  He  there  commenced  anew 
the  practice  of  his  profession,  to  which  he  gave  his  whole  time  and  attention 
and  wasquite  successful.  His  ability  as  a  practitioner  and  worth  as  a  citizen 
soon  gained  recognition  throughout  the  county  and  he  was  given  all  the 
patronage  he  could  attend  to. 

The  higher  altitude  and  purer  air  of  western  Missouri  arrested— or  re- 
tarded—the ravages  of  the  scourge  that  held  him  in  its  grasp,  and  gave  him 
an  extension  of  his  lease  on  life.  But  it  was  only  a  prolongation  of  the 
struggle  against  the  inevitable.  The  spirit  and  force  that  inspired  him  in  his 
younger  days  were  gone,  and  only  his  strong  determination  and  high  sense  of 
duty— together  with  constant  use  of  cod-liver  oil  and  whiskey— sustained  him 
in  his  daily  routine  work.  For  twelve  years  after  his  arrival  in  Harrisonville, 
he  sustained  the  high  professional  and  personal  reputation  he  had  established 
in  Illinois.  Despite  ill  healtli  and  advancing  age  he  manfully  remained  at 
his  post,  administering  to  the  sick  and  relieving  human  suffering  until  ex- 
hausted vitality  compelled  him  to  surrender  to  "the  grim  reaper  called 
Death,"  and  breathed  his  last  on  the  14th  day  of  December,  1877,  at  tlie  age 
of  <i5  years  atid  2  days.  He  was  buried  with  the  ritual  ceremonies  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  of  which  order  he  had  been  a  member  for  many  years. 

Dr.  Schooley  was  survived  by  his  wife,  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Two 
or  three  of  his  children  had  passed  away  in  their  early  infancy.  Edward 
Chapman  Schooley,  his  eldest  son,  died  of  consumption  in  Harrisonville,  in 
August,  1884.  Mrs.  Catherine  G.  Schooley  died  in  April,  1897,  and  was  fol- 
lowed to  the  grave  by  Dr.  Wm.  T.  Schooley,  the  second  son,  who  died  of  con- 
sumption, in  October  of  the  same  year.  The  only  survivors  of  tlie  family  at 
present  are  James  Henry  Schooley,  of  Washington  City,  and  the  only  daugh- 
ter, Mary  E.,  wife  of  Mr.  Shad  Owens,  of  Harrisonville.  Mo. 

Two  young  men,  residing  in  Virginia,  named  Whitmeyer  and  O'Neil, 
studied  medicine  in  Dr.  Schooley's  office  and  -'rode"  with  him  for  some  time. 
After  their  horseback  curriculum  and  brush  college  graduation  they  wandered 
beyond  the  conlines  of  Cass  county  to  find  locations  for  practicing  the  art 
they  had  learned.  O'Xeil  settled  in  Mason  county  and  in  time  became  there 
quite  a  popular  and  reputable  physician  and  substantial  citizen.  Whitmeyer 
migrated  west,  with  his  parents  and  their  other  children,  and  was  totally 
lost  to  even  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  \'irginia. 


JESSE  AND  REV.  HOOPER  CREWS. 


IN  the  year  1773,  three  years  before  Thomas  Jefferson  wrote  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  two  brothers,  John  Crews  and  Richard  Crews  bade 
goodbye  to  their  old  friends  and  neighbors  in  England,  and  embarked  in 
a  small  vessel  for  the  American  Colonies.  These  brothers  did  not  long  re- 
main together:  John  Crews  settled  in  Virginia  where  he  prospered  after  tlie 
manner  of  English  immigrants,  and  his  descendants  drifted  to  the  south 
where  they  may  be  found  in  the  states  of  Alabama,  Georgia  and  Florida. 

Rioliard  Crews  settled  in  Kentucky  and  became  the  father  of  five  sons: 


REV.  HOOPER  CREWS.  .lESSE  CREWS. 

Peter  Crews.  Richard  Crews,  .lolui  Crews,  .loseph  Crews  and  WiUiinn  ("rews- 
The  eldest  of  these  five.  Peter  Crews,  was  tlie  grandfather  of  the  subjects  of 
1  his  sketch.  To  Peter  Crews  were  born  three  sons:  Andrew  Crews.  Janios 
(yrevvs  and  Jesse  Crews.  The  .second  son,  James  Crews,  was  tlie  fatlier  of  two 
sons:  Hooper  Crews  and  Jesse  Crews  and  one  daughter  named  Millie,  who 
married  D.  W.  Wright. 


ITooper  Crews  was  born  in  Barren  county,  Kentuckj',  near  Pruett's  Knob, 
on  April  17tb,  1807.  Of  his  early  life  nothing  can  here  be  recorded.  Dr. 
George  B.  Crews,  a  great  nephew  of  Hooper  Crews,  sent  the  writer  the  ad- 
dress of  Mrs.  Walter  P.  Miller,  21()0  S.  Columbine  Street,  University  Park, 
Denver  Colorado,  a  daughter  of  Hooper  Crews.  To  this  lady  a  letter  was 
sent,  asking  for  information  concerning  her  father,  explaining  it  was  to  be 
used  in  the  preparation  of  this  sketch.  As  the  letter  was  not  returned  the 
presumption  is,  that  it  reached  its  destination,  but  nothing  ever  came  of  it. 
The  writer  has  sent  many  other  such  missives  during  the  progress  of  the 
writing  of  this  series  of  sketches  and  not  a  few  have  met  the  fate  of  this 
Denver  communication.  If  one  is  so  illiterate  that  he  cannot  write  a  letter 
fft  to  be  seen,  he  should  be  excused  upon  that  ground;  if  he  is  so  ignorant,  as 
to  have  no  appreciation  of  the  common  courtesies  of  life  he  should  be  for- 
given. If  this  lady  received  the  letter  addressed  to  her  and  contemptuously 
refused  to  answer  it,  she  is  certainly  very  unlike  her  distinguished  father. 
Rev.  E.  K.  Crews  of  the  Illinois  conference,  also  a  great-nephew  of  Hooper 
Crews,  promptly  responded  to  my  inquiries  and  kindly  furnished  me  nearly 
all  the  information  I  have  been  able  to  gather  concerning  his  relative. 

When  but  a  lad  of  17  years  of  age  he  was  converted,  joined  the  Methodist 
church;  was  licensed  to  preacli  when  21  years  old  and  the  next  year  became  a 
travelling  preacher  of  the  Kentucky  Methodist  conference. 

Peter  Cartwright  was  '22  years  older  than  Hooper  Crews,  and  had  left  the 
Kentucky  conference  and  come  to  Illinois  and  very  soon  after  Mr.  Crews,  in 
1834,  was  transfered  to  the  Illinois  conference  which  was  as  large  as  the  state, 
and  was  appointed  to  preach  at  Springfield,  now  the  state  capital,  he  then 
being  but  27  years  of  age,     His  subsequent  appointments  were  as  follows: 

Presiding  elder  of  the  Danville  district: 

Presiding  eider  of  the  Galena  district: 

Pastor  of  a  church  in  city  of  Chicago: 

Presiding  elder  of  the  Chicago  district: 

Presiding  elder  of  the  Mount  Morris  disti'ict: 

Presiding  elder  of  the  Chicago  district: 

Agent  for  the  Rock  River  Seminary  of  the  >r,  E.  church: 

Pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church  at  Galena: 

Pastor  of  the  Clark  street  church  in  city  of  (Chicago; 

Pastor  of  the  First  M.  E.  church  at  Rockford: 

Presiding  elder  of  the  Rockford  district: 

Pastor  of  the  church  of  Jol let: 

Presiding  elder  of  tlie  Chicago  district:  '  "' • 

Pastor  of  the  Indiana  Avenue  church  of  Chicago: 

Pastor  of  the  Embury  church  at  Freeport: 

Pastor  of  the  church  at  liatavia: 

Pastor  of  the  First  church  at  Pockford: 

Pastor  of  tlie  M.  E.  cliurch  at  Orv-gon.  Illinois,  where  he  ended  his  long 
and  useful  life  on  the  2lst  day  of  December,  ISSI.  aged  71  yeai's,  8  months  and 
4  days. 

In  addition  to  the  immense  amount  of  valuable  service  he  rendered  the 
church  of  his  choice  in  the  stations  above  described  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
general  conference  of  the  M.  E.  cluiich  four  1  imes.    and    was  eliaplain   of   the 


-  163  - 

lOOth  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers. 

The  writer  first  saw  Hooper  Crews,  when  he  was  in  charge  of  a  church  in 
the  city  of  Chicago  in  the  year  1854,  and  afterwards  heard  him  preach,  while 
visiting  his  only  brother,  Jesse,  in  this  county.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual 
ability:  had  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  law,  he  would  have  made  an  ad- 
mirable judge;  he  was  dignified  in  his  bearing,  courteous  in  his  manners,  a 
strong  and  eloquent  preacher.    He  was  a  man  of  great  influence  in  his  church. 


Jesse  Crews  was  born  in  Barren  county,  Kentucky,  on  August  2.3,  1809. 
Of  his  early  history  very  little  is  known  by  his  descendants;  he  ;;was  a  very 
modest;  unassuming  man,  and  was  never  known  to  boast  of  anything  personal 
to  himself.  His  wife  was  Susan  A.  E.  Sneed,  who  was  born  on  the  western 
border  of  the  state  of  Virginia  on  April  3,  1812.  Her  father  diediwlien  she 
was  a  very  young  child  and  she  remembered  nothing  of  him;  her  mother  mar- 
ried a  blacksmith,  and  Mrs.  Crews  used  to  tell  her  children  of  her  step-father 
making  shackles  in  his  shop  for  slave  owners  and  slave  drivers  who  used  them 
to  fasten  together  their  "property,"  that  they  might  not  foolishly  escape 
from  their  dear  friends  and  protectors.  Her  son,  Jesse  Crews,  of  this  county 
has  in  his  possession,  a  fire  shovel,  made  by  this  old-time  blacksmith  which 
he  gave  to  his  step-daughter  Susan  as  a  wedding  present,  w  hen  she  was  mar- 
ried to  Jesse  Crews  on  December  30th,  1830.  The  following  day,  the  last  day 
of  18.30,  this  young  married  couple  made  a  honeymoon  trip  of  thirty  miles  on 
horseback. 

The  name  and  fame  of  Illinois  were  well  known  to  the  Kentucky  people, 
and  the  young  men  of  that  state,  of  that  day  were  greatly  tempted  to  leave 
the  old  home  and  fireside  and  seek  their  fortunes  by  settling  along  the 
streams  of  the  land  of  the  lUini.  Jesse  Crews'  sister  Millie  had  married  a 
young  man,  D.  W.  Wright,  and  these  two  young  married  couples,  in  1832,  lefr^ 
old  "Kentuck"  and  made  their  way  to  Sangamon  county,  where  they  un- 
harnessed their  horses,  and  unloaded  their  wagons  near  the  present  town  of 
Pleasant  Plains  on  the  border  of  Rock  Creek.  Mr.  Wright  did  not  long  re- 
main liere,  but,  in  1842,  turning  his  face  to  the  north,  travelled  on  into  Min- 
nesota, and  the'-e  bought  a  farm;  on  his  return  he  was  taken  sick  and  died 
among  strangers;  his  widow  and  family  removed  to  the  Minnesota  farm, 
where  they  made  a  permanent  home. 

Jesse  Crews  settled  very  near  the  home  of  Peter  Cartwright,  and  the  two 
men  became  fast  friends:  both  were  loyal  Methodists,  Kentuckians,  and 
early  Illinois  settlers,  but  differed  in  politics,  Cartwright  being  a  democrat, 
aud  Crews  a  wliig.  In  1846,  Jesse  Crews  then  being  a  resident  of  Cass  county, 
voted  for  Cartwright,  a  candidate  for  congress,  against  A.  Lincoln,  his  whig 
opponent.  Crews'  regard  for  his  old  neighbor,  and  brother  Methodist  being 
stronger  than  his  political  affiliations. 

In  18.37,  Jesse  Crews  purcliased  of  John  H.  Plunkett  a  tract  of  land  de- 
scribed as  located  on  Richland  Creek,  but  from  the  imperfect  description,  one 
caimot,  at  this  day  exactly  locate  it.  In  August,  1841,  he  purchased  another 
tract  of  William  Crow  executor  of  Dallas  Scott  in  Sec  34  T  17  R  7  Sangamon 
county.  In  May,  1842,  of  John  Dickey  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  Sec  1 
T  hi  R  8  and  in  December,  1842,  he  bought  of  David  Wright  40  acres  in  Sec  30 
T  17  R  8. 


-Ib4- 

The  early  death  of  his  brother-in-law  and  the  removal  of  his  sister 
and  her  children  from  his  neighborhood,  were  events  that  served  to  cause 
Jesse  Crews  to  become  discontented,  and  late  in  1842  he  sold  a  part  of  his 
land  in  Sangamon  county  and  moved  across  the  Illinois  river  into  Schuyler 
county,  as  a  sort  of  experiment,  where  lie  remained  a  year.  Not  being  satis- 
lied  in  Schuyler  he  partly  retraced  his  steps,  came  into  Cass  county  and  lind- 
Ing  in  the  Garner  neighborhood  seven  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Virginia  a 
Methodist  log  church  with  a  good  sprinkling  of  members  of  that  body  nearby, 
lie  concluded  to  settle  among  them,  and  not  then  having  sold  his  land  in 
Sangamon  county  he  rented  a  tract  of  Keeling  Berry  in  nwi  Sec  3  T  17  R  9 
and  also  SO  acres  of  Josiah  Parrott  adjoining,  and  after  a  few  years  being  sat- 
istied  with  his  surroundings  in  February,  1848,  he  purchased  of  Parrott  the 
nwi-  of  nwj  Sec  3  T  18  R  9  and  the  swj-  of  swi-  of  Sec  34  T  18  R  9  on  which  latter 
tract  he  erected  a  house,  comfortable  for  those  days  to  which  he  removed  his 
wife  and  growing  family  to  which  he  gradually  added  thereto  by  the  follow- 
ing purchases:  In  1853,  he  purchased  of  John  R.  Dutch  nel  of  sei  Sec  34  T  18 
R  9;  in  1859,  he  bought  of  Wra.  Crews  nei  of  swi  Sec  34:  he  purchased  of  his 
brother  the  sei  of  nw  i  Sec  34;  he  entered  80  acres  in  nwj  Sec  34. 

His  neighbors  soon  learned  his  ability  and  integrity  and  he  was  often 
chosen  for  jury  service;  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  and  for  many  years  was 
the  postmaster  of  the  neighborhood. 

Tliis  farm  is  now  owned  by  Flavins  C.  Fox  and  then  was  and  still  is  a 
good  one. 

About  the  year  1854,  Jesse  Crews  and  his  oldest  son,  William,  embarked 
in  aspeculation  which  proved  a  disastrous  failure.  At  that  time  there  was 
no  Asliland;  Philadelphia  was  a  mere  hamlet,  Chandlerville  contained  less 
than  two  dozen  houses  and  Virginia  was  a  poor  straggling  village.  Mr. 
Crews  thouglit  a  country  store  would  give  his  son  employment  and  wealtli; 
he  t  herefore  purchased  a  stock  of  general  merchandise  of  S.  C.  Davis  &  Co.  of 
Saint  Louis,  moved  it  into  a  small  building  in  his  dooryard,  which  was  after- 
wanis  removed  a  few  rods  to  the  northeast  and  began  liis  career  as  a  mer- 
chant. As  the  vicinity  was  infested  with  Ihe  usual  proportion  of  dead  beats 
who  "buy"  all  they  can  be  allowed  to  carry  away  and  never  pay  a  cent  if  it 
can  possibly  be  avoided,  and  as  the  older  member  of  the  firm  never  had  the 
lieart  to  refuse  a  neighbor  anything  he  liad,  it  does  not  require  the  wisdom  of 
a  Solomon  to  foretell  the  result  of  tlie  mercantile  venture.  ]\Iore  and  yet 
more  goods  were  sent  for;  Jesse  Crews  sold  out  liis  interest  to  David  Monroe, 
but  too  late,  alas,  to  save  liis  property.  In  18(iO,  his  farm  was  mortgaged  to 
Davis  &  Co.,  the  store  building  was  dragged  across  the  prairies  to  the  young 
town  of  Ashland,  but  Jesse  Crews  was  a  ruined  man.  He  m;inaged  to  save 
from  the  wreck  forty  acres  of  hazel  brush  and  young  timber,  the  nej  of  the 
nwi  of  Sec  34:  here  he  built  a  shelter  and  in  the  earlv  spring  of  18(i4,  he  re- 
moved his  few  articles  of  personal  property,  with  his  wife  and  tlieir  three 
younger  boys  to  the  new  place.  Tne  writer  of  this  sketcli  assisted  in  this  re- 
moval and  grubbed  up  the  first  black  jack  at  the  new  home.  As  they  drove 
away  from  their  comfortable  old  home,  the  good  wife  lo'^ked  sadly  behind  her. 
with  the  tears  in  her  eyes,  but  good  "Uncle  Jesse"  exhibited  no  sign  of  grief, 
but  maintained  his  usual  composure  and  good  temper  and  was  never  heard  to 
utter  a  word  of  complaint.     Had  .lesse  Crews  been  a  sharp  and   shrewd   tinan- 


-  165  - 

cier,  after  he  found  tlie  mercliatidising  business  going-  wrong,  witli  war  times 
and  iiigh  prices  for  farm  products  coming  on,  with  the  help  lie  had  about  him, 
and  with  a  kind-hearted  creditor,  Samuel  C.  Davis,  who  would  have  willingly 
leased  him  the  farm  at  a  moderate  price  he  might  have  re-couped  his  fortunes 
and  saved  his  farm  for  himself  and  family.  But  Jesse  Crews  was  not  a  money- 
maker, his  heart  was  not  set  upon  scraping  together  earthly  possessions,  he 
was  a  consistent  follower  of  the  Master  who  taught  his  disciples  to  take  no 
thought  for  the  morrow:  to  set  their  atfections  on  things  above:  he  often  read 
and  pondered  over  the  text.  "For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  gain  the 
wliole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul."  He  would  quit  his  farm  work  any  time 
to  attend  camp  meetings  or  other  means  of  grace.  His  business  was  not  to 
raise  corn  and  hogs  for  the  market,  but  to  serve  God,  and  to  do  all  the  good 
lie  could. 

Here,  on  the  little  farm  of  40  acres,  Jesse  Crews  with  his  old  mother,  his 
wife  and  younger  boys  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days.  Ever  cheerful  and 
happy,  he  was  "a  light  set  upon  a  hill  that  could  not  be  hid."  If  even  a  re- 
spectable majority  of  the  church  members  of  to-day  possessed  the  sincerity  of 
Jesse  Crews  the  preachers  would  not  be  heard  complaining  that  less  than 
forty  per  cent  of  the  young  men  of  Illinois  are  ever  seen  within  church  walls 
except  on  funeral  occasions.  He  was  not  like  the  worldly  church  member 
who  sits  in  the  social  meeting  while  the  preacher  and  the  women  sing  of  the 
"number  of  stars  in  their  crown,"  with  his  thoughts  upon  the  number  of 
steers  in  his  feed  lots,  and  who  would  gladly  exchange  all  knowledge  and  in- 
terest he  has  in  the  "plan  of  salvation"  for  a  reliable  cure  for  hog  cholera. 

Jesse  Crews  was  a  broad  minded  man;  his  good  old  mother,  Nancy  Crews, 
born  Feb.  17,  178.3,  who  died  Sept.  13,  1S71,  was  a  kind-liearted  Kentucky 
woman,  but  as  mucli  of  a  Puritan  as  though  she  had  been  reared  in  the  shad- 
ow of  Plymouth  Rock,  On  one  occasion  in  1861,  this  writer  went  with  him 
to  a  grove  meeting,  where  the  Oregon  chapel  now  is,  to  hear  Peter  Cart- 
wright  preach  an  afternoon  sermon  in  the  shade  of  the  oak  trees.  In  the 
course  of  his  talk,  the  old  Methodist  war-horse  bitterly  denounced  colleges 
declaring  that  "they  turned  out  imfldels."  On  the  way  home,  Jesse  Crews  in 
commenting  on  this  language,  remarked  that  he  did  not  believe  the  Doctor 
was  right,  and  then  added  that  if  it  were  true  it  was  a  strong  argument 
against  the  Christian  religion.  Mr.  Crews  had  a  keen  appreciation  of  the 
humorous;  which  is  always  an  indication  of  brightness  of  intellect.  In  con- 
versation he  was  hesitating  in  his  manner  of  speech;  his  voice  was  low  and  it 
re(|uired  an  effort  to  catch  all  he  said.  Physically  he  was  about  live  feet,  ten 
inches  in  height  and  his  weight  about  one  hundred  and  seventy  pounds.  His 
wife  was  a  very  small  woman  in  size,  and  in  later  years  much  bent  with  age. 
She,  like  her  good  liusband,  was  very  modest  and  unassuming;  she  was  the 
kindest  of  mothers,  and  a  true  christian  woman. 

Mr.  Charles  W.  Crews,  of  Pueblo,  Col.,  grandson  of  Jesse  Crews,  writes: 
"My  recollection  of  my  grandfather  is,  that  any  Methodist  republican,  could 
have  got  anything  he  had."  Very  true,  and  lie  might  have  added  "and  even 
a  needy,  swearing  democrat  would  not  have  been  turned  away,  empty- 
handed." 

There  were  born  to  Jesse  and  Susan  Crews  ten  children,  as  follows: 

Martha  H.  Crews,  born  Dec.  5,  18;31;  mari'ied  to  Joseph  Allison  a  farmer 


-1b6- 

of  Oregon  precinct  Cass  county,  Illinois,  and  who  died  in  giving  birth  to  her 
first  child,  a  son  now  living  in  Iowa. 

William  J.  Crews,  born  March  27,  1S:}3,  and  who  died  in  the  state  of  yVrk- 
ansas,  Dec.  15,  1871. 

David  Crews,  born  Aug.  5,  1S35,  still  living  in  Brown  county,  Kansas. 

Nancy  Crews,  born  Oct.  14,  18.37,  the  wife  of  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Garner,  and 
now  living  in  Oregon  precinct. 

Thomas  M.  Crews,  born  July  31,  1810.  now  living  in  Oregon  precinct. 

Mary  F.  Crews,  born  March  12,  1842;  died  Sept.  25,  1847. 

Elizabeth  Crews,  born  April  9,  1845,  died  Feb.  18.  1849. 

John  W.  Crews,  born  Nov.  30,  1847,  now  living  in  Oregon  precinct. 

George  W.  Crews,  born  July  7,  1849,  died  Aug.  12.  1869. 

Jesse  J.  Crews,  born  Aug.  20,  1852,  still  living  in  Oregon  precinct. 

Jesse  Crews  departed  this  life  on  Sept.  6,  1879,  aged  70  years  and  13  days; 
his  wife  died  Jan.  18,  1885,  aged  72  years  10  months  and  15  days. 

Every  man,  whose  life  is  worth  living  has  some  worthy  object  in  view. 
With  him,  the  providing  of  food,  clothing  and  shelter  for  his  natural  body  is 
merely  incidental.  A  proper  estimate  of  the  life  and  character  of  Jesse 
Crews  depends  entirely  upon  one's  point  of  view.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
department  of  agriculture  in  the  industrial  world.  If  he  of  tliat  department 
is  most  worthy  of  emulation  who  expends  his  vital  energies  in  buying  more 
land,  to  raise  more  corn,  to  feed  more  hogs,  to  buy  more  land  to  raise  more 
corn  to  feed  more  hogs,  etc.,  etc.,  then  Jesse  Crews  was  a  very  insignificant 
personage,  not  even  tit  to  have  a  place  in  these  humble  sketches;  but  if  man 
has  a  mental  and  spiritual  nature  as  well  as  a  physical:  if  he  is  an  immortal 
being,  destined  to  live  after  the  crisis  of  bodily  death;  if  it  is  his  duty  to  fear 
God,  to  work  righteousness,  and  to  love  his  neighbor  as  himself,  then  Jesse 
Crews  was  one  of  the  noblest  and  most  worthy  characters  who  ever  spent  the 
mature  vears  of  his  life  within  Cass  county. 


DR.  HARVE\;TATE. 

IN  tlie  old  Cass  Cow7if?/ ^iZas  published  in  1874,  by  W.  R.  Brink  &  Co.,  on 
page  28  there  is  a  biographical  sketch  of  Dr.  Tate  dictated  by  himself^ 
wherein  he  states  that  he  was  the  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Owings) 
Tate,  who  migrated  to  Miami  county,  Ohio,  at  an  early  day  from  Delaware, 
their  native  state:  also  that  he  was  the  fifth  in  a  family  of  nine  cliildren,  five 
sons  and  four  daughters:  and  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  on  the  20tii  of 
February,  1810.  When  he  was  quite  young  the  family  moved  from  Ohio  to 
Lancaster  county,  Indiana,  and  remained  tliere  twelve  j-ears.  They  then  re- 
turned to  Ohio  and  settled  down  on  a 
farm  in  Montgomery  county,  where 
shortly  afterward  the  father  died,  and 
then  for  about  five  years  the  care  of 
his  mother  and  younger  children  de- 
volved upon  Harvev.  who  never  fal- 
tered in  manfully  discharging  that 
trust. 

At  the  winter  terms  of  subscrip- 
tion schools  in  his  neighborhood  Har- 
vey Tate  mastered  the  elementary 
branches  of  an  English  education. 
He  was  very  eager  to  lea/n,  and  gave 
to  his  books  every  spare  moment  of 
his  time,  with  the  result  that  when 
he  arrived  at  man's  estate  in  years  he 
was  fairly  well  qualified  to  assume  the 
responsibility  of  teaching  a  country 
school  himself.  Tlien  came  a  disper- 
sion of  the  family,  his  mother  going 
to  live  with  some  of  her  relatives,  and 
her  younger  children  finding  homes 
among  other  relatives.  Harvey  then 
secured  subscribers  for  a  surticient 
number  of  pupils  to  make  up  a  three  months'  school,  and  commenced  the  vo- 
cation of  teacliing.  Thus  promoted  from  the  cornfield  to  the  station  of  school 
teacher  he  continued  with  zeal  and  earnestness,  for  five  years  the  inexorable 
conflict  with  poverty  and  the  world. 

Manv  of  the  eminent  men  of  our  country— as  Lyman   Trumbull.   Stephen 


\)\\.  HARVEY  TATE. 


-IbS- 

A.  Douglas,  E.  D.  Baker,  Gov.  Deneen,  and  others— began  their  ilkistrious 
careers  in  tliat  same  way.  Moved  by  the  laudable  ambition  that  wrought 
their  elevation,  young  Tate  aspired  to  a  liigher  plane  in  life  than  that  of  a 
country  teacher.  Possessing  none  of  the  elements  for  success  as  a  statesman, 
his  natural  philanthropy  and  benevolence  inclined  him  to  regard  the  medical 
profession  as  the  noblest  and  most  exalted  calling  of  man:  and  he  determined 
to  make  every  effort  possible  to  tit  himself  for  it,  and  consecrate  his  life  to 
the  amelioration  of  human  suffering— for  adequate  remuneration. 

With  that  aim  in  view  he  applied  such  time  as  he  could  conveniently 
spare  from  the  exacting  duties  of  the  schoolroom  to  the  laborious  study  of  a 
few  borrowed  medical  books.  In  that  way,  aided  and  advised  by  Dr.  Van 
Tyne  a  local  pliysician,  he  pursued  his  studies,  often  by  the  light  of  the  mid- 
night lamp— or  tallow  dip— until  he  thought  J'.e  knew  enough  of  tlie  liealing 
art  to  engage  in  it  as  a  practitioner.  Not  having  the  means  to  pay  for  secur- 
ing further  medical  instruction  in  the  college  halls  and  dissecting  room,  he 
began  practicing  medicine  without  collegiate  authority  in  order  to  earn 
enough  to  defray  the  expenses  of  obtaining  that  authority. 

That  was  before  the  era  of  ornamental  boards  of  health  instituted  chiefly 
for  consuming  taxes  wrung  from  the  people,  by  creating  sinecures  for  favored 
political  partisans.  It  was  also  before  the  foolish  enactment  of  arbitrary 
medical  practice  laws  based  upon  the  senseless  assumption  that  a  diploma,  or 
certificate  Iroin  a  fancy  state  board  of  health  having  a  political  pull,  consti- 
tuted a  pli\siciati.  The  true  pliysician  is  born  with  the  especial  gifts  of  gen- 
ius and  aptitude,  not  made  by  memorizing  text  books.  With  neither  diploma 
or  state  board  of  health  certificate.  Dr.  Tate  had  fairly  average  success  in  his 
practice,  well  sustained  for  ten  years  by  faithful  attention  to  his  work. 

lie  had  wielded  a  free  lance(t)  as  a  country  doctor  for  tive  or  six  years 
when  he  met  his  fate — the  inevitable  fate  of  prosperous  young  men  of  those  days, 
— appearing  to  him  in  the  form  of  a  handsome  girl,  named  Rebecca  Evans,  a 
native,  as  himself,  of  Miami  county,  with  whom  he,  of  course,  fell  in  love.  The 
usual  silly  courtship  followed  and  in  due  course  of  time,  they  were  married  on 
the  4th  of  August,  18.36.  In  a  modest  cottage  the  doctor  and  his  young  bride 
began  housekeeping  with  every  prospect  of  enduring  happiness  and  domestic 
bliss.  His  new  incentives  and  added  responsibilities  animated  him  with  high- 
er hope,  and  determination  to  win  the  battle  he  was  waging.  But  scarcely 
more  than  a  year  had  passed  since  their  wedding  day  when  the  sunlight  of  his 
home  was  suddenly  dissipated  by  the  death  of  his  young  wife.  Despite  his  de- 
voted care  and  attention,  and  iiis  skill,  and  that  of  other  pliysicians  called  to 
his  aid,  the  icy  hand  of  death  was  laid  upon  lier  and  her  new-born  babe,  and 
they  were  taken  away  and  laid  in  the  grave.  That  cruel  blow  sliattered  tlie 
doctor's  faitii — he  had  been  taught  from  infancy— in  the  doctrine  of  personal 
supervisirn  of  mankind  by  a  Divinity  overflowing  with  goodness  and  mercy, 
and  thenceforth  he  very  sensibly  attributed  such  inflictions  to  purely  natural 
causes. 

He  bore  his  great  burden  of  sorrow  with  fortitude,  and  in  continued  work, 
and  philosophical  meditation  sought  relief  for  his  depressed  spirits.  Then, 
Time,  that  blunts  the  point  of  our  misfortunes,  by  degrees  assuaged  tlie  poig- 
nancy of  the  Doctor's  grief.  The  clouds  of  gloom  that  enshrouded  him  were 
gradually  lifted  and  wafted  away,  and  once  more  there  beamed  upon  him   the 


-  169  - 

rays  of  renewed  hope.  There  also  beamed  upon  him  the  smiles  of  Miss  Marey 
Windsor,  a  scliool  teacher  of  his  neighborhood,  with  whom  he  had  been  ac- 
quainted for  some  time.  Her  tender  sympathies  lightened  the  dreariness  of 
his  lonely  existence  so  effectually  that  two  years  after  the  death  of  his  wife, 
they  were,  by  the  usual  wedding  ceremony,  joined  in  the  holy  bonds  of  wed- 
lock, on  the  15th  of  June.  18.^9. 

Dr.  Tate  practiced  medicine  about  ten  years  without  a  diploma;  not 
deeming,  for  the  first  few  years,  the  authority  conferred  by  the  parchment  es- 
sential to  his  reputation  as  a  practitioner.  But  popular  education  was  year 
by  year  attaching  a  higher  significance  to  the  doctor's  Latin-printed  ''sheep- 
skin," and  he  saw  that  he  would  have  to  obtain  one  in  order  to  keep  abreast 
of  advancing  public  opinion  and  professional  ethics.  Therefore,  making  ar- 
rangements to  meet  all  contingent  expenses,  he  went  to  Cincinnati  in  the  fall 
of  1839,  and  there  was  matriculated  in  the  Ohio  Medical  College;  from  which  in- 
stitution, at  close  of  the  session,  in  March,  1840,  he  received  the  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Medicine.  Though  the  diplqma  then  conferred  upon  him  by  the  faculty, 
in  point  of  weight  and  exalted  professional  authority,  fell  lamentably  short  of 
that  of  a  modern  state  board  of  health  certificate,  its  importance  so  inflated 
the  young  doctor  with  an  increased  sense  of  dignity,  and  self  esteem  as  to 
cause  him  to  become  dissatisfied  with  his  obscure  country  location.  He  sud- 
denly discovered  that  he  needed  more  elbow  room,  among  more  progressive 
people,  to  enable  him  to  introduce  certain  reforms  he  had  devised  that  inevit- 
ably would  revolutionize  the  old  time-worn  metliods  of  medical  practice. 

The  fame  of  Central  Illinois  for  beauty  and  unsurpassed  fertility  having 
spread  far  and  wide  a  stream  of  immigration  was  steadily  pouring  into  it  from 
the  older  settled  portions  of  the  country  to  the  east,  south  and  north.  The 
greater  part  of  the  newcomers  came  by  wagon  transportation  by  way  of  Shaw- 
neetown,  A^incennes  or  Chicago.  Th  se  who  came  by  way  of  the  rivers  found 
Beardstown  to  be  the  most  convenient  gateway  to  their  destination.  Having' 
matured  his  plans  deliberately.  Dr.  Tate  left  his  rural  home,  in  the  spring  of 
1841,  with  his  wife  and  infant  daugliter,  Marcy  Rebecca,  who  was  born  on 
January  13th,  1841— and  is  now  Mrs.  Jaspc  Plummer— and  began  his  migra- 
tion westward.  By  which  route  of  travel  he  reached  Illinois  is  now  not 
known:  but  most  probably  he  left  Ohio  and  Cincinnati  by  steamboat,  thence 
rounded  the  point  at  Cairo,  and  on  up  to  St.  Louis,  and  up  the  Illinois  river 
to  Beardstown.  That  he  landed  at  Beardstown  is  inferred  by  the  fact  that 
liis  first  stopping  place  in  Cass  county  was  at  a  point  on  the  road  nine  miles 
east  of  tliat  place,  now  known  as  the  Powell  farm,  a  mile  west  of  Cass  Siding. 
It  is  altogether  probable  that  he  startad  for  Virginia,  but  at  that  season  the 
mud  was  so  deep  the  team  that  hauled  him  out  of  Beardstown  could  get  no 
farther.  There  was  a  little  house  and  a  stable  thereon  a  forty  acres  belong- 
ing to  Joshua  Crow,  who  owned,  and  lived  on,  the  farm  two  and  a  half  miles 
farther  east  subsequently  owned  by  Mr.  Wm.  Campbell. 

Located  in  that  little  house  by  the  wayside,  either  from  choice  or  com- 
pulsion, the  Doctor  "hung  out  his  shingle"  and  commenced  anew  the  practice 
of  medicine.  His  professional  services  were  at  once  required  by  citizens  of 
Monroe  precinct,  near  by,  whose  confidence  and  friendship  he  gained  and  re- 
tained to  the  close  of  his  life,  and  for  years  was  the  leading  practitioner  in  all 
that  territory.     His  nearest  neighbors  were  tlie  Proctor  family  living  in  a  log 


-  170  - 

liouse  less  than  a  mile  to  the  northwest,  comprising  one  son  nearly  of  his  own 
age  and  three  or  four  daughters.  His  next  nearest  neighbor  was  Halsey 
Smith  a  prosperous  farmer  who  built  and  occupied  the  two-story  brick  house 
now  belonginp-  to  Daniel  Biddlecome. 

The  Doctor  did  not  long  remain  out  there  on  the  clay  hills,  having  had 
enough  of  country  life  in  his  native  state  and  Indiana.  From  the  Cass  coun- 
ty records  we  learn  that  on  the  19tli  of  July,  1841,  he  bouglit  of  Josepli  Scott  — 
who  built  it— a  two-story  frame  house,  with  lot  83,  in  the  Public  Grounds  of 
Virginia,  on  which  it  stands,  subject  to  a  mortgage  to  secure  a  debt  due  to 
Dr.  Hail.  It  is  now  known  as  the  "Cherry  house,"  a  Portuguese  harness- 
maker  of  that  name,  prominent  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  liaving  resided 
there  for  several  years.  There  Dr.  Tate  established  himself  "permanently," 
and  entered  into  active  competition  with  Dr.  Schooley  who  had  located  in  the 
village  the  year  before,  and.  recently  married  to  Miss  Kate  Gatton,  was  resid- 
ing on  the  same  street  about  a  hundred  yards  farther  east.  The  antagonism 
of  political  parties  was  at  that  time  characterized  by  much  bitterness.  Per- 
sonal animosities  engendered  in  the  exti'aordinary  campaign  of  1840,  when 
the  whigs  elected  their  president,  and  the  democrats  carried  Illinois  and 
gained  a  large  majority  in  both  houses  of  the  legislature,  had  not  in  the  least 
abated.  In  Cass  county  the  whigs  were  in  the  ascendency,  but  gradually  los- 
ing ground.  Dr.  Schooley  was  a  whig  and  Dr.  Tate  a  democrat.  Immediate- 
ly the  patronage  of  the  two  physicians  divided  on  party  lines,  and  that  divi- 
sion continued  in  a  general  way,  and  with  more  or  less  asperity,  for  several 
years. 

Employed  so  promptly  and  vvitli  so  mucli  unanimity  by  the  democrats  Dr. 
Tate  very  naturally  became  impressed  with  the  belief  that  his  popularity  was 
due  ;is  much,  or  more,  to  his  aeuteness  and  prominence  in  politics  as  to  his 
skill  and  success  as  a  practitioner  of  medicine.  That  delusion  stimulated  his 
ambition  to  attain  an  official  position  entailing  more  dignity  and  dis- 
tinction than  that  of  the  village  doctor's  station.  Though  party  lines  were 
rigidly  drawn  neither  party  had  yet  adopted  the  convention  system  for  nom- 
inating county  candidates,  and  no  restrictions  were  imposed  upon  any  who 
chose  to  run  for  office.  The  general  state  election  of  1842  presented  the 
chance  Dr,  Tate  was  looking  for,  and  he  offered  to  s^rve  the  people  of  Ca.ss 
county  in  the  capacity  of  county  judge.  He  was.  liowever,  not  permitted  to 
make  the  race  for  it  alone,  as,  in  a  .short  time  Alex  Huffman,  another  mos.s- 
back  democrat,  and  pioneer  settler  of  Monroe  precinct,  announced  him.self  a 
candidate  for  it  also.  Then  Robert  G.  Gaines,  son-in-law  of  Jos.  McDonald, 
and  a  whig,  seeing  two  democrats  in  the  field,  went  in  the  race  to  beat  them 
botii.  And,  as  it  was  a  free  for  all  dash,  Ezra  Dutch,  of  Beardstovvn,  a  dem- 
ocrat, and  one  John  Richardson,  of  now  unknown  party  proclivities,  ottered 
to  make  the  personal  sacrifice  and  serve  the  people  in  that  judgeship. 

The  election  was  held  on  Monday,  the  first  day  of  August,  1842,  resulting 
in  a  sweeping  victory  of  the  democrats,  who  elected  Thomas  Ford  governor  by 
over  8000  majority,  and  a  large  majority  of  both  liou.ses  of  the  legislature.  In 
Cass  county  John  W.  Pratt,  a  whig,  was  elected  to  the  legislature,  and 
"Uncle  Alex  Huffman  was  chosen  county  judge,  receiving  240  votes  to  158  for 
Gaines,  153  for  Dr.  Tate,  37  for  Dutch  and  28  for  Richard.son.  For  the  next 
year  or  so  Dr.  Tate  paid  closer  attention  to  his  practice  than   he  did   to  poll- 


-  171  -- 

tics:  but  yet,  he  was  alwaj's  loyal  to  his  party.  On  the  ith  of  September  of 
the  next  year.  1843,  the  special  county  seat  removal  election  was  held,  and 
Virginia  was  defeated.  The  loss  of  the  county  seat  was  a  crushing  blow  to 
Virginia,  and  its  actual  removal,  on  the  5th  of  February  1845,  so  seriously  de- 
pressed the  prospects  of  the  town  that  many  of  its  citizens,  losing  all  hope  for 
its  future,  deserted  the  place  and  sought  their  fortunes  elsewhere.  The  cal- 
amity to  the  village  was  only  to  a  minor  degree  detrimental  to  Dr.  Tate's  bus- 
iness, as  his  practice  was  almost  altogether  among  the  surrounding  farmers. 
But,  following  so  closely  his  own  defeat,  very  much  discouraged  him.  That, 
with  the  operation  of  certain  other  influences,  decided  him  to  abandon  Vir- 
ginia too. 

A  few  months  before,  one  Dr.  George  W.  Stockton  made  his  appearance 
in  A'irginia,  proposing  to  remain  here  as  one  of  its  practitioners  of  medicine. 
There  was  nothing  about  Stockton,  either  in  personal  appearance,  or  acquire- 
ments, to  cause  any  physician  to  fear  his  competition;  nor  did  Dr.  Tate  fear 
it;  but  the  presence  of  Stockton  gave  him  the  pretext  he  desired  to  get  away. 
He  sold  his  liouse  and  lot— the  mortgageon  itstill  unpaid— to  Dr.Stocktori,and 
closing  up  his  business,  left  Cass  county  in  tlie  fall  of  1843,  moving  to  Nauvoo, 
tlie  Mormon  city  on  the  Mississippi.  He  had  two  objects  in  view  in  going 
there— as  he  repeatedly  told  the  writer  of  this  sketch;  the  one  was  the  liope 
of  benefitting  his  wife's  health  by  the  change:  the  other  was  to  study  the 
Morman  religion.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Marcy  Windsor,  a  native  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, was  a  well  educated  and  cultured  lady,  wlio  liaving  fitted  herself 
for  teaching  as  a  life  vocation,  had  gone  to  Ohio  for  employment.  On  coming 
to  Illinois  her  health  failded  manifesting  unmistakablesymptomsof  consump- 
tion. It  has  been  attested— but  with  what  degree  of  truth,  if  any— is  not  de- 
finitely known  that  on  going  to  Ohio  siie  was,  for  awhile,  associated  with  the 
Mormons  at  their  Kirtland  settlement  near  Cleveland,  and  was  partially  con- 
verted to  their  creed,  and  it  was  by  her  persuasion  that  the  doctor  went  to 
Nauvoo.  Let  that  be  as  it  may,  they  remained  there  only  till  the  next  sum- 
mer, when,  Mrs.  Tate's  condition  growing  worse,  the  doctor  determined  to 
take  her  back  to  Massachussets  and  try  the  effect  of  a  higher  latitude  and  the 
ocean  air  in  arresting  the  ravages  of  disease. 

They  traveled  in  the  eastern  states  for  some  months,  the  Doctor  paying 
their  expenses,  it  was  said,  by  delivering  public  lectures  on  phrenology,  physi- 
ology and  kindred  subjects.  But  she  continued  to  decline  in  health,  and 
died,  in  1845,  from  exhaustion,  among  her  kindred  at  her  birthplace.  Dr. 
Tate  and  his  little  motherless  daughter  then  returned  to  Virginia  where  they 
secured  a  temporary  home  at  the  village  hotel  then  managed  by  Mr.  Wm. 
Armstrong.  Dr.  Stockton  had  in  the  meantime  "played  out"  and  departed 
for  Schuyler  county  leaving  beliind  him  a  very  unsavory  reputation.  He,  of 
course,  failed  to  pay  the  debt  due  on  the  "Cherry  house,"  which,  after  fore- 
closure proceedings  and  decree  of  count,  was  sold  by  the  master  in  chancery, 
and  pui'chased  by  Dr.  Hall  on  the  19tli  of  October,  1845. 

Dr.  Tate  resumed  his  slavish  professional  drudgery  witli  vigor  and  en- 
thusiasm speedily  regaining  Ids  former  circle  of  practice.  But  with  a  small 
child  to  care  for,  and  no  lixed  home  his  situation  was  neither  pleasant  or  sat- 
isfactory. He  had  drained  the  cup  of  sorrow  to  its  dregs  in  the  deep  afflic- 
tion visited  upon  liim  by  the  loss  of  his  two  companions  in   their  morning  of 


-172- 

life.  They  were  gone,  and  mourning  could  not  restore  them;  so  he  sen- 
sibly concluded  that,  as  it  is  not  well  for  man  to  be  alone, — more  especially  a 
medical  man— he  would  look  around  for  another  life  partner  to  share  his  for. 
tunes  and  misfortunes.  With  that  object  in  view  he  remembered  his  old 
friendly  relations  with  his  early  neighbors,  Mr.  Thomas  Proctor  and  family, 
making  for  that  purpose  many  visits  out  there  not  altogether  professional, 
and  not  charged  up  in  his  ledger.  Those  gratuitous  visits,  however,  were 
settled  for  in  full  when,  on  the  23d  of  February,  1848,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Lydia  E.  Proctor,  a  young  lady  of  rare  amiability  and  admir 
able  personal  qualities. 

As  a  country  doctor.  Dr.  Tate  had  seen  and  experienced  all  the  beauties 
and  grandeur  of  the  business,  and  was  getting  tired  of  its  physical  labors. 
He  began  to  long  for  something  to  turn  up,  or  some  opening  to  offer,  that  he 
could  engage  in,  that  would  contribute  to  lighten  the  burdens  of  his  daily 
life.  Running  at  the  beck  and  call  of  the  public  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and 
night  had  become  very  monotonous,  and  he  felt  that  he  would  like  to  have  an 
easier  job  than  the  one  he  had.  A  few  months  after  his  last  marriage  he 
thought  he  saw  a  chance  for  relief  by  buying  a  drug  store  effered  for  sale  at 
Lacon,  in  Marshall  county.  The  prospect  was  so  alluring  that  he  left  Vir- 
ginia, with  his  wife  and  daughter,  to  find  a  new  home  in  Lacon.  For  some 
unknown  reason  he  failed  to  consummate  the  trade  for  the  drug  store,  butdid 
something  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  wiiich,  no  doubt,  would  have  in- 
creased had  he  remained  lorjger.  But  he  had  formed  an  attachment  for  Vir- 
ginia, and  his  wife,  very  naturally  prefering  to  be  near  her  relatives,  they  re- 
turned to  Cass  county  the  next  summer  that  of  1849,  bringing  with  them 
their  tirst-born,  a  son  named  Thomas,  who  came  into  this  cold,  heartless 
world  there  amidst  the  Marshall  county  mosquitoes. 

In  Virginia  once  more— to  stay  there  until  the  end— the  Doctor  rented  a 
house  on  the  southwestern  corner  of  Beardstc.wn  and  Job  streets  and  settled 
down  to  his  same  old  routine  work  The  premises  he  occupied  were  lots  11, 
12  and  13  of  Hall's  addition  to  the  Public  Grounds.  And  he  purchased  that 
property  on  the  24th  of  January.  18.")0,  lots  11  and  12  of  Alexander  Naylor, 
and  lot  13  of  Ulysses  IVaylor.  He  was  there  situated  only  sixty  ya'-ds  from 
his  old  competitor.  Dr.  Schooley,  who,  however,  was  gone  to  California  to  get 


Residence  of  Dr.  Tate  fiom  IX'A)  to  isii". 


-  173  - 

rich  quickly.  His  vacancy  was  supplied  by  Drs.  Lord  and  Hathwell,  and  the 
next  year  Schooley  returned.  But  Dr.  Tate  stuck  to  his  post:  and  was  still 
there  long  after  Schooley,  Lord  and  Hathwell  had  le'^t  Virginia,  and  long 
after  every  physician  who  was  in  Cass  county  at  the  time  he  (Tate)  first  came 
into  it  had  passed  to  his  final  reckoning  where  pills  and  powders,  and  petty 
professional  jealousies,  are  unknown  forever. 

The  last  change  of  residence  made  by  Dr.  Tate  in  Virginia  was  in  1867, 
when  he  moved  from  his  old  home  on  the  corner  lots  to  the  premises  formerly 
improved  and  occupied  by  Richard  S.  Thomas  on  Job  street  a  few  yards  far- 
ther south,  which  he  bought  of  Samuel  Vance,  described  on  the  town  plat  as 
block  No.  1  of  the  Hall  and  Thomas  addition,  less  a  strip  of  90  feet  in  width 
off  the  north  end  previously  sold  to  Isaac  Bell.  There,  with  ample  room  for 
his  garden  and  live  stock,  and  his  children  growing  up  around  him  he  was 
well  situated  to  pass  the  evening  of  life  serenely. 

Dr.  Tate  was  always  duly  interested  in  public  affairs,  and,  without  os- 
tentation or  parade,  was  public  spirited  enough  to  willingly  bear  his  sliare  of 
the  public  burdens  unavoidable  in  the  regulation  and  advancement  of  the 
community.  He  served  the  town  for  years  as  one  of  its  Board  of  Trustees. 
Invariably  a  friend  and  promoter  of  education,  he  was  a  long  time  one  of  its 
most  efficient  school  directors,  often  visiting  the  schools  and  exercising  over 
them  practical  personal  supervision.  In  politics  he  was  a  primeval  Jeffer- 
sonian-democrat,  but  not  a  noisy,  pernicious  partisan.  Yet,  he  was  well 
posted  on  all  questions  of  public  policy,  able  and  ready  to  defend  his  views, 
and  usually  considerably  concerned  in  tlie  management  and  fortunes  of  his 
party.  In  1869,  he  was  nominated  by  the  democratic  county  convention  a 
candidate  for  superintendent  of  public  schools.  His  opponent  on  the  repub- 
lican ticket  was  James  L.  Dyer,  a  teacher  of  the  Arenzville  schools  and  a 
gentleman  of  very  respectable  attainments.  At  the  election  on  November 
2d,  Dr.  Tate  was  elected  to  succeed  Hon.  J.  Iv.  Vandemark.  receiving  905 
votes,  and  Mr.  Dyer  527. 

His  bond  having  been  filed  and  approved.  Dr.  Tate  commenced  his  official 
career  on  the  first  Monday  of  December  in  1869.  In  order  that  he  miglit 
have  more  time  to  devote  to  that  career,  in  1871  he  entered  into  partuersliip 
in  the  practice  of  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  M.  Hubbard,  a  bright  young  physician 
fresh  from  the  same  medical  college  in  Cincinnati  where  he  himself  had  grad- 
uated thirty-one  years  before.  Tliere  are  few  avocations  in  life  in  which 
partnerships  are  so  seldom  satisfactory  as  in  the  medical  profession.  That 
partnership  was  not  an  exception  to  the  general  rule.  In  the  course  of  a 
year  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent,  without  friction  or  ill-feeling,  the 
younger  member  of  the  firm  withdrawing"  and  setting  up  shop  for  himself. 

The  routine  official  work  of  the  superintendent's  position  gave  Dr.  Tate 
genial  employment  without  seriously  interfering  with  his  medical  practice. 
It  accorded  well  with  his  tastes  and  habits  of  thought,  at  tlie  same  time 
atfording  him  opportunities  for  ventilating  some  of  his  reform  ideas  of  teach- 
ing. He  felt  much  pride  in  properly  discharging  the  duties  of  the  position, 
which  he  did  for  four  years  with  credit,  and  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the 
people.  But  about  the  close  of  his  term  a  temporary  realignment  of  political 
parties  in  the  county,  based  upon  the  county  seat  removal  contest,  rendered 
his  re-election  impracticable.     Dependent  then  upon  his  professional   work 


-174- 

altogetlier,  with  sharp  competition  all  around,  and  the  slowing  up  of  vitality 
by  reason  of  advancing  age,  impelled  liim  to  again  devise  some  means  to  mit- 
igate the  rigorous  struggle. 

His  intimate  knowledge  of  medicines  naturally  suggested  the  drug  busi- 
ness as  the  one  lie  could  more  readily  manage,  with  but  moderate  capital,  and 
the  least  preliminary  preparation.  In  the  spring  of  1873  a  neat  little  drug 
St  )re  was  established,  in  the  old  Allard  corner  building,  by  Rufus  Rabourn 
and  Dr.  Jeffries,  a  local  dentist,  neither  of  whom  had  any  practical  knowledge 
of  the  drug  trade.  Tliey  both  soon  tired  of  the  enterprise  and  offered  it  for 
sale  on  liberal  terms.  It  was  just  what  Dr.  Tate  was  looking  and  wishing  for, 
and  he  bought  it,  in  the  spring  of  1874.  Installing  his  son,  John,  as  chief 
clerk,  he  successfully  conducted  the  store  for  four  years,  in  connection  with 
liis  practice,  when,  growing  tired  of  it  himself,  he  sold  the  establishment  to  a 
man  named  Sprague,  in  the  summer  of  1878.  While  in  the  drug  business  the 
Doctor  concocted  a  patent  nostrum  known  as  "Dr.  Tate's  Celebrated  Anti- 
Bilious  and  Liver  Pills,"  warranted  to  be  purely  vegetable  in  composition, 
and  '"certain,  safe,  mild"  in  action.  After  disposing  of  his  stock  to  Mr. 
Sprague  he  lived  a  more  retired  life  at  home,  still  manufacturing  his  pills 
whicli  for  several  years  had  considerable  reputation  and  sale.  He  also  con- 
tinued the  practice  of  medicine  vuitil  forced  by  the  decrepitude  of  age  to 
abandon  in. 

In  stature  Dr.  Tate  was  five  feet  ten  inches  tall,  with  well-proportioned 
figure  neither  stoop-shouldered  or  corpulent,  having  an  average  weight  of 
about  160  pounds.  His  complexion  was  fair  and  eyes  gray,  with  hair— in  early 
life— of  dark  sandy  color.  Until  his  last  days  he  retained  an  ahiiost  full  set  of 
sound  natural  teeth.  His  regular  features  habitually  wore  a  pleasant,  benev- 
olent expression,  and  his  smoothly  shaved  face,  in  repose,  had  a  reverential 
look  that  seemed  to  index  sentiments  of  piety  and  devotion.  Any  stranger 
would  have  pronounced  him  a  preacher.  He  walked  with  a  somewhat  shamb- 
ling gait,  his  left  arm  usually  partially  flexed  at  the  elbow  by  force  of  habit, 
not  anchylosis.  His  voice  was  soft— almost  feminine,  his  language  chaste 
and  grammatically  correct;  but  his  conversation  and  public  addresses  were 
void  of  eloquence  and  monotonous.  Of  strict  moral  character,  unexceptional 
personal  habits  and  deportment,  he  was  temperate  in  all  things,  to  the  degree 
of  total  abstinence  from  the  use  of  liquors,  tobacco  and  profanity.  With  do- 
mestic tastes,  much  attached  to  his  wife  and  children,  the  quietude  of  liis 
home,  pervaded  by  an  atmosphere  of  affection  and  filial  regard,  constituted 
his  sphere  of  earthly  happiness. 

He  did  nothing  rashly  or  hurriedly,  was  cautious,  slow  and  deliberate  in 
tliought,  speech  and  action,  and  always  very  considerate  of  his  own  ease  and 
comfort— in  fact,  wa?  very  partial  to  ease  and  comfort.  If  called  profession- 
ally to  the  country  before  breakfast  he  generally  remained  tliere  until  after 
supper— if  the  cooking  suited  him  and  his  horse  was  well  fed.  An  expert  in 
dietetics  and  an  epicurean,  lie  was  usually  the  last  one  to  leave  the  table- 
teaching  by  examt)le  one  of  his  hobbies,  the  proper  and  perfect  mastication  of 
food.  Kind  and  charitable,  abliorring  vice,  depravity  and  vulgarity,  his  nat- 
ural impulses  all  tended  to  the  good  of  the  human  race,  and  the  elevating 
and  purifying  of  society.  He  was  not  a  financier,  too  lenient  to  his  delinquent 
patrons  and  other  debtors:    too  negligent  of  business  affairs:    generous   with 


-  175  - 

his  means,  he  lived  well,  and  raised  a  large  and  expensive  family,  butaccumu 
lated  no  wealth.  In  all  ordinary  transactions  he  was  strictly  honorable.  As 
a  physician  he  was  as  honest  and  as  truthful  as  the  ethics  of  his  profession 
would  permit;  for  all  doctors  are  compelled  to  lie  and  practice  deception  in 
self-defense,  often  to  conceal  their  ignorance. 

Many  persons  of  intelligence — some  who  are  well  educated — from  habitual 
concentration  of  thought,  or  natural  eccentricity,  adopt  hobbies  which  they 
advance  on  all  favorable  occasions.  Those  whose  hobbies  are  so  persistent  as 
to  dominate  the  mind  are  styled  "cranks."  Dr.  Tate's  hobby  that  brought  him 
in  the  verge  of  crankism  was  "reform."  He  constantly  advocated  reform,  not 
only  of  medical  practice,  but  of  society,  churches,  modes  of  worship,  political 
parties,  and  methods  of  education.  He  professed  to  practice  the  "Eclectic 
system  of  medicine,  claimed  by  him  to  be  a  vast  improvement  on  the  old  Allo- 
pathic school  and  a  startling  reform.  In  his  characteristic  style  he  displayed 
that  idea  in  a  professional  card  he  inserted  in  the  Cass  County  Times,  in  1851, 
as  follows: 

"H.  TATE,  M.  D. 

'■^Reformer,  Eclectic  Physiciau  and  Surgeon — posted  up  in  the  prof ession  and 
in  Organic  Chemistry. 

'■'■SENTIMENT— Agriculture  and  Medicine  ^\\o\x\di  go  liand  in  hand  in  im- 
provement— old  implements  in  the  fence  corner.  By  the  concentrated  veget- 
able alkaloids  the  pulse,  fevers  and  inflammations  are  more  easily  controlled 
in  three  days,  than  by  old  remedies  in  three  weeks,  despite  the  croaking  and 
clamor  of  fogies. 

"iWOTTO— Truth  and  correct  principles  will  prevail." 

Medical  science  ahd  schools  were  the  objects  he  insisted  reqired  reform 
most  urgently,  but  almost  everything  in  which  the  public  was  interested 
came  in  for  its  share.  To  be  sure,  some  of  those  things  needed  considerable 
reforming;  but  his  theories  were  so  vague  and  disjointed,  and  his  reform 
measures  so  visionary  and  impracticable  that  lie  failed  to  impress  the  people 
with  the  wisdom  of  his  notions,  and  lie  proved  no  more  successful  as  a  re- 
former than  he  did  as  a  financier. 

For  some  years  the  practice  of  medicine  in  a  wide  circle  around  Virginia 
was  divided  between  Dr.  Tate  and  Dr.  Schooley,  each  hotly  trying  to  surpass 
the  other  in  popular  favor.  They  were  not  only  strenuous  rivals  in  business, 
but  bitter  personal  enemies.  As  Dr.  Schooley  for  some  years  had  no  diploma 
Tate  pronounced  him  a  quack,  a  lialf-Indian  adventurer  who  liad  picked  up  a 
little  smattering  knowledge  of  medicine  while  feeding  and  currying  Dr. 
Chandler's  horses.  Schooley  retaliated  by  referring  to  Tate  as  a  root  and 
herb  peddler,  an  old  granny  and  ignoramus.  Each  had  his  friends  and  ad- 
mirers loyal  to  his  interests  and  ready  to  disparage  and  abuse  his  rival. 

The  two  men  were  totally  dissimilar  in  every  particular.  In  their  sys- 
tems of  practice,  in  religious  views,  politics,  temperament,  tastes  and  dispo- 
sitions they  had  scarcely  an  idea  in  common.  Yet,  both  were  good  men.  the 
best  of  citizens,  and  reputed  by  their  respective  friends  to  be  fine  physicians. 
In  one  particular  trait  the  contrast  between  them  was  well  marked.  Dr. 
Schooley  possessed  the  Indian's  passion  for  hunting;  the  savage  desire  for  kill- 
ing—that he  enjoyed  as  "sport" — fortunately  restricted  to  dumb  animals  and 
birds.     Dr.  Tate,  too  compassionate  and  tenderhearted  to  kill  even  a  snake  or 


-176- 

rat,  was  never  known  to  handle,  or  fire,  a  gun.     With  Goldsmith's  Hermit  he 
could  well  have  said: 

■'No  flocks  tliat  range  the  valley  free 

To  slaughter  I  condemn; 
Taught  by  that  Power  that  pities  me, 

I  learn  to  pity  them." 
■-  For  all  humanity  he  also  entertained  heartfelt  compassion  and  charity: 
never  purposely  liarming  or  injuring  anyone;  never  speaking  evil  of  his  neigh- 
bor, (excepting  Schooley;)  never  retailing  malicious  gossip  or  slander,  and  ever 
ready  to  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  tlie  faults  and  frailties  of  the  weak 
and  erring.  Finally  Dr.  Scliooley  abandoned  the  Held;  but  too  late  for  Dr. 
Tate  to  profit  by  his  victory;  as  the  brisk  competition  of  younger  rivals,  and 
the  decrepitude  of  advanced  age  had  rendered  himself  one  of  the  "old  imple- 
ments" relegated  to  the  "fence  corner." 

As  a  physician  Dr.  Tate  was  much  esteemed  by  a  large  class  of  people, 
and,  in  tlie  main,  was  quite  successful.  At  no  time  a  profound  scholar  or 
student,  liis  "book-learning"  was  superficial  and  desultory.  Therefore,  in  his 
practice,  he  relied  but  little  on  theoretical  deductions,  and  depended  upon 
his  knowledge  gained  from  experience  and  precedents;  on  attentive  nursing, 
and  largely  on  the  vis  medicatrix  naturae.  He  was  a  cautious,  conservative, 
practitioner,  aiming  to  check  the  projfress  of  disease  and  allay  suffering  by 
aiding  pliysiological  processes  with  harmless  remedies,  avoiding  heroic  treat- 
ment and  doubtful  experiments.  In  the  sick  room  he  was— as  elsewhere- 
slow,  deliberate  and  methodical,  very  explicit  in  his  directions  to  the  nurses, 
and  exact  in  his  remedies,  carrying  with  him  a  pair  of  prescription  scales  and 
small  graduated  measure  by  means  of  which  he  compounded  his  medicines  to 
the  required  grain  or  drop.  He  claimed  such  precision  to  be  .scientific  reform; 
but  in  reality  it  was  stage  play  more  for  effect  upon  the  patient  and  bystand- 
ers than  from  any  solicitude  on  his  part  for  absolute  correctne.ss.  The  ele- 
ment of  Eclectic  reform  and  advancement  in  his  system  of  practice,  of  which 
lie  so  loudly  boasted,  was  his  employment  of  Merrill's  ''concentrated  veget- 
able extracts,"  manufactured  in  Ciricitniati,  really  meritorious  remedies,  quite 
popular  for  a  longtiuie,  and  in  use  by  all  progressive  physicians.  As  another 
phase  of  his  great  reform,  the  Doctor  professed  to  abjure  all  mineral  thera- 
peutical agents  as  being  deleterious  to  the  human  .s\stem.  or  covert  poisons; 
yet,  when  he  salivated  a  hapless  patient  with  his  '-purely  vegetable"  (reform) 
remedies — as  occasionally  was  the  case — he  gravely  explained  the  "complica- 
tion" away  to  the  attendent  relatives  in  such  a  satisfactory  way  as  to  gain 
hgh  credit  for  having  saved  the  victim's  life.  He  never  attempted  operative 
surgery,  and  in  minor  surgery  was  timid,  bungling  and  awkward. 

Dr. 'J^ate  was  essentially  a  good  man.  actuated  in  everv  walk  of  life  by 
motives  of  benevolence  and  sympathetic  kindness.  He  was  naturally  a  relig- 
ious man  wit  h  devotioual  bent  of  mind,  and  ever-pre.sent  sense  of  responsi- 
bility to  Omnipotence,  flis  belief  ni  immortality  was  fixed  conviction— not 
luerely  a  hope  or  conjecture.  In  the  old  graveyard  in  the  Hall  field  near  Vii'- 
ginia  is  a  child's  grave  with  headstone  bearing  this  inscription:  ••('harles  W. 
Tate,  son  of  Dr.  H.  and  Lydia  E.  Tate.  Passed  by  the  second  birth  to  bloom 
in  the  second  sphere,  August  2;)th.  Is:a.     Aged  19  months." 

■^  The  epitaph  on  that  stone  expressed  tlie   Doctor's  entire  creed.     Bevond 


-  177  - 

the  portals  of  death  was  the  second  bh'th;  beyond  that  all  was  chaos  and  con- 
fusion. He  meditated  deeply  upon  the  much  discussed  question  of  man's 
final  destiny,  and  prayed  for  divine  help  to  light  his  bewildered  way.  In  his 
early  manhood  he  examined  into  the  new  cult  founded  by  Alexander  Camp- 
bell in  1811;  but  to  liim  it  appeared  little  more  tlian  a  rope  of  sand.  In  1843, 
he  went  to  Nauvoo  and  investigated  Mormonism.  By  his  detractors  he  was 
accused  of  becoming  a  member  of  that  abominable  hierarchy,  but  he  denied  it. 
At  any  rate,  he  returned  as  much  unsettled  in  beliefs  as  before.  After  his 
marriage  to  Miss  Proctor— the  Proctor  family  all  being  Methodists— he  was 
persuaded  to  join  that  fold,  and  he  earnestly  tried  to  accept  its  creed.  With 
the  zeal  of  the  new  proselyte,  he  is  said  to  have  attempted  to  preach  it:  but 
periiaps  his  efforts  were  only  to  exhort  sinners  to  repentance.  But  that  too 
failed  to  satisfy  the  yearnings  of  his  soul:  for,  in  reality,  he  was  deficient  in 
faith— as  defined  by  the  church.  Belief  of  the  supernatural  and  impossible 
was  not  his  difficulty- it  was  the  essence  and  nature  of  that  supernatural 
agency  that  staggered  him.  He  was  convinced  that  the  activity  of  tnat 
agency,  or  force,  was  present  in  life,  and  not  deferred  to  the  "second  sphere." 
Consequently  he  believed  firmly  in  premonitions,  omens,  presentiments,  and 
other  esoteric  phenomena. 

He  often  told  that  one  day  during  a  hot,  dry  summer  he  rode  his  tired 
horse  into  a  shallow  slough  for  water,  stopping  near  a  large  dead  tree  that 
stood  in  the  water.  Tlie  thirsty  animal  had  scarcely  commenced  to  drink 
when  the  Doctor  was  suddenly  seized  with  an  urgent  impulse  to  get  away  from 
there  immediately.  No  sound  was  heard  and  not  a  breath  of  air  was  astir 
Giving  his  horse  a  sharp  cut  with  the  whip  the  startled  creature  sprung  for- 
ward several  feet.  At  that  moment  a  large  decayed  limb  of  the  tree,  weigh- 
ing perhaps  half  a  ton,  came  crashing  down  on  the  spot  where  he  stood  an  in- 
stant before.  Again:  about  the  middle  of  the  night,  on  another  occasion,  he 
had  just  issued  his  medicines  and  directions  at  the  bedside  of  a  patient,  a  few 
miles  from  Virginia,  when  he  felt  a  sudden  command,  which  he  could  not  re- 
sist, to  return  home  at  once.  Rushing  to  the  gate  he  mounted  his  horse,  and 
in  a  sweeping  gallop  soon  reached  the  village.  Arriving  at  his  home  he  saw 
an  unusual  light  that,  on  nearer  approach,  he  discovered  emanated  from  fire 
rapidly  spreading  over  the  rear  end  of  the  kitchen,  caused  by  the  careless 
dumping  of  ashes  there  early  in  the  evening.  Springing  from  his  horse  he 
seized  a  bucket  near  by,  which  happened  to  be  full  of  water,  and  with  that 
and  more  he  pumped,  extinguished  the  fire  before  apprising  anyone  of  the 
impending  danger. 

Dr.  Tate  was  an  idealist  and  dreamer,  rejecting  the  rubbish  of  orthodox 
theology  though  sanctioned  by  the  credulity  of  ages.  He  looked  beyond  that 
for  a  more  rational  philosophy  to  satisfy  his  soul's  aspiration.  He  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  Harmonial  hypothesis  of  Andrew  Jackson  Davis  in  its  day — 
so  deeply  impressed  with  it  that  he  named  a  daughter  Harmonia;— and  was 
charmed  with  the  visionary  idealism  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg;  but  he  was  so 
totally  wanting  in  application,  and  the  power  to  concentrate  and  systematize 
his  ideas  that  they  remained  confused  and  without  definite  form  or  order. 
Had  he  lived  long  enough  to  have  become  a  member  of  the  Society  for  Psychi. 
cal  Research  he  would  have  found  in  modern  Spiritualism  removal  of  all 
doubts,  and  satisfactory  solution  of  the  many  occult  problems  that  sorely  per- 


-178- 

plexed  him.  He  kept  aloof  from  all  secret  societies,  and,  after  having  passed 
the  meridian  of  life,  affiliated  with  no  church,  willing  to  rest  his  case,  before 
the  Eternal  Arbiter  of  the  universe,  upon  the  broad  principles  of  Christian 
morality,  and  the  consciousness  of  having  done  his  work  to  the  best  of  his 
ability. 

His  failing  strength  and  faculties  compelled  him  at  length  to  retire  from 
tlie  practice  of  medicine,  to  wliich  he  had  devoted  all  the  best  years  of  his 
life.  Then  followed  a  few  more  years  of  involuntary  seclusion  to  which  he 
could  illy  reconcile  himself.  He  knew  that  he  had  reached  the  limit—that 
ills  course  was  run;  but  he  was  reluctant  to  depart.  The  world  still  appeared 
to  him  bright  and  beautiful.  He  loved  his  home,  his  family,  liis  friends,  and 
clung  to  life  with  pathetic  tenacity;  but  exhausted  vitality  forced  him  to  sur- 
render, and  he  quietly  passed  away  on  the  21st  of  J  une,  1891,  aged  81  years, 
4  months  and  1  day. 

His  wife  did  not  long  survive  him.  After  a  brief  illness  she  died  on  the 
8th  of  November,  1893,  at  the  age  of  6G  years,  3  months  and  12  days. 

Of  their  children  four  sons  and  three  daughters  are  still  living.  A  grown 
son— tlie  one  born  at  Lacon— and  a  married  daughter,  Mrs.  R.  W.  Mills,  some 
years  before,  preceded  them  to  the  grave. 

A  young  man  named  Dunlap  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Tate,  and  "rode" 
witli  him,  ultimately  graduating  at  one  of  the  St.  Louis  medical  colleges,  and 
located  at  Arenzville.  He  there  made  a  promising  beginning  of  a  professional 
career,  but  too  free  indulgence  in  "the  cup  that  both  cheers  and  inebriates" 
prostrated  him  in  public  esteem  and  confidence,  and  ruined  his  prospects  and 
usefulness.  He  left  Illinois  about  18(J7  for  some  unknown  destination,  and 
Cass  county  heard  no  more  of  him. 


MRS.  EMILY  BURTON. 


Introductory  Note  By  J.  N.  Gridlby:  Many  farmers'  wives  are  driv- 
en to  insanity  by  overwork,  tlie  monotony  the  loneliness  of  country  life.  The 
city  lady,  wlio,  with  pity,  and  sympatliy,  looks  out  of  the  window  of  1  he  palace 
car,  upon  tlie  wife  of  a  poor  farmer,  standing,  in  faded  calico  garments,  in  the 
doorway  of  a  cheap,  isolated  farm  liouse,  would  prefer  death  to  the  existence 
of  the  object  of  her  commisseration.  But  the  life  of  the  country  women  of  to- 
day, is  certainly  a  better  life,  than  tiiat  of  a  wife  of  a  pioneer.  The  pioneer  is 
fond  of  dangers,  and  adventure;  liis  daring  spirit  is  exliilareted  by  the  chase 
of  the  deer,  and  the  hunting  of  wild  animals:  he  enjoys  some  degree  of  socia- 
bility witli  his  comrades  in  the  popular  wild  west  sports  of  drinking  liquor, 
gaming,  lighting  and  running  horses.  But  what  of  his  wife  who  lias  left  far 
behind,  her  father, mother,  brother  and  sister,  church  and  school  privileges, 
to  march  on  toward  the  setting  sun  to  find  a  shelter  in  a  log  hut,  in  which  slie 
swelters  in  summer,  and  chills  in  winter;  where  she  is  stricken  in  autumn, 
with  the  deadly  malaria,  far  from  medical  assistance  and  without  suitable 
careV    Is  there  anything  in  this  life,  of  comfort  or  cheer? 

Tliinking  that  a  sketch  of  early  life,  written  by  a  woman  would  be  of 
much  interest,  I  addressed  a  letter  to  my  friend,  Mrs.  Emily  Burton,  asking 
lier  to  become  a  contributor  to  this  series  of  sketches.  Her  father  Hon. 
James  M.  Robinson,  left  his  home  in  central  New  York  in  the  year  18.S.3  with 
liis  wife  and  baby,  for  the  land  of  the  mini,  with  his  family  and  household 
effects  packed  into  a  wagon,  drawn  by  oxen;  passing  through  the  wild  fron- 
tier town  of  Chicago,  he  wended  his  way  slowly  over  the  prairits.  till  he 
reached, the  northwest  corner  of  what  was  then  Sangamon  county,  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Sangamon  at  a  point  within  a  mile  or  two  of  the  present  east  line 
of  Cass  county.  Here  he  unloaded  his  wagon,  prepared  a  shelter,  and  near 
by,  on  Clary's  Creek  lie  soon  established  Robinson's  .Mill,  wliich  soon  became 
w'ell  known  far  and  near,  as  a  familiar  land  mark:  and  here  liis  children  were 
born  and  grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  One  of  them  his  son  Charles  C. 
who  lived  for  more  than  twenty  years  six  miles  east  of  this  city,  is  well  and 
favorably  remembered  by  a  majority  of  our  present  residents. 

Mrs.  Burton's  communication,  came  in  the  form  of  a  letter  widi  the  le- 
(luest  that  I  take  therefrom  the  material  for  the  construction  of  a  sketch, 
but  I  at  once  decided  to  produce  it  as  she  had  written  it  without  alteral  ion, 
being  satisfied  it  would  prove  more  satisfactory  to  the  readers  of  these 
sketches,  than  anytliing  I  could  write,  from  its  contents. 

Deshler,  Neb.,  Feb.  1,  lM()(i.  Hon.  J.  N.  Gridley.  Virginia.  III.  Dear 
friend:  I  received  your  letter  of  January  in  due  time,  and  have  waited  for 
tlie  papers  containing  the  tiistorical  sketches  before  rei)lying. 

Your  letter  was  a  pleasant  surprise,  I  assure  you.  Aside  from  the  pleas- 
ure given  by  your  kind  mention  of  my  father  and  my  brother  Charles,  your 
name  on  the  corner  of  the  envelope  awakened  a  train  of  delightful  as.socia- 
tions  tliat  carrried  me  back  to  the  "noontime  and  June  time"  of  life.  ;ind 
even  before  I  had  tinislied  opening  your  letter.  1  was  in  the  beautiful  country 
around  A'irginia.  visiting  at  my  brother's  house,  enjoying  his  sweet,  congenial 


180 


company,  and  that  of  his  cheerful  family,  and  partaking  of  their  honey  and 
their  fruit.  How  long  and  many  the  years  seem  since  I  visited  there  and  was 
happy!  "The  thoughts  of  youth  are  long,  long  thoughts."  And  being  there, 
how  easy  to  be  transported  to  Chandlerville  to  the  blessed  haven  of  my 
father's  roof,  or  to  stroll  about  the  hills,  and  dream  the  dreams  that  come 
but  once  in  our  three  score  years  and  ten. 

In  tlie  time  that  has  elapsed  since  the  receipt  of  your  letter,  I  have  been 

trying  to  recall  dates  and  events,  and 
any  matter  that  I  thought  would  be 
of  use  to  your  Society.  In  this  matter 
of  dates  and  events,  I  hope  to  get 
some  assistance  from  an  aunt,  my 
father's  sister,  and  only  member  of 
his  family  living-,  who  is  now  in  the 
eighties,  but  bright  and  active  in 
mind.  This  aunt,  then  young  and 
beautiful,  left  civilization  behind  and 
came  with  her  parents,  who  in  less 
than  a  year  followed  their  favorite 
son,  my  father,  to  the  wild  west- 
still  supposed  to  be  infested  by  In- 
dians, rattlesnakes  and  panthers. 
This  aunt,  Mrs.  Cyrus  McDole,  lives 
at  Petersburg,  in  Menard  county.  I 
will  also  call  on  Mrs.  Talbott,  my  old- 
est sister,  and  oldest  of  our  family, 
who  was  born  in  Thompkins  county, 
New  York,  and  who  while  yet  a  mere 
babe  of  scarce  two  years, "  made   the 

Mil^.  EMILY  BURTUN.  journey    with  our  parents  in  a  two 

horse  wagon  drawn  by  oxen,  across  the  wide  stretch  of  country  between  New 
York  and  Illinois. 

My  father  and  mother— what  brave  liearts  they  must  have  had!  It  seems 
to  me  that  not  Nogis,  nor  Togos,  nor  Oyamas  could  be  braver— made  the 
journey  in  1833. 

My  father's  full  name  was  James  Madison  Robinson.  He  was  the  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Lucy  Robinson,  and  was  born  near  Itliaca,  Tompkins  county, 
New  York,  June  14,  1800.  My  grandfather,  Ebenezer  Robinson,  was  a  thrif- 
ty farmer  of  unusual  intelligence,  who  owned  his  home,  and  had  surrounded 
himself  with  many  conveniencies.  Thus  my  father  in  setting  his  face  west- 
ward had  ttie  courage  of  sacrifice. 

My  mother  was  a  native  of  the  same  state  and  county,  and  was  born 
April  25,  1809,  being  a  month  and  nineteen  days  my  father's  senior.  She  was 
the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Rachael  Jay,  and  was  married  to  my  father, 
March  n,  1829. 

Joshua  Jay,  my  grandfather,  was  a  consin  to  the  renowned  .Tohn  Jav,   and 


18f 


JAMES  M.  KOJUNSOX.  MRS.  JAMES  M.  IJOBINSON. 

an  old  family  Bible  I'ecords  that  he  was  born  1765,— he  was,  therefore,  a  lad  of 
ten  years  when  the  revolutionary  war  broke  out.  In  that  momentous  year  of 
1775,  he  was  riding  to  mill  horseback,  with  a  sack  of  grain  in  front  of  him, 
and  was  overtaken  by  three  men,  also  on  horseback.  Tlie  one  in  the  lead  was 
on  a  white  horse,  and  was  very  tall  and  straight.  He  rode  up  to  my  grand- 
father's side,  and  putting  one  hand  gently  on  his  liead,  asked  him  liis  name, 
and  where  he  was  going.  "My  name  is  Joshua  Jay,  and  lam  going  to  mil], 
sir."  "You  are  a  fine  lad,  and  will  no  doubt  make  a  tine  man,  good-day,"  and 
the  three  rode  past  leaving  the  boy  behind.  Jle  learned  afterward  that  the 
one  on  the  white  lioree  was  Washington,  and,  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Bos- 
ton to  take  command  of  tlie  American  forces.  In  the  light  of  what  Wasliing- 
ton  afterward  became,  my  grandfather  loved  to  tell  tliis  to  his  children,  and 
they,  to  tlieir  grandcliildren. 

In  making  their  way  to  Central  Illinois,  my  parents  passed  througli  a 
muddy,  desolate  looking  village  of  only  a  few  houses  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan,  called  Fort  Dearborn.  Twenty  years  later  my  fatlier  went  with  a 
drove  of  cattle  to  tliat  place  and  found  it  a  city.  That  insignificant  village 
had  become  Cliicago.  My  fatlier  brought  back  gifts  to  liis  family,  and  wliile 
distributing  them  said:  "Oh!  Oh!  If  I  could  only  have  seen  into  the  future, 
and  stopped  right  there  in  the  mud  of  Fort  Dearborn,  what  might  we  not 
have  enjoyed  by  this  time?"  That  was  in  185,3.  The  Board  of  Trade  had  not 
then  come  into  existence,  "municipal  ownership"  was  not  even  a  myth, 
strikes  were  unheard  of,  traction  companies,  telephone  companies,  and  trolley 
lines  were  yet  to  be,  an  automobile  would  have  frightened  men  as  well  as 
horses,  the  great  stock  yards  were  not  there,  nor  the  evidences  of  many  other 
"trusts,"— or  he  might  have  expressed  joy  for  his  own  sake,  and  for  the  sake 


18 '2 


of  liis  children  that  he  had  been  able  to  live  in  tranquillity,  out  of  sight  and 
hearing"  of  the  mad  rush  of  "frenzied  finance." 

What  lured  them  on  so  far  south  of  that  place  I  cannot  recall,  but  they 
made  their  first  halt,  to  stay,  near  tlie  border  line  between  the  counties  of 
Menard  and  Cass,  a  mile  or  so  from  Clary's  Creek  on  the  Sangamon  river  bot- 
tom. Uhey  built  their  first  fire  on  the  site  of  what  was  afterward  the  town 
of  New  Richmond,  where  the  thick  stout  grass  was  taller  than  a  man's  head, 
and  as  the  flames  lit  up  the  wild  place,  I  liave  heard  my  mother  say  that  my 
father  sat  dawn  on  the  tongue  of  the  wagon  with  hope  and  courage  for  the 
moment  all  gone,  and  that  in  cheering  him  she  cheered  herself,  and  they  re- 
solved to  conquer  the  wilderness  with  no  turning  back.  They  had  been 
months  on  the  road. 

About  where  tliey  passed  their  first  night,  with  no  shelter  but  what  the 
wagon  gave,  a  rude  log  hut  was  erected  with  a  dirt  floor,  and  one  small  win- 
dow that  for  a  long  time  had  no  glass.  A  heavy  quilt  served  many  weeks  for 
a  door  shelter.  The  logs  to  build  the  cabin  were  cut  from  the  trees  along  the 
Sangamon  I'iver.  The  water  and  the  timber  of  that  river  decided  the  location 
of  the  cabin,  for  the  river  water  was  all  they  liad  to  use  at  first.  Afterward 
a  spring  was  found  that  gave  a  purer  supply.  In  this  cabin  not  many  weeks 
after  their  arrival,  their  first  son  was  born.  Dr.  Chandler,  of  Chandlerville,  . 
was  in  attendance  on  my  mother  during  this  trial  of  strength  and  courage, 
and  in  gratitude  for  his  great  kindness,  my  brother  was  named  Charles  Chand- 
ler. And  for  thirty-five  years  Dr.  Chandler  was  not  only  our  family  physician, 
but  a  highly  respected  and  beloved  friend.  He  was  known  and  sent  for  far 
and  wide,  and  liis  kindness,  manliness,  and  integrity  no  doubt,  won  for  him 
the  same  reverence  in  many  homes  tliat  he  held  in  ours. 

May  Ki,  1S3.5,  my  father  entered  40  acres 
of  land  in  the  western  part  of  Menard  coun- 
ty. This  was  two  or  three  miles  east  of 
New  Richmond,  and  was  divided  almost  di- 
agonally by  Clary's  Creek.  September  9th, 
of  the  following  year  he  bought  40  acres  of 
David  Atterberry.  This  forty  joined  the 
other  on  the  north  and  was  almost  wholly 
on  the  right,  or  east  bank  of  the  creek  as  it 
ran  at  that  place.  In  the  northwest  corner 
of  tills  forty,  and  on  the  riglit  bank  of  the 
creek,  Robinson's  mills,  saw  mill  and  grist 
mill  were  built,  in  1836.  The  next  year, 
;'y|  1837,  he  bought  the  40  acres  joining  this  on 
the  west,  so  that  he  liad  120  acres  in  one 
body.  In  1839  he  bought  another  40,  but  it 
was  in  the  section  south  of  him,  and  in  the 
southeast  part  of  the  section.  This  made 
m  the  owner  of  160  acres  of  rich  land. 
In  those  days  the  "timber"  hugged  the 
streams  closely,  and  to  be  away  from  creek 
or  river  was  to  be  in  the  prairie  grass,  or  on 
the  bald  bluff.     The  growth  of  the  trees  on 


CHARLES  C.  ROBINSON. 


-  183  ~ 


the  bluffs^  whose  sliade  ancf  nnts  were  such  comfort  and  delfghttoiischildren, 
was  nearly  all  after  my  parents  came.  The  bluffs  were  bare,  or  showing  only 
patches  of  low  brush  when  they  first  saw  them,   and   nothing  was  more  of  a 


(Site  of  the  Robinson  Mill.   The  Handkerchief  is  upon  the  exact  location.) 
marvel  to  them  than  this  growth  of  trees.    They  often  spoke  of  it.   and  told 
us  how  the  country  looked  when  they  first  it.    All  one  wilderness  of  grass, 
and  so  full  of  danger  from  fires  in  the  late  summer  and  autumn  that  'fire 
guards"  were  as  necessary  to  safety  as  the  fire  department  of  a  city.    Often 


(Site  of  the  Robinson  Homestead,  which  stood  just  in  front  of  the  site  of  the 

brick  house  shown  in  cut.) 
and  often  they  told  us  of  the  wonderful  prairie  tires  that  spared  nothing,  man 
nor  beast,  nor  young  tree  in  tlieir  track.  Many  a  time  my  father  helped  tight 
fire  to  save  a  neighbor's  grain,  or  hay,  or  stock,  till  he  was  as  black  as  smoke 
and  soot  could  make  him.  Wood  and  water,  the  first  settlers  were  obliged  to 
have,  and  this  is  why  the  land  along  the  creek  and  river  bottoms  was  entered, 
and  turned  into  homes,  before  the  tine  grain  lands,   that   proved  such  a 


-184- 

source  of  wealth  to  those  wlio  came  later.  But  my  father  looked  with  a  mil- 
ler's eye,  and  would  have  searched  for  water  to  turn  his  wheels  had  he  come 
ate  or  early. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  mill,  and  east,  at  the  foot  of  the  hills 
that  were  mountains  to  our  child  eyes,  my  father  reared  a  double  log  house, 
roomy  and  by  comparison  with  other  homes  around  it,  comfortable.  It  had 
a  wide  fireplace  and  an  "up  stairs."  I  have  a  distinct  memory  of  it.  There 
was  a  neat  cave  that  served  for  a  cellar,  a  good  well  with  an  old-fashioned 
sweep,  and  an  orchard  on  the  slope  of  the  hill,  whose  Jennetings,  bell  flowers 
and  "little  Romanites"  helped  witli  nuts  to  brighten  winter  evenings. 

Here  my  father  and  mother  passed  some  of  their  best  days.  Here  six 
children  were  born  to  them,  atid  here  they  wept  over  the  little  girl  that  died. 
Hardship  and  toil  there  had  to  be,  and  privation.  But  they  had  the  joy  of 
liberty.  There  was  no  exacting  sweat-house  master  over  them.  Their  child- 
ren had  the  hills  and  streams  and  birds  and  flowers,  and  all  tlie  wonder  and 
beauty  of  the  change  of  season  in  such  places.  The  pawpaw  leaves  along  the 
ci'eek  bottom  still  glow  for  me  in  the  October  sunshine;  the  mulberries,  the 
wild  plums,  crabs,  and  hawthorn  blossoms,  shed  their  fragrance  and  bear 
fruit  for  me.  Still  do  I  taste  tlie  nuts—hazel  nuts,  hickory  nuts,  big  and 
little,  butternuts,  walnuts,  chinkapins  and  pecans— and  keep  in  mind  the 
smoi.th  and  peculiarly  shaped  stone  that  was  used  instead  of  a  hammer  to 
crack  them  witli,  and  the  place  where  they  were  thrown   in   piles  to  dry 


(Looking  up  Clary's  Creek.) 
awhile  before  being  stored  away  for  the  winter.  We  children  ranged  the 
hills  and  slopes  for  hazel  nuts,  but  ray  father  made  a  business  every  fall  of 
going  with  tlie  "big  wagon"  for  hickory  nuts  and  pecans.  For  the  finest  big 
hickory  nuts  and  pecans,  he  went  to  a  place  on  the  Sangamon  called  the  "Big 
Bottom."  When  we  went  there,  we  took  our  dinners  and  stayed  all  day. 
How  delightful  to  have  our  father  with  us,  helping  to  gather  the  nutsi 
Often  if  the  day  was  chilly  he  would  build  a  rousing  fire  of  leaves  and  sticks 
for  our  delight,  taking  care  always  that  no  damage  was  done.  I  have  come 
to  think  that  children  who  grow  up  without  the  joy  of  gathering  nuts  and 
wild  flowers,  ^row  up  deprived.     I  would  not  exchange  tlie   picture  memory 


-  185  - 

draws  for  any  however  famous  painting  by  tlie  great  mastei's. 

My  parents,  like  their  neighbors,  Icept  their  flock  of  geese  and  their  flock 
of  slieep.  The  geese  had  their  yearly  or  more  frequent  pickings,  when  pillows 
and  feather  beds  were  added  to;  and  often  one  or  two  of  their  number;  roasted 
before  the  fire  in  the  fireplace,  contributed  to  the  cheer  of  Christmas  and 
other  holidays.  The  sheep  were  driven  to  Clary's  Creek  and  given  a  good 
washing  before  the  yearly  shearing:  and  the  wool  cut  from  their  backs  with 
such  dreadful  looking  shears,  was  tied  up  in  large  sacks  or  old  sheets  and 
stored  away  wherever  room  could  be  found  for  it,  till  wool  picking  day  And 
wool  picking  day  was  quite  a  "function."  Between  it  and  one  of  Mrs.  Brad- 
ley Martin's  "functions,"  there  is  all  the  difference  between  pioneer  life  and 
a  society  grown  corpulent  with  wealth,  and  hard  put  for  a  new  amusement. 
On  wool  picking  day  the  neighbor  women  and  children,  who  had  been  invited, 
gathered  in  and  arranged  themselves  in  a  circle  around  a  large  pile  of  wool 
that  occupied  tlie  center  of  tlie  room,  and  each  one  helping  himself  to  a  por- 
tion, picked  burrs,  sticks  and  trash  out  of  it,  till  it  looked  clean  and  fluffy, 
and  then  tossed  it  on  to  a  sheet  spread  out  for  that  purpose.  In  due  time  a 
good  dinner,  and  perhaps  a  good  supper  too,  rewarded  the  pickers,  For  let  us 
not  for  a  moment  imagine  that  people  did  not  have  good  dinners  in  tlio-<e 
days.  Nice  light  bread,  luscious  "corn  pone,'  potatoes,  cabbage,  beans,  peas 
in  their  season,  meats  nicely  browned,  mince  pies,  pumpkin  pies  and  Iruit 
sauces  of  various  kinds,  from  fresh  fruits  in  summer  and  dried  fruits  in  winter, 
were  to  be  found  on  the  tables  of  the  tlirifty  country  folks;  and  for  sucli  occa- 
sions as  wool  picking  many  dainties  were  prepared,  such  as  pound  cake  pre- 
serves and  puddings. 

The  picking  was  only  the  beginning  of  work  on  the  wool.  The  next  task 
was  to  card  it  into  rolls.  This  was  nice  work  that  not  every  woman  was 
skilled  in,  but  one  way  or  another  every  family  managed  to  do  its  own  card- 
ing. Next  came  the  spinning  and  winding  into  skeins,  and  this  work  of 
spinning  usually  fell  to  the  girls  or  young  ladies  of  the  family.  Girls  may  be 
happier  now  with  their  music  practice,  their  Battenburg  and  golf,  but  they 
were  very  happy  then.  Being  one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family,  all 
work  of  this  kind  was  taken  out  of  the  home  before  I  was  old  enough  to  be 
useful,  but  I  remember  how  pleasant  the  buzz  of  the  wheel  was  to  me  as  I 
watched  my  sisters  in  their  tidy  dresses  bold  a  roll  to  the  spindle,  give  the 
wheel  a  touch  with  their  wlieel  pin,  walk  backward  as  far  as  tliey  could  and 
keep  the  wheel  going,  then  forward  again  to  wind  up  the  thread,  perhaps 
singing,  or  reciting  some  poein  all  the  while.  I  had  a  great  desire  to  be  able 
to  turn  a  roll  into  thread,  but  1  was  born  too  late.  After  the  yarn  was  in  the 
skein,  came  the  coloring,  and  wliat  discoveries  in  chemistry  women  made  over 
their  "bluedye"  kettles,  and  in  experimenting  to  get  madder,  and  copperas 
shades.  If  I  remember  right,  I  think  they  got  green,  by  steeping  peach  tree 
leaves  and  mixing  the  liquid  with  the  blue  dye.  Next  came  the  weaving:  and 
gave  forth  flannels  and  linseys,  and  jeans  of  two  colors,  sheep's  gray  and  blue, 
all  of  which  had  to  be  cut  into  garments  for  men,  women  and  children,  each 
seam  sewed  by  hand,  many  of  them  back-stitched  and  pressed,  and  much  of 
the  sewing  done  by  candles  or  a  grease  lamp. 

The  changes  that  have  taken  place  since  then  surpass  the  tales  of  tlie 
"Arabian  Nights."     We  press  a  button  and  maciiinery  is  set  in   motion,  that 


ROBINSON'S   MILL. 


-186- 

obeys  our  every  wish,  performs  labors  that  might  puzzle  tlie  "slaves  of  the 
ring  or  lamp,"  relieves  both  men  and  women  of  drudgery,  lights  our  dwellings, 
annihilates  distance  and  enables  us  to  talk  with  friends  on  the  other  side  of 
the  earth.  No  fairy  tale  can  equal  it,  Women  "back-stitch"  no  more.  The 
sewing  machine  is  a  common  household  utensil,  and  above  it  is  a  gas  jet  or  an 
electric  light  that  turns  night  into  day.  Chemists  get  all  tlie  colors  of  the 
rainbow  from  coal  tar  and  blue  dye  and  madder  tints  as  obtained  then  seem 
to  belong  to  a  rude  age. 

My  father  kept  sheep  for  several  years  after  the  work  of  converting  the 
wool  into  cloth  had  ceased  to  be  a  household  industry.  He  sheared  the  sheep 
and  sent  the  wool  to  Bale's  Mill  at  Petersburg,  to  be  exchanged  for  pretty 
"pressed  flannels"  that  went  far  toward  making  the  family  elegant  as  well  as 
comfortable.  Well  do  I  remember  the  first  "pressed  flannel"  my  father 
brought  home  from  the  mill  at  Petersburg.  One  "bolt"  was  green  and  the 
other  black.  The  green  was  too  pretty  to  go  round— each  one  wanted  some- 
garment  from  it— and  my  school  dress  had  to  be  made  of  the  black,  but  my 
fat  her  said  it  was  pretty  and  I  was  not  unhappy. 

Elobinson's  Mills  became  famous.  People  came  from  far  and  near  with 
grists  to  be  ground  and  logs  to  be  sawed.  They  came  f'om  fifty  and  seventy- 
five  miles  away.  My  father  worked  day  and  night.  There  was  always  too 
much  waiting  for  the  rail!  to  rest.  And  the  poor  miller!  God  bless  him, 
with  his  powdery  curls  and  his  sweet  reasonable  temper.  He  certainly  had  a 
pleasant  way  with  him,  and  men  called  him  "Jimmy"  as  if  from  real  affection. 

It  was  often  into  the  small  hours  of  the  night  before  he  could  leave  the 
mill,  and  because  of  this  my  mother  kept  the  house  as  quiet  as  possible  in  the 
mornings,  and  never  allowed  him  to  be  awakened  until  just  in  time  to  eat  his 
biealvfast.  One  night  when  he  was  at  the  mill  watching  the  hopper,  and  be- 
ing wearier  tiian  usual  had  grown  a  little  drowsy— a  great  many  wagon  loads 
of  grinding  had  come  that  day  and  he  had  helped  carry  the  bags  up  the  steps 
—lie  heard  a  strange  moaning  sound  that  did  not  come  from  an  empty  hopper 
nor  from  any  piston  rods,  cogs  or  belts.  He  heard  it  more  than  once  and  turn- 
ing liis  eyes  in  the  direction  of  the  sound  saw  two  figures  draped  in  sheets 
coining  stealthily  up  the  mill  stairs.  They  looked  very  tall  and  were  dis- 
guised by  dough  faces.  My  father  seized  a  large  iron  bar,  of  use  about  the 
mill,  and  made  for  them  with  it  lifted  to  strike.  My  father  was  a  strong  atli- 
letic  man  of  good  size.  The  two  figures  tore  off  their  dough  faces,  flung  the 
sheets  to  the  floor,  and  revealed  two  young  fellows  that  my  father  knew  well 
and  who  were  often  about  the  mill,  one  of  them  Amos  Ogden.  the  name  of  the 
other  1  cannot  recall  certainly,  but  think  it  was  Amos  Garner,  who  after- 
ward became  a  Methodist  exhorter  and  preacher.  They  begged  "like  good 
fellows,"  and  said  they  were  only  in  for  some  fun.  My  father  advised  them 
not  to  indulge  in  that  kind  of  fun  any  more,  as  they  had  found  out  how  dan- 
gerous it  might  prove.  They  were  glad  to  be  let  off  so  easy  for  they  had  sel- 
dom seen  my  father  roused  to  anger  as  he  was  then. 

Later  on  my  father  was  so  fortunate  as  to  And  a  trusty  Scotchman,  named 
Steven  Burrill.  who  relieved  him  of  part  of  this  night  work  at  the  mill.  Then 
his  evenings  were  given  to  reading:  he  read  much  aloud  to  his  family,  and  of 
the  best.  He  was  fond  of  a  good  story  and  wept  over  the  pathetic  parts  in  a 
way  that  made  it  very  real  to  his  listeners.     I  may  as  well   say  here  that  he 


-  187  - 

had  some  of  the  classics,  both  in  history  and  in  poetry  on  his  bool^  slielf,  and 
pored  over  tliem  often,  dividing  his  enjoyment  of  them  with  liis  family. 
Among  the  poets  were  Shakespeara,  Burns,  Pope,  Cowper  and  Milton,  and  a 
beautifully  bound  volume  of  selections  from  poets  of  New  England.  This 
volume  contained  many  favorites  with  us  children,  among  them  I  remember 
"Fannie  Willoughby"  (author  forgotten),  Marco  Bozaris  by  Halleck,  Bryant's 
"Melancholy  Days"  and  others.  My  mother  early  encouraged  us  to  mem- 
orize beautiful  poems.  She  was  very  fond  of  Cowper  and  1  early  learned  to 
love  "The  Task,"  reading  with  her.  And  many  times  did  we  children  laugh 
with  our  parents  over  "John  Gilpin's  Ride."  Among  the  historians  he  had 
Rollins,  Josephus,  Plutarch's  Lives,  and  a  cyclopedic  history  of  noted  Greeks 
and  Romans,  with  pictures,  from  which  we  younger  children  gleaned  more 
than  from  Plutarch's  Lives.  He  had  also  "Dick's  Works,"  Olmsted's  "Let- 
ters on  Astronomy,"  Abbott's  "Napoleon"  and  other  works  that  I  cannot  re- 
member. Brother  Setn  and  I  read  Abbott's  "Napoleon"  when  we  were  veiy 
young,  and  I  was  never  able  to  quite  overcome  the  bias  it  gave  me  in  favor  of 
Napoleon.  My  father  took  Harper's  Monthly  from  the  very  first  number  pub- 
lished till  his  home  was  broken  up  in  1S()5.  He  took  the  Saturday  Evening 
Post,  and  the  New  York  Ledger  before  its  degenerate  days.  When  George 
D.  Prentiss  had  a  column  in  it,  and  "Fanny  Fern"  wrote  her  spicy  articles 
for  it— articles,  I  believe,  that  went  as  far  toward  rousing  women,  and  men 
also,  to  the  true  dignity  of  womanhood,  the  sacredness  of  motherhood,  and 
the  justness  of  freedom  for  the  mistress,  as  well  as  for  the  master  of  the 
home,  as  did  the  deeper  reasoning  and  greater  eloquence  of  Susan  B.  Anthony 
and  Mrs.  Stanton;  because  her  words  reached  many  a  home  in  which  Miss 
Anthony  and  Mrs.  Stanton  were  strangers.  The  two  Cobbs.  Sylvanus  senior 
and  Sylvanus  junior,  Emerson  Bennett  and  Mrs.  Emma  D.  E.  N.  Southwortii 
wrote  for  these  two  papers.  The  two  Cobbs  and  Emerson  Bennett  have 
passed  to  oblivion;  we  would  search  for  them  in  vain  in  book  catalogues. 
Mrs.  Southworth  is  still  writing,  or  was  at  least  until  very  recently,  and  is 
widely  read  and  known:  but  critics  do  not  give  her  a  high  place.  Yet  by 
reading  the  Cobbs  I  learned  to  hate  religious  intolerance,  and  religious 
hypocrisy.  With  Emerson  Bennett  I  roamed  the  forest,  learned  the  ways  of 
Indians,  their  trickery  and  their  faitlifulness,  their  courage  and  their  wari- 
ness, and  fostered  a  love  for  the  romantic  that  has  sweetened  life  all  along 
the  way.  By  reading  Mrs.  Southworth  I  learned  more  of  Southern  life  'in 
slavery  times  than  I  could  have  got  by  reading  any  history.  Some  of  her 
stories  give  far  truer  pictures  than  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin."  The  negroes  as  a 
rule  sang  at  their  work,  danced  at  night  and  were  happy.  They  did  not 
realize  their  state  till  taught  by  the  white  man.  At  any  rate  her  glimpses  of 
Southern  life  are  pleasant  and  were  enjoyed  by  our  whole  family.  My 
father  thought  the  Saturday  Evening  Post  one  of  the  best  newspapers  in  the 
land,  and  1  can  remember  after  I  was  ten  years  old  having  often  a  playful 
squabble  witli  him  as  to  which  one  of  us  should  be  first  to  open  it. 

My  motlier  was  just  as  fond  of  reading  as  my  father,  and  he  always  read 
aloud  at  niglit  while  she  sewed  or  mended,  unless  interrupted  by  company,  or 
some  other  unusual  event.  In  this  way  we  children  were  taught  to  be  quiet 
and  attentive.  Often  after  supper  while  my  mother  was  busy  at  the  house- 
work he  would  have  a  little  game  with  us  children,    "Blind  Man's  Buff"  or 


-188- 

"Piiss  Wants  a  Comer."  romping  and  running  as  boisterous  as  any  of  us;  but 
when  my  mother  was  ready  to  sit  down,  we  were  delighted  to  be  still  and 
listen.  When  my  brother  Charles  was  old  enough,  my  father  delegated  much 
of  the  reading  to  lum,  and  often  required  one  of  my  older  sisters  to  take  the 
book  and  rest  him. 

All  this  reading  and  pleasant  family  life  was  round  a  wide  open  fire-place, 
with  andirons  to  hold  up  a  good  stout  fore  stick,  and  generous  room  for  a 
huge  back  log  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  smaller  wood  between  back  log  and 
fore  stick,  that  cracked  and  blazed  and  gave  forth  light  and  cheer  that  steam 
heated  houses  can  never  know.  Two  grease  lamps  supplied  the  light  to  read 
and  sew  by,  and  every  morning  those  lamps  had  to  be  cleaned  with  nice  care 
My  mother  was  very  particular.  Every  family  that  did  not  borrow  of  their 
neighbors  had  canr"e  molds  in  those  r'^vs,  and  molded  their  own  candles  from 
beef  tail. w.  Pretty  brass  candlesticks  and  snutfers  ornamented  the  mantles 
in  many  homes.  But  it  took  much  polishing,  I  remember,  to  keep  the  brass 
shining.  In  our  liome  the  candles  were  used  mostly  "to  run  around"  witli, 
or  to  help  out  a  lamp  when  extra  light  was  needed. 

Not  often  did  an  evening  close  round  my  father's  hearth  without  a  colla- 
tion of  nuts  and  apples,  and  now  and  then  a  treat  of  "layer  raisins."  He  was 
very  fond  of  them  and  bought  them  by  the  box.  They  were  always  passed 
around  in  the  box,  so  as  no:  to  disturb  more  than  were  eaten.  That  was  be- 
fore the  age  of  "shoddy"  and  "graft"  set  in,  and  the  bottom  of  the  box  was 
where  it  should  be— so  very  different  from  strawberry  boxes  of  the  present 
day— and  the  last  layer  of  raisins  was  as  firm  as  the  first. 

My  parents  liad  neighbors— neighbors  without  stint  it  seems  to  me;  I  can 
remember  the  names  of  many  of  them.  Tlie  Lynns,  the  Hickeys,  the  Ish- 
maels,  tlie  Dicks,  the  McHenrys,  the  Lounsberrys,  the  Ogdens,  the  Jones', 
the  Watkins'.  t lie  Overstreets,  the  Armstrongs,  were  all  my  father's  neigli- 
bors,  with  whom  he  exchanged  kindnesses  and  with  whom  he  met  at  times  in 
a  social  way.  My  parents  were  both  socially  inclined,  and  took  moderate 
part  in  apple  bees,  quiltings,  house  or  barn  raisings,  dances,  picnics,  or  what- 
ever brought  the  people  together,  except  horse  racing.  This  my  parents  dis- 
approved, the  more  especially  as  it  was  usually  accompanied  by  whiskey 
drinking  and  betting.  My  mother  was  bitterly  intolerant  of  drunkenness. 
For  the  man  under  the  influence  of  alcohol  she  had  neither  pity  nor  kindness. 
My  father  while  using  his  influence  against  it  by  example  as  well  as  by  words, 
was  more  patient,  and  looked  upon  the  drinking  man  as  more  victim  than 
aggressor. 

Camp  meetings  were  a  kind  of  social  gathering  in  those  days  and  took 
place  about  once  a  year,  in  the  early  autumn,  bringing  more  people  together 
than  perhaps  any  one  cause.  But  my  parents  thought  the  religious  fervor 
roused  by  the  preaciier's  words  and  tlie  singing  in  the  center  of  the  crowd, 
more  than  off  set  by  the  rowdyism  on  the  outskirts,  and  if  they  attended 
these  meetings  it  was  more  to  study  human  nature  than  to  take  part, 
or  encourage  them. 

Most  of  the  preaching  at  that  time  was  done  by  "circuit  riders,"  preach- 
ers whose  regular  charge  was  in  some  town,  but  whose  duty  it  was  to  devote 
certain  Sabbaths  to  the  people  of  the  surrounding  country;  and  it  was  not 
unusual  for  the  speaker  to  announce  at  the  close  of  his  sermon  that   theie 


-  189  - 

would  be  meeting  at  the  same  place  the  following  Sabbath,  when  some  broth- 
er in  the  audience,  perhaps,  would  address  them.  This  brother,  not  an  or- 
dained preacher,  was  called  an  "exhorter."  Some  of  these,  both  circuit 
riders  and  exhorters,  were  sharp-witted  and  ready  enough  of  tongue,  and 
with  these  my  father  loved  to  have  a  bout  at  argument,  "to  try  their  metal 
and  see  how  much  they  knew,"  he  used  to  tell  my  mother  when  she  chided 
liim.  fie  seldom  failed  to  go  to  hear  a  good  talker,  of  whatever  denomina- 
tion, but  never  let  a  chance  slip  to  joke  a  Methodist  preacher  about  his  fond- 
ness for  "yellow  legged  chickens."  These  meetings  were  held  in  school- 
houses,  or  out  of  doors  in  the  shade  of  trees.  Well  do  I  remember,  during 
what  was  called  a  "revival,"  the  passionate  appeal  to  sinners,  made  by 
preachers,  exhorters,  and  brothers  in  the  church,  to  come  forward  to  the 
mourner's  bench  and  be  saved,  thus  escaping  outer  darkness,  and  everlasting 
hell  fire;  and  I  recall  my  childish  wonder  at  seeing  men  and  women,  some  of 
them  no  longer  young,  rise  and  go  forward,  and  kneel— some  of  them  quietly, 
some  of  them  sobbing;  and  then  my  childish  terror  at  seeinij  first  one  and 
then  another  start  up,  shouting  and  lifting  their  hands,  calling  on  the  Lord 
to  come  right  then  and  save  them,  or  falling  over  prone  upon  the  ground, 
utterly  overcome. 

Peter  Cartwright  was  a  preacher  and  circuit  rider  of  great  fame  in  those 
days,  and  more  than  once  must  have  come  near  enough  to  Robinson's  Mills 
for  my  father  and  family  to  go  and  hear  him.  But  it  was  after  we  had  left 
there  and  were  living  at  Bath  that  I  remember  seeing  and  liearing  him.  As 
I  recall  him  a  gray-haired  man,  not  tall,  but  well  built,  with  good  chest  and 
shoulders,  a  tine  head,  with  a  keen  eye  and  a  square  jaw.  He  had  that  ease 
of  manner  that  comes  to  the  man,  who  being  round  has  found  that  round 
niche  or  hole  that  tits  him— in  other  words,  the  masterful  manner  that  comes 
with  long  practice  crowned  witli  success  in  a  chosen  work.  His  sermon  was 
gloomy,  an  arraignment  of  the  intidel,  and  disappointed  me,  as  I  was  expect- 
ing something  bright  and  witty,  of  both  of  which  I  knew  he  was  capable, 
knew  it  from  what  I  had  heard  of  him. 

Now  and  then  my  father  invited  the  preacher  home  with  liim  to  dinner 
and  took  pleasure  in  entertaining  him,  though  he  was  not  a  member  of  any 
church,  nor  was  my  mother.  They  were  not  bound  to  any  creed,  but  held 
that  the  Universalist  has  the  most  rational  belief. 

Tlie  dances  of  those  days  were  not  such  rude  attempts  at  pleasure  and 
sociability  as  one  might  be  led  to  think.  For  there  were  certainly  good 
tiddlers  and  callers  then,  that  a  later  time  has  not  surpassed.  "Fiddler  John 
Jones"  was  almost  as  far  famed  for  his  music  and  good  calling  as  preacher 
Cartwright  for  his  oratory.  He  was  head  musician  at  the  "balls"  in  Peters- 
burg and  other  towns:  and  in  the  country  around,  wlierever  young  people 
were  assembled  to  "trip  the  light  fantastic  toe"  "Fiddler  Jones"  was  in  de- 
mand, though  on  account  of  the  many  calls  on  his  skill  and  time,  he  could 
not  always  respond.  He  had  a  voice,  that  without  being  loud,  penetrated 
every  part  of  a  ball  roou}-.  his  enunciation  was  distinct,  and  his  time  perfect, 
so  tliat  the  dancers  seldom  made  a  mistake,  and  he  knew  so  many  clianges 
that  they  did  not  tire,  and  too  often  did  not  "go  home  till  morning."  My. 
oldest  sister,  Evalyn,  now  Mrs.  Talbott,  was  just  blooming  into  young  lady- 
hood, and  was  one  of  the  belles  of  the  county  when   "Fiddler  Jones"   was  so 


-190- 

popular.  She  wrote  to  an  aunt— I  wish  I  could  state  in  wliat  year,  but  it 
must  have  been  in  1845  or  '4(1— "I  went  to  dancing''  school  last  winter,  and  old 
Bell  died  last  summer."  "Old  Bell"  was  a  favorite  cow.  This  dancing  school 
was  conducted  in  a  schoolhouse,  and  Mrs.  Talbott  thinks  young  people  have 
seldom  had  such  a  skillful  teacher,  or  such  entrancing  music  to  practice  by. 
My  father  thought  dancing  in  moderation  excellent  for  young  people;  it  was 
one  of  the  best  means,  he  said,  of  acquiring  pliysical  grace,  and  of  imparting 
ease  of  manner.  And  he  thought  it  good  even  for  the  elderly,  keeping  the 
muscles  supple,  and  the  heart  young.  He  was  very  fond  of  the  Opa  reel,  and 
took  pleasure  in  guiding  unsophisticated  youngsteis  through  its  mazy  de- 
lights. I  have  danced  in  the  same  set  with  my  father,  and  not  one  of  his 
cliildren  but  could  say  the  same. 

This  memory  of  him  in  the  danoe  with  us,  and  entering  into  the  spirit  of 
it  with  the  zest  of  youth,  so  far  from  detracting  from  his  dignity  as  a  father, 
fills  my  heart  with  loving  gratitude  for  the  sweet  sympathy  that  doubled  our 
joys  by  sharing  them.  As  I  think  of  him,  my  father  would  have  been  a  par- 
ent to  satisfy,  almost,  the  ideal  of  Froebel,  the  founder  of  the  kindergarten, 
whose  wisdom  the  world  is  just  beginning  to  compreliend.  As  1  see  him  with 
us  in  our  play,  once  more  I  must  say,  "(lod  blesshira." 

Equal!}' did  he  sympathize  with  us  in  our  tasks.  He  heard  us  read  and 
spell  and  questioned  us  on  all  our  lessons.  Often  he  took  the  spelling  book, 
"Webster's  Elementary,"  and  pronounced  words  for  us  to  spell  till  my  mother 
would  declare  that  he  was  wearing  us  out.  But  we  had  wonderful  staying 
powers  in  sucti  exercises  and  could  hold  our  own  with  him.  spelling  as  long  as 
he  could  "give  out."  He  had  no  patience  with  careless  spelling  and  expected 
us  to  learn  the  "hard  pages"  as  well  as  the  easy  ones:  and  we  did.  lie  had  his 
reward;  we  were  a  family  of  good  spellers.  Ptyalin,  phthisic,  tyranny,  mort- 
gage, pli}sic  were  just  as  easy  as  grease,  fleece,  tare,  fair,  stare,  requiring  no 
more  strain  on  the  attention.  Owing  to  this  practice  and  the  love  of  it,  our 
mates  and  their  parents  sometimes  thought  we  got  more  than  our  share  of 
head  marks  and  other  school  honors,  and  on  our  account  one  teacher,  a  Mr. 
Walker,  was  confronted  by  the  school  board  one  afternoon,  just  about  spelling 
time,  and  accused  of  partiality  to  the  "Robinson  children,"  and  told  that  he 
would  better  give  up  his  job.  Many  of  the  children  were  frightened,  I  among 
them,  and  very  glad  that  1  could  shrink  clo.se  to  my  older  sister,  Lucy,  and 
be  soothed  by  her.  This  was  in  the  iMcHera-y  schoolhouse.  and  the  chairman 
of  the  board  which  came  that  day,  was  Murrill  McHenry.  Mr.  Walker  re- 
signed his  otiice  of  teacher,  then  and  there,  and  the  next  day  came  to  my 
father's  house  to  tell  us  children  good  bj^e.  We  were  fond  of  him  and  for  us 
younger  ones  it  was  a  tearful  farewall.  As  a  parting  gift  he  gave  me  a  Mc- 
Guffey's  first  reader.  How  happy  1  was  and  grateful!  How  well  I  remember 
the  little  green-backed  book,  crisp  and  clean  and  new.  Pretty  it  was,  with 
pictures  illustrating  the  lessons,  and  with  all  the  strides  in  book-making  for 
children,  some  of  them  beautiful,  almost  ideal,  that  little  book  is  not  greatly 
surpassed.  So  far  I  had  never  been  put  to  reading,  not  a  line,  but  I  could 
spell  metheglin,  cinnamon,  incomprehensibility  and  so  on,  and  pronounce  each 
syllable  and  group  of  syllables  as  1  spelled,  and  when  that  dear  teacher  was 
gone  1  sat  down  in  a  little  splint-bottomed  chair,  before  the  fireplace,  and 
read  the  first  lessons  of  the  little   book   aloud,  delighting  and  surprising  my 


-  191  - 

hearers  almost  as  much  as  myself.  I  can  still  repeat  some  of  the  lessons. 
Did  my  father  have  to  look  at  that  book  and  enjoy  it  with  me  when  he  came; 
Ah!  sweet  the  memory  of  his  interest  in  it,  his  real  enjoyment  of  it.  We 
never  attended  school  in  that  schoolhouse  or  district  again  When  we  went 
to  school  again  it  was  at  the  Kendall  schoolhouse,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter 
northeast  of  our  home.  My  father  was  not  strict  with  his  children.  He  was 
always  willing  to  reason  with  us,  ready  to  compromise  if  need  be,  and  seldom 
opposed  us  in  our  little  plans  for  work  or  pleasure,  unless  he  could  show  good 
cause;  but  there  were  two  rules  that  he  did  not  want  infringed  upon— when 
school  time  came  we  had  to  be  ready  to  start;  when  we  came  home  we  were 
to  tell  no  "tales."  Neither  of  which  seemed  "rules"  to  us.  It  was  our  de- 
light to  go  to  school,  and  save  one  we  never  had  a  teacher  that  we  did  not 
love  and  honor  with  all  our  hearts,  consequently  what  we  had  to  tell  was  not 
"tales"  and  could  be  listened  to.  "Tales,"  interpreted,  meant  fault  finding 
My  father  believed  those  children  who  were  allowed  to  stay  out  of  school  of 
t'leir  own  accord,  or  who  were  kept  at  home  to  work,  greatly  wronged,  and 
was  in  favor  of  a  compulsory  school  law.  He  impressed  upon  us  constantly 
the  necessity  for  diligence  in  study,  and  the  bad  consequences  to  ourselves, 
and  even  to  others,  if  we  wasted  our  precious  school  days.  Nothing  gratified 
him  more  than  to  know  we  had  deserved  the  teacher's  praise.  He  used  all  his 
influence  for  good  schools  and  urged  the  need  of  mailing  generous  contribu- 
tions for  that  purpose.  He  encouraged  us  to  never  mind  the  weather,  and 
we  didn't.  We  enjoyed  rain  and  shine,  snow  and  sleet,  and  with  it  all  we  en- 
joyed the  contents  of  our  dinner  basket. 

Here  I  am  reminded  of  the  Davidson  family  and  the  Holland  family,  who 
were  neighbors  of  my  father,  but  whose  names  I  failed  to  include  in  the  list. 
It  is  a  pleasure  to  recall  them.  Robert  Davidson  and  wife  were  excellent 
people,  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  "Uncle  Bobby,"  as  he  was  called,  was 
accused  of  being  too  strict  on  Sunday  to  be  consistent  with  his  week  day  con- 
duct; too  strict,  it  was  said,  to  allow  his  two  little  orphan  grand-daughters  to 
whistle  or  play  with  dolls,  or  even  walk  about  the  yard  Whether  justly  ac- 
cused or  not,  he  raised  a  family  to  be  proud  of.  There  was  a  son,  Robert,  and 
two  daughters,  Margaret  and  Mary.  Margaret  taught  the  Kendall  school,  to 
which  we  were  transferred.  She  was  a  young  woman  of  sterling  worth,  com- 
manding in  figure,  bright,  witty  and  of  pleasing  manners— she  had  almost 
every  quality  that  goes  to  make  the  good  teacher.  Mary,  a  tall,  shy,  studious, 
conscientious  girl,  was  beloved  by  tlie  little  scholars,  be.-ause  she  helped  them 
with  their  lessons  and  took  much  charge  of  them,  protecting  them  against 
the  rude  and  thoughtless  ones.  Robert  was  a  fine  young  man.  He  kept  a 
store  at  Robinsons  Mills,  after  it  had  been  laid  out  in  town  lots,  and  a  post- 
office  establislied  there;  both  of  which  events  took  place  after  my  father  had 
left  the  Mills.  Before  this  our  post-office  was  Petersburg,  ten  miles  away. 
This  store  was  kept  in  a  room  that  had  been  used  by  Egbert  Buckley  as  a 
carpenter  shop.  In  this  store  I  made  my  first  purchase.  I  bought  a  pair  of 
"side  combs,"  choosing  them  myself.  Robert  told  my  mother  that  I  picked 
the  best  pair  in  tlie  show  case.  Instead  of  making  me  proud,  this  mortified 
me.  I  thought  I  had  been  guilty  of  bad  manners,  in  choosing  the  best  ones. 
The  Davidsons  moved  to  Monmouth,  Warren  county.  111.  Margaret  had 
married  a  Mr.  Sterret,  also  a  teacher,  and  they  and  Margaret's  sister  Mary 


became  teachers  of  the  higliest  position  in  the  xVlonmouth  schools,  and  after- 
ward in  the  college  at  Galesburj,'-,  111.  To  me,  Margaret  Davidson  is  a  name 
denoting  dignity  and  worth. 

To  the  Kendall, school  came  the  children  of  Henry  Holland  and  wife, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Tiie  parents  were  highly  respected  by  my 
father  and  mother,  and  the  children,  especially  the  daughters,  were  much 
beloved,  and  almost  as  free  in  our  home  as  in  their  own.  All  of  them  grew 
up  to  be  well  respected  men  and  women,  and  some  of  them  very  prosperous. 
They  were  our  playmates. 

The  Kenflall  schoolhouse  was  a  type  of  the  school  architecture  of  tliat 
tiiup.  It  was  built  of  logs,  and  tlie  chinks  between  the  logs  rudely  stopped 
witli  clay.  Tlie  seats  were  benches  without  backs  tliat  reached  the  length 
or  width  of  the  room,  and  were  made  of  heavy  slabs  with  holes  bored  in  each 
end  for  legs,  that  protruded  more  or  lenS  above  the  top  of  tlie  seat.  A  wide 
board  chat  like  the  benches  reached  the  length  of  the  room,  was  fixed  up 
against  the  wall  at  what  was  considered  the  riglit  lieight.  and  with  the  prop- 
er slant,  and  heie  on  one  of  the  long  benches,  managing  as  best  they  could  to 
get  feet  and  legs  over  it,  and  under  the  slanting  board,  the  pupils  sat  to  write. 
They  wr)te  with  quill  pens,  and  the  teacher's  patience  as  well  as  the  metal 
and  con. I  it  ion  of  his  penknife  were  often  greatly  tried  in  keeping  these  pens 
jh  order.  In  my  memory  of  this  schoolhouse  it  is  always  summer,  the  door  is 
wide  oixMi.  tlie  tioor  is  clean  swept,  the  walls  hung  with  blossomed  boughs  of 
dogwood,  wild  cherry,  crab  apple  and  liawthorn,  and  sprays  of  glistening  oak 
and  sassafras.  And  O,  tliat  sassafrasl  For  wiiat  did  it  not  serve?  Its  green 
a  1(1  L.rittle  shoots  were  bonbons.  Its  buds  were  spice  of  the  most  agreebable 
flavor,  its  \oung  leaves  were  food,  its  bark  was  chewing  gum,  and  its  roots 
surpassed  young  ll^soii  or  tjunpowder!  What  need  of  sandalwood  or  spices 
from  tlie  orient? 

Tlie  girls  in  pairs  took  turns  in  sweeping  the  floor,  and  were  allowed  un- 
restricted freedom  in  adorning  the  walls  with  bouglis  while  all  vied  with  one 
another  in  beautifying  the  teacher's  desk  or  table  with  violets,  sweet  Will- 
iams, hawk's  bills,  lady  slippers,  Dutchman's  breeches,  ferns,  and  bluebells. 
As  it  is  always  summer,  so  it  is  always  afternoon,  and  the  scholars  with  faces 
washed  clean  at  the  "branch,"  and  hair  made  smooth  with  "side  combs" 
after  boisterous  play,  are  swaying  to  and  fro  on  the  high  benches  absorbed  in 
ttieir  spelling  lessons.  Two  freckle  faced  boys,  .John  and  Alvin  llarman— how 
well  I  remember  them— are  on  the  floor  reciting  their  -'a,  b,  abs."  "B-ah. 
a-ah,  b  a-ah:  c-ah,  a-ali,  c  a-ah:  d  ah,  a-ali,  d  a-ah."  The  sound  is  monot- 
onous, the  soft,  cool  air  scented  with  flowers  is  irresistible,  and  one  little  girl 
goes  fast  asleep  and  drops  her  spelling  book.  Startled  by  the  sound,  she 
gathers  it  up  hastily,  receives  the  teacher's  chiding  meekly,  and  with  a 
shame-faced  air  proceeds  to  study  her  lesson  There  were  long  rows  of  spell- 
ing classes,  and  much  strife  in  getting  head  marks:  emulation  in  reading,  and 
in  quickness  at  answering  mental  .Vrithmetic  problems.  Outside  there  were 
joys  without  number:  the  brook,  or  "branch''  from  which  we  constantly 
chose  a  new  set  of  "jackstones,"  game  of  the  Ave  mystic  pebbles:  tlie  trees- 
oak,  elm,  hickory,  red  bud,  paw  paw,  .sycamore,  maple,  hackberry,  willow- 
all  dear  to  tlie  children,  their  very  names  beloved:  the  teeter  board  in  the 
fork  of  the  great  oak,  .so  near  the  schoolhouse   that    its  liranches  shaded   the 


-  193  - 

roof:  tlie  play  houses,  with  the  corners  of  its  rooms  marked  by  tlie  position 
of  young  trees  or  saplings,  with  stump  or  log  for  table,  and  carpeted  with 
leaves  gathered  by  the  boys  and  sewed  togetlier  with  Spanish  needles— a 
bearded  grass  that  grew  in  the  moist  glades;  with  drinking  cups  and  bowls 
fasliioned  also  out  of  leaves,  and  held  in  shape  by  Spanish  needles.  There 
are  school  houses  now  from  Maine  to  California,  every  two  miles,  of  wood,  or 
brick,  or  stone,  painted,  well  lighted,  with  varnished  desks,  and  seats  made 
according  to  hygienic  rules;  and  supplied  with  Courses  of  Study  and  other 
aids  for  the  teacher;  and  for  tlie  children,  with  books  so  beautifully  illus- 
trated and  printed,  with  matter  so  appropriate  and  well  chosen,  that  they 
are  almost  a  marvel  of  perfection;  but  who  can  doubt  that  a  schoolhouse  sit- 
uated as  the  one  described,  however  rudely  built,  where  children  may  learn  of 
trees  and  running  brooks,  and  of  all  creatures  that  do  inhabit  them  -squir- 
rels, birds,  bees,  flowers,  vines,  and  even  toads,  frogs,  and  snakes— who  can 
doubt  that  such  a  schoolhouse  is  a  true  seat  of  learning,  in  some  respects, 
surpassing  in  far  off  good  results,  many  a  trig  brick  structure  of  the  present 
day,  wliose  imposing  front  looks  from  some  bare,  windy  hill  near  its  fostering 
town. 

For  half,  yes  one-third  the  millions  that  are  appropriated  by  govern- 
ments for  a  "big  navy"  the  grounds  about  every  schoolhouse  could  be  m;ide 
into  little  park«,  beautified  with  trees,  gardens,  beds  of  tloweis,  and  even 
artificial  brooks  and  lakes — with  every  charm  for  children,  thereby  fostering 
influences  that  would  lead  toward  that  universal  peace  men  talk  of  in  high 
flown  words,  whose  meaning  is  drowned  by  the  clang  of  the  hammer  that  is 
fashioning,  by  their  sanction,  the  latest  and  most  formidable  warship  yet 
devised. 

My  mother  was  equally  interested  with  my  father  in  all  matters  of  cultui-e 
and  education:  and  was  not  behind  him  in  re(]uiring  of  us  sti'ict  attention  to 
duty,  and  in  reminding  us  that  the  reward  is  to  the  diligent.  She  quoted  from 
Franklin's  sayings,  and  from  the  proverbs  of  the  Bible  often,  that  she  might 
inspire  us  to  greater  effort.  Sweet  the  memory  of  my  mother,  and  I  find  no 
higher  reason,  no  more  convincing  argument— reason  and  argument  unanswer- 
able—for  the  advancement  of  woman,  for  perfect  freedom  for  her  as  for  man, 
than  this  memory  of  my  mother. 

As  for  roads  when  my  father  came  to  Illinois,  there  were  none.  Tlie 
traveler  took  his  bearings  from  the  sun  and  the  course  of  streams,  and  struck 
out  with  only  his  courage  and  common  sense  to  guide  him.  When  he  came  to 
sloughs,  he  chicked  up,  went  in  atid  trusted  to  luck  not  to  get  miied  down. 
When  creeks  crossed  his  path,  there  were  no  bridges,  and  he  found  the  shal- 
lowest looking  place  he  could,  and  plunged  in,  hoping  to  escape  (juicksands 
and  drowning,  and  come  out  safe  on  the  other  side.  If  his  hope  was  realized 
he  found  the  same  place  when  crossing  again:  and  others  seeing  his  tracks 
followed  where  they  led.  Such  a  crossing  was  called  a  "ford,"  and  was  named 
for  the  nearest  inhabitant  sometimes,  sometimes  for  the  nearest  town,  (^ne 
man  followed  the  other's  track,  and  gradually  the  safest,  smoothest  route  for 
wlieels,  and  the  shallowest,  most  gravelly  fords  were  found.  There  was  no 
"marked"  roads,  and  no  bridges  to  speak  of,  except  near  the  towns,  as  late  as 
18()0.  When  rivers  impeded  the  way,  a  rude  ferry  boat,  with  a  man  unambi- 
tious enough  to  attend  to  it,  carried  people  over.     But  often  the  traveler  had 


-  194  - 

to  spend  a  quarter  of  an  liour  or  more,  liallowing  the  ferryman  to  his  post  of 
duty.  Unambitious  tliough  tlie  ferryman  was.  he  had  to  keep  up  a  pretty 
good  tiglit  part  of  the  year  witli  mosquitoes  and  malai-ia.  After  the  prairie 
sod  was  broken  up  and  converted  into  cornfields  and  wheatfields,  and  fences 
built  around  men's  farms,  teams  could  no  longer  "pick  their  way,"'  but  were 
confined  to  the  lanes,  and  often  had  a  long  hard  pull  for  three  or  four  miles  at 
a  stretcli  through  mud,  deep  enougli  to  test  the  singletrees,  and  tugs,  and 
even  to-day  good  roads  in  Illinois  and  most  other  states  are  still  in  the  future 
—at  present  reflecting  the  poverty  of  road  districts,  townships  and  counties, 
and  the  indifference  of  the  state,  or  national  government. 

My  fatlier  took  great  interest  in  public  questions,  and  I  can  not  remem- 
ber wheu  free  trade  and  tariff,  free  soil  and  slavery  were  not  discussed  in  our 
liome.  My  earliest  recollection  is  of  the  talk  of  the  Mexican  war.  The  battle 
was  over  but  the  disturbance  it  caused  liad  not  quieted  down.  The  military 
spirit  still  ruled  and  "training  days"  were  set  apart,  when  men  donned  uni- 
forms and  shouldered  muskets  for  drill  in  marching  and  handling  arms.  My 
fatlier  had  no  musket,  and  took  no  part  in  this  practice,  but  his  brother-in- 
law.  Seth  Buckley  was  a  "train  band  captain,"  and  had  a  sword  and  musket 
with  bayonet;  and  his  uniform  with  "gold"  buttons  and  epaulettes,  was  both 
gor.edus  and  fearful  to  our  childish  eyes. 

.M\  father  read  The  Federalist,  and  admired  the  arguments  in  favor  of  the 
atloption  of  the  constitution.  My  uncle,  Seth  Buckley,  admired  Jefferson's 
criticisms  of  the  constitution,  and  his  plea  for  state  rights,  and  partook  of  liis 
fears  of  a  centralized  govern.ment.  Seth  Buckley  married  my  father's  sister, 
Caroline,  and  lived  in  the  house  that  was  afterward  owned  and  occupied  bv 
.lohn  Borntett  at  Robinson's  Mills.  It  was  but  a  few  steps  from  my  fatlier's 
liouse.  and  the  two  families  read  the  same  books  and  neT\\spapers,  and  dis 
cussed  them  t(^gether.  Seth  Buckley  was  a  democrat,  my  fathei-  a  whig,  but 
their  affections  for  each  other  was  something  out  of  the  common,  and  is  pleas- 
ant to  remember.  My  mother  and  all  the  family  shared  in  this  affection,  and 
when  a  second  son  was  born  to  my  parents  he  was  named  Seth  in  honor  of  this 
uncle.  Mr.  Buckley  left  Robinson  Mills  about  the  time  my  father  died  and 
moved  onto  a  farm  five  miles  northwest  ef  Petersburg,  near  wliich  the  town 
of  Atterberry  has  since  been  built.  Here  he  died  while  yet  a  young  man.  and 
my  aunt  after  a  widowhood  of  eight  years  was  married  to  Cyrus  McDole  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McDole  lived  on  the  farm  for  many  years  and  prospered  well,  but  as 
old  age  approached  they  left  it  to  younger  hands,  and  are  now  pa,ssing  the 
pleasant  days  of  a  well  earned  leisure  in  their  beautiful  home  at  Petersburg. 

As  has  already  been  stated  in  the  beginning  of  this  sketch,  my  father's 
parents,  with  what  family  they  still  had  under  their  care,  followed  him  to 
Illinois  in  less  than  a  year.  This  family  consisted  of  tlu'ee  daugliters.  Eliza. 
Harriett  and  Caroline,  and  one  son,  Joel.  A  married  son,  Daniel,  came  also 
witii  his  young  wife.  My  father  had  one  other  brother,  Charles.  He  was  a 
well-to-do  lumber  merchant  at  Ithica.  New  York.  He  was  not  tempted  to 
try  the  West  till  several  years  later  when  he  went  to  Saginaw,  Micliigan. 
My  Grandmother  Robinson  died  within  a  few  years  after  coming  to  Illinois, 
and  my  grandfather  married  a  J^Irs.  Ogden,  a  widow  a  few  years  younger  than 
himself,  as  second  wife.  When  I  first  knew  my  grandfather  he  was  a  cripple 
from  paralysis,  and  could  not  walk  even   with  crutches,   without   a   hand   to- 


-  193  - 

steady  liim.  He  was  a  reader  and  a  thinker,  and  at  limes  took  pleasure  ir^ 
putting-  liis  tlioughts  on  paper.  After  tlie  stroke  that  bound  liim  to  his  easy 
eliair,  a  prisoner,  his  chief  solace  was  in  books. 

ITe  had  tlie  Bible  at  his  tongue's  end.  and  could  quote  an  apt    verse   front) 
any  part  of  it  to  strengthen  his  own  position  or,  weaken  that  of  an  opponent 


In  tlie  rear,  at  tlie  r 


5ht,  M 
In  li< 


in  an  argument.  He  h;ul 
old  man.  ( )nce  on  being  i 
trict.  named  .loseph  Crai^;" 


onl.  Mis 

I  large,  til 
itrodiR-ed 


>ilS>,(l 

II. -Ic 


;  at  the  left,   Mrs.   Emily  Burton. 
M.  Bobbins. 

head,  and    was  a    handsome,   cheerful 

'   the  young  school  mask 

ho  was  a    favorite  with  all   Ins  sc 


schoolmaster  of  our  dis- 
'holars.   and    a 


-  \96- 

good  looking,  unpretending  sensible  young  man,  my  grandfather  noticed  that 
he  had  a  small  head,  and  his  tirst  words  were,  "Little  head,  little  wit." 
Young  Craig,  not  in  the  least  disconcerted,  answered  readily,  "Big  head,  not 
a  bit."  My  grandfather  was  so  pleased  with  the  answer  that  he  laughed 
heartily  and  extended  his  hand  for  a  warm  shake,  and  was  ever  after  the  tirm 
friend  of  the  young  man.  Our  step-grandmother  was  beloved  by  uschildren— 
for  us,  the  "step"  had  no  meaning.  Her  love  for  my  grandfather,  her  pati- 
ence witli  his  ailments,  her  untiring  devotion  during  his  years  of  helplessness 
endeared  her  to  my  parents,  and  at  my  grandfather's  death,  in  1S.);{,  she  was 
welcomed  to  our  home,  loved  and  petted,  and  made  happy  by  the  little  at- 
tentions that  children  with  willing  feet  and  hands  can  give.  She  had  child- 
ren of  her  own  and  spent  part  of  her  time  with  them,  but  she  was  sure  of  her 
welcome  in  my  father's  house  when  she  chose  to  come. 

After  my  mother's  death,  my  aunt  Caroline,  who  was  tlie  "youngest  and 
the  dearest,"  of  the  family,  lived  with  my  parents  unti^  her  marriage.  Tlie 
two  other  sisters,  both  fond  of  books  and  study,  taught  school  and  were  self- 
supporting,  intelligent  young  women.  After  they  were  married,  Eliza  to  Ho- 
ratio Purdy,  and  Harriet  to  John  Xorris,  tiiey  lived  on  farms  nenv  my  father. 

My  father's  brother  Joel,  studied  law,  and  to  help  himself  through  the 
long  wait  that  the  law  entails  before  granting  any  measures  of  success  to  its 
votaries,  he  also  taught  school.  He  was  teaching  in  Sharpsburg,  Bath  county, 
Kentucky,  in  1842,  or  perhaps  a  3'ear  later,  when  having  incurred  the  enmity 
of  one  of  the  young  men  of  his  school,  by  administering  some  punislmient,  he 
was  waylaid  >\v  iiim  as  he  was  leaving  the  schoolhouse  that  night  and  killed. 
The  young  man  had  been  dismissed  with  the  rest  but  instead  of  going  home 
he  skulUed  near  the  schoolhouse,  and  as  my  uncle,  after  locking  the  door, 
passed  around  t  he  corner  of  the  building,  he  struck  him  a  death  blow  with  a 
heavy  stick.  The  young  man  was  brouglit  to  trial,  but  he  was  the  son  of 
wealtliy  parents  and  was  cleared.     My  uncle  left  a  wife  and  one  child. 

My  uncle  Daniel  Robinson  lived  near  my  father  on  a  farm  tliat  bordered 
on  Clary's  Creek.  He  became  subject  to  periods  of  insanity  wliile  yet  in  his 
prime,  and  these  periods  coming  on  more  and  more  frequently,  his  condition 
became  so  serious  that  he  was  sent  to  the  asylum  for  the  insane  at  Jackson- 
ville, HIinois,  but  he  received  no  benefit,  his  case  was  a  helpUss  one.  For 
several  years  before  he  died  he  became  harmless  and  at  times  seemed  rational, 
talking  of  the  past  as  if  he  remembered.  He  was  grateful  for  the  liberty  to 
come  and  go,  and  was  a  patlietic  figure  at  our  fireside,  at  liis  son's,  or  at  his 
sister's.  For  many  years  my  father  gave  this  brother  and  his  family  what 
care  and  help  he  could. 

So  far  as  I  know  the  children  and  grandchildren  of  my  Uncle  Daniel  are 
prospering  well.  Tiius  it  will  be  seen  that  my  father  in  his  western  home, 
was  not  long  without  the  cheer,  the  strength,  tlie  joy,  and  tlie  demands  for 
sympathy,  that  spring  from  the  ties  of  kindred.  But  outside  the  pale  of 
kindred  my  father  was  in  deep  sympathy  with  men,  and  formed  strong  and 
lasting  friendships  with  many  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was 
never  indifferent  to  his  neighbors'  ills,  and  if  he  could  lighten  a  man's  trouble 
or  help  him  out  of  a  strait,  he  was  prone  to  do  so,  often  to  his  own  hurt;  for 
by  rendering  financial  aid  he  was  obliged  to  pay  more  than  one  "security 
debt."    Judging,  as  a  child  may  judge  a  parent,  tlie  most   beautiful   trait   in 


-  197  - 

my  fatlier's  cliaracter  was  this  sympathy  with  men,  this  willingness  to  heark- 
en to  a  man's  trouble,  this  readiness  to  try  to  make  his  neighbor  as  happy  as 
liimself. 

My  father  took  liis  turn  at  being  scliool  director,  and  did  what  lie  could 
for  better  schools,  and  more  worthy  teachers.  In  1844,  he  was  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Menard  countv:  whether  he  held  the  office  for  more  than  one  term, 
I  do  not  know,  but  the  title  of  "squire"  hung  to  him  for  several  years. 

In  184G,  while  still  at  the  Mills  my  father  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  state 
legislature  as  representative  from  Menard  county.  While  at  Springfield,  he 
formed  not  only  an  acquaintance  but  a  friendship,  with  Abraham  Lincoln, 
Judge  Logan  and  other  prominent  men.  He  had  a  warm  admiration  for  Lin- 
coln, and  never  tired  of  telling  of  his  wonderful  gift  of  "seeing  right  througli 
a  man,"  and  of  his  equally  wonderful  gift  of  getting-  the  best  of  his  opponent 
in  an  argument.  My  father  loved  to  repeat  incidents  and  stories  that  he  had 
heard  Lincoln  relate,  and  as  this  was  befoi'e  Lincoln  had  been  thought  of  for 
senator,  or  dreamed  of  for  president,  my  father  must  be  credited  with  some 
degree  of  discernment— he  saw  the  greatness  of  the  man.  lie  was  present  in 
Springfield  once  when  Douglass  was  holding  a  conference  with  his  political 
friends.  The  Lincoln  and  Douglas  debates  had  been  arranged,  and  someone 
asked  Douglass  if  he  had  agreed  to  debate  the  questions  of  the  day  in  public 
with  Lincoln,  rather  holding  out  the  idea  that  his  triumph  over  Lincoln 
would  be  an  easy  one.  Douglas  replied  that  he  had  so  agreed,  and  added^ 
"Gentlemen,  I  would  rather  meet  any  other  man."  In  ISoS,  when  Lincoln 
was  making  the  run  for  senator  against  Douglass,  he  spoke  to  a  crowd  in  tiie 
open  air  in  a  grove  of  black  jack  oaks,  just  outside  the  town  of  Bath  in  Ma- 
son county.  My  father  was  living  in  Bath  at  that  time,  and  he  took  his  fam- 
ily to  hear  him.  "lie  is  a  great  and  good  man,"  he  said.  Mr.  Lincoln's  sub- 
ject was  the  Irrepressible  Conflict,  the  Sophistry  of  Squatter  Sovereignty, 
and  the  dangers  attendant  upon  a  "House  Divided  A  gainst  Itself."  After  the 
speaking  there  were  introductions  and  liand  shakings,  and  my  father  pre- 
sented my  mother  and  us  children,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  walked  back  into  the 
town  with  us,  conversing  as  he  went  on  the  political  situation.  But  even  he, 
perhaps,  did  not  realize  how  fast  the  cloud  of  war  was  rising. 

My  parents  were  acquainted  with  .Tack  and  Hannah  Anr.strong,  whose 
son,  Duff  Armstrong,  was  cleared  of  the  charge  of  murder  by  Lincoln,  when 
he  was  a  practicing  lawyer  in  Menard  county.  They  lived  in  Mason  county, 
just  across  the  border  line  of  Menard,  near  the  mouth  of  Salt  Creek,  thus 
their  home  was  not  many  miles  from  ours,  but  there  was  never  any  intercourse 
between  the  two  families.  Hannah  Armstrong  was  a  bright,  fine  looking 
woman,  deserving  of  better  things  than  fell  toiler  lot,  and  those  who  knew 
her  rejoiced  for  her  sake  when  her  son  was  cleared.  Abraham  Lincoln  held 
then,  no  doubt,  as  through  all  his  subsequent  career,  that  if  either  must  be 
infringed  upon,  it  would  better  be  justice  than  mercy. 

In  184S,  or  it  may  be  earlier  than  this,  while  they  were  still  living  at  Rob- 
inson's Mills,  my  father  made  a  visit  to  New  York.  He  did  not  go  alone,  he 
took  my  mother  with  him.  The  visit  meant  more  to  lier  than  to  him— all 
lier  kindred  lived  there.  What  they  said  of  the  journey  back  and  forth  I  can 
not  recall,  but  know  that  the  visit  tended  to  convince  my  father  that  he  had 
made  no  mistake  in  coming  to  Illinois. 


-  108  - 

Tlie  following-  year,  lS4i),  he  bought  a  farm  on  Sangamon  river  bottom  and 
sold  out  his  interest  in  land  and  mills  at  Robinson's  Mills.  Not  being  able  to 
get  possession  that  spring  and  being  obliged  to  give  possession,  he  moved  to  a 
rented  farm  about  three  miles  northwest  of  Petersburg,  where  we  lived  neig-h- 
bors  to  David  Panteer,  James  Berry  and  ]\rcGrady  Rutledge,  father  of  vVnn 
Rutledge,  for  whom  Abraham  Lincoln  is  said  to  have  cherislied  so  deep  and 
noble  a  passion.  I  remember  tliat  my  father  held  McGrady  Rutledge  in  high 
esteem,  and  knew  there  was  an  Ann  Rutledge,  but  whether  she  was  dark  or 
fair,  tall  and  stately  or  petite,  I  am  unable  to  recall.  When  reading  Miss 
Tarbell's  Life  of  Lincoln,  I  was  surprised  to  learn  that  I  had  once  lived  so 
near  to  one  whom  he  had  admired  and  loved.  Not  to  be  able  to  recall  her 
seemed  a  lost  opportunity  and  still  seems  so.  I  recall  much  more  readily  the 
tine  strip  of  woods  in  which  the  schoolliouse  was  situated,  and  the  grapevine 
swing  that  caused  a  shock  to  many  a  j^oungster's  nervous  organization  as  he 
realized  the  awful  height  to  which  he  had  been  sent  by  some  of  the  good- 
natured  "big  scholars"  at  noon  or  recess. 

The  following  spring,  1849,  we  went  to  the  farm  near  Oakford.  This  con- 
sisted of  240  acres,  one  SO  of  it  bought  from  John  Norris  who  lived  just  across 
the  road  from  us,  not  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away.  Afterward  another  80  was 
added,  making  320  acres.  I  know  now  that  this  was  a  tine  estate,  most  of  it 
rich  bottom  land,  that  produced  some  of  the  tallest,  most  heavily  eared  corn, 
and  some  of  the  best  wlieat  in  the  world,  with  abundance  of  timber  on  the 
higher  land  for  tire  wood  and  fence  posts  Here  was  a  continuation  of  the 
pleasant  family  life  round  a  wider  hearth,  in  a  larger,  more  convenient  house, 
with  kitchen,  dining  room,  spacious  living  room,  and  sleeping  rooms.  Xot 
long  after  we  came  to  this  home  the  kitchen  fireplace  was  boarded  up,  and  a 
cook  stove  was  set  upon  the  hearth.  This  was  a  great  innovation.  At  first 
my  mother  feared  the  flavor  of  the  victuals  would  be  spoiled;  but  she  soon 
learned  that  a  great  labor  saving  invention  had  come  into  her  hands,  and 
fully  appreciated  the  blessing.  Tiiis  house  fronted  south  upon  a  lawn  set 
with  sliade  trees  and  shrubs.  An  orchard  of  apple,  peach,  cherry,  and  pear 
trees  made  a  leafy  background.  Tlie  view  of  the  timber  along  the  Sangamon 
was  fine.  The  storm  clouds  seemed  to  us  children  to  hang  dark  above  this 
timber.  There  did  not  seem  to  be  so  many  cyclones  and  destructive  storms 
in  those  days,  and  we  were  not  so  fearful  but  that  we  could  enjoy  the  grand- 
eur of  the  cloud  with  its  awful  lightning,  and  as  the  storm  broke  we  loved  to 
watch  the  rain  rushing  before  the  wind  across  the  low  land  to  the  hills. 
Here  we  had  lish  in  abundance,  pike,  perch,  cat,  and  buffalo.  My  father  kept 
bees.  jSIy  mother  made  buttei,  that  for  looks  and  fragrance  and  taste -was 
surely  "premium"  butter,  molding  it  into  balls,  and  packing  it  into  kegs  or 
small  barrels  for  market.  I  tliink  the  top  price  for  this  nice  butter  never 
exceeded  a  "bit,"  I2.\  cents.  My  father  made  a  drying  kiln,  and  in  tlieir 
season  the  whole  family  helped  at  drying  apples,  peaches  and  cherries.  He 
took  much  pains  with  his  orchard,  grafting,  budding,  pruning-  and— hoping. 
Ko  peaches  have  ever  tasted  as  did  the  luscious,  pink  meated  "clings"  my 
father  used  to  raise  and  I  have  seen  few  that  could  surpass  them  for  looks. 
The  California  fruit  shipped  here  in  baskets,  though  promising  much  to  the 
eye,  is  a  disappointment  to  the  taste.  This  will  not  be  the  case,  probably, 
when  Luther  Burbank's  methods  have  become  common  pi'operty. 


—  \99  — 

Here  my  father  was  "the  man  with  the  hoe"  instead  of  the  man  witli  the 
grain  sack.  He  loved  a  garden  and  to  see  liim  make  the  rows  of  lettuce,  beets 
and  cabbage  look  almost  as  pretty  as  the  rows  of  pinks  and  roses  was  unalloyed 
pleasure.  My  mother  was  very  fond  of  tlowers:  my  father  enjoyed  her  pleasure 
in  them. 

Here  we  children  had  the  same  wide  range  for  nuts  and  a  still  wider  one 
for  wild  fruits  and  wiM  flowers.  What  child  could  forget  the  dog-tooth  violet, 
the  Indian  pink,  the  .Tohnny-jump-up,  the  hawthorn,  the  crabapple,  the  straw- 
berry and  the  blackberry  that  grew  among  those  hills?  Nature,  in  all  her 
magic  chemistry  and  various  mixtures,  has  not  surpassed  the  flavor  of  the 
wild  strawberry.  Aud  can  a  boy's  triumph  in  his  first  brace  of  quails  or 
prairie  chickens,  as  he  swings  toward  home  with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder,  sur- 
pass or  even  equal  the  girl's,  as  with  rosy  cheeks,  tired  feet  and  a  good  ap- 
petite, she  enters  the  door  with  a  large  heaping  bowl  of  wild  strawberries, 
ready  hulled  for  the  table?  She  sees  the  snowy  cloth  spread  for  dinner  and 
swaying  in  the  breeze  in  the  cool  dining  room,  and  lier  mother's  smile  and 
words  of  praise  as  she  takes  the  bowl  and  places  it  on  the  table  is  a  great 
reward.  She  feels  that  she  has  crowned  this  meal  with  a  beautiful  desser^ 
Her  own  saucer  full  of  berries,  smothered  in  cream  and  sugar,  and  her  father's 
call  for  a  second  helping,  are  exceeding  recompense  for  her  labors.  My  mother 
often  had  five  daughters  in  the  berry  patch  at  once,  though  one  was  too  small 
to  be  of  much  service:  but  she  was  allowed  to  carry  her  little  bowlful  home 
and  get  her  praise  with  the  rest.  There  were  times  when  she  had  to  be 
carried  hei"self  part  of  the  way.  With  four  good  pickere,  it  will  be  seen  that 
my  mother  could  have  berries  for  the  table  and  some  to  make  "preserves"  or 
jam— though  Mason  jars  had  not  yet  come  into  use. 

Around  the  tireside  of  this  home  the  social  nature  of  my  parents  had 
greater  room  to  expand.  They  loved  to  have  their  friends  with  them,  and  did 
have  them  to  dinners  and  suppers,  and  now  and  then  to  a  dancing  party  for 
the  young  folks.  They  were  not  unmusical— both  could  sing.  My  father  had 
many  favorite  songs;  one  was  "The  Disappointed  Philosopher."  Some  of  the 
words  and  tune  have  not  gone  from  me: 

"When  first  1  came  to  be  a  man, 

Of  twenty  years  or  so, 
I  thought  myself  a  handsome  youth. 

And  fain  the  world  would  know. 
In  best  attire  1  stepped  abroad, 
With  spirits  brisk  and  gay.''    *    *    * 
In  the  end  the  philosopher  loses  some  of  his  gaiety.    My  mother  loved  old 
ballads  and  used  to  sing,   among  others,  "Barbara    Allen,"  The    Higliland 
Chieftain."  "Boneparte    and  Louisa,"  and  "Tiie  Outlandish  Knight,"  the 
latter  beginning: 

An  outlandish  knight  to  the  North  seas  came. 

And  he  came  a  wooing  to  me; 
He  said  he  would  take  me  unto  the  north  lands, 

And  I  should  his  fair  bride  be. 
A  broad,  broad  shield  did  this  strange  knight  wield. 

Whereon  did  the  red  cross  shine. 
But  never  I  ween,  had  this  strange  knight  been. 


-200- 

To  the  fields  of  Palestine. 
Thy  sire  is  from  home  ladve, 

He  hath  a  journey  gone, 
And  the  shaggy  blood-hounds  are  sleeping  sound, 

At  the  foot  of  the  postern  stone. 
Go  bring  me  some  of  thy  father's  gold, 

And  some  of  thy  mother's  fee, 
And  steeds  twain  of  the  best  in  the  stalls  that  rest, 

Where  they  stand  thirty  and  three. 
I  mounted  on  the  steed  milk  white, 

And  he  on  tlie  dapple  gray. 
And  we  forward  did  ride,  till  we  reached  the  seaside, 

Three  hours  before  it  was  day. 
Pull  off,  pull  off,  thy  bonny  green  plaid. 

And  deliver  it  unto  me: 
Six  maids  have  1  drowned  where  the  billows  sound, 

And  the  seventh  one  thou  shalt  be. 
Pull  off,  pull  off,  thy  brooch  of  gold, 

For  comely  it  is  to  me. 
And  thy  kirtle  of  green  is  too  rich  I  ween, 

To  rot  in  the  salt,  salt  sea. 
'•If  I  must  pull  off  my  bonny  green  plaid, 

Pray  turn  tliy  back  to  me. 
And  gaze  on  the  sun  that  has  just  begun 

To  peer  o'er  the  salt,  salt  sea." 
He  turned  his  back  on  the  damsel  fair, 

And  gazed  on  the  bright  sunbeam: 
She  grasped  him  tight  with  her  arms  so  white. 

And  plunged  him  into  the  stream. 
Lie  tliere,  sir  knight,  thou  false  hearted  wicriit. 

Lie  there  instead  of  me. 
Six  maids  hast  thou  drowned  where  the  billows  sound, 

But  the  seventh  hath  drowned  thef^. 
With  gasping  breath  he  fought  his  death. 

And  uttered  an  Ave  Marie, 
And  I  fastened  on  my  broocii  of  gold, 

As  lie  sank  beneatli  the  sea. 

For  this  strange  knight  dead,  no  piayer  was  said. 

No  convent  bell  did  toll: 
He  went  to  his  rest,  unshrived  and  unblest, 

Heaven's  mercy  on  his  soul! 

Now  she  mounts  one  steed  and  leads  the  other  and  reaches  her  father's  castle 
before  night.  No  one  knows  that  she  has  been  away,  or  sees  her  return,  ex- 
cept the  parrot,  wlio  tells  her  that  the  earl,  her  father,  is  asleep.  She  bribes 
the  parrot  to  tell  no  tales,  by  giving  him  a  gilded  cage. 

Long,  long,  she  lived  but  lived  unwed 


-  '2Q\   - 

Did  this  maid  with  raven  hair, 
For  if  lovers  came  wooing  they  went  away  sad, 
Till  her  face  became  wrinkled  with  care. 

This  ballad  was  a  great  favorite  with  us  younger  children,  and  we  were 
content  to  have  it  recited  if  it  could  not  be  sung. 

My  sister,  Evalyn,  had  a  sweet  voice  and  in  those  days  sang  the  "'Irish 
Emigrant's  Lament."  "Ben  Bolt,"  and  "The  Old  Oaken  Bucket  " 


f-y^'tc^ 


SETII  HOBINSOX.  MRS.  CLARA  SISSON. 

Around  tlie  fireside  of  this  home  we  lead  "ITncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  and  wept 
over  the  woes  of  its  hero,  and  the  death  of  Httle  Eva  and  ever  after  cherished 
in  our  hearts  a  deeper  hatred  of  slavery.  Here  more  and  more  we  came  to 
appreciate  the  newspapers  and  magiizines  that  came  to  my  father  through 
the  mail. 

In  l!K)i)  while  visiting  my  son  in  Chicago  I  went  with  him  to  see  Hull 
House,  the  famous  settlement  on  Halsted  street,  pi'esided  over  by  .lane  Ad- 
ams. Halsted  street  is  a  part  of  Chicago's  "east  end,"  and  therefore  the 
place  chosen  for  a  settlement.  Miss  Adams  was  away  on  a  tour  of  recreation, 
but  another  lady  with  sweet  manners  showed  us  through  the  building  and 
answered  our  questions.  Everything  about  Hull  House  appeals  to  the  artistic 
taste.  Its  modest  elegance  is  a  part  of  the  uplifting  influence  on  those  who 
are  so  fortunate  as  to  be  gathered  within  its  walls.  When  we  came  to  the 
living  room,  was  I  surprised  when  I  saw  a  higli  paneled  mantle,  without  any 
carving  of  any  kind,  and  on  its  shelf  at  either  end  a  tall  brass  candle?  Was  I 
shocked  to  look  up  and  see  the  wooden,  almost  "sagging"  beams  of  the  ceiling 
instead  of  the  calcimined  or  paper  covered  plaster?  A  few  pictures  hung  on 
the  walls:  in  a  niche,  as  if  made  for  it,  was  a  tankard  of  exquisite  shape,  beau- 


-  -20^1  - 

tifull.v  ornamented.  A  large,  straight  backed  settee  was  at  one  side  of  the 
fireplace:  not  against  the  wall,  but  drawn  diagonally  in  front  of  it,  so  that 
those  sitting  upon  it  could  get  full  view  of  the  tire.  I  do  not  think  I  was  sur- 
prised or  shocked  to  see  these  things,  but  those  who  read  this  sketch  ma^^  be, 
when  I  say  that  the  living  room  at  Hull  House,  though  a  model  of  the  house 
beautiful,  was  so  like  the  living  room  in  my  father's  house  on  this  farm,  that 
I  was  transported  and  stood  as  one  in  a  dream.  But  the  costly  tankard,  the 
niche  for  it,  the  rugs  on  the  floor,  and  tlie  vi'indows  placed  wherever  light 
could  give  beautiful  eft'ect,  recalled  me.  Nothing  in  the  city,  not  even  the  li- 
braries and  parks,  nothing  save  tlie  great  lake  itself  gave  me  more  pleasure 
than  Hull  house;  it  seemed  to  prove  to  me  that  it  is  not  distance  altogether 
that  "lends  enchantment,"  and  causes  me  to  cherish  the  vision  of  my  father's 
living  room.  It  was  beautiful  in  its  simplicity,  and  was  one  of  the  sweet  in- 
fluences of  our  lives. 

One  more  item  in  our  education  I  wish  to  speak  of  before  I  hasten  on, 
lest  my  story  become  of  burdensome  lengtii.  As  I  have  already  stated  our 
home  was  less  than  a^  quarter  of  a  mile  from  tliat  of  my  uncle,  John  Norris. 
My  aunt  had  no  children  of  her  own,  and  often  had  as  many  of  my  father's 
l)()use  full,  as  conld  be  spared  at  one  time,  to  stay  with  her.  She  was  an  om- 
niverous  reader  and  an  excellent  story  teller.  Her  mantel  shelf  was  adorned 
with  books  instead  of  bric-a,brac.  1  can  remember  the  titles  to  some  of  these 
books:  Lalla  Uhook,  Lady  of  the  Lake,  Pope's  Essay  on  Man,  NightThoughts, 
Thompson's  Seasons,  Pleasures  of  Hope,  Scottish  Chiefs,  Our  Village,  Alonzo 
and  Melissa,  and  Children  of  the  Abby.  My  father  s:iid  "Hat"  should  have 
been  professor  of  history  or  literature  in  some  college,   instead  of  a  pioneer 

farmers  wife.   But  her  talents  were  not  wasted  even  here  on  the  "frontier," 

she  had  a  gift  for  entertaining  children;  and  gathered  at  her  tire-side,  on  one 
occasion  or  another, — when  my  uncle  was  away  when  she  was  in  need  of  help, 
or  when  she  liad  planned  some  games— we  children,  with  perhaps  several  from 
other  families,  listened  to  fairy  tale  and  myth,  and  stories  from  history:  Tlie 
Forty  Thieves,  Beauty  and  the  Beast,  Sinbad  the  Sailor,  Tlie  Sleeping  Prin- 
cess, The  Boy  Who  Could  Not  Shudder,  Robin  Hood  and  Little  John,  Blue 
Beard,  Aladdin  and  His  Wonderful  Lamp,  Red  Riding  Hood,  Cinderella, 
Diamonds  and  Toads,  riddles  and  rhymes  from  Mother  Goose,  and  tales  of 
Indians  from  Cooper  and  other  sources,  as  well  as  deeds  of  valor  performed, 
not  only  by  Washington  and  his  men,  but  by  Greek  and  Roman  and  heroes  of 
all  ages.  While  the  stories  were  oeing  told,  often  a  heap  of  potatoes  or  eggs 
would  be  roasting  in  the  embers  befoi'e  tlie  tire,  to  be  eaten  with  salt  when 
the  stories  were  done.  For  these  nights  beside  her  hearth,  I  liold  this  aunt 
in  blessed  memory.  Besides  enriching  our  minds,  they  make  life  a  joy  by 
satisfying  the  fancy,  which  faculty  of  the  brain  most  parents,  and  until  of 
late  years,  most  teachers  have  iield  in  such  slight  consideration  as  to  give  it 
but  a  passing  smile.  Indeed  time  was  when  it  was  thought  a  duty  to  suppress 
the  fancy  of  the  child,  by  forcing  upon  its  mind  "solid"  and  solemn  facts: 
which  was  equal  to  feeding  beefsteak  instead  of  milk  to  babes. 

My  annt  taught  the  school  in  our  district  for  a  few  terms,  using  the  larg- 
est room  in  her  house  as  a  school  room.  Later,  a  good  school  house  was  built 
on  my  father's  timber  land,  between  our  house  and  her  own.  My  father  was 
a  neat  hand  with  tools,  and  he  helped  to  build  this  schoolhouse,   taking  great 


-  203  - 

pleasure  in  trying-  to  make  the  desl<s  and  seats  nice  and  comfortable.  After 
it  was  tinislied  we  felt  tlie  pride  that  people  do  in  a  nice,  new,  roomy  dwelling- 
after  living  in  a  little  shabby  one.  We  liad  many  night  spelling  matches  in  it 
and  no  doubt  improved  our  English  more  than  we  knew  of. 

This  home  was  consecrated  to  my  pa'-ents  by  the  marriage  of  their  oldest 
daughter,  Evalyn,  to  Robert  A.  Talbott,  of  Springfield,  111.,  and  of  their 
second  daugliter,  Lucinda,  called  Lucy  always  in  the  home,  to  James  D. 
Roodhouse,  of  Wliite  Hall,  Green  county.  111.,  and  also  by  the  leaving  home 
of  their  son  Charles  to  go  with  a  company  of  young  men.  and  some  not  so 
young,  to  California.  The  year  of  his  going  was  IS-'il.  Tlie  gold  fever  was 
still  at  its  lieight.  He  was  only  eighteen.  My  mother  grieved,  my  sisters 
wept,  especially  Lucy  who  was  nearest  liis  age.  She  hung  upon  his  neck  and 
begged  him  not  to  go.  Many  dangers,  Indians,  lack  of  food,  scarcity  of 
water,  and  often  sickness,  and  homesickness,  beset  those  who  crossed  tlie 
plains  in  those  days. 

One  of  the  leaders  of  this  compatiy  was  '"Jake"  Armstrong.  Some  of  the 
company  my  mother  thought  rude  companions  for  tlie  young,  and  feared  for 
the  morals  of  her  son.  But  my  father  said.  "He  must  see  the  world  for  hini- 
self,  let  him  go.  He  has  headed  right  so  far,  and  will  not  be  easily  I'd 
astray." 

This  company  took  cattle,  horses  and  provisions.  They  bought  one  cow 
of  my  father,  a  line  animal  named  Star,  because  of  a  white  spot  in  her  fore- 
head. We  three  younger  children  did  not  like  to  see  her  go,  neither  did  she 
like  to  go.  She  got  away  the  third  time  and  came  back,  the  last  time  after 
they  had  reached  Beardstown.  We  rejoiced  each  time,  thinking,  '-Now  they 
will  let  her  stay:"  but  her  fate  was  in  their  hands,  and  the  last  time  they 
drove  her  away,  my  little  brother  and  I  peered  sadly  through  the  fence,  far 
down  tiie  road,  saying  we  thought  it  was  wicked  to  take  cows  and  horses 
from  their  homes. 

I  cannot  remember  when  a  postoffiee  was  established  at  Robiuson's  Mills, 
but  know  that  letters  came  to  that  point  from  mv  brother  Charles,  and  tliat 
we  younger  children  made  frequent  trips  there,  always  hoping  for  a  letter  lo 
keep  my  mother  in  heart. 

During  my  brother's  absence,  in  185.']  I  think,  mj'  father,  grandfather, 
and  my  father's  sisters  were  gladdened  by  a  visit  from  my  Uncle  Charles 
Robinson,  of  Ithica,  New  York.  My  father's  pleasure  in  this  visit  is  still 
vivid  in  my  mind.  My  uncle  was  older  than  my  father,  but  they  had  beeti 
"boys  together,"  and  later  students  and  young  men  together,  and  the  tie  be- 
tween them  was  as  strong  as  kinship  and  congenial  tastes  could  make  it. 
When  my  uncle  returned  to  New  York  he  took  my  sister  Helen,  third  daugh 
ter  of  my  parents,  with  him  to  attend  school  and  see  a  little  of  the  world. 
It  was  a  tine  opportunity  lor  her  and  my  parents  were  grateful. 

1  have  netrlected  to  mention  the  fact  that  the  year  previous  to  my  uncle's 
visit,  my  parents  made  another  journey  to  New  York.  It  was  their  lirst  ex- 
perience in  railroad  riding,  and  they  had  much  to  tell  of  the  whole  trip  when 
they  returned, ^of  the  changes  from  stage  to  river  boat,  from  river  boat  to 
cars  or  lake  boat,— it  was  very  interesting,  fully  as  wonderful  as  a  fairy  tale 
to  us  children.  My  father  came  back  with  the  idea  that  the  people  of  the 
East  were  narrow  in  their  ways  of  thinking  and  living,  as  compared  with  the 


-  1\M  - 

people  of  the  west,  and  consequently  less  progressive.  lie  said  tliey  were 
"picayunish,"  and  departed  farther  from  Webster  in  their  pronunciation  of 
English  tiian  the  people  of  Illinois.  Altogether  lie  thought  it  an  excellent 
thing  for  people  to  have  an  undeveloped  region  to  spread  out  in.  Narrow 
quarters,  with  the  necessity  for  little  economies,  pinching,  aVays  pinching 
expenses  down,  gave  him  a  choking  sensation.  He  thanked  God  for  the 
prairies  and  big  rivers  of  the  west. 

One  wintry  night  in  December  185,5,  twomutTled  wayfarers,  there  were  no 
"tramps"  then,  knocked  at  my  father's  door  and  begged  a  night's  lodging, 
saying  tiiat  they  liad  traveled  far,  and  were  hungry.  My  father  consulted 
witli  my  mother  and  she  decided  that  it  would  be  very  inconvenient  to  feed 
two  hungry  men  as  the  supper  tilings  liad  just  been  put  away,  and  the  women 
folks  had  just  come  in  for  their  evening  by  tiie  fire.  My  father  delivered  this 
message  at  tlie  door.  Tiiey  said  they  would  be  willing  "to  eat  anything," 
and  sleep  anywhere.  My  father  reminded  my  mother  tliat  it  was  snowing 
and  blowing  and  growing  colder  fast.  She  told  him  to  invite  them  in;  he  did 
so  and  asked  them  to  remove  caps  and  overcoats  and  comforters.  Without 
a  word  of  thanks  they  removed  their  wraps  and  took  the  offered  seats  by  tlie 
tire.  My  father  gave  one  look,  and  rushed  toward  them  saying  in  a  husky 
voice,  -"you  rascals,  youl"  My  mother  screamed  and  ran  into  the  arms  of  one 
of  them;  th  it  one  was  my  brother  Charles.  He  had  been  gone  four  years, 
and  had  comi  back,  not  the  owner  of  a  gold  mine  in  accordance  with  liis  boy- 
ish dream,  but  unspoiled,  unsullied  by  his  contact  with  the  world.  And  my 
parents  felt  that  they  were  blessed. 

In  1.S5),  my  father  thought  it  best  for  all  concerned  to  leave  the  farm  in 
cliarge  of  his  son  Charles,  and  of  his  :^on-in-law,  llobert  Talbott,  and  move  to 
Bath,  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  left  the  farm  pretty  well  stocked,  and  the 
house  pretty  well  furnished. 

He  purchased  a  tlour  mill  at  Hath  and  was  aga.n  the  ''dusty  miller." 
His  partner  was . 

The  year  after  we  moved  to  this  place,  my  parents  gave  their  third 
daughter,  Helen,  in  marriage  to  W.  I.  R-jbbins,  of  Petersburg,  111.  This  left 
their  family  reduced  to  three,  namely;  Clarinda,  called  Clare  or  Clara  in  the 
home,  and  the  youngest  born,  aged  nine  years:  Seth,  aged  eleven;  and  myself, 
aged  thirteen. 

It  was  whih  we  were  living  here  that  the  Illinois  R.  R.  was  extended  so 
as  to  run  through  Bath,  and  on  to  Chandlerville,  and  later  carried  on  to  Vir- 
ginia and  Jacksonville.  My  father  entered  into  a  contract  to  furnish  a  speci- 
fied number  of  wooden  ties  for  the  laying  of  this  road,  and  with  the  help  of 
his  son  Charles  fulfilled  his  part  of  this  contract,  but  the  road  changed  hands 
and  lie  never  got  his  pay. 

Bath  was  often  spoken  of  as  a  "hard  little  river  town."  "seedy,"  "nutty," 
and  so  forth,  as  if  it  were  a  .sort  of  Sodom  or  Gomorrah;  but  good  and  worthy 
people  lived  there.  J.  M.  Ruggles  and  family,  Richard  and  Benjamin  Gatton 
and  their  families,  the  Beasleys,  .Jerry  Burlingame  and  wife,  Jerry  Taylor 
and  wife,  the  Guests  and  others  tiiat  1  cannot  recall  at  the  moment  were  all 
as  tine  people  as  one  would  meet  any  where. 

We  children  found  no  lack  of  joy  here.  There  was  always  the  beautiful 
river  with  its  steamboats,  b:irges.  canal  boats,  skiffs  and  canoes,  and   not   the 


-  205  - 

least  important,  the  ferry  boat  that  took  people  across  to  Snicarte  Island. 
We  liad  boat  rides  in  all  weathers,  and  if  there  were  any  black-liearted 
villians  lurking  on  the  river  banks,  we  never  ran  across  thera.  We  found  in- 
stead luscious  grapes,  and  pereimmons  that  became  luscious  if  we  waited  for 
the  frost  to  toucli  them.  But  the  school  here  was  not  what  my  parents 
wished  for  us  and  in  1859  they  moved  to  Chandlerville. 

Chandlerville  was  an  ideal  village.  The  people  were  thrifty,  intelligent, 
social,  and  not  given  to  gossip  to  the  degree  that  most  villages  are.  My 
father  bought  a  cottage  that  we  soon  made  neat  and  comfortable,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  milling  business.  Besides  the  free  school  here,  there  was  an 
excellent  private  school  taught  by  Scharlotte  P.  Butler,  a  graduate  of  Oberlin 
College,  Ohio.  We  had  had  dear  teachers  before  her,  we  had  dear  teachei-s 
after  her,  but  she  was  the  loveliest,  and  inspired  us  with  the  deepest  thirst 
for  learning.  She  has  "passed  beyond;"  but  the  memory  of  her  still  blesses 
and  uplifts  her  pupils. 

In  1861,  came  tlie  shock  of  war.  My  fatlier  while  opposed  to  slavery  was 
not  an  uncompromising  abolitionist.  He  did  not  believe  in  adding  to  the 
crime  of  slavery,  the  crime  of  a  cruel  war.  He  contended  that  war  was  the 
most  unreasonable  and  expensive  way  of  righting  the  wrong.  He  grieved 
over  the  situation  and  hoped  to  the  last  that  actual  war  would  be  averted. 
When  he  knew  it  was  inevitable,  he  said  we  had  the  right  man  at  the   helm. 

In  our  village  from  1861  to  1865  tliere  were  but  few  signs  by  which  one 
could  know  that  a  war  was  going  on.  All  the  arts  of  peace  were  practiced 
with  even  greater  prosperity  than  before.  There  were  a  few  signs  that 
brought  the  matter  home  to  us:  Young  men  from  some  of  the  families  we 
knew  enlisted:  Doctor  Charles  E.  Li ppincott  who  went  as  captain  of  a  com- 
pany, and  was  afterwards  colonel,  then  general.  Lippincott,  was  our  next  door 
neighbor,  and  we  saw  his  wife  and  two  little  sons  wave  him  a  last  good-bye. 

There  was  a  Soldier's  Aid  Society,  where  lint  was  scraped,  and  such  gar- 
ments as  it  was  thought  a  soldier  might  need  were  made,  and  where  these 
with  packages  of  cotfee,  tea,  sugar  and  dried  fruits,  with  cakes  and  cookies, 
and  everything  love  and  tenderness  could  think  of,  were  packed  into  boxes 
and  sent  to  the  south. 

In  1861  my  father  sold  his  farm  near  Oakford  to  Charles  Skaggs;  and  his 
son-in-law  and  daughter  who  had  lived  upon  it,  bought  a  farm  in  Logan  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  went  there  to  live.  His  son  Charles,  now  a  married  man, 
moved  to  a  farm  in  Cass  county. 

In  186;{  my  father  made  a  trip  to  California;  and  soon  after  his  return  he 
went  to  Nebraska  to  look  at  the  country  with  a  view  to  investing  in  land  if 
he  was  pleased.  lie  was  not  only  pleased  but  charmed.  The  great  prairies 
seemed  to  call  him.  His  prophetic  imagination  enabled  him  to  see  them  dot- 
ted with  groves,  villages,  tine  farm  houses  and  barns.  What  he  saw  of  crops 
there  satisfied  him,  and  he  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres  on  the  Nemaha  bottom, 
twelve  miles  southeast  of  Pawnee  City  in  Pawnee  county:  and  went  to  work 
to  build  a  liouse  on  it.  It  was  to  be  a  good  house  wlien  it  was  all  done,  of 
eight  rooms.  After  getting  things  under  way  he  sent  for  his  son-in-law,  W. 
I.  Bobbins  and  family  to  come.  Mr.  Bobbins  had  failed  to  prosper  financially, 
and  this  was  my  father's  way  of  helping  him. 

In  the  fall  of  18(54  Mr.  Bobbins  went  to  Nebraska  with  two  teams.     Mrs. 


^20b 


MRS   LUCY  ROODEIOUSE  MRS.  EVA  TALBOTT. 

Robbiiis  and  myself  drove  one  of  them.  We  started  October  4.  The  weatliev 
was  Indian  summer  HI  its  balmiest  mood.  Tlie  air  was  indeed  an  elixir  of 
life.  Tiu'ouiJ!-!i  Illinois  from  Chandlerville  to  Keolvuk,  Iowa,  we  saw  tine  coun- 
try: It  was  tlie  same  all  througli  Iowa,  and  on  the  morning  of  October  16, 
when  we  looked  on  Nebraska  for  tlie  first  time,  with  just  enough  frost  in  tiie 
air  to  give  the  grass  a  sparkle,  and  produce  wliat  I  have  since  learned  is  a 
milage,  we  felt  like  sliouting.  Tlie  first  view  of  the  ocean  could  not  be  broad- 
er, more  billowy,  or  more  thrilling. 

That  was  our  last  day  of  travel.  We  reached  our  destination  tliat  night 
There  was  one  good  sized  room  in  my  fatlier's  house  so  near  done  tliat  it 
would  do  to  live  in,  and  we  felt  happy  and  fortunate  wlien  we  were  estab- 
lished, and  heard  our  fire  roaring,  and  tlie  kettle  humming. 

The  next  year  my  father  returned  to  Illinois  to  settle  up  liis  affairs  and 
make  arrangements  for  moving  to  Nebraska:  and  late  in  the  spring  accom- 
panied by  my  mother  and  youngest  sister  lie  left  Illinois  behind. 

My  parents  had  one  more  happy  summer  together.  They  could  not  know 
it  was  their  last.  My  father  did  not  take  my  mother  to  live  in  the  new  iiouse 
on  the  Nemeha;  that  was  for  his  daughter  and  son-in-law.  There  was  a  mill 
about  three  miles  west  of  his  farm,  known  as  Freese's  Mill,  and  thither  he 
was  drawn  as  by  a  magnet.  Nothing  made  such  sweet  music  in  his  ears  as 
the  whirr  of  a  mill.  God  bless  liiml  Turning  the  finest  grain  the  earth  pro- 
dnces  into  flour  to  feed  the  world, —was  it  not,  will  it  not  ever  be  a  noble  call- 
ing? 

He  rented  the  mill  and  a  house  nearby  and  that  was  his  home.  That 
busy  happy  summer  went  all  too  soon.  My  mother  was  preparing  for  a 
Christmas  dinner  when  she  was  taken  with  what  seemed   a  severe  cold,   but 


-  207  - 

which  proved  to  be  acute  pneumonia,  and  died  within  forty-eii,flit  hours, 
December  2;^rd,  1865.  For  her  children,  neither  for  those  who  stood  beside 
her  bed  to  receive  the  last  precious  look  and  word,  nor  for  those  to  whom 
the  news  was  borne  on  wintry  winds,  was  there  any  Christmas  joy  that  year. 
And  the  season  for  many  years  was  to  them  a  time  consecrated  in  part  to 
sorrow. 

My  faMier's  life  was  maimed;  his  hopes  were  scattered,  and  his  loneliness 
seemed  greater  than  he  could  bear.  Within  a  year's  time  to  relieve  this 
loneliness  he  made  a  second  marriage.  He  married  a  widow  named  Thomp- 
son, a  woman  near  his  own  age:  but  the  union  was  not  a  happy  one;  and  in  a 
short  time  they  separated  by  mutual  agreement.  Here  I  leave  my  father's 
sorrow  sacred  within  his  breast,  as  I  Ivnow  would  be  his  wish. 

Soon  after  the  event  just  related  he  sold  his  farm  on  the  Nemaha  to  John 
T.  Brady  and  Byron  Collins,  and  bought  a  fine  quarter  of  land  near  Sabetha, 
Kansas. 

In  1867  or  '68  he  returned  to  Illinois,  still  engaging  in  bus'ness,  and  faciuo- 
life  with  a  heroic  spirit.  Part  of  the  time  he  was  planning  and  working  with 
his  son  Charles,  and  part  of  the  time  in  affairs  entirely  his  own. 

In  the  fall  of  1870,  a  few  days  before  Thanksgiving,  he  came  to  my  home 
near  Lincoln,  Illinois,  for  a  visit  and  for  a  season  of  needed  rest.  He  was  not 
well.  His  malady  proved  to  be  Bright's  disease.  He  was  in  need  of  tender 
nursing.  Pliysicians  were  called.  I  gave  my  whole  time  to  his  care,  and 
my  husband  was  like  a  son  to  him.  But  the  end  was  near.  He  bore  his  pain 
with  fortitude.  Once,  on  the  2.'ird  of  December,  he  gave  way  to  tears,  saying, 
"Mummie  died  tlve  years  ago  to-day,"  iMummie  was  a  term  of  endearment  for 
my  mother.  We  wept  together  and  were  comforted.  The  end  came  Febru- 
ary 22,  1871.  With  loving  hands  we  laid  liim  to  rest  in  the  beautiful  ceme- 
tery at  Lincoln,  Illinois. 

Of  the  seven  children  reared  to  maturity  by  my  parents,  my  mother  saw 
them  all  in  homes  of  their  own  but  one;  my  father  saw  them  all  establislied 
for  themselves. 

These  in  the  order  of  their  birth  were:  Mary  Evalyn,  born  at  Ithica, 
New  York,  1831.  Attended  select  scliool  at  Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, for  three  years  after  leaving  the  country  schools.  While  at  Petersburg 
she  was  an  iiniiate  of  the  home  of  Major  Hill  and  his  most  capable  and  excel- 
lent wife.  She  was  married  to  Robert  A.  Talbott.  1851.  Mrs.  Talbott  has 
been  a  widow  since  1892.  Her  home  is  in  Lincoln,  III.,  though  slie  spends 
much  of  her  time  with  a  son  in  Hebron,  Nebraska. 

Charles  Cii;indler,  born  at  New  Richmond,  Cass  county,  III.,  November 
25,  183.3.  He  was  fond  of  study,  and  longed  for  college;  and  so  did  my  father 
for  him,  but^  circumstances  at  that  time  would  not  permit  him  to  gratify  the 
cherished  wish.  Charles  was  married  to  Julia  Pothecary,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Pothecary,  whose  liome  was  near  Virginia,  Illinois,  October  9.  1859.  He  died 
January  19,  1881,  aged  47  years,  1  month  and  24  days.  His  widow  and  part  of 
her  family  are  at  present  living  in  Portland,  Oregon. 

Martha  Lucinda,  born  at  Robinson's  Mills,  August  9,  1836.  She  was  a 
good  student,  a  good  ball  player,  a  fast  runner,  and  fond  of  all  out  door  sports. 
Like  Charles,  she  was  deprived  of  college  or  seminary  advantages  because  of 
my  father's  circumstances  at  the  time  when  she  could  have  profited  by  them. 


-208- 

Slie  was  married  to  James  D.  Roodliouse,  of  White  Ilall,  Greene  county,  111., 
1853.  She  has  been  a  widow  since  1902.  Her  home  is  in  Fort  Scott,  Kansas, 
but  she  spends  part  of  her  time  with  a  daugliter  in  Pomona,  California. 

Helen  Mar,  born  May  5th,  1837.  With  needle  and  thread  and  shears  she 
was  the  genius  of  the  family.  She  attended  school  in  Ithica,  New  York, 
under  the  care  of  her  uncle,  Chas.  Robinson,  of  that  city.  She  was  married 
to  W.  Irving  Robbins,  of  Petei'sburg,  111.,  18.")(i.  Iler  home  has  been  in  Chi 
cago  for  many  years. 

Emily  Caroline,  born  February  14th,  184.3.  Attended  Select-  School  at 
Chandlerville,  111..  West  District  School  and  Presbyterian  Female  Academy 
of  Jacksonville,  III.  Was  married  to  C.  C.  Burton,  of  Lincoln,  111.,  February 
6th,  18(55.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burton  are  at  present  living  on  a  farm  in  Thayer 
county,  Nebraska,  where  they  liave  lived  since  1886.  Sixteen  years  of  this 
time  Mrs.  Burton  was  engaged  in  school  teaching. 

James  Seth,  was  born  ISIay  (i,  1845,  was  a  graduate  of  Illinois  College,  of 
Jacksonville.  Illinois:  graduated  in  18(i4.  Studied  law  at  Aim  Arbor,  >richi- 
gan,  was  married  to  Miss  Jennie  Dustin,  of  Pittsfield,  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
1865.  Began  the  practice  of  law  in  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  18()8.  Was  eminently 
successful  in  liis  profession.  Was  candidate  for  governor  of  Nebraska  on  the 
Greely  ticket,  in  1872:  but  the  people  wanted  nothing  so  sensible  as  that  tick- 
et advocated.  In  1876  on  account  of  his  wife's  failing  health,  he  moved  to 
San  Fr;iiicisco.  The  climate  aggravated  a  throat  trouble  to  which  he  was 
subject,  and  he  died  of  quinsy.  October  19,  1878,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty- 
three.  He  had  already  taken  a  high  position  at  the  Bar  in  San  Francisco.  I 
have  forgotten  to  mention  that  he  was  a  partner  of  Attorney  O.  H.  Whedon 
while  ill  Lincoln,  Nebraska.  They  were  struggling  young  lawyers  together, 
and  warm  friends.     Mr.  Whedon  is  one  of  the  successful  lawyers  of  the  state. 

Kli/.a  Clarinda,  born  May  4,  1847.  Attended  select  school  at  Chandler- 
ville, 111.,  and  after  ^oing  to  Nebraska  was  a  pupil  in  the  "college"  at  Pawnee 
City.  This  was  an  excellent  school  under  the  charge  of  Professor  McKenzie 
and  wife.  Was  married  to  EL  H.  Sisson.  of  Lincoln,  111.,  1867.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sisson  came  to  Nebraska  in  1885.  They  lived  on  a  farm  for  several  years,  but 
are  now  residing  in  their  pleasant  home  at  Hebron,  the  county  seat  of  Thayer 
county. 

I  have  found  the  writing  of  this  sketch  fraught  with  botli  pleasure  and 
pain,  but  on  the  whole  it  has  been  a  lab  ir  of  love. 

Most  sincerely  yours, 
Emily  Hirtox. 


DR.  ANDREW  WILSON  ELDER. 


DPv.  A.  W.  ELDEPv. 

DR.  ELDER  was  a  typical  southern  gentleman,  and  a  first  class  specimen 
of  the  pioneer  coinitry  doctor.  He  was  a  product  of  the  Kentucky 
bluegrass  region,  born  in  tlie  city  of  Lexington,  on  July  <itli,  17!)S,  and 
grew  to  manliood  there,  employed  chiefly  in  storing  his  mind  with  learning 
obtained  in  great  measure  from  the  common  schools  of  that  city.  Ambitious 
to  occupy  a  higher  intellectual  and  social  station  in  life  tlian  that  of  a  hewer 
of  wood,  or  a  manual  laborer  of  any  other  grade,  and  not  having  a  profusion 
of  wealth  at  his  command,  he  had  recourse  to  that  stepping  stone  of  genius, 
scliool  teaching,  to  earn  means  for  further  advancing  his  education. 

In  that  vocation  he  was  so  successful  that  in  1820,  he  finished  a  classical 
course  in  the  Lexington  college,  an  institution  at  that  time  under  the  pres- 
idency of  Rev.  l'.arton  W.  Stone,  famous  as  a  writer  and  scholar,  and  widely 
known  by  his  celebrated  controversy  with  Alexander  Campbell,   the  founder 


-2}0- 

of  tlie  cluirch  of  Christ.  He  then  began  tlie  study  of  medicine  in  tlie  office  of 
Dr.  Cliarles  Wartield,  a  noted  physician  of  Lexington,  who  i^indly  gave  him 
much  valuable  advice  and  instruction.  In  time  lie  was  enrolled  as  a  student 
in  tlie  medical  department  of  Transylvania  University,  in  his  native  city, 
which  at  that  time,  and  long  afterwards,  held  the  highest  reputation  for 
thorougliness  of  its  instruction,  and  profound  ability  of  its  faculty,  of  any  in- 
stitution of  learning  west  of  the  Allegheny  mountains.  There,  for  two  years, 
lie  attended  tlie  lectures  and  clinics  of  tiie  renowned  surgeon  Dr.  Ben  Dudley, 
and  his  associate  professors,  wiio.  on  the  9th  of  March,  L82;'>,  conferred  upon 
him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine. 

Tlie  next  spring,  that  of  1824,  his  father,  having  perfected  his  arrange- 
ments, left  Lexington  with  his  family  to  look  for  a  new  home  in  Illinois,  and 
the  newly  Hedged  Doctor  went  with  him.  The  old  gentleman  purchased  a 
fine  farm  in  Morgan  county  ten  miles  northeast  of  Jacksonville  and  about  two 
miles  south  of  the  village  of  Princeton.  There  Dr.  Elder,  residing  with  his 
parents,  began  the  practice  of  medicine.  lie  secured  ample  employment  from 
the  start,  as  he  supplied  a  pressing  want  with  but  little  competition,  there 
being  no  physician  north  of  him  in  the  state  nearer  than  Peoria:  or  in  any 
other  direction  between  his  home  and  Springfield,  Rushville  and  Jacksonville. 

Old  Princeton,  in  Morgan  county,  was  tlien  but  a  collection  of  less  than 
half  a  dozen  houses  at  a  point  of  timber  on  the  western  edge  of  Jersey  prairie, 
on  the  road  from  St.  Louis,  through  Jacksonville,  to  Fort  Clark  on  Peoria 
Lake.  The  town  was  not  laid  out  until  February  li),  183;},  but  as  early  as 
I82H,  or  earlier,  there  was  a  blacksmith's  shop  there,  and  a  store  wliere  gen- 
eral merchandise  was  sold  by  Mallory  &  Lewis.  A  postollice  was  established 
there  on  the  2()th  of  July,  lS2(i,  and  Mr.  Eli  Redding  appointed  postmaster. 
It  became  quite  an  important  trading  point  for  a  large  scope  of  magnificent 
country  thinly  settled  by  people  principally  from  Kentucky,  and,  later,  a  few 
fmiu  New  Jersey.  Though  the  little  hamlet  was  not  exceptionally  un- 
healthy it  seems  to  have  been  visited  with  increasing  frecjuency  by  young 
Doctor  Elder.  In  the  spring  of  1827,  Mr.  Redding,  tlie  postmaster,  was  laid 
up  with  an  attack  of  inflammatory  rheumatism,  and  Dr.  Elder  was^  called  to 
treat  him.  The  disease  must  have  been  of  a  peculiarly  obstinate  type,  as  the 
Doctor  continued  his  calls  every  few  days  all  summer,  fall  and  part  of  the 
next  winter.  It  may  be  that  his  visits  were  not  altogether  professional— 
perhaps  his  correspondence  was  so  extensive  as  to  reiiuire  his  presence  at  tiie 
country  postotfice  every  two  or  three  days,  and  detained  him  thei-e  sometimes, 
in  the  evening,  until  all  the  villagers  were  asleep. 

But,  causa  lately  vis  notissima  fuit—und  time  revealed  that  the  post- 
master's pretty  daugliter  was  the  real  attraction.  The  affair  culminated  in 
the  marriage  of  the  spruce  young  Doctor  and  Miss  Hannah  Eliza  Ivedding  on 
the  loth  of  January,  1828:  and  that  was  the  Hrst  wedding-of  white  people- 
that  occurred  in  the  territory  now  comprised  in  Cass  county.  The  youn'J' 
couple  settled  down  to  housekeeping  in  a  small  house  on  the  farm  belontTing 
to  the  Doctor's  father,  where,  after  the  usual  infare,  or  reception,  tliey  com- 
menced together  tlie  arduous  journey  of  life.  By  18;}.i,  Princeton  had  grown 
to  be  quite  a  smart  little  village,  its  row  of  liouses  of  rather  primitive  style 
of  architecture,  strung  along  each  side  of  the  road  for  half  a  mile  or  more, 
having  two  stores,    blacksmith   and    wagon   shops,    a  shoemaker,   a   Baptist 


-  211  - 

church  built  of  brick,  and  a  frame  Cluirch  of  Christ,  a  schoolhouse,  and  many 
comfortable  residences.  In  that  year  Dr.  Elder,  concludinp^  tliat  the  village, 
as  a  more  central  point,  offered  better  advantages  for  his  business  than  the 
farm,  left  his  father's  premises  and  became  a  resident  of  Princeton,  and  there 
gave  his  entire  time  and  attention  to  the  practice  of  his  pi-ofession  for  several 
years.  In  tiie  meantime  the  passing  years  wrought  many  changes  in  the 
Doctor's  surroundings.  A  vigorous  pioneer  population  was  gradually  spread- 
ing over  central  Illinois,  transforming  its  wild  prairies  and  woodlands  into 
abodes  of  civilization.  With  the  influx  of  settlers  came  more  doctors,  and  a 
corresponding  contraction  of  the  Doctor's  sphere  of  practice.  Dr.  Ephraim 
Rew  had  made  his  way  to  Beardstown  on  the  1st  of  December,  1829.  Dr. 
Charles  Chandler  laid  a  claim  and  built  a  cabin  on  Pantlier  creek,  in  the 
Sangamon  Bottom,  in  1832.  Dr.  James  Morrison,  from  Kentucky,  was  located, 
in  1831,  near  Arcadia  only  live  miles  west  of  Princeton.  The  stumps  had 
pretty  well  rotted  out  of  the  public  square  in  Jacksonville  since  it  was  laid 
out  in  1825,  and  Drs.  Ero  Chandler  and  Saml.  M.  Prosser  were  there  dosing 
out  calomel  and  jalap,  squills  and  Peruvian  bark,  to  sufferiug  humanity  for 
miles  around.  In  Dr.  Elder's  household  a  few  young  Elder's  had  come  to 
bless  and  cheer  his  liome,  and  likewise  keep  him  humping  for  food  and  rai- 
ment. His  parents  had  both  fulfilled  their  mission  and  gone  to  everlasting 
rest— the  dates  of  their  death,  not  recorded,  are  now  lost. 

Having  a  fair  start  for  a  family  of  children  growing  up  around  him,  and 
always  prefering  rural  life  to  the  hampered  limits  of  a  village  or  town  resi- 
dence, tlie  Doctor  bouglit  the  interests  of  tlie  other  heirs  of  liis  father's  es- 
tate, and  became  sole  owner  of  tlie  old  homestead — now  known  as  the  Crum 
farm,  a  mile  or  so  east  of  Literberry.  Leaving  Princeton  he  moved  to  the 
farm,  and  there  divided  liis  time  between  the  active  duties  of  his  profession 
and  giving  his  boys,  as  they  grew  up,  an  opportunity  to  learn  the  practical 
beauties  of  agricultural  science.  There  for  several  years  he  led  the  unevent- 
ful life  of  a  country  doctor,  with  the  chief  care  of  giving  his  children  every 
educational  advantage  possible  in  sucii  an  isolated  location. 

When  Dr.  Elder  came  to  that  farm  with  his  father  in  1824,  Morgan  was  a 
new  county,  having  been  organized  on  January  31st,  1823.  It  was  originally  a 
part  of  Greene  county,  and  extended  from  Crreene  to  the  Sangamon  river.  As 
its  population  increased  local  jealousies  and  discontent— especially  among 
politicians  and  office  seekers— fomented  agitation  for  its  division.  It  had  ter- 
ritory sufficient  for  two  good-sized  counties:  but  to  divide  it  into  two  eijual 
parts  would  place  Jacksonville— whicii  that  early  exerted  a  controlling  influ- 
ence—on  the  border  of  one  of  the  divisions  wliei'e  it  could  no  longer  be  a  coun- 
ty seat,  and  in  consequence  would  lose  its  importance.  As  division  of  the 
county  seemed  inevitable,  the  problem  presented  was  to  effect  it  in  such  uian- 
ner  as  would  retain  the  county  seat  at  Jacksonville.  By  connivance  of  a  few 
leading  men  about  Beardstown  and  Virginia  with  those  of  Jacksonville astrip 
of  about  ten  miles  in  width  was  taken  off  the  northern  end  of  Morgan,  and  by 
legislative  enactment,  in  force  March  3,  1837,  oi'ganized  into  a  new  county 
named  Cass.  Then  on  Februaiy  Ki,  18;5H  another  portion  of  Morgan  was  de- 
taclied  and  made  into  Scott  county.  Soon  after  that  the  people  of  Cass  coun- 
ty began  clamoring  for  more  territory,  demanding  anotlier  strip  three  miles 
in  width  from  Morgan.     As  that   concession   would   place  .Jacksonville  only 


-2\V.  - 

eight  miles  from  the  northern  border  of  Morgan  county,  thereby  endangering 
the  stability  of  the  county  seat,  the  tacticians  of  that  city  had  a  bill  passed 
through  the  legislature  March  4th,  1843,  creating  the  county  of  Benton  from 
the  southeastern  part  of  Morgan  and  a  portion  of  Sangamon  county,  which, 
however,  was  defeated  at  the  polls  when  submitted  to  the  people.  Then  on 
February  2f)th,  1845,  tlie  legislature  passed  another  act  "extending  the  limits 
of  Cass  county,"  whereby  at  the  election  following  the  three  mile  strip  was 
tal<en  from  Morgan  and  added  to  little  Cass. 

These  mutations  and  mutilations  of  Morgan  county  exerted  no  particular 
effect  upon  Dr.  Elder,  farther  perhaps  than  to  give  him  a  favorable  opinion  of 
Cass  county.  He  did  not  follow  Col.  John  J.  Hardin  into  the  Mexican  war  in 
1846;  but  late  in  that  year  sold  the  old  homestead,  and  on  March  18,  1847, 
purchased,  for  the  sum  of  $1,100,  of  liis  brother-in-law,  Peter  C.  Redding,  his 
farm  of  270  acres  in  the  south  and  southeastern  part  of  Sec.  18,  T.  17,  R.  9,  in 
Cass  county,  about  three  miles  north  of  Princeton,  since  known  as  the  Hutch- 
ings  place.  Moving  at  once  into  his  new  home  he  went  right  along  with  his 
medical  practice  witliout  let  or  hindrance,  as  that  region  liad  long  been  in 
the  spliere  of  his  influence.  Not  only  in  the  Princeton  district,  but  in  all  tiie 
country  from  .lacksonville  to  Petersburg,  and  between  Virginia  and  Spring- 
field,  he  was  a  familiar  figure  for  the  third  of  a  century,  personally 
acquainted  with  every  settler,  and  a  welcome  visitor  at  every  home.  He  was 
not,  brilliant  or  showy,  but  a  man  of  strong  individuality,  very  active  mind, 
and  most  excellent  character.  His  usual  appearance,  in  his  best  days,  was 
quite  impressive:  nearly  six  feet  in  height,  straignt,  square  shouldered,  raw- 
boned  and  muscular,  about  175  pounds  in  weight:  liis  blue-gray  eyes  and  reg- 
ular features  surmounted  by  a  broad  forehead  and  brown  hair,  were  rendered 
more  attractive  by  a  friendly,  genial  expression  of  countenance.  He  was  in 
every  '-espect  a  good  citizen  and  good  man,  of  spotless  character  and  unsullied 
honor,  and  noted  for  kindness,  benevolence  and  open-iianded  hospitality. 
Neither  malice,  envy,  jealousy,  or  cupidity  were  in  his  nature:  nor  selfishness 
enough  for  due  protection  of  his  own  interests  and  the  welfare  of  his 
family. 

As  physical  energy  was  not  one  of  his  conspicuous  traits  he  was  not  a  fast 
man  in  any  sense:  but  deliberate  and  slow-motioned,  averse  to  unnecessary 
exertion  and  fond  of  ease  and  comfort.  Guaged  by  the  standards  of  this  era 
of  active  hustling  for  business,  he  would  iiave  been  considered  somewhat  dila- 
tory; and  some  of  iiis  friends  diagnosed  him  as  being  infested  with  the  bac- 
cilus  of  laziness:  at  any  rate,  he  seemed  to  be  so  constituted  as  to  be  able  to 
bear  a  good  deal  of  rest.  Mindful  of  the  maxim,  "Time  comes  as  fast  as  it 
goes,"  and  knowing  he  had  all  the  Tniie  there  was  as  it  passed,  he  thought 
it  unnecessary  to  hurry  through  life— and  didn't.  I>ut  for  all  that  Dr. 
Elder  was  a  busy  man,  and  for  years  did  a  great  deal  of  slavish  labor  in  a  cir- 
cuit of  practice  extending  far  into  four  counties.  Always  on  the  best  terms 
with  other  "regular"  physicians  with  with  whom  he  chanced  to  come  in  con- 
tact, he  retained  tlieir  confidence  by  invariably  treating  tliem  with  the  ut- 
most courtesy  and  fairness.  His  estimate  of  the  dignity  and  nobleness  of  his 
profession,  however,  was  so  exalted  that  he  would  never  debase  it  by  consult- 
ing with  a  Homeopath  or  Thomsonian,  regarding  both  as  on  a  par  with  otiier 
charlatans  and  humbugs.     When  Dr.  Charles  Chandler  had  established   him- 


-  t^l3  - 

self  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  tlie  Panther  Creek  settlement,  in  order  to 
curtail  the  immense  territory  lie  luid  to  travel  over,  lie  proposed  to  Dr.  Elder 
a  division  of  that  territory'  by  agreeinjy  upon  a  line  of  demarkation  bounding 
the  space  in  which  each  should  practice  exclusively,  and  not  trespass  upon 
that  of  the  other.  But  Dr.  Elder  declined  the  proposition,  for  he  could 
not  refuse  his  services  to  friends  in  all  parts  of  the  county  who  might  send 
for  him;  and  besides,  he  did  not  wish  to  enter  into  any  entangling  compact 
witli  a  slick  Yankee  like  Chandler.  Their  relations,  however,  were,  all  the 
years  of  their  frequent  intercourse,  pleasant  and  friendly.  They  were  both  of 
the  Allopathic  school  of  medicine,  and  as  neitlier  were  active  politicians  there 
were  no  serious  disagreements  to  disrupt  their  professional  harmony. 

Naturally  inclined  to  piety  and  veneration  for  all  that  to  him  seemed  holy 
or  sacred:  and  earnest  in  maintenance  of  every  principle  he  deemed  to  be 
right,  Dr.  Elder  was  all  his  life  a  religious  man.  Instinctively  he  was  moral, 
just  and  charitable,  witli  never  an  evil  thought  or  inclination.  His  early  coi- 
version  to  Christianity,  then,  was  a  matter  of  course— a  mere  form— for  he 
was  always  a  Christian.  When  quite  a  young  man  he  joined  the  new  sect-- 
then  so  popular  in  Kentucky — known  as  the  Church  of  Christ,  derisively 
styled  by  the  jealous  and  envious  of  other  denominations,  "Campbellites."' 
and  continued  to  his  last  hour  one  of  its  most  steadfast  members.  Conscien- 
tious in  all  his  convictions  he  was  zealous  in  upholding  his  creed,  and  in  ihe 
discharge  of  every  duty  and  obligation  it  imposed.  For  the  latter  half  of  his 
life  he  served  as  an  elder  of  his  church,  and  often  addressed  the  congregations 
in  exhortation,  and  sometimes  supplied  the  place  of  an  absent  minister,  in 
the  pulpit.  Regarding  his  moral  obligations  as  paramount,  at  one  time  in 
his  professional  career  his  conscience  sorely  prodded  him  for  pursuing  his 
bread-earning  vocation  on  the  Sabbatli,  t)iereby  desecrating  the  Lord's  holy 
day.  Seeing  no  way  to  avoid  it— for  Nature  has  no  Sabbath,  none  of  its  oper 
ations  are  suspended  on  Sunday,  sicktiess  occurs,  humanity  suffers,  and  child- 
ren are  born,  and  also  have  the  colic,  on  that  blessed  day  as  on  others,  causing 
the  doctor's  services  to  be  indispensible— he  concluded,  and  so  informed  the 
public,  that  henceforth  he  wovid  attend  sick  calls  as  usual  at  all  times,  but 
would  charge  nothing  for  professional  services  he  rendered  on  Sundays.  The 
result  amazed  him.  His  business  on  week  days  fell  off  50  per  cent,  and  a 
startling  increase  of  bodily  ailments  on  the  Sabbath  taxed  all  his  time,  to  the 
exclusion  of  home  enjoyments  and  rest,  and— worse  than  all— debarred  him 
from  the  highly-prized  privilege  of  church  attendance. 

That  new  departure  in  his  business  methods  to  some  extent  quieted  his; 
scruples,  but  seriously  decreased  his  revenues,  without  in  the  least  mitigating 
his  infractions  of  the  third  and  fourth  commandments.  Compelled  to  discon- 
tinue that  course  he  adopted  another  equally  philanthropic,  and  not  so  labor- 
ous.  He  notified  his  patrons  that  he  would  no  longer  attend  professional  calls 
on  Sunday:  but  would  prescribe  for  tlie  sick  at  liis  home  on  that  day  free  of 
charge.  Still,  the  Lord's  day  contituied  to  be  exceedingly  unhealthy.  To  his 
dismay  he  saw  his  liouse  each  Sunday  converted  into  a  free  dispensary  crowded 
with  the  halt,  the  sick  and  the  manned  with  their  attendant  parents,  broth- 
ers, sisters  and  aunts,  demanding  all  his  time  and  mental  energy  from  early 
dawn  until  late  bed-time.  That  plan  was  no  improvement  upon  the  tirst.  It 
converted  his  house  every  Sunday  not  only  into  a  free  hospital  but  a  free  tav- 


ernalso,  enslaving  his  wife  and  'aniiiy,  consuming  iiis  medicines,  and  exhaust- 
ing his  larder.  Forced  to  abandon  his  well-meant  reforms,  lie  quieted  his  com- 
punctions of  conscience  the  best  he  could,  and  relapsed  into  the  old  daily  rout- 
ine in  luimble  compliance  with  tlie  ways  of  nature's  Uod  who  makes  no  dis- 
crimination in  days  of  the  week.  The  conventional  institution  of  the  Sab- 
bath, in  its  setting  apart  one  clay  in  every  seven  for  rest  and  recreation,  was  a 
priceless  boon  to  humanity,  commanding  the  gratitude  of  all  mankind— ex- 
cepting physicians,  whose  toil  is  continuous  as  the  earth's  rotation  on  its  axis. 

The  constant  mental  and  physical  stress  of  country  practice,  with  its  ir- 
regular hours  and  exposures  at  all  times  of  day  and  night,  its  r'ismal  associa- 
tions with  disease  aud  suffering,  and  its  numerous  disappointments,  perplex- 
ities and  vexations,  began  rather  early  to  tell  upon  Dr.  Elder.  When  but  lit- 
tle past  the  noontide  of  life  he  felt  premonitory  spmptoms  of  the  inevitable 
breakdown  of  professional  enthusiasm  and  vigor.  He  tried  to  think  of  some 
change  of  business  or  location  that  might  palliate  the  severity  of  his  never- 
ending  task.  After  earnest  consideration  of  the  problem  for  some  time,  he 
concluded  to  move  to  Oregon  where  he  would  have  the  advantages  of  a  milder 
climate  and  cheap  land  for  tlie  settlement  of  his  children  who  were  rapidly 
growing  up.  One  of  them.  Rev.  Charles  W.  Elder,  for  the  last  half  century  a 
minister  of  the  Clinrch  of  Christ,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  G.  Hopkins 
on  the  7tli  of  November  1850.  Another  son  was  destined  for  the  church,  and 
one  a  student  of  medicine,  would  in  a  few  years  be  looking  for  a  location,  and 
ir  probably  would  not  be  far  in  the  future  when  some  of  the  other  children 
might  l)e  scattei'ing  out  to  hunt  for  homes  for  themselves.  Having  resolved 
upon  migrating  to  the  far  west  the  Doctor  sold  his  farm,  on  the  13th  of  >[arcli 
is,-)i.  to  Joseph  Hutchings,  for  $3000.  and  began  immediate  preparations  for 
his  long  journey.  But  as  he  came  to  face  the  dirticulties  in  the  way  his  reso- 
lution wavered.  The  magnitude  of  the  undertaking  staggered  him.  Then 
the  reports  of  the  outbreak  of  Asiatic  cholera  on  the  plains,  and  its  appalliiur 
havoc  among  the  throng  of  emigrants  going  to  California  that  .season  deterred 
him  from  going,  and  he  abandoned  it. 

Instead  of  leaving  Hlinois  he  bought  of  James  Hill  two  small  adjoining 
farms— formerly  occupied  by  "Uncle"  Jack,  and  Jim  Conover,  in  the  timber  a 
mile  and  half  southeast  of  Princeton,  and  moved  there,  his  son  Charles  on  one 
of  tliem  and  he  and  family  on  the  other.  There,  in  November  of  the  next 
year,  1852.  his  tirst-born  child,  Samuel  McPhei'son  Elder,  then  a  young  man 
twenty  six  years  of  age  and  a  medical  student  about  to  enter  the  profession, 
was  stricken  down  with  fever  and  died. 

There  are  several  contemporaries  of  Dr.  Elder  still  living  in  Ca.ss  and 
Morgan  counties  who  knew  liim  well,  and  speak  of  him  in  the  highest  terms, 
as  a  thorough,  well-bred  gentleman  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  cleai- 
head  and  sound  judgment:  that  as  a  physician  he  ranked  \n  popular  estima- 
tion with  the  best  in  the  country,  and  as  a  citizen  was  not  surpassed  by  any 
for  .sterling  integrity  of  cliaracter.  But  he  was  a  negative  man,  quiet,  unob- 
trusive, not  aggressive  in  anything  but  defense  and  propagation  of  his  religi- 
ous views.  His  failings  were  all  negative.  Deficient  m  industry  and  tact, 
destitute  of  cunning,  scheming  and  avarice,  he  was  of  course,  not  a  monev- 
raaker.  Full  of  kindness  and  sympathy,  ho  was  ever  ready  to  do  all  in  his 
power  to  relieve  suffering  and   distress    too  often    without   thought   of  the 


pecuniary  value  of  his  services.  He  left  payment  for  his  labor  and  skill  almost 
optional  with  his  patrons;  and  all  the  Lord's  poor,  the  por>r  devils,  the  dead 
beats,  improvident  and  dishonest  loafers,  were  on  his  free  list.  His  total  want 
of  business  sense,  and  his  generous  charity  and  free  hospitality  were  necessari- 
ly fatal  to  financial  success. 

Notwithstanding-  Dr.  Elder's  absorbing  interest  in  his  church,  and  his 
rectitude  of  conduct,  he  was  free  from  the  repulsive  aceticism  and  whining 
cant  of  the  generality  of  religious  zealots.  He  was  of  sunny,  jovial  tempera- 
ment, fond  of  merriment  and  lively  company,  and  relished  jokes,  even  though 
at  his  expense.  His  mind  was  a  storehouse  of  varied  information,  as  all  his 
life  he  was  a  voracious  and  omniverous  reader,  familiar  with  the  best  litera- 
ture of  the  times,  from  the  classics,  poets,  scientists,  down  to  the  latest  and 
best  novels.  By  his  studious  habits  he  kept  well  posted  in  the  progress  and  ad- 
vancements of  his  profession,  in  which  his  attainments  were  very  respectable. 

He  was  very  sociable,  of  plain  and  domestic  tastes,  and  a  fluent  and  en- 
tertaining talker.  Seen  at  his  best  was  when  seated  in  a  comfortable  chair 
in  the  shade,  if  in  summer,  or  by  the  fire  in  winter,  with  a  circle  of  appreci- 
ative listeners  around  liim.  who  were  always  entertained  and  protited  by  his 
conversation.  He  told  anecdotes  well  in  faultless  language,  never  descending 
to  slang,  profanity  or  vulgarity.  His  personal  habits  were  most  exemplary, 
with  the  one  exception  of  being  an  inveterate  tobacco  chewer.  Dr.  Sam 
Christy  often  said  he  knew  of  but  one  man  wlio  habitually  took  a  larger 
"chaw"  of  tobacco  than  himself,  and  that  person  was  Dr.  Elder.  Nor  was  he 
ever  entirely  weaned  from  the  natural  beverage  of  Kentuckians,  Bourbon 
whiskey.  He  relished  an  occasional  swig  of  it,  which  he  took  for  the  stom- 
ach's sake,  of  course,  finding  scriptural  authority  for  the  indulgence  in  the 
advice  of  Saint  Paul  to  Timothy,  by  interpreting  the  Apostle's  term  "wine" 
so  liberally  as  to  include  the  essence  of  sod  corn. 

In  politics.  Dr.  Elder  was  all  his  life  a  steadfast,  radical  democrat,  though 
in  no  sense  a  politician,  and  with  never  the  sliglitest  ambition  for  public 
office  of  any  kind.  The  first  vote  he  cast  for  a  presidential  candidate  was  for 
Genl.  Jackson,  in  1828;  the  last  was  for  Horatio  Seymour,  in  1868.  In  1836, 
he  took  an  active  interest  in  the  movement  for  organizing  Cass  county,  and 
in  1837,  voted  to  ratify  the  act  of  the  legislature  creating  it.  In  1845,  he  ex- 
erted all  his  influence  to  carry  the  election  for  adding  the  "three  mile  strip," 
including  Princeton,  to  Cass  county,  becoming  by  the  result  of  tlmt  election 
a  citizen  of  Cass.  He  was  in  Morgan  county  three  years  before  the  first 
steamboat  ascended  the  Illinois  river,  in  1827.  He  heard  John  Reynolds  and 
Wm.  Kinney  address  the  people,  while  standing  on  stumps  in  the  public 
square  at  Jacksonville,  in  their  famous  campaign  for  governor  in  1829-30.  He 
visited  his  scattered  patients  tlirough  "the  winter  of  the  deepsnow,"  18.30-'31, 
when  in  several  instances  the  snow  had  drifted  to  the  roof  of  their  cabins. 
He  went  over  to  Beardstown  in  April,  1832,  to  see  his  friends  among  tlie  vol- 
unteers gathered  there  in  response  to  the  call  of  Gov.  Reynolds  to  repel  the 
invasion  of  Black  Hawk.  He  did  not  himself  volunteer  for  military  service 
because  his  medical  services  were  more  imperatively  needed  by  tiie  people 
here.  Returning  liome  from  a  sick  call  across  the  prairie  about  two  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  November  13th,  1833,  he  saw  the  beginning  of  that  marvel- 
ous phenomenon  known  as  the   "falling  stars,"  and  watched  the   falling 


-216- 

meteors  with  awe  and  wonder  until  their  strange,  brilliant  illumination  of 
the  night  was  superceded  bv  tliat  of  the  rising  sun.  He  happened  to  be  at 
home  on  the  20th  of  December,  1836,  the  "memorable  cold  day,"  when  the 
temperature  fell  in  one  hour  from  <)8  degrees  above  zero  to  15  below,  freezing 
the  mud  so  quickly— it  has  been  said— as  to  catch,  and  hold  fast  in  it,  the 
feet  of  many  pigs,  chickens,  etc.  He  gave  graphic  accounts  of  the  Internal 
Improvement  craze  of  1836-38,  ^nd  in  18.39  saw  the  first  locomotive  put  in 
motion  on  the  first  railroad  with  a  strap  iron  track  in  Illinois.  He  was  per- 
sonally well  acquainted  with  John  J.  Hardin,  Gov.  Duncan,  Steplien  A. 
Douglas,  Lincoln,  and  other  noted  public  men  of  Central  Illinois.  Peter 
Cartwright  and  himself  were  for  years  intimate  friends,  and  tliough  they 
differed  broadly  on  some  points  ot  gospel  exegesis,  they  were  in  perfect  har- 
mony on  the  etficacy  of  prayer  and  Jacksonian  democracy. 

At  his  little  farm  in  the  timber  Dr.  Elder  continued  his  practice  of  medi- 
cine; but  the  years  of  hard  riding  and  exposure  were  telling  on  his  impaired 
constitution,  and  limiting  his  powers  of  endurance.  His  once  wide  circuit  of 
practice  iiad  contracted  to  a  narrow  circle.  As  the  country  filled  up  with  people 
more  doctors  came— like  cormorants— to  prey  upon  tliem.  Dr.  John  Walker 
had  located  at  the  head  of  Indian  Creek,  seven  miles  east:  Dr  Sam  Christy 
was  on  a  farm  five  miles  northeast  and  a  mile  east  of  Lancaster  post  oflice.  In 
Virginia,  Doctors  Schooley,  Tate,  Lord  and  Stockton  were  supplying  tlie 
needs  of  the  sick  for  miles  around.  Dr.  Hathwell  had  located  lialf  a  mile  east 
of  Princeton  on  the  Clendennin  farm,  and  otliers  were  scattered  around 
wherever  tliey  saw  a  chance  to  make  a  living.  In  the  spring  of  1859  he  sold 
Ills  Morgan  county  land  and  once  more  became  a  resident  of  Princeton.  There 
lie  soon  again  found  village  life  unsatisfactory,  and  longed  for  the  freedom 
and  independence  of  the  open  country.  He  never  revisited  his  native  state 
after  leaving  it  in  1824;  but  his  father  returned  to  Lexington  a  few  years  lat 
er,  called  there  by  the  serious  sickness  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Judge  Venable. 
Early  in  1860  Dr.  Elder  left  Princeton  and  the  scenes  of  his  former  struggles, 
triumplis  and  failures,  and  moved  to  a  farm  he  purchased  near  the  village  of 
Elkhart  in  Logan  county.  The  motive  inducing  him  to  make  that  change 
was  perhaps  not  a  particular  desire  to  become  a  neighbor  to  "Roaring  Dick" 
Oglesby,  who  then  resided  in  or  near  that  place;  but  was  more  probably  the 
advantage  of  cheaper  land  and  greater  elbow  room  to  be  had  there  at  that 
time. 

Dr.  Elder's  health,  that  for  some  time  had  been  declining,  in  18(i0  reached 
the  stage  of  almost  total  physical  collapse.  Distressing  enervation  compelled 
him  to  retire  from  all  active  business  and  lead  a  sedentary  life,  however,  be- 
yond inability  for  much  muscular  exertion,  he  was  not  an  invalid.  Tliere  was 
no  impairment  of  iiis  intellectual  vigor,  tlie  integrity  of  his  mental  faculties 
remaining  as  clear  as  in  his  youthful  days.  He  was  never  an  advocate,  or 
apologist,  for  the  institution  of  slavery,  but  having  liad  the  doctrine  of 
state's  rights  inculcated  in  his  early  training  he  believed  it  wrong  forthegen- 
eral  government,  or  people  of  the  northern  states,  to  interfere  in  the  domestic 
regulations  of  the  soutti,  of  those  of  any  new  state  applying  for  admission  in- 
to tiie  Union.  In  the  turbulent  agitation  preceding  the  civil  war  he  was  out 
spoken  in  defense  of  the  position  assumed  by  the  south:  and  during  the  ter- 
rible conflict  that  followed,  his  sympathies  were  earnestly  enlisted   for  the 


-  217  - 

confederate  cause.  Without  hesitation  or  reserve  he  expressed  himself  favor- 
able to  the  south  on  all  occasions— not  in  a  spirit  of  bravado  or  defiance,  but 
as  his  candid  opinion  of  the  right  and  justice  in  the  question  at  issue.  In 
tliose  lurid  days  of  furious  excitement  and  intense  sectional  enmities  a  num- 
erous class  in  Illinois — in  fact  everywhere  both  in  the  north  and  south — were 
very  intolerant  of  the  liberty  of  speech  when  the  sentiments  spoken  were  con- 
trary to  their  views.  Individuals  of  that  class  in  his  vicinity  intimated  to 
Dr.  Elder  that  if  he  did  not  stop  talking  so  boldly  for  the  rebels  they  would 
forcibly  suppress  him.  That  threat  had  the  opposite  effect  from  that  antici- 
pated by  the  loyal  stay-at-homes.  He  was  not  in  the  least  intimidated  by  it: 
but  carefully  cleaned  his  old  rifle,  replenished  his  powder  horn  and  bullet 
pouch,  and  sent  them  word  to  come  on  and  suppress  him,  he  was  ready  to  re- 
ceive them.    They  neither  silenced  nor  molested  him. 

To  Dr.  Elder  and  wife  were  born  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daugh- 
ters, named  Samuel  McPherson,  Charles  Warfleld,  M.  Ripley,  and  Andrew  W. 
—Catherine,  Elizabeth.  Martha  Helen  and  Maria  Jane.  The  two  first  named 
sons  were  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  Morgan  county.  Charles  W.  and  M. 
Eipley  chose  the  ministry  in  the  Church  of  Christ  for  their  life  calling-,  and 
are  still  doing  the  Master's  work,  the  first  a  resident  of  Denver,  Colorado,  for 
several  years  past,  the  other  in  charge  of  the  Christian  church  at  Ashland.  Il- 
linois. Andrew  W.  is  a  citizen  of  Peoria,  111.  The  last  named  daughter  Maria 
Jane,  resides  in  Salem,  Oregon,  the  other  three  in  Los  Gatos,  Californi;i. 

Dr.  Elder  occupied  liis  Logan  county  farm  until  about  the  close  of  the 
civil  war,  when  too  feeble  to  further  superintend  its  management,  lie  sold  it, 
and  then  purchased  a  modest  little  dwelling  in  VVilliamsville.  in  the  northern 
edge  of  Sangamon  county,  a  few  miles  southwest  of  Elkliart,  anrl  there  es- 
tablished his  last  liome  on  earth.  There  himself  and  wife,  surrounded  by 
their  children,  quietly  passed  their  remaining  days,  watcliirig  the  lengthen- 
ing shadows  as  the  evening  of  life  came  on  apace  while  awaiting  realizaf inn 
of  their  faith  in  the  final  summons  to  "come  up  higher."  The  call  came  first 
to  Mrs.  Elder,  who  breathed  her  last  in  April,  1867.  Tlie  Doctor  remained 
five  years  longer,  a  mere  wreck  of  liis  former  self,  lonely  indeed,  but  sustained 
by  his  unfaltering  faith  in  the  promise  of  Him  who  said,  "Come  unto  me  all 
ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  Dr.  Elder  was 
"heavy  laden"  with  grief  for  loss  of  his  life  companion,  and  with  premature 
senile  debility  from  years  of  slavish  labor.  lie  had  fought  the  good  tight  and 
felt  that  he  was  entitled  to  the  promised  reward,  "well  done  thou  good  and 
faitliful  servant,"  and  was  prepared  to  enter  into  the  kingdom.  As  though 
passing  into  the  repose  of  a  quiet,  peaceful  sleep,  he  departed  this  life,  in 
answer  to  the  summons,  on  the  6th  day  of  March,  l'^72,  having  attained  the 
age  of  73  years  and  eight  months. 


REV.  WILIvIAM  H.  COLLINS. 

BY  MRS.  EMILY  COLLINS  I^.RADY. 


/"H-\IIE  Rev.  Wm.  IL  Collins  was  born  in  Slego,  Ireland,  November  21,  17!».'). 
^  II.s  parents  emig-rated  from  Ireland  in  1796  and  took  a  goat  with  them 
on  the  ship  so  as  to  have  milk  for  the  baby.  The  new  emigrants 
landed  at  Baltimore  and  made  their  tirst  home  in  Mar.yland.  Later  they  lived 
in  \'irginia  and  finally  came  to  Ohio,  where  William  was  married  in  Cincin- 
nati, April  18,  182."),  to  Miss  Rebecca  Brinkerhotf. 

Wm.  II   Collins  was  a  saddler  by  trade,  but  became  a  Metliodist  minister 
and  was  a  "circuit  rider"  for  many  years.     lie   preached  at  Cincinnati  and 

I)a\ton,  Oliio  and  by  chanp-ing  from 
one  conference  to  another  worked 
westward.  i)reaching  a  year  or  so  in 
iii-liana.  and  finally  settling  in  Vir- 
ginia ahout  the  year  1830.  Here  for 
man\  \eaislie  preached  as  a  "circuit 
rider."  t  raveling  the  long  distances  oi-i 
horseback,  with  a  pair  of  leather 
saddle-bags  strapped  on  behind  the 
saddle  containing  his  meager  supply 
of  clothing,  a  b.  ok  or  two,  besides  his 
w^ell-worn  Bible,  and  doubtless  a  good 
supply  of  (juiiiine,  as  fever  and  ague 
were  much  in  evidence  in  those  times. 
(I  now  have  tliese  saddle  bags.)  In 
later  years  wlien  settlers  and  towns 
became  more  numerous,  and  roads  im- 
()roved,  he  liad  a  buggy  and  often  took 
his  wife  wil  h  him. 
■i  He  was.  as  most  Metliodist  minist- 

/;    ers  were  in  t  hose  early   days,    a  great 
h(  r.^e  I  rader, 

Soiiiet  lines  he  drove  one  horse  and 
sometimes  two.     My  earliest  recollec- 
tions of  my  Uncle  WilMam  are  of  his 
es  east  of  Virginia,  in  a   very  large  and 
which   we  children  all  called  the   "old 


REV.  WILLIAM  II.  COLLINS. 

coming  to  my  m:)ther's  home  two  mi 
clumsy  two  seated  covered  carriage, 
barouche." 

He  generallv  arrived  after  dark, 


sometimes  as  late  as  ten  or  eleven  o'clock 


219 


and  had  a  very  peculiar  "hello!"  and  when  we  heard  it  there  was  g-reat  ex- 
citement in  our  humble  home,  for  in  those  primitive  times  great  respect  and 
reverence  was  paid  to  all  "preachers."  My  brothers  would  hurry  out  to  help 
care  for  the  horse,  receiving  most  minute  instructions  from  my  Uncle.  We 
children  (Ira  and  myself)  liad  the  fun  of  carrying  in  the  bundles  while  my 
dear,  good  mother  and  sistei's  made  ready  a  dainty,  hot  supper  of  tea,  soda 
biscuits  and  preserves.  At  the  close  of  the  repast  the  children  generally  en- 
joyed a  taste  of  the  good  things  and  stayed  up  for  the  Bible  reading  and  the 
long  family  prayers.  A  little  latter  if  we  could  get  a  reasonable  excuse  we 
would  slip  in  the  room  to  see  the  unpacking  and  get  a  glimpse  of  the  little, 
jolly  old  Uncle  in  liis  pointed  night-cap. 


MRS.  EMILY  COLLINS  BRADY. 

Surely  there  must  be  many  "old  timers"  in  and  around  Virginia  who 
well  remember  "Uncle  Billy  Collins,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  and  his 
wife,  "Aunt  Beclcy,"  for  two  odder  or  better  people  never  lived  in  Virginia. 
Aunt  Rebecca's  favorite  beverage  was  black  tea,  and  she  always  carried  some 
In  lier  reticule,  so  if  lier  liostess  did  not  use  black  tea,  she  could  supply  the 
deficiency. 

Wm.  H.  Collins  was  the  oldest  of  eight  children,  and  his  parents  were 
Pratt  and  Elizabeth  Collins,  married  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  November  9tli,  1794. 
Pratt  Collins  is  buried  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  and  Elizabeth  was  buried  by  the 
side  of  my  father,  Tliomas  J.  Collins,  in  the  Robinson  graveyard,  east  of 
Virginia. 

Wm.  II.  Collins  and  wife  had  adaughter  Elizabeth  whodiedat  Cincinnati, 
aged  six  weeks,  in  1833. 

Wm.  H.  Collins  and  wife,  also  her  father,  Mr.  Brinkerhoflf,  and  her  maid- 


-  220  - 

en  sister,  Sarah  BrinkerliolT,  all  died   in   Beardstown  and   are  buried  there. 
Wm.  IT.  Collins  was  never  a  man  of  means  but  for  many  years  owned  a 
home  in  A"irj?inia  on  the  street  goin^^  south  from  the  old  Dunaway   hotel. 
He  also  owned  a  home  in  Beardstown  for  some  years  before  liis  death. 


House  on  South  Main  Street,  the  former  home 
of  Bev.  W.  Fl.  Collins. 
The  cJiureli  he  labored  for  in  those  olden  times  was  known  as  the  Method- 
ist Protestant,  or  Protestant  Methodist,  but  I  do  not  know   what  distinction 
tliere  was  between  it  and  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church,  but  I  do  know   my 
Uncle  was  a  zealous,  enthusiastic  worker  in  the  chosen  field  of  his  belief. 


rion.  David  C.  Dilley,  for  many  years  the  assessor  and  treasurer  of  Cass 
county,  was  a  nephew  of  Rev.  William  H.  Collins.  Mr.  Dilley  now  resides  at 
Lebanon.  Missouri.  Concerning  liis  Uncle  he  writes,  under  date  of  May  5. 
1906. 

"My  sister,  Mrs.  H.  A.  Baldwin,  of  Central ia,  Illinois,  has  Uncle  Collins' 
family  Bible.  He  was  about  70  years  old,  and  died  about  1868  and  was  buried 
in  the  Beardstown  City  (cemetery,  at  the  east  end  of  the  ground.  His  wife 
died  about  1880.  He  was  about  5  feet  4  inches  in  height;  hair  black  or  brown, 
before  it  became  gray;  light  eyes.  He  was  a  verv  positive  man  in  his  ways: 
when  lie  believed  anything  was  riglit,  fie  would  go  any  length  to  carry  it  out. 
He  wore  himself  out  in  the  service  of  the  Protestant  M.  E.  churcli.  He  was 
a  kind  husband,  and  a  good  citizen." 

A  letter  addressed  to  Mrs.  Baldwin,  brought  no  reply.  An  incident 
wliich  occurred  many  years  since  is  worthy  of  a  place  here.  It  had  been  an- 
nounced that  Rev.  Newton  Cloud  would  preach  in  Virginia  upon  a  certain 
occasion  in  the  old  church,  which  stood  just  west  of  the  west  side  of  the  pub- 
lic square.  As  Rev.  Cloud  was  a  democrat.  N.  B.  Thompson,  a  prominent 
merchant  here,  who  was  not  a  churcli  goer,  but  was  very  mucli  of  a  democrat, 
concluded  to  go  and  hear  him  preach.  Mr.  Thompson,  wlio  prided  himself 
upon  his  personal  appearance,  walked  to  tlie  front  unusually  well  dressed, 
and  attracted  the  attention  of  all  the  audience.  It  happened,  that  the  ex- 
pected preacher  could  not  come,  and  it  was  arranged  that  Rev.  Mr.  Collins, 
should  conduct  the  service.  Wtien  Mr.  Thompson  discovered  the  situation, 
lie  arose  with  his  accustomed  dignity,  started  to  leave  the  building:  Rev. 
Collins  halted  a  moment,  and  then  quietly  remarked:  "Tlie  wicked  tlee, 
when  no  man  pursueth:"  and  then  proceeded  witli  tlie  religious  service. 


HON.  JOHN  WILKES  PRATT. 


BY  J.  ^.  GRIDLEY. 


JOHN  W.  PRATT  was  born  in  Alle^'^liany  county,  in-the  state  of  Marylanrl. 
on  the  third  day  of  December,  1806      He  was  the   son   of   Thom;is  G.  and 
Christiana  (Tyler)  Pratt:  tlie  mother  was  a  cousin  of  Jolin  Tyler,  president 
of  the  United  States. 

Thomas  G.  Pratt  was  born  in  the  year  17(i9.  At  an  early  day  he  removed 
from  Prince  George  county  to  Allegheny  egunty.  Maryland;  he  afterwards 
lived  in  Frederick  county,  at  a  point  but  five  miles  distant  from  Harper's 
Ferry.     He  was  an  influential  man  of  propeity  and    gave   his  son,  John  W.,  a 

libei'al  education,  which  he  readily 
acquired,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  the  state  of  Maryland,  where 
lie  doubt  less  would  have  risen  to  dis- 
tinction in  hischoosen  profession  and 
remained  a  practitioner  in  his  native 
state,  had  he  not  contracted  a  severe 
ciild  in  1823,  wti^n  a  hid  of  seventeen 
\e;ns.  \\  Idle  sutfering  with  an  attiick 
iif  iii(-;isles.  The.  residt  of  this  cold 
Irfl  hiiu  a  victim  of  consumption, 
lie  began  I  he  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion and  soon  foiuid  himself  famous  as 
;i  public  speaker  and  made  numerous 
.Mldresses  on  various  subjects  to  large 
;iiid  ^nlelligeiit  audiences. 

Hoping  that  a  change  of  climate 
would  iinest  the  progress  of  the  ter- 
liljle  disease  that  had  fastened  itself 
up(^n  him,  he  removed  to  Florida,  and, 
after  a  thorough  trial  of  that  climate, 
finding  the  change  had  been  of  no 
The  fame  of  the  Illinois  coinitry  had 
tt  in  the  year  1835,  when  29  years 
a  man  named  Case,  making  the 
journey  on  horseback,  in  search  of  a  climate  which  would  help  him  in  his 
battle  for  life  and  health.  The  travellers  were  attracted  to  Beardstown,  then 
a  point  of  prospective  importance,  from  its  position  upon  the  Illinois  river. 


HON.  JOHN  WILKES  PRATT. 

benefit,  he  returned  to  tiis  native  state 
reached  all  sections  of  the  east,  and  .Mr.  Pi 
of  age,  came  to  this  state,  in  company  wit 


-  222  ~ 

before  the  day  of  the  steam  roads  of  iron.  He  purchased  40  acres  of  land  in 
S3C.  14  and  23,  T.  17,  R.  11,  of  Loudon  Case,  on  July  10, 1835,  which  was  located 
about  one  mile  distant  from  the  farm  of  John  Savage,  who  was  then  a  leading 
citizen  of  Morgan  county,  in  whose  family  he  became  a  boarder  and  on  the 
26th  day  of  N^overaber,  1836,  he  was  married  to  Emily,  the  oldest  child  of  John 
Savage,  by  Rev  Benjamin  Cauby,  a  minister  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church. 

The  quiet  and  seclusion  of  life  on  a  pioneer's  farm  in  this  new  country 
was  so  different  from  his  life  in  the  east  ttiat  Mr.  Pratt  soon  tired  of  it  and 
rt'.inoved  to  Beardstowii,  where  his  oldest  child,  Thomas  G.  Pratt,  now  a 
resident  of  this  city,  was  born,  on  the  bank  of  the  Illinois  river,  on  September 
6,  1837.  In  the  meantime  Cass  county  had  been  organized  and  Mr.  Pratt  had 
become  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county  clerk  and,  at  the  election  held  in 
August,  1837,  was  elected  over  his  opponent,  Robert  G.  Gaines,  and  on  Augu.st 
14,  1837,  tiled  his  bond  and  took  the  oath  of  office:  the  sureties  upon  his  official 
bond  were  Isaac  C  Spence  and  Alexander  Huffman. 

The  county  commissioners  soon  found  that  Mr.  Pratt  was  a  man  of  in- 
tegrity and  exci-llent  business  capacity  and  on  tlie  5th  of  June,  1839,  they  ap- 
pointed him  as  t  !ih  agent  of  Cass  county,  to  demand  and  receive  money  due 
the  county  under  liie  state  Internal  Improvement  Law. 

In  184-2  Mr.  Pratt,  intending  to  become  a  candidate  for  tlie  office  of  mem- 
ber of  the  Ipgislature  of  the  state  from  Cass  county,  on  .iiuie  8tli,  of  that  year 
resigned  liis  office  of  county  clerk,  and  was  then  appointed  clerk  j^ro  tern.  At 
tlie  election  held  on  Monday,  August  1,  1842,  he  was  elected  over  Joshua  P. 
Crow,  his  opponent,  and  William  II.  II.  Carpenter  was  elected  to  succeed  him 
as  county  clerk:  Mr.  Pratt  succeeditiiJ  Amos  S.  West  who  represented  Cass 
county  in  the  Lower  House,  1840  to  1842. 

The  Thirteenth  General  Assembly  nf  Illinois  for  1842-1844,  convened  at 
Springfield  on  December  5,  1842.  John  Henry,  of  Morgan  county,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  senate:  Newton  Cloud,  David  Epier  and  William  Weatherford,  all 
of  Morgan  county  were  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  Those  who 
were  active  in  the  matter  of  the  formation  of  Ciss  county  petitioned  for  its 
boundaries  as  they  now  exist.  l)ut,  as  it  will  appear  later,  by  sharp  practice, 
a  strip  three  miles  wide  was  retained  by  Morgan  county;  the  south  line  of 
the  county  as  formed  being  three  miles  north  of  tlie  present  county  line. 
Mr.  Piatt  began  a  determined  tight  for  this  three  mile  strip,  and  was  assisted 
1)\  Mr.  Epler  who  resided  within  the  said  strip,  and  was  anxious  to  have  it 
annexeii  to  Cass  county.  Bat  the  other  mem'oers  frjm  Morgan  made  a  stren- 
uous tiglit  against  Mr.  Pratt  and  Mr.  Epler,  and  tlieir  assistants  had  worked 
upon  the  citizens  of  the  strip  taking  advantageof  the  bitternessthat  prevailed 
anion  •  I  he  people  on  accoiHil  of  I  he  rivalry  that  existed  between  Virginia 
and  Heardstovvii  over  the  permanent  location  of  the  county  seat,  which  had 
been  Ihst  established  at  Be,  irdstown  and  afterv^ards  removed  to  Virginia. 

On  the  7th  day  of  February,  1843,  Mr  Pratt  made  a  speech  upon  his  bill 
to  extend  the  liuiits  of  Cass  county,  which  we  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find 
among  his  pa.pers  and  wliich  is  here  produced  in  full.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  the  precinct  he  refers  to  as  the  "Lucas  Precinct"'  was  located  in  the 
northeast  corner  of  the  county,  anrl  is  now  known  as  tiie  Richmond  Precinct. 
This  speech  contains  recitals  of  historical  facts  entirely  unknown  to  the  pres- 


-  2*23  - 

ent  generation  so  far  as  this  writer  lias  been  able  to  ascertain,  and  makes  a 
most  valuable  addition  to  these  Historical  Sketches.  It  was  furnished  by 
Mrs.  Ellen  Tread  way,  of  this  city,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Pratt. 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Pratt,  of  Cass  connty,  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
February  7,  184.'?,  on  the  bdl  to  extend  the  limits  of  Cass  county: 

Mr.  Speaker:-— It  would  be,  at  all  times,  with  mucli  ditliculty,  that  I 
could  address  a  deliberative  body,  and  the  difficulty  is  jj-reatly  increased  on 
the  present  occasion  by  sickness,  whicli  has  kept  me  from  the  house  for  sev 
eral  days,  and  a  severe  hoarseness  which  increases  the  embarrassment  and 
lessens  the  chance  of  my  being  understood.  But,  Sir.  I  am  by  no  me;i,ns  will- 
ing to  postpone  the  consideration  of  this  question.  I  rejoice  that  it  is  now 
before  the  house,  and  that  I  have  an  opportunity  of  placing  it  on  proper 
grounds,  and  of  answering  whatever  inav  l)e  urge!  by  those  who  are  opposed 
to  this  just  claim. 

Personally,  I  am  but  little  interested.— peciniiarily  I  have  little  or  noth- 
ing to  gain  or  lose  by  the  issue  of  this  question:  but  Sir,  my  feelings  have 
been  warmly  enlisted  from  the  fact,  tiiat  the  people  of  the  county  which  1 
liave  the  honor  to  represent  on  this  floor  the  whole  people—do  feel  :i  deeper 
and  more  absorbing  interest  in  this  matter  than  any  other  that  has  engiiged 
the  consideration  of  the  Legislature.  They  must  not  be  charged  with  making 
their  principles  subordinate  to  their  interest  in,  their  zeal  on  this  point. 
Sir,  there  is  a  great  principle  as  well  as  heavy  interests  involved  in  this  mat- 
ter—a  principle  which  1  am  willing  to  contend  for  and  which  they  are  not 
willing  to  surrender.  We  deny  the  right  of  any  county  in  the  state,  or  the 
state  itself,  to  inflict  an  unnecessary  wrong.  We  claim  that  when  it  is  in 
flicted,  it  is  the  bounden  duty  of  the  st.ite  to  redress  that  wrong,  more  es- 
pecially when  it  can  be  done  without  serious  injury  to  others.  The  people  of 
Cass  county  have  been  wronged  in  the  formation  of  the  county,  and  without 
stopping  to  inquire  who  inflicted  the  wrong  we  call  upon  the  Legislature  to 
redress  it- 
Mr.  Speaker,  I  will  first  give  a  brief  liistory  of  the  foi'mation  of  the 
county,  vouching  in  my  place,  fiom  my  personal  knowledge,  for  the  truth  of 
the  statements  and  facts  presented.  I  will  then  answer  the  gentleman  fi'om 
Morgan,  (Mr.  Cloud)  and  pledge  myself  triumphantly  to  refute  every  argu- 
ment adduced  by  him  adverse  to  our  claiuis,  and  will  especially  show,  that  .a 
majority  of  the  people  of  Cass  county,  not  only  did  not  accept  of  the  county, 
as  asserted  by  him,  but  that  a  clear  majority— a  large  majority,  were  opposed 
to  its  formation. 

During  the  winter  of  18.36  and  '37,  petitions  were  circulated  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  Morgan  county,  for  a  new  county.  The  proposed  county  was  to 
be  made  from  tlie  northern  part  of  Morgan,  which  laid  north  of  the  line 
dividing  townships  IH  and  17,  running  from  the  Illinois  river  ea>t  to  the 
Sangamon  county  line.  This  line  included  the  three  mile  strip  that  it  is  now 
proposed  to  attach  to  the  county  of  Cass.  These  petitions  were  signed  by 
some  tive  hundred  voters  in  Morgan  county,  which  then  contained,  and  at 
the  previous  August  election  had  polled,  about  .'5(iOO  votes.  Acting  on  these 
petitions  the  legislature  passed  a  law  conditionally  creating  the  present 
county  of  Cass,  making  the  line  not  where  the  petition  called  for,  viz:  the 
line  dividing  township  Ifi  and  17,  but  making  it  run   in  the   middle  of  town- 


-  224  - 

sliip  17,  thus  leaving  a  strips  miles  wide  on  the  entire  length  of  the  county, 
and  curtailing  the  claims  of  the  petitions  upwards  of  80  square  miles.  The 
condition  of  the  law  was,  that  at  a  time  appointed  in  the  law,  an  election 
should  be  held  in  Morgan  county,  then  composed  of  tlie  present  counties  of 
Morgan,  Scott,  and  Cass,  for  the  purpose  of  accepting  or  rejecting  the  pro- 
posed county.  At  the  time  appointed,  April  1837,  an  election  was  held  under 
the  said  law  for  that  purpose.  About  lOOO  votes  were  polled  in  a  county 
wliich,  as  I  before  observed,  at  that  time  contained,  and  at  the  previous 
August  election  liad  given,  3,(i00  votes.  Of  these  1000  votes  a  majority  of  48 
was  cast  against  the  formation  of  the  county,  but  the  poll  book  of  the  Mere- 
dosia  precinct,  in  tlie  present  county  of  Morgan,  having  been  returned  by  a 
citizen  of  Cass  county,  who  was  neitlier  a  judge  nor  a  clerl<  of  the  election, and 
the  poll  book  of  tiie  Lucas  precinct,  in  the  county  of  Cass,  having  been  re- 
turned by  mail— both  precincts  giving  almost  an  unanimous  vote  against 
division— tliey  were  rejected  by  the  officers  authorized  by  law  to  count  the 
votes  on  account  of  this  informality.  The  county  of  Cass  was  thus  estab- 
lished, when  a  majority  of  the  votes  polled  had  been  cast  against  its  forma- 
tion: when  ;i  majority  of  the  people  witliin  iier  bounds,  were  opposed  to  it, 
and  when  nearl\  tliree-fourtbs  of  the  people  had  failed  to  attend   the  polls. 

Mr.  Speaker,  here  are  several  iui  port  ant  facts  ttiat  present  this  claim  on 
grounds  different  from  any  question  of  county  divisions  that  has  even  been 
,  presented  to  the  legislature.  The  claims  of  the  petitions  were  curtailed— the 
boundaries  reduced:  nearly  three-fourths  of  the  people  did  not  vote;  of  tliose 
voting  a  majority  was  cast  against  the  division  of  the  county;  and  what  is  of 
si  ill  greater  importance,  and  a  still  greater  hardsliip,  a  majority  of  the  people 
within  the  curtailed  limits  of  the  new  county  of  Cass  were  opposed  to  tliis 
formation-first  changing  the  boundaries  of  the  county  they  petitioned  for, 
and  then  forcing  it  on  them  against  their  will.  I  do  not  mean  to  cast  censure 
on  the  tlien  existing  delegation  from  Morgan  county,  for  changing  the  lines 
and  referring  tlie  question  back  to  a  vote  of  the  people;  nor  do  I  mean  to 
charge  the  majority  of  the  people  of  Morgan  county  with  the  intention  of 
forcing  the  county  on  the  people  of  Cass,  for  they  had  the  power  and  did  not 
exercise  it.  But  I  do  mean  to  say  that  it  is  a  fact  beyond  controversy,  the 
people  of  Cass  county  have  a  county  that  they  did  not  petition  for:  a  county 
they  were  opposed  to;  a  county  they  were  not  willing  to  accept:  a  county 
against  the  formation  of  which  tiiey  remonstrated  until  remonstrance  was 
v;iin— until  the  legislature  declared  the  county  established:  a  county  which 
tliey  now  call  upon   the  legislature  to  enlarge. 

At  every  subsequent  session  of  the  legislature  the  people  of  Cass  county, 
and  the  people  living  on  the  three  mile  strip,  liave  petitioned  for  tliis  dis- 
puted territory,  to  '^e  attached  to  the  county  of  Cass,  but  as  yet  without  suc- 
cess Tlie  county  of  Cass,  tlius  singularly  and  unfairly  established,  is  in  ter- 
ritorial limits  one  of  the  weakest  in  the.  state,  and  deducting  from  its  nominal 
surface  tiie  inundated  lands  bordering  on  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  rivers, 
the  sand  ridges  and  bluffs  by  which  tney  are  skirted,  and  the  waste  and  un- 
tillable  lands  in  the  interior,  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to  more  than  a 
third  of  the  whole  county,  Cass  county  contains,  I  believe,  less  productive 
land  than  any  other  county  in  the  state. 

Besides.  Sir,  this  county  lias  been  created   by  dispensing  with  those  pre- 


-  2^25  - 

liminary  checks  to  imposition  and  surprise  for  which  the  law  was  wisely 
enacted;  and  created  virtually  and  in  truth  contrary  to  the  will  of  those  im- 
mediately interested.  It  has  been  formed  out  of  one  of  the  largest  counties 
in  the  state,  and  made  one  of  the  smallest;  when  the  required  notice  of  in- 
tention to  petition  had  not  been  given;  when  the  required  number  of  petitions 
had  not  been  obtained;  when  a  majority  of  the  votes  polled  had  been  cast 
against  its  formation,  and  wnen  a  majority  of  the  new  county  were  opposed 
to  it.  Then,  Mr.  Speaker,  it  is  confidently  hoped,  that,  as  this  county  has 
been  thus  formed  without  a  strict  observance  of  the  statutory  provisions  in 
relation  to  county  divisions:  as  tiie  required  notice  was  not  given;  as  a  major- 
ity of  the  people  did  not  petition;  as  a  majority  of  the  vote  polled  were  against 
it;  as  a  majority  of  the  people  witliin  the  bounds  of  the  new  county  were  op- 
posed to  it;  and  a  majority  of  tlie  people  in  the  three  mile  strip  are  in  favor 
of  being  attached  to  Cass;  it  is  confidently  hoped,  that,  as  this  county  luis 
been  palmed  on  the  people  of  Cass,  against  their  will  ;i,nd  to  their  injury,  in 
disregard  of  these  statutory  provisions,  that  tiiose  same  provisions  will  not  be 
attempted  to  be  rigidly  enforced  against  her  now,  when  siie  is  asking  the 
Legislature  to  rectify  the  identical  wrong  done  her  by  not  observing  them; 
when  she  is  asking  nothing  more  and  nothing  less  tlian  iier  first  petition. 
And.  Sir,  it  will  be  her  last  petition,  for  as  long  as  the  Representatives  of  the 
people  assemble  within  these  walls,  and  her  prayers  remain  unanswered,  she 
will  petition.  And,  Sir,  when  it  shall  be  her  destiny  to  be  borne  down  by 
numbers;  when  siie  shall  be  attached  to  some  other  and  probably  larger  county 
in  the  election  of  a  Representative,  as  slie  must  be  so  attached,  unless  this 
territory  is  obtained  (for  witiiout  it  she  is  not  entitled  to  a  representative); 
wlien  she  will  not  have  the  strength  to  send  one  of  her  own  citizens  to  ad- 
vocate her  rights  on  this  floor  and  will  not  have  strength  enough  to  cast  tlie 
balance  of  power  in  the  county  connected  witli  her,  siie  will  still  petition  and 
trust  to  some  friendly  voice  being  raised  in  lier  behalf,  and  above  all,  trust  to 
the  justice  of  the  Legislature. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  people  of  tills  three  mile  stripare  sometimes  discouraged 
in  their  efforts  to  be  attaclied  to  the  county  of  Cass.  Disiieartened  by  their 
repeated  failures  and  overpowered  and  borne  down  by  superior  numbers,  it  is 
no  matter  of  surprise  that  they  do  not  press  this  claim  with  the  enthusiasm 
they  once  manifested.  But,  let  tlie  question  once  be  left  to  a  vote  of  the 
people  living  within  the  bounds  of  this  disputed  territory;  let  the  people  of 
Morgan  county,  in  answer  to  tiieir  petitions,  say  to  tliem  "you  iiave  been 
wronged  and  injured  and  you  may  now  determine,  by  your  own  suffrage, 
whether  you  will  reinain  witli  Morgan  or  be  attached  to  Cass,"  and.  Sir,  they 
will  be  united  almost  to  a  mai-. 

Besides  every  conceivable  effort  lias  been  made  to  divide  the  people  of 
this  three  mile  strip.  Some  have  proposed  to  compromise  and  take  less  tlian 
the  first  petition  called  for,  while  others  have  proposed  to  take  more.  Some 
have  proposed  to  take  half  of  the  three  mile  strip,  dividing  it  east  and  west; 
others  to  take  half,  dividing  it  north  and  soutli.  These  propositions  have 
generally  come  from  enemies  of  division,  yet  they  liave  had  a  tendency  to 
divide  its  friends. 

Like  most  new  counties  tlie  people  are  divided  on  the  subject  of  county 
seat — the  western  part  prefering  Beardstown,  the  eastern   part   Virginia,   as 


-  2^26  - 

the  seat  of  justice.  Now,  to  show  the  unfair  means  resorted  to,  to  prevent 
the  majority  of  the  people  within  this  territory  signing  the  petition— while 
the  people  living  in  tlie  eastern  part,  who  are  favorable  to  Virginia,  have 
been  told  that  if  they  were  attached  to  Cass,  the  county  seat  question  would 
be  left  to  the  vote  of  the  people,  and  a  majority  of  them  would  remove  It  to 
Beardstown;  the  people  in  the  western  part  of  the  territory,  have  been  falsely 
assured,  that  if  they  were  attached  to  Cass,  the  question  of  the  county  seat 
would  not  be  left  to  the  vote  of  the  people,  but  that  it  would  continue  at 
Virginia,  by  legislative  enactment.  As  a  natural  consequence  the  people  in 
the  easterh  part  of  the  territory,  wiio  understood  my  position,  liave  signed 
tlie  petitions,  while  a  large  majority  in  the  western  part,  under  this  misap- 
prehension, have  not  signed.  All  I  ask  is  tiiat  there  be  passed  two  bills,  one 
authorizing  the  people  of  this  disputed  territory  to  vote  for  or  against  being 
attached  to  Cass,  the  other  authot-izing  the  people  of  the  county,  including 
the  acquired  territory,  to  locate  by  vote  the  seat  of  justice  of  the  county. 
This  is  all  I  ask 

I  must  be  permitted  to  give  another  reason  for  the  smallness  of  our  peti- 
tion. It  was  understood  that  so  far  as  the  Morgan  delegation  was  concerned, 
no  division  of  Morgan  county  would  be  allowed,  on  any  petitions— no  matter 
how  rui merous— but  all  projects  of  division,  should  be  referred  back  to  the 
vote  of  the  people.  In  other  words,  that  if  the  majority,  or  all  of  the  legal 
voters  of  Morgan  county,  petitioned  for  any  division,  that  division  should 
not  take  place  unless  a  majority  of  the  votes  should  be  cast  for  it  at  the  sub- 
sequent August  election. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  will  not  conceal  the  facts  from  the  House  that  the  people 
of  Cass  county,  have  never  relied  on  a  majority  of  Morgan  county,  giving  us 
this  territory.  They  have  always  looked,  and  still  continue  to  look,  with 
greater  contidence  to  the  Legislature  settling  this  matter,  than  they  have  to 
a  majority  of  Morgan.  Tluit  would  be  tlie  last  hope.  The  county  of  Cass, 
containing  five  hundred  voters,  having  been  formed,  when  only  163  votes 
were  given  at  the  precincts  within  her  bounds  for  it,  the  lines  she  petitions 
for  having  been  altered,  the  county  formed,  by  the  rejection  of  poll  books: 
the  people  in  the  retained  territory  petitioning  to  be  set  off  to  Cass,  Morgan 
county,  after  this  division  still  remaining  one  of  the  most  populous  counties 
in  the  state,  it  seems  strange  that  so  completely  a  one  sided  proposition 
should  have  met  with  sucli  uncompromising  warfare. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  ask  my  friends  from  Morgan  if  this  question  ought  not  to 
be  settled,  and  if  Morgan  county  cannot  well  atford  to  settle  it,  by  giving  us 
the  territory  and  then  remain  one  of  the  first  counties  in  the  state,  in  terri- 
tory, in  population,  and  consequently  in  political  strength;  how  will  they 
force  this  people  to  stay  with  them  against  their  will  and  in  spite  of  their  re- 
monstrances? Are  not  liere  good  grounds  for  legislative  interference?  I  will 
not  say  it  is  right  to  set  off  a  portion  of  the  county  whenever  the  people  with- 
in its  bounds  petition  to  be  set  off  in  disregard  of  the  reiiuiinder  of  tliecounty; 
but  I  do  say,  when  a  new  county  has  been  formed  with  limits  so  contracted 
as  to  require  the  heaviest  assessments  of  taxes  to  defray  the  necessary  ex- 
penses of  county  government;  when  the  county  from  which  it  was  detached 
can  well  afford  to  spare  the  disputed  claim  and  afterwards  have  the  requisite 
population  to  entitle  her  to  her  four  representatives  on  this  floor,   not  lessen- 


-  Til  - 

iiig  her  political  power:  not  disturbing  her  county  seat,  in  fact,  doing  no 
wrong  to  her,  but  rendering  justice  unto  Cass  county:  and  when  the  people 
in  the  disputed  territory  have  time  and  again  petitioned  to  be  separated 
from  Morgan  county  and  attached  to  Cass  county:  when  these  facts  exist,  it 
is  right,  it  is  just,  it  is  righteous,  to  let  them  go:  and  anything  short  of  this 
is  downright  injustice  to  them. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  wish  to  give  a  few  figures  in  relation  to  this  question:  I 
wish  to  show  the  relative  size  and  pop  .lation  of  the  two  counties.  By  tiie 
State  census  of  1840,  Morgan  county  contained  a  population  of  15.414;  by  tbe 
Marshals' return  it  was  19,154.  No  state  census  was  taken  in  Cass  county 
and  the  Marshals'  return  of  its  pnpnUition  w  is  2,9H8.  The  population  of  the 
three  mile  strip  does  not  exceed  1.500.  Deduct  this  amount  from  the  higliest 
returns  of  Morgan  county  and  slie  will  be  left  a  popuhition  of  17654:  add  it  to 
Cass  and  she  will  have  4,468.  But  admitting  tlie  U.  S  Marshals"  returns  too 
high,  and  adopting  the  medium  between  the  two  censuses  as  correct,  Morgan 
county  will  still  have  16,000  population,  entitlirig  her  to  four  representatives 
on  this  floor,  and  Cass  county  will  have  4.468,  entitling  her  to  one  represent- 
ative on  this  floor.  So  far  as  population  is  concerned  t  hen,  it  can  be  no  great 
hardship  for  Morgan  coiuity  to  reliriquisli  this  claim. 

In  relation  to  territory,  tlie  case  is  equally  strong.  Morgan  contains  612 
square  miles,  Cass  288.  Deduct  the  three  miles  from  Morgan  and  she  will 
still  contain  532  square  miles  and  Cass  3()8:  Morgan  132  miles  more  and  Cass  32 
miles  less  than   the  law  of   1841,  fixing  the  limits  of  counties,  contemplated. 

Mr.  Speaker,  many  gentlemen  in  this  House,  when  I  have  given  them  a 
hi,story  of  tills  territorial  question,  have  told  rae  it  was  right  f(.r  this  county 
to  have  it,  but  they  could  not  vote  for  this  bill  because  it  was  a  local  measure 
and  the  Morgan  delegation  was  oppo.sed  to  it.  Asa  general  principle,  Sir,  it 
is  doubtless  correct  that  in  matters  strictly  local,  the  representatives  from 
the  counties  immediately  interested  should  not  be  overruled,  but  this  is  a 
question  in  which  Cass  county  is  concerned  as  well  as  Morgan.  This  is  no 
new  claim  she  has  hatched  up:  it  is  as  old  as  the  county  itself.  It  was  ci'eated 
with  the  formation  of  the  county,  [t  was  then  that  the  poll  books  were  re- 
jected: it  was  then  that  the  wrong  was  done;  when  she  was  cut  off  against 
tlie  wishes  of  her  people  and  with  less  bounds  than  her  petition  called  for. 
Has  she  not  always  remonstrated  against  this  unequal  division'?  Has  she 
ever  changed  her  position?  Flas  she  ever  relinquished  her  original  grounds? 
Is  the  doctrine  to  be  .sent  forth  from  this  House  that  no  matter  how  much 
wrong  mav  be  done;  that  no  matter  how  great  injustice  may  be  done  to  a  new 
county  in  its  formation  by  the  mother  county;  the  injured  party  must  seek 
redress  from  the  stronger  party  inflicting  the  injury;  that  there  is  no  remedy 
known  to  our  laws;  that  the  Legislature  itself  is  powerlessand  can  do  nothing 
without  the  consent  of  the  delegation  from  the  mother  count>^V  Mr.  Speaker, 
it  is  apparent  by  observing  this  rule  of  such  questions  as  the  one  now  under 
consideration  that  they  will  be  settled  by  one  of  the  parties  interested,  witfi- 
out  reference  to  their  justice  or  merits;  and  the  sanct'on  of  the  Legislature 
obtained  by  an  unfair  formality.  Why  are  such  questions  brought  here  to  be 
settled  if  the  Legislature  is  to  be  trammeled  and  controlled  by  the  members 
from  a  few  counties?  Why  not  let  them  settle  them  elsewhere  and  save  the 
time  of  the  Legislature,  if  its  province  is  only  to  endorse  their  acts. 


-  2tZ8  - 

Mr.  Speaker.  I  have  encountered  more  difficulty  on  this  point  than  any 
other,  botli  before  tlie  committee  on  counties  and  in  my  conversation  with 
members;  all  admitting  the  justice  of  the  claim,  but  many  unable  to  vote  for 
it,  because  it  is  local,  and  the  Morgan  delegation  opposed  to  it.  Adopt  this 
arbitrary  principle  unrestricted  and  where  will  it  conduct  you?  What  kind 
of  vassalage  will  you  not  establish  by  it?  Under  its  operation,  a  large  county 
wishing  to  get  rid  of  some  part  of  its  population,  could  cut  them  off  in  a  new 
county,  contrary  to  their  petition,  lessening  their  territory,  imposing  upon 
them  debts  and  burdens  and  wrongs  insufferable!  atid  yet  the  Legislature 
could  do  nothing  with  it,  unless  this  large  county,  or  her  delegation,  would 
agree  to  it.  This,  Sir,  is  a  local  (luesMon  between  the  counties  of  Morgan  and 
Cass,  on  which  the  small  voice  of  Cass  county  has  as  much  right  to  be  heard 
as  that  of  the  large  county  of  Morgan,  and  which,  it  is  the  duty  of  this  House 
to  settle  according  to  its  merits  The  members,  the  strength,  tbe  influence 
the  power  are  on  the  side  of  Morgan;  the  right  and  justice  is  on  the  side  of 
Cass. 

It  may  bi  said  thit  this  is  a  small  matter  that  we  are  attaching  too 
much  importance  to  it.  To  some  It  may  appear  small:  to  Morgan  county 
it  is  comparatively  small,  but  it  is  of  great  importance  to  us.  The  value  of 
this  territory  is  not  the  only,  perhaps  not  the  most  important  consideration. 
There  is  a  question  of  principle  at  issue— a  question  of  right  at  stake.  I 
shall  not  deny  the  right  of  an  old  county  to  preserve  her  existence,  or  even 
keep  her  limits  respectable,  by  forming  new  counties  on  her  boundaries  and 
outskirts:  but  I  do  pi'otest  against  any  county— not  for  her  self-preservation, 
but  for  some  fancy  or  whim,  or  to  keep  her  territory  as  large  as  possible— cut- 
ting off  new  counties  against  the  petitions  of  the  people:  against  the  wishes 
of  the  people;  contrary  to  the  interest  of  the  people;  disregarding  everything 
like  justice  and  equality  ill  their  formation,  and  making  the  burdens  neces- 
sarily imposed  on  the  new  counties,  with  the  dirticuities  created  with  them, 
curses  instead  of  i)Iessings  to  their  citizens. 

Mr.  Speaker,  I  will  noti^'.e  some  of  the  arguments  of  tlie  gentleman  from 
Morgan  (Mr.  Cloud).  He  sets  out  with  tlie  declaration,  that  if  any  wrong 
has  been  done  to  Cass  in  the  form  ition  of  the  county,  she  alone  is  responsible, 
as  Cass  county  received  the  county  in  its  present  form,  and  Morgan  county 
voted  against  it.  The  evidence  he  has  brought  forward,  to  sustain  this  posi- 
tion is  the  official  certificate  of  the  clerk  of  the  county  commissioners'  court 
of  Morgan  county.  By  this  it  appears,  that  in  the  three  precincts  in  Casg 
county— Beardstown,  Lucas  and  Virginia— Ki;}  votes  were  polled  for  the 
county  and  1.39  against  it,  leaving  a  majority  of  24  in  favor  of  the  county. 
But,  sir,  it  is  a  fact  which  was  ascertained  hy  others  at  the  time,  of  which  I 
have  not  personal  knowledge,  but  in  the  truth  of  which  I  place  as  implicit 
coritidence  as  if  [  personally  knew  it,  that  a  greater  number  than  these  24 
voted  for  the  county,  who  lived  out  of  the  limits  of  Cass  county.  At  the  sub- 
sequent August  election,  496  votes  were  polled— being  194  more  than  were  giv- 
en at  the  election  for  the  division  of  the  county:  and  more  still  were  given  at 
the  election  of  county  seat— or  at  the  July  election  for  representative.  The 
vote  of  the  county  was  not  brought  out  on  any  of  these  elections,  because 
there  was  a  large  party  opposed  to  organizing;  but  the  vote  was  increased  at 
the  first  election  after  the  legislature  at  tlie  called  session  in  1837  had  declared 


-  229  - 

the  county  leg-ally  established.  302  vo^.es  were  given  on  the  division  of  the 
county,  and  49(i  at  the  subsequent  August  election.  113  is  the  biggest  vote 
for  division;  and  this  vote  is  given  as  evidence  that  Cass  county  accepted  the 
county.  She  then  contained  between  500  and  600  voters;  and  many  refused  to 
vote  on  the  question  of  dividing  the  county,  because  it  was  not  the  county 
they  petitioned  for  and  they  were  willing  to  receive  no  other;  and,  also,  be- 
cause they  knew  Morgan  county  possessed  the  power  of  voting  them  off;  and 
further,  because,  wliether  voted  off  by  Morgan  or  by  Cass,  they  were  opposed 
to  organizing  witii  less  territory  tlian  their  petition  called  for.  In  evidence 
of  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  those  who  did  not  vote  were  opposed  to  the 
formation  of  the  county,  I  present  the  certificates  of  Mr.  Savage  and  Mr. 
Huffman,  the  sheriff  and  probate  justice,  of  Cass,  neither  of  whom  voted  at 
that  election,  and  who  by  accident  were  in  Springfield  two  days  ago.  These 
certificates  could  be  verified  by  hundreds  in  Cass  county,  and  I  know  their 
contents  to  be  true.  I  also  present  the  original  proceedings  of  a  meeting  in 
Virginia  after  the  county  was  forced  on  the  people  of  Cass;  bv  which  it  ap- 
pears that  this  whole  precinct  refused  to  organize.  These  proceedings  were 
published  in  the  newspapers  at  the  time. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  certificate  introduced  by  the  gentleman  from  Morgan 
(Mr.  Cloud)  is  good  evidence  in  our  favor.  By  that  certificate  it  appears  that 
of  the  votes  received  by  the  officers,  five  iiundred  were  given  for  division,  and 
479  against;  thus  forming  the  county  of  Cass  by  21  majority.  The  same  cer- 
tificate shows  the  rejection  of  the  Lucas  precinct  in  Cass  county  which  gave 
30  votes  against,  and  one  vote  for  the  county.  If  this  poll  book  had  been  re- 
ceived, instead  of  the  county  being  formed  by  21  majority,  it  would  have  been 
defeated  by  14  majority. 

The  gentleman  says  the  Meredosia  poll  book  was  not  returned.  It  was 
returned  by  Mr.  Henry  McKean,  Esq.,  a  citizen  of  Cass  county,  on  the  last 
day  after  tlie  election  that  it  could  be  received,  for  the  purpose  of  defeating 
the  county;  but  was  also  rejected  with  the  Lucas  returns.  Tlie  recepticm  of 
either  would  have  defeated  the  county.  Why  the  one  has  been  retained  and 
the  other  not,  I  cannot  tell;  but  I  rejoice  that  the  official  returns  from  .Jack- 
sonville siiow  that  the  rejection  of  the  poll  book  in  Cass  county  forced  the 
county  on  the  people,  when  its  reception  would  have  defeated  it. 

The  gentleman  says  that  I  was  in  favor  of  the  county;  that  I  attended 
the  election  in  Morgan,  and  electioneered  for  the  county.  I  admit  it;  but  in 
doing  it.  1  only  exercised  the  rigiit  of  a  private  citizen,  and  could  not  com- 
promise tiie  rights  of  the  new  county.  Shall  the  people.  Sir,  of  Cass  county, 
be  punislied  for  my  acts?  A  majority  of  them  did  not  vote  for  the  county, 
anr^  shall  they  be  deprived  of  their  rights  because  I  did  wrong?  As  personal 
reference  has  been  made  to  me,  and  the  people  of  my  county  attemi-ted  to  be 
prejudiced  by  my  mis-acts,  I  will  of  course  be  allowed  the  privilege  of  re- 
feiTing  to  otliers  in  the  same  way.  If  my  vote  for  the  present  county  is  to  be 
construed  into  evidence  that  Cass  is  not  entitled  to  this  three  mile  strip,  may 
not  the  past  opinions  of  my  friends  from  Morgan,  when  favorable  to  us,  be 
also  construed  into  evidence  that  Morgan  county  is  not  entitled  to  it?  If  I 
have  no  right  to  stand  here  as  the  humble  representative  of  the  county  of 
Cass,  and  claim  this  territory  as  her  honest  due,  because  I  voted  for  the 
county,  with  her  present  limits,  what  right  has  the  gentleman  from   Morgan 


-  230  - 

county  to  stand  here  and  oppose  giving  us  tliis  three  mile  strip  when  they 
have  recognized  the  justice  of  our  claim  in  former  years?  I  voted  for  the 
county,  Sir,  with  an  assurance  on  wiiich  I  placed  too  much  reliance,  that  if 
we  accepted  of  the  present  county  there  would  be  no  difficulty  in  obtaining 
the  balance. 

Mr.  Speaker,  here  are  163  votes  out  of  500.  all  but  two  concentrated  at  one 
point,  interested  in  a  local  question,  working  for  the  county;  and  the  gentle- 
man contending  they  were  a  majority  of  the  county!  I  was  glad  to  hear  the 
closing  remarks  of  the  gentleman  from  iMorgan  —that  if  it  was  just  for  these 
tiu-ee  miles  to  be  attached  to  Cass,  he  was  wil'ing;  if  not  just,  it  should  not 
be.  I  join  him  there  I  have  endeavored  to  show  the  justice  of  this  claim, 
and  will  add  that  I  do  not  want  it— that  tlie  people  of  Cass  do  not  want  it— 
unless  it  is  strictly  just. 

Tlie  junior  gentleman  from  Morgan,  (Mr.  Yates),  complains  that  I  have 
taken  advantage  of  him;  that  I  electioneered  with  his  personal  and  political 
friends  and  got  them  pledged  before  he  knew  this  question  would  be  intro- 
duced: that  both  here  and  at  home  thev  have  been  taken  by  surprise.  If  he 
was  in  the  dark  as  to  the  introducrioti  of  this  measure,  I  was  also:  for  I  often 
despaired  of  receiving  any  petitions,  and  they  were  given  to  the  Morgan  del- 
egation to  examine  as  soon  as  received.  Besides.  I  have  conversed  with  the 
geni  leman  and  his  colleagues  more  frequently  on  this  than  any  other  subject; 
and  have  always  told  them  that  my  actions  depended  on  the  petitions.  I 
sometimes  thought  the  petitions  would  not  come,  and  may  so  have  expressed 
myself.  But,  Sir,  if  they  have  bi^en  taken  by  surprise  here,  of  which  I  leave 
tiie  House  to  judge,  thev  have  not  been  in  Morgan  county;  for  the  gentleman 
himself,  and  each  one  of  his  colleagues,  have  told  you  that  this  was  a  ques- 
tion before  the  people  at  the  last  August  election,  and  all  of  them  were 
pledged  against  any  division  of  Morgan  county  unless  such  division  was  re- 
ferred back  to  the  people. 

The  gentleman  calls  upon  the  Flouse  to  reject  this  bill,  because  the  people 
of  Ca.ss  county  accepted  the  county,  and  because  neither  a  majority  of  the 
people  of  the  "three  miles,"  or  in  Morgan  county  have  petitioned:  I  admit 
we  iiave  not  a  majority  in  Morgan. 

I  stated  it  before  the  committee  on  counties,  and  I  repeat  here,  that  it 
is  vain  to  look  to  Morgan  county;  that- she  will  vote  us  down  as  often  as  it 
is  referred  to  her.  The  wrong  was  done— and  it  was  fastened  on  us— and  no 
matter  whether  it  was  done  by  accident,  or  partiality,  or  fraud:  by  Morgan, 
by  the  Legislature,  or  by  Cass  herself:  it  is  the  duty  of  the  sovereign  power 
in  the  state  to  redress  it.  Admitting  then  that  Cass  county  is  by  lier  minor- 
ity vote  responsible  for  tlie  wrong  done  the  county  in  its  formation,  is  it 
possible  that  she  lias  no  recourse?  Why  is  this  question  now  under  the  con- 
sideration of  this  House,  if  it  has  no  jurisdiction,  or  if  its  action  is  to  be  con- 
trolled by  a  single  county?  Why  are  the  representatives  of  the  people  en- 
gaged in  it,  if  they  have  not  the  power  to  decide  according  to  its  merits. 

The  gentleman  (Mr.  Yates)  says  that  at  the  time  Cass  county  was  formed 
Scott  county  was  also  petitioning:  that  Morgan  could  not  spare  all  petitioned 
for,  but  gave  each  a  part.  He  is  mistaken  liere.  In  1837,  when  Cass  was 
formed,  there  was  no  other  proposition,  to  divide  Morgan  county.  Scott 
county  was  petitioned  for  and  formed  two  years  after. 


-  231  - 

Another  argument  urged  all  the  gentlemen  from  Morgan,  is,  that  the 
people  in  the  territory  are  divided  on  the  subject  of  county  seat,  and  if  it 
were  located  at  any  otlier  part  in  Cass  county,  a  bare  majority,  if  any  majority 
at  all,  would  vote  to  be  attached  to  Cass.  That  those  living  in  the  eastern 
part  of  that  territory  would  prefer  Jacksonville  to  Beardstown,  and  those  in 
the  western  part  Jacksonville  to  Virginia.  But  do  the  gentlemen  forget  that 
the  seat  of  justice  has  already  been  both  at  Beardstown  and  Virginia;  and 
yet  at  every  session  of  the  legislature  since  the  county  was  formed,  a  large 
majority  of  the  people  in  the  "three  miles"  once  approaching  unanimity  have 
petitioned  to  be  attached  to  the  county  of  Cass?  The  gentlemen  are  pursu- 
ing the  same  game  here  that  was  followed  in  Morgan,  in  circulating  the  pe- 
tition, "divide  and  conquer."  They  endeavor  to  make  the  impression  on  the 
legislature  that  unless  the  county  seat  is  located  at  certain  points  the  people 
in  that  territory  will  vote  to  remain  with  Morgan.  It  is  their  will  and  their 
interest  to  be  attached  to  Cass,  and  when  so  attached  they  recognize  the  right 
of  the  people  to  settle  these  local  concerns.  They  are  able  to  do  so  without 
the  inference  of  the  gentlemen,  or  the  people  of  Morgan  county. 

It  is  contended  that  a  majority  of  the  voters  in"  the  "three  miles"  have 
not  petitioned.  This  was  not  disputed  before  the  committee  on  comities;  but 
the  gentleman  near  me  (Mr.  Epler,)  admitted  there  was  a  majority,  and  now 
says  that  he  supposed  so,  from  reading  over  the  names,  but  on  a  more  minute 
examination  is  satisfied  that  a  majority  have  not  petitioned.  This  objection 
might  apply  if  the  bill  proposed  to  set  off  this  territory  absolutely.  It  only 
proposes  to  leave  it  to  the  vote  of  the  people  in  its  bounds  to  determine:  and 
if  the  gentlemen  are  sincere  in  their  statements,  that  the  voters  i.i  the  "three 
miles"  are  opposed  to  going  to  Cass,  why  object  to  this  bill?  Why  object  to 
referring  it  to  their  suffrages?  Why  the  appeals  not  to  cut  Morgan  county  to 
pieces?  Pass  tliis  bill— refer  the  matter  to  the  people— and  if  they  are  op- 
posed to  it,  they  will  vote  against— and  thus  settle  this  vexed  question  for- 
ever. 

The  gentleman  (Mr.  Yates)  says  we  gave  no  notice  of  an  intention  to 
petition,  and  in  this  respect  disregarded  the  statute.  But,  Sir,  why  was  this 
same  provision  of  the  statute  disregarded  when  the  county  was  formed?  No 
notice  was  then  given;  a  majority  did  not  petition;  tha  petition  was  changed; 
a  majority  voted  against  the  county:  the  county  was  still  formed  by  rejecting 
a  poll  book  within  its  bounds  in  disregard  of  the  will  of  the  majority;  and  now 
can  that  gentleman  stand  in  his  place  and  object  to  this  bill  because  we  liave 
not  observed  those  laws?  Why  were  they  not  observed  when  the  Legislature 
passed  the  law  forming  the  county?  If  they  were  not  compulsory  then,  why 
should  they  be  made  so  now? 

But,  Sir,  they  have  had  notice.  Their  complaint  of  being  harassed  witti 
petitions  is  evidence  of  notice.  Their  pledges  against  any  division  of  Morgan 
county  without  referring  it  back  to  tiie  people,  is  evidence  of  notice.  They 
have  had  other  notice,  and  one  that  will  last.  At  the  Hrst  session  of  the 
Legislature  after  the  county  was  formed,  the  people  of  Cass  county  and  the 
"three  miles,"  in  strict  conformity  with  the  requirements  of  the  statute, 
petitioned  for  their  original  bounds.  They  were  in  earnest  then.  They  were 
in  earnest  even  in  the  formal  language  with  which  such  questions  close— "and 
as  in  duty  bound  they  will  ever  pray,"  etc.    They  are  in    earnest  now:   and 


-  2:V2  - 

if  they  want  any  further  notice,  let  me  tell  the  g-entlemen  that  if  this  terri- 
tory is  not  given  to  Cass  now,  not  only  at  the  next  session  of  the  legislature, 
but  at  every  subsequent  session,  until  it  is  given,  or  until  the  right  of  petition 
is  spurned  from  these  halls,  they  will  petition,  and  call  upon  the  Representa- 
tives of  the  people  toredress  their  grievances. 

The  gentleman,  (Mr.  Yates,)  complains  that  this  bill  is  in  violation  of  the 
law  of '41  for  the  protection  of  the  old  counties.  One  clause  of  this  law  pro- 
vides rim'-'  no  o'd  c  )uuty  should  be  redu  -ed  ro  less  than  400  square  miles,  and  no 
new  county  therafter  to  be  formed  should  contain  less  than  400  square  miles. 
The  bill  pending  will  si  ill  leave  Morgan  county  .532  square  miles  and  Cass  308 
square  miles.  Tlie  other  clause  provides,  that  in  dividing  counties,  no 
boundary  line  shall  be  estai)lished  nearer  than  ten  miles  from  the  seat  of 
justice  of  tlie  old  county.  Tiiis  bill  encroaches  about  a  half  mile  on  this 
clause.  Ciiss  is  about  nine  miles  wide,  excepting  in  the  meanderings  of  the 
Sangamon  and  Illinois  rivers,  making  the  distance  from  our  present  county 
line  to  .lacksonville  three  miles  moie  th;in  the  whole  width  of  Cass  county. 
lias  this  legislature  no  ri/ht  to  alter  a  coutitv  line  conflicting  with  that  law, 
because  another  legislature  passed  iiV  Does  the  gentleman  mean  to  avow 
the  monstrous  doctrine  tliat  a  sul)sequent  legislature  has  no  right  to  repeal  a 
sin^p'e  law  of  a  preceding  legislature,  or  even,  alter  or  modify  it?  Let  him 
look  to  the  proceedings  of  Saturday,  when  this  House,  by  an  overwhelming 
majority,  passed  the  bill  repealing  the  charter  of  the  Bank  of  Illinois. 

The  gentleman  charge^  t  hat,  in  the  account  I  gave,  I  disparaged  and 
sliamefully  abused  the  county;  that  if  I  will  not  stand  up  and  defend  that 
tine  county,  he  will.  I  have  no  fears  that  the  people  of  Cass  will  believe  that 
I  abused  tier.  I  iiave  sustained  her  interests  here  with  all  the  zeal  and 
energy  tliat  I  could  command;  and  I  am  al  A'ays  prepared  to  defend  her  to  the 
utmost  of  my  power.  Ihit  why  this  high  compliment  to  Cass  county?  Does 
not  the  gentleman  know  that  it  is  incorrect?  I  appeal  to  his  candor,  if  he 
ever  travelled  in  that  county;  I  appeal  especially  to  the  gentleman  near  me, 
(Mr.  Epier),  who  is  well  acquainted  with  it  if  my  account  is  exaggerated.  I 
placed  the  unproductive  land  at  one-third.  It  was  a  small  estimate.  Where 
the  land  is  good,  it  is  equal  to  any  in  the  state:  and  where  it  is  populated, 
her  people  are  unsurpassed  by  the  constituents  of  any  member  on  this  tloor. 
But  if  we  deduct  the  iinindated  lands,  the  sand  ridges,  slouglis,  bluffs  and 
frog  ponds  from  lier  nominal  surface,  it  will  not  leave  one-half  of  tlie  land 
good.  If  Cass  county  is  so  tine  a  county,  containing  less  than  3,000  inhabit- 
ants, what  kind  of  a  county  is  Morgan,  containing  19,000  inhabitants?  What 
kind  of  equality  is  this? 

The  gentleman  complains  that  this  bill  is  unjust  to  tlie  Morgan  delega- 
tion. I  protest  that  I  have  no  such  design.  They  came  here  pledged  to  op- 
pose this  territorial  question.  I  can  testify  that  ably  and  industriously  they 
liave  redeemed  their  pledges.  I  have  known  them  long,  and  would  be  the 
last  man  to  do  anything  to  wound  their  feelings.  The  people  of  Morgan 
county  cannot  complain.  The  passage  of  this  bill  is  no  reproach  on  her  rep- 
resentatives, but  is  the  result  of  a  conviction  on  the  part  of  tlie  Legislature, 
that  Cass  county  is  entitled  to  the  "three  miles." 

Tliere  was  a  remark  made  by  the  gentleman,  (Mr.  Cloud),  which  I  deeply 
regret.     It  was  an  appeal  to  party.     He  says  that  this  measure   was  fully   in- 


-  233  - 

vestigated  two  years  ago  by  a  democratic  legislature— when  Morgan  and  Cass 
were  represented  by  whigs,  and  no  party  reasons  could  exist  for  favoring 
either,  and  tliat  legislature  decided  against  us. 

He  then  enquires  if  this  democratic  legislature  will  carry  this  meas. 
ure  over  the  head  of  the  democratic  delegation  from  Morgan,  when  their  pre- 
decessors had  refused  to  pass  the  same,  when  Morgan  was  represented  by 
Whigs?  This,  sir,  is  no  party  measure,  and  if  it  were,  it  is  known  to  all,  that 
so  far  as  party  is  concerned.  I  am  powerless  here.  If  that  appeal  is  to  he 
successful,  I  must  submit;  and  the  interests,  the  rights  of  my  county  made 
subservient  to  party  ends.  But  can  this  course  possibly  be  right?  How  can 
the  opposite  appeals  of  my  political  friends  and  opponents  be  correct?  The 
democratic  portion  of  the  Morgan  delegation  call  upon  their  personal  and 
political  friends  to  stand  by  them  and  defeat  it.  My  democratic  friends  say 
that  if  it  is  carried  over  their  heads  it  will  injure  them  and  use  up  the  demo- 
cratic party  in  Morgan;  and  my  whig  friend  with  equal  zeal,  with  as  warm  ap- 
peals to  party,  declares  that  it  is  unjust  to  him,  and  if  carried  over  his  head 
will  use  up  the  whig  party  in  Morgan.  Here  are  opposites— here  are  contra- 
dictions—here is  a  cross  firing  that  no  cause  can  stand. 

If  these  appeals  are  to  be  successful  in  rallying  both  parties  against  the 
measure,  where  am  I  to  look  for  help?  If  whig  and  democrat  are  rallied  on 
the  side  of  Morgan,  because  the  Morgan  delegation  is  composed  of  whig  and 
democrat,  where  are  my  constituents  to  look  for  help?  To  whom  shall  Cass 
go  for  relief. 

Sir,  I  have  no  such  appeals  to  make:  I  have  no  personal  appeals  to  make, 
I  have  no  party  appeals,  but  I  have  a  higher,  a  stronger  appeal  to  make.  It 
is  to  the  justice  of  the  cause,  I  appeal  to  the  justice  and  wisdom  of  this  House 
in  the  name  of  the  whole  people  of  Cass  county.  I  rely  more  upon  that  ap- 
peal than  upon  any  other  that  has  been  or  can  be  made. 

I  return  my  hearty  thanks  to  the  hou.se,  for  its  patience  and  attention, 
and  will  cheerfully  abide  its  decision,  knowing  tliat  it  will  be  in  accordance 
with  its  views  of  right  and  justice. 

The  legislature  adjourned  in  less  than  a  month  after  Mr.  Pratt  had  de- 
livered his  speech  upon  his  bill,  and  in  that  limited  time  he  was  unable  to 
overcome  the  opposition  of  the  Morgan  county  influence  against  it. 

In  his  description  of  Cass  county,  Mr.  Pratt  refers  to  "the  waste  and  un. 
tillable  lands"  in  the  interior  of  the  county.  This  class  of  lands  had  been  de- 
nominated "The  Barrens;"  by  the  Kentucky  settlers  called  "The  Barns  "  It 
is  a  matter  of  small  wonder  that  the  early  settlers  held  this  erroneous  opinion 
regarding  this  class  of  land.  It  was  uneven  in  surface,  covered  with  brusli 
and  worthless  black-jacks;  the  soil  very  thin  in  appearance  and  of  a  light  yel- 
low color.  When  Jesse  Crews  settled  in  Cass  county  in  184.S,  he  could  drive 
his  two  lior.se  wagon  over  the  barrens  in  T.  18,  R.  9,  and  the  bushes  and  sap- 
lings would  bend  under  his  wagon;  tiiirty  years  later  these  saplings  would  fur- 
nish four  fence  rails  to  the  cut.  As  late  as  1H()7,  Charles  C.  Robinson  helped 
the  writer  break  up  a  strip  of  ground  in  the  "barrens"  in  Sec.  28,  T.  18,  R.  9, 
and  forcibly  expressed  his  contempt  for  the  quality  of  its  soil.  About  ten 
years  afterward  Mr.  Robinson  leased  a  farm  in  Sec.  20,  in  the  same  township, 
now  owned  by  Joseph  Turner.    After  he  had  cultivated  it  for  several  years  he 


-234- 

said  he  could  make  as  much  money  farming  that  land,  as  he  could  make  out 
of  a  good  prairie  farm.  A  successful  farmer,  now  living  in  Cass  county,  who 
owned  a  quarter  section  of  black  prairie  ground  and  an  equal  amount  of  "bar- 
ren" land  testifies  that  for  an  extended  term  of  years  he  made  quite  as  much 
on  the  "barren"  quarter  as  upon  the  prairie  quarter.  He  found  he  could 
raise  better  oats  and  better  wheat  on  the  barren  tract;  it  was  better  for  grass 
and  fruit  and  fully  as  good  for  corn,  if  but  two  crops  were  raised  in  succession. 
Much  of  the  old  time  prejudice  in  favor  of  "black"  land  still  exists— it  will 
end  in  the  years  to  come. 

Although  Mr.  Pratt  failed  in  his  effort  to  recover  the  three  mile  strip  of 
land,  he  was  not  discouraged.  He  used  his  influence  among  the  people  to  en- 
large our  territory.  He  became  a  candidate  for  re-election  to  the  lower 
house,  which  election  took  place  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  1844.  The  dem- 
ocrats re-nominated  Joshua  P.  Crow,  a  popular  and  prominent  man  who 
owned  the  farm  in  Sec.  5,  T.  17,  R  10,  two  miles  west  of  Virginia,  so  well 
known  in  later  years  as  the  William  Campbell  farm.  Of  the  740  votes  cast 
at  that  election  Mr.  Pratt  received  a  majority  of  72  votes  as  follows: 
Beardstown  Kil,  Virginia  175,  Monroe  27  and  Richmond  43.  The  334  votes 
for  Mr.  Crow  were  divided  thus:  Richmond  (i8,  Monroe  10,  Virginia  81  and 
Beardstown  175.  Both  candidates  resided  in  the  Virginia  precinct  in  which 
Mr.  Pratt's  majority  was  94.  or  more  than  2  to  1.  While  in  his  old  home, 
Monroe,  he  received  nearly  three-fourths  of  the  votes  cast. 

On  tlie  2nd  day  of  December,  1844,  Mr.  Pratt  took  his  seat  in  the  lower 
house  as  the  member  from  Cass.  The  Morgan  county  delegation  consisted  of 
John  Heru'y,  senator,  and  Francis  Ar.Miz,  S  imuel  S.  Matthews,  Isaac  D.  Raw- 
lings  and  Richard  Yates,  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives;  Newton 
Cloud  was  clerk  of  the  House.  The  proposition  to  extend  the  limits  of  Ca.ss 
county  was  again  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  law   makers  of  the  state: 


Home  of  .lohn  W.  Pratt  on  the  west  S(iiiare. 
Mr  Pratt  with  his  persistent  ability,   aided   by   his  former  experience  and 
more  general  acquaintance  with  the  public  men  of  his  day;  with   right  and 
justice  upon  his  side  was  successful  in  obtaining  the  passage  of  his  bill  on   the 


-  '235  - 

26th  day  of  February,  1845,  which  submitted  the  question  of  adding  the  three 
mile  strip  to  Cass  county  to  a  vote  of  the  residents  upon  the  territory  in' 
question,  which  election  was  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  May,  1845,  and  re- 
sulted in  favor  of  the  proposition  by  a  large  majority;  246  voting  for  aimexa- 
tion  to  Cass  county,  and  78  voting  against  it. 

It  has  been  impossible  to  ascertain,  with  any  certainty,  how  Mr.  Pratt 
employed  his  leisure  time  from  1842  to  1847.  He  was  in  ill  health,  much  of 
the  time,  and  not  able  to  lead  an  active  life.  He  served  the  people  as  post- 
master; he  assisted  Governor  Ford  in  his  troubles  with  the  Mormon  people; 
lie  took  an  active  part  in  all  public  affairs  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all 
who  knew  liim.  During  these  years  he  resided  with  his  family  in  the  house, 
purchased  for  his  wife,  by  her  father,  .John  Savage,  on  lots  94  and  9.5,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  old  square,  now  owned  by  Johti  Wilkes.  In  this  house  his 
three  younger  children  were  born. 

In  the  summer  of  1847,  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  county 
clerk;  his  opponent  was  Charles  B.  Epier,  of  Prificeton,  who  was  a  democrat, 
and  a  young  man  of  ability.  Such  was  the  prestige  of  Mr.  Pratt  that  at  the 
election  lield  on  August  2nd,  1847,  he  carried  every  precinct  in  the  county 
receiving  six  fiundred  and  twenty  votes  out  of  ten  hundred  and  seventeen 
cast  at  the  polls.  While  making  his  preparations  to  remove  his  family  to 
Beardstown,  tlie  seat  of  justice  of  the  county,  he  became  wor.se,  took  to  his 
bed  and  expired  on  the  7th  day  of  October,  1847,  aged  40  years,  10  months  and 
4  days,  leaving  him  surviving  his  faithful  wife  and  four  children,  the  eldest 
ten  years  of  age  and  the  youngest  but  two.  It  must  have  been  a  sad  sight  to 
witness  the  death  of  this  useful  citizen,  so  early  in  life,  leaving  his  family 
of  helpless  little  ones,  to  grow  up  without  a  father's  help  and  protection. 
The  family  was  made  welcome  at  the  liome  of  the  good  father  of  the  young 
widow,  who  erected  a  dwelling  for  her  and  his  grand  children,  very  near  his 
own  homestead  where  they  grew  up  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  His  two 
sons,  inheriting  the  public  spirit  of  their  father  enlisted  in  the  army  of  1861- 
65,  and  became  brave  and  faithful  soldiers  and  are  now  honored  citizens  of 
this  community. 

Thomas  G.  Pratt,  the  eldest  child,  was  born  in  Beardstown,  September  6, 
1837. 

Ellen  Pratt  was  born  in  Virginia,  111.,  July  14,  1845. 

Mary  E.  Pratt  was  born  in  Virginia,  111.,  December  25,  1842. 

Henry  C.  Pratt  was  born  in  Virginia,  HI.,  June  18,  1845. 

Ellen  Pratt  was  married  to  Francis  M.  Treadway  who  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  who  died  at  his  residence  in  Virginia,  111.,  in  the  year  189.3, 
where  his  widow  now  resides. 

Mary  E.,  married  Jacob  Yaple  jr.,  she  removed  to  Maryville,  Missouri, 
many  years  ago. 

Emily  (Savage)  Pratt  died  on  the  7th  day  of  December,  187.3,  at  the  home 
of  her  son,  Henry  C.  Pratt.  She  and  her  husband  were  buried  on  the  Savage 
farm;  afterwards  their  remains  were  removed  to  the  Monroe  burial  ground, 
located  on  the  farm  of  Henry  C.  Pratt. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Pratt  was  six  feet  in  height,  weight  170 
pounds,  with  ligiit  hair  and  eyes;  his  manner  quiet  and  dignitted. 

The  name  of  John  Wilkes  Pratt  should  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance for  his  distinguished  services  rendered  the  public  in  the  early  history 
of  Cass  County. 


DR.     CHARLES     ELLBT    LIPPINCOTT. 

BY  DR.  J.  F.  SNYDER. 


/•j^HOMASLIPPINCOTT,  the  father  of  Dr.   Charles  E.    Lippincott,    was 
I       quite  a  noted  personasie  in  the  early  days  of  Illinois.     He  was  born  of 
Qual<er  parents,  in  Salem,  New  Jersey,  on  the  Hth  of  February,    1791. 
His  motl^eTdying-  when  he  was  ei^lit  years  old,  lie  was  taken  by  her   brother, 
Charles  El  let,  of  Philadelphia,  as  a  member  of   his  household,   and  educated. 
In  1813,  he  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  to  ^nuird  the  city  from   possible  attack   by 
the  British.     In  18U,  he  went  to  Lumberland,    New   York,    for  employment. 
There  he  met  Miss  Patsy  Swift,  a  pious  girl  who  converted  him  to  Christian- 
ity; and  he  married  her  on  August  15, 
181().     In  1817,  with  his  wife  and  in- 
fant daughter,  he  started  for  the  west, 
going  from  Pittsburg,  on  a  rtat-Doat, 
down  the  Ohio  river  to  Shawneetown. 
From  there  they  traveled,    in  a  dear- 
born   wagon   with  one  horse,   to    St. 
Louis  by   way  of  Kaskaskia.     In   St. 
Louis    he    secured    employment     of 
Ruf us  Eaton  as"  a  clerk.     In   Novem- 
ber of  tliat  year,  Mr.  Eaton  sent  him 
with  a  stock  of  goods  to   Milton,   in 
Madison  county,    Illinois,   four   miles 
east  of  Alton,  where  he  opened  a  store 
with  the  sign,    "Lippincott  &    Co." 
■"I'liere  he  and  his  wife  taught  I  he  first 
Sunday  School  in  Illinois.     And  there 
she  died  on  the  14th  of  October,   1819. 
He  did  not  remain  single  long,    being 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss   Henrietta 
Maria  Slater,  near  Springfield,  III.,  on 
March      25tli,     1820.     Less    than    six 
GEN  KRAL  C.  E.  LIPPINCOTT.        months  later  she  died,   on   September 
lltli,  1820.     In  little  over  a  year  he  supplied  her  vacancy  by  marrying,  on   the 
11th  of  October,  1821,  Mi.ss  Catharine  Wyly  Leggett,  sister  of    VVm.    Leggett, 
the  distinguished  editor  of  the  New  York  ^^f^eni/ig  Post.     That   wife   was  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  and  died  May  8th,  1850,  and  was   buried   at   Upper 
Alton. 

In  1S21,  Mr.  Lippincott  vvas  a  resident  of  Ldwardsville,  where  for  a  year 


-  237  - 

or  more  he  edited  The  Spectator,  Hooper  Warren's  paper,  established  by  Gov. 
Edwards.  He  was  also  a  clerk  there  in  the  Land  Office,  and  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  At  the  same  time  he  was  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  and 
frequently  conducted  public  worship  in  absence  of  the  minister.  Always  in- 
terested in  politics  he  was  for  years  a  liberal  contributor  to  the  columns  of 
various  newspapers.  In  1822,  he  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  State  Senate, 
serving  in  the  session  of  the  third  general  assembly  from  December  2nd,  1822, 
to  February  18th,  1823.  In  the  famous  convention  sciieme  contest  that  fol- 
lowed he  played  a  conspicuous  part  as  an  unrelenting  opponent  of  slavery. 
On  October  28th,  1828,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  Mis- 
souri, which  at  that  time  included  all  of  Illinois,  and  to  the  ministry  he  de- 
voted the  balance  of  his  life.  With  John  M.  Ellis  and  Samuel  D.  Lockwood, 
he  was  an  original  mover  in  founding  Illinois  College,  and  from  its  beginning 
was  one  of  its  trustees.  About  from  1852  to  1857,  he  liad  ciiarge  of  the  Con- 
gregational church  at  Chandlerville. 

He  was  married,  for  the  fourth  time,  to  Mrs.  Lydia  Barnes— wiiose  maid- 
en name  was  Fairchild— at  Alton,  on  November  27th,  1851;  she  died  in  187.3. 
Mr.  Lippincott,  from  1867,  resided  at  Pana,  111.,  with  his  son,  Thomas  W., 
and  he  died  there  on  April  13tii,  1869.  He  was  of  very  prepossessing  ap- 
pearance, morally  above  reproach,  and  his  Christian  character  was  complete. 

His  son,  Charles  Ellet  Lippincott,  was  born  in  Edwardsville,  Madison 
county,  Illinois,  on  the  26th  of  January,  1825— the  first-born,  by  tlie  second 
marriage,  of  the  family  of  eleven  children.  He  was  named  Charles  Ellet  to 
testify  his  father's  gratitude  to  his  uncle  in  Philadelphia  of  that  name,  who 
raised  him.  He  is  said  (by  his  father)  to  have  been  a  very  homely  brat,  his 
nose  appearing  as  a  little  round  lump  stuck  on  his  face  midway  between  his 
big,  prominent  mouth  and  eyes.  So  ill-featured  was  he  when  a  babe  that  his 
mother  concealed  his  face  witii  a  veil  when  she  took  him  out  from  home.  He 
early  manifested  the  "g-rit"  in  his  nature  that  became  snch  a  distinguishing 
trait  in  after  life.  When  able  to  toddle  about  tlie  premises  he  came  in  one 
day  to  "'siiow  a  purty  little  bird"  he  had  caught,  which  proved  to  be  a  bumble 
bee;  and  though  it  stung  him  lie  held  on  to  it  without  whimpering  until  he 
delivered  it  to  his  mother.  When  a  few  years  older  a  little  incident  occurred 
exhibiting  anotiier  trait,  wliich  in  after  Time  Ills  educated  conscience  modi- 
lied,  or  held  in  subjection.  When  liis  father  had  charge  of  a  little  old  Pres- 
byterian churcli  at  CarroUton  the  Baptists  there  erected  a  much  larger  and 
finer  church  building  than  his.  The  Baptist  boys  jeered  Charley  about  his 
father  having  such  a  shabby  little  house  to  preach  in  until  he  got  mad,  and 
by  way  of  retaliation,  with  rocks  and  brick-bats,  broke  every  pane  of  glass  in 
several  windows  of  the  new  Baptist  edifice.  He  said  afterwards  that  he 
didn't  mind  the  thrashing  he  got  for  it,  as  he  felt  that  he  had  in  a  material 
way  vindicated  his  father. 

In  pioneer  days  a  new  student  arriving  at  McKendre.e  college,  after  giving 
the  Dean  his  name,  was  asked  wliere  his  home  was.  "I  have  no  home,"  he 
answered,  "my  father  is  a  Metiiodist  circuit  rider."  Charley  Lippincott  when 
a  boy  had  a  home— in  fact,  several  of  them.  His  father,  though  not  exactly 
a  circuit  rider,  often  ciianged  his  location  to  preach  to  different  congrega- 
tions. Wherever  he  happened  to  be  stationed  lie  sent  his  children  to  such 
schools  as  the  place  afforded,  until  they  were  all  advanced  considerably  be- 


-238- 

yond  the  curriculum  embraced  by  the  three  "R's."  Charley  was  a  bright, 
impulsive  boy,  fond  of  going  to  school,  as  well  as  of  all  kinds  of  sport,  and 
learned  his  lessons  without  difficulty.  He  grew  up  to  be  a  stout,  athletic  lad, 
developing  with  the  advance  of  years  a  keen  desire  for  a  higher  education. 
When  his  father  was  located  in  Alton,  Charley  went  to  the  "Academy,"  and 
when  the  family  moved  to  Marine^a  village  in  Madison  county— he  was 
taught  by  Philander  Braley,  of  (Jollinsville,  with  some  assistance  in  his  books 
from  Rev.  Cliarles  E.  Blood. 

By  that  time  his  father,  with  a  rapidly  increasing  family  and  only  a  vil- 
lage clergyman's  salary  for  their  support,  was  financially  unable  to  pay 
Charles'  way  to  higher  schools,  and  from  then  on  he  had  to  depend  upon  hiis 
own  resources.  Not  a  word  of  complaint  or  whining  was  heard  from  him,  but 
in  jolly  good  liumor  he  manfully  faced  tlie  struggle  and  went  to  work.  For 
two  seasons  he  labored  as  a  farm  hand  for  $12  per  month  and  board.  In  the 
autumn  of  two  years  he  put  in  crops  of  wheat  on  the  farm  of  his  cousin,  John 
Breath,  and  harvested  them  the  following  summers.  In  the  winter  time  he 
taught  school— two  terms  on  Rock  ('reek  in  Menard  county.  In  1844,  then 
nineteen  years  old,  he  entered  Illinois  College  at  Jacksonville.  In  after  years 
he  often  told  of  the  rigid  economy  he  was  compelled  to  observe  to  enable  him 
to  remain  there  the  entire  session.  He  said  he  had  just  twelve  and  a  half 
cents  a  week  for  spending  money,  and  almost  every  Saturday  he  and  Newton 
Haieman,  who  was  as  poor  as  himself,  would  go  to  town  and  treat  themselves 
to  a  glass  of  spruce  beer  and  some  ginger  cake.  Sometimes  tliey  indulged  in 
other  luxuries  by  way  of  variety,  but  when  they  did  so  they  were  always  sorry 
they  liad  not  gotten  the  spruce  beer. 

He  applied  himself  closely  to  his  studies,  bearing  in  mind  that  he  had  ar- 
rived at  the  age  when  he  sliould  be  uiaking  choice  of  a  life  avocation,  for  he 
ha('  no  thought  of  fanning  as  a  permanent  occupation — or  of  preaching.  His 
daily  association  with  Dr.  David  Pritice,  an  enthusiastic  young  physician  who 
had  recently  located  in  that  town,  and  the  vvarm  mutual  friendship  attract- 
ing them  to  each  other,  decided  him  to  adopt  the  profession  of  medicine,  to 
attain  which  he  there  and  then  began  to  bend  all  his  energies.  At  an  early 
age  he  was  indelibly  impressed  by  his  father's  implacable  hostility  to  the  in- 
stitution of  slavery,  and,  tfiough  deeply  absorbed  in  tiis  college  course,  he  yet 
found  time  to  put  in  practice  some  of  his  theories  of  human  liberty,  by  be- 
coming an  active  agent  of  the  -'underground  railroad,"  of  which  Jacksonville 
was  an  important  station.  Of  the  little  circle  of  abolitionists  specially  de- 
voting themselves  there  to  harboring,  concealing  and  expediting  the  progress 
of  runaway  slaves  on  their  way  to  (.'anada,  Charley  Lippincott  was  known  as 
one  of  the  most  daring,  industrious  and  zealous. 

When  the  session  closed  in  the  spring  of  1845,  his  funds  entirely  exhausted, 
he  went  to  Marine,  where  liis  father  and  family  resided,  and  secured  employ- 
ment among  the  neighboring  farmers.  In  the  meantime  he  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  a  desultory  way,  with  Dr.  George  T.  Alleti,  of  Marine, 
who  was  during  the  war  medical  inspector,  with  the  rank  of  colonel,  on  Genl. 
Grant's  staff.  He  again  attended  Illinois  college  during  the  session  of  1857-58. 
The  college  at  that  time  comprised  a  medical  department,  having  for  its 
faculty  Dr.  David  Prince,  Dr.  Henry  Jones  and  Dr.  Samuel  Adams,  and  in 
that  department  Charley  Lippincott  was  enrolled  as  a  student.     However,  he 


-  239  - 

did  not  graduate  in  either  the  medical  or  literary  department,  but  after  the 
Civil  war  Illinois  colleg-e  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

Abia  Lippincott,  the  daughter  and  only  living  child  of  his  father's  first 
marriage,  was  married  to  W.  S.  Gilman.  of  the  firm  of  Godfrey,  Gilman  &  Co., 
in  whose  warehouse  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy  was  killed,  on  the  evening  of 
November  6,  1837.  Subsequently  that  mercantile  firm  mover"  to  St.  Louis 
and  continued  their  business  there.  After  close  of  the  session  of  Illinois 
college  in  the  spring  of  1848,  Charley  Lippincott  went  to  St.  Louis  and  ob- 
tained a  situation  as  clerk,  or  salesman,  for  Godfrey,  Gilman  &  Co.,  where  he 
remained  until  October.  He  was  then  entered  in  the  senior  class  of  students 
at  the  medical  department  of  the  St.  Louis  University,  usually  known  as 
Pope's  Medical  College,  where,  with  some  financial  aid  from  Mr.  Gilman,  he 
attended  the  full  course  of  lectures  and  in  March,  1849,  graduated,  receiving 
the  degree  M.  D.— Medicinae  Doctor,  or  literally  translated.  Learned  in  Med- 
icine. Having  thus  reached  the  goal  of  his  aspirations,  the  next  matter  to 
be  considered  was  the  tinding  of  some  place  wliere  he  could  makefile  learning 
in  medicine  he  had  acquired  productive  of  revenue.  In  some  of  his  hunting 
excursions  wlien  residing  in  .lacksonville,  and  also  when  looking  for  employ- 
ment as  a  country  school  teacher,  he  had  visited  the  Panther  Creek  settle- 
ment in  the  Sangamon  bottom  and  become  acquainted  with  Dr  Charles 
Chandler  there. 

In  the  spring  of  184ft  Dr.  Schooley,  of  Virginia,  went  to  California,  and 
Dr.  Parmenio  Lyman  Phillips,  who  liad  been  "riding"  with  Dr.  Chandler, 
moved  up  to  Virginia  to  supply  Dr.  Scliooley's  vacancy.  And  it  so  happened 
that,  shortly  after  Dr.  Phillips  left  Panther  Creek,  Dr.  Chandler  was  pros 
trated  with  sickness  and  laid  up  for  repairs  for  a  few  weeks.  There  then 
young  Dr.  Lippincott  saw  his  opportunity  and  availed  liimself  of  it  with 
alacrity.  When,  by  aid  of  Mr.  Gilman,  he  was  fitted  out  with  a  horse,  saddle 
and  bridle,  a  lancet  and  lot  of  calomel,  jalap,  squills,  blistering  ointment  and 
other  essentials  for  country  practice,  he  "located  liim.self  permanently"  at 
the  Panther  Creak  settlement.  His  reception  by  Dr.  Chandler  and  his  family 
was  very  cordial,  and  the  offer  of  his  professional  services  to  the  sick  doctor 
thankfully  accepted.  If  he  was  not  very  instrumental  in  promoting  the  doc- 
tor's recovery,  he  was,  at  any  rate,  very  assiduous  in  his  attention  and  efforts, 
which  perhaps  profited  himself  as  much  as  the  doctor  by  the  experience  and 
practical  knowledge  he  gained.  By  taking  charge  temporarily  of  Dr.  Chand- 
ler's country  patients  he  quickly  became  acquainted  throughout  the  com- 
munity, earning  in  a  short  time  the  reputation  of  "a  good  doctor  and  mighty 
clever  fellow."  As  all  young  physicians  ffrst  commencing  the  business,  he 
entered  into  the  practice  with  spirit  and  eni  husiasm.  Industrious  and  active, 
and  backed  by  the  good  will  and  friendshipof  Dr.  Chandler,  his  success  seemed 
assured.  Of  buoyant,  cheerful  spirits  and  jovial,  mirthful  disposition,  he  was 
soon  popular  with  all  classes,  particularly  the  young  folks,  and  was  the  soul 
of  all  social  gatherings,  and  leader  in  their  sports  and  amusements.  A  fine 
horseman  and  superior  marksman,  he  was  very  fond  of  luinting,  making  use 
for  that  purpose,  generally,  of  a  double-barrel  shot  gun,  one  barrel  of  which 
he  loaded  with  ball  for  deer,  and  the  other  with  sliot  for  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens  and  ducks,  tliat  fell  before  his  steady  aim  by  scores. 

During  a  revival  at  Marine,  a   few  years  before,   he  profe.ssed   religion— 


-240- 

Presbyterian  religion;  but  he  had  in  a  great  measure  outgrown  it;  yet,  he 
was  strictly  moral,  with  unexceptionable  habits,  totally  ignoring  all  use  of 
tobacco,  liquor,  profane  and  vulgar  language.  The  strangest  and  most  inex- 
plicable feature  of  his  personal  history  was  his  political  affiliations.  Despite 
the  teaching  and  example  of  his  father,  and  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Gilman,  life- 
long bitter  opponents  of  the  democratic  party;  notwithstanding  his  own 
activity  as  an  agent  of  the  underground  railroad;  in  spite  of  the  influence  of 
those  distinguished  Jacksonville  leaders  of  the  whig  party,  John  J.  Hardin 
and  Gov.  Jos.  Duncan,  and  of  all  the  professors  of  Illinois  College;  and  the 
fact  that  nearly  all  his  associates,  and  such  esteemed  intimate  friends  as 
Newton  Bateman,  Dr.  Samuel  Willard  ahd  Dr.  Chandler  were  radical  whigs, 
yet.  Dr.  Lippincott,  was  a  democrat.  Not  of  the  passive  sort  either;  but  a 
bold,  aggressive  defender  of  the  democratic  party  and  its  principles.  He  may 
have  adopted  that  course  through  pure  perverseness,  but  more  probably  be- 
cause of  his  great  admiration  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  with  whom  he  early  be- 
came acquainted,  and  always  thereafter  entertained  for  iiim  tiie  highest  es- 
teem and  personal  friendship.  He  continued  to  be  an  active,  working  mem- 
ber of  the  demacratic  party  until  after  his  enlistment  in  military  service  in 
18«L 

As  late  as  1848,  the  Panther  creek  settlement  contained  but  ten  families. 
It  then  had  a  postoffice  named  PariMier  Creek,  and  Dr.  Chandler  was  post- 
master. Its  mail  service  was  conducted  by  a  boy  (one  of  Dr.  Chandler's  sons) 
and  a  horse,  making  the  trip  to  Heardstown  and  return  once  each  week.  At 
an  earlier  date  an  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  postoffice  seven  miles  above 
Panther  Creek,  to  be  named  after  the  well  known  Sac  chief,  Shickshack, 
whose  village  was  until  1827,  near  the  bald  knob  of  the  Sangamon  bluffs  that 
stm  bears  his  name;  but  it  was  unsuccessful.  By  1851,  Pantlier  Creek  liad  as- 
sumed the  proportions  and  appearance  of  quite  a  village,  containing  a  popula- 
tion of  nearly  200.  In  that  year  Stephen  A.  Douglas  and  Geni.  James  Shie'ds 
were  tlie  Illinois  Senators,  and  Richard  Yates,  of  Jacksonville,  represented 
the  seventh  district— which  included  Cass  county— in  the  lower  house  of  Con- 
gress. In  that  year,  also.  Dr.  Lippincott's  regard  for  the  Chandler  family 
had  progressed  to  a  sentiment  more  fervent  than  mere  interest;  at  least,  for 
■one  member  of  that  family.  Prompted  by  tiiat  sentiment,  he  circulated  a 
petition  that  spring,  signed  by  all  who  saw  it,  which  he  sent  to  iiis  friends. 
Senator  Douglas  and  Congressman  Yates,  with  his  own  urgent  request  to 
cause  the  name  of  the  Panther  Creek  postoffice  to  be  changed  to  "Chandler- 
ville"  in  honor  of  the  pioneer  founder  of  the  settlement;  whicli  was  done, 
ainl  thus  the  town  was  named. 

In  183(),  Julian  M.  Sturtevant  with  one  or  two  others  of  the  "Yale  band," 
wjio  first  breatlied  the  breath  of  life  into  Illinois  College,  went  down  to 
PantTier  Creek  in  their  capacity  of  missionaries  and  organized  a  Presbyterian 
cliurch,  wliich  they  nursed  and  nurtured  with  their  prayers  and  an  occasional 
sermon  preaciied  there  by  some  one  of  them.  But  notwithstanding  that 
spiritual  pabulum  tlie  infant  organization  languished  and  seemed  to  have 
4'eached  the  last  stages  of  decline,  when  new  blood  was  infused  into  it  by  Dr. 
Ipiiandler  and  a  few  others,  who,  in  1847,  reorganized  and  incorporated  it  as 
Congregational  church.  It  was  revived  by  that  change,  and  tjrew  and  flour- 
islied.     In  1857,    it    included    in   its  membership   Dr.    Ciiandler,     wife    and 


-  241  - 

daughters,  and  perhaps  one  or  two  of  his  boys.  The  Doctor's  daughters  in 
that  church  exerted  upon  Dr.  Lippincott  a  powerful  attractive  force,  which, 
combined  with  his  probable  conviction  of  sin,  was  more  than  he  could  resist. 
Meekly  surrendering,  he  was  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  church  on  the  9th 
day  of  November,  1851. 

In  that  year,  also.  Dr.  Lippincott  again  testified  his  profound  regard  for 
Dr.  Chandler— after  all  the  preliminaries  between  the  contracting  parties  had 
been  satisfactorily  settled— by  asking  for  one  of  his  daughters  in  marriage. 
There  being  no  objection  from  any  source,  Dr.  Charles  E.  Lippincott  and  Miss 
Emily  Webster  Chandler  were,  by  Prof.  Jonathan  Baldwin  Turner,  of  Jack- 
sonville, pronounced  man  and  wife,  on  Christmas,  Dec.  25,  1851.  She  was 
Dr.  Chandler's  second  daughter,  born  there  on  Panther  Creek,  March  13,  1834. 

When  Dr.  Lippincott  went  to  Panther  Creek,  in  1849,  Dr.  Chandler, 
though  still  in  the  medical  harness,  was  engaged  in  merchandising  with  his 
brother  Marcus.  Very  tired  of  country  practice,  he  hailed  the  young  Doctor's 
arrival  with  pleasure,  hoping  he  would  prove  an  acceptable  substitute  in  his 
place,  thereby  releasing  him  from  further  servitude.  He  did  all  he  could  to 
establish  him  in  professional  work,  and  with  such  success  that  at  the  time  of 
his  marriage  Dr.  Lipp  ncott  had  practically  a  monopoly  of  the  whole  settle- 
ment's patronage.  He  was  personally  very  popular,  and,  for  a  new  beginner, 
acquitted  himself  as  a  practioneer  witii  much  credit.  His  cheerful  disposi- 
tion, and  pleasant  manners  and  conversation,  always  brought  a  ray  of  sunshine 
into  the  sick  room  that  braced  up  the  patient's  iiope  and  resolution.  His 
bright,  quick  intellect,  perfect  self-reliance,  and  broad  range  of  general  infor- 
mation inspired  tlie  people  with  confidence  in  his  ability.  Trusting  to  his 
own  common  sense  and  the  repairative  forces  of  nature  for  successful  results 
in  ills  practice,  he  adhered  to  the  Allopathic  system,  administering  remedies 
secundum  artem,  with  no  thought  of  investigation,  innovation  or  deviation. 
Tliough  kind  and  gentle  in  his  treatment  of  the  sick,  he  rej;arded  the  practice 
of  medicine  as  an  art,  not  a  science,  and  not  necessarily  based  on  sympathy 
or  philanthropy. 

With  fleeting  time  the  romance  of  courtship  and  marriage  faded  out 
leaving  Dr.  Lippincott  face  to  face  with  the  unpoetic  realities  of  everyday 
life.  With  increasing  professional  experience,  his  faith  in  the  efficacy  of 
medicine  declined;  his  enthusiasm  in  the  noble  profession  began  to  wane, 
and  its  drudgery  became  more  and  more  monotonous  and  distasteful.  As 
has  been  the  experience  of  hundreds  of  other  physicians,  when  he  had  been 
in  the  business  long  enough  to  learn  its  liard,  practical  features,  lie  saw  tiiat 
it  was  unsuited  to  one  of  his  tastes  and  inclinations,  and  realized  that  his 
selection  of  medicine  as  a  life  calling  was  a  mistake.  In  the  spring  of  1852, 
Dr.  N.  S.  Reed,  a  young  physician  from  Geauga  county,  Ohio,  came  to  Chand- 
lerville  bringing  some  capital  which  lie  invested  in  a  farm  near  by,  and  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  village.  As  he  was  energetic,  active,  and 
wholly  devoted  to  his  profession,  atfable  and  accommodating  in  his  inter- 
course with  the  people,  he  was  not  long  in  winning  his  way  into  their  goof'- 
will,  and  into  a  tlulving  business.  The  effect  of  tlie  new  Doctor's  competi- 
tion was  to  intensify  Dr.  Lippincott's  disgust  with  medicine.  He  became 
discouraged  and  dissatisfied.  His  aversion  to  tlie  occupation  upon  which  he 
depended  for  support,  together  with  liis  total  want  of  thrift  and  financiering 


-  24^,  - 

tact,  were  not  conducive  to  prosperity:  in  fact,  rendered  self-support  a  ser- 
ious problem.  The  hegira  of  gold  hunters  to  California  was  then  at  its  height, 
presenting  to  Dr.  Lippincott  an  element  of  novel  enterprise  and  wild  adven- 
ture strongly  appealing  to  his  restless  spirit.  He  would  no  doubt  have  joined 
the  mad  rush  of  argonauts  earlier  had  he  not  fallen  in  love  and  been  drawn 
into  the  bonds  of  matrimony.  The  novelty  and  irridescent  lunacy  of  that 
misfortune  having  passed,  he  concluded  to  go  to  the  new-found  Ophir  the 
next  year,  and  at  once  commenced  to  perfect  arrangements  for  the  contem- 
plated journey. 

His  father,  Rev.  Thomas  Lippincott,  and  family,  moved  to  Chandlerville 
in  the  fall  of  1852;  the  old  gentleman  taking  charge  of  the  Congregational 
church  there,  as  its  minister,  in  November  of  that  year — a  charge  he  retained 
until  the  close  of  the  year  1856.  Leaving  his  wife  with  her  parents,  Dr.  Lip- 
pincott crossed  the  plains  in  the  summer  of  1853,  arriving  in  California  early 
in  the  autumn,  and  stopped  at  Downieville,  then  in  Yuba  county,  now  the 
county  seat  of  Sierra  county— a  new  county  situated  in  the  northwestern 
mountains  adjoining  the  state  of  Nevada.  He  went  to  California  after  gold — 
as  the  thousands  of  others  did— and  in  order  to  get  it,  on  liis  arrival  in  the 
mines,  organized,  or  joined,  a  company  and  went  to  work.  He  made  a  full 
hand  as  a  laborer  in  getting  out  lumber  and  digging  a  long  ditch  to  convey 
water  to  their  claims,  and  with  pick  and  shovel  toiled  in  other  enterprises. 
But  fate  was  against  him,  and  his  efforts  failed  to  produce  the  filthy  lucre  in 
paying  quantity.  Quitting  the  mines  as  an  operative  he  established  himself 
in  Downieville  as  a  mining  broker  and  "promoter,"  at  the  same  time  becom- 
ing deeply  interested  in  politics,  and  an  active  partisan  of  the  free  soil  dem- 
ocracy. In  the  rough  and  ready  life  of  the  mines,  free  from  conventional  re- 
straints to  which  he  had  all  his  life  been  subjected,  he  found  the  social  con- 
ditions that  exactly  suited  his  strenuous  nature.  On  leaving  Illinois  he  had 
left  there  behind  him  his  profession  of  medicine,  and  with  it  pretty  much 
all  his  profession  of  religion  also,  and  was  soon  thorouglily  identified  with  the 
miners,  not  only  in  their  material  interests,  but  in  their  free  and  easy  cus- 
toms as  well.  They  were  not  slow  in  recognizing  ills  talents,  and  were  cap- 
tivated by  his  sparkling  humor,  his  sterling  honor  and  manhood,  so  that  In 
a  very  short  time  he  was  tiie  most  popular  man  in  the  county. 

Admitted  as  a  state  into  the  union  on  the  9th  of  September,  1850,  Cali- 
fornia was  in  1853 still  in  its  formative  stage  politically  and  socially.  Though 
its  constitution  specifically  excluded  slavery,  the  fierce  contention  of  the  pro- 
slavery  and  anti-slavery  factions  for  control  of  public  affairs  caused  an  ebuli- 
tion  of  excited,  angry  feeling  among  politicians  of  all  grades  more  intense 
than  that  then  agitating  tiie  older  states  of  the  north  and  south. 

By  1854  David  Colbreth  Broderick  had  loomed  up  as  tlie  most  conspicuous 
champion  and  leader  of  the  free  soil,  or  anti-Lecompton,  democracy  in  the 
state.  He  was  born  in  Washington  City  in  1818,  and  when  grown  to  manhood 
drifted  to  New  York,  where  iie  was  elected  to  Congress.  Though  uneducated 
he  was  a  talented,  impulsive  and  very  ambitious  man,  of  rare  eloquence  and 
more  than  ordinary  force.  With  the  first  general  exodus  in  1849,  he  went  to 
California  to  recuperate  his  financial  and  political  fortunes,  and  in  1855  was 
an  aspirant  for  a  seat  in  the  U.  S.  senate.  The  most  prominent  candidate  of 
the  pro-slavery  party  for  that  position  was  Hon.  Henry  S.  Foote,  a  native  of 


-  243  - 

Virginia  but  long  a  resident  of  Mississippi,  at  one  time  its  governor  and  also 
one  of  its  U.  S.  senators.  The  contest  of  the  two  factions,  very  nearly  equal 
in  strength,  was  extremely  spirited  and  acrimonious,  arraying  the  partisans 
of  the  aspirants,  in  deadly  personal  antagonism,  and  convulsed  the  whole 
state  with  their  heated  contentions. 

Dr.  Lippincott's  temperament  was  such  that  he  could  not  be  neutral  on 
any  question,  or  silent.  If  he  saw  two  dogs,  or  snakes,  fighting,  he  was  at 
once  enlisted  in  favor  of  one  of  them  and  against  the  other,  willing  to  back 
his  judgment  with  a  bet.  In  the  pending  senatorial  election,  although  he 
had  never  seen  either  candidate,  there  was  no  hesitation  as  to  his  preference, 
his  ingrained  free  soil  principles  arraying  him  immediately  and  earnestly  for 
Broderick;  so  earnestly  that  before  the  next  spring  he  was  admittedly  the 
leader  of  the  Broderick  party  in  his  county.  At  the  general  state  election  in 
1854,  though  scarcely  a  year  in  the  state,  having  been  nominated  by  the  Brod- 
erick men,  he  was  elected  to  represent  Yuba  county  in  the  State  Senate.  By 
provision  of  the  first  constitution  of  California,  the  legislature  met  annually, 
and  state  senators  were  elected  for  two  years.  Taking  lils  seat  in  the  sixtli 
general  assembly,  on  the  first  Monday  of  January,  1855,  Dr.  Lippincott— not 
the  sort  of  man  to  meekly  take  a  back  seat  in  any  public  assemblage— was  not 
long  in  making  his  presence  felt  as  one  of  Broderick's  ablest  and.  most  force- 
ful lieutenants.  The  southern  democrats  in  the  legislature,  confident  of  their 
ability  to  elect  Gov.  Foote  on  the  first  ballot,  exhausted  every  effort  to  force 
an  agreement  of  the  two  houses  to  meet  in  joint  session  for  holding  the  elec- 
tion. By  Dr.  Lippincott  vote,  and  in  a  great  measure  by  his  skillful  maneuv- 
ering, their  motions  in  the  senate  for  that,  purpose  were  defeated,  and  the  ses- 
sion adjourned  without  an  election.  By- meeting  oi  the  seventh  legislature, 
in  January,  1856,  the  free  soil  party  in  the  assembly  had  received  an  accession 
of  strength,  so  that  when  the  two  houses  mer,  and.  held  the  most  exciied 
election  in  the  annals  of  the  state,  Broderick  was  chosen  U.  S.  Senator.  Ills 
success,  however,  cost  him  his  life,  as,  in  1858,  he  ^was  killed  in  a  duel  by 
Judge  David  S.  Terry,  a  prominent  leader  of  the  prp-.slavery  faction  opposing 
him.  ,    , 

Another  deplorable  event,  having  its  cause  remptely  in  that  contest,  oc- 
curred in  Nevada  couiity  in  the  summer  of  185().  In  the  celebration  of  the 
Fourth  of  July  of  that  year  by  a  temperance  association  at  Down ievi lie  where 
Dr.  Lippincott  resided,  the  chief  address  of  the  occasion  was  delivered  by  a 
Miss  Sarah  Pellet,  a  lady  of  national  reputation  as  a  temperatice  orator.  By 
invitation.  Bob  Tevis,  a  bright  young  lawyer,  read  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence before  Miss  Pellet's  oration.  He  was  a  prospective  candidate  for 
corigress  of  the  extreme  pro  slavery  faction,  and  violently  opposed  to  Broder- 
ick. Abusing  the  courtesy  extended  to  him,  after  reading  the  Declaration 
with  fine  effect,  he  branched  out  into  a  long  tiresome  stump  speech  altogeth- 
er uncalled  for  and  inappropriate,  which  so  disgusted  his  auditors  that  they 
"shut  him  off"  by  firing  their  (anvil)  cannons,  howls,  cat-calls,  and  a  bedlam 
of  other  noises. 

The  only  newspaper  published  in  Downieville,  the  Sierra  Citizen,  was  in 
the  interest  of  the  American,  or  "Know-Nothing"  party,  and  neutral  upon 
Other  party  issues.  The  Broderick  men  liad  secured  control  of  two  columns 
of  that  paper  for  defense  or  promulgation  of  tiieir  views,  of  which  Dr.  LIppen- 


-244- 

cot  had  charge  as  editor.  He  was  as  fluent  a  writer  as  his  father,  but  strong- 
er anp  more  incisive  in  his  manner  of  expression.  With  the  ready  faculty  for 
investing  the  most  commonplace  incidents  with  interest,  he  had  keen  appre- 
ciation of  the  ludicrous  which  he  could  always  portray  in  the  most  humorous 
vein.  He  wrote  for  his  corner  of  the  Citizen  a  witty  and  satiracal  report  of 
the  celebration,  specially  ridiculing  Tevis  and  his  speech  that  was  summarily 
squelched.  He  had  never  spoken  to  young  Tevis,  but  knew  his  social  stand- 
ing, his  political  affiliations  and  aspirations.  His  lampooning  of  Tevis  cre- 
ated much  merriment  in  the  town,  much  to  that  young  man's  humiliation 
and  displeasure.  In  a  frenzy  of  passion  and  wounded  pride  Tevis  called  on 
Calvin  B.  McDonald,  nroprietor  of  the  Citizen,  demanding  publication  in  its 
next  issue  of  a  card  over  his  own  signature,  denouncing  the  author  of  the 
strictures  upon  himself — whom  he  well  knew  to  be  Lippincott,  a  satellite  of 
Broderick's— as  a  liar,  a  coward  and  a  slanderer.  Mr.  McDonald  tried  to  pacify 
him  and  appease  his  wratli  by  assuring  him  the  report  was  written  merely  in 
a  spirit  of  fun,  and  not  intended  as  a  personal  affront.  But  Tevis,  of  excit- 
able, nervous  temperament,  a  Iventuckian  with  all  the  Southern  notions  of 
chivalry  and  lion  )r.  and  of  lierce  courage,  would  listen  to  no  explanations  and 
told  McDonald  if  he  refused  to  publish  his  card  on  any  terms  he  would  hold 
him  responsible,  and  he  could  prepare  to  choose  his  weapons.  The  card  ap- 
peared in  the  Citizen  next  day.  Dr.  Lippencott  was  surprised;  but  had  no 
thought  of  offering  an  apology. 

The  intent  of  Tevis's  card  was  so  obvious  the  Doctor  could  not  ignore  it. 
Public  sentiment  in  California  at  that  era  left  him  no  option  but  to  answer  it 
with  a  challenge  for  a  duel,  at  once;  or  be  ostracized  from  his  social  circle, 
branded  as  a  coward  and  be  compelled  to  leave  the  country  in  disgrace. 
Without  a  moment's  hesitation  the  challenge  was  sent  and  immediately  ac- 
cepted by  Tevis,  who,  by  a  strange  f;itality,  chose  for  the  tight  double-barrel 
shotguns  loaded  with  ounce,  balls,  at  thirty  paces;  the  very  weapon  Dr  Lip- 
pincott was  most  familiar  with  by  long  use  in  hunting  deer  in  Illinois. 
Mutual  friends  offered  their  mediation  for  reconciliation,  and  at  one  time  the 
trouble  was  thought  to  be  amicably  adjusted;  but  it  was  again  renewed,  it 
has  been  said,  by  the  intermeddling  of  one  William  Spear,  a  lawyer  from  New 
York,  then  in  Downievilie.  The  due;  was  fought  on  the  7th  of  July.  The 
place  of  meeting  selected  was  a  desolate  flat  amid  high  rugged  mountains,  six 
miles  south  of  the  town— a  spot  overhung  by  the  eterjial  pall-like  foliage  of 
tall,  sombre  flrs,  where  the  song  of  bird  is  never  heard.  Conveyed  by  sure- 
footed mules,  the  belligerents  and  their  seconds  were  on  the  ground  by  day- 
light, prepared  to  take  their  appointed  places  for  the  final  act;  Tevis  tall, 
thin  and  straight  as  a  rail;  Lippincott,  short,  robust  and  stocky:  both  pale, 
cool  and  determined. 

Just  then  the  sheriff  and  his  deputies,  who  had  been  apprised  by  inter- 
ested friends  of  the  affair,  were  descried  on  a  distant  eminence  approaching 
at  break-neck  speed.  The  dueling  party,  not  to  be  thwarted  in  their  object, 
moved  hastily  out  of  the  officer's  jurisdiction,  by  passing  over  into  the  ad- 
joining county.  There,  unmolested,  the  principals  were  placed  facing  each 
other,  thirty  paces  apart.  As  the  rays  of  the  rising  sun  began  to  gild  the 
lofty  mountain  peaks,  the  word  "fire"  was  given  and  instantly  both  guns 
were  discharged.     Bob  Tevis  fell,  shot  through  the   heart,  and   the   ball  from 


-  245  - 

his  gun  cut  a  lock  of  hair  from  over  Lippincott's  left  ear.  To  evade  falling 
into  the  clutches  of  the  sheriff  vpho  had  pursued  them,  Dr.  Lippincott  fled  to 
Nevada  Territory,  vphere  he  remained  until  assured  of  immunity  from  pros- 
ecution, and  then  returned  to  Downieville;  not,  however,  as  a  victorious  hero, 
but  conscious-stricken  like  another  Ishmael.  The  death  of  Tevis  siiocked  the 
community  with  a  thrill  of  horror.  At  his  burial  next  day  theetitire  populace 
followed  his  body  to  the  grave,  with  mingled  emotions  of  sorrow  and  indig- 
nation. 

Spear,  the  intermeddler,  left  town  as  soon  as  the  result  of  the  encounter 
was  known.  He  had  been  intrusted  with  some  collections  sent  him  by  Wra. 
T.  Sherman,  then  a  banker  in  San  Francisco,  and  proving  unfaithful  to  tlie 
trust,  ran  away,  to  British  Columbia.  After  several  years  he  returned  to 
California,  harmlessly  insane— either  real  or  assumed.  In  1860  he  joined  the 
volunteers  to  fight  the  Piutes.  At  the  Pyramid  Lake  battle,  where  the  Cal- 
ifornians  were  defeated,  Spear,  by  the  break  of  his  saddle  girth,  while  his 
mule  was  ascending  the  steep  mountain  in  their  flight,  was  caught  by  the 
Indians  and  burned  at  the  stake. 

The  Lippincott-Tevis  tragedy  wrought  a  sudden  reaction  in  public  senti- 
ment regarding  dueling,  and  also  in  public  estimation  of  Dr.  Lippincott. 
Prior  to  tlie  4th  of  July  his  re-election  to  the  state  senate  was  considered 
sure:  after  July  7th  he  was  dropped  and  his  name  no  more  mentioned  in  that 
connection.  On  his  return  from  Nevada  old  friends  extended  their  hands  to 
him  reluctantly,  and  others  passed  him  by  in  silence.  Then  this  man  of  fine 
sensibilities  realized  the  enormity  of  his  act,  and  henceforth  was  over-shad- 
owed by  tiiat  voiceless,  horrible  thing  which  made  a  coward  of  Macbeth. 
His  ostracism  and  isolation  were  more  intolerable  than  could  have  been  the 
case  had  lie  passed  the  flery  denunciation  of  Tevis  by  unnoticed.  Early  in 
1857,  he  left  California,  going  to  Washington  City  with  his  friend  Broderick, 
whom  he  saw  admitted  as  a  member  of  the  U.  S.  senate,  and  then  proceeded 
to  Illinois.  In  after  life  he  was  always  very  reticent  concerning  that  duel, 
and  only  to  intimate  friends  he  mentioned  it,  invariably  as  a  "horrible  affair" 
which  public  sentiment  and  the  customs  of  the  country  left  him  no  option  to 
evade. 

He  arrived  in  Chandlerville  no  better  off— and  in  one  particular  in  far 
worse  pliglit— than  when  he  left  it  four  years  before.  Bearing  an  unseen 
burden  that  no  repentance,  or  expiation,  could  exorcise,  he  had  sought  refuge 
in  the  baneful  habit  that  ultimately  blighted  his  aspirations  and  wrecked 
his  iroh  constitution.  His  beloved  old  father  had  heard  the  details  of  the 
duel  and  its  mournful  results,  and  his  hair  whitened  under  the  blow.  Dur- 
ing his  absence  in  California,  his  wife  supported  herself  by  school  teaching, 
for  which  she  was  very  competent,  as  she  was  indeed  a  very  accomplished  and 
amiable  lady.  When  the  location  of  her  school  permitted  she  resided  with 
her  parents,  and  when  teaching  farther  away  she  invariably  returned  to  their 
home  every  Friday  evening  to  stay  until  the  next  Monday  morning.  Again 
at  home  tlie  Doctor  resumed  the  odious  profession  he  had  so  cheerfully 
abandoned  on  his  departure.  He  attempted  to  regain  the  patronage  he  de- 
tested, and  wearily  trudged  the  gloomy  rounds  of  his  compulsory  vocation  to 
earn  subsistence.  Casuistic  introspection  led  him  to  resolutions  of  reform. 
The  excesses  of  his  strenuous  career  in  California,  ever  present  in  memory, 


-246- 

oppressed  him  as  he  strove  to  allay  their  fascination.  Turning  ag-ain  to  the 
church  for  spiritual  aid,  he  renewed  his  membership,  and  trod  anew  the 
straight  and  narrow  path.  To  strengthen  his  resolutions  he  occupied  his 
leisure  hours  in  writing  a  commentary  upon  the  New  Testament;  said,  by 
those  who  read  it,  to  have  displayed  deep  thought  and  surprising  familiarity 
with  the  sacred  Logos.  It  was,  however,  only  fragmentary  and  never  com- 
pleted. He  could  write  with  ease  and  fine  show  of  erudition  on  almost  any 
subject,  so  long  as  his  interest  in  it  was  maintained,  a  period  usually  of  un- 
certain duration. 

Dr.  Lippincott  passed  the  four  years,  from  1857  to  1861,  in  uneventful  ob- 
scurity at  his  home  in  Chandlerville.  As  spiritless  as  a  Uoman  slave  chained 
to  the  galley  oar,  he  plodded  along  day  by  day  in  the  dreary  routine  of  his  dis- 
tasteful task,  apparently  bereft  of  every  aspiration,  and  of  hope  also.  Con- 
centrating his  mind  for  the  time  being  upon  each  case  he  was  called  to  treat, 
he  acquitted  himself  as  a  medical  practioneer  fairly  well^as  any  person  of 
sound  common  sense  and  some  learning  can  do;  and  as  many  succeed  in  doing 
who  have  but  little  of  either.  But  his  work  was  obviously  of  the  tread  wheel 
sort,  lacking  the  inspiration  of  ardor  and  enthusiasm,  with  entire  indifference 
to  professional  progress  and  advancement.  His  interest  in  politics  and  cur- 
rent public  affairs  was  unabated,  though  held  in  abeyance  for  want  of  oppor- 
tunity to  give  it  practical  scope.  The  murder  of  his  friend,  Senator  Broder- 
ick,  by  Judge  Terry,  in  a  so-called  duel  arranged  for  that  purpose,  deeply  af- 
fected him.  He  closely  studied  the  Douglas-Lincoln  debate,  in  1858,  and  re- 
joiced at  its  result  in  the  re-election  of  Douglas  to  the  senate.  •  Through  all 
the  turbulent  political  excitement  of  those  lurid  days  his  loyalty  to  Douglas 
never  for  an  instant  wavered,  and  he  stoutly  supported  him  on  the  stump  and 
at  the  polls  for  the  presidency. 

He  was  radically  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  yet,  vehement- 
Ip  antagonized  the  repubiican  party  whose  sole  object  was  its  destruction. 
Perhaps  his  last  public  appearance  as  a  partisan  democrat  was  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1860,  when  he  addressed  the  people  in  several  precints  of  Cass  county 
in  support  of  the  democratic  ticket,  and  very  decidedly  against  1  he  election 
of  Lincoln.  In  June  of  that  year  he  was  one  of  the  delegates  from  Chandler- 
ville precinct  in  the  Cass  county  democratic  convention,  and  exerted  himself 
to  secure  the  nomination  of  his  wife's  cousin  Knowlton  H.  Chandler,  for  the 
office  of  circuit  clerk,  but  failed,  .Mr.  Henry  Phillips  receiving  the  nomination 
on  the  third  ballot. 

The  constantly  increasing  tension  of  public  discord  and  sectional  hate,  en- 
gendered by  years  of  passionate  discussion  of  the  slavery  question,  culminated 
in  1861  in  appalling  forebodings  of  civil  war.  The  magnitude  of  the  impend- 
ing conflict,  and  its  Inevitable  awful  consequences,  tilled  the  land  with  dismay 
and  horror.  Brave  men  stood  aghast  in  contemplation  of  the  drea  iful  calam- 
ity about  to  overwhelm  the  country  with  death,  devastation,  and  sorrow.  But 
Lippincott  hailed  it  with  delight  as  a  veritble  Godsend.  To  him  it  was  the 
harbinger  of  freedom— not  alone  of  the  southern  slaves,  but  emancipation  of 
himself  from  the  soul  depressing  thral  lorn  of  his  environments;  and  the  op- 
portunity to  get  away  from  himself;  from  the  torture  of  his  ever-present  past. 

In  response  to  the  president's  proclamation,  of  April  15,  1861,  calling  for 
75,000  volunteers  to  enforce  the  laws.  Governor  Yates  issued  a  call  on  the  next 


-  247  - 

day  for  six  regiments  of  militia  as  the  quota  of  Illinois,  and  at  the  same  time 
called  the  legislature  to  meet  in  extra  session  to  provide  ways  and  means  for 
their  equipment  and  support.  Dr.  Lippincott  was  eager  to  offer  his  services 
at  once;  but  domestic  considerations  caused  him  to  hesitate.  He  had  before 
left  his  wife  to  the  care  of  her  parents  for  four  years  of  fruitless  adventure  in 
California,  and  the  idea  of  again  abandoning  his  home,  and  wife  and  two 
small  children,  to  risk  the  fortunes  of  war,  for  an  indefinite  period— perhaps 
never  to  return,  on  serious  reflection  staggered  his  resolution.  For  some  time 
his  mind  was  racked  by  the  conflicting  claims  of  obligations  to  his  family  and 
duty  to  his  country  when  in  peril.  The  disasf  rous  defeat  of  the  Union  army, 
by  the  Confederates,  at  Bull  Run,  on  Sunday,  July  21,  instantly  decided  his 
future  course.  Sundering  all  home  ties,  he  appeared  at  Springfield  on  Mon- 
day, August  19,  with  forty-five  men  and  reported  to  Gov.  Yates  as  ready  for 
service,  that  evening  marching  to  Camp  Butler  The  company  subsequently 
designated  as  "Company  K.,"  was  there  recruited  to  full  strength,  and,  on 
the  26th  of  August,  organized  by  election  of  officers.  Dr.  Lippincott  being 
chosen  as  captain.  In  its  ranks  were  Jas.  H.  Clifford,  Wm.  H.  Weaver,  John 
N.  Kendall,  Jos.  D.  Turner,  James  F.  Raybourne.  Allen  Cunningham,  Thos. 
S.  Clmndler,  Geo.  M.  Forsythe.  Moses  Dowler,  James  K.  Monroe.  Wm.  Mur- 
ray, Henry  C.  Milner,  James  I.  Needham,  Wm.  M.  Summers,  Calvin  C.  Wil- 
son and  several  other  sterling  young  men  of  Cass  county,  since  known  as 
among  its  most  substantial  citizens. 

Again  Dr.  Lippincott  cast  aside  the  pills,  lotions,  syringes  and  other 
nasty  insigniaof  his  uncongenial  profession,  together  with  his  thin  veneering  of 
church  afMliation,  and  was  once  more  in  his  proper  element— in  the  sphere  of 
life  for  which  nature  designed  him.  and  for  which  his  vigorous  minrl.  robust 
manhood,  unflinching  courage  and  rugged  patriotism  so  well  fitted  him.  He 
was  profoundly  ignorant  of  military  tactics,  but  overflowing  with  military 
spirit  and  enthusiasm  for  the  great  cause  in  which  he  had  enlisted. 

The  limits  of  this  paper  will  not  admit  of  a  detailed  account  of  Dr.  Lip 
pincott's  career  as  a  soldier;  nor  is  such  an  account  here  necessary;  for  the 
services  he  rendered  his  country  in  the  Civil  war,  though  not  specially 
brilliant,  are  recorded  among  the  most  honorable  and  noteworthy  achieve- 
ments of  its  history.  They  constitute  a  page  of  that  record  which  will  for  all 
time  perpetuate  his  name  with  those  other  patriotic  Illinoians  who  won  the 
lasting  gratitude  of  a  free  and  united  people.  Yet,  a  biographical  sketch  of 
Dr.  Lippincott  would  not  be  complete  without,  at  least,  an  outline  of  the 
part  he  played  in  that  momentous  conflict. 

His  company  was  incorporated  in  the  33rd  regiment  of  Illinois  infantry 
upon  its  organization  at  Camp  Butler,  on  the  30tii  day  of  August,  1861  It 
was  known  as  the  "Normal"  regiment,  from  the  fact  that  it  was  largely  made 
up  of  students,  instructors  and.  professors  of  the  State  Normal  University, 
near  Bloomington,  and  its  first  colonel — by  appointment  of  President  Lincoln- 
— was  Charles  E.  Hovey,  president  of  that  institution.  The  regiment  left 
Camp  Butler  on  the  19th  of  September,  ordered  to  southeast  Missouri  to  drive 
out  the  rebel  bush  rangers  there  commanded  by  M.  Jeff.  Thompson.  Near 
Big  River  bridge,  in  Iron  county,  Missouri,  they  fortified  a  camp  witli  slight 
breastworks  and  called  it  Fort  Elliott.  On  the  15th  of  October  Capt.  Elliott 
and  forty  of  his  men  were  surprised  there  about  dayliglit,  by  a  superior  force 


-248- 

of  Genl.  Thompson's  men  and  taken  prisoners  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed 
and  seven  wounded.  Capt.  Lippincott  coming,  too  late,  with  his  company 
to  their  assistance  met  the  retiring  Confederates  about  two  miles  from  the 
camp  and  attacked  them.  In  a  hand  to  hand  encounter  Capt.  Lippincott  at- 
tempted to  run  a  Confederate  otficer  through  with  his  sword,  which  proved  to 
be  too  blunt-pointed  to  pierce  the  butternut  hunting-shirt  of  the  Southerner, 
so,  no  material  harm  was  done  to  either,  and  company  K.  discreetly  retreated. 
On  October  21,  the  33rd  regiment,  joined  by  other  troops,  met  1500  of  Thomp- 
son's men  near  Fredericktown  in  a  lively  skirmish,  dignified  in  the  war  his- 
tories as  the -'Battle  of  Fredericktown."  A  few  on  eacii  side  were  killed, 
wlien  the  Confederates  largely,  outnumbered,  hastily  retreated.  Detached 
companies  of  the  regiment  made  several  wild  goose  expeditions  through  the 
hills  of  southeastern  Missouri  and  northeastern  Arkansas,  then  passed  the 
winter  in  comparative  inactivity  in  Iron  county,  Missouri. 

On  March  1,  18(i2,  the  33rd  left  its  winter  quarters  for  the  South.  Lieut. 
Col.  Lockwood  on  that  day  resigned  on  account  of  disability,  thereby  creating 
a  vacancy  in  tliat  staff  position.  Col.  Hovey  ordered  an  election  to  be  held  by 
the  regiment,  on  March  5,  to  supply  tiie  vacancy,  which  resulted  as  follows: 
Capt.  Isaac  II.  Elliott  388  votes,  for  Major  Roe  9-i,  Capt.  Lippincott  89,  Ad- 
jutant Crandall  69,  and  for  Capt.  Potter  46.  But  Capt.  Lippincott,  at  that 
time  on  leave  of  absence  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  had  no  difficulty  in  convinc- 
ing his  old  boyhood  friend,  Gov.  Yates,  that  he  was  the  proper  man  for  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  the  33rd,  also  Col.  Elliott's  choice,  and  a  few  days  later  rejoined  the 
regiment  with  the  commission  for  that  position  in  his  pocket.  After  a  long 
hard  march  tiie  regiment  reached  Helena,  Ark.,  on  July  13,  and  went  into 
camp  twenty  miles  farther  down  the  river,  at  Old  Town,  in  the  midst  of  pest- 
ilential swamps,  wliere  several  of  the  soldiers  died  of  virulent  fevers.  B^or 
three  months  their  service  was  scouting  on  both  sides  of  the  Mississippi.  "On 
September  26,  a  considerable  force  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  with  two  howitz- 
ers, all  under  command  of  Col.  Lippfncott,  crossed  the  river  and  moved  into 
the  country  about  fifteen  miles,  where  300  bales  of  cotton  were  discovered 
It  required  sixty  wagons  to  move  the  cotton,  and  it  was  not  loaded  until  well 
into  the  night."  The  name  of  the  owner  who  was  robbed  of  the  cotton  is  not 
given;  but  on  the  return  the  escort  was  tired  into  from  the  brush,  severely 
wounding  Capt.  Potter  and  four  others,  and  killing  Sergeant  Mason.  "But," 
Col.  Elliott  adds,  "what  matterl  the  300  bales  of  cotton  were  brought  in." 
On  the  5th  of  Soptember,  1862,  Col.  Ilovey  was  raised  to  the  grade  of  brigadier 
general,  and  Col.  Lipdincott  promoted  to  the  rank  ofcolonel.  On  October  5th, 
the  regiment  returned  by  boat  to  the  vicinity  of  St.  Louis,  and  from  there 
back  to  Iron  County,  passing  the  winter  in  useless  excursions  about  the  bord- 
ers of  Missouri  and  Arkansas,  undergoing  many  hardships  and  much  exposure. 
In  his  admirable  history  of  the  33rd  regiment.  Col  Elliott  says:  "For  any  re- 
suits  that  came  from  that  campaign,  we  might  far  better  have  been  disbanded 
and  sent  home  on  furlough." 

Tiie  regiment  left  southeastern  Missouri  on  the  10th  of  March,  1863,  to 
join  the  forces  under  Genl.  Grant  then  investing  Vicksburg.  From  the  nth 
of  May  to  Pemberton's  capitulation,  on  July  3rd,  the  33rd  regiment,  as  part  of 
Genl.  Eugene  A.  Carr's  division,  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  tight  and  did 
splendid  service.     At  Champion  Hill,  Black  River  bridge,  and  assaults  upon 


-  249  - 

the  fortifications,  no  troops  of  that  grand  army  excelled  those  Illinoians  for 
desperate  courage,  marvelous  enduranceand  perfect  discipline.  Though  many 
fell  before  the  shot  and  shell  of  the  enemy,  not  one  wavered  or  faltered  in  his 
duty.  Inspired  by  the  loftiest  sentiment  of  patriotism  their  heroism  added 
lustre  to  the  great  state  they  nobly  represented.  Col.  Lippincott  was  in  his 
glory.  Where  the  battle  raged  most  fiercely  he  led  his  men  on,  as  eager  for 
the  fray  and  as  fearlessly  as  when  hunting  deer  in  the  Sangamon  bottom.  In 
a  general  assault  on  the  main  defenses  of  the  enemy,  on  the  22nd  of  May,  he 
was  wounded,  but  not  so  severely  as  to  compel  him  to  leave  the  field. 

After  the  surrender  of  Viclcsburg,  the  33rd  regiment  was  ordered  to  Jaclc- 
son,  Mississippi,  and  left  for  that  place  on  July  5th.  Col.  Lippincott,  sicli  and 
suffering  from  his  wound,  was  left  in  the  hospital  for  a  few  days.  On  August 
19th  the  regiment  left  Jackson  for  New  Orleans.  September  4th  it  crossed 
the  river,  and  for  more  than  two  months  engaged  in  another  useless  and  fruit- 
less tramp  in  soutiiern  Louisiana,  returning  to  New  Orleans  on  November  14. 
Tiie  next  day  it  left,  on  an  ocean  transport,  for  Texas,  and  landed  at  Corpus 
Christi.  Together  with  the  8th  Indiana  it  atta3l<ed,  on  November  2Sth,  Fort 
Esperanza,  a  small  Confederate  defensive  work  near  the  entrance  of  Mata- 
gorda Bay,  having  but  a  nominal  garrison.  During  the  next  night  the  fort 
was  evacuated  after  its  magazine  was  blown  up  by  the  retreating  defenders. 
Col.  Lippincott  left  for  Illinois  on  December  17,  on  short  leave  of  absence;  and 
on  the  23rd  the  regiment  was  taken,  in  steamboats,  up  the  bay  to  Indianola, 
and  went  into  winter  quarters  there.  The  event  of  most  importance  to  the 
33rd  occurring  there  during  the  winter  was  the  re-enlistment  "for  the  war" 
of  the  greater  number  of  its  members  as  "veterans,"  carrying  with  the  change 
a  furlough  of  thirty  days  to  visit  Illinois.  Those  who  declined  re-enlisting, 
or  "veteranizing,"  were  transferred  temporarily  to  the  99th  Illinois.  The 
regiment  was  mustered  into  the  veteran  service  on  the  27th  of  January,  1864, 
and  left  that  afternoon  for  New  Orleans.  It  then  proceeded,  on  Marcli  4tli, 
up  the  Mississippi  to  Cairo,  arriving  there  on  the  12th,  and  to  Bloomington  on 
the  14th,  where  it  received  a  joyous  and  royal  welcome. 

The  month  of  resting  and  feasting  fleetly  passed,  the  regiment,  with 
about  eighty  recruits,  reassembled  at  Camp  Butler,  on  April  16th,  and 
started  on  its  return  south  on  the  18th,  arriving  at  Brashear  City,  Louisiana, 
May  17th.  There  the  detached  companies  were  scattered  along  the  raih-oad, 
and  at  other  points  among  the  swamps  aad  bayous,  on  local  guard  duty  dur- 
ing the  hottest  months  of  the  year.  The  non-veterans  who  had  been  as- 
signed to  the  99  Illinois  there  rejoined  the  regiment,  on  July  4th,  and  were 
sent  home  on  September  nth,  by  way  of  New  York  as  guard  for  Confederate 
prisoners.  After  their  stay  in  Louisiana  of  nine  months  and  thirteen  days, 
the  33rd  left,  March  2,  1865,  for  duty  at  Mobile,  where  it  took  part  in  the  in- 
vestment of,  and  attack  upon,  Spanish  Fort,  one  of  the  principal  defensive 
works  there.  After  severe  fighting,  and  stout  resistance  of  several  days  the 
Confederates  evacuated  the  fort  on  the  night  of  April  4th.  The  ,33rd  was  in 
reserve  when  Fort  Blakely  was  stormed  and  taken,  on  the  9th  of  April,  that 
being  the  last  siege  of  the  war.  General  Lee  surrendering  to  General  Grant, 
at  Appomattox,  on  that  day.  The  next  move  of  the  3.3rd  was  to  Greenville, 
Alabama,  on  April  20th;  then  to  Montgomery  on  the  23rd;  and  from  there 
to  Meridian,  Mississippi,  May  10th.  wiiere  Col.   Lippincott  was  in  command 


-250- 

of  the  district  until  August  16th,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Vicks- 
burg.  Col  Lippincott  resigned  on  September  10,  1865,  and  went  home,  to 
permit  the  long  deserved  promotion  of  Col.  Elliott  to  the  rank  of  Colonel. 
The  3.3rd  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service,  at  Vicksburg,  on  November 
24th,  and  immediately  started  for  home. 

Col.  Lippincott  was  promoted  to  Brevet  Brigadier  General  on  the  17th 
of  February,  1865,  and  after  the  fall  of  Mobile  was  made  Bigadier  General  of 
Veterans.  He  returned  to  Chandlerville  much  elated  with  the  triumph  of 
his  cause,  and  his  elevation  to  the  high  rank  won  by  his  faithful  service  and 
valor  in  the  hard-fought  struggle  for  unity  of  the  nation.  He  was  the  local 
hero  of  the  hour,  greeted  by  the  adulation  of  the  populace  and  congratula- 
tions of  his  friends.  He  did  not  resume  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  only 
mentioned  it  with  disdain;  but,  giving  free  rein  to  his  natural  proclivity, 
plunged  into  the  cesspool  of  politics  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  impetuous 
temperament.  Unfortunately,  the  convivial  habits  contracted  in  California 
and  reformed  on  his  return  from  there,  were  again  fostered  by  the  unre- 
strained life  of  the  camp,  and  fully  contirmed  by  liis  political   associations. 

In  1866,  General  Lippincott  received  the  nomination  of  iiis  party  for 
Congress,  in  the  old  ninth  district,  comprising  the  counties  of  Pike,  Brown, 
Schuyler,  Fulton,  McDonougli,  Cass,  Mason  and  Menard,  all  strongly  demo- 
cratic; and  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Lewis  W.  Ross,  the  democratic  candidate, 
who  received  15,406  votes  to  14,721  for  the  General.  Upon  organization  of 
the  25th  General  Assembly,  in  January,  1867,  Genl.  Lippincott  was  elected  to 
the  position  his  father  held  in  1821,  that  of  secretary  of  the  state  senate, 
which  he  resigned  the  next  wintei- to  accept  the  office  of  doorkeeper  of  the 
national  House  of  Representatives.  Tlie  Republican  State  Convention,  in 
1868,  nominated  him  for  State  Auditor,  and  after  an  able  and  active  canvass 
he  was  elected,  receiving  249,654  votes,  and  his  democrat  opponent,  John  R. 
Shannon,  199,7.54. 

Tlie  constitution  of  Illinois  at  that  time  required  all  state  officials  to 
tal<e  the  re^.ular  oath  of  office,  and  the  following  oath  in  addition:  "I  do 
solemnly  swear  that  I  have  fiot  fought  a  duel,  nor  sent  or  accepted  a  chall- 
enge to  tight  a  duel,  the  probable  issue  of  which  miglit  have  been  the  death 
of  either  party,  nor  been  a  second  to  either  party,  nor  in  any  manner  aided  or 
assisted  in  such  duel,  nor  been  knowingly  the  bearer  of  such  challenge  or  ac- 
ceptance, since  the  adoption  of  the  constitution;  and  that  I  will  not  be  so 
engaged  or  concerned,  directly  or  indirectly,  in  or  about  such  duel  during 
m.v  continuance  in  office;  so  help  me  God."  Before  assuming  the  duties 
of  auditor  Genl.  Lippincott  unhesitatingly  took  that  oath  without  a  blush  or 
tremor.  Tliose  who  liad  known  him  long  and  well,  and  knew  his  integrity  of 
character  and  innate  nobility  of  soul,  were  astounded— as  he  himself  was. 
However,  he  justified  the  perjury  by  an  illustrious  precedent;  that  of  the 
first  republican  governor  of  Illinois,  Wm.  H.  Bissell.  Col.  Bissell,  it  is  true, 
had  not  fought  a  duel,  but  had  accepted,  in  Washington  City,  the  challenge 
of  Jeff  Davis  to  tight,  and  afterwards  deliberately  swore,  at  Springfield,  that 
he  had  never  "accepted  a  challenge  to  fight  a  duel."  Bissell,  like  Lippincott, 
possessed  an  exalted  sense  of  honor,  and  was  in  every  respect  a  great  man, 
and  extremely  sensitive.  He  meditated  long  before  consenting  to  sacrifice 
his  honor,  and  manhood,  and  burden  his  soul,   by  committing  plain  perjury. 


-  251  - 

to  save  the  fruits  of  his  party's  victory;  and  then  essayed  to  quiet  the  up- 
braidings  of  his  violated  conscience  w^ith  the  vi^retched  subterfuge  that  ac- 
cepting a  challenge  in  Washington  wa,s  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  con- 
stitution of  Illinois.  His  party  was  satisfied,  but  his  three  miserable  years 
in  the  executive  chair  left  no  doubt  that  his  peace  of  mind  was  wrecked.  He 
could  never  convince  himself  that  his  false  swearing  was  done  beyond  the 
jurisdiction  of  his  own  conscience;  nor  did  General  Lippincott. 

In  1872,  Gen.  Lippincott  was  again  nominated  for  auditor,  and  was  re- 
elected with  241,498  votes  cast  for  him,  192,708  for  Daniel  O'Hara.  and  2,459 
for  C.  W.  Westerman.  In  his  second  installation  as  state  auditor  he  was 
spared  the  humiliation  of  having  to  repeat  his  oath  concerning  dueling,  as  it 
was  eliminated  from  the  new  constitution  adopted  in  1871. 

At  that  time  Gen.  Lippincott  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  popular 
politicians  in  Illinois.  He  was  regarded  by  many  leading  managers  of  the 
republican  party  as  a  prospective  candidate  for  governor,  having  every  element 
of  strength  to  insure  success,  and  could  very  probably,  in  time,  have  secured 
the  nomination— then  and  since  equivolent  to  election— to  that  once  exalted 
position,  but  for  his  own  reckless  folly.  During  the  eight  yeai-s  he  was  state 
auditor  the  emoluments  of  the  office,  under  the  fee  system  then  in  vogue, 
were  enormous,  amounting  to  many  thousands  of  dollars  annually.  While 
serving  his  tirst  term  he  very  prudently  invested  considerable  of  his  salary  in 
valuable  real  estate.  Of  Dr.  Chandler  he  purchased  the  tine  bottom  farm  ad- 
joining Chandlerville  on  the  west,  known  as  "Flat  Meadows,"  of  over  200 
acres,  on  which  he  built  a  barn  and  made  other  substantial  improvements. 
He  also  bouglit  the  Estep  tract  of  .360  acres  lying  a  mile  east  of  the  village. 
His  home  in  Springfield  was  always  open  to  his  friends,  who  were  entertained 
there  with  regal  hospitality— all  his  current  expenditures  keeping  pace  in 
prodigal  liberality  with  the  munificence  of  his  income. 

All  the  country,  north  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  was  then  enjoying  un- 
precedented prosperity;  money  was  abundant;  everything  salable  commanded 
higii  pr  ces,  and  a  tendency  to  unwarranted  expansion  prevailed  in  all  channels 
of  trade  and  finances  exerting  unwholesome,  demoralizing,  influences  on 
society.  In  his  second  official  term  Gen.  Lippincott  unfortunately  caught  the 
prevalent  infection  of  wild,  unreasoning  extravagance,  induced  by  sud'len  ac- 
quisition of  wealth.  Charity  would  dictate  that  the  veil  of  silence  be  thrown 
over  that  period  of  his  life,  and  hide  from  public  gaze  his  mistakes  and 
frailties.  And  compassion  may  suggest,  by  way  of  their  palliation,  tliat 
ranklings  of  memory,  with  sensual  excesses,  had  impaired  liis  judgment  to  the 
verge  of  irresponsibility.  Only  upon  ttiat  hypothesis  can  be  reconciled  the 
strange  extremes  of  his  course.  Reared  and  disciplined  in  poverty,  then  man- 
fully winning  his  way  to  social  distinction  by  pinching  economy  and  such  effort 
as  manual  labor  on  a  farm  for  $12  per  month,  it  is  incomprehensible  tiiat  in 
maturer  years  he  would  squander  a  princely  revenue  by  such  imbecility  as 
paying  $17,500  for  a  bull  and  $10,000  for  a  cow;  and  the  more  inexcusable  folly 
of  chartering  special  railroad  trains  to  convey  his  host  of  convivial  friends 
from  Springfield  to  royal  champagne  banquets  and  drunken  orgies  at  his  Flat 
Meadows  farm  on  the  Sangamon. 

The  inevitable  results  soon  followed.  His  festive  habits  and  reprehensi- 
ble methods  of  electioneering  alienated  the  confidence  of  tlie  conservative  and 


-  25V  - 

sober  element  of  his  party.  As  a  consequence  his  popularity  waned  to  that 
extent  that,  in  1876,  when  he  was  presented  to  the  republican  state  conven- 
tion as  a  candidate  for  re-election  to  a  third  term,  he  was  set  aside,  and  tlie 
nomination  given  to  Tom  Needles.  That  reverse  was  preceded  by  financial 
embarrassements  that  had  compelled  him  to  mortgage  all  his  real  estate  for 
large  amounts.  Upon  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  left  Springfield,  mov- 
ing to  Flat  Meadows,  where  he  continued  to  farm  his  lands  witli  hired  labor, 
as  before,  until  foreclosure  of  the  mortgages,  in  1884.  His  splendid  herd  of 
fine-bred  cattle  was  sold  to  satisfy  debts,  and  his  many  broad  acres  passed  to 
the  possession  of  others.  Leaving  Flat  Meadows  he  reoccupied  his  old  home 
he  had  built  after  his  return  from  California,  a  neat  two-story  frame  liouse 
perciied  high  up  on  the  bluff  side  overlooking  the  entire  village  of  Chandler- 
ville  and  an  extensive  view  of  the  Sangamon  bottom.  Always  in  rugged 
health,  about  that  time  he  had  a  slight  stroke  of  paralysis,  from  which  he 
soon  recovered  completely,  as  it  seemed.  His  property  all  swept  away  by  de- 
mands of  creditors,  he  was  again  redueed  to  poverty  and  without  resources 
and  without  credit.  But  thougli  republics — and  some  republicans — may  be 
ungrateful,  such  a  man  as  Genl.  Lippincott  could   never  be   witiiout  friends. 

An  act  of  the  legislature,  providing  for  establishing  "a  home  and  sub- 
sistence for  honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors  wiio  enlisted  in  the  U. 
S.  army  and  navy  from  Illinois,"  was  passed  in  June,  1885.  The  commission 
appointed  by  Gov.  Ogelsby,  for  tlie  purpose,  located  tlie  institution  on  140 
acres  of  land  just  beyond  the  northern  limits  of  Quincy,  to  which  82  more 
acres  were  subsequently  added.  The  buildings  were  commenced  in  May, 
1886,  and  the  "Home"  formally  opened  in  Marcli,  1887.  It  was  placed,  by 
provision  of  the  law  founding  it,  in  control  of  three  trustees,  appointed  by 
the  governor,  wiio  were  required  to  elect  a  superintendent— styled  "Govern- 
or of  tiie  Home" — and  other  officers  and  assistants  necessary  for  its  manage- 
ment. When  the  trustees  met  to  select  the  first  "Governor,"  they  decided 
unanimously  to  offer  the  position  to  General  Lippincott — and  certainly  no 
better  or  more  appropriate  decision  could  liave  been  maae.  In  the  severe 
school  of  adversity  he  had  learned  prudence  and  self-restraint;  while  public 
censure  had  wrought  commendable  improvements  in  his  personal  habits  and 
improvidence.  Witli  due  appreciation  of  the  importance  and  dignity  of  the 
position,  he  entered  upon  its  duties  with  spirit  and  enthusiasm,  administer- 
ing the  affairs  of  tlie  Home  with  marked  abiliry,  and  the  same  lofty  sense  of 
honor  and  justice  that  characterized  every  public  act  of  his  career.  He  was 
ttieie  once  more  placed  in  genial  employment  to  whicii  he  could  apply  the 
energies  of  his  active  mind   free   from  his  former  incentives  to  dissipation. 

In  stature  General  Lippincott  was  five  feet,  ten  inches  high,  squarely  and 
powerfully  built,  with  broad  shoulders  and  deep  cliest,  and  full  muscular  de- 
velopment. He  had  tlie  Scandanavian  clearness  of  complexion,  sandy-colored 
curly  hair  and  piercing  steel-blue  eyes  surmounted  by  heavy  shaggy  eyebrows. 
His  features  were  regular,  not  of  classic  type,  or  specially  handsome;  but  his 
face  always  wore  a  pleasant,  smiling  expression  denoting  his  kind,  genial  and 
mirthful  disposition.  Of  sanguine  temperament  he  was  an  optimist,  seldom 
gloomy  or  despondent,  but  always,  with  jolly  good  humor,  making  tlie  best  of 
his  surroundings,  and  never  so  happy  as  when  conferring  happiness  on  others. 
Col.   Elliott  says  of   fnm.     "Notwithstanding  his  inability  to  execute    the 


-  253  - 

simplest  maneuvre  with  the  regiment,  Col.  Lippincott  proved  a  valuable  of- 
ficer, brave  and  generous  and  always  alive  to  the  welfare  of  his  men.  He  was 
a  man  of  fine  ability,  a  rare  conversationalist  and  story  teller,  and  few  could 
excel  him  in  writing  good  English.  He  had  a  vast  fund  of  stories  and  anec- 
dotes at  his  command  and  could  embellish  the  most  trivial  incident  with  such 
interest  as  to  hold  the  rapt  attention  of  his  auditors,  and  when  he  offered  to 
speak  no  one  questioned  his  right  the  floor." 

Had  General  Lippincott  possessed  the  faculty  of  pemistent  application  he 
would  have  made  his  mark  in  the  literary  world  as  a  writer.  With  quite  a 
store  of  general  information  and  lively  perception,  he  expressed  his  ideas  in 
clear,  concise  and  elegant  language.  His  graduating  thesis  at  the  mec'ica) 
college  was  a  thoughtful,  scholarly  production,  on  "The  Impalpable  in  Cure 
of  Diseases." — or,  as  it  would  be  styled  at  the  present  day,  "The  Psychic 
Factor  in  Overcoming  Physical  Disorders"— in  which  he  clearly  foreshadowed 
the  subtle  potetiality  ot  hypnotism  as  a  remedial  agent,  and  the  mysterious 
force  of  that  faith  upon  which  the  chimerical  success  of  modern  Christian 
Science  depends.  In  1884,  importuned  by  his  old  military  c  mrades  to  write 
a  history  of  his  regiment,  he  consented  to  do  so,  and  wrote  two  ohapters, 
graphic  in  style  and  accurate  in  detail,  but  there  dropped  the  task,  to  be 
taken  up  later  by  Col.  Elliott,  who  completed  it  admirably. 

Genl.  Lippincott  was  a  very  ready  off-hand  speaker,  not  a  flowery  orator 
dealing  in  lofty  flights  of  poetic  imagery,  but  a  strong,  forcible  talker  and 
logical  reasoner,  with  the  peculiar  power  of  eloquence  to  hold  the  interested 
attention  of  his  audience  indefinitely.  In  his  campaign  speeches,  and  in  con- 
versation, just  after  the  Civil  war,  when  party  animosities  raged  with  intense 
fierceness,  he  refrained  from  abusive  or  disrespectful  language  when  referring 
to  his  opponents,  or  old  associates  of  the  democratic  party;  often  expressing.!' 
regret  that  the  old  party  had  gone  astray,  and  claiming  he  was  still  a  demo- 
crat himself,  having  the  same  general  views  of  public  policy  lie  entertained 
before  the  war.  He  was  not  an  ardent  admirer  of  Lincoln  personally,  but 
gave  his  administration  unqualified  support  so  far  as  pertained  to  maintain- 
ing the  integrity  of  the  Union  and  abolition  of  slavery. 

Although  General  Lippincott  was  brave,  even  to  rashness,  he  was  lament- 
ably wanting  in  that  self-asserting  force  known  as  moral  courage.  To  that 
weakness  was  due  tiie  many  sad  mistakes  that  tarnished  his  true  nobility  of 
character.  Too  deficient  in  selfishness  for  self-protection;  too  confiding  in 
humanity  to  guard  against  deception  and  imposition,  and  exerting  no  check 
upon  his  generosity,  made  prosperity  for  him  more  a  curse  tlian  a  blessing. 
He  would  not  have  hesitated  to  fight  single-handed  a  regiment  of  the  enemy 
in  battle,  but  was  too  weak  to  resist  temptation  thougii  in  the  guise  of  the 
worst  enemy  of  mankind.  For  honor,  charity,  big-hearted  benevolence,  and 
all  the  nobler  traits  tliat  constitute  sterling  manhood,  he  was  excelled  by 
none  In  business  transactions  his  word  or  promise  needed  no  bond  to  secure 
it;  in  all  social  relations  the  same  natural  instincts  of  justice  and  rectitude 
guided  his  conduct.  He  was  true  and  loyal  to  his  friends;  as  an  antagonist, 
unflinching,  chivalrous  and  fair. 

The  great  mistake  of  Gen.  Lippincott's  life  was  his  choice  of  the  medical 
profession,— a  calling  admitting  of  no  promotion;  offering  no  avenues  to  liter- 
ary or  other  intellectual  distinction;  blighting  to  all  higlier  aspirations,   and 


-254- 

restricting  the  best  mental  energies  to  slavish  drudgery.  In  the  legal  pro- 
fession he  would  have  found  incentives  for  full  exercise  of  his  fine  mental 
powers,  and  a  broad  and  encouraging  field  for  aggressive  ambition  in  harmony 
with  his  tastes  and  inclinations,  and  conducive  to  a  happier  condition  of  ex- 
istence. 

In  deference  to  his  wife's  connection  with  the  church,  though  disgusted 
with  it  himself,  he  always  contributed  to  its  support  as  liberally  as  his  means 
permitted.  When  quite  a  young  man,  at  Marine,  he  joined  the  Odd  Fellows, 
and  later  in  life  the  Masonic  Order,  and  finally  was  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic. 

About  the  close  of  summer  in  1887,  when  in  robust  health,  and  busily  ad- 
ministering the  responsible  affairs  of  the  Home,  without  premonition,  he  was 
suddenly  stricken  down  and  rendered  helpless  and  speechless  by  a  stroke  Of 
paralysis.  He  was  removed  from  Quincy  to  Springfield  for  better  facilities  of 
medical  treatment,  and  in  a  short  time  rallied,  with  flattering  indications  of 
permanent  improvement.  In  compliance  with  his  urgent  desire,  he  was  tak- 
en back  to  his  quarters  at  the  Home  in  Quincy,  hoping  that  his  health  would 
be  restored  sufficiently  to  enable  him  to  resume  his  work  there.  For  a  short 
time  after  his  return  he  was  progressing  toward  recovery,  as  it  seemed,  very 
favorable,  when  a  recurrence  of  the  trouble,  at  7  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning, 
September  11,  1887,  again  rendered  him  helpless  and  unconscious  He  lingered 
in  tliat  condition,  with  labored  breathing,  until  half-past  7  o'clock  in  tlie  ev- 
ening when  he  quietly  passed  away,  at  the  age  of  62  years,  7  months  and  16 
days. 

Announcement  of  his  death  was  immediately  telegraphed  to  his  friend. 
Gov.  Oglesby.  who  ordered  the  flags  on  the  public  buildings  in  the  state  to  be 
lowered  to  half  mast,  and  arranged  for  liis  burial  at  Oak  Ridge  cemetery,  near 
Springfield,  on  Wednesday,  the  14th.  When  last  in  Springfield  Genl.  Lippin- 
cott,  in  anticipation  of  his  probable  death,  requested,  in  that  event,  liis 
funeral  obsequies  should  be  conducted  by  Stephenson  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  that 
city.  Accordingly,  Lincoln  Dubois,  post  commander  notified  the  members  of 
the  post  to  assemble  at  their  hall  on  the  morning  specified,  and  issued  a 
general  invitation  to  other  posts,  soldiers  and  citizens  to  attend  the  funeral. 
When  the  Wabash  train  l)earitig  the  General's  body  arrived  at  the  Springfield 
station,  at  9:30  in  the  morning  of  the  14th,  an  immense  concourse  of  people 
were  there  awaiting  it,  including  the  members  of  Stephenson  Post  and  many 
from  the  V^irginia  and  other  posts.  The  active  pall  bearers  were  Col.  E.  R. 
Roe,  Wm.  Sutton,  Col.  E.  R.  Higgins,  Jos.  Turner  of  Ashland,  Chas.  I. 
Haskell  of  Virginia,  Captains  J.  M.  Burnham,  E.  J.  Lewis  and  J.  W.  Fifer  of 
Bloomington,  wiio  carried  the  remains  of  their  old  commander  from  the  car 
to  the  hearse.  The  column  was  then  formed  and  moved  to  the  Congrega- 
tional cliurch.  Immediately  following  the  hearse  was  the  guard  of  honor,  ten 
old  veterans  detailed  from  the  Home  at  Quincy,  with  white  heads  and  beards, 
and  bent  with  the  weight  of  years,  in  full  field  uniform,  with  arms  reversed. 
Tlien  followed  the  pall  bearers,  military  band,  Stephenson  and  other  posts, 
veterans  and  a  long  retinue  of  citizens. 

The  iionorary  pall-bearers,  who  followed  the  casket  into  the  church,  were 
Gov.  Oglesby,  Gen.  Palmer,  Gen.  McClernand,  Gen.  McConnell,  Gen.  John 
Cook,  Col.  Wickersham,  Hon.  Shelby  M.  Cullom  and  Hon.  O.  M.    Hatch.      In 


-  255  - 

the  church,  profusely  decoratecl  with  draped  flags,  and  other  appropriate  em- 
blems, services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  R.  O.  Post,  which  with  the  grand 
dirge  by  the  choir,  were  sublimely  affecting.  In  the  same  order  the  proces- 
sion moved  to  Oak  Ridge  cemetery,  and  there  the  mortal  remains  of  Charles 
E.  Lippincott  were  interred  with  the  solemn  and  impressive  ritual  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  Col.  Ewart  then  sounded  "taps,"  and  the  cor- 
tege returned  to  the  city. 

Gen.  Lippincott  left  no  estate.  To  provide  for  his  wife,  who  survived 
him,  the  position  of  "Matron  of  the  Home"  was  created  specially  for  her. 
Where  she  had  before  done  the  honors  of  the  Home  as  the  wife  of  its  Govern- 
or, she  assumed  the  humble  station  of  Matron,  and  discharged  its  duties  with 
watchful  care  and  uncomplaining  fidelity.  She  was  a  refined,  cultured  lady, 
of  gentle,  amiable  disposition,  possessing  in  very  marked  degree  the  graces 
and  virtues  of  the  true  Christian.  Her  beautiful  character  and  simple  do- 
mestic life  commanded  the  respect  and  admiration  of  all  who  knew  her. 
With  due  regard  to  her  social  obligations,  devotion  to  her  husband,  family 
and  church,  and  her  many  acts  of  charity  and  benevolence,  filled  tlie  sphere 
of  her  sorrowful  existence.  Having  followed  to  the  grave  her  three  children, 
husband,  father,  mother  and  a  brother,  and  borne  with  patient  resignation  for 
years  the  burden  of  her  grief,  she  died,  at  the  Soldier's  Home,  on  the  2Ist  of 
May,  1895,  having  attained  the  age  of  (U  years.  2  months  and  8  days.  In  Oak 
Ridge  her  remains  repose  beside  her  loved  ones  who  had  preceded  her  to  final 
rest. 

The  children  of  General  and  Mrs.  Lippincott  were: 
Linus  C.  Lippincott,  born  April  27,  1858,  and  died  January  4,  1872. 
Winthrop  G.  Lippincott,  born  October  5,  1860,  and  died  January  23,  1879- 
Thomas  Lippincott,  born  August  5,  1872,  died  July  31,  1873. 
As  a  testimonial  of  their  great  respect  and  affection  for  General  Lippin- 
cott and  his  wife,  who  had  become  so  endeared   to  them  by  their  unremit- 
ting attention  and  kindness,  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Home,  by  their  individual 
contributions  together  with  the  profits  of  the  Home  store,   erected   upon  the 
parade  ground  tlie  handsomest  building  there,  which  is  known  as  the  Lippin- 
cott Memorial  Hall.     It  is  used  as  an  assembly  hall  for  religious  services,   lec- 
tures and  entertainments,   has  a  seating  capacity  of  nearly  1000,  and  cost 
$14,000 


MARTIN  HARDING. 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  (^RIDLEY. 


MARTIN  Flarding  was  born  on  the  tirst  day  of  June  in  the  year  1833  in 
a  double  log  liouse  on  the  farm  of  his  father,  Martin  Harding,  sr.. 
situated  on  tlie  east  half  of  the  soutlieast  quaiter  of  Sec.  32,  T.  17, 
R.  9,  iti   what  is  now  Cass  county,  Illinois,  within  a  half  mile  of  Morgan 
county.    Tlie  liouse  stood  near  a  small  stream. 

His  father,  Martin  Harding,  sr  ,  was  born  in  tlie  state  of  Kentucky  in 
1T.)3,  removed  to  Keutucky  when  ten  years  of  age;  married  in  tlie  latter  state 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  lS2(i  vvith  his  wife  and  tliree  or  four  cliildren  accom- 
panied by  his  wife's  brother,  wlio  was 
an  uncle  of  the  late  George  A  P.eard, 
of  tliis  city,  and  also  by  a  man  named 
.lohn  Parr.  Martin  Harding,  sr.,  was 
about  5  feet  8  inclies  in  heigiit,  and 
weighed  about  one  liundred  and  sixty 
pounds  with  dark  hair  and  blue  eyes. 
Was  a  life  long  democrat  who  voted 
three  times  for  Andrew  Jackson:  an 
hononLble  man,  but  not  a  churcli 
member:  he  died  in  1855  at  tlie  age  of 
()2  years:  his  wife  survived  liiui  eleven 
years. 

In  18-t5  ^[r.  Harding's  father  built  a 
new  house  on  his  farm  16  feet  by  37 
feet  a  story  and  a  half  in  lieiglit  of 
lumber  hauled  on  wagons  from  St. 
Louis:  Tins  house  was  erected  by  An- 
drew Strubleand  Wilson  Phillip.  Mr. 
Struble  lived  in  Aforgan  coutity  near 
by  and  Mr.  P.  near  Jacksonville,  Mr. 
Struble  later  on  moved  to  Newman- 
ville  in  the  MuitliiM'st  corner  of  this  county:  became  a  county  commissioner 
and  a  wealthy  and  successi'ui  farmer.  This  house  was  covered  with  home 
made  shingles  of  oak:  it  was  plastered  by  E  1  Clark,  a  Christian  preacher,  a 
brother-in-law  to  Joseph  F.  Black,  who  died  in  this  city  a  few  years  since; 
Clark  went  to  Southern  Missouri  before  the  civil  war.  A  kitchen  was  built 
detached  from  the  house,  which  was  the  fashion  in  those  days.  The  new 
house  had  a  lireplace  in  it,  but  no  stoves,    the   cooking  being  done  over   the 


-  257  - 

open  tire.  Pies  were  made  of  liuge  dimensions  called  "cobblers"  and  baked  in 
a  sort  of  oven  placed  upon  blazing-  coals,  and  covered  with  the  same. 

Tlie  scliool  Mr.  H.  attended  was  about  a  mile  soutli  of  his  home  in  a  log 
house  in  Morgan  county  voluntarily  built  by  the  neighbors  kept  by  a  man 
named  Austin.  It  was  warmed  by  an  open  fire,  of  wood  contributed  by  tlie 
parents  and  cut  by  the  pupils.  The  benches  were  of  hewn  logs  without  backs; 
tliere  were  about  25  pupils  and  the  term  was  of  three  months  duration. 

The  first  preacher  Mr.  Harding  remembers  was  Jimmy  Wyatt,  wlio  lived 
in  the  edge  of  Morgan  county,  a  local  preacher  of  the  Methodist  church,  grand- 
fatlier  of  J.  F.  Wyatt,  of  this  city.  Tliere  were  Baptist  meetings  also  held  in 
the  houses  about  the  neighborliood.  There  was  much  sociability  in  those 
days;  dancing  parties  were  common.  The  liouse  of  one  Creel  who  lived  on 
land  now  owned  by  George  Virgin  was  a  favorite  resort  of  the  dancers,  and 
one  Ben  Samuel,  who  lived  on  the  Creel  farm  was  the  tiddler;  Ben  went  off 
to  Kansas  or  Nebraska  and  has  been  dead  for  many  years.  The  people  who 
attended  these  festive  parties  were  quiet  and  orderlv. 

Mr.  Harding's  recollections  of  Virginia  reach  back  to  about  1843  wlien 
Col.  West  was  the  merchant  prince  of  the  city,  keeping  a  general  stock  in  a 
store  on  the  west  side  of  the  public  square.  The  family  physician  was  Dr. 
Chandler  who  lived  twelve  miles  away.  The  roads  were  neighborhood  trails; 
tlie  bridges  over  the  streams  built  by  nearby  settlers  to  be  swept  off  by  the 
next  flood. 

Mr.  Jacob  Bergen  was  keeping  store  at  Princeton  in  1845;  he  had  a  clerk 
named  Montgomery,  wlio  went  to  California  a  Christian  and  came  back  bring- 
ing liis  religion  with  him.  the  only  man  who  was  able  to  do  this,  so  far  as  Mr. 
Harding  ever  knew.  The  nearest  mill  was  six  miles  away,  near  Prentice. 
The  grain,  corn  or  whe  it,  was  taken  on  the  backs  of  horses,  one  third  kept  as 
toll.  The  flour  was  bolted  by  hand.  Mr.  Harding,  when  a  boy,  often  assisted 
his  mother  with  the  family  washing;  in  pleasant  weather  this  work  was 
done  at  a  spring  near  the  liouse,  as  cisterns  were  unknown  in  this  country  in 
those  days;  a  smooth  piece  of  wood  called  a  "battle"  was  used  in  beating  the 
clothing  which  had  been  put  to  soak  over  night  and  the  "battling"  busi. 
ness  left  a  lasting  impression  upon  the  memory  of  our  subject. 

The  country  was  well  stocked  with  deer,  turkey  and  other  wild  game; 
money  very  scarce,  atid  prices  unusually  low.  During  the  Harrison  adminis- 
tration, O'llear,  of  near  Jacksonville,  bougiit  large  quantities  of  corn  at  6i- 
cents  per  bushel.  Jacob  Strawn  was  the  cattle  man;  he  paid  $11  to  $12  per 
head  for  four  year  old  steers  and  drove  them  across  the  prairies  to  St.  Louis. 

Mr.  Harding  now  resides  in  this  city,  having  retired  from  active  business. 
He  enjoys  good  health  and  retains  his  physical  and  mental  powers  to  a  good 
degree.  He  is  not  dissatisfied  with  his  present  surroundings,  but  recalls  the 
old  pioneer  days  with  great  satisfaction. 


JOSEPH   DYER, 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


JOSEPH  DYER  was  boni  in  a  log  house  about  one  and  one-half  miles  nortli 
west  of  the  Morgan  county  courthouse,  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  1840. 
Ills  fatlier,  William  Anderson  Dyer,  was  a  native  of  East  Tennessee, 
wliere  lie  was  born  in  1799.  Ilis  mother,  Margaret  Bridgman,  was  a  native  of 
the  .state  of  Virginia,  in  which  state  the  parents  were  married. 

This  couple  saw  hard  times  in  those  days:  Mr.  Dyer,  sr.,  walked  five 
miles  to  chop  dry  elm  wood  for  25  cents  a  day  In  order  to  buy  a  cow  for  five 
dolhirs.     He  was  a  blacksmith  and  carpenter.     In  18;]7,  this  couple  with  their 

four  children  started  for  Illinois,  a 
brotlier  of  Mrs.  Dyer  liaving  preceded 
them.  The  head  of  this  family  liad 
75  cents  in  money  and  a  blind  mare 
which  lie  hooked  to  a  one-horse  wagon 
and  started  out.  He  came  through 
Southern  Illinois,  passing  near  Cen- 
tral ia.  He  was  often  compelled  to 
keep  watch  by  night  to  keep  wolves 
away,  whicli  he  accomplished  by 
tlirowing  fire  brands  among  them. 

Jacksonville  was  then  a  town  not 
half  so  large  as  Virginia  now  is  The 
railroad  ran  directly  througli  tlie  pub- 
lic .square  from  Springfield  to  the  Illi- 
nois river.  The  cars  were  open  boxes 
pulled  by  mules  or  hor.-es:  often  four 
or  five  pairs  attached  to  a  load  of 
freight,  whicli  was  covered  by  sheets 
for  protection. 
The  family  first  settled  just  out- 
side of  the  present  city  limits  upon 
JOSEPH  DYER.  land  of  Joseph  Deacon,  a  farmer  and 
blacksmith,  for  whom  William  Dyer  worked.  Here  they  remained  for  sev- 
eral years.  The  family  raised  cotton  a  number  of  years  as  well  as  fiax  and 
with  these  materials  the  mother  made  ttie  cloth  of  which  the  family  cloth- 
ing was  made.  The  operators  of  tlie  railroad  often  stopped  their  trains  op- 
posite the  Dyer  cabin  to  get  buttermilk  to  drink;  a  proceeding  that  would 
hardly  be  permitted  these  days. 


-  259  - 

The  only  store  in  Jacksonville  Mr.  Dyer  remembers  was  kept  by  three 
merchants  named  Robb,  Hook  and  Steel,  whose  names  were  not  at  all  in- 
dicative of  their  character. 

After  a  few  years  the  family  removed  to  a  place  about  three  miles  south- 
east of  Arenzville,  south  of  the  county  line.  William  Dyer  entered  40  acres 
of  barren  land,  riding  a  horse  to  Spring-field  to  make  the  entry.  There  was 
plenty  of  good  prairie  to  be  had  on  the  same  terms,  but  settlers  in  those  days 
clung  to  the  timber  and  brush  patches.  Here  was  built  a  house  of  logs  IB 
feet  square  with  loft  over  head.  The  floors  and  roof  were  hewed  out  of  logs 
the  clap  boards  held  in  place  by  logs  piled  on  the  roof.  Mr.  Dyer  never  saw  a 
stove  until  he  was  12  years  old,  when  his  father  brought  home  a  small  heater 
purchased  of  Nolte  &  McClure,  at  Beardstown.  The  usual  bill  of  fare  was 
corn  cake,  fat  meat  and  onions,  with  biscuits  for  Sunday  dinners.  The  mill 
was  near  Arcadia,  run  by  Muck  Ogle;  it  was  a  water  mill,  and  both  wheat 
and  corn  were  ground  there,  the  flour  taken  home  and  the  bran  removed  by 
running  the  ground  product  through  sieves.  The  bread  was  not  so  white  as 
modern  bread,  but  it  had  more  nutriment  in  it.  Tlie  plows  were  of  wood 
with  points  of  iron  and  did  not  scour  worth  a  cent.  The  harness  used  was 
primitive;  the  traces  of  chains,  the  collars  of  corn  husks,  the  hames  hewed 
out  of  saplings,  the  lines  were  I'opes.  Corn  sold  from  10  to  124-  cents  per 
bushel,  delivered  at  Beardstown  or  Meredosia.  Hogs  were  driven  to  tlie 
former  place  and  sold  from  2  to  2.i  cents  per  pound  dressed,  often  the  owners 
waited  with  their  droves  two  or  three  days  for  their  turn  to  have  the  animals 
slaughtered  and  weighed.  Sugar  sold  for  3^  cents  per  pound,  wet  and  black 
in  quality.  Whiskey  was  plentiful,  cheap  and  generally  used.  In  1864  or  '05 
Joseph  Dyer  hauled  a  load  of  corn  to  a  distillery  at  Meredosia,  which  he  ex- 
changed for  a  barrel  of  whiskey  at  tlie  rate  of  a  bushel  for  a  gallon;  this  he 
used  as  a  harvest  drink  in  his  neighborhood.  At  the  distillery  was  a  tin  cup 
tied  witli  a  string,  out  of  which  the  comers  and  goers  drank  as  much  whiskey 
as  they  cared  to  swallow,  free  of  charge,  "without  miney  and  without,  phce." 
What  a  popular  resort  such  a  place  would  be  in  Virginia  to-day!  Although 
the  drink  habit  was  very  common  it  was  considered  a  disgrace  to  be  dnuiK', 
and  drunken  men  seldom  were  seen. 

Mr.  Dyer  corroborates  the  often  repreated  statement  that  people  were 
much  more  friendly  and  sociable  in  the  early  days  in  this  country  than 
now.  If  a  man  had  to  move  his  neighbors  came  with  their  teams  to  help,  and 
would  have  been  insulted  had  pay  been  offered.  In  the  late  winter  and  early 
spring  the  old  settlers  would  go  from  one  farm  to  another  clearing  land— work- 
ing together  for  sociability's  sake  and  for  the  reason  they  could  turn  off  more 
work  by  combination. 

Wild  game  was  very  plentiful:  Mr.  D.  has  seen  as  many  as  28  deer  together: 
sometimes  these  innocent  looking  creatures  would  make  havoc  of  the  crops. 
Wild  turkey  and  prairie  chickens  were  abundant.  There  was  a  famous  pigeon 
roost  near  Arenzville  about  1858  or  59.  The  birds  would  break  down  trees  a 
foot  in  diameter  by  alighting  upon  them  in  such  great  numbers.  People  come 
from  far  and  near  and  killed  these  birds  by  the  hundreds.  A  cousin  of  Mr. 
Dyer  then  living  in  Indiana  constructed  a  system  of  nets,  by  which  he  cauglit 
wild  pigeons  in  great  quantities  and  shipped  them  to  eastern  markets  in  car 
load  lots. 


-260- 

Wages  were  much  lower  in  the  pioneer  clays  than  now;  as  late  as  1862 
Joseph  Dyer  worl^ed  with  a  threshing  machine  from  4  a.  ni.  till  9  p.  m.  for  50 
cents  per  day,  he  would  work  all  day  with  his  team  for  one  dollar.  One  har- 
vest he  cradled  wheat  18|  days  for  $1.50  per  day  and  thought  he  was  getting 
rich  fast. 

Wlien  Mr  Dyer  first  knew  Arenzville  it  was  a  hamlet  of  five  or  six  houses. 
There  was  one  store  there  owned  by  a  man  named  Spears  who  kept  a  general 
stock  of  goods  with  plenty  of  whiskey  which  he  sold  for  15  cents  per  gallon; 
tills  store  room  was  about  16  by  20  feetipfj»ize. 

Tlie  first  school  Mr.  Dyer  attended  -was  taught  by  a  man  named  Elias 
Hammer.  About  1852  this  school  was  tauglit  by  Felix  G.  Farrell,  who  after- 
ward became  a  wealthy  banker  at  Jacksonville. 

Tlie  first  preacher  he  remembers  was  William  Crow,  an  old-fashioned  Bap- 
tist preacher,  who  lived  near  Ashland.  Meetings  were  held  at  the  house  of 
William  Dyer,  who  was  a  faithful  member  of  tlie  church.  Preachers  of  that 
denomination  were  not  paid  salaries  in  those  days,  but  labored  in  the  vineyard 
without  hope  or  expectation  of  pecuniary  reward. 

[Note  William  Crow  was  born  in  Kentucky,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  an 
early  day  and  settled  on  the  farm  near  Ashland  long  owned  by  Travis  Elmore 
and  now  by  V.  C.  Elmore  There  was  a  neck  of  timber  on  the  land  known  as 
"Crow's  point  "  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  preacher  of  the  denomination  known 
as  "iron-sides."'  When  the  civil  war  broke  out  he  took  a  strong  and  decided 
stand  in  favor  of  prosecuting  the  war.  He  was  a  fearless,  out-spoken  man. 
A  very  large  number  of  this  denomination  of  Christians  were  bitterly  opposed 
to  the  war  and  were  called  "copperheads,"  Their  treatment  of  Mr.  Crow  was 
nol^  only  unchristen,  but  shameful.  This  persecution  combined  with  ill  health 
caused  him  to  desist  from  preaching.  He  died  at  IJrownsville.  Nebraska  in  1865 
while  on  a  visit  with  his  son,  J.  E.  Crow,  and  was  buried  there. 

This  statement  concerning  William  Crow  was  fui'iiished  me  by  his  grand 
son,  Mr.  Edwin  Keggs,  of  Ashland,  Illinois.    J.  N.  G.J 


REV.  JAMES  NEEDHAM, 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


THE  subject  of  tliis  sketch,  was  born    in  Oldham,   Lancashire,   England, 
on  the  2r)th  day  of  May,  in  tlie  year  1812.    His  father,  John  Needham, 
born  in  England  in  the  year  1779,  was  a  cotton  spinner,  and  his  son 
James  learned  and  followed  the  same  trade. 

The  parents  of  James  Needham,  were  poor  people,   and  schools  for  the 
poor  were  few  indeed;  but  James  had  an  intense  thirst  for  knowledge,   and 
found  a  "night  school"  that  he  closely  attended,  and  on  Sunday   he   went  to 
Sunday  School,  twice  each  Sabbath,  and  in  that  way,  he  acquired  tlie  founda- 
tion for  a  fair  education.     It  is  said 
that  on  the  eve  of  his  wedding  day,  as 
soon  as  the  ceremony  was  pronounced, 
he  left  his  bride  to  take  his  place  with 
the  pupils  of  the  night  school,  he   was 
then  a  member  of,  and  as  late  as  1856, 
when  his  son  John  was  attending  the 
district  school  kept  by  Archie  Camp- 
bell, he  took  liome  the  higher  arith- 
metic, to  assist  his  father   in   master- 
ing it,  in  night  lessons. 
In  his  youth,  James  Needham,   was 
quiet  boy  having  but  little  to  say, 
avoiding  tiie  excesses  of  his  compan- 
ions, and  maintaining  a  straiglitfor- 
ward    course     His    mother    made   a 
li(luor  called  ale   for  the   use  of  her 
husband   and   sons,   of   wiiich    James 
took  his  share,   until   the  advent  of 
a  primitive  temperance  lecturer,   and 
out  of  curiosity  James  went  to  "hear 
what  the  babbler  would  say"  as  he  ex- 
REV.  JAMES  NEP^DHAM.  pressed   it.    The  arguments    of    tlie 

"babbler"  convinced  James  Needham,  of  tlie  follv  of  drink,  and  he  resolved 
to  quit  its  use;  his  mother  severely  cliided  him,  declaring  that  his  health 
would  suffer  from  his  proposed  abstinence,  but  James,  with  the  native  Ei]g- 
lish  bull-dog  tenacity  that  characterized  him  all  the  way  tlirougli  life,  stoutly 
maintained  his  course,  and  at  tlie  end  of  six  months,  others  of  the  family  be- 
gan to  follow  the  example  of  temperance  that  James  had  set  for  them. 


-262- 

It  was  to  be  expected  that  a  youth  of  this  description  would  naturally  in- 
cline to  religion,  and  we  find  that  he  made  a  profession  when  but  eighteen 
years  of  age,  was  soon  made  a  class  leader  in  the  Methodist  church  and  in  a 
short  time  was  licensed  to  preach  to  the  Independent  Methodists  on  Oldham 
Circuit  in  Lancashire. 

Martha  Ogden,  was  born  in  Royton,  England  on  the  5th  day  of  May  1811, 
and  was  married  to  James  Needham,on  August  31st  1835,  then  being  a  few 
months  older  than  twenty-four  years,  her  husband,  being  a  year  her  junior. 
Although  .James  Needham  spent  a  part  of  his  time  in  ministerial  labor,  he 
was  obliged  to  continue  his  work  in  the  cotton  mills  to  support  himself  and 
family;  he  was  not  allowed  to  vote,  because  he  did  notown sufficient  property, 
although  they  taxed  him  not  only  to  pay  civil  taxes,  but  added  something 
to  the  burden  to  be  used  in  maintaining  the  Church  of  England:  the  payment 
of  this  tax  to  force  James  Needham  to  help  to  support  a  Church,  the  doctrines 
of  which  he  was  totally  opposed  to,  caused  him  to  often  complain. 

In  1810,.  he  found  himself  with  a  wife  and  two  cliildren,  one  three  and  the 
other  one  yearjold,  with  poor  prospects  for  financial  betterment;  his  sister  Mary 
who  had  married piiarlesJSTicholson,  with  her  husband  and  family  had  emV 
grated  to  Springlield  in  Illinois  in  the  United  States,  and  James  Needham  de- 
cided to  follow  them.  Accordingly  he  and  his  family  set  sail  from  old  England 
in  September  1840,  bound  for  the  little  faraway  town  in  the  Sangamon  valley, 
and  altho'  he  met  with  many  hardships,  he  was  never  heard  to  utter  a  regret 
for  having  set  out  toward  the  western  siui.  He  arrived  in  Springfield  in  Dec- 
ember of  that  year,  and  finding  tliat  Mr.  Nicholson  had  gone  on  a  few  miles 
west  to  Jacksonville,  lie  followed  after. 

In  tills  new  and  strange  land  .James  Xeedhain  looked  about  him  for  some- 
thing-anytliini);- to  do  to  sustain,  himself  and  those  dependent  on  him.  The 
first  job  he  struck  was  a  chance  to  earn  a  dollar  per  day  and  expenses  in  driv- 
ing hogs  to  St.  Louis  market,  and  gladly  set  off  on  foot  toward  his  destination. 
He  had  not  proceeded  far,  until  the  weather  ciianged,  and  an  old  fashioned 
January  thaw  succeeded:  the  mud  became  something  awful;  the  larger  of  the 
hogs  could  not  make  their  way  through  it:  teams  and  wagons  were  procured 
and  tlie  helpless  animals  bodily  lifted  into  the  wagons,  and  by  slow  and  easy 
stages,  the  journey  was  completed  by  the  end  of  twelve  days,  when  the  pork 
was  sold,  and  the  drovers  came  up  the  river  by  boat  to  Meredosia,  and  made 
the  restof  the  distcince  on  foot.  He  nextgot  a  job  tocut  timber:  he  had  never 
used  an  ax,  but  found  one  end  of  a  cross-cut  saw,  and  got  on  very  well  witli  it. 
Hearing  of  the  Haskel]  carding  mills  in  V[rgjnia,,  Cass  CountyT^  he  came 
here  to  interview  the  proprietor,  and  soon  madeii  bargain  to  work  at  the  wool 
business,  his  experience  in  the  cotton  mills  of  England,  being  of  graat  benefit 
to  hlin.  For  a  time  iiis  family  remained  in  Jacksonville.  Mr.  Needham,  took 
his  young  nephew,  tlie  son  of  Cliarles^Nicholson,  to  assist  him  in  the  work  in 
the  Il;iskell  mill:  this  nephew  was  none  other  than  John  S.  Nicholson,  editor 
of  the  Illinoian-Star,  and  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected  citizens  of 
Beardstown.  Mr.  Needham,  and  John  Nicholson  would  walk  over  to  tlieir 
work,  a  distance  of  sixteen  miles,  on  Monday,  and  ret  urn  in  the  same  fashion 
at  tlie  end  of  tlieir  week's  labor.  Incase  the  Mauvaisterre  Creek  was  at  a 
high  stage,  they  would  seek  a  tree  that  had  been  felled  for  a  bridge,  and  crawl 
over  on  all  fours.     He  soon  rented  a  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  sc^uare.  near 


-  263  - 

the  Dunaway  hotel,  and  brought  his  family  over  to  become  permanent  residents 
of  Cass  County.  In  1843  he  purchased  a  house  on  lot  128  now  owned  by  Miss 
Patty  Green,  where  he  lived  until  he  removed  from  the  town    in  1849. 

At  tliat  time  the  only  church  in  Virginia  had  been  built  by  the  Protest- 
ant Methodists,  on  lot  fi4  in  the  original  Town  which  had  been  donated  to 
them  by  Dr.  H.  H.  Hall  who  laid  out  the  town  in  May  183(i  Rev.  William  IT. 
Collins,  and  Rev.  Reddick  Horn  were  preacliers  of  that  denomination:  the 
members  comprised  the  Freemans,  the  Coxes,  the  Beadles,  the  Outtons  and 
others.  Virginia,  Bluff  Springs  and  Concord  formed  one  circuit, -and  of  this 
church,  James  Needham  became  a  member. 

In  the  sketch  of  Rev.  William  H.  Collins,  by  his  neice,  Mrs.  Emily  Collins 
Brady,  that  lady  said  she  did  not  know  the  distinction  between  the  Protest- 
ant Methodists  and  the  Episcopal  Methodists.  Very  few  people  have  any 
knowledge  on  this  subject,  and  it  may  interest  some  to  look  a  little  into  the 
history  of  Methodism  to  discover  the  difference,  and  how  the  division  came  a- 
bout. 

A  considerable  number  of  the  clergy  and  membership  of  the  Methodist 
church,  in  an  early  day  in  this  country,  became  dissatisfied  with  the  mon- 
archial  form  of  their  church  government  In  most  respects  their  govern- 
ment was  admirably  adapted  to  the  needs  of  a  pioneer  people.  Francis  As- 
bury,  was  the  only  bishop  of  that  church  up  to  1796,  at  which  time  his  healtli 
failing  iiim,  to  the  extent  of  disqualifying  him  for  tull  service,  Thomas  (]oke 
was  chosen  to  assist  him:  at  this  time  the  United  States  and  France  and  the 
West  Indies  were  included  in  one  jurisdiction.  Asbury  died  in  181.5,  more 
than  70  years  of  age,  having  served  55  years  in  the  ministry,  of  which  45  were 
spent  in  the  United  States.  Tiie  bishop  liad  absolute  power  in  the  church: 
no  man  could  be  admitted  as  a  travelling  preacher,  without  his  consent.  P'or 
a  longtime,  Lorenzo  G.  Dow,  a  most  able  but  eccentric  man,  was  refused  ad- 
mission to  the  travelling  connexion  because  Bishop  Asbury,  did  "not  like  his 
manner."  lie  sent  ttie  preachers  here,  there  and  yonder,  according  to  his 
own  sweet  will,  and  many  of  them  became  tired  of  this  tyranny.  At  length, 
a  leader  appeared  in  the  person  of  Nicholas  Snethen,  wlio  was  born  on  Long 
Island,  New  York,  in  17()9;  was  educated  in  country  schools,  studied  Greek 
and  Hebrew  privately;  converted  when  20  years  of  age,  began  preaching  at 
21.  When  but  25  was  travelling  on  the  Fairfield  circuit  in  New  England: 
was  the  first  preacher  formally  appointed  in  the  state  of  Vermont.  In  1799, 
he  was  appointed  to  preach  in  Charleston,  Soutli  Carolina.  In  1801-2,  he 
travelled  with  Bishop  Asbury,  and  later  preached  in  Baltimore.  Marylarir'. 
In  1828  lie  presided  at  Baltimore  at  the  convention  of  seceders  to  organize  the 
Associated  Methodist  churches,  later  known  as  the  Protestant  Methodist 
church.  Snethen  was  the  leader  of  the  convention  which  formed  the  articles 
of  association  of  the  new  church,  and  was  afterwards  elected  president  of 
the  Maryland  annual  conference  district. 

These  seceders  were  entirely  satisfied  with  the  doctrines  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  but  were  only  dissatisfied  with  its  form  of  government. 
These  leaders  adopted  a  form,  very  similar  to  that  which  now  governs  the  M. 
E.  church  which  later  adapted  lay  representation,  and  made  other  changes, 
more  nearly  to  correspond  with  the  principles  of  the  civil  government  of 
this  country. 


-264- 

As  James  Needham  was  an  Independent  Methodist  in  England,  we  may 
readily  believe  that  the  doctrines  and  government  of  the  Protestant  Meth- 
odists in  the  United  States  were  entirely  satisfactory  to  him.  He  at  once  be- 
came an  active  and  zealous  member  of  the  little  Virginia  church,  assisting 
it,  in  every  way  in  his  power.  Here  he  remained  in  the  employ  of  John  E. 
Haskell,  occasionally  assisting  neighborhood  farmers  with  their  work  until 
the  spring  of  1849,  when  he  removed  from  the  town  of  Virginia. 

On  August  6th,  1835,  William  Blair  entered  the  east  half  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  Sec  25  in  T  18  R  10  and  began  improving  it,  and  built  thereon 
a  double  log-cabin.  In  June,  1836,  Edward  Direen  entered  the  80  next  ad- 
joining on  the  west  and  built  a  cabin  on  it,  and  began  clearing  it  for  the 
plow.  It  may  be  a  matter  of  surprise  to  some  to  learn  that  William  Blair 
went  so  far  into  the  barrens  to  make  his  entry,  when  he  could  have  bought 
government  land  on  the  black  prairie  soutli  of  Virginia,  but  it  should  be  re- 
membered that  in  those  days  it  cost  more  to  break  the  heavy  prairie  sod, 
than  the  price  paid  for  the  title  to  it,  and  timber  was  more  accessible  in  this 
barren  district.  This  160  acres  then  entered  by  Blair  and  Direen  now  con- 
stitute the  James  Neediiam  liomestead  farm,  and  lies  immediately  west  of 
the  Anderson  station  on  the  C.  P.  &  St.  L.  II.  U  James  Needham  rented 
the  Blair  80,  in  1849,  and  on  Feb.  19th,  1851,  he  and  his  brother  in-law,  Thom- 
as Williamson,  who  had  married  Nancy  Needham  in  England  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1842,  bought  the  Blair  80^  an3^he  two  families  lived  in  the 
double  cabin  for  about  two  years:  in  April,  1854,  James  Needliam  purchased 
the  interest  of  Williamson,  and  the  following  year  he  bought  the  Direen  80; 
Edward  Direen  moved  over  to  the  north  a  mile  or  two,  and  the  Direen  cabin 
was  used  as  a  church  and  school  house,  until  the  Needham  schoolhouse  was 
built  by  Williams.  Douglas,  in  1857,  on  the  site  of  tha  present  Needham 
schoolhouse  at  Anderson  station. 

A  society  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  the  Chandlerville  circuit  was  formed  in 
the  Needham  neighborhood  in  1859  by  Rev.  Wingate  .J.  Newman,  pi-eacher  in 
charge,  to  which  James  Needham  attached  himself,  and  the  following  year  he 
was  ordained  a  deacon,  by  Bishop  Baker  and  admitted  as  a  local  preacher  of 
tiie  Chandlerville  circuit,  and  so  remained  to  the  end  of  his  life. 

To  form  a  proper  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  character  of  an  individual, 
one  should  know  •  if  his  surroundings.  James  Needham  was  a  cool-headed  solid 
man  of  great  tenacity  of  purpose;  he  moved  forward  turning  neither  to  the  right 
nor  to  the  left,  guided  solely  by  what  he  thought  was  right.  As  a  preacher  he 
made  no  pretensions  to  eloquence:  liis  sermons  were  plain,  forceful  and  prac- 
tical. The  morals  of  the  people  who  came  within  his  intluence  were  at  a  very 
low  ebb.  A  few  facts  here  related  will  fully  demonstrate  this  to  be  true. 
Many  of  the  settlers  who  lived  in  this  section  of  the  country  regularly  repair- 
ed to  the  little  towns  in  order  to  get  drunk  and  hunt  for  trouble.  On  one  oc- 
casion a  number  of  drunken  brawlers,  who  were  gathered  at  the  south  west 
corner  of  the  west  square  assaulted  an  old  Englishman.  A  much  younger  man 
there  present  protested  against  their  conduct,  and  without  further  ceremony 
the  mob  turned  from  the  old  man  to  the  younger  one,  who  soon  found  him- 
self tlat  on  his  back  on  the  ground,  with  as  many  of  the  ruttians  who  could  get 
near  him,  severely  beating  him.  He  succeeded  in  getting  a  knife  from  his 
pocket,  and  after  opening  it,  plunged  the  blade  into  tlie  side  of  the  man  direct- 


-  265  - 

]y  over  him,  and  broke  off  the  blade  in  tlie  body  of  his  assailant,  who  immedi- 
ately set  up  the  cry  of  "cold  steel."  The  party  at  once  sprang  to  their  feet, 
and  the  young  man  succeeded  in  making  his  escape.  The  wounded  man  who 
knew  not  who  had  injured  him  soon  began  to  lose  his  strength  and  flesh,  and 
despaired  of  his  life.  After  a  season  in  a  violent  fit  of  coughing,  the  knive 
blade  which  had  made  its  way  into  his  lung,  was  ejected  through  his  wind- 
pipe, and  a  rapid  recovery  at  once  followed.  He  exhibited  the  blade  to  the 
young  man  who  had  introduced  it  into  his  body  and  made  him  a  full  explana- 
tion of  the  circumstances,  and  it  is  needless  to  say  that  the  listener  appeared 
much  interested  in  the  recital,  and  made  no  claim  to  the  ownership  of  his 
lost  property. 

On  a  quiet  Sabbath  day  in  the  year  1856,  a  man  named  Davis,  who  op- 
erated a  water-mill  a  short  distance  northeast  of  the  town  came  in  on  a  horse, 
with  a  rifle,  loaded  for  squirrels,  on  his  shoulder.  As  he  neared  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  east  square,  lie  was  discovered  by  a  lialf-dozen  young  men, 
who  had  previously  agreed  to  "do  Davis  up,"  as  soon  as  a  convenient  oppor- 
tunity presented  itself;  as  they  had  nothing  particular  to  do  that  afternoon, 
they  concluded  to  attend  to  the  matter  then  and  there.  One  of  them  ran 
across  the  street  to  a  pile  of  timbers,  bricks  and  other  building  materials  to 
get  a  brick  or  two,  and  Davis  noticing  wliat  was  going  on,  raised  tlie  rifle  and 
fired;  the  man  with  the  bricks  dropped  to  the  ground  in  the  slielter  of  the 
timbers,  and  saved  his  head  from  the  bullet  by  a  scratch.  Davis  turned 
about  and  returned  home.  The  young  men  hitched  a  team  to  a  wagon  and 
drove  after  him  to  complete  their  enterprize.  Davis  saw  them  coming  and 
slipped  out  of  sight;  the  party  tied  up  their  horses  and  passed  through  the 
waterway  made  of  planks,  in  search  of  their  victim,  who  seized  a  club,  and 
stationing  himself  at  the  entrance  of  the  waterway,  felled  his  assailants  one 
by  one  as  they  emerged  from  the  waterway.  By  this  time  Davis  had  be- 
come so  blood  thirsty,  tliat  he  might  have  committed  murder  liad  he  not 
been  restrained  by  a  neighbor,  who  happened  to  pass  that  way.  Tlie  sub- 
dued party  slowly  returned  to  the  town,  their  heads  swollen,  and  their  cloth- 
ing besmeared  with  blood.  One  of  tliem  died  soon  after,  and  it  was  gener. 
ally  believed  that  his  death  was  the  result  of  the  blow  upon  his  head  re- 
ceived at  the  hands  of  Davis.  The  descendants  of  these  drunken  rtghters, 
still  live  among  us,  and  are  quiet  and  orderly  people.  As  late  as  1870,  one  or 
more  Saturday  street  fights  were  weekly  expected  in  Virginia;  if  none  oc- 
curred it  was  a  dull  and  disappointing  day.  Such  scenes  have  disappeared 
from  public  view,  but  we  have  no  reason  to  boast  of  our  civilization.  The 
first  day  the  writer  saw  the  town  of  Chandlerville  in  this  county,  a  man  with 
long  legs,  long  hair  and  strong  lungs,  was  walking  down  the  middle  of  the 
.  main  street  of  the  town  swinging  a  revolver,  and  strenuously  declaring  that 
he  could  whip  any  man  in  town.  Nobody  seemed  to  pay  any  attention  to  him 
as  he  was  not  "doing  anything."  That  was  the  middle  of  an  October  day  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-three.  What  progress  has 
been  made  toward  civilization  in  that  community  since  that  date? 

In  the  Chandlerville  Times  of  July  27,  1906,  in  a  signed  statement,  Rev. 
Charles  Coleman,  pastor  of  the  Christian  church  of  that  village,  in  speaking 
of  the  moral  status  of  the  community  says: 

"Saloon-keepers  run  their  saloons  with  back  doors  wide  open  during  the 


-266- 

better  part  of  the  day,  Sunday,  when,  as  an  outcome  of  this,  our  Lord's  day 
is  turned  into  drunken  carousals,  brawls,  tights  and  pistol-plays,  and  our  girls, 
whose  fond  mothers'  hearts  are  caused  to  ache,  girls,  many  of  whom,  can 
scarcely  be  said  to  be  in  their  'teens,  are  seen  to  reel  on  the  street,  uttering 
oaths  so  vile  as  to  bring  a  blush  of  shame  to  the  cheek  of  our  city's  manhood 
and  womanhood;  drunk  on  liquor  bought  by  their  young  men  companions, 
who  are  even  more  drunk  than  themselves;  bought,  I  say,  by  them,  from 
our  Sunday  saloons." 

A  few  months  ago,  a  woman,  a  grand-daughter  of  the  late  Victoria, 
Queen  of  England,  upon  her  bended  knees  renounced  the  religion  of  her 
mother!  For  this  act  of  treachery,  she  was  made  tlie  Queen  of  the  most  per- 
fidious people  of  Europe.  A  few  days  later,  this  wretclied  creature  wit- 
nessed a  Spanish  bull-fight;  here  is  an  account  of  it: 

"The  bulls,  according  to  the  testimony  of  an  eye-witness,  appeared  to  be 
peaceably  disposed,  and  it  needed  many  a  sword  thrust  to  rouse  them  into 
furious  onslaught.  High  born  cavaliers  were  the  tirst  to  draw  blood  from 
them  on  tliis  so-called  Held  of  honor.  Waving  red  Hags,  and  amid  the  roars 
of  the  wounded  creatures,  the  buU-Hghters  roused  them,  at  last,  to  rip  up 
the  blindfolded  horses  of  the  picadors.  The  populace  howled  their  applause 
at  the  sight,  and  pretty  women  breathed  faster  and  rained  influence,  with 
warm  glances  upon  their  favorite  cavaliers,  and  tiieir  enthusiasm  rose  higher 
as  the  arena  reddened  with  the  blood  of  butchery.  And  the  white  blonde 
Queen,  England's  fresh  and  flower-like  daughter,  a  woman  brought  up  with 
all  the  cultivated  tastes  of  aristocracy,  was  untiring  in  waving  her  veil  as  a 
signal  for  fresh  bloodshed." 

How  does  this  picture  of  1906  compare  with  the  spectacle  of  tlie  bloody 
fighters  returning  from  the  Davis  water-mill  to  the  town  of  Virginia  on  the 
Sunday  evening  of  1856?  Have  we  made  progress  during  the  past  half  cen- 
tury; or  is  it  true  that  when  human  beings  cast  ofl'  self-restraint,  they  are  not 
one  whit  better  tlian  the  savage  maniacs  of  the  Dark  AgesV 

Men  like  James  Needham  were  like  lights  in  dark  places  fifty  years  ago. 
The  Metliodist  p'-eachers  tlien  believed  in  and  boldly  preached  of  a  hell  of  fire 
and  brimstone.  Many  of  these  preachers  had  no  better  records  than  had  the 
renowned  Peter  Cartwright,  who,  in  his  early  da3's,  was  a  whisky  drinker,  a 
horse  racer  and  a  gambler.  He  knew  there  ought  to  be  a  hell  and  firmly  be- 
lieved there  was  one.  Tlie  horse  tliieves,  counterfeiters  and  blacklegs,  who 
crowded  to  his  camp  meetings,  were  easily  convinced  tliat  there  was  a  future 
of  endless  punishment  for  tliem  if  they  pursued  their  evil  ways,  and  great  was 
the  good  resulting  from  tlie  labors  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  the  M.  E. 
church;  they  were  more  active  and  zealous  than  the  clergy  of  other  denomin- 
ations. To  understand  the  debt  we  owe  to  the  Methodist  church  a  few  his- 
torical facts  are  here  set  forth: 

Bishop  Asbury  was  forced  to  travel  with  armed  convoys,  who  kept  watch 
by  niglit,  to  protect  the  bishop  from  murderous  assaults.  The  preachers  pur- 
sued their  travels  in  continual  hazard  of  their  lives.  Their  fare  was  the 
hardest;  the  habitations  of  the  settlers  were  log  cabins,  clinging  to  the  shelter 
of  "stations,"  or  blockaded  block-houses.  The  preachers  lived  chiefly  on  corn 
and  game:  they  could  get  little  or  no  money  except  what  was  sent  them  from 
the  eastern  conferences.    They  wore  the  coarsest  clothing,  often  tattered  or 


-  267  - 

patched.  Their  congregations  gathered  at  the  stations  with  arms,  with  sen- 
tinels stationed  around  to  announce  the  approach  of  savages,  and  were  not 
unfrequently  broken  up,  in  the  midst  of  their  worship,  by  tlie  clamor  of  the 
war  whoop  and  the  sound  of  muskets  Bankrupt  refugees  from  justice,  de- 
serters of  wives  and  childi'en,  and  all  sorts  of  reckless  adventurers  came  from 
the  east  to  the  western  wilds.  The  preachers,  many  of  wlioui  had  come  from 
comfortable  eastern  families,  some  of  whom  were  men  of  no  little  intelligence, 
shrank  not  from  their  mission.  Methodism  quickly  pervaded  the  imperilled 
population  and  it  is  hardly  too  much  to  say  effected  the  moral  salvation  of 
the  west. 

The  first  Methodist  preacher  in  Illinois  was  Joseph  Lillard,  who  in  1793 
formed  a  class  in  St.  Clair  County  and  appointed  Captain  Ogle  leader.  The 
next  Methodist  preacher  was  John  Clarke  who  originally  travelled  in  South 
Carolina  from  1791  to  1796,  when  he  withdrew  on  account  of  Slavery.  He  was 
the  flrst  man  who  preached  the  gospel  west  of  the  Mississippi  in  1798. 
Hosea  Riggs  was  the  flrst  Methodist  preacher  that  settled  iu  Illinois,  and  he 
revived  and  reorganized  the  class  at  Captain  Ogles,  formed  by  Lillard,  which 
had  dropped  its  regular  meetings. 

The  flrst  three  months  of  ministerial  labor  preformed  by  Peter  Cartwright, 
during  which  he  travelled  a  large  circuit,  preaching  every  day  and  every  night, 
was  paid  for  at  tlie  rate  of  two  dollars  per  month,  with  board,  of  hominy  and 
wild  meat.  Previous  to  1800  the  pay  of  Methodist  preachers  was  fixed  at 
sixty-four  dollar  per  year  and  traveling  expenses.  At  the  general  conference 
of  1800  the  salaries  were  raised  on  account  of  the  higiier  prices  of  living  as 
follows:  to  the  preachers  $80  per  year;  to  the  wives  of  the  preachers  $80  per 
year  each;  to  each  child  of  the  preacher  under  seven  years  of  age  sixteen  dollars 
per  year;  to  each  child  between  seven  and  fourteen  years  of  age  twenty-four 
dollars  per  year;  for  childrtn  over  fourteen  nothing  allowed.  These  rates  pre- 
vailed until  1816  when  the  salaries  of  the  preachers  were  fixed  at  $100  per  year 
with  the  same  provisions  for  their  children.  Up  to  this  time,  no  parsonages 
were  provided  for  them. 

When  the  great  battle  in  Illinois  ocuirred  over  tne  question  of  making  it 
a  slave  state,  which  battle  began  in  1822  and  ended  in  1824  nearly  all  the 
preachers  of  all  the  denominations  arrayed  themselves  upon  the  side  of  free- 
dom, and  but  for  their  efforts  Illinois  would  have  been  cursed  with  African 
slavery.  For  th's  service,  the  memory  of  the  pioneer  preachers  of  Illinois, 
should  ever  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance.  ; 

As  late  as  1860  the  Methodist  preacher  in  Virginia,  named  Webster  was 
paid  but  $100  per  year  and  board.  The  circuits  were  larger  in  those  days  and 
the  travelling  preacher  could  not  get  over  liis  territory  in  less  than  three  or 
four  week's  time  and  in  order  to  keep  the  societies  together  in  a  healthy  con- 
dition the  help  of  the  local  preachers  was  invoked,  and  but  for  tlie  faithfulness 
of  these  loyal  workers,  the  cause  of  Methodism  would  have  languished. 

From  1860  on,  the  Rev.  James  Needham  was  a  regular  local  preacher  of 
the  Chandlerville  circuit,  preaching  regularly  at  tne  various  appointments 
tiiereof,  with  excellent  success.  He  never  received  nor  expected  any  pecuni- 
ary compensation  for  liis  labor;  he  was  only  too  glad  to  do  all  in  his  power  for 
the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  religion.  His  character  was  without  a  blem- 
isli;  he  was  never  guilty  of  tlie  use  of  tobacco,  because  lie  believed    it  a  sinful 


-268- 

^abit.  His  even  temper  and  strict  intregrity  and  Ivindly  disposition,  made 
hosts  of  friends,  and  the  rigliteonsness  of  his  daily  life  gave  great  force  to  liis 
ministerial  work.  Such  men  have  more  influence  in  their  respective  neighbor- 
hoods, than  the  travelling  preachers.  For  many  years  no  preacher  was  re- 
tained by  any  charge  for  a  longer  term  than  two  years,  and  the  majority  of 
them  departed  at  the  end  of  one.  It  was  thus  impossible  for  any  such  travel- 
ler to  aquire  a  solid  reputation  and  to  gain  profound  confidence  and  respect, 
for  no  sooner  were  the  people  thoroughly  aquainted  with  their  pastor,  than 
tliey  were  compelled  to  bid  him  goodbye.  This  was  a  great  objection  to  the 
Methodist  itineracy,  which  of  late  years  has  been  much  changed.  Men  like 
James  Xeedham  whose  religion  sustained  them,  amid  tlie  cares  of  a  busy  life, 
such  as  fell  to  the  lot  of  their  neighbors  and  friends,  men  who  went  in  and  out 
in  the  presence  of  the  neighbors  and  acquaintances  for  a  long  term  of  years  and 
who  maintained  tlieir  christian  integrity  in  spite  of  all  their  trials  and  tempt- 
ations would  naturally  acquire  a  greater  influence  than  was  possible  for  the' 
wandering  preachers  to  acquire,  who  were  here  to-day,  and  gone  to-morrow. 
The  church  has  never  sufficiently  appreciated  the  value  of  their  unassuming 
local  preachers. 

Mr.  Xeedham  was  a  good  farmer,  and  as  time  passed  on  he  improved  13 
farm  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres,  reared  comfortable  buildings  thereon 
and  added  to  its  extent.  An  event  occurred  in  October,  1858,  which  disturbed 
the  monotony  of  farm  life.  The  Needham  schoolhouse,  built  by  Wm.  S. 
Douglas,  in  1857,  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  school  buildihg  at  Anderson 
station.  James  R.  Miles  taught  the  first  school  in  it,  in  1857-8,  and  in  the 
fall  of  1858,  Archie  Campbell  began  as  the  teacher.  A  dangerous  appearing 
cloud  approaching,  from  the  southwest  caused  him  to  send  the  children  to 
their  homes  as  fast  as  possible,  but  he  remained  in  the  schoolhouse.  The 
storm  began  a  mile  or  two  west  of  Virginia,  passed  over  the  Col.  West  farm 
northwest  of  town,  now  owned  by  J.  T.  Robertson,  and  moved  in  a  northeast 
direction  felling  the  timber  in  its  path.  There  were  no  houses  along  the 
route  until  the  Xeedham  neighborhood  was  readied.  Xothing  was  left  of 
the  schoolhouse  except  the  sills  and  floor  and  a  few  specimens  of  the  painted 
siding  mixed  up  with  the  startled  but  unharmed  teacher.  What  became  of 
the  remainder  of  the  building  was  never  known  although  the  school  boys 
made  a  diligent  search.  The  Jenkins  house  was  wrecked,  a  little  farther  on 
to  the  northeast,  and  at  that  point  the  storm  rose  from  the  ground  and  spent 
its  force  in  the  air.  James  Needham  happened  to  be  near  his  home,  and  go- 
ing to  the  house  attempted  to  close  the  door,  which  was  wrested  from  its 
hinges,  and  with  Mr.  X'.  clinging  to  it  was  carried  several  yards  distant 
and  left  him  badly  frightened  and  somewhat  bruised.  His  house  was  com- 
pletely unroofed,  but  no  member  of  the  family  harmed. 

The  wife  of  James  Xeediiam  dierl  on  the  19th  day  of  August,  1851,  aged 
■io  years,  3  months,  and  14  days.  A  year  later  Mr.  Xeedham  was  married  to 
Mrs.  Cecilia  Cooper,  a  widow:  she  was  a  sister  of  George  Wilkie,  who  lost  her 
first  liusband  in  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country  with  her  two  young 
children:  this  second  wife  survived  him.  Of  the  first  marriage  there  were 
born  eight  cliildren,  as  follows: 

Aim  Needham,  boi'ti  May  21,  lS;;(i,  and  died  in  England,  January,  1837. 

John  Xeedham.  born  in  England.  December  2(i,    1837,    now   a   resident   of 


-  269  - 

Virginia.  Illinois, 

Rebecca  Needham,  born  in  England,  October  26th  1839;  married  William 
Russell  and  died  in  Virginia,  Illinois,  on  January  14th,  1905. 

Joseph  O.  Needham,  born  April  13,  1842,  and  died  in  Virginia  at  the  age 
of  six  years. 

Horatio  W,  Needham,  born  in  1844,  and  died  in  1849. 

George  S.  Needham,  born  March  18,  1846;  now  living  on  the  Needham 
farm. 

James  H.  Needham,  born  August  21,  1848;  died  in  Cass  county,  Illinois, 
on  January  24th,  1889. 

Mary  J.  Needham.  born  June  12th,  1850;  married  Henry  Millner  on  Feb- 
uiryl2th,  1873;  now  living  on  a  farm  near  Anderson  station,  Cass  county, 
Illinois. 

Of  the  second  marriage  there  were  born  four  children,  as  follows: 

David  Needham,  born  September,  1853,  died  in  1855. 

Elijah  Needham,  born  October  31,  1855;  now  living  in  Virginia,  Cass 
county,  Illinois. 

Mary  E.  Needham,  born  August  16,  1857;  now  a  teacharof  a  Preparatory 
School,  at  Ep worth,  Iowa. 

Cecilia  Needham,  born  January  5,  1860;  married  John  W.  Miles,  May  14, 
1891;  now  living  in  Champaign,  Illinois. 

Professor  James  G.  Needham,  one  of  the  faculty  of  Cornell  University, 
New  York,  a  man  of  national  reputation  in  the  educational  world,  is  a  grand- 
son of  James  Needham;  his  father  is  John  Needham,  of  this  city;  he  was  born 
in  this  county  in  1868. 

Elijah  Needham  was  for  several  years  a  successful  teacher;  was  once  a  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  of  Cass  County  and  ran 
ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  is  now,  and  for  several  years  has  been  President  of 
the  Board  of  Education  in  this  city;  served  the  people  as  their  postmaster 
with  such  entire  satisfaction,  that  he  was  reappointed  to  the  position  with 
out  opposition. 

James  Needham's  fatlier,  John  Needham  was  born  in  England  in  the  year 
1779;  as  before  stated  he  was  a  spinner  in  the  British  cotton-mills;  his  wife 
died,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  country;  when  he  was  sixty-six  years  of  age, 
became  to  America,  with  his  younger  son  Samuel  Needham  who  brought  his 
wife  over;  when  they  got  as  far  as  Cape  Gireaudeau,  Missouri,  they  were 
stopped  by  the  freezing  of  the  Mississippi  river;  Thomas  Williamson  and 
Joseph  Needham,  then  residents  of  Jacksonville  Illinois,  went  after  the  im- 
migrants, and  brought  them  into  Morgan  County  on  the  first  Saturday  of 
January  1846;  the  wife  of  Samuel,  being  dissatisfied  with  this  new  country, 
soon  left  it,  and  proceeded  to  Brooklyn  New  York,  where  her  mother  was  living 
soon  after  her  husband  followed  her,  but  found  that  she  had  died  before  his  ar- 
rival; he  soon  returned  to  his  native  land.  John  Needham,  the  father,  re- 
mained, living  with  his  children  until  the  year  1852  when  he  died  one  month 
less  than  seventy-three  years  of  age;  he  was  buried  in  the  Cunningham  burial 
ground  at  Sugar  Grove  a  few  miles  east  of  this  city.  In  personal  appearance 
Mr.  James  Needham  was  five  feet  six  inches  in  height;  hair  and  eyes  dark; 
weight  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds. 

Althougli  his  hearing  was  mucli  impaired,  James  Needham   retained  the 


-270- 

use  of  his  mental  faculties  to  the  last;  his  health  was  quite  good,  up  to  a  very 
short  time  before  his  death;  he  suddenly  expired  at  his  home  on  the  12th 
day  of  January,  1903,  at  the  age  of  90  years,  7  months  and  16  days.  The  last 
words  of  this  good  man  were:  "But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the 
victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

His  widow  survived  him  less  than  one  year,  expiring  on  December  14, 
1903;  they  lie  side  by  side  in  the  Walnut  Ridge  cemetery. 


ZACHARIAH  HA5H. 

BY  CHARLES  A.  HASH.  (l-^Ofi.) 


ZACHARIAH  HASH  was  born  in  Oreen  county,  Kentucky,  April  6,  1812. 
He  is  tlie  oldest  son  and  second  cliildof  Piiilip  and  Sarah  (Nance)  Hasli 
who  were  natives  of  A^irginia.    Philip  Hash   was  born   in  Virginia, 
January  31,  1790,  and  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  about    iSOO, 
and  died  in  Lawrence  county,  Missouri,  August  5,  1848. 

Sarah  (Nance)  Hash  was  born  near  Richmond,  Virginia,  October  24,  1791, 
and  died  in  Lawrence  county,  Missouri,  February  24,  1847.  It  is  quite  worthy 
of  note  that  she  was  one  of  two  girls  in  a  family  of  fifteen  children,   she 

weighing  about  ninety  pounds  wliile 
lier  sister  weiglied  considerably  more 
than  200  pounds.  Her  father,  Zach- 
ariah  Nance,  was  a  man  of  giant 
frame,  he  weighing  244  pounds  yet 
not  being  very  corpulent.  He  was 
born  in  Charles  City  county,  Virginia, 
May  5,  1760.  While  still  a  boy  he  was 
b()ur)d  out  to  learn  a  trade,  but  the 
revolutionary  war  broke  out  and  he 
was  compelled  to  enter  the  army  as  a 
substitute  for  the  son  of  the  man  to 
wliom  he  was  bound.  He  served  his 
t  ime  out  and  then  re  enlisted  and  re- 
mained in  the  army  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  was  in  Gen.  Wayne's 
command  at  the  capture  of  Stony 
Point  and  was  wounded  in  the  knee, 
from  tlie  effects  of  which  he  was  crip- 
pled for  life.  He  emigrated  to  Ken- 
tucky in  1806,  where  he  lived  26  years, 
then  removed  to  Sangamon,  now  Men- 
ard county,  III.,  wliere  he  lived  on  a 
farm  until  his  deatli  which  occurred 
December  22,  1835. 
family,  accompanied  by  his  parents,  re- 
moved to  the  southwestern  part  of  Kentucky,  which  section  proved  un- 
healtliy  for  the  elder  Mrs.  Hash,  so  the  aged  couple  started  back  to  Green 
county,  but  Mrs.  Hash  died  on  the  way  and  the  husband  proceeded  alone.     In 


ZACHARIAH  HASH. 

About  1820,  Philip  Hash  and 


\ 


less  than  a  year  Philip  Hash  and  family  started  back  to  Green  county  and 
while  enroute  they  incidentally  came  to  the  pioneer's  hut  near  where  the 
elder  Mrs.  Hash  was  buried.  Here  they  received  the  first  news  of  the  sad  end 
of  the  aged  lady.  After  hiring  the  pioneer  to  enclose  the  grave  with  a  fence 
Mr.  Hash  and  family  proceeded  on  their  journey  to  Green  county. 

In  1822,  Philip  Hash  and  family  accompanied  by  Eobert,  Washington  and 
Eaton  Nance  (brothers  of  Mrs.  Hash)  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  spent  the 
first  winter  in  Clary's  Grove.  The  following  spring  Mr.  Hash  settled  in  a 
little  grove  about  2  miles  from  Clary's  Grove.  Atteni  ion  is  called  to  the  fact 
that  nearly  all  pioneers  from  Kentucky  settled  in  the  timber:  having  come 
from  a  densely  timbered  country  they  naturally  shunned  the  open  prairie. 
The  Hash  family  remained  in  the  little  grove  about  two  years  and  then  re- 
moved to  a  log  house  built  by  them  on  land  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Matilda  Dick, 
having  planted  16  acres  of  sod  corn  here  the  preceding  spring.  The  subject  of 
this  sketch  says  he  believes  this  to  have  been  the  first  liouse  built  between. 
Oakford  and  Beardstown.  At  this  time  about  50  or  60  of  the  PiJU^^w a Luuiiu.%^ 
Indians,  under  Chief  Shick  Shack  were  living  in  the  Sangamon  Valley.  In 
the  winter  they  camped  in  the  timber  near  the  river,  but  during  the  sum- 
mer months  they  lived  on  a  hill  near  the  present  home  of  Wm.  Lynn.  This 
hill  still  bears  the  name  of  Shick  Shack's  Knob.  Shick  Shack  was  very  soci- 
able and  was  a  great  friend  of  the  Hash  family.  The  subject  of  our  sketch 
tells  us  that  his  father  one  time  asked  the  chief  why  he  camped  on  the  hill  in 
summer.  The  reply  was:  "The  skeeters  no  bother. "  Again  he  asked  Shick 
Sliack  how  he  got  his  water  up  on  the  hill  and  this  time  he  replied:  "H  m-m 
.s(iuaw  do  that."  The  present  generation  were  not  first  to  sing  "Let  the 
women  do  the  work."  Our  subject  tells  us  that  when  the  Indians  left  the 
Sangamon  Bottom  they  went  to  Ft.  Clark,  now  Peoria,  and  that  Sliick  Shack 
came  to  his  father's  house  and  bid  them  all  a  fond  farewell. 

While  tlie  Hash  family  was  living  on  the  Bottom,  Jane,  the  oldest  daugh- 
ter was  married  to  Zephaniah  Gum,  a  cousin  of  the  late  J.  B.  Gumm,  whose 
name  is  familiar  to  all  around  Cliandlerville.  The  young  couple  went  to 
Knox  county  to  live  and  lured  by  the  glowing  reports  of  that  section  of  the 
state,  Philip  Hash  removed  liis  family  to  a  farm  of  160  acres  on  the  head 
waters  of  Spoon  river  within  about  seven  miles  of  the  present  site  of 
Galesburg.  This  territory  was  the  home  of  the  Sacs  and  Fox  Indians  and 
they  numbered  many  moie  tlian  the  whites.  Fulton  county  at  that  time  was 
a  part  of  Ivtiox  county  and  Lewiston  the  county  seat. 

Mr.  Hash  was  able  to  get  no  deed  better  than  a  tax-title  and  because  of 
this  and  the  hostility  of  the  Indians,  (the  Black  Hawk  War  was  brewing)  lie 
sold  his  one-fourth  section  of  excellent  land  for  the  paltry  sam  of  $400  and 
returned  to  Cass  county.  This  time  he  settled  in  Big  Puncheon  Camp  Grove 
neir  the  pres'^afjsite  of  Xevvm mvMile.  Wnile  living  here  the  Black  Hawk 
War  broke  out  and  Zachariah,  who  was  reaching  man-hood,  wanted  to 
enlist  but  his  father  denied  him  this  privilege,  but  promptly  enlisted  him- 
self leaving  our  subject  to  look  after  the  f;imi(y. 

Wlien  Zachariah  Hash  reached  the  age  of  twenty-one  his  father  told  him 
that  it  would  be  a  shame  to  turn  him  out  on  the  cold  world  without  some  edu- 
cation: that  if  he  would  go  to  school  he  would  buy  his  books  and  pay  his  tuition, 
but  he  must  Ijoard  liimself.     Grasping  the  first  opportunity  to  peep    into  the 


-  273  - 

realm  of  books  as  only  the  frontier  youbli  knew  how,  the  young  man  worked 
for  his  board  at  the  home  of  an  uncle  on  Rock  Creek  (between  Petersburg  and 
Springfield)  and  attended  the  school  of  another  uncle,  Tiiomas  Nance,  for  nine 
whole  months,  at  the  end  of  wiiich  time  he  was  compelled  to  sever  his  con- 
nection with  the  school  and  go  to  work  for  his  home-spun  clothing  was  giving 
out.  He  had  started  in  the  class  of  boys  of  about  8  yeairs  of  age  and  no  doubt 
felt  greatly  Irumilated,  but  by  close  appHcation  in  nine  short  months  he  gained 
a  practical  knowledge  of  tlie  "Tlu-ee  Li's"  and  was  beginning  to  study  grammer. 
When  he  told  his  uncle  that  he  must  quit  school  and  go  to  work,  that  kind 
man  shed  tears  and  told  him  he  had  just  gotten  the  doors  open;  that  lie  could 
teach  him  more  in  the  next  three  montlis  than  he  had  in  the  first  nine.  But 
these  kind  words  could  not  be  followed.  There  was  a  literary  society  in  this 
school,  of  which  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  prominent  member 

During  all  tliese  years  our  subject  liad  been  developing  into  a  strong  robust 
man.  His  muscles  were  not  developed  by  loot  ball  and  athletics  but  by  liard 
frontier  labor.  He  knew  no  clothing  but  home-spun  and  home-made;  no  shoes 
but  home-made,  leather  liome-tanned  and  but  one  pair  a  year.  Being  the  eld- 
est son  in  a  family  of  tifteen  children  his  shoulders  were  loaded  with  responsi- 
bility. Nevertheless  Cupid  also  had  been  busy  and  wlien  our  subject  reached 
the  age  of  22  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Dick,  also  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
born  February  16,  1817.  Soon  after  he  entered  40  acres  of  land  (now  owned  by 
Henry  Schaad)  borrowing  the  money  and  paying  25  per  cent  interest.  While 
living"  here,  ''Uncle  Zach,"  as  lie  is  now  familiarly  known,  purchased  one  of 
the  first  diamond  plows  manufactured  by  Wm.  Sprouse,  the  inventor,  on  Rock 
Creek.  This  plow  was  stocked  by  Samuel  ('ombes  an  uncle  of  our  subject  and 
the  purchase  price  vvas  $(>  This  was  probably  the  first  steel  mould  board  plow 
ever  stuck  in  the  soil  of  Cass  County.  It  was  considered  a  wonder.  Mr  Hash 
continued  entering  land  uutil  he  had  120  acres  which  he  sold  for  $1200  and 
purchased  the  farm  he  now  owns,  consisting  of  about  200  acres,  30  acres  of 
which  was  in  cultivation,  the  rest  being  covered  with  brush  and  timber,  of 
Charles  and  Peter  Rickard  and  Socrates  Smith.  The  purchasing  price  was 
$3000. 

Mrs.  Hash  died  June  22,  1857,  leaving  the  husband,  four  sons  and  three 
daughters  to  mourn  her  departure.  The  next  five  years  of  Mr  Hash's  lite  were 
filled  witli  many  trials  and  tribulations  as  he  had  his  motherless  children  to 
Care  for  in  addition  to  the  farm  work. 

On  April  3,  1862,  Mr.  Hash  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Susan  Shelton, 
a  native  of  Teiuiesse,  born  March  17,  1825,  died  March  1,  1904.  To  this  union 
were  born  two  sons;  botli  dying  in  infancy.  In  the  year  1862  Mr.  Hash  suffered 
a  sorrow  such  as  seldom  comes  to  a  parent, — the  death  of  a  child  each  day  for 
three  consecutive  days.  Two  of  his  children  are  living:  Peter,  at  home  and 
Mrs.  Jolni  Plunkett,  of  Ashland. 

Mr.  Hash  has  not  been  actively  engaged  in  farming  for  the  last  thirty  years 
altliough  he  has  lived  on  his  farm  until  last  November  when  he  removed  to 
Chandlerville  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Hasli's  brothers  and  sisters  settled  in 
several  different  states  and  territories.  Three  died  in  youth.  Of  those  wlio 
reached  maturity:  Mrs.  Jane  Gum,  Thomas  Hasli,  Mrs.  Martha  Taylor,  Mrs. 
Polly  Berry  and  Henry  Hash  settled  in  Missouri,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  ex- 
cept Mrs.  Berry,  wlio  still  lives  in  Lawerence  county;  John,  Robert  and  Philip 


-274- 

Anderson  ITash  died  in  Texas,.    Mrs.  Nancy  Berry  lives  in  Indian  Ty. 

Thomas,  Pliilip  Anderson  and  Wm.  Ilasli  went  to  California  1848.  Thomas 
and  Philip  returned  east  but  William  remained  and  lias  not  been  heard  of 
since  1874  when  he  was  in  Nevada.  James  ITash  lived  at  Boswell,  Ind.,  and 
has  been  dead  a  number  of  years.  So  that  our  subject  and  two  sisters  are  all 
that  remain  of  a  family  of  fifteen. 

Our  subject  is  the  last  of  the  4G0  tirst  voters  of  Cass  county  and  perhaps  is 
the  oldest  man  in  tlie  coiinty.  At  the  advanced  age  of  94  years  he  retains  his 
faculties  exceedingly  well  and  is  more  supple  than  many  men  of  three  score 
years.  That  he  may  be  permitted  to  reach  the  century  mark  is  the  earnest 
desire  of  all  who  know  him. 


DR.  CHARLES  CHANDLER. 

BY  DR.  J.  F.  SNYDER. 


IN  the  spring-  of  18.32  a  steamboat  came  up  the  Illinois  river  from  St 
Louis,  bound  for  Fort  Clark  (now  Peoria),  and  tied  up  at  Beardstown, 
deterred  from  proceeding  farther  up  stream  by  reports  of  Indian 
troubles:  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  of  hostile  Sacs  and  Foxes  having  invaded 
the  state  at  Bock  Island,  and  were  said  to  be  moving  towards  the  upper  Illi- 
nois river.  Beardstown  was  just  then  a  very  lively  place.  As  it  was  a  border 
village  on  the  northern  frontier  of  the  settlements,  Governor  Reynolds  had 
selected  it  as  the  place  of  rendezvous  for  the  volunteers  he  had  called  for  to 

repel  advance  of  the  Indians  The 
pati'iots  responding  to  his  call  wei'e 
then  coming  in  rapidly,  and  soon  a 
force  of  nearly  two  thousand  had 
collected  there,  a  few  afoot,  but  tlie 
greater  number  on  horseback,  each 
with  a  blanket  or  two,  a  rifle,  pow- 
der horn  and  bullet  pouch.  A  small 
number  of  tliem  were  armed  with 
only  hunting  knives  and  tom;i 
hawks,  but  it  so  happened  that 
Francis  Arenz,  the  principal  mer- 
chant there,  had  a  lot  of  old  Prus- 
sian muskets,  made  originally  for 
the  South  American  trade,  whicli, 
with  all  other  available  supplies  he 
had,  were  purchased  by  the  Gov- 
ernor for  his  army. 

Among  the  passengers  aboard 
the  boat  mentioned  was  Dr.  Clias. 
Chandler,  witli  his  wife  and  young 
DR.  CHARLES  CHANDLER.  daughter,  who,  as  an  advance  of  a 

small  Rhode  Island  colony,  had  come  to  Illinois  with  the  intention  of  locating 
at  Fort  Clark.  Unable  to  reach  his  intended  destination,  the  Doctor  con- 
cluded to  explore  the  country  he  was  in,  and  acquaint  liimself  with  its  general 
features  and  resources.  He  met  many  of  the  settlers  from  both  sides  of  the 
river  wlio  were  attracted  to  Beardstown  by  the  gathering  of  the  soldiers,  or 
came  with  produce  for  sale  or  trade,  from  whom  lie  learned  raucli  concerning 
the  soil,  climate,  and  productions  of  that  locality,   and   of  the  vacant  lands 


-276- 

and  the  laws  regulating  their  entry.  With  the  volunteers  in  camp  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  state  he  mingled  freely,  plying  them,  Yankee-like,  with 
all  sorts  of  questions  to  gain  information;  and  by  his  pleasant,  social  conver- 
sation and  good  sense,  was  soon  on  the  best  of  terms  with  them. 

While  talking  one  day  with  Col.  Enoch  C.  March,  the  Quartermaster 
General,  and  a  group  of  "the  boys,"  Mr.  David  Epler,  a  prosperous  farmer 
living  east  of  the  present  town  of  Arenzville,  drove  into  Beardstown  with  a 
wagon  loaded  with  grain  drawn  by  a  pair  of  large  fine  horses.  Col.  March  at 
once  proposed  to  "press"  that  team  into  the  service  of  the  army,  which  was 
much  in  need  of  draft  horses  for  the  baggage  wagons.  Mr.  Epler  straightway 
gave  Col.  March  to  understand  he  was  not  the  sort  of  a  man  to  permit  much 
"pressing"  of  his  property;  and  told  him  he  could  have  the  horses  if  he  paid 
him  a  reasonable  price  for  them,  otherwise  not  to  touch  them;  if  he  did  it 
would  be  at  his  peril.  Col.  March  wanted  the  team  badly,  and  after  parleying 
awhile  they  agreed  that  the  Colonel  should  choose  an  arbitrator,  Mr.  Epler 
choose  another,  and  the  two  select  a  third,  the  price  the  three  agreed  upon 
would  be  paid  for  the  horses.  Col.  March  chose  Dr.  Chandler,  and  Mr.  Epler 
chose  Bob  Crawford  who  then  owned  the  (present)  Jake  Ward  farm  three  miles 
east  of  Virginia,  and  the  two  chose  Capt.  Allen  F.  Lindsey  of  Morgan  County. 
In  the  west  money  was  very  scarce  and  horses  low  in  price,  vThile  in  the  east- 
ern states  the  reverse  was  the  case.  Dr.  Chandler,  guided  by  eastern  prices, 
thought  the  team  worth  $350;  the  other  two,  inisinuch  as  the  state  was  to 
pay  the  bill,  finally  coincided  with  hira,  much  to  Col.  March's  disappointment, 
as  he  had  to  pay  Mr.  Epler  fu  ly  $1.5)  more  than  the  then  western  market  price 
for  the  best  liorses. 

The  immediate  surroundings  of  Beardstown  at  that  time,  and  atthatsea- 
son,  with  but  little  in  sight  besides  sand  encircled  by  sloughs,  was  by  no  means 
prepossessing  to  a  stranger  just  from  tiie  rocky  hills  of  New  England.  But 
Dr.  Chandler  looked  farther.  He  rode  out  east  into  the  prairie  as  far  as  Sylvan 
Grove,  the  home  of  Archibald  Job:  and  to  Jacksonville,  then  up  the  Sangamon 
Bottom  to  Panther  creek  where  it  breaks  through  the  bluffs  to  join  the  Sang- 
amon river.  The  natural  beauty  of  that  spot  at  the  foot  of  the  picturesque 
range  of  bluffs,  and  the  marvelous  productiveness  and  future  possibilities  of 
tlie  splendid  valley  in  which  it  was  situated  so  favorably  impressed  him  that 
lie  decided  to  settle  there  and  make  it  his  home. 

Between  Beardstowm  and  old  Salem  there  were  a  few  settlers  scattered  far 
apart  along  the  edge  of  the  Sangamon  bottom  next  the  bluffs,  and  others  were 
almost  daily  coming  in  looking  for  places  whereon  to  squat  that  combined  the 
three  essentials  of  pioneer  life,  timber,  water  and  good  land.  Dr.  Chandler 
"laid  his  claim"  on  160  acres,  described  in  the  surveys  as  the  E.^  of  the  the  S. 
W,  qr.  and  the  W.^  of  the  S.  E.  qr.  of  Sec.  31,  7.  19.  R.  9.;  and  proceeded  at 
once  to  build  a  log  cabin  of  roomy  dimensions  about  in  the  center  of  it,  on  tiie 
mainly  traveled  road  which  followed  closely  the  lower  margin  of  the  bluffs. 
Before  he  could  finisii  his  cabin,  and  get  settled  with  any  degree  of  comfort, 
his  professional  services,  required  by  settlers  far  and  near,  demanded  his  en- 
tire time  and  attention.  But  he  was  fortunate  in  securing  reliable  hired  help 
to  care  for  his  family  in  his  absence,  to  make  his  clearing  and  fences  and  put 
in  a  garden  crop  of  buckwheat,  tliat  gave  his  premises  a  home-like 
appearance.    In  those  days  money  was  extremely  scarce  in  Illinois,   especially 


-  277  - 

in  the  frontier  settlements.  Tiie  gold  and  silver  coin  brought  into  the  state 
by  immigrants  quickly  found  its  way  into  the  land  offices,  and  a  system  of  bar- 
ter supplied  its  place  in  all  ordinary  business  transactions.  For  some  time 
Dr.  Chandler  received  very  little  pay  for  his  professional  services  apart  from 
such  products  of  the  country  as, his  patrons  could  spare;  but  that  supplied 
provisions  and  horse  feed  amply  sufflcent  to  enable  him  to  hospitably  enter- 
tain those  who  traveled  that  way. 

He  had  been  on  his  claim  but  a  short  time  when  a  stranger  named  Eng- 
lish came  there  with  the  intention,  he  said,  of  entering  land  and  settling  there. 
The  Doctor  fed  him  and  his  horse,  exerting  himself  to  his  utmost  to  accommo- 
date and  assist  him;  telling  him  all  he  knew  about  the  country  and  its  pros- 
pects in  order  to  aid  him  to  select  a  suitable  location.  English  looked  around 
awhile,  but  could  And  no  land  that  pleased  him  as  well  as  the  Docter's  claim 
did.  Thereupon  Dr.  Chandler  very  generously  offered  to  let  him  enter  one  of 
his  eighty  acre  tracts,  or  half  of  the  claim.  That  did  not  seem  to  entirely 
satisfy  English,  who,  however,  said  he  would  go  to  Springtieldnextday  and  en- 
ter it,  if  he  saw  that  he  could  do  no  better.  On  a  map  he  carried  were  marked 
several  tracts  of  land,  from  which  he  said  he  might  make  another  selection. 
After  dinner  he  left  to  go  and  pass  the  night  with  another  settler  near  by. 
Pie  was  scarcely  out  of  sight  when  a  friend  of  the  Docter's  hurriedly  rode  up 
to  his  cabin  and  told  him  that  Englisti  nad  declared  it  his  intention  to  go  next 
day  to  the  land  office,  at  Springfield,  and  enter  not  only  the  eighty  acres  the 
Docter  had  offered  him,  but  his  entire  quarter  section,  and  that  he 
had  of  plenty  money  for  that  purpose.  The  Docter,  much  siiprised,  did  not 
relish  the  idea  of  being  ousted  from  his  home  in  such  a  summary  manner,  but 
did  not  have  money  enough  in  specie  to  pay  the  government  for  the  land  at 
the  fixed  price  of  two  dollars  per  acre. 

However,  no  time  could  be  lost.  None  of  his  neighbors,  so  far  as  he  knew, 
had  the  amount  of  "land  office  money"  (gold  and  silver)  that  he  could  borrow, 
and  he  would  not  have  time  to  go  to  BeardstOA-n  and  try  to  get  it  there.  In 
that  quandary  he  saddled  his  horse  and  rode  away.  No  one  he  called  on  had 
any  money  until  he  came  to  the  cabin  of  his  friend,  Wm.  McCaulley,  who 
happened  to  have  the  amount  he  needed,  and  wlien  told  by  the  Doctor  in 
what  exigency  English  had  placed  him,  cheerfully  let  him  have  it.  It  was 
long  after  the  sun  had  set  when  he  got  to  his  home.  His  two  horses  were 
very  tired  from  constant  traveling;  but  after  a  late  supper  he  was  again  in  the 
saddle,  and  taking  his  course  by  the  stars,  started  through  the  woods  to 
Springfield.  Compelled  to  travel  slowly,  he  was  yet  about  ten  miles  from  his 
destination  at  sunrise  next  morning.  Three  or  four  miles  farther  on  he  was 
overtaken  by  two  young  men  mounted  on  spirited  horses,  who  were  also  on 
their  way  to  Springfield.  Noticing  the  jaded  condition  of  the  Docter's  horse, 
and  his  rider's  evident  desire  to  hasten  on,  they  inquired  the  occasion  of  it. 
He  told  them  who  he  was,  and  the  predicament  he  was  in;  that  he  was  trying 
to  circumvent  a  "land  shark,"  and  thereby  save  his  home  and  claim.  One  of 
the  young  men  immediately  dismounting,  gave  his  horse  to  the  Doctor,  telling 
him  to  ride  it  to  town  as  fast  as  he  pleased  to  go,  and  when  there  to  leave  it 
at  a  certain  livery  stable  he  named;  and  in  the  meantime,  as  he  was  liimself 
in  no  hurry,  he  would  follow  slowly  with  the  Docter's  tired  horse,  and  they 
would  "swop  back"  at  their  leisure. 


-278- 

Dr.  Chandler  g-ladly  accepted  tlie  young  stranger's  generous  offer,  and  ar- 
rived at  the  land  office  before  it  was  opened  for  the  day's  business,  on  the  2d 
day  of  June,  1832.  He  beat  English  there  about  two  hours,  having  the  title 
to  all  his  land  secured  before  that  worthy  made  his  appearance.  A  few  days 
later,  on  receivng  a  remittence  from  the  east,  he  repaid  the  money  borrowed  of 
McCaulley,  and  going  back  to  Springfield  entered,  on  June  thelith  the  forty 
acres  adjoining  his  west  eighty  acres  on  the  south,  Having  acquired  perfect 
title  to  the  land,  he  concluded  to  have  it  surveyed  and  its  metes  and  bounds 
accurately  established.  Making  enquiries  for  a  surveyer  to  do  the  work,  lie 
learned  that  a  young  man  residing  farther  up  the  Sangamon  bottom,  at  a  place 
called  Salem,  had  the  reputation  of  a  competent  surveyer,  snd  was  in  every 
respect  thoroughly  reliable.  Hesent  for  him  by  the  first  opportunity  presented, 
and  on  his  arrival  at  Panther  Creek  Dr.  Chandler  wassurprised  and  much  grat- 
ified to  find  that  he  was  the  same  young  fellow  who  had  so  kindly  furnished 
him  a  fresh  liorse  in  his  run  to  beat  English  to  the  land  office.  His  name  was 
Abraham  Lincoln.  From  the  date  of  that  incident  on  through  life  the  ''im- 
mortal Emancipator"  never  had  a  truer  friend  than  Dr.  Chandler. 

Dr.  Chandler  was  fifth  in  order  of  birth  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  five 
.sons  and  five  daughters.  He  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Windham  county,  Con- 
necticut, on  July  2nd,  180(5,  and  there  received  his  preparatory  education  at 
the  local  schools,  completing  it  at  the  Academy  in  Dudley,  Massachusetts, 
over  the  state  line  not  far  from  liis  home.  During  the  vacation  that  fol- 
lowed his  last  term  at  Dudley  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr- 
Theodore  Romeyne  Beck  an  eminent  author  on  Medical  Jurisprudence.  The 
next  winter,  then  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  taught  a  school  near  Woodstock. 
As  he  was  i  minor,  his  i'ar.hdr,  it  seems,  e.xacted  from  him  his  earnings  while 
teacliing— as  he  had  a  legal  right  to  do.  Bringing  the  money  to  him  in  a 
bowl,  all  in  silver  coin,  he  said,  "Here,  father,  is  what  I  have  earned  since 
last  fall.  Take  it,  but  I  now  want  the  balance  of  my  time,  so  that  I  may 
work  my  way  through  the  medical  college."  It  was  granted  to  him,  and  he 
continued  teaching,  giving  to  his  medical  studies  all  his  leisure  time  and  va- 
cation intervals.  The  last  school  he  taught  was  at  King's  Bridge,  then  a 
suburban  village,  now  within  the  limits  of  New  York  City.  In  the  fall  of 
182()  he  was  entered  as  a  student  in  the  medical  college  at  Pittsfleld,  Massa- 
chusetts; and  such  was  the  diligence  with  whicn  he  had  pursued  his  studies, 
he  passed  the  requisite  examination  and  graduated,  receiving  his  diploma  in 
June,  1827. 

His  next  move  was  to  open  an  office  and  commence  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  the  town  where  he  was  born,  meeting  with  as  fair  success  as  a 
new  begiinier  might  expect  where  he  was  so  well  known.  Two  years  later, 
encouraged  to  believe  he  could  take  care,  not  only  of  himself  but  of  another 
one  too,  he  was  united  in  marriage,  on  the  18th  day  of  May,  1829,  to  the 
sweetheart  of  his  school  davs,  Miss  Mary  Carroll  Rickard,  of  Th  mpson,  Con- 
necticut, who  also  was  born  in  Woodstock,  on  Jan.  6th,  1811.  Never  content 
witli  the  slow  conservative  policy  of  letting  well  enough  alone.  Dr.  Chand- 
ler, with  Yankee  progressive  spirit,  always  wanted  to  do  better.  Awhile 
after  his  marriage  he  concluded  there  were  better  prospects  for  the  practice 
of  medicine  over  in  Rhode  Island,  where  his  wife's  kinfolks  lived:  so,  he 
moved  there  and  located  at  Scituate,   not  far  from   tlie  city  of  Providence. 


-  279  - 

He  was  prosperous  there,  and  built  a  handsome  two-story  frame  house  with 
all  essential  conveniencas,  establishing  himself  apparently  for  life.  But  he 
had  not  long  enjoyed  the  comforts  of  his  new  home  when  he,  and  several  of 
his  associates  and  relatives,  became  very  much  interested  in  the  accounts 
they  received  from  Illinois— of  its  beauty  and  wonderful  productive  soil,  and 
the  many  opportunities  it  offered  to  persons  of  limited  means  for  success  in 
all  branches  of  business  or  industry. 

Discussing  the  matter  for  some  time  after  obtaining  all  information  they 
could,  a  small  number  of  them  decided  to  go  with  their  families  and  settle  as 
a  colony  on  the  Illinois  river  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Clark.  With  that  view 
they  began  their  preparations  to  emigrate  in  the  spring  of  1832.  Dr.  Chand- 
ler's wife  at  first  refused  to  go  and  leave  her  fine  new  house,  and  only  con- 
sented to  part  with  it  upon  the  Doctor's  promise  to  build  her  one  exactly  like 
it  in  Illinois  just  as  soon  as  he  was  financially  able  to  do  so.  When  the  time 
approached  upon  which  they  had  agreed  to  set  out  for  the  far  west,  appalled 
by  the  magnitude  of  the  undertaking,  the  dangers  on  the  way,  and  reputed 
unliealthiness  of  the  great  prairie  state,  the  colonists  with  a  few  exceptions, 
decided  to  remain  at  home.  But  Dr.  Chandler,  having  sold  his  home  and 
closed  up  his  business,  and  eager  to  get  to  the  new  country  where  his  spirit 
of  enterprise  and  energy  would  be  unhampered,  took  his  departure,  with  his 
wife  and  little  daughter,  accompanied  by  about  half  a  dozen  of  the  would-be 
colonists,  who,  however,  went  with  him  no  farther  than  St.  Louis.  Learning 
there  of  the  Black  Hawk  uprising,  which  threatened  to  involve  all  central 
and  northern  Illinois  in  a  protracted  Indian  war,  they  left  the  Doctor 
and  returned  to  the  east. 

By  the  time  Black  Hawk  and  his  wretched  lot  of  Indians  had  been  driven 
out  of  the  state,  in  July  1832,  Dr.  Chandler  and  wife  were  feeling  very  much  at 
home,  also  much  pleased  with  the  country  and  their  surroundings.  They 
wrote  to  their  friends  and  relatives  in  the  east  how  they  were  situated,  descrid- 
ing  the  region  they  were  in,  its  people  and  productions,  candidly  admitting  it 
was  not  altogether  a  paradise,  but  in  many  points  of  view  possessed,  for  the 
man  of  enterprise  and  industry,  far  greater  ad  vantages  than  any  presented  by 
Connecticut  or  Rhode  Island.  Their  accounts  of  the  Sangamon  county,  liowev- 
er,  failedtoinducethemembersof  the  original  colony  to  carry  out  their  former 
design  of  migrating  westward.  But  in  December,  18^3,  they  were  joined  by 
the  Doctor's  brother,  Marcus  Chandler,  with  his  wife  and  son,  Knowlton  A., 
and  Henry  L.  Ingalls  and  family,  Mrs.  Ingalls  being  a  cousin  of  Mrs.  Marcus 
Chandler,  About  the  same  time,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  Mr.  Hicks  and  fami- 
ly, Squire  Bonny  and  family  with  a  young  nephew,  George  Bonny,  arrived  at 
the  Panther  creek  settlement  from  the  state  of  New  York,  with  them  also 
came  DwightMarcy,  wife  and  six  children,  from  Connecticut,  Mrs.  Marcy  be- 
ing the  sister  of  Dr.  Chandler. 

In  those  days  the  Sangamon  bottom,  from  the  bluffs  to  the  timber  along 
the  river,  was  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  native  prairie  grass  from  six  to 
eight  feet  high,  interspersed  with  clumps  of  wild  rose  bushes,  blackberry  briers, 
and  thickets  of  crabapples  and  persimmons.  The  lower  parts  of  it  were  sub- 
ject to  anual  overflow  by  the  river,  and  during  tlie  summer  and  fall  it  was  all 
infested  with  swarms  of  ravenous  mosquitoes  and  greenheaded  flies  that  made 
life  a  burden  to  both  man  and  beast.    Added  to  those  unpleasant  features,  the 


-280- 

bottom,  reeking  with  malaria,  was  reputed  very  unhealthy  and  prolific  of  ague 
and  other  forms  of  fever.  It  was  olso  open  to  the  prevailing  objections  to  all 
prairie  land,  the  difficulty  of  "breaking  the  sod"  and  putting  it  in  cultivation, 
and  the  general  belief  that  the  soil  was  poor,  and  prairies  unfit  for  anything 
but  grazing  stock  in  the  spring  after  the  old  grass  had  been  burned  off.  For 
those  reasons  incoming  settlers  for  a  long  time  shunnea  the  bottom,  and  laid 
their  claims  in  the  timber  on  higher  gound. 

Tlius  it  was  that  the  Panther  Creek  settlement  increased  so  slowly  as  to 
contain  but  ten  or  twelve  families  a  dozen  years  alter  Dr.  Chandler  first 
settled  there.  It  is  difficult  to  conjecture  why  a  man  of  Dr.  Chandler's  su- 
perior natural  and  acquired  abilities,  and  force  of  character,  should  select  for 
a  home  a  spot  in  the  brush  near  a  muddy  creek  in  an  obscure  malarial  wild- 
erness, instead  of  locating  in  Jacksonville,  Springfield,  or  some  other  one  of 
the  rapidly  growing  towns  of  central  Illinois,  where  his  achievements  and  in- 
fluence could  have  been  commensurate  with  his  robust  intellect.  But  having 
fixed  his  home  in  that  forlorn  domain  of  the  ague  and  insect  pests— actuated 
by  the  motive  attributed  by  ^Esop  to  the  fox  that  had  lost  its  tail  in  a  trap; 
or  by  that  sentiment  of  hu. canity  that  impels  misery  to  love  company— he 
offered  flattering  inducements,  and  otherwise  exerted  himself,  to  increase 
the  population  of  his  settlement.  His  cabin  stood  about  where  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  Chandlerville  is  now  situated.  In  1834,  he  built  a  black- 
smith shop  on  the  roal  near  by,  and  the  next  year  had  a  small  framed  and 
weathar-boarded  house  put  up  on  the  site  of  Mr.  Pilcher's  present  store 
building.  In  that  little  house  he  brouglit  a  stock  of  goods,  adding  mer- 
cliandising  to  his  practice  of  medicine,  farming,  and  trading. 

In  1835,  Mrs.  Henry  Irigalls  commenced  school  teaching  at  her  residence, 
a  cabin  south  of  Dr.  Ciiandler's  place.  Among  her  first  pupils  were  Mary  J. 
Chandler,  now  Mrs.  Shaw,  Nancy  Leeper,  who  became  the  wife  of  Sylvester 
Paddock,  Louis  Bonny,  Knowlton  A.  Chandler,  Mary  Wing,  and  Jeptha 
Plaster.  Some  of  the  children  had  to  walk  more  than  two  miles  to  get  to 
that  schoo'.  About  that  time  Mrs.  Ingalls,  Mrs.  Marcus  Chandler  and 
Robert  A.  Leeper  organized  at  the  Ingalls  cabin  a  Sabbath  school  which  was 
for  a  long  time  well  maintained.  Mr.  Leeper,  a  very  pious  Methodist,  came 
to  that  neighborhood  from  Kentucky,  in  1830,  and  bought  from  A.  S.  West 
and  Wm.  Morgan  a  saw  and  grist  mill  on  Panther  Creek  up  in  the  hills  which 
they  had  built  there  two  years  before.  Panther  Creek  was  always  a  stream 
of  varying  regimen,  dry,  or  nearly  so,  for  half  the  year,  and  again  a  raging 
torrent  high  ubove  and  beyond  its  banks,  sweeping  everything  before  it.  Mr. 
Leeper  operated  tiie  mill  for  several  seasons  when  it  was  finally  washed 
awav.  He  had  not  owned  it  long  when  Richard  McDonald  built  another 
mill  on  the  same  creek  half  a  mile  farther  up;  and  then  Henry  L.  Ingalls 
built  still  another  mill  half  a  mile  below  it.  They  too,  in  course  of  time, 
were  carried  away  by  freshets  leaving  nothing  to  mark  their  sites  but  a  few 
foundation  stones. 

By  183(1,  the  population  of  Illinois  was  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  settlers 
were  generally  in  prosperous  condition.  Not  content,  however,  with  the 
slow  but  substantial  development  of  the  country,  the  people  were  impatient 
for  faster  progress  and  better  times.  Responding  to  their  demand  the  legis- 
lature authorized  construction  of  of  a  grand  system  of  internal  improvements 


-  281  - 

to  cost  several  millions  of  dollars,  to  be  paid  for  by  sale  os  state  bonds.  That 
folly  instigated  a  spirit  of  wild  speculation  and  extravagance  among  all 
classes.  All  over  the  settled  portion  of  the  state  a  mania  for  laying  out  nev*^ 
towns,  beginning  in  1833,  became  epidemic  by  1836,  the  sale  of  town  lots 
being  regarded  as  a  sure  means  of  getting  rich  quickly.  Dr.  Hall  laid  out  his 
town,  Virginia,  in  1836,  and  the  next  spring  John  Dutch  laid  out  the  town  of 
Lancaster  on  an  elaborate  scale,  at  the  "Half-way  House"— half  way  between 
Beardstown  and  Springfield— now  known  as  tbe  Walker  house,  three  miles 
west  of  Ashland.  Dr.  Chandler  would  no  doubt  have  staked  out  a  town  at 
his  place  about  that  time  but  for  his  characteristic  caution.  Princeton, 
another  town  of  Morgan  county,  had  been  platted  in  1833,  and  in  that  year 
Thos.  Wynn  laid  out  a.town  named  Richmond,  on  a  slough  five  miles  above 
Dr.  Chandler's  place.  The  Doctor  shrewdly  concluded  to  wait  and  see  what 
progress  Princeton  and  Richmond  made  before  going  into  the  town  making 
business  himself.  ;  ,i;  •  ;  :, 


^^ 

f\  ''^ 

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^^^M 

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f '^W 

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^^Hsi'^i 

LtJ£ 

^^^^^2 

'^^^^?] 

H 

^^ 

^m 

Chandler  Homestead,  1906:  erected 
in  1836. 
Rut,  in  1836,  having  caught  the  pervailing  rage  for  improvement,  he  ful- 
filled the  promise  he  made  to  his  wife  at  Scituate  in  1832,  building  a  fine  two- 
story  liouse,  the  exact  counterpart  of  tlie  one  Mrs.  Chandler  was  so  reluctant 
to  leave  there;  which,  as  shown  in  the  accompanying  cut,  is  still  standing  in 
fair  condition.  Throughout  the  year  1836  tiie  Doctor  was  very  active  in  aid- 
ing the  movement  for  organizing  a  new  country  in  the  northern  part  of  Morgan, 
which  culminated  in  the  creation  of  Cass  county,  by  the  legislature  on  the  3d 
of  March,  18,37.  Closely  following  that  event  came  a  calamity  that  greatly 
dampened  popular  rejoicing  in  the  new  county,  and  exultion  of  the  people  of 
the  state  generally  over  their  brilliant  prospects  of  soon  having  improved 
means  of  transportation,  and  thereby  material  addition  to  their  wealth.  It 
was  the  sudden  and  unexpected  suspension  of  specie  payment  by  tlie  banks, 
resulting  in  a  financial  panic  that  reacted  disastrously  on  every  enterprise  and 
industry  in  the  country.  Foreseeing  that  result.  Dr.  Chandler  again  displayed 
his  innate  shrewdness  by  selling  his  stock  of  goods  to  Mr,  C.  J.  Newberry,  and 
investing  the  proceeds  in  more  land.  On  the  29th  of  June,  1837,  a  postottice 
named  Panther  Creek  was  established,  of  which  C.  .T.  Newberry  was  appointed 
Post  Master. 


-282- 

Marcus  Chandler  was  a  carpenter,  but  on  coming  to  Illinois  in  1833,  en- 
tered a  piece  of  land  in  the  bottom  two  miles  above  the  Doctor's  place,  on 
which  he  built  a  cabin  and  made  a  clearing.  A  brother  and  sister  followed 
liim  to  the  settlement  in  1837.  The  brother,  Thomas  K.  Chandler,  following 
his  example,  entered  eighty  acres  of  land  three  miles  farther  up  the  bottom 
in  what  was  in  later  years  known  as  the  Dick  settlement.  For  four  or  Ave 
years  he  labored  to  put  the  land  in  cultivation,  but  having  been  educated  for 
a  teacher  and  minister,  he  became  disgusted  with  his  undertaking  and  moved 
to  Mississippi.  Therefor  several  years  he  successfully  conducted  a  young 
ladies' seminary.  A  short  time  before  the  civil  war  he  moved  to  Texas  and 
engaged  in  raising  cattle  and  cotton;  and  died  therein  1868.  The  sister,  Miss 
Emily  Chandler,  was  installed  as  a  member  of  the  Doctor's  family.  She  had 
been  educated  for  a  missionary,  but  in  1839  was  married  to  Dr.  .John  Allen, 
of  Petersburg,  where  she  resided  for  many  years.  After  Dr.  Allen's  death 
she  removed,  with  one  son  and  four  daughters,  to  Jacksonville.  There  she 
died  after  having  .seen  two  of  her  daughters  consigned  to  the  grave.  One  of 
her  two  surviving  daughters  became  the  wife  of  the  noted  physician  and  sur- 
geon of  Jacksonville,  Dr.  W.  IT.  II.  King. 

In  politics  Dr.  Chandler  was  a  wliig  as  long  as  that  party  existed,  then  a 
republicah:  but  at  no  time  an  active  politician,  as  can  well  be  inferred  from 
the  fact  that  he  never  held,  or  was  a  candidate  for,  a  political  office.  Still  he 
must  have  been  unusually  interested  in  the  "coonskin  campaign"  of  1840,  to 
name  his  son,  born  that  year,  Harrison  Tyler  Chandler,  after  Oenl.  Wm. 
Ilein-y  Harrison  and  .lohn  Tyler,  the  successful  whig  candidates  for  president 
and  vice  president.  But  his  rejoicing  over  the  great  whig  victory  in  Novem- 
ber was  turned  the  next  month  to  heart-rending  grief  by  the  death  of  his 
wife  on  the  28th  of  December  (ISIO).  Held  in  the  hig^hest  estimation  by  all 
who  knew  her,  Mrs  Chandler's  death  was  mourned  by  the  entire  community, 
to  whom  she  had  endeared  herself  by  her  amiable  disposition,-  her  exemplary 
piety,  benevolence  and  charity,  and  her  kind  sympathetic  ministration  to 
those  in  sickness  and  distress.  Her  funeral  .sermon  was  preached  by  Prof. 
J.  B.  Turner,  then  recently  admitted  to  the  ministry.  Only  a  short  time  be- 
fore that  sad  event,  in  1840,  Dr.  Cliandler's  sister,  Mrs.  Dwight  Marcy,  also 
died.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  survived  by  five  children,  namely;  Mary  Jane  (Mrs. 
John  Shaw),  Emily  Webster  (Mrs.  Genl.  Lippincott).  Maria  Louisa  (Mrs. 
David  Frackelton),  Charles  Emmett  and  Harrison  Tyler. 

Mr.  Newberry  who  bought  the  stock  of  goods  of  Dr.  Chandler  in  1837  tried 
merchandising  only  a  short  time,  and  sold  out  to  Mr.  Chase,  and  he  sold  his 
store  in  1841  to  Dr.  Cliandler  and  his  brother,  Marcus.  With  Elisha  Alcott 
as  their  chief  clerk  and  salesman,  they  did  quite  an  extensive  business  for  the 
next  nine  years.  In  connection  with  their  regular  retail  trade  they  bought 
and  shipped,  by  way  of  Beardstown.  grain  and  other  products  of  the  country, 
and  each  winter  engaged  in  pork  packing,  buying  for  that  purpose  as  many  as 
.3000  hogs  during  the  season.  In  1849  their  establishment  was  destroyed  by 
tire,  entailing  serious  loss:  but  the  buildings  were  immediately  replaced  and 
the  business  contiruied  on  a  larger  scale.  In  1850  they  sold  out  to  Wm.  Way 
and  retired.  From  that  time  until  his  death  in  1859,  Marcus  worked  at  the 
carpenter's  trade.  His  wife  having  died  he  mirried  Miss  Sarah  Perrin  who 
was  his  first  wife's  sister.     She  survived  him,  with  nine  children.     Knowlton 


-  283  - 

H.  Chandler,  the  oldest  son  of  Marcus,  associate  and  warm  frieud  of  Dr.  Lip- 
pincott,  was  a  Democrat.  At  the  inception  of  the  civil  war  Dr.  Lippincott, 
commenced  to  raise  a  company  of  volunteers  for  the  Uuion  service;  but  deterred 
then  from  going  to  the  front  himself  turned  it  over  to  Knowlton,  who  was 
elected  Captian  of  the  company  subsequently  designated  as  "Co.K."  of  the  19- 
the  regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry.  Knowlton  was  killed  at  the  head  of  his  com- 
pany at  the  battle  of  Stone  river  in  Tennessee,  and  his  body  was  brought  back 
and  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Chandlerville. 

On  the  10th  of  September,  1841,  Dr.  Chandler  was  again  married.  His 
second  wife  was  Miss  Clarissa  Child,  a  native  of  Connecticut  and  sister  of 
Mrs.  Henry  L.  Ingalls;  also  a  cousin  of  the  two  wives  of  Marcus  Chandler. 
With  the  education  and  culture  she  had  received  at  her  home  in  the  east, 
Nature  bestowed  upon  her  in  high  degree  all  the  finer  womanly  qualities  that 
constituted  her  an  ornament  to  society,  a  model  Christian,  wife  and  mother. 
She  died  in  Chandlerville  on  the  13th  day  of  March,  1878,  survived  by  her 
husband  and  two  sons,  John  T.  and  Linus  C;  a  daughter,  Alice  Child,  hav- 
ing, at  twelve  years  of  age,  preceded  her  to  the  grave  several  years  before,  in 
1854.  "Not  to  be  further  bothered  with  schools  in  his  residence.  Dr.  Chandler 
In  18.38  had  a  small  frame  house,  twelve  feet  square,  built  a  short  distanoe 
farther  east,  and  fitted  up  with  seats  and  a  rude  desk  or  two,  specially  for  a 
schoolhouse;  for  which  it  was  used  until  found  too  small  for  the  increasing 
number  of  children  in  the  settlement,  when  the  new  Congregational  church 
was  substituted  for  school  purposes.  On  completion  of  Dr.  Chandler's  new 
house,  a  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  there  on  the  16th  of  October, 
1836,  by  Professors  Turner,  Sturtevant  and  Baldwin,  of  Jacksonville,  with 
five  members,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sewell,  Mr.  Hicks,  Mrs.  Lavina  Ingalls  and 
Mrs.  Marcus  Chandler,  the  two  latter,  however,  were  members  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  before  they  came  to  Illinois.  Religious  services  were  held  in 
the  dining  room  of  the  Doctor's  house  once  or  twice  each  month.  It  was  a 
room  twenty  feet  square,  with  doors  opening  into  other  rooms,  and  a  large 
porch  on  the  south  side,  altogether  sufficient  to  accommodate  the  large  con- 
gregation of  worshippers  who  always  attended.  On  those  occasions,  Dr. 
Chandler,  though  himself  not  then  a  church  member,  would  send  his  carriage 
to  Springfield  or  Jacksonville  for  preachers  and  good  singers,  whom  lie  hos 
pitably  entertained,  until  ready  to  return,  sometimes  several  days.  As  time 
passed  the  Methodists  of  the  settlement  feeling  they  were  strong  enough  to 
maintain  an  organization  of  their  own,  lield  their  meetings  at  Squire  Bontiy's 
residence;  but  yet  Dr.  Chandler  entertained  their  preachers,  chief  of  whom 
was  Peter  Cartwright. 

In  1841,  a  church  building,  costing  $700— more  than  half  of  which  was 
contributed  by  Dr.  Chandler— was  commenced  on  a  lot  donated  by  him;  and 
he  donated  all  the  lots  on  which  churches  and  schoolhouses  were  built  there 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  The  new  edifice,  completed  in  1842,  was  dedi- 
cated as  a  Congregational  church;  and  then  Dr.  Chandler  was  formally  ad- 
mitted as  a  member  of  it,  and  elected  a  deacon,  a  position  lie  held  for 
thirty  years. 

Uuder  the  administration  of  President  Polk,  the  Docter  was  appointed 
Post  Master  of  the  Panther  Creek  Postoffiiceon  Sept.  13th,  1847,  and  the  next 
year,  1848,  he  carried  out  his  long  intended  design  of  laving  out  a  town  there, 


-284- 

where  there  was  already  a  cluster  of  tifteeii  or  twenty  houses.  He  employed 
J.  W.  Swenev,  the  county  surveyer,  to  survey  and  define  the  lots  and  streets, 
and  then  tiled  the  plat  of  the  villaitfe  of  Cliandlerville  in  the  County  Recorder's 
office  at  Beardstown  on  April  29,  1848.  He  had  that  in  contemplation  in  1846 
when  the  settlement  needinj>-  a  wag-on raal<:er,  and  he  wrote  to  Levi  McKee,  an 
artisan  in  that  line,  then  in  Hancock  County.  111.,  wliom  he  had  known  in  the 
east,  offering  to  give  him  lots  for  residence  and  shop  fronting-  on  iMain  street  if 
he  would  come  and  locate  in  the  village.  Mr.  McKee  accepted  the  offer,  and 
the  Docter  gave  him  lots  oh  the  main  wagon  road  northeast  of  his  old  cabin; 
but  on  making  the  plat  two  years  later  the  miin  street  was  located  far- 
ther west,  where  it  is  now.  Mr.  McKee  then  complained  to  the  Doctor  that 
he  had  not  complied  with  his  agreement  of  placing  him  on  Main  street.  It 
not  being  convenient  to  comply  with  his  promise,  the  Doctor  proposed  to  va- 
cate the  lots  between  the  McKee  premises  and  main  street,  converting  them 
into  a  park  or  public  square,  which  was  done  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all 
parties.     .And  thus  the  town  got  its  park. 

The  town,  comprising  as  first  projected  scarcely  forty  acres,  was  enlarged 
b\  subsequent  additions  to  the  area  of  a  square  mile.  By  efforts  of  Dr.  Lip- 
pincott  the  name  of  the  fostoffice  was  ch.uiged  in  1851  from  Panther  Creek  to 
(Jliandlerville.  Illinois  had  then  seen  the  dawn  of  a  new  era,  that  of  railroads 
and  telegraphs.  In  1853  the  legislature  enacted  a  charter  for  the  Illinois 
Iviver  Railroad,  begituiing  at  Pekin,  in  'l^azewell  county,  to  run  down  the 
eastern  side  of  the  river  ro  .\lton  as  its  ultimite  terminus.  The  right  of  way 
was  secured  from  Pekin  to  Bith.  then  Miecou:ity  se  it  of  Mason  county,  the 
sum  of  *10(),00()  vvas  sui)scrii)ed,  and  considerah  e  of  the  constructive  work 
done  bet  ween  the  two  poinis  trimed  when  the  enterprise  was  suspended  for 
want  of  funds  to  further  pro.secute  it.  Dr  Ciiaiidierthen  became  interested 
ill  it,  and  succeeded  in  getting  .several  .lacksonvnle  men  of  capital  also  ini cr- 
ested in  it.  By  his  intluenee  Mien  the  roiit^e  of  rhe  proposed  road  was  diverted 
from  its  original  course  to  Beardstown  and  town  the  river  valley,  to  a  line  di- 
rect ly  south  from  Bath,  through  Chamilerville  and  Virginia  to  Jacksonville, 
In  1857  he  was  very  instrumental  in  effecting  a  reorganization  of  the  company 
with  his  frieiKls,  11.  S.  riiomas  elected  President,  and  Dr.  M.  II.  L.  Schooley 
Secret  rry,  the  name  of  t  h  ^  r  la  Iciianged  to  the  Peoria,  Pekin  and  Jackson- 
ville, and  savv  itstinai  completion  in  18f)8.  .\nd  after  all  that  exertion  for  the 
road,  and  his  subscription  of  many  hundreds  of  doilai'S  t,o  its  capital  stock — 
every  cent  of  which  he  lost,  as  did  all  the  other  Cass  county  subscribers — with 
Ins  characteristic  diffidence  he  would  except  of  no  official  position  in  its  man- 
agement. 

The  genealogy  of  t)ie  Chandler  family  extends  back  in  English  history  to 
the  advent  of  Williaui  the  Conqueror  in  the  eleventh  century.  The  first  an- 
cestors of  Dr.  Ch.iiidler  in  ,Vinj.-ici  William  Chandler  and  wife  Agnes, 
came  over  from  England,  not  in  the  Vlayllowei-  in  1620,  but  seventeen  years 
later,  arriving  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  iti  16.37.  Their  oldest  son,  John, 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  Woodstock,  Connecticut,  and  died  there  April  15, 
1703.  Dr  Chandler's  father,  Capt.  John  Cliaiidler,  of  thesixth  generation  of 
Chandlers  in  America,  and  wife  Hulda  Howard,  were  parents  of  ten  children 
in  the  following  order,  all  born  in  Woodstock: 

Pricilla,  born  Aug.  fl,  1707.  died,|unmarried.  May  5th,  1842. 


-  285  - 

Lois  Child,  bom  May  8th,  1799,  married  Dwight  Marcey,  died  May  5th,  1840. 

Sophia,  born  May  18th,  1802,  married  Benjamin  Webster,  died  May  12, 1858. 

Jolm,  born  August  23d,  1804,  died  in  1881. 

Charles,  born  July  2d,  1806,  died  April  18th,  1879. 

Marcus,  born  June  25th,  1808.  died  March  .3d,  T859. 

Marcia,  twin  sister  of  Marcus,  died  unmarried,  April  28th,  1823. 

Emily,  born  March  7th,  1811,  married  Dr.  John  Allen,  died  in  March,  1877. 

Thos.  K  ,  born  Feb.  1st,  1813,  died  in  Texes  in  1868. 

David  Howard,  born  Nov.  16th,  1819,  died . 

The  first  born  son,  John,  lived  and  died  at  Fredoiiia,  N.  Y. 

His  eldest  daughter  was  the  second  wife  of  Dr.  David  Prince,  of  Jack- 
sonville, 111. 

Dr.  Charles  Chandler  was  a  highly  creditable  representative  of  the  sturdy 
stock  from  which  he  was  descended.  He  was  a  strong  man  physically,  in- 
tellectually and  professionally.  In  stature  six  feet  tall,  a  Daniel  Webster  in 
figure,  robust  and  well-proportioned,  with  dark  auburn  hair  and  hazel  colored 
eyes,  high  broad  forehead,  and  features  expressive  of  his  benign,  unselfish 
nature.  Animated  by  an  indomitable  spirit  of  progress  and  enterprize,  he 
was  remarkably  active,  energetic  and  industrious.  Devoting  himself  for 
many  years  with  zeal  and  efficiency  to  every  professional  duty  in  his  sphere, 
he  yet  found  time  to  plan,  promote  and  prosecute  various  industries.  His 
energy  and  power  of  endurance  were  marvelous;  his  labors  being  limited  only 
by  the  limits  of  his  fortitude.  When  called  to  relieve  suffering  or  save  en- 
dangered life  he  stopped  neither  for  storms,  mud  or  over-flowed  streams,  nor 
for  excessive  heat  of  summer  or  cold  of  winter.  No  fanatic  was  ever  more  a 
slave  to  the  service  of  his  religion  than  was  Dr.  Chandler  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession.  He  never  halted  to  enquire  about  the  ability  or  honesty  of  those 
in  sickness  and  distress  who  required  his  assistance,  but  went  to  their  aid 
with  his  knowledge,  skill,  and  all  the  strength  of  his  active  mind  at  any, 
and  all,  hours  of  the  night  or  day.  On  horseback  he  rode  day  after  day,  often 
from  fifty  to  eighty  miles,  and  sometimes  a  hundred  miles  within  twenty-four 
hours,  always,  in  the  sickly  seasons,  having  relays  of  fresh  horses  at  certain 
points  awaiting  him. 

He  visited  the  sick  in  a  radius  of  fifty  or  sixty  miles  from  his  home,  trav- 
eling on  dim  trails  through  woods  and  across  trackless  prairies,  frequently 
without  food  from  morning  to  night,  then  sharing  with  the  settler  his  plain 
fare  of  venison  and  corn  bread  or  hominy;  and  later  catching  snatches  of 
sleep  in  the  saddle  on  his  return,  or  slept  soundly  rolled  up  in  a  blanket  on  a 
few  deer  skins  laid  on  the  cabin  floor.  To  the  superstitious  it  seemed  that 
some  occult  power  shielded  him  from  the  many  dangers  he  was  subjected  to, 
when  riding  at  night  over  inundated  bottoms,  crossing  raging  unbridged 
streams,  and  continuous  exposure  to  all  extremes  of  weather. 

He  was  not  in  Illinois  during  "the  winter  of  the  deep  snow;"  but  often 
related  his  recollection  of  the  memorable  "cold  day,''  Monday,  Dec.  20th, 
1836.  The  preceding  day,  Sunday,  was  warm,  with  showers  of  rain  convert- 
ing the  snow  that  had  fallen  a  few  days  before  into  slush  and  mud.  Monday 
morning  was  still  warm  and  misty,  the  little  snow  remaining  rapidly  disap- 
pearing in  pools  and  rills  of  water.  About  noon  tlie  Doctor,  on  horseback, 
was  up  the  bottom  road  about  eight  miles  from  his  place,  on  his  return   from 


-286- 

a  professional  round  of  calls,  when  the  sudden  change  of  temperature  began. 
A  gentle  wind  had  been  blowing  from  the  south,  when  a  black  cloud  sudden- 
ly appeared  in  the  northwest  attended  instantly  by  a  piercing  cold  gale  from 
that  direction.  In  twenty  minutes  the  puddles  of  water  and  mud  in  the 
road  were  frozen  solid,  and  in  an  hour  the  temperature  fell  from  60  degrees 
above  to  20  degrees  below  zero.  It  has  often  been  told  that  the  mud  froze 
so  quickly  many  pigs,  sheep  and  chickens  had  their  feet  caught  in  it  and 
were  held  fast  until  frozen  to  death.  Not  having  prepared  himself  with 
Arctic  clothing,  the  Doctor  suffered  severely  from  cold.  In  the  eight  miles 
he  had  to  travel  to  reach  his  home  he  was  compelled  to  stop  at  wayside  farms 
four  times  to  warm  in  order  to  escape  freezing.  When  at  last  he  arrived  at 
home  he  was  so  chilled  and  benumbed  that  he  was  speechless  and  helpless, 
requiring  assistance  to  dismount  and  get  to  the  tire.  The  cold  was  so  Intense 
that  many  birds  and  small  animals,  and  even  some  horses  and  cattle,  in  poor 
condition,  perished. 

When  Dr.  Chandler  built  his  cabin  on  Panther  Creek  his  nearest  profes- 
sional competitors  were  Dr.  Rew  at  Beardstown  and  Dr.  Elder  below  Prince- 
ton. The  miasmatic,  germ-breeding  exhalations  from  the  prairie  marshes  and 
river  bottom  swamps  were  so  profuse  and  malignant  as  to  overtax  the  human 
organs  of  elimination,  thus  rendering  the  new  country  very  unhealthy.  Then 
too,  many  of  the  pioneer  settlers  were  without  the  ordinary  comforts  of  life, 
and  without  means,  knowledge,  or  hygienic  aids,  to  combat  the  prolific  causes 
of  diseases.  Added  to  their  privations  in  that  respect,  the  then  stereotyped 
treatment  of  malarial  disorders  by  exclusion  of  fresh  air  and  cold  drinks, 
ementics,  purgation,  blistering,  bleeding  and  drenching  the  hapless  victims 
with  vile,  nauseating  decoctions,  rendered  it  scarcely  possible  for  the  fittest  to 
survive.  The  coining  of  Dr.  Chandler  in  that  sparse  community  in  that  era, 
with  his  broad,  enlightened  views,  sound  judgement,  and  untiring  activity 
seemed  specially  providential.  With  the  most  modern  methods  of  Allopathic 
practice,  he  introduced  several  salutary  reforms  ih  the  prevailing  barbarous 
modes  of  treatment,  such  as  discarding  indiscriminate  blood-letting,  exliaust- 
ing  emetics,  and  other  pernicious  relics  of  primeval  ignorance. 

Dr.  Chandler  was  a  very  able,  clear-headed  pnysician,  who  would  have  been 
accorded  a  [losition  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  medical  profession  anywhere. 
Well  grounded  in  book  lore  and  theoretical  knowledge,  his  quickness  and 
clearness  of  perception,  and  fine  judgement  in  the  analysisof  symptoms  rendered 
him  almost  infallible  in  diagnosis.  Then,  his  treatment,  based  partly  upon 
precedents  and  experience,  but  mostly  upon  the  dictates  of  strong  common 
sense,  though  not  invariably  successful,  was  always  believed  to  be  evidently 
the  best  that  could  be  done  under  the  circumstances.  He  was  deservedly  a 
very  popular  physician,  not  only  because  of  his  superior  ability,  but  also  be- 
cause of  his  kind  sympathetic  nature,  his  exalted  humanity,  and  genuine 
Christian  spirit.  In  the  sick  room  he  was  an  inspiration  of  hope  and  encour- 
agement, while  his  manipulation  of  the  sick  was  as  gentle  as  the  touch  of  a 
mother.  He  expected,  of  course,  to  be  paid  for  his  services,  but  could  not 
conceal  the  fact  that  in  his  laborious  attentions  to  the  sick  and  suffering,  money 
was  only  a  secondary  consideration. 

As  there  is  a  limit  to  the  endurance  of  all  created  things,  not  even  the  iron 
frame  and  constitution  of  Dr.   Chandler  could  always  withstand   the  cease- 


-  287  - 

less  physical  labor  and  mental  strain  of  the  strenuous  life  he  led.  In  184!)  while 
asleep  on  his  return  home  from  a  day's  hard  travel,  he  was  thrown  from  the 
sulky  in  which  he  was  riding  and  sustiiined  serious  injuries.  An  attack  of 
pneumonia  followed,  from  which  he  recovered  very  slowly.  After  that  an  oc- 
casional "sharp  stitch"  in  the  cardiac  reunion  with  certain  associated  svmptoms, 
caused  him  to  imagine  that  he  was  afflicted  with  some  kind  of  heart  disease. 
But  many  years  later  a  sudden  muscular  movement  of  the  chest,  attended  by 
an  acute  pain  at  the  point  where  the  "stitch"  was  located,  resulted  at  once  in 
its  permanent  removal.  He  then  knew  that  his  "heart  disease"  was  merely  a 
pleural  adhesion  which  just  then  was  broken  apart.  However,  from  the  date 
of  the  sulky  accident  and  sickness  he  never  regained  his  former  vigor.  Com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  active  practice  of  medicine  he  turned  his  attention  to 
other  pursuits,  as  farming,  trading,  buying  and  selling:  and  finally  built  a 
substantial  business  house  on  Main  street,  and  there  engaged  in  the  retail 
drug  and  hardware  trade.  The  welfare  of  his  family  was  the  central  object  of 
all  his  efforts,  and  the  care  and  education  of  his  children  his  chief  pride,  to 
which  he  gave  much  thought  and  lavish  expenditure  of  means.  He  had  an 
aversion  to  public  life,  and  n  >  aspir.u  ions  whatever  for,  fame  or  notoriety. 
His  natural  gifts  and  superior  attai  rniMMfs.  under  differen  conditions,  and  in 
a  broader  field  for  their  exercise,  would  have  ace  unplished  greater  results,  and 
gained  for  him  much  higher  distinction  than  he  attained  in  Cass  county.  Hut 
he  was  content  to  expend  the  utm  )st  exertions  of  his  life  for  the  gond  of  others 
in  the  obscurity  of  a  frontier  settlement  remote  from  the  best  opportiuiii  h  s 
for  social  progress  arid  personal  advancement. 

The  Doctor  was  not  a  public  speaker,  but  witli  clear,  full  voice  he  had 
fine  command  of  language,  and  a  smooth  convincing  way  of  talking  that  gen- 
erally carried  his  point  in  any  argument  or  trade.  His  conversation  was 
always  entertaining,  instructive,  and  never  marred  by  slang  or  vulgarity. 
In  all  his  dealings  and  business  or  prote.ssional  t  ransartiims  his  word  or 
promise  could  be  relied  on  with  implicit  confidence.  Frum  every  point  of 
view  his  integrity  of  character  wis  complete.  His  personal  habits  were 
most  exemplary,  with  exception  ot  the  mild  vice  of  tobacco  smoking,  and  a 
guarded,  limited  use  of  alcoholic  stimulants,  which  latter  indulgence  was  in 
his  case  justified;  if  at  all  excusable  under  any  circumstances. 

Constantly  occupied  as  he  was  f'>i- years  with  his  extensive  practice  and 
multifarious  personal  interests  he  never  neglected  the  liiglier  obligations  of 
citizenship  incumbent  upon  him.  As  the  patriarch  of  the  community  lie 
founded  he  was  the  vital  force  of  its  welfare  and  prosperit.v,  and  with  parent- 
al vigilance  watched  over  its  health  and  morals.  Always  an  enthusiastic 
friend  to  the  cause  of  education,  lie  generously  contributed  to  the  support  of 
its  schools  and  churches;  and  gave  freely  of  bis  means  for-  opening  roads, 
building  bridges,  and  other  public  improvements.  Deserving  persons  re- 
quiring his  help  could  alwass  depend  upon  getting  it.  By  the  tree  use  of  bis 
mea/is  many  worthy  settlers  were  enabled  to  secure,  fr^m  the  government^ 
titles  to  their  farms,  and  thereby  save  them  from  the  clutches  of  rapacious 
speculators.  Hopeful  and  sanguine  himself  he  encouraged  the  desponding 
with  his  exampleand  advice.  His  home  in  early  days  was  a  free  tavern  for 
all  respectable  strangers  and  wayfarers;  and  the  victims  of  misfortune,  the 
poor  and  friendless  found  in  him  a  benefactor.     He  assisted  young  men  to 


-288- 

overcome  tlie  obstacles  of  poverty  and  est ablisli  themselves  in  productive  in- 
dustries. Young-  Schooley,  Rodgers,  Hand,  and  some  others,  he  took  into  liis 
home  under  liis  personal  care,  gave  them  board  and  lodgings,  free  use  of  his 
books  and  instructions,  furnished  tliem  horses  to  "ride"  with  him,  and  made 
of  them  respectable  physicians  and  useful  citizens. 

During  all  his  forty-seven  years  of  arduous  mental  and  physical  labor  in 
Illinois,  his  home  life  was  that  of  quiet  domestic  enjoyment,  free  from  the 
vexations  of  petty  ambition,  envy,  or  sordid  avarice.  Ele  was  a  sincere  but 
not  ostentatious  Cliristian;  and— be  It  said  te  his  credit— was  never  a  mem- 
ber of  any  secret  society.  With  noble  courage  he  devoted  himself  to  what  he 
believed  to  be  right  regardless  of  pul)lic  opinion,  and  witli  no  thouglit  of  self- 
exaltation.  But,  above  the  great  usefulness  of  his  busy  life— more  admirable 
than  his  strong  intellect,  or  his  marvelous  energy,  untiring  industry  and 
broad  philanthropy,  was  the  basis  of  all,  his  pure  character,  his  kind,  humane 
nature,  and  sterling  manhood. 

Dr.  Ctiandler  never  reacheii  during  his  life,  the  period  for  retiring  from 
active  work.  He  had  earned  sufficient  to  place  him  far  beyond  the  necessity 
for  further  exertion,  but  ills  liberal  family  expenses,  numerous  benefactions, 
and  some  unprofltable  investmints,  absorbed  much  of  it,  and  left  him 
pjs.^essed  at  last  of  only  a  moderate  estate.  Not  from  compulsion,  however, 
but  from  force  of  habit,  he  could  not  be  idle,  and,  so,  remained  in  the  harness 
to  the  end.  On  I  he  evening  of  April  nth,  187f»,  having,  as  usual,  been  busy 
from  early  moiiiing,  he  retired  to  bed  at  his  accustomed  hour,  in  cheerful 
mood  and  apparently  vigorous  health,  lie  was  always  an  early  riser  but  on 
the  next  morning  not  appearing  when  breakfast  was  ready,  a  messenger  was 
sent  up  to  his  room  to  awaken  him,  wiio  immediately  returned  reporting  tliat 
he  was  dead.  It  was  evident  from  the  placid  expression  of  his  face,  his  posi- 
tion of  quiet  repo.se,  and  not  tin  least  derangement  of  the  bed  and  bed-cloth- 
ing, that  his  life  had  ceased  during  sleep  without  pain  or  struggle.  At  his 
death  Dr.  Chandler  had  attamed  the  age  of  72  years,  9  months  and   15  days. 

The  fimeral  ceremonies  at  his  burial  were  conducted  by  his  venerable 
friend  of  many  years.  Rev.  Albert  Hale,  assisted  by  the  local  Congregational 
minister.  Through  a  driving  rain  an  immense  number  of  people  followed  the 
corpse  to  the  grave,  there  to  pay  the  last  tribute  of  respect  and  affection  to 
him  wiiom  they  revered  as  a  true  friend,  a  public  benefactor,  and  an  eminently 
good,  and  great  man. 


JACOB  DUNAWAY, 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRID  LEY. 


ON  Saturdaj' the  l'2th  day  of  April  eighteen  liundred  and  seventeen,  in 
the  County  of  Greene  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  to 
Matthew  and  Nancy  Dunaway,  a  son  whom  they  named  Jacob.  The 
parents  had  come  from  New  Jersey  to  the  wild  mountainous  district,  where 
hard  work  and  close  economy  were  necessary  to  keep  the  wolf  from  the  door. 
The  boy  grew  up  in  this  p  or  section  of  the  United  States,  with  small  chance 
for  learning  or  for  anything  better  than  a  hard  life.  He  acquu-ed  wliat  was 
then  called  a  common  school  education,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  old  enough  to 

look  about  him,  and  ley.rn  of  his  sur- 
roundings he  resolved  that  he  would 
not  live  the  life  of  a  Pennsylvania 
farmer.  He  began  trading  in  live 
stock,  picking  up  animals  from  the 
scattered  farms  and  driving  them  to 
Pittsburg  or  Baltimore  to  the  mark- 
ets. He  soon  began  to  be  successful 
in  this  business,  when  he  lost  all  by 
making  a  sale  to  a  Baltimore  dealer 
wiio  became  bankrupt,  and  paid  liis 
creditors  nothing,  a  fashion  which 
has  survived  to  these  days.  Jacob 
Diuiaway  then  quit  t  liat  business  and 
made  liis  way  to  St.  Louis,  about  1842, 
and  became  a  stage  driver.  Soon  after 
he  tirst  saw  the  little  straggling  town 
of  Vii'ginia,  coming  here  as  a  stage 
driver  but  not  to  remain,  as  he  I'e- 
turned  to  the  east  for  a  time. 

In    1S47,    Cuthbert  Ptobison,   the 
JACOB  DUNAWAY.  fatiier  of   Alexander   Kobison    now   a 

resident  of  this  city,  kept  the  best  hotel  in  the  town  of  Mount  Healthy,  Ham- 
ilton County  Oliio.  This  town  was  midway  between  the  cities  of  Hamilton 
and  Cincinnati;  a  daily  stage  passed  between  tliese  cities,  making  tlie  noon 
stop  at  the  hotel  of  Mr.  Robison  at  Mount  Healthy:  Jacob  Dunaway  was  tlie 
driver  of  the  stage  in  this  year  of  1847,  and  ate  his  dinners  at  the  Robison 
hotel.     In  IS;l(),  Mr.  Robison,   removed   with   liis  family  to   Morgan  County, 


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-290- 

Illinois,  and  three  years  later  came  to  live  in  the  town  of  Virginia:  upon  his 
arrival  lie  was  immediately  recognized  by  Jacob  Dnnaway  as  his  old  Ohio 
landlord,  and  the  two  were  good  friends  thereafter. 

About  1849  Jacob  Dunaway  made  his  second  appearance  in  Virginia  as  a 
stage  driver,  and  from  thence  forward  remained  here.  For  a  year  or  two  he 
drove  the  stage  line  between  Virginia  and  Beardstown,  and  Virginiaand  Jack- 
sonville. That  he  was  a  young  man  of  enterprise,  who  soon  impressed  his  ac- 
([uaintances  with  the  fact  that  he  was  no  ordinary  man,  is  proven  by  the  fact 
that  although  a  newcomer,  he  was  selected  in  1850  by  the  democratic  party  of 
Cass  County  as  their  candidate  for  the  office  of  sheriff  of  the  County,  receiv- 
ing at  the  election  that  year  448  votes  out  of  a  total  of  one  thousand  and  forty- 
two  cast;  divided  thus:  John  B.  Fulks,  553;  Jacob  Dunaway  449;  JohnE.  Has- 
kell 22;  Robert  Gaines  19. 

Failing  to  become  sheriff,  which  was  very  fortunate  for  him,  he  bought  an 
interest  in  a  mercantile  establishment  with  D.  M.  Irwin,  located  inthe  Pothi- 
cary  building  at  the  southeast  corner  of  the  square  on  lot  102  and  began  sell- 
ing goods  foracluinge,  in  the  meantime  boardingatthe  Virginia  Hotel  located 
on  Lot  82  where  the  Mann  House  now  is,  owned  by  William  Armstrong,  leased 
by  Thomas  and  Robert  Thompson.  A  sister  of  the  landlords  Miss  Jane  Thomp- 
son, was  living  with,  and  assisting  her  brothers  to  manage  the  hotel  business, 
and  Jacob  Dunaway  finding  her  to  be  a  woman  of  good  sense  and  business 
ability,  pleasing-  and  attractive,  cultivated  her  acquaintance  so  well  that  they 
were  married  by  the  Rev.  N.  H.  Downing  on  the  20th  day  of  January  1852,  and 
seven  months  later  he  purchased  the  Hotel  property  and  livery  barn  op- 
posite, and  went  out  of  the  mercantile  business. 

Soon  after  he  purchased  of  Fink  the  stage  lines  between  this  town  and 
Beardstown  and  Jacksonville,  and  soon  extended  his  lines  from  Beardstown  to 
Rushville.  Tiiis  business  in  the  liav.ds  of  Mr.  Dunaway  became  a  good  one; 
and  he  soon  branched  out  into  handling  live  stock,  making  an  arrangement 
with  VVillian  Stevenson  to  buy  and  sell  hogs,  which  soon  grew  into  a  lai-ge  and 
lucrative  trade. 

Rich  ird  S.  Thomas,  the  President  of  the  Illinois  River  Railroad  Company, 
liad  succeeded  in  inducing  the  farmers  and  business  men  of  Cass  Couuty  to  be- 
lieve tli;it  the  stock  in  this  enterprise  would  be  a  good  paying  investment, 
•lacob  Dunaway  may  not  have  believed  all  that  was  said  by  way  of  argument 
in  favor  of  this  proposition,  but  he  certainly  believed  thac-  the  building  of  the 
Rail  Road  into  Virginia  would  add  materially  to  the  value  of  his  business  in- 
terests, all  centered  here.  He,  with  the  others  was  disappointed  in  this  ex- 
pectation; the  farmers  gained  nothing,  and  Dunaway  gained  but  little.  All 
people  who  lose  feel  like  cursing  somebody  for  their  misfortune,  and  turn  to 
the  nearest  object  upon  which  to  vent  their  spleen.  Whether  Thomas  really 
believed  all  he  preached,  or  whether  he  did  not,  made  not  the  least  difference, 
he  soon  found  himself  thoroughly  hated,  by  leason  of  the  fact  that  his  glow- 
ing promises  did  not  materialize.  This  v\as  probably  the  beginning  of  the  en- 
mity which  so  soon  grew  to  great  proportions,  between  R.  S.  Thomas  and  Jacob 
Dunaway.  Thomas  tried  to  effect  an  agreement  with  Dunaway  by  which 
tiie  R.  R.  Co.  should  sell  tickets  over  the  Rail  Road  and  also  over  his  stage 
lines,  and  make  periodical  settlements  with  him  for  the  portion  of  the  sales  to 
which  he  should  be  entitled.     Perhaps  Dunaway  feared  he  might  be  a  loser  un- 


-  '29\  - 

dersucli  an  arrangement,  but,  at  all  events  he  refused  to  make  the  deal. 
These  men  were  also  political  rivals;  Dunaway  was  a  prominent  and  influen- 
tial democrat,    while  Thomas  as  a  very  active  and  noted  whig. 

Thomas  owned  a  newspaper,  and  to  offset  its  influence,  Dunaway  pro- 
cured the  establishment  of  an  opposition  journal,  and  the  political  warfare 
waxed  hot  through  these  sheets.  As  the  bitterness  increased  Thomas  de- 
vised a  schexe  to  injure  the  business  of  Dunaway,  and  Henry  S.  Savage  and 
Henry  Murray,  two  warm  friends  of  Thomas  united  to  help  him.  Jesse  Dun- 
away, a  brother  of  Jacob  Dunaway,  was  in  his  employ,  in  the  conduct  of  the 
hotel  and  stage  lines.  A  bargain  was  made  with  Jesse  Dunaway,  by  wnicii 
the  latter  was  installed  in  the  old  N.  B,  Thompson  residence  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  the  west  square,  as  the  keeper  of  a  rival  hotel;  a  stage  line  svas 
then  established  with  headquarters  at  the  new  hotel,  :ind  an  effort  began  to 
take  from  Jacob  Dunaway  his  business.  Competition  commenced  and  con- 
tinued until  Thomas  advertised  to  take  passengers  to  Beardstown  or  to  .lack- 
sonville  over  the  stage  line  free  of  charge;  this  was  met  l)y  the  offer  of  Diina- 
v^ ay  to  take  the  passengers  free  and  furnish  them  a,  dinner  in  the  bargain. 
As  Dunaway  had  the  contract  to  carry  the  U.  S.  mails,  he  soon  broke  down 
the  Thomas  effort  to  supplant  him,  and  tiie  west  end  hotel  and  stage  LmisI- 
ness  was  short-lived.  In  the  meantime  the  newspaper  war  became  person;il 
l^etween  these  fighting  characters;  Dunaway  began  a  series  of  articles  against. 
Thomas,  charging  him  with  "stealing  the  widow's  mite  and  tlie  orphan's  sub- 
stance," and  inviting  Tliomas  to  a  controversy.  After  the  second  of  these 
articles  was  published  by  Dunaway,  Thomas  replied  with  a  charge  tliat. 
.Jacob  Dunaway  had  embezzled  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  a  drov^  of  cattle  be- 
longing to  the  father  and  br.'ther  of  .lacob  Dunaway,  and  that  he  brought  the 
money,  a  thousand  dollars,  to  Illinois.  Duiuxway  replied  to  this  by  beginning 
an  action  for  libel  against  Thomas  at  the  December  term  1860  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Cass  County.  Tiie  suit  was  removed  to  Morgan  County  and  tliere  the 
case  was  tried,  Dummer  and  Judge  Logan  of  Springfield  assisting  Thomas, 
wlio  was  himself  a  lawyer,  and  Pollard  and  Ross  appearing  for  Dunaway. 
Thomas  produced  .Jesse  Dunavvay  who  swore  that  Jacob  Dunaway  got  tlie 
money,  but  he  did  not  know  that  he  brought  it  to  Illinois.  As  the  story  ran, 
the  cattle  were  put  in  the  hands  of  Jacob  Dunaway  to  sell,  and  it  was  his 
business  to  get  the  money.  Then  Thomas  offered  to  prove  by  Dr.  Schooley 
that  Jacob  Dunaway  brought  money  to  Illinois  shortly  after  the  cattle  trans- 
action, but  the  court  would  not  admitthat testimony.  Then  Dunaway  offered 
Dr.  Tate  as  a  witness  who  testified  that  .Jesse  Dunaway  had  told  him  (Tate) 
after  the  Thomas  article  was  published  that  the  statements  were  all  untrue. 
The  next  move  in  the  case  was  to  bring  eleven  witnesses  to  swear  the  charac- 
ter of  Dr.  Tate  for  truth  and  veracity  was  bad,  and  that  the  11  witnesses  would 
not  believe  him  on  oath.  These  witnesses  were  examined  in  the  afternoon  of 
one  of  the  trial  days,  and  that  night  Jacob  Dunaway  sent  over  to  Virginia  for 
additional  witnesses;  the  next  day  seventeen  witnesses  appeared  and  testilied 
that  the  character  of  Dr.  Tate  for  truth  and  veracity  was  good  and  that  they 
(the  seventeen  men)  would  believe  liim  on  oath.  It  may  well  be  imagined  that 
this  was  a  most  bitterly  fought  lawsuit.  The  jury  found  a  verdict  in  favor  of 
Dunaway  for  three  thousand  dollars,  and  the  case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme 
Court,  which  held  that  if  Thomas  believed  the  charges  lie  made   were  true, 


-292- 

that  tlie  flamaj^es  found  against  liim  should  be  less,  than  tliey  should  be  if  the 
publication  was  made,  Ivnowingthe  charge  to  be  untrue.  Tliat  view  of  the 
law  was  not  made  sufficiently  clear  to  tlie  jury,  in  the  opinion  of  the  higher 
Court,  and  the  cause  was  sent  back  for  a  new  trial.  It  wa^  not  tried  agahi, 
however,  a  compromise  being  effected,  between  the  parties. 

About  tlie  year  18(i2,  Jacob  Dimaway  entered  into  partnership  with  Jacob 
Ward  for  the  buying  and  selling  of  cattle.  Ward  was  a  wealthy  farmer,  liv- 
ing some  three  miles  south  of  Virginia  on  the  Jacksonville  road  He  was  an 
old  setrler,  a  man  of  excellent  judgement  and  a  successful  money  maker.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Cass  county  commissioners  court  for  a  term  and  filled 
tlie  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people.  Cattle  were  bought  in  large  num- 
bers and  brought  into  the  county  and  delivered  to  the  farmers,  wlio  fed  them 
at  an  agreed  price,  per  pound,  for  the  gain  the  animals  made  and  when  fat- 
tened were  shipped  to  market.  Jacob  Dunaway  had  in  bis  employ  his  neptiew 
Alien  Dunaway,  his  brother  James  Dunway,  his  friend  William  Milstead,  and 
others.  Under  this  contract  many  tliousand  cattle  were  bought  and  sold,  and 
the  business  ran  along  until  about  1865,  when  the  partners  disagreed  and  each 
began  a  law  suit  against  the  other.  Before  the  time  came  to  try  these  suits, 
the  parties  concluded  to  refer  a  settlement  between  tnem  to  the  decision  of 
William  E.  Milstead,  wlio  was  a  shrewd  business  man  and  a  warm  friend  of 
each  of  the  disputants,  lie  having  been  in  the  employ  of  Ward  as  a  farmhand 
when  he  was  a  boy.  Milstead  heard  the  evidence,  but  before  he  made  his  de- 
cision, the  parties  concluded  not  to  allow  the  matter  to  proceed  farther  and 
.lacob  Ward  be^';an  a  chancery  proceeding  for  an  accounting  and  settlement  in 
the  Ciicuit  court.  His  attorney  was  Garland  Pollard  assisted  by  Henry  E. 
Diimnier  anil  Diuiaway  was  represented  by  Henry  B.  Mc  ilure,  of  Jacksonville, 
who  was  the  most  painstaking  lawyer  tlie  writer  ever  knew.  The  case  dragged 
on  from  yar  to  year.  Edward  P.  Kirby,  of  Jacksonville,  took  the  evidence. 
As  Jacob  Diuiaway  had  had  the  management  of  the  business;  had  employed 
and  paid  the  help,  and  knew  all  the  details  from  beginning  to  end,  while,  on 
the  other  hand  Mr.  Ward  had  entrusted  the  managementto  Dunaway,  the  re- 
sult might  have  been  known  to  a  certainty  from  the  b3ginning;  Mr.  Ward  was 
unable  to  establish  anything  wrong  in  the  account:  the  case  went  against  him, 
and  the  costs  thousands  of  dollars,  were  saddled  upon  him,  which  were  paid  the 
year  of  his  death. 

Gambling  is  the  curse  of  this  age.  It  has  been  denominated  a  disease  by 
some  philosophers;  if  they  are  right,  the  disease  should  be  classed  with  cancer 
which  it  so  much  resembles.  Its  germs  permeate  all  classes  and  conditions: 
it  is  found  in  all  climes  and  among  all  people.  The  zealous  female,  inspired 
with  the  zeal  of  the  christian  to  convert  tlie  world  to  Christ,  sails  over  the 
high  seas  to  the  remote  islands  and  finds  prospective  converts,  without  cloth- 
ing, and  comtirmed  gamblers.  The  common  gambling  dens  exist  in  all  cities 
and  large  towns,  and  in  the  smaller  places  the  games  are  played  in  box  cars 
and  upon  fair  grounds,  or  in  the  lofts  of  livery  barns.  The  merchant  church- 
member,  who  stays  out  of  gambling  dens  for  fear  of  detection,  will  buy  up 
pumpkins,  and  offer  prizes  to  his  liberal  patrons  if  tliey  can  guess  the  number 
of  the  seeds  within  the  shells.  Christian  women  form  clubs,  and  meet  on 
periodical  occasions  to  play  cards  for  prizes,  whic'i  consist  of  plated  ware  and 
such  like  commodities:  after  they  have  settled  the  matter  of  the  winning    of 


-  293  - 

tliese  prizes,  it  is  in  order  for  them  to  pass  resolutions  calling  on  the  mayor  of 
tlie  town  to  enforce  tlie  ordinances  against  gambling,  so  that  their  losing  hus- 
bands and  brotliers  will  have  more  money  which  they  can  get  to  pay  for  the 
next  set  of  prizes  for  their  club.  If  their  minister  cries  out  against  their  sin 
of  gambling,  they  get  angry  and  wish  liiin  to  resign  his  place  or  let  him  alone 
and  "preach  the  gospel".  Nearly  every  little  town  the  size  of  Virginia  has  its 
"Board  of  Trade,  headquarters"  more  properly  denominated  bucket-shops; 
here  one  may  find  a  lot  of  farmers  wiio  ought  to  be  in  their  fields  like  honest 
men,  "buying"  or  "selling"  oats,  or  corn,  or  short-ribs  or  some  other  commodi- 
ty, hoping  some  sucker  at  the  otlier  end  of  the  line  may  guess  wrong,  and  lose. 
Tiie  Illinois  November  hog,  standing  amidst  a  surplus  of  corn,  thinkshis  mas- 
ter a  most  benevolent  gentleman  for  dealing  so  generously  witli  him;  within 
six  weeks  when  the  master  has  his  knife  in  the  throat  of  tie  poor  beast,  his 
liberality  is  explained.  The  mastars  of  tlie  iiead  department  of  the  backet- 
shop  game,  throw  out  the  bait,  which  is  grabbed  up  by  ignorant  suckers;  when 
they  get  "fat"  enough  to  suit  the  taste  of  the  fellows  wiio  put  prices  up  or 
down  according  to  their  own  sweet  will,  they  rake  in  the  suckers  and  take  all 
they  have  and  strip  off  their  skin,  just  as  the  hog  feeders  do  with  poor  ignor- 
ant grunters.  It  is  impossible  to  squeeze  out  a  tear  of  sympathy  for  tliese 
vicbiins,  for  they  W3r3  i  )p  n,''  o  ■  >b  io  n;  »t  ler  l';!  oa^  i:  t'le  )t  le  •  end.  /V 
man  wiio  acquires  the  gambling  habit,  becomes  worthless  for  any  legitimate 
sober  business;  he  wants  something  for  nothing.  Slow  but  sure  gains  are  too 
dull  for  him,  he  craves  excitement.  A  gambling  merchant  would  not  employ 
a  gambler,  as  a  clerk  in  his  establishment,  if  he  knew  it.  A  careful  man 
would  not  become  the  surety  for  a  gambler,  if  he  knew  he  liad  the  disease. 
Very  like  the  gambler  is  the  speculator  or  plunger. 

In  1870,  Jacob  Dunaway  was  a  gentleman  of  leisure,  out  of  active  busi- 
ness life.  He  vvas  the  owner  of  tne  Virginia  Mills,  the  liotel,  the  livery  barn, 
and  other  rent  producing  properties;  in  1867,  he  built  and  completed  a  good 
and  sabstantial  two-story  residence  on  lot  98  in  the  city,  (now  owned  by 
James  Graves)  in  which  he  and  his  family  lived  comfortably  ;it  their  ease 
with  an  ample  revenue  to  support  them  in  excellent  style.  lie  often  told  this 
writer,  that  any  man  who  would  begin  and  continuously  follow  up  the  busi- 
ness of  buying  and  shipping  cattle  would  become  a  bankrupt;  in  support  of 
his  opinion,  he  would  cite  the  cases  of  many  and  many  a  man  from  John  T. 
Alexander,  the  famous  cattle-king,  down  to  the  small  dealer.  Then  he  would 
say  that  only  the  shrewd  man  knew  wlien  to  quit  the  business;  that  lie  and 
Ward  who  made  money,  quit  at  the  right  time.  Bub  Jacob  Dunaway  had  the 
gambling  or  speculative  fever  in  his  blood.  His  disposition  was  so  uneasy  and 
nervous,  that  he  could  not  content  himself  to  take  life  easy,  with  a  plenty  for 
himself  and  family.  He  must  get  out  once  more  into  active  life.  He  induced 
Phillip  A.  Buracker,  a  prosperous  and  wealthy  farmer,  and  Samuel  H.  Pete- 
tish,  a  retired  farmer  and  banker,  both  of  whom  should  have  known,  and  did 
know  better,  to  engage  with  him  in  the  cattle  buying  and  shipping  business. 
Dunaway  took  upon  himself  the  management  of  it,  and  in  a  few  short  years 
he  was  landed  into  tlie  United  States  Bankrupt  Court,  a  ruined  man.  He 
was  stripped  of  his  property,  and  at  his  age  could  not  hope  to  rise  again.  In 
disgust  he  went  to  the  state  of  Kansas,  but  soon  becoming  dissatistied  with 
life  there,  returned  to  Virginia,  where  he  spent  the  remaining  days  of  his  life. 


-294- 

in  the  house  belonging  to  his  wife,  and  dependent  upon  lier,  forevery  penny  he 
expended. 

From  the  time  Virginia  lost  the  county  seat  at  the  election  held  in  the 

year ,  its  people  had  hoped  to  one  day  regain  it.    Tiie  fact  that  this  town 

was  very  near  the  geographical  center  of  the  county,  while  Beardstown  was 
at  the  extreme  west  end,  served  as  an  excellent  argument  in  favor  of  its  re- 
turn here,  but  several  subsequent  effjrts,  had  resulted  in  failure.  In  1865, 
Jacob  Dunaway  and  others  established  at  Virginia  the  Farmer's  National 
Bank,  which  brought  to  the  town  the  business  of  many  large  farmers  who 
had  Icept  their  funds  in  the  Jacksonville  banks.  Ttie  time  had  come  for  an- 
other perioJical  spell  of  building,  as  these  building  booms  come  and  go  in  all 
towns;  with  the  establishment  of  the  bank,  came  the  platting  of  the  new  ad- 
dition to  the  town  of  Barden  and  Wood;  the  rapid  sale  of  town  lots,  and  new 
buildings  began  to  arise  in  rapid  succession.  At  that  time  Beardstown  had 
been  suffering  from  a  long  period  of  financial  depression;  Judge  Dummer  and 
Garland  Pollard  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  county  had  disposed  of  their  prop- 
erty and  left  the  place.  Thg  old  time  prosperity  of  the  city  which  had  been 
built  up  by  reason  of  the  river  trade,  had  so  fallen  off,  that  many  of  the  lead- 
ers in  busine.ss  life  had  lost  and  gone.  Tlie  failure  of  the  Leonard  bank  about 
that  time  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  place  Tlie  Park  Hotel,  which  had  been  a 
good  property  had  become  so  worthless,  that  the  owner  had  turned  it  over  to 
Andy  Maxwell  rent  free  with  the  furniture  included,  and  as  late  as  18(57  and 
18()8,  he  was  paying  bit  $300  per  year  rent  for  it.  The  boom  occasioned  by 
the  establishment  of  the  railroad  siiops  had  not  yet  begun.  The  chance  to 
get  the  county  seat  removed  seemed  to  have  arrived.  In  1870,  the  new  con- 
stitution of  the  state  was  adopted  which  provided  that  a  county  seat  might 
be  removeil  to  a  point  nearer  tlie  center  if  a  majority  vote  of  tlie  county  so 
determined,  but  to  remove  it  to  a  point  farther  from  the  center  a  three-fifths 
vote  sliould  be  re(iuired.  This  was  encouraging  to  the  Virginia  people  as 
they  concludetl  that  incase  they  could  effect  a  removal  and  the  erection  of 
county  buildings,  they  could  retain  the  seat  of  justice  here  indefinitely. 

An  election  was  arranged  to  be  held  upon  the  12th  day  of  November, 
1872  Jacob  Dunaway  had  been  the  Virginia  leader  in  the  battles  with 
Beardstown  He  knew  the  strength  of  r,he  t^nemy,  better  than  any  other 
man  here.  He  formed  a  plan  of  battle;  he  proposed  to  build  and  offer  to  the 
people  of  thecoujity  a  court  house.  He  knew  that  there  was  a  court  house 
and  jail  at  Beardstown,  which  had  answered  the  purpose  for  many  years,  and 
that,  after  the  result  of  the  prop  )sed  election  should  t)e  a-inounce  i,  next 
move  would  be  the  preparation  of  county  buildnu'-s:  thao  if  Virginia 
would'  prep  ire  the  court  h  )use  free  t )  th  )se  outside  of  ttie  town,  that  many 
voters  near  the  half  way  mark  between  the  two  cities,  would  vote  for  removal 
who  otherwise  would  vote  against  it.  This  plan  of  Dunaway  m^t  with  little 
favor  at  first,  it  was  objected  that  a  citv  uid  no  power  to  build  a  court  house; 
to  this  Dunaway  responded  "yes,  but  wecan  builda  city  hall  and  let  the  county 
use  it."  He  kept  to  work  hammering  t  tie  idea  into  those  who  would  listen 
to  him;  they  knew  that  he  was  a  far  seeing  and  skillful  tighter,  and  at  length 
he  had  liis  way.  I'he  building  was  contracted  for  and  built  in  time  to  offer  it 
to  the  people  for  their  temple  of  justice  for  99  years.  The  election  was  a  ter- 
rible battle;  the  result  was  a  majority  upon  the  returns  of  but  128,  but  under 


-  295  - 

the  law  a  majority  of  all  the  voters  was  necessary  to  effect  a  removal.  Many 
who  sliould  have  voted  for  removal  voted  against  it.  Even  the  election 
officers  wlio  resided  in  the  adjoining-  precinct  of  Monroe  precinct  refused  to 
vote  eitlier  way,  and  were  counted  against  Virginia.  After  the  case  had 
been  tried  in  the  Circuit  Court  and  then  went  on  to  the  Supreme  Court;  after 
all  the  sifting  was  done,  there  remained  but  eight  majority  in  favor  of  Vir- 
ginia. But  for  the  following  in  the  lead  of  Jacob  Dunaway  tlie 
election  would  have  been  lost,  and  the  succeeding  growtli  of  the  city  of 
Beardstown  would  have  resulted  in  the  erection  of  permanent  county  build- 
ings in  that  city,  and  the  people  of  this  day  and  generation  would  have  never 
seen  the  seat  of  justice  in  the  town  of  Virginia.  Except  for  .Jacob  Dunaway, 
the  seat  of  justice  would  liave  remained  in  the  city  by  the  river. 

Wlien  the  people  of  Township  Seventeen,  Range  Ten  defeated  the  proposi- 
tion of  taxing  themselves  the  sum  of  $1.5,000  to  aid  in  the  extending  of  the 
Peoria  Rail  Road  to  Jacksonville  in  18(58,  it  was  Jacob  Dunaway  who  was  tlie 
loudest  to  object  to  this  donation;  after  its  defeat,  the  company  refused  to  ex- 
tend the  line  through  the  city,  but  built  along  the  section  line,  and  erected  the 
depot  a  half  mile  from  town;  a  few  years  later,  when  the  Springfield  road  was 
located  and  built  through  here  Jacob  Dunaway  in  order  to  prevent  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  union  depot  at  tiie  junction  of  the  two  roads,  went  to  work,  and 
persuaded  tlie  town  to  donate  one  thousand  dollars  toward  the  building  of  the 
present  depot:  since  tliat  time  the  Peoria  R  R.  officials  have  proposed  to  the 
ofHcers  of  the  other  road,  the  consolidation  of  the  business  at  tlie  junction, 
the  latter  have  refused  for  the  reason  that  the  town  of  Virginia  had  paid  for 
the  depot  and  it  ought  not  to  be  moved  For  this  enterprise  tlie  credit  belongs 
to  Jacob  Dunaway,  and  to  none  other 

In  appeai'aiice,  Jacob  Dunaway  was  tail,  some  six  feet  in  lieight,  weighing 
about  180  pounds;  light  hair  and  large  light  blue  eyes.  He  was  a  very  forceful 
man.  He  was  a  born  leader.  He  had  no  use  for  the  man  who  would  not  lis- 
ten to  him,  and  be  guided  by  his  opinion;  he  was  exact  in  his  business  methods; 
was  prompt  in  the  payment  of  his  obligations;  would  never  give  up  the  pur- 
suit of  anything  he  wished  to  accomplish,  so  longas  there  wasa  ghost  of  ;i, 
chance  to  succeed.  He  was  on  several  occasions  chosen  as  the  Treasurer  of 
tlie  city;  at  one  time  was  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  In  all  these 
positions  he  discharged  his  duties  with  honesty  and  ability. 

His  financial  reverses,  liereinbefore  described,  sorely  affected  him;  lie  be- 
came sour  and  morose  in  his  manner,  and  shunned  society.  He  certainly  had 
reason  to  think  that  Fate  had  treated  him  harslily,  and  lie  died  a  disappointed 
and  unhappy  man. 

In  his  family  relations  Jacob  Dunaway  was  a  model;  lie  was  a 
kind  indulgent  husband  and  father.  He  was  a  good  neighbor;  he  was  an  ex- 
ample of  industry,  perseverance,  and  economy.  If  he  had  been  well  educated 
he  would  have  become  a  noted  man,  had  his  life  been  cast  in  a  large  city,  in- 
stead of  being  spent  in  a  small  country  town. 

Jacob  Dunaway  died  in  this  city  on  Friday,  March  13,  1891,  aged  one 
month  less  than  74  years;  he  was  survived  by  his  wife  (still  living)  and  by  five 
sons  and  one  daughter.  He  was  buried  at  Walnut  Ridge  Cemetery,  by  a  large 
gathering  of  his  friends  and  neighbors.  "After  life's  titful  fever,  he  sleeps 
well." 


-296- 


DR.  SAMUEL  McCLURE, 


BY  DEI.  J.  F.  SNYDER 


PRIOR  to  tlie  organization  of  Cass  county,  in   IS.n,   it  is  doubtful   if  the 
Homeopathic  maxim,  Similia  similibus  curanter,  liad   ever  been   heard 
of  on  the  sunset  side  of  the  Wabash.     Nor  1^  it  probable  that  the  name 
of  Hanneman,  or  the  marvelous  efficacy  of  his  infinitesimal  attenuations  had 
been  mentioned  anywhere  in  the  broad    prairies  or  back-woods  of  Illinois. 
Bui  before  that  period  there  had  come  into  the  Prairie  State  several   practi- 
tioners of  a  system  of  medicine  which, 
if  not  as  elegant   and    harmless    as 
Homeopathy,    liad    for     its     materia 
medica  a,  ]\ne  of  therapentical   agents 
a  good   hotter    and    more    energetic 
than        Hauneman's.      They       were 
disciples  of  Dr.   Samuel  Thomson,   of 
Boston,  and  were  known  as     'Ttiom- 
sonians,"  but  designated  by  the  regu- 
lar profession  as  "Root  and  Yerb  Ped- 
dlers."    They      styled       themselves 
"Botanic   Doctors;"  having  as    their 
motto.  Finis  coronat  opus,   employing 
only   vegetable  remedies,   and    ignor- 
ing calomel   and  all  other  medicines 
derived    from    the  mineral   kingdom 
as     being     incompatible      with    the 
juices    and    humors    of    the   human 
s.\stem.    To  that  school   of    practice 
Dr.  McC'lure  belonged. 
Samuel  McCiure  was  born  on  a  farm 
DR.  SAMUEL  McCLURE.  not  far  from  Versailles,  in   Woodford 

county,  K'^n'uck^.  oa  the  5th  of  Qjitob^r,  1S03.  His- father,  Alexander  Mc- 
Ciure, was  of  Scorch-Irish  des'ent.the  son  of  Alexander  McClure  a  soldier  in 
the  Revolutiofiirv  war  who  was  one  of  the  patriot  army  at  the  siege  of  York- 
town,  and  was  present  at  the  sur;euder  of  Lord  Cornwallis.  The  Doctor's 
mother,  as  a  girl,  was  Ann  Dupuy,  descended  from  an  old  French  family  of 
Huguenots  who  fled  from  Fni'ice  to  America  atari  early  dav  becau.se  of  relig- 
ious proscripri  )n.  The  D^jror's  father  was  a  slaveh  )lder  and  planter  in  af- 
fluent circa  nstances,  and  sent  tiim  to  .scliool  while  the  niggers  did  the  work 
on  the  farm.     ('ons(iuently,  the  D.)Ctor  acquired  what  in  his  day   was  consid- 


-  297  - 

ered  a  Hberbal  education,  not  comprising  the  classics,  bufc  the  main  elemen- 
tary branches  of  learning  then  taught  in  the  best  scliools  of  the  bluegrass  re- 
gion of  Kentucky.  By  the  time  his  school  days  were  ended  he  began  tothinli 
seriously  of  engaging  in  something  to  msike  his  learning  available  for  in- 
dependent subsistence.  Too  cultured  and  retined  to  continue  work  on  the  farm 
and  make  a  field  hand  along  with  the  slaves,  and  seeing  nothing  in  his  reach 
better  tlian  school  teaching,  he  commenced  that  with  the  intention  of  adopt- 
ing it  as  a  life  profession.  In  that  calling  lie  was  quite  successful,  teaching 
several  terms  in  both  Kentucky  and  Mississippi,  and  earning  the  reputation  of 
a  good  teacher  and  superior  grammari  in  Thit  reputation,  h  )A'ever,  did  not 
wholly  satisfy  his  ambition.  With  aspirations  for  promotion  to  higher  social 
standing  than  that  of  an  ordinary  country  teacher,  he  devoted  his  spare  time 
while  teacliing  in  Kentucky  to  tlie  study  of  medicine;  or,  more  properly,  to 
reading  Dr.  Thomson's  books  on  Botanic  medicine  By  the  time  he  tinislied 
that  course  he  felt  himself  competent  to  enter  upon  the  active  duties  of  tlie 
profession.  Tiiereupon  he  abandoned  the  schoolroom,  and  for  some  years  be- 
fore leaving  his  native  state  practiced  liis  new  profession  as  a  Docter, 
though  not  an  M.  D.  He  was  in  the  practice  during  tlie  epidemic 
of  Asiatic  cholera  that  swept  througii  the  west  in  1833,  and 
his  treatment  of  that  awful  scourge  was  as  effectual  as  Miat  of  the  old-sciiool 
physicians,  tiie  d  sease  yielding  to  his  capsicum,  lobelia,  No.  6,  &  c,  about  as 
readily,  or  more  so,  than  to  any  other  class  of  remedies.  There  were  other  im- 
portant matters  to  occupy  the  Docter's  mind  that  year  apart  from  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine,  altliougn  that,  during  the  epidemic  of  cholera  along  with 
the  usual  endemics  of  the  country,  was  amply  sufficient  to  keep  any  com- 
mon Doctor's  tliinking  organs  reasonably  busy.  On  tiie  13tii  of  March,  1833, 
Dr.  Samuel  McClure  married  Miss  Louisa  W.  Graff,  tiie  daugliter  of  one  of  the 
most  substantial  farmers  in  that  neighborhood. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  Dr.  McClure  was  accustomed  from  infancy 
to  slavery  in  all  its  most  favorable,  as  well  as  revolting  aspects.  He  grew  up 
in  tlie  belief  tliat the  institution  was  morally  wrong,  thougli  sanctioned  by 
the  Scriptures,and  siiould  be  abolished.  So  repugnant  did  tiie  holding  in  liope- 
less  bondage  of  an  ignorant  innocent  race  become  to  him  that  iie  resolved 
after  his  marriage  to  leave  tlie  slave  holding  south,  as  soon  as  he  could 
and  seek  a  new  home  in  the  free  north.  Thereupon  he  set  about  making  pre- 
parations to  leave  the  land  of  his  birth  and  his  kinsman,  to  form  new  associa- 
tions and  business  relations  among  strangers. 

In  1832  the  Asiatic  cholera  invaded  the  United  States  for  the  first  time. 
It  was  brougiit  from  Europe  by  an  emigrant  ship  to  Halifax  From  there  it 
rapidly  traveled  westward,  overtaking  on  the  great  lakes,  and  overwhelming, 
the  thousand  United  States  troops  General  Winfield  Scott  was  hurrying  from 
Fortress  Monroe  to  the  Upper  Mississippi  to  assist  in  the  expulsion  from 
Illinois  of  Black  Hawk  and  his  band  of  Indians.  In  the  month  of  July  it 
swept  away  more  than  half  of  those  soldiers  before  General  Scott's  arrival  at 
Prairiedu  Chein.  Held  in  abeyance  there  by  the  cold  winter,  the  next  spring 
it  descended  the  Mississippi,  spreading  through  its  valley  and  up  that  of  the 
Ohio,  marking  its  track  with  dismay  and  death.  In  midsummer  it  reached 
Dr.  McClure's  locality  in  Kentucky  affording  him  and  other  physicians  there 
ample  employment  and  novel  experience. 


-298- 

In  the  early  spring  of  1834,  with  a  good  team  and  wagon  loaded  with 
"household  plunder,"  the  doctor  and  his  young  wife  set  out  for  the  promised 
land  then  Icnown  far  and  nearasthe  Sangamon  country.  Entering  Illinois  by 
crossing  the  Ohio  at  Shawneetown,  he  wended  his  way  up  into  Morgan  county 
to  a  point  a  few  miles  southeast  of  Jacksonville  where  some  of  his  Kentucky 
acquaintences,  wiio  had  preceded  him,  had  settled.  That  summer  and  fall 
he  found  employment  there  as  a  farm  liand  in  cradling  wheat  and  oats  and 
sowing  wheat,  by  which  he  earned  enough  to  pay  current  expenses 
When  he  came  to  Illinois  in  April,  18.34,  John  Reynolds  was  Governor  of  the 
state  and  Joseph  Duncan,  who  resi  led  in  Jacksonville,  was  the  representative 
oftfiat  district  in  congress.  At  the  August  election  that  summer  he 
was  elected  governor,  being  succeeded  in  congress  by  William  L.  May,  of 
Springfield,  and  Reynolds  was  elected  to  congress  from  the  Bellville  district. 
Illinos  was  rapidly  tilling  up  with  immigrants  from  the  south  and  east  and 
was  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition. 

Dr.  McClure  taut;hta  country  sciiool  in  the  winter  of  1834-35,  in  the 
meantime  looking  around  over  the  country,  and  gaining  all  the  information 
he  could  respecting  its  vacant  lands,  resources,  and  its  people.  By  the  time 
the  grass  began  to  grow,  and  the  timber  line  was  tinged  with  green  in  the 
spring  of  1835,  he  moved  up  into  that  part  of  Morgan  wiiich  two  years  later 
was  cut  olf  from  it  and  organized  as  Cass  county,  and  laid  a  claim  on  the  frac- 
tional S.  W.  qr.  of  Sec.  19,  T  17,  R.  10—140  70-100  acres— which  he  did  not 
enter  until  Nov.  5th,  1835.  There  he  established  his  home,  and  dwelled  the 
balance  of  his  life,  rhe  farm  lie  improved  there— yet  known  as  the  "Dr. 
McClurefarm"— is  situated  in  Monroe  precinct  a  mile  south  of  tlie  Provi- 
dence church  and  schoolliouse,  and  five  miles  southwest  of  Virginia,  the 
town  Dr.  Hall  laid  out  the  next  year  after  Dr.  McClure  settled  there.  When 
established  in  Illinois  ttie  I))ctor  became,  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  a 
farmer,  directing  his  attention  and  labor  mainly  to  improving  his  land  by 
building  a  dwelling  house,  stable,  fences,  and  putting  in  crops  of  oats  and 
corn.  While  employed  witli  all  that,  however,  he  did  not  neglect  iiis  pro- 
fession, but  attended  the  sick  whenever  iiis  services  were  needed  for  that 
purpose.  He  also  taugtit  school  in  tiie  winters  wlien  work  on  the  farm  was 
slack  or  suspended,  and  so,  managed  to  be  idle  very  little  of  iiis  time.  Tiiere 
was  no  public  school  system  at  tliat  period,  and  the  country  was  too  new  to 
attract  many  sciiool  teachers,  consequently  the  Doctor's  schools  were  quite 
an  accommodation  and  advantage  to  that  neighborhood  as  well  as  a  source  of 
some  protit  to  himself.  A  few  gray-haired  persois  still  living  here  who  were 
then  his  sciiolars  speak  of  him  as  an  excellent  teactier  of  mild,  pleasant  dis- 
position, and  very  patient  and  painstaking  in  his  methods  of  instruction  and 
enforcing  necessary  discipline.  By  his  industry  and  frugality  he  was  in  a  few 
years  comfortably  situated  on  his  valuable  farm  well  cultivated,  with  tine  fruit 
orchards  and  an  ample  supply  of  horses,  cattle  and  otlier  live  stock. 

He  theti  quit  teaching,  and  a  little  later,  meeting  a  case  tiiat  destroyed 
his contidence  in  the  infallibility  of  the  noble  science,  abrubtly  retired  from 
the  practice  of  medicine.  He  was  called  one  day  a  few  miles  west  of  his 
place  to  see  Henry  Schaetler,  a  neighbor  for  whom  he  entertained  a  high  re- 
gard, who  had  a  "congestive  chill,"  which  in  those  days  were  of  frequent  oc- 
currence.    He  treated  him  seeundum  artem  with  tlie  usual  course  of  hot  teas, 


-  299  - 

lobelia,  No.  6,  elecampane  and  comfrey,  all  of  which  failed  to  produce  the  de- 
sired reaction.  Then  resorting  to  heroic  measures  he  gave  the  patient  two 
tablespoonsful  of  pulverized  Cayenne  pepper— or  capsicum— and  went  home. 
Prof.  Joseph  McDowell,  of  St.  Louis,  in  his  lectures  to  the  students  of  his 
classes,  often  told  of  a  case  of  tubercular  consumption  he  cured  by  the  liberal 
use  of  whiskey;  but,  unfortunately,  about  the  time  the  cure  was  perfected 
the  patient  died  of  "jim-jams,"  or  delirium  tremens.  Dr.  McClure  was 
alarmed  by  the  serious  condition  of  his  friend  Schaeffer,  and  so  uneasy  that  on 
getting  to  his  home  he  Could  neither  eat  or  sleep.  To  his  wife  who,  in  the 
middle  of  the  night,  asked  him  the  cause  of  his  agitation,  he  said,  "Louisa,  I 
believe  that  red  pepper  I  gave  to  Henry  Schaeffer  will  kill  him.  I  have 
prayed  to  the  Lord  to  spare  his  life;  but  whether  he  gets  well  or  dies  this  is 
the  last  of  my  Doctoring."  It  is  quite  evident  that  the  Lord  obligingly 
granted  his  prayer;  for  Schaeffer  got  well,  and  often  afterwards  jocularly  re- 
marked, "That  handful  of  red  pepper  I  took  knocked  the  chill,  but  came 
mighty  near  knocking  me  too;"  and  considered  himself  peculiarly  fortunate 
in  having  survived  both  the  disease  and  the  treatment.  That  case  termi- 
nated Dr.  McClure's  professional  career 

Henceforth  he  led  tlie  tranquil  and  uneventful  life  of  a  thrifty  prairie  farm 
er,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  business,  and  generally  on  good  terms  with 
himself  and  all  his  neighbors.  '  lir  figure  he  was  somewhat  rteshy,  a  little  over 
medium  height,  usually  weighing  abont  180  or  190  pounds.  His  hair,  when 
young  was  of  light  brown  color,  his  eyes  blueish  gray,  and  his  face  expressive 
of  a  kindly  nature  with  ample  tirmness'and  decision.  With  selflshnessenough 
to  take  good  care  of  liis  own  interests,  he  possessed  the  noble  qualities  of  can- 
dor, truthfulness  and  conscientious  honesty..  Straightforward  in  all  his  deal- 
ings his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond— as  good  as  any  man's  bond — ,  and  though 
exacting  all  that  was  due  him,  he  scrupulously  met  every  obligation  to  the 
fraction  of  a-cent.  Not  particularly  distinguished  for  liberality  or  generosity, 
he  was  kind-hearted  and  compassionate, always  ready  to  accommodate  a  neigh- 
bor or  help  anyone  in  need  or  distress.  In  disposition  he  was  social,  compan- 
ionable and  hospitable,  generally  ctieerful,  and  not  given  to  anticipating 
trouble, or  grieving  about  mishaps  that  could  not  be  remedied.  A  good  talker, 
always  grammatically  correct  in  his  language,  he  spoke  with  the  broad  inflec- 
tion, and  with  many  of  the  plirases  and  idioms,  peculiar  to  the  south.  His  con- 
versation plainly  ihdicated'that  he  had  been  raised  where  plantatioa  niggers 
abounded,  and  was  not  a  Yankee.  In  party  politics.however,  he  was  decided- 
ly in  accord  with  some  of  the  New  England  ideas.  At  that  period  in  Illinois 
the  most  extreme  and  detestable  brawlers  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  were 
men  trom  southern  states  who  had  sold  their  slaves  there,  and  with  the  pro- 
ceeds of  that  human,  or  inhuman,  traffic  secured  land  and  homes  here.  Dr. 
McCure  was  in  harmony  with  that  class.  His  father,  whodied  when  on  a  visit 
in  Texas  in  1839,  owned  a  farm  and  several  slaves  in  Kentucky,  a  part  of  which 
fell  to  the  Doctor  by  inheritance.  Two  or  three  times  he  went  back  to  Jven- 
tucky  to  see  about  the  adjustment  and  distribution  of  his  father's  estate;  and 
thougli  lie  entertained  for  the  poor-downtrodden  slaves  of  his  share  the  most 
lieartfelt  sympathy,  he  did  not  emulate  the  example  of  Gov.  Coles,  and  bring 
them  to  Illinois  in  freedom  and  give  them  homesteads:  but  sold  them  witli 
the   balance   of   his   interests    in  the  estate  to  some  of  the  other  heirs,  and 


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pocketed  the  money  they  brought.  In  February.  1847,  he  bought  of  David  J. 
Moody,  a  land  speculator  of  Massachusetts,  the  eighty  acres  adjoining  his 
farm  on  the  west,  the  E.  i  of  the  S.  E.  qr.  of  Sec.  2-i  in  T.  17  of  R.  11,  being 
part  of  an  extensive  scope  of  land  in  that  neighborhood  that  Moody  had  ent- 
ered in  the  spring  of  1835. 

He  was  personally  acquainted  witli  Henry  Clay,the  idol  of  many  Kentuck- 
ians,  and  was  an  ardent  admirer  and  follower  of  that  illustrious  statesman. 
In  Kentucky  he  earnestly  endorsed  and  advocated  Mr.  Clay's  proposed  solu- 
tion of  ttie  vexatious  slavery  question  by  the  gradual  emancipation  and  coloni 
zation  of  all  southern  slaves,  but  in  free  Illinois,  still  azealous  Whig  and  later 
a  fervid  republican,  he  concluded  the  policy  of  gradual  emancipation  was  en- 
tirely too  slow,  and  clamored  for  the  immediate  abolition  of  slavery  every- 
where, and  securing  to  the  freed  negroes  all  civil  and  political  rights  enjoyed 
by  the  wliite  race.  Consequently  he  saw  in  the  results  of  the  civil  war  the  re- 
dressing of  a  stupendous  national  wrong  by  a  kind  and  merciful  Providence 
acting  througli  and  directing  tlie  Union  cause  and  its  guiding  spirit,  the  God- 
like Lincoln.  Dr.  McClure  was,  however,  by  no  means  a  "pernicious  partisan"" 
of  the  blustering,  aggressive  order.  Fixed  and  immovable  in  his  convictions, 
which  believed  to  be  riglit,  he  seldom  obtruded  them  upon  anyone  unasked 
and  accorded  to  others  the  riglit  of  individual  judgment  he  claimed  for 
liimself. 

Sometime  after  lie  came  to  Illinois  he  was  spiritually  converted  and 
joined  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  became  a  fervent  and  orthodox 
member,  subscribing  without  reserve  to  every  tenet  and  dogma  promulgated 
by  John  Calvin,  but  feeling  reasonably  sure  that  he  was  not  himself  one  of  the 
class  of  humanity  foreordained  from  the  beginning  to  be  damned.  Judged  by 
the  commonly  accepted  standard  of  correct  moral  deportment,  and  upright, 
honora  )le  conduct,  Dr.  McClure  was  a  true  Christian.  People  who  are  honest 
from  the  dictates  of  conscience  alone  are  as  scarce  as  four  leaf  clovers.  His 
honesty  was  of  tliat  kind,  not  a  mere  matter  of  policy,  but  the  prompting  of  an 
innate  sense  of  right  and  justice.  And  honesty  of  that  brand,  like  charity 
atones  for  a  multitude  of  faults,  lie  was  a  straight  Christian,  but  like  the 
Indians' tree,  so  straight  that  he  leaned  a  little  to  theother  side.'  That  is 
he  leaned  a  little  toward  Puritanism.  Njt  satisfied  with  p:)<sessing  the  spirit 
of  true  religion,  he  conformed,  "with  rigil  feature  anl  canting  whine,"  as 
precisely  as  he  could,  and  compelled  all  under  his  control  to  do  so,  with  the  old 
formalitias  of  the  church,  which  are  now  happily  almost  obsolete.  He  was 
one  of  t'lie  founders  of  the  Providence  church  in  Mofiroe  precinct  and  with 
Willam  Nisbet,  George  Wilson,  William  Petetish  and  Jacob  Bergen,  served  a 
long  time  as  one  of  its  trustees,  and  paid  one-t  liird  of  tiie  cost  of  the  church 
building  still  standing  tiiere.  In  early  life  he  joined  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  E'ellows  which  for  some  reason  failed  to  fulfill  his  expectations,  and  in  a 
years  he  quietly  dropped  out  of  it. 

Dr.  McClure  was  one  of  the  substantial,  reliable  citizens  of  Cass  county,  a 
good  neighbor,  a  good  man,  an  affectionate  and  indulgent  father  and  husband. 
He  was  the  supporter  and  promoter  of  cluirches,  schools  and  all  other  agencies 
of  moderncivilization.  While  not  at  all  a  crank  on  the  subject  of  social  re 
forms  his  influence  and  aid  were  always  given  to  sucli  movements  as  tended 
to  better  the  condition   of  society  by    improving  its  morals.     Tliough  a  bigot 


-  301  - 

and  zealot  in  a  community  of  liberal,  enlightened  views,  and  an  abolitionist  of 
the  Lovejoy  type  among  people  habitually  voting  the  straight  democratic 
ticket  and  with  no  disposition  or  desire  to  disturb  the  institution  of  slavery 
where  it  already  existed,  he  retained  the  respect  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew 
him  and  particularly  of  his  immediate  neighbors. 

The  doctor's  wife,  Louisa  W.  Graff,  sister  of  Wash.  Graff  the  widely  known 
wealthy  and  enterprising  farmer  of  the  northeastern  part  of  Morgan  connty, 
was  a  typical  sample  of  the  Illinois  pioneer  matron  reared  in  the  south.  De- 
voted to  her  family  and  her  home,  free  from  the  narrow  bigotry  and  immov- 
able prejudices  of  her  husband,  she  possessed,  with  habits  of  industry  and 
frugality,  a  kind,  benevolent  and  charitable  disposition,  and  all  the  highest 
excellence  of  Clu'istian  character.  She  was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Ken- 
tucky on  the  thirteenth  of  September,  1813  and  died  at  her  Cass  county  liome 
on  July  7,  1849,  at  the  early  age  of  35  years,  9  months  and  2i  days,  leaving  besides 
her  husband,  two  daughters  and  a  son  to  mournher  loss  and  cherish  her  memory 

The  eldest  daughter,  Parthenia  M.  McClure,  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Andrew  Jackson  Petefish,  the  son  of  a  neighboring  farmer,  in  September,  1858 
and  shortly  thereafter  the  young  couple  sought  for  a  new  home  in  Kansas. 
The  furious  political  upheaval  preceding  and  ushering  in  the  civil  war  impell- 
ed them  to  return  to  Cass  county,  and  when  the  sons  of  Illinois  were  called  to 
take  up  arms  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the  Quion,  "Jack"  Petetish— as  he 
was  familiarly  known—,  a  patriotic  Democrat— entered  the  military  service  as 
a  corporal  of  Co.  D.  101st  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteer  infantry.  In  the  Wa- 
hatchie  valley,  between  Chattanooga  and  Bridgeport,  in  Tennesee,  he  was 
sturck  by  a  confederate  shell  and  fatally  wounded.  Taken  to  a  field 
hospital  near  Chattanooga  he  lingered  there  awhile,  and  died  on  Nov.  3d,  1863. 
His  wife  is  now  the  widow  of  her  second  husband,  the  late  eminent  physician. 
Dr.  Macbeth,  and  resides  in  Denver,  Colorado. 

The  younger  daughter,  Ann  Dupuy  McClure,  was  married  on  Nov.  10th, 
1859,  to  Robert  Hall,  an  enterprising  young  farmer,  now  the  most  extensive 
land  owner,  and  best  known  citizen  in  Cass  county.  She  died  in  the  city  of 
Virginia  on  July  2-4th  1892. 

The  Doctor's  son,  Alexander  McClure,  served  his  country  well  and  faith- 
fully during  the  civil  war  as  a  soldier  of  Co.  K.  101st  Illinois  volunteer  in- 
fantry. After  his  father's  death  he  took  charge  of  the  farm,  and  the  next 
year,  1866,  married  Miss  Sarah  Ellen  Matthews,  oneof  the  beautiful  daughter's 
of  a  prominent  pioneer  farmer  residing  across  the  prairie  three  miles  to  the 
westward.  Imagining  that  lie  needed  more  elbow  room  for  territorial  expan- 
sion, he  left  Illinois  in  1875,  and  is  now  a  prosperous  farmer,  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen,  of  Page  county,  Iowa. 

Marriage  is  sometimes  prompted  by  ideas  of  expediency  as  much  as  by 
impulse  or  passionate  affection;  and,  as  marriage  is  altogether  a  lottery,  it 
may  turn  out  as  well  as  an  expedient  as  when  instigated  by  love  alone.  Per- 
haps that  was  the  light  in  which  Dr.  McClure,  in  middle  life,  viewed  it 
when  left  a  widower  with  three  young  children  to  raise  and  no  female  hired 
help  attainable.  At  any  rate,  after  a  mourning  period  of  nearly  two  years 
had  passed,  he  thought  it  expedient  to  look  around  for  another  helpmeet  to 
replace  the  one  he  lost,  to  be  a  mother  to  his  motherless  children.  He  looked 
around  until  down  in  Morgan  county,  not  far  from  the  town  of  Waverly,   he 


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found  a  widow  who  consented  to  try  her  chances  with  him  in  Hfe's  lottery. 
From  the  records  at  Jacksonville  it  is  learned  tliat  on  the  first  day  of  June. 
1851,  Dr.  Samuel  McClure  and  Mrs.  Marrina  M.  Warnack  "were  duly  joined 
in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  by  W.  S.  McMurry  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel." 
When  Mrs.  Warnack  assumed  the  unenviable  station  of  a  step-mother  in  the 
McClure  family,  the  Doctor's  oldest  daug'hter  was  a  g'rown  young  lady  of  18 
years,  the  next  daughter  was  sweet  sixteen,  and  the  boy  about  14  years  old. 
She  no  doubt  fared  as  well  as  the  most  of  step-mothers  do,  and  better  than 
some,  as  the  two  girls  soon  married  and  left,  and  the  boy  was  of  such  amiable 
disposition  that  he  gave  her  no  trouble. 

Dr.  McClure  was  intensely  interested  in  the  progress  and  ultimate  re- 
sults of  the  civil  war,  which  afforded  him  at  least  two  causes  for  heartfelt 
rejoicing;  one  of  them  was  the  safe  return  home  of  his  soldier  boy.  Alec,  wlio 
was  discharged  from  service,  in  18(33,  on  account  of  disability;  and  the  other 
was  the  summary  and  final  abolition  of  slavery.  His  rejoicing,  however,  was 
somewhat  dampened  by  distressing  failure  of  his  health  from  the  insiduous 
iiu'oads  of  Bright's  disease.  He  was  a  hopeless  invalid  wlien  he  heard  che 
startling  account  of  President  Lincoln's  assassination;  and  contined  to  his 
bed  when  he  received  the  joyous  news  that  the  war  was  ended  and  peace  re- 
stored. With  the  advance  of  summer  and  its  oppressive  heat  he  failed  rap- 
idly until  his  enfeebled  system  was  exhausted,  and  death  terminated  his 
suffering  on  the  :27th  of  August,  18(55,  at  the  age  of  (il  years,  10  months  and 
8  days. 

No  children  came  to  bless  the  doctor's  second  marriage.  His  surviving 
widow  sold  her  dower  interest  in  his  estate  to  Bob  Hall  for  $2,000  and  returned 
to  Morgan  county.  There  she  was,  two  years  later,  married  to  a  Mr.  Dinwid- 
dle who  survived  thatevent  but  a  few  years  and  died,  leaving  her  again  a 
widow.  Not  satistied  with  three  trials  of  the  wedlock  lottery,  she  was  once 
more  united  in  marriage  by  the  ministration  of  Robert  Clark,  to  Melzar 
Stowell  of  Cass  county  on  April  28tli,  1885,  that  being  Mr.  Stowell's  third  ven- 
ture in  the  same  lottery.  In  the  peace  and  quietude  of  declining  life  they 
resided  in  the  town  of  Virginia  until  death  called  her  to  everlasting  rest  at 
10  o'clock  a.  m.  on^22d  of  January  1891,  and  he  died  on  Sunday,  December  29th 
of  the  same  year. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

NUMBER  T-WO. 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


THE  early  settlers  In  this  county,  settled  along-  the  edge  of  the  timber, 
near  streams  or  springs  if  possible.  The  primitive  churches  were 
log  huts.  The  pioneers  buried  their  dead  upon  their  farms  near  their 
homes.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Princeton  thereareeightor  ten  burial  grounds 
within  a  radius  of  two  or  three  miles.  After  substantial  church  buildings  were 
erected  it  became  customary  to  establish  churcli-yards  for  the  burial  of  the 
dead  adjacent  to  the  church  buildings.  It  seems  to  have  been  taken  for 
granted  that  these  church  buildings  would  be  used  so  long  as  they  were  suit- 
able for  their  intended  use,  after  which  they  would  be  replaced  by  new  and 
better  ones.  This  expectation  has  not  been  realized,  and  in  consequence 
many  of  these  country  burial  places  have  become  neglected.  Some  three  miles 
south  of  Virginia,  on  the  Jacksonville  road  a  Methodist  church  was  erected 
about  1850,  by  Mr.  Yaple,  the  father  of  Matt  Yaple  of  this  city.  A  graveyard 
was  established  immediately  north  of  the  church  building.  The  church  has 
been  torn  away  in  this  year  (1906):  tlie  fence  about  the  burial  ground  has  gone 
into  decay;  Mr.  William  Price,  his  wife,  and  others  are  planning  to  remove 
the  remains  of  tlieir  departed  friends  ro  the  Walnut  Ridge  c^metery  belong- 
4ng  to  the  city  of  Virginia,  which  will  doubtless  be  well  cared  for  as  long  as 
the  city  exists.  The  same  fate  which  has  ovei'taken  this  Bethlehem  churcli 
and  graveyard  will  soon  overtake  many  other  country  churches  and  grave- 
yards in  this  county. 

In  Orleans  county,  in  the  western  part  of  the  State  of  New  York,  is  located 
a  town  in  which  is  a  Presbyterian  church,  a  Baptist  church,  a  Methodist 
church  and  a  Lutheran  church.  No  church  service  has  been  held  in  either 
the  Baptist  church  or  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for  more  than  sixty  years. 
The  Presbyterian  church  is  used  as  a  Temperance  Hall  and  the  Baptist  church 
is  used  for  no  purpose  whatever.  The  Lutheran  church  has  been  built  during 
recent  years  by  a  large  and  wealthy  membership. 

Some  of  the  country  grave  yards  in  this  county  are  still  well  cared  for 
while  others  appear  to  have  been  entirely  neglected  for  many  years  past.  The 
Cauby  grave  yard,  which  is  some  five  miles  northwest  of  this  city  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  William  Wubker  is  tilled  with  brush,  weedsand  brambles.  One 
large  slab  has  fallen  into  a  sunken  grave  and  was  entirely  covered  with  earth 
several  inches  in  depth.  A  neat  and  expensive  monument  six  feet  or  more  in 
height  is  so  surrounded  by  a  dense  growth  of  tall  bushes  that  it  can  not  be 
seen  from  any  point  a  few  feet  distant. 

On  the  N.  E.  quarter  of  the  S.   E.  quarter    of  section  34,   Township   17, 


Range  11,  less  than  tliree  miles  east  of  Arenzville.  on  a  handsome  elevation, 
lie  the  remains  of  Edward  Fletcher  and  live  of  his  children  and  grandchildren. 
These  graves  are  in  the  middle  of  a  pasture;  the  slab  erected  to  the  memory 
of  Mr.  Fletcher  lies  upon  the  ground  broken  in  several  pieces.  From  these 
may  be  read  the  following:— 

Edward  Fletcher,  Born  June  11,  179—,  died  184—,  aged  52.  From  Probate 
IJecords  of  Morgan  county  it  appe.irs  Mr.  Fletcher  died  on  October  2nd,   18-1-1. 

Here  is  the  sadly  neglected  grave  of  one  of  Cass  county's  old  settlers:  he 
entered  this  land  on  the  17  day  of  February  1836.  He  came  here  in  1830  from 
England:  to  his  home  John  Buckley  and  Mark  Buckley  made  their  way  in  the 
year  1837 and  were  hospitably  received  by  this  pioneer,  whom  they  hadkn  own  in 
England  previous  to  his  departure  to  this  new  and  far  off  land.  Edward  Fletch- 
er was  no  ordinary  man;  in  a  few  more  years  all  traces  of  his  last  resting  place 
on  the  land  he  redeemed  from  its  primitive  condition  will  be  lost.  There 
should  be  an  Old  Settlers  Association  to  mark  the  burial  places  of  these  old 
pioneers  by  suitable  monuments.  On  the  forty  acre  tract  west  of  that  where 
lie  the  remains  of  Edward  Fletcher,  on  the  old  Richards'  Farm,  is  the  sad 
remnant  of  a  burial  ground,  among  poison  vines,  thorn  brush  and  timber;  the 
fences  have  rotted  away;  many  of  the  marble  slabs  lie  broken  upon  the  ground. 
No  record  is  there  to  be  found  of  a  burial  for  the  past  quarter  of  a  century. 

On  the  other  hand,  there  are  quite  a  respectable  number  of  country  grave 
yards  that  are  well  cared  for.  The  (Jlark  grave  yard  three  miles  west  of  Vir- 
ginia and  north  of  the  residence  of  Edward  Davis  is  a  most  beautiful  spot. 
The  ground  is  tastefully  laid  out;  the  lots  are  marked  by  marble  corner 
posts.  The  monuments  and  substantial  slabs  are  numerous.  The  plat 
is  well  supplied  with  beautiful  evergreen  trees;  in  onecorner  is  a  neat  painted 
building,  ceiled  within,  in  wiiich  are  benciies  and  stove  for  the  use  of  funeral 
parties  in  bad  weather;  a  building  for  fuel  has  been  provided;  an  excellent 
fence  surrounds  the  ground  which  is  free  from  all  under  growth  and  weeds. 
Tlie  relatives  of  the  dead  that  lie  witliin  the  enclosure  deserve  great  praise 
for  the  care  they  have  taken  of  the  last  resting  place  of  their  friends  who  have 
gone  before. 

A  few  pages  of  this  volume  of  Historical  Sketches  may  well  be  spared 
in  describing  some  of  the  country  grave  yards,  for  no  man  can  tell  what  the 
future  has  in  store  for  them.  If  their  decendants  remain  in  the  vicinity, 
they  will  be  kept  in  respectable  condition,  if  they  sell  out  and  leave  the 
neighborhood,  will  strangers  spend  the  money  to  keep  the  grounds  fenced  and 
in  good  condition?  Not  if  these  strangers  prove  to  be  as  indilTerent  in  the 
matter  as  the  people  of  to-day.  A  few  weeks  ago  a  letter  was  sent  here  in- 
quiring for  the  record  upon  the  tombstone  of  the  father  of  the  writer  who  did 
not  know  where  his  parent  was  buried.  Inquiry  located  the  grave  in  the 
Bethlehem  yard  going  to  ruin;  a  few  years  hence,  the  son  may  not  be  able  to 
discover  any  trace  of  his  father's  last  resting  place. 

THE  WILLIAM  NISBET  GRAVEYARD. 

This  burial  place  is  located  four  miles  south  west  of  this  city  on  the  North 
west  quarter  of  the  north  east  quarter  of  Section  19,  Township  17,  Range  10, 
and  is  near  a  church  called  the  Providence  church.  Mr.  Nisbet  purchased 
this  land  of  William  Sommers  in  1839. 

The  first  recorded  death  in  this  cemetery  is  that  of  Margaret  Jane  Nisbet, 


-  305  - 

who  died  on  June  2(),  1840,  aged  22  years. 

The  remainder  are  as  follows:— 

John  McHenry,  1843—1903. 

Isabella  McHenry,  1823—1896. 

Nancy  McHenry,  1831—1896. 

James  D.  McHenry,  died  May  20, 1895,  aged  73  years,  5  months,  and  20  days. 

Jacob  McHenry,  died  March  25,  1869,  aged  76  years,  1  month,  8  days. 

Margaret,  his  wife,  died  January  10  1851,  aged  59  years,  14  days. 

Mary  McHenry,  died  August  20,  1847,  aged  79  years. 

William  McHenry,  died  November  18,  1845,  aged  25  years. 

Margaret  McHenry,  died  May  12,  1847,  aged  15  years,  11  months  and 
7  days. 

Margaret  McHenry,  died  February  18,  1843,  aged  35  years. 

Jane,  daughter  of  J.  and  N.  McHenry,  died  December  17, 1847,  aged  2  years, 
3  months. 

John  Glover,  died  February  18,  1842,  ager*  47  years,  6  moiiths. 

Arminda,  daughter  of  J.  and  N.  Glover,  died  August  6,  1840,  aged  2  years. 

Mary  McHenry,  1810-1884. 

Nancy  Glover,  born  December  22,  1797,  aged  66  years.  6  months,  25  days. 

William  McHenry,  died  December  14,  1865,  aged  60  years,  11  montlis  and 
22  days. 

James  McHenry,  died  February  14,  1867,  aged  65  years,  7  months,  2  days. 

Nancy,  wife  of  James  McHenry,  died  January  1,  1866,  aged  59  years, 
11  months,  7  days. 

Rachel  L.,  daughter  of  U.  and  J.  Hutchings,  died  October  14,  1865,  aged 
1  year,  10  months,  5  clays. 

Liddia  A.,  daughter  of  U.  and  J.  Hr.tchings,  died  May  10,  1874,  aged 
7  months. 

Mary  E.,  daughter  of  U.  and  J.  Hutchings,  died  June  4,  1890,  aged  23 
years,  1  month,  4  days. 

U.  Hutchings,  1836.— Note:  He  died  in  1906,  in  Oklahoma  and  is  buried 
by  his  wife  in  this  yard. 

His  wife,  Jane  McHenry,  1833-1893. 

Belle  N.  Hutchings,  1869-1893. 

Hattie  J.  Hutchings,  1872-1897. 

Catharine  V.,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary  Woodward,  died  June  18,  1847, 
aged  17  months. 

Amos,  son  of  Amos  and  Mary  Woodward,  died  August  30,  1852,  aged 
1  year,  5  months,  13  days. 

Margaret  E.,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Mary  Woodward,  died  August  31, 
1854,  aged  1  year,  7  months,  20  days. 

Amos  Woodward,  died  January  17,  1855,  aged  41  years,  6  months,   2   days. 

His  wife,  Marv  McHenry,  1817-1899. 

Hannah,  wife  of  J.  Dobson,  died  October  9,  1846,  aged  37  years. 

John  Dobson,  died  December  3.  1857,  aged  50  years. 

Emma  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  J.  E.  and  M.  Lacey,  died  August  7, 1878,  aged 
5  months. 

Eliza  Ann  Haslett,  died  August  25,  1852,  aged  1  year,  3  months,   29  days. 

Samuel  Haslett,  died  April  8,  1856,  aged  3  years,  16  days. 


-306- 

George  C,  son  of  W.  and  G.  Abney,  died  Aagust  10,  1848,  aged  1  month, 
Iday. 

Banister,  son  of  W.  and  G.  Abney,  died  November  5,  1848,  aged  8  years, 
5  months,  21  days. 

Alonzo,  son  of  A.  C.  and  J.  A.  Edgar,  died  July  4,   1871,  aged  3  months, 

15  days. 

Travis  A.  Edgar,  iDorn  August  16,  1869,  died  January  16,  1877. 

Julia  A.  Edgar,  born  June  5,  1848,  died  January  15,  1876. 

Gertrude  L.,  daughter  of  J.  B.  and  M.  M.  McKean,  died  January  13,  1885, 
aged  4  years  7  months,  24  days. 

Esther  L.,  daughter  of  J.  B.  and  M.  M.  McKean,  died  August  5,  1889, 
aged  3  years,  7  months,  25  days. 

Nancy  J.  Treadway,  born  April  April  21,  1855,  died  January  22,  1897. 

Mary  W.  Treadway,  died  August  30,  1879,  aged  59  years,  9  months. 

Sarah  PL,  wife  of  M.  McHenry,  died  July  31,  1868,  aged  56  years. 

James  Mc  Henry. 

M.  McHenry. 

William  W.  Dale,  Co.  A.  140  Indiana  Vol.  Inf..  born  May  16,  1849,  died 
March  28,  1883. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Joseph  Pence,  died  August  19,  1878,  aged  72  years,   7  days. 

Elizabeth  Boyles,  wife  of  J.  Springer,  born  in  Fayette  county,  Penn.,  in 
1813,  died  April  11  ,  1883. 

.Job  Spriuger,  born  in  Fayette  county,  Penn.,  January  15,  1803,  died  April 
14,  1882. 

Ellen  E.,  daughter  of  .lob  and  Elizabeth  Springer,  died  February  20,  1865, 
aged  13  years. 

Mary  Ann,  wife  of  E.  L.  Chapman,  born  February  14,  1842,  died  September 
7,  1881. 

Tommie,  son  of  E.  L.  and  M.  A.  Chapman,  born  October  15,  1878,  died 
March  5,  1880. 

Mary  Jane,  infant  daughter  of  II.  D.  and  C.  II.  Sweeney,  died  October  16, 
1850,  aged  13  days. 

Elizabeth  Sweeney,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Nisbet,  died  March 
3I,  1847,  aged  32  years. 

Our  mother,  Elizabeth  Nisbet,  died  May  (i,  1864,  age  82  years. 

John,  son  of  Thomas  and  Lucilla  Nisbet,  died  June  9,  1850,  aged  7  months, 
29  days. 

Lilly  Denny,  daughter  of  T.  J.  and  L.  S.  Nisbet,  died  March  6,  1872,   aged 

16  years,  10  months,  18  days. 

Emmy  R.,  wife  of  G.  W.  Mathews,  and  daughter  of  T.  J.  and  L.  Nisbet, 
born  July  17,  1852,  died  September  30,  1877. 

John  Marshal,  died  November  (5,  1855,  aged  43  year,  7  months,  4  days 

Mary  L.,  wife  of  John  Marshal  and  daugher  of  T.  and  E.  Nisbet,  died  Oct- 
ober 24,  1852,  aged  41  years,  9  months,  14  days. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  Nisbet,  born  June  13, 1836,  died  January  27,  1903. 

William  Nisbet,,  born  May  24,  1807,  died  March  28,    1892. 

Walter,  son  of  Wm.  and  E.  A.  Nisbet,  died  November  26  1882,  aged  19 
years,  8  months,  20  days. 

Chalmers  W.,  son  of  Wm.  andE.  A.  Nisbet,  died  December  9,  1888. 


-  307  - 

.years,  7  montiis,  Ki  days. 

George  Wilson,  born  October  31,  17!)5,  died  September  3,  1872,  aged  76 
years,  10  montlis,  2  days. 

Henrietta  B.,  daughter  of  G.  and  J.  B.  Wilson,  born  September  11,  1841, 
died  September  5,  1847. 

Jane  B.  Moore,  wife  of  George  Wilson,  born  June  25,  1798,  died  October  8, 
1877,  aged  79  years,  3  months,  13  days. 

Thomas  J.  Nisbet,  July  12,  1819;  January  8,  1891. 

Lucilla  S.,  wife  of  T.  J.  Nisbet,  January  30,  1836,  March  10,  1889. 

Eichard  Graves,  born  in  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  died  May  11,  1860,  aged  75 
years,  5  months,  4  days. 

Nancy,  wife  of  Richard  Graves,  born  in  Woodford  Co.,  Ky.,  died  May  14, 
1870,  aged  73  years,  4  months,  14  days. 

Mary,  wife  of  D.  Long,  died  September  19,  1875,  aged  54  years,  7  months, 
13  days. 

Sarah  E.,  wife  of  G.  L.  Loar,  died  July  10,  1860,  aged  23  years,  6  months, 
9  days. 

Rev.  John  Dale,  born  April  27,  1812,  died  November  15,  1871.  A  faithful 
and  zealous  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for  more  than 
25  years. 

Luella  Georgia,  daughter  of  John  and  Sophia  Dale,  born  February  22  1864, 
died  January  11  1867. 

Sophia  Alexander,  wife  of  Rev.  J.Dale,  born  March  28,  1820,  diedf  No- 
vember 3,  1871. 

Lelia  Emma,  wife  of  Edward  L.  Chapman,  died  December,  28,  1872,  aged 
17  years,  4  months,  14  days. 

Mary  E.,  infant  daughter  of  E.  L.  and  L.  E.  Chapman,  died  January  27, 
1873,  aged  1  month,  (i  days. 

Amanda  L.  daughter  of  Alex  and  S.  E.  McClure,  died  July  2,  1869,  aged  1 
year,  4  months,  13  days. 

Samuel  McClure,  died  August,  27,  1865,  aged  64  years,  10  months,  and  22 
days. 

Louisa  W.,  wife  of  Samuel  McClure,  died  July  6,  1849,  aged  36  years,  3 
montlis. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

NUMBER  TW^O. 


TKe  James  Crtxm  Graveyard. 

BY  HON.  J.  X.  (HUDLEY. 


THE  Union  Chapel  is  located  upon  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  south- 
east quarter  of  Sec.  36,  T.  17,  R.  11,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  tlie 
tract;  the  ground  was  donated  by  Oswell  Thompson  who  purchased 
the  land  of  Peter  Karges  in  1832.  The  James  Cfum  burial  ground  lies  across 
the  public  road  to  the  soutii  in  the  edge  of  Morgan  county  upon  the  northeast 
quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  Sec.  1,  in  T.  16,  R.  11,  which  was  entered 
by  one  Kirkpatrick.  This  church  was  erected  by  the  Protestant  Methodists 
and  Episcopal  Methodists  and  Baptists  with  the  understanding  that  each 
denomination  should  have  the  use  of  the  building  one  Sunday  each  month 
and  the  use  of  it  tiie  remaining  Sunday  to  be  determined  by  the  trustees. 
The  graveyard  was  donated  by  Mr.  Crum. 

This  burial  ground  is  well  located,  and  enclosed  by  a  good  and  substantial 
fence  and  is  evidently  well  cared  for.  The  first  recorded  death  in  this  cem- 
etery is  that  of  Margaret,  the  wife  of  R.  Mathews,  who  died  on  the  29th  day 
of  October.  1S34.  aged  26  years.    The  remainder  are  as  follows: 

Samuel  Thornley,  born  January  30,  1822,  died  March  26,  1901. 

Hugo  Thornley,  born  Augusi  18,  1831,  died  December  13,  1898. 

Anna  May  Thornley,  1860-1901. 

William  Franklin,  son  of  Hugo  and  Mary  Thornley,  died  July  11,  1865, 
aged  one  year  and  1  month. 

Emma  Lou,  daughter  of  Hugo  and  Mary  Thornley,  died  September  19, 
L867,  aged  1  year,  3  months,  3  days. 

Everett,  son  of  A.  M.  and  M.  L.  Thompson,  died  December  U,  1883.  aged 
5  months,  5  days. 

William  H..  son  of  A.  M.  and  M.  L.  Thompson,  died  June  21,  188.3.  aged 
7  years,  6  months. 

Nellie  E.,  daughter  of  A.  M.  and  M.  L.  Thompson,  born  Aug.  1,  1874  died 
October  19,  1874,  aged  2  months,  19  days. 

J.  M.  Richards,  died  April  2,  1872  aged  39  years,  1  month,  12  days. 

Hester  A.,  wife  of  J.  H.  Richards,  died  March  12.  1876.  aged  42  years,  7 
months  3  days. 

James  D.,  son  of  T.  and  M.  A.  Richards,  died  July  28,  1877,  aged  1  year,  4 
months,  20  days. 

Delilah,  wife  of  .1.  H.  Richards'  died  Sept.  2,  1860,  aged  .58  years,  4 months. 

James  H.  Richards  died  June  29,  1866,  aged  66  years. 

Nancy  Rhineberger,  born  Dec.  23,  1841,  died  May  13,  1879,  aged  37  years,  4 
months,  20  days. 


-  309  - 

Walter,  born  August  25.  1876:  died  March  28,  1880. 

Etta,  born  and  died  May,  1879— children  of  W.  H.  and  N.  Rhineberger. 

Infant  of  J.  and  M.  E.  Ater,  died  April  25,  1887. 

Elizabeth  Ater,  born  October  10,  18:53,  died  July  12,  1890. 

Hannah  H.,  wife  of  J.  B.  Kenworthy,  died  August  13,  1893,  aged  80  years, 

7  months.  8  days. 

Joseph  B.  Kenworthy,  died  January  20,  1875,  aged  64  years,  9  months,  21 
days. 

Joseph,  son  of  J.  T.  and  I.  M.  Cluuiesworth,  died  November  16, 1887. 

George  -  L.,  son  of  G.  and  M.  Charleswortli,  died  March  28,  1871  aged  2 
years,  8  montlis,  13  days. 

Mary  Lee,  daugliter  of  G.  and  M.  Cliarlesworth,  died  April   18,   1880,   aged 

8  years,  6  months  26  days. 

John  W.,  son  of  G.  and  M.  Charleswortli,  died  December  23,  1887.  aged  24 
years,  9  months,  18  days. 

Charles  W.,  son  of  T.  and  M.  Fozzard  died  December  17,  1857,  aged  1  year, 
10  days. 

David,  son  of  T.  and  M.  Fozzard,  died  July  1.  1851,  aged  7  months. 

Mary  Fozzard,  wife  of  Thomas  Fozzard,  died  May  10,  1875,  aged  51  years, 
3  months,  7  days. 

Thomas  Fozzard,  died  July  5,  1880,  aged  78  years,  1  month,  7  days. 

Eichard  D.,  son  of and  M.  Smart,  died   January   1,    1866,   aged  4 

years,  9  montlis,  2  days. 

Margaret  Thompson  born  Feb.  7,  1834,  died  July  23,  1878. 

Daisy,  daugliter  of  Wm.  T.  and  Nettie  Webb,  died  Feb.  2,  1888,  aged  2 
months,  12  days. 

Nettie,  wife  of  Wm.  T.  Webb,  died  March  13,  1888,  aged  23  years. 

Nancy  Crowther,  died  May  31,  1880,  aged  45  years. 

Catherine,  daughter  of  S.  and  N.  Crowther.  died  March  11,  1865,  aged  <i 
years,  11  months,  29  days. 

Oswell  Tliompson,  senior,  died  Sept  19,  1838,  aged  55  years. 

Catherine,  wife  of  Oswell  Thompson,  died  Nov.  18,  1859  aged  88  years. 

Nancy  Ater,  died  June  29,  1887,  aged  81  years,  6  months,  27  days. 

Bassel  Ater.  died  Oct.  5,  1866,  aged  (53  years,  10  months,  23  days. 

Martha  E.,  wife  of  A.  W.  Butcher,  died  May  21,  1860,  aged  31  years. 

Margaret,  widow  of  G.  Thompson,  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Oct.  29.  1806, 
died  at  Beardstown,  III.,  Sept.  7.  1884. 

George  Thompson,  died  Dec.  4.  1868.  aged  67  years. 

James  B.  Crowther.  died  Aug.  30,  1871.  aged  68  years,  10  months. 

Eichard  Mathews,  died  Nov.  17,  1874,  aged  73  years,  3  months,  (>  days. 

Amanda  F.,  wife  of  E.  Mathews,  died  Sept.  1890,  aged  75  years,  11  months 
20  days. 

Cyrus  M.,  son  of  E.  and  M.  Mathews,  died  October  27,  1839,  aged  9  years, 
5  montlis,  17  days. 

Mary  Ann,  died  April  9,  1858,  aged  (i  years,  8  months,  29  days. 

Franklin  E.,  died  February  2,  1863,  aged  19  years,  2  montlrs,  21  days: 
children  of  R.  and  A.  F.  Mathews. 

Lucy  A.,  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  E.  G.  Melone  and  wife  of  Rev.  W.  T. 
Beadles,  died  April  2,  1882,  aged  28  years,  11  months,  4  days. 


-310- 

Luella  Belle,  wife  of  T.  E.  Fox,  1861-1893. 

Plazel,  daughter  of  T.  E.  and  L.  B.  Fox,  born  January  22,  1893,  died 
September  15,  1893. 

John  H.  Melone,  1815-1893. 

Mary  C,  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  E.  G.  Melone,  died  January  18.  1881,  aged 
33  years,  6  months,  28  days. 

George  W.,  son  of  J.  H.  and  E.  G.  Melone,  died  January  18,  1858,  aged  2 
years,  3  months,  9  days. 

Ida  Lee,  daughter  of  J.  H  and  E.  G.  Melone,  died  February  1,  1879,  aged 
14  years,  5  months,  25  days. 

Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  C.  and  M.  Crum,  died  October  Ki,  1847,  aged  2 
years,  1  month  8  days. 

Margaret  Jane,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  Crum,  died  April  27, 
1859,  aged  7  years,  2  months,  25  days. 

Amos,  son  of  C.  and  M.  Crum,  died  February  16,  1842,  aged  8  months. 

Christian  Crum,  born  May  11.  1803,  died  December  30,  1881,  aged  78  years, 
3  months,  19  days. 

Mary  Robertson,  wife  of  Christian  Crum,  born  May  17.  1813,  died  March 
9,  1882,  aged  68  years,  9  montlis,  22  days. 

Jimmie  Newton,  son  of  W.  H.  and  A.  C.  Thompson,  died  March  22,  1871, 
aged  7  days. 

Waiter,  son  of  W.  11.  and  C.  A.  Fronk,  born  .July  27,  1887,  died  March 
27,  1902. 

William  Marcellus,  son  of  James  and  Ciiristine  Crum,  1844-1895. 

Olive  Crum,  infant  daughter  of  George  A.  and  Jessie  Phillips,  died 
January  26,  1897. 

Little  Maud,  daugliter  of  W.  M.  and  M.  E.  Crum,  died  November  15 
1878,  aged  3  years,  9  months,  23  days. 

Clarissa,  daughter  of   A.   and  C.    A     Pittner,    died   July  20,   1857,    aged 

21  years. 

Fountain  F.,  son  of  A.  and  C.  A.  Pitner,  died  August  13.  1866,  aged  13 
years,  6  months,  5  days. 

James  Crum,  1806-1899. 

His  wife,  Christine  Ream,  1814-1878. 

Oscar  R.,  son  of  J.  and  C.  Crum,  died  September  9,  1858,  aged  37  years 
and  4  months. 

David  M.  Crum,  son  of  James  and  Chrisrine  Crum,  died  October  4,  1851, 
aged  17  years.  9  months,  27  days. 

Anna  B.,  daugliter  of  J.  F.  and  S.  1.  Crum,  died  March  6,  18(il,  aged 
2  years,  6  montlis,  17  days. 

Amanda  Ellen,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Jemima  Ream,  died  November 
21,  1861,  aged  11  years,  1  da\s. 

George  F..  son  of  M.  and  J.  Ream,  died  January  11,  18.58,   aged  4   months, 

22  days. 

Nettie  B.,  died  May  8,  1859,  aged  5  montlis. 

James  M.,  died  June  21,  1859,  aged  4  years,  12  days:  son  and  daughter  of 
M.  and  J.  Ream. 

Michael  Ream  died  Nov.  26,  1860  aged  aged  48  years  7  days. 

Susannah,  wife  of  Peter  Buxton  born  in  Montgomery  county,   Ohio,    May 


-311- 

19,  1802,  died  January  28,  1888. 

Elzabeth  Lambert  1798-1880. 

Sarah,  wife  of  George  W.  Ream,  died  Sept.  21,  1866,  aged  29  years,  11  months 
17  days. 

George  W,  Ream,  died  April,  18  1861,  aged  30  years,  1  month. 

Wilham  Pitner,  died  March  22,  1875,  aged  75  years. 

Catherine,  wife  Wm.  Pitner,  died  February  9,  1851,  aged  32  years. 

Michael  Pitner,  died  April  .30,  1840,  aged  64  years,  3  months. 

Catherine  wife  of  M.  Pitner,  died  October  19, 1872,  aged  94  years,  10  months. 

Thomas  J.  Shields,  died  October  1,  1880,  aged  44  years  11  months,  17  days. 

Charles  N.,  son  of  T.  and  F.  E.  Shields,  died  July  11.  1871,  aged  3  months, 
21  days. 

Cecil  and  Cedilla,  children  of  T.  S.  and  and  S.  A.  Crum,  born  and  diea 
June  19.  1881. 

Davis,  son  of  C.  M.  and  S.  Batis  died  December  16,  1868,  aged  5  years,  9 
months,  11  days. 

Alexander  Jordan,  died  Dec.  11,  1867,  aged  50  years. 

John,  died  Oct.  13,  1865,  aged  7  years,  8  months,  28  days:  Joseph  died  Nov. 

20,  1860,  aged  1  year,  7  months,  5  days:  children  of  A.  and  C.  Jorden. 

Louisa,  wife  of  J.  Dean,  died  Feb.  24,  1863,  aged  34  years,  2  months 

Louise,  daughter  of  J.  and  L.  Dean,  died  Aug.  4,  1863,  aged  6  months. 

Franklin,  son  of  Samuel  H.,  and  Catherine  Beach,  born  Feb.  8,  1872; 
died  July  14,  1873, 

Laura  Belle,  daughter  of  E.  H.  and  M.  A.  Richardson,  died  Sept.  13,  1868, 
aged  1  year.  5  months,  28  days. 

Enos  E.,  son  of  E.  H.  and  Mary  A.  Richardson,  died  July  12,  1876,  aged  4 
months,  8  days. 

Patrick  M.  Shields  died  Aug.  28,  1870,  aged  ,30  years,  7  months  and  28 days. 

James  M.  Shields,  died  Jan.  12,  1861,  aged  23  years,  2  months  and  5  days. 

Michael  Shields  died  Aug.  20,  1841,  aged  40  years. 

William  C,  son  of  A.  and  S.  Pogue,  died  Feb.  22,  1861,  aged  16  months  and 
20  days. 


COUNTRY  graveyards; 

NUMBER  FOUR. 
TKe  Karr  Graveyard. 

HY  ITOX.  J.  X.  ORIDLEY. 


THIS  burial  place  is  located  upon  tlie  southeast  quarter  of  southeast  quar- 
ter, Sec.  12,  T.  18,  R.  11,  onahighbluffl  overlooking  the  Sangamon  Val- 
]ey,  and  from  which  a  most  enchanting  view  is  spread  before  the  lover 
of  Nature.  Tlie  place  is  named  in  honor  of  Elislia  Karr,  an  early  settler,  who 
purchased  the  land  of  William  Pelham,  Aug.  21,  Ls;]4.  The  ground  is  well 
eared  for:  there  are  many  solid  and  expensive  monuments  therein,  erected  to 
Tlie  memory  of  the  dead  who  sleep  within  the  inclosure.  It  is  probable  tliat 
tills  burial  place  will  be  kept  in  good  condition  for  many  years. 

The  tirst  recorded  death  in  this  graveyard  is  that  of  Elizabeth   Karr   who 
died  May  4,  18;:}.5  aged  28  years,  ;>  months.     The  remainder  are  as  follows:— 

.Joseph  N.  Collins,  born  Aug.  22,  1S2S.  died  .Ian.  24,  190.) 

.J.Frank  Emerick  died  August  8.  Utoi).  aged  ;}3  years,  1  month,  22  days. 

Mary  C.  Hudnall  born  October  18.  1875.  died  June  2.  l!)Ol. 

Trrace  May,  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Ada  Iludnall.  born    November   1,    liioo, 
died  August  2,  1901. 

W.  [{.  Hudnall,  May  S,  ISTI,  April  2S.  iDufi. 

•lames  II.  Slirev  sbury,  Co.  F.,  ;)rd  111.  Cav.,  died  November  2(i,  18(1!),  aged  31 
years,  lo  months.  2  days. 

Ileiu'v.  so 
24,  1871 

Li  Hie  A.. 
20  days. 

Sophia  E. 
nioiillis. 

•lames,  so 
niont  lis,  24  days. 

Infant  son  of  T.  and  11.  McAllister,  died  August  2S,  l>!(i4,  aged  7  days. 

William  son  of  T.  and  II.  McAilister,  died  September,  (I,  I87(i,  aged  .5  years 
i)  months,  27  days. 

Eliza  A.,  daughter  of  W.  W.  and  C.  Hare,  died  April  11,  18S7,  aged 35 years 
2  months,  11  days. 

Caroline,  wife  of  W.  W.  Hare,  died  Sei)rember   7.    l>!ss,    aged   -jS  years,  (i 
raontlis.  8  days, 

George  W.  Collins,  died  December  29,  lS9(i  aged  4:>  year.s. 

Daisy,  died  October  7,  189(3,  aged  13  years,  4  months,  12  days. 

Edward,  died  January  27,  1897,  aged  18  years  21  days. 

Hattie,  1887-1897.     Children  of  d.  W.  and  :\I.  Collins^ 


of  D.  and  M.  ri()senl)eigliei 

r,  born  February  2."),  lS(i.7,    died   .Inly 

laughter  of  .1.  and  \I.  Cjllii 

IS,  died  July  21.  1s;h;,  aged  11  months 

wife  of  .loliii  Tli()i-nsi)ury,  ( 

lied  April  lo.  IsiiO,  aged   20  years,   4 

of  T.  and  H.-McM lister,  (i 

lied   August   1.    18()3,   aged  1  year,  9 

-  313  - 

Matilda  M.,  wife  of  J.  C.  Schaad.  died  August  22,  1897,  aged  33  years,  R 
montlis,  10  days. 

Ciiarles  Schaad,  died  February  1,  1878,  aged  47  years,  1  month,  7  days,  a 
native  of  Germany. 

Katrina,  wife  of  John  Schaad,  born  June  4,  1809,  died  February  20,  1870. 

Charles,  son  ofC.  and  A.  Schaad,  born  August  15,  1869,  died  May  5,  1870 

Katrina,  daughter  of  C.  and  A.  Schaad,  born  August  17,  1867,  died  June  15, 
1868. 

Margaret  Baehr,  born  September  25.  1795,  died  Marcli  11,  1866,  aged  70 
years,  5  montlis,  14  days. 

Glaus  Theivaght,  born  in  Province  of  Hanover,  October  20, 1830,  died  Sept- 
ember 20,  1867. 

Cynthia  A.  wife  of  B.  H.  Wing,  died  April  16, 1863,  aged  22 years,  6  months 
29  days. 

Isaiah  S.  Carlton,  1884-1900. 

Mary  Ann,  daughter  of  A.  J.  and  N.  Smith,  born  June  23,  1859,  died  Aug- 
ust 7, 1860. 

Roy  E.,  son  of  J.  G.  and  C.  Kruse,  born  September  17,  1892,  died  August  4, 
1894. 

Emily  C,  daughtei'  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Smith,  died  August  6,  1860,  aged 
17  years,  4  months,  16  days. 

Stephen  R.  son  of  S.  and  A.  Smith,  died  September  6,  1854.  aged  28  years, 
5  months,  28  days. 

John  A.  Wells,  died  January  11,  1852,  aged  34  years,  6  months,  9  days. 

George  W.  Moore,  died  March  1,  1867,  aged  46  years,  L  mouth,  2  days. 

Ervin,  son  of  G.  and  H.  M.  Moore,  born  August  11, 1851,  died  March  1. 1867. 

William  Blake,  born  April  5  180.5,  died  April  24,  1866,  aged  6 1  years.  19(i;iys. 

R.  B.  Daugherty,  died  September  22,  1850,  aged  45  years. 

Mary  A.  Hill,  born  June  18,  1828,  died  July  6,  1857,. 

Horace  Hill,  born  February  4,  1828,  died  April  23,  1877. 

Mary  Ann.  wife  of  Amasa  Hill,  born  August  11,  1832,  died  Novembei'  4, 
1885. 

Amasa  Hill  died  January  5,  1902,  aged  71  years,  6  months,  4  days. 

Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  R.  and  M.  Blake,  died  July  21.  1867,  aged  lyeat,  3 
months,  19  days. 

Indiana,  wife  of  L.  L.  Wartield.  born  February  14.  1822,  died  Ociober  29, 
1851. 

Harriet,  daughter  of  L.  I^.  and  1.  Wartield  aged  3  weeks. 

Frances,  daugliter  of  L.  L.  and  I.  Wartield,  died  September  12,  1850,  aged 
4  years,  9  months,  3  days. 

S.  J.  Shaeffer,  son  of  C.  C.  and  M.  J.  Shaeffer,  died  September  27,  18(i9, 
aged  17  days. 

J.  E.  ShaetTer.  son  of  C.  C.  and  M.  J.  Shaeffer,  died  April  15,  1866,  aged  (i 
weeks. 

Lizzie  May,  daughter  of  J.  and  E.  Emerick,  died  January  12,  186(),  aged  2 
years,  2  months,  14  days. 

Susanna,  daughter  of  C.  and  R.  Shaffer,  died  April  27,  1845,  aged  9  years, 
22  days. 

Susannah,  wife  of  -lacob  Emerick,  died  December  12,  1858,   aged  81  years. 


-314- 

11  months,  3  days. 

Nancy,  wife  of  Asher  Heusted  died  April  12,  1857,  aged  89 years,  8  months. 

William  Lehmkuhl,  born  April  28,  1797,  died  July  21  1859. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Seth  Heusted,  died  October  1,  1875,  aj^ed  71  years,  8  months, 
27  days. 

Seth  Heusted,  born  September  12,  1802,  died  October  21,  1881,  aged  79 years, 
1  month,  9  days. 

Emma,  daughter  of  J.  H.  and  S.  R.  Kinney,  born  May  2,  1871,  died  Sep- 
tember 21,  1872,  aged  1  year,  1  months,  19  days. 

Infant  daugliter  of  .John  H.  and  S.  R.  Kinney,  died  November  2(i,  187«. 
aged  2  months,  18  days. 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  .Joshua  C.  Alexander  jr.,  who  died  October  10. 
1851,  a^ed  43  years  (i  months.  20 days  and  was  married  to  Mary  I31ack,  .July  8, 
1829. 

Eliza  C.  Alexander,  died  .January  8,  18.54  aged  4  years  and  24  days. 

Mary,  wife  of  .John  Schaad,  died  December  11,  1883,  aged  39  years,  10 
niontlis,  4  da.>s. 

Pierce  Ryati,  died  .latiuary  14,  1894,  aged  74  years,  ,9  days. 

.John  F.,  S')n  of  A.  and  M.  A.  Oiles,  died  September  15.  1S57.  ;iged  »i  years, 
i)  months. 

Mary  F..  daughter  of  I).  M.  and  E.  S.  French,  died  .!ime  25,  18()4,  aged  5 
months.  25  days. 

.lames  Logan,  died  May  5.  1847,  aged  .jO  years. 

Emma  Logan,  died  Augu.st  3,  1865,  aged  69  years. 

Christopher  Sluieflfer,  born  in  Rockbridge  Co..  Va..  .luly  13,  1805:  came  to 
111.,  in  1829:  married  .hmuary  9,  18.30,  and  died  April  22,  ls71. 

Rachel  Schaetfer.  born  ifi  Biitlert'o..  Ohio,  Nov.  27,  IMl.'J:  came  to  III.,  in 
1826:  died  February  12,  1897 

Benjamin  F.  E\^rs,\the,  died  Augu>t  IS45,  aged  24  yea,r.s,  7    months. 

Martin  Van  Buren.  .son  of  .iereini;ili  aiid  Ellen  Boweii,  born  February  4, 
1833,  died  May  2(i.  1848 

Rurli.  (laughter  of -lere.  and  Kllen  P>ovven  born  October  28,  1815,  died  Sept. 
-    7,  1851, 

.ipi'emiah  liowen,  i  oiti  .laniiai-y  14.  1792  died  Octobei- 25,  18.59. 

Ainancia  .M.,  daughter  of  .1.  A.  atid  .M.  Dick  died  December  29  1855,  aged  3 
yea  lis 

Inlaiitson  of  .James  A.  and  yi.  Dick  April  18.  1857. 

Infant  son  of  .lames  A.,  and  Mary  Dick.  .May  8,  ]8()0aged  1  day. 

Mary,  daughter  of  .lames  A.  and  .Mary  Dick  died  October  11,  IsiiO  aged  10 
years,  9  months,  29  da\s. 

-James  A.  Dick,  born  .lune  10.  ts23,  died  October  28,  1902. 
•I         Mary  Dick,  born  September  27.  1819,  died  .June  4,  1896. 

Sarah  E.  Bowen,  born  .lune  14,  ISiiO,  died  October  25.  1879. 

.Jane,  daughter  of  .T.  and  L.  Bowen,  born  .January  9,  18()5.  died  February 
9.  1805. 

Pet.  fkughter  of  .J.  anfl  L.  Bowen,  born  August  13.  18.5N,  died  September 
29.  1858. 

Caroline,  daughter  of  P.  and  M.  Bowen,  born  September  10,  1848,  died 
October  1,  1851. 


-  315  - 

Job  A.  Bosworth,  son  of  Samuel  aiul  Patience  Bosworth,   of  Barrington, 
R.  I.,  died  June  16,  1848.  aged  42  years,  11  months. 

Nora  Calif,  daugliter  of  C.  H.  and  S.   E.  Calif,   died   December  15,   1887, 
aged  15  years,  11  months,  15  days. 

Grace,  daugliter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  Bottrell,  born  August  13  1872.   died 
August  17.  187:5. 

John  K.,  son  of  W.  and  M.  D.  Sudbrink,  born'October  3,  185!),   died  Janu 
ary  3,  1868. 

Henry  Lewis,  son  of  W.  and  M.  D.  Sudbrink,  died  August  23,   1864,   aged 
12  years,  7  months,  28  days. 

William  Sudbrink,  died  July  14,  1862,  aged  .38 years,  6  months.  17  days. 
Catherine  Sudbrink,  died  November  6,  1887,  aged  74  years,  3  weeks. 
Lewis  Sudbrink,  died  July  10,  1857,  aged  42  years,  10  months. 
Catherine,  wife  of  John  F.  Sudbrink,  died  March  3,   1876,   aged  84  years, 
9  months,  17  days. 

John  F.  Sudbrink,  died  October  9,  1848,  aged  67  years,  1  month,  7  days. 
G.  Henry  Sudbrink,  died  November  29,   1849,   aged   30  years,   10  montlis, 
18  days. 

Jemima,  wife  of  John  Waggoner,  died  August  23,  1856,  aged  .54  years. 
John,  husband  of  Jemima  Waggoner,  died  May  17,  18.54,  aged  (il  years,   11 
months,  15  days 

Fielding,  son  of  J.  and  G.  Wagner,  died  March  15,  1857,  aged  21  years.    11 
months'  29  days. 

Sarah  Emeline,  wife  of  David  Wagner,  died  April  3,  1860.  in  the  3oth  year 
of  lier  age. 

Mary  Ann,  daugliter  of  D.  and  E. .).  Wagner,  died  Sept.    1,    1874.   aged   12 
years,  8  months,  16  days. 

Charles,  son  of  D.  and  E.  .1.  Wagner,  died  Feb.   2.    18SS,   aged  14  years,   9 
months,  20  days. 

Mary  S.,  wife  of  D  J.  Cole,  born  March  21,  1829.  died  Aug.    19.    18(i2,   aged 
.33  years,  4  months  29  days. 

Daniel  W.,  son  of  D.  J.  and  H.  E.  Cole,  born  March  5,  1871,   died   .January 
23,  1872, 

William  Taylor,  born  Feb.  10,  1S19,  died  Feb.  12.  1900. 
Florence  McNeill,  died  Feb.  23,  188s,  aged  48  years,  9  months,  25  days. 
Maggie,  wife  of  David  Carr,  died  May  21.  1890,  aged  46  years. 
Chalmers  McNeill,  son  of  D.  and  M.  Carr.  died  March  15  1S92.  aged  5  years 
5  months,  26  days. 

W.  David,  son  of  David  and   Maggie  Carr,   borr)  .lanuary   22.    1S75.   died 
March  19,  1903. 

Oliver  J.,  son  of  D.  and  M.  E.  Carr,  bori'  April  19,  18(i6,  died  Oct.  19,  1870. 
George  N.  Kendall,  born  Oct.  4,  1812,  died  August  24,  1902. 
Jane  Carr,  wife  of  Geo.  N.  Kendall,  born  Feb  7,  1829,  died  Jan.  23,  1892. 
David  Cook,  died  April  4,  1885,  aged  20  years,  28  days. 
E'annie  Hoskinson,  died  June  3,  1837,  aged  41  years. 

John  Cook,  born  Sept.  1,  18.38.  died  Feb.  4,  1867.  aged  28  years.  5  months,  3 
days. 

Sjeri-a  Nevada,  daughter  of  J.  and  -J.  Cook,  born  April  8,   188(),   died  Oct. 
8,  18867age'd  6  months. 


-316- 

Nelson  Karr,  died  July  2i,  1835,  aged  17  months,  23  days. 

Emily,  wife  of    A.    Sudbrink,    died    October    24,    1S()6,    aged   28    years, 
2  months,  2  days. 

William  Briar,  died  April  4  185!),  aged  36  years,  7  months. 

Sarah  Karr,  consort  of  John  Karr,  died  August  10,  18.36,  aged  —  years. 

John  Karr,  died  June  3,  1836,  aged  —  years. 

(These  are  sand  stone  slabs,  and  a  part  of  the  figures  are  obliterated.) 
Mary  A.,  daughter  of  David  and  Julia  Ann  Carr,  died  October  3,  184!),   aged 
2  years,  (i  months,  (i  days. 

Sierra  Nevada,  daughter  of  David  and  .Julia  Ann  Carr,   died  October  3, 
1856,  aged  5  years,  5  months,  10  days. 

David  Carr,  born  May  1,  1811,   died  December  22,   185!),   aged  48  years, 
7  months,  22  days 

Laura,  daughter  of  David  and  Julia  Ann  Carr,   died  November  1,   1860, 
aged  1  year,  8  months,  10  days. 

Julia,  wife  of  David  Carr,  died  March  8,   1886,   aged  73  years,   2  months. 
2.S  days. 

Mary  Alice,  daughter  of  G.   N.   and  F.   Kendall,   died   February  (i,   1878, 
aged  1!:!  years,  11  months,  8  days 

Elisha  Carr,  born  December  26, 1796,  died  July  9,  1837. 

William  Wallace,  son  of  Elisha  and  Mary  Carr,   died   November  14,   1851, 
aged  16  years  10  months,  24  days. 

Andrew  William,  son  of  A.  and  F.  Clark,  died  September  12,   1853,   nged 
1  year,  3  months,  4  days. 

James  Harry,  son  of  Elisha  and  Mary  Carr,  died   February   14,   1854,   aged 
29  years,  21  days. 

William  T.  Clemraons,  born  February  16,  180(),  died  October  11,  1886. 

Sophia,  wife  of  Wm.  S.  Clemmons.  died  April  14,  1860,  aged  50  years  and 
23  days. 

Lemon,  son  of  J.  and  N.  Plaster,  died  February   15,    1864,   aged  20  years, 
(i  months,  5  days. 

Little  George,  son  of  J.  and  R.  Ilouck,  died   March  4,   1864,   aged   1  year, 
()  months. 

Peter  Houck.  died  April  14,  1872,  aged  3!)  years,  3  months,  11  days. 

Elizabeth  Ilouck,  wife  of  Jacob  Ilouck,   died   September  12,   1875,   aged 
7!)  years,  8  months,  15  days. 

Vincent  C  Carpe'-,  died  January  31,  1850,  aged  23  years,  4  months,  2!)  days. 

Eliza  A.  Carper,  died  August  18,  1852,  aged  51  years,   11  months,   13  days. 

Charles,  son  of  A.  and  M.  Schaad,  born  December  9, 1871,  died  July  18, 1873. 

Neele,  son  of  A.  and  M.  Schaad,  born  September  21,   18(i9,   died  July  15, 
1873. 

Maggie,  daughter  of  A.  and  M.  Schaad,  born  December  8,  1866,   died  Sep- 
tember 30,  1868,  aged  1  year,  9  months,  22  days. 

Margaret,  wife  of  Neal  Taylor,  born  in  Argylshire,  Scotland,  in  1814,   died 
April  24,  1878,  aged  (i4  years. 

Angus  Taylor,  born  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  September  1799,   died  Feb- 
ruary 20,  1869,  aged  69  years,  5  months. 

Niell  Taylor,  died  June  10,  1851,  aged  49  years. 

Alexander  Tayior,  born  in  Scotland,  October  29,  1803.  died  April  17,   1864, 


-  317  - 

John  Taylor,  born  in  Scotland,  September  30,  1813,  died  May  17,  1891,  aged 
77  years,  7  months,  17  days. 

John  H.,  son  of  A.  and  M.  Rose,  died  October  17,  1854,  aged  1  year, 
10  months,  18  days. 

Infant  son  of  W.  and  M.  E.  Taylor,  born  and  died  May  19, 1865. 

Duncan  McCrig,  died  August  1,  1857,  aged  45  years. 

Katie,  daugh.ter  of  R.  and  J.  Taylor,  born  July  19,  1882,  died  October  Ki' 
1885. 

Flora,  daughter  of  R.  and  J.  Taylor,  died  September  8,  1884,  aged  .34  years, 
3  months,  12  days. 

Miza  Josephine,  daughter  of  R.  and  J.  Taylor,  born  October  5,  1854,  died 
May  28,  1882. 

Robert  Taylor,  1816-1902. 

Helen,  daughter  of  R.  and  J.  Taylor,  1844-1903. 

Archibald  Taylor,  July  2,  1806,  April  9,  1896. 

Mary,  daughter  of  Neil  and  M.  Taylor,  died  September  19,  1892,  aged  49 
years,  8  months,  24  days. 

Robert,  son  of  Neil  and  M.  Taylor,  died  February  28,  1902,  aged  .56  years, 

5  months. 

Minnie,  daughter  of  W.  and  Mary  Blohm,  died  June  13,  1871,  aged  5  years, 

6  months,  13  days. 

Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  W.  Blohm,  died  May  18,  1892,  aged  62  years, 
10  months,  4  days. 

J.  W.  Blohm,  born  January  18,  1820,  died  July  6,  1897. 

Charles,  son  of  John  and  M.  L.  Musch,  born  September  3.  18.50,  died  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1870.  aged  19  years,  5  months,  24  days 

Duncan  Taylor,  died  July  13,  1845,  aged  .34  years. 

Mizey,  wife  of  Robert  Taylor,  born  in  Argyleshire,  Scotland,  died  July  4, 
1845,  aged  66  years. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles  McNeil,  of  Scotland,  died  March  20,  1859,  aged 
79  years,  7  months. 

Ldchlan  McNeil,  1809-1901. 

His  wife  Florence  Taylor.  1808-1859. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  L.  and  F.  McNeil,  died  January  30,  1872,  aged  34 
years,  7  months,  todays. 

Mizey,  daughter  of  L.  and  F.  McNeil,  born  July  5,  18,39,  died;  August  5, 
1869. 

Jesse  Livingston,  born  November  3,  1828,  died  February  2,  1891,  aged  63 
years,  2  months,  19  days. 

Lillian  May,  daughter  of  F.  and  M.  J.  Coldwell,  died  March  14,  1873,  aged 
5  months,  7  days 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

NUMBER  FIVE. 
Tfrie  George  H,  BristoAV  Graveyard. 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


THIS  buria,!  ground  is  situated  on  tlie  nortlieast  quarter  of  the  south- 
west quarter  of  Section  31,  T.  17,  R.  10,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
T.  J.  Crum,  and  near  the  corner,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Crum 
homestead.  This  tract  of  land  was  entered  by  William  Breeden  on  November 
1!),  1827,  and  by  him  sold  to  (leorge  H.  Bristow  in  December,  1830.  Mr, 
Bristow  lived  upon  the  tract  and  kept  a  small  store,  between  the  burial  plat 
and  wliere  tiie  Crum  homestead  stands.  At  this  place  the  militia  met  to  go 
tlirougli  tlieir  military  drills,  and  iiere  the  stage  coach  made  a  stopping  place 
in  an  early  day.  Upon  the  present  site  of  tiiis  burial  ground  stood  a  beautiful 
walnut  tree,  which  was  an  object  of  pride  of  Mr.  Bristow,  who  often  called 
attention  to  it  with  the  remark  that  he  wanted  to  be  buried  under  it  when 
his  time  came.  Bristow  was  fond  of  fishing  and  hunting  and  often  went  to 
the  Sangamon  river  to  gratify  his  love  of  these  sports.  Upon  one  of  these 
periodical  trips  he  sickened  and  died;  his  body  was  brought  home  and,  in  ac- 
cordance with  his  oft  expressed  request,  was  buried  under  the  favorite  tree. 
No  trace  of  the  tree  can  now  be  found. 

This  information  we  get  from  Mr.  T.  J.  Crum, to  whom  it  was  often  told  in 
his  youth,  but  the  date  of  his  death  can  not  be  learned.  His  administrators 
sold  tfie  land  to  Henry  Price  in  1835  and  his  death  and  burial  must  liave  oc- 
curred shortly  before  that  time.  His  body  was  the  Hrst  buried  at  that  plaee, 
and  after  the  purchase  of  the  land  by  Mr.  Price  he  allowed  the  place  to  be- 
come a  burial  place  by  the  people  of  the  vicinity. 

The  first  recorded  death  in  this  graveyard  is  that  of  Matilda,  daughter  of 
P.  and  B.  Cownover,  who  died  December  8,  183(i,  aged  fi  months  and  10  days. 
Tiie  others  are  as  follows: 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  Hammer,  died  June  19,  1855,  aged  17  years. 

Amanda  C,  wife  of  O.  M.  Ross,  died  March  8,  1854,  aged  27  years. 

Sarah,  wife  of  Moses  C.  Price,  died  September  3,  1850,  aged  21  years,  8 
months,  2(i  days. 

Adam  C,  son  of  H.  and  M.  A.  Price,  died  March  1,  183!),  aged  5  years,  it 
months  and  23  days. 

Sarali  E.,  daughter  of  P.  and  B.  Cownover,  died  May  25,  1839,  aged  1  year, 
7  months. 

William  T.,  son  of  P.  and  B.  Cownover,  died  May  10,  1839,  aged  0  months, 
10  davs. 

David,  son  of  P.  and  B.  Cownover,  died  Marcli  22,  1837,  aged  1  year,  10 
months,  14  days. 


-  319  - 

Mary  J.,  daughter  of  P.  and  B.  Cownover,  died  May  5,  1839,  aged  6  years, 
5  months,  24  days. 

Beersheba,  wife  of  P.  Cownover,  died  January  2,  1853,  aged  48  years,  4 
months,  23  days.  The  stone  erected  at  the  grave  of  this  mother,  who  was 
laid  by  the  side  of  her  Ave  children  who  had  gone  before  her,  lies  flat  upon  the 
ground. 

Ann  Catharine,  wife  of  G.  W.  Powell,  died  April  13,  1849,  aged  57  years, 
7  months,  25  days. 

George  W.  Powell,  died  September  15,  1857,  in  the  6fith  year  of  his  age, 

Yancey  Powell  died  September  21,  1852,  aged  44  years,  G   months,  21  days. 

Samuel  Napoleon,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarali  Pence,  died  September  17, 
1847,  aged  1  year,  5  months,  3  days. 

John  Corn,  son  of  Josepli  and  Sirah  Peric?,  die:l  Da^ember  4,  L81(i,  aged  3 
years  and  20  days. 

Mary,  wife  of  J.  Samuels,  died  August  31st,  1853,  aged  47  years,  7  months, 
14  days. 

MaryEtty,  daughter  of  Joseph  C.  and  Sarali  Pence,  deid  November  25, 
1846,  aged  4  years,  4  montlis,  20  days. 

George  W.  House,  died  December  27th,  1853,  aged  22  years,  23  days. 

Hugh  R.  Powell,  died  April  24,  1859,  aged  60  years,  7  months,  3  days. 

Franklin,  son  of  H.  R.  and  S.  Powell,  died  February  1,  1858,  aged  14  years, 
3  months,  21  days. 

Susan  F.,  daughter  of  H.  R.  and  S.  Powell,  died  October  14,  1845,  aged  1 
month  and  1  day. 

Mary  C,  daughter  of  H.  R  and  S.  Powell,  died  August  3,  1847,  aged  13 
years,  24  flays. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  last  recorded  death  in  this  burial  ground  was 
that  of  Hugh  R.  Powell  who  died  April  24,  1859.  Several  or  the  stones  in  this 
yard  are  broken  and  lying  on  the  ground:  some  partly  covered  with  earth: 
the  plat  lies  in  the  field,  next  to  Mr.  Crum's  orchard:  from  its  appearance  it 
has  never  been  plowed  over,  but  is  neglected  and  fast  vanishing:  in  a  few 
years,  all  traces  of  it  will  have  disappeared. 

THE  JAMES  H.  RICHARD'S  GRAVEYARD. 

This  place  of  burial  lies  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter 
of  Sec.  34,  Tp.  17,  R.  11,  was  entered  by  Jacob  Lawrence  in  November  1829, 
and  conveyed  to  Mr.  Richards  August  1,  1837.  The  ground  is  covered  with 
trees,  brush,  weeds  and  vines:  the  fences  have  rotted  away  and  the  place  is 
overrun  with  animals  and  in  ruinous  condition. 

The  first  recorded  death  is  that  of  John  Clegg  who  died  December  29,  1844 
aged  42  years,  4  months,  15  daj's.    The  others  are  as  follows: 

Martin  Robertson,  died  April  2  1840,  aged  74  years,  3  days. 

John  H.,  son  of  E.  and  E.  Treadway,  died  May  1,  1849.  aged  29  years,  5 
months,  14  days. 

Sarah  R.,  wife  of  C.  Taylor,  died  April  26,  1849,  aged  19  years,  8  months, 
25  days. 

William  H.,  son  of  C.  and  S.  R.  Taylor,  died  August  6, 1849,  aged  4  months. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  James  Clark,  died  February  5,  1859,  aged  60  years,  10 
months. 


-320- 

Savah,  wife  of  David  Ilamaker,  died  October  3,  1855,  aged  4i  years, 
9  months,  23  days, 

David  Hamaker,  died  August  29,  1863,  aged  68  years,  5  months,  27  days. 

Aaron  Ream,  died  December  19,  1856,  aged  31  years,  9  months,  2  days. 

Mary  A.  Ream,  wife  of  Aaron  Ream,  died  July  8,  1853,  aged  26  years,  4 
months,  21  days. 

Amos  vv.,  son  of  Aaron  and  Mary  Ream,  died  October  6,  1847,  aged  1 
year.  7  months,  14  days. 

TKe  MarsKall  Graveyard. 

This  graveyard  was  located  near  the  soutii  line  of  the  soutlieast  quarter 
of  Sec.  33,  Tp.  17,  R.  10,  which  was  owned  by  Jacob  Petefish  at  the  time  of 
iiis  death.  Tlie  bodies  of  the  Marshall  family  were  removed  from  this  burial 
place  many  years  ago.  But  one  marked  grave  is  left,  that  of  William  F.,  son 
of  A.  and  A.  McLin,  who  died  October  24,  1850.  aged  4  montns,  26  days. 
Other  bodies  were  laid  away  at  this  place,  but  no  traces  of  the  graves  are 
to  be  seen. 

In  an  early  day  a  stranger  with  his  family  made  his  appearance  in  the 
neighborhood,  bound  for  Iowa.  The  husband  and  father  drove  one  team,  and 
a  son  drove  another.  The  wife  and  mother  was  too  sick  to  pursue  the 
journey;  an  empty  house  belonging  to  Mr.  Marshall  was  offered  to  this 
stranger,  and  he  carried  his  wife  into  it,  and  made  her  as  comfortable  as 
could  lie  done  She  died  a  few  days  thereafter,  her  body  was  buried  in  the 
Marshall  graveyard,  the  grave  left  uumarked.  The  sad  man  loaded  hischildren 
and  effects  into  his  wagons  and  resumed  his  journey  to  Iowa  and  was  never 
heard  from  thereafter. 

Amanda  M.,  daughter  of  G.  W.  and  E.  H.  Thompson,  died  January  22, 
1853,  aged  16  years,  3  months,  25  days. 

G.  W.  Thompson,  died  December  3,  1851,  aged  48  years,  6  months,  21  days. 

John  W.,  son  of  G.  W.  and  E.  U.  Thompson,  died  October  27,  1852.  aged  12 
years,  10  months,  13  days. 

Ellen  Morrison,  died  March  10th,  1880,  aged  58  years,  5  months,  8  days. 

Edward  Morrison,  died  March  19,  1880,  aged  73  years,  10  months,  7  days. 

Elizabeth  Morrison,  died  May  1850,  aged  36  years. 

THE,  ED'WARD  FLETCHER  GRAVE  YARD. 

This  burial  place  lies  upon  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  southeast  quarter 
of  Sec.  34,  Tp.  17,  R.  11,  wiiich  was  entered  by  Mr.  Fletcher,  May  27,  1831.  As 
was  stated  in  Sketch  No.  2,  County  Grave  Yards,  this  burial  ground  is 
situated  upon  a  ridge  in  the  middle  of  a  pasture.  Mr.  Fletcher  was  born  in 
England  June  11,  1792.  The  stone  which  was  erected  at  the  head  of  his  grave 
is  broken  in  numerous  pieces:  from  them  the  date  of  his  death  cannot  be 
made  out,  but  it  occurred  on  October  2nd,  1844,  in  the  53d  year  of  his  age. 
There  are  five  other  graves  here  marked  as  follows: 

Alice  I,  daughter  of  E  and  M.  J.  Fletcher,  born  June  28,  1856,  died  Nov. 
6.  1857. 

Susan  E.,  daughter  of  D.  B.  and  S.  Wilson,  died  March  14,  1851,  aged  2 
years,  8  months,  23  days. 

Mary  A.,  daughter  of  D.  B.  and  S.  Wilson,  died  July  29.  1844,  aged  4 
years,  10  months. 

John  J.  H.,  son  of  D.  B.  and  S.  Wilson,  died  July  16.  1847,  aged  9  months. 


-  321  - 

12  days. 

J.  Horatio,  son  of  E.  and  M.  Fletcher,  born  April  3,  1849.  died  May  3,1849. 
THe  JoHii  Ream  Graveyard. 

This  burial  place  is  located  upon  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  southeast 
quarter  of  Sec.  32,  T.  17,  R.  10,  which  was  entered  by  James  Sturgis,  Decem- 
ber 10,  1827,  who  conveyed  to  William  McCord,  December  2;),  1827,  who  con- 
veyed to  John  Ream,  June  14,  18.30.  Upon  a  high  wooded  ridge  on  this  tract 
stood  a  building,  long  ago,  in  which  religious  services  were  reglularly  con- 
ducted, and  here  were  buried  nearly  a  hundred  bodies  of  early  settlers. 
Very  few  of  these  graves  were  marked  and  ail  traces  of  most  have 
entirely  disappeared.  Only  nine  graves  are  here  found,  which  can  bs  identi- 
fied; all  or  nearly  all  the  stones  lie  scattered  about,  upon  the  sod  of  a  cattle 
pasture;  all  trace  of  a  fence  is  gone  if  ever  one  existed. 

Theflrst  recorded  death,  here  found,  is  that  of  George  E.  Hamaker,  son 
of  David  and  Sarah  Hamaker,  who  died  January  5,  18.39,  aged  7  months, 
15  days.    The  others  are  as  follows: 

John  Ream,  died  July  .30,  1849,  aged  70  years,  7  days 

Margaret,  wife  of  John  Ream,  died  February  17,  18.50,  aged  69  years, 
10  days. 

Samuel  Ream,  died  October  26,  1850,  aged  .32  years,  19  dn\s. 


THE  BLACK  LAWS  OF  ILLINOIS 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


IN  the  preparation  of  this  sl'Cetch  liberal  use  has  been  made  of  a  most  valu- 
able work  entitled  "Negro  Servitude  in   Illinois."    The  autlior  of  this 

book  is  Dr.  ;N.  D.  Harris,  Professor  of  History  in  Lawrence  University: 
it  is  published  by  A.  C.  McClurg  &Co.,  Chicago,  1904. 

The  control  of  the  French  colony,  of  La  Louisiane,  was  conferred  upon 
Sieur  Antoine  Crozat,  on  Sept.  14,  1712.  He  was  authorized  at  the  same  time 
to  open  a  traffic  in  negroes,  with  the  coast  of  Guinea,  provided  slave  labor  was 
necessary  for  the  development  of  the  new  country,  and  he  was  guaranteed  a 
monopoly  of  the  trade. 

M.  Crozat.  failed  to  make  use  of  iiis  rights  and  nothing  came  of  the  first 
suggestion  of  the  French  government  concerning  the  introduction  of  slaves  in- 
to Louisiana.  • 

In  August  nn,  the  managementof  the  colony  was  transferred  from  him  to 
a  commercial  company,  called  the  "Compagnie  de  I'Occident:"  and  the  inau- 
guration of  the  slave  trade  took'  place  on  .Tune(),  1710,  when  the  first  merchant 
ship  arrived  from  Guinea  with  five  hundred  blacks  on  board.  Tliese  negroes 
were  destined  for  Lower  Louisiana,  that  is,  the  region  between  New  Orleans 
and  Natchez. 

In  the  same  year  (1719)  Philip  Francis  Renault,  left  France  with  two 
hundred  miners  and  workmen,  to  pursue  the  mining  industry  in  Upper  Louis- 
iana, under  the  protection  of  the  same  organization.  Enroute  he  stopped  at 
San  Domingo  and  purcliased  five  hundred  slaves  On  reaching  tlie  continent^ 
he  proceeded  to  the  northern  portion  of  Louisiana— then  known  as  the  Illinois 
country — and  established  himself  near  Fort  Chartres,  at  a  place  which  he 
named  St.  Philip.  His  venture,  however,  does  not  .seem  to  liave  been  a  suc- 
cess, and  in  1744,  Renault  sold  his  negroes  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  district 
and  returned  home. 

Slaveholding  was  thus  early  introduced  into  the  French  settlements  on 
the  upper  Mississippi.  During  both  the  French  and  English  occupancy,  of 
that  region,  occasional  additions  were  made  to  this  nucleus,  but  they  were 
neither  frequent  nor  numerous. 

By  the  middle  of  the  eigteenth  century,  the  French  had  established  five 
settlements  in  the  alluvial  district,  wliich,  beginning  at  Kahokia,  extends 
along  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kaskaskia 
river.  These  they  named  Kaskaskia,  Kokokia,  Fort  Chartres,  St.  Philip,  and 
Prarie  du  Rocher. 

M.  Vivier,  the  French  missionary  to  the  Illinois  Indians,   thus  describes 


-  323  - 

this  region  in  June,  1750:    "We  have  here  Whites,   Negroes  and  Indians^   to 

say  nothing  of  cross-breeds There  are  Ave  French  villages  and  three 

villages  of  the  natives  within  a  space  of  twenty-one  leagues In  the 

five  French  villages  there  are  perhaps  eleven  hundred  whites,  three  hundred 
blacks  and  some  sixty  red  slaves  or  savages.  The  three  Illinois  towns  do  not 
contain  more  than  eight  hundred  souls  (natives)  all  told."  It  is  seen  by  this 
that  Indians  as  well  as  negroes,   were  held  in  bondage. 

Although  the  French  king  fixed  the  price  of  the  blacks  at  "660  livres  India 
currency"  in  1721,  and  issued  at  Versailles,  in  March,  1724,  under  the  title 
"LaCode  Noir  ou  Recueil  de  Reglemenfcs,"  a  severe  system  of  rules,  under 
which  the  slaves  of  Louisiana  were  held  and  managed,  the  Illinos  settlements 
were  not  particularly  affected-  They  were  governed  by  a  "major-comman- 
dant," residing  at  Fort  Chartres,  and  appointed  by  tlie  Governor  of  New  Or- 
leans, but  the  settlers  managed  their  plantations  quite  as  tliey  pleased. 

Slaves  were  regarded  as  "bien  foncier"  or  real  property:  but  they  were 
treated  every  where  witii  much  leniency  and  kindness.  Tliey  were  fed  chiefly 
on  maize,  and  used  both  as  laborers  and  iiouse-servants.  On  Sundays  and 
feast-days  they  were  allowed  liberties,  and  their  children  were  taught  the 
catechism.  There  were  a  few  large  slave  farms.  The  majority  of  the  planters 
possessed  but  a  small  number  of  negroes.  A  man  was  well  off  if  he  owned 
three  or  four.  The  management  of  the  plantations  was  just  and  liberal,  and 
the  relations  existing  between  masters  and  servants  were  friendly:  but  the 
easiest  service  was  doubtless  on  the  lands  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries. 

The  condition  of  the  negroes  in  the  soutliern  district  of  Louisiana,  of 
which  New  Orleans  was  tlie  centre,  was  wretched  in  the  extreme  The  "Code 
Noir"  was  rigidly  enforced,  the  masters  indifferent,  the  overseers  often  cruel, 
the  district  of  country  unhealthy,  and  the  character  of  their  work  debilitating 
as  well  as  degrading. 

When  the  Illinois  country  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  English  (176.3),  its 
total  population  was  about  three  thousand.  Of  these  a  large  porportion— 
about  nine  hundred  were  negro  slaves.  General  Thomas  Gage  gave  the  Frfitich 
the  alternative  of  selling  without  restraint  their  estates  and  removing  with 
their  personal  property  or  becoming  English  subjects.  A  large  number  de- 
cided to  leave,  and  disposed  of  their  lands  and  slaves.  Of  these  some  went  to 
New  Orleans,  but  the  majority  crossed  the  river  to  St.  Louis,  St.  Girardean, 
and  neighboring  towns.  The  Jesuits  departed  for  New  Orleans  with  forty- 
eight  negroes,  whom  they  sold,  and  then  returned  to  France. 

This  decrease  in  population  was  attended  by  a  corresponding  decline  in 
the  prosperity  of  the  region— already  noticeable  when  Captian  Philip  Pitt- 
man  visited  it  in  1770.  He  gives  and  interesting  picture  of  the  towns  and 
plantations,  and  mentions,  among  others,  M.  Beauvais,  who  owned  "240  arpens 
of  cultivated  land  and  eighty  slaves,"  a  captian  of  milita  at  St.  Philip  possess- 
ing twenty  blacks,  and  M.  Balet— the  richest  man  in  Illinois— who  resided  at 
St.  Genevieve,  and  controlled  "a  hundred  negroes,  besides  hired  white  people 
constantly  employed." 

The  population  of  the  district  had  decreased  at  that  time  to  about  sixteen 
hundred  inhabitants,  of  whom  about  six  hundred  were  slaves.  By  the  end  of 
the  century  migration  from  the  east  and  south  had  begun,  whereby  the  popu- 
lation of  the  Illinois  country  was  considerably  increased. 


-324- 

The  English  government  laid  no  restrictions  upon  tlie  liolding  of  negroes 
as  slaves  by  settlers  of  this  region,  and  when  it  came  under  the  control  of  the 
United  States  slavery  still  existed  there  unhampered, 

When  Virginia  ceded  lier  claims  on  the  Territory  of  the  Northwest  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States,  she  stipulated  that  tlie  French,  Canatlian 
and  other  inhabitants  of  Kaskaskia  and  the  neighboring  villages  should  be 
allowed  to  retain  their  ancient  rights  and  liberties.  The  continuation  of 
these  privileges  was  guaranteed  by  Congress  in  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  but  a 
clause  prohibiting  slavery  in  the  district  "Northwest  of  the  river  Ohio"  was 
inserted  in  the  same  instrument. 

The  residents  of  the  Illinois  country  were  considerably  disturbed  by  this 
latter  provision,  and  many  thought  of  moving  across  the  Mississippi  into 
Spanish  territory.  Governor  St.  Clair,  however,  chose  to  interpret  the  clause 
as  intended  only  to  prevent  the  introduction  of  slaves,  and  not  as  aiming  at 
tlie  einancipation  of  those  already  there;  and  the  migration  did  not  take 
place.  All  doubts  gradually  disappeared;  the  view  of  the  governor  was  uni- 
versally accepted;  and  ere  long  the  belief  that  article  VI  of  the  Ordinance  of 
1787  in  no  way  affected  the  existing  relations  between  masters  and  servants 
became  a  settled  conviction. 

Governor  Ninian  Edwards— one  of  the  most  distinguished  lawyers  in  the 
territory,  maintained  in  1817  that  the  Ordinance  of  1787  permitted  "volun- 
tary" servitude;  tliat  is,  the  indenturing  of  negroes  for  limited  periods  of 
service.  He  advocated  reducing  the  tenti  to  one  year,  ;uid  advanced  the  be- 
li.*;f  that  such  contracts  were  "reasonable  within  themselves,  benelicial  to  the 
slaves,  ar)d  not  repugnant  to  the  public  interests."  Some  of  tlie  less  learned 
citizens  advanced  the  argument,  thiit  since  the  French  had  obviously  the 
right  to  retain  their  slaves,  the  otlier  ST'ttlers  of  Illinois  possessed  the  same 
fight. 

No  reference  was  made  to  tlie  subjects  of  slavery  in  the  first  three  General 
A^semblies  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  otlier  than  the  levying  of  a  tax  on  all 
negroes  over  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

By  1803,  however,  it  was  found  necessary  to  provide  some  legal  status  for 
the  numerous  indentured  i)lacks,  .m  I  ro  regulate  the  relations  between 
masters  and  servants.  The  Governing  Council  of  Indiana  proceeded  to  draw 
up  a  slave  cnde,  tiie  chief  material  for  vvhic'i  was  obtained  from  the  codes  of 
\'irginia  anrl  Iveiitucky.  This  set  oC  laws  was  re-enacted,  in  the  main,  by  tlie 
iiuliaiia.  Territorial  Assemblies  of  18J5  and  1807;  and  it  was  regarded  as  a 
legal  authorization  of  the  existing  system  of  indentures. 

Under  the  provisions  of  this  code,  all  male  negroes  under  lifteen  years  of 
age.  either  owned  or  acquired,  must  serve  till  the  age  of  thirty-five:  women 
till  thirty-two.  Children  born  to  persons  of  color  during  the  period  of  service 
could  also  be  bound  out— the  boys  for  rliirty  years  and  tlie  girls  for  twenty- 
eight.  All  slaves  brought  into  the  Territory  were  obliged  to  serve  the  full 
term  of  their  contracts;  but  all  owners  were  required  to  register  their  ser. 
vants  with  the  County  Clerk  within  thirty  days  after  entering  the  Territory. 
Transfers  from  one  master  to  another  were  permitted,  provided  the  slave 
gave  his  (or  her)  consent  before  a  notary. 

Other  provisions  were  added  concerning  the  duties  of  masters  to  servants. 
Wholesome  food,  sufficient  clothing,  and  lodging  were  to  be  provided  for  each 


-  325  - 

slave.  The  outfit  for  a  servant  was  outlined  as  follovs's:  "A  coat,  waistcoat, 
a  pair  of  breeches,  a  hat,  and  a  blanket."  Not  an  abundant  supply  surely, 
but  it  did  well  for  a  beginning.  No  provision  was  made  for  a  future  increase 
of  wardrobe.  Nor  was  there  any  penalty  connected  with  a  failure  to  provide 
the  original  outfit;  and  no  evidence  is  obtainable  that  masters  generally  com- 
plied with  this  enactment,  or  troubled  themselves  greatly  concerning  the 
servants'  food  or  clothing. 

Lazy  or  indifferent  servants  might,  on  an  order  from  the  justice  of  the 
county,  be  punished  by  whipping.  It  is  not  to  be  inferred  from  this  that  the 
owners  always  went  through  the  form  of  procuring  a  license  before  proceed- 
ing to  the  punishment  of  refractory  negroes.  In  those  free  and  easy  days, 
when  the  administration  of  justice  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  were  no 
easy  matter,  owing  to  the  isolation  of  the  various  communities  and  the  lack 
of  efficient  machinery  for  carrying  out  the  decrees  of  Governors  and  Legisla. 
tures,  the  letter  of  the  law  was  not  always  closely  adhered  to.  The  land- 
owners were  left  unmolested  in  the  management  of  their  estates;  and  the 
question  of  the  treatment  of  servants  was  very  seldom,  if  ever,  raised. 

Negroes  who  refused  to  work  or  who  tried  to  run  away  must  serve  two 
days  extra  time  for  every  idle  or  absent  day;  and  the  expenses  of  re-capture 
were  to  be  worked  out  by  the  servant  in  extra  service.  Any  person  liarbor- 
ing  a  runaway  slave  must  pay  tlie  master  one  dollar  for  each  day  he  concealed 
the  negro.  It  was  forbidden  under  severe  penalty  to  trade  or  deal  with  a 
servant  without  the  consent  of  his  master.  Negroes  or  raulattoes  might  pur- 
chase servants  provided  these  were  not  wliite.  They  could  retain  all  goods 
or  money  acquired  by  gift  or  other  lawful  means  during  their  servitude,  if 
their  master  gave  consent;  and  they  might  obtain  certificates  of  freedom 
from  the  county  courts  on  presentation  of  proof  that  they  had  served  out; 
their  time. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  protect  the  servants  from  cruelty  or  unfair 
treatment  on  the  part  of  the  master.  The  county  courts  were  to  punish  all 
owners  guilty  of  ill  treatment  of  their  slaves;  but  we  are  left  in  ignorance  as 
to  how  the  masters  were  to  be  proved  guilty  of  this  misdemeanor.  It  is  to  be 
inferred,  however,  that  it  was  through  the  testimony,  of  neighbors  rather 
than  by  any  complaint  on  the  part  of  tlie  negro.  Since  the  latter  was  for- 
bidden to  serve  as  a  witness,  save  in  cases  wliere  colored  people  alone  were 
concerned.  It  was  provided  further  that  "all  contracts  between  master  ;ind 
servant  during  the  time  of  service  shall  be  void;"  and  masters  who  allowed 
any  sick  or  lame  negro  to  become  a  county  charge  were  to  be  fined  tliirty 
dollars. 

Servants  of  color  were  not  allowed  to  serve  in  the  state  militia,  to  have 
bail  when  arrested,  to  engage  in  unlawful  assemblies,  or  to  absent  themselves 
from  the  plantation  of  their  owner  without  a  special  pass,  or  token. 

Finally,  if  any  negro  should  refuse  to  serve  Iiis  master  when  brought  into 
Illinois,  the  owner  might  remove  to  any  of  the  slave  states  with  his  property 
within  sixty  days. 

The  above  code  was  by  no  means  a  dead  letter;  for  the  evidence  is  ample 
to  prove  that  an  extensive  system  of  indentured  servants  was  carried  on 
under  its  protection.  During  the  decade  following  1807,  a  large  number  of 
negroes  were  brought  in,  and  registered.     In   the  four  counties  of  Gallatin, 


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St.  Clair,  Madison  and  Randolpli  alone,  there  were  over  three  hundred,  and 
the  whole  number  of  slaves  in  the  Territory  increased  from  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  in  1800,  to  seven  hundred  and  forty-nine  in  1820. 

The  greater  proportion  of  the  negroes  came  from  Kentucky  and  Tennes- 
see, altliough  numbers  were  brought  also  from  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  iNIary 
land  and  even  Louisiana.  A  considerable  number  of  these  servants  were 
registered  to  serve  till  the  age  limit  fixed  by  law  was  reached.  This  meant 
from  ten  to  twenty  years  in  most  cases,  as  the  majority  of  negroes  brought 
into  the  territory  were  mere  boys  and  g-irls. 

Most  of  the  settlers  owned  slaves  and  were  anxious  to  get  as  much  service 
out  of  them  as  possible.  Some,  it  is  true,  like  Governor  Coles,  came  into  the 
state  for  the  express  purpose  of  freeing  their  negroes,  but  these  were  excep- 
tions. The  majority  purchased  slaves  when  very  young  in  order  to  secure  the 
longest  legal  terms  of  service-  Not  satisfied  with  that,  they  registered  them 
for  periods  of  servitude  far  in  excess  of  the  legal  limit,  many  being  booked  to 
serve  from  forty  to  sixty  and  even  ninety-nine  years. 

Ninian  Edwards,  the  first  governor  of  the  territory,  who  knew  the  law 
well  enough  to  register  several  slaves  in  strict  accord  with  its  provisions,  felt 
quite  free  to  register  his  servants:  Rose,  twenty-three  years  of  age,  for  thirty- 
five  years;  Antony,  forty  years  old,  for  fifteen  years;  Maria,  fifteen  years  of 
age,  for  forty-five  years;  and  Jesse,  twenty-five  years  of  age,  for  thirty-five 
years  of  service. 

The  law  was  further  evaded  by  registering  the  children  of  colored  servants 
for  thirty-live  years,  in  place  of  thirty  years  of  service,  on  the  ground  tliat 
they  were  not  born  in  Illinois.  A  case  in  point  is  Ninian  Edward's  Joseph, 
whom'  he  registered  at  Kaskaskia  on  June  14,  1810,  to  serve  thirty-five  years. 
Joseph  was  tlien  eighteen  months  old  and  had  just  been  brought  into  the 
territory  with  his  mother. 

All  this  the  masters  did  knowingly,  believing,  quite  rightly,  that  no  one 
would  take  the  trouble  to  prosecute  them  for  holding  their  slaves  to  unlawful 
servi^-r.  The  negroes  were  deceived  into  believing  that  it  was  legal  and  just  to 
bind  themselves  for  such  long  periods.  This  deception  was  kept  up  until  1840: 
and  one  of  the  chief  complaintsof  the  slaveholders  against  the  lawyers  who 
later  defended  the  negroes  iri  the  State  Cjurts  was,  "von  tell  our  slaves  they 
are  free." 

Transfers  of  colored  servants  were  frequent.  Tlie  consent  of  the  servant 
being  legally  necessary,  it  was  customary  to  secure  it  by  a  commutation  of  the 
term  of  servitude,  as  in  the  case  of  Jane,  whom  Hezekiah  Davis,  of  Jackson 
county,  sold  in  .\ugust,  1817,  to  Samuel  Cochran,  and  whose  term  of  service 
was  shortened  from  fifty  to  forty  years.  Judging  from  the  bills  of  sale  extant, 
it  is  evident  that  this  formality  was  frequently  overlooked,  and  masters  dis- 
posed of  their  property  vvithout  consulting  the  wishes  of  the  slaves  themselves. 

Negroes  were  also  bequeathed  by  will  and  sold  at  auction  like  any  species 
of  personal  property.  In  making  bequests  some  citizens  evidently  believed 
that  they  possessed  their  slaves,  soul  and  body  for  all  time.  The  majority  of 
these  were  French,  but  some  were  men  of  genuine  southern  pioneer  stock. 
Others,  like  Samuel  Campbell  and  Benjamin  West,  although  believing  quite 
as  firmly  in  the  right  of  holding  slaves,  transferred  to  their  descendants  tlie 
"time"  of  their  servants  and  made  just  stipulations  for  their  freedom  in   the 


-  327  - 

future. 

No  attempt  was  made  to  conceal  the  traffic  in  slaves.  Frequent  notices 
of  desirable  negroes  "for  sale"  and  "wanted"  appeared  in  the  "Western  In- 
telligencer" of  Kaskaskia.  The  "Missouri  Gazette,"  published  in  St.  Louis, 
and  enjoying  a  considerable  circulation  in  Illinois,  contained,  from  1808  to 
1820,  many  similar  advertisements.  The  St.  Louis  Exchange  and  Land  Office, 
owned  by  S.  A.  Wiggins,  and  dealing  largely  in  slaves,  not  only  advertised  in 
the  Illinois  papers,  but  also  had  branch  offices  at  Kaskaskia  and  Edwardsville. 
It  was  easy,  howeve'-,  for  the  settlers  of  southwestern  Illinois  to  cross  the 
Mississippi  to  St.  Charles  or  St.  Louis,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Gallatin  county 
to  visit  Kentucky,  at  any  time  to  purchase  slaves. 

The  lot  of  the  indentured  servant  was  not  so  pleasant  but  that  he  was 
glad  to  escape  from  it.  The  first  numbers  of  the  "Western  Intelligencer" 
contain  rewards  offered  for  runaway  slaves;  and  similar  notices  continued  to 
appear  long  after  the  territory  became  a  state.  Even  at  this  early  day,  too, 
the  practice  of  kidnapping  had  begun.  Negroes  whose  terms  of  service  were 
abouttoexpire  were  seized,  carried  off  to  New  Orleans  and  the  south,  and 
sold  into  a  servitude  more  wretched  tiian  before.  The  legislature  laid  the 
penalty  of  a  thousand  dollars  tine  on  the  abduction  of  a  slave,  but  the  practice 
continued  unabated. 

Indentured  servants  were  of  course  taxable  property:  and  in  two  counties, 
at  least,  owners  were  taxed  a  dollar  per  year  for  each  one  held.  Their  worth 
depended  largely  upon  the  length  of  their  term  of  service  still  to  run.  One 
year's  time  of  a  negro  was  sold  for  one  hundred  dollars.  Tiie  prices  of  boys 
and  girls  varied  from  three  hundred  to  six  hundred  dollars,  according  to  their 
physical  qualifications  and  the  period  of  servitude.  They  were  used,  more- 
over, as  security  for  the  payment  of  notes  or  the  fulfillment  of  contracts,  and 
if  men  had  no  use  for  their  servants  themselves  they  rented  them  out  by  the 
year  to  their  neighbors. 

The  commonest  form  of  employment  for  the  negroes  was  tilling  the  soil  of 
the  plantations,  as  the  farms  in  southern  Illinois  were  then  called;  but  they 
were  also  used  in  all  kinds  of  household  work,  and  served  as  waiters  in  the 
taverns,  as  dairymen,  as  shoemakers,  as  cooks  and  as  toilers  in  the  salt  mines. 
The  hiring  of  negroes  for  the  last  named  industry,  legalized  by  statute  in  1814, 
served  as  a  pretext  for  the  holding  of  slaves  in  other  parts  of  the  terrii  or^ 

"To  roll  a  barrel  ofsalt  once  a  year  or  to  put  salt  into  a  salt  ce  lar  was 
sufficient  excuse,"  says  Governor  Flower,  "for  any  man  to  hire  a  slaveatid  raise 
a  field  of  corn."  This  was  not  the  only  scheme  resorted  to  in  order  to  evade  the 
law.  The  word  "servant"  was  used  to  cover  a  multitude  of  sins.  No  matter 
under  what  names  the  farmers  held  their  negroes-whet  her  as  "servants," 
"yellow  boys,"  or  "colored  girls"— the  fact  still  remainec"  that  slavery  ex- 
isted in  the  territory  of  Illinois,  as  completely  as  in  any  of  the  southern  states. 
It  was  not  limited  to  the  settlements  and  towns  along  the  Ohio  and  Mississip- 
pi rivers,  but  was  practised  all  over  the  southern  portion  of  what  is  now  the 
state  of  Illinois,  and  as  far  north  as  Sangamon  county,  which  wastlien  just  be 
ginning  to  be  settled. 

The  slavery  question  came  into  prominence  as  a  political  issue  as  early  as 
December,  1817.  It  first  appeared  in  connection  with  the  framing  of  the  con- 
stitution of  1818.    The  holders  of  colored  servants  felt  reasonably  secure  in 


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the  possession  of  their  property  because  of  the  territorial  legislation  support, 
ing  the  indenture  system  and  of  the  publicly  expressed  opinions  of  Governors 
St.  Clair  and  Ninian  Edwards.  Yet,  as  the  time  for  the  drawing  up  of  the 
State  Constitution  drew  near,  the  pro-indenture  advocates  began  to  lose  con- 
fidence in  the  legal  strength  of  their  position. 

It  was  seen  that  in  order  to  secure  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the  Uuion 
its  constitution  must  express  itself  against  slavery— nominally  at  least.  This 
the  pro-slavery  leaders  determined  should  be  done.  At  the  same  time  they 
believed  the  new  state  legislature  could,  if  it  so  desired,  legally  re-enact 
later  ail  of  the  old  territorial  code  of  "Black  Laws."  In  order  not  to  arouse 
public  suspicion,  great  secrecy  was  observed  concerning  their  plans  and  ulti- 
mate object. 

The  Constitutional  Convention  was  to  meet  at  Kaskaskia  in  August,  1818. 
As  early  as  April  1st  articles  discussing  tlie  advisability  of  making  Illinois  a 
slave  state  and  vice  versa,  be^an  to  appear  in  the  ''Western  Intelligencer." 
After  the  I7th  of  .fune  there  was  scarcely  an  edition  that  did  not  contain  one 
or  more  communications  on  the  subject. 

Tiie  main  arguments  advanced  in  favor  of  slavery  were:  that  it  would 
tend  to  increase  the  tide  of  emigration  from  the  southern  states  toward  Illi- 
nois, and  thereby  to  promoie  the  speedy  settlement  and  improvement  of  the 
country;  that  the  slave  labor  was  necessary  to  the  opening  up  of  new  lands; 
that  the  liability  of  slave  insurrections  was  less  when  the  negroes  were  distri- 
buted over  the  nation;  and  that,  to  provide  the  colored  people  with  a  partial 
escape  from  the  servitude  of  the  south  by  the  possibility  of  a  transfer  to  tiie 
lighter  indenture  system  of  Illinois,  would  be  an  inestimable  blessing  to  the 
race. 

All  this  was  refuted  with  considerable  force  and  skill  by  the  anti-slavery 
supporters,  who  uiaintained  tliat  slavery  was  a  great  social  and  economic,  as 
well  as  moral,  evil;  and  that  its  perpetuation  in  Illinois  would  impede,  rather 
than  advance  the  progress  of  the  new  state. 

Several  compromises  were  suggested,  but  only  one  was  practical.  This  ap- 
peared in  an  art  Icle  signed  "Paciticus"  and  addressed  to  the  "Honorable  Mem- 
bers of  the  Convention  of  the  Illinois  Territory  "  It  advocated  the  incorpo- 
ration of  tiie  existing  indenture  system  in  the  new  constitution,  provided  tlie 
term  of  service  was  made  forty  years,  the  slaves  were  instructed  in  religion  and 
the  rudiments  of  education,  and  that  a  general  emancipation  should  occur  on 
January  1st,  18(50.  This  proposal  met  with  little  acceptance,  partly  because 
"Paciticus"  was  in  advance  of  his  times,  and  partly  because  of  the  oppositio/i 
to  long  term  indentures,  then  becoming  general. 

The  election  of  delegates  to  the  convention  occurred  early  in  July.  The 
votes  were  all  given  viva  voce,  and  there  was  but  one  polling  place  in  each 
county.  Although  no  organized  political  parties  existed,  the  majority  of  the 
candidates  were  either  professed  opponents  or  well  known  advocates  of 
slavery.  Some,  like  Mr.  Elisha  Kane,  of  Randolph  county,  tried  to  evade  the 
direct  issue. 

Tlie  constitutional  convention  met  on  the  3rd  of  August  and  completed 
its  work  on  the  2()th  of  the  same  month.  Thirty-three  delegates  were  present 
representing  fifteen  counties.  Among  the  prominent  members  were  Jesse  B. 
Tliomas,  E.  K.  Kane,  Ilezekiah    West   and   James  Hall,     t^nfortunately  the 


-  329  - 

minutes  of  the  convention  have  been  lost  and  the  greater  part  of  the  records 
and  newspapers  of  the  time  have  disappeared.  So  it  is  extremely  difficult  to 
determine  the  real  attitude  of  the  various  delegates  regarding  the  slavery 
question.  Note:  Since  the  publication  of  Prof.  Harris'  booic,  the  minutes  of 
the  convention  have  been  found  and  are  now  in  the  Illinois  Historical  Library, 

Mr.  W.  Kitchell  informs  us  in  the  "Illinois  Republican,"  of  June  30,  1824, 
that  there  were  "twenty-one  members  against  the  introduction  of  slavery 
and  twelve  in  favor  of  it."  This  should  be  interpreted  to  mean,  that  there 
were  twenty-one  delegates  opposed  to  putting  any  article  in  the  constitution 
of  1818  that  should  legalize  slavery  in  Illinois,  and  twelve  who  favored  the  in- 
troduction of  such  an  article. 

There  was  no  distinct  division  into  pro-slavery  and  anti-slavery  parties 
as  these  terms  are  generally  used.  The  vote  was  decided  more  by  policy  than 
by  principle;  but  it  is  possible  to  distinguish  three  classes  of  men  in  the  con- 
vention of  1818.  First,  there  were  those  who  desired  an  out  and  out  pro- 
slavery  constitution;  second,  those  who,  opposed  to  slavery  in  any  form,  wished 
an  entirely  free  constitution;  and  third,  a  set  of  •'compromisists"  who  preferred 
to  maintain  as  far  as  possible  the  existing  system  of  indentures,  while  at  t  he 
same  time  giving  to  the  state  the  semblance  of  a  free  constitut'on.  These 
last  seem  to  have  been  numerically  the  strongest,  for  they  succeeded  in  having 
their  policy  adopted.  This  tliey  accomplished  by  securing  the  adherence  of 
the  men  opposed  to  slavery  solely  on  economic  grounds,  of  those  who  feared 
that  Congress  would  reject  tlie  constitution  if  it  contained  a  distinct  pro- 
vision admitting  slavery,  and  finally,  of  those  opposed  to  slavery  on  principle, 
who  accepted  the  compromise  in  lieu  of  anything  better. 

This  state  of  affairs  in  the  convention  does  not  seem  to  have  been  clearly 
understood  by  outsiders.  The  general  impression  was  that  a  strong  move- 
ment—one likely  to  succeed— was  being  made  to  secure  a  constitution  favor- 
able to  slavery. 

It  was  to  prevent  this  that  thirteen  of  the  prominent  men  of  St.  Clair, 
Madison,  Monroe  and  Washington  counties  issued  an  "Address  to  the  friends 
of  Freedom  in  the  State  of  Illinois,"  in  which  they  declared  that  "strong 
exertions  will  be  made  in  the  convention  to  give  sanction  to  that  deplorable 
evil  in  our  state,"  and  earnestly  solicited  all  "true  friends  of  freedom  in  every 
section  of  the  territory  to  unite  in  opposing  it  both  by  the  election  of  a  del- 
egate to  Congress  wlio  will  oppose  it  and  by  forming  meetings  and  preparing 
remonstrances  to  Congress  against  it." 

The  "compromisists"  were  however  completely  successful,  as  is  well  shown 
by  Article  VI.  of  the  constitution  of  1818,  which  embodies  the  work  and  the 
attitude  of  the  convention  on  this  subject.  The  first  section  reads  as  follows: 
Neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  shall  hereafter  be  introduced  into 
this  state  otherwise  than  for  tlie  punishment  of  crimes  whereof  the  party 
shall  have  been  duly  convicted.  Nor  shall  any  male  person  arrived  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  years,  nor  any  female  person  arrived  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  be  held  to  serve  any  person  as  a  servant  under  any  indenture  hereafter 
made,  unless  such  person  shall  enter  into  such  indenture  while  in  a  state  of 
perfect  freedom,  and  on  condition  that  a  bona  fide  consideration  received  or 
to  be  received  for  tlieir  service.  Noi:  shall  any  indenture  of  any  negro  or 
mulatto  hereafter  made  and   executed  out  of  the  state,  or  if  made  in  this 


-330- 

state,  the  term  of  where  service  e^cceeds  one  year,  be  of  the  least  validity,  ex- 
cept those  given  in  case  of  apprenticeship." 

In  the  second  section  it  is  provided  that  slaves  bound  in  other  states 
shall  not  be  hired  for  service  in  Illinois,  except  (until  the  year  1825)  within 
the  district  of  the  salt  works  near  Shawneetown.  Such  contracts  were 
limited  to  one  year,  but  were  renewable.  The  third  section  provided  that 
all  contracts  and  indentures  made  before  1818  should  be  enforced,  and  all 
negroes  and  mulattoes  should  serve  out  the  full  term  of  years  for  which  they 
had  been  bound  under  the  Territorial  laws.  Children  of  indentured  servants 
were  to  become  free,  males  at  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  females  at  eighteen 

All  this,  with  a  few  modifications,  was  a  conflrmation  of  the  existing 
system.  The  poor  negroes  who  were  already  indentured  did  not  have  their 
service  lessened  by  a  day.  The  limit  of  age  at  which  colored  people  might 
be  indentured  was  reduced  from  thirty-flve  years  in  case  of  males,  and  thirty- 
two  in  case  of  females,  to  twenty-one  vears  and  eighteen  years  respectively. 
This  was  a  slight  advance. 

The  limiting  of  indentures  to  one  year's  service  and  making  them  appar- 
ently optional  with  the  negro  was  supposed  to  have  practically  transformed 
the  slavery  in  Illinois  mto  a  pleasant  sort  of  personal  service.  But  it  did  not 
work  out  tliat  way.  Nor  is  it  likely  that  the  majority  of  the  f-ramers  of  this 
article  thought  that  it  would  do  so.  It  was  too  early  to  force  the  negroes  an- 
nually into  a  renewal  of  their  indentures  and  the  majority  of  the  slave-holders 
were  too  anxious  to  retain  all  their  property  rights  and  the  advantages  of  the 
pre-existing  system  of  indentures,  to  allow  such  loosely  defined  regulations  to 
hamper  them  much  in  the  management  of  their  colored  servants.  In  fact, 
they  seem  never  to  have  seriously  entertained  for  a  moment  any  intention  of 
giving  up  the  old  system  of  indentures,  to  judge  from  the  laws  enacted  the 
following  March  (1819)  "concerning  negroes  and  mulattoes."  These  com- 
prised the  greater  number  of  the  Territorial  "Black  Laws,"  including  the 
light  of  sale  or  transfer  of  a  contract  or  indenture  from  one  master  to  anotii- 
er.  In  addition,  negroes  were  forbidden  to  settle  or  reside  in  the  state  with- 
out a  certificate  of  freedom;  and  it  was  made  unlawful  to  bring  in  slaves  for 
the  purpose  of  emancipating  them. 

Still  the  one  year  limit  placed  on  all  the  new  contracts  for  service  was  an 
effectual  check  upon  the  bringing  in  of  negroes  .and  indenturing  them  for 
long  periods  of  servitude.  By  April,  1819,  this  custom  seems  to  have  been 
largely  given  up.  At  least  there  are  no  records  of  registrations  of  indentures 
after  that  date.  This  was  greatly  aided  by  the  increasing  revulsion  in  public 
opinion  against  the  practice  discountenanced  by  the  new  Constitution. 

Ttiere  was  considerable  uncertainty  as  to  whether  congress  would  admit 
Illinois  under  this  Constitution  of  1818  or  not.  Tlie  first  legislature  of  the 
state  met  early  in  October,  1818,  and  proceeded  to  the  election  of  United 
States  senators,  and  of  chief  and  associate  justices  for  Illinois,  and  to  the  con- 
firming of  the  appointments  to  the  governor's  cabinet.  When  this  little 
business  had  been  transacted  they  adjourned,  requesting  the  governor  to  call 
them  together  again  when  he  should  have  ascertained  that  congress  had  ad- 
mitted the  state  into  the  Union.  It  is  evident  from  this  unusual  action  that 
the  legislature  was  very  much  in  doubt  as  to  the  actual  outcome  of  the  con- 
gressional deliberations  in  the  matter. 


~  331  - 

The  question  of  slavery  seems  to  have  been  the  vital  point.  On  November 
23,  1818,  the  report  of  thecomittee  favoring  the  admission  of  Illinois  was  read 
in  the  house  for  the  third  time.  Mr.  Talmadge  rose  in  opposition,  "upon  the 
ground  that  the  constitution  was  not  sufficiently  conclusive  in  the  rejection  of 
slavery,"  the  article  in  that  instrument  respecting  slaves  being  by  itself  alone, 
in  his  opinion,  sufficient  to  render  the  whole  inadmissible.  Mr.  Poindexter,  of 
Mississippi,  took  the  lead  in  favoring  the  admission.  He  thought  the  measure 
relative  to  slavery  "fraught  with  utility"  and  an  "excellent  safe  guard  to  the 
negro."  While  slavery  was  an  evil  in  his  eyes,  lie  nevertheless  did  not  believe 
general  emanicipation  a  thing  possible  to  obtain;  and  the  provision  in  the  Con- 
stitution of  Illinois,  relative  to  the  negroesseemed  to  be  well  suited  to  the  con- 
dition of  things  in  that  locality. 

Mr.  Harrison,  of  Ohio,  supported  Mr.  Poindexter.  He  maintained  that 
the  "compact,"  as  he  called  it,  of  1789,  had  no  reference  to  the  slaves  already 
held  in  tlie  Northwest  Territory,  He  regretted  that  tiie  people  of  Illinois  liad 
not  freed  tlieir  slaves  as  the  citizens  of  Indiana  liad  done;  but  since  iier  people 
had  tiie  sovereign  right  to  do  as  they  chose  witii  their  own  negroes,  he  di  1 
not  think  the  state  should  be  excluded  on  a  mere  technicality 

This  discussion  was  soon  ended  and  and  a  vote  taken,  which  resulted  in 
the  passage  of  the  bill  by  117  ballots  for  and  only  34  against.  The  Senate  ap- 
proved the  bill  without  discussion  on  December  1,  and  Illinois  became  a  state. 

Bv  this  ready  acceptance  of  tlie  Constitution  of  Illinois,  Congress  showed 
its  approval  of  the  theory  advanced  by  Governor  St.  Clair  and  General  flarri- 
son,  that  the  Ordinance  of  1789 did  not  apply  to  negroes  already  iield  as  slaves 
in  the  northwest  at  the  time  when  it  was  enacted. 

The  labors  of  tiie  compromise  party  in  Illinois  were  thus  crowned  with 
success.  The  state  was  admitted  and  the  rigiit  to  retain  negroes  as  "inden- 
tured servants"  was  recognized  and  secured. 

The  question  of  the  admission  of  Missouri  into  the  Union  was  debated  for 
the  first  time  in  Congress  during  tlie  winter  of  1818  to  1819.  The  people  of 
Illinois  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  matter.  Many  were  outspoken  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  formation  of  another  slave  state  on  their  border;  and  the  Illinois 
Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  were  severely  censured  because  they 
voted  against  the  prohibition  of  slavery.  In  August,  1819,  Mr.  Daniel  P.  Cook, 
was  elected  Representative,  largely  because  his  opposition  to  slavery  was  well 
known. 

The  Missourians  felt  that  their  cause  had  been  injured  by  the  attitude  of 
the  Illinoians  and  tiiey  determined  to  retaliate.  They  and  other  southern 
leaders,  desirous  of  striking  a  blow  at  the  "Yankees"  of  Illinois,  found  ready 
sympathizers  among  the  liolders  of  indentured  negroes  in  Illinois,  who  were 
anxious  to  introduce  into  tiieir  state  an  unlimited  indenture  system,  or  better, 
unrestricted  slavery.  A  scheme  was  soon  agreed  upon,  by  which  an  attempt 
should  be  made  to  secure  a  slave  constitution  for  Illinois  through  the  calling 
of_a  general  convention  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  existing  constitution. 

To  carry  out  this  plan  it  was  proposed  to  establish  a  pro-slavery  news- 
paper at  Edwardsville,  with  General  J.  M.  Street  as  editor,  to  advocate  the 
introduction  of  slavery  into  Illinois,  and  to  send  Elias  Kane,  a  pro-slavery 
sympathizer  to  Congress.  The  "Illinois  Gazette"  at  Shawneetown  was  to  be 
purchased,  and  other  papers  enlisted  in  tiie  cause  if  possible.    As  soon  as  con- 


-332- 

ditions  seemed  to  favor,  an  attempt  was  to  be  made  to  secure  a  vote  in  the 
legislature  for  the  calling  of  a  convention  to  revise  the  constitution. 

Mr.  Hooper  Warren,  editor  of  the  "Edwardsville  Spectator,"  and  a  strong 
opponent  ot  slavery,  learned  of  the  plan  and  exposed  it  in  his  paper  on  July  11, 
1820,  asserting  that  an  attempt  would  soon  be  made  to  force  a  slave  constitu- 
tion upon  Illinois.  Mr.  Kane  answered  the  editorial  in  a  personal  letter  to 
the  "Illinois  Intelligencer,  in  July  1820,  denying  the  existence  of  such  a  plan, 
but  strong  evidence  was  brought  out  within  the  next  few  weeks  to  prove  the 
existence  of  the  plot.  Mr.  Kane  was  supported  by  the  friends  of  slavery,  but 
was  defeated  by  Mr.  Cook,  on  August  7,  by  the  large  majority  of  thirteen 
hundred  and  twenty-three,  after  wliich  the  advocates  of  the  convention  de- 
cided to  postpone  their  plan  until  tlie  excitement  had  quitted. 

In  1822  a  Governor,  a  representative  to  Congress  and  a  new  State  Legis- 
lature were  to  be  chosen.  Although  there  were  four  candidates  for  Governor 
the  contest  lay  between  Edward  Coles  an  anti  slavery  man  and  Chief  .Justice 
Joseph  Pliillips,  who  was  a  pro-slavery  sympathizer.  Mr.  Coles  was  elected  by 
a  small  plurality  of  forty  six  votes,  and  Mr.  Cook  re-elected  over  Johh  McLean, 
but  a  majority  of  pro-slavery  men  were  chosen  for  the  legislature. 

In  his  inaugural  address  on  Dec.  5,  1822,  Governor  Coles  made  an  urgent 
request  for  the  repeal  of  the  "Black  Laws,"  but  every  attempt  made  in  that 
direction  met  with  signal  failure.  One  of  the  most  important  questions  which 
arose  was  the  contested  election  case  from  Pike  ('ounty.  The  candidates 
were  Hansen  and  Shaw.  There  were  but  three  voting  places  in  Pike  and  on 
election  day  Shaw  claimed  there  was  no  illegality  in  the  appointment  of  some 
of  the  election  judges  and  set  up  a  second  voting  place  at  Colesgrove.  The 
County  Clerk  rejected  the  returns  from  this  unauthorized  voting  place  and  is- 
sued certiticate  of  election  to  Hansen.  The  contest  was  carefully  tried  and 
the  election  of  Hansen  confirmed  by  a  vote  of  twenty  to  fourteen.  When  the 
vote  for  or  against  the  calling  of  -i  constitutional  Convention  was  taken,  the 
resolution  for  the  convention  failed' by  two  votes.  A  strong  fight  began,  for 
gaining  the  r)ecessary  votes;  the  pro-slavery  element  was  determined  to  win  at 
;iny  cost,  and  adopted  for  its  motto  "The  Convention  or  Death."  Promises 
inducements  and  threats  were  freely  indulged  in.  "Lobby  members"  from 
Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Missouri  hung  about  the  public  places  of  the  capital 
trying  to  help  on  the  cause  of  slavery.  Instructions  began  to  pour  in  upon  mem- 
bers and  Mr.  Ratteu,  of  Green  County  announced  that  he  was  authorized  by 
his  constituents  to  vote  for  the  convention.  Mr.  McFatridge,  of  Johnson  coun- 
ty was  next  won  over  to  the  slavery  side  by  a  promise  to  remove  the  county 
seat,  of  his  county  from  Vienna  to  Bloom  Held. 

The  pro-slavery  members  now  believing  they  had  the  necessary  votes  to 
carry  their  point  on  Feb.  11  took  up  the  resolution  and  were  greatly  angered 
to  find  they  lost  by  one  vote:  that  Hansen,  of  Pike  county  had  changed  his 
vote.  The  rage  of  the  conventionists  was  furious;  a  motion  was  carried  to  re. 
considered  the  vote  granting  him  a  seat  and  he  was  turned  out,  his  opponent 
Shaw  seated,  and  the  motion  favoring  a  convention  was  then  passed  with  the 
aid  of  Shaw's  vote. 

The  struggle  was  now  on:  the  slavery  party  was  led  by  Ex-Governor  Bond, 
Judge  Philips,  Ellas  Kane,  T.  W.  Smith  and  Benjamin  Westand  others,  and 
and  opposed  to  them  were  Governor  Coles,    Samuel    D.    Lockwood,    Thomas 


-  333  - 

Mather,  George  Churchill,  Rev.  J.  M.  Peck,  Rev.  Thomas  Lippincott,  and 
Hooper  Warren.  A  large  number  of  ministers  took  part  in  the  contest  all 
against  the  convention. 

The  legislature  adjourned  in  Feb.,  182.3,  and  the  election  could  not  be  held 
until  August,  1824.  This  delay  worked  in  favor  of  those  opposed  to  the  con- 
vention. In  1823  three  new  counties  were  formed  Morgan,  Marion  and  Edgar, 
each  being  settled  largely  by  anti-slavery  men.  Speeches  were  made  in  all 
the  county  seats  and  leading  towns;  thousands  of  pamphlets  were  printed  and 
and  distributed,  the  conventionists,  boldly  admitted  they  were  in  favor  of 
slavery;  personal  encountors  were  frequent:  liquor  flowed  freely,  and  the 
greatest  excitement  prevailed. 

Two  events  occurred  which  turned  the  scale  in  favor  of  the  liberty  partv. 
On  Dec.  9,  1823,  the  State  House  at  Vandalia  was  set  on  fire  by  a  mob  which 
paraded  the  street  shouting  "The  State  House  or  Death,"  and  burned  Gover. 
nor  Coles  in  effigy.  In  the  spring  of  1824-  the  "Illinois  Intelligencer,"  the 
chief  organ  of  the  convention  party  became  financially  embaressed,  and  fell 
into  the  hands  of  Judge  Lockwood  as  editor. 

The  election  took  place  on  August  second:  there  were  4.972  votes  for  a 
convention  and  6.fi40  against  it,  and  Mr.  Daniel  Cook  again  elected  to 
Congress,    This  settled  the  question  for  all  future  time. 

After  this  election,  the  population  of  Illinois  rapidly  increased:  the  num- 
ber of  inhabitants  in  1820  was  55,211;  in  1825,  71,309;  in  1830,  157,575.  Within 
the  same  ten  years  thirty-four  new  counties  were  organized  of  which  twenty- 
nine  were  settled  chiefly  by  Eastern  men  and  but  five  by  men  of  Southern 
sympathizers. 

With  the  vote  in  August,  1824,  the  organi/.ation  of  those  opposed  to  a  con- 
vention fell  to  the  ground.  The  discussion  of  slavery  ceased  in  the  news- 
papers. The  courts  sustained  masters  in  their  right  to  hold  slaves,  and  the 
Legislation  showed  little  disposition  to  repeal  the  "Black  Laws"  of  1819.  In 
182.5,  the  freeing  of  negroes  who  had  lately  come  into  the  state  was  made 
possible  under  certain  conditions,  but  no  law  was  enacted  which  altered  in 
any  way  the  existing  contracts  for  personal  service.  In  fact  the  disposition 
was  to  strengthen  rather  than  to  weaken  the  position  of  the  master. 

In  1827  and  1829,  laws  were  passed  forbidding  negroes  to  act  as  witnesses 
in  the  courts  against  any  white  person  and  prohibiting  them  from  suing  for 
their  freedom.  Judges  were  ordered  not  to  grant  freedom  to  slaves,  but  to 
turn  them  over  to  the  sheriff,  who  should  send  them  back  to  their  owners. 
This  last  referred  primarily  to  fugitives  from  the  Southern  states,  but  it  ap- 
plied equally  well  to  the  Illinois  servants.  It  was  provided,  in  addition,  in 
1826,  that  all  slaves  who  attempted  to  escape  must  serve  extra  time  in  pay 
ment  for  the  expenses  of  recapture. 

The  number  of  negroes  held  in  Illinois  under  the  indenture  system  grad- 
ually decreased.  In  18.30  there  were  only  seven  hundred  and  forty-six.  Tliis 
was  due  to  death,  removals  from  the  state,  expiration  of  indenture  contracts, 
and  the  granting  of  freedom  papers.  There  were  comparatively  few  persons, 
however,  like  J.  S.  Colton  and  Joseph  Atwater,  of  Madison  county,  who  freed 
their  slaves  on  principle.  They  were  too  valuable  property  to  be  parted  with 
easily.  Usually  we  find  masters  granting  freedom  to  their  negroes,  because, 
"he  has  compensated  me  by  his  labor  and  money  for  the  amount  I   paid  for 


-334- 

him,  viz.,  $825;"  or,  because  "she  has  served  out  her  time  faithfully." 

Negroes  were  not  only  retained  in  servitude  after  1824,  but  they  vpere  sold 
and  transferred  from  master  to  master  just  as  before  the  adoption  of  the  new 
constitut  on.  There  are  bills  of  sale  still  preserved,  dated  as  late  as  1837,  and 
one  in  18-18.  The  newspapers  contained  advertisements  of  negroes  for  sale,  or 
wanted  until  1826.  Colored  persons  found  in  the  state  witliout  freedom 
papers  and  unclaimed  by  masters  were  arrested  and  sold  at  auction  by  the 
county  sheriffs.  Notices  of  these  sheriff  sales  appeared  as  late  as  185.3.  In 
most  cases  of  this  kind,  the  negroes  were  bound  out  only  for  one  month  or 
a  year. 

It  is  quite  impossible  to  determine  when  the  last  of  these  indentured 
servants  secured  his  (or  her)  freedom,  owing  to  the  great  difficulty  of  procur- 
ing accurate  knowledge  regarding  all  the  cases.  It  is  safe  to  assume,  how- 
ever, that  many  were  not  set  at  liberty  till  after  the  supreme  court  decision 
of  1845. 

For  the  most  part  they  seem  to  have  been  well  treated;  yet,  during  the 
years  from  1820  to  1826  a  large;  number  of  cases  of  runaway  negroes  were  re- 
ported. They  were  pursued,  and  rewards  were  offered  for  their  capture. 
Judging  from  the  lengtii  of  time  these  fugitives  were  advertised,  it  appears 
more  than  likely  that  few,  if  any,  were  returned.  There  are  no  cases  men- 
tioned after  182ti,  and  one  may  safely  conclude  that,  either  the  lot  of  the 
negro  was  pleasanter  after  that  date,  or  that  he  was  more  contented. 

At  that  time,  liowever,  there  were  two  good  reasons  why  the  slaves 
should  remain  satistied  with  their  lot.  These  were,  the  almost  unbearable 
position  of  the  free  colored  people  in  the  state,  and  the  barbarous  practice  of 
kidknapping  all  unattacked  negroes.  Two  or  three  men  were  usually  as- 
sociated together  for  this  business.  One  would  establish  liiraself  at  St.  Louis 
or  atone  of  the  other  border  towns,  and  work  up  a  reputation  as  a  seller  of 
slaves.  The  others  would  move  about  the  Illinois  counties  on  the  lookout 
for  negroes— slave  or  free.  The  freebooters  never  stopped  to  inquire  whether 
a  colored  person  was  free  or  not.  The  question  simply  was,  could  he  be  car- 
ried off  in  safety?  The  chances  of  pursuit  were  less  if  the  negro  had  no  owner 
or  interested  friends.  The  slave-hunters  seized  their  victims  secretly,  or  en- 
ticed them  to  accompany  them  under  false  promises,  placed  them  in  wagons, 
and  drove  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  the  borders  of  the  state.  They  usually 
succeeded  in  getting  several  hours' start  of  the  county  sheriff,  or  other  per- 
sons likely  to  pursue  them,  and  escaped  in  safety.  Occasionally,  however, 
tliey  were  overtaken  and  compelled  to  release  their  prey. 

The  kidnappers  were,  moreover,  materially  aided  by  the  laws  regarding 
colored  people.  No  free  negro  or  mulatto  could  settle  or  reside  in  tlie  state 
without  a  certificate  of  freedom.  This  certiticate  must  be  shown  to  the 
County  Commissioner's  court  of  the  county  in  whicli  residence  was  desired. 
In  addition,  a  bond  of  a  thousand  dollars  had  to  be  furnished  as  security  that 
the  negro  would  obev  the  laws  and  not  become  a  county  charge.  Further,  it 
was  illegal  for  any  person  to  hire  a  negro  who  possessed  no  certificate  of  free- 
dom. The  unfortunate  individuals  who  had  no  certificates  were  to  be  ad- 
vertised by  a  justice  of  the  peace,  or  by  a  county  sheriff,  and  bound  out  to 
service  again  by  the  year  or  month.  Under  such  conditions,  any  negro  who 
entered  the  state  as  a  free  man  without  a  duly  certified   testimonial  of  free. 


-  335  - 

dom,  01  who  became  free  within  the  state  by  completing  his  required  term  of 
apprenticeship  without  receiving  papers  from  his  master  acknowledging  this 
fact,  was  a  legitimate  prey  of  the  kidnappers. 

In  course  of  time,  numbers  of  runaway  slaves  appeared  in  Illinois,  who 
were  of  course  included  in  this  class  of  uncertified  free  negroes.  Consequently 
—and  particularly  since  they  were  known  to  the  fugitives  from  southern 
plantations— they  became  especial  objects  of  pursuit  for  the  kidnappers.  Tlie 
pretense  of  a  master  pursuing  his  escaping  property  under  sanction  of  the 
fugitive  slave  laws  was  an  excellent  subterfuge.  This  was  made  use  of  by  tne 
kidnappers  not  only  to  seize  negroes  known  to  be  runaway  slaves  but  to  get 
possession  of  many  free  and  unsuspecting  colored  persons. 

In  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  in  cases  wherein  the 
liberty  of  the  negro  was  at  stake,  the  personal  bias  of  the  judge  who  rendered 
the  opinion  was  as  apparent  as  now  in  the  opinions  of  our  courts  of  appeal  at 
the  present  day.  In  1825  the  case  of  a  negro  girl  named  Betsy,  whose  mother 
Rachel— had  apprenticed  herself  to  one  Joseph  Cornelius  on  October  6,  1804, 
for  a  term  of  fifteen  years.  The  indenture,  which  had  been  signed  only  by 
Rachel,  had  expired,  and  the  woman  was  now  free.  Mr.  Cornelius,  however, 
claimed  the  right  to  the  services  of  Betsey,  the  daughter  of  his  former  servant, 
Rachel,  under  the  territorial  law  of  1807.  Judge  Lookwood  rendered  the  de- 
cision of  the  court,  holding  that  the  13th  section  of  the  Act  of  1807  did  not 
embrace  cases  where  the  master  and  servant  did  not  agree  upon  the  time  of 
service  before  the  county  clerk.  The  principle  was  established  that  inden- 
tures not  signed  by  the  master  was  void. 

In  the  case  of  Nance  vs.  Howard,  decided  December,  1828,  the  question 
was:  "Can  negroes  be  sold  in  Illinois?"  The  court  held  that  "registered 
servants  are  goods  and  chattels,  and  can  be  sold  on  execution."  This  decision 
was  reversed  twelve  years  later,  the  Supreme  Court  then  declaring  that  tiie 
presumption  of  the  law  in  Illinois  is,  tliat  every  person  is  free  without  regard 
to  color  and  that  the  sale  of  free  persons  is  illegal.  This  "change  of  mind" 
was  delayed  much  longer  than  in  the  "Income  Tax  Case"  of  recent  date. 

In  the  case  of  Phoebe  vs.  William  Jay,  also  determined  in  1828,  Phoebe 
had  been  indentured  by  Joseph  Jay  in  November,  1814,  to  serve  forty  years. 
Joseph  died,  leaving  all  his  property  to  his  son,  William,  who  was  also  his 
executor.  The  question  was:  "Did  Phoebe  go  to  William  with  the  remain- 
ing property?"  The  court  held,  that  in  the  event  of  the  death  of  a  master, 
his  servants  were  not  free;  that  they  did  not  descend  to  his  heirs,  but  passed 
to  the  legatees  or  executor  or  administrator;  the  administrator  could  not  com- 
pel the  servant  to  perform  service  but  might  hold  liim  in  custody,  merely, 
until  the  term  of  service  could  be  sold.  In  other  words,  the  court  held  that 
negroes  could  not  be  disposed  of  by  will. 

In  18.36  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  held  that  all  indentures  not  made  in 
conformity  with  that  part  of  the  Act  of  1807  embodied  in  the  Constitution  of 
1818  were  illegal  and  service  under  them  could  not  be  enforced.  This  meant 
that  all  negroes  who  were  not  registered  or  indentured  within  tiiirty  days  af- 
ter being  brought  into  the  state  could  not  be  held  to  service,  and  would  there- 
fore become  free  through  continued  residence  in  the  state. 

In  the  case  of  Boone  vs.  Juliet,  heard  in  18,30,  the  question  was  the  right 
of  Boone  to  the  service  of  the  children  of  a  colored  woman,  named  Juliet.  She 


-336- 

had  been  registered  in  Randolph  county,  on  July  20,  1808,  by  Gaston  who  sold 
her  to  the  Boones,  and  she  served  out  her  time.  She  had  three  children,  two 
born  befor  1818,  and  one  after.  Boon  claimed  the  right  to  tLe  sarvices  of 
these  children  for  some  years  yet,  under  act  of  1807,  and  Sec.  3,  Art.  VI.,  of 
constitution  of  1818.  The  court  held  that  the  law  of  1807  did  not  refer  to 
registered  negroes  but  only  to  indentured  servants,  and  the  Constitution  did 
necessarily  make  the  persons  therein  named  subject  to  slavery;  that  the  in- 
tention of  the  f  ramers  of  tlie  constitution  was,  that  the  children  of  inden- 
tured servants  should  not  h",  generally  held  as  slaves,  but  where  masters  pos- 
sessed any  legal  rigiit  to  hold  such  children  in  their  service,  by  mutual  agree- 
ment or  otiierwise,  the  term  of  servitude  should  not  extend  beyond  the  twen- 
ty-tirst  birthday  in  the  case  of  males,  and  tlie  eighteenth  in  the  case  of  fe- 
males. 

[n  the  year  1812,  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  Sangamon  county  the  case  of 
Daniel  came  up  before  Jndge  Treat.  Dmiel  had  bBen  arrested  and  jailed  in 
Sprlngfleld  for  having  no  freedom  papers  as  was  provided  by  one  of  the  "Black 
Laws,"  pissed  in  1829.  The  .Judge  declared  the  act  of  1829  was  unconstitu- 
tional and  turned  the  blackman  out:  had  .ludge  Breese  decided  this  case,  it 
doubtless  would  have  turned  out  diiferently. 

In  l\\'^  same  year  the  case  of  .lames  Foster  came  up  before  Judge  Treat  in 
ttie  Sangamon  Circuit  Court.  A  citizen  of  Arkansas  appeared,  claimed  Foster 
as  his  si  ive  and  demanded  liim  in  accordance  witli  the  act  of  Congress  re- 
garding fugitive  slaves,  .ludge  Treat  required  tlie  slave  holder  to  prove  the 
negro  was  his  property  "by  disinterested  witnesses"  before  he  would  sur- 
render the  slave  to  his  supposed  master. 

In  October  184.3  a  ease  was  tried  before  Judge  Caton  of  Bureau  county  Cir- 
cuit Court.  Owen  Lovejoy  was  charged  for  harboring  a  negro  woman  named 
Nancy.  .Judge  Caton  in  his  charge  to  the  jury  said:  "The  rigJit  to  property 
in  a  slave  is  not  one  of  t'lose  natural  ri^-hts  wiiicii  necessaiilv  and  spontane- 
ously result  from  the  organization  of  society,  like  the  right  to  property  in 
animals,  in  fruits  of  agriculture,  minerals,  or  the  like,  wliich  are  found  by  ac- 
cident or  produced  by  toil:  but  slavery  can  only  exist  in  thestatute  laws,  the 
couuiion  laws,  or  by  custom.  It  is  necessary,  Jiowever,  to  be  shown  to  exist  in 
some  of  these  forms  in  the  State,  District,  or  Territory,  where  the  supposed 
slave  was  held  in  bondage,  before  it  is  po.ssible  to  show  legally  the  relation  of 
master  and  slave.  By  the  constitution  of  tliis  state,  slavery  cannot  exist  here. 
If,  therefore,  a  master  voluntarily  bring  his  slave  within  thestate,  he  becomes 
from  that  moment  free  and  if  lie  escape  from  his  master  rvliile  in  tin'sstate.  it 
is  not  an  escape  from  sUiAery,  but  it  is  going  where  a  free  man  has  a  right  to 
go;  and  the  Iiarbpring  of  sucli  a  person  is  no  offense  against  oiu'  law:  but  the 
tie  whicli  binds  a  slave  to  his  master  can  be  severed  only  by  the  voluntary  act 
of  tlie  latter.  If  the  slave  comes  ni  without  the  consent  of  Ids  master  he  al- 
way  belongs  to  tlie  master,  no  matter  where  he  may  go." 

This  is  the  first  instance  where  the  Courts  of  Illinois  declared  that  resi- 
dence in  a  free  territory  entitled  a  slave  to  his  freedom.  This  opinion  was 
confirmed  by  the  Supreme  Court  in  Jarrot,  in  1845,  and  re-aftirmed  by  Judges 
Wilson  and  Treat  at  the  October  term  1847,  of  the  Coles  county  Circuit  Court 
in  tlie  case  of  General  Matteson. 

In  1843  the  Supreme  Court  affirmed  the  opinion  of  the  Adams  Circuit  Court 


-  337  - 

fining  the  defendant  $400  for  secreting  ca  runaway  slave.  This  decision  and  an- 
otlier  lil<e  it  in  Case  of  People  vs  Willard,  of  Morgan  county,  aroused  intense 
feelings  and  severe  criticism  over  the  state.  The  correspondent  of  the  "Chi- 
cago Express"  voicing  the  sentiments  of  a  large  portion  of  the  people  said: 
"Is  it  not  passing  strange  that  the  Supreme  Court  should  be  called  on  to  de- 
cide whether  slavery  exist  in  this  state:  if  so  I  think  it  is  high  time  to  amend 
the  Constitution." 

In  a  case  tried  in  the  St.  Clair  Circuit  in  1843  it  was  held  a  slave  could  not 
sue  his  master  for  wages.  In  1844  the  Supreme  court  reversed  the  decision 
and  declared  that  a  "colored  person  may  maintain  an  action  of  assumpsit  for 
services  rendered,  and  in  such  action  his  right  to  freedom  may  be  tried."  The 
court  further  declared  that  "the  des  endants  of  the  slaves  of  the  old  French 
settlers,  born  since  the  ordinance  of  1787,  and  before  or  since  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution  of  Illinois,  cannot  be  held  in  slavery  in  thisstate." 

In  1849  the  Supreme  Court  held  in  the  Tiiornton  case  that  Sec.  5  and  (i, 
Chapter  74,  of  revised  statutes  of  1845,  or  the  old  law  of  January  17, 1829  where- 
in it  was  provided  that  fugitive  slaves  would  not  be  all  -wed  tosue  for  freedom 
in  the  state,  but  should  be  sent  back  to  their  masters  or  sold  out  to  labor 
were  unconstitutional,  being  in  direct  conflict  with  the  provisions  made  by  the 
Congress,    for  the  capture  and  return  of  runaway  slaves. 

In  1852  the  same  court  decided  that  a  "contract  made  in  Illinois  for  the 
sale  of  a  person  as  a  slave  who  is  in  the  state  at  the  time,  and  to  a  cit  izen  of 
the  state  is  illegal  and  void." 

In  1853  John  A.  Logan  introduced  a  bill  in  the  LegislaUire  of  Illinois,  lo 
prevent  the  immigration  of  free  negroes  into  the  state.  This  was  the  same 
Logan,  who  later  became  a  General  in  the  war  of  1861-65,  and  afterwards 
chosen  to  represent  Illinois  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States.  Logan  was 
very  zealous  in  tlie  promotion  of  his  bill  and  succeeded  in  its  passage  in  Feb- 
ruary 1853.  Section  one  provided  that  if  any  person  brought  into  tiie  state  any 
negro  or  mulatto  slave,  whetiier  set  free  or  not,  should  be  liable  to  be  indicted 
and  fined,  not  less  than  $100  or  uiore  than  .$.500,  and  imprisoned  in  the  county 
jail  one  year.  Section  three  provided  that  if  any  negro  or  mulatto,  bond  or 
free,  should  hereinafter  come  into  this  state  and  remain  ten  days,  with  the 
evident  intention  of  residing,  herein,  every  such  person  should  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a  high  misdemeanor  and  to  be  fined  $.50  before  any  justice  of  the 
county  where  said  negro  or  mulatto  might  be  found:  if  the  defendant  failed 
to  pay  the  fine  the  sheriff  to  sell  him  to  the  bidder  who  would  pay  the  fine 
and  costs  for  the  shortest  time;  the  buyer  to  have  the  right  to  compel  the  de- 
fendant to  work  for  said  fine,  to  be  provided  with  comfortable  food,  clothing 
and  lodging  during  the  service  Section  five  provided  that  if  after  the  service 
the  defendant  did  not  leave  the  state  within  the  ten  days  next  following  he 
.should  be  liable  to  a  second  prosecution  and  liable  to  a  larger  fine,  etc.  Sec- 
tion ten  provided  that  every  person  having  one-fourth  negro  blood  shouM  be 
deemed  a  mulatto.  Lest  some  soft-hearted  magistrate  might  refuse  to  try  a 
case  against  some  pantiug  negro,  John  Logan's  bill  provided  in  Section  nine 
that  if  any  justice  of  the  peace  should  refuse  to  issue  any  writ  under  this  act 
such  justice  should  be  deemed  guilty  of  nonfeasance  in  office  and  punished 
accordingly.  This  bill  was  passed  in  the  House  by  a  vote  of  45  to  23  and  the 
Senate  approved  it  by  a  majority  of  4. 


-338- 

Under  this  law  three  cases  of  the  arrest  and  sale  of  negroes  were  reported 
within  a  year. 

This  and  all  the  other  "Black  Laws"  were  repealed  by  the  Legislature  on 
February  7,  1865.  These  "Laws"  had  been  legally  in  force  for  forty-six  years, 
in  spite  of  all  the  petitions  to  the  Legislature,  and  attempts  to  have  them  re- 
pealed and  their  final  erasure  was  an  outcome  of  the  struggle  of  1861-()5  be- 
tween the  North  and  the  South. 

In  the  contests  before  the  courts  in  these  cases  under  the  "Black  Laws," 
Lyman  Trumbull  took  an  active  and  prominent  part.  His  task  was  a  thank- 
less one.  in  those  days  of  prejudice  and  bitter  partisan  feeling,  but  he  fear- 
lessly performed  it  witli  distinguished  aoility. 

A  ca-e  under  the  "Black  Laws"  of  Illinois  once  arose  in  this  county,  an 
account  of  which  vvill  be  of  interest.     . 

On  .luly  26,  1862,  the  seventy-first  regiment  of  Illinois  infantry  was  mus- 
tered into  the  military  service  of  the  United  Srates  for  the  term  of  three 
months,  at  Harap  Douglass,  Illinois.  William  H.  Thacker,  then  of  Havanf^, 
Illinois,  was  muscered  in  as  the  Sergeant  Major  of  the  regiment;  Mr.  Thacker 
later  became  a  resident  of  this  city  and  vvliile  here  wis  the  publisher  of  a 
newspaper  and  an  attorney.  William  11.  Weiver  of  Beardstowa  was  mus- 
tered itiMstiie  captaui  of  Co.  (t.  and  Thom  is  Byron  Collins  of  Virginia  as 
second  lieutenant.  In  this  Co.  G.  were  Joshua  H.  Conyers,  Flooper  Monroe, 
Elijah  W.  Williams,  George  W.  Boicourt,  vhircus  P.  Chatidler,  Wlllia,m  IL 
Cole,  Ch.irles  N.  Drake,  ■\l!)ert  Gist,  Charles  W.  Lee,  Charles  C.  Magee, 
William  W.  Matthew,  .lohn  G  Monroe.  Tho  nas  B.  Nicholson,  George  T. 
Saunders,  John  I'liornley,  Josiah  Thornley,  Amos  Wilson  and  others  of  this 
county. 


THOMAS  B.  COLLINS. 


-  339  - 

On  July  27,  1862,  the  regiment  moved  for  Cairo,  111.,  leaving  two  com- 
panies enronte  at  "Big  Muddy  Bridge,"  on  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad.  The 
regiment  remained  ten  days  at  Cairo,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Columbus,  Ky., 
where  the  men,  mostly  from  the  northern  part  of  Illinois,  suffered  severely 
from  the  sudden  change  of  climate.  Two  more  companies  were  detached 
from  the  regiment  and  stationed  at  Mound  City,  111.  In  a  short  time  the  re- 
mainder of  tlie  regiment,  six  companies,  was  divided;  Colonel  Gilbert,  of  Dan- 
ville, 111.,  with  three  companies,  was  ordered  to  Moscow,  Kentucky,  and 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Burnsides,  of  Freeport,  111.,  witii  three  companies,  was 
ordered  to  Little  Obion  Bridge,  to  guard  bridges  and  railroad  tracks. 

Upon  the  completion  of  its  term  of  service  the  regiment  rendezvoused  at 
Chicago,  111.,  where  it  was  mustered  out  October  29,  1862. 

During  the  wanderings  of  this  regiment  in  the  8outh,  a  bright  y^ung 
negro  named  Henry  Clay  came  into  the  camp  and  attracted  the  favorable  at- 
tention of  Captain  Weaver  and  Lieutenant  Collins.  The  boy  began  serving 
these  officei-s  as  a  sort  of  waiter,  and  remaining  with  them  until  near  the  end 
of  their  term  of  enlistment  boarded  the  train  bound  for  Chicago.  Upon  the 
departure  of  the  officers  for  their  several  homes,  after  they  liad  been  mustered 
ont,  the  boy,  Henry  Clay,  begged  Lieutenant  Collins  to  take  him  to  his  home. 
Mr.  Collins,  who  was  a  man  of  generous  impulses,  seeing  the  boy  was  about  to 
be  left  a  stranger  in  a  large  city,  far  from  his  home,  without  having  the  time 
to  give  the  matter  careful  consideration,  took  him  on  board  the  train,  brought 
him  to  his  farm  home  in  Cass  county,  on  lands  now  owned  by  William  Emei- 
son  in  Sec.  ."il,  T.  18,  R.  8,  about  nine  miles  east  of  Virginia  and  seven  miles 
northwest  of  Ashland.  Here  the  lad  found  a  good  home  and  became  a  useful 
member  of  the  household. 

There  was  a  large  number  of  the  citizens  of  Cass  county  then  bitterly  0|  - 
posed  to  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  the  feeling  between  t  .em,  and  those 
who  favored  the  prosecution  of  the  war  was  intensely  bitter  It  was  soon 
noised  about  that  "Collins  had  brought  a  nigger  home  with  him  from  the 
south,"  and  it  was  soon  decided  that  something  ought  to  be  done  about  it.  As 
it  was  necessary  to  bring  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  courts,  Mclveever 
DeHaven,  the  jailer  at  Beardstown,  made  a  complaint  on  December  llih, 
1862  before  Francis  H.  Rearick  a  justice  of  peace  residing  at  Beardstown. 
This  complaint  appears  to  be  in  the  hand  writing  of  J.  Henry  Sliaw  then  a 
promment  attorney  of  this  county  and  recites  that  on  or  about  the  1st  day  of 
November,  1862,  a  certain  negro  boy  by  the  name  of  Henry  Clay  did  at  the 
County  of  Cass  and  State  of  Illinois  and  since  the  12th  day  of  February  18-53 
(the  date  of  the  pissage  of  John  A.  Logan's  "Black  Law")  unlawfully  come  in- 
to said  state  of  Illinois,  and  remained  therein  ten  days  witii  the  evident  in- 
tention of  residing  in  tlie  same  contrary  to  the ''orm  of  the  statute  in  such 
case  made  and  provided. 

Upon  this  complaint  Justice  Rearick  issued  a  warrant  for  tlie  arrest  of 
"the  certain  negro  boy  named  Henry  Clay,"  addressed  to  all  sheritTs,  coroners, 
and  constables  within  the  state.  This  writ  was  delivered  by  Charles  E.  Yeck, 
then  the  sheriff  of  this  county.  His  deputy,  at  the  time  was  James  K.  Van- 
-Demark,  who  was  also  editor  of  tlie  Beardstown  Democrat,  Mr.  VanDemark 
was  later  elected  county  superintentend  of  schools  of  tiie  county,  was  editor 
and  publislier  of  the  democratic  newspaper  of  this  city,  and  a  member  of  the  bar 


-340- 

of  Cass  county.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  about  1870:  his  ability  was  soon  re- 
cognized tiiere  and  he  was  elected  to  the  Nebraska  State  Senate.  His  numer- 
ous friends  will  be  glad  to  hear  he  is  still  among  the  living.  The  account  of 
Mr.  YanDemark  of  this  arrest  will  be  found  further  on  in  this  sketch.  The 
return  upon  the  warrant  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Mr.  VanDemark  and  re- 
cites that  he  has  arrested  the  within  named  Henry  Clay  on  this  11th  day  of 
December  1862  and  has  brouglit  him  into  court. 

The  transcript  of  the  justice  recites  tiie  issuing  and  return  of  the  warrant: 
tlie  issuing  of  a  venire  for  12  jurors  to  try  the  cause.  Defendant  then  moves 
to  have  suit  dismissed  and  defendant  discharged  for  want  of  security  for  costs: 
motion  to  dismiss  and  discharge  prisoner  overruled  Court  then  ruled  the  com- 
plainant tile  security  for  costs,  which  was  complied  with,  and  is  herewith  tiled 
and  approved.  Defendant  then  moves  the  Court  that  lie  be  discharged  alleg- 
ing that  there  was  a  prosecution  pending  against  him  for  the  same  offence 
above  charged;  motion  overruled  defendant  again  moves  the  court  that  this 
suit  be  dismissed  because  the  complaint  does  not  set  ont  that  the  otfence  was 
committed  since  the  act  passed  Feb.  12.  18.5;^  entitled  an  act  to  prevent  the 
immigration  of  free  negroes  into  this  state  went  into  effect;  motion  overruled. 
'I'liereupon  comes  into  court  Sheriff  Yeck  and  returns  venire  served  upon  the 
following  named  persons  as  jurors  to  try  said  cause  to  wit.  Peter  Flannery, 
H.  'I'readway,  David  Tull.  Wm.  Livingston,  John  Decker,  Henry  Shietfer,  E. 
P.  Miller,  A.  H.  SielscJiott,  P.  Dresback,  Wm.  Dutch,  Logue  Reavis  and  Charles 
H.  Koblenz  who  being  tirst  duly  sworn  proceeded  to  hear  the  evidence  adduced 
ami  the  witnesses  in  belialf  of  plaintiff  liavmgbeen  examined,  defendant  called 
witnesses  for  defence,  who  was  asked  by  defendent  to  state  the  impressions  lie 
hid  got  from  conversations  wit li  defendant  whetlier  or  not  defendant  was 
guilty  as  set  out  in  complaint,  which  was  objected  to.  which  objection  was 
sustained  by  the  court.  Court  ruled  that  witness  for  defense  state  facts  witli- 
in  his  knowledge,  not  impressions  produced  upon  his  mind,  nor  statements 
made  by  defendant,  that  he.  defendant  did  not  come  into  the  state  witli  the 
intention  of  residing  in  the  same.  And  the  jury  having  heard  all  the  evidetice 
and  argument  of  counsel,  having  so  considered  their  verdict  return  into  court 
with  the  following  verdict  to  wit: — "We  the  jury  find  the  defendant  guilty," 
signed  by  all  the  jurors.  It  is  therefore  adjudged  by  the  court  that  the  de- 
fendant be  lined  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  anci  pay  costs  of  this  prosecution,  and 
defendant  thereupon  demands  an  appeal  to  the  Cass  County  Circuit  Court. 

An  appeal  bond  in  the  handwriting  of  Hetnw  E.  Duminei",  who  defended 
the  boy,  was  executed  on  December  11,  1862,  in  tiie  sum  of  $145,  signed  by 
Henry  Clay,  wiu)  executed  the  bond  by  making  "his  mark,"  and  also  signed 
by  J.  M.  Pothicary,  who  was  a  brother-itilaw  of  Thomas  B.  Collins  and  a 
member  of  the  (\)llins  family.  The  case  came  on  at  the  March  term,  \S^y^,  of 
the  circuit  court,  and  was  then  continued  to  the  September  term  of  the  same 
year. 

Wliile  this  homeless  and  harmless  boy,  comfortably  located  in  a  quiet 
farm  home,  in  a  family  of  which  he  was  a  welcome  and  useful  member,  was 
thus  being  persecuted  by  men  who  were  zealous  in  the  enforcement  of  the 
law  wiiich  was  brought  into  existence  mainly  by  the  efforts  of  .lohn  Logan, 
its  illustrious  author  was  gallantly  figliting  ilie  battles  of  the  war  destined  to 
result  in  tiie  freedom  of  every  slave  in  the  Union! 


-  341  - 

The  outraged  citizens  of  the  county  were  successful  in  obtaining  a  judg- 
ment against  the  negro  boy,  but  the  filing  of  the  appeal  bond  held  up  the 
proceeding,  and  the  "hateful  negro"  returned  to  the  Collins  home  to  the 
great  disgust  of  a  portion  of  the  law-abiding  neighbors.  The  next  move  was. 
to  bring  the  matter  to  the  attention  of  the  next  Grand  Jury,  which  met  at 
Beardstown  in  March  1863.  This  body  found  an  indictment  against  Mr. 
Collins.  It  charges  that  the  Grand  Jurors,  etc.,  present  that  Thomas  Byron 
Collins,  late  of  said  (Cass)  county,  on  the  1st  day  of  December,  1862,  at  and 
within  the  said  county  of  Cass,  in  the  state  of  Illinois,  did  harbor  a  negro^ 
being  a  black  pereon  called  Henry,  who  was  not  a  resident  of  the  state  of 
Illinois  on  the  ^rd  day  of  March,  1845,  nor  at  any  other  time  in  the  said  last 
mentioned  year,  nor  at  the  time  of  the  passing  of  an  act  by  the  Legislature  of 
the  state  of  Illinois,  entitled  "Negroes  and  Mulattoes"  and  approved  on  the 
3rd  day  of  March  in  tlie  said  last  mentioned  year,  the  said  negro  then  and 
there  not  having  a  legal  certificate  of  his  freedom,  and  not  having  given  bond 
and  taken  a  certificate  thereof  as  by  law  required,  contrary  to  the  form  of  the 
statute  in  such  case  made  and  provided  and  against  the  peace  and  dignity  of 
the  same  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  This  indictment  was  signed  by 
Abram  Bergen,  states  attorney  in  and  for  tlie  21st  judicial  circuit.  The  in- 
dictment was  indorsed  "a  true  bill,"  by  James  A.  Dick,,  foreman  of  the  Grand 
Jury,  and  the  names  of  the  witnesses  were  Anderson  Iloel,  James  Hunter^ 
George  W.  Milstead,  Tliomas  A.  Foxworthy,  M.  P.  Conyers,  Geo.  B.  Saunders, 
W.  Weaver  and  Thomas  Nicholson.  The  amount  ot  bail  was  fixed  at  -$100  by 
James  Harriott,  the  judge  of  the  court. 

No  writ  was  issued  in  this  case  for  several  months,  as  the  defendant  was 
absent  from  the  county  for  some  considerable  portion  of  tlie  time. 

Although  the  negro  had  been  arrested  and  Mr.  Collins  had  been  indicted,, 
still  the  despised  black  boy  was  breatliing  the  air  of  Cass  county  and  enjoying- 
the  comforts  of  a  good  home,  contrary  to  tlie  laws  of  the  great  free  state  of 
Illinois.  Tlie  citiz-ens  who  were  urging  on  these  pro.secutions  were  disap- 
pointed with  the  law's  delay  and  were  determinad  to  hurry  the  business 
along.  Plans  were  suggested  and  di.scussed  at  the  secret  meetings  of  the 
"Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle."  an  organization  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
assistiug  the  southern  cause  in  the  north,  by  such  methods  as  were  not  liUely 
to  result  in  personal  harm  to  the  members  One  of  the  principal  men  en- 
gaged in  tills  affair  was  Mr.  U.  Hutchings,  a  prominent  farmer  who  afterward 
became  mayor  of  the  city  of  Virginia.  A  deputation  of  the  order  was  sent  in 
the  night  to  the  Collins  home  to  "run  the  nigger  out  of  the  county."  Mr. 
Collins  was  away  from  home,  the  only  man  about  the  place  was  Joseph  Poth- 
icary,  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Collins,  who  was  a  confirmed  sulferer  from  astlima 
and  with  no  more  physical  vigor  than  a  woman.  They  did  not  succeed  in 
their  enterprise,  and,  after  giving  utterance  to  threats  against  the  negro,  left 
the  premises.  A  few  days  later  a  mob  of  some  fifty  men  descended  upon  the 
Collins  home,  determined  to  capture  the  black  object  of  their  hatred  at  all 
hazards.  Both  these  visits  were  made  when  they  knew  Collins  was  absent; 
had  he  been  at  his  liome  there  would  have  been  serious  trouble.  Their  coming 
was  observed  in  time  to  secret  the  object  of  their  mission,  and  after  a  thor- 
ough but  fruitless  search  of  the  premises  they  again  departed  with  secrte 
threats  of  vengeance.    The  next  day  the  boy  was  taken  to  8pringfield   and 


-342- 

never  returned  to  the  county. 

After  tlie  return  of  Mr.  Collins,  he  was  arrested  by  the  sheriff  and  gave 
bond  for  his  appearance  at  the  September  term  of  the  court,  his  neighbor, 
James  R.  Wilson,  signing  the  bond.  At  the  September  term  both  cases  were 
dismissed. 


Mr.  VanDemark  and  Mrs.  Emily  Brady,  a  sister  of  Mr.  Collins,  were  re- 
quested to  furnish  an  account  of  their  remembrance  of  this  case,  which  they 
consented  to  do,  and  their  recollections  of  the  occurrence  here  follows:  We 
here  stop  the  account  to  introduce  a  short  sketch  of  Mr.  VanDemark,  pre- 
pared by  his  old  friend,  Dr.  J.  F.  Snyder: 

.lames  Knox  VanDemarK's  ancestors  were  from  Holland.  He  is  decended 
from  an  ancient  patrician  family  there  whose  name  appears  in  Flemish  re- 
cords as  Van  DeMarck.  His  grandfather  was  a  colonial  soldier  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war,  and  also  served  in  the  war  of  1812-14. 

The  father  of  James  K.  VanDemark  was  a  clergyman  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren church  who  preached  the  gospel  for  sixty-three  years;  a  man  of  learning, 
but  visicnary,  impractical,  and  totally  destitute  of  energy,  industry,  and  pro- 
gressive enterprise.  The  meagre  salary  he  received  from  his  pioneer  congre- 
gations made  it  incumbent  upon  his  children— thirteen  in  number— to  become 
self-reliant  and  self-supporting  atari  early  age.  The  clergyman's  wife  was  a 
woman  of  intelligence  and  culture,  possessing  to  a  remarkable  degree  the  re- 
sourceful qualities  of  which  he  was  so  deficient. 

In  growing  up,  James  K.  VanDemark— who  was  born  near  Lancaster,  in 
Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  on  the  nth  day  of  May,  1833— attended  the  country 
schools  at  odd  times  when  he  could  be  spared  from  work  at  home.  He  was  a 
pi'ecocious  boy  who  enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  study  and  learning.  Before  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  engaged  in  school  teaching  himself,  and  while  teach- 
ing diligently  advanced  his  own  education.  Attheageof  twenty  he  undertook 
the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Jones  at  Ringgold.  Morgan  county,  Ohio,  and 
for  a  year  read  the  medical  text  books  and  "rode"  with  the  Doctor  in  his 
rounds  of  practice.  While  thus  employed  he  was  stricken  down  with  scrofu- 
lous erysipelas,  from  which,  after  a  long  siege,  he  recovered  scarred  in  features 
and  with  one  side  of  his  body  drawn  and  partially  paralyzed.  The  ravages  of 
disease  wrought  a  complete  change  in  his  future  course.  Physically  disabled 
from  the  labor  and  hardships  incident  to  the  practice  of  medicine  he  aban- 
doned its  further  study,  and  thereby  escaped  a  life  of  dreary  drudgery.  In  1854 
then  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  the  herd  of  patriots  that  wetit 
from  Ohio  to  Kansas  for  the  purpose  of  asserting  their  squatter  sovereignty 
by  voting  to  make  it  a  free  state.  Finding  the  new,  raw,  country  there,  as 
well  as  his  associations,  ungenial  and  unpiomising,  he  worked  his  way  back  to 
the  east  of  the  Mississippi  river  into  Illinois,  and  halted  on  the  prairie  in  the 
neighborhood  of  where  the  town  of  Ashland,  in  Cass  county  was  subsequently 
laid  out,  in  1857.  There  his  abilities  were  at  once,  recognized,  and  his  ser- 
vices as  a  surveyor  and  school  teacher  were  in  constant  demand.  His  intelli- 
gence, affability,  and  tine  social  qualities  gained  him  the  esteem  of  the  com- 
munity, and  made  him  very  popular. 

''In  one  of  the  later  schools  was  a  comely  scholar  about  grown.  Miss  Sarah 


-  343  - 

E.  Brown,  of  Pleasant  Plains,  with  wliom  he  fell  in  Jove,  and  the  sentiment  be- 
ing reciporated,  they  were  married  in  1856.  The  next  year,  after  Asliland  was 
platted,  they  located  in  that  village,  were  he  was  immediately  elected  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  and  he  thereupon  commenced  the  study  of  law.  He  was  there 
when  the  furious  political  upheaval,  rapidly  gaining  in  intensity,  culminated 
in  the  shock  of  the  civil  war.  Physically  debarred  from  military  service,  but 
thrilled  and  inspired  by  the  horrors  of  pass'ngevents,iie  figuratively  strung  his 
lyre,  and,  as  a  modern  bard,  reveiewed  in  verse  the  liistory  of  the  terrible 
conflict,  in  an  "^Epic  Poem  upon  the  Troubles  in  the  United  States  of  Ameri- 
ca," which  was  issued  in  a  48  page  pamphlet  from  the  "Union  press  of  Lala- 
yette  Briggs,'  at  Virginia  in  1861. 


.TAMES  K.  VAN  DEMARK. 
'•Concluding  that  the  county  seat  presented  superior  advantages  to  Ash- 
land for  the  practice  of  law,  iie  moved  to  Reardstown  in  the  fall  of  18()K 
and  was  soon  tliereafter  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  professional  contemporaries 
in  Cass  county  at  tliat  time  were  Henry  E.  Dummer,  Garland  Pollard,  .1. 
Henry  Shaw,  James  M.  Epler  and  Thomas  H.  Carter.  Allen  J.  Hill  was  coun- 
ty clerk,  Henry  Phillips  circuit  clerk,  James  Taylor  sheriff,  and  Harriott 
circuit  judge.  C.  H.  C.  Havekluft  was  county  judge,  with  Wm.  McHern-y  and 
S.  W.  Shawen  associate  justices.  In  1862  Charley  Yeck  was  elected  sheriff  and 
appointed  J.  K,  VanDemark  his  deputy.     In  the  same  vear    VanDemark  was 


-344- 

installed  as  the  editor  of  Dr.  SliurtlilTe's  Cass  County  Democrat.  But  he 
found  tliathe  could  not  stand  the  malaria-ladened  atmosphere  of  tlie  Illinois 
river  bottom,  and  was  forced  to  return  to  the  open  upland  prairies,  where  he 
resumed  his  first  profession,  tliat  of  teaching.  In  1863  he  taught  the  Jake 
Ward  school,  and  then  took  charge  of  the  school  at  Sugar  Grove.  In  1865  he 
located  in  Virginia,  and  there  again  began  the  practice  of  law,  in  the  mean 
time  assuming  a  prominent  position  among  the  active  Democratic  politicians; 
was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  tlien  County  Surveyor,  and  at  the  Novem- 
ber election  of  that  year  was  elected  to  the  position  of  County  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction. 

•'For  f.Hir  years  he  managed  the  alfairs  of  that  oltlce  with  marked  ad- 
vantage to  the  educational  interests  of  the  county  and  credit  to  himself 
When  his  term  of  office  expired  he  resumed  the  legal  profession,  and  in  1869 
again  entered  the  field  of  journalism  as  editor  of  the  Cass  County  Times,  pub- 
lished in  Virginia  hy  Beers  &  Co.  Moved  by  the  migratory  instinct  so  char- 
aci eristic  of  the  /Vmerican  race,  he  abdicated  his  seat  on  the  editorial  tripod 
of  the  Times  in  the  fall  of  1870,  sold  his  property  in  Virginia,  and  in  the  spring 
of  1871  wended  his  way  to  Nebraska  Territory.  There  he  purchased  a  tract 
of  land  near  the  town  of  Valparaiso,  the  county  seat  of  Saunders  county,  and 
for  a  few  years  waged  an  irrepressible  conflict,  as  an  agriculturist  and  poli- 
tician, with  the  incoming  swarms  of  grasshoppers  an'l  republicans  Van- 
quished in  the  unequal  contest  he  rented  his  land  to  a  tenant,  and  bought  a 
home  in  Valparaiso  to  which  he  removed,  and  was  enrolled  as  an  attorney  of 
that  circuit. 

"From  that  time  on  for  several  years  peace,  contentment  and  prosperity 
were  his  lot  From  ,.is  early  manhood  to  the  present  day  he  has  been  stead- 
fast in  his  loyalty  to  the  principles  of  the  democratic  :-arty.  That  party, 
however,  in  Saunders  county,  and  in  the  congressional  district  in  wtiich  that 
county  is  situated,  seldom  exceeded  in  voting  strength  that  of  a  corporal's 
guard  as  compared  to  a  full  regiment.  VanDemark  never  faltered  in  his 
political  faith,  or  became  discouraged,  but  was  always  active  in  maintaining 
the  organization  of  the  plucky  minority,  generally  leading  the  forlorn  hope  at 
every  election  as  a  candidate  for  some  local  or  di.strict  office,  to  meet  certain 
and  overwhelming  defeat.  "All  things  come  to  those  who  wait,"  but  \'an- 
Demark  had  to  wait  a  long  time  for  the  reward  of  his  party  constancy.  It 
came  at  last,  in  1884,  when  the  democrats  nominated  him  for  State  Senator. 
The  republicans  that  year  were  divided  and  |)resented  two  candidates  for 
Senator,  with  the  result  that  VanDemark  was  elected  over  both,  and  had  the 
proud  distinction  of  being  the  only  democrat  ev'-r  elected  in  that  district.  It 
was  a  famous  victory  for  VanDemark,  who  bore  his  honors  with  dignity,  and 
acciuitted  himself  well  in  his  exalted  position. 

"For  several  years  past  he  has  lived  in  quiet  at  his  home  in  Valparaiso,  in- 
dulging his  tastes  for  literature,  particularly  poetry,  of  which  he  has  been  a 
prolitic  author. 

"With  advancing  age  his  health,  never  robust,  has  failed  to  the  extent  of 
permitting  him  but  limited  physical  exertion.  Added  to  that  misfortune  he 
recently  suffered  a  double  affiiction  well  calculated  to  try  the  fortitude  of  one 
much  stronger  than  him.  The  married  life  of  .Mr.  and  Mrs.  VanDemark  was 
blessed  by  only  one  child,  a  girl  luimed  Rosa,  who  is  well  remembered  by  many 


-  345  - 

of  our  citizens  as  a  handsome  and  sprightly  child  about  her  father's  office 
when  they  resided  here.  In  breezy  Nebraska  Rosa  grew  up  to  charming 
womanhood  and  married  a  civil  engineer  who  took  her  to  a  pleasant  home  in 
Deadwood,  South  Dakota.  On  the  16th  of  May,  1906,  Rosa  died,  leaving  an 
only  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  R.  Anderson.  And  on  the  ith  of  the  following  Sep- 
tember, Mrs.  VanDemark,  after  a  brief  illness,  also  passed  away,  leaving  Mr. 
VanDemark  bereft  of  wife  and  only  child,  broken  in  health  and  spirits  and 
deeply  dejected.  He  is,  however,  in  the  midst  of  a  host  of  sympathetic  friends 
and  many  more  here  in  Cass  county  extend  to  him  in  his  sad  bereavement 
their  heartfelt  sympathy  and  condolence." 


The  account  of  J.  K.  VanDemark  of  the  Henry  Clay  incident  is  as  follows: 
"In  1862  I  was  deputy  sheriff  for  a  short  time  under  Charles  E.  Yeck. 
Byron  Collins  enlisted  and  obtained  a  captain's  commission,  but  in  4  months 
he  resigned  and  came  home  and  brought  with  him  a  negro  boy,  whicii  was 
against  the  laws  of  Illinois.  At  that  time  he  was  the  only  colored  person  in 
tlie  county,  and  it  was  said  that  one  who  went  south  to  enforce  the  laws  of 
the  United  States  should  not  violate  the  statutes  of  Illinois.  A  warrant  was 
sworn  out  issued  by  Judge  Rearick,  I  tlunk,  and  handed  to  Yeck  to  have  the 
boy  arrested,  but  he  did  not  relish  the  job  aiid  gave  it  to  me.  I  mounted  a 
horse  and  started  to  Dr.  Christy's,  who  lived  then  about  a  mile  from  Phila- 
delphir,  and  Collins',  some  three  or  four  miles  northeast  of  the  doctor's.  I 
had  eaten  my  dinner  and  was  about  to  go  over  with  two  men  to  storm  the 
Collins  citadel.  Collins  said  the  boy  should  not  go  but  Collins' wife,  seeing 
the  other  two  men  said  to  him  that  he  ought  to  submit  as  there  was  a  crowd 
of  men  to  assist  me.  Collins  had  the  rheumatism  and  was  lying  on  a  bed:  he 
begged  me  to  stay  all  night  and  he  and  his  brother-in-law  Joseph  PoMiicary 
would  go  with  me  to  Beardstown.  I  was  well  acquainted  with  Collins  and  he 
gave  me  his  word  that  all  would  be  right  I  dismissed  the  man  and  slept 
with  the  negro  and  next  morning  we  started;  myself  and  the  negro  in  front, 
and  Collins  and  his  wife  next,  and  young  Pothicary  behind  them.  When  we 
came  to  the  road  that  led  to  Dr.  Cliristy's  I  stopped  and  said  that  I  had 
promised  to  come  tnat  way  and  they  would  be  uneasy  if  I  did  not.  Potliicary 
rode  up  and  said:  'Come  on  Henry;'  and  said  to  me:  'You  may  go  that  way,, 
but  we  will  go  this  way.'  I  pulled  out  my  revolver  and  said:  'Henry,  if  you 
move  you  are  a  dead  nigger.'  Mrs.  Collins  screamed,  'Don't  shoot!  Don't 
shoot!  we  will  go  your  way!'  Then  Dr.  Christy  drove  up.  and  I  went  their 
way  by  the  home  of  Dr.  Pothicary.  The  main  street  of  Virginia  was  lined 
with  people  anxious  to  see  'Collins'  negro.'  When  we  reached  the  court  house 
at  Beardstown  it  was  night  and  I  did  not  return  the  warrant  although  I  was 
solicited  so  to  do.  I  had  promised  the  boy  that  if  he  would  obey  me  I  would 
not  put  him  in  jail.  I  took  him  home,  and  locked  him  up,  took  all  his  clothes 
out  of  the  room  and  in  the  morning  I  found  that  he  had  scarcely  moved  dur- 
ing the  night;  the  forty  miles  of  horseback  ride  had  made  him  extremely  tired. 
Judge  Dummer  appeared  for  the  boy,  the  case  was  carried  to  the  circuit 
court  and  before  it  was  ended  tlie  Black  Laws  of  Illinois  were  repealed.  In 
1870,  I  landed  at  Jacksonville  from  the  west  and  a  portly  negro  was  in  charge 
of  the  'bus;'  he  passed  me  by  but  said  not  a  word.     Wiiile  I   was  sitting  in 


-346- 

the  office  of  the  Dunlap  House  he  presented  himself  and  said:  'You  do  not 
know  me.  I  am  Henry  Clay,  the  negro  boy  that  you  arrested  in  Cass  county. 
I  shall  never  forget  you  nor  your  wife  nor  little  girl  I  was  told  by  Collins 
that  you  were  a  copperhead  and  that  you  would  do  everything  against  me, 
but  I  felt  at  home  at  your  house.  I  liave  learned  to  read  and  write  and  will 
be  a  gentleman  if  I  am  black.'  The  day  after  I  called  on  the  clerk  for  my 
bill  and  the  clerk  looked  on  the  register  and  said  that  Henry  Clay  had  paid 
my  bill  and  would  pay  it  as  long  as  I  cared  to  stay.  I  never  heard  of  liim 
after  that  as  I  soon  left  for  the  west." 


The  statement  of  Mrs.  Emily  Collins  Brady  is  as  follows: 

" 'Write  a  sketcli  of  the  negro  episode  at  your  brothers  as  you  recollect 
it." 

"What  a  flood  of  long  locked  memories  come  rushing  up  in  response  to 
tliat  request. 

"The  "white  lieat"  of  all  political  parties  the  frequency  of  great  mass 
meetings,  generally  with  a  barbecue  attachment,  (I  have  attended  many  in 
"the  square,'  at  Virginia);  the  enlishment  of  the  "boys;"  the  sorrowful 
motliers  and  troubled  fathers;  the  hard  times,  with  corn  at  10c  and  muslin 
and' calico  at  4.5c;  the ''news  from  the  front"  brought  by  the  daily  papers  by 
stage  from  Springtield  or  .Jacksonville;  the  many  hearts  and  homes  made  deso- 
late as  time  went  on,  with  most  of  the  mothers  and  wives  in  black:  the  solemn 
and  very  large  funerals  of  the  dear  boys  brought  home;  the  grief  for  those  who 
could  not  be  brouglit  home  or  who  suffered  in  hospitals  and  prison  pens;  our 
'"hero  worship"  of  ttiose  who  came  on  furlough;  tiie  piles  of  letters  "we  girls" 
wrote  and  the  interesting  answers;  yes,  and  the  girls  who  had  to  do  tlie  work 
of  men,  I  remember  them  too,  for  my  sister  an  I  cut  and  hauled  sugar  cane 
from  our  ho.ne  to  John  Sy brants  at  Philadelphia— and  ground  and  made  it  in- 
to molasses — cutting  and  hauling  the  wood  also  with  which  to  boil  it.  Oh 
these  memories— how  they  crowd  upon  me  now,  but  I  must  not  forget  I  am  to 
tell  of  a  poor  forlorn  negro  boy  with  a  great  name  "tacked"  onto  liim. 

"Tliere  was  a  call  in  1862  for  volunteers  for  three  montlis  service  My 
brotlier  T.  B.  Collins  enlisted  under  this  call,  in  Co.  "G"  71st  111,  Infantry. 
Tie  was  made  a  2nd  Lieut.  Tiie  Reg.  was  sent  south  and  spent  most  of  the 
time  in  Moscow,  and  Columbus,  Ky. 

"Wm.  Weaver  was  Capt.  of  the  Co.  "G"  and  while  in  Ky.  had  as  a  body 
servant  a  vei-y  nice  black  boy,  called  Henry  Clay. 

'■When  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  in  October  in  Chicago  the  boy 
found  himself  'left  out  in  the  cold"  and  begged  the  2nd  Lieut,  to  take  him 
home  with  him,  and  so  that  was  how  Henry  Clay  came  to  the  Collins  home  on 
the  farm  in  "Oregon"  and  proceeded  to  make  "history"  for  Cass  Co. 

"During  tlie  winter  numerous  meetings  were  held  in  different  localties 
to  protest  against  a  negro  being  permitted  to  live  in  the  county. 

"On  the  Oregon  farm  tlie  winter  and  spring  passed  with  the  daily  routine 
of  hard  work  for  all,  including  the  boy,  who  was  found  faithful,  honest  and 
capable.  In  the  "good  old  summer  time"  then  as  now,  politics  always  waxed 
warmer  and  the  feeling  against  the  boy  was  again  fanned  into  white  heat, 
and  the  grand  jury  indicted  T.  B.  Collins  for  "Keeping  a  negro  in  liis  home," 


347 


MRS.  EMILY   (COLLINS)  BRADY. 

or  words  to  that  effect.  Before  a  warrant  was  served  on  him,  he  had  left  on  a 
Sunday  for  Mempliis,  Tenn,  wliere  he  was  trying  to  get  a  commission  in  a 
colored  regiment. 

"My  mother  was  visiting  tlie  family  at  the  time  and  I  have  often  lieard 
her  tell  how  when  the  family  awoke  on  Monday  morning,  there  was  a  man 
on  guard  at  every  door  and  window,  a  dozen  or  more  men  to  arrest  one  man 
who  would  not  I'aise  his  liand  or  voice  to  harm  one  of  God's  dumb  animals 
least  of  all  a  human  being. 

"With  what  grace  they  could  the  'guard'  withdrew  on  finding  there  was 
no  one  to  arrest,  but  still  Cass  county  was  nauseated  because  there  was  a 
negro  within  its  borders. 

"The  family  on  the  farm  at  this  time  consisted  of  Mrs  Collins  and  little 
daughter  Emma,  Josepli  Pothicary  (her  brother),  a  hired  man,  Hetn-y  Clay, 
and  myself. 

"On  a  Monday  night  a  few  days  after  tlie  'guard'  had  passed  into  history, 
we  were  awakened  by  a  knocking  on  the  pantry  door,  whicli  was  an  outside 
door  with  four  panes  of  glass — one  of  which  was  broken  and  had  a  cloth  tacked 
over  it.  Mrs.  Collins  went  in  the  dark  to  the  door  and  asked  'who  was  there.' 
They  refused  to  tell  saying  they  had  come  to  get  the  'nigger.'  She  refused  to 
let  them  in,  but  after  a  parley  carried  on  through  the  broken  glass,  they  as- 
sured her  they  were  'officers  of  the  law  acting  in  the  discharge  of  their  duty:' 
she  replied  saying:  'I  am  a  law-abiding  woman  and  will  not  resist  an  officer. 
If  you  will  wait  until  I  make  a  light  and  dress  myself,  I  will  admit  you.'  To 
this  they  agreed,  and  she  made  a  light  and  told  us  all  to  get  up  and  dress. 
The  men  slept  upstairs  and  I  was  sent  to  call  them  and  to  tell  Henry  Clay  to 


-348- 

remain  upstairs  until  called.  Finally  all  were  dressed  and  Mrs.  Collins  went 
to  the  door,  with  the  light  in  her  hand.  When  she  opened  it  she  saw  a  group 
of  men  with  guns.  She  said:  'You  are  not  officers,'  and  quickly  shut  and 
locked  the  door  in  their  faces,  and  as  quickly  put  out  the  light,  before  they 
realized  what  she  was  doing. 

"In  that  brief  glimpse  she  had  recognized  some  of  the  men  as  acquaint- 
ances and  knew  they  were  not  officers. 

"Then  ensued  a  long  discussion,  with  many  threats  from  both  sides  of  the 
door.  The  men  threatening  to  break  down  the  door,  and  Joe  with  a  gun 
threatening  to 'shoot  them  if  they  tried  it,  and  that  if  they  got  in  and  got 
the  boy  it  would  be  over  his  dead  body.' 

"They  realized  he  had  the  advantage,  as  the  house  was  in  darkness,  and 
those  inside  could  see  dimly  in  the  outside  darkness,  the  moving  figures. 

"I  remember  distinctly  how  Mrs.  Collins  taunted  them  with  their  cow- 
ardice, coming  at  such  an  hour  to  capture  one  young  boy;  of  her  assurance 
she  knew  who  they  were,  even  calling  some  of  them  bv  name  and  laughing 
them  to  scorn  for  allowing  a  woman  to  shut  the  door  in  their  faces. 

"Finally  they  left  saying  'they  would  return  in  one  week,  and  if  the  boy, 
was  there  then,  they  would  have  him  no  matter  what  happened." 

"This  happened  on  Monday  night  and  of  course  we  expected  them  back 
the  next  Monday  night,  and  so  plans  were  made  to  send  the  boy  to  Springtield 
on  Sunday,  Joe  was  to  take  him;  Dr  Pothicary  was  to  come  and  stay  at  the 
home  and  I  was  also  to  come  back  after  going   home  for  a  few  days. 

"There  was  a  political  rally  at  Chandlerville— on  Sat.  of  the  anti-war— and 
Southern  sympathizers. 

"I  suppose  they  called  themselves  Democrats  but  surely  misconstrued 
Webster's  definitions  'One  who  adheres  to  a  government  by  the  people.'' 

"The  "gang"  who  wanted  the  "nigger''  made  it  up  at  Chandlerville,  to  go 
by  the  Collins'  farm  and  take  him  as  they  went  home.  There  was  about 
forty  of  them,  well  "braced  up"  and  God  only  knows  what  they  would  have 
meted  out  to  the  boy,  liad  they  gotten  him. 

"On  the  farm  the  corn  was  being  "laid  by"  and  was  large  and  rank. 
Through  the  fields  ran  aslough,  lush  with  its  crop  of  tall  weeds  and  grass. 
The  sun  was  bending  low  in  the  west  as  the  men  and  teams  came  into  the 
barn  yard  and  began  the  evening  chores.  The  mistress  of  the  home  stepped 
to  the  door  hoping  to  see  her  father  and  myself  coming  on  horseback  and  was 
disappointed;  so  turning  her  gaze  in  the  opposite  direction,  farover  the  rolling 
prairie  in  its  glory  of  sunset  hues,  she  saw  something  unusual  on  the  I'orizon. 
a  liaze  of  smoke  or  dust,  which  seemed  to  be  moving.  Watching  intently  she 
soon  saw  a  mile  or  more  away  a  large  body  of  men  on  horseback. 

Instantly  she  divined  who  they  were;  brave  (':')  troopers  from  the  "rally" 
at  Chandlerville  hunting  down  a  poor  negro  boy.  In  an  instant  all  was  in 
commotion  at  the  barn  yard.  The  boy  was  sent  coatless,  hatless  and  barefooted 
to  the  field  to  hide  as  best  he  could.  In  a  few  moments  barn,  yard,  road  and 
house,  were  swarming  with  the  mob,  (many  of  them  well  known  to  the  house- 
hold) who  hung  their  heads  in  shame  and  sneaked  away  wlien  unbraided  with 
their  unneighborly  conduct. 

''They  searched  the  barn,  the  yards  and  house,  even  counting  the  plates 
on  supper  table:  (for  the  boy  ate  at  the  family  table,  such  being  the  habit  of 


-  349  - 

radical  Abolitionists  like  Dr.  Pothicary  and  his  family)  so  they  knew  he  had 
been  there  shortly  before  their  arrival.  As  dark  came  on  they  posted  guards 
around  the  farm,  and^the  main  body  rode  away.  In  the  dusk  of  twilight  Dr. 
Pothicary  and  I  onihorseback  met  this  column,  about  two  miles  from  the 
farm.  The  good  old  Dr.  kept  himself  between  the  mob  and  myself,  and  our 
steeds  hugged  the  fence  closely.  If  the  men  recognized  us,  they  did  not  in 
dicate  it,  and  we  passed  in'mutual  silence. 

"We  soon  quickened  our  pace  as  terror  was  in  our  hearts  as  thoughts  of  what 
we  might  find  at  the  farm,  but  luckily  all  was  well.  It  was  a  sleepless  night 
for  the  household,  with  the  sound  of  guns  and  dogs  and  new  voices,  as  they 
rode  around  and  sometimes  into  the  corn  field  on  their  -'boy  hunt."  I  sup- 
pose they  finally  sobered  up,  and  decided  it  was  a  losing  game,  as  all  became 
quiet  towards  morning,  and  in  the  gray  of  early  dawn  Joe  went  out  and  found 
the  boy  in  the. tall  grass  of  the  slough,  where  he  had  lain  ail  night  safely  con- 
cealed though  men  and  dogs  had  often  been  near  him.  From  the  exposure 
and  fright  lie  was  about  used  up.  He  was  given  a  hot  breakfast  and  some 
bedding  and  sent  back  to  the  field  where  he'  remained  in  hiding  until  after 
dark,  then  after  another  hot  meal,  Joe  took  him  in  a  buggy  and  drove  all  night 
going  to  Springfield,  where  Henry  Clay  was  left  with  friends. 

"He  was  a  good  b6y  and  made  a  good  man  of  himself.  Fie  was  industri- 
ous and  saving  and  after  some  time  was  able  to  own  a  team  and  carriage, 
with  which  lie  made  a  start  and  some  years  later  went  to  Jacksonville,  where 
he  married,  raised  a  family,  and  prospered  (inancially,  and  twetity-five  years 
ago  was  one  of  Jacksonville's  highly  respected  colored  citizens.  Since  then 
we  have  not  known  anything  of  him. 

"In  the  fall  some  time  after  Henry  Clay  went  to  Springfield,  my  brother 
returned  from  Memphis  and  as  there  was  no  negro  at  his  home,  he  was  not. 
arrested,  and  the  charges  were  dismissed.  Thus  ended  an  event  in  the 
history  of  Cass  county." 


After  a  long  and  persistent  search.  Henry  Clay  was  located  at  tlie  Soi 
diers'  Home,  at  Danville,  Illinois,  and  with  the  assistance  of  Mr.  W.  O.  15ry- 
den,  the  secretary  of  the  governor  of  the  home,  Clay's  recollections  of  the 
facts  were  reduced  to  writing  and  signed  and  are  here  presented: 

"I  was  born  in  Moscow,  Ky.,  on  the  .3rd  day  of  March,  18.39,  and  belonged, 
as  a  slave,  to  a  family  by  the  name  of  Titch worth,  and  was  employed  ahoiii, 
tlie  place  as  a  house  boy.  I  lived  in  Moscow  until  the  breaUing  out  of  the 
civil  war,  when  I  ran  away  and  became  a  servant  for  officers  of  the  lOth  Illi- 
nois Infantry.  I  was  taken  with  a  number  of  men  of  that  regiment  as  a 
prisoner  and  the  confederate  troops  put  me  to  work  building  breastworks,  etc. 
I  later  got  away  and  then  became  a  servant  for  Captain  William  H.  Weaver 
and  Lieutenant  Tliomas  B.  Collins  of  G  Company,  71st  Illinois  Infantry.  I 
remained  with  the.se  officers  and  accompanied  the  regiment  to  Chicago  where 
it  was  mustered  out  in  the  fall  of  1862.  Being  without  a  home  I  requested 
Lieut.  Collins,  who  had  been  very  kind  to  me,  to  take  me  home  with  him. 
This  he  did  and  I  remained  with  him  and  his  family  for  some  time,  working 
about  the  place  for  whicli  work  he  paid  me.  Sometime  during  that  winter 
the  sheriff,  accompanied  by  two  men,  came  to  the  Collins  home  and  placed 


-350- 

me  under  arrest.  The  slieriff  remained  at  the  Collins  liome  over  night  and 
the  next  morning  we  started  to  Beardstown,  accompanied,  as  I  now  remem- 
ber, by  Mr.  Collins,  his  wife,  his  sister,  Miss  Emma,  Dr.  Pothicary  and 
some  others  whose  names  I  carniot  now  recall.  At  one  point  in  the  road  the 
sheriff  and  Dr.  Pothicary  had  some  discussion  as  to  the  proper  way  to  go,  my 
friends  thinking  that  some  harm  might  come  to  me  by  going  in  the  direction 
the  sheriff  desired  to  take  me.  The  sheriff  finally  consented  and  we  went  the 
way  Dr.  Pothicary  suggested.  Wiien  we  arrived  at  Beardstown  it  was  quite 
late  and  I  was  kept  in  the  sheriff's  house  all  night.  The  .trial  was  held  before 
a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  Judge  Dumraer  defended  me.  I  do  not  remember 
the  results  of  the  trial  further  than  that  I  was  turned  over  to  the  care  of  Dr. 
Pothicary,  who  gave  bond  or  did  something  to  get  me  out  and  I  returned  to 
the  Collins  home  and  continued  working  about  the  place  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  winter.  Sometime  during  the  spring  of  the  year,  I  cannot  tell  just 
what  time,  but  the  corn  was  about  18  to  20  inclies  high,  a  mob  came  to  the 
Collins  place  and  tried  to  take  me  away,  Mrs.  Collins  and  her  daughter  hid 
me  out  from  the  liouse  in  a  field  and   I   remained  there   until  the  mob  left. 


II  EX  MY  CI.  \Y 


Dr,  Pothicary  then  took  me  to  Springtield  and  put  me  in  tlie  care  of  a  family 
by  the  name  of  Donnegan.  Tliese  people,  were  from  Kentucky.  I  worked  at 
odd  jobs  until  the  29th  regiment  of  colored  troops  was  organized  when  I  went 
to  Quincy  and  enlisted  in  D  Comuany  of  that  regiment  on  the  12th  day  of 
January,  18fU.  and  served  until  I  he  end  of  t!)e  war.  I  was  twice  wounded, 
once  at  Petersburg  arjd  once  at  D;inville,  Va.  After  being  mustered  out  1  re- 
turned lo  Illinois  and  went  to  .Jacksonville,  wht-re  i  drove  a  bus  for  a  while 
and  later  purchased  a  team  and  bus  of  my  own  and  engaged  in  business  for 
myself.  1  remained  in  Jacksonville  until  1885,  vviien  I  .sold  out  there  and 
moved  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in   the   livei'y    business.     I    remained    in   this 


-  35T  - 

business  nntil  about  the  1st  of  January,  1904,  at  which  time  I  was  compelled 
to  close  out  my  business  on  account  of  ill  health  and  I  came  to  the  National 
Soldiers'  Home,  at  Danville." 


The  treatment  of  this  young  negro  in  1862-3  by  the  Cass  county  "Knights" 
c^reatly  enraged  Dr.  Thomas  Pothicary  and  perhaps  on  that  account  he  very 
readily  accepted  the  Federal  appointment  of  enrolling  officer  of  his  (Lancaster) 
precinct.  The  old  gentleman,  performed  the  dutiesof  hisoffice  with  great  zeal; 
it  is  said  that  fictitious  names  were  furnished  him  as  a  joke,  but  Dr.  Pothicary 
was  no  joker.  The  writer  knew  him  well  for  years,  and  lived  in  the  same  family 
for  many  months,  and  never  saw  him  smile  or  heard  him  laugh.  Some  of  the 
names  were  those  of  absentees  whom  the  Docter  declared  lived  in  Lancaster 
when  they  were  at  home,  and  ought  to  be  represented  in  the  Federal  array. 
The  list  grew  to  formidable  proportions  and  the  excited  residents  soon  began  to 
realize  that  the  draft  upon  the  precinct  would  be  heavy.  Threats  of  violence 
against  the  old  gentleman  were  freely  made  and  he  was  fired  upon  from  am- 
bush more  than  once.  But  nothing  said  or  done  appeared  to  frighten  the 
gray  haired  official,  indeed  he  would  have  been  glad  to  have  become  a  martyr 
to  the  cause  in  which  he  was  so  zealously  engaged.  During  his  career,  an 
amusing  occurrence  took  place  at  the  Jackson  farm  home  on  south  side  of  Pan- 
ther Grove,  immediately  east  of  the  .lohn  McDonald  farm.    On  a  certain  even- 


DR.  THOMAS  POTHICARY. 
ing  in  March,  1865,  the  writer  had  occasion  to  visit  this  home,  on  business. 
The  family  consisted  of  James  Jackson,  his  brother  John  Jackson  and  his  sis- 
ter, Margaret  Jackson— all  middle-aged  unmarried  persons  and  two  farm 
hands.  The  time  was  six  in  the  evening  and  James  Jackson  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived home  from  Beardstown.    While  seated  around  the  fire  in  walked  Dr.  Poth 


-352- . 

icary.  John  Jackson,  who  was  a  giant  physically,  gave  the  old  man  a  look 
which  plainly  indicated  that  he  would  very  gladly  heave  the  intruder  over  the 
fence  into  the  road,  but  the  Jacksons had  lived  so  long  in  Illinois  that  they 
had  acquired  that  pioneer  hospitality  that  people  of  the  present  day  know 
nothing  of.  He  was  invited  to  a  seat  by  the  fire,  and  in  a  few  moments  Mar- 
garet announced  that  supper  was  ready  and  all,  by  invitation,  were 
soon  seated  at  the  table.  By  this  time,  the  old  Docter  had  made  known  that 
his  errand  was  to  enquire  for  one  or  two  men  who  had  worked  on  the  Jackson 
farm  the  summer  before,  who  were  then  absent.  John  Jackson  did  not  propose 
to  furnish  any  information  that  would  increase  the  roll  of  Lancaster  precinct, 
and  was  indignant  that  the  Docter  liad  come  there  on  such  an  errand.  The 
conversation  at  the  supper  table  was  spirited,  and  is  well  remembered.  "If 
you  draft  me,"  said  John,  "you  may  be  able  to  force  me  into  the  army,  but  you 
can't  make  me  shoot  a  gun:  you  can  lead  a  horse  to  water,  but  you  can't  make 
him  drink." 

•'If  you  are  dratted"  replied  the  Doctor,  "and  are  put  into  tlie  front  rank 
with  a  gun,  after  you  have  been  tired  at  for  a  bit,  you  will  warm  up,  and  make 
as  good  a  soldier  as  any  of  them." 

This  prophecy  thoroughly  enraged  John,  and  with  loud  and  furious  lang- 
unge  he  exclaimed  "You  ought  to  be  shot,  you  old  scoundrel;  take  another 
biscuit  " 

Here  Margaret  fouiid  a  chance  to  take  a  hand,  and  said:  "You  old  gray- 
lieaded  reprobate,  going  around  getting  your  neighbors  into  trouble,  you 
ought  to  stay  at  home  and  make  your  peace  with  God;  pass  your  cup  for  more 
coffee." 

The  Dof'ter  made  a  hearty  meal,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it  immensely. 

In  this  brief  review  of  the  history  of  the  Illinois  Black  Laws,  the  reader 
cannot  escape  the  conclusion  that  the  sentiment  of  the  great  majority  of  the 
founders  of  the  State  was  pro-slavery;  that  it  was  known  that  Congress 
would  refuse  its  admission  as  a  slave  state,  but  they  intended  to  reap  the  ben- 
efits of  slavery  by  the  system  of  indentures,  and  they  so  well  succeeded  that 
an  indentured  black  man  in  Illinois  was  very  little  better  situated  than  the 
negro  cotton  picker  of  Georgia.  The  election  of  a  pro-slavery  legislature  in  1822 
abundantly  proves  that  the  majority  of  the  Illinois  voters  were  either  in  favor 
of  slavery  or  indilferent  upon  the  subject.  And  many  of  the  opposers  of  slav- 
ery did  not  base  their  opposition  upon  the  ground  of  principle  but  policy. 

African  slavery  was  a  curse  to  the  people  of  the  United  States:  the 
blacks  were  better  here,  forced  to  work  for  plain  food  and  coarse  clotliing, 
than  their  brothers  were  in  Africa  as  naked  cannibals;  but  its  influence 
upon  the  white's  vvas  debasing  in  the  extreme.  Those  who  believe  that  the 
Creator  of  man  shapes  his  destiny  may  not  be  able  to  see  why  slavery  was 
permitted,  but  the  problem  will  be  solved  in  the  future  when  the  exodus  of 
the  black  man  from  the  United  States  to  Africa  begins.  It  is  well  known 
that  the  white  race  is  regarded  by  the  blacks  with  suspicion  and  hatred:  that 
the  "common  people"  among  the  blacks,  are  led  by  their  preachers.  The 
work  of  civilizing  the  African  in  his  native  land  can  best  be  effected  by  men 
of  their  own  race,  and  when  this  work  is  begun  by  the  descendants  of  the 
former  American  slaves,  the  purpose  of  the  existence  of  slavery  in  this  coun- 


-  353  - 

try  will  become  apparent. 

Slavery  was  popular  in  the  northern  states  so  long  as  it  was  profitable,  but 
owners  soon  learned  that  it  was  cheaper  to  hire  black  men  for  low  wages,  so 
long  as  they  were  able  to  work,  and  then  turn  them  away,  than  to  own  them 

and  care  for  them  in  sickness  and  old  age.  Many  "loyal  men"  of  the  North 
during  the  civil  war  lived  upon  farms  purchased  with  money  realized  from 
sales  of  slaves  in  the  South. 

The  situation  of  the  country  was  well  described  by  an  eloquent  American 
in  the  following  language:  "The  South  had  builded  herself  upon  the  rock 
of  Slavery.  It  lay  in  the  very  channels  of  Civilization,  like  some  Flood  Rock 
lying  sullen  ofE  Hell  Gate.  The  tides  of  Controversy  rushed  upon  it  and  split 
into  eddies  and  swirling  pools,  bringing  incessant  disaster.  The  rock  would  not 
move.  It  must  be  removed.  It  was  the  South  itself  that  furnished  the  en- 
gineers. Arrogance  in  council  sunk  the  shafts.  Violence  chambered  the 
subterranean  passages,  and  Intatuation  loaded  them  with  infernal  dynamite. 
All  was  secure.  Their  rock  was  their  fortress.  The  hand  that  fired  upon 
Sumpter  exploded  the  mine,  and  tore  the  fortress  to  atoms.  For  one  moment 
it  rose  into  the  air  like  spectral  hills— for  one  moment  the  waters  rocked  with 
wild  confusion,  then  settled  back  to  quiet  and  the  way  of  Civilization  was 
opened." 


DR.  DAVID  McCLURE  LOGAN. 

BY  DR.  J.  F.  SNYDER. 


TITE  pioneer  doctors  of  American  birth  in  the  western  states  and  terri- 
tories fifty  to  seventy  years  ago,  were,  with  few  exceptions,  self-made 
men,  and  the  self-reliant  architects  of  their  own  fortunes.  As  a  class 
they  possessed  those  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and  character  that  distinguish 
Americans  as  an  advanced  people,  and  which  have  placed  us  in  the  front 
ranks  of  civilized  nations.  By  innate  talents,  pluck  and  energy  they,  in  many 
instances,  raised  themselves  from  poverty  and  obscurity  to  the  social  status 
of  eminent  respectability  and  worth.    Collegiate  education  and  its  concom- 

tant  culture  are  undoubtedly,  in  this 

I -  "~  ]        age,    of    very    considerable    help  to 

young  men  commencing  the  serious 
duties  and  obligations  of  life  in  any 
vocation,  but  are  not,  even  now,  in- 
dispensable elements  of  success. 
They  were  still  less  essential  in  the 
early  settlement  of  the  West,  as  was 
fully  demonstrated  by  the  life  history 
of  many  of  the  ablest  and  most  suc- 
cessful citizens  of  those  times. 

Dr.  Logan,  however,  though  self- 
dependent  from  his  boyhood,  was  well 
educated  in  the  elementary  branches 
of  learning,  to  which  he  had  added  by 
his  studious  habits  a  wide  range  of 
promiscuous  knowledge.  He  was  born 
in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  on  January 
4th,  1821,  the  fourth  in  order  in  a 
family  of  eleven  children.  His  fath- 
er was  a  farmer  of  sucli  limited  means 
;ind  biisine.ss  capacity  tliat  he  could 
not  have  raised  his  numerous  family 
in  idleness  and  luxury  had  lie  been 
disposed  to  do  so.  II is  children  all 
had  to  work  from  an  early  age;  but 
their  attendance  at  school  was  not 
neglected,  and  was  curtailed  only  by 
need  of  their  .services  on  the  farm. 
The  father  ot  that  family  of  eleven 
children,  James  Logan,  was  of  Irish 
descent,  born  in  Huntingdon  county, 
Pennsvlvania.   and  his  wife,     Emma 


DR.  DAVID  McCLURE  LOGAN. 


-  355  - 

(Collins)  Log-an,  was  a  native  of  Rhode  Island.  Their  life  in  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  was  a  repetition  of  the  often-told  story  of  many  pioneers  who  came 
from  the  older  states  to  the  new  country  in  the  west  to  find  homes  and  make 
their  fortunes  with  no  other  capital  than  youth,  health  and  industry.  They 
beg-an  with  building  a  log  cabin,  the  clearing  away  of  timber  and  brush, 
and  putting  a  patch  of  land  in  cultivation,  and  continued  their  arduous  labors 
attended  by  constant  contention  with  privations,  hardships  and  more  or  less 
sickness.  Their  accumulation  of  property  was  retarded  by  various  reverses 
and  difficulties,  the  struggle  becoming  more  intensified  with  advancing  age, 
the  rapid  increase  of  their  family,  and  the  crowding  of  denser  population 
around  them. 

In  middle  life,  seeing  the  prospects  for  much  financial  improvement  dim- 
inishing where  he  was,  and  again  allured  by  the  reported  splendor  of  another 
new  country  farther  west,  and  the  advantages  it  presented  for  the  future  wel- 
fare of  his  children,  Mr.  Logan  concluded  to  follow  the  great  tide  of  emigra- 
tion then  moving  onward  to  the  Sangamon  country  in  central  Illinois.  Leav- 
ing Ohio  in  the  early  spring  of  1836,  with  his  wife  and  the  young  Logans,  liav- 
ing  for  means  of  transportation  a  couple  of  wagons,  several  horses,  and  some 
loose  stock,  he  passed  through  Indiana  as  expeditiously  as  possible  for  fear  of 
the  prevailing  milksickness  and  ague  there,  then  crossing  the  Wabash  con- 
tinued his  course  towards  the  setting  sun.  In  due  course  of  time  he  halted 
his  teams  on  the  Sangamon  bottom,  near  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  on  the  bank  of 
Job's  creek  about  twelve  miles  of  Beardstown.  Looking  around  awhile  for  an 
opening,  he  rented,  near  by,  a  cabin  and  eighty  acres  of  land  from  Jeremiah 
Bowen,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Hickory  precinct,  and  he  set  all  his  avail- 
able force  at  work. 

In  1836,  when  the  Logan  family  arrived  in  theSangaxon  boitom  and  com- 
menced the  irrepressible  conflict  with  mosquitoes  and  green-headed  flies,  tlie 
state  of  Illinois  had  sixty  organized  counties  and  a  population  of  over  270,000. 
Its  total  revenues  from  all  sources  that  year  amounted  to  $97,923,  and  its  ex- 
penses for  maintaining  the  state  government  for  the  same  period  were  $78,606. 
Its  public  debt  was  a  little  over  $700,000,  of  which  about  $200,000  had  been 
borrowed  from  its  own  school  fund,  and  has  not  yet  been  repaid.  The  young 
state  was  in  sound  financial  condition,  with  the  development  of  its  natural 
resources  progressing  rapidly,  and  satisfactory  armual  increase  of  population 
and  wealth,  as  well  as  encouraging  extension  of  commerce  and  productive 
industries.  The  general  prosperity  of  the  people,  however,  reacted  to  their 
detriment.  Their  slow  but  sure  advancement  was  suddenly  discovered  to  be 
too  slow,  and  altogether  insufficient  to  keep  pace  with  the  spirit  of  the  times. 
When  they  saw  that  several  of  the  older  states  had  engaged  in  building  rail- 
roads and  digging  canals  they  became  restless  and  discontented.  Thev  loo 
wanted  improved  means  of  transportation  by  railroads  and  removal  of  ob- 
structions to  the  navigation  of  their  rivers.  And  in  August  of  that  year 
they  elected  a  legislature  pledged  to  provide  the  desired  means.  Accordingly 
the  famous  Internal  Improvement  Acts  were  passed  for  constructing  a  vast 
system  of  railroads,  and  clearing  from  several  of  the  interior  rivers  their 
snags,  sand  bars,  and  accumulations  of  driftwood;  all  to  be  paid  for  witb 
money  borrowed  by  the  state. 

The  state's  credit  was  No.  1,  and  for  awhile  its  bonds  sold  rapidly.    No 


-356- 

time  was  lost  in  commencing  the  public  works  at  different  points.  By  the  be 
ginning  of  1837  there  was  an  abundance- of  money  in  circulation,  times  were 
flush,  and  all  kinds  of  business  booming,  with  prosperity  based  alltogather  on 
credit,  and,  of  course,  fictitious.  Among  the  evils  it  engendered  was  a  craze 
for  speculation,  especially  in  building,  or  platting,  new  towns,  which  became 
epidemic  among  all  classes.  Genl.  Jackson's  second  Presidential  term  closed 
on  the  4th  of  March,  1837,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Martin  Van  Buren.  A 
noted  official  act  of  President  Jackson  near  the  close  of  his  first  term  was  so 
far-reaching  in  its  effects  as  to  burst  the  bubble  of  golden  prospects  in  Illinois 
five  years  later.  In  July,  1832, he  vetoed  the  bill  passed  by  Congress  for  renew- 
ing the  charter  of  the  National  Bank,  and  the  ne.xt  year  removed  the  govern- 
ment funds  from  its  vaults.  That 'death  blow  to  the  Bank  forced  it  to  sus- 
pend specie  payment,  and  into  final  liquidation.  The  result  of  that  disaster 
was  radiated  to  the  utmost  limits  orthe  countrv.  It  reached  Illinois  in  tr,e 
summer  of  1S37  when  all  the  banl<s  in  the  state' suspended  specie  payment 
causing  the  memorable  panic  of  that  year  involving  general  business  failures, 
and  great  Htiancial  distress,  followed  two  years  later  by  total  collapse  of  the 
wild  Internal  Improvement  scheme  by  which  the  state,  with  a  debt  of  over 
$14,00 ), 0(10,  was  reduced  to  the  verge  of  bankruptcy,  producing  the  hardest 
tunes  yet  know  in  its  history. 

Upon  his  arrival  u\  the  Sangamon  bottom  in  the  spring  of  1S3()  David  M. 
Logan  was  fifteen  years  of  age,  a  tall,  straight,  well-knit  youth  of  industrious 
habits  and  bright  intellect.  He  had  learned  to  plow  and  swing  the  axe;  and 
also  to  read,  write  and  ciplier  as  far  as  the  rule  of  three.  He  there  grew  up  to 
manhood  in  stature  at  work  in  the  fields  during  the  farming  seasons  and  at- 
tending the  countrv  schools  during  the  winters.  He  was  fond  of  study  and 
quick  in  acquiring  knowledge.  With  advancing  years  and  wider  range  of 
learning  his  aspirations  soared  beyond  tlie  plodding  labor  of  tilling  the  soil. 
There  were  other  pursuits  in  life,  requiring  more  active  exerise  of  the  intel- 
lect and  less  slavish  muscular  toil,  that  he  thought  he  would  prefer,  and  was 
better  fitted' for,  than  that  of  breaking  sod  -with  three  or  four  yoke  of  oxen,  or 
plowing  corn  with  a  wooden  mold-board  plow  drawn  by  a  single  horse.  His 
first  venture  for  independent  self-support,  after  he  was  old  enough  to  vote, 
was  school  teaching.  In  the  fall  and  winter  seasons  he  taught  several  sub- 
scription schools  and  worked  in  the  harvest  fields  during  the  summers.  His 
reputation  as  a  competent  instructor  was  so  favorable  that  the  School  Direct- 
ors of  Beardstown  employed  him,  in  1842,  to  teach  in  the  schools  of  that  place. 
His  work  there,  though  highly  satisfactory  to  the  patrons  of  the  school,  and 
to  the  Directors,  convinced  him  that  he  required  moi'e  tliorougli  education 
himself  to  make  his  teaching  come  Up- to  his  standard  of  efficiency. 

By  practicing  rigid  economy,  and  saving  the  money  he  earned  he  was  en- 
abled to  enter  Illinois  college,  at  .Jacksonville,  and  pay  for  his  tuition,  and  de- 
fray all  incidental  expenses,  for  the  full  two  sessions  of  1846-7  and  1847-8. 
Exhaustion  of  liis  means  forced  him  to  retire  without  completing  the  full  col- 
legiate course.  He  ignored  the  Mexican  war,  preferring  to  acquire  an  educa- 
tion rather  then  military  glory  as  one  of  Col.  Hardin's  volunteers.  He  was  a 
student  at  Illinois  college  when  it  still  had  a  medical  department  for 'the  in- 
struction of  embryo  physicians,  and  occasionally  listened  with  profound  inter- 
est to  the  lectures  of  Dr.  David  Prince  on  anatomy  and  surgery,  and  to  those 


-  357  - 

of  Dr.  Henry  Jones  on  the  theory  and  practice  of  medicine.  It  may  be  that 
they  influenced  him  to  choose,  some  years  later,  the  profession  of  medicine  as 
a  life  vocation.  In  fact  that  was  the  ambition  stirring  him  at  the  time  he 
left  college,  and  he  determined  to  attain  that  object  if  possible  to  overcome 
the  obstacles  in  his  way.  Returning  to  the  Sangamon  bottom  in  the  spring'of 
1848  without  a  dollar,  he  found  employment  among  the  farmers  there  until 
close  of  the  harvest. 

His  parents,  with  their  younger  children  and  unmarried  daughters,  had 
left  Cass  county  several  years  before  and  rented  the  Foster  farm  over  in  Sang- 
amon county;  and  there  James  Logan,  his  father,  died  in  1845.  His  body  was 
brought  back  to  Cass  county  and  buried  in  the  Carr  graveyard  on  a  high  point 
of  the  Sangamon  bluffs.  Mrs.  Logan  survived  him  several  years,  dying  in 
Mason  county  in  1865.  As  the  fall  approached  Dave  Logan  went  to  Beards, 
town  to  looli  up  something  to  do  besides  school  teaching  which  he  concluded 
to  abandon.  The  only  job  that  was  presented  was  a  clerlcship  in  a  store  be. 
longing  to  a  man  named  Fraley.  Tliat  he  accepted,  and  there  passed  the 
winter. 

In  1849  Dr.  Samuel  Christy  left  Farmingdale,  in  Sangamon  county,  wherp 
he  had  been  located  for  nine  years,  that  he  might  obtain  relief  from  the  rigors 
and  hardships  of  country  practice,  and  moved  to  Beardstown  to  enjoy  the  ease 
and  comfort  of  professional  life  in  that  metropolis.  To  escape  as  far  as  prac- 
ticable a  renewal  of  country  medical  practice,  among  tlie  sloughs  and  swamps 
of  the  Illinois  river  bottom  and  Schuyler  county  hills,  he  entered  into  part- 
nership, in  the  spring  of  1850,  with  a  man  natned  Thiele  to  run  a  retail  drug 
store  in  Beardstown.  Thiele  was  not  a  druggist,  and  no  one  could  possibly 
have  been  less  adapted  for  the  retail  drug  trade  than  was  Dr.  Christy.  He 
was  two  generous  and  open-handed  to  make  any  small  transactions,  or  a  "pic- 
ayune" business,  successful.  They  needed  a  "clerk"  to  assist  in  selling  drugs, 
paints,  oils  and  patent  medicines.  Logan  fancied  that  pharmacy  would  suit 
him  better  then  selling  calico,  or  teaching,  and  applied  for  the  clerkship.  He 
was  at  once  employed,  and  proved  to  be  a  very  active  and  efficient  apprentice. 

Dr.  Christy  and  Dave  Logan  possessed  several  identical  traits  of  character, 
manhood  and  mental  activity,  that  tended  to  attract  them  to  each  other. 
There  was  almost  exact  accordance  in  their  extremely  liberal  religious  beliefs, 
and  in  all  their  veiws  and  opinions  with  the  exception  of  politics.  They  be- 
longed to  opposite  parties  to  which  each  gave  firm,  stubborn,  allegience;  each 
defending  on  all  occasions  liis  political  principles  with  voluble  ability.  Not- 
withstanding that  difference,  however,  they  there  formed  a  cordial  mutual 
friendship  that  continued  without  interruption  to  the  close  of  their  lives.  Dr. 
Christy  was  not  long  in  discovering  Logan's  genuine  worth  and  intellectual 
sprightliness,  and  interested  in  his  welfare,  earnestly  advised  him  to  waste  no 
further  time  in  temporary  and  unprofitable  employment,  but  to  set  in  at  once 
to  the  systematic  study  of  medicine,  and  tit  himself  as  soon  as  possible  for  the 
active  work  of  the  profession.  Tho  unprepared,  as  he  thought,  to  fully  adopt 
that  course,  Logan  made  good  use  of  his  leisure  time  while  in  the  drug  store 
by  studying  materia  medica,  and  reading  some  of  the  Doctor's  text  books. 
But  having  no  other  revenue  than  the  wages  he  earned,  the  length  of  time, 
and  the  very  considerable  expenses  required,  to  complete  his  medical  educa- 
tion almost  deterred  him  from  making  further  efforts  in  tliat  direction. 


-358- 

Before  the  expiration  of  a  year's  partnership  Mr.  Thiele.  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  a  village  drug  store  was  not  a  sure  means  for  the  acquisition  of 
great  wealth,  sold  his  Interest  in  it  to  Dr.  Charles  Sprague,  and  retired. 
Scarcely  a  year  later  Dr.  Christy,  realizing  the  same  fact,  and  the  additional 
fact  that  he  was  no  better  fitted  for  the  drug  business  than  he  was  to  occupy 
a  Methodist  pulpit,  also  sold  his  interest  to  Dr.  Sprague,  and  retired  from  it 
hardly  as  well  off  as  he  was  before  embarking  in  't.  Then  purchasing  a  hun- 
dred acre  farm  in  the  prairie  on  the  main  road  to  Springfield,  half  a  mile  east 
of  the  little  village  in  tliat  era  known  as  Lancaster,  now  Philadelphia,  he  left 
Beardstown  in  the  early  spring  of  1852  to  try  once  more  a  country  life.  By 
transfer  of  the  drug  store  to  another  proprietor,  Dave  Logan's  occupation  was 
gone;  but  his  competency  in  business  having  become  so  well  known  he  did 
not  have  long  to  wait  for  other  employment. 

One  Benjamin  E.  Eoney,  a  very  slippery  Jew,  had  a  store  on  the  corner  of 
the  northeast  half  of  lot  4,  in  block  1,  Beardstown,  where  he  sold  ready-made 
clotiiing,  jewelry,  notions,  etc.  Needing  a  popular,  wide-awake  salesman  he 
offered  the  position  to  Logan  at  a  salary  considerably  in  advance  of  that  he 
liad  received  from  Christy  and  Thiele.  Accepting  it  he  immediately  entered 
upon  tlie  discharge  of  his  new  duties,  and  rendered  his  Israelite  employer 
very  satisfactory  service  for  about  a  year.  He  would  very  probably  have  re- 
mained in  tliat  place  longer  had  not  tfie  store,  one  night,  in  a  mysterious 
manner,  caught  on  fire,  and  went  up  in  smoke.  The  building  it  occupied  be- 
longed to  Jas.  Stevenson  and  Wm.  Campbell,  and  an  adjoining  building,  de- 
stroyed by  the  same  fire,  was  the  property  of  Sylvester  Paddock.  Roney's 
goods  were  insured  by  the  Delaware  Mutual  Insurance  company,  which, 
owing  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  lire,  suspended  payment  of  the 
policy  until  the  matter  could  be  fully  investigated.  Roney  then  sued  the 
company,  making  oath  that  his  losses  amounted  to  $6850.  Very  shortly  after 
the  lire  he  left  Beardstown  and  opened  out  another  store  in  one  of  the  upper 
Illinois  river  towns.  There  Dave  Logan  visited  him,  either  to  satisfy  his  own 
curiosity  in  view  of  suspicions  tenertained  by  the  public  generally;  or  he  was 
sent  there  to  aid  in  the  investigation  conducted  by  the  Insurance  company. 
Looking  over  Roney's  stock  of  goods  Logan  recognized— perhaps  without 
much  surprise— many  suits  of  clothing,  and  other  articles,  he  had  been  quite 
familiar  with  in  the  Beardstown  store,  upon  several  of  which  were  still  the 
cost  and  selling  prices  iie  iiimself  had  marked  on  them.  Roney  was  indicted 
by  the  grand  jury  for  burning  his  own  store,  was  arrested,  and  on  the  10th  of 
February  1853,  was  convicted  of  arson— largely  by  Logan's  testimony— and 
sent  to  the  penitentiary.  On  the  17tii  of  the  same  month  he  was  indicted 
for  perjury  having  sworn  falsely  respecting  his  claim  against  the  Insurance 
company. 

Still  pursuing  his  medical  studies  in  a  desultory  way  while  selling  shoddy 
clothing  and  pinchbeck  jeweliy  for  Roney,  Logan  saved  all  he  could  of  his  sal- 
ary, which  by  careful  management  paid  his  way  at  St.  Louis  in  the  winter  of 
1853-54  while  attending  a  course  of  lectures  at  the  St.  Louis  Medical  college 
tliere.  While  there  his  health  failed,  and  he  returned  home  in  the  spring  of 
1854  with  a  troublesome  bronchial  cough  that  closely  imitated  incipient  con- 
sumption. Again  adrift  with  nothing  to  do,  and  without  money,  he  anxiously 
scanned  the  horizon  for  something  to  turn  up  to  his  advantage,  in  the  mean- 


-  359  - 

time  trying  to  devise  some  means  to  travel  in  anotiier  climate  for  the  benefit 
of  his  health. 

That  was  the  age  when  the  patent  medicine  industry  was  in  full  flower. 
As  in  the  early  days  of  California  gold  mining  large  fwtunes  were  made  with 
only  a  butcher  knife  and  tin  pan,  so,  about  the  same  time,  other  fortunes  were 
rapidly  accumulated  in  selling  patent  medicines  with  but  littlecapital  besides 
printer's  ink.  For  sometime  before  and  after  1854  in  almost  every  newspaper 
throughout  the  west  and  south  was  displayed  in  attractiv^e  type  the  standing 
advertisement  of  "Dr.  S.  G.  Farrell's  Celebrated  Arabian  Liniment,"  a  sove- 
reign remedy  for  well  nigh  every  ailment  of  man  or  beast.  Its  principal  in- 
gredient was  coal  tar,  then  a  waste  product  of  the  Peoria,  (Ills.)  gas  factory 
ituated  near  the  laboratory  and  residence  of  Dr.  Farrell  in  that  city.  Its- 
vied  in  popular  favor  with  Dr.  A.  G.  Hragg's  "Celebrated  Mexican  Mustang 
Liniment"'— also  made  of  coal  tar  formerly  poured  out  into  the  sewers  from 
the  St.  Louis  gas  works,  and  both  were  very  extensively  sold  all  over  the  coun- 
tiT  for  several  yeare.  Dr.  Farrell  employed  many  agents  in  liis  business,  and 
still  wanted  more. 

That  offered  Logan  the  much  desired  opportunity  to  try  milder  climntic 
conditions  for  his  health  and  incidentally  to  .see  more  of  this  great  coimi  r\ , 
particularly  that  portion  of  it  south  of  Mason  and  Dixon's  line  from  whence 
had  emanated  the  revolting  accounts  of  African  slavery  he  had  heard  from 
his  childhood.  Applying  to  Dr.  Farrell  for  a  traveling  agency  in  thesouth,  he 
was  entrusted  by  that  eminent  scientist  with  a  responsible  roving  commissioit 
obligating  him  to  visit  all  the  stations  where  the  celebrated  Arabian  Liniment 
was  sold  in  a  district  of  the  south  extending  from  North  Carolina  to  Texas, 
collecting  from  each  the  quarterly,  or  semiannual,  proceeds  of  sales,  and  es- 
tablishing new  stations  and  agencies  where  he  thought  they  were  needed.  He 
received  a  generous  salary  besides  having  all  his  expenses  paid.  For  nearly 
two  years  he  was  on  the  southern  roads,  sometimes  traveling  on  horseback,  at 
times  in  a  two-wheel  sulky,  but  generally  in  a  light  spring  wagon  drawn  by 
two  horses.  In  after  life  he  often  recounted  many  of  the  interesting  events 
and  adventures,  hairbreath  escapes  from  danger,  and  amusing  incidents,  he- 
had  experienced  in  that  period. 

At  length  popular  demand  for  Arabian  Liniment  was  gradually  ex.- 
hausted,— in  other  words,  it  "played  out,"  as  all  patent  nostrums  sooner  or 
later  do  -and  Logan  returned  to  Illinois  in  sound  health,  and  better  financial 
condition  than  he  ever  before  had  been,  and  fully  confirmed  in  his  early  ab- 
horence  of  the  institution  of  slavery  and  the  Democratic  party. 

In  the  cordial  welcome  and  genial  environments  he  found  in  the  otlices  of 
his  Democratic  friends,  Dr.  Sprague  and  Dr.  Parker,  of  Beardstown,  he  com- 
menced anew  the  study  of  medicine,  and  persevered  with  earnestness  and 
diligence  until  he  completed  the  prescribed  course.  At  Dr.  Pope's  "St.  Louis. 
Medical  College"  lie  was  awarded  the  coveted  parchment  which  testified,  in> 
passable  Latin^  that  he  was  "learned  in  medicine;"  and  gave  him  authority 
to  go  forth  and  heal  the  infirmities  of  mankind.  Graduating  there  in  March, 
18r)7,  he  went  back  to  Beardstown  prepared  to  enter  upon  the  duties  and  re- 
sponsibilities Of  his  newly-acquired  profession,  but  not  in  that  town,  for  it 
had  tlien,  as  now,  more  Doctors  than  it  needed.  Not  being  in  financial  con- 
dition to  wait  until  some  of  them  died,  or  starved  out,   he  anxiOL^sly    lookedi 


-360- 

around  foi-  some  other  place  where  lie  could  beg-in  right  away  to  exchange  his 
skill  and  learning— with  the  aid  of  some  calomel  and  other  Allopathic  physic 
—for  need-^d  revenue.  By  advice  of  Dr.  Christy  he  set  tied  down  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  Cass  county,  in  Richmond  precinct,  at  the  little  village  known 
by  its  postottice  name  of  Ilagley,  wliich  was  changed  to  Newmanville,  in  1859, 
when  a  town  was  platted  there  by  Ilev.  Wingate  Newman,  a  local  Methodist 
preacher,  who  conferred  upon  it  the  dignity  and  honor  of  his  own  name. 

As  a  rule,  physicians  regard  a  location  without  competition  as  not  worth 
having.  T\\e  mutual  envy  ;ind  jealousy  of  competing  Doctors— as  in  many 
other  callings— are  wholesome  St  iinulants  to  hharpen  their  faculties  and  en- 
ergies: and  file  assistance  they  are  somei  lines  compelled  to  render  each  other 
tends  to  soften  some  of  the  asperities  of  their  doleful  existence.  For  a 
long  time  Dr.  I^ogan  was  professionally  a  monarch  of  all  he  surveyed  at  New- 
manville. Dr  Clirist.N,  eight  miles  distant,  being  his  nearest,  competitor.  At 
the  age  of  thirty -six  he  commenced  t  he  prartice  of  medicine,  and  was  success- 
ful from  the  start,  not  only  In  tiivnigall  tJn-;  work  lie  wanted  to  do,  but  also 
in  his  treatment  of  the  sick,  the  h  ilt,  .imi  tli'^  la'Urt.  who  gave  him  their  con- 
fidence and  patronage,  and— with  occasional  exception--— paid  him  for  his  ser- 
vices. Nature  had  titted  liim  with  the  intuitive  J<nacl<  for  the  practice  of 
medicine,  to  which  he  should  have,  applied  himself  fifteen  years  earlier.  Tie 
had  aLso  too  long  iieglecied  ;i  under  imperatively  necessary  for  the  better 
success  and  requisite  social  ^tallding  of  every  I)octor,  particularly  every 
C()untry  Doctor.  He  was  still  a  bachelor,  and  wit  Imiit  a  home  of  his  own.  In 
ma.iy  ways  atid  often,  he  was  reminded  nf  tliose  important  deticiencies  of  his 
professional  equipment,  and,  though  a  little  late,  resolved  to  supply  them  as 
.soon  as  practicable.  And  he  did:  liist  by  securing  a.  house  and  lot  in  the 
little  prairie  village,  and  then,  on  i  he  2()i  h  of  .January,  l^!58,  tteing  united  In 
marriage  to  Miss  Rebecca  VV.  Hamilton,  of  the  A.shland  precinct,  who  was 
l)0ni  in  Loudoun  county.  Virf.;iiila,,  on  the  :Wth  of  June,  1830. 

I)r.  Logan  vsas  very  nearl,\  six  feer  in  height,  rather  raw-boned,  erect  and 
faultless  in  liguie.  and  usually  weighed  about  IHO  pounds.  In  facial  feature^ 
he  was  by  no  means  a  beauty,  having  a  somewhat  rugged  cast  of  countenance, 
flark  complexion,  black  e.yes  and  eyebrows  surmounted  by  glossy  black  hair 
above  a  broad  and  high  forehead.  By  his  sraight,  well  knit  form,  black 
eyes  and  hair,  and  swarthy  color,  he  could  well  have  passed  as  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Logan  the  famous  and  eloqitent  Cayugas  chief.  But  he  had, 
apart  from  his  external  appearance,  very  few  In  11  in  characteristics.  In 
maimers  and  deportment,  vvith  no  titfectation  of  refinement,  he  was  a  genuine 
gentleman.  His  personal  habits  were  irreproachable  with  the  exception  of 
free  use  of  tobacco,  and,  for  a  long  time,  of  profane  expletives  he  employed  to 
give  force  to  Ins  language.  In  all  things  he  was  strictly  temperate,  and  a 
total  abstainer  from  the  use  of  liquors  of  every  description— necessarily  so,  he 
said,  for  his  natural  desire  for  intoxicants  was  so  strong  that  he  could  keep  it 
in  subjection  only  by  firmly  refusing  to  indulge  it  at  all.  lie  was  an  honest 
man:  correct  and  reliable  in  all  his  dealings,  kind,  benevolent  and  charitable, 
and  with  that  inborn  reverence  for  truth,  honor  and  morality  that  he  in- 
stinctively shrank  from  wrong-doing  in  any  guise.  Such  a  man  deserved— 
and  Dr.  Logan  had  and  retained— the  respect,  confidence  and  highest  esteem 
of  all  who  knew  him  well.       ...,.,  ,  .     .   •    . 


-  361  - 

The  daily  life  of  all  country  Doctors  is  very  much  the  same.  The  profes- 
sional experience  of  one  is  similar  to  that  of  another,  varying  in  some  particu- 
lars each  day,  but  having  about  the  same  average  in  the  course  of  a  year.  He 
is  called  upon  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  it  may  be  to  only  extract  a  tooth:  or 
to  lance  a  soul  twisting  felon  for  the  caller;  but  more  often  to  ride  out  several 
miles  to  face  a  howling  storm.  His  services  are  usually  required  tVie  most  ur- 
gently in  the  worst  weather,  and  when  the  roads  are  the  roughest  or  muddiest. 
He  is  the  servant  of  the  public,  with  no  hour  in  the  day  0.7  night  exempt  from 
its  demands.  Reaching  his  home  in  the  morning,  after  a  night  of  sleepless 
anxiety  and  exertion  over  a  patient  in  some  dilapidated  cabin,  with  iiopeful 
anticipation  of  rest  and  quietude  the  balance  of  the  day,  he  is  dismayed  by  ar- 
rival at  his  house  of  a  whole  family  who  have  come  to  have  the  baby's  gums 
scarified  or  to  find  out  if  the  breaking  out  it  has  is  the  chicken  pox.  He  ex- 
amines the  little  darling,  and  for  hours  has  to  listen  to  the  history  and  symp- 
toms of  all  the  ailments  that  have  afflicted  all  the  rest  of  them,  including  the 
uncles,  aunts  and  grandparents,  since  they  were  born;  and  then  Irok  pleasant 
and  get  off  some  of  his  stereotyped  jokes  while  lie  entertains  them  all  atdiiuier. 

Then  again,  he  has  a  patient  several  miles  out  in  the  country  seriously 
sick— a  friend  and  patron  whom  he  esteems  highly,  and  member  of  an  intlueri- 
tial  family.  The  symptoms  are  grave  and  prognosis  unfavorable;  but  or. 
leaving  him  at  bed  time  he  thought  he  detected  a  decided  change  for  the  bet- 
ter. Getting  home  late  at  night,  tho  very  tired,  he  sits  up  amor»g  his  books 
aud  journels  for  two  or  three  hours  longer  racking  his  brain  wliile  looking  up 
authorities  with  the  hope  of  finding  something  that  will  shed  new  light  upon 
the  case  to  aid  his  treatment.  After  a  few  hours  of  restless  sleep  he  awakes 
with  first  anxious  thoughts  about  the  patierit.  Taking  an  early  and  hasty 
breakfast  he  is  about  to  harness  his  horse  to  go  and  see  if  any  further  change 
has  taken  place  since  he  was  last  there,  when  a  messenger  from  the  family  of 
the  sick  man  arrives  and  tells  him  he  need  not  go  out  there  again,  as  during 
the  night  they  concluded  to  send  for  Dr.  Pillgarlick,  and  have  placed  the  case 
in  his  hands.  The  man  recovers,  and  the  neighborliood  resounds  with  praises 
of  the  town  Docter  who  at  the  eleventh  hour  snatched  him  from  the  jaws  of 
death.  In  this  hypothetical  instance  the  country  Docter  treated  the  disease 
as  well  and  correctly  as  any  physician  could  have  done,  and  conquered  it;  but 
was  set  aside  just  as  victory  was  in  his  grasp,  and  the  credit  was  given  another 
who  had  given  the  matter  no  study  or  thought.  Such  are  samples  of  a  coun- 
try Doctor's  daily  and  yearly  trials.  If  there  is  a  ray  of  pleasure  or  enjoy- 
ment in  his  professional  life  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  himself  a  country  Doc- 
ter for  fifty-three  years,  has  not  yet  discovered  it.  What  marvel  is  it  then 
that  many  physicians  become  so  weary  and  disgusted  with  the  "noble  science" 
that  they  would  gladly  exchange  it  for  some  other  calling— if  they  could? 

Dr.  Logan  reached  that  stage  by  the  time  he  had  had  a  dozen  years  of  ex- 
perience in  the  iiealing  art.  In  those  years  he  held  sway  over  a  wide  circuit  of 
prairies,  hills  and  hollows  without  immediate  competition.  Dr.  Christy,  eiglit 
miles  away,  being  his  nearest  professional  neighbor.  Hagley,  his  location,  was 
twelve  miles  distant  from  a  county  seat,  and  eight  and  a  half  miles  from  any 
railroad  or  telegraph  station.  His  isolation,  however,  had  many  advantages  as 
well  as  drawbacks.  He  was  free  from  the  annoyance  of  tramps,  and  measur- 
ably free  from  the  ever-iacrea&ing  multitude  of  human  vampyres— the  worth- 


-362- 

less,  dishonest,  loafers  and  deaa  beats— that  in  all  towns  prey  upon  the  Doctor's 
substance.  He  was  in  the  midst  of  a  splendid  country  populated  in  the  main 
by  intelligent,  progressive,  and  prosperous  farmers  who  promptly  paid  him  for 
hisservices.  Then  too,  being  alone  in  his  conflict,  with  diseases,  he  was  thrown 
entirely  upon  his  own  resourses,  which  had  the  effect  of  sharpening  his  faculties 
and  strengthening  his  judgement  and  self-reliance,  thereby  increasing  his  abil- 
ity and  usefulness.  He  was  deservedly  a  popular  physician  and  quite  successful. 
In  his  treatment  of  the  sick  there  was  no  blind,  unreasoning  following  of  med- 
ical authorities;  no  haphazard  guessing  or  random  prescribing;  but  he  tho- 
roughly studied  each  symptom,  tracing  it  to  its  ultimate  cause,  and  to  that 
cause  applied  the  remedy  indicated. 

It  is  human  to  err,  and,  no  doubt,  he  was  sometimes  mistaken;  but  even 
then  he  could  give  a  lucid  rea.son  for  the  course  he  pursued.  Slow  to  adopt 
new  remedies  and  new-fangled  modes  of  treatment,  he  retained  such  as  had 
in  his  hands  stood  the  test  of  experience  by  proving  reliable  and  successful. 
lie  never  administered  to  anyone  a  particle  of  acetanilid,  cocaine  or  chloral 
hydrate.  In  treating  pneumonia  he  depended  almost  entirely  upon  veratrum, 
calomel  and  quinine,  rai'ely  failing  to  conquer  it  in  a  short  time.  lie  was  not 
much  of  a  surgeon,  but  as  an  obstetrician  had  few,  if  any,  superiors  in  the 
county,  and  never  in  his  life  employed  forceps  or  other  mechanical  interfer- 
ence. He  regarded  appendicitis  as  very  seldom  a  surgical  disease,  and  under 
his  treatment  ninety  per  cent,  of  those  i-ases  recovered  without  use  of  the 
knife. 

About  18fi9,  Dr.  Charles  Ilougliton,  a  young  physician,  came  to  Newman- 
ville  yvith  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  practice  of  medicine  there.  Dr, 
Logan,  whose  health  was  then  somewhat  impaired,  and  wlio  was  very  tired 
of  the  everlasting  daily  grind  of  the  practice,  saw,  or  thought  he  saw,  in  this 
professional  accession  a  favorable  opportunity  of  escaping  it  by  changing  his 
occupation  to  that,  of  farming.  To  accomplish  that  object  he  purchased  of 
.lames  Carr,  on  the  8th  of  August,  1870,  one  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
land  in  the  "barrens"  Hve  miles  west  of  Newmanville,  described  as  the  Ni  of 
of  the  N.  W.  i  of  Sec.  26,  and  the  N.  E.  i  of  the  N.  E.  i  of  Sec.  27  of  T.  18  in 
K.  9.  Then  selling  his  village  residence,  business  and  good  will  to  Dr.  Hou. 
ghton  he  moved  to  his  farm  in  the  spring  of  1871,  where,  as  soon  as  practic- 
able, he  began  raking  stalks,  sowing  oats  and  breaking  corn  ground.  That 
bucolic  pastime  contrastad  pleasantly  with  his  years  of  trudging  night  and 
day  to  the  beck  and  call  of  the  public,  and  he  congratulated  himself  upon  his 
emancipation — but  only  for  a  short  time.  His  old  friends  and  patrons  fol- 
lowed him  to  his  pastoral  retreat  when  medical  services  were  needed,  and  he 
could  not  resist  their  appeals  to  go  to  their  assistance.  And  tlius,  before 
long,  his  time  and  attention  were  divided  between  his  efforts  to  manage  his 
farm,  and  visiting  the  sick  for  miles  around.  For  three  years  he  tried  faith- 
fully to  perform  his  dual  obligations— to  the  soil  and  to  the  people— but  finally 
was  convinced  that  it  was  as  diflicult  to  successfully  conduct  two  occupa- 
tions having  no  atlinity  for  each  other,  as  it  is  for  an  ordinary  mortal  to  serve 
any  two  masters  satisfactorily.  The  attempts  he  made  to  do  it  proved  a 
failure,  as  he  was  compelled  to  neglect  either  his  farming  industry  or  his 
medical  practice,  and  often  both.  Neither  returned  adequate  profits,  and 
both  deteriorated.     Instead  of  the  freedom  he  had  expected  to  enjoy  on   the 


-  363  - 

farm  he  was  more  than  ever  enslaved,  and  his  family  deprived  of  many  socia) 
and  educational  advantages. 

Disappointed  and  disgusted  he  sold  his  farm,  on  the  4th  of  Maich,  1874,  to 
Thomas  Middleton,  and  going  bacl<  to  Newmanville  repurchased  his  former 
home  of  Dr.  Hougton,  and  resumed  the  old  business  at  the  old  stand,  but  not 
with  the  professional  snap  and  enthusiasm  of  bygone  days. 

When  a  young  man  at  Beardstown  Dr.  Logan  joined  the  Odd  Feliows  or- 
der; but  lost  interest  in  it  with  tiie  passing  of  time,  and  in  later  life  was  not 
an  active  member  of  the  organization.  Iliscliief  and  higliest  interest  was  in 
tlie  welfare  of  his  family,  and  next  to  that  in  liis  profession  as  tlie  means  of 
assuring  tliat  welfare.  He  was  quite  a  politician  of  the  radical  Republican 
brand;  but  his  activity  in  politics  was  more  a  diversion  than  a  selHsh  or  de- 
signing interest.  Having  no  inclination  whatever  for  public  life,  lie  never 
held  an  office  of  any  kind,  and  would  never  consent  to  be  a  candidate  for  any 
public  position.  Tlio  not  gifted  with  oratory,  he  was  a  readv  and  forcible 
talker,  a  clear  and  logical  reasoner,  and  naturally  fond  of  controversy  and  dis- 
putation— qualities  tliat  would  have  rendered  him  famous  as  a  Campbell ite 
preacher  had  he  been  brouglit  into  the  fold  early  in  life.  Ills  favorite  pastime 
was  tite  discussion  of  political  questions  with  liis  Democratic  friends  about 
the  stores  and  blacksmith  shops,  and  at  stated  meetings  in  the  country  school 
houses.  A  characteristic  of  his  conversation,  as  well  as  his  public  discourses, 
was  a  peculiar  positive  manner  of  expression — even  to  bluntness  at  times — , 
but  in  the  hottest  argument  he  never  lost  his  temper,  i  r  betrayed  the  least 
ill-nature  or  discourtesy. 

Not  a  profound  scholar,  yet,  a  persistent  reader  and  student,  liis  mind  was 
the  repository  of  a  great  fund  of  knowledge  it)  almost  every  field  of  learning. 
Without  talent  for  music,  or  any  pretense  of  abnormal  wit  or  humor,  he  was  a 
jovial,  entertaining  companion,  witii  keen  appreciation  of  ti)e  ludicrous  as  well 
as  of  the  sublime,  and  partial  to  anecdotes  and  jokes  if  not  too  deeply  tainted 
with  vulgarity.  As  to  the  religious  sentiment,  Dr.  Logati  practiced  in  daily 
life  the  virtues  of  justice,  charity,  benevolence,  honesty,  and  all  the  essentiaS 
elements  of  true  religion  Until  late  in  live  his  rational  discrimination  be- 
tween creeds  and  genuine  religion  eliminated  his  faitli  in  tlie  dogmas  of  the 
church.  He  was  an  Agnostic  with  the  most  liberal  tendencies,  subscribing 
with  candid  earnestness  to  the  philosophy  of  Herbert  Spencer  and  the  tlieories 
of  Huxley  and  Haeckel.  He  often  remarked  that  he  never  could  understand 
why  belief  of  the  impossible  and  supernatural  should  be  an  imperative  condi- 
tion for  salvation.  However,  he  never  spoke,  in  terms  of  disrespect  of  tlie 
church,  and  contributed  to  its  support  because  of  its  civilizing  influences. 

Back  again  at  his  old  home  in  Newmanville,  he  at  once  began  work  in  tlie 
same  old  professional  ruts  that  liad  wearied  both  his  .soul  and  body  almost 
passed  endurance  when  he  sought  respite  in  farming.  Not  in  robust  healt  h. 
the  physical  labor  of  his  practice  severely  taxed  his  strength,  and  the  piercing 
northwest  winds  had  no  mercy  upon  him  when  r  ding  across  the  prairies  in 
midwinter.  Then  the  same  problem  of  how  to  mitigate  tlie  rigors  of  his  situ- 
ation by  providing  revenue  from  some  other  source  was  presented  with  added 
force.  A  plausible  solution  of  it  suggested  to  his  mind  was  to  try  merchandis. 
ing  again,  and  avail  himself  of  the  knowledge  of  that  business  he  had  acquired 
when  a  salesman  for  Roney  in    Beardstown.    The  more  lie  thought  of  that 


-364- 

scheme  the  more  feasible  it  appeared  until  he  finally  concluded  to  go  into  it" 
With  George  McGee— generally  known  as  "Bub"  McGee— as  a  partner,  a  store 
room  in  Newmanville  was  secured  and  fitted  up,  a  stock  of  goods  purchased, 
and  the  firm  of  Logan  and  McGee  entered  the  arena  for  public  favor. 

The  store  did  well  enough,  but  it  proved  for  the  Doctor  only  a  repetition 
of  his  farming  enterprise.  His  medical  practice  continuing  as  before  monopo- 
lized his  time  to  the  extent  that  he  could  give  to  the  selling  of  goods  very  lit- 
tle of  his  personal  attention.  McGee  got  tired  of  the  business  and  retired, 
selling  his  interest  in  the  store  to  the  Doctor,  wlio  employed  Rufus  Cowen  to 
manage  it  for  him.  The  Doctor's  health  failing  early  in  1877  compelled  him 
to  abandon  both  his  profession  and  store,  selling  the  latter  to  Wm.  Waring. 
For  nearly  a  year  he  was  an  invalid,  or  semi-invalid,  disabled  from  transact- 
ing business  of  any  kind  requiring  much  mental  or  physical  exertion.  One 
feature— probably  the  main  cause— of  his  malady,  was  a  rare  and  very  painful 
disease  of  one  ear,  originating  in,  or  resulting  from,  necrosis  of  the  bony  canal 
and  chain  of  small  included  bones.  Recovery  was  very  slow,  perhaps  never 
complete;  but  in  course  of  time  he  was  enabled  to  resume  his  old  routine  pro- 
fessional work. 

For  the  next  dozen  years  Dr.  Logan  remained  a  fixture  at  Newmanville, 
making  no  further  effort  to  digress  from  the  sphere  of  a  plain  country  Doc- 
tor. With  the  passing  of  time  streaks  of  silver  gray  appeared  in  his  raven 
hair,  and  the  elastic  step,  and  buoyancy  of  youth  changed  to  the  constrained 
sedateness  of  advancing  age.  His  old  friend,  Dr.  Christy,  had  long  since  left 
Cass  county  to  seek  rest  and  independence,  as  an  agriculturist,  in  Iowa,  but 
his  place,  and  numerous  orlier  places,  were  taken  by  new  Doctors  crowding  in 
on  all  sides.  Dr.  Logan  then  had  closer  competition;  but  known  so  long  and  so 
well  by  the  entire  community  for  miles  around,  and  possessing  so  fully  the 
respect,  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  people,  he  maintained  his  professional 
standing  and  patronage  until  overwhelmed  by  a  crushing  domestic  affliction 
in  1888.  No  man  ever  entertained  more  ardent  alTection  for  his  familv  than 
did  Dr.  Logan.  The  hope  and  pride  of  his  life  were  centered  in  his  children, 
upon  whom  he  lavished  his  tenderest  care,  and  devoted  his  means  with  un- 
stinted liberality.  Of  the  six  born  to  Mrs.  Logan  and  himself,  two— Charles 
C,  and  Agnes — died  when  quite  young.  Emma,  the  third  in  order  of  birth, 
grew  to  be  a  beautiful  girl  of  charming  disposition  and  sparkling  intellect. 
Well  educated,  and  accomplished  she  was  the  favorite  of  all  her  social  circle. 
When  just  blooming  into  .young  womanhood  she  was  attacked  wiMi  measles 
of  M,  virulent  type,  and.  despite  the  most  uin-eiiiitting  care,  and  the  skill  and 
learning  of  sympathetic  ptiysicians  who  came  to  Dr.  Logan's  aid,  she  died  on 
the  U)th  of  April,  1888. 

Her  death  was  a  depressing  shock  to  the  Doctor.  Dejected  and  discour- 
aged, his  usual  cheerfulness  was  changed  to  pensive  meditation  and  serious 
reflection,  denoting  that  he  was  broken  in  spirit  and  disheartened.  He  ac- 
companied his  v\ife  to  church  regularly,  and,  yielding  to  her  persuasion,  and 
other  infiuences  that  were  brought  to  bear  upon  him.  consented  to  become  a 
member  of  her  church. 

Dr.  Logan  was  not  a  conservator  of  wealth.  The  money  he  earned  was 
not  hoarded  or  invested,  but  dispensed  with  free  hand  for  the  comfort  and 
welfare  of  his  family,  the  education  of  his  children,  and    in    promiscuous  gen- 


-  365  - 

erosity  and  hospitality.  Verging  upon  his  allotted  three  score  and  ten  years 
of  life,  and  sensible  of  the  decrepitude  they  wrought,  he  retired  permanently 
from  the  country  practice  of  medicine,  in  1899,  and  moved  from  Newmanville 
to  Ashland.  A  short  time  after  he  was  settled  there  he  was  formally  bap- 
tized by  immersion  and  initiated  into  the  Cimrch  of  Christ  founded  in  1815 
by  Alexander  Campbell. 

In  changing  his  residence  to  Ashland  it  was  not  Dr.  Logan's  intention  to 
abandon  his  profession;  but  to  escape  its  awful  road  and  night  work,  and  do 
an  exclusively  office  business,  for  which  he  prepared  himself.  He  tried  it  for 
awhile,  but  it  did  not  come  up  to  his  expectations.  Tlie  competition  of 
younger  Doctors  was  too  strong  for  one  of  his  advanced  years.  Apart  from 
that,  the  business  was  too  sedentary,  and  entirely  unsuited  to  his  settled 
habits  of  life.  He  was,  in  fact,  tired  of  servile  dependence  upon  the  capri- 
cious public  for  his  subsistence;  and  particularly  weary  of  the  daily  visits  to 
his  office  of  the  same  chronic  dead  beats,  that  infest  every  town,  taxing  his 
time  and  patience  with  the  same  doleful  complaints,  and  he  quit  the  experi- 
ment in  disgust.  In  the  town  of  Boone,  in  Boone  county,  Iowa,  resided  Carl- 
ton Collins  Logan,  an  elder  brother  of  the  Doctor's;  a  wealthy  old  bachelor 
who  owned  extensive  coal  mines  there,  and  had  many  coal  miners  in  his  em- 
ploy. Upon  the  earnest  solicitation  of  tliat  brother  Dr.  Logan  left  his  family 
well  situated  in  Ashland  and  went  to  Boone  in  February,  1891.  There  he  en- 
tered into  an  agreement  to  assume  professional  charge  of  a  specified  number 
of  the  miners  and  tlieir  families  at  a  stipulated  monthly  salary. 

That  arrangement  proved  highly  satisfactory  to  all  parties  interested. 
It  enabled  the  Doctor  to  confine  his  duties  to  regular  hours,  to  escape  ex- 
posure and  country  traveling,  and  above  all,  and  better  than  all  those  ad- 
vantages, it  placed  him  independent  of  the  public  for  employment  and  pay. 
It  afforded  him  leisure  for  rest,  study  and  recreation  while  fully  discharging 
his  obligations  to  the  miners,  who,  justly  regarded  him  as  a  very  superior 
medical  adviser  and  attendant.  His  salary  was  liberal  and  certain,  relieving 
him  entirely  from  financial  bother  and  suspense.  His  new  situation  also  re- 
lieved, in  some  measure,  the  gloom  and  despondency  that  had  recently  so 
seriously  depressed  him;  and  thereby  very  much  improved  his  health.  He  re- 
mained there,  in  that  work,  occasionally  visiting  his  family  and  friends  in 
Cass  county,  Illinois,  passably  contented,  and  holding  his  own  against  the 
insiduous  aggressions  of  time,  until  the  spring  of  1900,  when  his  health  again 
began  to  fail.  He  paid  but  little  attention  to  it  at  first  thinking  the  disor- 
der that  troubled  him  was  simply  nephritis,  and  would  soon  pass  away.  But 
it  grew  worse,  with  more  aggravated  and  serious  symptoms,  and  rapidly  un- 
dermined his  strength.  It  was  evident  tlien  that  his  disease  was  acute 
diabetes.  His  neighbor  physicians  of  the  town  promptly  responded  to  his 
call;  and  his  daughter,  Stella,  hastened  from  Illinois  to  his  bedside,  proving  a 
faithful  and  efficient  nurse.  The  other  members  of  his  family  were  soon  there 
als©,  and  everything  possible  was  done  to  arrest  the  ravages  of  the  remorseless 
malady,  and  mitigate  his  distress.  But  he  had  reached  the  age  limit  that 
marks  exhaustion  of  the  recuperative  powers,  and  steadily  declined  until  ex- 
pended vitality  could  offer  no  further  resistance,  and  he  quietly  breathed  his 
last  on  the  14th  day  of  July,  1900,  at  the  age  of  79  years,  6  months  and  10  days. 

His  body  was  brought  back  to  Cass  county,   where  funeral  services  were 


-366- 

lield  in  Ashland,  then  it  was  taken  to  Newmanville  and  laid  in  the  village 
cemetery  beside  the  remains  of  his  children  who  had  preceded  him.  He  was 
survived  by  Mrs.  Logan,  his  son  Edwin  M.,  and  two  daughters.  Misses  Sally 
and  Stella. 

The  vagaries  of  public  opinion  render  it  impossible  for  anyone  to  enjoy 
universal  approbation  and  popularity.  There  are  invariably  some  in  every 
community  ready  to  asperse  the  character  of  its  best  and  purest  members,— 
in  some  instances  because  of  fancied  wrongs  inflicted;  but  oftener  for  no  other 
reason  than  that  the  persons  assailed  are  far  above  and  superior  to  them- 
selves. In  reference  to  Dr.  Logan,  however,  the  tongue  of  detraction  was 
well  nigh  silent.  Perhaps  no  man  in  Cass  county  occupying  the  social  and 
professional  station  of  Dr.  Logan  enjoyed  more  largely  and  unreservedly  the 
esteem,  respect,  and  sincere  friendship  of  its  people  than  he  did.  There  were 
many  who  disagreed  with  him  on  political,  religious  and  other  questions,  and 
a  few  were  at  times  disposed  to  censure  nim  for  professional  mistakes;  but 
none  bore  him  personal  enmity,  and  all  were  in  accord  in  their  high  estimates 
of  his  spotless  character,  his  integrity,  and  conscientious  honesty. 


LETTER  FROM  HON.  W.  H.  THACKER, 


HON.  J.  N.  Gridley,  Virginia,  Illinois.  Friend  Gridley— Please  accept 
many  thanks  for  historical  sketch  of  Black  Laws  of  Illinois.  To  me  it 
is  very  interesting  and  fills  a  gap  in  the  early  history  of  the  State, 
which  I  have  noted,  but  did  not  think  could  be  filled.  You  are  certainly  en- 
titled to  great  credit  for  the  labor  bestowed  and  simple  and  sytematic  order  in 
which  the  matter  is  presented.  I  presume  that  very  few  of  the  people  of  Illi- 
nois knew  that  but  a  little  while  ago  it  was  in  fact  a  slave  state.  I  remember 
well  the  Collin's  nigger,  as  he  was  called,  and  the  strenuous  trip,  as  Teddy 
would  call  it,  from  Cairo  to  Chicago,  which  owing  to  wrecks,  bad  track  etc.^ 
required  three  days  and  nights.  It  was  generally  understood  by  the  Company 
that  the  negro  was  not  to  go;  but  after  we  had  reached  some  distance  from 
Cairo,  he  cropped  out,  and  then  tlie  fun  commenced  Some  of  the  boys  in 
dead  earnest,  some  took  part  for  pure  cussedness  and  others  ju>t  to  see  the  fun 
goon.  Time  and  again  he  was  pushed,  crowded  or  thrown  from  the  train, 
and  whenever  the  case  became  serious  some  of  the  men  would  notify  the  Lieu- 
tenant, if  he  were  not  on  hand,  and  by  threats,  commands  aud  promises  he 
would  be  permitted  to  climb  back  on  the  train.  The  promises  were  that  he 
should  be  left  in  Chicago.  Collins  and  I  were  seated  together  and  I  saw  the 
whole  thing.  We  ran  very  slowly  frequently  stopping,— so  slowly  that  we 
would  get  of  and  run  along  side  the  train  for  rest  and  recreation,  and  these 
times  were  taken  advantage  of  to  get  rid  of  ttie  "nigger.''  He  was  a  shrewd 
fellow,  however,  and  formed  a  manner  of  resistance  of  his  own.  'I'his  vvas  lo 
always  keep  on  the  front  car,  and  when  thrown  off  to  swing  on  10  the  ne.xt 
coach  as  it  passed,  and  then  work  his  way  to  the  front  again,  to  go  through 
the  same  performance  as  soon  as  we  stopped  or  slowed  up.  I  think  Collins  in- 
tended to  leave  the  negro  in  Cliicago,  but  as  soon  as  discharged  the  men  bioke 
up  into  squads  and  struck  out  for  home,  sometimes  but  one  or  two  together 
and  then  the  darkle  prevailed  on  the  Lieutenant  to  take  him  home.  It  isstrange 
now  that  for  three  days  that  negro  fought  his  way  into  a  land  of  libert,y 
against  the  threats,  curses  and  blows  of  a  large  number  of  men  who  were 
fighting  for  human  rights  under  the  flag  of  freedom.  During  all  that  wrangle 
I  never  heard  the  question  of  law  raised,  and  1  don't  suppose  it  wast  bought  of. 
This  brings  to  mind  an  incident  that  took  place  in  Mason  county  a  few  miles 
from  Bath,  not  far  from  the  same  time..  I  cannot  recall  the  year  although  I 
was  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  at  the  time.  An  old  farm  had  been  for 
sale,  and  one  day  a  well  dressed  negro  somewliat  advanced  in  years,  appeared 
before    the    tenant  and  desired  to  be  shown  over  the  premises,  with  a  view 


-368- 

tX)  purchase.  After  looking  around  he  expressed  himself  as  satisfied  and  went 
away.  In  a  short  time  the  report  was  circulated  that  a  nigger  had  purchased 
the  farm  and  was  expected  on  a  steamer  from  St.  Louis,  and  tlien  a  howl  went 
up.  In  due  time  the  little  steamer  that  plied  between  St.  Louis  and  Peoria, 
unloaded  at  Bath,  this  darkle  and  his  family,  including  household  goods,  farm 
implements  and  a  team.  No  sooner  had  he  landed,  than  he  was  surprised  by 
being  told  that  he  would  not  be  allowed  to  live  on  his  farm.  lie  was  deeply 
distressed  and  felt  much  hurt  that  he  had  not  been  imformed  of  the  fact  be- 
fore he  bought  the  place.  Ileconcluded  to  leave  the  outfit  with  his  family  in 
town  and  go  out  and  see  how  the  matter  stood  before  taking  his  things.  He 
found  a  number  of  men  awaiting  him,  who  informed  him  in  thestrongest  and 
most  expressive  language  that  no  d—d  nigger,  could  live  among  them.  He 
listened  with  calm  dignity  till  they  had  finished  and  then  replied  in  nearly 
the  following  words.  "Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "I  thought  this  was  a  free  state, 
where  colored  people  were  unmolested,  so  1  came  here  and  liked  the  place  and 
bought  this  farm  and  paid  for  it  and  no  one  objected.  I  expected  to  locate 
here,  educate  mv  children,  make  a  home  for  myself  and  family  and  be  a  man 
among  men.  But  I  am  th»  last  one  to  live  in  a  community  where  I  am  not 
wanted  and  where  mob  law  is  tolerated.  I  will  go  back  to  where  I  came  from 
dispose  of  this  place  for  what  I  can  get  and  I  will  trouble  you  no  more— good- 
day."  The  return  steamer  took  him  back.  I  afterward  learned  that  he  was 
a  free  darkle,  and  by  good  business  capacity  had  laid  away  a  nice  sum  of  money 
and  intended  to  locate  in  Mason  county  and  live  the  life  of  a  gentleman 
farmer. 

Hoping  you  will  pardon  me  for  this  long  letter, 

I  remain  your's  very  truly, 

W.  II.  TUACKEII. 


EARLY  VIRGINIA  (ILLINOIS)  HISTORY 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


[Extracts  from  a  copy  of  the  Illinois  Observer  of  date  April  13,  IS 40,  then 
published  by  A.  S.  Tilden.] 

ILLINOIS  Observer  is  publislied  every  Friday   morning   by   A.   S.   Tilden 
Office  on  the  south  side  of  the  lower  public  square,  Virginia,   Illinois. 
Terms:    Single  copy  will  be  sent  one  year  for  $1  50  if  paid  in  advance- 
.$2  witiiin  the  year;  $2.50  where  payment   is  delayed  till   after  the  end  of 
the  year. 

All  letter's  on  business  should  be  addressed  to  the  publisiier  and  postpaid 
otherwise  they  may  not  be  attended  to. 

Religious  Notice.  We  are  authorized  to  state,  that  the  Rev.  Phillip  Con- 
Ian,  of  the  Catholic  church,  will  meet  his  congregation  in  Virginia  onSuiiday-i 
the  15th  of  April. 

Close  of  the  First  Volume.  With  this  number  the  tirst  volume  of  this 
paper  closes.  As  an  experiment  it  has  succeeded  beyond  our  most  sanguine 
expectations.  It  has  met  with  no  embaiassmenr,  no  difficulties,  in  human 
control  although  its  circulation  has  been  ciicumscril)ed  to  a  smaller  space  of 
territory  tiian  falls  to  the  lot  of  newspapers  generally.  We  close  the  first 
year  of  its  existence,  with  a  lively  regard  for  its  patrons  and  the  community 
in  which  it  is  located. 

When  we  came  to  Virginia,  a  year  ago,  to  take  the  management  of  the 
Observer,  we  did  not  contemplate  becoming  its  publisiier;  but  circumstances 
unnecessary  to  repeat  here  required  us  to  take  that  responsibility  and  risk 
and  the  kindness  extended  to  us  by  membersof  both  political  parties,  during 
the  warm,  and  even  heated  contest  of  last  summer  has  never  caused  us  to  re- 
gret that  act. 

We  are  urged  to  continue  the  Observer.  This  we  shall  do  provided  the 
paper  meets  with  the  same  support  from  the  community,  for  the  coming  vol- 
ume.    In  that  case  we  shall  endeavor  to  present  its  patrons  an  enlarged  sheet. 

We  shall  now  proceed  to  a  full  and  final  settlement  with  all  tlie  subscrib- 
ers for  the  past  volume.  This  will  occupy  our  time  for  tiie  next  four  weeks, 
during  which  time  the  paper  will  be  suspended. 

The  Second  Volume.  No  paper  will  be  sent  to  any  person  for  the  2nd 
volume  without  they  desire  to  renew  their  subscription:  Therefore  all  per- 
sons wishing  to  aid  in  the  permanent  establishment  of  this  paper  in  Virginia 
are  requested  to  notify  us  of  their  desire  to  continue,  otherwise  their  names 
will  not  be  entered  upon  our  subscription  book  for  the  second  volume.  Our 
friends  witiiout  distinction  are  requested  to  receive  subscribers  for  us.  and 
hand  in  the  names  as  early  as  the  first  of  May. 


-370- 

And,  finally,  we  say  to  all,  that  the  continuance  of  the  Observer  rests 
with  the  public.  Do  they  wish  it  continuedV--then  subscribe  for  the  2nd 
volume.  It  will  be  recollected  that  we  are  now  upon  the  j^round,  ready  to 
proceed  at  a  day's  notice— all  we  wish  to  l<now  is  that  the  business  of  the 
ollice  will  warrant  us  in  proceeding  with  the  paper— that  knowledge  gained, 
and  it  will  be  published. 

We  have  appointed  Watson  R.  Richardson,  our  general  agent,  to  assist 
us  HI  closing  the  accounts  of  this  office,  with  subscribers  for  the  first  volume 
of  this  paper. 

In  our  absence  from  the  printing  office,  Mr-  Wallace  our  compositor,  is 
authorized  to  receipt  our  bills,  and  to  receive  renewals  of  subscriptions  to 
the  second  volume. 

Tiie  V  irginia  (Jhoir  will  met  next  Thursday  evening  at  tne  school  room  at 
h  past  seven  o'clock. 

'  Thos.  Eyre's  Wagon,  Iron  and  Blacksmith  Shop.  We  paid  a  visit  for  the 
first  time,  last  week  to  the  workshop  of  Thos.  Eyre,  Esq.,  in  Fieardstown,  and 
from  the  nuiet  bearing  and  demeanor  of  our  fiiend  Eyre,  never  supposed  that 
hevvas  carrying  on  one  oi^he  largest  establishments  of  this  kind  in  this  sec- 
tion of  country.  Yet  sucn  is  the  case:  and  within  the  hist  six  weeks  he 
has  turned  out  complete  six  wagons  for  {California  emigrants,  which  combin- 
ing strenght  and  lightness,  will  compare  advantageously  with  any  work  of  the 
kind.  In  all  the  departments  of  his  business  he  employs  14  hands.  His  im- 
proved Diamond  Plough  has  won  for  itself  the  favor  of  our  farmers  generally. 
In  fact,  such  has  been  the  demand  during  the  last  season  that  he  has  dis- 
charged from  his  shop  200  ploughs  of  this  pattern. 

We  recommend  this  shop  to  any  citizen  who  wants  a  plough,  acarriage,  or 
a  wagon,  for  tiiere  his  worK  can  be  done  (juickly  and  readily,  and  with  an  know- 
ledge that  it  will  do  him  good  service. 

By  letter  lately  received  we  understand  that  Dr.  Schooley  and  party  ar- 
rived at  New  Orleans  on  the  10  of  last  month.  Mr.  .loseph  Costner  had  been 
quite  sick  during  the  whole  trip  down,  but  was  recovering:  all  the  other 
members  of  this  party  were  well.  They  had  not  determined  at  that  date  which 
of  the  southern  routes  they  would  finally  take  to  California— througii  Mexico 
or  by  tlie  way  of  Chagres. 

Sudden  death — Mrs.  Powell,  wife  of  George  Powell  died  very  suddenly 
yesterday.  She  rose  in  the  morning  well,  and  pursued  lier  I'egular  domestic 
duties  for  several  hours,  when  she  was  attacked  with  a  fit  of  appoplexy  and 
fell  dead.     Verily,  "in  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death.'' 

The  Cholera  is  making  its  appearance  in  all  parts  of  our  state,  and  it  be- 
hooves our  citizens  to  prepare  for  its  approach.  We  call  attention  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Virginia  to  the  several  nuisances  lying  about  the  streets  and  about 
town:  we  refer  to  the  dead  animals,  particularly  in  the  southwest  part  of  town. 
I  know  of  no  reason  why  the  people  of  this  town  should  be  visited  by  tlie  cho- 
era.  unless  from  abominable  carelessness  in  permitting  dead  horses  to  remain 
in  the  street  until  their  weight  is  lightened  by  the  visitation  of  sundry  buz- 
zards, crows,  dogs  etc. 


-  371  - 

Capt.  De  Vittney  has  entered  upon  the  Illinois  river  trade  this  season  in 
command  of  the  steamer,  Ocean  Wave,  one  of  the  finest  class  of  boats.  De- 
Vinney  is  a  fine  fellov^',  a  careful  and  accommodating  commander.  Rather 
than  take  passage  on  another  boat,  we  would  wait  a  week.  His  boat  arrives 
at  Beardstown  every  Friday  on  the  down  trip  and  Tuesday  on  the  up. 

For  the  Observer.  Mr.  Editor:— It  appears  by  the  last  number  of  the 
Morgan  Journal,  that  the  attention  of  its  readers  is  called  to 
the  consideration  of  a  subject  whicli  it  would  be  well  for  editors  of 
newspapers,  generally,  to  notice;  I  refer  to  the  "existing  wants  of  a  portion 
of  our  citizens  living  in  the  Illinois  Bottom,"  which  have  been  occasioned  by 
the  late  disastrous  freshet.  Some  measures  ought  certainly  to  be  immediate- 
ly adopted  to  make  good  to,  at  least,  the  poorer  portion  of  them,  what  they 
have  lost  by  the  late  inundation.  There  are,  unquestionably,  many  persons 
having  located  themselves  in  that  section  foe  its  convenience  to  market,  to- 
gether with  other  local  considerations,  some  having  paid  in  whole,  others  in 
part,  for  their  lands,  who  are  actually  made  poor  in  consequence  of  the  late 
high  waters.  Now,  sir,  can  the  people  in  comfortable  circumstances,  look  on, 
and  behold^these  losses  and  in  some  cases  sufferings  of  their  poor ''bretheren 
and  kinsmen,''^  and  "pass  by  on  the  other  sine,"  unmoved  to  action  for 
their  relief?  Shall  "the  plaintive  cry  of  want  from  distant  lands"'  excite  our 
sympathies  and  their  poor  be  the  recipients  of  our  charities;  and  can  we 
withhold  from  our  own  neifif/ibors  that  relief  which  it  Is  in  our  power  to  ex- 
tend, and  which  their  condition  most  emphatically  demands?  Upon  the  for- 
eigners we  not  only  bestow  our  favors  from  our  own  apprehen!?ion  of  tlieir 
wants,  but  we  furthermore  give  of  our  means  for  tiie  employment  of  talents 
and  eloquence  to  plead  their  cause,  to  augment  their  claims  upon  our  benevo- 
lences, whilst  we  seem  to  forget  amidst  our  opulence  and  wealth,  that  perad- 
venture  we  may  have  objects  of  ciiarity  among  our  own  rapidly  increasing 
population. 

While  we  are  to  practice  upon  the  Apostle's  injunction  to  "do  good  unto 
men,"  as  far; as  we  may,  we  are  at  the  same  time,  not  to  forget  the  truth  of  our 
greater  TBAcnER's  words— "The  poor  ye  have  always  with  you." 

This,  Mr.  Editor,  is  a  subject  upon  which  there  is  room  for  enlargement, 
and  one  upon  which  I  trust,  some  action  that  may  prove  efficient,  will  be 
taken  without  delay.  Let  us  be  ambitious  to  outdo  our  neighbors  of  Morgan 
in  this  laudable  undertaking.  But  I  will  not  further  impose  upon  your 
columns.  Respectfully, 

Virginia,  April  12,  1849.  Benevolence. 

Our  readers,  will  of  course,  pardon  our  want  of  news  this  week,  as  a  good 
deal  of  the  space  of  our  paper  is  occupied  upon  the  business  of  the  paper. 
This  must  occur  once  a  year. 

The  recent  freshet  has  drowned  out  the  muskrats  from  their  homes.  We 
learn  of  a  party  killing  three  thousand  along  the  canal,  during  the  first  two 
days  of  last  week— Joliet  Signal. 

Penn  Division  No.  78,  Sons  of  Temperance,  meet  every  Wednesday  even, 
ing  at  half  past  seven  o'clock.— D.  Blair,  R.  S. 

P.  L.  Phillips  M.  D.  Practitioner  of  Medicine,  in  all  its  branches.  OtJice 
next  door  to  the  Postoffice,  Virginia. 


*  -372- 

Drs.  Allard  &  Phillips.  Dealers  in  Drugs,  Medicines,  Paints,  Oils,  Dye 
Stuffs,  Brandy,  Wine,  etc.  All  fresh,  and  of  the  best  quality.  Various  kinds 
of  Patent  Medicines  al.so  will  be  kept  on  hand  for  the  accommodation  of 
customers. 

Prices  reduced.  Call  and  see  at  their  Drug  Store,  West  side  of  the 
Square,  upper  Virginia.     April  13,  1849. 

The  subscriber  will  pay  the  liighest  price  in  cash  for  fat  cattle,  calves  and 
sheep  delivered  at  his  slaughter  pen  in  Virginia.     April  ^3.        David  Finney. 

..         Sugar  and  coffee  can  be  had  low  at  Walihan  &  Co. 

Chair  Factouy.  The  subscriber  has  opened  a  shop  in  Virginia,  two  doors 
from  N.  B.  Thompson's  store,  where  he  intends  to  keep  on  hand  a  general 
a,ssortmetit  of  fancy  and  common  chairs  of  all  kinds  which  for  neatness  and 
durability  cannot  be  surpassed,  as  he  intends  to  tinish  them  in  the  latest 
eastern  style.— Kenneth  A.  Conover. 

Virginia  Mills.  Are  now  in  operation,  and  we  are  prepared  to  grind 
wheat  and  corn  on  accommodating  terms.  Flour  and  meal  constantly  on 
hand.  Sawing  done  for  62|  cents  per  hundred  cash,  or  one  half  of  the  lumber 
to  be  retained.  600  cords  of  oak  and  hickory  wood  wanted,  between  this  and 
the  first  of  May  next.  Also  wanted  a  young  man  of  temperate  and  industri- 
ous habits  to  learn  the  milling  business.— Beers  &  Newman. 

Law  Partnership.  Delahay  &  Hopkins  have  associated  themselves  to- 
gether in  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  will  give  their  joint  attention  to  all 
business  that  may  be  entrusted  to  their  charge  in  the  first  judicial  circuit. 
Particular  attention  will  be  given  to  the  collection  of  debts.  M.  W.  Delahay. 
Virginia,  Nov.  17,  1848.  R.    D.   Hopkins. 

Tailoring.  Charles  Boyd  tenders  his  thanks  to  the  public  for  the  liberal 
patronage  bestowed  upon  him  in  the  line  of  his  trade.  By  a  close  application 
to  his  business  expects  to  merit  a  continuation  of  the  public  patronage.  He 
keeps  his  shop  at  his  residence,  as  usual,  where  he  will  be  pleased  to  serve 
his  customers  with  despatch  and  in  the  most  modern  and   fashionable  style. 

Latest  fashions  on  hand  and  constantly  received. 

Wanted:  feathers,  beeswax,  butter,  hides,  eggs,  tallow,  etc.,  the  liigh- 
est.market  price  in  exchange  for  goods  at  Irwin's 

Brick  for  Sale.  1  have  just  burnt  a  good  lot  of  brick  which  1  will  sell  on 
reasonable  terms  for  cash.    G.  W.  Harris,  Virginia,  III.,  Nov.  17.  1S4S. 

Land  for  sale  and  to  rent.  The  Wi  SE^  Sec.  4:  the  W-i  of  SWi  Sec.  5; 
the  W.^  NEi  Sec.  8;  the  NWi  of  NWi  Sec.  8  Tp.  18,  Range  !»,  can  be  purchased 
on  very  favorable  terms.  It  is  all  timbered  land.  Also  40  acres  near  Vir- 
ginia to  rent.     For  particulars  enquire  of  R.  S.  Thomas. 

The  co-partnership  heretofore  existing  between  Nelson  B.  Beers  &  M.  H. 
L.  Schooley  in  the  Virginia  Steam  Mills  was  this  day  dissolved  by  mutual 
consent.  N.  B.  Beers 

Virginia,  January  20,  1849.  M.  H.  L.  Schooley. 

The  subscriber  is  prepared  to  make,  mend  and  patch  the  boots,  shoes  and 
slippers  of  the  citizens  of  Virginia  and  vicinity  at  his  residence  on  the  lower 


-  373  - 

public  square. 

Wanted.  A  journeyman  shoemaker,  will  tind  emyloyment  upon  applica- 
tion as  above.  L.  B.  Griffith 

N.  B.  Thompson,  Virginia.  Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  hardware, 
queensware,  boots,  shoes,  hats,  caps,  leghorn  and  straw  bonnets.  No.  1 
Southwest  corner  public  square,  Virginia,  Cass  Co.,  111. 

School  Books  all  kinds  for  sale  by  N.  B.  T. 

10  cases  boots  and  shoes  just  received  for  sale  by  N.  B.  T. 

Salt,  bacon,  lard,  butter,  flour,  corn  meal,  mackerel,  cod  tish  and  fresh 
oysters.     N.  B.  T. 

Kanawha  salt,  sugar,  coffee,  pure  wines,  cognac     N.  B.  T. 

Queensware  20  .setts  46  pieces  each,  blue  flown,  rough  and  ready,  forget- 
me-not  and  Liverpool  blue  and  red.  100  setts  common  tea  cups  and  saucers 
at  20  cents  per  sett— all  others  in  proportion.     N.  B.  T. 

Wanted.  In  exchange  for  Goods.  Wheat.  Pork,  Corn,  Lard,  Butter, 
Tallow,  Feathers.  Wools,  young  steers,  stock  hogs,  dry  and  green  hides,  all 
kinds  of  Furs,  County  orders,  Auditor's  Warrants  and  cash  not  refused. 

N.  B  Thompson 

10  boxes  candles  and  Palm  soap  for  sale  by  N.  B.  T. 

10  barrels  old  Cincinnati  Whiskey  just  received  by  steam  boat  Prairie 
Bird,  for  sale  by  N.  B.  Thompson. 

10  tons  common  bar,  square,  round  slab,  hoop  and  bar  iron  just  received 
and  for  sale  by  N.  B.  T. 

New  Arrival  at  Oliver's  of  new  goods  which  will  be  sold  cheaper  than  the 
cheapest  call  and  see  for  yourselves.  Blue  and  black  French  cloth:  blue  and 
black  English  cloth;  superfine  beaver  for  overcoats;  fancy  plaid  and  stripe 
cassimeres;  blue,  black,  and  fancy  sattinettos;  Mexican  cassimeres;  sheep's 
grey  do;  blue,  drab  and  grey  blankets,  a  superior  article  for  overcoats;  tweeds, 
plaid  and  colored  linsey;  angola  flannels,  red,  yellow,  and  spot  flannels;  scarlet 
and  white  wrappers;  blue,  bhck  and  gold  mixed  jeans;  striped  and  plairk 
alpacas,  and  a  superior  article  of  Mohan  plaids  and  Frencli  ginghams;  cash- 
mere and  calicoes  at  all  prices,  some  at  6i  cents  per  yard;  plaid  and  mode 
shawls;  bishop  lawn,  India  books;  jaconets  and  camlins,  a  good  assortment; 
manillas;  skirts,  shimisettes,  cloak  linings,  winter  hoods,  kid  gloves,  buck 
mitts  and  gloves,  Irish  linens,  Russia  diapei-s,  silk  and  cotton  handkerchiefs, 
thread  run  laces,  black  and  fang  cravats,  rich  bonnet  ribbons,  4-4  brown 
Nashua  cottons,  4-4  do  Indian  heads;  2  2  Osnaburgh;  Texas  drillings  and  a 
full  assortment  of  black  and  brown  muslins  at  prices  that  cannot  be  beat;  a 
full  assortment  of  hardware,  queensware,  boots  and  shoes,  hats  and  caps, 
tin  ware,  etc. 

Produce  will  be  taken  in  exchange  for  goods  at  market  prices.  Drop  in 
at  our  store  ladies  and  gentlemen  and  I  will  take  pleasure  in  convincing  you 
that  while  it  is  no  trouble  to  show  my  goods,  that  I  will  sell  as  cheap  as  the 
cheapest  and  perhaps  a  little  cheaper.    C.H.Oliver    Virginia,  Oct.  1848. 

Dissolution.  The  co-partnership  heretofore  existing  between  Walihan  & 
Co.,  and  N.  B.  Newman  is  dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  All  notes  and  ac- 
counts due  the  Arm  will  be  settled  by  Wallihan  &  Co. 

All  persons  having  unsettled  accounts  are  requested  to  call  and  close  them 


-374- 

for  convenience  of  parties.  Walihan  &  Co. 

N.  B.  Newman. 

A  list  of  Letters  remaining  in  the  Postoffice  at  Virginia  on  the  31st  day  of 
March,  1849,  and  if  not  taken  out  before  tiie  last  day  of  June,  they  will  be 
sent  to  the  general  post  office  as  dead  letters. 

Bacon,  Sharlotta;  Britt,  Albert;  Brown,  James;  Berges,  Richard;  Brid, 
W.,  H.;  Bridgewater  John;  Boston,  Anthony;  Cone,  Remick,  Clark,  F.,  J.; 
Dunbar,  Sarah,  Mrs.;  Dirreen,  Edward;  Elder,  Alfred;  Hardin,  Martin; 
Holtzman,  Wm-;  Henry,  McIIenry:  Layton,  Robert:  McClure.  Jos.,  W.;  Mc- 
Donough,  Jas.;  Nix,  William;  Nance,  O.  B.;  Nance,  Joseph;  Outten.  L.  M; 
Rigiit,  Cyrus;  Redman,  Margaret;  Redman,  Daniel:  Redman,  Francis;  Scott, 
M.,  M.:  Street,  H.,  A.,  Miss;  Woods,  H.,  A.;  Wittlinger,  Michael;  Willis, 
Lafjiyette;  Woods,  Adam,  Mrs.  John  J.  Mosely  P.  M. 

The  next  term  of  tiie  Virginia  School  of  (xrades  will  commence  on   Mon- 
day, April  9th  under  the  superintendence  of  J.  Loomis. 
The  terms  of  tuition  will  be  as  heretofore  advertised. 
Board  may  be  had  for  .¥1.25  to  $1.50  per  week.  Wra.  Armstrong. 

Wm.  Naylor. 
M.  H.  L.  Schooley. 
Virginia,  March  2(ith,  18-19.  Directors. 

Lumber  for  Sale.  10,000  feet,  1  inch,  1.^  inch  and  2  inch  superior  Pine 
Lumber. 

4000  dressed  Oak  weather  boarding,  3000  undressed  do. 

Also  a  large  lot  of  building  timber,  scantling  flooring  and  fencing  plank 
cheap  by  H.  H.  and  .).  P.   Hail.  Virginia,  Cass  Co.     March  23,  1849. 

Wool  Exchange.  The  subscribers  respectfully  inform  the  inhabitants  of 
Cass  and  the  adjoining  counties,  that  they  have  an  assortment  of  Woolen 
Cloths,  consisting  of  blankets,  plain  cloths,  cassimeres,  satinets,  plain  and 
dressed  flannels,  which  they  will  exchange  for  wool.  The  cloths  are  their  own 
maiuifacture,  and  wishing  to  excliange  will  do  well  to  call  on  them,  at  Wil- 
liam Stevenson,  North  Prairie.  4  miles  south  of  Virginia,  111. 
April  2.  Bliss,  Pool  &  Weston. 

R.  S.  Lord,  Physician  and  Surgeon,  Virginia,  (]ass  Co.,  111.  Residence,  the 
one  formerly  occupied  by  Dr.  Schooley. 

John  B.  Taylor  (late  Bas,sett  and  Taylor)  Commission  and  Forwarding 
merchant,  Beardstown,  111.,  Will  advance  on  freights,  receive,  store  and  for- 
ward all  kinds  of  goods  and  grain,  on  terms  to  suit  every  and  all  persons  who 
may  honor  him  with  their  business 

Great  care  taken  to  forward  all  goods  and  produce  in  tirst  rate  order. 

C.  H.  Oliver,  Virginia,  111  ,  Dealer  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  hardware, 
(lueensware,  boots  and  shoes,  etc  ,  on  the  west  side  of  the  lower  public  square. 

Irwin's  Philadelphia  Store  opposite  Armstrong's  Hotel  Upper  Virginia. 
Receives  his  goods  direct  from  Philadelphia,  and  will  give  as  good  bargians  as 
can  be  found  in  any  part  of  the  State  Also,  all  kinds  of  produce  wanted  and 
the  highest  price  given  at  Irwin's. 


-  375  - 

Wanted  1000  cords  of  wood  for  which  the  hig-hest  price  will  be  g-iven  at 
Irwin's. 

Corn  Wanted.  10,000  bushels  of  corn  at  15  cents  per  bushel  wanted  in  ex- 
change for  goods  at  cash  prices  by  Irwin  at  the  Philadelphia  Store. 

Carriage  and  Wagon  Manufactory.  The  subscriber  respectfully  informs 
the  public,  that  he  has,  at  a  large  additional  expense  prepared  himself  to  in- 
crease his  business  in  the  manufactory  of  wagons  and  carriages,  and  is  in  the 
possession  of  materials,  workmen  and  all  the  necessary  facilities  to  furnish  at 
the  shortest  notice  carriages,  buggys  and  wagons,  of  every  size  and  quality  at 
as  low  prices  as  the  same  kind  of  articles  can  be  procured  in  the  country. 

Repairing  in  all  its  various  branches  done  with  neatness  and  despatch  at, 
his  old  stand  opposite  the  upper  steam  mill,  Beardstown.  Tho.  Eyre. 

Dr.  A.  W.  French  Surgeon  Springfield  111.,  office  opposite  the  State  Regis- 
ter office. 

Refer  to  M.  W.  Delehay,  ESq.,  R:  S  Thomas,  Esq.,  M.  H.  L.  Schooley,  M. 
D. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

NUMBER  SIX. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRTDLEY. 
TKe  A.dani  Price  Graveyard. 

THIS  burial  place  is  situated  upon  the  Southwest  quarter  of  the  South- 
west quarter  of  Section  21,  Tp.  17,  R.  10  on  the  west  side  of  the  Vir- 
ginia and  Jacksonville  road.  As  stated  in  the  second  of  these  grave- 
yard sketches  in  tliis  volume,  a  church  was  built  at  this  location  about  1850 
by  Mr.  Yaple,  the  father  of  Matt  Yaple,  Esq.,  of  this  city.  The  burial  of  the 
dead  of  that  vicinity  at  tliis  place'  was  begun  long  before  that  time.  As  before 
described  the  church  was  demolished  in  tlie  summer  of  1900 — the  fence 
about  the  burial  ground  has  fallen  in;  brush  and  weeds  have  made  of  it  a  re- 
pulsive and  unsiglitly  place.  Some  of  the  descendants  of  the  dead  there 
buried,  have  already  begun  the  work  of  the  removal  of  the  remains  to  Wal- 
nut Ridge  cemetery.  Mr.  William  T.  Price  has  just  purchased  a  lot  in  that 
cemetery  to  which  he  proposes  to  remove  the  remains  of  his  parents  and  other 
friends.  'I'he  body  of  the  Rev.  Jeremiah  Mitchell  lies  out  there,  the  stone 
at  his  head  nearly  prostrate;  liis  grave  covered  vvitli  poison  vines.  Mr.  Mitch- 
ell was  a  faithful  preacher;  a  most  excellent  man:  it  is  hoped  that  his  child- 
ren will  see  to  it,  that  what  remains  of  his  mortal  body  be  transfered  to  a 
suitable  burial  ground.  The  neglected  grave  of  the  Rev.  Eleazar  Griflln  is  in 
this  Price  ground;  he  will  be  remembered  as  the  superintendent  of  the  Vir- 
ginia public  scliools  in  lS(i7  and  1868:  he  was  a  good  and  useful  man. 

To  illustrate  the  slip  shod  happy-tro-lucky  methods  of  the  oarly  days  it  is 
only  necessary  to  recite  the  history  of  this  gravcyani.  Miss  Anna  Thompson, 
a  daughter  of  the  old  pioneer  liichard  Davis  Thompson,  was  born  and  reared 
within  a  mile  or  two  of  t  he  Adam  Price  yrave\aid.  She  attended  religious 
services  in  the  little  ciiurcli  there,  during  the  days  of  her  childhood.  She 
distinctly  rememl^ers  a  plat  of  the  bur.\ing  ground,  that  hung  on  the  walls  of 
tlie  cMurch  showing  the  division  of  the  tract  into  burial  lots,  with  the  names 
of  t  he  owners  marked  tliereon.  jhe  is  certain  tliat  these  lots  were  bought  and 
paid  for.  She  says  the  northwest  corner  was  reserved,  or  .set  apart  for  the 
burial  of  those  whose  friends  were  too  poor  to  pay  for  lots.  Here  was  buried 
the  body  of  a  man  found  rlead  or  dyin^  by  the  roadsid*^  ncaiby,  and  here  was 
buried  the  body  of  a  Mrs.  Mick  wlio  was  bin-ned  to  deatli  in  the  log  house  of 
her  uncle  Bradley  Thompson  when  Miss  Arnia  was  a  very  young  girl.  If  any 
deeds  were  executed,  as  slie  believes,  no  trace  of  any  of  tliem  can  be  found: 
no  conveyance  of  the  tract  by  Mr  Adam  i^rice  is  to  be  found  of  record.  And 
now  this  God's  half  acre  is  exposed  to  the  trampling  of  cattle— neglected,  an 
eye-sore  to  the  passer-by  and  a  disgrace  to  a  civilized  community. 

Tlie  oldest  recorded  death  in  this  burial  ytourid    is   tliat   of   Elizabeth   F. 


-  377  - 

daughter  of  Adam  and  Susannah  Price,  who  died  July  15,  1834,  aged  one 
month  and  ten  days.    The  others  here  follow: 

Julia  Ann,  wife  of  J.  W.  Smith,  died  July  11,  1864,  in  the  29th  year  of  her 
age. 

Nancy,  wife  of  Jacob  Yaple,  died  May  21,  18()2,  aged  66  years,  2  months, 
21  days. 

Jacob  Yaple,  died  Nov.  21.  1874,  aged  80  years,  .3  months  and  2  days. 

Infant  daughter  of  J.   H.   and   Mary   Bates  died   May  20th,   1861;  aged 

1  month,  21  days. 

Jeremiah  Mitchell  died  May  1,  1864,  aged  51  years,  9  months,  14  days. 

John  E.,  infant  son  of  W.  J.  and  E.  Wilson,  died  July  6,  1872,  aged 
4  months. 

Infant  daughter  of  A.  and  S.  Price,  died  July  15,   18.35,   aged  one  month. 

Infant  son  of  A.  and  S.  Price,  died  Sept.  30,  1838,  aged  one  month. 

Adam  Price,  died  Feb.  1,  1875,  aged  71  years.  5  months,  28  days. 

Susan,  wife  of  Adam  Price,  died  Sept.  27,  1880,  aged  67  years,  8  months 
and  26  days. 

Julia  A.,  wife  of  M.  Yaple,  died  April  28,  1863,  aged  26  years,  3  months, 
12  days. 

Margaret,  wife  of  J.  Eador  died  Dec.  5.  1865,  aged,  64  years. 

Jacob  Eador  died  Sept,  28,  187.3,  aged  79  years,  8  months,  24  days. 

Elizabeth  N.  Eador  died,  May  1,  1878,  aged  44  years,  5  months,  22 days. 

Horace  W.,  son  of  E.  and  S.  Griffin,  died  Aug.  9,  1865,  aged  8  years,  4 
months  and  24  days. 

Frank,  son  of  E.  and  S.  Griffin,  died  January  1,  1869,  aged  1  year,  5  months 
and  10  days. 

Eleazar  Griffin  died  June  16,  1878,  aged  49  years,  8  months,  18  days. 

Agnes  R.,  daughter  of  E.  and  S.  Griffin  died  May  18,  1883,  aged  23  years,  5 
months,  19  days. 

Note.    This  young  woman  was  killed  in  the  Literberry  cyclone. 

Graph,  son  of  E.  and  S.  Griffin,  died  May  28,  1883,  aged  8  years,  6  months, 
26  days. 

William,  son  of  J.  W.  and  M.  Price,  died  January  18.  1867,  aged  3  years,  8 
months,  3  days. 

John  H.,  son  of  E.  and  B.  Hillman,  died  April  29,  1859,  aged  (i  years,  3 
months,  25  days. 

Lydia  A.,  daughter  ofJF.  and  R.  Hillman,  died  Feb.  5, 1859,  aged  4  years, 
9  months. 

Matilda  Jane,  wife  of  Thomas  S.  Moore,  died  Apr.  17,  1881,  aged  .35  years, 

2  months,  14  days. 

M.  S.  Thompson  born  Nov.  14,  1850,  died  October  12,  1881,  aged  31  years,  2 
months  and  2  days. 

Mary,  wife  of  John  Lacey,  died  March  14,  1857,  aged  44  years. 

Nancy,  wife  of  J.  Lacey,  died  March  19,  1872,  aged  56  years,  11  months,  20 
days. 

Charles  Marshall  died  Dec.  29,  18.59,  aged  40  years,  4  months,  10  days. 

James  Marshall,  Sr.,  died  October  3,  1842,  aged  65  years,  9  months,  3  days. 

Margaret,  wife  of  Peter  G.  Redding,  died  June  3,  1845,  aged  37  years. 

Maria,  wife  of  J.  H.  Ross,  died  July  15,  1854,  aged  ,37  years,  12  days. 


-378- 

W.  D.  McKinney,  Co.  I.,  11th  Mo.  Infantry. 

Martha  J.,  daughter  of  J.  and  McKinney,  died  April  5,  185G,  aged  6  years 
10  days. 

Edward  W.  son  of  L.  W.  and  E.  M.  Murphy,  died  Oct.  6,  1875,  aged  23, 
years,  0  months,  22  days. 

Note.    This  young  man  was  a  stepson  of  Jacob  Eador. 

Jacob  M.,  son  of  H.  and  A.  C.  Carper,  died  March  7,  1859,  aged  3  years,  5 
months. 

James  S.  Carper  died  Dec  22,  1855,  aged  27  years,  5  months,  11  days. 

Our  infant  daughter,  J.  B.  and  M.  A.  Tiiorapson. 

Benjamin,  son  of  J.  B.  and  B.  E.  Thompson,  died  March  28,  1865,  aged  17 
years,  6  months. 

LidaAnn,  daughter  of  J.  B.  and  M  A.Thompson,  died  Nov.  14,  1871,  aged 
7  years,  8  months,  16  days. 

Clara  L.,  daughter  of  J.  and  Anna  M.  Bunce,  died  Dec.  9,  1872,  aged  18 
years,  11  months. 

Note.    This  woman  was  burned  to  death  in  Virginia,  111. 

In  addition  to  the  above  chere  are  many  graves  in  this  yard  that  have  no 
stones  to  indicate  the  persons  tlierein  buried:  among  these  is  the  grave  of 
Mrs.  Sarah  Yaple,  the  first  wife  of  .lolin  Yaple;  this  woman  was  the  daughter 
of  Hern-y  Price,  who  was  a  orother  of  Adam  Price;  she  was  a  splendid  woman; 
she  left  a  nice  property  at  tier  death:  her  husband,  John  Yaple  lies  buried  in 
Walnut  RidgeCemetery;  a  costly  and  beautiful  monument  marks  his  last 
resting  place;  his  wife  lies  in  the  Adam  Price  burial  ground:  her  grave  neg- 
lected and  unmarked. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

Number  Seven. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 
THe  Cauby  Graveyard. 

THIS  burial  place  is  located  upon  the  SWf  of  the  NEJ  of  Sec  30,  Tp.  18, 
Range  10  and  lies  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Union  schoolhouse  in 
the  John  Brech  neighborliood.  The  land  was  entered  in  1828  by 
Henry  Trauber  and  by  him  conveyed  to  Joseph  Cauby,  Januaay  7,  1833.  It  is 
now  owned  by  Mr.  William  Wubker.  It  is  a  small  plat  thickly  covered  with 
bushes,  trees  and  weeds.  Mr.  Wubker  keeps  a  fence  around  it,  which  is  cer- 
tainly all  that  ought  to  be  expected  of  him  as  his  deceased  friends  have  been 
removed  therefrom,  the  family  luiving  purchased  a  lot  in  Walnut  Ridge  Cem- 
etery. This  spot  presents  a  very  sad  and  neglected  appearance.  It  is  situ- 
ated a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  any  public  road.  The  oldest  recorded  death  in 
this  cemetery  is  found  upon  a  large  sand  stone  slab  upon  which  is  carved: 

Erected  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  William  McCord,  who  departed  this 
life  August  19th,  18,33,  aged  53  years,  1  month,  24  days. 

Write — Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  hencefortli. 
Yea,  saith  the  Spirit  that  they  may  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their  works 
do  follow  them.     Rev.  14:13. 

The  remainder  here  follow: 

Rev.  J.  Riddlecome,  died  January  23,  1870,  aged  74  years,  9  months, 
25  days. 

John  W.  Biddlecome,  died  April  19,  18(i5,  aged  ,32  years,  24  days. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Biddlecome,  died  . I  une  9,  1803,  aged  09  years. 
8  months,  12  aays. 

l^.enjamin  F.  liiddlecome,  1830-1854. 

William  M.,  son  of  .1.  and  L.  Bierhouse,  died  August  19,  1809. 

Henry,  son  of  J.  and  L.  Bierhouse,  died  March  3,  1800. 

Mary  M.,  daughter  of  U.  and  H.  A.  Snider,  died  July  29,  1872,  aged 
0  months. 

Harriett,  daughter  of  N.  and  H.  A.  Snider,  died  September  12,  1809. 

In  memory  of  Timothy  Cook  who  departed  this  life,  August  27,  1845,  agefl 
27  years. 

Daniel  Cauby,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sidney  Cauby,  died  October  25,  1850,  aged 
18  years,  0  months.      In  life  beloved:  in  death  lamented. 

Sarah  A.,  daughter  of  J.  and  S.  Cauby.  born  July  31.  1854,  died  March  25, 
1874.    This  stone  lies  flat  upon  the  ground. 

Sidney,  wife  of  Joseph  Canby  died  February  10,  1892,  aged  82  years,  3 
months. 

Joseph  Cauby,  died  July  15  1857,  aged  02  years  and  24  days. 


-380- 

Samuel  Thompson  died  April  26,  1835,  aged  51  years,  2  months,  2  days. 

Matilda  E.,  wife  of  Samuel  Thompson  died  May  21,  1850,  aged  64  yeais,  6 
months,  24  days. 

Elizabeth,  daughter  of  S.  and  M.  Thompson  died  August  19.  185.3,  aged  43 
years,  6  months,  14  days. 

This  stone  marks  the  grave  of  a  maiden  lady;  she  was  a  school  teacher, 
who,  at  the  time  she  was  seized  with  her  last  illness  was  teaching  in  Virginia: 
she  died  at  her  home  in  Virginia,  which  was  a  house  on  lot  22,  in  the  original 
town,  in  the  rear  of  the  M   E.  church  then  standing  on  lot  59. 

James  E.,  son  of  W.  and  S.  Boston,  died  June  22,  1847  aged  1  year.  7 
months,  28  days. 

William  H.,  son  of  W.  and  S.  J.  Boston,  died  August  26.  1854,  aged  1  year, 
7  months  and  20  days. 

William  Boston  died  November  20,  1861,  aged  43  years,  2  months  9  days. 
And  all  that  live  Godly  in  Christ  Jesus  suffer  persecution. 

Daniel  W.,  son  of  W.  and  S.  J.  Boston,  died  December  .30,  1892,  aged  4 
years,  2  months,  5,  days. 

George  J.,  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  E.  Eilerman  died  Dec.  29,  1858,  aged 
17  years,  5  months,  27  days. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  D.  Cowan,  died  .Jan.  10,  1850,  aged  25  years,  10 
months  and  27  days.    This  slab  was  broken  down  and  covered  with  earth. 

Rossannaii,  wife  of  J.  B  Thompson,  born  Nov.  15,  1812,  died  January  .30, 
1858.  A  sand  stone  slab  .30  inches  wide,  six  feet  long  and  4  inclies  thick  in  a 
horizontal  position  upon  brick  pillars  bears  the  following  inscription: 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Benj.  Cauby.  wiio  departed  this  life 
June  2,  1841,  aged  41  years,  3  months,  20  days  (Several  passages  from  tiie 
Scripture  then  follow.) 

In  memory  of  Henry  Havekluft  who  was  born  in  Strohen,  Kingdom  of 
Hanover,  .June  7,  1762.     Died  June  11,  1844,  aged  .52  years,  4  days. 

The  grate  and  good  by  thousands  daily  fall:  and  endless  would  be  the  grief 
to  weep  for  all. 

This  is  a  substantial  sand  stone  slab  some  four  inches  in  tliickness. 

Margaretty  died  November  4,  1881,  aged  15  years,  3  months.  Freddy  A. 
died  Nov.  21,  1881,  aged  12  years,  4  months,  children  of  Wm.  and  A.  Morris.     ' 

Hannah,  wife  of  .Jonas  Bardsley,  died  June  11,  1854,  aged  45  years, 
2  months.  4  days.  This  stone  hidden  by  weeds  (on  Sept.  23,  1906)  was  in  very 
good  condition. 

Amazabell,  wife  of  L.  B.  Griffith,  died  December  31,  1861,  aged  42  years, 
5  months,  11  days.  She  departed  this  life  after  an  illness  of  21  years,  5 
montlis  and  10  days. 

At  the  foot  of  this  grave,  was  a  small  foot  stone  with  initial  letters  cut 
in  it.  No  other  stone  to  be  seen.  The  sunken  condition  of  the  earth  east  of 
the  foot  stone  indicated  the  location  of  a  grave;  after  a  search  a  wide  marble 
slab,  covered  with  five  inches  of  leaves  and  earth  was  uncovered  and  brought 
to  the  surface  wliich  was  found  to  contain  the  foregomg  inscription-  Strange 
though  it  may  appear,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  in  these  old  country  grave- 
yards one  often  finds  the  large  marble  head  stones  broken  down,  while  the 
small  foot  stones  remain  as  originally  placed. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS, 

Number  EigKt. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 
TKe  Page  A.  "Williains  Graveyard. 

THIS  burial  ground  is  situated  upon  the  east  half  of  the  south  east  quar- 
ter of  Sec.  3.3  T.  17,  R.  9,  in  this  county.  The  land  was  entered  by  Page 
A.  Williams  on  September  15th,  1826. 
It  is  a  part  of  the  farm  known  as  the  W.  W.  Ward  farm.  It  is  located  on 
the  west  side  of  the  county  road.  The  south  portion  of  it  is  unprotected  by 
a  fence  and  it  is  grown  up  in  weeds  and  underbrush  and  is  in  the  ruinous 
condition  that  so  many  of  these  burial  places  are.  The  oldest  recorded  death 
to  be  found  in  this  burial  plat  is  that  of  Page  A.  Williams,  who  died  Aug.  12, 
1843,  when  but  forty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  considerable  property; 
liis  widow  married  Samuel  Sinclair  who  was  familiarly  called  "Kentucky 
Sam"  to  distinguish  him  from  his  neighbor  and  second  cousin  who  was  called 
"Virginia  Sam."  The  sand  stone  slab  that  once  stood  at  the  head  of  thegrave 
of  Mr.  Williams  was  leaning  against  a  tree  on  Oct.  28,  1906.  the  day  the  writer 
visited  the  place.  The  exact  spot  of  his  burial  can  not  now,  be  located,  lie 
was  an  influential,  and  much  respected  citizen;  that  his  last  resting  place  has 
thus  been  neglected  is  certainly  a  reproach  to  those  who  should  have  cared 
for  it.  Several  years  since,  Mr.  Ward  and  others  made  an  effort  to  enclose 
this  plat  by  the  erection  of  a  substantial  iron  fence;  he  was  unable  to  interest 
many  of  those  who  ought  to  have  been  glad  to  join  him  in  so  laudable  an  en- 
terprise. Mr.  Koontz,  Llewellyn  Davis  and  Francis  Davey,  (and  perhaps  some 
others)  promptly  made  responses  to  tliis  proposition  of  Mr.  Ward,  and  they 
did  construct  a  neat  and  solid  fence  of  iron  around  the  northerly  portion  of 
this  burial  ground,  which  enclosed  the  remains  of  the  friends  of  these  gentle- 
men. The  size  of  this  enclosure  is  about  35  feet  by  10  feet.  But  Mr.  Ward 
afterwards,  finding  that  the  people  of  Ashland  had  provided  a  neat  cemetery 
just  west  of  that  village  reqnested  that  his  body  be  buried  there,  wisely  con- 
cluding that  even  a  country  grave  yard  enclosed  with  an  iron  fence  would,  in 
a  few  years  become  obsolete. 

The  head  stones  now  within  the  enclosure,  contain  the  following  inscrip- 
tions:— 
Charles  C.  Buracker,  born  June  28,  1855;  died  March  9,  1858. 
Infant  son  of  G.  and  J.  Koontz,  died  August  11,    1853,    aged  6    months,    1 

day. 

John  Martin,  son  of  G.  and  Koontz,  died  February  U,  1853,   aged  1  years- 

11  months,  4  days. 

Gideon  Koontz,  died  November  5,  1854,  aged  36  years,  11  months. 

Martha  G.,  daughter  of  G.  and  J.  Koontz,  died  July  2,  1855,  aged  5month.s, 


-382- 

21  days. 

Minnie  C,  daughter  of  D.  S.  and  M.  R.  Koontz,  died  October  15,  1872, 
aged  1  month  and  20  days. 

Andrew  E.  Coffey  born  April  3,  18-16,  died  September  16,  1847. 

Clarinda  F.  Coffey  born  February  .5,  1848,  died  March  20,  1848. 

Harriett  E.  Coffey  born  January  4  1850,  died  September  7,  1852. 

Robert  Coffey  born  January  21,  18:57,  died  September  8th  1852, 

Infant  daugliter  of  G.  and  C.  Cofiey  died  September  8,  185.'?. 

William  K.  Coffey  born  April  29,  18.56,  died  June  13, 1856. 

John  M.  Coffey,  born  October  25,  1840,  died  January  13,  1859. 

Thomas  J.  Coffey,  born  July  18  1842,  died  May  13,  18.59. 

Samuel  A.  Coffey,  born  September  6,  1838,  died  December  12,  1862. 

Eugene  Coffey,  born  April  5,  1862,  died  September  11,  18(i6, 

MargaretG.  Orr,  born  August  19,  1793,  died  August  8,  1871. 

Cabuis  Coffey,  born  November  6,  1811,  died  December  17,  1878. 

Pelina,  wife  of  Cabuis  Coffey,  born  Angustl,  1817,  died  January  11, 1888. 

Elizabetli  Coffey,  wife  of  Llewellyn  Davis,  died  July  29,  189.3,  aged  49 
years,  4  months,  22  days. 

Ella,  daughter  of  F.  and  M.  Vandevanter,  died  February  5,  1855,  aged  11 
months  and  19  days. 

Fenton  S.,  son  of  F.  and  M.  A'andevanter  died  August  13  ,  1840,  aged  1 
month,  19  days. 

Josepha,  daughter  of  William  and  M.  Mains,  died  October  6,  1846,  aged 
^5  days. 

Oscar,  son  of  William  and  M.  Mains,  died  September  23,  18.53,  aged  15 
months,  23  days 

The  remainder  of  the  graves,  lie  outside  of  the  enclosure,  in  the  brush: 
the  stones  bear  tlie  following  inscriptions:  - 

.Joanah  R.,  wife  of  A.  C.  Davis,  died  August  29,  1854.  aged  18  years,  5 
months,  3  days. 

Milton  C,  son  of  A.  C.  and  J.  E.  Davis,  died  September  3.  1854,  aged  1 
year  11  months,  9  days. 

Eliza  E.,  daughter  of  M.  and  11.  Trotter  died  August  26.  1854,  aged2years, 
22  days. 

Susan  ('.,  daughter  of  A.  and  (1  Monow,  died  .July  »,  1852,  aged  1  year  11 
months. 

.John  Milton,  son  of  A.  and  C.  Morrow,  died  February, 9,  1855,  aged  2  years, 
5  months,  18  days. 

Thomas O.  Keefe  died  October  2,  1843,  aged  24  years. 

Samuel  Trotter  died  August  4,  1844,  aged  62  years,  1  month,  16  days. 

Mary,  wife  of  Starke  Gilliam,  died  December  23,  1847,  aged  88  years. 

Reuben  Lynn  died  August  15,  1850,  aged  20  years,  2  montlis,  12  days.  "Be 
tills  a  wartiing  to  you:  As  I  lay,  so  must  you."  This  stone  partly  engraved 
by  the  deceased. 

Mary  Jane,  daughter  of  M.  and  11.  Trotter  died  September  6,  1864,  aged  16 
years,  8  months,  27  days. 

Thomas  O.  Keefe,  son  of  M.  and  II.  Ti'otter,  died  September  14, 1854,  aged 
12  jears.  1  month,  4  days. 

John  A.,  son  of  M   and  IT.  Trotter,  died  October  20.  1863.  aged    16   years,  8 


-  383  - 

months,  14  days. 

Page  A.  Williams,  died  August  12,  1843,  aged  40  years. 

William  E.,  son  of  William  and  J.  Berry,  died  February  28,  1848,  aged  3 
years,  1  month. 

Henderson  S.,  son  of  William  and  J.  Berry  died  July  28,  1847,  aged  11 
months,  6  days. 

John  T.,  son  of  J.  M.  and  N.  J.  Berry,  died  August  22,  18.55,  aged  1  year,  9 
months,   15  days 

Frances  S.,  wife  of  W.  J.  Bennett,  died  August  18,  1878,  aged  51  years,  6 
months,  30  days. 

Clarence  B.,  son  of  M.  L.  and  M.  E.  Nevias,  died  November  lo,  1879,  aged 
4  years,  1  month  7  days. 

John  E.,  son  of  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Fitzhugh,  died.  May  14,  1849,  aged 
28  years,  II  months. 

Robert  Fitzhugh,  died  October  13,  1865,  aged  69  years. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Robert  Fritzhugh,  died  October  27,  1848,  aged  47  years 

William  W.,  son  of  L.  and  S.  Jordan,  died  January  5,  185.3,  aged  1  year,  20 
days. 

W.,  son  of  L.  and  F.  Jordan,  died  October  5,  1851,  aged  2  years,  7  months, 
25  days. 

Susan,  wife  of  Samuel  Sutton,  died  September  12,  1850,  aged  32  years,  6 
months,  6  days. 

Eliza  Ann  Smith  died  October  30,  1848,  aged  27  years,  7  months,  16  days. 

Thomas  M.,  son  of  William  M.  and  M.  Lewis'  died  March  3,  1857,  aged  10 
months,  28  days. 


DR.  SAMUEL  CHRISTY. 


BY    DR.  J.  F.  SNYDER. 


w 


IT  was  in  the  midst  of  the  second  war  with  England— our  Congress  having 
declared  war  against  Perildious  Albion  on  June  inth,  1812^and  while 
Commodore  Stephen  Decatnr  was  blockaded  in  Long  Island  Sound  by  the 
Britisli  fleet,  that  Samuel  Christy  was  born,  in  Greenville,  Mercer  county) 
Pennsylvania,  on  the  (ith  of  May,  1813.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  that 
state,  having  mixed  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry— a  stock  holding  high  reputa- 
tion for  intense  patriotism  and  stubborn  courage.  Sam,  when  an  infant  was 
stroniT  and  healthy,  and  grew  up  to  be  a  stout  active  boy,  willing  to  work  and 

^ -■■■^.^- .^^M.^mnagiM^^-'--  ■-       anxious  to  learn.     Ilis  father  was  not 

^  ^^^^^^^^P^     ''       ^"  ^'^'-^  affluent    circumstances,    but 

l-*^  ^  ''W)^^^^^^-^'.     ]       sent  him  to  school  during  the  winter 

\  ^  ""•  ~  ^       months,  and  put  him  to  work   on   the 

rocky  farm  through  the  balance  of  the 

M  year.    The    old    gentleman    weighed 

'^J  about  300  pounds,   was  educated,  and 

^m^^'"'^^'--      ^-^    .  quite  a  prominent  man   in  that  com- 

^,,     .  ^i  munity.     His  wife  was  slender,  active 

',   ^>'^  ^^  and    uitelligent,   having    an    average 

avoirdupois  of  about  100 pounds.    Sam 

was  the  tirst-JDorn  of  a  family  of  six 

children,  and  grew  up  a    redoubtable 

leader  of  that  tlock.     When   passing 

through  Ills  "teens"— from  thirteen  to 

nineteen  years   of    age— , he    was  the 

main  sray  on  the  little  farm,  generally 

at  the  head  of  his  classes  at  school, 

and  alwa.\sready  for  his  part  in  the 

hunts,  games,  or  athletic  sports  usual 

among  school  children 

After  the  toils  of  the  day  he  often 
wrangled    with   his    lessons,  or  pored 
DR.  SA  M  I'i'JL  Cil  U  i.>  r  V.  over  the  pages  of  some  borrowed  book, 

by  the  light  of  a  giease  lamp  or  lallow-dip  candle,  long  after  the  otner  mem- 
bers of  the  family  were  asleep,  and  next  morning  was  the  first  one  up  to  com- 
mence the  day's  work.  As  he  approached  man's  estate  in  ageand  stature  an 
iril)orn  ambition  to  rise  above  ttin  station  of  a  common  laborer  stirred  him  to 
increased  efforts  for  mental  improvement.  As  usual  in  those  days— and  very 
much  so  now— scliool  teaching  was  the  only  intellectual  pursuit  in  reach  of  as- 
piring young  men  of  limited  means,  .serving  as  the  initial  step  to  future  eml. 
nence.  So,  he  taught  country  schools  for  several  terms,  boarding  around  among 


^  '  0 


S>'' 


-385- 

the  scholars,  until  his  earnings  had  accnmulated  suflflciently  to  enable  hfm  to 
enter  college  at  Meadville  in  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvannia.  Fie  was  a 
good  student,  but  the  exhaustion  of  his  means  compelled  him  to  leave  college 
before  he  had  finished  the  prescribed  course  of  studies  for  graduation.  What 
influence  it  was  that  inclined  him  to  get  into  the  medical  profession:  where, 
how  long,  and  with  what  Doeter,  he  studied  medicine,  now  connot  be  deter- 
mined; but  the  fact  is  well  established  that  he  attended  the  regular  coui-se  of 
medical  instruction  at  the  old  Jefferson  college  at  Philadelphia,  and  received 
a  diploma  from  that  institution  in  the  spring  of  1836. 

At  the  same  stages  of  life  human  nature,  human  impulses  and  motives, 
are  very  much  the  same  the  world  over.  Man  is  but  an  animal  with  limited 
reasoning  faculties  added,  and  at  that,  much  of  his  boasted  reasoning  is  little 
more  than  animal  instinct.  Samuel  Christy,  M.  D.,  was  as  proud  of  his  new 
diploma  as  he  had  been  several  years  before  of  his  fii-st  pair  of  boots.  He 
fancied— as  all  new  fledged  doctors  do— tliat  it  possessed  some  sort  of  necrom- 
ancy wiiich,  not  only  at  once  completed  his  education,  but  transformed  him 
from  the  realm  of  youth-hood  to  the  responsible  station  of  citizenship,  A 
prominent  concomitant  of  that  fancied  metamorphosis  is  almost  always  the 
marriage  impulse,  which,  when  once  developed  in  a  young  fellow,  seldom  lets 
go  its  hold  until  he  finds  a  suitable  mate— or  one  he  thinks  is  suitable.  Re- 
turning from  the  medical  college  he  located  for  the  practice  of  his  new 
profession  in  Sharon,  a  small  village  in  Mercer,  his  native  county,  ar>d  wliil© 
there  met  his  inevitable  fate  in  the  person  of  Miss  Nancy  F.  Russell,  a  girl  of 
fine  figure  and  comely  features,  whose  liome  was  in  Erie.,  county  seat  of  Erie 
county,  the  second  county  north  of  Mercer.  Attracted  to eacli  otlier  by  the 
subtle  magnetism  of  their  mutual  affinity  and  identity  of  tastes,  tempera 
ment  and  dispositions,  after  enjoyment  of  the  usual  halcyon  period  of  court- 
ship, they  were  married,  at  Erie,  on  the  1,'Jth  of  October,  18.38. 

By  that  time  Dr.  Christy  had  discovered  that  tlie  medical  profession  in 
northwestern  Pennsylvania  was  so  congested  as  to  seriously  clc^  the  wheels  of 
progress  to  fame  and  wealth  for  beginners  in  the  practice.  He  knew  that  in 
the  professions  everywhere  there  is  always  room  upstairs,  it  matters  not  liow 
much  the  basement  may  be  crowded.  But  unwilling  to  expend  the  time  and 
labor  in  climbing  the  stairs  where  he  was,  he  concluded  to  go  west  where  he 
could  get  all  the  room  he  wanted  without  the  trouble  of  climbing  or  scrambl- 
ing for  it.  Acting  upon  that  idea  he  immediately  buddled  up  liis  small  store 
of  personal  property  and,  with  his  wife,  took  final  leave  of  their  native  state. 
Transportation  by  railroad  to  the  Mississippi  was  then  little  more  than  a 
dream,  but  they  had  the  choice  of  two  natural  routes  to  the  west;  one  by  tlie 
lakes  to  the  village  of  Chicago,  the  other  by  the  way  of  the  rivers  to  St.  Louis. 
The  doctor  chose  the  latter.  Going  down  to  Beaver  county  tiiey  embarked  on 
a  steamboat  going  down  the  Allegheny  river  to  Pittsburg.  From  there,  on 
another  boat,  down  the  Ohio,  and  up  the  Mississippi,  tliey  in  time  arrived  at 
St.  Louis.  Why  it  was  tnat  Dr.  Christy  did  not  follow,  from  that  point,  the 
usual  route  of  travel  of  eastern  immigrants,  and  go  on  up  the  Illinois  river  to 
Beardstown  cannot  now  be  explained.  Instead  of  taking  that  course  he  went 
up  the  Missouri  river  to  Lexington,  the  county  seat  of  Lafayette  county,  and 
there  hung  out  his  professional  shingle. 

The  Doctor  and  his  wife  were  profoundly  ignorant  of  the  practical  features 


-  386  - 

of  slavery,  neither  of  them  havings  ever  seen  a  negro  slave,  or  set  foot  on  slave 
soil  before  landing  in  Missouri.  Though  always  a  democrat,  Dr.  Cliristy  be- 
lieved slavery  to  be  a  moral  wrong  that  should  not  be  extended;  yet  he 
thought  expediency  demanded  that  it  should  not  be  disturbed  wliere  it  al- 
ready existed.  Lafayette  county  at  that  time  was  one  of  the  strongholds  of  the 
slavery  party,  having— as  did  most  of  the  counties  bordering  upon  both  sides 
of  the  Missouri  river— a  large  contingent  of  slaves  employed  in  raising  tobac- 
co and  hemp.  As  a  result  there  was  in  Lexington  a  slave  holders  aristoc- 
racy much  inclined  to  look  down  with  disdain,  or  indifference,  upon  the  "poor 
white  trash."  In  the  estimation  of  that  exclusive  circle  a  professional  man 
not  able  to  own  his  necessary  house  servants  was  not  qualitied  to  compete 
with  those  who  were,  and  consequently  was  ignored.  Dr.  Christy  and  wife 
were  not  long  in  discovering  the  wide  contrast  in  social  conditions  of  their 
native  state  and  tlie  one  they  had  migrated  to,  and  concluded  they  had  bet- 
ter move  into  a  free  state  rather  than  waste  their  lives  in  trying  to  overcome 
the  prejudices  of  caste  among  slave  holders.  An  attempt  to  do  business  in 
Lexington,  for  a  few  months,  satisried  the  Doctor  that  he  had  made  a  mistake 
ill  li)(';iMtig  there,  whereupon  he  took  tinal  leave  of  the  place  and  made  his 
way  over  to  Ellisville,  a  hamlet  of  about  a  dozen  houses,  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  Tliat  tie  and  his  wife  preferred  to  live  in  tlie  open  country  rather 
than  in  a  large  town  is  tlie  only  reason  that  can  be  assigned  for  their  stopping 
ill  sucli  a  place  as  EUisviile,  wiiich  sixty-two  years  later,  in  1900,  could  muster 
only  21!)  inhabitants. 

'i'liere  tlieir  first  child  was  born  in  18.39;  and  it  probably  was  to  await  that 
event  tliat  ttiey  became  citizens  of  Ellisville.  The  next  year,  1840,  they  moved 
again  going  a  few  miles  fartlier  east  to  the  more  promising  village  of  Farm- 
inj.;t()n  in  tlie  same  county.  Situated  twenty-four  miles  west  of  Peoria,  in  a 
rich  and  beautiful  section  of  the  old  Military  Tract,  I"'armington  had  then  a 
population  of  about  a  hundred,  and  was  a  growing,  thriving  town.  As  the 
bread  and  meat  question  was  the  paramount  issue  with  Dr.  Ch.iisty  in  those 
days,  it  is  not  probable  that  the  famous  "coonskin  and  liard  cider"  political 
campaign  of  that  year,  1840,  claimed  much  of  his  time  or  attention.  And 
what  he  saw  of  the  wild  excitement,  and  canoes,  yawls,  log  cabins,  hard  cider 
barrels,  and  coons,  both  alive  and  skinned,  in  the  fantastic  parades  of  the 
whii^s,  no  doubt,  served  only  to  mi)re  strongly  confirm  his  stubborn  Van- 
Buren  democracy. 

Dr.  Christy  remained  nine  years  a  citizen  of  Farmington  constantly  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  over  a  wide  range  of  country.  He  was  a 
country  Doctor  from  clioice,  for  he  could  as  well  have  located  in  Peoria  or 
Quincy,  and  at  once  taken  rank  with  the  best  physicians  of  those  towns.  But 
lie  loved  the  freedom  of  the  open  fields  and  prairies,  and  detested  the  artificial 
restraints  of  society  and  tlie  extra  exertion  and  alertness  required  to  contend 
with  nearby  competition  in  business.  While  at  Farmington  he  joined  the 
Masonic  Order,  and  his  family  was  strengthened  by  the  addition  of  several 
children.  When  he  moved  to  Fulton  county  in  18.38,  Tiiomas  Carlin  had  just 
been  elected  Governor  of  Illinois  by  a  majority  of  only  99()  over  his  Whig  com- 
petitor, Hon.  Cyrus  Edwards,  and  the  Whigs  had  carried  both  houses  of  the 
legislature.  Collapse  of  the  great  Internal  Improvement  scheme  occurred  the 
next  year,  18.39;  and  then  followed  for  four  years,  with  the  state  $14,000,000  in 


-387- 

debt,  the  worst  financial  depressien,  and  hardest  times,  in  its  history.  A 
matter  of  absorbing  interest  to  the  people  of  Fulton  county— and  to  those  of 
all  other  Illinois  river  counties— for  many  years,  was  progress  of  work  on  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  canal,  which  was  commenced  in  1836  and  completed  in 
1848  at  a  total  expense  to  the  state  of  $6,557,681.  However,  the  vast  commer- 
cial benefits  expected  by  the  public  from  that  connection  of  the  Illinois  river 
and  Lake  Michigan  as  a  means  of  transportation  were  never  realized,  as  it 
could  not  be  made  to  compete  successfully  with  the  railroads  then  pushing 
forward  all  over  the  state. 

As  is  the  case  sooner  or  later,  with  all  country  Doctors,  Dr.  Christy  in  time 
grew  very  weary  of  the  ceaseless,  cheerless,  labor  and  hardships  of  his  profes- 
sional life,  and  tried  to  study  some  way  to  lighten  its  burdens.  The  practice 
of  medicine  for  a  few  years  totally  unfits  the  large  majority  of  physicians  for 
any  other  occupation.  Without  special  talents  in  some  other  direction  very 
few  Doctors  succeed  when  they  undertake  any  other  sort  of  business.  Tlien 
too,  men  constituted  as  was  Dr.  Cnristy,  with  brains,  energy  and  industry, 
but  entirely  devoid  of  resourcefulness,  selfishness,  and  grasping  disposition  so 
essential  to  success  in  money  making,  having  increasing  and  expensive  fam.- 
ilies,  require  more  revenue  than  they  can  earn  by  manual  labor,  or  teaching 
country  schools.  By  the  daily  practice  of  medicine,  and  by  economy,  in  a  pop- 
ulous community  a  fair  support  is  insured,  but  at  the  sacrafice  to  the  Doctor 
of  every  aspiration,  and  the  surrender  of  all  personal  freedom.  To  the  aver- 
age country  Doctor  when  reaching  the  stage  of  weariness  and  disgust  witli 
his  slavish  toil,  that  all  do,  the  retail  drug  store— of  wliich  he  has  ;i  little 
theoretical  knowledge— ^appeals  to  his  imagination  as  the  most  available 
means  of  relief  from  his  bondage,  and  affording  easy,  elegant,  aiifl  lucrative 
employment.    That  idea  struck  Dr.  Clnisty  very  favorably. 

Anticipation  of  increased  traftlc  and  trade  upon  the  completion  of  the 
canal,  in  1848,  had  given  several  of  the  Illinois  river  towns  a  considerable  up- 
lift and  renewed  life.  Along  with  the  others,  the  prospects  for  I5eardstown 
were  greatly  stimulated  by  the  expected  waterway  connection  with  the  north.. 
ern  lakes  at  Chicago.  Five  years  before,  in  184;},  the  progress  of  the  town  had 
received  quite  an  impetus  by  securing,  from  Virginia,  the  county  seat  of  Cass 
county.  Having  tlien  established  a  large  pork  packing  industry,  and  also  an 
extensive  export  and  import  business,  the  place  seemed  to  have  an  especially 
Mattering  future.  It  attracted  the  attention  of  Dr.  Christy  who  tliought  if 
he  was  situated  there  in  the  drug  trade,  absolved  from  harrowing  brain  woi'k 
and  constant  pliysical  labor  and  night  riding  and  exposure  to  all  sorts  of 
weather,  the  world  would  wear  a  more  smiling  aspect  and  life  be  more  toler- 
able. Ills  children  too  would  have  better  educational  facilities  and  soci;il  ad- 
vantages, and  he  could  have  the  assistance  of  two  or  three  of  his  boys  in  the 
drug  store,  in  which  they  would  readily  acquire  preliminary  knowledge  of 
medicine  if  they  should  choose  to  follow  in  his  professional!  footsteps.  As  he 
saw  it  there  was  no  room  or  reason  to  doubt  success.  Disposing  of  his  little 
property  in  Farmington,  and  settling  up  his  affairs  there,  he  moved  to  Beards- 
town  in  the  spring  of  1849,  a  few  months  before  the  epidemic  of  Asiatic  chol- 
era reached  that  place  from  St.  Louis. 

When  Dr.  Christy  and  family  arrived  in  Beardstown  the  Illinois  river  was 
very  high,  the  water  reaching  the  level  of  Main  street  and   again  converting 


-  388  - 

the  town-site  into  an  island  by  diverting  a  strong  current  through  the  old 
channel  on  its  eastern  side.  Steamboating  on  the  Illinois  river  was  then  at 
the  zenith  of  its  glory,  there  being  yet  no  parallel  lines  of  railroads  to 
paralyze  it  by  their  completion.  From  one  to  half  a  dozen,  or  more,  flrst-class 
boats  of  that  period  could  be  seen  every  day  plying  "the  great  interior  natural 
highway,"  crowded  witli  passengers  above,  and  ladened  below  with  merchan- 
dise and  country  products.  Beardstown,  an  important  shipping  point  on  the 
river,  was  thriving,  growing,  and  alive  with  business  energy.  Multitudes  of 
immigrants  were  pouring  into  Cass  county,  converting  its  raw  prairies  into 
the  finest  of  farms.  There  were  two  newspapers  published  in  the  county,  the 
Gazette^  a  Whig  weekly,  at  Beardstown,  and  the  Illinois  Observer,  a  Democrat- 
ic weekly,  conducted  at  Virginia,  by  Mark  W.  Delahy.  Richard  S.  Thomas, 
a  Whig,  represented  tlie  county  in  the  legislature,  and  Rev.  Newton  Cloud, 
another  Whig  in  the  state  senate.  Henry  E.  Dummer  was  the  probate  judge. 
James  Sliaw  the  county  judge  with  Wm.  Taylor  and  Thomas  Plaster  associate 
justices  of  the  county  court.  William  a  Minshall,  of  Rushville,  was  the  cir- 
cuit judge,  Thomas  R.  Sanders  the  circuit  clerk,  Lewis  F.  Sanders  the  county 
clerk,  Jos.  Milt  McLean  sheriff,  John  Shaw  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion, .lohn  Craig  assessor  and  treasurer,  and  J.  W.  Sweeney  county  surveyor, 
all  of  whom  with  two  or  three  exceptions  were  members  of  the  Whig  party. 

When  settled  down  in  Beardstown,  Dv.  Christy,  with  a  man  from  New 
York  (Jiry,  named  Thiele,  as  a  partner,  opened  out  a  well-assorted  drug  store, 
but  he  did  not  abandon  tiie  oractice  of  medicine  as  he  had  thought  he  would. 
His  reputation  as  a  practioner  of  ability  and  experience  had  preceded  him, 
with  the  result  that  liis  newfound  friends  and  acquaintances  would  not  per- 
mit liiin  to  retire  from  active  work,  although  the  medical  faculty  there  was 
full  to  repletion.  The  Doctors  then  in  Beardstown  in  more  or  less  busy  prac- 
tice were  Theodore  A.  Hoffman,  diaries  Sprague.  Virginius  A.  Turpin,  Fred- 
erick Ehriiardt,  Jeremiah  R.  Dowler,  George  VanNess  and  John  Charles 
Seegei.  To  this  list  were  added,  in  1851,  Drs.  Daniel  W.  Shurtlifl  and  W.  W. 
Nelson.  In  changing  liis  location,  Dr.  CIn-isty  sought  rest  and  relief  from  in- 
ce,ss;uit  work,  but  he  was  too  active  and  energetic  to  be  content  with  the  sed- 
entery  occupation  of  a  retail  druggist,  or  bear  continement  for  any  length 
of  time  in  the  narrow  limits  of  an  ordinary  store  room.  To  supply  his  place 
there  in  the  store  while  he  was  professonally  absent,  or  circulating  among  the 
people  around  the  town,  he  employed  David  M.  Logan,  a  briglit,  intelligent, 
you.ng  fellow  who  had  taught  school,  been  to  college,  and  tried  his  hand  as  a 
salesman  in  a  dry  goods  store.  As  he  was  inclined  to  study  medicine  and 
make  a  Doctor  of  liimself,— which  he  subsequently  did,— Logan  applied  him- 
seir  closely  to  the  business  giving  eminent  satisfaction  to  his  employers  as  a 
dispenser  of  drugs,  paints,  oils,  dyestuffs  and  patent  medicines. 

The  drug  store,  however,  did  not  prove  to  be  the  bonanza  that  Dr. 
Christy  had  pictured  it  in  his  day  dreams.  Thiele.  wno  was  not  a  druggist 
but  a  speculator  with  some  capital  and  a  j^ood  deal  of  shrewdness,  .saw  before 
many  moons  had  passed  that  the  enterprise  could  not  be  made  a  financial 
success,  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  to  Dr.  Sprague,  a  sharp  money  maker 
and  money  lender,  to  whom  Dr.  Christv  was  no  doubt  indebted  for  borrowed 
money  with  whicli  he  started  the  drug  business.  The  title  of  the  iirm  was 
then— in  1851— changed  to  Dr.   Christy  and  Company,  but  gained   nothing   in 


-389- 

substantial  success.  Dr.  Spragtie  gave  the  drug  store  but  little,  if  any,  of  his 
personal  attention,  and  Dr.  Christy  had  not  the  least  taste,  adaptation,  or 
financial  abihty  for  conducting  that  business— or  indeed  any  other.  Too  lib- 
eral, generous  and  careless  to  manage  small  transactions,  or  exact  what  was 
due  him,  he  was  as  much  out  of  place  as  a  retail  druggist  as  he  would  have 
been  officiating  in  a  Presbyterian  pulpit.  He  affiliated  with  the  Beardstown 
lodge  of  Masons,  and  was  elected  its  Master  for  one  year.  His  children  were 
kept  at  school,  and  at  his  home  abided  contentment,  social  friendship  and 
open-handed  hospitality. 

Living  in  as  large  a  town  as  Beardstown  became  irivsome  to  Dr.  Christy, 
and  too  expensive  for  his  moderate  revenues.  Convinced  that  the  experiment 
he  liad  tried  was  a  failure  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  drug  store  to  his  partner, 
Dr.  Sprague,  in  the  fall  of  1851;  then  purchased  of  Thomas  Lord,  executor  of 
the  estate  of  John  Dutch  deceased,  a  farm  in  the  prairie,  on  the  Beardstown 
and  Springfield  road,  half  a  mile  east  of  the  village  then  known  as  Lancaster, 
now  called  Philadelphia,  nineteen  miles  east  of  Beardstown.  He  wisely  con- 
cluded it  would  be  more  humane  to  train  his  four  boys  up  to  be  honest  tillers 
of  the  soil  rather  than  consign  them  to  the  life  long  miseries  of  liis  own  call- 
ing. The  land  he  bought  comprised  a  fractional  tract  of  33  acres  in  Section 
15,  with  36  acres  in  Section  16,  and  160  acres  in  Section  22,  altogether 229  acres, 
all  in  Township  17  of  Range  9.  Tlie  price  he  agreed  to  pay  for  it  was  about 
$.34.25  per  acre,  aggregating  for  the  whole  $6,877.50.  With  less  than  half  of 
the  land  in  cultivation,  and  that  very  indilTerently  fenced,  the  only  improve- 
ments upon  it  consisted  of  a  small  one-story  frame  house  very  near  the  north 
side  of  the  road,  a  little  rickety  plank  stable  and  a  few  dilapidated  out 
houses.  The  records  show  that  the  Doctor  received  warranty  deeds  for  the 
premises  on  Sept.  1st  and  Nov.  28th.  1856.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1852  he  left 
Beardstown  with  his  family,  took  possession  of  his  farm,  where  he  once  more 
relapsed  Into  a  country  Doctor,  and  became  a  practical  farmer  also. 

Dr.  Christy  was  tiien  thirty-nine  years  of  age;  in  the  full  vigor  and  prime 
of  life,  with  perfect  health  and  clear,  active  mind.  In  figure  and  motion  lie 
had  much  more  the  appearance  of  a  hard  working  farmer  tlian  of  a  cultured 
scholar.  About  six  feet  in  height,  heavy  shouldered,  strong  and  muscular,  he 
was  rough  looking,  florid  faced,  with  coarse  sandy  hair— before  baldness  com- 
pelled him  to  wear  a  wig— and  piercing  hazel  eyes.  His  prominent  face  de- 
noted strength  of  character  with  no  Indication  of  vanity,  duplicity  or  egotism. 
It  was,  in  repose,  a  false  index  of  his  true  nature,  as  It  seemed  expressive  of 
cold  calculating,  selfishness.  But  when  relaxed  and  lighted  up  In  conversa- 
tion every  feature  reflected  the  singular  amiability  of  his  disposition,  and  gen- 
ial temperament.  There  was  no  assumption  of  polish  or  courtly  refinement 
in  his  manners  or  speech,  but  both  were  characterized  by  an  "off-handed"  ab- 
ruptness verging  at  times  on  rudeness.  His  pride  of  dress  atid  demeanor  was 
not  totally  wanting,  but  barely  sufficied  to  meet  the  requirements  of  respecta- 
bility in  public.  In  other  words,  he  was  very  careless  and  indifferent  about 
his  raiment  and  how  he  looked,  having  no  desire  to  be  classed  with  the  dand- 
les or  dudes.  His  voice  was  not  melodious,  but  full  and  distinct.  Not  a  pub- 
lic speaker,  lie  was  yet  a  fluent  talker,  expressing  himself,  In  a  peculiar  posi- 
tive way,  directly  to  the  point,  without  superflous  verbiage,  and  with  few 
gestures.    In  conversation  his  evident  sincerity  and  earnestness  precluded  all 


-  390  - 

doubt  or  suspicion  of  duplicity.  In  fact  he  was  incapable  of  hypocracy,  deceit 
or  dishonesty— excepting  perhaps  in  the  line  of  his  profession,  as  it  is  impos- 
sible for  any  Doctor  to  succeed  without  practicing  more  or  less  deception  in 
his  medical  practice. 

The  excess  of  humanity  in  Dr.  Christy's  composition  was  fatal  to  habits 
of  thrift,  and  accumulation  of  wealth.  He  earned  money,  but  knew  notliing 
of  the  art  of  saving  it.  His  big-hearted  generosity,  benevolence  and  charity 
absorbed  pretty  much  all  the  surplus  profits  of  his  labors  in  his  efforts  to 
benefit  others.  As  a  conseciuence  his  purchase  of  land  involvded  him  con- 
siderably in  debt  having  only  means  enough  at  the  time  to  make  a  partial 
payment.  In  that  tinancial  strait  he  went  resolutely  to  work  with  plow  and 
liarrow,  assisted  by  such  of  his  boys  as  were  big  enough  to  help.  Tiiough 
reluctant  to  re-establish  himself  in  the  practice  of  medicine,  his  reputation 
as  a  physician  of  ability  and  experience  soon  became  known  throughout  the 
neigliborliood  with  the  result  that  his  agricultural  pursuits  were  with  in- 
creasing frequency  interrupted  by  calls  to  attend  the  sick.  Often  when  out 
in  the  field  and  was  sent  for  to  visit  a  patient,  he  would  unhitch  a  horse  from 
the  plow,  tie  the  other  to  the  fence,  and  mounting  without  saddle,  scurry  off 
with  tiie  messenger  across  the  open  prairie.  In  daily  expectation  of  such 
calls  he  learned  the  precaution  to  take  his  medicine  case  out  to  the  field  when 
he  went  to  work,  and  have  it  in  convenient  readiness  in  the  fence  corner  for 
any  sudden  emergency.  Said  "medicine  case"  in  that  era  was  the  old-style 
pill  bags  carried  across  i  he  saddle,  as  all  country  Doctors  then  traveled  their 
rounds  on  horseback.  In  a  year  or  two  his  practice  had  so  extended  that  he 
could  no  longer  make  a  h;ind  at  farm  work,  which  he  relinquished  to  the  boys 
and  lii red  help,  while  he  once  more  gave  to  his  profession  almost  his  entire 
attention. 

From  his  boyhood  Dr.  Christy  had  been  a  diligent  reader,  employing  in 
his  younger  days  all  the  time  he  could  spare  from  work  and  school  to  study 
and  reading  of  all  Iwoks  Mian  he  could  buy  or  borrow.  In  middle  life  he  was 
more  part  ial  to  newspapers,  of  which  he  was  a  liberal  patron,  because  of  his 
incre  ising  intei'est  in  transpiring  events  a.nd  current  isews.  Until  he  got 
fairly  well  settled  on  his  farm  he  had  not  taken  a  very  active  part  in  politics: 
but.  t  he  political  contentions  and  conventions  of  that  year,  1852,  in  some  way 
excited  ins  interest  iii  party  issues,  and  his  zeal  for  success  of  the  Democracy. 
So  thoroughly  well  posted  was  he  in  all  the  public  questions  of  the  day.  aiul 
so  outspoken  in  advocating  the  principles  of  that  party,  that  he  soon  gained 
recognition  as  a  local  leader,  being  made  conspicuous  as  a  delegate  to  county 
and  state  Democratic  conventions.  At  Springfield  he  formed  the  personal 
acciuaintance  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  then  one  of  the  Illinois  U.  S.  Senators, 
for  whom  he  entertained  thereafter  unfaltering  friendship  and  adrriiration. 
He  there  also  met  the  immortal,  God-like,  Lincoln  who— vei-y  strangely- 
failed  to  inspire  him  with  sentiments  of  more  than  ordinary  i'espect. 

Political  feeling  among  the  people  in  1S52,  more  intense  and  virulent  than 
usual,  marked  the  beginning  of  that  awful  public  turbulence  which,  annually 
gained  in  acrimony  and  bitterness  until  it  culminated  in  civil  war  nine  years 
later.  The  Whigs  had  carried  the  country  in  ISIS  by  electing  Genl.  Zachary 
Taylor  on  the  strength  of  his  services  in  the  Mexican  War.  and  expected  to 
continue  in  power  by  electing  as  his  successor   that  other   hero  of  the   same 


-391- 

war,  Genl.  Winfleld  Scott,  who  they  nominated  for  President — ^at  the  fast 
convention  the  party  ever  held— with  Wm.  A.  Graliam,  of  North  Carolina^ 
for  Vice  President.  The  Democrats  determined  to  retrieve  their  late  defeat,, 
put  in  the  field  Franklin  Pierce,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Wm.  R.  King,  of 
Alabama,- for  President  and  Yice  Pl'esident.  A  third  national  ticket  was- 
presented  by  the  Freesoilers  or  Abolitionists  with  John  P.  Hale,  of  New 
Hampshire,  for  President  and  Geo.  P.  Julian,  of  Indiana^  for  Vice  Pi-esident. 
In  Illinois  the  candidate  of  the  Democrats  for  Governor  was  Joel  A.  Matte- 
son,,  of  Will  county,  witli  Gustavus  Koerner,  of  St.  Clair  county,  for  Lieut. 
Governor.  Tlie  Whigs,  in  the  last  convention  of  their  party  in  Illinois,  nom- 
inated Edwin  B.  Webb,  of  White  county,  for  Governor,  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  of 
St.  Clair  county  for  Lieut.  Go-vernor,.  and  Francis  Arenz,  of  Cass  county,  for 
Treasurer.  Tlie  Freesoilers  also  had  for  their  ticket  Dexter  A.  Knowlton,  of 
Stephenson  county,  and  Philo  Carpenter,  of  Cook  county,,  for  Governor  and' 
Lieut.  Governor.  At  the  November  election  the  Democrats  swept  tiie  coun- 
try, electing  their  national  and  state  candidates.  In  Cass  county  they 
elected  Cyrus  Wright  to  represent  them  in  tiie  legislature,,  and  Wm.  Pittner 
to  the  office  of  Sheriff,  but  could  not  defeat  Sylvester  EmmonSi  a  Wiiig,  for 
Circuit  Clerk. 

Illinois  had  by  that  time  fully  recovered  from  the  terrible  fin^incial  de- 
pression resulting  from  failure  of  the  Internal  Improvement  fally  of  1836-39, 
and  was  on  tlie  high  road  of  progress  and  prosperity.  Money  was  abundant — 
such  as  it  was,-  mostly  the  fluctuating,  uncertain  issue  of  wild  eat  state- 
banks;— but  all  business  enterprises  were  beginning  to-  feel  tlie  stimulus  of 
the  new  California  gold  mines.  In  a  general  way  Cass  county  was  in  a  flour 
ishing  condition,  though  it  had  no  rail-roads,,  or  remote  prospects  of  any,  and' 
no  method  had  yet  been  devised  for  drainage  of  its  flat  prairies.  Chihs  und 
fever  and  other  miasmatic  disorders  every  wiiere  prevailed  causing  bri&lv  de- 
mand for  the  services  of  physicians.  Not  permitted  by  the  people  to  waste- 
his  talents  in  the  corn  and  harvest  fields,  Dr.  Cliri-sty  was  compelled!  by  the- 
force  of  circumstances  to  assume  his  place  among  the  medical  practitioners  of 
the  county.  And  that  place  was  in  the  very  front  rank  of  the  profession) 
during  the  tliirteen  years  that  he  resided  on  his  farm.  The  practice  of  medi- 
cine, however,  was  for  him  no  longer  a  labor  of  love.  He  was  very  tired  of  it, 
but  had  to  continue  it  as  a  source  of  revenue,  and  to  requite  the  canlidence  of 
his  numerous  friends.  His  popularity  as  a  physician  and  a  citizen  was  un- 
bounded. It  falls  to  the  lot  of  but  few  country  Doctors  to  gain  and  retain, 
not  only  the  respect  and  confidence,  but  the  close  friendship- and  affiictions  of 
the  people  of  so  large  an  area,  and  to  such  a  degree,  as  that  enjoyed  by  Dr. 
Christy.  Many  differed  from  him  radically  on  som.e  Questions,  and  streiui- 
ously  combatted  his  views;,  but  no  one  bore  him  ill-will.  All  recog'tiized  and- 
admired  his  rugged  honesty  and  sincerity,  and  the  unselfish  purity  of  his- 
motives. 

In  all  essentials  that  constitute  the  real  physician,  Dt.  Christy  was  far 
above  the  average  of  medical  practitioners.  Tlie  studious  liabits  of  his- 
younger  days  had  laid  a  broad  and  firm  foundation  for  the  professional  career 
he  chose,  but  over  and  above  his  book  learning  and  vast  reserve  of  general 
knowledge,  his  real  force  was  in  the  natural  strength  and  activity  of  his- 
brain.     His  remarkable  perceptive  foxiulties  and  power  of  discrimination— of 


"  392  - 

judgment— enabled  him  to  detect  more  in  a  patient's  condition  at  a  glance 
than  many  of  our  modern  Doctors,  with  their  omnipresent  thermometers, 
stethoscopes  and  urine  testers,  can  find  out  in  a  day's  examination.  He  was  al- 
most infallible  in  diagnosis,  and  often  the  remedies  indicated  seemed  to  occur 
to  him  by  intuition.  He  respected  authorities,  and  was  familiar  with  the 
most  eminent  of  them,  but  relied  most  upon  the  resources  of  his  own  strong 
common  sense  and  experience.  In  his  professional  work  he  was  seldom  con- 
fused or  excited  or  at  a  loss  in  selecting  the  proper  means  or  agencies  to  be 
adopted.  He  adhered  to  the  Allopathic  system  of  medicine  in  the  main,  but 
availed  himself  of  all  that  had  merit  in  the  other  systems,  employing  new 
nostrums  with  liesitancy,  and  seldom  venturing  upon  untried  experiments. 
He  often  remarked  that  if  restricted  to  tiie  use  of  four  standard  medicines, 
calomel,  opium,  ipecac  and  quinine,  with  such  domestic  remedies  as  castor 
oil,  mustard,  etc,  found  in  all  farm  houses,  he  could  conquer  diseases  as  suc- 
cessfully as  with  any  or  all  the  other  drugs  in  common  use  by  the  profession. 
When  by  the  bedside  of  the  sick  he  was  always  pleasant  and  cheerful,  but 
not  very  talkative,  and  made  no  extravagant  promises  or  predictions  of 
speedy  results.  Yet,  his  perfect  self  possession,  and  the  positive  frankness  of 
his  opinions,  when  questioned,  assured  the  patient  and  those  in  attendance 
that  all  would  be  done  that  professional  skill  and  knowledge  could  do.  Such 
was  tiie  faith  in  his  ability  of  almost  all  his  patrons  that  should  he  fail  to  re- 
lieve, or  cure,  them  they  considered  it  useless  to  consult  any  other  physician. 

Agitation  of  the  slavery  question  coincident  with  the  national  legislation 
proposed  for  establishing  the  political  and  domestic  status  of  the  two  terri . 
tories,  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  then  applying  for  admission  as  states  into  the 
Union,  stirred  the  people  of  the  entire  country  into  a  frenzy  of  excitement. 
The  measures  introduced  by  Senator  Douglas,  and  adopted  by  Congress  in 
1854,  repealing  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  subs^jituting  for  it  the  new  doc- 
trine of  "Squatter  Sovereignty,"  intensified  popular  irritation  tliat  two  years 
later  found  expression  in  disruption  of  the  old  Whig  partv,  and  organization 
of  the  Ilepublican  party  combining  all  political  elements  opposed  to  the  in- 
novations of  Mr.  Douglas. 

Dr.  Christy,  a  close  follower  of  Mr.  Douglas,  deeply  interested  in  all  pub- 
lic questions,  became  a  very  active  Democratic  partisan.  The  year  1856  is 
memorable  in  the  political  history  of  Illinois.  The  rancor  and  bitterness  of 
party  antagonism  left  no  neutral  position  tenable.  At  Blooraington,  III., 
representative  politicians  opposed  to  the  Douglas  brand  of  Democracy,  met  in 
convention  on  the  29th  of  May  and  organized  the  republican  party  of  the  state, 
at  the  same  time  nominating  a  st;ite  ticket  with  Col.  Wm.  II.  Bi-ssell,  an  anti- 
Douglas  Democrat,  at  its  head  for  Governor.  That  schism  had  spread  over  the 
state  like  a  prairie  tire,  inflaming  popular  feeling  and  passions,  and  the  new 
alignment  of  parties  was  at  once  general  and  complete.  The  Democratic  con- 
vention of  the  34th  district,  composed  of  Cass  and  Menard  counties,  recogniz- 
ing the  prominence  and  ability  of  Dr.  Christy,  nominated  him  as  their  candi- 
date for  representative  in  the  lower  liouse  of  the  legislature.  He  was  elected 
by  a  narrow  margin,  receiving  in  Cass  817  votes  to  807  cast  for  John  B.  Gum, 
his  republican  opponent.  The  other  county  of  tlie  district  increased  the 
Doctor's  majority  to  over  a  luindred.  Samuel  W.  Fuller,  of  Tazewell  county, 
was    elected  state  senator  defeating  John  Durham.    At  the  same  election 


-393- 

throughoat  the  state  the  Republicans  elected  their  entire  state  ticket  by  s 
majo'-ity  of  4,745,  but  the  Democrats  carried  the  state  for  James  Buchanan^ 
their  candidate  for  president,  with  a  majority  of  9,159'. 

The  (20th)  legislature  to  which  Dr.  Christy  was  elected  was  Democratic 
by  a  majority  of  only  one  in  each  house.  It  convened  at  Springfield  on  Jan, 
5th,  1857,  with  Lieut.  Gov.  John  Wood  presiding  over  the  senate,  and  Samuel' 
Holmes,^  of  Adams  county,  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  adjourned  on 
the  Ifitli  of  February.  Among  the  members  with  whom  Dr.  Christy  was  as- 
sociated were  Ebon  C.  Ingersol.  John  A.  Logan,  Wm.  R.  Morrison,  Wm.  A.  J. 
Sparks,  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  Dr.  Robert  Boal,  John  Dougherty,  Cyrus  Epler,. 
Shelby  M.  Cullom,  and  others  who  subsequently  became  more  or  less  famous. 
as  actors  in  the  civil  war,  on  the  bench,  or  in  the  nation's  councils.  As  a  leg- 
islator, though  Dr.  Christy  was  not  conspicuous  as  a  debater,  he  was  very  at- 
tentive to  liis  duties,  and  acquitted  himself  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his- 
constituents.  He  was  cliairman  af  the  standing  committee  on  Retrenchment,, 
and  member  of  the  committees  on  Finance  and  Claims.  His  first  recorded 
vote  in  the  session  was  againstDenio's  resolution,  "Tliat  the  Secretary  of  State 
be  directed  to  furnish  each  member  and  officer  of  the  Bouse  a  gold  pen  and 
pencil  case^  also  to  each  member  and  officer  one  good  Congress  knife. "  Lost  by 
29  to  42  against.  He  introduced  bills,  which  were  passed,  "To  extend  the 
jurisdiction  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  police  magistrates  in  Cass  county.'" 
"To  incorporate  the  Virginia  cemetery  in  Cass  county."' 
"To  amend  the  charter  of  the  Upper  and  Lower  Mississippi  Railroad! 
company." 

"To  amend  an  act  to  construct  a  Railroad  from  Jacksonville,  in  Morgaiu 
county,  to  LaSalle,  in  LaSalle  county." 

"To  incorporate  the  Virginia  Female  Seminary  of  Providence  Pi'esbyter' 
ian  Church  of  Cass  County,"  the  incorporators  named  in  the  bill  being  James 
\SJlitej  A.  G.  Angler,  George  Wilson,  R.  B.  Conn,  J.  N,  White,  John  Rodgers,. 
H.  R.  Lewis,  Samuel  McClure^  Wm.  Stevenson,  A.  Taylor,  S.  W.  Neely,.  J.. 
VanEaton,  and  N   B.  Beers,  to  be  the  first  board  of  trustees. 

"To  incorporate  the  Cass  County  Fair  Grounds  Association.''^ 
"For  the  relocation  of  the  county  seat  of  Cass  county." 
"To  incorporate  the  town  of  Virginia,  in  Cass  county. " 
So  strained,  were  the  relations  of  the  people  in  the  eastern  and  westerra 
ends  of  the  county  at  that  time  on  the  county  seat  removal  question,  that 
Dr.  Christy,  strongly  in  the  interest  of  Vii-ginia,  was  not  entrusted  by  Beards- 
town  with  any  of  its  needed  legislation,  which  was  attended  to  by  Hon.  Gyrus- 
Epler,  member  from  Morgan  county.  TO  that  sectional  feeling  in  the  county- 
may  be  attributed  Dr.  Christy's  slender  majority  over  Gum  at  the  election- 
No  time  was  then  idled  away  by  legislators,  as  the  constitution  limited  the 
sessions  to  forty  days  and  i imposed  no  restriction  upon  special  legislation. 
During  the  forty  days  of  that  20th  general  assembly  over  six  hundred  speciali 
acts  and  nearly  as  many  general  laws  were  enacted.  The  most  important  of 
the  latter  were  those  establishing  the  first  Normal  school,  the  Joliet  peni- 
tentiary, and  incorporating  the  Chicago  University.  The  worst  party  squab- 
bling of  the  session  was  over  tlie  apportionment  bill  framed  by  the  Demo- 
crats. Gov.  Bissell  intended  to  veto  it,  but  inadvertently  signed  it.  He  then 
recalled  it  and  sent  ill  a  veto,    which,  the  democrats  u.nanim.ously   rejected.. 


-  394  - 

The  matter  was  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court  which  sustained  the   Governor's 
action. 

When  the  leg'islature  adjourned  Dr.  Christy  retvirned  to  his  home  more 
deeply  absorbed  in  all  public  matters  than  ever  before.  On  the  third  of 
November,  of  that  year,  1857,  a  very  exciting  special  election  was  held  in  Cass 
county  involving  three  questions  of  importance  to  the  people,  the  first  of 
whicli  was  the  proposition  for  the  county  to  subscribe  $50,000  to  the  capital 
stock  of  the  Keokuk  &  Warsaw  railroad  (now  the  C.  B.  &  Q.;)  the  second  was 
removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Beardstown  to  Virginia,  and  the  third  was 
adoption  of  Township  organization.  All  three  were  defeated,  the  railroad 
bonus  by  6.3(i  votes  for  to  792  against  it:  986  votes  were  cast  for  removal 
of  the  county  seat  and  1006  against,  while  Township  organization  was  re- 
jected by  the  vote  of  385  in  its  favor  and  1921  against  it.  Dr.  Christy  did 
earnest  work  for  removal  of  the  county  seat  and  in  opposition  of  the  first  and 
third  propositions.  In  the  spring  of  1858  the  Doctor  was  appointed  postmast- 
er of  Lancaster,  the  little  village  of  a  dozen  houses  near  his  farm,  and  very 
foolishly  accepted  it,  though  giving  the  position  but  little  if  any  of  his  per- 
sonal attention,  one  of  his  sons  managing  it  as  his  deputy.  lie  retained  the 
otlice  until  1864  and  then  resigned  it. 

In  the  meantime  the  embers  of  political  strife  were  fanned  into  a  tlame 
by  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  in  1851.  and  continued  the  strife  with 
increasing  intensity.  Then  came  the  famous  Douglas  and  Lincoln  debates  in 
1858,  followed  by  the  re-election  of  Douglas  to  the  U.  S.  Senate,  serving  to  add 
fuel  to  the  tire  of  sectional  antagonism.  A  little  later  the  fury  of  party  mad- 
ness, wrought  to  the  highest  pitch  by  the  hopeless  ichism  of  the  democracy, 
and  election  of  the  sainted  Lincoln,  plunged  the  country  in  the  honors  of  civil 
war.  Iti  all  I  hose  turbulent  times  Dr.  Christy's  enthusiattic  exertions  for 
tiie  supremacy  of  his  party,  as  a  matter  of  course,  were  detrimental  to  his 
personal  interests.  ISTaturally  destitute  of  selfishness,  financial  tact,  and 
habits  of  thrift  and  economy,  his  farming  industry  and  medical  practice  both 
suffered  from  his  neglect.  Unable  to  meet  demands  due  for  his  land  he  was 
compelled  to  relinquish  a  Quarter  section  of  it  to  enable  him  to  .secure  what 
remained. 

Strenuously  opposed  to  the  Lincoln  administration  all  through  the  civil 
war,  he  boldly  criticized  the  blunders  and  excesses  committed  by  some  of  the 
civil  and  military  republican  leaders,  and  took  no  pains  to  conceal  his  heart- 
felt sympathies  for  the  southern  people,  though  he  never  uttered  a  word  in 
defense  of  slavery.  For  his  candid  expression  of  sentiments  adverse  to  the 
party  in  power,  lie  was,  unsparingly  denounced  by  the  "truly  loyal"  as  a 
"copperhead,"  and  seriously  threatened  with  arrest  for  treason.  On  two  or 
three  occasions  it  was  rumored  that  a  provost  marshal  and  file  of  soldiers 
would  pounce  on  him  at  night  and  take  him  to  prison  at  Springfield.  For 
many  nights  thereafter  a  large  number  of  his  friends,  heavily  armed,  secreted 
themselves  in  the  barn,  outhouses  and  fence  corners  on  and  around  his  prem 
ises  fully  determined  to  resist  any  attempt  to  arrest  him  and  take  him  off  to 
a  military  prison.  Happily  no  such  attempt  was  made,  and  the  small  local 
war  cloud  passed  away.  So  acute  was  the  tension  of  popular  feeling  at  that 
time  (1863)  in  Cass  and  some  of  the  adjoining  counties  dominated  by  the 
democrats,  that  the  arrest  by  military  authority  of  any  member  of  the   party 


-395- 

of  Dt.  Christy ''s  prominence  would  surely  have  precipitated  very  serions 
trouble.  In  his  case  tliere  was  a  strong  personal  following  to  be  reckoned 
with  apart  from  sympathies  engendered  by  the  war. 

One  of  the  most  successful  money  makers  of  Cass  county  in  years  past  wa& 
one  of  Virginia's  west  end  merchants  whO'  often  said — without  blushing— 
that  his  inflexible  rule  in  business  was  to  deal  vv  ith  everyone  as  if  dealing  with 
a  known  thief;  that  is,  reposing  confidence  in  no  one.  Dr.  Christy's  business- 
rule^f  he  had  any— was  exactly  the  reverse  of  that.  With  unquestioning: 
faith  in  humamty  he  regarded  all  mankind  worthy  of  confidence,  and  trusted 
everyone  implicitly.  No  one  applied  to  him  for  assistance  in  vain.  His  char- 
ity was  spontatieous  and  unstinted.  He  made  no  discrimination  of  party,, 
creed,,  or  social  condition  where  he  could  relieve  suffering  by  his  medical  skill,. 
or  m^itigate  the  miseries  of  the  unfo.itunate  with  pecuniary  or  material  aid. 
His  rough  exterior  concealed  the  refi'nement  of  benevolence  and  the  tenderest 
sympathies.  He  was  one  of  those  friends  whom  it  is  always  a  pleasure  tO' 
meet,  thorooghly  candid  and  reliable  in  all  thingSi  and  a  p-hy&ician  who  dis- 
pelled the  gloom  of  despair  with  the  sunlight  of  hope  and  confidence.  There 
was  no  doubt  of  the  genuines&of  liis  welcome  by  those  who  visited  his  home. 
His  prodigal  hospitality  affoi'ded  free  eatertainment  for  all  who  called  on  him, 
as  long  as- they  chose  to  stay. .  Besides  his  large  family  there  were  few  meals 
served  there  without  some — often  many— guests  at  his  table. 

Dr.  Chris-ty  styled  himself  a  Universaiist;  but  whether  or  not  he  had  ev- 
er formally  joined  tlmt  sect  is  now  not  known.  He  believed  in  immortality 
of  the  soul,  in.  universal  salvation,  that  tlie  future  life  would  P'l'ove  to-  all  aui 
immeasurable  improvement  upon  present  existerioe,  with  tlie  logical  corollary 
that  the  dogma  of  eternal'  future  punishment  was  monstroixs  and  an  insult  tO' 
the  AlmigJity.  He  made  no  pretensions- to  piety,  seldom  wen-t  to  church,  and) 
did  not  particularly  select  ministers  of  the  Gospel  for  associates,  tliougli  lie 
treated  them-  with  respect  and  very  rarely  criticised  their  religious  beliefs.  It 
is  accepted  as  true  that  the  individual  without  some  vices,  as  a  rule,,  has  but 
few  virtues;,  in  other  words,  the  rigidly  righteous- are  not  exempt  from  faults,, 
as  no  person  is  altogether  perfect.  Dr.  Christy  was  rvot  an  exceptior>  to  that 
rule.  He  took  a  drink  of  whiskey  v<fith  a  friend  now  and  then^  used  tobaccO' 
freely^  and  occas-ionally  i-n- conversation  uttered  certain  profane  expleti-ves  and) 
phrases  not  usually  heard  in  prayer  meetings.  But  notwithstanding  those 
infirmities  of  the  flesh,  he  was  a  moral,  honorable,,  and  noble  man^  of  pure- 
character,  infin-itely  better  and  more  valued  in  a  community  tl^n  ali  its  cant- 
ing hypocrites  or  grasping  Shylocks.  It  is  not  a  wonder  that  Dr.  Christy  was. 
held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem,  by  all  who  knew  him-;  nor  is  it  strange- 
that  he  failed  to  get  rich. 

Unfortunatel»y  for  Dr.  Christy,  politics- became  his  ruling  passion  f&r  sev- 
eral years  at  the  best  period  of  his  life.  All  through  the  civil  war.  and  for 
several  years  before  it  the  momentous  political  issues  and  events  that 
threateiied  the  permanency  of  the  Uuion  occupied  his- mind  to  the  exclusion' 
of  personal  matters  of  more  immediate  importance  He  was  not  an  orator  and) 
was  not  regarded  as  a  pernicious  or  aggressive  partisian;  but  was  simply  in- 
fatuated witii  the  discussion  of  political  principles  and  their  results.  In  al} 
that  time  the  CMcafifo  Times,  conducted  by  Wilbur  W.  Storey,  was  his  vade- 
mecum  and  inspiration.     He  quoted  it  oix  all  occasions,  and  when,  visiting  the- 


-  396  - 

sick,  after  making-  his  prescription,  iie  would  draw  from  his  pocket  the  latest 
number  of  the  Times  and  zealously  comment  upon  its  sensational  news  and  in- 
flammatory editorials.  Tliat  that  course  continued  so  long-  in  the  same  com- 
munity without  disruption  of  friendly  relations  is  undoubted  proof  of  his 
strong  hold  upon  public  esteem,  and  of  his  own  freedom  from  persona^ 
malevolence. 

About  the  time  the  war  was  drawing  to  its  close  Dr.  Christy  seems  to 
liave  taken  a  calm  retrospective  view  of  his  career  in  Cass  county,  and  real- 
ized that  it  was  a  failure.  He  was  no  better  otf  in  finances  than  he  was  wlien 
he  came  into  the  county  in  1849.  Flis  aspirations  for  political  advancement— 
if  he  had  any— were  effectually  dissipated.  His  family  was  large,  and  none 
of  them  yet  self-sustaining.  Verging  upon  52  years  of  age  he  saw  that  the 
beginning  of  old  age  was  not  far  distant,  and  it  behooved  him  to  make  some 
substantial  preparation  for  it.  And  above  all  other  considerations  was  the 
constant  soul-racking  burden  of  his  profession  which  he  longed  to  lay  down. 
For  years  weary  of  its  dismal  drudgery,  it  had  become  positively  repugnant' 
and  intolerable.  And  well  he  knew  that  he  could  not  escape  it  so  long  as  he 
remained  wliei'e  he  was,  wliile  to  continue  the  practice  in  that  frame  of  mind, 
lie  felt,  was  injustice  to  his  patrons.  Viewing  his  situation  in  all  its  aspects 
he  concluded  to  sell  his  land,  and  uiove  to  the  west  where  land  was  cheap  and 
opportunities  for  his  children  in  the  battle  of  life  were  more  favorable 
than  in  Central  Illinois,  and  by  that  change  he  would  be  enabled  to  retire 
from  the  oractice  of  medicine  as  a  compulsory  avocation. 

Accordingly,  he  sold  his  farm  to  iiis  stanch  friend  and  neighbor,  Wm. 
INTains.  settled  up  his  outstanding  business,  and  left  Cass  county,  with  his 
family  of  wile,  four  sons  and  four  daughters,  in  the  fall  of  ISfio  for  the  state 
of  Iowa.  Traveling  overland  wlrh  teams,  they  arrived  in  due  time  in  Mills 
county  near  the  southwest  corner  of  thatstate.  There  the  Doctor  purchased  a 
tract  of  land  near  the  present  town  of  Silver  City,  where  for  twenty-two 
years  he  followed  the  uneventful  occupation  of  a  farmer.  For  several  years 
of  that  time  he  worked  hard  as  an  ordinary  farm  laborer:  he  plowed  and 
sowed,  planted  corn,  hoed  the  garden,  and  made  a  hand  in  the  harvest  field. 
He  raised  hogs  and  cattle,  bought  corn  and  fed  cattle  for  others.  lie  set  out 
an  orchard  of  fruit  trees,  made  additions  to  his  buildings,  and  otherwise  im" 
proved  his  farm.  That  region  was  yet  too  thinly  settled  to  induce  the  usual 
intlux  of  phvsicians,  the  whole  county  having  but  three  or  four.  "A  bird 
never  tlias  .so  far  but  that  liis  tail  follows  him,"  is  a  homely  old  adage  very 
applicable  to  Dr.  Christy;  for  it  was  soon  known  there  that  he  was  a  superior 
physician  liaving  many  years  of  experience,  and  he  was  pressed  into  the  .ser- 
vice despite  his  reluctance  and  earnest  protests.  For  a  few  years  he  treated 
emergency  cases,  and  attended  some  of  his  neighbors  through  attacks  of 
fever,  until  gladly  relieved  by  the  location  of  a  Doctor  nearby.  That  ended 
his  medical  career,  excepting  to  occasionally  consult  vyith  a  professional 
friend  as  an  act  of  courtesy. 

He  still  maintained  considerable  Interest  in  politics,  however,  only  as  an 
observer  and  critic  of  public  atfaiis.  If  yet  there  dwelt  in  his  thouglits  a 
lingering  ambition  for  political  preferment  the  overwhelming  Republican 
majority  in  his  adopted  county  and  state— fortunately  for  liim— summarily 
squelched  it.   In  1870,  with  his  brother  John,  who  still  resided  in  Cass  county 


-397- 

(111.),  he  visited  their  birth  place  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  combining" 
recreation  with  the  object  of  getting  their  portion  of  the  paternal  estate,  a 
modest,  but  very  welcome  sum,  to  both.  About  187.3  Mrs.  Christy,  who  had 
invariably  enjoyed  sound  health,  became  painfully  aware  of  a  small  mammary 
tumor  which  soon  proved  of  cancerous  type.  Developing  rapidly  and 
resisting  all  remedies  applied,  the  Doctor  took  her,  in  1874,  to  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania, her  native  home,  where  an  eminent  surgeon  of  that  city  extirpated  the 
entire  malignant  growth  with  apparent  success.  The  wound  iiealed,  and  all 
went  well  with  her  for  a  few  years;  but  in  1878  tlie  trouble  reappeared — as  is 
the  history  of  all  such  cases.  All  resources  of  the  medical  art  failed  to  sub- 
due it,  and  the  merciless  disease  slowly  but  steadily  progressed  with  excruci- 
ating torture  to  exhaust  her  vitality,  until  death  terminated  her  suffering  on 
the  20th  of  November,  1879,  at  the  age  of  61  years.  She  was  very  intelligent, 
well  educated,  energetic,  and  quite  domestic  in  tastes;  the  counterpart  of  the 
Doctor  in  amiable  disposition,  benevolence,  charity  and  kindness;  possessing 
in  high  degree  all  the  admirable  qualities  constituting  the  best  type  of 
womanhood.  A  little  later  Death  claimed  anotiier  member  of  the  family- 
Mary,  the  eldest  daugliter,  who  had  inherited  all  the  charming  and  noble 
traits  of  her  parents,  was  suddenly  taken  away  in  the  morning  of  life  and  laid 
in  the  grave. 

As  the  years  passed  Dr.  Christy  forsook  manual  labor,  passing  the  long 
dreary  winters  in  reading,  and  with  his  neighbors,  and  the  summers  in  sup- 
ervising his  farm,  looking  after  his  garden  and  poultry,  and  visiting  his 
friends  in  the  nearby  towns,  in  Nebraska,  and  once  or  twice  in  Illinois.  lie 
was  considerably  interested  in  Masonic  work,  and  in  the  farmers'  "Grange" 
movement  of  those  days.  Soon  after  their  arrival  in  Iowa  his  children  began 
to  disperse  and  look  out  for  themselves,  some  of  the  boys  and  girls  engaging 
in sciiool  teaching,  and  otliers  in  various  self-supporting  pursuits,  so  that 
after  Mrs.  Christy's  death  but  one  girl  and  one  or  two  of  the  boys  remained 
to  keep  house  for  him.  From  the  date  of  liis  settlement  in  Iowa  he  was  sub- 
ject to  frequent  attacks  of  rheumatism,  and  now  and  then  of  indigestion;  but 
continued  otlierwise  in  robust  health,  with  active  habits,  and  average  weigiit 
of  200  pounds.  As  a  financier  he  was  not  more  successful  in  Iowa  than  he  had 
been  in  Illinois.  He  had  as  many  friends  there  to  feed,  to  loaw  money  to,  and 
to  assist  in  many  ways,  as  lie  had  iiere;  and  there  were  as  many  tliere  as  liere 
to  abuse  iiis  hospitality  and  kind-liearted  generosity.  As  he  had  done  in  Cass 
county,  iie  sold  part  of  his  land  to  pay  his  debts  and  secure  liis  eighty  acre 
home  place,  but  lie  paid  every  obligation  in  full,  and  discharged  every  duty 
incumbent  upon  him  with  conscientious  fidelity. 

Always  an  early  riser,  he  arose  before  the  sun  on  the  morning  of  his  74tli 
birthday  anniversary.  May  0,  1887,  apparently  in  the  best  of  health  and  spirits. 
After  his  usual  diversion  of  feeding  the  calves,  pigs  and  chickens  he  sat  down 
in  his  arm  chair  to  look  over  the  latest  newspaper,  received  the  evening  be- 
fore. Having  gone  through  its  pages  to  his  satisfaction  he  remarked,  "Well, 
I  guess  it  is  about  time  I  was  getting  ready  for  breakfast,"  as  he  had  saun- 
tered out— as  was  his  custom  in  warm  weather — without  vest  or  coat.  Lay- 
ing aside  his  newspaper  he  was  in  the  act  of  rising  up  from  the  chair  when, 
without  a  gasp  or  a  groan,  he  fell  to  the  fioor,  dead.  He  was  followed  to  the 
grave  by  almost  the  entire  community,  to  pay  him  their  last  mournful  tribute 
of  respect  and  affection,  and  was  buried,  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  by  the 
side  of  his  wife  and  daughter  who  had  preceded  him. 


COUNTRY  GRAVEYARDS. 

Number    Nine. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 
TKe  L.  B.  Freeman  Oraveyard. 

MR.  L.  B.  Freeman  was  a  very  early  settler;  on  the  30t)i  day  of  June, 
1830,  he  entered  the  north  half  of  the  north  west  quarter  of  section  2, 
township  17,  range  10,  and  four  months  later  entered  the  remainder  of 
the  quarter  section  and  upon  this  land  he  established  a  comfortable  home  for 
himself  and  family,  upon  which  he  lived  to  a  good  old  age.  On  the  north  end 
of  the  farm  upon  a  ridge  in  a  grove  of  timber,  in  the  montli  of  September, 
1835,  the  year  before  the  town  of  Virginia  was  platted,  he  buried  a  daughter. 
Pari  lee,  aged  6  years,  6  months  and  (i  days;  this  was  the  first  burial  at  this 
place.  Other  members  of  the  Freeman  family  were  here  buried,  but  later, 
were  removed  to  the  Walnut  Ridge  cemetery.  In  the  Freeman  burial  ground 
was  buried  William  J.  Cox,  a  grandson  of  L.  B.  Freeman  who  died  on  August 
31,  18(19,  at  the  age  of  2(5  years.  Will  Cox,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  a 
young  man  who  liad  many  friends;  he  was  attacked  with  consumption,  and 
after  a  long  and  hard  battle  was  overcome  by  that  scourge  of  the  human  race. 
Casper  Magel,  of  this  city,  was  a  close  friend  of  Will  Cox,  and  was  with  him 
for  much  of  the  time  during  his  last  illness  About  the  year  1876,  Jeremiah 
Cox,  the  fattier  of  William,  purchased  a  lot  at  Walnut  Ridge  cemetery  and  to 
tliis  lot  he  removed  the  remains  of  his  son,  and  connected  with  tliis  removal 
Mr.  Magel  tells  a  startling  story. 

Spiritualists  tell  us,  that  our  departed  friends  complain,    wlien  their  re- 
mains are  disturbed,  but  so  many  of  these  spiritualistic  statements  are  so 
absurd,  that  sensible  people  pay  very  little  attention  to  any  of  them.      The 
iuiuiortal  Shakespeare  is  said  to  liave  written  his  own  epitaph  in  these  words: 
"Good  friend,  for  Jesus'  sake  forbear. 

To  dig  the  dust  enclos-ed  here 
Blest  be  the  man  who  spares  these  stones, 
And  cursed  be  he  that  moves  my  bones  " 

On  a  certain  Thursday  night  Mr.  Magel  had  a  dream  or  a  vision  in  which 
William  Cox  appeared  to  him  and  said:  "Casper,  they  have  moved  my  body 
and  I  do  not  like  it  a  bit."  On  the  following  Sabbath  afternoon,  while  wan- 
dering about  in  Walnut  Ridge  cemetery,  to  his  great  surprise  he  came  upon 
the  grave  and  monument  of  Will  Cox,  which  had  been  removed  there  a  few 
days  before.  As  Mr.  Magel  had  not  heard  of  this  event,  the  thought  of  the 
vision  immediately  came  to  him,  and  he  certainly  has  reason  to  maintain  that 
this  fact  in  his  experience  is  a  very  remarkable  one. 

The  other  recorded  deaths  in  this  graveyard  are  the  following: 

James  Stevenson,  died  Feb.  8,  1842.  aged  1  year,  4  months.  13  days. 


-399- 

Louisa  Stevenson,  died  Sept.  17,  1849,  aged  5  years,  4  months,  5  days. 

Children  of  Samuel  and  Amanda  Stevenson.  These  stones  are  broken 
down. 

John  Deweber,  died  January  26,  1849,  aged  65  years. 

Margaret  T.,  wife  of  J.  Deweber,  died  Jan.  24,  1855,  aged  69  vears. 

Willburn  R.,  son  of  J.  G.,  and  G.  C.  Shelby,  died  March  25,  1859,  aged  3 
years,  22  days. 

George  A.,  son  of  S.  and  E.  J.  Deweber,  died  Feb.  1,  1855,  aged  5  months, 
21  days. 

Amos  A.  Z.  M.,  consort  of  Martha  Deweber,  died  Nov.  1,  1850,  aged  25 
years,  2  months,  1.^  days. 

Emily  A.,  daughter  of  S.  and  E.  J.  Deweber,  died  April  29,  1853,  aged  2 
years. 

Benjamin  T.  Deweber,  died  Nov.  26,  1855,  aged  48  years. 

Lily  A.,  daughter  of  I.  H.,  and  C.  J.  Pauley,  died  Feb.  15,  1858,  aged  6 
months,  6  days. 

George  Hartman,  died  Dec.  19,  1854,  aged  28  years,  8  months,  14  days. 
Born  in  Pennsylvania. 

Hyman  W.,  son  of  G.  and  D.  Elartmann  died  Januarv  28,  1855.  aged  1  year, 
2  months,  26  days. 

Delilah,  wife  of  Geo.  Hartmann,  died  Feb.  22,  1855,  aged  23  years,  11 
months,  12  days.     Born  in  Pennsylvania. 

THE  LEVI  SPRINGER  GRAVEYARD. 

Rev.  Levi  Springer  was  a  very  early  settler.  On  July  11,  1827,  lie  bought 
of  Rev.  Reddick  Horn  a  part  of  Sec  12,  T  17,  R  10,  which  Mr.  Horn  entt-reil  its 
1826.  In  18.30,  Mr.  Springer  entered  80  acres  more  in  same  Section  and  to  this 
he  added  120  acres  in  1835,  which  altogether  made  a  large  and  valuable  farm. 
on  which  he  resided  to  the  date  of  his  death  in  1871. 

On  February  19,  1851,  his  wife  Elizabeth,  died  at  the  age  of  45  years;  her 
husband  buried  her  in  the  grove  near  iiis  house  on  tlie  Springer  farm.  In 
September,  1854,  Wesley  Plummer,  who  came  here  from  Kentucky  aboiit  two 
years  before,  who  was  living  on  a  farm  near  Philadelphia,  in  this  county,  be- 
lieving he  was  near  the  end  of  his  life,  sent  for  Mr.  Springer  to  come  to  his 
home.  Upon  his  arrival  the  dying  man  requested  Mr.  S.  to  allow  Ijis  body  to 
be  buried  upon  the  Springer  farm,  which  request  was  cheerfully  granted. 
The  .same  year,  1854,  Stephen  Chilton,  who  came  from  the  Plummer  neiglibor- 
hood  in  Kentuckv  lost  two  of  his  children,  and  he  was  allowed  lo  bury  his 
dead  there.  Last  fall  this  burial  place  was  in  a  shameful  condition.  The 
names  of  the  dead  there  buried  are  recorded  as  follows: 

G.  W.  Rosson  Co  A.  (iHth  Illinois. 

J.  N.  Rosson  Co.  G.  4<)th  Iowa  Infantry. 

Luther  M.  Outten  died  December  9,  1862,  aged  46  years. 

Mary  L.,  daughter  of  Luther  M.  and  L.  J.  Outten,  died  February  20,  1857, 
aged  1  year,  5  months,  !>  days. 

Wesley  Plummer  died  September  24,  1854,  aged  49  years  10  months  13days. 
Tiie  large  slab  which  had  been  erected  to  mark  this  grave  was  lying  upon  the 
ground  with  the  inscribed  side  buried  in  the  earth. 

Thomas  M.,  .son  of  S.fand  S.  A.  Chilton,  died  October  29,  1854  aged  7,  years 


-  hOO  - 

1  day. 

Infant  son  of  S.  and  S.  A.  Chilton,  died  Dec.  7,  1854,  aged  I  year,  4  months. 

Levi  Springer,  son  of  W.  P.  and  A.  L.  McClure  died  on  November  12,  1851, 
aged  4  years,  8  montlis,  4  days. 

Louisa  C,  daughter  of  J.  M.  and  A.  F.  Beadles,  died  August  21,  185.5, 
aged  2  years  10  months,  14  days. 

Mary  A.,  daughter  J.  M.  and  A.  F.  Beadles  died  October  4,  1871,  aged 
12  years,  7  months,  12  days. 

Amanda  F.,  wife  of  J.  M.  Beadles,  died  February  6,  1872,  aged  45  years, 
3  months,  18  days. 

James  M.  Beadles,  died  February  2,  1874,  aged  .57  years,  3  months,  23  days. 

Susan,  wife  of  J.  Metzmaker,  born  .July  3,  180(i,  died  December  1,  1872, 
aged  H5  years,  4  months,  28  days.  Tliis  slab  laid  upon  the  ground,  inscribed 
side  down. 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Levi  Springer,  born  April  27,  179(i,  died  February  19, 
1851. 

Rev.  Levi  Springer  died  November  13,  1871,  aged  74  years,  9  months, 
21  days. 

.lames  B.,  son  of  S.  A.  and  S.  E.  Chilton,  died  October  5,  1>!()5,  aged  1  year 
1  month. 

Last  fall,  when  this  yard  was  visited,  there  was  a  fence  arouud  a  few 
graves  of  members  of  the  Chilton  family.  All  the  other  graves  were  exposed 
t,o  the  trampling  of  animals  who  were  then  in  the  tract  of  timber  pasture  in 
wliich  those  dead  bodies  lie. 

Reverend  Levi  Springer  was  the  tirst  resident  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  this  county.  Rev.  Reddick  Horn  who  preceded  him  here, 
was  a  clergyman  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  church.  Reverend  Springer 
was  an  excellent  man  and  a  very  zealous  Methodist;  he  travelled  far  and  near 
to  hold  religious  services  in  the  log  cabins  of  the  early  settlers.  In  1855,  the 
lir.st  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  erected  in  Virginia  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  the  intersection  of  Morgan  and  Springfield  streets.  It  was  an  ele- 
gant church  for  a  town  of  the  size  of  Virginia  at  that  date,  and,  in  fact,  was 
a  good  substantial  commodious  building.  The  erection  of  this  church,  at  that 
time,  was  due  to  the  unusual  effort  of  Levi  Springer.  The  membership  was 
so  poor  that  only  one  hundred  dollars  per  year  and  board  could  be  raised  for 
the  regular  pastor  live  years  later.  Mr.  Springer  contributed  so  liberally  to 
the  building  of  this  church  as  to  become  financially  embarassed:  from  this 
embarrassment  he  never  recovered,  and  died  in  debt,  his  executor  selling  a 
part  of  his  estate  in  1872  to  satisfy  his  creditors.  The  stone  that  was  erected 
to  mark  the  last  resting  place  of  this  good  man  lies  broken  in  fragments. 
The  membership  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Virginia  ought  to 
erect  to  the  memory  of  this  pioneer  founder  of  their  local  organization,  a  sub- 
stantial monument  in  Walnut  Ridge  Cemetery,  and  the  city  council  of  Vir- 
ginia will  doubtless  be  glad  to  contribute  to  this  worthy  object  by  donating 
an  eligible  site  for  such  a  monument. 


1  \  ^  / 

JOHN  E.  HASKELL.  Q^Piyi^. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 

THE  facts  concerning  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  furnished  me  by  his 
son,  Charles  I.  Haskell,  deputy  sheriff  of  Cass  county,  Illinois.    J.  N.  G. 
John  E.  Haskell  was  born  in  Thomaston,  in  the  state  of  Maine,   on 
the  1st  day  of  February,  in  the  year  1812. 

The  town  of  Princeton,  Morgan  county,  was  laid  out  on  the  19th  day  of 
February,  1833,  by  John  G.  Bergen  who  was  a  cousin  of  Jacob  F.  Bergen  a 
former  well  known  resident  of  Cass  county.  This  town  was  located  on  tbe 
east  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  Sec.  .36  T  17  R  10  now  in  Cass  county. 

Harvey  Beggs  and  Charles  Brady 
in  1834  advertised  in  a  newspaper  of 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  for  a  foreman 
to  operate  a  woolen  mill  in  Princeton, 
Illinois.  This  notice  chanced  to  meet 
the  eye  of  John  E.  Haskell,  and  after 
a  brief  correspondence  with  Beggs  and 
Brady.  Mr.  Haskell,  then  a  young  man 
22  years  old  came  from  the  far  away 
old  Pine  Tree  State  to  the  Illinois 
wilds  and  began  work  in  the  Prince- 
^on  woolen  mill.  This  was  in  the 
spring  of  1835,  and  tlie  following  year 
he  purchased  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Beggs  in  the  business  and  returned  to 
Maine  to  get  the  necessary  money. 

He  returned  to  Illinois  in  the 
spring  of  1837,  t'^aveling  all  the  long 
distance  on  a  pony  with  a  faithful 
Newfoundland  dog  as  his  companion, 
and  this  animal  coiiti.iued  to  live 
with  his  young  master  for  a  period  of 
twelve  years  thereafter. 


THE  LATE  JOHN  E    HASKELL. 


In  1840,  John  E.  Haskell  removed  this  woolen  mill  from  t.he  town  of 
Princeton  to  the  town  of  Virginia  then  four  years  of  age  purchasing  of  its 
proprietor.  Dr.  Henry  II.  Hall,  lot  117  of  said  town  which  lot  is  ISOfeetsquare 
being  the  lot  on  which  the  ice  house  of  William  Clifford  is  now  located. 

The  building  constructed  upon  this  lot  was  forty-four  feet  square,  two 
stories  high:  the  tread  wheel  with  arms  twenty  and  a  half  feet  long  being 


-  ^02  - 

located  on  the  ground  floor,  tlie  upper  space  being-  used  for  storage.  Horses, 
steers  and  cows  were  used  as  motive  power  to  turn  the  wheel,  and  the  busi- 
ness, under  the  excellent  management  of  Mr.  Haskell  proved  to  be  a  decided 
success,  as  a  financial  enterprise. 

When  he  first  came  to  the  town  of  Virginia  he  became  a  boarder  in  the 
home  of  Ciiarles  Brady  who  lived  on  lot  108,  afterward  the  L.  S.  Allard  prop- 
erty, and  now  owned  by  Mrs.  S.  C.  Gatton.  In  1842,  Mr.  Haskell  bought  the 
interest  of  Chas.  Brady  in  the  woolen  mill  and  in  the  month  of  September  of 
the  same  year  he  married  his  daugiiter,  Emmeline  Brady,  when  lie  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  They  began  their  housekeeping  in  the  liouse  on  lot  y.'>  in  Vir- 
ginia, which  has  been  since  rebuilt  and  now  owned  by  the  Cosner  heirs.  In 
this  house  in  September,  1845,  their  oldest  living  child,  Charles  I.  Haskell 
was  born.  A  short  time  afterward,  the  family  removed  to  a  house  on  lots 
70  and  71  in  this  town,  now  owned  by  Lee  Skiles,  then  owned  by  John  E. 
Haskell,  and  in  the  year  18.55,  he  purchased  the  Samuels  property,  lots  1  and  2 
in  the  Public  Ground  addition,  which  was  built  by  John  and  Mark  Buckley 
for  Samuels  in  1838  where  the  family  continued  to  make  tlieir  home  until  the 
death  of  Mr.  Haskell. 

In  1851,  he  started  back  to  Maine  to  visit  his  friends  and  relatives,  ac- 
companied by  his  wife  and  son  Charles. 

The  only  railroad  these  travelers  passed  over  in  making  this  long  journey 
was  from  Jacksonville  to  the  Illinois  river,  constructed  by  nailing  strap  iron 
on  stringers  of  wood,  the  cars  being  propelled  by  horses  or  mules,  and  in  some 
places  oxen  were  used  for  switching  the  cars.  Boats  and  stage  coaches  were 
the  ordinary  means  of  transportation  in  those  days. 

On  May  1,1847.  Dr.  Hall  sold  and  conveyed  to  John  E.  Haskell  eleven 
acres  of  land  then  adjoining  tiie  Town  Plat  on  the  sourh  extending  from  Mor- 
gan street  on  the  west  to  Main  street  on  the  east  for  $180.  Mr.  Haskell  had 
the  good  sense  to  hold  on  to  this  land  so  long  as  he  lived,  and  after  his  death 
it  was  platted  into  the  Haskell  Addition  to  the  town  by  his  heirs  and  is  now 
covered  with  neat  and  comfortable  homes,  Charles  I.  Haskell  owning  one  of 
them. 

Politically  the  subject  of  this  skbtch  was  a  whig  up  to  1858,  when  lie  be- 
came a  Douglas  Democrat  and  remained  a  staunch  adherent  to  Democracy 
until  his  death.  Fle  tilled  the  otflce  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  some  thirty 
years,  and  was  known  far  and  wide  as  one  of  the  best  of  tlie  county;  he  fre- 
quetitly  boa.sted  that  he  never  made  a  decision,  which  was  afterward  reversed 
by  a  higher  court.  He  died  at  his  home  in  this  city  on  Sept.  ?>0.  1876,  at  tlie 
age  of  04  years  and  8  months.  There  were  born  to  him  seven  children,  four 
of  them  dying  in  infancy;  his  wife  and  the  remaining  three  survived  him. 
His  widow  died  at  the  residence  of  her  brother,  .John  T.  Ih-ady.  in  Pomona, 
Califort\ia,  in  190.3,  and  her  remains  were  returned  here  to  Walnut  Ridge  cem- 
etery where  they  lie  by  her  husband  and  infant  children.  The  daughter,  Mrs. 
Adelia  M.  Dutrield,  resides  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  William  Haskell  lives 
in  Ivansas. 

Charles  I.  Haskell,  Robert  Hall  and  Eliza  (Murray)  Jacobs  are  now  the 
oldest  native  born  residents  of  this  city.  The  first  named  has  seen  wild  deer 
standing  on  the  spot  the  court  house  now  occupies;  he  remembers  when  the 
lands  immediately  east  of  here,  now  worth  a  hundred  and  thirty  dollars   per 


-403- 

acre  were  worthless  frog  ponds  knee  deep  in  mud  and  water  in  the  spring" 
time.  He  remembers  when  the  only  occupied  farms  between  here  and 
Springfield,  were  those  of  Job,  Walker,  Harrison,  Peter  Cartwriglit  and  Bone. 
The  first  settler  in  this  section  was  Archibald  Job,  who  lived  and  died  on  his 
farm  three  or  four  miles  east  of  this  city— now  owned  by  Oswell  Skiles. 

In  the  year  1785,  the  mother  of  John  E.  Haskell  emigrated  to  America, 
bringing  with  her  a  gold  watch,  which  she  willed  to  her  son  at  her  death;  this 
valuable  heirloom  has  been  passed  down  the  line,  and  is  now  in  possession  of 
John,  the  son  of  Charles  I.  Haskell,  and  still  keeps  a  faithful  record  of  Time 
the  "Tomb  Builder." 


THOMAS  BEARD. 


BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 

FOR  the  material  used  in  the  preparation  of  this  slcetchthe  writer  is  in- 
debted to  Miss  Minerva  Collins,  of  Petersburg,  Illinois,  a  niece  of  the 
subject  of  the  sketck,  and  to  Mrs.  Annie  Beard  Blood,  of  Chicago,  Illinois, 
a  granddaughter  of  Thomas  Beard. 

The  grandfather  of  Thomas  Beard  was  Amos  Beard,  of  Massachusetts, 
who  served  as  a  soldier  for  seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  oldest 
son  of  Amos  Beard  and  Hannah  (Needham)  Beard,  named  Jedediah,  was  born 
in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  on  September  24,  1764.  This  boy  was  the 
main  dependence  of  his  mother  and  his  six  brothers  and  sisters  while  the 
husband  and  father  was  fighting  to  free  the  American  colonies  from  the  op- 
pression of  Great  Britian.  Near  the  close  of  the  war  the  anxious  and  care- 
worn mother  died,  and  the  patriot  husband  and  father  returned  to  his  desolate 
home  and  to  his  motherless  children.  To  better  his  condition  he  removed  his 
family  to  Granville,  Washington  county,  New  York,  where  certain  of  his 
relatives  were  tlien  living. 

On  December  1,  1793,  at  Granville,  Jedediah  Beard  married  Charlotte,  a 
daughter  of  Jolin  Nichols,  who  was  born  in  Vermont.  Of  this  marriage,  on 
December  4,  1794,  Thomas  Beard,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born,  in 
Granville. 

In  17!»8,  Amaziah  Beard,  a  brother  of  Jedediah.  removed  with  his  family 
from  Grativllle,  Washington  county,  New  York,  to  the  "Western  Reserve"  in 
Ohio,  and  sent  back  so  glowing  an  account  of  the  advantages  in  that  country 
tiiat  Jedediah  wished  to  follow  him  but  his  wife,  Charlotte,  was  so  reluctant 
to  leave  New  York  that  he  deferred  tlie  time  of  his  migration  until  tiie  fol- 
lowing year,  1800,  when  (several  other  families  agreeing  to  accompany  them) 
they  set  out  for  tlie Dew  home  near  the  soutliern  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 

They  began  the  journey  on  the  first  day  of  the  year  and  the  season  being 
so  severe  and  the  fatigue  of  the  journey  so  great,  most  of  the  party  halted  at 
Northeast  Tennsyl-yania,  and  refusing  to  proceed  further  settled  at  that  place. 
Jedediah  Beard,  with  his  wife  and  their  three  children,  tiie  youngest  a  babe 
in  arms,  pressed  onward  Oh  liorseback.  Mrs.  Beard  became  ill  on  the  way 
and  a  iialt  was  made  foi'  a  time,  until  she  so  far  recovered  her  strength  as  to 
enable  her  to  proceed.  For  a  portion  of  the  way  there  was  only  a  bridle  path 
for  a  road.  The  father  led  one  horse,  with  Thomas  and  his  little  sister 
clinging  to  the  animal,  while  the  mother  with  the  babe  in  her  arms  brought 
up  the  rear  upon  another  horse.  The  brother  came  but  to  meet  them  with  an 
ox  team  and  tlie  party  finally  arrived  at  their  destination  at  Barton,  on  the 


-405- 

west  bank  of  the  Cuyahoga  river,  on  May  4,  1800.  Here,  on  October  17,  1800, 
Jedediah  Beard  purchased  Lot  27,  in  the  town  of  Barton,  having  previously 
bought  a  mill  property  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river.  On  this  lot,  in  a  double 
log  cabin,  the  Beard  family  began  their  home  life  in  the  Western  Reserve, 
among  forests,  wild  animals  and  wild  Indians.  Thomas  Beard's  father  be- 
came a  very  busy  man,  being  the  owner  of  the  only  saw  and  grist  mill  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  prospered  after  a  pioneer  fashion.  He  was  desirous  that 
his  children  should  not  grow  up  in  ignorance  and  as  tliere  was  no  school  in  his 
wild  home  he  required  them  to  study  at  home,  giving  them  such  assistance  as 
he  could,  the  mill-hands  joining  in  the  effort  to  increase  their  knowledge.  A 
few  years  later,  Thomas  and  his  eldest  sister  were  sent  to  Conneaut,  Ohio,  to 
attend  a  private  school  kept  by  a  teacher  named  Robinson,  who  prepared 
young  people  to  enter  an  academy,  and  under  this  instructor  Thomas  Beard 
made  rapid  progress  in  his  studies.  Later,  he  attended  an  academy  where  he 
studied  history,  mathematics,  surveying  and  other  branches  of  learning. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  1812,  Jedediah  Beard  became  a  sol- 
dier, following  the  footsteps  of  his  father  before  him;  was  chosen  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  the  1st  Regiment  of  the  4th  Brigade  and  4th  Division  of  the  Ohio 
State  militia,  and  in  March.  181,3,  took  the  command  of  the  regiment,  and  re- 
ported at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Col.  Beard  left  behind  him  his  wife  and  their  nine 
children,  the  youngest  a  babe.  Thomas,  the  eldest  child,  then  a  sturdy  lad 
of  19  years  took  the  place  of  his  father,  and  with  the  aid  of  the  mother  cared 
well  for  the  family  until  the  leturn  of  the  ftither  immediately  after  Perry's 
victory  in  September,  1813. 

Upon  his  reaching  his  majority,  Thomas  Beard  decided  to  move  farther 
on  toward  the  setting  sun  and  acquire  a  home  of  his  own.  His  mother  was 
loth  to  part  with  him,  but  the  boy  was  so  full  of  iimbit  ion  t  liat  he  could  not 
be  restrained  but  broke  away  from  his  family  and  friends  and  set  out  to  seek 
his  fortune.  His  first  letter  to  his  parents  was  written  from  Wooster,  Ohio, 
on  December  13,  1817.  In  which  he  wrote:  "I  intend  to  start  for  the  SouMi 
Monday.  I  inti3nd  to  make  a  tour  lo  the  South  and  return  this  way.  and 
from  here  go  up  into  the  new  purchase."  The  next  letter  was  sent  from  St. 
Louis,  from  which  city  he  proceeded  to  Eduardsville,  Illinois.  Here,  while 
boarding  with  a  family  named  Dunsmore  he  became  dangerously  ill  but  was 
so  skillfully  and  faithfully  cared  for,  that  he  was  soon  restored  to  his  usual 
healthy  and  strong  condition. 

In  the  year  1819,  in  the  town  of  Edwardsville,  he  became  acquainted  wii  h 
General  Murray  McConnel,  who  lived  for  many  of  the  later  years  of  his  life 
in  Jacksonville,  Illinois.  General  McConnel  was  attracted  to  this  young 
man  of  twenty-five  years  of  age  by  his  intelligence  and  ambition.  Young 
Beard  had  heard  much  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  of  the  fertile  lands  that 
bounded  the  stream.  He  believed  that  along  this  water  course  future  towns 
arid  cities  would  be  located  and  that  its  valley  would  be  filled  with  a  rich  and 
populous  people.  The  possibilities  of  railroads  were  not  then  calculated  upon. 
Finding  that  General  McConnel  had  explored  the  valley  of  the  Illinois  to 
some  extent,  Mr.  Beard  anxiously  inquired  of  him  for  the  information  he 
wished.  General  McConnel  told  him  of  the  Kickapoo  Mounds  upon  the  Illi- 
nois just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Sangamon,  and  finally  proposed  to  go  with 
young  Beard  to  visit  the  country. 


-  406  - 

They  set  out  on  horseback;  the  distance  as  the  crow  Hew  was  almost 
one  hundred  miles,  but  as  there  were  but  few  roads  in  that  early  day  the 
travelers  struck  out,  across  the  broad  prairies,  following  streams  and  stretches 
of  woodland  bordering  them,  until  they  reached  the  Illinois  river.  Here 
they  penetrated  rmmerous  lagoons  and  swamps  and  at  the  end  of  a  week 
found  the  famous  mounds,  where  the  Indian  village  was  located  upon  the 
present  site  of  the  city  of  Beardstown.  Thomas  Beard  was  delighted  with 
what  he  saw,  and  believing  that  village  would  one  day  be  transformed  into  a 
busy  city,  lie  resolved  to  remain.  He  was  the  tirst  white  settler;  and  soon 
became  a  friend  and  a  favorite  of  the  red  men,  and  began  the  life  of  an  In- 
dian trader,  which  he  continued  for  a  number  of  years.  During  these  years, 
he  had  some  unusual  experiences.  On  one  occasion,  when  Mr.  Beard  had  but 
three  white  companions,  the  actions  of  the  Indians  aroused  their  suspicions 
that  something  was  seriously  wrong.  The  other  whites  became  greatly 
alarmed;  Mr.  Beard  remained  cool  and  endeavored  to  allay  their  fears,  but 
kept  close  watch  of  tlie  red  men  by  day  and  by  night.  At  length  the  cause  of 
the  trouble  became  known  to  them.  It  seems  that  one  of  the  Indians  had 
been  missing  for  several  days,  and  the  others  su.'^pected  that  one  or  more  of 
the  whites  had  made  way  witli  him.  They  informed  Mr.  Beard  of  their  be- 
lief and  said  they  would  give  the  whites  just  three  days  to  produce  their  com- 
rade Mr.  Beard  quietly  remarked  to  them  that  they  should  have  given  him 
this  information  earlier,  but  that  he  thought  he  could  learn  the  fate  of  the 
missing  man.  He  warned  his  companions  not  to  move  in  any  direction  un- 
less accompanied  by  an  Indian,  and  at  once  began  their  search.  In  the  even- 
ing (»f  the  tiiird  day,  they  came  upor)  the  dead  body  of  the  missing  red-skin. 
From  appearances  he  had  attempted  to  climb  into  a  leaning  tree  for  his 
gjuiie,  had  fallen  and  broken  his  neck.  An  empty  bottle  explained  the  cause 
of  the  accident,  and  the  Indians  who  had  come  upon  the  scene,  gave  expres- 
sion to  tlieir  contempt  and  anger  leaving  Mr.  Beard  and  his  relieved  com- 
panions to  bury  tlie  unfortunate  victim  of  ;the  effects  of  the  white  man's 
"Fire  water."  ........  ■. 

In  a  letter  to  his  father  he  writes: 

'Sangamon  Bay,  March  20th  1«2«>.  I  have  settled  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Illinois  river,  on  public  land,  120  miles  above  St  Louis.  My  reason  for  choos- 
ing t  his  locat  ion  is  on  account,  of  its  being  a  valuable  site  for  a  town  and  a 
ferry.     'V\\e,  <*ountry  is  settling  fast  " 

On  Soot  ember  20,  1820.  Thomas  Heard  and  Enoch  C.  March  entered  the 
fraciional  tiorlheast  quarter  of  Section  15,  iti  T.  18.  R.  12.  containing  144.45 
acres,  and  oil  October  8th  of  the  following  year  they  entered  the  fractional 
northwest  quarter  of  same  section,  containing  50.54  acres. 

On  October  10.  1827,  Tiiomas  Beard  entered  the  west  half  of  the  southwest 
(juarter  of  same  section,  containing  80  acres. 

On  September  9.  1829,  Thomas  Beard  and  Enoch  C.  March  laid  out  tiie 
original  town  of  Beard.stown,  consisting  of  twenty-one  blocks,  and  on  March  0, 
1833,  they  laid  off  an  addition  to  said  town  of  thirty-five  blocks,  which  they 
called  March  and  Beard's  addition  to  the  Town  of  Beard.stown. 

March  soon  sold  and  conveyed  his  interest  in  the  town  to  Nathaniel  A. 
Ware,  who  appointed  Francis  A,  Arenz  his  attorney,  in  fact,  authorizing  him 
to  sell  and  convey  real  estate,  lay  off  additions,  etc.         .       ,  •  ' 


-407- 

On  May  10,  1836,  Thomas  Beard  and  Francis  Arenz,  acting  for  Ware,  laid 
off  an  addition  of  thirty-six  bloclis,  which  they  called  Beard  and  Ware's  ad- 
dition to  Beardstown. 

Nathaniel  A.  Ware  sold  and  conveyed  all  his  interest  in  the  town  to 
Francis  Arenz,  and  on  July  1,  1837,  Thomas  Beard  and  Francis  Arem  laid  oft' 
an  addition  of  twenty-one  blocks,  which  they  called  Beard  and  Arenz'  addi- 
tion to  the  Town  of  Beardstown, 

In  a  letter  to  his  father  beginning:  "Beardstown,  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois, Feb.  23,  1830,  Mr.  Beard  wrote: 

"I  am  still  keeping  ferry  and  public  house.  A  part  of  my  land  I  laid  out 
in  town  lots,  which  the  people  have  given  me  the  honor  of  calling  by  my 
name.  The  place  is  improving.  There  are  now  tiiree  stores,  and  a  very  ex- 
tensive steam-mill,  capable  of  manufacturing  from  50  to  75  barrels  per  day. 
Also  a  saw  mill  and  a  distillery  attached.  I  am  now  engaged  in  building  a 
two  story  and  a  half  brick  house,  33  by  43.  This  building  prevented  my 
coming  home  last  fall,  as  I  intended.  My  iron  constitution  still  holds  good, 
though  exposed  to  every  hardship." 

The  hotel  building  mentioned  in  the  above  letter  was  erected  at  the 
northeast  corner  of  Main  and  State  streets;  on  the  State  street  side  there 
was  a  two  story  porch.  For  many  years  this  public  house  was  known  as  the 
City  Hotel.  In  later  years,  Henry  T.  Foster  removed  the  porches  and  Car- 
ried out  the  walls  to  the  State  street  line.  The  building  is  still  one  of  the 
substantial  structures  in  Beardstown,  although  more  than  seventy-seven 
years  old. 

The  ferry  across  the  Illinois  river  at  Beardstown  was  established  by 
Thomas  Beard  on  June  5,  1826.  He  obtained  a  license  to  run  it,  '  from  tiie 
county  commissioners  of  Schuyler  county  paying  the  sum  of  six  dollars  per 
year  into  the  county  treasury  of  that  county  for  the  permit.  The  ferry  was 
managed  by  Mr.  Beard  himself  for  a  time,  the  propelling  power  being  ia  pole*, 
by  means  of  whicli  the  boat  was  pushed  across  the  river.  The  boat  was  bare- 
ly sufficient  to  allow  of  the  transit  of  one  wagon  and  two  horses,  with  but  few 
passengers  standing  upon  the  edges  of  the  craft.  On  May  5th,  1836,  he  began 
the  use  of  a  boat  moved  by  horse  power  manufactured  at  Pittsburg. 

Mr.  Henry  Hull  of  this  city,  of  whom  a  sketch  may  be  found  elsewhere  in 
this  volume,  was  for  several  years  an  assistant  of  Thomas  Beard  in  the  con- 
duct of  the  business  of  this  ferry.  It  was  a  profitable  one  during  the  years 
when  the  rush  of  settlers  into  Iowa  occurred.  Beardstown  was  on  the  line  of 
the  thoroughfare  followed  by  these  emigrants  crossing  Illinois  through 
Springfield.  Oft  times  there  was  a  procession  of  emigrant  wagons  reaciiing 
from  the  east  bank  of  the  river  back  several  blocks  waiting  for  transportation  by 
Mr.  Beard's  ferry.  Mr.  Hull  says  that  in  those  busy  days  the  receipts  from 
the  ferry  business  would  amount  to  one  hundred  dollars  per  day.  In  tlie 
meantime  his  hotel  was  liberally  patronized,  and  liis  income  from  these  prop- 
erties together  with  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  his  town  lots  made  iiim  a 
well-to-do  man  in  those  days. 

On  September  3rd,  1836,  Thomas  Beard  purchased  of  the  Trustees  of 
Township  Eighteen  Range  Eleven  560  acres  of  Section  16,  being  all  of  the 
Section  except  80  acres  in  the  northeast  corner.  On  this  tine  body  of  land  he 
built  a  farm  house,  and  spent  so  much  of  his  time  as  he  could  spare  from   his 


-  408  - 

business  in  Beardstown  in  planting  orchards,  building  fences,  and  otherwise 
improving  tiie  property.  Here  he  made  his  summer  home,  driving  to  and 
from  the  town  a  distance  of  about  live  miles.  The  farm,  later,  became 
known  as  the  John  W.  Seaman  farm;  it  lies  north  of  Bluff  Springs  about  two 
miles  distant.  The  homestead  of  Thomas  Beard,  since  somewhat  improved, 
is  now  the  home  of  tiie  widow  of  Mr.  Seaman.  On  this  farm  Mr.  Beard 
selected  his  last  resting  place  a  beautiful  burial  spot  where  his  remains  and 
those  of  bis  relatives,  friends  and  neighbors  now  lie;  to  this  farm  home  he 
gladly  welcomed  a  host  of  visiting  friends,  who  thorouglily  enjoyed  the  hos- 
pitality and  companionship  of  tiiis  good  man. 

Thomas  Beard  was  a  public-spirited  man;  lie  and  his  very  intimate  friend 
.  Francis  Arenz,  built  the  tirst  schoolhouse--also  used  for  religious  services — 
and  donated  it.  It  was  a  commodious  building  of  brick,  erected  in  the  fall  of 
1832,  24  by  32  in  size.  If  it  be  said  that  these  gentlemen,  so  largely  interested 
in  the  welfare  of  tlie  town  could  well  afford  to  make  this  donation,  it  may  be 
suggested  that  precious  few  town  proprietors  in  these  later  days  make  any 
donations.  After- the  cession  of  the  three  mile  strip  to  Cass  county  and  the 
location  of  the  county  seat  of  the  county  at  Beardstown  by  the  vote  of  the 
people  Thomas  Beard  buitt  the  court  house  in  the  year  184-1:  -thie  memorable 
year  of  iiigh  water;  this  building  is  now  the  city  hall  of  Beardstown. 

Mr.  Thomas  E  Collins,  wiio  was  a  resident  of  Virginia  for  several  years, 
living  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  city,  was  a  nepfiew  of  Thomas  Beard,  He 
was  born  in  Barton.  Ohio,  on  the  13th  day  of  October,  18L8.  He  has  a  very 
distinct  recollection  of  the  remarkable  change  of  temperature  tliat  occurred 
oil  December  20,  183(j,  at  whicli  time  he  was  a  youth  of  18  years,  living  with 
ins  mother  in  a  iiouse  at  tlie  ferry  landing  opposite  Beardstown.  The  day 
was  mild;  Thomas  had  been  sent  across  the  river  by  his  mother  into  Beards- 
town, upon  an  errand;  when  he  returned  to  the  landing  and  stood  tiiere 
awaiting  tlie  return  of  the  ferry-boat,  he  noticed  little  streams  of  water 
trickling  down  from  the  melting  snow  on  the  river  bank  into  the  river. 
Tiiere  was  a  ligtit  mist  and  on  the  way  across  he  noticed  the  atmosphere  had 
suddenly  become  chilly,  and  as  soon  as  tha  boat  landed  on  the  Sciiuyler  side 
lie  liastened  homeward.  The  boat  immediately  re-crossed  tiie  river  as  pas- 
sengers were  seen  waiting  to  cross  to  tiie  Scliuyler  shore.  Upon  tiie  return 
of  the  boat,  wlieii  about  midway  in  tiie  stream,  in  an  instant  of  time,  an  in- 
tensely cold  blast  seemed  to  de.scend  upon  them.  It  was  not  accompanied  by 
a  storm,  but  was  a  sudden  drop  in  the  temperature.  Mush  ice  immediately 
formed  upon  tiie  river;  tiie  long  poles  and  oa.rs  used  in  the  propelling  of  tlie 
boat  were  at  once  encased  vvitii  ice,  making  tlie  management  of  tlie  boat  a 
matter  of  great  difficulty.  Tiie  boatmen  became  so  chilled  as  to  be  almost  en- 
tirely iielpiess;  tiiey  struggled  to  reach  the  sliore,  and  the  landing  was  tinally 
made,  some  distance  below  its  usual  destination.  Tliomas  Collins  and  his 
mother,  observing  theclblled  condition  of  the  boatmen,  liberally  replenished 
the  fire  iti  tiie  Hre-place  of  tiieir  hou.se  at  tlia  landing.  Soon  tlie  door  was 
thrown  open,  Thomas  Beard  rushed  in  exclaiming  excitedly,  "What  have 
you  got  a  tire  for;  put  it  out."  Tlie  tire  brands  were  iiurled  down  the  river 
bank;  the  boatmen  were  brought  in,  stiffened  with  cold;  snow  was  gathered 
from  tlie  shaded  places  near  tiie  liouse  and  applied  to  the  chill  and  stupefied 
men;  tills  remedy,  supplemented  witli  liquor,  administered  to  tiiem  soon   put 


-4og- 

the  sufferers  out  of  dang'er,  after  which  Mr.  Beard  used  the  same  remedies 
In  his  own  case  which  was  a  serious  one.  The  river  closed  up,  and  the  next 
morning  old  Major  Butler,  a  local  celebrity  declared  he  could  cross  the  river 
upon  the  ice.  He  made  the  attempt  but  being  a  very  heavy  man  soon  went 
down  into  the  water.  The  amused  bystanders  allowed  him  to  flounder  to 
ward  the  shore,  until  he  became  so  chilled  that  he  was  dragged  out,  and  a 
liberal  dose  of  old  Kentucky  beverage  handed  him,  which  soon  restored  him 
to  his  normal  condition.  There  was  not  a  thermometer  in  the  town  at  the 
time  but  it  is  said  that  Mr.  Jacob  Ward  was  the  owner  of  one  and  that  it 
registered  a  fall  of  40  degrees  in  10  minutes.  It  might  be  a  difficult  matter 
at  this  late  day  to  sufficiently  prove  this,  but  the  change  was  certainly  a  most- 
remarkable  one. 

In  a  very  early  day,  Galena,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  state  was 
an  important  commercial  town  and  Thomas  Beard  left  his  home  at  Beards- 
town,  afoot  and  alone,  in  the  early  part  of  a  very  cold  winter,  to  mark  out  a 
road  to  that  point.  Some  of  his  descendants  say  that  he  cliose  that  season  of 
the  year  for  the  reason  that  he  could  cross  the  si  reams  upon  the  ice  and  the 
trees  being  bare  and  vegetation  upon  the  prairies  being  burned  off  he  could 
more  easily  carry  out  his  undertaking.  He  carried  his  food  in  a  knapsack; 
his  knowledge  of  the  location  and  course  of  the  streams  enabled  him  to  keep 
upon  a  direct  course.  At  night,  he  built  a  camp  tire  and  slept  in  tiie  smoke 
to  protect  himself  from  the  frost.  With  patience  and  perseverance,  he  per- 
sisted in  his  undertaking,  marking  trees  through  the  timber  and  making  a 
record  of  land  marks.  It  is  said  that  a  considerable  portion  of  this  trail,  was 
adopted  as  a  permanent  road  and  is  so  used  to  tiiis  day. 

The  writer  of  this  sketch  made  diligent  irujuiry  tioping  to  obtain  some 
portrait  of  Mr.  Beard,  but  none  could  be  found;  it  is  believed  that  none  is  in 
existance.  He  was  a  man  six  feet  in  iieight,  straight,  muscular  and  active,  of 
a  nervous  sanguine  temperament,  witii  blue  eyes,  light  hair,  with  clean  shav- 
en face  except  short  side  whiskers  of  a  reddish  cast.  He  was  a  man  pos- 
sessed of  great  will  power,  he  had  a  very  strong  constitution,  and  was  not  suf- 
ficiently prudent  in  the  matter  of  husbanding  tiis  strengtli.  In  the  fall  of 
1849  he  was  busily  engaged  in  the  building  of  a  new  ferry  boat,  was  attacked 
with  typhoid  fever,  and  in  a  very  short  time  breatiied  liis  last.  The  notice  of 
his  death  published  in  the  Beardstown  Gazette  was  written  by  his  old  friend, 
Francis  Arenz,  as  follows:  Died  on  Wednesday  evening  of  the  typhoid  fever. 
Thomas  Beard,  aged  55.  It  is  seldom  we  perform  the  task  of  recordnig  the 
death  of  a  person  so  well  known  and  so  universally  respected  as  Mr.  Beard. 
He  was  one  of  the  tirst  settlers  of  the  county,  and  substantially  tiie  founder  of 
the  town  that  bears  his  name.  He  emigrated  to  the  town  in  early  life  and 
here  he  aided  with  his  industry  and  sound  practical  sense  the  building  up  of 
the  town  and  the  improvement  of  the  country.  Tlie  new  settler  never  ap- 
pealed to  liim  for  advice  or  aid  in  vain.  The  former  he  was  competent  to 
give,  and  the  latter  was  given  freely  if  in  his  power.  His  character  through 
an  eventful  life  never  suffered  blemish.  Thougii  sustaining  a  position  in 
which  he  could  have  gratified  a  worldly  ambition,  he  never  courted  the  ap- 
plause of  men.  His  was  the  natural  ability,  the  world  could  not  corrupt,  nor 
the  fashions  of  an  artificial  life,  take  away.  He  has  gone  to  tliat  Court  to 
which  we  shall  be  summoned.  May  we  at  that  bar  find  as  few  accusers  as  our 
departed  friend. 


-  410  - 

John  Loomis  was  born  in  Westtield,  New  York,  on  July  20,  1815:  his  fath- 
er was  Joel  Loomis;  his  mother  was  Susan  Beard,  a  sister  of  Jedediah  Beard, 
who  was  the  father  of  Thomas  Beard.  The  parents  of  John  Loomis  resolved 
to  educate  him  for  the  ministry,  but  his  ill-health,  in  his  youth  prevented  it. 
When  twenty  years  of  age  John  Loomis  was  admitted  as  a  student  at  Wil- 
liams college;  he  earned  his  way  by  teaching.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Gleason  and  moved  to  Conneaut,  Ohio,  where  he 
took  charge  of  an  academy.  He  soon  decided  to  emigrate  to  Illinois,  and.  the 
successful  career  of  his  cousin,  Tiiomas  Beard,  attracted  him  to  Cass  county, 
and  in  1844-5,  he  began  teaching  in  Virginia,  that  county.  Here  lie  remained 
as  a  most  successful  teacher  for  about  seven  years  during  which  time  his  wife 
died  leaving  three  children;  she  was  buried  in  the  family  burial  ground  on 
the  Thomas  Beard  farm  in  Sec.  l(j,  T.  18,  R.  11.  Professor  Loomis  next 
taught  in  Winchester,  and  afterwards  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  in  which  last 
named  city  he  was  one  of  tiie  Faculty  of  the  Institution  for  the  Blind  for 
over  twenty  years.  In  1883  and  1884  he  was  the  superintendent  of  schools  of 
the  city  of  Virginia;  he  was  the  father  of  seven  sons  and  one  daughter.  He 
died  at  his  home  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  in  February  1893  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight  years  and  lies  buried  in  Diamond  Grove  cemetery  in  the  city  of 
Jacksonville. 

Professor  Loomis  was  intimately  accjuainted  with  his  cousin  Thomas 
Beard  and  wrote  some  sketches  of  his  home,  his  character,  etc.,  which  were 
puNished  and  copyrighted  by  his  son,  who  has  permitted  their  use  in  this 
sketch,  as  the  little  that  is  known  of  Mr.  Beard  should  be  preserved.  The 
sketches  of  Prof.  Loomis  here  follow: 

•     THOMAS  BEARD,  THE  PIONEER. 
Chakacteristics. 

It  was  while  a  guest  at  his  house  that  I  first  became  ac(iuainted  with  the 
I'ioneer.  I  thus  had  an  opportunity  to  study  his  characteristics.  Integrity, 
industry  and  an  indomitable  perseverance  were  his  leading  traits.  It  could 
be  as  truly  said  of  him  as  Pyrrhussaid  of  the  Roman  general:  "Hie  estyabicius, 
<iui  ditlicilius  ab  honestate,  quam  sola  cursu  sao  aveiti  potest."  He  was 
never  idle.  Wiien  the  business  of  the  day  was  over  he  sought  relaxation  and 
refreshment  in  books,  travels,  explorations,  histories  and  sciences.  For  next 
to  his  duties  and  business  these  subjects  or  the  society  of  the  good  and  in- 
telligent formed  his  greatest  enjoyment. 

His  early  education  had  been  good,  particularly  in  History  and  Mathematics. 
These  studies  were  calculated  to  develop  the  business  man,  rather  tiian  form 
a  literary  ctiaracter  But  a  taste  for  novels  and  adventure  in  his  early  read- 
ing developed  itself  in  iiis  seeking  the  N.  W.  Territory  than  that  far  west, 
the  Land  of  the  Dahcota  and  tierce  Potawotamies.  He  came  more  from  a  love 
of  adventure  than  any  admiration  of  frontier  or  savage  life.  And  though  he 
found  new  inhabitants,  he  discovered  a  region  of  unsurpassed  beauty.  He 
was  delighted  with  these  broad  plains,  clothed  witli  flowers,  which  bloomed 
from  earliest  spring  till  the  cold,  bleak  winds  of  Autumn  shut  up  their  tender 
cups  and  destroyed  their  fragrance.  But,  lie  was  pleased  not  only  with  the 
surface.  He  saw  that  the  wild  man  had  only  to  follow  the  wild  herds  to  the 
west,  and  tlien  civilization  would  transform   these  primitive  meadows  into 


-un- 
fruitful tields  of  grain,  and  the  homes  of  industry.  He  found  the  ravine  and 
bluff  abounding  in  ores  of  iron  or  lead,  in  quarries  of  roclc,  or  in  beds  of  coal. 
These,  he  perceived,  only  needed  the  hand  of  industry  to  reader  subservient 
to  the  wants  and  happiness  of  man,  or  to  develop  them  into  resources  of 
wealth.  Nor  in  respect  to  gain  alone  did  he  view  these  undeveloped  resources. 
With  the  inquiry  of  the  philosopher,  he  examines  the  fo-ssils  embedded  in  the 
rock  and  reads  the  history  of  primeval  ages,  thus  recorded,  while  drift  or 
other  convulsions  of  nature  are  indicated  by  the  huge  boulder,  a  solitary 
monument  of  the  past,  dropped  here  and  there  upon  the  broad  prairie.  He 
was  acquainted  witii  the  "Father  of  Waters"  with  its  numerous  tributaries, 
all  waiting  for  the  boat  to  carry  off  the  various  commodities  of  the  country  to 
the  distant  market.  Here  he  determined  to  make  his  home,  and  with  an  ax, 
a  dog  and  gun  he  began  a  settlement  in  hope,  wlien  others  looked  with  doubt, 
upon  the  experiment.  He  traded  with  the  Indians,  supplying  them  with 
articles  in  return  for  peltries  To  tliis  stock  he  added  wild  honey  and  venison, 
and  thus  began  that  commerce  in  embryo  to  the  low  countries,  upon  those 
western  waters  which  has  since  developed  into  tlie  most  wonderful  inland 
navigation  in  the  world,  as  respectable  then  as  now,  if  courage,  skill  and  per- 
severance are  deserving  of  commendation.  Before  tiie  present  spurn  these 
enterprises,  and  laugh  at  the  trade  in  wild  honey  and  peltries  in  comparison 
to  present  commodities,  let  them,  at  least,  learn  what  labor  and  sacrilices 
this  commerce  at  first  cost.  The  power  of  navigation  has  rendered  navigation 
safe  and  easy.  But  then  the  whirlpool  and  rapid  had  to  be  encountered  and 
overcome  by  human  muscle  and  energy.  It  took  me?i  to  carry  on  succes.^fully 
this  commerce.  Gentlemen  now  pride  tliemselves  in  hunting  woodcock  and 
grouse,  but  it  took  a  fearle.vs  man  to  lie  down  to  sleep  in  the  wilderness  while 
the  howl  of  the  black  wolf  could  be  heard  in  the  distance, or  when  his  stealthy 
approach  was  disclosed  by  gnawing  the  bones  of  the  last  repast  which  had 
been  tossed  aside.  It  took  a  brave  man  to  encounter  the  dangers  of  the  Pan- 
ther whicli  were  then  lurking  in  ambush  in  every  grove  or  thicket,  (for  the 
deer  that  bounded  over  these  prairies,  or  hung  upon  tiie  body  of  some  broad 
spreading  oak,  cautiously  peering  from  tlie  fork,  upon  the  passing  hunter) 
A  little  incident  occurred  in  this  very  landscape,  before  alluded  to,  which 
illustrates  the  dangers  of  Pioneer  life.  There  is  a  small  lake  adjacent  to 
the  Illinois  river  and  connected  with  it.  The  Pioneer  had  taken  his  skiff. 
one  afternoon,  and  gun  (for  this  was  liis  companion)  and  fuul  entered  tins 
lake  to  tish  for  pickerel  with  which  it  abounds.  No  human  dwelling  was 
near.  He  was  alone  in  the  wilderness.  Night  had  settled  around  him.  The 
Pioneer  had  lashed  his  boat  to  the  roots  of  a  cottonwood  which  stood  on  the 
banks  Of  the  lake,  after  casting  out  his  lines,  and  had  laid  himself  down  in 
his  canoe  for  his  night's  repose.  He  was  musing,  as  those  only  muse  who  are 
half  asleep  and  half  awake. 

All  things  were  tinged  by  his  half-unconscious  sensibilities.  (The  solitary 
notes  of  the  night-bird  and  the  glancing  water  were  soothing  his  mind  into 
that  state  of  repose  that  precedes  entire  unconsciousness.)  The  fireflies 
seemed  to  rival  in  splendor  and  brilliancy,  the  bright  stars  in  the  firmament 
which  was  now  settling  down  upon  the  tree-tops,  when  a  shrill  and  piercing 
cry  bursts  upon  his  ear,  and  is  echoed  through  the  solitudes  as  such  a  shriek 
could  only  echo.     Another  scream,  accompanied  by  the  sound  of  short,   quick 


~  41'2  - 

hops,  announce  the  near  approach  of  an  enemy.  The  next  moment  a  huge 
panther  with  flaming  eyes,  seeks  his  mooringsc  The  next,  and  a  lierce  ani- 
mal stands  at  the  very  foot  of  the  tree  to  which  his  boat  is  tied,  and  in  dis- 
tance of  a  leap  the  Pioneer  could  almost  feel  the  hot  breath  of  the  monster, 
as  lie  stood  with  half  distended  jaws  and  unsheathed  claws,  occasionally  lash- 
ing his  sides  with  his  tail,  he  peers  fearfully  at  him.  The  Pioneer  knew  his 
foe,  and  springing  up  he  faces  the  monster,  witli  gun  raised  to  his  shoulder 
and  ready  to  do  the  work  of  death.  The  Pioneer  flinches  not.  lie  levels  his 
gun  steady  upon  the  space  between  the  eyes,  but  he  holds  his  fire.  Ills  know- 
ledge of  this  foe  has  taught  him  to  prefer  prudent  caution  to  a  iiazardous  en- 
counter. The  panther  can  not  endure  the  steady  gaze  of  man.  He  retreats 
a  few  paces,  renews  his  terrific  cries,  and  the  next  moment  he  is  lost  in  the 
surrounding  darkness,  while  the  Pioneer  unlashes  his  boat  and  shoves  it  to 
deeper  water  at  a  distance  from  shore,  thrusts  down  a  settling  pole  to 
the  bottom  of  the  lake  and  moors  his  boat  in  safety  till  morning. 

The  Pioneer's  love  for  natural  history  was  remarkable.  lie  studied  the 
habits  of  beast  and  birds  with  care  and  intense  pleasure.  It  is  only  by  close 
observation  that  even  the  reason  of  man  can  triumph  over  the  instinct  of 
animals  and  subdue  tliem.  A  stupid  man  could  never  succeed  in  the  wilder- 
ness. To  triumph  over  so  many,  requires  a  quick  perception  and  understand- 
ing, and  prompt  action.  In  the  wilderness,  beast,  bird  and  savage  nature  all 
are  foes.  These  must  be  overcome  by  reason  and  courage.  In  these  respects, 
the  Pioneer  is  seldom  appreciated.  It  is  a  heroic  character.  Such  an  one 
would  be  prominent  in  any  circumstances  or  society. 

It  was  from  this  pioneer  that  I  first  learned  the  semi-domestic  habits  of 
tlie  robin.  This  favorite  of  our  orchards  and  door-yards  builds  its  nest  near 
the  dwellings  of  man.  It  is  never  found  in  the  solitudes.  Like  the  honey 
bee  it  advances  with  civilization.  The  Pioneer  was  here  before  the  robin. 
Its  first  carol  was  the  announcement  of  the  coming  multitude.  Its  notes, 
too,  were  grateful  as  the  memory  of  home,  of  parents,  brother  and  sisters,  for 
he  had  heard  that  carol  last  when  he  bade  them  adieu. 

lie  was  compensated  somewhat  for  the  absence  of  the  robin  by  the  song 
of  the  mocking  bird  (LurdusPolyglottos)  which  then  frequented  this  region 
for  a  few  months  of  the  year.  Now  that  inimitable  songster  is  seldom  or 
never  seen  here,  owing,  probably,  to  tlie  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  prey  and 
birds  of  song.  The  man  wlio  is  so  barbarous  that  he  cannot  be  delighted  by 
the  ever  varied  notes  of  the  mocking  bird,  or  with  the  thrush  as  she  pours 
forth  her  song  upon  the  higliest  twig,  or  with  the  more  plaintive  song  of  tlie 
bobolink,  as  she  rises  upwards  from  her  nest  in  the  meadow,  but  who  can  en- 
joy with  extreme  gusto  their  savory  flesh,  has  gained  a  villianous  notoriety 
and  vandal  fame.  The  Pioneer  was  never  so  much  an  epicure,  nor  so  much  a 
barbarian. 


-413- 

It  might  be  supposed  that  one  who  had  passed  so  much  time  on  the 
frontier  would  have  preserved  some  of  the  border  habits,  But  it  was  not  so. 
His  gun  was  laid  aside  when  civilization  came.  He  was  first  in  every  im- 
provement. He  favored  education,  giving  to  his  children  the  advantages  of 
the  best  seminaries. 

Had  he  lived  to-day  he  would  have  been  a  decided  Republican,  as  he  was 
a  stanch  Whig.  Niles  Register,  for  many  years  his  text  book,  indicates  the 
calm,  but  decided  tenor  of  his  politics.  When  the  struggle  in  this  state  first 
came  for /ree,  against  siave  labor,  his  voice  and  influence  were  for  freedom 
and  humanity. 

His  personal  demeanor  and  bearing  were  manly,  blended  with  an  un- 
affected simplicity.  His  countenance  was  full  of  sternness  in  repose,  but  in 
conversation,  it  was  full  of  benignity,  a  pleasant  smile  welcoming  those  who 
approached  for  favors. 

The  present  was  to  him  the  period  for  improvement  and  enjoyment.  He 
did  not  carry  with  him  the  aggregate  burdens  of  life,  adding  to  them  his 
daily  cares,  thus  rendering  their  load  intolerable.  Like  a  true  philosopher, 
he  left  these  behind.  But  the  blessings  of  life  he  augmented  by  dwelling  up- 
on them,  and  although  he  had  experienced  misfortune,  yet  so  serene  and  joy- 
ful did  he  appear,  that  he  inspired  all  with  happiness  and  pleasure. 

The  Pioneer  was  not  a  member  of  any  church,  yet  he  liad  a  profound  re- 
spect for  the  truths  of  religion.  He  recognized  an  overruling  Providence  in 
all  things.  To  him  nothing  came  by  Chance.  "All  partial  evil  was  universal 
good."  He  honored  the  unostentatious  Christian,  but  the  cant  of  hypocrisy 
of  Pretenders  he  had  no  respect  for.  He  acknowledged  that  sound  could 
throw  down  the  walls  of  Jericho,  or  that  Physical  strength  could  curry  oil  the 
gates  of  Gaza  and  overthrow  the  house  of  the  Philistines.  There  were  means 
ordained  to  accomplish  those  ends.  But  he  believed  that  sound  reason  and 
argument,  not  physical  strength  were  now  the  means  to  convert  men.  He 
had  a  very  low  opinion  of  an  uneducated  and  undevout  ministry. 

A  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH  OF  THE  PIONEER,   THOMAfe    BEARD. 
Of  Bbardstown,  Cass  County,   Illinois. 
By  Prof.  John  Loom  is,  M.  A. 
A  LANDSCAPE  VIEW. 
In  Cassjcounty,  Illinois,  there  lived  a  few  years  ago,  one  of  the  Pioneers  of 
the  west.     He  had  purchased  a  farm  for  a  homestead  just  where  the   bluffs 
that  skirt  the  valleys  of  the  Sangamon  river  and  Illinois  unite.      The  greater 
portion  of  his  farm  was  the  rich  alluvion  of  the  bottoms,  a  small  part  only  ex- 
tending up  into  the  bluffs.    Long  before  this  land  had  come  into  market  this 
particular  spot  had  been  chosen  for  a  homestead.     Immediately  at  the  base  of 
the  bluff,  gently  inclining  toward  the  west,   was  planted  an  orchard  of  the 
choicest  kinds  of  fruits— apples,   peaches,   pears,   plums  and    cherries.       A 
grapery,  also,  of  many  varieties  was  planted  on  either  side  of  a  broad  avenue 
leading  to  his  house,  and  supported  by  trellised   work.      Many  exotics,   also 
trees,  plants  and  shrubs  were  cultivated.    To  the  north  of  the  orchard  and  at 
the  base  of  the  bluffs  extending  east,  was  a  grove  of  young  forest  trees,   which 
follows  up  a  ravine  into  the  higher  lands.    Through  this  ravine  there  came 
murmuring  down  a  silver  stream,  sometimes  swollen  and  turbulent,   but 


-  414  - 

usually  creeping  and  winding  away  through  the  tall  grass  and  llowers  of  the 
prairie,  silently  forming  with  other  similar  streams,  numerous  lakelets,  here 
and  there,  all  over  the  beautiful  champaign,  between  the  bluffs  and  distant 
rivers.  Between  the  orchard  and  a  road  running  north  and  south  was  the 
family  mansion  of  the  Pioneer,  a  structure  far  more  imposing  for  its  size 
than  the  elegance  of  its  architecture.  Such  was  the  view  as  you  sit  under  the 
old  oak  tree  which  stands  near  the  residence.  Here  I  spent  the  first  few 
weeks  of  my  sojourn  in  the  west,  enjoying  the  genuine  hospitality  of  a  true 
nobleman,  as  the  proprietor  was. 

But,  that  we  may  fully  appreciate  the  beauty  of  the  landscape,  let  us 
climb  to  the  summit  of  that  bald  knob  which  rises  several  hundred  feet  above 
the  general  level  just  east  of  the  orchard.  To  this  eminence  the  Pioneer  was 
wont  to  lead  his  guests.  From  this  place  we  have  an  unobstructed  view  from 
a  line  due  east  clear  round  to  a  line  south,  embracing  twenty-four  points  of  a 
great  circle.  The  arc  of  the  quadrant  between  North  and  West  is  bounded 
by  the  Illinois  river,  which  sweeps  round  in  a  circle  with  a  radius  six  or  eight 
miles.  This  is  the  uniting  wedge  of  the  Illinois  and  Sangamon  Valleys. 
On  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  the  Bluffs  following  its  course,  bend  away  to 
the  south  crowned  with  a  crest  of  tall  trees. 

On  this  side,  along  the  margin,  the  Pecan,  Hickory  and  other  forest  trees 
abounding  in  foliage  fringe  the  banks,  The  remaining  area  near  the  base  of 
bluff  where  we  stand  is  an  open  prairie.  Stretching  away  to  the  east  the 
broad  bottom  lands  of  the  Sangamon,  covered  with  corn  fields,  can  be  plainly 
seen.  While  beyond  and  above  the  lofty  tree  tops  that  skirt  the  river,  you 
look  down  upon  the  farmhouses  of  Mason  County.  To  the  south,  the  rich 
lands  of  the  Illinois,  covered  with  similar  corn  fields,  varied  by  t!ie  sand 
ridge  with  its  dwarf  growth  of  oaks  of  scanty  foliage,  stretch  away  soutliward. 
But  leaving  these  remote  views,  we  here  look  down  upon  the  little  prairie, 
upon  the  broad  champaign,  adorned  by  the  little  grove  and  stream  and  lake- 
let. Often  do  they  echo  with  hoarse  notes  of  the  wild  fowl,  the  white  swan, 
the  wild  goose,  the  duck,  the  grouse  and  crow  which  frequent  them  for  food. 
At  all  seasons  these  fowls  may  be  seen  circling  round  in  mid  air,  about  to 
alight,  or  starting  up  with  plash  and  cry  and  scream  at  the  report  of  the  gun 
or  .some  fancied  danger. 

One  grove  of  persimmon  trees  is  remarkable.  It  stands  alone,  two  miles 
or  more,  distant  from  any  other  timber.  This  grove  stands  in  a  circle,  cover- 
ing an  area  of  a  half  acre,  the  trees  in  the  center  shooting  up  highest,  while 
those  near  the  circumference  with  long  pendant  branches  give  the  grove  the 
appearance  of  a  green  hillock  dropped  down  upon  the  bosom  of  the  prairie. 
Long  after  the  county  began  to  be  settled,  was  this  thicket  a  resort  and  cov- 
ert for  the  deer,  from  whose  excesses  they  looked  out  upon  the  prairie  for 
hound  or  sportsman,  or  hid  themselves  till  darkness  made  it  safer  to  go  forth 
for  food. 

One  other  peculiar  feature  of  the  landscape  is  the  sand  ridges.  These  are 
now  all  covered  with  timber,  a  low  scrub  oak  called  black-jack.  The  soil  is 
too  poor  to  support  the  cereal  grains,  but  a  kind  of  coarse  grass,  the  cactus 
and  like  plants  are  found.  As  might  be  expected,  the  foliage  of  the  trees  is 
scanty.  These  ridges  indicate  the  action  of  water  of  great  volume  and  veloc- 
ity.   They  are  tilled  in  parallel  ridges    following    the    course   of    the    waters 


-415- 

southward,  showing  where  the  current  had  passed,  or  winding  here  and  there 
in  narrow  channels,  or  spreading  out  into  a  broad  area.  The  prairie  which 
was  covered  with  water  last  is  now  tlie  rich  bottom  land  and  which  prevails 
near  the  bluffs  south.  While  the  sand  ridges  are  near  the  river,  varied  by  low 
prairies,  often  but  little  else  than  the  lagoon  or  bayou  in  high  water.  Some- 
times a  circular  basin  may  be  found,  showing  the  action  of  the  whirlpool 
which  continuing  till  the  waters  subsided,  then  were  left  on  the  general  level 
of  the  bottom  land  and  of  similar  soil.  They  are  of  various  extent,  from  one 
acre  to  several. 

About  three  miles  from  the  bluffs,  near  the  Sangamon  river,  are  a  great 
number  of  Zumuli  in  the  small  area  of  an  acre.  Some  of  these  are  among  the 
largest  and  highest  to  be  found.  A  few  rods  from  them  is  a  small  lake  whose 
bed  was  made,  no  doubt,  by  excavations  to  form  these  Zumuli.  The  idea  is 
suggested  that  here,  in  this  very  spot,  one  of  the  bloody  battles,  many  cen- 
turies, perhaps,  subsequent  to  the  subsidence  of  these  waters,  was  fought,  in 
which  many  braves  fell,  while  to  commemorate  their  exploits,  these  mounds 
were  raised  on  the  field  of  glory.  And  if  we  mav  judge  of  their  honor  or  the 
glory  of  their  exploits  by  the  size  of  their  monuments,  they  are  worthy  of 
highest  admiration.  But  no  record  lives  to  unfold  the  secret  of  these  primi- 
tive races  save  these  rude  memorials.  Tliese  are  expressive  tributes  to  de- 
parted great  ones,  whose  fame  is  even  more  perishable  than  their  monument- 
al earth.  These  Zumuli  are  seen  just  at  tiie  edge  of  t.he  timber  that  fringes 
the  Sangamon  river  before  it  enters  the  Illinois.  In  general,  these  mounds 
are  not  found  in  the  open  prairie,  but  on  many  ridges  along  the  Bluffs  sucli 
places  may  be  seen.  Just  where  I  stand,  on  tliQ  very  summit  of  the  knob,  is 
one,  sixteen  or  eighteen  feet  in  diameter  by  eight  or  nine  in  height.  (Others 
may  be  seen  in  similar  situation  )  Many  of  them  have  been  opened,  disclos- 
ing the  bones  of  the  dead  as  well  as  the  arms  of  the  warrior,  which  he  fan- 
cied in  his  simplicity,  the  Indian  would  need  in  the  Land  of  the  Great  Spirit 
whither  he  was  gone. 

That  va.st  changes  have  taken  place  in  this  valley  can  be  easily  proved. 
A  great  lake  or  a  vast  river  once  poured  its  waters  through  this  channel. 
Tradition  even  reaches  not  back  to  that  period.  This  history  is  written  on 
the  sand  banks  and  bluffs  and  rocks  of  this  valley.  The  Illinois  river,  the  rep- 
resentative of  that  once  mighty  stream,  discharges  comparatively  only  a 
small  volume  of  water.  It  is,  nevertheless,  a  very  respectable  river.  Its  bed 
lies  very  deep  in  the  earth,  many  feet  lower  than  the  Mississippi  above  the 
rapids.  That  it  was  once  connected  with  the  great  lakes,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  The  Pioneer  was  wont  to  pass  through  grass  lake,  by  canoe  into  Lake 
Michigan.  Wliile  other  rivers  in  this  same  latitude  are  frozen,  the  Illinois, 
owing  to  its  deep  bed,  is  free  from  ice  and  navigable.  Thus  it  furnishes  a 
great  thoroughfare  to  bear  off  the  produce  of  the  fertile 
region  through  which  it  flows.  Its  banks  may  be  less 
romantic  tlian  the  Hudson,  but  its  deep  channel,  its  gentle  cur- 
rent, renders  it  unsurpassed  for  purposes  of  commerce.  The  first  steamboat 
ascended  the  river  in  1827.  It  is  a  most  beautiful  sight  to  sit  on  this  knob 
and  watch  the  progress  of  these  steamers  as  they  sweep  round  this  semi-cir- 
cumference, occasional  glimpses  of  which  may  be  seen  among  the  opening 
trees.    They  may  be  plainly  traced  by  the  steam,  curling  round  the  tree  tops 


-  41(5  - 

along  the  river,  the  echoings  of  which,  borne  on  the  soft  winds  may  be  dis* 
tinguished,  as  well  as  that  of  the  slirill  whistle,  which  announces  the  ap- 
proaches to  the  landing.  Among  other  objects  of  charming  beauty,  are  the 
flocks  and  herds  scattered  over  tliis  plain,  feeding.  When  the  hot  sun  has 
driven  them  to  the  grove,  they  may  be  seen  standing  in  the  soggy  pool,  or  re- 
cumbent upon  the  grassy  lawn.  Or,  again,  when  the  long  shadows  begin  to 
fall,  you  can  see  them  forming  into  long  lines,  and  winding  their  way  to  this 
point  or  that,  plainly  pointing  out  the  new  home  of  the  settler,  and  yielding 
to  his  children  abundance  of  milk,  as  the  trees  have  already  done,  wild  fruit 
and  wild  honey.  For  the  wild  grape  and  plum  and  various  other  fruits 
abound  in  profusion,  and  the  honey  bee  was  found  in  every  flower  upon  the 
prairie.  Such  was  the  appearance  of  this  beautiful  spot  as  I  saw  it  in  June, 
1845.  It  was  more  attractive  for  its  primitive  beauty  than  its  improvements. 
Beardstown  was  the  only  town  in  the  whole  landscape,  celebrated  only  as  the 
County  seat  for  its  commercial  importance.  Here  and  there  the  farmhouse 
was  reared  and  the  orchard  planted,  giving  promise  of  a  luxurious  future, 
but  only  at  wide  intervals.  Conspicuous  among  tliem  was  the  farm  and 
homestead  of  the  Pioneer,  from  which  I  have  presented  the  surrounding  land- 
scape. Here  we  will  leave  him,  having  laid  aside  the  habits  of  border  life  and 
developing  tlie  resources  of  his  farm,  enjoying  the  respect  of  those  most  who 
knew  him  best, 

TFTOMAS  BEARD,  THE  PIONEER. 
Contrasted  Scenes— The  Tiianksgiving^Tiie  Funeral. 
In  November,  1845,  by  the  recommendation  of  the  Executive  of  this  State, 
the  lirst  day  of  Public  Tha^iksgiving  was  observed— a  venerable  custom  in 
New  England,  but  of  recent  observance  in  the  West  and  South.  On  tliis  oc- 
casion, invitations  were  sent  by  the  Pioneer  to  his  friends  and  kindred  to 
come  and  enjoy  liis  hospitality.  He  had  been  wont  to  celebrate  New  Year's 
day  with  similar  festivities.  But,  partly  out  of  respect  to  Executive  author- 
ity, and  partly  to  kindred  who  had  recently  immigrated,  he  had  chosen  this 
day  to  honor  the  former  and  to  welcome  the  latter.  Accordingly,  when  the 
sun  had  passed  the  meridian,  many  wagons  were  seen  converging  to  the 
farmhouse  as  a  center,  and  not  long  after  the  whole  scene  was  active  with 
the  arrival  of  guests  and  the  greeting  of  friends.  Religious  exercises,  unlike 
tlie  old  fashioned  Puritan  Thanksgiving,  were  wanting  to  the  day.  Probably 
not  a  minister  in  the  County  had  ever  conducted  exercises  on  such  an  occa- 
sion, lor  the  few,  then,  were  from  the  South  or  the  spontaneous  growth  of  the 
West,  more  conspicuous  for  their  zeal  than  for  their  learning. 

In  other  respects  it  would  compare  favorably  witli  the  most  approved 
style  of  this  festival.  The  barnyard  had  been  trenched  upon  for  fatlings  of 
various  kinds,  quadruped  and  biped,  beast  and  bird.  These  tilled  the  table 
witii  substantial  fare,  while  pastry  from  the  pantry  and  fruits  from  the  cellar 
spread  a  feast  satisfactory,  even  to  an  epicure,  and  embracing  variety  enough 
to  tempt  the  appetite  of  the  most  dainty.  But  all  these  are  common  to  such 
an  occasion.  It  was  not,  in  this  respect,  remarkable.  In  numbers,  too,  it 
was  respectable.  About  eighty  persons,  one  half  children  and  youth,  sat 
down  to  the  feast.  The  Pioneer  at  the  head  of  the  table  had  thanks  olfered, 
and  then  bid  his  friends  welcome  to  his  bounties.  He  moved  among  his 
guests  delighting  them  by  his  cordiality,  while  he  was  delighted   at  ttie  joy 


-417- 

that  everywliere  prevailed.  The  children  were  buoyant  with  ^\ee  and  the 
house  rang-  with  hilarity  on  this  new  holiday.  The  elder  members  were  look- 
ing on  witli  interested  delight,  or  were  recounting  past  events  that  stood  out 
as  waymarl<s  in  life's  journey,  thus  far  completed.  Joy  and  rejoicing  gave 
wings  to  the  moments.  New  friendships  were  formed  and  old  ones  were  re- 
newed. New  liopes  were  awakened,  for  festive  glances  tell  the  heart's  secrets, 
as  well  as  words  of  love.     "All  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." 

The  guests  lingered  till  the  waning  day  admonished  them  to  depart,  a 
few  from  a  distance  remaining.  The  voice  of  the  young  grew  fainter  and 
fainter.  The  house  was  silent.  I  sat  alone  with  the  Pioneer.  Sleep  fled 
from  him  as  he  recounted  the  ear[y  annals  of  settlement,  the  bright  prospects 
and  hopes,  often  obscured,  but  now  happily  beyond  doubt.  Hostile  tribes  of 
Indians  had  been  subdued  and  security  to  family  and  property  was  now 
guaranteed  to  the  settler.  The  climate  was  proved  to  be  salubrious,  and 
pestilential  diseases,  once  dreaded,  were  no  longer  feared.  The  bordcr-inan 
was  selling  out  his  claims  and  plunging  deeper  into  the  wilderness,  whither 
the  deer  and  buffalo  liad  gone.  A  more  intelligent  and  a  more  thrifty  class 
of  citizens  were  pouring  into  the  state.  A  constitution,  notwithstanding  the 
cupidity  of  bad  men  and  the  efforts  of  demagogues  to  engraft  slavery  into  it, 
had  secured  freedom,  and  good  laws  foreshadowed  the  enterprise  and  im- 
provement which  we  are  now  witnessing-  These  reflections  and  many  others 
crowded  into  the  mind  of  the  Pioneer,  and  their  successful  issue  were  objects 
of  profound  thanksgiving.  He  had  felt  the  weight  of  these  evils  and  strug- 
gled against  them.     Now  a  clear  sky  promised  a  glorious  future. 

I  have  attended  similar  feasts  in  other  lands.  I  have  witnessed  family 
meetings  more  affecting,  but  I  have  never  witnessed  a  Thanksgiviving  oc- 
casion comprehending  subjects  of  wider  range,  nor  have  I  ever  witnessed  lios- 
pitality  more  cordially  extended  or  more  truly  appreciated  tium  at  this  flrst 
appointed  Thanksgiving  festival,  at  tl>e  liome  of  the  Pioneer. 

The  scene  is  changed.  Many  a  festival  has  come  and  gone  since  this 
Thanksgiving  occasion.  The  accustomed  duties  of  life  have  fliled  the  inter 
val.  The  sun,  in  his  annual  cycles,  has  brought  the  changing  seasons  their 
various  joys  and  sorrows. 

The  news  spreads  abroad  that  the  Pioneer  is  ill.  The  disease  approaches 
and  progresses  flatteringly,  at  flrst  slightly  indisposing,  but  slowly  develop- 
ing into  a  malignant  form  of  action,  battiing  alike  medical  skill  and  human 
sympathy.  The  strong  arm  of  the  victim  and  stronger  will  is  prostrated. 
He  wlio  lias  braved  the  elements  alone,  the  savage  beast  and  still  more  savage 
man,  is  stretched  upon  the  couch  of  suffering  and  asks  help  in  faint  whispers. 
Then  follow  the  kind  assiduities  of  friends,  the  etTorts  of  the  long  tried  pliy- 
sician,  the  consultation,  the  will,  and,  last  and  greatest,  when  all  earthly 
means  and  resources  fail,  the  looking  up  to  Heaven  for  the  interposition  of 
that  Power  which  alone  can  save.  But  the  struggle  is  over.  Nature  yields 
to  an  invisible  power.  Deatli  claims  his  own.  The  spirit  of  the  sufferer  is 
borne  to  the  unseen  world,  leaving  but  the  cold  clay  to  be  wept  over.  The 
spirit  of  tlie  Pioneer  enters  upon  an  exploration  far  more  interesting  and  sub- 
lime than  any  hitherto  witnessed.  He  goes  to  the  spirit-land,  the  land  of 
shadows,  of  many  hopes  and  many  fears.  Aye,  tell  me  the  mystery  ot  that 
far-off  land!    Are  those— the  good  and  great— are  they  there?    Shall  we  know 


-  418  - 

themV  Will  they  tower  among  the  inhabitants  of  that  distant  land,  as  they 
were  prominent  liere?  Does  mind  grow  more  vigorous  and  alike  more  brilli- 
ant when  separated  from  its  clayey  tenementV  Shall  we  find  companionship 
and  affinity  with  every  spirit  alike  when  we  shall  have  passed  the  Straits  that 
JnterveneV  Do  intellectual  and  moral  enjoyment  alone  delight?  Or  does  the 
physical  universe  add  to  our  joys?  Are  they  interested  in  our  welfare?  Do 
they  love  us  yet,  those  who  have  gone  before  us?  The  rellection  is  intensely 
thrilling— tlie  reality  must  be  more  so. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  the  Pioneer  spread.  The  hour  was  appointed 
for  the  last  offices  of  respect.  I  hastened  from  a  distant  town  to  mingle  in 
the  company  of  mourners.  Ttie  very  aspect  of  nature  was  such  as  to  give  in- 
tensity to  my  feelings  It  was  Autumn.  The  early  frosts  had  touched  the 
foliage  and  tinged  the  leaves  with  those  varied  hues  that  at  once  sadden  the 
mind  by  approaching  decay  and  yet  clothe  the  forest  with  tlie  gorgeous  robes 
of  russei,  brown  and  purple.  I  turned  into  a  bridle  path  which  the  Pioneer 
pointed  out  in  my  first  rambles  over  the  country.  It  was  an  unfrequented 
path  wiiich  v/ound  along  the  margin  of  ravines  and  the  tall  trees  of  the  bar- 
rens. The  widespreading  branches  of  the  oak  interlocked  above  my  head. 
Upon  these  tlie  squirrel  sported,  now  sitting  erect,  with  acorn  in  his  forepaws, 
enjoying  his  repast,  or  now  laying  up  a  store  for  winter.  Again,  my  patli 
passed  through  a  thicket  of  .young  trees,  which  formed  an  arch  of  wicker  work 
overhead,  and  from  which  path  there  bounded  the  rabbit,  after  a  few  mom- 
ents of  mute  astonishment  at  my  approach,  but  to  wliich  these  timid  crea- 
t  uresas  quickly  retui'tied  in  their  gambols  when  tlie  sound  of  footsteps  no 
longer  were  heard. 

The  atmosphere  gave  a  shadowy  and  hazy  appearance  to  the  land.scape, 
for  it  was  just  at  that  season  when  the  frost  and  north  winds  were  disporting 
with  the  soft  breezes  from  the  south,  which  this  day  were  stealing  back,  like 
memories  of  otiier  days  of  joy,  when  the  realities  of  life  had  not  chilled  the 
buoyancy  of  our  spirits.  Sometimes  tlirough  the  opening  of  the  trees  the 
"Sand  Hill""  crane  might  be  circling  round  in  beautiful  gyrations  a  speck  just 
beneath  the  blue  concave,  keeping  time,  in  harsh,  shrill  notes  to  be  appreci- 
ated only  by  those  who  have  heard  and  seen  them  in  tlieir  aerial  sports.  Or 
again,  a  tlock  of  wild  fowl  from  the  northern  lakes,  with  tlie  triangle  point- 
ing southward,  wiiose  hoarse  "honk"  and  flight,  like  other  objects  of  nature 
gave  indications  of  the  transition  season. 

As  I  approached  the  homestead  of  the  Pioneer  I  halted  to  view  the  scene. 
I  had  emerged  from  the  barrens  near  that  point  of  the  blutf  from  whicli  1 
have  already  given  description.  There  was  the  landscape  of  unsurpassing 
beauty.  There  were  the  various  objects  the  Pioneer  had  given  his  fostering 
care—tiie  farm,  the  orchard,  the  schoolhouse,  all  that  improved  home  and 
neighborhood.  Tliere  stood  solitary,  the  homestead,  over  the  desolation  of 
wliich  there  wept  the  friends  of  the  deceased,  with  a  bitterness  that  could 
not  be  comforted.  While  standing  here,  giving  way  to  feelings  inspired  by 
the  scene,  beautiful  and  sad  to  me,  a  long  line  of  vehicles  was  .seen,  preceded 
by  the  hearse,  slowly  coming  from  the  distant  town,  for  there  the  Pioneer 
had  died.  He  was  wont  to  spend  the  winters  in  Beardstown  but  when  Spring 
returned  he  sought  the  country  to  adorn  and  beautify  and  to  enjoy  rural  life 
to  wliicli  he  was  ardently  attached. 


-419- 

I  descended  from  my  eminence  and  joined  the  cavalcade  of  mourners. 
The  burial  spot  was  a  retired  and  beautiful  spot.  It  was  a  tongue  of  land, 
rising  several  feet  above  the  surrounding  level,  nearly  circular  and  joined  by 
a  narrow  neck  to  the  Sand-ridges.  There,  nearly  surrounded  by  a  grove  of 
young  trees,  the  Pioneer  in  health  had  chosen  this  as  a  resting  place  for  him- 
self and  kindred.  His  parents  were  already  buried  there.  His  father,  a 
patriarch  of  80  years,  had  come  hither,  leaning  upon  his  staff,  to  be  buried  by 
his  beloved  son  in  these  broad  savannahs.  And  other  friends  were  here,  as 
many  a  mute  monument  recorded.  When  we  arrived  at  the  grave  a  circle 
was  formed,  and  with  uncovered  brow  the  Hon.  Francis  Arenz  stepped  for- 
ward, himself  an  exile  and  a  Pioneer  from  another  land,  to  do  the  last  act  of 
respect  to  bury  the  dead,  and  in  his  behalf  to  thank  the  living  for  their 
courtesy.  But  the  duty  was  an  onerous  one.  After  getting  the  spectators' 
attention  he  referred  to  the  character  of  the  deceased.  "He  had  known  him 
long.  Many  years  ago  he  had  come,  a  stranger  and  an  exile,  and  found  in  the 
deceased  a  brother  and  friend.  Many  years  of  intimacy  had  bound  them  by 
strongest  ties.  The  unfortunate  said  he  never  went  away  urnelieved  by  him 
if  in  his  power  to  do  so.  No  enterprise  worthy  the  philanthropist  was  unim- 
portant to  him  when  living.  He  was  one  of  Nature's  noblemen."  Saying 
which  the  speaker  burst  into  a  paroxysm  of  grief  and  tears.  The  relatives  of 
the  deceased  gave  vent  to  their  grief  \n  audible  sobs.  Even  the  idle  lookers- 
on  were  moved  to  tears.  The  body  was  consigned  to  its  last  resting  place. 
The  grave  was  filled,  the  sod  was  laid  upon  it,  the  crowd  dispersed— the 
kindred  to  a  desolate  fireside,  the  multitude  to  mourn  for  a  good  man. 

Thomas  Beard  was  married  to  Sarah  Bell  in  1826.  The  children  of  this 
marriage  were: 

Caroline  E.  Beard,  born  July  1,  1827. 

Edward  Thomas  Beard,  born  October  19,  1829. 

Stella  Beard,  born  February  25,  1832. 

About  the  year  1834  a  decree  of  divorce  separated  Thomas  Beard  from  liis 
wife,  and  on  July  27,  1837,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Nancy  C.  Dickeiman,  at 
Rushville,  Illinois,  by  Bev.  William  Window,  Mrs.  DicUermann  was  tlie 
widow  of  Willard  A.  Dickerraan  who  was  born  in  1793  and  was  married  in 
New  York  City.  Business  reverses  caused  his  removal  to  Beardstovvn.  There 
were  three  children  born  to  Willard  A.  and  Nancy  C.  Dickerman,  two  sons 
and  a  daughter.  The  latter,  named  Mary,  died  in  New  York  City,  one  of  the 
sons  died  early  in  life  of  consumption,  the  remaining  son,  Willard  A.,  (named 
for  his  father)  was  educated  by  his  step-father,  Thomas  Beard.  This  step- 
son, who  was  born  in  New  York  in  1823,  became  a  widower  in  April  1851;  later 
enlisted  in  the  army,  became  the  Colonel  of  his  regiment  and  was  killed  at 
Resaca,  Georgia,  on  May  21,  1864.  Mr.  Beard  was  a  warm  friend  of  Mr.  Dick- 
erman, the  father,  watched  over  him  in  sickness,  and  at  his  death  at  Beards- 
town,  on  April  19,  1836,  took  charge  of  his  property  and  looked  after  the 
interests  of  the  widow  until  he  married  her.  Their  married  life  was  a  very 
happy  one;  of  that  marriage  were  born  the  following  children: 

Francis  Arenz  Beard,  born  January  7,  1840;  died  June  23,  1841,  aged  1  year 
and  5  months. 

Agnes  Casneau  Beard,    born    .lune    23,    1842;  married    Augustus    Sidney 


-  420  - 

Doane  of  New  York  City  at  which  place  she  now  resides. 

James  McClure  Beard,  born  June  25,  1844;  who  married  Miss  Augusta 
Dodge  and  now  resides  at  Rantoul,  Illinois. 

Eugene  Crombie  Beard,  born  December  3,  1846,  died  at  sea  on  April  11, 
18C8,  while  on  a  voyage  to  Peru,  South  America,  in  search  of  liealth. 

Upon  the  death  of  her  husband,  his  widow  went  to  New  York  City,  her 
old  home,  where  she  resided  to  the  end  of  her  life.  She  died  November  13th, 
1899,  at  the  advanced  age  of  95  years  at  the  home  of  her  daughter  Mrs.  Doane; 
her  remains  lie  in  beautiful  Greenwood  Cemetery  in  Brooklyn. 

Thomas  Beard  was  no  ordinary  man;  he  left  nis  father's  house  when  but 
a  mere  boy,  coming  to  a  wild  country,  to  live  among  the  Indians;  with  wise 
foresight  he  chose  the  location  for  a  prosperous  city,  with  great  courage  and 
remarkable  industry  he  fought  his  way,  making  a  home,  to  which  came  his 
parents  and  nearly  all  the  members  of  their  family;  he  was  large  hearted  and 
public  spirited;  he  gave  his  name  to  a  city  now  rapidly  growing,  which,  in 
the  future  will  become  much  larger  and  of  greater  importance.  We  are  sorry 
not  to  be  able  to  say  more  of  this  early  settler,  but  glad  to  here  record  what 
has  been  gathered  and  to  p^ace  it  where  it  will  be  preserved,  in  the  Library 
of  the  State  Historical  Society  of  Illinois. 


MARK  BUCKLEY. 

BY  HON.  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


THE  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  the  kingdom  of  England  on  the 
10th  day  of  May,  1815,  and  will  be  ninety  years  of  age,  if  he  lives  to  see 
the  10th  day  of  the  coming  month.  His  brother,  John  L.  Buckley, 
was  born  in  1812,  and  in  the  year  1837  these  two  brothers  bade  good-bye  to 
"Merrie  old  England"  and  started  for  Illinois,  then  a  state  younger  than 
themselves,  to  seek  their  fortune.  They  set  out  for  the  far  away  home  of 
Edward  Fletcher,  an  old  family  friend  who  had  settled  about  three  miles 
northeast  of  the  present  town  of  Arenzville  in  this  county  (then   Morgan 

county).  The  brothers  arrived  with 
their  woi'ldly  effects  at  the  Fletcher 
cabin  in  December,  1837,  and  were 
given  a  hearty  welcome.  The  house 
being  too  small  to  accommodate  the 
new  comers  with  a  lodging  place,  a 
nearby  log  schoolhouse — temporarily 
out  of  use,  was  taken  possession  of  by 
the  brothers,  wlio  went  to  a  saw  miU 
at  Arenzville  for  some  lumber  wiiich 
was  thrown  npoti  the  ground  aiu? 
their  bedding  deposited  thereon.  The 
first  night  spent  in  this  wild  lodging 
pliice  was  so  cold  tliat  their  bedding 
fidze  fast-  to  the  lumbor.  During  the 
winter  of  1837-'38  the  brothers  gath- 
ered coin  for  Fletcher  and  on  January 
;]1,  1838,  John  entered  the  southwest 
(juarter  of  the  southeast  (juarfpr  of 
Sec  ;S3-17-11  (now  owned  by  Eli  Wood) 
and  he  and  Mark  built  a  cabin  there- 
MAIIK  BUCKLEY.  on. 

Spring  came  on  with  unusual  floods  and  storms,  and  John  Buckley  being 
a  carpenter  finding  he  could  get  employment  at  his  trade  in  Jacksonville, 
gave  up  his  plan  to  make  a  home  on  the  40  which  he  sold  tlie  same  year  to 
William  Lawrence  for  $200  and  went  to  the  future  "Athens  of  the  West"  tak- 
ing his  brother  Mark  with  him.  The  latter  .soon  became  too  sick  to  work  in 
Jacksonville,  and  walked  back  to  the  Fletcher  cabin  and  hired  to  Mr.  F.  the 
season  of  183Hto  work  on  his  land  for  eight  dollars  per  month. 


The  winter  before,  David  Epler,  who  lived  in  the  neic^hborhood,  sold  a 
good  cow  for  twelve  dollars,  and  the  enormous  price  that  cow  brought  was 
the  wonder  and  talk  of  the  whole  settlement.  One  strong,  lusty  woodman 
walked  a  distance  of  three  miles,  taking  his  corn  pone  and  slice  of  fried  bacon 
for  his  dinner,  to  make  one  hundred  rails  for  fifty  cents.  The  reader  will  ob- 
serve that  times  were  much  better  then,  than  now;  for  this  rail  maker  could 
earn  an  acre  of  land  in  three  days,  and  earn  a  good  cow  in  less  than  a  montli. 

The  preaching  for  the  neighborhood  was  done  by  Richard  Matthews, 
(father  of  the  wife  of  J.  T.  Robertson  of  this  city)  who  held  fortli  in  the  cab- 
ins in  lieu  of  a  church.  If  chills  and  fever  laid  hold  of  a  luckless  settler,  a 
boy  on  a  horse  was  dispatched  for  Dr.  Morrison  who  lived  at  Lexington— mid- 
way between  Arenzville  and  Jacksonville. 

After  a  few  months  spent  in  Jacksonville  John  Buckley  came  to  the  little 
scattered  hamlet  called  Virginia  and  began  the  building  of  a  house  for  James 
Samuels  on  lots  1  and  2  in  the  addition  of  the  Public  Grounds,  still  standing 
and  occupied,  and  for  long  years  the  home  of  the  family  of  John  E.  Haskell. 
As  soon  as  Mark  Buckley  finished  his  contract  on  the  Fletcher  farm  he  came 
here  to  help  his  brother;  they  boarded  for  a  few  weeks  in  the  Samuels  home: 
then  went  to  the  boarding  house  of  Deweber  on  the  east  side  of  Washington 
siiuare— -where  tlie  store  of  David  Wilson  is  now  located,  and  soon  after,  re- 
moved to  the  hotel  kept  by  Dr.  Pothecary  on  lot  102  in  this  city  where  Cen- 
tennial bank  now  stands. 

On  the  20th  day  of  May  1839,  Dr.  Hall  sold  and  conveyed  to  John  L.  Buck, 
ley  lot  4()  in  the  addition  to  Virginia  for  thirty  dollars,  and  the  Buckley 
brothers  immediately  began  building  a  shop  thereon  18  feet  square  and  one 
and  a  lialf  stories  in  height.  This  building  is  now  in  good  condition,  and 
forms  main  part  of  the  house  in  which  Frank  Long  lives  one  block  west  of 
the  opera  house  on  the  south  side  of  Spriiigtield  street.  This  shop  they  oc- 
cupied for  nine  years  as  a  carpenter  and  furniture  shop;  they  used  the  upper 
part  for  sleeping  room  for  a  time,  and  when  they  found  they  owed  Dr.  Pothe- 
cary a  board  bill  of  si.Kty  dollars,  they  did  their  own  cooking  in  these  bachelor 
lieadquarters.  Not  but  what  they  had  plenty  of  work  to  do,  but  money  was 
so  scarce  they  could  not  collect  their  bills,  and  they  were  finally  compelled  to 
notify  their  numerous  customers  that  they  must  pay  cash  on  delivery  to  the 
extent  of  the  value  of  materials  purchased  by  the  manufacturers,  and  for  the 
work  and  labor,  credit  was  extended.  Here  they  made  coffins  for  the  dead 
and  furniture  for  the  living,  of  native  walnut  and  cherry^  procured  at  the 
local  mills.  The  cjflins  were  sold  at  from  $10  lo  $15  each:  for  a  time  only,  the 
coffins  for  children  were  lined,  by  the  women  friends  of  tlie  afflicted  families, 
while  the  adults  were  buried  in  the  bire  walnut  receptacles  whicii  were  de 
posited  in  the  ground  without  boxes  or  bm-i  U  cases.  A  few  years  later,  these 
boxes  "come  in  style,"  and  were  made  of  well  seasoned  materials.  Bedsteads 
and  tables  were  uiade  in  the  shop;  some  of  them  are  now  in  use  in  this  county 
on  this  day.  .V  wheel  was  made  by  these  mechanics  which  turned  a  lathe  in 
the  stiop:  the  motive  power  was  an  old  blind  mare. 

In  these  early  days  Col.  West  was  the  merchant  on  the  west  side  of  Wash- 
ington s(iuare:  he  borrowed  money  right  and  left,  and  did  business  in  dashing 
style.  He  wanted  the  loan  of  a  few  hundred  dollars  the  Buckley  brothers 
then  had;  they  were  doubtful  of  the  propriety  of  letting  it  go  and  soon   found 


-423- 

their  judgment  was  correct  as  the  Colonel  went  into  bankruptcy. 

Mr.  Loomis  was  one  of  the  old-time  teachers;  the  same  who  taught  our 
high  school  a  few  years  ago.  In  the  old  Protestant  church  where  Skiles' 
lumber  yard  now  is;  Mr.  Buckley  remembers  an  earlv  preacher  named  Fox 
who  lived  about  7  miles  southwest  of  Virginia  in  the  Nisbet  neighborhood; 
another  preacher  was  named  Robertson. 

The  Mark  Buckley  farm  lies  about  5  miles  east  of  Virginia  and  is  de- 
scribed as  west  half  of  southwest  quarter  of  Sec  4.  and  east  half  of  southeast 
quarter  of  Sec.  5,  T  17,  Range  9,  160  acres.  This  land  was  owned  by  the  Lees 
and  mortgaged  by  them  to  the  State  Bank  of  Illinois.  Hard  times  came  on, 
the  mortgage  was  foreclosed,  and  on  April  14,  1848,  this  160  acres  with  15 
acres  of  timber  in  Sugar  Grove  a  couple  of  miles  west  of  the  farm  was  con- 
veyed by  the  bank  to  J.  L.  and  M.  Buckley  for  less  than  seven  dollars  per 
acre.  In  the  meantime,  on  June  2,  1844,  John  L.  Buckley  had  married  Mary 
Ann  Lindsley,  a  Cass  county  school  teacher;  the  marriage  ceremony  was  pro- 
nounced by  Alexander  Naylor,  a  Justice  of  renown,  residing  in  the  town.  On 
August  21,  1848,  John  Buckley  conveyed  the  shop  and  the  furniture  business 
to  John  Rogers  and  David  Blair.  The  Buckleys  moved  into  a  log  cabin  built 
by  one  of  the  Lees  and  began  farming.  The  John  Buckley  farm,  now  owned 
by  Wm.  Ross,  lies  less  than  a  mile  east  of  the  farm  of  Mark  Buckley  and  is 
described  as  east  half  of  northeast  quarter  of  Section  9  and  west  half  nortii- 
west  quarter  of  Section  10,  T.  17-9.  This  farm  was  naturally  wet;  it  had  also 
become  the  property  of  the  State  Bank  and  on  October  20,  1848,  John  Buckley 
bought  the  farm  of  the  bank  for  two  dollars  and  fiftv  cents  per  acre.  One 
hundred  dollars  per  acre  would  hardly  buy  this  farm  to-day. 

It  appears  that  John  Buckley  was  very  unlike  his  brother  Mark,  the  latter 
being  a  man  satisfied  with  slow  and  steady  gains,  while  John  was  more  ven- 
turesome. Accordingly  we  find  John  catching  the  gold  fever  in  1849,  and  pro- 
posing to  go  off  to  California,  against  the  protest  of  his  wife,  while  Mark  had 
no  desire  to  leave  Illinois.  Away  went  Jonn  with  Josepli  Cosner,  Dr.  Potlie- 
cary,  Dr.  Schooley  and  Mike  Whittlinger,  to  make  his  everlasting  fortune 
digging  out  gold.  lie  went  into  an  enterprise  with  two  sons  of  Alexander 
Beard;  these  prospectors  found  some  particles  of  gold  along  the  banks  of  a 
small  stream  and  at  once  surmised  there  was  plenty  of  the  precious  metal 
scattered  along  the  bed  of  the  stream;  accordingly  they  went  to  work,  at  a 
great  expense  of  time,  cash  and  muscle,  to  divert  the  flow  of  water  into  a  new 
channel.  When  tljieir  task  was  ended,  there  was  nothing  found  but  the  bare 
rocks  that  formed  the  bed  of  the  waterway.  Mr.  Buckley  returned  very  little 
richer  than  he  went. 

Mark  Buckley  was  married  to  Miss  Cornelia  Job,  a  daughter  of  Archibald 
Job,  who  was  an  early  settler  and  a  prominent  man,  on  March  26,  1850,  when 
she  was  between  17  and  18  years  of  age.  They  have  reared  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters.  He  left  his  farm  and  took  up  his  residence 
in  this  city.  He  was  not  born  with  a  very  strong  constitution,  but  by  a 
quiet  and  sober  life  has  prolonged  his  years  to  very  nearly  ninety.  His  broth- 
er, John  L.,  died  in  this  county  in  1885  at  the  age  of  73;  and  his  widow  fol- 
lowed him  nine  years  later  at  the  age  of  78  years. 


CAPT.  CHARLES  BEGGS. 

BY  HON,  J.  N.  GRIDLEY. 


AMONG  the  early  settlers  of  Illinois  were  to  be  fouud  all  classes  and 
conditions  of  people— the  good  and  the  bad,  the  young  and  the  old; 
the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  industrious  and  the  shiftless.  There 
were  not  'a  few  of  the  criminal  class;  refugees  from  justice,  murderers,  thieves, 
perjurers  and  robbers.  In  the  sketch  of  Francis  Bridgman  in  this  volume, 
the  horse  thieves  and  counterfeiters  who  once  infested  Cass  county  are  de- 
scribed. In  some  sections  the  criminal  class  was  numerous  enough  to  control 
the  machinery  of  the  law. 

Governor  Ford  in  his  history  of  Il- 
linois says:  "I  had  a  good  opportunity 
to  know  the  early  settlers  of  Hancock 
county.  I  had  attended  tlie  Circuit 
Courts  there  as  states  attorney,  from 
1830,  when  the  county  was  first  organized, 
up  to  the  year  18:54;  and  to  my  certain 
knowledge  the  early  settlers,  with  some 
lionorable  exceptions,  were,  in  popular 
language,  hard  cases.  In  the  year  18.34, 
one  Dr.  Galland  was  a  candidate  for  the 
legislature,  in  a  district  composed  of 
Hancock,  Adams  and  Pike  counties.  He 
resided  in  the  county  of  Hancock,  and  as 
lie  had  in  the  early  part  of  his  life  been  a 
notorious  horse-thief  and  counterfeiter, 
belonging  to  the  Massac  gang,  and  was 
then  no  pretender  to  integrity,  it  was 
useless  to  deny  the  charge.  In  all  his 
speeches  he  freely  admitted  the  fact,  but 
came  near  receiving  a  niajority  of  votes 
in  his  own  county  of  Hancock.  I  men- 
CAPT.  CH.\RLES  HEGGS.  tion  this  to  show  the  character  of  the 
people  for  integrity.  From  this  time,  down  to  the  settlement  of  the  Mor 
mons  t  here,  and  for  four  years  afterwards,  I  had  no  means  of  knowing  about 
tlie  future  increase  of  the  Hancock  people.  But  having  passed  my  whole  life 
on  tlie  frontiers,  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  settlements,  I  liave  freciuently  seen 
that  a  few  Hrst  settlers  would  fix  the  character  of  a  settlement  for  good  or 
for  bad,  for  many  years  after  its  commencement  If  bad  men  began  the 
settlement,  bad  men  would  be  attracted  to  them,  upon  the  well  known 
principle  that  'birds  of  a  feather  will  flock  togetlier.'  Rogues  will  find  each 
other  out,  and  so  will   honest  men.     From  all   which  it  appears  extremely 


-  425  - 

probable,  that  the  later  immigrants  were  many  of  them  attracted  to  Hancock 
by  a  secret  sympathy  between  them  and  the  early  settlers." 

The  Governor  refers  to  the  "Massac  gang;"  Massac  county  and  Pope 
county  are  situated  on  the  Ohio  river  in  the  south  end  of  the  state.  In  these 
two  counties  a  colony  of  horse  thieves,  counterfeiters  and  robbers  liad  settled. 
They  were  so  numerous  and  bold  as  to  be  independent  of  the  law.  In  1846  a 
number  of  these  desperate  men  attacked  an  old  man  in  Pope  county  and 
robbed  him  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  in  gold.  One  of  the  gang  left  be- 
hind a  knife  that  had  been  made  by  a  blacksmith  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
owner  of  the  knife  was  seized  and  tortured,  and  confessed  liis  crime  and 
divulged  the  names  of  the  others.  A  dozen  of  these  were  also  seized  and  sub- 
jected to  torture,  and  they  gave  a  long  list  of  the  names  of  their  confederates, 
scattered  over  several  counties  in  Southern  Illinois.  The  people  who  had  re- 
selved  to  put  a  stop  to  these  criminal  proceedings  organized  tliemselves  to- 
gether under  the  name  of  regulators  and  ordered  the  worst  of  the  criminals  to 
leave  the  country.  Before  they  could  be  driven  out  the  county  election 
came  on  in  August,  1846,  and  the  criminals  all  voting  together  elected  a 
sheriff  and  other  county  officers  in  Massac  county,  who  would  not  enforce  the 
law.  Those  who  were  arrested  and  put  in  jail  were  rescued  by  their  friends. 
The  regulators,  finding  they  could  do  nothing  under  the  law,  proceeded  to  act 
independently  of  law.  They  lield  a  convention  in  December.  1846,  at  Gol- 
conda;  the  representatives  came  from  the  counties  of  Pope,  Massac  and  John- 
son; they  ordered  the  slieriff  and  the  clerk  of  the  county  court  and  many  other 
citizens  of  Massac,  to  leave  the  county  within  thirty  days.  The  slieriff  and 
some  others  left  and  were  gone  all  winter.  The  regulators  began  a  reign  of 
terror;  they  seized  persons  suspected  of  crime,  tied  ropes  about  their  bodies, 
and  witii  sticks  twisted  the  ropes  until  they  crushed  the  ribs  of  their  victims. 
Some  were  thrown  into  the  Ohio  river  and  lield  under  water  until  tliey  con- 


At  a  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Massac  county,  tiie  grand  jurv  lound 
indictments  against  a  number  of  the  regulators  By  this  time  a  large  number 
of  the  tliieves  liad  become  regulators;  a  lot  of  them  were  arrested  and  thrown 
into  jail.  Others  of  tiie  regulators,  including  a  number  from  Kentucky, 
assembled,  denounced  tlie  judge,  threatened  to  lyncli  him  if  he  ever  returned 
to  the  county,  took  possession  of  the  county  jail,  liberated  their  friends  con- 
fined tlierein,  seized  and  murdered  several  of  the  sheriff's  posse,  and  ran  the 
sheriff  out  of  the  country.  The  Governor  was  appealed  to;  he  ordered  Dr. 
Gibbs,  of  Jolinson  county,  to  call  on  the  militia  for  a  force  to  protect  tlie 
sheriff  and  other  county  officers.  The  Doctor  called  in  two  justices  of  the 
peace  and  ordered  the  regulators  to  appear;  tliey  refused  to  do  it.  whereupon 
the  Doctor  declared  there  were  no  rogues  in  Massac  coutjty.  Wereupon  the 
regulators  again  assembled,  caught  a  number  of  suspected  persons  and  tried 
them;  some  were  acquitted,  others  convicted  and  whipped  or  tarred  and 
feathered.  Tiiese  proceedings  continued  for  a  considerable  time  until  the 
passions  of  tliis  delectable  community  finally  subsided. 

In  many  of  the  counties  in  Illinois  there  were  gangs  of  villians  who  went 
to  elections  armed  with  butcher  knives  and  called  themselves  "butcher 
knife"  boys;  and  the  "half  horse  and  half  alligator"  men,  and  the  candidates 
who  had  tlie.se  rutlians  among  tlieir  supporters  were  almost  invariably  elected. 


-  4V.6  - 

In  1816  and  1817,  in  the  towns  of  the  Territory,  the  country  was  overrun 
with  horse  thieves  and  counterfeiters.  They  were  so  numerous,  and  so  well 
combined  in  many  counties,  as  to  set  the  laws  at  defiance.  Many  of  the 
sheriffs,  justices  of  the  peace,  and  constables  were  of  their  number;  and  even 
some  of  the  judf^es  of  the  county  courts;  and  they  had  numerous  friends  to 
aid  them  and  sympathize  with  them,  even  amongst  those  who  were  least  sus- 
pected. When  any  of  them  were  arrested,  they  either  escaped  from  the 
slight  jails  of  those  times,  or  procured  some  of  their  gang  to  be  on  the  jury; 
and  they  never  lacked  witnesses  to  prove  themselves  innocent.  The  people 
formed  themselves  into  revolutionary  tribunals  in  many  counties,  under  the 
name  of  "Regulators;"  and  the  governor  and  judges  of  the  territory,  seeing 
the  impossibility  of  executing  the  laws  in  the  ordinary  way,  against  an  or- 
ganized banditti,  who  set  all  law  at  detiance,  winked  at  and  encouraged  the 
proceedings  of  the  regulators. 

If  any  native  of  an  older  state  chance  to  read  this  sketch  let  him  not 
sneer  at  Illinois  and  her  early  history;  please  remember,  dear  sir,  that  tiiese 
tiueves,  murderers,  wife-beaters  and  counterfeiters  all  came  in  iiere  from  the 
older  states,  perhaps  the  worst  of  them  came  from  your  state;  and  although 
there  were  too  many  of  them,  plenty  were  left  wliere  tliey  came  from. 

With  relief  one  turns  from  the  study  of  tliese  miserable  criminals  to  the 
contemplation  of  other  clasees  of  early  settlers.  Most  of  them  came  young  in 
years  and  vvitli  but  little  property,  but  others  were  people  of  mature  years, 
who  luid  large  families  they  wished  to  establish  in  a  country  wliich  could 
afford  their  children  greater  opportunities.  Not  a  few  of  the  pioneers  brought 
considerable  sums  of  money  wliicli  they  invested  in  the  erection  of  comfort- 
able liomes  and  in  the  early  acquisition  of  large  bodies  of  land.  Some  had 
served  the  public  as  lawmakers,  or  liad  become  distinguished  for  military 
service.  Tlie  churches  of  the  older  states  sent  out  young,  intelligent  and 
forceful  preachers  to  work  for  righteousness  among  the  Illinois  pioneers,  and 
tlieir  efforts  were  zealously  encouraged  by  tlie  better  class  of  settlers,  whether 
cliurch  members  or  otherwise.  It  is  to  tliese  people  of  the  better  class  to 
whom  Illinois  owes  lier  greatness;  tliey  saved  the  young  state  from  the  curse 
of  slavery,  and  from  tlie  disgrace  of  repudiation  in  tlie  dark  days  of  tinan. 
cial  disaster  and  distress:  and  so  well  did  tiiey  direct  the  progre.ss  of  the 
youjig  and  si  niggling  state,  that  she  has  been  able  to  pursue  the  course  so 
wisely  marked  out  for  her,  until  she  lias  reached  lier  present  proud  position— 
the  "Queen  of  the  Mississippi  Valley:"  that  broad  and  fertile  land,  the  in- 
habitants of  which  will,  in  t  he  near  future,  assume  and  cont  inue  the  control 
of  the  government  of  the  greatest  republic  of  tlie  eiirtli. 

The  earliest  known  ancestors  of  Charles  Beggs  were  Scotclimen,  who 
spelled  tlieir  name  Begg;  these  wlio  remained  in  Scotland  adhered  to  that 
spelling  of  the  name.  One  or  more  of  the  family  crossed  to  the  north  of  Ire- 
land and  some  one  of  their  descendants  following  a  custom  of  those  early  days 
changed  the  name  by  the  addition  of  another  letter. 

The  paternal  grandfatlier  of  Charles  Beggs  was  James  Beggs.  who  was 
born  in  the  north  part  of  Ireland;  he  married  Elizabeth  Hardy  a  native  of 
the  same  country.  Tiie.se  people  came  to  America  in  the  early  part  of  the 
eighteenth  century  and  settled  in  New  .lersey.  Of  their  history  but  little 
can  be  learned;  they  were  the  parents  of  four  children,    two   sons    and    two 


-  427  - 

daughters;  one  of  the  sons  died  early  in  life  without  descendants;  the  daugh- 
ters married  and  reared  families.  The  surviving  son  Thomas,  who  was  the 
father  of  Charles  Beggs,  was  born  in  New  Jersey;  he  married  Sarah  Barnes, 
who  was  the  daughter  of  Charles  Barnes  and  Elizabeth  (McDowell)  Barnes; 
Charles  Barnes  was  born  in  America;  Elizabeth  McDowell  was  born  in  north- 
ern Ireland,  and  it  is  believed  that  her  ancestors  were  Scotch  people. 

The  time  of  the  removal  of  Thomas  Beggs  from  New  Jersey  to  Virginia  is 
unknown.  He  went  into  the  Revolutionary  army  at  the  beginning  of  that 
desperate  struggle  of  the  Colonies  against  the  tyranny  of  Great  Britain  which 
resulted  in  the  birth  of  a  wonderful  nation;  he  became  an  officer  in  that  army 
and  died  of  camp  fever  in  1778.  He  must  have  left  his  widow  and  family  of 
young  children  comfortably  provided  for,  as  these  children  were  able  to  ac- 
quire good  educations.  One  of  them,  James,  became  a  graduate  of  William 
and  Mary  College  at  Williamsburg,  in  the  Old  Dominion.  The  youngest  of 
the  family,  George  Beggs,  died  early  in  life  without  issue.  Charles  Beggs 
grew  to  manhood  in  the  state  which  gave  to  the  nation  so  large  a  number  of 
her  great  men;  he  became  a  splendid  horseman,  a  man  of  extensive  informa- 
tion and  of  polished  manners.  His  birth  occurred  on  the  30th  day  of  October, 
in  the  year  1775,  in  Rockingham  county.  He  was  married  to  Dorothy  Trumbo, 
a  native  of  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  on  August  1,  1797,  and  they  im- 
mediately started  for  Kentucky  to  seek  their  future  home.  They  made  the 
journey  on  horse-back,  the  usual  mode  of  travel  of  that  day.  Tlieir  route  lay 
up  the  valley  of  Virginia,  then  down  through  the  valley  of  the  Tennessee,  on 
tnrough  the  Cumberland  Gap,  and  from  thence  over  the  Boone  trail  to  the 
county  of  .Jefferson,  where  they  settled  and  began  the  foundation  of  a  per- 
manent home.  Charles  Beggs  was  a  farmer;  he  was  satisfied  with  the  climate 
and  with  the  soil  of  that  part  of  the  State  of  Kentucky  which  he  had  selected 
as  an  abiding  place.  Opportunities  were  more  numerous  and  more  valuable 
than  those  of  his  native  state,  but  the  people  were  more  lax  in  their  morals; 
the  cursed  institution  of  slavery  existed  in  a  more  revolting  form,  Charles 
Beggs  was  a  Methodist;  the  founder  of  his  cluirch,  the  great  John  Wesley,  had 
solemnly  declared:  "Slavery  is  the  sum  of  all  villainies,"  and  Charles  Beggs 
heartily  agreed  with  him.  His  first  child,  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  tliat  slave 
state;  he  lived  among  a  people,  governed  by  laws  that  allowed  a  fatlier  to  sell 
for  money,  his  own  mulatto  children,  and  divide  it  among  his  white  children; 
his  soul  cried  out  in  protest  against  this  awful  condition;  he  could  not  consent 
to  remain  and  rear  his  children  among  sucli  morally  degraded  people;  he  re- 
solved to  go  where  he  could  breathe  free  air.  We  find  him  then  in  the  year 
1800  again  a  "home seeker."  He  crossed  the  Ohio  river  into  the  country  that 
later  became  the  state  of  Indiana.  He  settled  close  to  the  bank  of  that  river, 
in  what  is  now  Clark  county.  His  brothers,  John  and  James,  must  have  had 
the  same  abhorrence  of  the  curse  of  slavery,  for  they  soon  joined  him.  Here 
Charles  Beggs  settled  down,  in  peace  and  contentment;  he  became  a  quiet 
farmer,  until  he  was  called  by  liis  friends  into  public  life.  In  1813,  assisted 
by  his  friend,  Abram  Epler,  he  built  a  water-mill;  later  he  became  a  merchant 
as  well  as  a  farmer. 

The  territory  of  Indiana  was  organized  in  1800,  with  the  capital  at  Vin- 
cennes  and  with  General  William  Henry  Harrison  as  its  Governor.  Although 
Charles  Beggs  had  but  just  made  his  appearance  from  the  soutii  side  of  the 


-  4';.8  - 

river,  his  character  and  ability  was  immediately  recognized  and  he  was  chos- 
en as  a  member  of  the  convention  to  draft  a  constitution  for  the  new  terri- 
tory from  Clark  connty.  He  proceeded  to  Vincennes  where  he  soon  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Governor  Harrison  and  they  became  the  closest  of  friends. 
A  few  years  later,  they  fought  together  in  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe  in  which 
Charles  Beggs  commanded  a  company  of  cavalry  and  where  Harrison  at  the 
head  of  the  army  acquired  sufficient  military  glory  to  sweep  him  into  the 
presidency  of  the  United  States. 

In  the  sketch  of  the  history  of  the  Black  Laws  of  Illinois,  elsewhere 
found  in  this  volume,  it  is  shown  how  the  lawmakers  of  Illinois  sneakingly 
introduced  or  rather  continued  slavery  in  this  state  under  the  guise  of  the 
"Law  of  Indentures."  The  same  nefarious  scheme  was  attempted  in  Indi- 
ana. In  1808,  James  Beggs,  the  brother  of  Charles,  was  president  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's (Council  in  the  territorial  legislature,  held  at  Vincennes,  and  a  system 
of  "Black  Laws"  similar  to  those  in  Illinois,  was  proposed  for  Indiana;  it  was 
hotly  debated:  upon  a  test  vote  it  was  found  that  this  council  was  evenly  di- 
vided upon  the  question  and  James  Beggs,  the  President  of  the  Council  de- 
feated fhe  infamous  scheme  by  casting  his  vote  upon  the  side  of  freedom  and 
justice. 

The  pioneers  of  what  is  now  Clark  county,  Indiana,  settled  along  the 
bank  of  the  Ohio  river.  The  river  runs,  at  this  point,  in  a  southerly  course- 
more  southerly,  than  southeasterly.  The  woods  in  the  interior  were  infested 
witli  wild  animals  and  wild  Indians;  there  were  no  means  of  transportation 
except  by  horses  and  mules;  all  their  merchandise  came  floating  down  the 
river,  and  naturally,  the  early  settlers  clung  to  its  banks.  As  population  in- 
creased, it  gradually  receded  to  the  interior.  When  the  territory  was  organ- 
ized, it  became  necessary  to  select  a  county  seat  for  Clark  county.  In  the  in- 
terior was  a  small  village  named  Springville.  This  village  contained  two 
hotels,  a  blacksmith  shop,  two  wheel  wrights,  one  physician  and  a  surveyor 
lived  there;  it  was  the  largest  cluster  of  houses  in  the  county,  away  from  the 
river.  It  was  founded  by  an  adventurous  character,  an  Indian  trader  named 
Tuily,  who  built  the  first  cabin  in  which  he  lived  and  carried  on  his  barter 
with  the  red  men,  and  in  his  honor  was  named  Tullytown.  The  people 
remote  from  the  river  desired  the  location  of  the  seat  of  justice  at  Springville, 
but  by  sharp  practice  it  was  located  at  .leflersonville,  a  river  town  in  the  ex- 
treme south  end  of  the  county  immediately  opposite  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
The  courts  were  held  here  from  1802  until  1810.  The  few  residents  of  Spring- 
ville disgusted  and  discouraged  melted  away  and  the  little  town  site  again 
became  farm  land.  The  interior  tilling  up  more  and  more  rapidly,  it  was  re- 
solved to  re-locate  the  county  seat.  Charles  Beggs  was  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature,  and  one  of  his  brothers  was  a  member  of  the  senate.  These  men 
introduced  the  necessary  measures  to  obtain  the  relief  needed  and  by  constant 
and  persistent  effort  they  succeeded.  Charles  Beggs  was  authorized  to  choose 
a  fitting  place  for  the  county  seat  of  the  county.  He  located  it  upon  two 
farms,  purchased  from  James  McCampbell  and  Barzilla  Baker  and  upon  them 
was  laid  out  in  1806  the  town  which  has  ever  since  been  the  county  seat  of 
Clark  county.  In  honor  of  Charles  Beggs,  this  town  was  named  Charles  - 
Town,  or  Charlestown,  which  is  its  present  name.  To  help  the  building  of 
this  town  Mr.  Beggs,  then  a  prosperous  farmer,   thirty-one  years  of  age  es- 


-  4'2g  - 

tablished  a  store.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the  business  of  purchasing  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  farm  and  loading  them  upon  flat  boats,  taking  them  down  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  the  lower  towns  and  as  far  as  New  Orleans,  wliere, 
disposing  of  his  boats  and  their  cargoes,  he  would  malce  his  return  on  horse- 
back. 

In  the  year  1811,  his  wife  Dorothy  died;  she  had  borne  him  six  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  His  oldest  daughter  was  then  eleven  years  old 
and  his  youngest  child,  who  was  his  oldest  son,  was  three  years  old.  On  the 
12th  day  of  November  1812,  Charles  Beggs'was  naarried  to  Mary  Buddell  in 
Woodford  county,  Kentucky.  This  lady  was  also  a  native  of  Rockingham 
county,  Virginia,  and  was  twenty-two  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  marriage, 
being  15  years  younger  than  her  husband.  She  became  an  affectionate  step- 
mother to  his  young  children,  and  she  became  the  mother  of  nine  cliildren  of 
wliom  eight  were  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana. 

Here  Charles  Beggs  resided  for  twenty-eight  years,  honored  and  esteemed 
by  all  who  knew  him.  As  a  farmer,  a  merchant,  a  miller  and  a  trader  he  ac- 
cumulated sufficient  property  to  comfortably  support  and  educate  his  large 
family;  his  distinguished  services  in  the  army,  arid  in  the  lialls  of  legislation 
were  of  great  value  to  the  people  of  his  county.  No  one  would  have  deemed^ 
it  possible  that  after  living  here  until  he  was  flfty-four  years  of  age,  that  he 
would  dispose  of  his  property,  and  remove  to  the  wilds  of  Illinois  to  begin  life 
anew  in  that  far-off  country. 

His  oldest  daughter,  Eliz.abeth,  born  in  Kentucky  in  the  year  1798,  when 
she  became  eighteen  years  of  age,  was  married  to  Henry  Hopkins,  a  farmer  in 
Clark  county.  A  sister  of  Mr.  Hopkins  who  had  married  Wm.  Conover  had  gone 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  the  prairie,  near  the  presen*^.  site  of  Princeton,  in 
Morgan  county.  Tlie  accounts  of  the  fertility  of  the  black  land  of  Illinois, 
made  Mr.  Hopkins  impatient  to  leave  Clark  county  and  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  Sucker  state.  Accordingly,  in  the  early  fall  of  1825,  he  loaded  liis  wagon 
with  necessary  goods  and  with  his  wife,  then  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  with 
their  four  children,  the  oldest  a  daughter  of  seven  years  and  the  youngest  a 
daughter  of  ten  months,  (Mrs.  Sarali  E.  Cunningham,  now  living  [ltK)7]  with 
her  son  Henry,  five  miles  east  of  Virginia)  and  wended  their  way  slowly  along, 
arriving  at  Mr.  Conover's  place,  November  1,  1825.  He  spent  the  winter  iti 
that  neighborhood,  and  in  the  spring  of  182(>  lie  settled  upon  a  tine  tract  of 
land  in  Section  5,  Township  17,  Range  9,  on  the  east  side  of  Sugar  Grove.  A 
few  years  later,  he  acquired  the  title  to  tliis  land,  and  made  it  his  home  for 
nearly  sixty  years.  Mr.  Hopkins  was  a  brave  and  very  generous  man  and  soon 
became  famous  for  his  hospitality— ready  to  share  with  the  traveller  or  a 
neiglibor  anything  in  his  possession  which  would  cheer  or  comfort.  The  de- 
scription of  this  beautiful  country,  which  iie  sent  back,  induced  many  of  the 
people  of  Southern  Indiana  to  follow  in  his  footsteps,  and  make  their  iiomes 
in  Central  Illinois. 

In  tlie  year  1829,  Captain  Charles  Beggs  removed  from  Clark  county  In- 
diana, to  Morgan  county,  Illinois.  He  settled  on  the  north  side  of  Jersey 
Prairie  about  one  mile  west  of  old  Princeton,  where  he  lived  for  forty  years, 
the  farm  is  now,  (in  1907),  owned  by  Mr.  Samuel  Crum.  With  him  came  his 
wife  Mary  (Ruddell)  Beggs  and  their  five  children  aged  from  one  year  to  twelve 
years,  and  also  Jacob  Epler,  the  husband  of  liis  third  daughter  Mary,  wiiowas 


-  430  - 

tnen  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  and  their  infant  son  of  one  year.  Mr.  Epler 
settled  on  a  fine  tract  of  land  in  Sec  27  T.  17,  R.  10,  vvliich  lies  just  west  of 
Little  Indian  R.  R.  station,  and  is  now  owned  by  William  Buracker. 

This  was  a  wild  country  in  1827;  very  little  of  the  land  had  then  been  en- 
tered; nearly  all  of  the  few  settlers  were  squatters— people  who  built  their 
cabins  near  springs  or  streams,  and  close  by  tracts  of  timber  and  who  culti- 
vated the  adjacent  land  in  ignorance  of  boundary  lines.  Morgan  county  was 
but  six  years  old;  Jacksonville  was  but  a  straggling  little  village  only  four 
years  old;  it  was  laid  out  in  March,  1825,  by  Thomas  Arnett  and  Isaac  Dial  on 
40  acres  of  ground.  The  lirst  court  house  was  built  in  1826.  Thomas  Beard 
had  established  a  ferry  at  the  Indian  Mound  on  the  Illinois  river  and  in  182!», 
he  and  E.  C.  March  laid  out  Beardstown.  In  1830,  there  were  only  three  fam- 
ilies in  Beardstown  and  they  all  lived  in  log  huts.  Princeton  was  not  begun 
until  1833.  Virginia  was  laid  out  seven  years  after  Captain  Beggs  came  to 
Illinois.  Archibald  Job  had  settled  on  the  prairie  a  few  miles  east  of  the 
present  site  of  Virginia.  Among  others,  within  the  present  boundaries  in 
Cass  county,  in  1829,  were  the  following:  John  Knight,  Temperance  Baker, 
James  Orchard,  Josepli  C.  Christy,  Frederick  Troxel,  David  Black,  James 
Smart.  John  R.  Sparks,  Aquilla  Low,  Abram  Gish,  Charles  Robertson,  Peter 
Taylor,  Martin  Robertson,  Jonah  II.  Case,  Daniel  Shafer,  James  Davis,  An- 
drew Williams,  Alexander  Huffman,  William  Summers,  L.  L.  Case,  George 
F.  Miller,  Henry  Mclvean,  Daniel  T,  Mathews,  Daniel  Richards,  Shadrick 
Scoit,  Benjamin  Mathews,  Samuel  Grosong,  Wm.  S.  Ilanby,  John  E.  Scott, 
John  De Weber,  A.  S.  West,  John  Ray,  Joshua  Crow,  Phineas  Underwood, 
Jacob  Yaple,  Alexander  Cox,  Henry  Madison,  James  Marshall,  Jesse  AUred, 
Isaac  Mitchell,  Thomas  Redman,  George  Tureman,  W.  M.  Clark,  George 
Freeman,  Silas  Freemati,  Isaiah  Paschal,  Thos.  Plaster,  Richard  McDonald, 
John  Taylor,  William  Holmes,  James  Fletcher,  Solomon  Redman,  Henry  Kitt- 
ner,  Martin  Harding,  William  Miller,  Solomon  Penny,  Benjamin  Carr,  Red- 
dick  Horn,  Elisha  Carr,  John  Waggoner,  James  Scott,  Alexander  Pittner,  W. 
Myers,  Thomas  Gatton,  Carrollton  Gatton,  Nathan  Compton,  John  Robertson 
Z.  W.  FlyiHi,  I'eter  Carr,  Wm.  Chambers,  John  C.  Conover,  Susanna  Pratt, 
Jacob  Ward,  Jacob  Lawrence,  Peter  Conover,  William  Conover,  Joseph  T. 
Leonard,  Geo.  T.  Brislow,  W.  Breeden,  Peter  Taylor,  Samuel  Way,  Archer 
Herndon,  Page  A.  Williams,  Robt.  Fitzliugh,  Jesse  Gum,  John  Vance,  Rich- 
ard Jones,  Andrew  Beard,  John  Creel,  Joseph  McDonald,  Jonas  McDonald, 
John  McDonald,  Samuel  Reid,  Robt.  Elkins.  Eaton  Nance,  David  Williams, 
James  B.  Watson,  Wm.  Cooper,  Wm.  Crow,  Eli  Cox,  Robt.  Johnson,  G.  W. 
Wilson  and  Wm.  T.  Hamilton.  These  were  not  all  the  people  wlio  were 
settlers  here  in  1829,  but  the  list  includes  a  large  majority  of  tiiem.  The 
open  prairie  country  was  then  uninhabited.  Dr.  Hall  entered  hundreds  of 
acres  of  it  four  years  later  on.  As  before  stated  the  settlers  in  1829,  were 
located  along  the  edge  of  the  scattered  timber  belts  bordering  upon  the 
streams.  They  did  not  believe  the  winter  storm  swept  prairies  would  ever  be 
covered  with  farm  homes.  The  people  of  to-day  have  no  conception  of  the 
severity  of  the  winds  of  winter  that  prevailed  in  those  days.  There  were  no 
buildings,  fences,  hedges,  or  orchards  to  break  the  force  of  the  gales  which 
were  then  so  common.  The  timber  on  "tiie  barrens"  at  that  time  was  noth- 
ing more  than  low  bushes:  the  annual  tires  kept  them    near    to    the   surface. 


-431- 

There  were  a  few  rude  water  mills,  here  and  there,  that  crushed  corn  and 
wheat  from  which  bread  was  made.  A  journey  to  the  mill  in  those  days,  was 
quite  an  undertaking,  which  was  usually  postponed  so  long  as  the  neighbors 
could  furnish  deficiencies  by  lending;  when  the  trip  was  made  it  was  neces- 
sary to  repay  the  loans.  An  account  of  one  of  these  expeditions  was  often 
told  by  an  early  settler.  A  man  named  Clark  lived  somewhere  between  where 
Bluff  Springs  and  Arenzville  are  now  located.  He  found  his  flour  and  meal 
exhausted,  and  a  trip  to  the  mill  could  no  longer  be  put  off.  It  was  in  winter, 
the  days  were  short  and  the  distance  long.  He  found  a  neighbor  woman  who 
could  come  and  keep  his  wife  company,  and  mounting  his  horse,  with  a  sack 
of  corn  he  started  away  to  the  south  to  the  mill  on  Indian  Creek.  Being  com- 
pelled to  "wait  his  turn,"  it  was  after  dark  before  he  was  ready  to  start 
toward  home.  In  the  meantime  a  blizzard  had  arisen  and  the  man  soon  lost 
his  way,  and  became  so  stiffened  with  the  cold  as  to  be  unable  to  find  it. 
The  horse  took  him  in  the  right  direction,  however,  and  near  midnight  ar- 
rived at  the  cabin,  and  made  sufficient  noise  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
anxious  women.  They  dragged  the  half-frozen  and  unconscious  man  from 
the  horse,  carried  him  bodily  into  the  cabin  and  putting  him  upon  a  bed  cov- 
ered him  with  blankets  and  waited  the  result.  After  he  was  thawed  out.  he 
opened  his  eyes  and  said:  "Well,  wife,  we  have  got  a  fine  sack  of  meal,  and 
we  don't  owe  any  of  it." 

Charles  Beggs  would  never  have  consented  to  remove  from  Clark  county, 
Indiana,  to  this  wild  country  had  he  not  foreseen  the  very  rapid  growth  of 
improvements  and  population.  The  wonderful  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  ex- 
cellent location  of  the  state,  with  the  Father  of  Waters  upon  the  west,  the 
great  rivers  on  the  south  and  southeast,  and  the  great  lake  on  the  northeast, 
the  Illinois  and  other  streams  traversing  the  state,  the  broad  and  level 
prairies  upon  which  railroads  could  be  easily  and  cheaply  constructed,  all  gave 
promise  of  what  the  future  had  in  store  for  the  state  of  Illinois.  He  came 
here,  knowing  that  he  could  rear  his  children  in  a  land  where  they  would 
have  far  greater  and  better  opportunities  than  were  possible  in  the  south  end 
of  the  Hoosier  state;  the  outcome  proved  the  wisdom  of  the  change  he  made. 

Mr.  Beggs  was  fifty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  began  the  foundation  of  the 
new  home  in  Morgan  county;  he  immediately  commenced  this  task  with  zeal 
and  good  judgment.  The  town  of  Princeton  was  laid  out  one  mile  east  of  his 
farm,  in  1833,  by  Rev.  John  G.  Bergen,  and  soon  a  store  was  established  with 
shops  of  blacksmiths,  wood-workers  and  wool-workers.  Schools  were  in- 
stituted, religious  worship  was  inaugurated,  and  all  these  enterprises  Captain 
Beggs  assisted  and  encouraged. 

By  the  time  he  had  become  well  established,  he  had  passed  the  age  of 
political  ambitions.  He  preferred  to  live  a  quiet  life  upon  his  farm,  spending 
his  leisure  hours  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  for  which  he  ever  had  a 
passionate  fondness.  He  knew  that  death  would  part  him  from  all  material 
things,  but  the  knowledge  he  had  gained,  the  character  to  which  he  had  at- 
tained would  survive  that  crisis.  He  was  regarded,  not  a  very  successful 
money-maker,  but  a  man  of  superior  intelligence,  and  of  great  moral  worth, 
and  his  children  strongly  resembled  him. 

Affliction,  trial  and  sorrow  seem  to  be  essential  to  the  development  of  the 
highest  type  of  human  character,  and,  of  these,    Charles    Beggs   experienced 


-  43V-  - 

his  full  share.  His  tirst  wife  and  their  two  young  children  he  buried  in  In- 
diana; Abram  Epler,  his  old  partner  and  close  friend,  who,  with  him  crossed 
the  Ohio  to  mal<e  homes  in  Indiana,  who  came  to  Illinois  in  1832  and  settled 
near  him,  who  was  the  father  of  the  husbands  of  two  of  liis  daughters,  sick- 
ened and  died  in  the  year  1837  and  Captain  Beggs  sorrowfully  followed  his 
body  to  its  long  resting  place  in  the  old  Baptist  cemetery  on  Indian  Creelc, 
now  known  as  the  Yatesville  cemetery;  in  1845,  his  son  Cornelius,  the  eldest 
child  of  the  second  marriage  was  stricken  down  at  liis  home  in  Kentucky  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty-two  years;  in  1847,  George  W.,  his  tirst  born  son,  passed 
away  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  children,  the  youngest 
unborn;  in  1859  his  son  Isaac  died  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-one;  two  other 
sons  Tliomas  and  Cliarles  died  in  infancy;  all  these  bereavements  but  sweet- 
ened the  character  of  Charles  Beggs;  lie  was  an  unwavering  christian  and  by 
his  faith  was  sustained;  he  knew  that  all  these  loved  ones  had  only  passed  on 
before  him,  and  were  waiting  on  tlie  other  side  to  bid  him  welcome  when  his 
own  time  should  come. 

In  Morgan  county  Cliarles  Beggs  lived  for  forty  years  loved  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him,  and  on  the  21st  day  of  October  in  the  year  1869,  he 
peacefully  passed  away  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-four  years,  eleven 
months  and  twenty-one  days  and  was  laid  to  rest    in    the    Zion    church-yard. 

In  physical  appearance  Captain  Beggs  was  more  than  six  feet  in  height, 
weighing  two  hundred  pounds  wlien  in  full  health  and  vigor,  with  blue  eyes 
and  black  hair;  lie  was  a  splendid  horseman,  and  when  mounted  upon  a  steed 
of  liis  choice  made  a  tine  picture.  Politically  he  was  a  whig,  and  later,  a  re- 
publican, rie  was  an  honored  member  ot  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
from  tiie  eigliteenth  year  of  ids  age. 

The  children  of  Cliarles  Beggs,  tifteen  in  number  were  the  following: 
Children  of  Charles  Beggs  and  Dorothy  (Trumbo)  P>eggs: 

Eiizabetli  Beggs,  born  in  .lefferson  county,  Kentuclcy,  on  .June  I5th,   1798. 

8;irali  iJeggs,  borti  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  April  28,   1800. 

Mary  Aim  Beggs.  burn  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  .January  19,  1802. 

George  W.  Beggs  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  November  29,  1808. 

Susan  Beggs  and  Ilebecca  Beggs  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  and  died 
in  infancy. 

Ciiildren  of  Charles  Beggs  and  Mary  Ruddell  Beggs: 

Cornelius  Beggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  August  Kith,  1813,  and 
died  unmariied  at  the  age  of  .32  years  and  was  buried atSmitiiland,  Kentucky. 

William  Harvey  iieggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  April  20,  1817. 

James  Lemon  Beggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,   November  11,   1819. 

Margaret  Beggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  December  23,  1821. 

Dorotliy  Beggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  January  21,  1826. 

Isaac  W  Beggs,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  August  31,  1828,  and 
died  at  the  age  of  31  years  unmarried  and  is  buried  in  Zion  cemetery,  Cass 
county,  Illinois. 

,Iohn  Beggs,  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  August  7th,  1831. 

Thomas  Beggs  and  Charles  Beggs  died  in  infancy. 

Tlie  descendants  of  Charles  Beggs  are  more  numerous  than  tiiose  of  any 


-433- 

other  person  who  has  been  the  subject  of  this  series  of  Historical  Sketches, 
and  to  enable  the  future  reader  to  trace  the  history  of  this  family  down  the 
stream  of  time  the  following  information  is  here  added: 

Elizabeth  Beggs,  the  oldest  child  of  Charles  Beggs,  born  in  Kentucky,  on 
June  15, 1788,  was  married  to  Henry  Hopkins,  of  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on 
June  18,  1816,  came  to  Illinois  in  1825;  settled  upon  the  land,  since  known  as 
the  "Hopkins  Farm"  in  1826,  where  she  lived,  until  she  was  far  advanced  in 
years,  when  she  and  her  husband  and  their  youngest  daughter  removed  to  the 


ELIZABETH  (BEGGS)  HOPKINS, 
city  of  Virginia,  where  she  spent  the  remainder  ot    her   days.    Mrs   Hopkins 
died  in  Virginia,  Illinois,  September  19,  1886,  aged  88  years.  3  montlis  and  four 
days,  and  is  buried  by  the  side  of  her    liusband,   Henry   Hopkins,   in    Walnut 
Ridge  cemetery.    Her  children  were: 

Dorothy  A.  Hopkins,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  .January  8Mi, 
1818,  married  Elias  Mathew,  and  died  in  Cass  county,  Illinois,  September  9, 
1849. 

Rebecca  J.  Hopkins,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  March  17th,  1822, 
married  William  Blair  and  died  in  Labette  county,  Kansas,  June  28,  1897. 

Nancy  S.  Hopkins,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  December  19th,  1822, 
married  Keeling  Berry  and  died  in  McCook,  Nebraska,  October  14,  1877. 

Sarah  E.  Hopkins,  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  December  19th,  1824 
married  James  Cunningham,  and  is  now  living  with  her  son  Henry  Cunning- 
ham, 5  miles  east  of  this  city. 

Charles  B.  Hopkins,  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  June  6th,  1827,  and 
now  lives  near  Red  Fork,  Indian  Territory. 

MaryG.  Hopkins,  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  February  16.  1830,  mar- 
ried Charles  W.  Elder,  and  now  lives  in  Denver,  Colorado. 


-  434  - 

Robert  H.  Hopkins,  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  on  November 
26tli,  1832,  and  now  lives  at  Denton,  Texas. 

George  M.  Hopkins,  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  November  15th, 
1835,  died  in  Denver,  Colo.,  January  22,  1896. 

Martha  E.  Hopkins,  born  in  Cass  county.  111.,  May  11,  1838,  and  died  May 
18th,  18.38. 

James  M.  Hopkins,  born  in  Cass  county,  111.,  October  7th,  1840,  and  now 
lives  in  Neodesha,  Kansas. 

Zachariah  J.  Hopkins,  born  in  Cass  countv,  Illinois,  February  27th,  1843; 
and  died  in  Maryville,  Missouri,  February  22,  1899. 

Ruth  A.  Hopkins,  born  in  Cass  county  on  January  26,  1849,  and  now  lives 
with  her  sister  Sarah  E.  Cunningham. 

The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  Hopkins  farm  was  in  Morgan  coun. 
ty  until  1837,  when  Cass  county  was  formed. 


,»mf^i^ 


SARAH  (BEGGS)  EPLER. 
Sat  ah  Beggs,  the  second  daughter  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs,  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  April  28th,  1800;  she  was  married  to  John  Epler,  a 
son  of  Abram  Epler,  in  Indiana  on  December  2,  1818.  They  moved  to  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  in  1831  and  settled  on  a  farm  a  half  mile  west  of  the  site  of 
tlie  Town  of  Princeton  which  was  previously  owned  by  Levi  Conover.  With 
tiiem  came  their  six  children,  in  age  ranging  from  one  year  to  twelve  years 
They  resided  on  this  farm  which  grew  larger  as  the  years  came  and  went  un- 
til 1875  when  they  moved  to  the  city  of  Virginia.  Her  husband  died  here  in 
1876  and  was  buried  in  Zion  cemetery,  near  the  farm  home:  she  survived  him 
until  January  11,  1882.    Tlieir  children  were  as  follows: 


-435- 

Charles  Beggs  Epler,  born  in  Indiana,  on  December  1,  1819,  married  Mary 
Eliza  Lurton,  on  February  22,  1843,  and  died  August  8th,  1855. 

Abraham  Epler  born  in  Indiana,  October  19th,  1821,  and  died  August  5, 
1847. 

Cyrus  Epler,  born  in  Indiana,  November  12,  1823;  married  Cornelia  A. 
Nettleton,  August  2,  1852;  now  resides  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois. 

Mary  Ann  Epler,  born  in  Indiana  February  5,  1820-,  married  Richard  F. 
Barrett,  November  18th,  1847;  died  April  23rd,  1849. 

Sarah  Epler,  born  in  Indiana,  June  4th,  1828.  married  D.  W.  Fairbank, 
August  21,  1850;  died  March  27,  1904. 

Elizabeth  Epler,  born  in  Indiana,  September  23rd,  18.30;  married  Henry 
H.  Hall,  jr.,  February  4.  1851;  died  April  1,  1870. 

.lohn  Milton  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  April  22,  1833;  married  Nancy  A, 
Epler,  March  29,  18.55,  now  resides  at  Chilicothe,  Illinois. 

William  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  April  15,  1835,  married  Jane  Abagail 
Woodman  on  April  12,  1859,  who  died  October  2,  1863;  and  again  was  married 
on  July  5,  1870,  to  Ellen  M.  Conover;  he  now  resides  at  Jacksonville,  III. 

David  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  July  17,  1837,  and  died  September  9th,  18.38. 

Myron  Leslie  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  June  2,  1839;  died  Septemi)er  5,   186G. 

Margaret  Ellen  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  June  27,  1842,  married  John  W- 
Prince,  June  2,  1865;  now  resides  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois 

Albert  Gallatin  Epler,  born  in  Illinois,  January  22,  1845;  married  Martha 
J.  Vance  on  July  31,  1865,  and  now  resides  in  Colorado. 


MARY  (BEGGS)  EPLER. 
Mary  Ann  Beggs,  the  third  daughter  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs,  was  botn 


-  436  - 

in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  January  19th,  1802:  she  was  married  on  Septem- 
ber 20,  1827,  to  Jacob  Epler,  a  son  of  Abram  Epler;  they  Came  to  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  with  Charles  Beggs  and  family,  in  1829,  and  settled  on  a 
tract  of  land  in  Sec.  27  T.  17,  R.  10,  now  owned  by  William  Buracker  at 
Little  Indian  R.  R.  station.  About  tiie  year  1849,  he  sold  liis  farm  liere  and 
removed  to  Sangamon  county  arid  laid  out  tlie  town  of  Pleasant  Plains,  and' 
made  a  provision  that  no  intoxicating  liquors  should  be  sold  therein.  lie  had 
seen  enough  of  the  curse  of  whiskey  drinking  to  have'become  a  liater  'of  the 
habit.  There  he  lived  for  many  years,  acquiring  a  valuable  property.  In 
1888,  he  moved  back  to  Cass  county,  purchasing  a  honie  in  Virginia,"wliei-e  he 
died  in  1890,  and  was  buried  in  Pleasant  Plains  cemetery  by  the -side  Of  his 
wife  who  departed  this  life  on  October  24th,  1884.  ■'       ■  ' 

The  children  of  Jacob  Epler  and  Mary  Ann  (Beggs)  Eple"r  were fhe follow- 
ing: •■■•-'    ■■■■"■■-     ■'-■     '■ 

George  Andrew  Epler  was  born  in  Indiana  September  1st',  1828,  diM  May 
20.  1847.  '    -    '■■■''" 

Jolvn  T.  Epler.  born  December  Kith,  1829.  '      '       '  '■  !^  ■ 

Ann  Epler,  born  October  28th,  1831.  '         '-•         • 

James  Epler,  born  September  lOtii,  18:J3:  died  July  17,  1847.  ''  ' ' 

Dorothy  Epler,  born  December  (i,  18:55;  died  July  15,  1847.  '■''-'  '■' 

Sarah  Epler,  born  January  Ki,  1838.  •' 

Jane,  Epler,  born  December  12tli,  1839.  >-■•■''■ 

Emily  Epler,  born  February  20,  1842:  died  August  20,  18.51.-  '       ■    '         •  '  - 
Stephen  D.  Epler,  born  January  19,  1845.  .     -  -.         . 

George  W.  Beggs  the  eldest  son  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs  was  born  in 
Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  November  29,  1808.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  the  year 
1830,  and  for  about  one  year  lived  with  his  father,  near  Princeton,  and  then 
lived  in  the  family  of  liis  sister,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hopkins  until  his  marriage 
with  Iltildali  Garner,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Rev.  James  Garner,  which  took 
place  on  January  23,  18,34,  the  Rev.  John  Van  Cleave  performing  tiie  marriage 
ceremony.  James  Garner  was  a  friend  of  Captain  Beggs'  in  Clark  county, 
Indiana:  Came  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1830,  and  for  ayear  lived  a  half 
mile  west  of  the  old  Rosenberger  farm  at  Princeton;  tlien  settled  on  lands  in 
Sec  2  in  Township  17  Range  9  and  built  Garner  Chapel,  with  tiie  assistance 
of  other  Methodist  friends  about  18,30  on  his  lands  very  near  his  house:  lie 
reaied  a  large  family,  and  live  of  his  sons  became  Methodist  preachers. 

George  W.  Beggs  entered  witii  other  land  nw  of  nei  Sec.  3,  Township  17, 
Range  9,  in  tne  year  18.33,  and  on  this  tract,  at  tlie  northwest  corner  he  built 
a  iiouse  to  wliich  he  took  the  young  wife:  her  father.  Reverend  Garner  lived 
less  than  a  mile  away.  Mr.  Beggs,  like  liis  fatlier,  cared  more  for  knowledge 
tlian  for  corn  and  hogs,  and  altiiough  he  acquired  plenty  of  land  lie  was  not 
noted  as  a  money  gatlierer.  He  spent  most  of  his  leisure  in  reading  and 
study.  He  was  a  man  six  feet  in  lifeight  with  blue  eyes  and  dark  brown  hair 
weighing  180  pounds  and  of  commanding  presence.  His  ability  was  recog- 
nized, and  lie  was  called  upon  to  undertake  public  responsibilities.  He  was 
chosen  as  a  justice  of  the  peace,  wliicli  was  a  most  honorable  position  in 
those  days,  and  he  soon  became  well  known  as  a  "peace-maker."  Settling 
many  controversies  that  arose  among  liis  neighbors  in  a  Quiet  sensible  way. 


-437- 

He  was  selected  by  the  county  court  as  the  agent  of  Cass  county  to  receive 
from  the  state  the  sums  due  the  county  under  the  State  Public  Improvement 
Act;  he  was  selected  as  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  Township  Seventeen, 
Range  Nine  and  assisted  to  lay  out  the  Town  of  Philadelphia  in  that  town- 
ship. At  one  time  he  secured  a  large  number  of  votes  of  his  friends  and 
neighbors  for  a  county  office  he  did  not  seek  nor  desire  to  fill.  He  was  a  sol- 
dier in  the  Blackhawk  war  and  took  part  in  the  battle  that  resulted  in  the 
defeat  of  that  desperate  chief.  Mr.  Beggs  was  an  earnest  worker  in  the  M.  E. 
church;  was  selected  as  class  leader  of  the  Garner  Chapel  society  of  that  de- 
nomination, and  took  a  prominent  part  in  revival  meetings.  In  the  winter  of 
1846-7  a  large  meeting  was  held  at  school  house  on  the  Page  Williams  farm 
some  six  miles  distant  from  Mr.  Beggs'  residence;  this  meeting  he  attended 
night  after  night;  the  weather  was  severe  and  he  contracted  pneumonia  which 
caused  his  death  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-eight  years  on  February  1st,  1847. 
After  the  death  of  the  husband  and  father  the  family  was  scattered  for  a  few 
months,  but  the  mother  soon  gathered  the  children  together  again  and  reared 
them  to  manhood  and  womanhood;  she  died  on  August  25,  1865,  at  the  age  of 
51  years  and  7  months  and  lies  hurried  by  the  side  of  her  husband  and  one  of 
their  children  in  the  Gamer  Chapel  cemetery. 

The  children  of  George  W.  Beggs  and  Huldah  (Gfarner)  Beggs  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Mary  Elizabeth  Beggs,  born  January  3,  1835,  married  William  Crews 
August  28,  1851;  died  April  15th,  1863. 

James  Harvey  Beggs,  born  May  12,  1837. 

Charles  Chandler  Beggs,  born  June  20,  1839. 

John  Epler  Beggs,  born  November  15,  1841,  died  March  27,  1856. 

Robert  Henry  Beggs,  born  September  24,  1844,  now  resides  at  Denver, 
Colorado. 

Dorothy  Ann  Beggs,  born  June  23,  1847. 

Only  the  two  last  named  of  the  family  are  now  living:  Prof.  R.  H.  Beggs, 
resides  in  Denver,  and  Mrs.  Dorothy   Ann  Epler  resides  in  Nebraska. 

William  Harvey  Beggs  a  son  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs  and  Mary  (Rud- 
dell)  Beggs,  was  born  in  Indiana  on  April  20,  1817.  and  came  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  when  he  was  twelve  years  of  age.  In  1842  William  Harvey  Beggs 
was  married  to  Mary  Tucker  and  of  that  marriage  were  born  two  sons,  Thom- 
as Benson  Beggs  and  Abram  Epler  Beggs.  The  first  named  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  March  14,  1843,  and  he  fell  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg, 
Miss.,  on  June  29,  1863,  and  was  there  buried.  The  second  son,  Abram  Epler 
Beggs,  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  April  14,  1846,  was  married  to 
Margaret  Gentry  Scott,  of  Danville,  Kentucky,  on  December  25,  1879,  and 
died  at  his  home  in  Kansas  City,  Missouri,  February  26,  1903. 

The  second  wife  of  William  Harvey  Beggs  was  Mrs.  Mary  Rex  Kelley,  and 
of  this  second  marriage  there  were  born  two  sons  Carey  T.  Beggs  and  Charles 
Harvey  Beggs.  The  first  named  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  on  Sep- 
tembar  10,  1868,  and  was  married  to  Emma  Bartlett,  of  Nebraska,  on  August 
12, 1890,  and  they  now  reside  in  Myton,  Utah.  Charles  Harvey  Beggs  was 
born  on  April  27,  1871,  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois;  he  is  unmarried  and  resides 
with  his  mother.    William  Harvey  Beggs  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years 


-  438 


WILLIAM  HARVEY  BEGGS; 
and  was  buried  in  the  Centenary  grave  yard  in  Cass  county, 
west  of  Ashland. 


Illinois,   north- 


James  Lemon  Beggs,  a  son  of  Captain  Beggs  and  Mary  (Ruddell)  Beggs, 
was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana;  on  November  11,  1819;  he  was  but  ten 
years  of  age  when  his  parents  came  to  Illinois.  On  June  17,  1846,  he  was 
married  to  Mary  Jane  Ward,  a  daughter  of  Jacob  Ward,  Esq.,  of  Cass  county; 
he  began  farming  about  four  miles  northwest  of  Ashland  on  land  now  owned 
by  L.  L.  Savage,  after  his  marriage;  his  wife  died  about  6  months  after  her 
marriage 

On  August  30,  1848,  James  L.  Beggs  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Crow,  a 
daughter  of  Rev.  William  Crow,  a  very  early  settler,  on  August  30,  1848.  On 
April  18,  1853,  James  L.  Beggs  purchased  of  John  Griggof  Philadelphia,  Penn  , 
the  sei  of  tlie  nei  sec.  32  T.  17,  R.  8,  and  in  1856  he  bought  of  his  brothers-in- 
law,  John  H.  Crow  and  J.  Elmore  Crow,  340  acres  in  sections  29  and  32  in  the 
same  township. 

In  1857,  Mr.  Beggs  and  Mr.  Crow  with  others  organized  a  land  company, 
and  upon  the  lands  of  James  L.  Beggs  and  Elmore  Crow  the  town  of  Ashland 
was  laid  out  on  the  17th  day  of  August,  1857. 

Mr.  Beggs  with  his  family  resided  upon  his  farm  immediately  west  of  and 
adjoining  the  town  of  Ashland  for  many  years.  In  1873  he  moved  to  Kansas 
where  he  resided  until  1880  when  he  went  to  Colorado.  In  1881  he  returned 
to  Ashland,  Illinois,  whare  he  resided  until  the  time  of  his  death. 

Thechildrenof  James  L.  Beggs  and  his  wife  Mary  A.  Beggs  were  as  fol- 
lows. 


-439- 

S.  Ella  Be^ffs  bom  June  12, 1849. 

C.  Edwin  Beggs  born  January  22,  1851,  now  a  resident  of  Ashland,  Illinois. 
Lucy  J.  Beggs,  born  October  13th,  1853. 
Emma  R.  Beggs,  born  March  11,  1855. 
William  C.  Beggs,  born  September  10,  1857. 

John  L.  Beggs,  born  December  13.  1860,  and  died  May  10,  1900,  at  Asliland 
Illinois. 


JAMES  L.  BEGGS. 

George  Henry  Beggs,  born  February  8, 18H3,  and  died  June  24,  1*)B,  neaii- 
Thermopolis,  Wyoming. 

Abraham  Lincoln  Beggs,  born  October  4, 18f>5. 

James  L.  Beggs  «Jied  on  the  22iid  day  of  I>ecember,  1889,  aged  TO  years, 
1  month  and  11  days  and.  was  buried  in  the  Ashland  cemetery. 

Margaret  Beggs,  daughter  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs  and  Mary  (Ruddell) 
Beggs,  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  the  2ird  day  of  December,  1821;: 
she  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  H- years  of  age.  S'he  was  married 
to  Isaac  Milton  S'tribling  (a  son  o^f  Benjamin  and  Milly  [Horn]  Stribling). 
She  died  at  her  home*,  about  a  mile  noFthwest  of  Virginia,  Cass  county,  on 
the  26th  day  of  September.  1856,  at  the  early  age  of  ,'?3  years,  9  months  and 
3  days;  slie  was  buried  in  tlie  Stribling:  graveyard,  but  her  remains  now  lie  in 
Walnut  Ridge  cemetery  by  the  side  of  Iver  liusband. 

The  children  of  Mai-garet  (lieggs)  Stribliitg  and  I.  M  Stribling  were  the 
following: 

Mary  Joanna  Stribling  (now  the  widow  of.  Captain  William  Hitch- 
cock deceased)  was  born  January  6th,  184,4,  now  lives  in  TexaSv 


-  440  - 

James  Thomas  Striblinp,  born  April  7,  LS4(i,  now  living-  at  Ashland, 
Illinois. 

Katharine  Stribling  (now  the  widow  of  Captain  Robert  Bowles)  was  born 
August  nth,  1847,  now  resides  in  Missouri. 

Henry  Clay  Stribling  born  July  Kith,  1852,  now  resides  on  a  farm  near 
Ashland,  Illinois. 

Margaret  Louie  Stribling- (now  the  wife  of  John  W.  Virgin)  born  Febru- 
ary 18th,  1850,  now  resides  on  a  farm  6  miles  southwest  of  Virginia,   Illinois. 


MRS.  MARGARlCr  (lUOiUiS)   STIJIULIXr, 


Dorotiiy  IJeggs,  a  daughter  of  Captain  Charles  I5eggs  and  Mary  (Ruddell) 
Beggs,  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  on  the  2Lst  day  of  January,  182(1. 
and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  when  she  was  three  years  of  age.  She 
was  married  to  Samuel  Sinclair  and  went  to  his  home  on  a  farm  near  the  Cen- 
tenary church  nori  hwest  of  Ashland  in  this  county.  Some  years  later  tliey 
removed  to  Springtleld,  Illinois,  where    her    husband    died:  Mrs.    Sinclair    is 

still  living  in  that  city. 

The  children  of  Dorothy  (Beggs)  Sinclair  and  Samuel    Suiclair    were    the 

following:  . 

Kmma  Louise  Sinclair,  born  August  HOth,  18(i5:  now    lives  ni   Spnngtield 


441- 


MRS.  DOROTHY  (BEGGS)  SINCLAIR 
Illinois. 

Margaret  Sinclair,  born  Xoveiubor  Uth,  18(i!>,  now  resides  in  Springtield. 


JOHN  BEGGS. 


-  44y.  - 

John  Beggs,  the  youngest  child  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs  and  Mary  Rud- 
dell  Beggs  was  born  in  Illinois,  on  August  7th,  1831.  He  was  married  to 
Sarah  Sinclair,  of  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  on  the  18th  day  of  December,  1855. 
Mr.  John  Beggs  is  now  living  on  his  farm  near  the  Centenary  church,  north- 
west of  Ashland. 

His  children  are  as  follows: 

Emma  Beggs,  born  December  29,  1856,  was  married  to  Edwin  Beggs  Nov- 
ember 5,  1879,  and  died  August  10,  1901. 

Anna  Beggs,  born  July  27,  1858,  was  married  to  Rev.  J.  O.  Kirkpatrick, 
October  19,  1894,  and  now  (1907)  resides  in  Virginia,   Illinois. 

Charles  Sinclair  Beggs,  born  May  23rd,  1860;  married  Miss  Helen  C.  Put- 
nam, August  3,  1901;  now  resides  on  farm  northwest  of  Asliland. 

Jolin  Thomas  Beggs,  born  April  4,  1863,  and  died  March  25,  1897. 

Nellie  Beggs,  born  April  6,  1865,  died  August  12,  1865. 

Myra  Beggs,  born  July  7,  1867. 

Samuel  Watson  Beggs,  born  December  8th,  1869;  married  Miss  Minnie 
Taylor,  December  18tli,  1904. 

This  sketch  should  not  be  concluded  without  further  mention  of  Mary 
Ruddell  Beggs,  the  second  wife  of  Captain  Charles  Beggs. 

What  pen  can  fittingly  describe  that  intense  form  of  human  sutfering 
called  homesickness?  Certainly  not  mine;  it  would  reciuire  the  effort  of  a 
most  brilliant  woman,  and  Imman  language  would  fail  her.  Woman,  being  of 
so  much  finer  fibre  than  man,  is  capable  of  the  enjoyment  of  a  much  higlier 
degree  of  pleasure  and  conse(iuently  suffers  more  keenly  from  the  effects  of 
mental  anguish.  Tlie  author  of  the  articles  now  runnitipf  in  McClure's  Maga- 
zine entitled  "The  History  of  Christian  Science"  may  be  correct  in  denoun- 
cing May  Baker  Eddy  as  an  impostor,  if  she  claims  to  be  the  discoverer  of  tlie 
law  which  has  given  to  that  cult  its  wonderful  success,  to-wit;  that  which  re- 
lates to  the  power  of  mind  over  matter;  it  may  be  she  borrowed  all  of  her  in- 
formation from  Mr.  Quinby,  but  that  is  not  material;  the  law  exists,  not- 
withstanding. If  a  sufferer  from  toothache  will  but  take  a  long  and  earn- 
est look  upon  the  cold  steel  instruments  upon  a  dentist's  operating  table  lie 
usually  finds  it  surtlcient  to  banish  his  suffering.  The  operation  of  that  law, 
togetlier  with  the  additional  fact  that  the  law  of  association  exercises  so 
wonderful  an  infiuence  over  the  mind  of  woman  should  be  taken  into  consid- 
eration in  tlie  study  of  homesickness.  The  average  man  knows  but  little 
about  it;  it  is  as  useless  to  talk  to  him  of  it  as  it  would  be  to  discuss  the  sub- 
ject of  the  rtavor  of  the  strawberry  with  an  inveterate  chewer  of  tobacco,  who 
has  so  crucified  his  sense  of  taste  as  to  become  unable  to  distinguish  between 
the  flavor  of  a  dish  of  pineapple  and  that  of  boiled  turnip  were  he  to  swallow 
both  in  the  dark.  John  IT.  Tureman,  a  man  of  unusual  power  of  observation, 
born  in  the  early  30's  within  a  few  miles  of  the  location  of  this  city,  told  the 
writer  that  he  never  knew  an  immigrant  to  this  county  but  would  have  glad- 
ly returned  had  he  been  financially  able  so  to  do;  and  that  many  did  so  return 
and  later  came  here  a  second  time,  and  one  individual  made  two  return  trips 
before  lie  could  persuade  himself  to  become  a  permanent  resident  here.  If 
this  was  true  of  the  early  male  settlers,  imagine  the  suffering  of  their  wives 
and  daughters,  confined  as  they  were  for  the  greater  number  of  their  hours  of 


-  44.^  - 

consciousness  within  the  four  walls  of  the  kitchen  of   a    log    hut. 

A  true  story  will  more  fully  illustrate  this.  In  the  year  1852,  George 
Hartmann,  born  and  reared  in  the  state  of  Peiuisylvania,  married  a  young 
woman  whom  he  had  known  from  young  girlhood,  also  a  native  of  that  state. 
He  was  25  years  of  age  and  she  was  four  years  younger.  They  were  both  child- 
ren of  DOor  parentage;  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  at  which  he  worked 
in  the  Quaker  state.  He  began  to  hear  of  the  opportunities  in  the  Illinois 
country,  he  was  told  that  it  was  a  wonderful  state,  of  rapid  growth;  that  the 
demand  for  mechanics  was  far  greater  than  the  supply,  and  he  became  anx- 
ious to  migrate  thither.  His  young  wife,  like  all  other  women  was  greatly 
attached  to  her  surroundings.  The  winters  were  long  and  dreary,  but  the 
remainder  of  the  year  was  deliglitful.  The  scenery  was  grand,  the  air  pure, 
the  water  of  the  very  best;  her  modest  little  home  was  tiiere,  and  she  was  at- 
tached to  it,  but  more  than  all  else,  she  was  near  tier  widowed  motlier.  She 
believed  in  the  old  maxims  "Let  well  enough  alone;"  "A  bird  in  the  hand  is 
worth  two  in  the  bush."  With  pain  and  alarm  she  saw  that  her  iuisband  was 
fully  determined  to  go  to  Illinois,  and  recognizing  Mje  legal  right  of  the  hus- 
band to  choose  the  hon^estead  of  tlie  family  she  sorrowfully  and  reluctantly 
prepared  for  their  departure.  The  last  Sabbath  day  came;  she  went  with  iier 
mother  to  the  little  church  where  she  had  been  a  constant  attendant  from  lur 
earliest  recollection.  She  listened,  for  the  last  time,  to  the  voices  of  her 
friends  who  composed  the  village  choir;  she  saw  the  good  old  pastor  arise  in 
his  place;  lie  had  conducted  the  services  upon  tl»e  occiision  of  the  burial  of 
her  father  and  with  her  had  wept  over  the  remains  of  his  body,  cold  in  death. 
In  the  afternoon  she  went  out  witli  her  u>ot,her,  for  her  last  visit  to  tlie 
churchyard;  she  scattered  spring  rtowei's  upi)n  the  graves  of  her  father  afnl 
little  brother  and  two  sisters.  In  the  evening  she  listened  to  the  farewells  of 
her  young  friends.  IIow  could  one  describe  h.er  partii>g  with  her  widovvefJ 
mother?  Let  tlie  women  who  may  chaiii-e  to  read  this  sketcli  imagine  it. 
They  came  to  Cass  county  and  sett-led  in  Virginia,  taking  up  their  abode  irf 
the  G.  W.  Harris  house  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  sQuire  where  the  (Jasper 
Magel  building  now  stands.  Her  hosbind  began  his  labor  as  a  house  cirpeii- 
ter,  and  was  fairly  successfully,  but  no  one  can  describe  the  loneliness  d  1  his 
young  wife.  A  son  was  "born  to  her  in  November  ISiyii,  aini  riiat  event  temleit 
to  divert  her  mind  from  her  lonely  condition.  Late  in  the  .season  of  lH5f.  her 
husband  was  stricken  with  typhoid  fever,  which  soon  overcime  him;  he  died 
on  the  lO'th  day  of  December,  in  the  Harris  house.  John  and  Mark  BucUley 
came  with  a  board  of  sutttcient  length  and  width  and  laid  his  corpse  upon  it, 
and  proceeded  to  make  for  him  a  cottfn.  In  the  meantime  the  child  con- 
tracted the  deadly  disease  and  lay  moanir>g  in  delirium.  The  young  wife  and 
mother  sat  by  the  side  of  her  dead  husband.and  earnestly  prayed  God  to  take 
the  child  to  its  father.  She  followed  the  corpse  to  the  Freeman  burial 
ground,  less  than  two  miles  northeast  of  the  town  where  it  was  laid  away  up- 
on a  ridge  of  ground.  In  the  morning  -lolm  Buckley  came  to  remove  the  board:, 
the  widow,  witti  a  pale  face,  but  with  dry  eyes  siiid  to  him;  '^'Leave  it  there; 
you  will  need  it  for  me  in  a  few  more  day.s."  Mr.  Buckley  silently  complied 
with  her  reciuest  with  pity  in  liis  iieart  for  this  grief-strick- 
en hopeless  woman.  The  little  boy,  then  15  montlis  old,  passed  away  a 
month  after  its  father's  death,  and  was  laid  by  his  side.    The  mother  r©- 


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turned  the  second  time  from  the  place  of  burial,  threw  herself  upon  her  bed 
and  wholly  surrendered  herself  to  the  fever:  had  her  child  been  spared,  she 
mighthavefoughtfor  her  life:  but  slie  wished  to  die  and  eight  weeks  after 
the  death  of  her  husband  and  four  weeks  after  the  death  of  her  baby  she 
breathed  her  last— a  heart  broken  woman  less  than  twenty-four  years  of  age.  i 
In  the  same  humble  spot  they  buried  her;  the  sale  of  their  few  belongings/ 
was  used  in  the  purchase  of  three  modest  marble  slabs  wiiich  are  still  to  be 
seen  with  these  inscriptions: 

George  Hartmann,  died  December  19,  1854,  aged  28  years,  8  months,  14 
days.     Born  in  Penn. 

Hyman  W.,  son  of  G.  and  D.  Ilartmann  died  Jan.  28,  1855,  aged  1  year,  2 
months,  2(i  days. 

Delilah,  wife  of  George  Hartman,  died  Feb,  22,  1855,  aged  23  years,  11 
months  and  12  days.     Born  in  Penn. 

The  remains  of  the  Freeman  family,  except  the  ashes  of  a  child  who  died 
more  tlian  seventy  years  ago  were  long  since  removed  to  Walnut  Ridge  cem- 
etery and  the  other  graves  there  remaining  are  those  of  strangers  to  that 
family,  but  let  it  hers  be  recorded  to  the  honor  of  Henry  Hunt,  that  he  has 
protected  the  graves  of  those  dead  people  from  the  trampling  of  domestic 
animals  by  the  erection  and  maintenance  of  a  substantial  fence.  It  were 
well  if  there  were  more  men  in  Cass  county  like  Henry  Hunt. 

George  Hartmann  brought  his  wife  to  an  Illinois  village;  a  straggling  one, 
to  be  sure,  but  it  could  boast  of  schools,  of  regular  religious  meetings:  of 
churciies,  of  regular  ministers  of  the  gospel:  of  respectable  stocks  of  mer- 
chandise; of  a  daily  mail  brought  in  by  a  line  of  stages  forming  a  connection 
with  a  railroad,  river  navigation  and  the  outside  world.  I?ut  what  of  the 
settlers  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  earlier,  when  Captain  Beggs  and  his  family 
made  their  appearance?  There  was  no  Virginia  then;  Beardstown  was  but 
little  more  than  a  ferry-landing:  .Jacksonville  but  just  started  into  existence: 
Princeton  yet  to  be  laid  out.  The  pioneers  did  not  closely  congregate  them- 
selves together:  they  kept  somewliat  apart,  that  they  might  be  able  to  make 
additions  to  their  holdings  without  too  much  competition  and  in  order  that 
they  might  have  a  greater  range  for  their  live  stock.  The  wives  of  these 
brave  men  surely  deserved  the  greatest  pity.  The  nightly  bowlings  of  the 
prowling  wolves  were  enough  to  drive  them  to  despair.  When  tiieir  children 
were  lying  prostrated  with  the  deadly  malaria  that  infested  the  Illinois 
prairies  in  those  days,  where  were  the  physicians  and  the  nuisesV 

Mrs  Mary  Ruddell  Beggs  was  a  good  faithful  churcli  woman,  but  on  very 
many  occasions  her  place  in  the  church  as.sembly  was  vacant.  She  was  to  be 
found  at  the  bedside  of  the  sick.  She  sought  out  the  newly  arriving  settlers 
to  greet  them  with  words  of  cheer  and  encouragement.  She  went  from  home 
to  home  to  do  all  in  her  power  to  assist  these  pioneer  wives  and  mothers. 
She  could  understand  the  grief  and  sulfering  of  others,  for  she  knew  by  exper- 
ience. In  these  errands  of  mercy  she  was  loyally  encouraged  by  her  good 
kind-hearted  husband,  and  the  name  of  Mrs.  Beggs  was  known  and  loved  by 
all  within  her  reach  and  influence.  When  her  daughter  Margaret  Stribling 
passed  away,  Mrs.  Beggs  gathered  the  babe  of  the  dead  mother  in  her  arms, 
bore  it  to  her  own  home  and  reared  it  with  tlie  greate.st  tenderness  and  atfec- 
tion.    She  was  a  woman  slight  in  stature,  delicate  in  appearatice,  modest  and 


-  445  - 

unassuming  in  deportment;  all  she  did  was  performed  as  a  matter  of  course, 
and  as  of  no  especial  merit. 

Whether  the  Mosaic  account  of  the  creation  is  literally  true,  or  whether 
the  Darwinian  theory  of  the  descent  of  man  is  correct,  it  is  altogether  prob- 
able that  our  remote  ancestors  were  low  savage  barbarians  who  killed  snakes 
with  clubs,  and  ate  them  raw  in  caves.  Since  those  days  the  race  has  made 
considerable  progress,  in  a  slow  and  painful  manner;  for  this  progress  the 
women  of  the  race  deserve  the  greatest  praise.  Great  men  are  the  sons  of 
great  women;  the  mother  molds  the  character  of  her  child;  the  moral  sense 
of  women  is  vastly  superior  to  the  moral  sense  of  men;  this  always  has  been 
and  now  is.  Our  churches  would  soon  languish  and  die  save  for  the  persistent 
effort  of  women;  they  are  the  chief  support  of  the  temperance  reform.  The 
great  English  poet  in  pessimistic  mood  made  Antony  declare. 
"The  evil,  that  men  do,  lives  after  them; 
The  good  is  oft  interred  with  their  bones." 

Evil  is  short-lived;  it  contains  the  seeds  of  its  own  destruction;  it  is  the 
good  that  survives.  Were  this  untrne,  the  world  would  grow  worse,  not 
better. 

In  the  quiet  country  churchyard,  at  Zion,  is  a  small  white  stone  on 
which  is  written: 

"Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Beggs,  born  April  28th,  1790;  died  August  4th, 
1891,  aged  81  years,  3  months  and  6  days." 

This  stone  will  soon  crumble  away,  but  the  good  deeds  this  noble  woman 
performed  during  her  long  and  active  life  still  live,  and  will  continue  to  live, 
long  after  the  Zion  church-yard  shall  have  been  forgotten. 


mt.   .].   V.  SXVIIER. 

Ex-l*iesideiit   Illinois  Slate  Ilistorical  Societ}' 


J 


J.  N.  GRIDLEY 


\