EMKZeMSI I ■ ■ - h BDHHdSB •r'wr' '-i > I " HISTOBY OF CASS COUNTY ILLINOIS. EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN. IliLiagTRTI'FED. CHICAGO : O. L. BA8IOH A CO.. HISTORICAL FDBUBHBBB, LAKESIDE BUILDING. 1882. 3Hu vT?^ e£? .^ A* -fcS: La ,. 7 J-?.-'."!i?.-':L Q> -^.. r ' EW3 °°" "'"Tens, /ifc^K" ** » ^^ ^Ar PKEFACE. AFTER several months of laborious research and persistent toil, the history of Cass County is completed, and it is our hope and belief that no subject of general importance or interest has been overlooked or omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be worthy of record, have been faithfully chronicled. In short, where protracted investigation promised results commensurate with the undertaking, matters not only of undoubted record, but legendary lore, have been brought into requisition. We are well aware of the fact that it is next to impossible to furnish a perfect history from the meager resources at the command of the historian under ordinary circumstances, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to the standard of our engagements. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded by the residents of Cass, we have been enabled to trace out and put into systematic shape the greater portions of the events that have transpired in the county, up to the present time, and we feel assured that all thoughtful persons interested in the matter will recognize and appre- ciate the importance of the work and its permanent value. A dry statement of facts has been avoided, so far as it was possible to do so, and anecdote and incident has been interwoven with plain recital and statistics, thereby forming a narrative at once instructive and entertaining. To those who have assisted our corps of writers in gathering material, or who have fur- nished, direct, matter incorporated in the work, our thanks are due, and to Hon. J. Henry Shaw and Judge Jno. A. Arenz, of Beardstown, we acknowledge special indebtedness. ' Septkmbeb, 1882. ™E PUBLISHERS. CONTENTS. PART I. Page. CHAPTER I.— Cass County— Early Notes on Illinois— The French Travelers and Explorers — The Indians — Wars of the Iroquois and Kiekapoos— Legend of Monsoela — Different Owners of Illinois — Beards- town Mound — Purchase of the Country from the In- dians— Miscellaneous, etc 11 CHAP l'ER II.— Settlements of the Country Not Included in Cass County — Some of the Pioneers and Where They Settled— The Sangamo Country— Its Fertility — Prairie. Schooners — First Land Entry — Beard's Ferry — Beard & Marsh's Entry of Land — First Set- tlers of Beardstown— Deed of Defeasance— Going to Egypt for.Com— Arrival of Other Settlers— The En- try of Land, etc 18 CHAPTER I.— Increase of Population— The Deep Snow of 1830— The Black Hawk War— Rendezvous of Sol- diers at Beardstown— Cause of Dr. Chandler's Settle- ment—Meeting Between Him and Abraham Lincoln — Business of Beardstown in 1834 — The Early Log Cabins— Yankees and Yankee Tricks— Corn Bread, etc 25 CHAPTER IV.— Organization of Cass County— The Con- vention at Rushville— Legislative Act Creating the County— Other Acts— First Election for Officers — The Number of Voters— An Incident of a Wolf— The Cold Day of 1837— Location of the County Seat- Scarcity of Money— The County Machinery Put in Motion— The Courts— Trouble from Horse Thieves- Eugene Honorius — The Census, etc 36 CHAPTER V.— Fertile Lands of Cass— Its Geological For- mations—Coal Measures— Different Deposits— Coal — Building Stone— Legislative Representatives from Cass County— Principal County Officers Since For- mation — Illinois River Items, etc 52 CHAPTER VI.— Agriculture of Cass County— Farming in the Primitive Times— Improved Farm Implements —Agricultural Fairs and Associations— Lists of Offi- cers— Cass Countj* Park Association— Its Organiza- tion, etc.— Fine Stock of the County— Short Horn Herds, etc.— The Railroads, etc €6 CHAPTER VII.— Virginia Precinct— Description, Bound- aries and Topography— Western Pioneer Life— Set- tlement of the Precinct by White People— Character of the Pioneers— Their Trials, Troubles and Hard- ships—Early Improvements and Industries— Roads, Bridges, etc.— Schools— The First School-houses— Early Teachers— Present Educational Facilities- Churches and Preachers— Old Shiloh Church— Mis- cellaneous, etc 72 CHAPTER VIIL— City of Virginia— Its Birth, Location and Growth — Sale of Lots, and Additions to the Town— Dr. Hall, Founder of Virginia— First House and Store — Public Square and Court House — Busi- ness in the West End — The Present Business Center —Hotels, Mills, etc.— Doctors and Lawyers— Bank- ing Business— Incorporation of the City— Municipal Offices— Summary, etc "9 CHAPTER IX.— Virginia— Its Growth and Develop- ment as a City— The Era of Railroads— Project of Building the Illinois River Railroad— The Ohio and Mississippi, etc. — Newspapers of Virginia — First Paper Established in the Town— The Present City Press— Court Houses and the County Seat Question — The Jail— Miscellaneous, etc 91 CHAPTER X. — Virginia — Religious History — First Churches and Preachers— The Different Denomina- tions aud Their Temples of Worship— Sunday Schools, etc.— Educational— The Early Schools of Virginia — Pioneer Teachers — The Public Schools — C. P. College — War History— Secret and Benevolent Institutions, etc 97 CHAPTER XL— Beardstown— City and Precinct— Laying Out of the Town— Its Location— Organization— First Officers— The County Seat Question— Churches — Schools— The Press— Railroads — The Professions- Early Settlers— Business Interests— War Record, etc 108 CHAPTER XII.— Chandlerville Precinct— Topograph- ical Features — Pioneer Times — Early Families — Educational — Societies — Mills — Village of Chand- lerville 122 CHAPTER XIII.— Ashland Precinct— Physical Features — Early Settlers — Pioneer Times — Schools and Churches-The Village of Ashland 133 CHAPTER XIV.— Arenzville Precinct— Its Early History —The Three Mile Territory— Early Residence of the Settlers — Emigrants from Germany — School-houses and Churches in the School Districts — The Village of Arenzville— First Lots Surveyed— Business of the Town — Churches and School-houses in the Villages —Some of the Prominent Men of the Time— Francis Arenz, John L Cire, Dr. George Engelbach, and Others — Miscellaneous, etc 143 CHAPTER XV.— Princeton Precinct— General Descrip- tion -Boundaries, Topography and Surface Feat- CONTENTS. m . Page. ures-The Early Settlement-Pioneer Hardships- First Mill, and other Improvements— Walnut Grove School-house — Present Schools— Churches — Old Princeton, and its Business Enterprise— Little In- dian Village 155 CHAPTER XVI.— Richmond Precinct-Physical Features —Indians-Pioneer Times-Early Settlers-Schools, Churches and Stores 160 CHAPTER XVII.-Philadelphia Precinct-Descriptive- Topography and Physical Features-Organization as a Precinct-The Settlement of the Whites-Their Life on the Frontier— Pioneer Improvements- Churches, Schools, etc-Philadelphia and Lan- caster—A Lost City, etc jgg CHAPTER XVIII.-Monroe Precinct - Description"! Physical Features— Settlement and Pioneer Times— Srowth and Improvement— Churches, Schools etC .'l70 ( IIAPTER XIX.-Oregon Precinct-Description and Settlement-Pioneer Life-Indians-Churches and Sch00ls 178 CHAPTER XX.-Hickory Precinct-Physical Features- First Settlement and Subsequent Growth— Progress of Industries and Improvements— Churches aud Sch00ls 1S3 part rr. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Virginia— City and Precinct 193 Beardstown— City and Precinct .Z!!!!...."....™ 227 Page. Chandlerville Precinct 281 Ashland Precinct ".".... 303 Arenzville Precinct "" 31 , Indian Creek Precinct 3 >. Princeton Precinct "!.."....."!!.....'.'... 327 Richmond Precinct !""""™"".™"! 330 Philadelphia Precinct 3™.™."™." 337 Monroe Precinct 340 Oregon Precinct .'."...' 347 Hickory Precinct ™'J g„ PORTRAITS. Arenz, J. A .. ^ 40 Boone, N. H n7g Brauer, Frederick .."."...." 135 Campbell, William "."."""."!...."!"...... "07 Carr, David ]' °" r g „ Chandler, Charles ' '" " 63 Cire, L.J __""" "' „ Crum, James '" ,.- 3 Decker, John " ,,_ Engelbach, Herman ™" 243 Leeper, W. D J™ " ^ Linn, William ....".."... 333 Lohmann, Frank " .,», Nollsch, Gottlieb " ,97 Petefish, S. H .,"."." .™Z......Z ™." 81 Shaw, J. Henry " ,„ Skiles, Ignatius |_" " g„ Turcman. J. H '"" ... Wagner, David I!....!! 925 PART I. HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY CHAPTER I. CASS COUNTY*— EARLY NOTES ON ILLINOIS— THE FRENCH TRAVELERS AND EXPLORERS— THE INDIANS— WARS OF THE IROQUOIS AND KICKAPOOS— LEGEND OF MON- SOELA— DIFFERENT OWNERS OF ILLINOIS— BEARDSTOWN MOUND —PURCHASE OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE INDIANS- MISCELLANEOUS, ETC. Levantine seas have been gradually en- ILLINOIS dates its white settlements among the first in North America. Four years prior to the settlement of Plymouth, Le Baron had explored Upper Canada, and twenty years later the hardy and ambitious French traders and voyageurs and zealous mission- aries had erected trading posts and missions along the rivers and upon the lake shores, now within the jurisdiction of Illinois and Wisconsin. At that period the surface of Illinois was much lower, geologically considered, than it is at the present time. Since its creation, the thin crust of the earth has been under- going slow mutations, breathing, as it were, by centuries, elevating and depressing in the lapse of ages under the" influence of its mighty lungs of fire, sinking slovviy and im- perceptibly beneath their former level con- tinents and islands, and as gradually raising others above the waste of waters. While the countries bordering upon the * The Chapters on the County at large are written for this work by Hon J. Hen y Shaw, of teardstown. croached upon by the water, there has been a corresponding rise in the earth's surface here. Two hundred years ago the white settlers of Illinois navigated the Mississippi and Illi- nois rivers to the great northern lakes. French pirogues and Indian canoes found no difficulty in passing through the portages of the North to Hudson's Bty. The routes from the Mississippi river — up the Wisconsin and down the Fox to Lake Michigan ; and up the Illinois Or " River of the Mianiis," as it was then called, to Chicago river; or up the Kan- kakee and down the St. Joseph — were well known and navigated. Indeed, but a few centuries since, these rivers were the south- ern outlets for the waters of the great lakes, and the Illinois penitentiary, near Joliet, now stands upon a ledge of rocks over which a great river once flowed in rapids similar to those of the Upper Mississippi. Jn the southern part of the State, at that point now known as Tower Rock, this great river was dammed up by a wall of rock, over 12 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. which it fell one hundred feet, forming a cataract of such volume and height as to rival even Niagara. But the continual wearing power of the water, aided materially by earth- quakes, which have left their sign in the vicin- ity, finally opened the present channel of the Mississippi, and gave an outlet to the ocean of waters that lay stagnating in the swamps, now prairies, above, and causing the present agricultural productiveness of the ancient beds of these great waters. Two hundred years ago Northern and Central Illinois was inhabited by two power- ful nations of Indians, the Illinois and the Miatnis. The latter occupied the northern part of the present State and part of Wiscon- sin, and their chief town was upon the present site of Chicago. The Illinois tribe occupied the country bordering upon the Illinois river, called by the French the " River Seignelay, " and all the country between that and the "River Col- bert," or Mississippi. The principal tribe of the Illinois were the Muscootens, and their town was upon the present site of Beardstown, on the east bank of the river, at the foot of Muscooten Bay, and was called by the French the " Mound Village." The Peorias, another of the Illi- nois tribes, generally occupied that portion of the country between the rivers, havino- their town on the west bank of the Illinois river, four miles above the Muscooten village, upon the bluffs back of the present town of Fred- erick. The present site of Beardstown was at that time an island, surrounded on the north, east and south by almost impassable swamps, containing dangerous quicksands and quaking bogs, and which could be cross- ed only in canoes, or by Indians jumping from hillock to hillock of the turf grass with which these swamps were interspersed, and on the west by the Seignelay or Illinois River. The Indian town of the Muscootens was a beautiful place. It was built upon a series of mounds, covered with grass, and partially shaded by tall trees, which stood like sentinels upon the hills, or ornamental trees upon a lawn, so scattered as not to obstruct the view of the whole town from the river. The island had evidently been selected, not only on ac- count of its natural beauty, but for its easy defense and safety from enemies. By two bends in the river, forming two ob- tuse angles, the allied villages of the Peorias and the Muscootens stood at the two elbows, in plain sight of each other, the broad river forming a straight sheet of water between, while north of the Mound Village, and in front of the Peorias, spread the wide and glassy surface of Muscooten Bay, separated from the river by a narrow peninsula. Back of the swamp which protected the rear of the town, was a wide belt of rich prairie bottom land, and beyond, six miles, loomed up the Sangamon Bluffs, looking like miniature Andes in the distance, between which and the island, in the day time, all approaching foes could be discerned. This island town was a favorite resting place with the weary voyageurs and devout missionaries; a large cross was erected here, and friendly relations established between the " children of the forest " and the white men. This favoritism on the part of the French towards the Illinois Indians, excited the jeal- ousy of the Miami's, and they determined upon revenge. In vain did the missionaries try to prevent animosities. The Miamis in- vaded the country of the Illinois, and took some prisoners. At this time the Chevalier La Salle, who had built a fort called Creve Ceeur, or the Broken Heart, where the present city of Peoria now stands, in order to prevent further hostilities, made a journey alone down the riv- er to the Muscooten Village, but his efforts were without avail, and the war continued. HISTORY OF LASS COUNTY. 13 The Muscootens believed that La ISalle was acting as a spy for the Iroquois, whose chief town was then where Buffalo, X. Y., now is, and who were the most powerful Indian nation upon the continent. This impression seemed to be confirmed when it became known to them that the Iroquois and Mianiis had formed an alliance for the purpose of exterminating them. Many battles wire fought between these hostile nations, but, by the superior numbers of their enemies, the Illinois were worsted and besieged in their towns. The Peorias forti- fied themselves with earthworks upon the bluffs at their village, and passed men down the river in canoes, as necessity required, to the Mound Village, or received help from there, the river being protected from the arrows of the enemy by marshy ground on one side and the bay on the other, which for- bade their near approach. The Muscootens were beseiged in their island town. Occasionally they were assailed by parties of their enemies, who, more coura- geous than their fellows, crossed the swamps in the night, on the grassy hillocks, with the help of poles. On these occasions fierce bat- tles were fought, and none of the daring as- sailants survived to recross those trembling hillocks. At each defeat the Miamies and Iroquois became more enraged. In the night time, when out of danger from arrows, the allied Indians cut grass and small trees, and gathered floating wood, and built a causeway across a part of the swamp. When it was completed, with the aid of canoes disguised by branches of trees, in the night time, they rushed upon the island, and for several davs the battle raged fierce. y. There was no quarter given or asked. Death was dealt by unsparing hands on both sides. They had been rendered doubly savage by hunger and delay. Their revenge had long been at usury, and they were now satisfying principal and interest. The battle at intervals temporarily sub- sided, but only when the combatants became exhausted, and was resumed when rest brought returning strength. Those who from fatigue were unable to rise, were scalped and tomahawked, entering from the dreamland of life to the dreamland of death. At length, exhausted and overwhelmed by superior numbers, the Muscootens began to fall back towards the river, when with yells of victory their allied enemies rushed upon them, and with tomahawks and scalping knives ended the battle. A few of the un- fortunate Muscootens swam the river, and concealed themselves until night in the high swamp grass beyond, and a small number of men, women and children fled in canoes to the village of the Peorias, and some were taken prisoners. The battle being over, then came the mourning for the slain. Funeral rites, in which the missionaries took part, were per- formed, and in the great mound on the bank of the river, which had been raised centuries before by a lon^ forgotten race, they buried the slain warriors with their bows, arrows and tomahawks, together with the silver and Hint crosses of the missionaries. After these ceremonies were concluded, the Iroquois returned to their own country. The Miamis, with their prisoners, encamped upon the present site of Chandlerville, where game was plentv, and attended to their sick and dying, great numbers of whom did not survive their wounds. Those that died were buried in the bluffs near by, and long after the settlement of Chand- lerville their ghastly skeletons lay in white rows, exposed to the sun, laid bare by the ac- tion of the wind up m their sandy covering. Many years ago, at the request of a young friend, the writer put into verse and rhyme one of the incidents related above, which is as fo'lows : 14 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. THE LEGEND OF MONSiELA. Far, far into the long ago, and upon the very place Where Beardstown stands, there lived and loved and died a noble race. Where pretty lawns and spacious streets and lofty buildings stand, Monscela's Indian village stood upon the hills of sand. It was an island then, and round the hills on which it stood The river ripples wandered in a long continuous flood; While over all the tall oaks waved in foliage bright and green, And the trees and tents were mirror'd on the broad and glassy stream. Far above the stars were shining, bathed in clouds of silv'ry light, And the gentle breeze of summer-day had slumbered into night ; The murmur of the wavelets flowing, and hum of in- sect wings, Fell lightly on the sleepers' ears, nor waked their slumberings. Three weary moons two Indian tribes had been in deadly strife, AndMiamis and Muscoutens had yielded many a life ; Till the allies of the Muscoutens had left them all alone, And the Miamis besieged them upon theirisland home. Slowly, at night, across the waters upon the southern side, The Miamis were paddling up their canoes against the tide ; While in advance of every boat was held a branching bough, Which from the gaze of watching eyes might shield the advancing prow. Upon the island, faint and tired, the Muscoutens lay at rest, All witless of the coming foe as the flowers which they pressed ; They had fought them day by day, their watchfires burning night by night, Until glimmered on their ashen beds the last faint rays of light. Just as the distant glittering beams that led the morn- ing sun Sat lightly on the yellow knobs of the bluffs of Sangamon, A yell as of a thousand fiends fell on the startled ears, And sleepers woke to sleep again pierced by the foe- mens' spears. Monsoela then, Muscouten's Chief, raised high the battle cry, And hade his warriors follow him and win the fight or die; Now on the left, now on the right, his ponderous war- club fell, And many an Indian skull crushed he, and stifled many a yell. Now backward borne, now pressing on, Muscouten's wavering braves Proved that the blood that nerved their arms was never meant for slaves ; 'Till overpowered, and rank by rank fell weltering in their blood, The brave Monsoela fought alone amidst the crimson flood. Then the old chiefs daughter, White Wing, ran through the rift of spears ; 'Though gentle as a fawn, that day she showed no childish fears ; Pierced to the heart, into his arms she threw herself, a shield, He grasped her lifeless form and slowly bore her from the field. Where the golden grass was waving on the river's western shore, Monscela's birchen shallop touched the flowery bank once more ; There oft before the same proud chief had pushed his light canoe, With warriors in sinewy keels — three hundred brave and true. Near two hundred years have entered into the dreamy past Since the chief of the Muscoutens on his village looked the last — One longing, lingering look he gave toward his island home, Then drew his mantle round him and wandered forth alone. Some years later, Mound Island was taken possesion of by the Kickapoo Indians, upon HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. 15 ■which they built a village, known as " Kicka- poo Town," although still remembered by the French Missionaries as the "Beautiful Mound Village." This became a favorite trading post and missionary station, and continued in the possession of the Kickapoos until its set- tlement by Thomas Beard, in 1820, after whom the present city of Beardstown was named. A few years later the great mound in Beardstown began to be encroached upon by the spade and pickaxe of the avaricious white man. Still later, Horace Billings built upon its river front a huge mill, for the pur- pose of grinding corn, bolting it fine like wheat flour, kiln-drying, sacking it, and ship- ping it to Europe as bread stuff. This build- ing was five stories high, a massive frame, and the mound was so excavated with winding roads that teams could be driven to three different stories, to load and unload. This enterprise proved a ruinous failure. The drying process destroyed the vitality of the meal, and prevented its sale. The build- ing was destroyed by fire. The earth, of which the mound was composed, and which is supposed to have been taken by its builders from the bottom of the river, was stolen away by wagon-loads to cover house lots and streets with, and its site was finally reduced to the level of the adjacent streets. The decaying bones of the red warriors, as they lay in their quiet and lovely resting place, with the implements of war around them; the silver and flint crosses of the mis- sionaries, even the beautiful mound itself, which as an ornament and historic feature to the town and river, should have been held sacred, could not restrain the money-making white man from destroying it, and it is now recollected only by the old settlers, who used to sit upon its summit and watch the passing away ofthelastof two races — the Indian in his canoe, and the French voyageur in his pirogue. In 1700, Illinois was a part of the territory owned by the French government, and was called New France. In 1720, all the country west of the Missis- sippi River belonged to Spain, with Santa Fe as its capital. In 17G3, Illinois was ceded by France to Great Britain, after a " seven year's war," Many French inhabitants, rather than live under British rule, joined La Clede and set- tled in St. Louis, then French territory. In 1778, the Illinois country was concpiered from Great Britain by troops from the State of Virginia, under the command of General George Rogers Clark, which was an inde- pendent military enterprise of that State; and on the 4th day of July of that year, General Clark and his troops took pessession of Kas- kaskia, the capital of the British possessions west of the Alleghenies, and declared the Illinois country free and independent of Great Britain, thus making the 4th day of July the natal day of this State as well as of the Na- tion. In that year, Illinois was created a county of Virginia, and Timothy Dernanbrun was appointed by the governor, Patrick Henry, a justice of the peace, to rule over it; which was probably the most extensive territorial jurisdiction that a magistrate ever had. In 1794, the legislature of the Northwest Territory divided it into two counties, Ran- dolph and St. Clair. In ISO!), Illinois was declared a separate territory. In 1812, Madison County was organized from St. Clair, and then contained all of the present State north of St. Clair and Randolph. In 1818, Illinois was admitted into the Union as the twenty-second State. In 1821, Green County was formed from Madison County. In 1823, Morgan County was formed from Green County, which included the territory now known as Cass County. 16 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. During the first quarter of the present cen- tury, immigration to the Illinois country was retarded by frequent earthquakes; indeed, from 1811 to L813 they were as severe as ever happened on this continent, and the few set- tlers then here were in constant dread from these disturbances. New Madrid, a flourish- inn j.imin Matthews, William Summers, An- drew Williams, and Richard Graves. Most of these persons came about 1830. John, Stephen and Jasper Buck and John Sliafer were also early settlers. John Savage came in 1823. In 1830, there was a water-mill for grinding corn at Arenzville, where Engelbach's steam- mill now stands. The power was obtained by- changing the channel of Indian Creek fully a quarter of a mile north from the bed where it now runs. There was formerly an ancient Indian town and burial place on Prairie Creek, about three miles norlh-east of Arenzville. Among the first settlers in the centre of the county, near where Virginia now stands, ■were Captain Jacob Yaple, who set out the first apple orchard in the county; Henry Hopkins, Elijah Carver, Charles Brady, John Do Webber, Thomas Hanby, John Dawsy, Samuel Way, William Weaver, Thomas Gat- ton, Ilalsey Smith, a preacher named Cham- bers, and others. Some of these settled as soon as the lands were offered for sale by the government at the new land office at Spring- field, others a few years later. The next installment of settlers, ranging from 1826 to 1832, were James Stephenson and his five grown sons, Wesley, James, Wil- liam, Robert and Augustus ; Charles Besjgs, Jacob and John Epler, John Hiler, Rev. John Biildlecome, Isaac Mitchell, William Kinner, Jesse Allred, Nathan Compton ; John C, Peter and William Conover ; and a widow Pratt, and her four sons — William, Charles, Rogers and Haramel. A school- house was built of logs in this neighborhood in 1829. Samuel Thompson built a horse mill in 1830. James Richardson built the first blacksmith shop in 1826. Peter Conover and Elizabeth Marshall were the first to marry here, which was in 1827. The southeast part of the county was settled early by James, Davis, who made an improvement on the farm now owned by Travis Elmore, at the head of Little Indian Creek. He sold out to Strother Ball, and he to Isaac Bennett. Ben- nett sold to William Grove, who entered the land in 1826. Eli Cox settled here as early as 1820, in Cox's Grove, so named from him, and entered the land as soon as it came into market, in 1823. William Cooper, a negro with a white wife, settled here also ; and Stephen Short, with his four sons, James Benjamin, George and Albert, Stephen Lee, Til man Hornbuckle, and Dr. Stockton, settled in Panther Grove in 1830. John Miller, James Thompson and Daniel Biair settled near by on the prairie. Stephen Short was the first justice of the peace. Rev. William Crow, the first preacher. Further north, on the east side of the county, among the first settlers were George and John Wilson, in 182-4 ; William Daniels, in 1825; Bartlett Conyers, John Lucas, John B. Witty, and Robert Hawthorn, in 1826. The first child born in this neighborhood was Lucinda Daniels, in 1828. The first marriage was Miles Hamilton and Barbara Baeger. In the northeast part of the county, on and near the Sangamon Bottom, the first settlers were Amos Ogden, in 1830, who built a house of hewn logs in 1831, and rode three days to get eight men to help him raise it. The men who helped him were those other old settlers: Joseph Hickey, James Watkins, John Hickey, James Hiekey, Isham Reavis, Daniel Ater- bury, and a Mr. Mounts. The first school-house was of logs, built on Amos Ogden's farm. The first blacksmith shop was owned by Matthew Holland in 1835. The first mill was a small specimen of a water-mill, owned by James Watkins in 1832. The five Dick brothers, William Lynn and William P. Morgan, settled here in 1831; and Dr. Charles Chandler, Marcus Chandler and Mr. Inglis, in 1832. Dr. Chandler's cabin was in the centre of where the present town 24 HISTORY OF (ASS COUNTY. of Chandlerville now is, where the first Con- gregational Church now stands, the land be- ing subsequeutly donated by the doctor for that purpose. South of the Chandler settle- ment, on the Sangamon Bottom, were David Clopton, Robert Leeper, William Myers, Oliver Coyne, William McAulcy and Mark Cooper, iu 1831 and 1833. The first preach- ing there was by Rev. Levi Springer. List of all tiiosu who Entered Land — The following is a list of those who entered land (i. e., bought from the government), within the present limits of Cass County, 111., including the " three mile strip," before the deep snow in the winter of 1830-31; and in what township and in what year the entry was made. Where a person entered land in more than one township, his name is given for that tract only which he first entered. is 12 Thomas Board 1826 17, II, Thomas Wiggins 1829 '•■ Enoch C. March 1826 " George V. Miller 1828 •• John Knight 1323 " Henry McKean 1S29 17 12 Freeman Skinner 1830 " Daniel T. Matthews. 1828 '•• Kimball * Knapp 1830 " John McKean 1829 " Asa C. New 1*30 " Daniel Richar.ls 1829 1- 11 Henry Summers 1830 " John Cuppjr 1830 '" ' Richard Gaines 1*30 " Patrick Mullen 1*27 " John S. Warfield 1-30 " Shadrick Scott 1S2S " Robert Farrell 1*30 " Benjamin Matthews.. 1*27 •• John Farrell 1X30 " Samuel Grosong 1826 " Temperance Baker.... 1*29 " William S. Hanby 1826 17 11 James Orchard 1*26 18, 10, John E. Scott 1816 '•• Oswell Thompson, jr. 1830 " John Pe Weber 1*28 •• Jos. L. Kirkpatrick...l*30 " A. S. West 1*26 •■ Joseph C. Christy 1829 " John Ray 1826 •• Frederick Troxel 1828 - Joshua Crow 1826 •• Peter Karges 1830 " Benjamin 8tribling....l830 •• David Black 1*29 " John G. Bergen 1828' •' James Smart 1-27 " Phinoas Underwood I * •• John R. Sparks 1829 " Henry Madison 1828 ■• Aouilla Low 1827 17. 10. Jacob Yaple 1829 •• Abraham Gish 1828 " Alexander D. Cox 1826 " Charles Robertson 1*2* " Henry Mad, son 1826 •■ Potor Taylor 1-27 " James Marshall 1*26 •• Martin Robertson 1828 " Jesse Allied IS35 " James H.Richards.... 1830 " Isaac Mitchell 1829 •• Jonah H- Case 1826 " Thomas Redman 1826 " Daniel R. Scaler 1829 " George Tureman 1827 " Thomas Clark 1831 " Edward Fuller 1830 •• David B. Carter 1880 " Levi Springer 1830 •• James Davis 1826 " William M. Clark 1*27 •• Andrew Williams 1827 " George Freeman 1827 •• Alexander Huffman. ...1-27 " Thomas Payi.e 1830 •■ William Summers 1-27 " Luciuu T. Bry.1,,1. I •• L. L. Case 1826 " William Lamme 1826 " John Savage 1830 " Silas Freeman 1828 •' Dennis Rockwell 182) " Isaiah PaschaJl 1828 '• Augustus Barber 1826 " Littlelierry Freeman.. 1 -an •• Joseph P. Croahw.iit..is30 " Kinw Freeman 1828 ill. 9. David McGinnis 1830 17, 10, William Porter 182b " Stephen Handy 1830 " Jacob Lawrence 1826 •• Xhos Floctir I " Cirrolltan E. tatton. I •• William Linn 1830 " Thomas Gatton 1826 " Richard McDonald.. ..1-29 " Archibald Job 1826 " Wilson Runyou 1830 " Teter Conover 1826 " William D. Leeper....l450 " William Conover 1826 •• William Myers 1830 " Abner Tinnen 1826 " John Taylor 1*29 " Nathan Compton 1886 " El ias Rogers 1*30 " Joseph T. Leonard 1826 •■ Jesse Armstrong 1830 " Bazaleel Gillett 1830 18.8, William Holmes 1826 " George T. Bristow... i « • ■ John Lee IS30 " William H. Johnson. .1830 " Joseph Lee '830 " William Breeden 1-27 •• Robert Nance 1830 " Peter Taylor 1829 " James Fletcher 1829 " John Ream 1830 17.9. John Hughes 1827 " Samuel Way 1828 " Susanna Walker 1828 " Archer Herndon 1827 •• Solomon Redman 1826 " Evin Martin I8Z7 " Henrv Kittner 1*26 " James Sturgis 1827 " Martin Hardin 1*27 " Jonathan Atherton... K'n •• Josiah Flinn 1826 17, 9, Burton Litton 1830 " David Manchester ls.1l " Page A. Williams 1-J* " William Miller 1*26 " Morris Davis 1826 •• Strother Ball 1-26 " Josiah Sims 1826 " Samuel Montgomery.. 1830 " Robert Fitzhugh 1-2* IS, 11, William W. Babb 1*29 " Jesse Gum 1-27 " ElredRen.sh.aw KS0 " Thomas Atkinson 1826 IS, 11, Sam'l B. Crewdson....l829 " John Vance 1826 •' Solomon Penny 1828 " James Welsh 1827 " Benjamin Carr 1829 " Richard Jones " Amos Hagor K10 " James Fletcher 1*29 ;■ Reddick Horn 1626 " Andrew Beard 182? '• Elisha Carr 1829 " John Bridges 1826 " J. dm Waggoner 1829 " John Creel 1827 " James Scott 1S29 " Josepli McDonald l*2ti 17. II, Alexander Pitner 1*29 ,- Gersham Jayne 1829 " John Thompson 1S30 " Jonas McDonald 1S2S 18, 10, William Myers 1*27 " Anthony M. Thomas.. 1826 " Thomas Gatton 1829 " Alexander Beard 1-29 " James Mason 1829 " John Robertson 1-29 " Nathan Compton 1828 " Felix French 1829 " John Robertson 1-28 " Richard A. Lane 1*30 " Street 4 Island 1*27 " John McDonald 1*23 " Susan Washburn 1*27 19, B, Isham Rearis 1830 " Henry Traughber 1-LT, " Robert Taylor 1-3" " William McCord 1830 " Win. P. Morgan 18311 " Robert Alexander 1-29-1*,-. Samuel Reid 1828 •• Ralph Morgan 1830 " Robert Elkins 1829 •' John Biddlecome 1830 " Ralph Elkins 1829 » Zadoc W. Flynn 1*29 " Henry Williams 1828 " Peter Carr 1*28 " Eaton Nance 1828 William C..rr 1828 " John Lucas 1829 " William P. Sturgi-.-.l-'-" " Susan Washburne 1*2* •• Shadr'li Richardson.... IS30 " David Williams 1829 " Robert H. I vers 1830 " Joel Ragsdale 1829 " Josiah Rees 1630 17.8, James B. Watson 1826 •• Joseph Baker 1829 " Wm. Cooper 1826 " Thomas Plaster 1830 "' Stephen Short 1830 •' William Sewall 1830 " Win. Crow 1826 17, 10, William Chambers 1826 " LewisFanuer l*3n '•■ join, ci' ver 1827 * " Stephen Lee 1830 " Susanna Pratt 1826 " Eli Cox IS23 " David Black 1810 " Robert Johnson 12. " James Marshall 1826 " G W. Wilson 1829 " Jacob Ward 1-29 " Win. T. Hamilton ISM These make 212 persons who entered land in what is now Cass County, previous to the deep snow. HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. 23 CHAPTEE in. INCREASE OF POPULATION— THE DEEP SNOW OF 18 50— THE BLACK HAWK WAR— RENDEZ- VOUS OF SOLDIERS AT BEARDSTOWN— CAUSE OF DR. CHANDLER'S SETTLEMENT- MEETING BETWEEN HIM AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN— BUSINESS OF BEARDS- TOWN IN 1S34— THE EARLY LOG CABINS-YANKEES AND YANKEE TRICKS— CORN BREAD— ETC., ETC., ETC. BY the year 1830, the population of the State had increased to 157,447, and was confined mostly to the borders of rivers and creeks and woodlands. As yet but few set- tlements had been made anywhere in the open prairies. The early settlers were apprehensive of a future scarcity of wood, and carried their fears to such an extent, that much of their money was invested in useless woodland, which they needed to begin farming with. But their fears in this respect seems now to be allayed, as it has been shown that the sup- ply increases rather than diminishes. Many of those who for the sake of a near and conven- ient supply of wood, settled in and along the borders of the timber-lands, got the poorest of the farm lands, and when they supposed all the good lands had been taken up, later set- tlers came in and entered the dry, rolling prairie lands, and thereby got the best farms, and were in no want for plenty of timber either. The winter of 1830-31 was a remarkable one, and will always be remembered by old settlers as the most terrible for suffering with- in their memories. The snow fell at first about thirty inches deep, then the weather settled, and another snow fell, and another) until it was from four to six feet deep. In drifts it was much deeper. Fences were cov- ered and lanes filled up. There was much suffering everywhere. Stock died for want of food. Deer stood in their tracks and died. Prairie chickens and cjuails having alighted in the snow, could not get out. Man was the only animal that could walk, and game alone, of the food kind, was all he had in plenty. That could be had for the picking up from the snow, for it was helpless. But finally, even game became so poor from starvation that it was unfit for food. The snow staid on the ground all winter, until March, and people ran short of everything, particularly fuel. Thomas Beard, recollect- ing a widow with a small family living at the bluffs, generously walked out there, and found her and her family on the verge of starvation, and hovering over the last rem- nants of a fire, she having used all her fuel. Mr. Beard tore up some fencing and chopped a large pile of wood for her, and afterwards carried provisions to her through the snow on foot, a distance of seven miles, as a horse could not travel. What little corn had been raised in the county, was generally ungathered when the snow came, and yet in the fields, and men took sacks and waded out into their fields and gathered and carried it on their shoul- ders to their cabins, and to their horses, cat- tle and hogs, feeding it to them as they best could. The snow that fell first, thawed a little on top, and then froze, forming a crust which would break upon being stepped on by man or beast. Upon this there fell two feet or more of snow, which went through the same process of thawing and freezing, leaving a crust on top not strong enough to be r much weight. Through this no animal 20 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. but a man could walk. The black-jack tim- ber surrounding Bcardstown for miles, had been a favorite resort for vast numbers of deer, and here they were caught in this ter- rible snow, and died, being unable to travel. From this time, the climate changed percept- ibly colder. Previous to 1831, the most of the pioneers raised sufficient cotton for their own use, and it ripened well, but subsequeiit to the deep snow, all efforts to raise it in this State were futile. We have no means of in- formation as to the extent of country covered by this deep snow, as not a history of Illinois even mentions it, which leads us to conclude that it was not general, but confined to cen- tral Illinois, or, perhaps, even to so compar- atively small a surface as the Sangamon country. In 1831 the Indians became very troublesome in this State, and threatened to overrun the white population. They were led by Black Hawk, their chief and prophet, who pretended to have power given him by the Great Spirit to destroy the pale-faces. He attacked the whites with so much vigor that militia com- panies were formed for self-protection. A battalion of this militia, of 275 men, com- manded by Major Israel Stillman, of Fulton County, was, on the 14th of May, 1832, attacked by Black Hawk on a small branch of the Sycamore Creek and badly defeated and cut up. This was called the battle of " Still- man's Run." The first call which Gov. Rey- nolds made for troops was in May, 1831, for all able-bodied men who were willing to fight the Indians, to the number of seven hundred, to rendezvous at Beardstown, on the 10th day of June. On that day they assembled in Beardstown in three times that number. Gov. Reynolds organized them at once by appoint- ing Joseph Duncan, of Jacksonville, brigadier- general, and Enoch C. March, of Beardstown, quartermaster. March was equal to the oc- casion. He was so well acquainted with this vicinity that he soon furnished the necessary supplies. But Gov. Reynolds was at a loss to know how to arm those who had not brought rifles. In this emergency, Frances Arenz came to the rescue. He was a merchant in Beardstown, and had previously purchased some light brass-barreled fowling-pieces, which had been manufactured in the East for a South American government, and not an- swering the purpose for which they were made they were shipped West to shoot birds with. These answered excellently for arms for light horsemen and skirmishers. The troops were encamped above town, where the saw mills now stand, until they took up their march. In their ranks were some of the best men of the country. The whole brigade was organized into two regiments and two battalions. The first regi- ment was commanded by Col. James D. Henry, Lieutenant Col. John T. Stuart, Major Thomas Collins, Adjutant Edward Jones, quartermaster, and Thomas M. Neal, paymaster. The captains were Adam Smith, William F. Elkin, A. Morris, Thomas Carlin, Samuel Smith, John Lorton and Samuel C. Pearce. The second regiment was commanded by Colonel Daniel Lieb, Major N. Butler. The captains were H. Mathews, John Hanes, George Bristow, William Gilham, Capt. Kendall, Alexander Wells and William Weatherford, usually called " Old Buck," of Morgan County. The odd battalion was commanded by Major N. Buckmaster, James Semple, adjutant, Richard Roman, surgeon, and Joseph Gilles- pie, paymaster. The Spy battalion was commanded by Gen- eral Samuel Whiteside, Major Samuel F. Kendall, Adjutant John S. Greathouse, and Paymaster P. H. Winchester. Captains Wil- liam B. Whiteside, William Miller and Solo- mon P. Witt. The little army stared on —~ .-■; -,-.■■. ■. ■ .. '" r n-VVi"lifr HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. 29 their campaign June 15, 1831, for Rock Island. We will relate one incident only, connected with the Black-Hawk War, to show how it affected the then future history, of at least a portion of Cass County. David Epler, a resident of North Prairie in this county, came to Beardstown to purchase two barrels of salt. He drove two beautiful horses, well harnessed, and a good wagon; altogether just what Col. March wanted for war material. He accordingly seized them, under that law so universally adopted in war times, that "might makes right," and took them from Mr. Epler, itolens volens. But Mr. Epler refused to give them up, and, his face livid with anger, declared that he would defend them with his life, and that the colonel and his troops would have to walk over his dead body before he would give up his favor- ite team; at least, until he was paid their value. Col. March then offered to pay for them what two disinterested men should say they were' worth. This was agreed to. There were then stopping in Beardstown two com- parative strangers, Dr. Charles Chandler and a man named Crawford; to them the cause was referred. They, having come from the East, were wholly unacquainted with the low prices of this new country, and priced the team at eastern values, which Col. March felt in honor bound to abide by, and the conse- quence was Mr. Epler got $350 for his team, which was a large price then. This incident leads us to relate how Dr. Chandler came here. He left Rhode Island, where he had a good practice in his profes- sion, and a new house which he had just built, and started westward with his family, with the intention of settling at Fort Clark, where Peoria now stands. When the steamer, upon which he came up the Illinois River, arrived at Beardstown — tli' hostile attitude of the Indians in the vicinity, and the preparations for a general Indian war, induced the captain to discharge his passengers and freight at Bsardstown, he thinking it unsafe to go any further north with his boat. While here, Dr. Chandler took a ride up the Sangamon Bottom with Thomas Beard, and he was so well pleased with that part of it where Chandlerville now stands, that he determined to go no further north, but to settle there. This was in the spring of 1833. The bottom and bluffs had been burned over, and the new, fresh, green grass and beautiful flowers had sprung up; the trees, and vines and shrubbery were dressed in their most inviting foliage, and he had never seen so beautiful a sight. In a short time he took his wife and little daughter to see their future home, and they were equally delighted with it. There was a wagon road up the bottom, winding along the bluffs, in about the same place it now does, but so little was it traveled that it had not hindered the fire passing over it, and in the middle of the road, between the two horse- paths, was a ridge of green grass mingled with strawberry vines, which looked like a row of cultivated strawberries, and these right in the road; the doctor and his wife and little daughter ate in abundance the large, ripe berries. The doctor entered 160 acres of land where the town of Chandlerville now stands, and built his cabin upon the site of the present Congregational Church. He broke up three acres of land that sprintr, late as it was, and raised a crop of buckwheat upon it, without any fence around. There was a universal custom among the settlers at that time, that every man should be entitled to 80 acres of land on each side of the land already entered by him, until such time as he was able to enter it, as it was called, or, in other words, until he could raise money enough to buy it from the Government at *1.25 per acre; and it was considered as 30 HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. mean as stealing for another man to enter it. Shortly after the doctor had settled there, a man stopped there named English, who was so well pleased with the prospect that he con- cluded to enter land and settle there. The doctor assisted and befriended him all he could, and, to induce him to stop, offered to give up his claim to one-half of the eighty acre tract, next to the land that English wanted, and let him enter it. English told him that he was going to Springfield and enter the whole tract ; that he did not care for the customs of the country ; and that he was troinnr to have it right or wrong, and started for Springfield. All of Dr. Chandler's expostulations with him did not avail anything. The doctor went to his cabin and looked over his little pile of money and found that he had fifty dollars. He thought that his neighbor McAuly had some money, and saddling his best horse, he rode to McAuly's house and borrowed fiftv dollars more. Thus provided, he took a dif- ferent route through the woods and prairies from that chosen by English, and putting his horse to his best speed, started for the Land Office. When about ten miles of Springfield, he overtook two young men on horse back, and as his horse was foaming with perspiration, and nearly tired out, he rode slowly along with the young men, as well to rest his horse, as to relate to them the cause of his haste. When he told them of the meanness of the man English, one of the young men was so indig- nant that he offered the doctor his own compar- atively fresh horse, that he might make all haste and thwart the efforts of English, while the young man would ride the doctor's horse slowly into town. But the doctor rode his own horse, got safely to the Land Office and entered the land before English got there. Sometime after that he wanted to have his land surveyed, and the county surveyor lived at Jacksonville, but a neighbor told him that there was a better surveyor living at Salem, in Sangamon County, named Abraham Lincoln. So the doctor sent for him, and when he came with his implements to do the surveying, the doctor found that Abraham Lincoln, the surveyor, was the same young man who had so kindly offered to lend him his horse, so that ho might defeat the rascallv man English. Dr. Chandler was the first physician in Cen- tral Illinois who adopted quinine in his prac- tice as a remedy; the first who introduced the practice of the infliction of bodily pain as a remedy for overdoses of opium ; and the first who opposed bleeding as a remedy. When he went to Sangamon Bottom, he was called into practice before he could build a stable, and for weeks, when at home, tied his horse to a tree and pulled grass to feed him on, having no scythe to cut it with. He built the first frame house within the present limits of this county. It was 10x12 feet, one-story, and shingled with split and shaved oak shin- gles, which made a good roof for twenty-five years — a fact worthy of notice. He built it for a drug store and office, and it is still in existence. In 1S36, he built his present large residence. His reason for building so large a house at that early day was, that it was ex- actly like the one he had built and left in Rhode Island; and as his family had sacri- ficed so much in leaving their comfortable home for the wilds of the West, he wished to make a home as near like their former one as possible. In 1833, Jackson was President ; John Reynolds, Governor; and Ciay and Webster were in their glory. Beardstown was quite a flourishing town, and the port on the river from which most towns in the interior of the State got their supplies of goods, and from which their produce was shipped to market. In that year Francis Arenz began publish- ing the first newspaper north of Jacksonville HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY. and south of Chicago, entitled, The Beards- town Chronicle and Illinois Military Bounty Land Advertiser. This paper did the ad- vertising for the counties of Mason, Warren, Brown, Schuyler, McDonough, Stark, Knox, and Fulton, as there were no newspapers printed in those counties. There were no lawyers in Beardstown then, but those usually consulted by our citizens were: John J. Har- din, Walter Jones, Aaron B. Fontaine, Josiah Lamborn, and Murray McConnell of Jackson- ville, and William H. Richardson of Rush- ville. In 1833, there was not a single merchant north of the Mauvistarre, outside of Beards- town, and not one advertised in The Beards- town Chronicle, and money was so scarce that it was almost impossible for any kind of business to be transacted. Francis Arenz humorously ascribes the phenomenon of the great meteoric shower of that year, to the fact, that a day or two previously a subscriber had paid him two dollars, all in cash, for a year's subscription to the Chronicle. The names of the steamers which navigated the Illinois River in 1833-34, were the Peoria, Exchange, Ottawa, Ceres, Utility, Cavalier, Express, Black Hawk, and Olive Branch. James B. Kenner kept the Bounty Land Hotel at Beard's Landing, on the west bank of the river, opposite Beardstown. Prices of staples in 1S33, at Beardstown, were : Flour, imported, per barrel, $4.25; wheat, in 90 days, per bushel, 50c; wheat, cash, per bushel, 45.; salt, per bushel, 75c; corn, per bushel, 12 to 16c; beans, per bushel, 50c; whisky, per gallon, 48c; pork, per lb., 2^c; butter, per lb., 10c; beef, per lb., 2^c; cigars, per 10.J0, $1; cigars, per box, best, $1. The business men of Beardstown in 1834, were: Francis Arenz, L. W. Talmage & Co., T. & J. S. Wibourne, J. M. Merchant & Co., Haywood Read, J. Parrott & Co., merchants; John Alfred, M. Kingsbury, and Liscomb & Buckle, tailors; J. Roulston, hat maker; Henry Boemler, cabinet maker; M. McCreary, cooper; Malony & Smith, forwarding and commission business; Knapp and Pogue, steam mill; Gat- ton, Judson & Elliott. There were also: Dr. J. W. Fitch, Dr. Owen M. Long, Dr. Chas. Hochstetter, and Dr. Rue. As descriptive of the business of Beards- town, we will quote the following extract from an editorial in the Beardstown Chron- icle of March 1, 1834: " Since the opening of the river, there has been shipped from this place, 1,502 barrels of flour and 150 barrels of pork. Ready for shipment at the warehouses at this time, 581 barrels of flour, 400 barrels of pork, and 150 ke