Author Title £ Imprint .Fr. (y az 16—47372-8 SPO -^ IPI^ICE] 50 GTS. A Centennial Address Delivered hy Hon. A¥illiam A. (trimshavv, at Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, Julv 4, 1876. '''//,■M, I"' / ^' p^-'^'^ .. %(^^^ A Centeiuiial Address Delivered by Hoi\. William A. (trimshavv, at Pittstield, Pike County, Illinois, July 4, 1876. ) v \ L 3 '' '^i^ ^o^HD J^IDIDDE^ESS :er pjf ||iirit;if PiTTsriELi", PiKi'. County, Illinois. June 8, 1S7(». 7V> the People of Pike CoxHti/ : Ai ;i public ineetiny held at rUc ("otirl lions.', in iMitslickl, on rlic 27ili day oi May last, it was dftcrniincd that the approaching; Fourth ot Jul,\ should be celebrated in an appru- prialc manner, on Ihc Ptihllc Sciuarc in I'itlsiield, by a basket pic-idc, Willi addresses, music, and lireworks at night, and the un(iersi.un<'d were appointed a I'uminittee to ex- teiHl an invitalion to the entire count \ , lo take part in the celebration. In discliaru:inL; the dutv devolved ujiou us bv t he action (jf the meeting, we respectfully call vour attention to thie foUowinj^ resolution, which recentlN passed the Senate and House of Kepresentalives of the United States, at Washington : "Be It Resolved, Bv the Senate and House of Uepresuntatives of the Unitisd States ot America: That it be and is kereby recommended by the Senate and House ot Kepresen- tatlves to the people of the several States that they assemble in the several Counties and Towns on the approaching- anuivei-sarv of our Xalional Independence, aiid that they cause to have delivered on such dav an historical sketch ot said county or town frona its formation, and that a copy of said sketch mav be tiled in print or manuscript In theClerk's office of said CouidA , and an additional copy in print or manuscript be filed in the office or the Librarian of Uongress to the intent that a complete record may be thus obtained or the pi-ogress of our institutions during the first centennial of their existence. In pursuance of the action of Congress the- President of the United States and the Go\ - ernor of this State have issued proclamations, requesting the people of each County to meet at suitable places, and celebrate this first Centennial year of our national existence, in the manner in the resolution we have (luoted, suggested. Pike, as the mother of all the counties North and West of the Illinois River, has a his- tory replete with interest, and It will be but discharging a just obligation due to those who shall follow us upon the stage of action, if, while meeting to celebrate the Centen- nial on the coining Fourth, that history shall be presented in such form as to perpetuate it for the future. In discharging the duties assigned to us let us call your attention to the importance ot the day we propose to celebrate. One hundred years ago our forefathers, oppressed by a British Government then ruled by a tyrannous King, conceived the bold idea of forming an independent government for themselves. The principal theory of government up to riiat time had been that the jiowfrs of j^-dvernnu'tif Avcn; iiihen^iit lu the nilci-, who ruled i>y divine rlffht, and that tln' iHojile diilved their rights from the ^overiiraeut. The launders of our admlral)li' system reveisftl the whole order of ffovernnient, and declared that the people were eapable of si'ii-i,'overiunent, that all power was Inherent in them. ;ind that yovtrnnifnts dtrlve all just power from thi' eousent of the governed. They madr the ^'ovcinnicnl the creature of the p(Mij)le, and limited It to the exercise ol such powers only as should he dele^'ated to it by the people. Under it the rulers and offl- rers are servants ot the people. Thus the people are sovereign and rule themselves through oftKiers chosen by them for that purpose. By the Constitution, which Is a delegation of powers to the general government, our l)eo'ple have secured more religious and political liberty than is enjoyed by any other L^ovci-imieni on earth. That you fully appreciate the blessings of su<-h a government, and revere the memory of the 'iood aii(i wise nini who establishrd and defended it In its infancy, is fully attested i>y the patriotic devotion with which you defended it when in peril. One himdred years of the practical workings of our government have lully proved the wisdom of its founders. Though manv things have occurred to mar our happiness In our existence as a govern- ment, we confidently repeat that to-day we enjoy the most free, least oppressiv«%and most perfect system of g<)vernment of any people on the earth. Ill its practical workings there may be and doubtless are defects, not attributable to I lie sysreiii, but to its execution, hut the remedy for all such defects Is in the hands of the lieopl'c, wliose government it Is, and if they do not remedy them they should not complain. All that is needed Is virtue, intelligence, and honesty, to make the government all it was destined to be bv its founders. In view of these facts, fellow-citizens of I'ike, may we not urge you to renew your devo- tion to the country bv laying aside all other business and coming up to the County Seat, 'o fairest portions of the Eden-like State of Illinois, yet retaining in her limits land beautiful to look upon, desirable to inhabit and famed for her fair daughters, her gallant sons, prosperous farmers and mechanics, able professional men and legislators, her present territory equal yet almost to some of the old thirteen states, owes much if not all of this to the patriotism and foresight of the Revolutionary fathers. Contemplate the vastness of Pike county, as she was, when or- ganized by the act of the Legislature of 1821 in these words : AN ACT TO FORM A NEW COUNTY ON THE BOUNTY LANDS.— APPROVE]^ JANUARY ;?1, 1821. Section 1. Be it enacted by thf People of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly. That all that tract of country within the following boundaries, to-wit : l)eginning at the month of the Illinois river and running thence up the middle of said riv«r to the fork of the same, thence up the south fork of said river until it strikes the state line of Indiana, thence north with said line to the north boundary line of this state, thence west with said line to 8 the west boundaiy line of this state, and thence with said line to the place of beginning?, shall constitute a separate county, to be called Pike. ••()li (!lirist ! it is u deiifious sight to see. What heaven liath done for this delicious laud. Wlmt fruits of fragrauce blush on every tree : What goodly jirospcots o'er the hills expand." To repeat the extent of the boiindaries. (^n the south, bej^in at the junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers, thence follow the Illinois to the fork of the same, meaning the Kankakee, thence to the line of the state of Indiana, thence North and West embracing the territory from Chicago, following on the line of Wisconsin to the Mississippi river, including the famed lead mines of Galena, and to the channel of the Mississippi, thence descending to the place of beginning. First note the beautiful, still gliding river, the Illinois, then ob- serve the majestic Father of Waters. Traverse all this territory, great in extent, formerly the home of savage tribes of Indians : the land marked by the tread of the buffalo and dotted over with the graves and mounds, the relics of extinct races, the fierce brute creation and game and fish abounding, prairies illimitable, adorned with flowers of gorgeous hue, fruits delicious in profusion and great variety, forests of vast size filled with gigantic trees and of many species, rivers bounding unfettered by man's contrivances, then no locks and dams existed thereon, fish in myriads were then the dwellers in those rivers, and these all existed in 1821 wh^n Pike county was struck off by name from the older settlements and the few counties then existing in Illinois. The territory of Pike county, as laid oft' in 1821, was cut off from Madison county. The coianties tlien existing and created in Janu- ary, 1821, were, Sanon(l, Montgomery, Fayette, Washington. Monroe, Randolph, Jackson, Union, Alexander, Clark, Crawford, Lawrence, Edwards, Wayne, White, Hamilton, Jefferson, Franklin, Johnson, Gallatin, Pope, all South and East of the river Illinois excepting Pike, t/iiienty ski' in all. About one-half the century since our Nation was pronounced by the Declaration of Independence to be' free and independent has elapsed since the organization, and see how changed Pike county is. Behold the marvellous picture, unsurpassed in history : if we contemplate Pike county, as its original territory was, and view its almost supfu'human bounds to its piesent condition. THE POPULATION OF ILLINOIS. Illinois was created a territory, oft' Indiana territory, in 1809. in 1818 a State. We are now livinof nrnhn' tlie tliird Constitution, framed for our guidance by the voluntary act of tha people. la 1810 the census of the inhabitants of Illinois was but tn^elve thous^ and two hundred and eighty two; in 1820, 55,211; in 1830, 157,- 445; in 1835, 272,427; in 1870, over two and one-half millions by, the last national census. About 1835 the Illinois & Michigan Canal was arresting the at- tention of emigrants and speculators, it being a startling novelty, but wise public work. Cook and Duncan, of Illinois, deserve the laurels for this grand work, thereby uniting the waters of Lake Michigan and the Gulf of Mexico. Originally this canal was about one hundred miles in length. It serves a great purpose, economizing and^facilitating the ti'affic in stone lumber and other heavy articles. This canal has been extended and, deepened since its first coming into use. In 1830 the population of Pike county, in its present limits, was 2,39G ; in. 1835 it had more than doubled, then mostly composed of a farming population, the towns up to that date being few and small. Now oiir population approximates thirty-eight thousand, and yet we have no large city, but many interesting town* aaxj villages. Up to 1830 the most noted places or towns in Pike county, before its subdivision, were Peoria, then known as Fort Clark, Warsaw, then called Fort Edwards. Quincy was a very small place, and other towns, now thriving county seats, were just starting. In 1830 Cook county was laid off, it once being embraced in Pike county. There was in the limits of Cook county, an Indian locality, Chi cagoux, so called as early as 172G ; thus you see we may trace earlier settlers than the Rosses, and Wheeloeks, of Atlas, and Garret Van Deusen, of *Blue river, the latter the foreriumer of Jonathan Frye as a miller. The Indians say of the place we now call Chicago, "the first lohite man who settled here was a negro." His name was Jean Baptiste Point An Sable, a native of St. Domingo, who went to Chicago in 1796 ; this man afterwards died in Peoria. At Peoria, also, French settlement ante-dated the settlement of the present Pike county. Observe what a grand array of counties has sprung up from the subdivision of the original territory of Pike county. How historic the names of these counties ! See the map of the old Military Tract, once the almost entire source of Revenue to the State, by its land taxes, beginning with Calhoun and running up to Wai-^i'en, Mercer, Henry and Knox on the North. Some of the counties in that tract have been subdivided, as Schuyler had Brown set off from her, Warren was divided and Henderson created. Putnam was a large county, lying on both sides of the Illinois river, and Stark was cut off therefrom. Eighteen other counties have been created from old Pike North of the "Military Tract." In 1832 the Sacs and Fox Indians devas- 10 tated a portion of tlie country from Galena to the Yellow Banks, or Oquaka, in Warren, now Henderson, that being the Black Hawk war. Settlements were very sparse then from Galena to Quincy, and also across to Chicago. Now see the cities and towns, popu- lous, beautiful, full of energy and industry, and the farms unsurpass- ed in fertility and comfort. To revert, in 1827 the Winnebago Indians by an outbreak near Galena, on Fever river, got up a little war, soon ended. At those dates Rock Island was a village, Dixon not existing. Galena a small place, but the largest North of St. Louis, and larger than Chicago up to 1836, at the sale of the canal lands. Galena was famed then more than now for her lead mines. Then there was no Moline and her steel plough factory, and wooden mould board ploughs were the great ploughs of the day. Time and space forbid to recall all the progress of every part of old Pike, the census of the counties, cities and towns in the territory once Pike, but now in the newer counties would disclose vast growth in all the essentials of a prosperous country. Chicago, Quincy, Peoria and the other cities outstripping in growth anything preceding them on this continent. PIKE COUNTY. Let us confine ourselves for a time to the actual territory now within this county, and consider its progress and present condition. THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT. This was at Cole's Grove (now obsolete) but near 'Gilead, in the limits of Calhoun county, there was held the first Probate Court on the 23d of May, 1821, and the first Circuit Court for Pike county, John Reynolds as Judge, beginning on the 1st day of October. 1S21. At that court a noted and peculiar trial took place of two Indians for murder, and the following full record of the case is now to be seen at Pittsfield, in Volume 1, Page 4, of the Records of the Circuit Court. The People, &c., ] ! Pemesan and \ Wednesday Morning, October 30, 1821. Shonwennekeii I (Two Indians.) J The Jury in this cause came into Court and returned the following verdict, t(i-wit : We have agreed in our verdict, according to the evidence before us, that Pemesan, other- wise called Traveler, is guilty of MantihuKilder^ and that the other, called Sqnet Ihish, is Xot iixilt;/. It is therefore ordered and ad- 11 judged by the Court that the said Shonwennekeh, otherwise called Spice Bush, go hence and be wholly discharged and acquitted. And it is therefore further ordered and adjudged by said Court, that the said Pemesan, otherwise called Traveler, make his fine to the People of this State in the sura of twenty-five cents, and be imprisoned for the term of twenty four hours. The earliest record book of the proceedings of the County Com- missioners, jDrior to the June term, 1832, is lost. A fire took place at Atlas which consumed some records and files of the Courts, and it is probable the aforesaid record was then lost. SECOND COUNTY SEAT. Atlas was the second county seat and thereat was erected a Court House of framework, but of no architectural pretensions, which never was finished as a Court House, being used as such in an in- complete state. There was also a small but solid log jail, a terror to evildoers, but not often tenanted. FIRST SETTLERS OF ATLAS. It was settled by New Englanders in 1821. In the summer of 1823 the town was laid out, its earliest settlers being Leonard Ross, who had been a captain in the U. S. service durfng the war of 1812 with England, and his brothers William, John, Clarence, Henry J., the latter being for fifteen years the leading physician in Pike, and extending his ride to other counties. He was an excellent physician, a genial friend and honest man ; he died in 1836, leaving no child- ren. .The late Colonel William Ross was one of those pioneers of Atlas These Ross brothers were all married men and had most estimable and refined families. Dexter Wheelock with his wife, settled at Atlas about the time of the Ross family arriving. He had been during the war of 1812 a drummer, and was a very active, generous man. and for a time the hotel keeper and had a family and o^her grocery store. He is long dead, his wife and a son and daughter yet survive ; and no more estimable man of the early born settlers yet lives than John G. Wheelock, the aforesaid son, now one of the Sny Levee Commissioners. There was another conspicuous character among those early set- tlers of Atlas. Benjamin Barney, who was a man of great physical powers, of strong natural sense, benevolent, patriotic, not learned in book lore, but wise in that which made him a leader in trying times ; he was long the County Blacksmith, and that meant the only one in fifty miles ; sober, industrious, always at his post. His tales of early adventure are marvellous, and yet undoubtedly true. 12 Colonel Wm. Ross as aid to General Whitesides, and Ben. Barney; afterwards Colonel of the 17th Illinois Militia, both took part in the Black Hawk war in 1882, and that campaign and the battle of Buena Vista made Zachary Taylor president. Colonel Ross died within a short period. Colonel Barney yet survives in a vigorous old age. We will speak further of the Ross brothers. Leonard was Sheriff, and William was until sometime after Pittsfield was laid out. Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Judge, and County Court, as well as Postmaster at Atlas, for a time the only post office in the present part of Pike county ; there was thereafter up to 1833 the post office at Clio, at Charles Stratton's, and the post office at Bay, south of Pleasant Hill. Colonel Ross was prominent as a representative from this county in the Legislature in 1836, at the time of the unfortunate, illadvised Internal Improvement system, which fell through, entailing a debt of millions of dollars on the young, struggling State, and yet that is all paid. He was afterwards state senator, and was noted for his shrewd public spirit and for many donations. He was not the originator of the internal improvement system ; the Road Law of 1835, so called, which was of value to Pike, was the work of Colonel Ross. At Atlas, prior to Pittstield's location, was a cabinet shop of Mr. Branson, and Stephen R. Watson, yet in life near Barry, was the tailor who dressed the men in Sunday best. An old resident, now of Pittsfield, who is alive and upwards of eighty years of age, James Ross, had the first turners lathe and a cabinet shop ; he was also a constable at an early day and was in the Black Hawk war. It was better than a farce to hear Ross tell his yarns in his pahny days ; he was the Baron Munchausen then. Ebenezer Franklin, an early settler, and about dating with the Ross family, to whom was born the first son in Pike county, has been gathered to his fathers many years, leaving respected sons and descendants. Robert and Joseph Goodin and Fisher Petty were amongst the noted men of Highland. Petty was a County Commissioner at Pittsfield. Mr. Murphy was the first County Surveyor. Joseph Goodin was County Surveyor thereafter, a good officer ; lie is yet living, but in Missouri. Ephraim Cannon, Sheriff afterwards of Pike, was an early and respected citizen. James M. Seeley, was for twelve years noted as the honest, easy Sheriff. It was his duty to collect revenue ; if a man was not ready to pay his tax, Seeley paid it and trusted him. Seeley had a numerous family, of whom Dr. E. M. Seeley, wlio was a sur- geon during the late war, was one, another, Dr. David Seeley, was an early settler of and died in Texas. Benjamin D. Brown, now of Barry, once lived at Atlas. He came 18 in 1834 from the East ami was a first class millwright and fitted np the mills at Rockport, those wcro greeted by the Rosses and others. A.11 the settlers above named, but Brown, ante-dated Pittsfield, as did Colonel N. E. Quinby, who with John Jay Ross were resident lawyers in Pike preceding 1833 ; both are dead. The business of the county prior to 1833 was all carried on at Atlas ; there were two general stores. Warburton & Co., of St. Louis, with whom Col. Ross was a partner, had a large brick store sQ,nd did an extensive business, all on credit or barter. Mr. Francis Webster who died after residing some years in .St. Louis, also hiid a geAieral store ; with him his brother Thomas was clerk and is now a jyjominent officer in an insurance office in St. Louis. Dexter Wheelock kept a tavern, snug (]uarters, and also had liquors for sale and groceries for family use. The old brick mansion at Atlas, erected nrior to 1833 by Colonel Ross, as well as the <»]d l»rick mansion of Leonard Ross and the brick I'esidenco of Sherifl' Seeley, are yet standing. Edward McCord, who marriccl Miss Seeley, resides in the latter. PROMINENT SETTLERS IN OTHER PARTS OF PIKE. Prioi' to 1833 there were many prominent settlers, very useful and upright. Amongst these were George W. Hinman and Hawkins Judd, who were County Commissioners with Colonel Ben. Barney, when they b-^ught of tlie United States for $200 the quarter section of land upon which Pit<^sfield was located. Hinman and Judd are dead Garrett Van Deusen, an eccentric, Knickerbocker dutchman, was a justice of the peace in an early day, and likely one of the earliest settlers east of Pittsfield, on Blue river, and was the originator of a queer device to crack corn, operated likely as Adam ran the first mill. Van Deusen used the stream of Blue river at a narrow place, and by catching and confining the water therefrom in a hollow tree or trough, open at the end up stream and closed at the lower end. he worked a swinging pestle, which was susuended over a mortal', to eiack Indian corn. The process was to let the trough fill with water nearly to overflowing, when by its weight it would descend, dashing the pestle into the mortar and crushing the corn. The pestle being adjusted some distance from the end of the trough, up stream, the water spilled beyond the mortar and the machine adjust- ed itself for another beat at the corn. ATLAS. In the vicinity of Atlas Henry Long, from Baltimore city, settled about the year 1827. During a residence of many years, until his decease on his farm, he was a useful citizen and upright man. He 14 reared a second numerous family of intelligent and educated children. His son, Jesse Long, has been a Supervisor of Atlas township and resides on the old homestead of his father. CHAMBERSBURG. This town has had her celebrities, as Benj. Metz, once a worthy member of the Illinois Legislature ; Jack Morris, James Johns, the whole and numerous race of Metz junior, and also the abounding family of Ham. This family cannot realize the joke of Lord Bacon to one Hog, who claimed kin to his Lordship ; the Judge's replj' was, " Yott ((re not bacon until you (ire hun(/," and he then sentenced him to be hung. The Hams are too honest to swing so high. TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. Part of the plan proposed for the preservation and embodiment of the history of the county is through reports from the respective townships of local matters, of the biographies of men of repute. Tliis should cover all the matters and individuals not embraced in th(^ general sketch of the county now submitted. Pittsfield, as the county seat, is so interwoven with the county at large that more space is given tb the sketch of men in this locality than to others. The historian now announces to the audience and the public that if any subjects or individuals of note have not been introduced, it is not through an intention to slight any such, but has been owing to the short space of time allowed to work up this interesting field of labor, covering a space of fifty-five years. The history not being closed, in fact, suggestions will be. thankfully reccuved as to any ad ditions proper to be made : if communieatied in writing, action will be taken upon them. GENERAL TOPICS. Pike county has almost been tho mother of states to the west of Illinois. Having a pioneer population of an enterprising turn, large numbers have emigrated together to Oregon, Texas and Cali fornia and other remote points, follov,fing the star of empiie Many estimable farmers have gone further east in Illinois and settled in the prarie counties who once lived in Pike. The health of this county is almost invariably good, excepting in lowlands, where some malarious disease comes on at times. Long- levity exists to a marked degree, and children fairly swarm. Pros- perity and fine crops are the general results of industry. In 1833, when Pittsfield came into being, mails, once, then thrice weekly, were wonders. No iicw-sjiapers existed for many years ; 15 elsewhere we give the report of the rise and fall of newspapers. Chinch buildings were not erected, but came in apace with popula tion ; we now have nearly all known religions extant in the United States; these generally have houses of worship, some of them of fair appearance. The Methodist Episcopal has the highest steeple. We do not quite fill Dean Swift's description : "High church, low steeple, dirty streets and proud people." At present we have two banks, one National, under the acts of Congress, the other has an old state charter. Griggsville and Barry aiso have each a bank. PITTSFIELD S EARLY SETTLERS. It is said impartial history is not written of the living or of cur rent events. We now come to the sketch of many early settlers yet in life ; we do not speak in terms of eulogy for the reason that tlu^y may hear these remarks ; the families of the departed have heard the preceding, and we say that we have not set down anything in malice, and have not spoken through favor. We will not enumemte, as we cannot m the time name all the marked people of Pittsfield and the vicinity, but take those who filled a large space for many years in public estimation. Mrs. Nancy M. Heath, who came in the first years of Pittsfield, is a native of Ohio, a ward in childhood of Governor McArthur of that state ; she is venerable for her years, feeble in health, but of great endurance. She has witnessed many of the trials and active scenes of wtistern life ; her narative sf events, as told by her in person at an "Old Settlers" meeting, was very interesting. She has outlived many relatives and friends. Mrs, Heath and daughter, afterwards Mrs. A. V. Wills, kept one of the earliest schools in the county, and likely the first in Pit'sfield. Thomas Worthington, M. D., yet in life, was the earliest resident physician of Pittsfield : he came in 1833. For a long time he was not outranked by any in his profession here, and while his health permitted had a lucrative practice and was successful and popular He was for one term a State Senator from Pike- Merill E. Rattan, the first Postmaster of Pittsfield, long since dead, was also Probate Judge in Pike ; he kept a hotel on the same lot on which the "Oregon House" stands. William Watson, once a Probate Judge, and his wife are yet with us, advanced in years. Mrs. Watson, long a sufferer, but once a model housekeeper in the Mansion House, and a sincere friend. Mr. vVatson is daily seen, six days in the week with chums enjoying checkers in his old home, the "Mansion House Hotel. ' As a busi- ness man he was ever foremost, and by his industry, economy and honesty he accumulated a handsome property. Robert R. Greene, who, with his cousin, Austin Barber, opened 16 and carried on tlie earliest large store in Pittsfield, yet survives ; his health long tronbled him. He was an industrious, superior busi- ness man. Mrs. Greene was one of the earliest and higly respect- ed school teachers. Austin Barker, in his day the merriest of the gay, honest as the day is long, was for a period County CJlerk. He left well written records, in all particulars clean. Henry T. Mudd, honored of late often in Missouri, was a boy here. He is a first-class business man and early excelled in enei-gy. He was when a boy deputy in the post office and afterwards was (Jounty Clerk of Pike. THE POST OFFCE AT PITTSFIELD. This, from its central position and as a distributing office, has been a marked offi'^e. Many individuals have filled the position of Post- manster. Of Rattan and Crane we have spoken, and of Colonel D. B. Bush. Mr. Porter Bennett and his father, Lucius Bennett, the latter as acting Postmaster for many terms and at present. Mrs Louisia Gilmer was appointed by President Grant and fillhd the office very acceptably until her death. Miss Lizie Gilmer, daughter of her predecessor and of the late gallant Col. D. Harvey Gilmer, is now the incumbent of this office ; the duties of the office are faith- fully discharged. Although a delicate matter for this historian to write as to rela- tives, yet it would be far from complete unless record was made as to worthy relatives. John U. Grimshaw settled near Pittsfield in 1834 and afterwards moved to town and for many years was an active merchant, ex - emplary in his life and business, a true friend, a man of great intel- ligence, he has long departed to the better land. He was a cousin of this writer. Jackson Grimshaw, resident of Pittsfield for l-l years, then of Quincy, has gone as all must go to the land beyond the grave. He was popular and much beloved and was a leading member of the Bar of the State ; he died in Quiney in December, 1875. He was a beloved younger brother of the writer. This county has sent many sons and daughters to adorn society in the larger cities and to carry the beauty and order of civilized life to distant states and territories. We cannot particularize all who have gone out from us. St. Louis has energetic business men and physicians who owe to Pike county their earliest training. Dr. John Hodgen, an eminent surgeon of St. Louis now, was raised in Pike county and mostly about Pittsfield. Who among the early settlers but remembers that cjuiet, unob- trusive man, Jacob Hodgen, father of Dr. John Hodgen, and the benevolent member and leader in his. the Christian Church. 17 Amongst onr sons ilepavtod to ot'ier fields of glory were Messrs. O. M. Hatch and Alexander Starne, both residents of Griggsville, then of Pittsfield, each ran about the same career in Pike, both were Clerk of the Circuit Court and members of the Legislature from Pike county both have held the office of Secretary of State of Illi- nois, and are now residents of Springfield in [)rosperous circum stances. Mr. Starne recently has been a State Senator from his district. They are yet in the vig )r of manhood. At Pleasant Vale, earlier than Pittsfield, were several reputable families. Amos, Joseph and Pearly Jackson. Major James Tolbert, an old Virginian, he was an officer in the 17th Illinois Militia at an early day. He left a numerous and re- spected family, and was himself a substantial farmer and upi'ight man. Horace Horton, yet in life, was an old sea captain, a very "jolly tar" from the state of Connecticut, an energetic man. He settled in 1S32 above Rockport and still resides there. Lyman Scott, an early settler, married a daughter of Leonard Ross. He was for a time one of the owners of a former mill at Rockport , he was a pusliing biisiness man and removed early to Kansas and is dead. The Meredith and Neely settlements near the Illinois river, now Detroit township, were composed of several southern families, old set*-lers, prior to the location of Pittsfield. John Neely was an early County Commissioner, but removed to Texas and is dead. John Lyster, at times a Justice of the Peace, die