LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 977.355 B29 I.H.S. : THE HISTOEY Meaard i Mason Counties, CONTAINING A History of the Counties their Cities, Towns, &c. ; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; General Statistics; Map of Menard and Mason Counties; History of Illinois, Illustrated; History of the Northwest, Illus- trated; Constitution of the United States, Miscellaneous Matters, &e., &e., <&e. CHICAGO: 0. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, 186 DEARBORN STREET. 1879. PREFACE. TN presenting our History of Menard and Mason Counties, we deem a few prefato: words necessary. We have spared neither pains nor expense to fulfill our engageme with our patrons and make the work as complete as possible. We have acted upon tl principle that justice to those who have subscribed, be they few or many, requires th the work should be as well done as if it was patronized by every citizen in the count We do not claim that our work is entirely free from errors ; such a result could not 1 attained by the utmost care and foresight of ordinary mortals. The General History Menard County was compiled by Rev. R. I). Miller, of Petersburg, and the Genei History of Mason County by Gen. J. M. Ruggles, of Havana, and the Townships Mason City and Salt Creek by J. C. Warnock, and the balance of the Townships our historians, W. H. Perrin and D. M. Blair. Some of the Township Histories a indeed longer than others, as the townships are older, containing larger cities and towi and have been the scenes of more important and interesting events. While ful recognizing this important difference, the historians have sought to write up ea township with equal fidelity to the facts and information within their reach. V take this occasion to present our thanks to all our numerous subscribers for th< patronage and encouragement in the publication of the work. In this confident beli< we submit it to the enlightened judgment of those for whose benefit it has be' , believing that it will be received as a most valuable and complete work. THE PUBLISHERS. CHICAGO: CULVKB, PAGE, HOYNE A CO., PRINTERS, 118 and 190 Monroe Street. 62 A CONTENTS. 1* PAGE. .History Northwest Territory 19 Geographical 19 Early Exploration 20 Discovery of the Ohio 32 English Explorations and Settle- ments 34 American Settlements 59 Division of the Northwest Terri- tory 65 Tecnmseh and the war of 1812 79 HISTORICAL,. PAGE. Black Hawk and the Black Hawk War 73 Present Condition of the North- west... . ... 79 History of Illinois 88 Coal 103 Compact of 1787 95 History uf Chicago 110 Early Discoveries 88 Early Settlements 94 PAGE. Education 107 First French Occupation 91 Genius of La Salle 92 Material Resources 102 Massacre ot Fort Dearborn 117 Physical Features 99 Progress of Development 101 Religion and Morals 106 War Record ot Illinois 108 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE. Source of the Mississippi 22 Mouth of the Mississippi 31 La Salle Landing on the Shore of Green Bay 24 Buffalo Hunt 26 Trapping 28 Pontiac, the Ottawa Chieftain 42 Indians Attacking Frontiersmen... 55 A Pioneer Dwelling 60 PAGE. Lake Bluff 62 Tecumseh, the Shawuee Chieftain... 68 Indians Attacking a Stockade 71 Black Hawk, the Sac Chieftain 74 Kinzie House 87 Lincoln Monument, Springfield, 111. 80 A Pioneer School House 81 High Bridge and Lake Bluff 33 PAGE. Hunting Prairie Wolves at an Early Day 85 Staiwed Rock, on the Illinois River, - La Salle County, III 89 Chicago in 1833 82 Old Fort Dearbron in 1830 79 Present site of Lake Street Bridge, Chicago, in 1833 58 Shabbona 121 lll.> \KI> COUNTY HISTORY. PAGE. General History of Menard County. .189 Athens Precinct 328 Green view Precinct 344 PAGE. Indian Creek Precinct 366 Petersburg. Rock Creek PAGE. Sugar Grove Precinct 356 Sandridge ,.383 , Tallula .375 ,.316 MASON COUNTY HISTORY. PAGE. ; General History of Mason County..391 < Allen's Grove Township 603 Bath " 564 Crane Creek Forest City PAGE. Havana Township 501 Kilbourne " 614 Lyftchburg " 652 ,.660 Mason City .645 Manito ,.536 ..587 PAGE- Pennsylvania Township 680 Quiver " 634 Salt Creek " (525 Sherman " i>70 LITHOGRAPHIC PORTRAITS. PAGE. Abbott, J. B 565 Dieffenbacher, Daniel 493 Greene, W. G 259 Greene, Mrs. W. G 295 PAGE. Houchin, Jackson 601 Krebaum, A 457 Lincoln, Abraham 187 Lacey, Lyman Greene, Miss Kate Y 331 Powell, David 529 PAGE 390 367 637 Tice, John 223 Ruggles, J. M., Spears, J. Q Smith, M. A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF 111 > VKI> COUNTY. PAGE. PAGE. Athens Precinct 719 Petersburg Precinct 687 Greenview Precinct 727 Rock Creek Precinct 749 Indian Creek Precinct 742 Sugar Grove Precinct 736 PAGE. Sandridge Precinct 747 Tallula Precinct 707 IV CONTENTS BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES OF MASOX COUNTY. PAGE. I PAGE. PAGE. Allen's Grove Township 836 Kilbourne Township 801 Pennsylvania Township 851 Bath Township 812 Lynchburg Township 858 Quiver Township 819 Crane Creek Township 855 I Mason City Township 784 Salt Creek Township 843 Forest City Township 848 Manito Township 829 Sherman Township 860 Havana Township 752 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. PAGE. Adoption of Children 132 Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes 123 County Courts 127 Conveyances 136 Church Organizations 157 Descent 123 Deeds and Mortgages 129 Drainage 135 Damages from Trespass 139 Definition of Commercial Terms 143 Exemptions from Forced Sale 128 Estrays '. 129 Fences 138 Forms: Articles of Agreement 145 Bills of Purchase 144 Bills of Sale 146 Bonds 146 PAGE. Forms : Chattel Mortgages 147 Codicil 157 Lease of Farm and Build- ings 149 Lease of House 150 Landlord's Agreement 150 Notes 144 Notice Tenant to Quit 151 Orders 144 Quit Claim Deed 153 Receipt 144 Real Estate Mortgaged to Secure Payment of Money 151 Release 154 Tenant's Agreement 150 Tenant's Notice of Leaving 151 Warranty Deed 152 Will 155 PAGE. Game ....130 Interest 123 Jurisdiction of Courts 126 Limitation of Action 127 Landlord and Tenant 139 Liens 142 Married Women 127 Millers 131 Marku and Brands 131 Paupers 136 Roads and Bridges 133 Surveyors and Surveys 132 Suggestions to Persons Purchasing Books by Subscription 158 Taxes.... 126 Wills and Estates 124 Weights and Measures 130 Wolf Scalps 136 MISCELLANEOUS. PAGE. Map of Menard and Mason Coun- ties Front Constitution of the U. S *160 Electors of President and Vice Pres- ident 172 Practical Rules for Every Day Use.173 U. 8. Government Land Measure. ..176 Agricultural Productions of Illi- nois by Counties, 1870 186 Surveyors' Measure 177 PAGE. How to Keep Accounts 177 Interest Table 178 Miscellaneous Tables ITS Names of the States of the Union and their Signification 179 Population of the United States 180 Population of Fifty Principal Cities of the United States 180 Population and Area of the United States 181 PAOE. Population of the Principal Coun- tries in the World 181 Population ol Illinois 182-183 State Laws Relating to Interest 184 State Laws Relating to Limitations of Actions 185 Population of Menard and Mason Counties 872 Business Directory 863 Errata 862 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. When the Northwestern Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia in 1784, it embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and the Mississippi Rivers, and north to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and that portion of Minnesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi River. The United States itself at that period extended no farther west than the Mississippi River ; but by the purchase of Louisiana in 1803, the western boundary of the United States was extended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific Ocean. The new territory thus added to the National domain, and subsequently opened to settlement, has been called the " New Northwest," in contradistinction from the old " Northwestern Territory. " In comparison with the old Northwest this is a territory of vast magnitude. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles ; being greater in extent than the united areas of all the Middle and Southern States, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign States and eight Territories, with an aggregate popula- tion, at the present time, of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one third of the entire population of the United States. Its lakes are fresh-water seas, and the larger rivers of the continent flow for a thousand miles through its rich alluvial valleys and far- stretching prairies, more acres of which are arable and productive of the highest percentage of the cereals than of any other area of like extent on the globe. For the last twenty years the increase of population in the North- west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States. (19) 20 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. EARLY EXPLORATIONS. In the year 1541, DeSoto first saw the Great West in the New World. He, however, penetrated no farther north than the 35th parallel of latitude. The expedition resulted in his death and that of more than half his army, the remainder of whom found their way to Cuba, thence to Spain, in a famished and demoralized condition. DeSoto founded no settlements, produced no results, and left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility of the red man against the white man, and disheartened such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and were the first to profit by DeSoto's defeat. Yet it was more than a century before any adventurer took advantage of these discoveries. In 1616, four years before the pilgrims " moored their bark on the wild New England shore," Le Caron, a French Franciscan, had pene- trated through the Iroquois and Wyandots (Hurons) to the streams which run into Lake Huron ; and in 1634, two Jesuit missionaries founded the first mission among the lake tribes. It was just one hundred years from the discovery of the Mississippi by DeSoto (1541) until the Canadian envoys met the savage nations of the Northwest at the Falls of St. Mary, below the outlet of Lake Superior. This visit led to no permanent result; yet it was not until 1659 that any of the adventurous fur traders attempted to spend a Winter in the frozen wilds about the great lakes, nor was it until 1660 that a station was established upon their borders by Mesnard, who perished in the woods a few months after. In 1665, Claude Allouez built the earliest lasting habitation of the white man among the Indians of the Northwest. In 1668, Claude Dablon and James Marquette founded the mission of Sault Ste. Marie at the Falls of St. Mary, and two years afterward, Nicholas Perrot, as agent for M. Talon, Governor Gen- eral of Canada, explored Lake Illinois (Michigan) as far south as the present City of Chicago, and invited the Indian nations to meet him at a grand council at Sault Ste. Marie the following Spring, where they were taken under the protection of the king, and formal possession was taken of the Northwest. This same year Marquette established a mission at Point St. Ignatius, where was founded the old town of Michillimackinac. During M. Talon's explorations and Marquette's residence at St. Ignatius, they learned of a great river away to the west, and fancied as all others did then that upon its fertile banks whole tribes of God's children resided, to whom the sound of the Gospel had never come. Filled with a wish to go and preach to them, and in compliance with a THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 21 request of M. Talon, who earnestly desired to extend the domain of his king, and to ascertain whether the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico or the Pacific Ocean, Marquette with Joliet, as commander of the expe- dition, prepared for the undertaking. On the 13th. of May, 1673, the explorers, accompanied by five assist- ant French Canadians, set out from Mackinaw on their daring voyage of discovery. The Indians, who gathered to witness their departure, were astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, and endeavored to dissuade them from their purpose by representing the tribes on the Mississippi as exceedingly savage and cruel, and the river itself as full of all sorts of frightful monsters ready to swallow them and their canoes together. But, nothing daunted by these terrific descriptions, Marquette told them he was willing not only to encounter all the perils of the unknown region they were about to explore, but to lay down his life in a cause in which the salvation of souls was involved ; and having prayed together they separated. Coasting along the northern shore of Lake Michigan, the adventurers entered Green Bay, and passed thence up the Fox River and Lake Winnebago to a village of the Miamis and Kickapoos. Here Mar- quette was delighted to find a beautiful cross planted in the middle of the town ornamented with white skins, red girdles and bows and arrows, which these good people had offered to the Great Manitou, or God, to thank him for the pity he had bestowed on them during the Winter in giving them an abundant " chase." This was the farthest outpost to which Dablon and Allouez had extended their missionary labors the year previous. Here Marquette drank mineral waters and was instructed in the secret of a root which cures the bite of the venomous rattlesnake. He assembled the chiefs and old men of the village, and, pointing to Joliet, said: " My friend is an envoy of France, to discover new coun- tries, and I am an ambassador from God to enlighten them with the truths of the Gospel." Two Miami guides were here furnished to conduct them to the Wisconsin River, and they set out from the Indian village on the 10th of June, amidst a great crowd of natives who had assembled to witness their departure into a region where no white man had ever yet ventured. The guides, having conducted them across the portage, returned. The explorers launched their canoes upon the Wisconsin, which they descended to the Mississippi and proceeded down its unknown waters. What emotions must have swelled their breasts as they struck out into the broadening current and became conscious that they were now upon the bosom of ths Father of Waters. The mystery was about to be lifted from the long-sought river. The scenery in that locality is beautiful, and on that delightful seventeenth of June must have been clad in all its primeval loveliness as it had been adorned by the hand of 22 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Nature. Drifting rapidly, it is said that the bold bluffs on either hand " reminded them of the castled shores of their own beautiful rivers of France." By-and-by, as they drifted along, great herds of buffalo appeared on the banks. On going to the heads of the valley they could see a country of the greatest beauty and fertility, apparently destitute of inhab- itants yet presenting the appearance of extensive manors, under the fas- tidious cultivation of lordly proprietors. SOURCE OF THE MISSISSIPPI. On June 25, they went ashore and found some fresh traces of men upon the sand, and a path which led to the prairie. The men remained in the boat, and Marquette and Joliet followed the path till they discovered a village on the banks of a river, and two other villages on a hill, within a half league of the first, inhabited by Indians. They were received most hospitably by these natives, who had never before seen a white person. After remaining a few days they re-embarked and descended the river to about latitude 33, where they found a village of the Arkansas, and being satisfied that the river flowed into the Gulf of Mexico, turned their course THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 23 up the river, and ascending the stream to the mouth of the Illinois, rowed up that stream to its source, and procured guides from that point to the lakes. " Nowhere on this journey," says Marquette, ' did we see such grounds, meadows, woods, stags, buffaloes, deer, wildcats, bustards, swans, ducks, parroquets, and even beavers, as on the Illinois River." The party, without loss or injury, reached Green Bay in September, and reported their discovery one of the most important of the age, but of which no record was preserved save Marquette 's, Joliet losing his by the upsetting of his canoe on his way to Quebec. Afterward Marquette returned to the Illinois Indians by their request, and ministered to them until 1675. On the 18th of May, in that year, as he was passing the mouth of a stream going with his boatmen up Lake Michigan he asked to land at its mouth and celebrate Mass. Leaving his men with the canoe, he retired a short distance and began his devotions. As much time passed and he did not return, his men went in search of him, and found him upon his knees, dead. He had peacefully passed away while at prayer. He was buried at this spot. Charlevoix, who visited the place fifty years after, found the waters had retreated from the grave, leaving the beloved missionary to repose in peace. The river has since been called Marquette. While Marquette and his companions were pursuing their labors in the West, two men, differing widely from "him and each other, were pre- paring to follow in his footsteps and perfect the discoveries so well begun by him. These were Robert de LaSalle and Louis Hennepin. After La Salle's return from the discovery of the Ohio . River (see the narrative elsewhere), he established himself again among the French trading posts in Canada. Here he mused long upon the pet project of those ages a short way to China and the East, and was busily planning an expedition up the great lakes, and so across the continent to the Pacific, when Marquette returned from the Mississippi. At once the vigorous mind of LaSalle received from his and his companions' stories the idea that by fol- lowing the Great River northward, or by turning up some of the numerous western tributaries, the object could easily be gained. He applied to Frontenac, Governor, General cf Canada, and laid before him the plan, dim but gigantic. Frontenac entered warrniy into his plans, and saw that LaSalle's idea to connect the great iakas by a chain of forts with the Gulf of Mexico would bind the country so wonderfully together, give un- measured power to France, and glory to himself, under whose; adminis- tration he earnestly hoped all would be realized. LaSalle now repaired to France, laid his plans before the King, who warmly approved of them, and made him a Chevalier. He also receiv-scl from all the noblemen the warmest wishes for his success. The Chev 24 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. alier returned to Canada, and busily entered upon his work. He at once rebuilt Fort Frontenac and constructed the first ship to sail on these fresh-water seas. On the 7th of August, 1679, having been joined by Hennepin, he began his voyage in the Griffin up Lake Erie. He passed over this lake, through the straits beyond, up Lake St. Clair and into Huron. In this lake they encountered heavy storms. They were some time at Michillimackinac, where LaSalle founded e fort, and passed on to Green Bay, the " Baie des Puans " of the French, where he found a large quantity of furs collected for him. He loaded the Griffin with these, and placing her under the care of a pilot and fourteen sailors, LA SALLE LANDING ON THE SHORE OF GREEN BAY. started her on her return voyage. The vessel was never afterward heard of. He remained about these parts until early in the Winter, when, hear- ing nothing from the Griffin, he collected all the men thirty working men and three monks and started again upon his great undertaking. By a short portage they passed to the Illinois or Kankakee, called by the Indians, "Theakeke," wolf, because of the tribes of Indians called by that name, commonly known as the Mahingans, dwelling there. The French pronounced it Kiakiki, which became corrupted to Kankakee. "Falling down the said river by easy journeys, the better to observe the country," about the last of December they reached a village of the Illi- nois Indians, containing some five hundred cabins, but at that moment THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 25 no inhabitants. The Seur de LaSalle being in want of some breadstuffs, took advantage of the absence of the Indians to help himself to a suffi- ciency of maize, large quantities of which he found concealed in holes under the wigwams. This village was situated near the present village of Utica in LaSalle County, Illinois. The corn being securely stored, the voyagers again betook themselves to the stream, and toward evening, on the 4th day of January, 1680, they came into a lake which must have been the lake of Peoria. This was called by the Indians Pim-i-te-wi, that is, a place where there are many fat beasts. Here the natives were met with in large numbers, but they were gentle and kind, and having spent some time with them, LaSalle determined to erect another fort in that place, for he had heard rumors that some of the adjoining tribes were trying to disturb the good feeling which existed, and some of his men were disposed to complain, owing to the hardships and perils of the travel. He called this fort " Crevecceur" (broken-heart), a name expressive of the very natural sorrow and anxiety which the pretty certain loss of his ship, Griffin, and his consequent impoverishment, the danger of hostility on the part of the Indians, and of mutiny among his own men, might well cause him. His fears were not entirely groundless. At one time poison was placed in his food, but fortunately was discovered. While building this fort, the Winter wore away, the prairies began to look green, and LaSalle, despairing of any reinforcements, concluded to return to Canada, raise new means and new men, arid embark anew in the enterprise. For -this purpose he made Hennepin the leader of a party to explore the head waters of the Mississippi, and he set out on his jour- ney. This journey was accomplished with the aid of a few persons, and was successfully made, though over an almost u iknown route, and in a bad season of the year. He safely reached Cana ^a, and set out again for the object of his search. Hennepin and his party left Fort Crevecceur on the last of February, 1680. When LaSalle reached this place on his return expedition, he found the fort entirely deserted, and he was obliged to return again to Canada. He embarked the third time, and succeeded. Seven days after leaving the fort, Hennepin reached the Mississippi, and paddling up the icy stream as best he could, reached no higher than the Wisconsin River by the llth of April. Here he and his followers were taken prisoners by a band of Northern Indians, who treated them with great kindness. Hen- nepin's comrades were Anthony Auguel and Michael Ako. On this voy- age they found several beautiful lakes, and "saw some charming prairies." Their captors were the Isaute or Sauteurs, Chippewas, a tribe of the Sioux nation, who took them up the river until about the first of May, when they reached some falls, which Hennepin christened Falls of'St. Anthony 26 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. in honor of his patron saint. Here they took the land, and traveling nearly two hundred miles to the northwest, brought them to their villages. Here they were kept about three months, were treated kindly by their captors, and at the end of that time, were met by a band of Frenchmen, BUFFALO HUNT. headed by one Seur de Luth, who, in pursuit of trade and game, had pene- crated thus far by the route of Lake Superior ; and with -these fellow- countrymen Hennepin and his companions were allowed to return to the borders of civilized life in November, 1680, just after LaSalle had returned to the wilderness on his second trip. Hennepin soon after went to France, where he published an account of his adventures. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 27 The Mississippi was first discovered by De Soto in April, 1541, in his vain endeavor to find gold and precious gems. In the following Spring, De Soto, weary with hope long deferred, and worn out with his wander- ings, he fell a victim to disease, and on the 21st of May died. His followers, reduced by fatigue and disease to less than three hundred men, wandered about the country nearly a year, in the vain endeavor to rescue them- selves by land, and finally constructed seven small vessels, called brigan- tines, in which they embarked, and descending the river, supposing it would lead them to the sea, in July they came to the sea (Gulf of Mexico), and by September reached the Island of Cuba.- They were the first to see the great outlet of the Mississippi ; but, being so weary and discouraged, made no attempt to claim the country, and hardly had an intelligent idea of what they had passed through. To La Salle, the intrepid explorer, belongs the honor of giving the first account of the mouths of the river. His great desire was to possess this entire country for his king, and in January, 1682, he and his band of explorers left the shores of Lake Michigan on their third attempt, crossed the portage, passed down the Illinois River, and on the 6th of February, reached the banks of the Mississippi. On the 13th they commenced their downward course, which they pursued with but one interruption, until upon the 6th of March they dis- covered the three great passages by which the river discharges its waters into the gulf. La Salle thus narrates the event : " We landed on the bank of the most western channel, about three leagues (nine miles) from its mouth. On the seventh, M. de LaSalle went to reconnoiter the shores of the neighboring sea, and M. de Tonti meanwhile examined the great middle channel. They founc^ the main outlets beautiful, large and deep. On the 8th we reascended the river, a little above its confluence with the sea, to find a dry place beyond the reach of inundations. The elevation of the North Pole was here about twenty-seven degrees. Here we prepared a column and a cross, and to the column were affixed the arms of France with this inscription : Louis Le Grand, Roi De France et de Navarre, regne ; Le neuvieme Avril, 1682. The whole party, under arms, chanted the Te Deum, and then, after a salute and cries of " Vive le Roi" the column was erected by M. de La Salle, who, standing near it, proclaimed in a loud voice the authority of the King of France. LaSalle returned and laid the foundations of the Mis- sissippi settlements in Illinois, thence he proceeded to France, where another expedition was fitted out, of which he was commander, and in two succeeding voyages failed to find the outlet of the river by sailing along the shore of the gulf. On his third voyage he was killed, through the 28 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. treachery of his followers, and the object of his expeditions was not accomplished until 1699, when D'Iberville, under the authority of the crown, discovered, on the second of March, by way of the sea, the mouth of the "Hidden River." This majestic stream was called by the natives " Malbouchia" and by the Spaniards, " la Palissade" from the great -.- % TRAPPING. number of trees about its mouth. After traversing the several outlets, and satisfying himself as to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western outlet, and returned to France. An avenue of trade was now opened out which was fully improved. In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some European colo- nists. In 1762, the colony was made over to Spain, to be regained by France under the consulate of Napoleon. In 1803, it was purchased by THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 29 the United States for the sum of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana and commerce of the Mississippi River came under the charge of the United States. Although LaSalle's labors ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered in vain. He had thrown open to France and the world an immense and most valuable country ; had established several ports, and laid the foundations of more than one settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia, are to this day monu- ments of LaSalle's labors ; for, though he had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur,) it was by those whom he led into the West that these places were peopled and civilized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and honored." The French early improved the opening made for them. Before the year 1698, the Rev. Father Gravier began a mission among the Illinois, and founded Kaskaskia. For some time this was merely a missionary station, where none but natives resided, it being one of three such vil- lages, tiie other two being Cahokia and Peoria. What is known of these missions is learned from a letter written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias, autrement dit de I'lmmaculate Conception de la Sainte Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia, while Peoria arose near the ruins of Fort Crevecoeur. This must have been about the year 1700. The post at Vincennes on the Oubache river, (pronounced Wa"-ba", meaning summer cloud moving swiftly') was estab- lished in 1702, according to the best authorities.* It is altogether prob- able that on LaSalle's last trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. In July, 1701, the foundations of Fort Ponchartrain were laid by De la Motte Cadillac on the Detroit River. These sta- tions, with those established further north, were the earliest attempts to occupy the Northwest Territory. At the same time efforts were being made to occupy the Southwest, which finally culminated in the settle- ment and founding of the City of New Orleans by a colony from England in 1718. This was mainly accomplished through the efforts of the famous Mississippi Company, established by the notorious John Law, who so quickly arose into prominence in France, and who with his scheme so quickly and so ignominiously passed away. From the time of the founding of these stations for fifty years the French nation were engrossed with the settlement of the lower Missis- sippi, and the war with the Chicasaws, who had, in revenge for repeated * There Is considerable dispute about this date, some asserting it was founded as late as 1742. When the new court house at Vlncunnes was erected, all authorities on the subject were carefully examined, and i Y02 fixed upon as the correct date. It was accordingly engraved on the corner-stone of the court house. 30 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. injuries, cut off the entire colony at Natchez. Although the company did little for Louisiana, as the entire West was then called, yet it opened the trade through the Mississippi River, and started the raising of grains indigenous to that climate. Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements in the Northwest, as it was not until this time that the attention of the English was called to the occupation of this portion of the New World, which they then supposed they owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writing from " Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8, 1750, says: "We have here whites, negroes and Indians, to say nothing of cross-breeds. There are five French villages, and three villages of the natives, within a space of twenty-one leagues situated between the Mississippi and another river called the Karkadaid (Kaskaskias). In the five French villages 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 all told. Most of the French till the soil; they raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like princes. Three times as much is produced as can be consumed ; and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to New Orleans." This city was now the seaport town of the Northwest, and save in the extreme northern part, where only furs and copper ore were found, almost all the products of the country found their way to France by the mouth of the Father of Waters. In another letter, dated Novem- ber 7, 1750, this same priest says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Mississippi one sees no dwellings, the ground being too low to be habitable. Thence to New Orleans, the lands are only partially occupied. New Orleans contains black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hundred persons. To this point come all lumber, bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins and bear's grease ; and above all, pork and flour from the Illinois. These things create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come hither this year. Above New Orleans, plantations are again met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, some ten leagues up the river. At Point Coupee, thirty-five leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez post, where we have a garrison, who are kept prisoners through fear of the Chickasaws. Here and at Point Coupee, they raise excellent tobacco. Another hundred leagues brings us to the Arkansas, where we have also a fort and a garrison for the benefit of the river traders. * * * From the Arkansas to the Illinois, nearly five hundred leagues, there is not a settlement. There should be, however, a fort at the Oubache (Ohio), the only path by which the Engjish can reach the Mississippi. In the Illinois country are numberless mines, but no one to THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 31 work them as they deserve." Father Marest, writing from the post at Vincennes in 181 2, makes the same observation. Vivier also says : " Some individuals dig lead near the surface and supply the Indians and Canada. Two Spaniards now here, who claim to be adepts, say that our mines are like those of Mexico, and that if we would dig deeper, we should find silver under the lead ; and at any rate the lead is excellent. There is also in this country, beyond doubt, copper ore, as from time to time large pieces are found in the streams." MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI. At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied, in addition to the lower Mississippi posts arid those in Illinois, one at Du Quesne, one at the Maumee in the country of the Miamis, and one at Sandusky in what may be termed the Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the Northwest they had stations at. St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake Michigan, at Fort Ponchartiain (Detroit), at Michillimackanac or Massillimacanac, Fox River of Green Bay, and at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of LaSalle were now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of this vast realm, basing their claim on discovery and settlement. Another nation, however, was now turning its attention to this extensive country, 32 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and hearing of its wealth, began to lay plans for occupying it and for securing the great profits arising therefrom. The French, however, had another claim to this country, namely, the DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. This " Beautiful " river was discovered by Robert Cavalier de La- Salle in 1669, four years before the discovery of the Mississippi by Joliet and Marquette. While LaSalle was at his trading post on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. He not only desired to facilitate his intercourse in trade, but he longed to travel and explore the unknown regions of the West. An incident soon occurred which decided him to fit out an exploring expedition. While conversing with some Senecas, he. learned of a river called the Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea, but at such a distance that it required eight months to reach its mouth. In this state- ment the Mississippi and its tributaries were considered as one stream. LaSalle believing* as most of the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to embark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the continent to the commerce of China and Japan. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the approval of the Gov- ernor. His eloquent appeal prevailed. The Governor and the Intendant, Talon, issued letters patent authorizing the enterprise, but made no pro- vision to defray the expenses. At this juncture the seminary of St. Sul- pice decided to send out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and LaSalle offering to sell his improvements at LaChine to raise money, the offer was accepted by the Superior, and two thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which LaSalle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for the outfit. On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty-four persons, embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence ; two additional canoes carried the Indian guides. In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity of the present City of Rochester, New York. Here they expected to procure guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but in this they were disappointed. The Indians seemed unfriendly to the enterprise. LaSalle suspected that the Jesuits had prejudiced their minds against his plans. After waiting a month in the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 33 from the Iroquois colony at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured them that they could there find guides, and offered to conduct them thence. On their way they passed the mouth of the Niagara River, when they heard for the first time the distant thunder of the cataract. Arriving IIIGH BKIDGE, LAKK BLUFF, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS. among the Iroquois, they met with a friendly reception, and learned from a Shawanee prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. Delighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready to resume their journey ; but just as they were about to start they heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring village. One of them proved to be Louis Joliet, afterwards famous as an explorer in the West. He ' 34 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. had been sent by the Canadian Government to explore the copper mines on Lake Superior, but had failed, and was on his way back to Quebec. He gave the missionaries a map of the country he had explored in the lake region, together with an account of the condition of the Indians in that quarter. This induced the priests to determine on leaving the expedition and going to Lake Superior. LaSalle warned them that the Jesuits were probably occupying that field, and that they would meet with a cold reception. Nevertheless they persisted in their purpose, and after worship on the lake shore, parted from LaSalle. On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as LaSalle had predicted, the Jesuit Fathers, Marquette and Dablon, occupying the field. These zealous disciples of Loyola informed them that they wanted no assistance from St. Sulpice, nor from those who made him their patron saint ; and thus repulsed, they returned to Montreal the following June without having made a single discovery or converted a single Indian. After parting with the priests, LaSalle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondaga, where he obtained guides, and passing thence to a tributary of the Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as the falls at Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by LaSalle, the persevering and successful French explorer of the West, in 1669. The account of the latter part of his journey is found in an anony- mous paper, which purports to have been taken from the lips of LaSalle himself during a subsequent visit to Paris. In a letter written to Count Frontenac in 1667, shortly after the discovery, he himself says that he discovered the Ohio and descended it to the falls. This was regarded as an indisputable fact by the French authorities, who claimed the Ohio Valley upon another ground. When Washington was sent by the colony of Virginia in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty commandant at Quebec replied : " We claim the country on the Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of LaSalle, and will not give it up to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners of every Englishman found trading in the Ohio Valley." ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. When the new year of 1750 broke in upon the Father of Waters and the Great Northwest, all was still wild save at the French posts already described. In 1749, when the English first began to think seri- ously about sending men into the West, the greater portion of the States of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men. The English knew, however, pretty THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 35 conclusively of the nature of the wealth of these wilds. As early as 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, -had commenced movements to secure the country west of the Alleghenies to the English crown. In Pennsylvania, Governor Keith and James Logan, secretary of the prov- ince, from 1719 to 1731, represented to the powers of England the neces- sity of securing the Western lands. Nothing was done, however, by that power save to take some diplomatic steps to secure the claims of Britain to this unexplored wilderness. England had from the outset claimed from the Atlantic to the Pacific, on the ground that the discovery of the seacoast and its possession was a discovery and possession of the country, and, as is well known, her grants to the colonies extended " from sea to sea." This was not all her claim. She had purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This lat- ter was also a strong argument. As early as 1684, Lord Howard, Gov- ernor of Virginia, held a treaty with the six nations. These were the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the Mohawks, Onei- das, Onondagas, Cayugas, arid Senecas. Afterward the Tuscaroras were taken into the confederacy, and it became known as the Six NATIONS. They came under the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701, they repeated the agreement, and in September, 1726, a formal deed was drawn up and signed by the chiefs. The validity pf this claim has often been disputed, but never successfully. In 1744, a purchase was made at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, of certain lands within the " Colony of Virginia," for which the Indians received X200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a promise that, as settlements increased, more should be paid. The Commissioners from Virginia were Colonel Thomas Lee and Colonel William Beverly. As settlements extended, the promise of more pay was called to mind, and Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the mountains with presents to appease the savages. Col. Lee, and some Virginians accompa- nied him with the intention of sounding the Indians upon their feelings regarding the English. They were not satisfied with their treatment, and plainly told the Commissioners why. The English did not desire the cultivation of the country, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. In 1748, the Ohio Company was formed, and petitioned the king for a grant of land beyond the Alleghenies. This was granted, and the government of Virginia was ordered to grant to them a half million acres, two hun- dred thousand of which were to be located at once. Upon the 12th of June, 1749, 800,000 acres from the line of Canada north and west was made to the Loyal Company, and on the 29th of October, 1751, 100,000 acres were given to the Greenbriar Company. All this time the French were not idle. They saw that, should the British gain a foothold in tlie West, especially upon the Ohio, they might not only prevent the French 36 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. settling upon it, but in time would come to the lower posts and so gain possession of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1774, Vaud- reuil, Governor of Canada and the French possessions, well knowing the consequences that must arise from allowing the English to build trading posts in the Northwest, seized some of their frontier posts, and to further secure the claim of the French to the West, he, in 1749, sent Louis Cel- eron with a party of soldiers to plant along the Ohio River, in the mounds and at the mouths of its principal tributaries, plates of lead, on which were inscribed the claims of France. These were heard of in 1752, and within the memory of residents now living along the " Oyo," as the beautiful river was called by the French. One of these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced. It bears date August 16, 1749, and a copy of the inscription with particular account of the discovery of the plate, was sent by DeWitt Clinton to the American Antiquarian Society, among whose journals it may now be found.* These measures did not, however, deter the English from going on with their explorations, and though neither party resorted to arms, yet the conflict was gathering, and it was only ( a question of time when the storm would burst upon the frontier settlements. In 1750, Christopher Gist was sent by the Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about one hundred and fifty miles above its mouth. He afterward spoke of it as very populous. From there he went down, the Ohio River nearly to the falls at the present City of Louisville, and in November he commenced a survey of the Company's lands. Dur- ing the Winter, General Andrew Lewis performed a similar work for the Greenbriar Company. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing their forts for defense, and in opening roads, and also sent a small party of soldiers to keep the Ohio clear. This party, having heard of the Eng- lish post on the Miami River, early in 1652, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. (They were probably garrisoned in a block house). The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account says several were burned. This fort or post was called by the English Pickawillany. A memorial of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawillanes, in the center of the terri- tory between the Ohio and the Wabash. The name is probably some variation of Pickaway or Picqua in 1773, written by Rev. David Jones Pickaweke." * The following Is a translation of the Inscription on the plate: "In the year 1749, reign of Louis XV., King of France, we, Celeron, commandant of a detachment by Monsieur the Marquis of Gallisoniere, com- mander-in-chief of New France, to establish tranquility in certain Indian villages of these cantons, have buried this plate at the confluence of the Toradakoin, this twenty- ninth of July, near the river Ohio, otherwise Beautiful River, as a monument of renewal of possession which we have taken of the said river, and all its tributaries; inasmuch as the preceding Kings of France have enjoyed it, and maintained it by their arms and treaties; especially by those of Ryswick, Utrecht, and Aix La Chapelle." THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 37 This was the first blood shed between the French and English, and occurred near the present City of Piqua, Ohio, or at least at a point about forty-seven miles north of Dayton. Each nation became now more inter- ested in the progress of events in the Northwest. The English deter- mined to purchase from the Indians a title to the lands they wished to occupy, and Messrs. Fry (afterward Commander-in-chief over Washing- ton at the commencement of the French War of 17751763), Lomax and Patton were sent in the Spring of 1752 to hold, a conference with the natives at Logstown to learn what they objected to in the treaty of Lan- caster already noticed, and to settle all difficulties. On the 9th of June, these Commissioners met the red men at Logstown, a little village on the north bank of the Ohio, about seventeen miles below the site of Pitts- burgh. Here had been a trading point for many years, but it was aban- doned by the Indians in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the treaty of Lancaster, but, the Commissioners taking aside Montour, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous Catharine Montour, and a chief among the six nations, induced him to use his influence in their favor. This he did, and upon the 13th of June they all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty in its full extent, consenting to a settlement of the southeast of the Ohio, and guaranteeing that it should not be disturbed by them. These were the means used to obtain the first treaty with the Indians in the Ohio Valley. Meanwhile the powers beyond the sea were trying to out-manoeuvre each other, and were professing to be at peace. The English generally outwitted the Indians, and failed in many instances to fulfill their con- tracts. They thereby gained the ill-will of the red men, and further increased the feeling by failing to provide them with arms and ammuni- tion. Said an old chief, at Easton, in 1758 : " The Indians on the Ohio left you because of your own fault. When we heard the French were coming, we asked you for help and arms, but we did not get them. The French came, they treated us kindly, and gained our affections. The Governor of Virginia settled on our lands for his own benefit, and, when we wanted help, forsook us." At the beginning of 1653, the English thought they had secured by title the lands in the West, but the French had quietly gathered cannon and military stores to be in readiness for the expected blow. The Eng- lish made other attempts to ratify these existing treaties, but not until the Summer could the Indians be gathered 'together to discuss the plans of the French. They had sent messages to the French, warning them away ; but they replied that they intended to complete the chain of forts already beguu. and would not abandon the field. Soon after this, no satisfaction being obtained from the Ohio regard- 38 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ing the positions and purposes of the French, Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia determined to send to them another messenger and learn from them, if possible, their intentions. For this purpose he sele.cted a young man, a surveyor, .who, at the early age of nineteen, had received the rank of major, and who was thoroughly posted regarding frontier life. This personage was no other than the illustrious George Washington, who then held considerable interest in Western lands. He was at this time just twenty-two years of age. Taking Gist as his guide, the two, accompanied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. They left Will's Creek on the 10th of November, 1753, and on the 22d reached the Monon- gahela, about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with the chiefs of the Si:: Nations. From them he learned the condition of the French, and also heard of their determination not to come down the river till the fol- lowing Spring. The Indians were non-committal, as they were afraid to turn either way, and, as far as they could, desired to remain neutral. Washington, finding nothing could be done with them, went on to Venango, an old Indian town at the mouth of French Creek. Here the French had a fort, called Fort Machault. Through the rum and flattery of the French, he nearly lost all his Indian followers. Finding nothing of importance here, he pursued his way amid great privations, and on the llth of December reached the fort at the head of French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddie's letter, received his answer, took his observations, and on the 16th set out upon his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few Indians who still remained true to him, notwithstanding the endeavors of the French to retain them. Their homeward journey was one of great peril and suffering from the cold, yet they reached home in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of St. Pierre, commander of the French fort, sent by Washington to Governor Dinwiddie, it was learned that the French would not give up without a struggle. Active preparations were at once made in all the English colonies for the coming conflict, while the French finished the fort at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications, and gathered their forces to be in readiness. The Old Dominion was all alive. Virginia was the center of great activities ; volunteers were called for, and from all the neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under the Governor's proclamation which promised two hundred thousand acres on the Ohio. Along this river they were gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this point, whither Trent had come for assistance for his little band of forty-one men, who were THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 39 working away in hunger and want, to fortify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both parties were looking with deep interest. " The first birds of Spring filled the air with their song ; the swift 'river rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting snows of Spring and the April showers. The leaves were appearing ; a few Indian scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed near at hand ; and all was so quiet, that Frazier, an old Indian scout and trader, who had been left by Trent in command, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, ten miles up the Monongahela. But, though all was so quiet in that wilder- ness, keen eyes had seen the low intrenchment rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news of it up the river ; and upon the morning of the 17th of April, Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink sixty batteaux and three hundred canoes filled with men, and laden deep with cannon and stores. * * * That evening he supped with his captor, Contrecosur, and the next day he was bowed off by the Frenchman, and with his men and tools, marched up the Monongahela." The French and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and English possessions unsettled, and the events already narrated show the French were determined to hold the country watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries ; while the English laid claims to the country by virtue of the discoveries of the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New- foundland to Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The first decisive blow had now been struck, and the first attempt of the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these lands, had resulted . disastrously to them. The French and Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at the Fork, which they had so easily captured, and when completed gave to the fort the name of DuQuesne. Washing- ton was at Will's Creek when the news of the capture of the fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it. On his way he entrenched him- self at a place called the " Meadows," where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indians marching against him, but was soon after attacked in his fort by a much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morning of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. The English Government immediately planned four campaigns ; one against Fort DuQuesne ; one against Nova Scotia ; one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point. These occurred during 1755--6, and were not successful in driving the French from their possessions. The expedition against Fort DuQuesne was led by the famous General Braddock, who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 40 'J-'HE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. acquainted with Indian warfare, suffered such an inglorious defeat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is generally known as the battle of Monongahela, or " Braddock's Defeat." The war continued with various vicissitudes through the years 1756-7 ; when, at the commence- ment of 1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then Secre- tary of State, afterwards Lord Chatham, active preparations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions were planned for this year : one, under General Amherst, against Louisburg ; another, under Abercrombie, against Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third, under General Forbes, against Fort DuQuesne. On the 26th of July, Louisburg surrendered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, and the eastern part of the Canadian possessions fell into the hands of the British. Abercrombie captured Fort Frontenac, and when the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, of which Washington had the active command, arrived there, it was found in flames and deserted. The English at once took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illustrious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt. The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduction of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; Amherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life in the attempt. Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point without a blow ; and Wolfe, after making the memor- able ascent to the Plains of Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm, and on the 18th, the city capitulated. In this engagement Montcolm and Wolfe both lost their lives. De Levi, Montcalm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the city, with the purpose of defeating the English, and there, on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the bloodiest battles of the French and Indian War. It resulted in the defeat of the French, and the fall of the City of Montreal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the whole of Canada was surrendered to the English. This practically concluded the war, but it was not until 1763 that the treaties of peace between France and England were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that year, and under its provisions all the country east of the Mississippi and north of the Iberville River, in Louisiana, were ceded to England. At the same time Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain. On the 13th of September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only remaining French post in the territory. He arrived there on the 19th of November, and sum- moned the place to surrender. At first the commander of the post, Beletre : refused, but on the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. ^L French arms, surrendered. Rogers remained there until December 23d under the personal protection of the celebrated chief, Pontiac, to whom, no doubt,, he owed his safety. Pontiac had come here to inquire the purposes of the English in taking possession of the country. He was assured that they came simply to trade with the natives, and did not desire their country. This answer conciliated the savages, and did much to insure the safety of Rogers and his, party during their stay, and while on their journey home. Rogers set out for Fort Pitt on December 23, and was just one month on the way. His route was from Detroit to Maumee, thence across the present State of Ohio directly to the fort. This was the com- mon trail of the Indians in their journeys from Sandusky to the fork of the Ohio. It went from Fort Sandusky, where Sandusky City now is, crossed the Huron river, then called Bald Eagle Creek, to " Mohickon John's Town" on Mohickon Creek, the northern branch of White Woman's River, and thence crossed to Beaver's Town, a Delaware town on what is now Sandy Creek. At Beaver's Town were probably one hundred and fifty warriors, arid not less than three thousand acres of cleared land. From there the track went up Sandy Creek to and across Big Beaver, and up the Ohio to Logstown, thence on to the fork. The Northwest Territory was now entirely under the English rule. New settlements began to be rapidly made, and the promise of a large trade was speedily manifested. Had the British carried out their promises with the natives none of those savage butcheries would have been perpe- trated, and the country would have been spared their recital. The renowned chief, Pontiac, was one- of the leading spirits in these atrocities. We will now pause in our narrative, and notice the leading events in his life. The earliest authentic information regarding this noted Indian chief is learned from an account of an Indian trader named Alexander Henry, who, in the Spring of 1761, penetrated his domains as far as Missillimacnac. Pontiac was then a great friend of the French, but a bitter foe of the English, whom he considered as encroaching on his hunting grounds. Henry was obliged to disguise himself as a Canadian to insure safety, but was discovered by Pontiac, who bitterly reproached him and the English for their attempted subjugation of the West. He declared that no treaty had been made with them; no presents sent them, and that he would resent any possession of the West by that nation. He was at the time about fifty years of age, tall and dignified, and was civil arid military ruler of the Ottawas, Ojibwas and Pottawatamies. The Indians, from Lake Michigan to the borders of North Carolina, were united in this feeling, and at the time of the treaty of Paris, ratified February 10, 1763, a general conspiracy was formed to fall suddenly 42 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. PONTIAC, THE OTTAWA CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 4$ upon the frontier British posts, and with one blow strike every man dead. Pontiac was the marked leader in all this, and was the commander of the Chippewas, Ottawas, Wvandots, Miamis, Shawanese, Delawares and Mingoes, who had, for the time, laid aside their local quarrels to unite in this enterprise. The blow came, as near as can now be ascertained, on May 7, 1763. Nine British posts fell, and the Indians drank, " scooped up in the hollow of joined hands," the blood of many a Briton. Pontiac's immediate field of action was the garrison at Detroit. Here, however, the plans were frustrated by an Indian woman disclosing the plot the evening previous to his arrival. Everything was carried out, however, according to Pontiac's plans until the moment of action, when Major Gladwyn, the commander of the post, stepping to one of the Indian chiefs, suddenly drew aside his blanket and disclosed the concealed musket. Pontiac, though a brave man, turned pale and trembled. He saw his plan was known, and that the garrison were prepared. He endeavored to exculpate himself from any such intentions ; but the guilt was evident, and he and his followers were dismissed with a severe reprimand, and warned never to again enter the walls of the post. Pontiac at once laid siege to the fort, and until the treaty of peace between the British and the Western Indians, concluded in August, 1764, continued to harass and besiege the fortress. He organized a regular commissariat department, issued bills of credit written out on bark, which, to his credit, it may be stated, were punctually redeemed. At the conclusion of the treaty, in which it seems he took no part, he went further south, living many years among the Illinois. He had given up all hope of saving his country and race. After a time he endeavored to unite the Illinois tribe and those about St. Louis in a war with the whites. His efforts were fruitless, and only ended in a quarrel between himself and some Kaskaskia Indians, one of whom soon afterwards killed him. His death was, however, avenged by the northern Indians, who nearly exterminated the Illinois in the wars which followed. Had it not been for the treachery of a few of his followers, his plan for the extermination of the whites, a masterly one, would undoubtedly have been carried out. It was in the Spring of the year following Rogers' visit that Alex- ander Henry went to Missillimacnac, and everywhere found the strongest feelings against the English, who had not carried out their promises, and were doing nothing to conciliate the natives. Here he met the cRief, Pontiac, who, after conveying to him in a speech the idea that their French father would awake soon and ntterly destroy his enemies, said : " Englishman, although you have conquered the French, you have not 44 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. yet conquered us ! We are not your slaves ! These lakes, these woods, these mountains, were left us by our ancestors. They are our inheritance, and we will part with them to none. Your nation supposes that we, like the white people, can not live without bread and pork and beef. But you ought to know that He, the Great Spirit and Master of Life, has provided food for us upon these broad lakes and in these mountains." He then spoke of the fact that no treaty had been made with them, no presents sent them, and that he and his people were yet for war. Such were the feelings of the Northwestern Indians immediately after the English took possession of their country. These feelings were no doubt encouraged by the Canadians and French, who hoped that yet the French arms might prevail. The treaty of Paris, however, gave to the English the right to this vast domain, and active preparations were going on to occupy it and enjoy its trade and emoluments. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, ceded Louisiana to Spain, to pre- vent it falling into the hands of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- tainbleau, gave to the English the domain of the country in question. Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United States and England, that part of Canada lying south and west of the Great Lakes, comprehending a large territory which is the subject of these sketches, was acknowledged to be a portion of the United States ; and twenty years still later, in 1803, Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by France sold to the United States. In the half century, from the building of the Fort of Crevecoeur by LaSalle, in 1680, up to the erection of Fort Chartres, many French set- tlements had been made in that quarter. These have already been noticed, -being those at St. Vincent (Vincennes), Kohokia or Cahokia, Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher, on the American Bottom, a large tract of rich alluvial soil in Illinois, on the Mississippi, opposite the site of St. Louis. By the treaty of Paris, the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and other towns of the Northwest, were given over to England ; but they do not appear to have btsn taken possession of until 1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty of England, established him- self at Fort Chartres bearing with him the proclamation of General Gage, dated December 30, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Cath- olics who worshiped here, and a right to leave the country with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the privileges of Englishmen. It was shortly after the occupancy of the West by the British that the war with Pontiac opened. It is already noticed in the sketch of that chieftain- By it many a Briton lost his life, and many a frontier settle- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 45 ment in its infancy ceased to exist. This was not ended until the year 1764, when, failing to capture Detroit, Niagara and Fort Pitt, his confed- eracy became disheartened, and, receiving no aid from the French, Pon- tiac abandoned the enterprise and departed to the Illinois, among whom he afterward lost his life. As soon as these difficulties were definitely settled, settlers began rapidly to survey the country and prepare for occupation. During the year 1770, a number of persons from Virginia and other British provinces explored and marked out nearly all the valuable lands on the Mononga- hela and along the banks of the Ohio as far as the Little Kanawha. This was followed by another exploring expedition, in which George Washing- ton was a party. The latter, accompanied by Dr. Craik, Capt. Crawford and others, on the 20th of October, 1770, descended the Ohio from Pitts- burgh to the mouth of the Kanawha ; ascended that stream about fourteen miles, marked out several large tracts of land, shot several buffalo, which were then abundant in the Ohio Valley, and returned to the fort. Pittsburgh was at this time a trading post, about which was clus- tered a village of some twenty houses, inhabited by Indian traders. This same year, Capt. Pittman visited Kaskaskia and its neighboring villages. He found there about sixty -five resident families, and at Cahokia only forty-five dwellings. At Fort Chartres was another small settlement, and at Detroit the garrison were quite prosperous and strong. For a year or two settlers continued to locate near some of these posts, generally Fort Pitt or Detroit, owing to the fears of the Indians, who still main- tained some feelings of hatred to the English. The trade from the posts was quite good, and from those in Illinois large quantities of pork and flour found their way to the New Orleans market. At this time the policy of the British Government was strongly opposed to the extension of the colonies west. In 1763, the King of England forbade, by royal proclamation, his colonial subjects from making a settlement beyond the sources of the rivers which fall into the Atlantic Ocean. At the instance of the Board of Trade, measures were taken to prevent the settlement without the limits prescribed, and to retain the commerce within easy reach of Great Britain. The commander-in-chief of the king's forces wrote in 1769 : " In the course of a few years necessity will compel the colonists, should they 3xtend their settlements west, to provide manufactures of some kind for themselves, and when all connection upheld by commerce with the mother mntry ceases, an independency in their government will soon follow." In accordance with this policy, Gov. Gage issued a proclamation in 1772, commanding the inhabitants of Vincennes to abandon their set- lements and join some of the Eastern English colonies. To this they 46 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. strenuously objected, giving good reasons therefor, and were allowed to remain. The strong opposition to this policy of Great Britain led to its change, and to such a course as to gain the attachment of the French population. In December, 1773, influential citizens of Quebec petitioned the king for an extension of the boundary lines of that province, which was granted, and Parliament passed an act on June 2, 1774, extend- ing the boundary so as to include the territory lying within the present States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. In consequence of the liberal policy pursued by the British Govern- ment toward the French settlers in the West, they were disposed to favor that nation in the war which soon followed with the colonies ; but the early alliance between France and America soon brought them to the side of the war for independence. In 1774, Gov. Dunmore, of Virginia, began to encourage emigration to the Western lands. He appointed magistrates at Fort Pitt under the pretense that the fort was under, the government of that commonwealth. One of these justices, John Connelly, who possessed a tract of land in the Ohio Valley, gathered a force of men and garrisoned the fort, calling it Fort Dunmore. This and other parties were formed to select sites for settlements, and often ca;ne in conflict with the Indians, who yet claimed portions of the valley, and several battles followed. These ended in the famous oattle of Kanawha in July, where the Indians were defeated and driven across the Ohio. During the years 1775 and 1776, by the operations of land companies and the perseverance of individuals, several settlements were firmly estab- lished between the Alleghanies and the Ohio River, and western land speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a council held in Kaskaskia on July 5, 1773. an association of English traders, calling themselves the "Illinois Land Company," obtained from ten chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Cahokia and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the east side of the Mississippi River south of the Illinois. In 1775, a mer- chant from the Illinois Country, named Viviat, came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called the " Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs, a deed for 37,497,600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, attested by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and afterward recorded in the office of a notary public at Kaskaskia. This and other land com- panies had extensive schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all were frustrated by the breaking out of the Revolution. On the 20th of April, 1780, the two companies named consolidated under the name of the 44 United Illinois and Wabash Land Company." They afterward made THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 47 strenuous efforts to have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all signally failed. When the War of the Revolution commenced, Kentucky was an unor- ganized country, though there were several settlements within her borders. In Hutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at that time " Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,000 white and black in- habitants the whites being a little the more numerous. Cahokia con- tains 50 houses and 300 white inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were east of the Mississippi River, about the year 1771 " when these observa- tions were made " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 230 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, save what is contained in a report made by a committee to Congress in June, 1778. From it the following extract is made : " Near the mouth of the River Kaskaskia, there is a village which appears to have contained nearly eighty families from the beginning of the late revolution. There are twelve families in a small village at la Prairie du Rochers, and near fifty families at the Kahokia Village. There are also four or five families at Fort Ghartres and St. Philips, which is five miles further up the river." St. Louis had been settled in February, 1764, and at this time con- tained, including its neighboring towns, over six hundred whites and one hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all the country west of the Mississippi was now under French rule, and remained so until ceded again to Spain, its original owner, who afterwards sold it and the country including New Orleans to the United States. At Detroit there were, according to Capt. Carver, who was in the Northwest from 1766 to 1768, more than one hundred houses, and the river was settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultivated the people being engaged in the Indian trade. This old town has a history, which we will here relate. It is the oldest town in the Northwest, having been founded by Antoine de Lamotte Cadillac, in 1701. It was laid out in the form of an oblong square, of two acres in length, and an acre and a half in width. As described by A. D. Frazer, who first visited it and became a permanent resident of the place, in 1778, it comprised within its limits that space between Mr. Palmer's store (Conant Block) and Capt. Perkins' house (near the Arsenal building), and extended back as far as the public barn, and was bordered in front by the Detroit River. It was surrounded by oak and cedar pickets, about fifteen feet long, set in the ground, and had four gates east, west, north and south. Over the first three of these 48 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. gates were block houses provided with four guns apiece, each a six- pounder. Two six-gun batteries were planted fronting the river and in a parallel direction with the block houses. There were four streets running east and west, the main street being twenty feet wide and the rest fifteen feet, while the four streets crossing these at right angles were from ten to fifteen feet in width. At the date spoken of by Mr. Frazer, there was no fort within the enclosure, but a citadel on the ground corresponding to the present northwest corner of Jefferson Avenue and Wayne Street. The citadel was inclosed by pickets, and within it were erected barracks of wood, two stories high, sufficient to contain ten officers, and also barracks sufficient to contain four hundred men, and a provision store built of brick. The citadel also contained a hospital and guard-fyouse. The old town of Detroit, in 1778, contained about sixty houses, most of them one story, with a few a story and a half in height. They were all of logs, some hewn and some round. There was one building of splendid appearance, called the " King's Palace," two stories high, which stood near the east gate. It was built for Governor Hamilton, the first governor commissioned by the British. There were two guard-houses, one near the west gate and the other near the Government House. Each of the guards consisted of twenty-four men and a subaltern, who mounted regularly every morning between nine and ten o'clock, Each furnished four sentinels, who were relieved every two hours. There was also an officer of the day, who pjr- formed strict duty. Each of the gates was shut regularly at sunset ; even wicket gates were shut at nine o'clock, and all the keys were delivered into the hands of the commanding officer. They were opened in the morning at sunrise. No Indian or squaw was permitted to enter town with any weapon, such as a tomahawk or a knife. It was a stand- ing order that the Indians should deliver their arms and instruments of every kind before they were permitted to pass the sentinel, and they were restored to them on their return. No more than twenty-five Indians were allowed to enter the town at any one time, and they were admitted only at the east and west gates. At sundown the drums beat, and all the Indians were required to leave town instantly. There was a council house near the water side for the purpose of holding council with the Indians. The population of the town was about sixty families, in all about two hundred males and one hundred females. This town was destroyed by fire, all except one dwelling, in 1805. After which the present " new " town was laid out. On the breaking out of the Revolution, the British held every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was formed as a component part of Virginia, and the sturdy pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 49 and recognizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to their purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Kentucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges, by electing John Todd and Richard Gallaway,. burgesses to represent them in the Assembly of the parent state. Early in September of that year (1777) the first court was held in Harrodsburg, and Col. Bowman, afterwards major, who had arrived in August, was made the commander of a militia organization which had been commenced the March previous. Thus the tree of loyalty was growing. The chief spirit in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move unequaled in its boldness. He had been watching the movements of the British throughout the Northwest, and understood their whole plan. He, saw it was through their possession of the posts at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and other places, which would give them constant and easy access to the various Indian tribes in the Northwest, that the British intended to penetrate the country from the north and soutn, ana annihi- late the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic man was Colonel, afterwards General, George Rogers Clark. He knew the Indians were not unanimously in accord with the English, and he was convinced that, could the British be defeated and expelled from the Northwest, the natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; and by spies sent for the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Having convinced himself of the certainty of the project, he repaired to the Capital of Virginia, which place he reached on November 5th. While he was on his way, fortunately, on October 17th, Burgoyne had been defeated, and the spirits of the colonists greatly encouraged thereby. Patrick Henry was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily into Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in the Colonial Assemblies, but there was no one until Clark came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them. Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility of his plan, received, on the 2d of January, two sets of instructions one secret, the other open the latter authorized him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Kentucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from their arrival in the West. The secret order authorized him to arm these troops, to procure his powder and lead of General Hand at Pittsburgh, and to proceed at once to subjugate the country. With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburgh, choosing rather to raise his men west of the mountains, as he well knew all were needed in the colonies in the conflict there. He sent Col. W. B. Smith to Hoi- 50 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. stou for the same purpose, but neither succeeded in raising the required number of men. The settlers in these parts were afraid to leave their own firesides exposed to a vigilant foe, and but few could be induced to join the proposed expedition. With three companies and several private volunteers, Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which he navigated as far as the Falls, where he took possession of and fortified Corn Island, a small island between the present Cities of Louisville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of this fortification may yet be found. At this place he appointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had reached Kentucky by the southern route, and as many as could be spared from the station. Here he announced to the men their real destination. Having completed his arrangements, and chosen his party, he left a small garrison upon the island, and on the 24th of June, during a total eclipse of the sun, which to them augured no good, and which fixes beyond dispute the date of starting, he with his chosen band, fell down the river. His plan was to go by water as far as Fort Massac or Massacre, and thence march direct to Kaskaskia. Here he intended to surprise the garrison, and after its capture go to Cahokia, then to Vincennes, and lastly to Detroit. Should he fail, he intended to march directly to the Mississippi River and cross it into the Spanish country. Before his start he received two good items of infor- mation : one that the alliance had been formed between France and the United States ; and the other that the Indians throughout the Illinois country and the inhabitants, at the various frontier posts, had been led to believe by the British that the " Long Knives" or Virginians, were the most fierce, bloodthirsty and cruel savages that ever scalped a foe. With this impression on their minds, Clark saw that proper management would cause them to submit at once from fear, if surprised, and then from grati- tude would become friendly if treated with unexpected leniency. The march to Kaskaskia was accomplished through a hot July sun, and the town reached on the evening of July 4. He captured the fort near the village, and soon after the village itself by surprise, and without the loss of a single man or by killing any of the enemy. After sufficiently working upon the fears of the natives, Clark told them they were at per- fect liberty to worship as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the great conflict they would, also he would protect them from any barbarity from British or Indian foe. This had the desired effect, and the inhab- itants, so unexpectedly and so gratefully surprised by the unlocked for turn of affairs, at once swore allegiance to the American arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 6th of July, they accom- panied, him, and through their influence the inhabitants of the place surrendered, and gladly placed themselves under his protection. Thus THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 51 the two important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the English into the possession of Virginia. In the person of the priest at Kaskaskia, M. Gibault, Clark found a powerful ally and generous friend. Clark saw that, to retain possession of tke Northwest and treat successfully with the Indians within its boun- daries, he must establish a government for the colonies he had taken. St. Vincent, the next important post to Detroit, remained yet to be taken before the Mississippi Valley was conquered. M. Gibault told him that he would alone, by persuasion, lead Vincennes to throw off its connection with England. Clark gladly accepted his offer, and on the 14th of July, in company with a fellow-townsman, M. Gibault started on his mission of peace, and on the 1st of August returned with the cheerful intelligence that the post on the " Oubache " had taken the oath of allegiance to the Old Dominion. During this interval, Clark established his courts, placed garrisons at Kaskaskia and Cahokia, successfully re-enlisted his men, sent word to' have a fort, which proved the germ of Louisville, erected at the Falls of the Ohio, and dispatched Mr. Rocheblave, who had been commander at Kaskaskia, as a prisoner of war to Richmond. In October the County of Illinois was established by the Legislature of Virginia, John Todd appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Civil Governor, and in November General Clark and his men received the thanks of the Old Dominion through their Legislature. In a speech a few days afterward, Clark made known fully to the natives his plans, and at its close all came forward and swore alle- giance to the Long Knives. While he was doing this Governor Hamilton, having made his various arrangements, had left Detroit and moved down the Wabash to Vincennes intending to operate from that point in reducing the Illinois posts, and then proceed on down to Kentucky and drive the rebels from the West. Gen. Clark had, on the return of M. Gibault, dispatched Captain Helm, of Fauquier County, Virginia, with an attend- ant named Henry, across the Illinois prairies to command the fort. Hamilton knew nothing of the capitulation of the post, and was greatly surprised on his arrival to be confronted by Capt. Helm, who, standing at the entrance of the fort by a loaded cannon ready to fire upon his assail- ants, demanded upon what terms Hamilton demanded possession of the fort. Being granted the rights of a prisoner of war, he surrendered to the British General, who could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw tha force in the garrison. Hamilton, not realizing the character of the men with whom he was contending, gave up his intended campaign for the Winter, sent his four hundred Indian warriors to prevent troops from coming down the Ohio, LIBRARY (INIVFR^ITV (IF 52 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and to annoy the Americans in all ways, and sat quietly down to pass the Winter. Information of all these proceedings having reached Clark, he saw that immediate and decisive action was necessary, and that unless he captured Hamilton, Hamilton would capture him. Clark received the news on the 29th of January, 1779, and on February 4th, having suffi- ciently garrisoned Kaskaskia and Cahokia, he sent down the Mississippi a " battoe," as Major Bowman writes it, in order to ascend the Ohio and Wabash, and operate with the land forces gathering for the fray. On the next day, Clark, with his little force of one hundred and twenty men, set out for the post, and after incredible hard marching through much mud, the ground being thawed by the incessant spring rains, on the 22d reached the fort, and being joined by his " battoe," at once commenced the attack on the post. The aim of the American back- woodsman was unerring, and on the 24th the garrison surrendered to the intrepid boldness of Clark. The French were treated with great kind- ness, and gladly renewed their allegiance to Virginia. Hamilton was sent as a prisoner to Virginia, where he was kept in close confinement. During his command of the British frontier posts, he had offered prizes to the Indians for all the scalps of Americans they would bring to him, and had earned in consequence thereof the title " Hair-buyer General," by which he was ever afterward known. Detroit was now without doubt within easy reach of the enterprising Virginian, could he but raise the necessary force. Governor Henry being apprised of this, promised him the needed reinforcement, and Clark con- cluded to wait until he could capture and sufficiently garrison the posts. Had Clark failed in this bold undertaking, and Hamilton succeeded in uniting the western Indians for the next Spring's campaign, the West would indeed have been swept from the Mississippi to the Allegheny Mountains, and the great blow struck, which had been contemplated from the commencement, by the British. " But for this small army of dripping, but fearless Virginians, the union of all the tribes from Georgia to Maine against the colonies might have been effected, and the whole current of our history changed." At this time some fears were entertained by the Colonial Govern- ments that the Indians in the North and Northwest were inclining to the British, and under the instructions of Washington, now Commander-in- Chief of the Colonial army, and so bravely fighting for American inde- pendence, armed forces were sent against the Six Nations, and upon the Ohio frontier, Col. Bowman, acting under the same general's orders, marched against Indians within the present limits of that State. These expeditions were in the main successful, and the Indians were compelled to sue for peace. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 53 During this same year (1779) the famous " Land Laws" of Virginia were passed. The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the pioneers of Kentucky and the Northwest than the gaining of a few Indian, conflicts. These laws confirmed in main all grants made, and guaranteed to all actual settlers their rights and privileges. After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for selling the balance of the public lands at forty cents per acre. To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims, over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning their validity. These gentlemen opened their court on October 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided three thousand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, who came in the person of Mr. George May, and assumed his duties on the 10th day of the month whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year (1780) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- sippi commenced. The Spanish Government exacted such measures in relation to its trade as to cause the overtures made to the United States to be rejected. The American Government considered they had a right to navigate its channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river. The settle- ments in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by emigrants. It was dur- ing this year that the first seminary of learning was established in the West in this young and enterprising Commonwealth. The settlers here did not look upon the building of this fort in a friendly manner, as it aroused the hostility of the Indians. Spain had been friendly to the Colonies during their struggle for independence, and though for a while this friendship appeared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both nations. The Winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusually severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians always referred to it as the "Great Cold." Numbers of wild animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. The following Summer a party of Canadians and Indians attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possession of it in consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolting colonies. They met with such a determined resistance on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the contest. They also made an attack on the settlements in Kentucky, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable manner, they fled the country in great haste. About this time arose the question in the Colonial Congress con- cerning the western lands claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachusetts 54 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this subject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 1780, to pass a law giving to the dele- gates of that State in Congress the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the United States. This law was laid before Congress during the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until Sep- tember 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling upon the States claiming western lands to release their claims in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the union, and was the first after all of those legislative measures which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. In December of the same year, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The conquest might have easily been effected by Clark had the necessary aid. been furnished him. Nothing decisive was done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety of the Northwest from British invasion lay in the capture and retention of that important post, the only unconquered one in the territory. Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into the Coun- ties of Lincoln, Fayette and Jefferson, and the act establishing the Town of Louisville was passed. This same year is also noted in the annals of American history as the year in which occurred Arnold's treason to the United States. Virginia, in accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d day of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would not accede to, and the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old Dominion, failed, nor was anything farther done until 1783. During all that time the Colonies were busily engaged in the struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio River of American parentage occurred, being that of Mary Heckewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian missionary, whose band of Christian Indians suffered in after years a horrible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers, who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to humanity, a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of shame upon their lives. For this and kindred outrages on the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of cruelty which darken the years of 1771 and 1772 in the history of the Northwest. During the year 1782 a number of battles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and between the Moravian Indians and the Wyan- dots. In these, horrible acts of cruelty were practised on the captives, many of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of the notorious THE NORTHWEST TERR1TOEY. 55 frontier outlaw, Simon Girty, whose name, as well as those of his brothers, was ii terror to women and children. These occurred chiefly in the Ohio valleys. Cotemporary with them were several engagements in Kentucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, often by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved the outposts from cruel destruc- 1NDIANS ATTACKING FRONT1EKSMEN. tion. By the close of the year victory had perched upon the American, banner, and on the 30th of November, provisional articles of peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of England and her uncon- querable colonies. Cornwallis had been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the liberty of America was assured. On the 19th of April following, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 5G THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. proclaimed to the army of the United States, and on the 3d of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that treaty, the boundaries of the West were as follows : On the north the line was to extend along the center of the Great Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long Lake ; thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of the Mississippi River; down its center to the 31st parallel of latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalachicola River ; down its center to its junc- tion with the Flint ; thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thence down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. Following the cessation of hostilities with England, several posts were still occupied by the British in the North and West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians throughout Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whose lands adventurous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the proper treaty. To remedy this latter evil, Congress appointed commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their lands, and prohibited the set- tlement of the territory until this could be done. Before the close of the year another attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in the Northwest she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, having on the 20th of December preceding authorized the whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. This was done on the 1st of March following, and the Northwest Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. To Gen. Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situated any where north of the Ohio wherever they chose to locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of the Ohio, where is DOW the dilapidated village of Clarksville, about midway between the Cities of New Albany and Jeffer- sonville, Indiana. While the frontier remained thus, and Gen. Haldimand at Detroit refused to evacuate alleging that he had no orders from his King to do so, settlers were rapidly gathering about the inland forts. In the Spring of 1784, Pittsburgh was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee, who passed through the town soon after on his way to the Indian council at Fort Mclntosh, we suppose it was not very prepossessing in appearance. He says : " Pittsburgh is inhabited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry log houses, and are as dirty as if in the north of Ireland or even Scotland. There is a great deal of trade carried on, the goods being bought at the vast expense of forty-five shillings per pound from Phila- THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 57 delphia and Baltimore. They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There are in the town four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest of any persuasion, nor church nor chapel." Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabitants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against the Indians who were yet, in some instances, incited to deeds of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished. They held large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Congress adopted means for treaties with the original owners and provided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wabash Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 1784. That at Fort Mclntosh in 1785, and through these much land was gained. The Wabash Indians, however, afterward refused to comply with the provisions of the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their adherence to its provisions, force was used. Daring the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mississippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions, which resulted in no definite action, only serving to excite speculation in regard to the western lands. Congress had promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, but owing to the unsettled condition of affairs along the Mississippi respecting its naviga- tion, and the trade of the Northwest, that body had, in 1783, declared its inability to fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded between the two Governments. Before the close of the year 1786, how- ever, it was able, through the treaties with the Indians, to allow some grants and the settlement thereon, and on the 14th of September Con- necticut ceded to the General Government the tract of land known as the " Connecticut Reserve," and before the close of the following year a large tract of land north of the Ohio was sold to a company, who at once took measures to settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a deduction of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies. They received 750,000 acres, bounded on the south by the Ohio, on the east by the seventh range of townships, on the west by the sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservations. .In addition to this, Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. 58 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. While Dr. Cutler, one of the agents of the company, was pressing- its claims before Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance for the political and social organization of this Territory. "When the cession was made by Virginia, in 1784, a plan was offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevailed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. By this proposition, the Territory was to have been divided into states PRESENT SITE OF LAKE STREET BRIDGE, CHICAGO, IX 1833. by parallels and meridian lines. This, it was thought, would make ten states, which were to have been named as follows beginning at the northwest corner and going southwardly: Sylvania, Michigama, Cher- sonesus, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Illenoia, Saratoga, Washington, F potamia and Pelisipia. There was a more serious objection to this plan than its category c names,- the boundaries. The root of the difficulty was in the resolu- tion of Congress passed in October, 1780, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 59 square. These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- ginia and Massachusetts, they desired a change, and in July, 1786, the subject was taken up in Congress, and changed to favor a division into not more than five states, and not less than three. This was approved by the State Legislature of Virginia. The subject of the Government was again taken up by Congress in 1786, and discussed throughout that year and until July, 1787, when the famous "Compact of 1787" was passed, and the foundation of the government of the Northwest laid. This com- pact is fully discussed and explained in the history of Illinois in this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this act and the grant to the New England Company was soon followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of the land between the Miamis. This gentleman had visited these lands soon after the treaty of 1786, and, being greatly pleased with them, offered similar terms to those given to the New England Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board with power to act, and a contract was concluded the following year. During the Autumn the directors of the New England Company were preparing to occupy their grant the following Spring, and upon the 23d of November made arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the superintendency of Gen. Rufus Putnam, to set forward. Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of January the sur- veyors and their assistants, twenty-six in number, were to meet at Hart- ford and proceed on their journey westward ; the remainder to follow a& soon as possible. Congress, in the meantime, upon the 3d of October, had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western settlers, and to prevent unauthorized intrusions ; and two days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Territory of the Northwest. AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was now com- plete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of Indian affairs, settlers from the East began to come into the country rapidly. The New England Company sent their men during the Winter of 1787-8 pressing on over the Alleghenies by the old Indian path which had been opened into Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national turnpike from Cumberland westward. Through the weary winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered on the Yohiogany, where boats had been built, and at once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the 7th of that month, and unless the Moravian missionaries be regarded as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly claim that honor. 60 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Gen. St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the Northwsst, not having yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, written out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer them. Washington in writing of this, the first American settlement in the Northwest, said : " No colony in America was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which has just commenced at Muskingum. Information, property and strength will be its characteristics. I know many of its settlers personally, and there never were men better calcu- lated to promote the welfare of such a community.' 5 A PIONEER DWELLING. On the 2d of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held on the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpose of naming the new- born city and its squares." As yet the settlement was known as the "Muskingum," but that was now changed to the name Marietta, in honor of Marie Antoinette. The square upon which the block -houses stood was called " Campus Martins ;" square number 19, " Capitolium ;" square number 61, " Cecilia ;" and the great road through the covert way, " Sacra Via.'''' Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Varnum, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the 16th of October, 1787. On July 9, Gov. St. Clair arrived, and the colony began to assume form. The act of 1787 provided two district grades of government for the Northwest, THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 61 under the first of which the whole power was invested in the hands of a governor and three district judges. This was immediately formed upon the Governor's arrival, and the first laws of the colony passed on the 25th of July. These provided for the organization of the militia, and on the next day appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the Scioto River into the County of Washington. From that time forward, notwithstanding the doubts yet existing as to the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the 2d of September the first court of the territory was held with imposing ceremonies. The emigration westward at this time was very great. The com- mander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the Muskingum, reported four thousand five hundred persons as having passed that post between Feb- ruary and June, 1788 many of whom would have purchased of the Associates," as the New England Company was called, had they been jady to receive them. On the 26th of November, 1787, Symmes issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January, 1788, Matthias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in Symmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sections upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one-third of this locality, he sold the other two-thirds to Robert Patterson and John Filson, and the three, about August, commenced to lay out a town on the spot, which was designated as being opposite Licking River, to the mouth of which they proposed to have a road cut from Lexington. The naming of the town is thus narrated in the "Western Annals " : " Mr. Filson, who had been a schoolmaster, was appointed to name the town, and, in respect to its situation, and as if with a prophetic perception of the mixed race that were to inhabit it in after days, he named it Losantiville, which, being interpreted, means : ville, the town ; anti, against or opposite to ; o, the mouth ; L. of Licking." Meanwhile, in July, Symmes got thirty persons and eight four-horse teams under way for the West. These reached Limestone (now Mays- ville) in September, where were several persons from Redstone. Here Mr. Symmes tried to found a settlement, but the great freshet of 1789 caused the " Point," as it was and is yet called, to be fifteen feet under water, and the settlement to be abandoned. The little band of settlers removed to the mouth of the Miami. Before Symmes and his colony left the " Point," two settlements had been made on his purchase. The first was by Mr. Stiltes, the original projector of the whole plan, who, with a colony of Redstone people, had located at the mouth of the Miami, whither Symmes went with his Maysville colony. Here a clearing had 62 THE NORTHWEST TEREITORY. been made by the Indians owing to the great fertility of the soil. Mr, Stiltes with his colony came to this place on the 18th of November, 1788, with twenty-six persons, and, building a block-house, prepared to remain through the Winter. They named the settlement Columbia. Here they were kindly treated by the Indians, but suffered greatly from the flood of 1789. On the 4th of March, 1789, the Constitution of the United States went into operation, and on April 30, George Washington was inaug- urated President of the American people, and during the next Summer, an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means ; but these failing, he sent General Harmer against the hostile tribes. He destroyed several villages, but LAKE BLUFF. The frontage of Lake Bluff Grounds on Lake Michigan, with one hundred and seventy feet of gradual ascent. was defeated in two battles, near the present City of Fort Wayne, Indiana. From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1796, General St. Clair was appointed in command, and marched against the Indians ; but while he was encamped on a stream, the St. Mary, a branch of the Maumee, he was attacked and defeated with the loss of six hundred men. General Wayne was now sent against the savages. In August, 1794, he met them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, compelled the Indians to sue for peace, and on the 30th of July, the following year, the treaty of Greenville was signed by the principal chiefs, by which a large tract of country was ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our narrative, we will pause to notice Fort Washington, erected in the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. Nearly all of the great cities of the Northwest, and indeed of the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 63 whole country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer structures, known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, Washington, Pon- chartrain, mark the original sites of the now proud Cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of most of the flourishing cities east and west of the Mississippi. Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a number of strongly-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those composing the officers quarters were more imposing and more conveniently arranged and furnished. The whole were so placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an acre of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. The logs for the construction of this fort were cut from the ground upon which it was erected. It stood between Third and Fourth Streets of the present city (Cincinnati) extending east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, which was then a narrow alley, and the eastern boundary of of the town as it was originally laid out. On the bank of the river, immediately in front of the fort, was an appendage of the fort, called the Artificer's Yard. It contained about two acres of ground, enclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied by workshops and quarters of laborers. Within this enclosure there was a large two-story frame house, familiarly called the " Yellow House," built for the accommodation of the Quartermaster General. For many years this was the best finished and most commodious edifice in the Queen City. Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both the civil and military governments of the Northwestern Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty various gigantic land spec- ulations were entered into by different perspns, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in Michigan and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were generally discovered in time to prevent the outrageous schemes from being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. On October 27, 1795, the treaty between the United States and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treat} r of 1795 been ratified than settlements began to pour rapidly into the "West. The great event of the year 1796 was the occupation of that part of the Northwest including Michigan, which was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated by the British forces. The United States, owing to certain conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier posts. When at last the British authorities were called to give them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne, who had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and who, before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, transferred his head- 61: THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. quarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, where a county named after him was formed, which included the northwest of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the northeast of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed at the present City of Chillicothe, along the Miami from Middle- town to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In September, the City of Cleveland was laid out, and during the Summer and Autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharpless erected the first manufactory of paper the " Red- stone Paper Mill" in the West. St. Louis contained some seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and. along the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, Indians and half-breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part of the Northwest. The election of representatives for the territory had taken place* and on the 4th of February, 1799, they convened at Losantiville now known as Cincinnati, having been named so by Gov. St. Clair^ and considered the capital of the Territory to nominate persons from whom the members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance with a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, the Assembly adjourned until the 16th of the following September. From those named the President selected as members of the council, Henry Vandenburg, of Vincennes, Robert Oliver, of Marietta, James Findlay and Jacob Burnett, of Cincinnati, and David Vance, of Vanceville. On the 16th of September the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 24th the two houses were duly organized, Henry Vandenburg being elected President of the Council. The message of Gov. St. Clair was addressed to the Legislature September 20th, and on October 13th that body elected as a delegate to Congress Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison, who received eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of Gen. St. Clair. The whole number of acts passed at this session, and approved by the Governor, were thirty-seven eleven others were passed, but received his veto. The most important of those passed related to the militia, to the administration, and to taxation. On the 19th of December this pro- tracted session of the first Legislature in the West was closed, and on the 30th of December the President nominated Charles Willing Bryd to the office of Secretary of the Territory vice Wm. Henry Harrison, elected to Congress. The Senate confirmed his nomination the next day. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 65 DIVISION OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. The increased emigration to the Northwest, the extent of the domain, and the inconvenient modes of travel, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary operations of government, and rendered the efficient action of courts almost impossible. To remedy this, it was deemed advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Congress, in 1800, appointed a committee to examine the question and report some means for its solution. This committee, on the 3d of March, reported that : " In the three western countries there has been but one court having cognizance of crimes, in five years, and the immunity which offenders experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile and abandoned crim- inals, and at the same time deters useful citizens from making settlements ill such society. The extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assist- ance is experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * To minister a remedy to these and other evils, it occurs to this committee that it is expedient that a division of said territory into two distinct and separate governments should be made ; and that such division be made by a line beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami River, running directly north until it intersects the boundary between the United States and Canada." The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance with its suggestions, that body passed an Act extinguishing the Northwest Terri- tory, which Act was approved May 7. Among its provisions were these : " That from and after July 4 next, all that part of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River, which lies to the westward of a line beginning at a point on the Ohio, opposite to the mouth of the Kentucky River, and running thence to Fort Recovery, and thence north until it shall intersect the territorial line between the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and be called the Indiana Territory." After providing for the exercise of the civil and criminal powers of the territories, and other provisions, the Act further provides : " That until it shall otherwise be ordered by the Legislatures of the said Territories, respectively, Chillicothe on the Scioto River shall be the seat of government of the Territory of the United States northwest of the Ohio River; and that St. Vincennes on the Wabash River shall be the seat of government for the Indiana Territory." Gen. Wm. Henry Harrison was appointed Governor of the Indiana Territory, and entered upon his duties about a year later. Connecticut also about this time released her claims to the reserve, and in March a law <3G THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. was passed accepting this cession. Settlements had been made upon thirty-five of the townships in the reserve, mills had been built, and seven hundred miles of road cut in various directions. On the 3d of November the General Assembly met at Chillicothe. Near the 'close of the } r ear, the first missionary of the Connecticut Reserve came, who found no township containing more than eleven families. It was upon the first of October that the secret treaty had been made between Napoleon and the King of Spain, whereby the latter agreed to cede to France the province of Louisiana. In January, 1802, the Assembly of the Northwestern Territory char- tered the college at Athens. From the earliest dawn of the western colonies, education was promptly provided for, and as early as 1787, newspapers were issued from Pittsburgh and Kentucky, and largely read throughout the frontier settlements. Before the close of this year, the Congress of the United States granted to the citizens of the Northwestern territory the formation of a State government. One of the provisions of the "compact of 1787" provided that whenever the number of inhabit- ants within prescribed limits exceeded 45,000, they should be entitled to a separate government. The prescribed limits of Ohio contained, from a census taken to ascertain the legality of the act, more than that number, and on the 30th of April, 1802, Congress passed the act defining its limits, and on the 29th of November the Constitution of the new State of Ohio, so named from the beautiful river forming its southern boundary, came into existence. The exact limits of Lake Michigan were not then known, but the territory now included within the State of Michigan was wholly within the territory of Indiana. Gen. Harrison, while residing at Vincennes, made several treaties with the Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of lands. The next year is memorable in the history of the West for the purchase of Louisiana from France by the United States for $15,000,000. Thus by a peaceful mode, the domain of the United States was extended over a large tract of country west of the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of the Northwest government, and, as has been mentioned in the early part of this narrative, was called the "New Northwest." The limits of this history will not allow a description of its territory. The same year large grants of land were obtained from the Indians, and the House of Representatives of the new State of Ohio signed a bill respecting the College Township in the district of Cincinnati. Before the close of the year, Gen. Harrison obtained additional grants of lands from the various Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois, and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at St. Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of lands were obtained from the THE NORTHWEST TEBKITOBY. 67 aborigines. Measures were also taken to learn the condition of affairs in and about Detroit. C. Jouett, the Indian agent in Michigan, still a part of Indiana Terri- tory, reported as follows upon the condition of matters at that post : " The Town of Detroit. The charter, which is for fifteen miles square, was granted in the time of Louis XIV. of France, and is now, from the best information I have been able to get, at Quebec. Of those two hundred and twenty-five acres, only four are occupied by the town and Fort Lenault. The remainder is a common, except twenty-four acres, which were added twenty years ago to a farm belonging to Wm. Macomb. * * * A stockade incloses the town, fort and citadel. The pickets, as well as, the public houses, are in a state of gradual decay. The streets are narrow, straight and regular, and intersect each other at right angles. The houses are, for the most part, low and inelegant." During this year, Congress granted a township of land for the sup- port of a college, and began to offer inducements for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising the State of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers along its southern borders. This same year, also, a law was passed organizing the Southwest Territory, dividing it into two portions, the Territory of New Orleans, which city was made the seat of government, and the District of Louisiana, which was annexed to the domain of Gen. Harrison. On the llth of January, 1805, the Territory of Michigan was formed, Wm. Hull was appointed governor, with headquarters at Detroit, the change to take effect on June 30. On the llth of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which destroyed almost 'every building in the place. When the officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it in ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the country. Rebuild- ing, however, soon commenced, and ere long the town contained more houses than before the fire, and many of them much better built. While this was being done, Indiana had passed to the second grade of government, and through her General Assembly had obtained large tracts of land from the Indian tribes. To all this the celebrated Indian, Tecumthe or Tecumseh, vigorously protested, and it was the main cause of his attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with the settlers. To obtain a full account of these attempts, the workings of the British, and the signal failure, culminating in the death of Tecumseh at the battle of the Thames, and the close of the war of 1812 in the Northwest, we will step aside in our story, and relate the principal events of his life, and his connection with this conflict. 68 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. TECUMSEH, THE SHAWANOE CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 69 TECUMSEH,- AND THE WAR OF 1812. This famous Indian chief was born about the year 1768, not far from the site of the present City of Piqua, Ohio. His father, Puckeshinwa, was a member of the Kisopok tribe of the Swanoese nation, and his mother, Methontaske, was a member of the Turtle tribe of the same people. They removed from Florida about the middle of the last century to the birthplace of Tecumseh. In 1774, his father, who had risen to be chief, was slain at the battle of Point Pleasant, and not long after Tecum- seh, by his bravery, became the leader of his tribe. In 1795 he was declared chief, and then lived at Deer Creek, near the site of the present City of Urbana. He remained here about one year, when he returned to Piqua, and in 1798, he went to White River, Indiana. In 1805, he and his brother, Laulewasikan (Open Door), who had announced himself as a prophet, went to a tract of land on the Wabash River, given them by the Pottawatomies and Kickapoos. From this date the chief comes into prominence. He was now about thirty-seven years of age, was five feet and ten inches in height, was stoutly built, and possessed of enormous powers of endurance 1 . His countenance was naturally pleas- ing, and he was, in general, devoid of those savage attributes possessed by most Indians. It is stated he could read and write, and had a confi- dential secretary and adviser, named Billy Caldwell, a half-breed, who afterward became chief of the Pottawatomies. He occupied the first house built on the site of Chicago. At this time, Tecumseh entered upon the great work of his life. He had long objected to the grants of land made by the Indians to the whites, and determined to unite all the Indian tribes into a league, in order that no treaties or grants of land could be made save by the consent of this confederation. He traveled constantly, going from north to south ; fronnthe south to the north, everywhere urging the Indians to this step. He was a matchless orator, and his burning words had their effect. Gen. Harrison, then Governor of Indiana, by watching the move- ments of the Indians, became convinced that a grand conspiracy was forming, and made preparations to defend the settlements. Tecumseh's plan was similar to Pontiac's, elsewhere described, and to the cunning artifice of that chieftain was added his own sagacity. During the year 1809, Tecumseh and the prophet were actively pre- paring for the work. In that year, Gen. Harrison entered into a treaty with the Delawares, Kickapoos,' Pottawatomies, Miamis, Eel River Indians and Weas, in which these tribes ceded to the whites certain lands upon the Wabash, to all of which Tecumseh entered a bitter protest, averring 70 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. as one principal reason that he did not want the Indians to give up any lands north and west of the Ohio River. Tecumseh, in August, 1810, visited the General at Vincennes and held a council relating to the grievances of the Indians. Becoming unduly angry at this conference he was dismissed from the village, and soon after departed to incite the southern Indian tribes to the conflict. Gen. Harrison determined to move upon the chief's headquarters at Tippecanoe, and for this purpose went about sixty-five miles up the Wabash, where he built Fort Harrison. From this place he went to the prophet's town, where he informed the Indians he had no hostile inten- tions, provided they were true to the existing treaties. He encamped near the village early in October, and on the morning of November 7, he was attacked by a large force of the Indians, and the famous battle of Tippecanoe occurred. The Indians were routed and their town broken up. Tecumseh returning not long after, was greatly exasperated at his brother, the prophet, even threatening to kill him for rashly precipitating the war, and foiling his (Tecumseh's) plans. Tecumseh sent word to Gen. Harrison that he was now returned from the South, and was ready to visit t-he President as had at one time previously been proposed. Gen. Harrison informed him he could not go as a chief, ^ which method Tecumseh desired, and the visit was never made. In June of the following year, he visited the Indian agent at Fort Wayne. Here he disavowed any intention to make a war against the United States, and reproached Gen. Harrison for marching against his people. The agent replied to this ; Tecumseh listened with a cold indif- ference, and after making a few general remarks, with a haughty air drew his blanket about him, left the council house, and departed for Fort Mai- den, in Upper Canada, where he joined the British standard. He remained under this Government, doing effective work for the Crown while engaged in the war of 1812 which now opened. He was, however, always humane in his treatment of the prisoners, never allow- ing his warriors to ruthlessly mutilate the bodies of those slain, or wan- tonly murder the captive. In the Summer of 1813, Perry's victory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly after active preparations were made to capture Maiden. On the 27th of September, the American army, under Gen. Harrison, set sail for the shores of Canada, and in a few hours stood around the ruins of Mai- den, from which the British army, under Proctor, had retreated to Sand- wich, intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the Valley of the Thames. On the 29th Gen. Harrison was at Sandwich, and Gen. McArthur took possession of Detroit and the territory of Michigan. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 71 On the 2d of October, the Americans began their pursuit of Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of the Thames followed. Early in the engagement, Tecumseh who was at the head of the column of Indians was slain, and they, no longer hearing the voice of their chief- tain, fled. The victory was decisive, and practically closed the war in the Northwest. INDIANS ATTACKING A STOCKADE. Just who killed the great chief has been a matter of much dispute ; but the weight of opinion awards the act to Col. Richard M. Johnson, who fired at him with a pistol, the shot proving fatal. In 1805 occurred Burr's Insurrection. He took possession of a beautiful island in the Ohio, after the killing of Hamilton, and is charged by many with attempting to set up an independent government. His plans were frustrated by the general government, his property confiscated and he was compelled to flee the country for safety. 72 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. In January, 1807, Governor Hull, of Michigan Territory, made a treaty with the Indians, whereby all that peninsula was ceded to the United States. Before the close of the year, a stockade was built about Detroit. It was also during this year that Indiana and Illinois endeavored to obtain the repeal of that section of the compact of 1787, whereby slavery was excluded from the Northwest Territory. These attempts, however, all signally failed. In 1809 it was deemed advisable to divide the Indiana Territory. This was done, and the Territory of Illinois was formed from the western, part, the seat of government being fixed at Kaskaskia. The next year, the intentions of Tecumseh manifested themselves in open hostilities, and then began the events already narrated. While this war was in progress, emigration to the West went on with surprising rapidity. In 1811, under Mr. Roosevelt of New York, the first steamboat trip was made on the Ohio, much to the astonishment of the natives, many of whom fled in terror at the appearance of the " monster." It arrived at Louisville on the 10th day of October. At the close of the first week of January, 1812, it arrived at Natchez, after being nearly overwhelmed in the great earthquake which occurred while on its downward trip. The battle of the Thames was fought on October 6, 1813. It effectually closed hostilities in the Northwest, although peace was not fully restored until July 22, 1814, when a treaty was formed at Green- ville, under the direction of General Harrison, between the United States and the Indian tribes, in which it was stipulated that the Indians should cease hostilities against the Americans if the war were continued. Such, happily, was not the case, and on the 24th of December the treaty of Ghent was signed by the representatives of England and the United States. This treaty was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian tribes throughout the West and Northwest, and quiet was again restored in this part of the new world. On the 18th of March, 1816, Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city. It then had a population of 8,000 people, and was already noted for its manufacturing interests. On April 19, Indiana Territory was allowed to form a state government. At that time there were thirteen counties organized, containing about sixty-three thousand inhabitants. The first election of state officers was held in August, when Jonathan Jennings was chosen Governor. The officers were sworn in on Noyember 7, a.nd on December 11, the State was formally admitted into the Union. For some time the seat of government was at Corydon, but a more central location being desirable, the present capital, Indianapolis (City of Indiana), was laid out January 1, 1825. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 73 On the 28th of December the Bank of Illinois, at Shawneetown, was chartered, with a capital of $300,000. At this period all banks were under the control of the States, and were allowed to establish branches at different convenient points. Until this time Chillicothe and Cincinnati had in turn enjoyed the privileges of being the capital of Ohio. But the rapid settlement of the northern and eastern portions of the State demanded, as in Indiana, a more central location, and before the close of the year, the site of Col- umbus was selected and surveyed as the future capital of the State. Banking had begun in Ohio as early as 1808, when the first bank was chartered at Marietta, but here as elsewhere it did not bring to the state the hoped-for assistance. It and other banks were subsequently unable to redeem their currency, and were obliged /to suspend. In 1818, Illinois was made a state, and all the territory north of her northern limits was erected into a separate territory and joined to Mich- igan for judicial purposes. By the following year, navigation of the lakes was increasing with great rapidity and affording an immense source of revenue to the dwellers in the Northwest, but it was not until 1826 that the trade was extended to Lake Michigan, or that steamships began to navigate the bosom of that inland sea. Until the year 1832, the commencement of the Black Hawk War, but few hostilities were experienced with the Indians. Roads were opened, canals were dug, cities were built, common schools were estab- lished, universities were founded, many of which, especially the Michigan University, have achieved a world wide-reputation. The people were becoming wealthy. The domains of the United States had been extended, and had the sons of the forest been treated with honesty and justice, the record of many years would have been that of peace and continuous pros- perity. BLACK HAWK AND THE BLACK HAWK WAR. This conflict, though confined to Illinois, is an important epoch in the Northwestern history, being the last war with the Indians in this part of the United States. Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiah, or Black Hawk, was born in the principal Sac village, about three miles from the junction of Rock River with the Mississippi, in the year 1767. His father's name was Py-e-sa or Pahaes ; his grandfather's, Na-na-ma-kee, or the Thunderer. Black Hawk early distinguished himself as a warrior, and at the age of fifteen was permitted to paint and was ranked among the braves. About the year 1783, he went on an expedition against the enemies of his nation, the Osages, one 74 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. BLACK HAWK, THE SAC CHIEFTAIN. THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 75 of whom he killed and scalped, and for this deed of Indian bravery he was permitted to join in the scalp dance. Three or four years after he, at the head of two hundred braves, went on another expedition against the Osages, to avenge the murder of some women and children belonging to his own tribe. Meeting an equal number of Osage warriors, a fierce battle ensued, in which the latter tribe lost one-half their number. The Sacs lost only about nineteen warriors. He next attacked the Cherokees for a similar cause. In a severe battle with them, near the present City of St. Louis, his father was slain, and Black Hawk, taking possession of the " Medicine Bag," at once announced himself chief of the Sac nation. He had now conquered the Cherokees, and about the year 1800, at the head of five hundred Sacs and Foxes, and a hundred lowas, he waged war against the Osage nation and subdued it. For two years he battled successfully with other Indian tribes, all of whom he conquered. Black Hawk does not at any time seem to have been friendly to the Americans. When on a visit to St. Louis to see his " Spanish Father," he declined to see any of the Americans, alleging, as a reason, he did not want two fathers. The treaty at St. Louis was consummated in 1804. The next year the United States Government erected a fort near the head of the Des Moines Rapids, called Fort Edwards. This seemed to enrage Black Hawk, who at once determined to capture Fort Madison, standing on the west side of the Mississippi above the mouth of the Des Moines River. The fort was garrisoned by about fifty men. Here he was defeated. The difficulties with the British Government arose about this time, and the War of 1812 followed. That government, extending aid to the Western Indians, by giving them arms and ammunition, induced them to remain hostile to the Americans. In August, 1812, Black Hawk, at the head of about five hundred braves, started to join the British forces at Detroit, passing on his way the site of Chicago, where the famous Fort Dearborn Massacre hr.:\ a few days before occurred. Of his connection with the British u-cvernment but little is known. In 1813 he with his little band descended the Mississippi, and attacking some United States troops at Fort Howard was defeated. 4 In the early part of 1815, the Indian tribes west of the Mississippi were notified that peace had been declared between the United States and England, and nearly all hostilities had ceased. Black Hawk did not sign any treaty, however, until May of the following year. He then recog- nized the validity of the treaty at St. Louis in 1804. From the time of signing this treaty in 1816, until the breaking out of the war in 1832, he and his band passed their time in the common pursuits of Indian life. Ten years before the commencement of this war, the Sac and Fox 76 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. Indians were urged to join the lowas on the west bank of the Father of Waters. All were agreed, save the band known as the British Band, of which Black Hawk was leader. He strenuously objected to the removal, and was induced to comply only after being threatened with the power of the Government. This and various actions on the part of the white set- tlers provoked Black Hawk and his band to attempt the capture of his native village now occupied by the whites. The war followed. He and his actions were undoubtedly misunderstood, and had his wishes been acquiesced in at the beginning of the struggle, much bloodshed would have been prevented. Black Hawk was chief now of the Sac and Fox nations, and a noted warrior. He and his tribe inhabited a village on Rock River, nearly three miles above its confluence with the Mississippi, where the tribe had lived many generations. When that portion of Illinois was reserved to them, they remained in peaceable possession of their reservation, spending their time in the enjoyment of Indian life. The fine situation of their village and the quality of their lands incited the more lawless white settlers, who from time to time began to encroach upon the red men's domain. From one pretext to another, and from one step to another, the crafty white men gained a foothold, until through whisky and artifice they obtained deeds from many of the Indians for their possessions. The Indians were finally induced to cross over the Father of Waters and locate among the lowas. Black Hawk was strenuously opposed to all this, but as the authorities of Illinois and the United States thought this the best move, he was forced to comply. Moreover other tribes joined the whites and urged the removal. Black Hawk would not agree to the terms of the treaty made with his nation for their lands, and as soon as the military, called to enforce his removal, had retired, he returned to the Illinois side of the river. A large force was at once raised and marched against him. On the evening of May 14, 1832, the first engagement occurred between a band from this army and Black Hawk's band, in which the former were defeated. This attack and its result aroused the whites. A large force of men was raised, and (Sen. Scott' hastened from the seaboard, by way of the lakes, with United States troops and artillery to aid in the subjugation of the Indians. On the 24th of June, Black Hawk, with 200 warriors, was repulsed by Major Demont between Rock River and Galena. The Ameri- can army continued to move up Rock River toward the main body of the Indians, and on the 21st of July came upon Black Hawk and his band, and defeated them near the Blue Mounds. Before this action, Gen. Henry, in command, sent word to the main army by whom he was immediately rejoined, and the whole crossed the THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. 77 Wisconsin in pursuit of Black Hawk and his band who were fleeing to the Mississippi. They were overtaken on the 2d of August, and in the battle which followed the power of the Indian chief was completely broken. He fled, but was seized by the Winnebagoes and delivered to the whites. On the 21st of September, 1832, Gen. Scott and Gov. Reynolds con- cluded a treaty with the Winnebagoes, Sacs and Foxes by which they ceded to the United States a vast tract of country, and agreed to remain peaceable with the whites. For the faithful performance of the provi- sions of this treaty on the part of the Indians, it was stipulated that Black Hawk, his two sons, the prophet Wabokieshiek, and six other chiefs of the hostile bands should be retained as hostages during the pleasure of the President. They were confined at Fort Barracks and put in irons. The next Spring, by order of the Secretary of War, they were taken to Washington. From there they were removed to Fortress Monroe, "there to remain until the conduct of their nation was such as to justify their being set at liberty." They were retained here until the 4th of June, when the authorities directed them to be taken to the principal cities so that they might see the folly of contending against the white people. Everywhere they were observed by thousands, the name of the old chief being extensively known. By the middle of August they reached Fort Armstrong on Rock Island, where Black Hawk was soon after released to go to his countrymen. As he passed the site of his birth- place, now the home of the white man, he was deeply moved. His village where he was born, where he had so happily lived, and where he had hoped to die, was now another's dwelling place, and he was a wanderer. On the next day after his release, he went at once to his tribe and his lodge, His wife was yet living, and with her he passed the remainder of his days. To his credit it may be said that Black Hawk always re- mained true to his wife, and served her with a devotion uncommon among the Indians, living with her upward of forty years. Black Hawk now passed his time hunting and fishing. A deep mel- ancholy had settled over him from which he could not be freed. At all times when he visited the whites he was received with marked atten- tion. He was an honored guest at the old settlers' reunion in Lee County, Illinois, at some of their meetings, and received many tokens of esteem. In September, 1838, while on his way to Rock Island to receive his annuity from the Government, he contracted a severe cold which resulted in a fatal attack of bilious fever which terminated his life on October 3. His faithful wife, who was devotedly attached to him, mourned deeply during his sickness. After his death he was dressed in the uniform pre- sented to him by the President while in Washington. He was buried in a grave six feet in depth, situated upon a beautiful eminence. " The 78 THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY. body was placed in the middle of the grave, in a sitting posture, upon a seat constructed for the purpose. On his left side, the cane, given him by Henry Clay, was placed upright, with his right hand resting upon it. Many of the old warrior's trophies were placed in the grave, and some Indian garments, together with his favorite weapons." No sooner was the Black Hawk war concluded than settlers began rapidly to pour into the northern parts of Illinois, and into Wisconsin, now free from Indian depredations. Chicago, from a trading post, had grown to a commercial center, and was rapidly coming into prominence. In 1835, the formation of a State Government in Michigan was discussed, but did 'not take active form until two years later, when the State became a part of the Federal Union. The main attraction to that portion of the Northwest lying west of Lake Michigan, now included in the State of Wisconsin, was its alluvial wealth. Copper ore was found about Lake Superior. For some time this region was attached to Michigan for judiciary purposes, but in 183 for pound, and bbl. for barrel; fJ for per or by the. Thus, Butter sells at 20@30c ^ Ib, and Flour at $8@12 ^ bbl. % for per cent and # for number. May 1. Wheat sells at $1.20@1.25, "seller June." Seller June 144 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. means that the person who sells the wheat has the privilege of delivering it at any time during the month of June. Selling short, is contracting to deliver a certain amount of grain or stock, at a fixed price, within a certain length of time, when the seller has not the stock on hand. It is for the interest of the person selling "short," to depress the market as much as possible, in order that he may buy and fill his contract at a profit. Hence the " shorts " are termed " bears." Buying long, is to contract to purchase a certain amount of grain or shares of stock at a fixed price, deliverable within a stipulated time, expecting to make a profit by the rise of prices. The " longs " are termed "bulls," as it is for their interest to " operate " so as to " toss " the prices upward as much as possible. NOTES. Form of note is legal, worded in the simplest way, so that the amount and time of payment are mentioned. $100. Chicago, 111., Sept. 15, 1876. Sixty days from date I promise to pay to E. F. Brown,, or order, One Hundred dollars, for value received. L. D. LOWRY. A note to be payable in any thing else than money needs only the- facts substituted for money in the above form. ORDERS. Orders should be worded simply, thus : 'Mr. F. H. COATS: Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Please pay to H. Birdsall, Twenty-five dollars, and charge to F. D. SILVA. RECEIPTS. Receipts should always state when received and what for, thus : Chicago, Sept. 15, 1876. Received of J. W. Davis, One Hundred dollars, for services rendered in grading his lot in Fort Madison, on account. THOMAS BRADY. If receipt is in full it should be so stated. BILLS OF PURCHASE. W. N. MASON, Salem, Illinois, Sept. 15, 1876. Bought of A. A. GRAHAM. 4 Bushels of Seed Wheat, at $1.50 - $6.00' 2 Seamless Sacks " .30 - - .60 Received payment, $6.60- A. A. GRAHAM. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 145 ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. An agreement is where one party promises to another to do a certain thing in a certain time for a stipulated sum. Good business men always reduce an agreement to writing, which nearly always saves misunder- standings and trouble. No particular form is necessary, but the facts must be clearly and explicitly stated, and there must, to make it valid, be a reasonable consideration. GENERAL FORM OF AGREEMENT. THIS AGREEMENT, made the Second day of October, 1876, between John Jones, of Aurora, County of Kane, State of Illinois, of the first part, and Thomas Whiteside, of the same place, of the second part WITNESSETH, that the said John Jones, in consideration of the agree- ment of the party of the second part, hereinafter contained, contracts and agrees to and with the said Thomas Whiteside, that he will deliver, in good and marketable condition, at the Village of Batavia, 111., during the month of November, of this year, One Hundred Tons of Prairie Hay, in the following lots, and at the following specified times ; namely, twenty- five tons by the seventh of November, twenty-five tons additional by the fourteenth of the month, twenty-five tons more by the twenty-first, and the entire one hundred tons to be all delivered by the thirtieth of November. And the said Thomas Whiteside, in consideration of the prompt fulfillment of this contract, on the part of the party of the first part, contracts to and agrees with the said John Jones, to pay for said hay five dollars per ton, for each ton as soon as delivered. In case of failure of agreement by either of the parties hereto, it is hereby stipulated and agreed that the party so failing shall pay to the other, One Hundred Dollars, as fixed and settled damages. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands the day and year first above written. JOHN JONES, THOMAS WHITESIDE. AGREEMENT WITH CLERK FOR SERVICES. THIS AGREEMENT, made the first day of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, between Reuben Stone, of Chicago, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and George Barclay, of Englewood, County of Cook, State of Illinois, party of the second part WITNESSETH, that said George Barclay agrees faithfully and dili- gently to work as clerk and salesman for the said Reuben Stone, for and during the space of one year from the date hereof, should both live such length of time, without absenting himself from his occupation ; 146 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. during which time he, the said Barclay, in the store of said Stone, of Chicago, will carefully and honestly attend, doing and performing all duties as clerk and salesman aforesaid, in accordance and in all respects as directed and desired by the said Stone. In consideration of which services, so to be rendered by the said Barclay, the said Stone agrees to pay to said Barclay the annual sum of one thousand dollars, payable in twelve equal monthly payments, each upon the last day of each month ; provided that all dues for days of absence from business by said Barclay, shall be deducted from the sum otherwise by the agreement due and payable by the said Stone to the said Barclay. Witness our hands. REUBEN STONE. GEORGE BARCLAY. BILLS OF SALE. A bill of sale is a written agreement to another party, for a consider- ation to convey his right and interest in the personal property. The purchaser must take actual possession of the property. Juries have power to determine upon the fairness or unfairness of a bill of sale. COMMON FORM OF BILL OF SALE. KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, Louis Clay, of Princeton, Illinois, of the first part, for and in consideration of Five Hundred and Ten dollars, to me paid by John Floyd, of the same place, of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have sold, and by this instrument do convey unto the said Floyd, party of the second part, his executors, administrators, and assigns, my undivided half of ten acres of corn, now growing on the farm of Thomas Tyrrell, in the town above mentioned ; one pair of horses, sixteen sheep, and five cows, belonging to me, and in my possession at the farm aforesaid ; to have and to hold the same unto the party of the second part, his executors and assigns, forever. And I do, for myself and legal representatives, agree with the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, to warrant and defend the sale of the afore-mentioned property and chattels unto the said party of the second part, and his legal representatives, against all and every person whatsoever. In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my hand, this tenth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six. , Louis CLAY. BONDS. A bond is a written admission on the part of the maker in which he pledges a certain sum to another, at a certain time. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 147 COMMON FORM OF BOND. KNOW ALL MEN by this instrument, that I, George Edgerton, of Watseka, Iroquois County, State of Illinois, am firmly bound unto Peter Kirchoff, of the place aforesaid, in the sum of five hundred dollars, to be paid to the said Peter Kirchoff, or his legal representatives ; to which payment, to be made, I bind myself, or my legal representatives, by this instrument. Sealed with my seal, and dated this second day of November, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four. The condition of this bond is such that if I, George Edgerton, my heirs, administrators, or executors, shall promptly pay the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars in three equal annual payments from the date hereof, with annual interest, then the above obligation to be of no effect ; otherwise to be in full force and valid. Sealed and delivered in presence of GEORGE EDGERTON. [L.S.] WILLIAM TURNER. CHATTEL MORTGAGES. A chattel mortgage is a mortgage on personal property for payment of a certain sum of money, to hold the property against debts of other creditors. The mortgage must describe the property, and must be acknowledged before a justice of the peace in the township or precinct where the mortgagee resides, and entered upon his docket, and must be recorded in the recorder's office of the county. GENERAL FORM OF CHATTEL MORTGAGE. THIS INDENTURE, made and entered into this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, between Theodore Lottinville, of the town of Geneseo in the County of Henry, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Paul Hen&haw, of the same town, county, and State, party of the second part. Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consider- ation of the sum of one thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, does hereby grant, sell, convey, and confirm unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever, all and singular the following described goods and chattels, to wit : Two three-year old roan-colored horses, one Burdett organ, No. 987, one Brussels carpet, 15x20 feet in size, one marble-top center table, one Home Comfort cooking stove, No. 8, one black walnut bureau with mirror attached, one set of parlor chairs (six in number), upholstered in green rep, with lounge corresponding with same in style and color of upholstery, now in possession of said Lottinville, at No. 4 Prairie Ave., Geueseo, 111. ; 148 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Together with all and singular, the appurtenances thereunto "belong- ing, or in any wise appertaining ; to have and to hold the above described goods and chattels, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. Provided, always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said Theodore Lottinville, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, on or before the first day of January, A.D., one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Paul Ranslow, or his lawful attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors, adminis- trators, or assigns, the sum of One Thousand dollars, together with the interest that may accrue thereon, at the rate of ten per cent, per annum, from the first day of January, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, until paid, according to the tenor of one promissory note bearing even date herewith for the payment of said sum of money, that then and from thenceforth, these presents, and everything herein con- tained, shall cease, and be null and void, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided, also, that the said Theodore Lottinville may retain the possession of and have the use of said goods and chattels until the day of payment aforesaid ; and also, at his own expense, shall keep said goods and chattels ; and also at the expiration of said time of payment, if said sum of money, together with the interest as aforesaid, shall not be paid, shall deliver up said goods and chattels, in good condition, to said Paul Ranslow, or his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. And provided, also, that if default in payment as aforesaid, by said party of the first part, shall be made, or if said party of the second part shall at any time before said promissory note becomes due, feel himself unsafe or insecure, that then the said party of the second part, or his attorney, agent, assigns, or heirs, executors, or administrators, shall have the right to take possession of said goods and chattels, wherever they may or can be found, and sell the same at public or private sale, to the highest bidder for cash in hand, after giving ten days' notice of the time and place of said sale, together with a description of the goods and chat- tels to be sold, by at least four advertisements, posted up in public places in the vicinity where said sale is to take place, and proceed to make the sum of money and interest promised as aforesaid, together with all reason- able costs, charges, and expenses in so doing ; and if there shall be any overplus, shall pay the same without delay to the said party of the first part, or his legal representatives. In testimony whereof, the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of THEODORE LOTTINVILLE. [L.S.] SAMUEL J. TILDEN. ABSTRACT OP ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 149 LEASE OF FARM AND BUILDINGS THEREON. THIS INDENTURE, made this second day of June, 1875, between David Patton of the Town of Bisbee, State of Illinois, of the first part, and John Doyle of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said David Patton, for and in consideration of the covenants hereinafter mentioned and reserved, on the part of the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, to be paid, kept, and performed, hath let, and by these presents doth grant, demise, and let, unto the said John Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, all that parcel of land situate in Bisbee aforesaid, bounded and described as follows, to wit : [Here describe the land.] Together with all the appurtenances appertaining thereto. To have and to hold the said premises, with appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the said Doyle, his executors, administrators, and assigns, for the term of five years, from the first day of October next following, at a yearly rent of Six Hundred dollars, to be paid in equal payments, semi-annually, as long as said buildings are in good tenahtable condition. And the said Doyle, by these presents, covenants and agrees to pay all taxes and assessments, and keep in repair all hedges, ditches, rail, and other fences ; (the said David Patton, his heirs, assigns and administra- tors, to furnish all timber, brick, tile, and other materials necessary for such repairs.) Said Doyle further covenants and agrees to apply to said land, in a farmer-like manner, all manure and compost accumulating upon said farm, and cultivate all the arable land in a husbandlike manner, accord- ing to the usual custom among farmers in the neighborhood ; he also agrees to trim the hedges at a seasonable time, preventing injury from cattle to such hedges, and to all fruit and other trees on the said premises. That he will seed down with clover and timothy seed twenty acres yearly of arable land, ploughing the same number of acres each Spring of land now in grass, and hitherto unbroken. It is further agreed, that if the said Doyle shall fail to perform the whole or any one of the above mentioned covenants, then and in that case the said David Patton may declare this lease terminated, by giving three months' notice of the same, prior to the first of October of any year, and may distrain any part of the stock, goods, or chattels, or other property in possession of said Doyle, for sufficient to compensate for the non-performance of the above written covenants, the same to be deter- mined, and amounts so to be paid to be determined, by three arbitrators, chosen as follows : Each of the parties to this instrument to choose one, 150 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. and the two so chosen to select a third ; the decision of said arbitrators to be final. In witness whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals. Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of DAVID PATTON. [L.S.] JAMES WALDEON. JOHN DOYLE. [L.S.] FORM OF LEASE OF A HOUSE. THIS INSTRUMENT, made the first day of October, 1875, witnesseth that Amos Griest of Yorkville, County of Kendall, State of Illinois, hath rented from Aaron Young of Logansport aforesaid, the dwelling and lot No. 13 Ohio Street, situated in said City of Yorkville, for five years from the above date, at the yearly rental of Three Hundred dollars, pay- able monthly, on the first day of each month, in advance, at the residence of said Aaron Young. At the expiration of said above mentioned term, the said Griest agrees to give the said Young peaceable possession of the said dwelling, in as good condition as when taken, ordinary wear and casualties excepted, In witness whereof, we place our hands and seals the day and year aforesaid. Signed, sealed and delivered AMOS GRIEST. [L.S.] in presence of NlCKOLAS SCHUTZ, AARON YOUNG. [L.S.] Notary Public. LANDLORD'S AGREEMENT. THIS certifies that I have let and rented, this first day of January, 1876, unto Jacob Schmidt, my house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, and its appurtenances ; he to have the free and uninterrupted occupation thereof for one year from this date, at the yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; rent to cease if destroyed by fire, or otherwise made untenantable. PETER FUNK. TENANT'S AGREEMENT. THIS certifies that I have hired and taken from Peter Funk, his house and lot, No. 15 Erie Street, in the City of Chicago, State of Illi- nois, with appurtenances thereto belonging, for one year, to commence this day, at a yearly rental of Two Hundred dollars, to be paid monthly in advance ; unless said house becomes untenantable from fire or other causes, in which case rent ceases ; and I further agree to give and yield said premises one year from this first day of January 1876, in as good condition as now, ordinary wear and damage by the elements excepted. Given under my hand this day. JACOB SCHMIDT. ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 151 NOTICE TO QUIT. To F. W. ARLEN, /Sir : Please observe that the term of one year, for which the house and land, situated at No. 6 Indiana Street, and now occupied by you, were rented to you, expired on the first day of October, 1875, and as I desire to repossess said premises, you are hereby requested and required to vacate the same. Respectfully Yours, P. T. BARNUM. LINCOLN, NEB., October 4, 1875. TENANT'S NOTICE OF LEAVING. DEAR SIR: The premises I now occupy as your tenant, at No. 6 Indiana Street, I shall vacate on the first day of November, 1875. You will please take notice accordingly. Dated this tenth day of October, 1875. F. W. ARLEN. To P. T. BARNUM, ESQ. REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE TO SECURE PAYMENT OF MONEY. THIS INDENTURE, made this sixteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between William Stocker, of Peoria, County of Peoria, and State of Illinois, and Olla, his wife, party of the first part, and Edward Singer, party of the second part. Whereas, the said party of the first part is justly indebted to the said party of the second part, in the sum of Two Thousand dollars, secured to be paid by two certain promissory notes (bearing even date herewith) the one due and payable at the Second National Bank in Peoria, Illinois, with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-three ; the other due and payable at the Second National Bank at Peoria, 111., with interest, on the sixteenth day of May, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. Now, therefore, this indenture witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for the better securing the payment of the money aforesaid, with interest thereon, according to the tenor and effect of the said two promissory notes above mentioned ; and, also in consideration of the fur- ther sum of one dollar to them in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, at the delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, and conveyed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, and convey, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all that certain parcel of land, situate, etc. [Describing the premises.] To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the Tenements, Hereditaments, Privileges and Appurtenances thereunto 152 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. belonging or in any wise appertaining. And also, all the estate, interest, and claim whatsoever, in law as well as in equity which the party of the first part have in and to the premises hereby conveyed unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, and to their only proper use, benefit and behoof. And the said William Stocker, and Olla, his wife, party of the first part, hereby expressly waive, relinquish, release, and convey unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state per- taining to the exemption of homesteads. Provided always, and these presents are upon this express condition, that if the said party of the first part, their heirs, executors, or adminis- trators, shall well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the afore- said sums of money, with such interest thereon, at the time and in the manner specified in the above mentioned promissory notes, according to the true intent and meaning thereof, then in that case, these presents and every thing herein expressed, shall be absolutely null and void. In witness whereof, the said party of the first part hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of JAMES WHITEHEAD, WILLIAM STOCKER. [L.S.] FRED. SAMUELS. OLLA STOCKER. [L.S.] WARRANTY DEED WITH COVENANTS. THIS INDENTURE, made this sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, between Henry Best of Lawrence, County of Lawrence, State of Illinois, and Belle, his wife, of the first part, and Charles Pearson of the same place, of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of Six Thousand dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain, and sell, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, all the fol- lowing described lot, piece, or parcel of land, situated in the City of Law- rence, in the County of Lawrence, and State of Illinois, to wit : [Here describe the property.] Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof; and all the estate, rignt, title, interest, claim, and demand whatsoever, of the said party of the nrst part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to tht ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 153 above bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances. To have and to hold the said premises above bargained and described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, par- ties of the first part, hereby expressly waive, release, and relinquish unto the said party of the second part, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, all right, title, claim, interest, and benefit whatever, in and to the above described premises, and each and every part thereof, which is given by or results from all laws of this state pertaining to the exemption of homesteads. And the said Henry Best, and Belle, his wife, party of the first part, for themselves and their heirs, executors, and administrators, do covenant, grant, bargain, and agree, to and with the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, that at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents they were well seized of the premises above conveyed, as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of inheritance in law, and in fee simple, and have good right, full power, and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and. convey the same, in manner and form aforesaid, and that the same are free and clear from all former and other grants, bargains, sales, liens, taxes, assessments, and encumbrances of what kind or nature soever ; and the above bargained premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons lawfully claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof, the said party of the first part shall and will warrant and forever defend. In testimony whereof, the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of HENRY BEST, [L.S.] JERRY LINKLATER. BELLE BEST. [L.S.] QUIT-CLAIM DEED. THIS INDENTURE, made the eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, between David Tour, of Piano, County of >Kendall, State of Illinois, party of the first part, and Larry O'Brien, of the same place, party of the second part, Witnesseth, that the said party of the first part, for and in considera- tion of Nine Hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the sec- ond part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and the said party of the second part forever released and discharged therefrom, has remised, released, sold, conveyed, and quit-claimed, and by these presents does remise, release, sell, convey, and quit-claim, unto the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, forever, all the right, title, interest, 154 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. claim, and demand, which the said party of the first part has in and to the following described lot, piece, or parcel of land, to wit : \Here describe, the land.] To have and to hold the same, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging, or in any wise there- unto appertaining, and all the estate, right, title, interest, and claim whatever, of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, to the only proper use, benefit, and behoof of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said party of the first part hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed and delivered DAVID TOUR. [L.S.] in presence of THOMAS ASHLEY. The above forms of Deeds and Mortgage are such as have heretofore been generally used, but the following are much shorter, and are made equally valid by the laws of this state. WARRANTY DEED. The grantor (here insert name or names and place of residence), for and in consideration of (here insert consideration) in hand paid, conveys and warrants to (here insert the grantee's name or names) the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . QUIT CLAIM DEED. The grantor (here insert grantor's name or names and place of resi- dence), for the consideration of (here insert consideration) convey and quit-claim to (here insert grantee's name or names) all interest in the following described real estate (here insert description), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . MORTGAGE. The mortgagor (here insert name or names) mortgages and warrants to (here insert name or names of mortgagee or mortgagees), to secure the payment of (here recite the nature and amount of indebtedness, showing when due and the rate of interest, and whether secured by note or other- wise), the following described real estate (here insert description thereof), situated in the County of in the State of Illinois. Dated this day of A. D. 18 . RELEASE. KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that I, Peter Ahlund, of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, for and in consideration of One dollar, to me in hand paid, and for other good and valuable considera- ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 155 tions, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed, do hereby grant, bargain, remise, convey, release, and quit-claim unto Joseph Carlin of Chicago, of the County of Cook, and State of Illinois, all the right, title, interest, claim, or demand whatsoever, I may have acquired in, through, or by a certain Indenture or Mortgage Deed, bearing date the second day of Jan- uary, A. D. 1871, and recorded in the Recorder's office of said county, in book A of Deeds, page 46, to the premises therein described, and which said Deed was made to secure one certain promissory note, bearing even date with said deed, for the sum of Three Hundred dollars. Witness my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. PETER AHLUND. [L.S.] State of Illinois, iQQ I, George Saxton, a Notary Public in and for said county, in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that Peter Ahlund, personally known to me as the same person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Release, appeared before me this day in person, and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and delivered the said instrument of writing as his free ajd voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth. Giv^n under my hand and seal, this second day of November, A. D. 1874. GEORGE SAXTON, N. P. GENERAL FOkM OF WILL FOR REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. I, Charles Mansfield, of the lown of Salem, County of Jackson, Scate of Illinois, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament, in manner following, o wit: First. I give, devise and bequeath unto my oldest son, Sidney H. Mansfield, the sum of Two Thousand Dollars, cf bank stock, now in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and the farm owned by myself iu the Town of Buskirk, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, with all the houses, tenements, and improvements thereunto belonging ; to have and to hold unto my said son, his heirs and assign^, forever. Second. I give, devise and bequeath to each of my daughters, Anna Louise Mansfield and Ida Clara Mansfield, each Two Thousand dollars in bank stock, in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, and also each one quarter section of land, owned by myself, situated in tht Town of Lake, Illinois, and recorded in my name in the Recorder's office in the county where such land is located. The north one hundred and sixty acres of said half section is devised to my eldest daughter, Anna Louise. 6 156 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. Third. I give, devise and bequeath to my son, Frank Alfred Mans- field, Five shares of Railroad stock in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and my one hundred and sixty acres of land and saw mill thereon, situ- ated in Manistee, Michigan, with all the improvements and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said real estate is recorded in my name in the county where situated. Fourth. I give to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, all my household furniture, goods, chattels, and personal property, about my home, not hitherto disposed of, including Eight Thousand dollars of bank stock in the Third National Bank of Cincinnati, Ohio, Fifteen shares in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the free and unrestricted use, pos- session, and benefit of the home farm, so long as she may live, in lieu of dower, to which she is entitled by law ; said farm being my present place of residence. Fifth. I bequeath to my invalid father, Elijah H. Mansfield, the income from rents of my store building at 145 Jackson Street, Chicago, Illinois, during the term of his natural life. Said building and land there- with to revert to my said sons and daughters in equal proportion, upon the demise of my said father. Sixth. It is also my will and desire that, at the death of my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, or at any time when she may arrange to relinquish her life interest in the above mentioned homestead, the same may revert to my above named children, or to the lawful heirs of each. And lastly. I nominate and appoint as executors of this my last will and testament, my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, and my eldest son, Sidney EL Mansfield. I further direct that my debts and necessary funeral expenses shaJ be paid from moneys now on deposit in the Savings Bank of Salem, the residue of such moneys to revert to my wife, Victoria Elizabeth Mansfield, for her use forever. In witness whereof, I, Charles Mansfield, to this my last will and testament, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fourth day of April, eighteen hundred and seventy-two. Signed, sealed, -and declared by Charles Mansfield, as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, hafe sub- scribed our names hereunto as witnesses thereof. PETER A. SCHENCK, Sycamore, Ills. FRANK E. DENT, Salem, Ills. CHARLES MANSFIELD. [L.S.] ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 157 CODICIL Whereas I, Charles Mansfield, did, on the fourth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, make my last will and testa- ment, I do now, by this writing, add this codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof. Whereas, by the dispensation of Providence, my daughter, Anna Louise, has deceased November fifth, eighteen hundred and seventy-three, and whereas, a son has been born to me, which son is now christened Richard Albert Mansfield, I give and bequeath unto him my gold watch, and all right, interest, and title in lands and bank stock and chattels bequeathed to my deceased daughter, Anna Louise, in the body of this witt. In witness whereof, I hereunto place my hand and seal, this tenth day of March, eighteen hundred and seventy-five. Signed, sealed, published, and declared to' us by the testator, Charles Mansfield, as CHARLES MANSFIELD. [L.S.] and for a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament. And we, at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have sub- scribed our names as witnesses thereto, at the date hereof. FRANK E. DENT, Salem, Ills. JOHN C. SHAY, Salem, Ills. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS May be legally made by electing or appointing, according to the usages or customs of the body of which it is a part, at any meeting held for that purpose, two or more of its members as trustees, wardens or vestrymen, and may adopt a corporate name. The chairman or secretary of such meeting shall, as soon as possible, make and file in the office of the recorder of deeds of the county, an affidavit substantially in the following form : STATE OF ILLINOIS, r< t SS. County. I, , do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that at a meeting of the members of the (here insert the name of the church, society or congregation as known before organization), held at (here insert place of meeting), in the County of , and State of Illinois, on the day of , A.D. 18 , for that purpose, the fol- lowing persons were elected (or appointed) [here insert their names] trustees, wardens, vestrymen, (or officers by whatever name they may choose to adopt, with powers similar to trustees) according to the rules and usages of such (church, society or congregation), and said 158 ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. adopted as its corporate name (here insert name), and at said meeting this affiant acted as (chairman or secretary, as the case may be). Subscribed and sworn to before me, this day of , A.D. 18. Name of Affiant which affidavit must be recorded by the recorder, and shall be, or a certi- fied copy made by the recorder, received as evidence of such an incorpo- ration. No certificate of election after the first need be filed for record. The term of office of the trustees and the general government of the society can be determined by the rules or by-laws adopted. Failure to elect trustees at the time provided does not work a dissolution, but the old trustees hold over. A trustee or trustees may be removed, in the same manner by the society as elections are held by a meeting called for that purpose. The property of the society vests in the corporation. The corporation may hold, or acquire by purchase or otherwise, land not exceeding ten acres, for the purpose of the society. The trustees have the care, custody and control of the property of the corporation, and can, when directed by the society, erect houses or improvements, and repair and alter the same, and may also when so directed by the society, mortgage, encumber, sell and convey any real or personal estate belonging to the corporation, and make all proper contracts in the name of such corporation. But they are prohibited by law from encumbering or inter- fering with any property so as to destroy the effect of any gift, grant, devise or bequest to the corporation ; but such gifts, grants, devises or bequests, must in all cases be used so as to carry out the object intended by the persons making the same. Existing societies may organize in the manner herein set forth, and have all the advantages thereof. SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIPTION. The business of publishing books by subscription having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher ; in order to prevent that as much as possi- ble, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the fol- lowing statement is made : A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described ; the consideration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described in the prospectus and by the sample shown. These should be carefully examined before sub- scribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, ABSTRACT OF ILLINOIS STATE LAWS. 159 and not the too often exaggerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually paid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by prospectus and sample, in order to bind the principal, the subscriber should see that such conditions or changes are stated over or in connection with his signa- ture, so that the publisher may have notice of the same. All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as to written contracts is, that they can not be varied, altered or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contem- plating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract. Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as canvassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it in any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can not extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their buisness. It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instru- ment, would examine carefully what it is ; if they can not read themselves, should call on some one disinterested who can. 6 160 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ITS AMENDMENTS. We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. ARTICLE I. SECTION 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. SEC. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- bers chosen every second year by the people of the several states, and the electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislature. No person shall be a representative who shall not have attained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the sev- eral states which may be included within this Union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subse- quent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each state shall have at least one Representative ; and until such enumeration shall be made the State of New Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode Island and Providence Plan- tations one, Connecticut five, New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylva- nia eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and Georgia three. When vacancies happen in the representation from any state, the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. SEC. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the Legislature thereof for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expira- AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 161 tion of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be chosen every second year; and if vacancies happen by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any state, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill such vacancies. No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to the age of thirty years and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that state for which he shall be chosen. The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall exercise the office of President of the United States. The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried the Chief Justice shall preside. And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present. Judgment, in cases of impeachment, shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States ; but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment, and punishment according to law. SEC. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for Sen- ators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legis- lature thereof ; but the Congress may at any time by law make or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. SEC. 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, returns, and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judgment, require secrecy ; and the yeas and nays of the members of either house on any question shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. SEC. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid out of the treasury of the United States. They shall in all cases, except treason, 162 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and returning from the same ; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall not be questioned in any other place. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United States, shall be a member of either house during his continuance in office. SEC. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ; but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments as on other bills. Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the President . the United States ; if he approve he shall sign it ; but if not he shall return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have origi- nated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration two-thirds of that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law, in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. Every order, resolution, or vote to which the concurrence of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a question of adjournment), shall be presented to the President of the United States, and before the same shall take effect shall be approved by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be re-passed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and lim- itations prescribed in the case of a bill. SEC. 8. The Congress shall have power To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States ; but all duties, imposts, and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States ; To borrow money on the credit of the United States ; To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes ; To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United States ; To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures ; To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States ; To establish post offices and post roads ; AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 163 To promote the progress of sciences and useful arts, by securing, for limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries ; To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, and offenses against the law of nations ; To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water ; To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money to that use shall be for a longer term than two years ; To provide and maintain a navy ; To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces ; To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions ; To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the disci- pline prescribed by Congress ; To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever over such district (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legislature of the state in which the same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dock yards, and other needful buildings ; and To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any depart- lent or officer thereof. SEC. 9. The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion to the census or enumeration hereinbefore directed to be taken. No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any state. No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or rev- enue to the ports of one state over those of another; nor shall vessels bound to or from one state be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in another. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law ; and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expeditures of all public money shall be published from time to time. 164 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States : and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state. SEC. 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confeder- ation ; grant letters of marque and reprisal ; coin money ; emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts ; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility. No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net produce of all duties and imposts laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress. No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty on tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. ARTICLE II. SECTION 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of Electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the state may be entitled in the Congress ; but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector. [ * The Electors shall meet in their respective states, and vote by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons voted for, and of the number of votes for each ; which list the} 7 shall sign and certify, and transmit, sealed, to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The Pres- ident of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Rep- resentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a ma- jority, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in like manner choose the President. But in choosing the President, the vote shall be taken by states, the representation from each state having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the choice of the President, * This clause between,brackets has been superseded and annulled by the Twelfth.amendment, AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 165 the person having the greatest number of votes of the Electors shall be the Vice-President. But if there should remain two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the Vice-Presi- dent.] The Congress may determine the time of choosing the Electors, and the day on which they shall give their votes ; which day shall be the same throughout the United States. No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President ; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States. In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inabil- ity, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the dis- ability be removed, or a President shall be elected. The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- pensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall not receive within that period any other emolument from the United States or any of them. Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the fol- lowing oath or affirmation : " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States." SEC. 2. The President shall be commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States ; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardon for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, provided two-thirds of the Senators present con- cur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public 'ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law ; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. SEC. 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration such mea- sures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ; he may on extraordinary 166 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES occasions convene both houses, or either of them, and in case of disagree- ment between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper ; he shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the officers of the United States. SEC. 4. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and con- viction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. ARTICLE III. SECTION I. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. SEC. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority ; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls ; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction ; to controversies to which the United States shall be a party ; to controversies between two or more states ; between a state and citizens of another state ; between citizens of differ- ent states ; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens, or subjects. In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed ; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. SEC. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in levy- ing war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the tes- timony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. ARTICLE IV. SECTION 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 167 the Congress may, by general laws, prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect thereof. SEC. 2. The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states. A person charged in any state with treason, felony, or other crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another state, shall, on demand of the executive authority of the state from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the state having jurisdiction of the crime. No person held to service or labor in one state, under the laws thereof escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to whom such service or labor may be due. SEC. 3. New states may be admitted by the Congress into this Union ; but no new state shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state ; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the Legislatures of the states concerned, as well as of the Congress. The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States or of any particular state. SEC. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every state in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the Legislature, or of the Execu- tive (when the Legislature can not be convened), against domestic vio- lence. ARTICLE V. The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap- plication of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution, when rati- fied by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by con- ventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratifi- cation may be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article ; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. ABTICLE VI. All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adop- tion of this Constitution shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution as under the Confederation. This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the Judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding. The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES bers of the several state Legislatures, and all executive and judicial offi- cers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ARTICLE VII. The ratification of the Conventions of nine states shall be sufficient for the establishment of this Constitution between the states so ratifying the same. Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the states present, the seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the independence of the United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. GEO. WASHINGTON, President and Deputy from Virginia. New Hampshire. JOHN LANGDON, NICHOLAS GILMAN. Massachusetts. NATHANIEL GORHAM, RUFUS KING. Connecticut. WM. SAM'L JOHNSON, ROGER SHERMAN. New York. ALEXANDER HAMILTON. New Jersey. WIL. LIVINGSTON, WM. PATERSON, DAVID BREARLEY, JONA. DAYTON. Pennsylv ania. B. FRANKLIN, ROBT. MORRIS, THOS. FITZSIMONS, JAMES WILSON, THOS. MIFFLIN, GEO. CLYMER, JARED INGERSOLL, Gouv. MORRIS. Delaware. GEO. READ, JOHN DICKINSON, JACO. BROOM, GUNNING BEDFORD, JR., RICHARD BASSETT. Maryland. JAMES M' HENRY, DANL. CARROLL, DAN. OF ST. THOS. JENIFER. Virginia. JOHN BLAIR, JAMES MADISON, JR. North Carolina. WM. BLOUNT, Hu. WILLIAMSON, RICH'D DOBBS SPAIGHT. South Carolina. J. RUTLEDGE, CHARLES PINCKNEY, CHAS. COTESWORTH PINCKNEY, PIERCE BUTLER. G-eorgia. WILLIAM FEW, ABR. BALDWIN. WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 169 ARTICLES IN ADDITION TO AND AMENDATORY OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA* Proposed by Congress and ratified by the Legislatures of the several states, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. ARTICLE I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ARTICLE II. A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. ARTICLE III. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be pre- scribed by law. ARTICLE IV. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers* and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be vio- lated ; and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized. ARTICLE V. No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public danger ; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb ; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law ; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. ARTICLE VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation ; to be confronted with the witnesses against him ; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor ; and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. ARTICLE VII. In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty Hollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 170 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law. ARTICLE VIII. Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted. ARTICLE IX. The enumeration, in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. ARTICLE X. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people. ARTICLE XI. The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or sub- jects of any foreign state. ARTICLE XII. The Electors shall meet in their respective states and vote by ballot for President and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of the same state with themselves ; they shall name in their ballots the person to be voted for as president, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted for as President, and of all persons voted for as Vice- President, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of the government of the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of Electors appointed ; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest number not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each state having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member or members from two- thirds of the states, and a majority of all the states shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Representatives shall not choose a Presi- dent whenever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the greatest number of votes as Vice- President, shall be the Vice-President, if such number be the majority of the whole number of electors appointed, and if no person have a major- AND ITS AMENDMENTS. 171 ity, then from the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the Vice-President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. ARTICLE XIII. SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their juris- diction. SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. ARTICLE XIV. SECTION 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States, and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. SEC. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several states according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of per- sons in each state, excluding Indians not taxed; but when the right to vote at any election for the choice of Electors for President and Vice- President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the execu- tive and judicial officers of a state, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such state, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the num- ber of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such state. SEC. 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or Elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previ- ously taken an oath as a Member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state Legislature, or as an execu- tive or judicial officer of any state to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress mav by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. SEC. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States author- ized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and boun- ties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be ques- tioned. But neither the United States nor any state shall pay any debt or obligation incurred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any loss or emancipation of any slave, but such debts, obligations, and claims shall be held illegal and void. 172 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. SEC. 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this act. ARTICLE XV. SECTION 1. The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States, or by any state, on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appro- priate legislation. ELECTORS OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. NOVEMBER 7, 1876. COUNTIES. Hayes and Wheeler, Republican. Tilden and Hendricks, Democrat. PeterCooper Greenback. Smith, Prohibition Anti-Secret 1 Societies. COUNTIES. Hayes and Wheeler, Republican. Tilden and Hendricks, Democrat. PeterCooper Greenback. Smith, Prohibition. Anti-Secret Societies.li Adams 4953 6308 41 17 Livingston 355(J 2134 117CJ 3 Alexander 1219 1280 Logan 2788 2595 37 Bond 1520 1142 17 Macon 3120 2782 268 16 Ill 10 111- 1965 363 43 > Macoupin 3567 4076 114 944 1495 183 I 4554 4730 39 j Bureau 3719 2218 145 2 11 Marion 2009 2444 209 Calhoun 4'41 900 Marshall 1553 1430 135 1 Carroll 2231 918 111 1 3 Mason 1566 1939 86 3 1209 1618 74 7 1231 793 20 Champaign 4530 3103 604 1 McDonough 2952 2811 347 Christian .. 2501 3287 207 1 6 McHenry 3465 1874 34 3 Clark ... 1814 2197 236 9 6363 4410 518 g j Clay 1416 1541 112 Menard 1115 1657 10 Clinton 1329 1989 132 2209 1428 90 3 2957 2822 102 845 1651 7 Cook 36548 39240 277 Montgomery '. 2486 3013 201 1355 1643 38 3069 3174 109 3 Cumberland . . . 1145 1407 129 Moultrie 1245 1672 28 DeKalb .. 3679 1413 65 3 Ogle 3833 1921 104 g DeWltt 1928 1174 746 10 3 Peoria 4665 5443 95 Douglas 1631 1357 94 Pope 1319 800 5 2129 1276 25 3 1541 1383 48 Edgar 2715 2883 161 piatt 1807 1316 117 Edwards 970 466 61 Pike..., 3055 4040 35 1 4 1145 2265 43 Pulaski 1043 772 Fayette 1881 2421 57 Putnam 646 459 14 Ford 1601 742 204 2357 2589 2 Franklin 966 1302 391 Richland 1410 1552 55 Fulton .. 4187 4669 89 1 3912 2838 27 Gallatin 703 1140 282 <} Saline 980 1081 fill Greene 1695 3160 1 9 4851 5847 29 Grundy 1996 1142 108 Schuyler 1522 1804 115 Hamilton 627 1433 770 4 Scott. . . . 910 1269 182 Hancock 3496 4207 Shelby 2069 3553 341 Hardin 330 611 134 Stark 1140 786 96 Henderson 1315 1015 St. Clair 4708 5891 99 1 Henry 4177 1928 340 .1 6 Stephenson 3198 2758 26 3 Iroquois 3768 2578 249 M 1 Tazewell 2850 3171 44 V i Jackson 2040 2071 106 978 2155 3 Jasper Vermilion 4372 3031 288 9 1346 1667 647 650 936 207 Jersey 1345 2166 1 Warren 2795 1984 138 1 2907 2276 140 <> 3 1911 1671 39 Johnson 1367 893 61 1570 1751 482 Kane 5398 2850 172 5 White 1297 2066 469 4 Kankakee 2627 1363 26 2 Whiteside 3851 2131 133 R 1 Kendall 1869 524 309 Will 4770 3999 677 Knox 5235 2632 141 1 Williamson 1672 1644 41 Lake 2619 1647 55 1 Winnel>ago 4505 1568 70 13 9 LaSalle 6277 6001 514 15 Woodf ord 1733 2105 237 1 4 H98 1329 27 Lee ... 3087 2080 100 2 6 Total... 275958 257099 16951 130 157 PRACTICAL RULES FOR EVERY DAY USE. Sow to find the gain or loss per cent, when the cost and selling price art given. RULE. Find the difference between the cost and selling price, which will be the gain or loss. Annex two ciphers to the gain or loss, and divide it by the cost price ; the result will be the gain or loss per cent. i How to change gold into currency. RULE. Multiply the given sum of gold by the price of gold. How to change currency into gold. Divide the amount in currency by the price of gold. How to find each partner's share of the gain or loss in a copartnership business. RULE. Divide the whole gain or loss by the entire stock, the quo- tient will be the gain or loss per cent. Multiply each partner's stock by this per cent., the result will be each one's share of the gain or loss. How to find gross and net weight and price of hogs. A short and simple method for finding the net weight, or price of hogs, when the gross weight or price is given, and vice versa. NOTE. It Is generally assumed that the gross weight of Hogs diminished by 1-5 or 20 per cent, of itself gives the net weight, and the net weight increased l>y K or 25 per cent, of itself equals the gross weight. To find the net weight or gross price. Multiply the given number by .8 (tenths.) To find the gross weight or net price. Divide the given number by .8 (tenths.) How to find the capacity of a granary, bin, or wagon-bed. RULE. Multiply (by short method) the number of cubic feet by 6308, and point off ONE decimal place the result will be the correct answer in bushels and tenths of a bushel. For only an approximate answer, multiply the cubic feet by 8, and point off one decimal place. How to find the contents of a corn-crib. RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 54, short method, or 174 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. by 4 ordinary method, and point off ONE decimal place the result wili be the answer in bushels. NOTE. In estimating corn in the ear, the quality and the time it lias been cribbed must be taken into consideration, since corn will shrink considerably during the Winter and Spring. This rule generally lioldi good for corn measured at the time it is cribbed, provided it is sound and clean. How to find the contents of a cistern or tank. RULE. Multiply the square of the mean diameter by the depth (all in feet) and this product by 5681 (short method), and point off ONE* decimal place the result will be the contents in barrels of 31 gallons. How to find the contents of a barrel or cask. RULE. Under the square of the mean diameter, write the length (all in inches) in REVERSED order, so that its UNITS will fall under the TENS ; multiply by short method, and this product again by 430 ; point off one decimal place, and the result will be the answer in wine gallons. How to measure boards. RULE. Multiply the length (in feet) by the width (in inches) and divide the product by 12 the result will be the contents in square feet. How to measure scantlings, joists, planks, sills, etc. RULE. Multiply the width, the thickness, and the length together (the width and thickness in inches, and the length in feet), and divide the product by 12 the result will be square feet. How to find the number of acres in a body of land. RULE. Multiply the length by the width (in rods), and divide the product by 160 (carrying the division to 2 decimal places if there is a remainder) ; the result will be the answer in acres and hundredths. When the opposite sides of a piece of land are of unequal length, add them together and take one-half for the mean length or width. How to find the number of square yards in a floor or wall. RULE. Multiply the length by the width or height (in feet), and divide the product by 9, the result will be square yards. How to find the number of bricks required in a building. RULE. Multiply the number of cubic feet by 22. The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height and thickness (in feet) together. Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space. How to find the number of shingles required in a roof. RULE. Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the shingles are exposed 4 inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches. To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by twice the length of the rafters. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 175 To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOURTH pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at ONE-THIRD pitch, by .6 (tenths) ; at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths) ; at ONE-HALF pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration. NOTK. By K or J pitch fc meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to be K or M the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters. How to reckon the cost of hay, RULE. Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left. How to measure grain. RULE. Level the grain ; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left. NOTE. Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra bushel. The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8. If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of eai corn to make 1 of shelled corn. Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments. In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres. The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a; stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes. To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote ; and, in walk- ing, keep these objects constantly in line. Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure. Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink. To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. RULE. Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer. 176 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given. RULE. Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5 r and remove the decimal point two places to the left. The. diameter being given, to find the circumference. RULE. Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7. How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given. RULE. Divide the circumference by 3 1-7. To find hotv many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain when squared. RULE. Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144. Greneral rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet. RULE. Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144. To find the number of feet of timber in trees with the bark on. RULE. Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by !*.44. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark. Howard s new rule for computing interest. RULE. The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left ; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left; foi; 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left. Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given. NOTE. The reciprocal of the rate is found l>y inverting: the rate ; thus 3 per cent. IM-V month, in- verted, becomes % of a month, or 10 days. When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1, three ones. Rule for converting English into American currency. Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90. U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE. A township 36 sections each a mile square. A section 640 acres. A quarter section, half a mile square 160 acres. An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide 80 acres. A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square 40 acres. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 177 The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner. The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- scription of a forty acre lot would read : The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be ; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain. The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile. K SURVEYORS' MEASURE. 92-100 inches make 1 link. ^5 links' " 1 rod. 4rods , " 1 chain. 80 chains " 1 mile. NOTE. A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet. Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- corn ; three of which made an inch. Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches called a hand. In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches. The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length. The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches. A fathom is equal to 6 feet. A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league. hi cloth measure an aune is equal to li yards, or 45 inches. An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches. A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches. A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches. HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS. Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a cle"ar and systematic man- ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac- quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers. 178 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 1875. A. H. JACKSON. D r . C r. Jan. 10 " 17 Feb. 4 " 4 March 8 8 " 13 " 27 April 9 9 May 6 24 July 4 To 7 bushels Wheat at $1.25 $8 6 1 48 6 17 75 30 25 Go 2 r> 50 $2 18 2 25 4 35 50 00 40 25 00 75 15 By shoeing span of Horses To 14 bushels Oats at $ .45 To 5 Ibs. Butter at .25 By new Harrow Bv sharpening 2 Plows. _ By new Double-Tree To Cow and Calf To half ton of Hay By Cash . By repairing Corn-Planter To one Sow with Pigs . By Cash, to balance account $88 05 $88 05 1875. CASSA MASON. Dr . Cr . March 21 " 21 " 23 May 1 1 June 19 26 July 10 29 Aug. 12 12 Sept. 1 By 3 days' labor . at $1.25 $6 8 10 2 2 20 18 UO 10 00 76 ;o 00 vo $3 25 12 18 9 75 00 00 00 00 To 2 Shoats at 3.00 To 18 bushels Corn at .45 By 1 month's Labor To Cash By 8 days' Mowing at $1.50 To 50 Ibs. Flour To 27 Ibs. Meat at $ .10 By 9 days' Harvesting at 2.00 By 6 days' Labor . at 1.50 To Cash .. ... . To Cash to balance account $67 75 $67 :-> INTEREST TABLE. A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CKNT. KOR ANY XiENGTH OP TIME. Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained !>y dividing 360 (the number of days in the interest year) by the per cent, of interest, ahdt/ie quotient thus obtained will be the required interest. ILLUSTRATION. Solution. Require the interest of $462. 50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multi- plied by .48 Rives S222 0000; 360divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and $222.0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, wnie'i is $3.70. Ifrhe rare of ______ interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.01)00 by 30g)360\ 185000 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; if 8 per 462.50 .48 370000 ent., by 45: and lu like manner for any otber per cent. 60 / $222.0000(83.70 180 420 420 00 MISCELLANEOUS TABLE. 12 units, or things, 1 Dozen. 12 dozen, 1 Gross. 20 things, 1 Score. 196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. 200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork. 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. 24 sheets, of paper. 1 Quire. 20 quires paper 1 Ream. 4 ft. wide, 4 ft. high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 179 NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS. Virginia. The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region. Florida. Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or "'Feast of Flowers." Louisiana was called after Louis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country. Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River." Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow." The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France. G-eorgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732. Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary. Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river." Ohio means " beautiful ; " Iowa, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota, " cloudy water," and Wisconsin, " wild-rushing channel." Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men." Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-iveir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap. Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it. Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river. Cortes named California. Massachusetts is the Indian for " The country around the great hills." Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River." Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of England. New York was named by the Duke of York. Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its orignal owner. 180 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. Delaware after Lord De La Ware. New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel. Maine was called after the province of -Maine in France, in compli- ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province. Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green Mountain. New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was formerly called Laconia. The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble. Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States. POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. POPULATION OF FIFTY PRINCIPAL CITIES. STATUS AND TERRITORIES. Total Population. CITIES. Aggregate Population. 996. 992 484,471 560,247 537,454 125,015 187,748 1.184,109 2,539,891 1,680,637 1,191,792 364,399 1,321,011 726,915 626,915 780,894 1,457,351 1,184,059 439,706 827,922 1,721,295 Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware. Florida Georgia Illinois Indi ana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri New York, N. Y. . . . Philadelphia, Pa Brooklyn, N. Y St. Louis, Mo Chicago, 111 Baltimore, Md Boston, Mass Cincinnati, Ohio New Orleans, La San Francisco, Cal Buffalo, N. Y Washington, D. C Newark, N. J Louisville, Ky Cleveland, Ohio Pittsburg, Pa Jersey City, N. J 942,292 674,022 396,099 310,864 298,977 267,354 250,526 216,239 191,418 149,473 117,714 109,199 105,059 100,753 92,829 86,076 82,546 Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Khode Island .South Carolina Tennessee Texas Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin Total States 42,491 318,300 906.096 4,382.759 1,071,361 2,665.260 90,923 3,521,791 217,353 705,606 1,258,520 818,579 330,551 1,225,163 442,014 1,054,670 38.113,253 Detroit, Mich Milwaukee, Wls Albany, N. Y Providence, B. I Rochester, N. Y Allegheny, Pa Richmond, Va New Haven, Conn Charleston, S. C Indianapolis, Ind Troy, N. Y Syracuse, N. Y Worcester, Mass Lowell, Mass Memphis, Tenn Cambridge, Mass Hartford, Conn Scran ton, Pa 79,577 71,440 69,422 68,904 62,386 53,180 51.038 50,840 48,956 48,244 46,465 43,051 41,105 40,928 40,226 39,634 37,180 35,092 33,930 33,579 32,260 32,034 31,584 31,413 31,274 30,841 30,473 28,921 28,804 28,323 28,235 28,233 9K 7fifi Arizona Colorada Dakota District of Columbia Idaho 9,658 39,864 14,181 131.700 14,999 Paterson. N. J Kansas City, Mo Mobile, Ala Toledo, Ohio Portland, Me New Mexico Utah Washington Wyoming Total Territories. 91,874 86,786 23,955 9,118 442,730 Wilmington, Del Dayton, Ohio Lawrence, Mass Utica, N. Y Charlestown, Mass Savannah, Ga Lynn. Mass Total United States .... 38,555,983 Fall River, ass . MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 181 POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES. STATES AND TERRITORIES. Area in sauare Miles. POPULATION. Miles R. R. 1872. STATES AND TERRITORIES. Area in square Miles. POPULATION. Miles R. R. 1872. 1870. 1875. 1870. 1875. States. 50,722 52,198 188.981 4.674 2,120 59,268 5S.OOII 55,410 33.809 55,045 81.318 37,600 41,346 31,776 11,184 7,800 56,451 83,531 47,156 65,350 75.9P5 112,090 9,280 8.320 47,000 50 704 996,992 484,471 560,247 537,454 125,015 187,748 1.184,109 2,539,891 1,680,637 1,191.792 364,399 1,321,011 726,915 626,915 7SO.H94 1,457,351 1,184,059 439,706 827,922 1,721.295 123,993 42,491 318.300 906,096 4,382,759 1 071 361 1,671 25 1,013 820 227 466 2,108 5,904 3.529 3.160 1,7(10 1,123 539 871 820 1,606 2,23:. 1,612 990 2.5SO 828 593 790 1.265 4,470 1,190 3,740 States. Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina... Tennessee 46,000 1,306 29.385 45,600 237,504 10,212 40,904 23,000 53,924 3,521,791 217,353 705,606 1,258,520 818,579 330,551 1,225,163 442,014 1,054,670 ""258i239 925,145 5.113 136 1,201 1,520 865 675 1,490 485 1.725 Arkansas California Texas Florida Vermont Georgia Illinois Indiana 1,350,544 528,349 "857!039 Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin 1,236,729 Total States Kansas 1,950.171 113,916 104,500 147,490 60 90,932 143.776 121,201 80.056 69,944 93,107 38,113,253 9,658 39,864 14,181 131,700 14,999 20,595 91,874 86,786 23,955 9,118 59,587 Kentucky Louisiana Territories. Arizona Maine 392 Massachusetts. . . 1,651,912 1,334,031 598,429 "246,280 52,540 Dakota Dist. of Columbia. Mississippi Montana Missouri. Nebraska New Mexico... Utah 375 Nevada Washington New Hampshire. New Jersey Wyoming 498 1,026,502 4,705,208 Total Territories. Aggregate of U. S.. Included in t 965,032 2,915,203 he Railro 442,730 1.265 Ohio Oregon 39,964 95,244 s of Mic 2,665.260 90,923 higan tak 38,555,983 nl Mileage 60,852 id. * Last Ceiisu en in 1874. of Marylar PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD; POPULATION AND AREA. COUNTRIES. Population. Date of Census. Area in Square Miles. Inhabitants to Square Mile. CAPITALS. Population. China 446 500 000 1871 3 741 846 119 3 Pekln 1 648 800 British Empire 226.817.108 1871 4 677 432 48.6 London ... 3,251 800 Russia 81,925 400 1871 8 003 778 10.2 St. Petersburg 667 000 United States with Alaska 38,925,600 1870 2 603.884 7.78 Washington 109,199 France 36,469,800 1866 204 091 178.7 Paris 1 825.300 Austria and Hungary 35 904 400 1869 240 348 149.4 833 900 Japan 34.785,300 1871 149 399 232.8 Yeddo 1,554,900 Great Britain and Ireland. . . . 31,817 100 1871 121 315 262.3 3,251 800 German Empire 29 906 092 1871 160 207 187. Berliu 825 400 Italy 27,439,921 1871 118,847 230.9 Rome 244,484 Spaf n 16 642 000 1867 195 775 85. Madrid 332 000 Brazil 10,000.000 3 253 029 3.07 Rio Janeiro 420,000 Turkey Mexico 16,463,000 9 173 000 i869 672,621 761 526 24.4 Constantinople 1,075,000 210 300 Sweden and Norway 5,921 500 1870 292 871 20. Stockholm 136,900 Persia 5 000 000 1870 635 964 7.8 Teheran 120 000 Belgium 5 021 300 1869 11 373 441.5 314 100 Bavaria 4,861,400 1871 29 292 165.9 Munich 1(19 500 Portugal... 3 995 200 1868 34 494 115.8 224 063 Holland 3 688 300 1870 12 680 290 9 90 100 N ew Grenada. . . . 3,000 000 1870 357 157 8.4 Bogota 45,000 Chili 2 000 000 1869 132 616 15.1 115 400 Switzerland 2 669 100 1870 15 992 166.9 36 000 Peru . . . 2 500 000 1871 471 838 5.3 Lima 160,100 Bolivia 2 000 000 497 321 4. 25 000 Argentine Republic 1 812 000 1869 871 84S 2 1 177 800 Wurtemburg 1,818 500 1871 7 533 241.4 Stuttgart 91,600 Denmark 1 784 700 1870 14 753 120 9 162 042 Venezuela 1,500,000 368.238 4.2 Caraccas 47,000 Baden 1 461 400 1871 5 912 247. 36,600 Greece 1 457 900 1870 19 353 75.3 43 400 Guatemala : 1,180,000 1871 40,879 28.9 Guatemala 40,000 Ecuador 1,300 000 218 928 5.9 Quito 70,000 Paraguay 1 000 000 1871 63 787 15* 48,000 Hesse . . . 823 138 2 969 277 30 000 Liberia 718 000 1871 9 576 74.9 3,000 San Salvador 600 000 1871 7 335 81 8 15 000 Hayti 572 000 10 205 56 20 000 Nicaragua 350 000 1871 58 171 6 10 000 Uruguay 300 000 1871 66 722 6 5 44 500 Honduras 350 000 1871 47 092 7 4 12 000 San Domingo 136 000 17 827 7 6 20 000 Costa Rica 165 000 1870 21 505 7.7 2,000 Hawaii 62.950 7.633 80. Honolulu 7,633 182 MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION POPULATION OF ILLINOIS, BY COUNTIES. COUNTIES. AGGREGATE. 187O. I860. 1850. 26508 2484 6144 7624 7198 8841 3231 4586 7253 2649 3203 9532 4289 5139 9335 43385 7135 3718 7540 5002 1840. 1830. 1820. Adams . - 56362 10564 I3I52 12942 I22O5 32415 6562 16705 11580 32737 20363 18719 15875 16285 25235 349966 13889 12223 23265 14768 13484 16685 21450 7565 15653 19638 9103 12652 38291 "134 20277 14938 13014 35935 5"3 12582 35506 25782 i9 6 34 11234 17864 15054 27820 11248 39091 24352 12399 39522 21014 60792 12533 27171 3M7I 23053 41323 4707 9815 11678 9938 26426 5144 H733 11325 14629 10492 14987 9336 10941 14203 144954 "551 8311 19086 10820 7140 14701 16925 5454 7816 11189 1979 9393 33338 8055 16093 10379 99'5 29061 3759 9501 20660 12325 9589 8364 12965 12051 27325 9342 30062 15412 13074 28663 18257 48332 9214 17651 11637 14272 14476 3313 5060 1705 4183 3067 1741 1023 2981 1475 1878 7453 3228 37i8 9616 1 020 1 4422 2186 1390 3124 Alexander. 626 2931 Bond Boone . Brown Bureau . ._._- - -- Calhoun . 1090 Carroll - - Cass Champaign '. Christian Clark .. 3940 755 2330 931 Clay Clinton _ - Coles Cook Crawford.. 3"7 *23 2999 Cumberland - . . . De Kalb - 1697 3247 De Witt Douglas Du Page 9290 10692 3524 3799 8075 3535 8225 3070 1675 6328 Edgar 4071 1649 Edwards ..- - .... 3444 Effingham . Fayette - - 2704 Ford Franklin . 5681 22508 5448 12429 3023 6362 14652 2887 4612 3807 4149 5862 3220 8109 7354 18604 4114 16703 3682 13142 10760 "951 4083 1841 7405 7674 1763 Fulton Gallatin .. _ 3155 Greene .. Grundy . Hamilton .. ... 3945 9946 1378 2616 483 Hancock . Hardin . Henderson _. Henry 1260 1695 3566 1472 5762 4535 6180 3626 6501 4i Iroquois . _ . .. . . Jackson 1828 1542 Tasper . _ Jefferson .... .... 2555 691 Jersey .. Jo Daviess 2III 1596 Johnson 843 Kane .... Kankakee. Kendall .. 7730 13279 14226 17815 6121 5-292 1553 5128 Knox .. . .. . 7060 2634 9348 7092 2035 759 2333 274 Lake ..... . La Salle ... Lawrence . 3668 Lee Livingston - __ Loean . . MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION. 183 POPULATION OF ILLINOIS CONCLUDED. COUNTIES. AGGREGATE. 1870. I860. 1850. 1840. 1830. 1820. Macon ..... 26481 32726 44131 2O622 16950 16184 9581 26509 23762 53988 "735 18769 12982 25314 28463 10385 27492 47540 13723 10953 30708 "437 8752 6280 20859 12803 29783 12714 46352 17419 10530 25476 10751 51068 30608 27903 16518 30388 8841 23174 17599 19758 16846 27503 43013 17329 29301 18956 13738 24602 3"5I 12739 13437 10931 6213 20069 22089 28772 9584 15042 12832 13979 22II2 6385 22888 366OI 9552 6l27 27249 6742 3943 5587 17205 97" 21005 9331 32274 14684 9069 14613 9004 37694 25112 21470 11181 19800 7313 18336 I373I 12223 12403 18737 29321 12205 24491 13282 3988 12355 20441 6720 5180 5921 4092 7616 14978 10163 6349 5246 7679 6277 16064 3234 10020 17547 5278 l6o6 18819 3975 2265 3924 11079 4012 6937 5588 19228 10573 7914 7807 3710 20180 11666 12052 7615 11492 4690 8176 6953 6825 8925 536i 16703 7216 "773 4415 3039 7926 14433 4742 1849 1122 igV> 6221 2125 Macoupin ....... 1. . . Madison .... 13550 Marion. Marshall ..... Mason ._ Massac ..'.. McDonough 5308 2578 6565 4431 2352 4481 4490 19547 w McHenry .... McLean.. Menard Mercer. . .. _ ........ 26 2OOO 2953 12714 .Monroe *2I 1516 Montgomery Morgan Moultrie.. . .. Ogle . . 3479 6i53 3222 Peoria w 1215 Perry Piatt Pike 11728 4094 2396 3316 Pope 26lO Pulaski... Putnam. ... . 2131 7944 (TI3IO 4429 Randolph ... 3492 Richland .. Rock Island '_. .. 2610 Saline Sangamon 14716 6972 6215 6659 1573 13631 2800 7221 5524 9303 4240 6739 4810 5133 7919 25M 10167 4457 4609 12960 2959 Schuyler .. Scott Shelby 2972 Stark St.Clair 7078 *5 5248 Stephenson Tazevvell.. 4716 3239 5836 2710 308 1675 2553 6091 Union 2362 Vermilion. . Wabash Warren Washington 1517 1114 4828 Wayne White Whitesides Will. Williamson Winnebago Woodford Total.. 2^0801 I7IIO14,421 pounds. The sheep of the county yielded, in 1878, 19,689 pounds of wool. Of the horses, mules and asses in the county, we have no statistics later than 1870 that are reliable. There were then 6,840 horses and 921 mules and asses. Since that time, there has been, doubtless, an increase of 15 or 20 per cent. For the last five or six years, the attention of farmers has been turned largely to the improve- ment of the breed of horses. For this purpose, large sums have been expended in importing, from various portions of Europe, studs of the finest horses. The most popular breeds are, perhaps, the Norman and Clydesdale. In this short time, a marked improvement is observable in- the stock all over the county. The total valuation of farm lands, at the last census, was $7,944,895. The total farm products were estimated to be worth $2,237,505, and the live stock was valued at $1,617,389. This gives a total of $11,899,809 as the valua- tion of real estate, farm products and live stock, leaving out, however, a num- ber of minor matters that would aggregate no inconsiderable amount. This is distributed among a population of not more than 13,000 or 14,000 (only 11,735 in 1870), of whom only 8 were colored. The reader will bear in mind that, instead of the above estimates being exaggerated, those which were not taken from absolute official statistics taken in 1878, were taken from the census of 1870 ; hence the facts will fall considerably below the above figures. From 1860 to 1870, the increase of population in the county was about 23 per 194 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. cent ; but for the last decade it will fall very far below this, as the emigration to Kansas and other parts of the West will equal, if not exceed, the immigra- tion into the county, so that the population as given above may be too great- Although this county covers but a small area of territory, yet there is no county in the State possessing finer natural advantages. As before intimated, pure, fresh, living water for man and beast, and for purposes of irrigation, is distributed in every part of the county; while the Sangamon River and Salt Creek afford abundance of water for driving manufacturing machinery, either -by steam or by water power. Inexhaustible deposits of bituminous coal of the best quality, underlie the entire area, and at such a depth that it can be mined at a trifling cost. This coal is deposited in three layers, or strata, that have been worked, and Prof. Worthen, the State Geologist, says that the strata in this part of Illinois will all together make at least twenty-five feet in thickness. A tolerably correct idea of our wealth in this direction may be gained when we remember that miners estimate that in every foot of the vein in thickness, there are twenty million bushels, or one million tons to the square mile. Now, to say nothing of the twenty-five feet of strata of which Prof. Worthen speaks, let the reader contemplate the wealth that is hidden in the vein that is now being worked. This layer aver- ages over six feet in thickness ; but, for safety, we will estimate it at six feet. This gives us 120,000,000 bushels, or 480,000 tons to each square mile of area. This, of itself, is a source of inexhaustible wealth. A writer in the Lon- don Quarterly Review said, not long since, that no people can succeed in the arts of Christian civilization without a supply of coal ; and as it is essential to many classes of manufacture, and to the navigation of the ocean, and conse- quently to the commerce of the world, the statement does not appear to be extravagant. The same writer says that the paddle-wheels of European enter- prise are constantly stirring up the dark waters of superstition in the East, and every Christian steamer that navigates those waters goes as a herald of Chris- tian civilization and advancement ; and that coal is thus becoming a grand and essential agent in the enlightenment of the world. Such were the stores of coal deposited in the bowels of England, and her supply so inexhaustible as supposed that the expression, " carrying coals to Newcastle " has long been the manner of expressing the inexhaustibleness of the deposit. But present indications bid fair for it to become literally true, and also that the " coals carried to Newcastle " shall be from America. Thus we see that in respect to this source of wealth, this little county is behind none of her neighbors. Some seven ^er eight coal mines are being operated successfully in the county; the most of them, in fact, nearly all, are in the immediate vicinity of the town of Petersburg. In addition to the fact that we thus keep the price of this article at home, it also affords employment for a large number of laborers, and in the same proportion, it furnishes market of our produce. The coal interests are just beginning to be developed here ; but the time is not far in the future when this HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 195 will be an important branch of industry here. The first regular coal-shaft was opened by Elijah Taylor, in the southeast part of town, in the fall of ] 865. Since that time, the several shafts near town, and that of Tallula have been opened. Stone is not as plentiful in the county as could be desired, yet there are some quarries that, when fully opened, will be of great value. A large field on Rock Creek is underlaid with a fine strata of limestone, lying near the surface in many places, and is finely adapted to building purposes. These quarries have never been properly opened, though great quantities of stone have been taken out along the hillsides where the ledge crops out ; but the time is not far in the future when they will be properly opened. Limestone is also found on the Sangamon River at Old Salem, and also at Petersburg. Near the east end of the highway bridge over the river at Petersburg, is a stratum of sandstone, though it is not yet known whether it is of a good quality, or of sufficient quantity to pay for working. Some have used this sandstone for foundations and cellar-walls, but some have fears that it will not resist the weight of the walls and the influence of the frost. There is rock in small quantities in other localities, but these named are the most important and promising. Taking all the natural advantages of this county into account, no locality possesses more or better facilities for manufacturing enterprise. Here is the timber, the stone, the coal, the water, and, as Mr. Hardin Bale has recently demonstrated, we have also a quality of clay for the manufacture of drain-tile that is equal to the best in the State, or elsewhere. Brick of an excellent quality are also made here in abundance. Taking all these facts together, it is strange that these advantages have not been utilized before the present time. The vast amount of agricultural implements purchased every year by our citizens, takes out vast sums of money, for which we have but little return made. The plows, reapers, planters, threshers, wagons, buggies, etc., that are annually purchased, cost a vast sum. If our advantages were utilized, not only would all this money be kept in our midst, but other great advantages would accrue to us. A market would be created here at home for our surplus timber, which is now rotting in vast quantities all over the county ; a demand would be made for greater quantities of coal, and this would employ a great number of laborers ; the erection of these factories would create a demand for stone and brick, and sand, and lime ; then all these, so well as the timber to manufacture, must be delivered on the ground, thus giving employment *to a great number of men and teams ; and last, but not least, this would call together great numbers of laborers and mechanics, who, bringing their families with them, would improve our towns, and create a market at home for all the products the soil produced by our farmers. Surely our people will not remain blind to this important matter many years longer. The raising and fatting of cattle and hogs having ceased to bring remuner- ation to the agriculturists, they must look in some other direction for a reward for their toils. 196 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. The county is intersected by two railroads, the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and the Springfield & North-Western Railroad. A detailed account of the erection of these roads will be given as we advance in the history of the county, as giving facts in their proper chronological order will enable the reader to understand and retain them to a much better advantage. Having thus hastily glanced at the resources and advantages of the county, we are now prepared to enter into the history of the EARLY SETTLEMENTS. Considerable settlements were made in other parts of old Sangamon County before any were made in the limits of what is now Menard. The reader will bear in mind that this county had no existence till 1839, hence the history of the early settlement and development of the county is connected with the history of Sangamon. Although the white man had frequently visited the "Sangamon country," as it was called, and had traveled over the beautiful prairies, and explored the deep woods of this locality, yet we have no evidence that any one ever settled in the area of the county prior to April, 1819. The first settler, according to the best evidence we have, was Mr. John Clary, who came with his family at the date just named. He settled in a grove in the southwestern part of the county, near the present site of the village of Tallula. This grove was ever after known by the name of its first settler, and is to-day noticed on the maps and known far and near as Clary's Grove. Mr. Clary settled on the south- west quarter of Section 32, Town 18, Range 7, the land being now owned by George Spears, Sr. Mr. Clary built what was known to the pioneer settlers as a "'three-faced camp," that is, he erected three walls, leaving one entire side open. These walls were built about seven feet high, when poles were laid across at a distance of about three feet apart, and on these a roof of clapboards was laid, and these boards were held on by weight-poles laid on them. These boards were some four feet in length, and from eight inches to a foot wide, and were split out of oak timber with an instrument called a froe. No floor was laid in the camp, nor was there any such thing as window or chimney con- nected with the structure ; neither would you see such thing as a door-shutter in all this edifice. Now, these are facts, and we doubt not that the young men, who are now growing up, wonder what the people did for light, and where their fires were built, as well as how they found ingress and egress. The one side of the structure that was left out answered all these purposes. Just in front of the open side was built a large log heap, which served to give warmth in cold weather, and for cooking purposes all the year round. Abundance of light was admitted by this aperture, while on either side of the fire were ample passage-ways for passing in and out. We describe this camp thus particularly, because in such as this the early settlers spent the first few years of their sojourn in the new country. Mr. Clary had a family when he first came. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 197 Judge Robert Clary, recently deceased, was six weeks old when the family set- tled in the grove. The large and respectable family of Clarys, now living in the county, are the descendants of this pioneer. Not long after Clary settled in the grove, Mr. Solomon Pratt, with his family, took up their residence in a cabin on Section 3, Town 17, Range 7, this being in the vicinity of Mr. Clary. During the fall of 1819 and the spring of 1820, emigration came in pretty rapidly, and, there being no record kept of the order in which they came, and the names of some being forgotten, it is impossible to get the detail correct. About this time, the Armstrongs, Greens and Spears came, a njore detailed account of whose settlement will be given in another place. It was before stated that the first settlement in the county was in Clary's Grove ; this we believe is true ; however, there is a great diversity of opinion on this subject among the oldest citizens now living. Amberry Rankin, of Athens, is of the opinion that Judge Latham was the first white man to take up his abode in the limits of the county ; and it is a known fact that Sugar Grove, in the northeast part of the county, was settled very soon after Clary's Grove, if not at the very same time. From a document left by Charles Montgomery, deceased, and from the statement of Alexander Meadows, now living in Greenview, we learn some important facts. These statements are fully reliable, as the gentlemen named were members of the first party that settled on the east side of the Sangamon River. Jacob Boyer and James Meadows, who were brothers-in-law, came to Sugar Grove, from the American bottom, in the spring of 1819. They had lived a year or two on Wood River, in the American bottom, two and a half miles from Alton meadows, brought one wagon drawn by two horses, and, in addition, one milk cow, a yoke of yearling steers, that had been broken to work when sucking- calves, and some thirty head of hogs. Boyer brought three horses, two milk cows, and perhaps a yoke of oxen. About the same day that Boyer and Meadows came, the Blane family, consisting of four brothers, one sister and the mother, came to the same grove. This family was of Irish blood, and it was from them that the "Irish Grove," in the east part of the county, received its name. The Blanes brought two two-horse teams and six or seven yoke of oxen. Boyer and Meadows erected a cabin on the south side of the grove, which was occupied by Boyer, and Meadows put up a "three-faced camp " on the ground now occupied by the " Sugar Grove Cemetery." Before the Blanes settled there, they had been camped for a few days in the "Irish Grove," as it has since been called ; it is therefore very probable that they were camped in the county when Clary settled at Clary's Grove. The Blanes also " took claims," erected cabins and began business in earnest. These were the first settlers on the east side of the Sangamon River. Before giving an account of the further settlement of Sugar Grove, it may not be amiss to relate an incident in the early history of this settle- ment, illustrating the fact that human nature is ever the same, and that 198 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY". even in this early day men had need of civil courts. It will be necessary to explain that although the trouble began when but few families had settled there, it was some time before it culminated in a lawsuit, as there were no courts of justice in reach till some time later. As stated above, Meadows brought two horses, thirty head of hogs and two year- ling calves with him to the grove. Not many months elapsed until both the horses were missing, and the hogs were all strayed away and lost. Not a great while after these misfortunes, one of the little oxen was found dead in the woods. Diligent search was made in every direction for the missing stock, as they could not be replaced without great trouble and expense, owing to the distance from any older settlement. In his anxiety, Mr. M. applied to a fortune-teller, who strolled through the new settlement, practicing his art, as the ancient troubadour used to stroll from village to village, to rehearse the deeds of his heroes. This seer told Mr. Meadows that the horses were in the possession of the Indians, and that he would recover them after awhile, though but one at a time. Sure enough, the horses were found in the hands of the Indians, who said they had traded for them from a Frenchman. The horses were so jaded that they were of no service, and soon after died. The hogs, he was told, had gone down the Sangamon River, where one-half of them had been eaten by a " squatter," and the rest he would recover. Meadows followed the directions given, found the cabin of the suspected settler, but found none of the hogs. He, however, traded for a frying-pan from the worthy citizen, the one, he supposed, in which his hogs had been fried ; but the remainder of the hogs were found as had been predicted. The fortune-teller further said that the ox came to its death at the hands of one of Mr. M.'s neighbors, in the following manner : The neighbor was making rails in the timber, his coat lying on a log near by, when the poor calf came browsing along, and, spying the coat, he determined to make a meal of it. The laborer, seeing his coat about to be swallowed, ran and struck the brute on the loins with his maul, and the blow proved sufficient to kill it on the spot. Although this was only the statement of a superstitious fortune-teller, yet it was believed strongly enough to induce Mr. Meadows to begin a suit against the accused party, which was in the courts for several years, cost a vast sum of money, and created a feud between two families, which lasted to the second gen- eration. This is spoken of as the first lawsuit of any importance in the county ; and also as illustrating a superstitious belief in fortune-tellers that at that time was almost universal. Not long after the settlement of Boyer. the Blanes and Meadows, another caravan of immigrants came to the grove. John Jennison, Mr. Hill, William McNabb, his wife, son and daughter were of this company. James McNabb, son of William, above named, was a surveyor, and taught the first school in the grove. A few years later, he was drowned in trying to swim the Sangamon River with his compass tied on his head. It is said that he had been drinking, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 199 or he would not have made the attempt. A few months after the arrival of those last named, others came, among them Roland Grant and family, Benja- min Wilcox and Ward Benson. About the same time, a Mr. Pentecost came from Kentucky, bringing a family of four sons and three daughters. He settled near the present residence of Judge Marbold, near Greenview. Cavanis, for whom Cavanis Creek,, running near Greenview, was named, cam,e about this time. He also was from Kentucky. The next to find their way to this grove was a company from Deer Creek, Ohio ; it was composed of the Alkires and William Engle. No party of weary travelers ever entered a new country that was destined to exert a stronger influence on the future growth and prosperity of community than this little band. Leonard Alkire brought considerable means with him, and invested it largely in "claims," which he afterward entered. He purchased the claims of Meadows, Grant, Wilcox, and the Blanes. This was the beginning of a change among the early settlers of this grove. Hill, who was spoken of above, moved to St. Louis. John Jennison farmed a year or two in the grove, and then removed to Baker's Prairie, three miles southeast of Petersburg. Meadows moved to the lower end of the grove, and bought the claim of Pentecost. McNabb and Wilcox also moved to Baker's Prairie, where they took claims, which they entered as soon as the land came into market. There they reared families, and many of their descendants are still in that vicinity. Not long after the arrival of Alkire and Engle, Mat- thew Bracken came with a large family ; after him came Nicholas Propst ; then Wall and William Sweeney, Milt Reed, Thomas and William Caldwell. From this time the tide of immigration constantly grew deeper and wider, pouring in a host of earnest, industrious and enterprising men to develop this most highly favored body of country. While the settlement here was being made, of course other localities were not neglected. It is rather a remarkable fact, however, that no settlers were found on the prairie for several years, but each grove of timber contained a settlement, and was the nucleus of a community. ' Of the more important of these, we will speak farther in the proper place. It may be of interest to the reader to know that the first marriage on the east side of the river was John Jennison to Patsy McNabb ; the second was one Henman-to Rosina Blane ; and the third; William Engle to Melissa Alkire. The last-named couple were mar- ried by Harry Riggiri, J. P. The first death was an infant son o" Jacob Boyer named Henderson. The second was James Blane, and the third was Joseph Kinney, who was thrown from a horse. He was brought home but soon died. Some say that he was the second person who died in the grove, and the first aduh buried in the bury- ing-ground ; but Charles Montgomery, in a statement written some years before his death, says that James Blane was the second, and Kinney the third who died. Kinney was buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery, and an elm came up immedi- ately out of his grave, and it is now a large, wide-spreading tree ; and although 200 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. its roots and stem have obliterated all signs of a grave, yet it is a verdant mon- ument to the memory of Joseph Kinney. The first schoolhouse was built in Sugar Grove in 1822, by Meadows, Boyer, Wilcox, McNabb and Grant. It was constructed of split logs, and was about sixteen feet square. This house was furnished on a par with all the schoolhouses in the early settling of the country. Covered with boards held in their places by " weight poles," the floor of " puncheons " made of split logs, the seats the half of a- log 10 or 12 feet long, with four pins set in with a large auger for legs, a log left out along one side for a window, beneath which a slab was laid on two large pins in a slanting position to serve as a writing-desk. The text-books were few in number, and the teacher made all the pens of goose- quills. The books used were the New Testament for a reader, with occasionally a copy of the old "English Reader," Pike's or Smiley's Arithmetic, but few of the pupils ever advanced farther than the Single or Double Rule of Three (i. e., single or double proportion), geography was seldom studied, and English grammar was totally unknown in the schools here for several years. Uncle Minter Graham, who has taught school longer than any other man in Central Illinois, perhaps, tells an amusing anecdote about teaching grammar in an early day here, and he vouches for the truth of the statement, as it came under his own personal knowledge. A certain teacher whose aspirations were consider- ably in advance of his acquirements, felt himself called upon to teach English grammar. He accordingly organized a class in that science, and very kindly assisted them in preparing the first lesson, which was the four general divisions of grammar; these he pronounced for them, with a gusto, as follows: Or- iho-graph-y, Et-y-mo-?o-gy, Swine-t&x and Pro-so-dy. The text-books used when grammar began to be taught in the schools, were Murray's and Kirk- ham's Grammars. The above books, with Webster's old Speller, or the Element- ary, and a "horn-book" a wooden paddle with the alphabet pasted on it for the littfe fellows, were the entire outfit of school-books. The schools at this time were all on the subscription plan, which is fully explained under the head of Education in this volume, and seldom were for a longer term than three months, and that in the middle of the winter. James McNabb, who, as the reader will remember, was drowned in the Sangamon River, was the first teacher in Sugar Grove ; he was followed by Daniel McCall, and soon by others. Perhaps, one Templeman was the third teacher in this settlement. The first preaching in Sugar Grove was in the cabin of Roland Grand, by one Hender- son, a preacher of the "New-Light " faith, as it was then termed. The New Lights and the followers of Alexander Campbell afterward united, forming what was at first denominated the Church of the Disciples, but afterward changed to the Church of Christ, sometimes called Campbellites. Of this a more extended account will be given under the head " Religious Denominations." When the settlement was first begun at Sugar Grove, and for some time after, the nearest physician was in Springfield, then a mere village. Dr. Allen HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 201 of that city was the first practitioner of the healing art that was called to visit the community at the grove. Not a great while elapsed, however, till Dr. Winn settled near Indian Point, and began the practice of medicine. Having thus glanced hastily at the early history of Sugar Grove, we turn now to other localities, where settlements were made in an early day, as New Salem, two and one-half miles from Petersburg, up the river ; the vicinity of Indian Point; the Concord neighborhood, three miles north of Petersburg. The Indian Point settlement includes that of Lebanon and Athens, while that of New Salem is associated with that of Rock Creek. These, with Clary's and Sugar Groves, before mentioned, were the more important of the early centers of civilization ; indeed, all the others may be regarded as offshoots of these. About 1820, the settlement at Indian Point began. The first settler was Rob- ert White, who settled on the farm on which his son Franklin now lives, adjoining the ground on which Lebanon Cumberland Presbyterian Church now stands. With him came James Williams father of Col. John Williams and family, consisting of two sons and four daughters. Archibald Kincaid, Jacob Johnston and Dr. Charles Winn came about the same time, with those named above, and, soon after, John Moore also settled in this vicinity. William B. Short was also among the earliest settlers in this part of the county. These were all intelligent, earnest, enterprising people, and by their industry and economy laid the foundation of the wealth and development of that part of the county. The descendants of those named above make up the larger part of the population of Indian Creek neighborhood at the present time. Indeed, we are not surprised at this, when we reflect that these people held in high regard the Divine command, to "multiply and replenish the earth," as is proven from the fact that James B. Short ventured no less than five times into the bonds of matrimony. About 1820, Joseph Smith, from Kentucky, and his brother-in-law, William Holland, from Ohio, came and settled in 1 the south side of Indian Point timber. Matthew Rogers, of Otsego County, N. Y., came the same year and settled one mile northeast of the present site of Athens. From this time the stream of emigration grew deeper and wider, and the numbers were such that but little can be given of the order of their arrival. Having thus sketched these three centers of early, settlements, viz., Clary's Grove, Sugar Grove and Indian Point, we will now turn to the most important local- ity, so far as early settlement is concerned, in the county ; we refer to " New Salem." This was the first town or village laid out in the county. At a point some two and a half miles above Petersburg, the Sangamon River washes the foot of a high hill or bluff, whose precipitous sides and level summit were, at an early day, covered with a thrifty growth of forest trees. The country, back from the crest of the hill, is almost perfectly level for miles to the west. The timber continued back from the river in a dense forest, for the distance of half a mile. From this the prairie continued in unbroken sameness for many a mile. At a distance of perhaps three miles farther up the Sangamon, the 202 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. little stream for it is hardly worthy the name of a creek of Rock Creek, mingles its waters with those of the "St. Gamo," as the Sangamon was some- times called by the early settlers. Rock Creek, rising in the western part of the county and flowing almost due east, enters the Sangamon at almost right angles. Its borders on either side were covered with a fine growth of tim- ber, making a body of, perhaps, a mile in average width, and five or six in length. The land on both north and south of this stream was neither flat nor broken, but gently undulating and of the richest arid most productive soil. Taken altogether, there is no more attractive or more productive section of country in Central Illinois than Rock Creek and New Salem. Just on the brow of the bluff, above described, in years long gone by, was situated the vil- lage of Salem. This locality, though not so at present, will in time become almost as historic as Mt. Vernon itself. Although Nature has not been so pro- fuse in the gorgeousness of the scenery here as in that -of the Old Dominion, nor is the quiet Sangamon to be compared with the majestic Potomac, yet, in many respects, Salem is as sacred to the lover of human liberty as Mt. Ver- non in all her historic glory. Many a visitor seeks the spot where President Abraham Lincoln spent the years of his early manhood ; where he studied the law, wrestled, foot-raced, romped and sported with the young men of his age, and where those principles were imbibed and matured, which, in after years, made him the idol of a great mass of the American\ people, and wrote his name in tablets more enduring than granite, brass or bronze but they are ever dis- appointed at finding no vestige of the village of Salem. At the foot of the bluff, just at the brink of the water, stands an old water-mill, a broken dam stretches across the stream, and through its countless chinks and crevices the water murmurs, making sad music to the seeming desolation, which seems to reign all around, for there is not a building of any kind, save the old mill, nearer than a fourth of a mile to the old town site. Settlements had been made in this vicinity several years before the laying-out of Salem. Green had settled southwest of there, Potter, Jones, Armstrong and others settling near there, with Lloyd and others farther up the Rock Creek timber. Somewhere about 1824 to 1826, John Cameron and James Rutledge erected a rude and primi- tive mill near the site, perhaps on the very spot, of the present mill. Two or three log pens were built and filled with stone to prevent their being washed away by high waters ; upon these was erected a platform, and a shaft attached to a rude breast-wheel gave motion to a small pair of "home-made" buhrs on the platform. Nothwithstanding the extreme simplicity of this mill, it was a "big thing" in that early day, for mills were so scarce, as we shall see in another place, that people came from a distance of fifty and even one hundred miles in every direction, to have their grain ground in this mill. Such was the patronage given to this enterprise, that the proprietors determined to lay out a town adjoining the mill property. Accordingly the surveyor, Reuben Harrison, was employed, and, on the 13th day of October, 1820, the town of HISTORY OF MENARU COUNTY. 203 Salem was duly and legally laid out. The first improvements in the town were made by the proprietors, John Cameron and James Rutledge. Each of those gentlemen at once began to improve a lot by erecting a log cabin. We may here remark that the town was destined to a short life, for in less than a decade it had run its course ; but the cabin of John Cameron long remained as a monument to the memory of Salem. Until a few months ago r it stood in desolate solitude, but lately it has fallen down and has been removed,, and there is nothing now to mark the locality of this first town in the limits of Menard County, save the scattered debris, barely indicating that buildings of some character once stood there. The third building erected was a store-room, which, when completed, was occupied by Samuel Hill and John McNamar. These were probably the first merchants in the county, except Harry Riggin and A. A. Rankin, of Athens. At the time that Salem was laid out, there had never been a post office in the limits of what is now Menard County, the people getting what little mail matter they received from Springfield, then a mere village. A post office was established at Salem, and Col. Rogers was appointed the first Postmaster. His duties, however, were not very arduous, as newspapers were then scarcely known in the West, or in the East, for that matter, and but few persons were ever in receipt of a letter. The youth of to-day can scarcely imagine how people lived in those days. To illustrate this postal system, it may be stated that, while Illinois County was under the government of Virginia, Col. John Todd was appointed Lieutenant Commandant of said county, with instruc- tions to report to Gov. Patrick Henry, of Virginia, each month, and, although Todd lived in Fayette County, Ky., yet his reports were often one month in reaching Gov. Henry. Hill and McNamar were followed in the mercantile business by one George Warburton, who soon became addicted to hard drink, and ended a wretched existence by committing suicide by throwing himself into the Sangamon River. Warburton was a shrewd business man, possessing a fine education, and of a genial, friendly turn, so much so that he had but one enemy, and that was alcohel. Warburton was succeeded in the store by two brothers from Virginia, by the name of Chrisman, who remained a short time, and followed the "star of empire," going Westward. About this time, W. G. Greene, from Kentucky, and Dr. John Allen and brother, from the Green Mountain State, came to Salem. Dr. Allen was a thorough Christian gentleman, and stood very high in the medical profession. It was through the influence of Dr. Allen that the first Sunday school and first temperance society were formed. The meetings of both these were held in a log cabin south of Salem, across the ravine that ran just at the south limit of the village. Dr. Allen died in Petersburg some seventeen to twenty years ago, and his brothers, after remaining here a number of years, removed 204 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. to Minnesota, and at last accounts were in the lumber regions, running facto- ries, stores, banks and mills, giving employment to three or four hundred men. Dr. Duncan came some time after Dr. Allen, and after a few years removed to Warsaw, 111., where he built up a flourishing practice. In the summer or early fall of 1831, Abraham Lincoln came to Salem, on his return from a trip with a flat-boat to New Orleans. This was his first visit directly to the village, although he had passed down the Sangamon River early in the preceding spring. And here we cannot refrain from relating an anedote often repeated by the old citizens, illustrative of the peculiarities of this eccen- tric though celebrated statesman. The story is told of Lincoln's boring a hole in the bottom of a sunken flat-boat, in order to set her afloat by letting the water run out of the hole, and it is literally true. It happened as follows : Before Mr. Lincoln's father left Indiana for Macon Co., 111., the youthful Abraham had made a successful flat-boat trip to New Orleans, via the Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Some time after their settlement near the Sangamon, in Macon County, a gentleman came to the younger Lincoln, desiring him to assist in running a flat-boat to New Orleans, the gentleman having heard of Mr. Lincoln's success in a former trip. A bargain was soon made, and soon the boat was partially loaded with salt pork in barrels, and a small number of live hogs, the supercargo intending to complete the burden by the purchase of more live hogs on their way. All went well and " merry as a marriage bell " till the craft reached the dam erected across the river at Salem, by Cameron & Rutlege. Here they were doomed to trouble, for, coming to the dam with speed accelerated by the draw of the fall to such a degree that the boat, striking prow first, ran far enough upon the dam to extend the prow several feet over. This, of course, elevated the forward part of the boat, and the result was, the water came over the stern till that part of the boat settled to the bottom. In this dilemma, the owner of the flat proposed to get the freight ashore as best they could, and abandon the boat. Not so with Lincoln. A canoe was secured and the freight principally removed to a place of safety. Lincoln then said that he would get an auger and bore a hole in the bottom of the boat and thus set her afloat. Some smiled incredulously, some laughed outright, while all thought it the act of a dolt. Nevertheless, an auger was procured, a hole was bored in the bottom of the boat near the bow where it projected over the dam. The bow was then lowered, when, of course, the water in the stern ran to the front, and. as the bow extended over the dam, it ran out, and, in a very short time a pin being driven into the hole the boat was again afloat. By a little care, the " flat'' was gotten safely over the dam, reloaded, and they pursued their course down the river. It was on this trip, some four or five miles below the present site of Petersburg, that, they having bought a lot of hogs, which refused to go on the boat, Mr. Lincoln conceived the novel idea of sewing up their eyes. A needle and thread was procured, and the eyes of the stubborn porkers duly stitched up, when, being unable to see, they quietly and calmly marched on the boat, when HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 207 the stitches were cut, and the swine restored to sight. Having completed the cargo, they reached their destination without accident, and Mr. Offutt, having purchased a stock of goods, he determined to ship them to Beardstown, and thence remove them by wagon to Salem, where he intended to open a store. He also engaged the young boatman, Lincoln, to serve him in the capacity of clerk in the store. It was on the return from this trip that Abraham Lincoln made his first appearance on the streets of the village of " New Salem." The writer is aware that it is claimed by some that Lincoln had resided in Salem prior to this visit to New Orleans ; but after a careful examination of all the testimony, he is fully convinced that this visit, in autumn, 1831, was Lincoln's first residence in Salem, and, in fact, his first knowledge of it, except that he passed down the river early in the preceding spring. The goods having come, Lincoln was soon duly established in the Salem store as clerk. It may not be amiss, in this connection, to state that the charge has often been made that Lincoln "kept a saloon" while in Salem. Now, while the writer was never a political admirer of Mr. Lincoln, yet truth and justice demand that this matter be stated correctly ; and, after diligent search and inquiry, he is obliged to state it is as his deliberate conviction that this was, indeed, a store in which dry goods and groceries were kept. It is a truth, however, that in that early day, perhaps nearly all the stores kept liquor to sell by the pint, quart and gallon. In the joint discussion between Lincoln and Douglas, in 1858, Mr. Douglas sneeringly spoke of Lincoln having engaged in " keeping a grocery." In reply, Lincoln said Mr. D. was " wofully at fault," for he had " never kept a grocery, anywhere in the world." Offutt's mercantile business soon increased to that extent, that he found it necessary to engage another clerk ; William G. Greene, now one of the wealthiest farmers of Menard County, was engaged for this position. Here Lincoln and Greene formed a friendship that lasted long as life. In the fall of 1831, Mr. Lincoln was appointed Postmaster at Salem, which position he held several years. In the summer of 1832, the Black Hawk war began, and, Gov. Reynolds issuing a call for volunteers, a company of 100 men was soon raised in the section of country around Salem. Mr. Lincoln went in as a private soldier, but, soon after the company was organized, it became necessary to elect a cap- tain. Mr. Lincoln and one Kirkpatrick were the aspirants, the former being chosen by a large majority. The company reported at once at Beardstown, whence they marched to Oquawka. The soldiers soon became dissatisfied, as they had no opportunity to engage the Indians ; and, in some regiments, the dissatisfaction ran so high, that two or three times it threatened to break out in open mutiny. At the end of the time for which Lincoln's company had enlisted, they were honorably discharged and returned to their homes. Mr. Lincoln re-enlisted in another command and remained till the total defeat of Black Hawk and the ratification of peace. Mr. L. then returned to Salem, B 208 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. where he continued the study of the law in the idle moments snatched between waiting upon customers in the store. This study had been begun soon after his first settlement in Salem, and, though his opportunities were of the very poorest, yet, during his stay in Salem, he laid the deep and wide foundation of his future brilliant career in the legal profession. Mr. Lincoln was doubtless born to be a leader. He was possessed of all those peculiar gifts and traits which caused him to be looked up to for counsel and direction, even when a mere youth. During his stay at Salem, especially the first few years of.it, there was a kind of feud or rivalry between the " Clary's Grove boys " and the " River timber boys." Perhaps, in the entire State there was not a harder set to be found than those Clary's Grove lads, for there was no rowdyism or revelry in a circuit of twenty miles that they were not in some way connected with. Occa- sionally they would repair in force to Salem to drink their grog and settle old scores. On such occasions, in the early stage of their revels that which may be termed the social and friendly stage they talked, laughed, told yarns, cracked jokes, wrestled and ran foot-races ; during this stage, Lincoln was always umpire, arbiter and judge, all having the most implicit confidence in his honor and ability. During the second, or combative stage, when the fiery juice of the grain or fruit, had worked its way into their noddles, and made each one con- sider himself a hero, the war began in earnest. And then such scenes of fisti- cuff and ground tussle were scarcely ever seen. Lincoln was still arbiter, and his decision was the end of all dispute. When the third or stupid stage came on, the boys from the Grove often with battered pates and depleted pockets, wended their sullen way back to the timber, to bind up their bruises and condole with one another over the cruel fate that ever awaited them at Salem. Lincoln soon became Surveyor, and in the discharge of the duties of his office, he visited every part of the county, for by him the land of the entire county was surveyed. Almost his last work as Surveyor was laying out the present town of Petersburg. Some time near the time of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Lincoln, for the first time, was pierced with the cruel darts of the little blind god Cupid. The "beautiful Anna Rutledge," as she was called, was then just ripening into lovely and perfect womanhood, and he felt the force, as Lytton says, of " the. revolution that turns us all topsy-turvy the revolution of love," for " Love, like death, Levels all ranks, and lays the shepherd's crook Beside the scepter." From the few old settlers who could remember these scenes distinctly, we have gleaned some facts concerning this event in the life of Mr. Lincoln an event which affected his whole after-life. Anna Rutledge was not a beauty in the modern sense of the word ; for, brought up in this rural district, and in total ignorance of the conventional follies of fashionable life ; accustomed from early childhood to out-door exercise, and the rough, wild pastimes of the day HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 209 in which she lived she was stamped with a beauty entirely free from art or human skill a beauty all the result of Nature's handiwork. That the young clerk "was captivated is not surprising. It is not our purpose to invade these hallowed precincts by detailing their many strolls along the margin of the river, or over the rugged bluffs in the vicinity of Salem. Suffice it to say that his affection was fully reciprocated, and the two were doubtless pledged in the indissoluble bonds of love. But in 1835, disease laid its cruel hand upon the young girl, and, in spite of the love of friends, and the skill of the ablest physicians, on the 25th of August, 1835, death came to her relief, and, as Mr. Herndon expresses it, " The heart of Lincoln was buried in the coffin of Anna Rutlege. ' Be this literally true or not, one thing is sure, from that time a dark shadow seemed to be cast over him, from which he never fully emerged. It is said by those having the means of knowing, that ever after this, whenever an opportunity offered, Lincoln would wander alone to the little hillock raised above her ashes, and sit and ponder in sadness, doubtless living over in memory the happy hours spent at Salem. Notwithstanding his tall, ungainly form, and the readiness of his humor, there was hid in his breast a heart as tender and full of sympathy as a woman's a heart touched by every tale of sorrow, and full to overflowing with the milk of human kindness. Before the close of the first decade after Salem was laid out, the citizens of the village were all scattered and gone. John McNamar settled four miles north of Petersburg, in Sand Ridge Precinct, where he reared a respectable family. He was respected in the community where he lived. He died on the old homestead, on the 22d of February, 1879, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Hill, partner of Mr. McNamar, was the last to leave Salem ; he afterward became a prominent merchant and manufacturer in Petersburg. Had we space, we would be glad to detail the entire history of this little town, giving an account of each citizen. We can, however, mention in passing a few more characters, as Jonathan Dunn, the millwright ; Henry Onstott, cooper ; Edmund Grier, Justice of the Peace and school-teacher ; Minter Graham, who still lin- gers on these "mortal shores," living at present in Petersburg, the man who, perhaps, has taught school a greater number of months than any other man in Illinois. He has taught constantly over fifty years, having taught over one hundred terms of from three to nine months in length. When Lincoln first came to Salem, Mr. Graham gave him instructions in English grammar, when Mr. L. had leisure from his duties in the store. " Uncle Minter," as he is familiarly known, taught the first school in Salem. We would mention John Herndon, who was for awhile a merchant there, and who accidentally killed his wife while taking a loaded gun from the loft of his dwelling; John H. Kelso, tavern-keeper; Martin Waddel, Jiatter ; William Berry, Reuben Radford, Allen Richardson, and several others whose names have escaped the memory of the few remaining citizens who knew the village in the days of its prosperity. 210 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Of the company of Capt. Lincoln in the Black Hawk war, but few still survive. We can only learn of a few individuals who are still living here or elsewhere. Of these are Hon. W. G. Greene, David Pantier, Samuel Tibbs, Travis Elmore, Sr., and Royal Clary, the latter recently deceased. Speaking of the Black Hawk troubles, brings to mind an anecdote so characteristic of Lincoln, that we beg the reader's indulgence while we relate it. In 1848, while Mr. Lincoln was in Congress, the Democrats were striving hard to make a military hero of Hon. Lewis Cass, of Michigan, in order to increase his chances for the Presidency of the United States, and Mr. Lincoln, in a speech in Congress, thus playfully referred to the fact : By the way, Mr. Speaker, did you know / am a military hero ? Yes, sir, in the days of the Black Hawk war I fought, bled and came away. Speaking of Gen. Cass's career reminds me of my own. I was not at Stillman's defeat, but I was about as near it as Cass was to Hull's surrender, and, like him, I saw the place very soon afterward. It is quite certain I did not break my sword, for I had none to break, but I bent a musket pretty badly on one occasion. If Cass broke his sword, the idea is, he did it in desperation ; but I bent the musket by accident. If Gen. Cass went in advance of me in picking whortleberries, I guess I surpassed him in charges upon the wild onions. If he saw any live, fighting Indians, it was more than I did, but I had a good many bloody struggles with the mosquitoes ; and, although I never fainted from loss of blood, I can truly say I was often very hungry. Mr. Speaker, if I should ever conclude to doff whatever our Democratic friends may sup- pose there is of black-cockade Federalism about me, and thereupon they should take me up as their candidate for the Presidency, I protest they shall not make fun of me as they have of Gen. Cass, by attempting to write me into a military hero. . The reader will pardon this rather lengthy account of the settlement and subsequent history of Salem, but, as Lincoln's early history is so interwoven with this community, it seems that loyalty to truth demands this account. And, while we are not giving a history of " Honest Old Abe," and while the writer was never a political admirer of him, yet, history demands the statement of a few other facts regarding him. In 1834, when he was elected to the Legislature, he walked to the seat of government, and one suit of home-spun jeans was his outfit for the entire session. At present, it takes three or four " Saratogas " to carry the wardrobe of the average legislator. An appropriation is now made of $50 per member, to pay for stationery ; but, at the session of the Legislature of Illinois, in 1817-18, a committee was appointed to contract for stationery for the members during the session. The committee reported that they had purchased the necessary amount at a total cost of $13.50 ! Lincoln was popular with all classes. At one time, his compass and chain were sold for debts, and were bought by Mr. James Short, who at once handed them over to Mr. Lincoln, who gladly accepted them, remarking, " I'll do as much for you some day." Firm and true to his word, after he became President of the United States, he did repay it, by tendering Mr. Short an appointment to a lucrative office. As an illustration of the popularity of Lincoln, it may be stated that when Clay and Jackson ran for the Presidency, Mr. Lincoln was of course a Clay man, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 211 being a life-long Whig. That year his friends brought him out for the Legis- lature. The whole Whig ticket was of course defeated, but in his own precinct, out of 284 votes polled, he received 277. Such is a brief account of the settlement of Salem, rendered historic by being the home of Abraham Lincoln. The next center of the early settlements in the limits of the county, aside from those we have named, is Concord, four miles north of Petersburg. An account of the early settlers in that community will be found given in the his- tory of Sand Ridge Precinct. The early settlements were all made in the tim- ber, and it was many yoars before the prairies were cultivated to any extent, and settlements were not made on the larger prairies till a comparatively recent date. It is an amusing fact that the early settlers, instead of opening their farms in the prairies, ready cleared by the hand of nature, and ready for the plow, would " squat " in the heart of the most dense forest, and by the most tedious and laborious process would "grub out " a farm. The first settlers in Clary's Grove opened fields of from twelve to thirty acres in this way, cutting down and burning up the most valuable timber in large amounts. The result of this was to settle up the timber along the streams, and the groves, long before the country was generally covered with improvements. The reader will thus understand us, when we speak of the nuclei of early settlements. Clary's Grove, Rock Creek and the river timber on the west side of the river, and Sugar Grove, Indian Point, Athens and the river timber on the east, were thus the localities where the first settlements were made. Gradually, the settlements extended farther anfl farther into the prairies, till at present all the land of the county is under fence, and nearly all in cultivation. ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS. Of the history of Menard County, as Associated with that of the Indian tribes, but little can be said. On the highest bluff along the Sangamoh River, there are to be seen, to the present time, remains of the works of that strange people called the " Mound Builders." Many of these mounds have been opened, but no relics of any value have been found. Stone axes, arrow-heads and spear-points of flint have been picked up on the surface, and exhumed from below the surface of the ground, some having been found as deep as twelve feet below the top of the ground. The present writer opened a number of mounds along the crest of the bluffs of the Sangamon. In one of these was found, at a depth of thirty inches below the surface, a full set of human teeth embedded in the clay. Noth- of them remained save the portion above the gums, covered with enamel. The entire thirty-two were present, with no mark of decay in any of them. They were as white as those in any living subject, and the upper and lower sets were closed together as in the closed mouth of a living being. These were setting in the pure unmixed clay, and in all the surrounding earth not a sign was 212 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. visible of the remains of decayed bones or anything save pure clay. The teeth slacked like lime, turning to a fine white powder in a few minutes after being brought to the air. The mound in which these were found, was nearly exactly round, about twelve feet in diameter, and about three and a half feet above the natural level. Some three hundred feet from this, another of almost exactly the same size and form of this was opened. This contained two human skele- tons, lying about three feet below the surface. The heads were very near the center of the mound, lying within about ten inches of each other, the body of one lying nearly east and west, the other extending from northeast to south- west. These were thought to be the bones of a male and a female. Some three hundred yards from these, was another mound, somewhat smaller in diameter than the others, but a foot or more higher. Carefully removing the top of the mound, it was found that about two and a half feet below the top was a basin about the proportion of a breakfast plate, burned to the hardness of an ordinary brick. It appeared that a small mound, perhaps two feet high and six feet across the top, had first been raised, and a basin, six feet across and ten inches lower in the middle than at the outer edge, had been formed, and a fire built in this till the clay was burned hard to the depth of two inches. In this basin, mingled with charcoal and ashes, were the bones of a man. The smaller bones were all burned to a snowy whiteness, while the larger ones were charred on top and the under surface was entirely unaffected by the fire, indi- cating that the fire had been built on the top of the body, thus leaving the under surface of the bones unmarked by fire. Further down the river a great number of Indian graves are found, in almost all of which specimens of pottery are found in connection with the bones. When the first settlements were made in the limits of the county, the Indians had nearly all been removed ; a few were still in the timber on Indian Creek, in the neighborhood of Indian Point ; and two old men, with ten or a dozen of their relatives, remained for some time. These were Shick-shack and Shambolee. They lived a year or two on the hill just south of the late resi- dence of Judge Robert Clary ; they then removed to a high hill within a mile of the present town of Chandlersville. Here Shick-shack died and was buried, and the hill is still called Shick-shack's Hill. After his death, the rest of the little band left the haunts of the pale-face and were heard of no more. There being no trouble with the Indians at the time of the settlements here, and there being various forts near the frontiers, as Fort Clark, at Peoria, and others, there was never any need of forts or block houses in this section of the State. At one time, while the Indian town was in Elkhart Grove, a band of warriors made an incursion on the settlements farther south, and carried oft a young lady prisoner. The first day, she was tied fast on the pony that car- ried her, but she had presence of mind enough to tear off bits of her clothing which she dropped at intervals when not watched by her captors, as marks by HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 213 which her friends might know she was still alive, and also to serve as guides for her pursuers. The band, with their captive, crossed the Sangamon River almost east of where Springfield now stands. The father of the captive, with a few friends, was in rapid pursuit, and came up with them somewhere near where Williamsville is located. At the first fire, the girl having clandestinely loosed the thongs that bound her to the pony, leaped off and ran toward her rescuers. An Indian gave chase, and, seeing his prisoner about to escape, hurled his tomahawk at her, striking her in the small of the back, and fasten- ing the blade firmly in the spinal column. She fell helpless in the prairie, but, after a brief skirmish, the Indians fled, and the young lady was restored to her friends ; but it was long before she recovered from the wound of the Indian's missile. Some aver J;hat this took place after the first settlements had been made in this county ; but others, equally entitled to credit, with equal confidence affirm that it was not. The reader interested in the Indian history of Illinois is referred, for further information, to the " History of the North- west " in the former part of this volume. EARLY MANNERS AND CUSTOMS. The young men and women of the present time have no conception of the mode of life among the early settlers of this country from forty to sixty years ago. In fact, one can hardly conceive how such changes could have taken place in so short a period of time. In nothing are the habits and manners of the people in any respect similar to those a half-century ago. We are at a loss where to begin so as to give the youth of to-day anything like a just idea of this matter. The clothing, the dwellings, the diet, social customs in fact, everything has undergone a total revolution. In a former part of this article, we spoke of the " three-faced camps " in which some of the early settlers lived, and it may be truthfully said that the dwellings of the early pioneers, for a number of years, were but slightly in advance of these camps. The house was, in almost every case, built of logs, the cracks filled with pieces of wood called " chinks," and then daubed over with mortar made of clay. If the floor was anything more than the earth tramped hard and smooth, it was made of "puncheons," that is, logs split open and the split side turned upward, and the spaces between the uneven edges of these were often of such dimensions that the younger inmates were compelled to use care to keep from stepping their feet through these crevices. The roof was made by drawing in the top after the manner of a boy's quail-trap, and laying on these "clapboards," as they were called by the Western people, but known among Yankees as "shakes." These being three or four feet in length, were held in place by logs laid on them, instead of nails. These were called weight-poles. For a fire-place, the logs were cut out of one wall of the room, for a space of five or six feet, and three sides were built up of logs, making an offset in the wall. This was lined with dirt, or stone if it could be 214 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. had. The flue or upper part of the chimney was built of small sticks, plastered over with mud, mixed with grass or straw to hold it together. This was called a " cat-and-clay " chimney. The door was also an aperture made by cutting out the logs in one side of the room ; and the shutter was composed of a rude frame r with clapboards nailed or pinned across. The hinges were also of wood, while the fastening consisted of a wooden latch catching on a hook of the same mate- rial. To enable the occupants to open the door from the outside, a buckskin string was tied to the latch-bar, and passed through a small hole two or three inches above, so that when the string was pulled from the outside it lifted the latch out of the hook, and the door opened without further trouble. At night, or in time of danger, when they wished to lock the door, all that was necessary was to draw the string in through the hole, and all was safe. This is thus minutely described in order that the young people may understand the saying so common among the old people, when speaking of their hospitality, that " the latch-string hangs out." The furniture in the house was on a par with the house. Illustrative of this matter of buildings, I will state a fact that may be surprising to others beside the young. The house in which George Spears, Sr., lives, in Clary's Grove, was, perhaps, the first brick house in the county. The bricks were made in the fall of 1829, the mud being tramped by oxen. In the spring of 1830, the house was begun. All the lumber was sawed by hand with a whip-saw, that is, a pit was dug, over which the log was placed, and one man standing in the pit worked one end of the saw, while the other was handled by another on a frame above. In this way all the flooring, of blue ash. and all the finishing lumber, of black walnut, and the sheeting for the roof, was sawed. This must have been an immense job, as the house is one of the largest farm- houses in the county. Any one examining this building at the present time would not suppose it to have been built more than ten or twelve years, for it seems as perfect as when first built. During the erection of this house, Mr. John Clary, the first settler in the grove, being then between forty-five and fifty years of age, came to Mr. Spears and, after watching the workmen for awhile very earnestly, remarked that that was the first brick house he had ever seen. Mr. Spears was obliged to send to St. Louis for window-glass, for even at that comparatively late day it could not be procured nearer. This was occasioned by the fact that glass windows were almost entirely unknown, the ordinary window being an unclosed crack between two logs, over which a greasy paper was fastened in the winter. The articles used in the culinary department were as few and simple as can be imagined. A " flat-oven " or skillet, a frying-pan, an iron pot or kettle, with, occasionally, a coffee-pot, completed the outfit of the best furnished kitchen. Stoves were then entirely unknown, hence all the cooking was done on the fire- place. The oven was set on a bed of glowing coals, and the frugal housewife, taking as much stiff dough of Indian meal as she could conveniently hold in both hands, and, deftly tossing from hand to hand to mold it into the desired HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 215 shape, tossed it into the oven, patting it with her hand to the desired thickness. About three of these "dodgers" would fill the oven, when the ready heated lid was placed on the oven, and all was covered with burning coals. As soon as the bread was done, it was taken out upon a tin platter and set on the hearth near the fire to keep warm. Generally, the impress of the fingers of the cook were plainly visible in each "dodger." In the oven from which the bread was taken, the ham or venison was then fried, and often, in the fall and winter, the grease tried out of the meat when fried was allowed to remain, and in it the "lye-hominy," made also of Indian corn, was seasoned for the meal. Thus the repast was prepared, and sweeter bread or more savory meats were never eaten than was prepared on those rude fire-places. As to sweetmeats and con- fections, they were things entirely unknown. Sugar was unknown save in sec- tions of country where sugar-maple abounded ; but nearly all of the early settlers had an abundance of the finest honey in their cabins the year round ; for wild honey-bees were found in great numbers wherever there was timber. Sometimes wild crabs, wild grapes, and berries of various kinds were preserved in honey ; but these were only opened on the most important occasions. For many years after the settlements were commenced in this section, wheat bread was entirely unknown. This fact will demand a separate paragraph on MILLS AND MILLING. In a new country, the preparation of grain for making bread is a matter of no slight importance ; for while grain may be produced from the soil as easily in a new country as in an old one, it is not so easy to have the grain converted into meal. The first settlers here had a very primitive method of grinding corn, but the process was at once slow and toilsome. As said above, nearly or quite all of the first emigrants settled in the timber. A large stump was selected at a convenient point ; the top was dug or burned out into the form of a mortar ; a large, heavy block of hard wood, weighing from fifty to two hun- dred pounds, was shaped at one end so as to fit into this mortar. A long, springy pole was then placed in such a position that when the block named above was hung to the end of the pole, it would hang just over the mortar ; the mill was now ready for use. A small amount of corn was placed in the mortar, and taking hold of the pestle, it was worked up and down, and by its weight the corn was crushed ; this was taken out and more put in, and the finest being separated from the coarse, the last was placed again in the mortar to be rebeaten, and the fine used for bread. But this process was so slow, that in a large family, the pestle must go almost constantly, or some of the family would be "placed on short rations." This kind of a mill was used the first three years after the settlement was begun in Sugar Grove. The first milling done from Sugar Grove, was done by John Jennison and James Meadows. These men went in a canoe down the Sangamon to the Illinois River, thence by the Mississippi to Alton. They were gone twenty-one days, bringing back 216 HISTORY OF MEN'ARD COUNTY. a canoe-load of breadstuff with them. Soon after this, Mr. Meadows built a "band-mill " in the grove, and, soon after this, a similar structure was put up at Salem, detailed accounts of which will be found in the history of the respective precincts. The reader will bear in mind that these mills antedated, by several years, the water-mill of Cameron and Rutledge. at Salem, which, at the time, was looked upon as almost a wonder of mechanical invention. Those band- mills, or horse-mills, though much better than the sweep and pestle, were sorry affairs at best. Like the rule made among the barbers at the present time, it was then a rule or custom that those who came first should be served first, and this custom was most rigidly adhered to. Persons would take a "grist " of one or two bushels of corn to the mill, and they must stay till it was ground. Reli- able men at Tallula, stated to the writer that they came from there to Peters- burg only eight miles in the days of the old band-mill, using their utmost diligence, it was midnight of the ninth day before they returned with their grinding. How strangely this must sound to the ears of "Young America." It was several years before there were any mills in this county provided with bolts, etc., for the grinding and bolting of wheat, so that those comparatively young can remember when wheat bread was a great rarity, and the little ones rejoiced to know the Sabbath was approaching, for they would get "cake" for breakfast Sunday morning. CLOTHING. Among the early pioneers, everything was plain, simple and in conformity with the strictest economy. This was not only true of their dwellings, furni- ture and provisions, but also of their clothing. In a very early day, the men usually wore pants and hunting-shirts of buckskin, and caps of coon or fox skin, while both sexes clothed their feet in moccasins. Cotton goods were then extremely hard to get, because, in the first place, of the distance such goods were to be conveyed by private means, and, secondly, because the manufacture in this country was very limited, the greater part being manufactured in Europe. As a consequence, the pioneers of the West found this one of the hardest demands to meet. Many were the expedients devised by them, especially by the frugal and economical dames ; for, ever since the wonderful expedient of preparing an entire wardrobe from fig-leaves, devised quite a number of years in the past, woman has been very gifted in laying plans and adopting expedi- ents in the matter of clothing. But, unfortunately for her skill and industry, the country afforded nothing, the first few years of its occupancy, that could be turned to any account in this direction. If cotton had been planted on their first arrival, it would have amounted to but little, because neither the soil nor climate were favorable to its growth, and the seasons were so short that it could hardly be planted early enough to mature in quantities sufficient to justify its cultiva- tion. It was almost useless, in an early day, to take sheep into the frontier settlements, on account of the vast numbers of prairie and black and gray wolves, which would destroy an entire flock in a single night. Hence the HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 217 people had no choice save that between adopting expedients and appearing in nature's light and airy garb." So, after the first year or two, the people began to sow crops of flax or hemp, and this the women spun and wove by hand into a coarse but substantial and pleasant linen. Of this, underwear was made, dresses for the ladies, towels, table-cloths, etc. But. you may inquire, what did they do till a crop of this could be raised, rotted and made into cloth. In reply it may be stated that the clothing taken with them to the new country wa- made to do an immense service. But even wild nature was often appealed to for aid. In an early day, vast fields of wild nettles grew here, often stand- ing on the ground thicker than a field of wheat, and not unfrequently attaining a height of three and four feet. This produced a most excellent lint, that was susceptible both of being woven and bleached. Thousands of yards of linen were made from these nettles by the pioneer settlers in Illinois. The year after James Meadows settled in Sugar Grove, his wife spun and wove no less than thirty yards of this nettle linen. It was strong, serviceable, and bleached to almost a snowy whiteness. Even after flax was raised in sufficient quantities, and sheep had been introduced in considerable numbers, still it was an arduous task to spin and weave the cloth for the entire wearing apparel of a family. Had the fashions prevailed then that have in a later day, the women would have given up in despair. But, instead of eight or ten widths of cloth being put in a dress skirt in order to cover a balloon-frame of crinoline, two or three widths were considered amply sufficient for the fullest dress. On a certain occasion, under the old "blue laws " in Connecticut, a young lady was taken before the magis- trate, charged with having leaped over a little brook on her way to church on Sabbath ; and this was an offense for which she was liable to pay a severe fine. The mother of the young lady came into court and made oath that the skirts of the prisoner's dress were so narrow that she was obliged to leap the brook, or step into the water. Upon this testimony she was released. Doubtless there was as great economy practiced by our ancestors as by the staid old Puritans in godly Connecticut ; but it was more necessity than piety that dictated the limited amount of material in their clothing. Our modern young gentlemen, who have dressed in the very best ever since they could remember, would be surprised at the scanty outfit of the boys of that time. The summer wear of the boys up to ten and twelve years of age was simple and very free from any effort at display, as it consisted of but one article, that being a long, coarse overshirt. With this indispensable article they explored the forests, traversed the prairies, thought about the girls, and built as many castles in the air as the boys of more favored times. In winter, they were supplied with buck-skin or tow pants, moccasins or raw hide shoes, and coats of jeans after sheep began to be raised among the settlers. In winter, when the deer-skin pantaloons had, by any accident, become wet, and dried again, it is affirmed that they could be heard to rattle a distance of forty yards as the wearer walked in them. This scarcity of clothing 218 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. continued to be felt for at least two decades, or even more. In summer, nearly all persons, both male and female, went barefoot ; and it was nothing uncommon to see young ladies on their way to church on foot, carrying their shoes in their hands till near the place of worship, when, carefully brushing the dust from their feet, the shoes and stockings were donned, and they mingled with the throng. This continued to be common for nearly twenty years. After sheep could be protected from the wolves, the people fared better in the matter of clothing. Flannel and linsey were woven for the wear of women and children, while jeans was woven for the men. For want of other dye-stuffs, the wool for the jeans was almost invariably colored with the bark or young shoots of the walnut; hence the inevitable "butternut" worn so extensively in the West for many years. As a matter of course, every family did its own spinning and weaving; and, for many years, all the wool had to be carded by hand on a little pair of cards about five by ten inches. Each family had its spinning- wheels, little and big, winding blades, reel, warping bars made by driving pins into the wall of the house on the outside in some place where no door was in the way, and wooden loom. These were indispensable articles in almost every household ; and during the fall and early winter the merry whir of the wheels, and the regular "bat, bat" of the loom could be heard till a late hour at night. Generally, the shoes worn were all made in the family, and mostly during the long evenings. No scene can be imagined that is more full of real happiness than the home of the pioneer, when, in the evening, all were engaged in earnest labor. A bright fire burns on the wide hearth, and the ruddy flame leaps far up the wooden chimney, affording the only, yet sufficient, light in the room. In one corner sits the father busily engaged in making shoes ; the mother at her little wheel hums a tune in low harmony with its steady whir ; while in front of the ample fire-place the daughter trips nimbly back and forth, drawing out the long woolen threads, while the wheel, seeming to partake of the general happi- ness, swells out its musical whir-ir-r, which swells and dies away in regular and harmonious cadence : the younger members of the group engaged in some absorbing pastime, all undisturbed by a single discordant note. Boots were almost unknown for many years, and many of the old men never had such things during their entire life-time ; while none of the youths were forcunate enough to boast the possession of boots till they reached man- hood. Boys of fifteen and sixteen years of age never thought of wearing any- thing on their feet except for three or four months in the midst of winter ; while the number who were not so fortunate as to get them even in winter was by no means small. Boys, and even men, went to church many times without shoes or stockings. But what would the people of to-day think of the minister who would propose to present himself before his auditory barefooted ! This may never have occurred in Illinois, yet it did in some of the older States, and pos- sibly even here. The writer was intimately acquainted with two ministers, both of whom died, at an extreme old age, a number of years ago, who often HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 219 spoke of preaching, in their younger days, without anything on their feet. They began preaching in Tennessee, and were men of far more than ordi- nary ability ; in fact, we have heard many sermons in finely frescoed churches, from men dressed in broadcloth, which were not worthy of comparison, in any respect, with the sermons of those men. Several times they spoke of preaching in their youthful days, on a certain occasion, in a private cabin, the loft or ceiling of which was very low, and one of the preachers being a very tall man, a plank was taken up in the floor, so that he might stand in this opening, his head thus being below the "loft." This being in the summer- time, and that region being infested with rattlesnakes, the speaker soon felt a thrill of horror convulse his frame, as the thought crossed his mind that per- haps he stood in the midst of these unwelcome companions. Of course, under these circumstances, the sermon was not painfully long. We are fully aware of the incredulity with which the above and similar facts will be received by the mass of the present generation ; but we write the facts, facts which, in the majority of cases, were known to be such by the writer in person. These facts should all be recorded, for none of the present generation have any just conception of the changes that have taken place in the last half-century. If the next fifty years are as productive of change as the past fifty have been, who can imagine the state of affairs a half-century in the future? The tools and agricultural implements were about on a par with everything. The ground was broken up by the use of a wooden mold-board plow, and the corn cultivated with hoes, and bull-tongue as shovel-plows. These plows were all single, and in plowing corn the plowman was obliged to go three or four times between every two rows. In planting, the ground was marked oft" with a plow and the corn dropped by hand and covered by hand with hoes. Wheat and rye, etc., were cut with a sickle a hooked instrument some eighteen inches in length, with a handle some six inches long. This was taken in the right hand of the laborer, while the grain was held in the left hand. In later years, the sickle was superseded by the scythe-and-cradle, which enabled the laborer to accomplish more in a given time, but the labor was of the severest kind. What would the farmers of to-day think, after following our reapers and self-binders, to be obliged to go into the harvest-field with a sickle, or even a scythe-and- cradle ? The teams principally used were oxen, yoked together, and thus made to draw burdens. In breaking up ground the first time, cattle were generally used. It was by no means uncommon to see six or seven yoke of oxen hitched to a plow, and, at fearfully slow pace, dragging the ponderous plow, as it steadily crushed through turf and roots, turning over the long and evenly sod ; and, not- withstanding the tardy pace at which they moved, owing to the width of the fur- row, a considerable amount of land would be plowed in a day. Oxen were also much used single, that is, hitched singly to a plow with harness, or rather "gears," 220 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. as they were called, for little, if any, leather was used in their manufacture. A huge collar, made of corn-husks, tugs of twisted raw-hide, or of iron chains when they could be procured, made the outfit ; for bridle and lines were dis- carded, as the well-trained animal did everything by word of command. Occa- sionally, horses were used in farming, but they were far from being plentiful. After a few months or years, the people had preaching occasionally, and on such occasions a yoke of oxen was hitched to a cart, sled 'or wagon, and in this the family attended service; but we will speak of this in detail in the proper place. THE EARLY CHURCHES. It is a fact highly commendable of the early settlers of Illinois, that with all the trials and toils incident on settlement in a new and undeveloped country, and the numbers of rough and vicious men who always seek the frontiers, the teachings of the Christian religion were felt and realized in the most remote settlements. What a rebuke, too, is given to the ministers of the pres- ent, by the self-sacrifice, devotion and arduous toil of those men who first planted the standard of the Cross of Christ in the sparsely settled frontiers of the West. Without the most remote hope of the least temporal remuneration, exposed to danger and disease, subject to th# severest trials and most painful privations, they went out, foregoing all the joys of home and the society of loved ones, only to be instrumental in the advancement of the truth and the salvation of men. Often the pioneer preacher, with no companion but the horse he rode, would start across the wide prairies, with no guide but the knowl- edge he had of the cardinal points, or, perhaps, a point of timber scarcely visi- ble in the dim and hazy distance, and, reaching the desired settlement, would present the claims of the Gospel to the few assembled hearers, after the toilsome and lonely day's journey ; then after a night of rest in the humble cabin and partaking of the simple meal, he again enters upon the journey of the day, to preach again at a distant point. Thus the "circuit" of hundreds of miles was traveled month after month ; and to these men we owe the planting of churches all over our land, and the hallowed influences of religion as seen and felt in society everywhere. At this late day, it is impossible to learn who was the first minister who visited the territory now embraced in Menard County. This honor is claimed for at least a dozen different individuals, and three or four different denominations lay claim to the honor of being first to be represented by a minister here. There were at least five different denominations that were represented by ministers coming here in a very early day. ' These were the Regular, Hard-Shell or Calvinistic Baptists, the Separate (now Missionary) Baptists, the Methodists, the New-Lights, afterward called Disciples, some- times called " Campbellites," and the Cumberland Presbyterians. We may give a very brief account of each of these separately. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 221 REGULAR BAPTISTS. These people, generally called " Hard-Shells," have ever been anti-mission- ary and have opposed temperance societies. They also teach that it is the duty of ministers to refuse stipulated salaries. As a people, they are good citizens, candid and reliable, while their ministers are generally men of good natural minds, yet very few of them are educated. Being Calvinists of the most decided type, it is not to be wondered at that they believed if God made it one's duty to preach the Gospel, He would also enable him to do the work when the time came, without any previous preparation. Hence they, in their preaching, gave the people the truth "just as God gave it to them." If this was really true, all we can say (speaking with reverence), is that God gave them some very much mixed harangues. Very soon after the settlements were begun here, " Hard-Shell" preachers made their debut also. Some even affirm that an organization of " Hard- Shells" was formed in the vicinity of Salem even before the Baptist Church at Clary's Grove was organized. Grandmother Potter, who was a grown woman, and living within a mile of Salem, in 1820, is positive that the Church there was older by a year or two than that in the grove. But the recollection of all other pioneers is at variance with hers on this matter. Be this as it may, a Regular Baptist Church was organized there in a very early day. The names of ministers, etc., etc., is given in the township history. Other societies were perhaps formed in the county ; but, if so, they, with that near Salem, have long since become extinct, so that there is not one at present in the county, and has not been for many years. While we would not say anything disrespectful or disparaging of this venerable people, yet we cannot refrain from relating an anecdote of them, the truth of a part of which, at least, can be vouched for. In the palmy days of the Salem Church, Dr. Allen created considerable excite- ment on the temperance question, and many signed a pledge of total absti- nence. Among those signing the pledge was Minter Graham, the pioneer school teacher of this county, who was a member of the Baptist Church. So soon as this was known to the Church, Graham was tried and promptly turned out. Thus far, the story is true to the letter. But the story, as popularly told at the time, is to the effect that, on the same day that k ' Uncle Minter" was suspended, another brother was tried for getting drunk, and he, too, was expelled. After this, an old brother arose very solemnly, and, drawing a quart " flask " from his pocket, the bottle being about half-full of whisky, and, holding this steadily between his eye and the light, and inclining his head slightly to one side, addressed the congregation as folloAvs : " Brethering, you have turned one member out because he would not drink, and another because he got drunk, and now I want to ask a question. It is this : How much of the critter does one have to drink in order to remain in full fellowship, in the Church?" 222 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. We are not advised what answer was given to this important question, but, doubtless, there was a medium well defined and understood by the ministry, if not by the laity. This denomination of people performed a very important part in the early history of the county, and its members were among the very best men and women of the entire population. Although they have ceased to exist here as a distinct body, yet their influence is still felt, and the results of their labors are seen on every hand. Scattered over the county- are a number of persons who once belonged to this Church, but their numbers being too small to form a society in any locality, they are living out of regular connection with any society, calmly awaiting the transfer to the great "congregation above." ANTI-CALVINIST BAPTISTS. As before stated, the Baptists here, in an early day, were considerably divided, especially on the subject of Foreign and Domestic Missions. There were, beside the "Hard-Shells," or Regulars, the Separate and the United Bap- tists ; and these were divided into the Missionary and Anti-Missionary parties. The Anti-Missionary spirit, however, gradually declined, till, many years ago, there ceased to be any Baptists in the whole country, who opposed the mission- ary work, except the " Calvinists." No people can justly be said to be opposed to missions who enroll among their membership such characters as the Judsons. Clary's Grove Baptist Church was organized on Christmas Day, 1824. This was the first Church organized in the limits of the county, and it was the focal point from which an influence radiated over the surrounding territory. It is not our province, in writing the general history of the county, to enter into detail respecting each separate congregation. For this, the reader is referred to the several township histories. The early Baptist ministers, like all the Evan- gelical preachers of that time, were earnest, devoted and self-sacrificing in their labors. " Baker's Prairie " congregation of Baptists, three miles east of Petersburg, was organized at rather an early date. A congregation was also formed in Petersburg, early in the history of that town, which has flourished from that time. This Church has a large and commodious house of worship' built of brick, and out of debt. At present writing, they have no regular Pas- tor. In Greenview, the Baptists have a substantial frame church, and a toler- ably strong congregation. In Sand Ridge, there is a Baptist congregation ; they worship in the New Hope Church, erected by the Cumberland Presbyteri- ans, and, by order of the Presbytery, under the control of the Concord congre- gation. As full details are given elsewhere, we will merely give a summary here. The Baptist denomination have, in the county, four houses of worship, two brick and two frame. They have, also, some congregations having no church edifice. They form an important element in society, exerting an influ- ence for good that is felt far and near. PETERSBURG- HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 225 Several Baptist ministers are resident of the county. We cannot forbear to mention Rev. William Goldsby, who died only a month ago. Mr. Goldsby grew up from early youth in this county, professed religion here, spent his life here in the ministry, and died at his home, six miles southwest of Petersburg, on the 18th of August, 1879. He was a man of but limited education, and possessed of nothing brilliant, intellectually ; but his straightforward integrity, unswerv- ing honesty and devoted piety gave him a wonderful power for good ; and while he was not regarded as an able preacher, yet, in his simple way, he won many to the way of righteousness, and will, doubtless, have many stars in his crown of rejoicing. His devoted wife, who was in her usual health at the time of her husband's death, survived him only eleven days ; and they were buried, side by side. May they rest in peace. Elder Homey, of Greenview ; P. E. Clark, six miles east of Petersburg ; H. P. Curry, of Oak Ridge ; John Coffee, of Fancy Prairie, and George Bell, of Tallula, are all ministers of this Church, but not all actively engaged in the ministry. Fuller accounts of each are given in the. precinct histories, and in the biographical portion of this work. THE M. E. CHURCH. It would seem eminently proper to have placed this denomination first in the history of churches in Menard County, for it is to all intents and purposes pioneer in its operations. Its policy for spreading the Gospel is exactly adapted to the wants and needs of new and sparsely settled sections of country. The itinerant system, so long practiced and brought to such perfec- tion among the Methodists, is the. method of sending the Gospel to the remote settlements. It is not surprising then, that the Methodist "circuit-rider" is found in every new country. The first Methodist that ever settled in Illinois was Capt. Joseph Ogle, who settled here in 1785. The first preacher of the Church to come into the State was Rev. Joseph Lillard, who formed the first society in the State. This class met in the house of Capt. Ogle, in St. Clair County, and he was appointed the leader. Some years later, Rev. John Clark, who had preached in the Carolinas from 1791 to 1796, desiring to get beyond the limits of slavery, wandered westward, and was the first to preach Methodism west of the Mississippi River, and subsequently came to Illinois. Rev. Hosea Riggs was the first local preacher to settle in the State. The first regular work of the Church in the State under authority of Conference, was in 1803, when Rev. Benjamin Young was appointed missionary to the State by the Western Conference holding its session at Mt. Gerizim, Ky. In 1804, the missionary reported sixty-seven members in the State. In 1806, Rev. Jess Walker was sent to the State ; he was a man of great zeal and energy. He held the first camp-meeting in the State during this year. This meeting awakened a revival interest, which was felt in nearly all the settlements in the State. At the close of the year, he reported 218 members. The Western Conference then c 226 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. included Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and all the Northwest. In 1812, it was divided, and Tennessee and Illinois formed a Conference. In 1816, the Mis- souri Conference was formed, and Illinois was included in this. In 1824, Illinois Conference was formed, including Illinois and Indiana. In 1832, Indiana was separated from it. We speak of this to show the rapidity with which the Church increased in the sparsely settled regions of the West and North. From about the close of the war of 1812, the itinerants of the M. E. Church were constantly traversing the country from East to West, and from North to South, organizing classes wherever opportunity offered. There are no means of learning who the first minister of this denomination was who first preached in Menard County. We have positive proof that in the summer of 1820, a class was formed in the settlement near where Athens now stands. One James Stringfield was perhaps the first Methodist preacher in the county ; certainly he was the first local preacher who settled here. He came in 1819 or in the early part of 1820. About the time that the class was formed near Athens, or not long after, a society was formed west of the river, but its precise locality cannot be determined. The matter is not positively decided, but it is believed that the first regular circuit formed included the societies on both sides of the Sangamon River. In 1821 or 1822, a regular circuit was laid out, including the classes here. Rev. Isaac House was the first preacher placed on the circuit, and Rev. Mr. Simms was Presiding Elder. The Methodists, per- haps (in fact, it is absolutely certain), built the first house of worship that was erected in the county ; this was in the year 1825. This house .was built on the farm of Mr. Harry Riggin. The land was donated by Mr. Riggin, with the understanding that it was to revert to him or his heirs, so soon as it ceased to be used for religious purposes. This was a neat hewed-log building, 22x36 feet. It had glass windows by chance ; we say by chance, because Mr. Riggin brought quite a large quantity of window-glass with him when he came to Illinois, and this was part of his contribution. This house was used constantly till about 1839 or 1840, when it was sold, and is now a barn on the farm of Henry Rankin. The proceeds, with a considerable subscription added, was expended in the erection of a new frame church in Athens. This house was built about the year 1840, and is still used by the M. E. Church there. This portion of the Church has been blessed with the services of very able men. The venerable Peter Akers, D. D., was for years Presiding Elder of this district. Peter Cartwright, of national reputation, was Elder of the district longer than any other man, and Dr. Akers next. Cartwright has preached in every part of the county ; indeed, we might say in almost every gr.ove of tim- ber. The fruits of the labors of this people are to be seen in every locality. The denomination has, in the county, four church edifices, three frame, and one brick. (This, of course, is exclusive of the Free Methodist Church at Athens, and the German M. E. Church on Sand Ridge). Besides these, there are sev- eral classes having no house of worship. A large volume might be written, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 227 giving interesting accounts of the labors of the Methodists here. The ministers in the county at present, are as follows: Rev. Mr. Coombs, in Petersburg ; Rev. Mr. Eckman, at Athens ; Rev. Mr. Finity, at Greenview. These are on the circuits in the county, and the only local preachers are Rev. Starling Turner (he being a Protestant), and Rev. F. E. Foster, Greenview. Reminiscences of Methodist ministers rush on our mind, demanding to be recorded, but, if the flood-gate is once opened, no telling where the end will be. But, in imagination the portly form and smiling face of Rev. Barrett rises up, and with the face an interminable store of remembered incidents. That eye, so full of humor, looks out on the world no more ; the voice, so sweet in persuasion, so dire in denunciation, and so convincing in argument, is long since silent in death, but those who knew him will never forget the power of his pulpit efforts, or the unrivaled point and potency of his witticisms. Ever a devoted and consistent Christian, but at the same time ever ready to see the ludicrous phase of everything, and lead others to see, and, with his anecdotes, to convulse everything with merriment. Sometimes, though seldom, this char- acteristic of the man would manifest itself in the pulpit, and when this was the case, the house was sure to be " brought down." Pardon one illustration, kind reader, aud we will pledge ourselves to give but the one. Mr. Barrett was a plain Western man, used to Western habits and customs. He was also blessed with a powerful physical constitution, and being a man of very active habits, his nature demanded, and he relished most heartily, good, plain, wholesome food. At one time, he was on a circuit, one of the preach- ing points being in a settlement of New England people, and most of the class were "Yankees." Of course, their manners differed widely from his, and especially in the matter of diet, they were totally unlike. In that early day, "sweetmeats" were scarce, and those Eastern people had no idea of eating meat like the Western people. They lived nearly without meat, and the inev- itable " pumpkin-pie " was nearly the standard part of their food. Brother Barrett visited different houses, but it was everywhere the same pumpkin-pie confronted him where'er he went. At last, almost starving, he hinted very broadly that he wanted meat, but all of no avail. Finally, one Sabbath morn- ing, when a large congregation had assembled, he decided to present his case in prayer. So, when they bowed for the opening prayer, after addressing the throne of grace for a time, he continued : " Oh, Lord, we thank Thee for this good land, for this productive soil, and for sunshine and shower. And we pray Thee, oh, Lord, if Thou canst bless under the Gospel, what Thou didst curse under the law, that Thou wilt bless the hogs. Oh, may they fatten and thrive ; and do Thou send abundant crops of corn, that they may be made fat, that Thy servants may have meat to eat, that they may grow strong to serve Thee and do Thy Will. Oh, Lord, we pray Thee to blight the pumpkin crop. Send blasting and mildew on every vine, for Thou knowest we cannot serve Thee on the strength they give." He then went on and closed his prayer in the usual way. 223 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Suffice it to say that the brethren took the hint, and after that Brother Barrett had meat to eat. The foregoing anecdote is literally true, otherwise, a number of men of unimpeachable character for truth and veracity have stated falsely. Rev. Mr. Barrett lived and continued to preach till some time during 1878 ; during that year, while living in Jacksonville, he went to an appointment at Grigg's Chapel, in the Sangamon Bottom, in Cass County, and preached morn- ing and evening with his usual power and energy. Retired at night as well as usual, and was a corpse in a few hours. Thus passed away this eccentric, though faithful and successful minister of the Gospel. The M. E. Church could boast a great many faithful and devoted men among her early ministers, as well as among those of later years. This Church is still, with great energy and zeal, performing her part of the work in sending the Gospel to men in this county. She has here a large, devoted and wealthy membership, and a faith- ful and zealous ministry. THE DISCIPLES. This body of people, known as Disciples, Christians or Church of Christ, had its origin in Western Pennsylvania. It originated thus : In 1809, Thomas Campbell, aided by his son, Alexander Campbell, both of whom were Presby- terian ministers, becoming deeply impressed with what they regarded as the unfortunate divisions among professed Christian people, made an effort to bring about a union of all, not intending to start another "sect" or party. It was thought that taking the Bible alone, without any standard of interpreta- tion, would do this. Quite a number of people, mostly Presbyterians, went into this enterprise. Soon the question of the mode and subject of baptism was mooted among them, and this resulting in a rejection, by the majority, of infant baptism and affusion ; the body becoming thus one of immersed believers, they were soon united with the Redstone Baptist Association. Not many years after this, views were developed at variance with the Baptist Church, and the " Disciples " were formed into a new sect. About three years before the beginning of the move by the Campbells in Pennsylvania, a' Presbyterian min- ister in Kentucky had tried to bring about a union of all Christians on the basis of the Bible alone. This movement was introduced and led by one Barton W. Stone, who had been for years a Presbyterian minister. He had collected quite a little band together, and, after considerable time spent in controverting various points by the two leaders, a union of the two parties, forming when united quite a large body. The followers of Stone were called New Lights, while Campbell's party was denominated " Disciples." But, for sake of dis- tinction, some persons who belonged to neither called one party Stoneites and the other Campbellites ; neither were these names given in reproach, but merely to distinguish them. For many years after the union of the two parties, the name " New Lights " was kept up, and thus applied to the " Disciples." Soon after the consolidation of the two, they began work in earnest, sending out mis- sionaries to various parts of the country. It is almost certain that the "New , HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 229 Lights," as they were called here, sent preachers into this part of Illinois as ' early as any, unless it was the Methodists and Hard-Shell Baptists. As said before, Rev. Mr. House, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was the first preacher in the county, and it is probable that old Mr. Crow, the Regular Baptist, was the next. As early as 1820 or 1821, a New Light preacher of the name of Henderson came to Sugar Grove, and preached in the cabin of Roland Grant, but there is no evidence that he ever attempted to organize a society. Not very long after this, Barton W. Stone himself preached in Clary's Grove, which he did several times after. He was followed by Sidney Rigdon, then a New Light, but who afterward became a Mormon, becoming one of the twelve apostles of that Church, and visiting various parts of Europe as a mis- sionary. A congregation of " Disciples " was formed in Clary's Grove as early as 1827, and a few years after, they erected a " log meeting-house." This log church was occupied for several years, when a new frame edifice was erected. This last served them till after the village of Tallula was laid out and settled up. The Church, seeing that this village was destined to be the center of the com- munity, they disposed of their house in the grove, and, just at the close of the late war, they erected in the village the large and commodious house in which they now worship. The date of the organization of the " Disciples' " Church in Sugar Grove is not definitely known, but it was at a very early day, as all admit. This soon became a very strong and prosperous body, and was for many years the largest and most wealthy congregation in the county. It con- tinued [to hold this enviable reputation till about 1867, when misfortune seemed to overtake it, and, in a short time, it was nearly annihilated. This happened in this wise: One J. K. Spears, of Indiana, a man of more than average ability, was employed as Pastor. At first, his preaching was in con- formity with the doctrines of the Church ; but it was not long till he began to drop expressions occasionally that pointed to materialism very strongly. When interviewed on the subject, he boldly affirmed the doctrine of "soul-sleeping," denying, in toto, all spiritual existence, and, as a consequence, denying the immortality of man, except in the resurrected body. He also taught that the Bible clearly aifirmed the second advent of Christ as being just at hand. Such was his influence and tact, that he carried off with him about one-half of the entire congregation, among them some of the most influential, intelligent and wealthy of the entire flock. They all seemed utterly demented ; they were re-baptized, and some of them were ready for months to start, at a day's warn- ing, to Jerusalem, to meet the Savior there. Others believed that he would make his appearance right in Menard County, and some actually made the remark that they expected to go fishing with Christ in Salt Creek. 'Mr. Spear would not preach for a stipulated salary, as he regarded it as very sinful to do so ; all he wanted was a simple support for himself and family ; but he was exceedingly careful to have the support specified in every particular, so that it aggregated more than any salary paid in all this region, hence, he and his did 230 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. literally "fare sumptuously every day." In order to the quiet of the com- munity (for the excitement was at fever-heat for months), a public discussion was inaugurated, and Elder Linn, of Indiana, met Mr. Spear in open con flict. The debate, perhaps, did not do much toward quieting the troubled waters ; but, after the people had anxiously awaited the coming of Christ for several months, they began to grow incredulous ; the enthusiasm died out, and then the revenues almost entirely failed. This was hint enough for Mr. Spear, who, in a short time, like the "star of empire," took his way westward. In an incredibly short time, all mention of" soul-sleeping " ceased'to be made. As. far as we can now learn, all those who followed Mr. S. in his folly are now open and avowed infidels. We often wonder what the feelings and thoughts noAv are of those who were at one time so enthusiastic as to become teachers of the new faith, but are now blasphemously profane ! The old Church has never fully recovered from this blow, though it is gradually approximating its former strength. The Church in Petersburg is of comparatively recent origin. In August, 1875,. Elder D. R. Lucas came to this place, bringing with him a tent, capable of holding eight hundred or one thousand" people. In this he conducted a pro- tracted meeting of about six weeks' continuance, which resulted in the addition of something near one hundred persons to the Church. Immediately after the close of this meeting, an effort was made to build a house of worship. These efforts were crowned with success, and before the next spring, a neat brick edifice, some 40x60 feet, and finished in beautiful style, was ready for use. Elder M. M. Goode was engaged as Pastor, who still serves his people to the entire satisfaction of all. Being an intelligent, eloquent and very sociable gen- tleman, he commands the respect and friendship of all classes. Of the Church in Athens and Greeriview, the reader is referred to the his- tory of those townships. This Church has in Menard County five church edifices and as many pros- perous congregations. The ministers in the county are : Elder Breeden, Pas- tor at Tallula ; W. W. Linn, near Tallula, not now actively engaged in the ministry ; M. M. Goode, Petersburg ; D. T. Hughes, Greenview ; Dr. Engle, Athens; Elder Hughes, Sweetwater, and G. A. Davis, Petersburg, not now actively engaged. The Disciples are an intelligent, liberal and enterprising people, keeping full pace with the age in all that advances and elevates the people. THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS. About the close of the last century, the state of spiritual religion had reached a very low state, especially in Kentucky and Tennessee. The Presbyterians of that region had fallen into a cold formalism that was truly fearful. A promi- nent Elder of the Church, speaking of that period, says that he sat for twenty years under the ministry of an able Doctor of Divinity, and in all that time he never HISTQRY OF MENARD COUNTY. 231 heard him speak directly of the work of the Spirit in regeneration. While no body of people, as such, insist more strongly on the necessity of divine power in the salvation of the sinner, yet so many formalists had entered the Church that vital piety was almost extinct. About this time, Rev. James McGready, who had been preaching seven years, was, by accident, awakened, sought religion and was powerfully con- verted. From this time, he turned his energies to arouse the Church. The result was a powerful revival of religion spreading over all that region. The Church was divided into a revival and anti-revival party. Some of the revival party could not accept the doctrines of the Westminster Confession touching fore- knowledge and decrees, believing that it taught fatality. The Church was organized February 4, 1810, in Tennessee. Hence, it could not be expected to have spread very far as early as the first settling of this country, in 1819 and 1820, especially when we remember that it had its origin as far south as the southeast part of Tennessee, near the Kentucky line. It is, however, true, notwithstanding this fact, that ministers of this Church found their way into Illinois before the Church was fifteen years old. The Church in Menard County. The first preacher of this denomination who visited this part of the State was John McCutchen Berry. He was born in the " Old Dominion," March 22, 1788. His education was limited. When twenty-two years of age, he made a public profession of faith in Christ, and united with the C. P. Church. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and par- ticipated in the battle of New Orleans. He was licensed to preach by the Logan Presbytery, in Tennessee, in 1819 ; and in 1822, was ordained by the same body. In 1820, he had removed to Indiana, but he returned to Tennes- see to attend Presbytery. A few years later, he removed to Sangamon County, 111., settling in the limits of what is now Menard County, on Rock Creek. This section of country was then in the bounds of Illinois Presbytery, and so remained until the spring of 1829, when Sangamon Presbytery was organized. Mr. Berry had organized the Sugar Creek congregation, ten miles south of Springfield. Revs. Gilbert Dodds and Thomas Campbell had migrated from Kentucky some years before the year 1829 ; both being licensed preachers when they came ; were soon after ordained by the Presbytery of Illinois. Mr. Dodds set- tled on a farm some five miles south of Petersburg, where he resided until his death. Synod Old Cumberland Synod ordered the organization of Sangamon Presbytery, and, agreeably to this order, the ministers and a few Elders met, at the house of William Drennan, on Sugar Creek, the 20th of April, 1829, and held its first meeting. The ministers were John M. Berry, Gilbert Dodds, Thomas Campbell, David Foster and John Porter, Mr. Berry, by order of Synod, acting as Moderator, and Gilbert Dodds as Clerk. Mr. Berry preached the opening sermon, from Matthew, xvi, 15. The Elders present were : Joseph 232 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Dodds, representing Sugar Creek ; John Hamilton, from Bethel, and Samuel Berry, from Concord and Lebanon. There were also present, John M. Cam- eron, William McCord and Neill Johnson, licentiates ; Payton Mitchell and Archibald Johnson, candidates. Needham Roach, a licentiate from Nashville Presbytery was received under the care of this. This session of Presbytery also discontinued Payton Mitchell as a candidate under its care. As Rev. John M. Berry was the first minister of this Church who preached in this county, it is due to history to give a brief description of him. As before stated, owing to his early surroundings, his education was limited ; but his natural powers of mind were very far above the average. He was independent in his manner of thought, gentle and kind, but uncompromising in his opposi- tion to all that he thought to be wrong. He was charitable in his feelings to the views of others, but unyielding in his convictions until convinced by the force of argument. As a speaker, he was plain, solemn and unassuming, making no eifort at display or show ; but, possessing a commanding presence and a voice at once full of power and a persuasive attractiveness, he was in every way qualified to exert a great power over an audience. Though usually full of force and logic, yet sometimes, when warmed with the inspiring power of his subject, he arose almost to sublimity, and at such times his solemn and earnest appeals were almost irresistible. His method of argument was of the clearest logical character, and when fully aroused by the importance of his subject, he seemed to carry everything before him. His character, and the estimate in which he was held, can be, to some degree, illustrated by relating an incident in the early history of this country. The reader is doubtless aware of the fact that the lamented Abraham Lincoln was engaged in the grocery trade at Old Salem, in this county, in an early day. A son of Mr. Berry was, for a time, a partner of Mr. Lincoln in the grocery, and it is probable that intoxicants were sold by them ; in fact, this is generally conceded to be true. Be this as it may, Mr. Berry's son contracted habits of dissipation in some way, and ultimately became an utter wreck, dying a most horrid death. This was a blow from which the father never fully recovered ; but a deep, dark shadow seemed ever after to be cast over his mind. It appears that during the partnership in the store that the father strove hard to dissuade his son from a life of intemperance, but failed. His labors were not lost, however, for the counsel, though lost on the son, made a lasting impression on Mr. Lincoln. Years after the close of the partnership,, when Lincoln had reached a position of eminence in the legal profession, a grog-shop in a certain community was having a bad influence upon some men who were married, and whose wives suffered by the evil. These injured wives, on a certain occasion, gathered together and made a raid on the vile den, demolished the barrels, broke up the decanters and demijohns, and played havoc with things generally. For this the ladies were prosecuted, and Mr. Lincoln volunteered his services for their defense. In the midst of a most powerful argument upon the evils of the use of, and the traffic in, intoxicating HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 233 t spirits, while all in the crowded room were most intensely interested and many bathed in tears, the speaker turned and, pointing his long, bony finger toward where the venerable Berry was standing, said : " There stands the man who, years ago, was instrumental in convincing me of the evils of trafficking in and using ardent spirits. I am glad that I ever saw him. I am glad that I ever heard his testimony on this terrible subject." This was a higher honor than to have been made the Chief Magistrate of the nation. Such an encomium from such a man speaks volumes in praise of Mr. Berry's influence for good. Such is a brief sketch of the pioneer of Cumberland Presbyterianism in the State of Illinois. Mr. Berry died as he had lived, with his armor on, in the winter of 1856-57, in the town of Clinton, De Witt Co., 111., where he had lived for several years. His early colaborers were equally earnest, pious and devoted to their work. Dodds, Campbell and others will ever be remembered with warmest gratitude by the people of that Church. Some of the old citizens are firm in their convictions that the Lebanon con- gregation of the C. P. Church, was the first Church organized in the county, though the writer is fully convinced that Clary's Grove Baptist Church is older by a year or more. In 1829, the Lebanon congregation, six miles east of Peters- burg, and Concord, four miles north, were represented in Presbytery. Lebanon was organized, perhaps, in 1825 or 1826, and Concord a year or two later. The Cumberland Presbyterians were accustomed, from their first introduction in this part of Illinois, to hold camp-meetings every summer. These meetings were held in various communities, as Lebanon, Concord, Rock, Creek, Irish Grove, Salt Creek, and various other places. This custom was kept up till some twenty years ago. The Church grew and prospered from the first, and at the present time it, perhaps, has a larger membership than any other denomination in the county. The following is a list of the congregation and Pastors in the county r Irish Grove, Rev. J. T. May ; Fancy Prairie, Rev. 3. S. Stevenson ; Greenview, Rev. James White ; Rock Creek, Rev. J. Momire ; Petersburg, Rev. R. D. Miller ; Concord, Rev. A. H. Goodpasture ; besides these there are Tallula, New Hope and Lebanon congregations that, at present, are without Pastors. The fol- lowing additional ministers of this Church live in the county : Revs. James Knoles and C. B. Parkhurst, who are engaged in teaching. Thus it will be seen that there are nine congregations and eight ministers in the county. Each congregation has a good and finished house of worship, except Petersburg, which, at this writing July, 1879 has a good and neat brick edifice nearly ready for occupancy. A detail of the history of each of these congregations will be found in the history of the several townships in which they are situated. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.* When Diedrich Knickerbocker set about writing the history of New York, that his subject might have a broad foundation, he went back to the beginning *We arc indebted for this sketch of the Presbyterian Churches, to Rev. John Crazier, Pastor of North Sangamon Church at Indian Point. R. D. M. 234 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. of the world. In giving a sketch of the Presbyterian Church, in Menard County, we may not go back as far in order of time, and yet, it may interest those who read this sketch to know something of the early planting of the Presbyterian Church in Illinois, and especially this central portion, where our lot is cast. In 1797, just three years after Anthony Wayne's victory over the Indians at the battle of the Fallen Timber, and five years before Ohio was admitted into the Union as a State, and when all the vast territory covered by the States of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois was yet under Territorial government, an effort was made by a Presbyterian minister to plant the Gospel ordinances of Christ according to the Westminster Standards, upon the soil of Illinois. Rev. John E. Finley, a Presbyterian minister from Chester County, Penn., to Mason County, Ky., coveted the privilege of being the first to plant the Church of Christ upon the territory of the future great State of Illinois ; and also in the Louisiana Territory, in what is now the State of Missouri. In 1797, Mr. Fin- ley descended the Ohio River in a keel-boat, with several of his neighbors, members of the Presbyterian Church, and ascended the Mississippi, and landed at Kaskaskia, with the bold design of planting the standard of the Cross in the Spanish Colonies west of the Mississippi River. Mr. Finley probably had ultimate reference to a mission among the Indians. He preached the Gospel, catechised and baptised several of the " red men." But, in a short time, he was led to abandon the enterprise. A few years later, while Capts. Lewis and Clark, under the recommendation of President Jefferson and by appointment of Congress, were exploring a route over the Rocky Mountains, and descending the Columbia to the Pacific, earnest ministers of Christ were planning the conquest of these regions for Christ. In the years 1804, 1805 and 1806, short mission- ary excursions were made to the vicinity of Vincennes by Rev. Messrs. Samuel Rannels, Samuel B. Robinson, James McGrady and Thomas Cleland, members of the Presbytery of Transylvania in the State of Kentucky. As the result of these labors, the First Presbyterian Church was organized in Indiana, near Vincennes, and was then named, and still is known as Indiana Church. This was in 1806. During the years 1810, 1811, and also in 1814 and 1816, Rev. James McGrady spent a considerable time in the southern counties of Indiana, and in Illinois, and in 1816, or some accounts say, in 1814, Mr. McGrady organized Sharon Church in White County. This was the first Presbyterian Church in Illinois, and its honored name still stands on the roll of the Presby- tery of Cairo. About the same time, Revs. J. F. Schemerhorn and Samuel J. Mills visited Kaskaskia, and left a deep impression of their zeal and fidelity, especially in the family of Gov. Ninian Edwards. At that time, there was not a town of a thousand inhabitants in Indiana, Illinois or Missouri, unless it was Madison, Vincennes or St. Louis. Sparse settlements were scattered along the eastern part of Illinois as far north as the Vermilion, and on the west side as far north as Quincy. All the northern part of the State was a wilderness, with here HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY, 235 and there an Indian trading-post. Peoria was Ft. Clark, and Chicago only appears on the maps as Ft. Dearborn. The fort was on the south side of the Chicago River, and on the north side just opposite was John Kinzie's agency and trading-post. A few mud and stick shanties along the river near the agency, and at Wolf Point on the west side, was all the town there was on the site of the great city of Chicago. In 1821, Rev. Dr. Gideon Blackburn, the founder of Blackburn University, was in the full tide of his popularity as a most effective preacher of the Gospel. He passed through the State and held a camp-meeting at Shoal Creek, in Bond County, where there was a great out- pouring of the Holy Spirit, and many were converted, and a church was there formed. Rev. Abraham Williamson, from Princeton, N. J., also Rev. Messrs. Orrin Catlin and Daniel G. Sprague, from Andover, Mass., preached in that part of the State and organized a church at Carrollton. In 1825, Rev. John M. Ellis arrived in Illinois, and spent a year or two with the Church of Kas- kaskia. About the same time, the Rev. John Birch, a Scotsman who had spent his earlier years in his native country and in England, came to America, and, after a few years in Southern and Western Ohio, came to Morgan County, 111., where the village of Jacksonville had lately been laid out. Here he labored, and had organized a church before any one came to his aid. He was succeeded by Mr. Ellis, who. besides his zeal as a preacher of the Gospel, had initiated those movements which led to the establishment of Illinois College. Mr. Ellis was one of the seven ministers who were organized into the first Presbytery of Illinois, known as the Center Presbytery of Illinois. January 30, 1828, a church was organized by Mr. Ellis at Springfield, and was called the Sangamon Church, after the name of the river near which, and the county in which it was located. This Church was composed of nineteen members, of whom only five lived in the village of Springfield, and these were all women. The membership was scattered over a region of twenty miles around, and several of them (Messrs. John and John N. Moore) in what is now Menard County. It is worthy of note that this organization was made in the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, widow of Dr. John Blair Smith, a very eminent man in his day, and once the President of Hampden and Sidney College, Vir- ginia. The Church of Edwardsville was also organized in her house, when she lived there in 1819. The original Elders of the Sangamon Church at Spring- field were John Moore, Samuel Reid, Isaiah Stillman and John N. Moore. Ever since about 1820, people from different parts of Kentucky had begun to settle on Indian Creek, then a part of Sangamon County. Many of these were Presbyterians and Cumberland Presbyterians. The Presbyterians had united with the Sangamon Church-; but it was impossible that they should have the full benefit of the privileges of a church twenty miles away, with high waters and often impassable roads between. Soon after the Sangamon Church was organized, the Rev. John G. Bergen, lately from New Jersey, began his labors as the Pastor of the Church. But he did not confine his labors to Springfield, 236 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. but made extended missionary tours in every direction, and preached the AVord wherever an opportunity offered. During the winter of 182829, Mr. Bergen visited Vandalia, then the capital of the State, and preached before the Legis- lature. On his return, in January, 1829, he went to the Moore neighborhood, on Indian Creek, and there formed the acquaintance of Elder John Moore, the patriarch of the Moore family. Mr. Moore was a Virginian by birth, but had emigrated to Kentucky in early life, while the Indians were still a terror to the white settlers. He is represented as having been greatly useful in planting Presbyterianism in the Green River country. He passed through the great revival at the beginning of the century, and took an active part in it, but opposed the extravagances by which it was characterized. His wonderful knowledge of the deep things of God began with the study of an old torn and coverless book, which he found in the garret of his father's house. " Law Death, and Gospel Life " was its title, probably written by Dr. Bellamy. This book he read, and reread, until its thoughts were inwrought into the very text- ure of his soul. Mr. Moore came to Indian Creek in 1822. After Mr. Bergen came to Springfield, he found in Mr. Moore a warm and trusted friend, and was his companion in many a preaching tour. It is related of him that once, during the summer before the deep snow, they rode together 130 miles north to organize a church in Union Grove, in what is now La Salle County. On their return, Mr. Bergen preached at Holland's Grove, where the town of Washing- ton now stands, a few miles east of Peoria. At this service, nearly all the settlers were present for seven miles around, including a company of Potawat- omie Indians, who, by invitation, attended the service, filing in one by one, and taking their seats on the floor, near the minister. In 1832, the time had come when it was thought that the interests of religion required a separate Presbyterian church organization north of the Sangamon River. On the 20th of May, 1832, a meeting was appointed at the Lebanon "Meeting-house," the place of worship of the Cumberland Presbyterians. Mr. Bergen preached an appropriate sermon, after which a church was organized, consisting of thirty-two members, all presenting letters from the Sangamon Church, at Springfield, and, as this church was on the north side of the Sanga- mon River, it very appropriately chose the name of the North Sangamon Church, the name which it still bears. The names of the original members were as follows, viz. : Elijah Scott, John Stone, Andrew Moore, Samuel Moore, Alexander Barnett, David AValker, Milton Rayburn, Phrebe Moore, Margaret S. Moore, Stephen Stone, Ann Barnett, John N. Moore, Mary Moore, Jane Patterson, Panthy Barnett, Hannah Baxter, Jane Rayburn, Polly AValkor, Matilda AValker, Elizabeth Walker, Jane Walker, Ann AValker, John Moore, Ambers Stone, Jane Scott, Lucy Stone, Polly Stotts, Catherine Stone, Jane Casey, Isabella Walker, Alexander AValker and AVilliam Stotts. At the same time, the following persons were received on profession of their faith in Christ : John Allen, Henry C. Rogers, Sarah H. Rogers and Elizabeth Patterson. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 237 John Moore, John N. Moore, aad Alexander Walker, were elected Ruling Elders. As their first place of worship, the North Sangamon Church occupied, a part of the time, the log meeting-house built by the Lebanon congregation of the C. P. Church, and then they assisted the Cumberland brethren in building a frame church, which has since been replaced by their present commodious brick church. In consideration of aid thus rendered, the North Sangamon con- gregation had the use of the Lebanon house of worship one-half the time until 1844, when they built a frame church of their own, 28x36 feet, which was occupied seventeen years, until 1867, when the present brick edifice was finished and dedicated to the worship of the Almighty God, with appropriate services by John G. Bergen, D. D., who had organized the church thirty-five years before. Rev. George W. F. Birch, Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church in Spring- field, assisted in the services. As to ministers who have served this church, either by invitation of the Session, or by appointment of Presbytery, we may mention the honored names of Rev. William K. Steward, Rev. Thomas A. Spill- man, also Rev. George W. McKinley, who often supplied the church and pre- sided in the Session. The first minister who regularly supplied this church, was the Rev. Samuel Foster, a licentiate from New England, who was ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Sangamon, in the year 1833. Mr. Foster served this church only a little more than one year. The measure of success attending his ministry does not appear from the records. But the his- tory of this church seems to be marked with frequent additions on pro- fession of faith. After Mr. Foster left, the church -remained vacant for nearly a year, when, in 1835, Rev. Alexander Ewing entered upon his labors. His name first appears as Moderator of the Session, at the house of Mr. Stephen Stone, in Irish Grove,. March 22, 1835. On the 13th of June fol- lowing, thirteen persons were received by letter. North Sangamon Church, which had only had a separate existence of four years, was now about " to become two bands." At a meeting of the Session held April 2, 1836, Mr. Bergen presiding, it was resolved to apply to the Presbytery of Sangamon for a separate organization at Irish Grove. Preparatory to such organization, thirty- one persons, living at and near Irish Grove, asked for, and obtained letters from the North Sangamon Session, with a view of uniting in the new organization. The Irish Grove Church was soon after formed, and Mr. Ewing, who lived at the grove, gave half his time to that church, and the remainder to the church at North Sangamon. This arrangement continued until the beginning of the year 1837, when the controversies between the New and Old School cul- minated in a separation in 1838. The North Sangamon Church adhered to the Old School Assembly, and remained in connection with the Presbytery of Sangamon, and was without a settled Pastor from early in 1837, until late in 1838. At this time Rev. John W. Little, of the Central Congregational Asso- ciation of New York, was received by the Presbytery, and became the stated sup- ply of this church and Irish Grove, giving one-half of his time to each church. 238 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. This relation continued with mutual good-will, until Mr. Little's death, in June, 1842. The church was then supplied by Rev. Thomas Gait, for one-half his time until 1850, or nearly seven and one-half years. In the third year of Mr. Gait's ministry there seems to have been quite a revival, and nineteen persons were added to the church on profession of faith. In November,/ 1849, Rev. William Perkins began to supply this church on the alternate Sabbaths, when Mr. Gait preached at Irish Grove. Mr. Perkins continued his labors until November 1, 1851. They were then without a Pastor until the fall of 1853, when Rev. R. A. Criswell began his labors, and, in November of that year, Mr. Criswell was ordained and installed Pastor, and continued his labors until November 1, 1866, when he resigned his charge, and ceased to minister to this church. In April, 1867, his pastoral relation was dissolved by Presbytery. This pastorate seems to have been much blessed. During the thirteen years of Mr. Criswell's ministry there were sixty-three additions on profession, and forty* nine on certificate, clearly showing that the continued pastorate of one man with ordinary faithfulness is more conducive to Church growth than frequent changes. Soon after Mr. Criswell's resignation Rev. R. A. Van Pelt, formerly from Pennsyl- vania, but more recently from Wisconsin, began to serve the church, and continued as the stated supply for about two years with a reasonable measure of success. During the summer of 1869, after Mr. Van Pelt ceased his ministrations in the church, Rev. Mr. Reese supplied the church for a short time, but his health failing, he was obliged to give up his charge, and eventually to retire entirely from the work of the ministry. In the fall of 1869, the church invited Rev. John Crozier, then Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Oxford, Ohio, to become their Pastor. This invitation was accepted, and Mr. C. began his ministry in this church about the middle of November, 1869. In March fol- lowing, at a regular congregational meeting, with Rev. S. J. Bogle, of Mason City, presiding, the church made out a regular and unanimous call for the labors of Mr. Crozier as their settled Pastor. This call was duly presented to the Presbytery of Sangamon, in session in the First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, in April, 1870, and, being found in order, was placed in the hands of the Pastor elect and accepted, and, in August following, the installation was consummated, Rev. Messrs. D. J. Strain, J. D. Kerr and F. J. Moifatt as the Committee of Presbytery taking part in the services. This relation still con- tinues at the date of this sketch, September, 1879, with mutual good-will and confidence between Pastor and people. During this period, many changes have taken place, which have materially aifected the progress of the church. Many have been removed by death, and many persons owning small farms have sold to larger land-holders, and removed to other places. By this process, there has been an actual decrease of population. During the present pastorate, there have been thirty-five added to the church by profession of faith, and twenty- seven by letter ; forty-five have been dismissed to other churches, leaving the present active membership a little less than one hundred. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 230 This sketch would be incomplete without mention of the office bearers who have faithfully served this Church. The first Session, chosen at the organiza- tion in 1832, was John and John N. Moore and Alexander Walker. The senior Elder was John Moore, a native of Virginia, and born in the year 1767. He was a man of devoted piety. He was twice married, and was the father of eleven children, all of whom became pious. Joseph Moore, of Clin- ton, DeWitt County, William Moore, of Irish Grove, and Mrs. Sarah H. Rog- ers, wife of Henry C. Rogers, Esq., of Athens, also Mrs. Margaret Waters, of Clinton, were children of John Moore, and are still living. John Moore served as an Elder in this church from its organization in 1832 till his death in 1843. His oldest son and third child was John Newell Moore, who was born in Kentucky in 1794 ; was married to Phoebe Scott in Adair County, Ky., in 1820, and located in this vicinity in 1822. He was elected Elder at the organization of the Sangamon congregation when it was organized in. Springfield in 1828, and when the North Sangamon Church was organized in 1832, he was chosen Elder in it, and filled the position faithfully up to his death in 1842. Mr. Alexander Walker, another of the original Session, came from Kentucky at an early day. and settled in Irish Grove. He was first an Elder in the North Sangaraori Church, but, when the Irish Grove congregation was formed, he removed his membership there. Some years ago, he removed to Iowa. Elijah Scott was another 'of the first members of the Church, and at an early period was chosen Elder. After serving in this office a number of years, he removed t.o Cass County, where he still lives, being over eighty years of age. Dr. James Smick was another most acceptable Elder in this church. He was born in Mercer County, Ky. His parents were Presbyterians, and he united with that Church in Lexington, Ky. He studied medicine in the same city and practiced there, and also in Indiana, and came to Menard County in 1847. He was an Elder before he came to Menard. He was chosen Elder here in 1850, which office he filled till his death in 1853. Alonzo H. Whitney and Samuel Moore were elected Elders and ordained December 30, 1855. Mr. Moore was born in Kentucky in 1806 ; was a son of John Moore and brother of Elder John N. Moore. He was one of the original members of the church. His name appears as Elder for the last time March 13, 1862. He moved near Concord, where he died January 26, 1864, aged fifty-eight years and six months. Alonzo H. Whitney was born in Brattleboro, Vt., April 26, 1816 ; professed religion at Syracuse, N. Y., when near nine- teen years of age. He came to Illinois in 1834, and joined the Second Presby- terian Church in the town of Springfield. He married Miss Mary A. Kincaid. In 1841, he joined this church, and, in 1855, was elected and ordained Elder. He continued in this office till October 9, 1871, when he was called to his reward. Milton Rayburn was also one of the original members, and was made an Elder in 1835 ; he being a citizen of Irish Grove, was dis- missed to join there in 1836. The present Session is composed of John 240 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Kennedy Kincaid, James Scott Moore and Robert A. Young. The senior Elder, J. K. Kincaid, was born in Bath County, Ky., in 1808, and settled in Illinois in 1832. He joined this church by letter in 1834. The exact date of his election and ordination to the office of Elder is not known, though his ' O name appears on the records as such as early as 1843. He has been an Elder at least thirty-seven years. He has served much of the time as Clerk of the Session, and has frequently represented his congregation in Presbytery and Synod. James S. Moore is a son of Elder John N. Moore ; was born in Ken- tucky in 1821. His father settled on Indian Creek in 1822. December 3, 1836, he united with the church on profession of faith, under the ministry of Rev. Alexander Ewing. He was ordained Elder May 4, 1857, Rev. William Perkins officiating. Mr. Moore has served the Church faithfully in that capacity from his ordination to the present time, except near three years spent in Jacksonville, where he removed in 1870, to educate his children, returning to his old home in 1873. He has been much of the time Clerk of the Session; has often represented the congregation in Presbytery and Synod. He was representative on the part of the Eldership from Sangamon Presbytery to the General Assembly in 1867, which met in Cincinnati ; and, in 1877, he repre- sented the Springfield Presbytery in the General Assembly which met in the city of Chicago. He is an efficient Sabbath-school Superintendent, and serves his church in this capacity much of the time. The junior Elder is Robert A. Young, who was born in Bath County, Ky., November 23, 1829. His parents, William P. and Margaret Young, came to Illinois in 1836. On the 1st of April, 1848, he united with the church. On the 20th of July, 1871, he was ordained Ruling Elder. The present Deacons are William C. Kincaid, A. E. Kincaid, J. H. Kincaid, A. S. Kirk and J. M. Fulton. Trustees, W. C. Kincaid, C. 0. Culver and H. M. Moore. The officers of the Sunday school are Superintendent, James S. Moore ; Assistant Superintendent, William B, Thompson ; Secretary, R. A. Young ; Chorister, James S. Moore ; Organist, Laura P. Moore ; Sexton, Henry Walker. The following persons who were communicants in this church, have entert the ministry : John H. Moore, Pastor at Birmingham, Iowa ; D. J. Strain, Pastor at Virginia, 111. ; John W. Little, Pastor of Cross Roads Church, Alle- gany Presbytery, Pennsylvania ; John J. Graham, Pastor at Mount Vernon, 111. ; W. C. McDougall, now an evangelist in Scotland. John Howe Moore, a young man of rare piety and promise, was called to his reward before he com- pleted his studies preparatory to entering the ministry. In estimating the influence of this church for good, we must go beyond the actual of the communion roll. In the first place, this church, in a spirit of self- reliance, has sustained its ministry without aid from the Board of Missions even when weak in numbers and material wealth. In its early history, whei unable to support a Pastor, it united with some other in the support of a min- ister. It has built two houses of worship without asking for help from the HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 243 general funds of the Church as a body. Its present commodious house of worship was finished and furnished at a total cost of over $3,000, it being 40x60 feetrin size. Beside this, they rendered substantial aid in building the Presbyterian Churches of Petersburg, Mason City, Sweetwater and Irish Grove. This church may be regarded as the parent of all the Presbyterian congregations in the county. This congregation has furnished the first material for the organization of all the other churches of this body in the county. The Presby- terians have three flourishing congregations in the county, and four excellent houses of worship. Each of those congregations . have regular ministers. The reader will find a detailed account of each of these congregations in the history of the townships, in which they are severally situated. The Presbyterians pur- chased the house of worship erected by the " Soul-Sleepers," in Sweetwater, some years ago, in which they have occasional services. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. There is but one Episcopal Church in the county, and this is located in Petersburg. The house was erected, and the Church organized, through the energy and zeal of Mrs. Harris, relict of the late Hon. Thomas L. Harris. The Trinity Church is a substantial brick of the Gothic style of architecture, standing on the hillside, commmanding a fine view of Petersburg. The first Rector of Trinity was Rev. Mr. Steel, who served the congregation very acceptably, and then gave up this charge to accept one in Alton, 111. The Church was without a Minister for upward of a year, but have recently secured the services of a Minister, who entered on his duties in August. LUTHERAN CHURCH (GERMAN). This denomination has had a church in the county seat for several years, and, although representatives of the Church are found all over the county where- ever there are Germans, yet no congregation was ever organized in the county, out of Petersburg, until two years ago, when Prof. Winnekin, of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, located at Springfield, organized a congregation in the vicinity of Tallula, and they have since erected a neat, though cheap house of worship. There is, also, a large community of German Lutherans in the neighborhood of Greenview, though they have not, as yet, been formally organ- ized. In Petersburg, the Church owns a small brick church house, and on adjoining lots are a schoolhouse and parsonage. These are all free from debt. Rev. Robert Collier is at present, and has been for more than a year past, their Pastor. The membership in this congregation is large, and they have regular services each Sabbath. CATHOLIC CHURCH. There is but one congregation, and one house of worship in this county belonging to this people. The house stands on the crest of the high hill at the south border of the town, and commands a most commanding view of the town 244 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. and river. The house is large, substantially built, and finished in the very best taste. With the church is connected half a block of ground, on which stands a two-story parsonage and a schoolhouse, in which a school is conducted eight months in the year, by Sisters. The membership is large, extending to almost every part of the county. The Pastor occasionally visits the villages of the county, and holds services in them. The church was built about the close of the war, and, since it was completed, there has been a regular Pastor in charge almost the whole of the time. At present, they are without a Pastor, Rev. Father Ahne having left some two months ago, on a'ccouut of his health, and, as yet. his place has not been supplied. With this brief account we close the general history of the churches in this county, though the reader may turn to the histories of the several precincts, where he will find full details of all these matters. We sincerely regret that we are not able to get fuller details of the early preachers and churches, but it was impossible to get this in any reliable form. It is no trouble to find parties professing to know the early history of each of the different churches, but the difficulty is, that when you accept one of these statements so positively made, you will soon find, perhaps, half a dozen persons equally reliable, who will con- tradict almost every fact, and give an almost exactly opposite statement. No doubt many facts here given will be disputed, yet we have the pleasure of knowing that they were gotten from the most trustworthy sources, and where there were conflicting statements, we accepted those corroborated by the greatest amount of reliable proof. DEATHS AND CEMETERIES. As before stated, the first death in the county, of which there is any record or recollection, was a son of Mr. Boyer, named Henderson. Some affirm that Joseph Kinney thrown from a horse and killed was the second, and some say the third death. The burden of the proof is that he was the second. His grave was the first in the burying-ground now known as Sugar Grove Cemetery. There is a strange fact in connection with this oldest known grave in Menard County. Kinney was injured by being thrown from his horse while on his way from a horse-race, and he died very soon after the fall. Shortly after his burial, an elm sprang up from the very center of the grave. This was allowed to grow from year to year ; and it seems there was peculiar nutriment in the soil of that spot for the elm, for it grew with remarkable rapidity. It stands there to-day, a giant tree, and the grave is entirely covered and obliterated by it ; and there it stands, a living, verdant monument, wrestling with the tempest, and glitter- ing in the sunshine, silently telling of the death of Joe Kinney. Soon after this, the old "graveyards " in Clary's Grove, and at Lebanon, and at other points were opened. No fact, connected with the early settlement of the country, is more to be regretted than the practice of burying their dead in places totally unprotected by law, and doomed soon to be abandoned, and, in HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 245 time, to be inclosed in farms, the soil above them ruthlessly torn by the plow, and the very ashes of our ancestors made to feed the cultivated crops. A very little care and effort at the proper time would have prevented all this. But it is a lamentable fact that, even to the present time, there are scarcely any cemeteries in the county for which proper provisions are made. The principal cemeteries proper are as follows : " Rose Hill" situated on the hill east of the river, one mile from Peterburg. Some fifteen years ago, Mr. William S. Conant purchased the tract of land, and laid out the cemetery into blocks and lots. The location is one well suited for the purpose. It is a high ridge, level on top, and gradually sloping off, at first into gentle undula- tions, and then, farther south, it breaks into abruptly rolling hills ; so that any taste can be satisfied. Fine drives for carriages traverse every part of the grounds, so that every lot may be closely inspected without alighting. The ground was originally covered with a fine growth of young and thrifty forest- trees, oak, hickory, elm, walnut, etc. ; and the proprietor has displayed great taste\in setting out evergreens and flowers in every part of the ground. A great number of graves are already to be seen there, while a great number of fine monuments beautify the ground, standing as mute, but eloquent mourners, bring- ing to the memory of many the tender but broken ties of other years. Mr. Conant deserves great credit for his energy and perseverance in opening and keeping up this " city of the dead." "Oakland Cemetery" is deserving of mention here, for, while it has been opened but a few months, in point of importance it stands among the first cem- eteries in the county. It is located just outside the corporate limits of Peters- burg, at the southwestern point. It consists of some twenty acres purchased by the proprietor, Mr. D. M. Bone, of Mr. Wadkins, in the autumn of 1878. It would seem that the Great Architect prepared this spot as a private chamber where the sleeping dead may rest. The cemetery proper is cut off from the surrounding fields by a deep ravine running along each side, thus forming a high ridge, slightly declining toward the city, while, on the summit, there are at least seven or eight acres that are almost level, rolling just enough fo- the water to run off. Along the entire extent of the crest of the hill, running clear around the whole bluff, is the broken brow of the hill, offering a choice of every quality of ground, from the level sward on top to the sloping, wave-like undu- lations on the brow, to the rugged and precipitous sides of the bluff. The earth is close and compact, and, at the depth of three or four feet, it is almost white as lime, while, owing to the peculiar conformation of the entire tract, the ground underneath is very dry, caused by the shedding of the water from the surface. The surface of the tract was by nature covered with a dense growth, princi- pally young and thrifty forest trees, with here and there a gnarled and wrinkled oak or elm, looking the parent of the surrounding forest. These old pioneers of the wood, centuries old, yet showing no signs of age, are fitting sentinels to guard these precincts of the slumbering tenants of the tomb. The natural 246 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. forest was marred but little by the ax, but left almost as nature formed it. Mr. Bone secured the services of Mr. Cleaveland, of Chicago, the most gifted landscape gardener on the continent, to come and view the ground, and, having examined the land, he laid it out in the highest perfection of the art. Mr. Cleaveland has superintended the laying-out of the leading cemeteries of the country, and, so soon as they got a view of the natural .tract, he and his son both spoke in the highest terms of its beauty. It is laid out in gentle curves, and smoothly gliding lines, without any sharp angles, or monotonous squares or diamonds to weary the eye and surfeit the taste. No two blocks or lots are alike ; no two drives or walks are similar ; but an unending variety and every varying contrast is presented to the eye. Broad drives sweep in grace- ful curves through every part of the ground, and from the carriage every grave may be viewed from the foot, and every inscription be read. In addition to this, the cemetery is chartered on a basis that it can never be neglected nor fall into decay. Provisions are made by which an ample fund, as a kind of endow- ment fund, is laid by in store, the interest only of which is to be used in keep- ing up the repairs. No individual can ever assume the control of it ; and as much care will be taken of the grave fifty years after the interment as the first year. Taking all these facts together, and in connection with its location within an easy walk from any part of town, it will, in the very near future, be one of the most lovely cemeteries in the county. Quite a number of persons are already interred there, and many lots have already been sold. At Indian Point, there is a cemetery one mile east of the church, that is duly incorporated, and is beautifully laid out. At Athens, the cemetery laid out by Mr. Hall is also incorporated, as also the Tallula Cemetery. These, we believe, are all the incorporated cemeteries in the county. There are a large number of private burying-grounds in the county, some containing hundreds of graves ; some have some little care and attention, while most of them have fallen into neglect, and, in the course of a few years, will have gone to entire ruin. This is a matter in which our people are shamefully negligent, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the public mind will become awakened on this sub- ject. Will we take so much pains with our homes and barns and farms, while the dust of our fathers and mothers are thusneglected ? A mere pittance, in the way of expense, and very little care and labor would gather these scat- tered remains from those dreary scenes of desolation and neglect, and place them in incorporated cemeteries, where their graves would be remembered, protected and cared for. RAILROADS. There are two railroads passing through Menard County ; these are the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago Alton, and the Springfield & Northwest- ern. These roads cross each other at nearly right angles at Petersburg, which is near the center of the county, thus dividing the county in four almost equal parts. The Chicago & Alton Railroad enters the county within less than a HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 247 half-mile of the southwest corner, and it leaves the county at the Salt Creek bridge, which is but a few miles from the northeast corner ; thus it traverses the entire county diagonally from corner to corner. The Springfield & North- western road enters the county at the southeast corner, or as near as it can be found ; it traverses the entire area, and the bridg'e on the Sangamon. where it enters Mason county, is precisely at the corner of Menard. The question of the navigation of the Sangamon River had been agitated as early as 1832 or 1833, as the reader will see in another place, but this was soon given up entirely. Another project was then proposed, of opening a canal from Beardstown to Decatur, by way of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers. In the Legislature of 1834-35, a charter was granted for this purpose. In the spring following, a careful survey wcs made of the route ; then, after a vast deal of gas and calculation and suggestion, the matter was abandoned; but it did not die in the rninds or energies of the people. Occasionally, the matter was agitated, but it was not till 1850, or 1851, that it was again warmly canvassed. So high did the fever run at this time, that the Leg- islature of 1852 granted a charter to the "Springfield and Northwestern Rail- road Company " to construct a road from Springfield to Rock Island. This road was to pass through the county just as the Springfield & Northwestern Road has since done. So far was this enterprise pushed, that the county of Menard voted $50,000 to aid in its construction. The people were so full of enthusiasm over the enterprise that it was thought for a time that it could not fail. Even a small per cent of the amount voted was absolutely raised to defray the expenses of the survey. But it is true that " The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft ngley," and as Sangamon County refused to vote her share of the stock, and troubles anticipated concerning the favorable negotiation of the bonds if voted, as also some unexplained trouble among the Company, the enterprise finally " went up.'' The people of "Little Menard," by these constant failures, became thoroughly discouraged. For a few years they were despondent ; but in the fall of 1856, a new enterprise was suggested. An intelligent citizen informed the writer, that when this was first proposed, the people heard it with a scowl ; but laier, hope began to revive. The enterprise proposed was the construction of a line of railroad from Jacksonville to Tonica in La Salle County, to intersect the Hennepin & Streri- tor. Tonica is a village on the last-named road, nine miles from the town of La Salle. A gentleman from La Salle County came along the proposed line of road, talking to the people and holding public meetings; and, having a corps of surveyors with him, he was making a preliminary survey at the same time. As the proposed line was to pass through Petersburg, and that being twenty- two miles from the nearest railroad or navigable river, the proposed road was a grand scheme to the citizens of this section of country. Menard, as a corporate 248 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. body, voted $100,000 stock, and such was the zeal of the people that nearly $30,000 -stock was subscribed by individuals. A charter was granted the Petersburg & Tonica Railroad. The subscriptions were legalized, and Hon. Richard Yates was made President of it, and Menard County had two representatives on the Board'of Directors, viz., John Bennett and Hon. "W. G. Greene. Work was soon commenced on both extremes of the line, and prose- cuted with vigor, and a great amount of grading was soon done ; but, unfor- tunately, notwithstanding the zeal of the people, the subscriptions ran short, and the work was compelled to stop. About this time, Mr. Yates resigned the Presidency, when Hon. W. G. Greene was called to fill the position, and Hon. W. T. Beekman was made a Director and Superintendent of the road. By almost superhuman efforts, means were raised to complete the road from Jack- sonville to Petersburg, a distance of twenty-eight miles. During the fall of 1861, the locomotive whistled for the first time in Petersburg. This being just at the opening of the war, all hope of its immediate completion was aban- doned. Mr. Milton Moore, recently deceased, was the first agent in the Petersburg depot, and Mr. William Bacon, the very prince of conductors, had charge of the first train. Many were the anecdotes told of the remarkable speed of this train. There being one train, and the time-table requiring him to make the round trip every twenty-four hours, of course he must run. Fifty-six miles in twenty-four hours ! Think of it ! They still tell of the train waiting for a farmer to shell a "grist " of corn to take to mill, and of the conductor's strictness in carrying out the time-table ; so strict, indeed, that he helped shell the corn ! Of the lady who had eleven eggs to send to market on the train, and of Mr. Bacon waiting for the hen to lay the other egg ; but they do not say that he hurried the hen ! One thing is sure ; that is, Mr. Bacon was always a gentleman, and still is. About the close of the war, a proposition was made by the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, which was accepted, whereby the latter company completed the road, not to Tonica, however, but following the old road-bed to Delavan, in Tazewell County ; there leaving the old Tonica line, it was run directly to Bloomington, there intersecting the line of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Since that time, this has been an important line of road. Some years ago, the Chicago & Alton Company secured entire possession. Now it is finished to Kansas City. There are no finer trains run anywhere west of Ohio than the ''Denver Express" and the "St. Louis Mail." The passenger and freight business of this road is simply immense ; and the company spare no expense in keeping their road up with all others, by putting all new appliances that can add to the success of the road into use. The reader will remember that, in 1852, a charter was granted by the Legislature to the " Springfield & Northwestern Railroad Company," to build a railroad from Springfield to Rock Island. After that old charter had lain dead for seventeen years, it was revived by the Legislature in 1869 to a new HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 249 company, however, allowing them to construct a road on the line of the old survey. Menard County voted $100,000 stock in this road, and the town of Petersburg pays $15,000. There was a great amount of trouble over this mfitter of the "town bonds," as it was in the courts for quite a while; but as it is a matter that produced trouble and hard feelings, and as it has been settled in the courts, we think it the part of prudence to let it be buried in the obliv- ion of forgetfulness. In the latter part of 1870, work was begun on this line at Havana, but it progressed but slowly. During the next year, 1871, it was completed across Mason County, and a few miles into Menard. In 1872, the cars began to run as far as from Havana to Petersburg. By late autumn in 1873, the road was finished all the way to Cantrall, a distance of no less than thirteen miles from Petersburg ! Here another rest was taken ; but after the needed rest and recuperation necessary after such an arduous summer's work, the road was completed at last, in 1874. Mr. William Ludwig was appointed agent at Petersburg depot, a position which he has held to the pres- ent time, to the entire satisfaction of all. The road is doing a good business, both in freights and travel, and both rapidly increasing. NAVIGATION OF THE SANGAMON. The location of Menard County being so remote from large rivers, the roads of course, poor, and railroad transportation being then unborn, it is not to be wondered at if the early settlers did seriously ponder the navigation of the Sangamon. We are to bear in mind another fact, viz.: the forests being then undisturbed, the ground untrampled by stock and unplowed, and the flat prairies undrained, it follows, of course, that the average amount of water flow- ing in the river was at least a third more than at present ; for, there being more vegetation then than now, there was then a greater rain-fall. Also, the ground being untrampled, the rain all sank in the earth and passed off regularly by springs, feeding the river constantly ; whereas now the ground is hard, and the fall of rain runs off with a dash. The result of this is that we have greater freshets and lower waters than they had in an early day. Not only was the matter pondered, but the experiment was absolutely made more than once. Some gentlemen in or near to Springfield, being very desir- ous for some lumber, conceived the plan of shipping it up from Alton by way of the rivers. A steamer was found at Alton of the desired size. It was duly laden with lumber, and started on its long voyage. The season was favorable to them, the waters being extremely high, as this was 1831, the spring follow- ing the deep snow. All went swimmingly until they reached the inevitable Salem dam of Cameron and Rutledge. The water was nearly level over the dam, and so they tried to run over it. Unfortunately, they hung ; but, removing a part of the cargo, and taking a cable above and fastening it to a tree, and working the rope on the capstan, by steam and ropes combined they pulled over. From this on, they had no more trouble. It went as far as Cotton Hill, 250 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. which is due east of the city of Springfield. The boat soon after returned in safety to the Illinois River. The name of this first steamer up the Sangamon was the " Talisman." Five years later, in 1836, the steamer Utility came up the same river as far as Petersburg ; but, owing to the rough usage it received coming up, and the low stage of the water, the Captain was afraid to start back to the Illinois with it. He sold the Utility, as he could not utilize it, to Col. John Taylor, one of the early pioneers of Petersburg. Mr. Taylor built the first frame house that was ever in Petersburg or Menard County, of the debris of this boat; the first glass windows in the town came out of this boat, and the first steam mill ever in the town or county was run by the engine belonging to it. One of the residents of the town at the time says that there was not a house in the town that was not ornamented with some part of the Utility. Certainly, the primitive "burghers" utilized it to pretty good purpose. Some of the old citizens affirm that a third steamboat came up as far as this place ; while others positively deny it. If such a vessel did visit the " wharf" of Petersburg, its name was never known to the people, or is entirely forgotten. It is true that the citizens sent Maj. Hill to Cincinnati, and had a boat built expressly "for Sangamon River ports." The boat was built and came on, .but it was too large, and never made a voyage, as some say, but others say that it came to Petersburg and was sunk here in the raging Sangamon. So much for navigation. EDUCATION. The year has its seasons, in which the vegetable kingdom is variously affected. During the spring, it grows, expanding and enlarging ; in summer, the newly-formed portions are matured and hardened so as to ensure the rigors of winter. Among animals, there is a period in which they grow and advance, and then they decay and die. The tide ebbs and flows ; day is succeeded by night ; and so, all through nature, there is change and variety ; even the plan- ets in their orbits at one point fly with inconceivable rapidity, while at another their motion is retarded. This seems to be true even of the intellectuality of the human family. Especially since the introduction of letters among the Greeks, there have been seasons of advancement and then retrogression in the intellectuality of the race. But this is not so plainly visible till after the revi- val of letters in Europe. This is true, however, in civilization, arts and sciences ; we advance and then recede, drop back, not to the former state, how- ever, and then advance again beyond the point reached before ; so that the general tendency is advancement. So it is in the literary improvement of mankind, the advance being greater than the retrogression. About the close of the war of the Revolution, literature and science began to advance in a man- ner they had never done before, and the interest awakened at that time is still on the advance. From that time, the American people have been fully aroused on the subject of education. But in those sections of country that were settled after HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 251 the Revolution, time was absolutely necessary to any beneficial results from the efforts. In the early development of Illinois, there was a great variety of influences in the way of general education. The settlements were sparse, and continued so for years. Money or other means of remunerating teachers was scarce, as the pioneers of new countries are nearly always poor. There were no schoolhouses erected, nor was there any public school fund, either State or county. All persons, of both sexes, who had physical strength enough to labor, were compelled to take their part in the work of securing a support, the labors of the females being as laborious and important as that of the men ; and this continued so for a quarter of a century. In the last place, both teachers and books were extremely scarce. Taking all these facts together, the wonder is that they had any schools whatever. With all our present advantages our commodious schoolhouses, our abundant and ever ready public fund, and the superabundance of teachers of every quality, from the very poorest up to the best still some communities will lose months of precious time in wrangling over some matter of the most insignificant character. But the pioneers of Illi- nois deserve the highest honors for their prompt and energetic efforts in this direction. Just so soon as the settlements would at all justify, schools were begun at each one. The teacher or pupil of to-day has no conception of getting an education under difficulties. Everything connected with schools was as simple and primitive as the dwellings, clothing or food. The schools were at first kept in private dwellings, and then, a few years later, houses were built in the various neighborhoods, not by money subscribed, but by labor given. The men of the vicinity would gather together at some point previously agreed upon, and, with each an ax in hand, the work was soon done. Logs were cut, six- teen or eighteen feet in length, and of these the walls were raised. Broad boards composed the roof, and a rude fireplace and clapboard door, a puncheon floor, and the cracks filled with " chinks," and these daubed over with mud, completed the schoolhouse, with the exception of the windows and furniture. The window if any was made by cutting out a log the full length of the build- ing, and over the opening, in winter (and they had school during no other season of the year), paper saturated with grease served to admit the light. Just under this window, two or *,hree strong pins were firmly driven in the log in a slant- ing direction. On these pins, a long "puncheon" was fastened, and this was the writing-desk for the whole school. For seats, they used benches made in the following manner: Smooth, straight trees, about a foot in diameter, were cut in lengths of from twelve to sixteen feet. In the round side of these, two large holes were bored at each end, and, in each, a stout pin fifteen inches long was driven. These pins formed the legs. On the uneven floors, these rude benches were hardly ever seen to have more than three legs on the floor at one time. The dirt to daub the house and construct the fireplace and chimney was. nearly always dug in the center of the building, before the floor was laid. This dug quite a cellar under the schoolhouse floor. The venerable Minter Graham 252 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. informed the writer that, while he was teaching in Salem, he was one day walking the floor, deeply interested in hearing the recitation of a class. All at once, one of the "puncheons" in the floor, being a little short, slipped off" the "sleeper" at one end, and, quick as thought, the teacher was sent like an arrow, feet foremost, into the hole under the floor. The children screamed with fright, doubtless thinking that, like Korah of old, the earth had swallowed him up; nor would they be pacified till "Uncle Minter " crept out, and adjusted the treacherous slab. The books were as primitive as the houses. The New Testament, when it could be had, was the most popular reader, though occasionally a copy of the old "English Reader" was found, and very rarely the " Columbian Orator" was in a family. Pike's and Smiley's Arithmetics, "Webster's Speller" was first used, and after eight or ten years, the "Elementary Speller" came in. Grammar was scarcely ever taught ; when it was, the text-books used were Murray's and Kirkham's Grammar. To illustrate the scarcity of these books, it may not be amiss to state in this connection that while Lincoln was in Salem, he took lessons from Mr. Graham in English grammar. But he must have a book, and, after diligent inquiry, he learned that Mr. John Vance, then living seven miles north of Salem, at Concord, had a copy of " Kirkham's Gram- mar." Mr. Lincoln walked barefoot the seven miles and back, procured the book, mastered its contents, and then returned it. The schools were made by subscription, the charge being from $1.50 to $2.50 per scholar for a term of three months, the schools running only in mid- winter. School opened at 8 o'clock in the morning and closed at 5 in the evening. The teacher must be an adept at making quill pens, as pens of steel or gold were then unheard of. The principal game among the boys was " bull- pen," a kind of ball. The party was equally divided. A field was laid out with as many corners, or bases, as there were men on a side. They tossed for choice, the winners' side taking the corners, or bases, the others going into the " pen." The game was this : The men on the bases, tossing the ball from one to another as rapidly as they could, threw and struck one in the "pen" whenever they could. If one threw and struck no one, he was out ; but if he struck one, the men on the bases all ran away, and if the one struck first did not throw and hit one in return, he was out; though if he did, both kept their places. So the game went on till all on the "corners" were out; the others then took the bases. This was a rough, but lively and amusing game. Those in the " pen " often had their ribs sorely battered with the ball ; but many became such adepts in the art of "dodging" the ball when thrown at them, that it was almost impossible to strike them. This game was, in time, aban- doned for a game called "town ball;" the present baseball being town ball reduced to a science. It is a rather strange, but very creditable fact, that schools were begun in the principal centers of the early settlements nearly at the same time, and HISTORY OF MEXARD COUNTY. 253 * within less than two years after the first pioneers came to the country. It cannot be decided who it was that taught the first school in the county, or where it was taught. It is pleasing, however, to know that the name of the first teacher in each of those settlements has been preserved the place, the approx- imate time, and all this ; but the exact date not being given, we cannot tell which was first. Clary's Grove, Sugar Grove, Indian Creek and Rock Creek settlements each claims the honor of being the first to start in this direction. Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, now ninety-five years of age, had settled on a claim on Rock Creek, on which were two log cabins, one 16x17 feet, the other, 15 feet square. Mr. Lloyd lived in the larger of these, and, about 1820 (Mr. L. can- not give the date positively), a man by the name of Compton opened a school in the smaller of these cabins ; and this served as a schoolhouse for two years, when a better one was built. In 1820 or 1821, Messrs. Meadows, Boyer, Wilcox, McNabb and Grant put up a house in Sugar Grove, in which to have school. This was built of split logs, or large rails, and a school was at once opened in it by James McNabb, who, as the reader will probably remember, was drowned in the Sangamon River some time after. The next school there was taught by a Mr. McCall, and the third by Mr. Templeman. In 1820 (positively), a school was taught in Clary's Grove, in a log cabin, by Robert Armstrong. The old settlers of this grove are very positive in the assertion that this was the first school in the limits of " Little Menard." In 1820 or 1821, a log cabin was put up on the brow of the bluff on Indian Creek, not far from the present site of Indian Point Church. In this, a Mr. Hodge taught the first school in that vicinity. We give in detail only these earliest schools, for, by one or two years after those named were begun, schools were opened in considerable number, so that any effort at giving any farther particulars would be simply ridiculous. As the school system .was not adopted and put into operation by the authority of the State till as late as 1847, it fol- lows, of course, that there were no regular districts for schools, no public funds of any amount, and, therefore, they were all run by private enterprise, and on the subscription plan. But in order that the people should not be imposed upon too egregiously, it was common for the neighborhood to select some one of their number to examine and pass on the qualifications of the applicant, giving him, if qualified, a certificate of the fact. In another part of this work, Mr. Perrin relates an incident actually occurring in the county : A gentleman applying for a certain school was sent to the proper dignitary to be examined and procure a certificate. He appeared before his honor, and was handed a Bible, opened at a chapter of genealogy in the Old Testament, which, of course, was all jaw-breaking proper names. He read the chapter, when the old gentleman said, " I guess you can teach school." He then produced pen and paper and told the applicant to write a certificate. He did so, and, when done, handed it to the old gentleman for his signature. Said he, " Just sign it for me, and I will make my mark, as I can't write." 2- r )4 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. In some communities they were determined not to be imposed upon ; as in the vicinity of Indian Point. Long before the introduction of our admirable- system of school laws, a number of leading citizens constituted themselves a committee on examinations, and these examinations were close and rigid. Many were the poor fellows in ye olden time, who, after sweating for long hours in the dreadful ordeal of a cross fire between these sturdy old farmers, were doomed at last to fail. But the result was a wholesome one to the com- munity adopting the plan. The Indian Point school is an illustration, for they, adopting this plan in a very early day, have always had the very best of schools the best in the entire county, perhaps. After the adoption of the present school system, the interest in education was greatly advanced, and, at present, our districts in every part of the county are enjoying the very highest privileges. Each district has a neat and pleas- ant schoolhouse, furnished with every comfort and necessity. The best of teachers can be employed, and a public fund is provided to meet all the expen- ses. Subjoined, we give some important items from the County Superintend- ent's report for the year ending July 30, 1879. There are, under twenty-one years of age, males, 3,226; females, 3,041: total, 6,267. Between the ages of six and twenty-one years, males, 2,160 ; females, 2,012 ; total, 4,172. Number of schools in the county, 63. Frame schoolhouses, 35; brick, 28. Number of teachers employed during the year, males, 58; females, 53; total, 111. Months taught by males, 327; by females, 266 ; total, 593. Total number of days attended, 264,043. Number unable to read and write, males, 8 ; females, 4 ; total, 12. This includes, of course, only those between six and twenty-one years. The cause, in one case, was men- tal incapacity ; in all the others, the cause was the neglect of parents. Aver- age wages paid to male teachers per month, $51.37 ; average paid to females, $34.13. State fund received, $4,650.22. Interest on public fund, $264.77. Amount of district tax levy, $14,833.16. Total sum expended in the county for school purposes during the year, $38,386.28. The county never had any normal school till during 1878, and the summer of 1879. Each term was of six weeks, and forty pupils were in attendance during each term. Each term was a decided success. WAR RECORD. Under this head, we think it best to give the entire history of Menard County as connected with the various wars in which the United States has been engaged since the State came into the Union. The Black Hawk war was spoken of in the history of the village of Salem ; it is therefore unnecessary to repeat what was there said. Ever since the Indian troubles of the country, the Western people have shown the strongest devotion* to the interests and honor of the whole country. And when a portion of the frontier citizens of the country, after repeated and long-continued abuses from heartless and despic- able neighbors, appealed to the whole country for aid, and a call was made for HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 255 volunteers, the whole American people were filled with enthusiasm. The citi- zens of the " Lone Star State," as it has since been called, had for years been engaged in a kind of guerrilla warfare, with varying results; but in 1836, a battle was fought at San Jacinto, wherein Santa Anna, the dictator of Mexico, was captured, and, being held in strict confinement, he was finally induced to sign a treaty acknowledging the independence of Texas. But, in violation of the treaty and of every principle of honor, the republic of Mexico treated Texas and the Texans just as she had previously done. From this time on, petitions were frequently presented to the United States asking admission into the Union. But Mexico, through sheer spite, endeavored to prevent the admission of Texas, by constantly declaring that her reception would be regarded as a sufficient cause for a declaration of war, thinking, perhaps, that this would serve to intimidate the United States. In the Presidential canvass of 1844, this was one of the leading issues before the people, and Mr. Polk being elected, this was taken as a public declaration on the subject. After this, Congress had no hesi- tancy in granting the petition of Texas, and, on the 1st of March, 1845, for- mally received her into the sisterhood of States. Mexico at once, in her indig- nation, broke off all diplomatic relations with the United States, calling home her Minister immediately, which was a clear declaration of war. War was soon declared. Congress passed an act, authorizing the President to accept the ser- vices of 50,000 volunteers, and appropriating $10,000,000 for the prosecution of the war. Just at the opening of actual trouble with Mexico, the United States was disputing about the boundary of Oregon, the motto being " 54, 40 or fight." But, as we had one war on hand already, it was thought best not to get into trouble with Great Britain, and the boundary was placed at the 4th parallel of north latitude. When the call for volunteers was made, the requisition on Illinois was for "three regiments of infantry or riflemen." As to the pay, that matter was nothing, being only $8 a month. The troops were to be enlisted for a term of twelve months, and the privates were lim- ited to eighty men in a company. The call of the Governor Ford was issued May 25, for the organization of the three regiments. Soon the State was alive with almost frantic enthusiasm. The strains of martial music were heard in almost every village and hamlet. The first man to enroll himself a volunteer was the well-known and brave J. J. Hardin. In ten days, thirty-five full companies were raised, and by the middle of June there were no less than forty companies in excess of the call. After the three regiments hal rendezvoused at Alton, and had been received and sworn in> Hon. E. D. Baker, member of Congress from the Sangamon District, was authorized by the Secretary of War to raise another regiment in Illi- nois. The regiment was promptly raised, and was composed of two com- panies from Sangamon, and one company from each of the following coun- ties: Macon, McLean, De Witt, Logan, Tazewell, Edgar, Perry and '"Little Menard." Hon. Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, and whose family still 256 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. reside in that place, was, by general consent, recognized as Captain of the company, though no election was held till some time later. They stopped for a short time at Springfield, where they were partially drilled. At Alton, they were sworn in and received arms. They then removed to Jefferson Barracks, twelve miles below St. Louis, on the Mississippi River. When they reached the barracks, they still had no officers, except Capt. Harris who was tacitly regarded as such. Here an election was held for regimental offi- cers, which resulted in the choice of E. D. Baker as Colonel ; the former Lieutenant Governor of Illinois, John Moore, of McLean, as Lieutenant Col- onel, and Thomas L. Harris, of Petersburg, as Major. Officers were here elected for the company. A. D. Wright, of Petersburg, was elected Captain ; William C. Clary, First Lieutenant ; Shelton Johnson, Second Lieutenant ; Robert Scott, Third Lieutenant. The whole number of men in the company, mustered in, was eighty-two; these, with Maj. Harris, promoted, made eighty-three men from Menard County actually entering the service. Some others volunteered, but they never went so far as to be mustered into service. So soon as the Fourth Regiment reached the city of Alton, a serious question of rank arose between Col. Baker, of the Fourth, and Col. John J. Hardin, of the First Regiment. This matter was referred to a court of inquiry, composed of Capts. Bishop, Crow, Coffee, Dickey, Elkin, Hicks, Jones, McAdams, Morgan, Roberts and Wiley, and G. T. M. Davis as clerk. After a careful investigation of the whole question, Col. Hardin was declared the senior officer. The men who went from Menard County were the following: Clayborn Altig, Lewis Atchison, Robert Bishop, Wilson Bess, John Bond, Banister Bond, Greene Bond, Jesse Browne, Preston Berry, Andrew Bell, Oliver Cox, William Close, David Clark, Robert Clary, William Clary, Thomas Clary, Daniel Clary, Franceway Day, Phillip Day, Washington Denton, Aaron Durben, Isaac Estil, Samuel Ely, Elijah Elmore, Napoleon Greer, Isaiah Goldsby, Wade H. Goldsby, Charles Gum, Christopher Goodman, Conover Gum, Evans Greene, Amos Gurnsey, John Garber, Alvin Hornback, William Hutchinson, Peter Hamilton, Elias Hohimer, Aaron Houghton, Michael Hed- rick. John Jones, Robert N. Jones, Shelton Johnson, Richard Johnson, Walter W. King. Joseph M. King, Jesse Lukins, Robert Moore, Royal Miller, John Miller, Philemon Morris, T. Nance, Henry Nance, George W. Nance, James Patterson, William Phillips, Cornelius Rourke, Robert Rayburn. William Rhodes, John Ritchie, William Stone, 0. H. F. Smith, Daniel Staten, Robert Scott, Richard Smedley, Jonathan Simpson, David R. Short, Robert Smith, Anderson Trent, Robert Trotter, Samuel Tibbs, Owen Thomas, J. P. Walker, John Wright, Enoch Wiseman, John Wiseman, Thomas Watkins, Richard Witt, Capt. A. D. Wright, James Watkins, Benjamin Wiseman, Nelson Yocum, George Yocum. This list contains eighty-two names, and, with that of Maj. Thomas L. Harris, makes the number of men from Menard County eighty-three in all. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 257 This was Company F, in the Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. From Jefferson Barracks, William Phillips came back home on furlough, and never returned to the army. At New Orleans, Elias Hohimer received permission to return home, and remained there. All the remainder of the Menard County men, eighty-one in number, boarded the brig Mary Jones and were landed at Point Isabella, at the mouth of the Rio Grande River, in Texas. This was a seven days' voyage, and on the way, two men died, and were buried in the Gulf. After landing, they marched up the Rio Grande toward Camargo. This was a toilsome march, and the climate nor food agreeing with the soldiers, death made fearful havoc among them. Every day's march was marked by a grave. In that short journey, twenty-one men died, among whom were Short, Atchison, Thomas Clary, Joseph M. King ; seven others were sent home, being unfit for service, on account of disease. From Camargo, they marched by land to Tampico, a distance of near five hundred miles. On this march, seven more men died, making thirty-seven in all from the ranks by death, and returning to the States. From Tampico, the command sailed to Vera Cruz by the steam- ship Alabama. In this battle, the company did not lose a man. From there, they marched to Cerro Gordo, and entered the battle with forty-two men. In the engagement, three of this company were killed and three severely wounded. George Yocum, Al Hornback and Lieut. Johnson were killed. Robert Scott, John Ritchey and Cornelius Rourke were severely wounded. Mr. Rourke lost his left leg, it being shot off near his body. He still lives, however, an honored member of society. His home is in Petersburg, where he is engaged in the lumber trade. He is now Major in the State militia. The command was discharged shortly after the battle of Cerro Gordo, their time having expired, and they reached home in the fall of 1847. By the best information we can get, there are fourteen of those who started out with this company who are still living. The remnant of the company who still survive, are sorely scat- tered, and it is almost impossible to obtain a correct list of the survivors and the places of their residence. A few, however, still live in this and adjoining counties. Col. Cornelius Rourke, William Hutchinson, Walter W. King and Robert Bishop live in Petersburg. Washington Denton, Charles Gum, Elias Hohimer, Samuel Tibbs, Aaron Houghton and Thomas Watkins are still citi- zens of Menard County. Dr. J. P. Walker is a successful practitioner of medicine in Mason City, Mason Co., 111. William Clary lives in Kansas, R, N. Jones is in Iowa, and Richard Witt is perhaps in Nebraska. Royal Miller lives in Sangamon County. Soon the last of them will be gone to their final reward. WAR OF THE REBELLION. It is not our purpose to write a history of the " War for the Union," for, even if we had time, space and material, we should not then be tempted to the task, as there is, at present, vastly more war literature extant than is read. And this is not to be regretted, as this class of literature is very unreliable. 258 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. But a history of Menard County that did not contain its war record, would be no history. Nothing will be of greater interest to coming generations in our country, than a true and faithful account of the events of those four long and gloomy years. It. is a duty that we owe to the soldiers who took part in the bloody struggle, to record and preserve the leading facts ; especially do we owe this to the long list of the dead, who willingly laid down their lives for their country's honor and preservation ; we owe it to the maimed and mangled cripples who were lacerated and torn by shot and shell ; and last, but not least, we owe it to the widows and orphans of our brave soldiers, who, for love of country, forsook home with all its endearments, and whose bodies fatten the soil of the Sunny South. Menard County had been Democratic in politics for many years, and in the Presidential race between Lincoln and Douglas, just at the beginning of the war, notwithstanding the high esteem in which Mr. Lincoln was personally held by the people, Mr. Douglas received a large majority of the votes cast in the county. A large class of people boldly opposed the Republican party and its policy ; yet, when the grim visage of war began to frown over the land, when the American flag was fired upon at Fort Sumter, and the blood of American citizens had been actually spilled, the feelings of patriotism ran high, and the pulses of all began to beat full and quick ; and when the question of union and disunion was brought full before the face of all, then Democrats and Republicans forgot old issues, and petty quarrels, and, with united hands and hearts, resolved to sacrifice all else for the preservation of the Union. When the first call was made for volunteers, it set the entire State in a blaze of excitement, martial music was heard in every town and hamlet, and tender females, no less than males, were wild with enthu- siasm. Wives encouraged their husbands to enlist, mothers urged their sons to patriotic devotion, sisters tenderly gave their brothers to the cause of their country, while cases are not unknown where the bride, of an hour, joyfully though tearfully, gave the young husband the parting embrace, admonishing him to be brave and true. We propose now, in as brief a manner as we can, to give the part that Menard County took in the late war. The reader is doubtless aware of the fact that the State of Illinois furnished, in all, six regiments of men for service in the war with Mexico. Those in authority at the beginning of the rebellion, thought it due to the patriotism and devotion of the heroes of that war, to begin the numbering of the regiments raised in the State with seven, thus preserving the numbering of those old reg- iments. It will, therefore, be borne in mind that the Seventh Regiment is in reality the first furnished during the rebellion. This " Seventh " Regiment of Infantry, Illinois Volunteers, was mustered into service the 25th of April, 1861. The first regiment that had a representation in it from Menard County was the " Fourteenth," and Company " E " was raised in this county. This regiment was first called into the State service for thirty days, under the " Ten Regiment Bill." It rendezvoused at Jacksonville, 111., and was mustered in for thirty TALLULA HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 261 days, on May 4, 1861. On the 25th of May, it was mustered into the United States' service for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A. The Colonel of this regiment, when it first went into service, was John M. Palmer. In July, 1861, it was ordered into Missouri. Its first active service was the capture and parole of a rebel force under James S. Green, formerly United States Senator from Mis- , souri. After being with Gen. Fremont in his campaign to Springfield, Mo., it went into winter quarters at Otterville. In February, 1862, it was ordered to Fort Donelson, but arrived there one day after the battle. At Donelson, it was brigaded with the Fifteenth and Forty-sixth Illinois, and the Twenty-fifth Indiana, and assigned to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, under Gen. Hurlbut. Before this, Col. Palmer had been promoted, and Maj. Hall, of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, became the Colonel. From Fort Donelson, the reg- iment marched to Fort Henry, and went from there by transports up the Ten- nessee River to Pittsburg Landing. Up to this time, the regiment had never smelt the powder of an enemy, but a baptism of fire, in the full meaning of the term, awaited it there. Here, on the 6th and 7th of April, this command lost, in killed and wounded, fully one-half of those engaged. This is not mere sur- mise, but it is taken from the Adjutant General's report. On the evening of the 7th, a grand charge was made, which turned the tide of battle in favor of the Union, notwithstanding the numbers and power of the enemy. This splendid charge was led by the Fourteenth, with Col. Hall at the head of the columns. Gen. Veatch, who commanded the brigade to which the Fourteenth was attached, uses the following language : " Col. Hall, of the Fourteenth Illinois, led with his regiment that gallant charge on Monday evening, which drove the enemy beyond our lines, and closed the struggle of that memorable day." If any one has doubts concerning the force of the storm of lead and iron that this command passed through on that occasion, let him go to Memorial Hall, in Springfield, and count the forty-two bullet-holes made in the regimental colors in that battle, and this will surely convince him. This regiment took an active part in the battles of Corinth, Memphis, Bolivar. On January 18, 1863, it went into win- ter quarters at La Fayette, Tenn. It took part in the siege of Vicksburg until its fall, July 4, 1863. In the latter part of this year, the Fourteenth and Fifteenth, which had been together nearly all the time, were consolidated into the " Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Veteran Battalion." In October, 1864, when Gen. Hood made his demonstration against Sherman's rear, a large num- ber of this battalion were killed, and the greater part of the remainder taken prisoners, and sent to suffer in Andersonville Prison. Those who escaped were mounted, and acted as scouts during the remainder of the march to the sea. They were first to drive the rebel pickets into Savannah, Ga. They were also first to enter Cheraw, S. C., Fayetteville, N. C., and took an active part in the battle of Bentonville. In the spring of 1865, the battalion organization was discontinued, and at Goldsboro, N. C., the two regiments were re-formed, being filled up by recruits, and Col. Hall again took command of the old Fourteenth. 262 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. It was mustered out of service at Fort Leaven worth, Kan., on September 16, 1865, and reached Springfield September 22, 1865. The aggregate of men belonging to this regiment from first to last, was 1,980, and the number mustered out at Fort Leavenworth was 480. It was in service four years and four months, and during that time, it marched no less than 4,490 miles, traveled by rail 2,330 miles, and by steamboat and transports, 4,490, making an aggregate of 11,670 miles. The officers of the Fourteenth, in their order, were Cols. John M. Palmer and Cyrus Hall ; Lieut. Cols. Amory K. Johnson and William Cam ; Majs. Jonathan Morris and John F. Nolte. Company E of this regiment was raised in Menard County, eighty men of the county joining it. The first Captain was Amory K. Johnson, followed by Frederick Mead, of Petersburg, and he by Henry M. Pedan, of Shelbyville. The First Lieutenants, in their order, were : Jacob M. Early, of Petersburg ; Ethan H. Norton, of the same place, and Alonzo J. Gillespie, of Bloomington. Second Lieu- tenants, E. H. Norton and A. J. Gillespie. Of this company, John L. Kinman, of Petersburg, was killed in action at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. None deserted. The following were discharged on account of disability, viz., John Murphy, James Wilhite, Edwin Worth and Joseph Todd. The above statement is taken from the report of the Adjutant General, that is, as far as that report goes ; but even this is imperfect in many respects, and a number of facts are added, derived from individual members of the regiment. One company Company A of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Vet- eran Battalion, was also composed of Menard County men ; but in the eighty men of Company E, of the Fourteenth, and the twenty-four men of Company A of the Battalion, no man is counted twice. The history of the Battalion is sketched in that of the Fourteenth, given above, hence it is unnecessary repeat it here. Suffice it to say that the men of this command saw hard service, but never flinched when the storm beat the hardest. We come now to the Twenty-eighth Infantry. This regiment was organize by Lieut. Col. Louis H. Waters, and Maj. Charles J. Sellan, at Camp Butler, Illinois, in the month of August, 1861. On the 28th of August, was ordered to Thebes, 111., and thence to Bird's Point, Mo., on September 9. Early in October, it was removed to Fort Holt, Ky., and there remained until the last day of January, 1862, when it wag taken to Paducah, Ky., and was there assigned to Col. M. L. Smith's Brigade, Brig. Gen. Lew Wallace's Division. On the 6th of February, this regiment took part in the capture of Forts Hinman and Henry. A little event took place on the 13th of February that is worthy of a place here : A detachment of 500 rebels were in the vicinity of Little Bethel Churcl which Was only five miles from Fort Henry, seeking some kind of adventure. Now, it so happened that Col. Johnson was out on a scout with 48 men and 12 officers 61 men all told and, hearing of the 500 " Johnnies," determined to try *, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 263 try their mettle; so, finding out their locality, approached them, cautiously at first, but, soon after the firing began, he ordered a charge, and so furious was the attack that the rebels gave way in confusion, and were completely routed. About the 6th of March, the regiment was ordered to Pittsburg Landing, and was assigned to Gen. Hurlburt's (the Fourth) Division. Just at dawn, on Sabbath morning, April 6, 1862, the shrill notes of martial music called the men into line. Ominous signs of danger, if not disaster, were everywhere. Buckling on their belts and cartridge-boxes as they fell into line, they were hur- ried at double-quick over half a mile to the front, where they met Gen. Prentiss' command, being driven before the exultant enemy. It was, in a short time, assigned a position on the left of the line, in what was called, and since known as, the Peach Orchard. The enemy immediately began to pour a galling fire on this point, with a view to turning the flank. Stubbornly and doggedly these Illinoisans held their position, from before 8 o'clock in the morning till after 3 in the afternoon. Nor did -they then retire, until orders were given from Brig. Gen. S. A. Hurlbut, commanding the " Old Fighting Fourth Division." On Monday, the 7th, it was assigned a position on the right of the line, and was there most hotly engaged until victory closed the two-days' struggle. Thus they were two full days, from dawn till evening, in actual engagement. These were long and trying days ; blood flowed everywhere, and the night was ren- dered hideous by the groans of the dying ; yet, in all this hotly contested con- flict, this regiment never wavered, nor was its line once broken or driven back. During these two days, the regiment lost 239 men in killed and wounded. In May, it was active in the siege of Corinth, then marched to Memphis. Reach- ing Memphis the 23d of July, 1862, it rested there until early in September, when the march was taken to Bolivar, which point was reached September the 14th. Some twenty days later, the regiment was in the battle of Hatchie River, or Matamora, in which it lost in killed, wounded and missing, 97 men. In the summer of 1863, the Twenty-eighth was ordered to Vicks- burg, and was there in the siege from the llth of June to July 4. After this, on the 12th of July, a detachment, composed of men from the Forty-first, Fifty-third and Twenty-eighth Illinois and Third Iowa Infantry, amounting in all to not more than 800 men, were ordered to charge across an open and level corn-field, some six hundred yards in width, and carry a line of rebel works that were strong in their formation, and from which twelve dark-mouthed can- non frowned defiance on all comers, and behind which lay 2,000 men, ready for the fray. The bugle sounded the onset; not a man faltered nor a cheek paled, but right onward " into the jaws of death, rode the " 800. As they came, they were met with a pitiless storm of rifle and minie balls, while the twelve cannon belched a constant tide of fire and iron ; but when they reached the works, their whole line was swept from right and left and front, so that to persist in the attempt to carry the works was sure annihilation. They ^treated to their line, leaving more than half their number, rank and file, in 264 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. dead and wounded. Of the 128 men of the Twenty-eighth that were in this charge, 73 were killed and wounded, and 16 taken prisoners ; 89 left behind, to 39 who returned. In 1864, the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, after which, it was in the engagement at Spanish Fort and at Mobile. It had, during the war, 9 officers killed ; 19 wounded, and 2 died of disease. Privates killed, 52 ; died of wounds, 34 ; wounded, 265 ; missing in action, 17 ; killed by accident, 5 ; died of disease, 139. The officers of the regiment, in their order, are as fol- lows : Colonel, Amory K. Johnson, of Petersburg; Lieutenant Colonels Louis H. Waters, of Macomb ; Thomas K. Killpatrick, of Milton, and Rich- ard Ritter, of Havana ; Majors Charles J. Sellon, Springfield ; Barclay C. Gillam, Rushville, and Hinman Rhodes, Vermont, 111. Of this regiment, companies F, K and C were all or in part from Menard County. Com- pany F contained in all 107 men from this county. The officers were : Cap- tains William J. Estill and Thomas Swarenguin, both of Petersburg; First Lieutenants Isaac B. Estill, Thomas Swarenguin and John H. Ewing, all of Petersburg ; Second Lieutenants Thomas Swarenguin and John H. Ewing. There were killed in action, 4, viz.: James T. Jones, at Shiloh ; J. Deerwester, at Vidalia; James H. Stewart, at Jackson, Miss., and Charles N. Riley, at Hatchie. Five died of wounds, viz., David C. Stone, Jacob Ackle- son, Peter Farnheine, Jacob Homer and H. G. Toland. Wounded and dis- charged, 3, viz., Jesse D. Bradley, David Lucas and Elijah S. Nichols. Died of disease, 9, viz., William Canterbury, Henry H. Fulton, Elijah Ferguson, Henry T. Gudgell, James Harman, Francis M. Twaddle. Christopher Alexan- der, William B. Davis and Michael Johns. There were 3 who deserted, viz., John W. Rutledge, Henry Johnson and Charles Noble. In Company K, there were 39 men from Menard County. The officers of Company K were : Captains William R. Roberts, of Menard, and Albert J. Moses, from elsewhere ; First Lieutenants John Brewsaugh, Fred. Garternicht, Albert J. Moses, John B. Newton and Dennis Pride, the last two from Menard; Second Lieutenants John B. Newton, of Menard, and J. Moses. Of these, only 1, Adam Forsyth, was killed in action ; Alonzo G. Fleming died of wounds; 4 were wounded, but recovered, viz., Richard Bei nard, Amos Mouser, Logan Rayburn and Samuel T. Rogers ; discharged or account of disability, 2, viz., John Sulivan and John Rogers ; discharged on account of wounds, 3, viz., William W. Dudley, James H. Gardener and Nult Greene; the 4 following died of disease : Elijah Edwards, Gottlieb Fotsch, Francis Schasner and Phillip A. Simpson. None of the men in this company from Menard County deserted. Company C of the Twenty-eighth had 46 men from Menard County in it. None of the commissioned officers of this company were from Menarc County. One man of this company, Deerwester, was killed in action, were wounded. Two died of disease, viz., William B. Davis and Mike Jone HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 265 Columbus Crosby was the only deserter. The above companies took their share of all the trials and honors of the gallant Twenty -eighth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. We come now to the Thirty-eighth Regiment, as this is the next in order in which there were any companies containing, any considerable number of Menard County men. It is true, however, that there was scarcely an Illinois regiment that did not have a representation from this county. The writer has performed an amount of labor that none would imagine, hunting these stragglers. Where there were less than four or five in a company, we have not given a detailed history of it. But in order that none be overlooked, we read every name and post-office address in the eight volumes of the Adjutant-General's Report. The officers of the Thirty-eighth were as follows : Colonels William P. Carlin, Daniel H. Gilmer and Ed. Colyer ; Lieutenant Colonels Mortimer O'Kean, D. H. Gilmer, William H. Chapman and Ed. Colyer; Majors D. H. Gilmer, Henry L. Alden and Andrew M. Pollard, none of whom were from Menard. This regiment was organized in September, 1861, at Camp Butler, Illinois, by Col. William P. Carlin. Moved at once to Pilot Knob, Missouri, receiving arms en route, and as early as the 21st of October, one month arid one day, from leaving Camp Butler, it was introduced to the stern realities of war, at Fredericktown, by being engaged in battle with the Missouri " Swamp Fox," Jeff. Thompson. This introduction was a very good index to the future four years and three months of its service. At or near the city of Nashville, it lost in battle, 3 killed and 8 wounded. At Stone River, 34 killed, 109 wounded, and 34 missing. Near Liberty Gap, the regiment lost, killed, 3 ; wounded, 19. In the battle of Lookout Mountain, the Thirty-eighth suffered severely. Col. Gilmer was killed, Maj. Alden severely wounded ; and of the 301 men who went into the action, 180 were killed, wounded and missing. The history of this regiment is one of constant hard work and bloody fighting, from first to last ; and the student of history can trace its way through those long, dark four years by the weary marches, and bloody fields that it left as waymarks. Only one company of this regiment had representatives from Menard County on its roll, and this was Company G. Only twelve of these were from this county. The company officers were as follows, viz. : Captains, A. M. Pollard, Abraham Golden and John H. Adams ; First Lieutenants, William F. Chapman, Abraham Golden and J. H. Adams ; Second Lieutenants, A. J. Rankin and Abraham Golden. Of these only Golden was from Menard. Of the twelve men from here, none were killed, wounded, or deserted. Two died of disease, these were Edward W. Martin and Ralf Snodgrass. Consider- ing the general mortality in the regiment, those twelve came off remarkably well. The next regiment containing men from Menard County was the Fifty- first Illinois Infantry. As there were but few of our men in this regiment, we 266 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. give but a very brief history of it. This regiment was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, 111., by Col. Gilbert W. Gumming, on the 24th of Decem- ber, 1861. On the 14th of February following, it moved to Cairo, 111., and thence on the 27th to Camp Cullum, on the Kentucky shore of the Ohio River. Its first actual engagement was at Island No. 10, where, on the 8th of April, 1862, is forced the surrender of Gen. Mackall, with four thousand men. On the 24th of April, the brigade of Brig. Gen. John M. Palmer, com- posed of the Twenty-second, Twenty-seventh, Forty-second and Fifty-first Illinois, and Company C, First Illinois Artillery, was assigned to Brig. Gen. Paine's Division. This division was engaged in the battle of Farmington, and the siege of Corinth. At Mission Ridge, the regiment lost one-fifth of the men who went into the battle. At Kenesaw Mountain, it lost, in killed and wounded, 2 officers and 54 men. During the fighting around Atlanta, the regiment lost in killed and wounded, 7 officers, and 105 privates. At Franklin, Tenn., Lieut. Thomas was killed, 3 officers wounded, 52 men killed and wounded, and 98 missing. Mustered out of service September 25, 1865. The regimental officers were all Chicago men. Company F, of this regiment, had eleven men from this county. The company officers were all from else- where. Of these eleven, none were killed or wounded. One, John H. Martin, died of disease. Two of the eleven deserted, viz., Samuel Wagstaff and Jordan Shoon. t The Seventy-first Illinois Infantry was enlisted for three-months' service, only. Company G, of this regiment, was partially raised in Menard County thirty-seven of the men being from here. Of the officers of the company, only one was from Menard, this was First Lieut. James C. Tice, of Petersburg. Of these, none were killed or wounded, and only one died of disease this was William H. Graham, from the eastern part of the county. Being out only ninety days, they saw but very little of the reality of soldier life. We come now to the Seventy-third Infantry, and we cannot more briefly or pointedly give an outline of the work of this brave body of men, than by quoting the report of Lieut. Col. James I. Davidson, as made to Adjt. Gen. Haynie. This report was dated at Springfield, 111., March 19, 1867. Having no record of the regiment with me, a history would be impossible. The regimen \ was organized at Camp Butler, State of Illinois, in August, 1802, and immediately became part of Gen. Buell's army. Fought nobly at Perryville, finished under Gen. Thomas, at Nashville. The Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry was in every battle fought by the Army of the Cumberland, from October, 1862, until the rout of Gen. Hood's army at Nashville, and the winding-up of the whole matter. The only report I can make, General, is that our dead are found at Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, away in East Tennessee, and then in the succession of battles from Chattanooga to the fall of Atlanta. And when Sher- man pushed down South, the Seventy-third remained with Gen. Thomas. It formed a part of Opedyke's Brigade, at Franklin, which saved the day and gave him his star, and lost its last HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 267 man killed in driving Hood's army from Nashville. It has, more than once, been complimented by its Generals. It lost heavily in Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Frank- lin. It had two Majors and two Adjutants killed and nearly every officer of the regiment, wounded, at some time several of them many times ; but as to the number of killed and wounded, I know not. We left the State one of the largest, and returned one of the smallest regiments. Her officers and men, and especially the men, have never been surpassed for brav- ery, endurance and devotion to the country. I believe that nearly two-thirds of the organiza- tion wasted away, either by disease, death or battles, during the three years' service. Such is the simple, unostentatious record of this devoted regiment. In Company F of this regiment, were thirty of the citizens of Menard County. Of the officers of this company, none were from this county, except the first Captain, George Montgomery, and he served only till the 19th of December, 1862, when he resigned and left the command. Three were killed in action, viz., Robert Z. McBride, Enoch Preston and William Weaver. Eight of the others died of disease ; these were Thomas D. Nolan, George W. Gardener, Joseph Montgomery, William W. Martenia, David Martenia, Ritchey Mont- gomery, William L. Stollard and Cornelius C. Wolf. Four others were severely wounded, viz., James A. Coil, Wesley Long, Isaac C. Coil and George H. McKinney. Thus it will be seen that, of this little band going out from here, more than one-third the number were left to sleep amid the flowers of the Sunny South, undisturbed by the roar of battle, while half the number were among the dead or the wounded when the final account of the regiment was made up. Their comrades in arms " carved not a line, and raised not a stone, but left them alone in their glory." From the Seventy-third up to the Eighty-fifth, there was to be found no representative from "Little Menard," except here and there a company having on its muster-roll the name of some one who had enlisted among strangers, but who should have been credited to this county. But Company E, of the Eighty-fifth, was largely made up from this county, having the names of seventy-five men from here on its roll. Here again it becomes our duty to chronicle some of the leading events in the history of that regiment, though the record will necessarily be brief. This regiment was organized by Col. Robert S. Moore, and it was mus- tered into service August 28, 1862. The organization was at Peoria, 111. Immediately after being mustered in, it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., which point it reached about the 6th or 7th of September. Here it was assigned to the Thirty-sixth Brigade, Eleventh Division, Third Army Corps, Col. McCook commanding the Brigade, Brig. Gen. Phil. Sheridan commanding the Division, and Maj. Gen. Gilbert commanding the the Corps. The Eighty-fifth marched in. pursuit of the enemy under Gen. Bragg, October 1, 1862, and took part in the battle of Champion Hills, at Perryville, Ky., October 8th, and moved with the army to Nashville, Tennessee, arriving November 7, 1862. After long and hard service, it was mustered out June 5, 1865, at Washington, D. C., and arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, June 11, 1865, where they received final 268 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. payment and discharge. Company E, of the Eighty-fifth Regiment was largely made up of men from this county ; the company officers were all from Peters- burg. The regimental officers were Cols. Robert S. Moore and Caleb J. Dilworth ; Lieutenant Colonels, C. J. Dilworth, James P. Walker, and James R. Griffith ; Majors, Samuel P. Cummings, Robert G. Rider and Pleasant S. Scott. Of these, none were from Menard County except Maj. Scott. The company officers of Company E were : Captain, Pleasant L. Scott ; First Lieutenants, Joseph M. Plunket, Hugh A. Trent and Charles Borchert ; Second Lieuten- ants, Abraham Clary, Clark N. Andrus and Andrew F. J. Shackey. All of these were from Menard County ; seventy-five of the men were also from this county. Three were killed in action, viz., J. C. Miller, George Watterman and Thomas Owens; William S. Potter was killed in a railroad accident, and William Ray by the accidental discharge of a pistol. The following named persons, six in number, died of wounds : James N. Sheets, Bowling Green, Richard Griffin, William F. Hokimer, A* J. Taylor, and J. E. Thomas ; four received severe wounds, of which they recovered ; these were James Linn, William F. Allen, James Senter and John H. Arnold. Ten others died of disease, viz., Samuel Havens, David Armstrong, John Barnett, John Cox, Michael Ekis, Wesley Frost, William A. Mence, Thomas Osterman, Christopher Shutt and Ephraim Stout. Thus, of the seventy-five who enlisted, just one-third, or twenty-five, were dead or wounded before the time of service expired. Of the remainder, no less than ten deserted the ranks, and sought safety elsewhere. Pleasant S. Scott, who was Captain of the company at first, was promoted to the position of Major, served out his time, and Js now a respected citizen of Peters- burg.- From the Eighty -fifth, we pass the intermediate regiments up to the One Hundred and Sixth before we find any men from Menard, unless it be a single individual in a company here and there. The One Hundred and Sixth was organized at Lincoln, Logan Co.. 111., by Col. Robert B. Latham, in August, 1862. It was mustered into service on the 18th of September, the same year. On the 7th of November, it started for Columbus, Ky., by way of St. Louis, arriving at the objective point on the 10th of the same month. From there it was soon removed to Jackson, Tenn. At that time, Col. M. K. Lawler com- manded the post at Jackson, and Brig. Gen. J. C. Sullivan the district. Much of the time was spent west of the Mississippi River ; and the regiment was mustered out of service at Pine Bluff", Ark., on the 12th of July, 1865. It reached Camp Butler, Illinois, July 25, ,1865, and there received final pay- ment and discharge. While this command was eminently useful in guarding posts and various kinds of service, it was not its lot to see much'of the real tragedy of war, and perhaps the comedy was equally as full of amusement to the men composing it. Only one officer of the regiment was from this county, and that was Lieut. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 26D CoL John M. Hurt, of Athens, who died at Pine Bluff, Ark., November 18, 1864. A company from this county Company K, consisting of 102 men belonged to this regiment. The first Captain of this company was Alonzo E. Currier, of Athens. He resigned June 15, 1863, and was succeeded by George Collier, of Petersburg. But, only eleven days after, Capt. Collier died of disease, and was succeeded by Lieut. John A. Hurt, of Athens. On the 28th of March, 1865, Capt. Hurt was honorably discharged, to be pro- moted Major. Lieut. Samuel H. Blane then became Captain and served to the close of the war. He is now a popular lawyer in Petersburg, 111. The other officers, in the order of their service, are as follows : First Lieutenants, George Collier, John A. Hurt, James D. McCam, Samuel H. Blane and Gage S. Gritman ; Second Lieutenants, John A. Hurt, S. H. Blane and Enoch B. Smith. All of these, except McCam, Gritman and Smith, were promoted. Of these 102 men, besides the officers, 20 died of disease, viz., James McCam, Jesse Stone, Henry C. Black, Andrew Gunstenson, Calvin Goodell, Homer Goodpastine, John C. Goff, Samuel H. Hardin, James C. Hurst, James H. Jackson, James W. Kincaid, James McClary, Thomas H. Metteer, Francis Rice, James E. Roberson, Odd A. Roe, William A. Smith, Terry Tuckleson, Francis A. Vanaman, George D. Brockway and David S. Rice. None were killed or wounded in action, nor did any desert. Through a singular Provi- dence, or fatality, as some of them regarded it, they were given no chance ta exhibit their great prowess on the ensanguined field. But we doubt not that the motive prompting them to enlist were just as pure as that of those who stood where the fight was hottest ; and, if opportunity had presented itself, no doubt they would have won as many laurels as any who marched under the Stars and Stripes. As said before, it was no fault of theirs that they were not in the thickest of the fight, for both officers and men enlisted to fight. Of the regiments we have named, there is not one of which an Illinoisan need be ashamed ; but there were some that had better opportunity to write its deeds of daring in crimson letters than others. Among the Illinois regiments that will live in the memory of man, we may name the gallant One Hundred and Fourteenth. This regiment was composed of six companies from Sanga- mon County, B, C, E, G, H and I ; two from Cass County, A and D ; and two from Menard, F and K. The regiment was made up in the months of July and August, 1862, and was mustered into service at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 18th of September following. It was at once ordered to Memphis, Tenn., and there did picket duty until the 26th of November, when it started on the Tallahatchie campaign as a part of the First Brigade of Brig. Gen. Lanman's Division. During the winter, it marched to College Hill, and then to Jackson, and thence back to Memphis. On March 17, 1863, it was trans- ported down the river to Young's Point, and soon after went into camp at 270 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Duckport, La. On the 2d of May, the regiment broke camp to take a posi- tion in the rear of Vicksburg, and, on the 14th of May, engaged in the battle . of Jackson, Miss. Reached the rear of Vicksburg the 18th, and took part in the siege. Just one mouth after the fall of Vicksburg, Col. James W. Judy, of Menard County, resigned. This was August 4, 1863, he having served eighteen days less than one year. He was succeeded by Lieut. Col. John F. King. Samuel N. Shoup acted as Colonel after May 11, 1865. The regiment participated in the battles of Wyatt, Mississippi, Guntown, Tupelo, Harris- ville. It was on the long and tedious pursuit of Gen. Price in Missouri, marching from the Arkansas border, to Kansas City and back to St. Louis. At, both Guntown and Harrisville, the regiment was highly complimented fo r bravery. Having returned South, on the night of the 13th of April (the very idght that President Lincoln was shot), the regiment was ordered to attack Forts Tracy and Hugee, situated in Mobile Bay. The attack was made in pontoon boats, but when the forts were reached, they were found to have been entirely evacuated. After the surrender of Mobile, the regiment marched to Montgomery, Ala., arriving April 24, and bridging the Alabama River with pontoons, remained on duty at the bridge until the 17th of July, when it was ordered to Vicksburg, to be mustered out. On the 3d of August, 1865, it was mustered out, and reached Camp Butler, Illinois, August 7, and were paid off, and discharged August 15, 1865. Company C, though not credited as a company to Menard County, had thirty men from that county in its rank and file. Out of the thirty, four were killed in battle, viz., William M. Blue, James Griffith, John W. Langston and William Bumford. Two died of wounds, James H. Mitchell and Benjamin F. Sever. One was severely wounded but recovered ; this was William Lawrence. Two died in prison, viz., Simeon Little and Charles S. Parker; two others, who were in prison, lived to be exchanged, viz., William H. Holland and William Staples. Six deserted. Thirteen died of disease ; these were William Cantrall, George H. Broaderick, Young M. Oantrall, David S. Dris- call, Charles Frisby, Jacob B. Hutchinson, Isaac N. Halladay, Henry Parks, William 0. Smith, John W. Sampson, Peter Sebriney, Charles C. Tufts and John W. Wilson. Company F mustered fifty-six men from Menard County. Capt. Absalom Miller, of Menard ; First Lieutenant, Willett B. Taylor, of Cass, and Second Lieutenant, Joseph T. Workman, of Menard, were the company officers. Two of this company, George A. Bell and Charles P. Carson, were killed in action ; Thomas R. Humphrey and Robert J. Clarke died of wounds ; James S. Smith was severely wounded but recovered ; two died in prison, viz., David Monroe and William H. Penny. Seven out of this company were for a time prisoners but were exchanged ; their names are as follows : Jacob Brown, Jasper I. Campbell, William D. Colby, A. J. Etherton, George H. Hoff, John ' HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 271 Kinner and Russel B. Thrapp. Died of disease, twelve, viz., Richard Smedley, Thomas S. Armstrong, James W. Bell, Thomas D. Fuller, John A. Kurd, John McNeal, Michael Spinner, William A. Smith, William Tippet, George M. Wilson, Lycurgus Workman and John A. Conyers. There were also two deserters from this company, but we wiil not record their names on these pages. Company K, of the One Hundred and Fourteenth, was also raised in this county, and ninety -two of her citizens were enrolled in it. The company offi- cers were all, save one, from this county. They were: Captains, Samuel Estill and Robert Hornback, First Lieutenants, Lucian Terhune and Ezra Fish, Sec- ond Lieutenant, Henry C. Rogge. All of these, except Fish, were from Men- ard. Of the men, Joseph Denton was killed in battle ; James Morris and John M. Hart died of wounds received in battle, while Jesse Knoles lost a leg at the knee, but recovered. Four were taken prisoners ; these were William J. Allen, Henry Beekman, Evan McLean and Samuel S. Knoles ; the last named, now editor of the Petersburg Democrat, was in Anderson ville for nine months. Not long before he was taken prisoner, while in the heat of battle, he was hit square over the heart with a minie ball, but having a large bunch of letters in the breast pocket of his coat (letters from the girl he left behind him, perhaps), the ball lodged in the center of the letters and he escaped with a thorough shaking-up and a severe bruise. Fourteen of the company died of disease ; these were David F. Estill, Louis P. Moore, William J. Denton, George W. Powell, Isaac F. Estill, William Johnson, Harman Meyer, Joseph Oswold, Isaac Snodgrass, Rhodes Snodgrass, John W. Trumbo, Walter Taylor, Arthur Thomas and John Yelkin. Eight of the privates, full of chivalry and patriotism, took " French leave," that is, they deserted ; their names we will not give at present. This completes the record of this regiment, so far as we have space to give it. Menard County had 178 men in the ranks of this brave body of men. Many are sleeping on the hillsides of the Sunny South, while many others, having almost forgotten the arts of war, are here enjoying the liberties for which they fought, showing the same fortitude and courage exhibited by them in battle. The One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry will now be noticed briefly, as among its men we find quite a number from this county. But had there been none of our volunteers among them, we would be almost led to state a few facts concerning it, as it merits a place wherever a record is made of Illinois soldiers. The One Hundred and Fifteenth was ordered into the field from Camp Butler, Illinois, on October 4, 1862, having mustered in the l->th of September of the same year. It went to Cincinnati, and, the same day, crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. It was assigned to the Second Bri- gade, Second Division, Army of Kentucky. It was never actively engaged in battle until it was ordered to Franklin, Tenn., in March, 1863. But the 272 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. mortality, on account of exposure, hard marching and a diet to which they were unaccustomed, with the change of climate, was fearful. Up to that time, more than two hundred men had died or been permanently disabled by disease ; they had died by scores. After driving Gen. Bragg's army across the Tennessee River, on the 24th of June, 1863, the brigade had a respite from battle until the 19th of September. On this day, it engaged in the bloody conflict of Chickamauga. In this battle, the loss of the One Hundred and Fifteenth was very slight. On September 20, it crossed to the support of Gen. Thomas, on the extreme right, leaving camp at sunrise. At 1 o'clock P. M., it engaged the rebels of Thomas' right with Steadman's division, ten regiments reserve corps. After a most fearful and sanguinary struggle, it held its posi- tion until night put an end to the day's carnage. But it was held at a fearful sacrifice, more than one-half the command being cut down on the field. The regiment took part in the battles of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and countless skirmishes. In the campaign around Chattanooga, the regiment lost 235 men and 10 officers, among them being Lieut. Col. Kinman, of Jacksonville. After this, it fought at Dalton, Resaca, Atlanta and other points, and finally was in the pursuit of Hood from Nashville. It was mustered out of service near Nash- ville^ on the llth of June, 1865, and reaching Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 16th of June ? there received final pay and discharge June 23, 1865. Company K pf this regiment was made up in part of men from this county, there being forty-three among the privates and three of the company officers from Menard County. The company officers were as follows : Cap- tains James Steele and Alanson Pierce, both of Menard, and Philip Riley, of Springfield ; First Lieutenants Sylvester M. Bailey, of Salisbury ; Philip Riley and Samuel Alexander, of Menard ; Second Lieutenant Philip Riley. This company had killed in action, two, James B. Strode and William B. England. Three of its number died in prison, Lewis J. Ferguson, Edward R. Center and William H. Bumgardner. Two were for a time prisoners, but were at length exchanged ; these were Andrew J. Hall and Jacob A. Allison. The following persons, six in number, died in prison : James P. Moran, Will- iam Bailey, William Ferguson, William L. Hyde, Smith A. Marshall and Law- rence Newhart. Six, also, were deserters. In one or two other companies in this regiment, there were one or two men from this county, but the reader will find a list of these scattered individuals at the close of this article ; it is unnec- essary to speak of any of them in this place. The One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry was organ- ized at Camp Butler by Col. Thaddeus Phillips, and mustered into the service for one hundred days on the 31st of May, 1864. On the 3d of June, it was removed to Rock Island Barracks, and was there assigned the duty of guarding prisoners of war. This duty it faithfully performed during its term of service, and, on the 24th of the following September, it was mustered out of service at HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 273 Camp Butler. The regimental officers were : Colonel, Thaddeus Phillips ; Lieutenant Colonel, John E. Moore ; Major, James F. Langley. Company I, ofthe One Hundred and Thirty-third contained twenty-three men from Menard County. The company officers were : Captain, Alfred Orendorff, of Lincoln ; First Lieutenant, Ethan A. Norton, of Petersburg ; and, Second Lieutenant, Samuel A. Rannels, of Murrayville. Of the twenty-four men of this county, counting Lieut. Norton, not one died or deserted ; and, as they were never in action, of course none were killed or wounded. The One Hundred and Fifty-second Illinois Infantry was organized by Col. Ferdinand D. Stephenson, at Camp Butler, and was mustered in for one year's service on the 18th of February, 1865. On the 20th of the same month, it moved to Tullahoma, Tenn., by way of Nashville, and there reported for duty to Maj. Gen. Milroy, February 28, 1865. The regiment was mustered out at Memphis, Tenn., on the llth of September, 1865. It reached Camp Butler, Illinois, September 19, 1865, and received final payment and discharge. The regimental officers were: Colonel, Ferdinand D. Stephenson, of Groveland; Lieutenant Colonel, Jasper Partridge, of Whitmore; and John N. Nale, of Blue Mound. One company of the regiment was partially raised in this county. This was Company A. Of the company, forty-eight men and two officers (fifty, in all) were from Menard. The company officers were : Cap- tain, William S. Slocumb, of Groveland ; First Lieutenant, Merritt Hurst, of Menard; and Second Lieutenant, James N. Barger, of Menard, also. None were killed, wounded or prisoners, the only reduction of the company being from disease and desertion. Four died of disease, viz.: Andrew J. Brown, John Flemming, Noah L. Weaver and Stephen L. Wilson. The deserters were three. This closes the record of the part taken by this county in the infantry ser- vice, but the cavalry had several representatives from Menard County, a record of which we will now give very briefly. The Tenth Cavalry was the only cavalry regiment in which any considerable number of men from this county were enrolled. The Tenth Cavalry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 25th of November, 1861. Dudley Wickersham was appointed its Colonel on the 15th of May, 1862. On the 20th of December, 1861, it moved to Quincy, 111., and, on the 13th of March following, it was ordered to Benton Barracks, Mo. From this time on, this regiment saw hard service until it was mustered out. It was made up of a fine lot of men, who were ever ready for the fray. It was finally mustered out of service at San Antonio, Tex., on the 22d of November, 1865, and ordered to Springfield, 111., for final pay and discharge. The regimental officers were as follows: Colonels, James A. Barrett, Dudley Wickersham and James Stuart ; Lieutenant Colonels. Dudley Wickersham, James Stuart, Samuel N. Hitt, Egleton Car- michael and Thomas D. Vredenburgh ; Majors, T. D. Vredenburgh, George A. Wills, William A. Chapin and Tabner B. Pierce. Of these officers of the 274 HISTORY OF MEN ARC COUNTY. regiment, none were of this county. Two companies of this regiment were made, partially, at least, in this county. These were Companies A and E. Of the first of these, thirty-two men and two officers were from Menard. These were Capt. Christopher H. Anderson, of Swee'twater, and Second Lieut. Samuel F. Russell, of Athens. None of Company A were killed in battle, although Samuel Montgomery died of wounds received in action. Seven died of disease. These were Bradley V. Atwood, Joseph McReynolds, Joseph L. Markwell, John C. Rogers, George W. Reding, Elisha Hall and Selathiel G. Leach. Company E mustered sixty-six men from Menard County, and one officer. The company officers were : Captains, Henry Reily, Samuel J. Byrd and William H. Stout ; First Lieutenants, Columbus Cross, William H. East, S. J. Byrd, Henry J. Solomon and Samuel B. Garber ; Second Lieutenant, William J. Darman. Of these officers, only Samuel B. Garber was from Menard County. Out of this company, none were killed in action. Simon P. Sampson died of wounds received in a fight. Four died of disease, viz.: Levy Shaw, Michael Bolson, James M. Reed and William Young. From some unknown cause, the number of deserters was excessively large in proportion to the numbers, there being no less than ten of the sixty-six who did not " Fight and run away To live to fight another day ; " but they ran away before they fought a battle. This brings us to the artillery. Only three men of Menard County were in the artillery, so far as we can learn, as the Adjutant General's Report shows. James Ward, of Athens, Menard County, was mustered in as an unassigned recruit, into the First Artillery, on the 20th of March, 1864. Edward L. Bingley, of Petersburg, enlisted as a recruit in Battery B, of the Second Artil- lery, on the 8th of March, 1864 ; and was mustered out July 15, 1865. Albert Albertson, of Petersburg, enlisted in Battery K, of the Second Artillery, on the 27th of January, 1862. He re-enlisted as a veteran, and served till the close of the war. He served most of the time, while in action, as No. 1 or No. 2, that is, either placed the cartridge in the mouth of the gun, or rammed it home. Albertson was in a number of battles, his battery being charged more than once, and many of the men cut down at their guns. Mr. Albertson still resides in Petersburg, a respected and industrious citizen. It is beyond our power to give a full list of those men of Menard County who belonged to commands belonging to other counties ; we will mention a few of those who were officers. Charles E. McDougall, now a merchant of Peters- burg, was Captain of Company E, in the Sixty -first Infantry. He enlisted in Greene County. James C. Tice, of Menard County, was First Lieutenant in Company G, of the Seventy-first Infantry. As before stated, quite a number of enlistments from this county, in companies from other parts of the State, cannot, by any possibility, be found. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 275 Below we give a tabular view of the enlistments, officers, deaths from vari- ous causes, the wounded, deserters, etc., etc., from the county. Had space allowed, we would have given the place, date, circumstances, etc., of all the cas- ualties of soldiers from this county, during the war from first to last : SUMMARY OF THE WAR RECORD OF MENARD COUNTY. REGIMENT AND COMPANY. Number Enlisted. _B 3 o =3 53 "S-S B a s o 5 Killed by Accident. Wounded. s| 5 Prisoners Released. .| of 0> 00 Sa Deserted. . ~ 80 24 107 39 46 24 12 11 37 30 75 102 30 56 92 43 23 48 32 66 1 1 1 1 Fourteenth and Fifteenth Regiments, Company A.. 4 1 5 1 1 3 9 4 3 7 2 1 '? 1 1 2 3 3 4 8 6 2 4 10 >o 10 One Hundred and Sixth Regiment, Company K... One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. C One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. F One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiment, Co. K 4 2 rt 1 1 1 2 2 O 2 7 4 2 13 12 14 a 6 2 8 5 2 2 One Hundred and Thirty -third Regiment, Co. I.... One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, Co. A... 4 7 3 1 T "/I, n i r v ' ' ""*" 1 4 10 Total Privates 19 980 31 73 21 2 3 2 21 6 8 15 117 3 50 Total Officers Total Privates enlisted elsewhere . . 9 Total 1084 26 19 2 26 8j 15 129 50 Total deaths of officers and men from all causes, 184. A great many of those who returned home have since died, so that soldiers of the late war are not numerous in the county, even though over one thousand entered the service eighteen years ago. The record of the names of all who enlisted should be given, that the future generations should know who they were that came to the rescue in the hour of the country's peril. A few years in the future and the Report of the Adjutant General will be out of print, and the great mass of those who suffered and bled and died will be forgotten. SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812 IN MENARD COUNTY. Of course this county sent no soldiers into the last war with England ; but as this part of Illinois began to be settled up only a few years after the close of that war, a great many who had served their country at that time, settled here, and made this their home ever after. But nearly all of these have long since gone to their final rest. In our cemeteries, we frequently see inscriptions 276 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. telling the fact that some of these men sleep in this part of the State. Only a year or two ago, one of these old patriots was laid to rest beneath the . leaves and flowers of Rose Hill Cemetery. He was well stricken in years, but, at the mention of the days of trial he experienced in the war, the old fire would come back to his eye, and, for a time, he seemed to have regained all the fire of his youth '; but, at the change of the theme of conversation, he relapsed again into the apathy and weakness of extreme old age. He was buried by a detachment of the State Guard with the honors of war. We can learn of only three per- sons now living in the county, who were soldiers in that war, and these are, of course, all very old men. Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, living on Rock Creek, some six miles south of Petersburg, was a man of, at least, thirty years of age at the beginning of that war. When war was declared, he was living with his family in one of the Southeastern States. Notwithstanding the fact that he had a wife and children at the time, he unhesitatingly responded to the call of his country, and enlisted in the army. He served faithfully till the fall of Gen. Packen- ham and the close of the war, having been in several engagements, and then returned to his family. In 1820, he settled on the place where he now lives ; reared a large family (several of whom are still in this part of the State), and still lives, a hale and hearty man considering his age. He remembers facts in his earlier life remarkably well, and nothing pleases him better than for the younger people to listen to his stories of the war, and the early history of Illi- nois. There are conflicting statements concerning Mr. Lloyd's age. Accord- ing to his own statement, he is now about ninety-six years of age. But those who have known him long, say that he has claimed to be of that age for several years. Those who knew him forty or fifty years ago, say that according to the account he then gave of his age, together with his appearance at that time, he is now, certainly, several years above a century old. William Estill, liv- ing on Indian Creek, five miles east of Petersburg, was also a soldier in the late war with England. Sometime after the close of the war, he removed to Illinois, and has lived ever since within a few miles of his present residence. His first wife was a Miss Williams, sister of John Williams, one of the leading capitalists of this county. She died many years ago, and some years la.ter, he was married to a widow lady Mrs. Eliza Hayden. By his first wife, he reared a large family of children, among them were Capts. William J. and Samuel Estill, of the war of the rebellion ; Lieut. Isaac and a younger brother, both of whom died in the service ; and also, Joseph and James Estill (both farmers) living in the eastern portion of the county. Besides these sons, he has two daughters still living. These are Mrs. Luther Jennison, living near Greenview, and Mrs. William Price, near Athens. " Uncle Billy," as as he is generally called, is now eighty-five years of age, and, with the exception of considerable suffering from rheumatism, is in remarkably good health for one of this great age. He became a professor of religion in early life, and has, for about half a century, been a Ruling Elder in the Cumberland HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 279 Presbyterian Church. He is a man of deepest piety, and, perhaps, no man in this part of Illinois has exerted a greater influence for good by a con- stantly devoted and consistent Christian life than he. In fact, among all classes, he is held in the highest esteem, and regarded as a model of devoted piety. The third soldier of the late war with England, living in this county, is Mr. Lewis McKay, living on Rock Creek, seven miles south of Petersburg, and in the same neighborhood with Mr. Tarleton Lloyd, spoken of before. Mr. McKay is now eighty-two years old ; as straight as a boy, and, with the exception of a defect in his hearing, he seems to be in the enjoyment of excel- lent health for one of his years. Unfortunately, we have not had the means of learning the history of Mr. McKay. He went into the service -in 1814, hence, was not more than seventeen years old at that time. He served till the close of the war, and then settled down to the practice of the arts of peace. He is a perfect gentleman in all his deportment, and is honored and respected by all who know him. He, at present, makes his home with his son-in-law and daughter Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Golden. We should delight to honor those old men who have done so much for our country. They are almost all gone. Here and there one still lives, but a few years from now in less than a decade the last of them will have gone to the journey's end. It becomes our duty, in this connection, to speak briefly of another military organization in this county. This organization is the HARRIS GUARDS. On the 8th day of October, 1874, a militia company was organized in Peters- burg, under the provisions of the statutes entitled "Militia," and approved March 3, 1845. The company kept up its organization, though not in a perfect form, until the 1st of July, 1877, when it was re-organized under the new militia law, of the State, which was approved May 18, 1877. The company was named in honor of a former statesman and soldier of this place, Maj. Thomas L. Harris. Maj. Harris filled that position in the Mexican war with bravery and distinction ; and, after the war, represented this district in Con- gress. He was growing rapidly in popularity, but when little more than forty years of age, he was stricken down by death. When the company was organ- ized and sworn in, it was attached to the Fifth Regiment of Illinois National Guards, the company being Company E. regimental headquarters at Springfield. The Guards have occupied Fisher's Hall as An armory, in the past, but they, in connection with the Masonic fraternity, have now in process of erection an armory and hall, which is to be finished this fall, and is to cost $10,000. The Harris Guards have never been called into active service but once ; this was during the labor riots, in the summer and fall of 1877. The company was first called to Springfield, and thence ordered to East St. Louis, where they remained until quiet and order were restored throughout the country. While on duty, they exhibited coolness, discretion and fortitude in a very remarkable F 280 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. degree, and in this way exerted a great influence in restoring quiet in East St. Louis and St. Louis. They are well armed and nicely uniformed, and are well drilled in the manual of arms. The men are principally just in the prime of life, and on parade they present a fine appearance. The officers of the company are all old soldiers, and well informed in military matters. Capt. McDougall was captain of a company in the war of the rebellion, and proved himself a true soldier. Below we give a full roster of the officers and men of the com- pany: Captain, Charles E. McDougall; First Lieutenant, John M. Walker : Sec- ond Lieutenant, James H. Carman ; First Sergeant, James W. Conant ; Second Sergeant, Edward C. Drake; Third Sergeant, John C. Cabanis; Fourth Sergeant, Frank Meyer; Fifth Sergeant, Julius Rothschild; First Corporal, Michael F. Farney ; Second Corporal, William Kern ; Third Corporal, Powell Antle ; Fourth Corporal, L. H. Fouch ; Fifth Corporal, Charles R. Collier ; Sixth Corporal, Eugene W. Eads ; Seventh Corporal, John B. Barnhard ; Secretary, E. R. Oeltjen. Privates Leopold Ahronheim, John P. Brehl, Howard D. Burbank, James E. Davis, Alonzo E. Estill, John D. Freeze, Harry Harris, William E. Hatfield, Robert H. James, Mayo Jones, John A. Larman, John H. McDougall, George W. Morris, Frank A. Rainey, Thomas A. Ruddy, Henry Wegharst, Fred Wilkinson, Thomas J. Lewis, Edward L. Goodman, James M. Bale, William R. Humphreys, James H. Bowen, Lynch Brooks, John R. Connover, Orin D. Doland, George C. Freese, William G. Gottschall, Albert L. Hatch, Lorenzo W. Heelan, Hermann Janssen, William S. Judy, Frank McDougall, George S. Montgomery, Albert F. Oeltjen, Edward D. Rob- ertson, Marshall W. Thomas, Leo Werner, Edward D. Wright, Marcus John- son, Charles Laparierre, James Faith and Frank Huggins. The company has on its roll of officers and men fifty-eight names in all. They also have connected with the company an excellent brass band, known as the Harris Guard Brass Band. They drill regularly, and, taken all in all, they are a remarkably fine company of military men. This general history would be incomplete without a list of the county offi- cers from its organization to the present time. This we will give, without com- ment. The reader will remember that the county was not organized until 1839. Sheriffs. James Goldsby, commissioned April 15, 1839, August 28, 1840, and August 16, 1842; N. A/Rankin, August 9, 1844, and August 18, 1846 ; James Taylor, August 17, 1848 ; James G. Long, December 26, 1848 and December 2, 1850 ; B. D. McAtee, November 13, 1852 ; J. B. Gum, April 8, 1853, and November 14, 1854 ; J. B. Goldsby, November 10, 1856 ; J. M. Hurt, December 3, 1858 ; A. K. Johnson, November 20. 1860 ; W. C. Smoot, December 8, 1862 ; J. M. Quinn, November 21, 1864 ; John Tice, November 14, 1866 ; Robert Clary, November 20, 1868 ; Fred Wilkinson, November 29, 1870, and November 27, 1872 ; Wolf Feulner, November 24, 1874, and November 27, 1876 ; Fred Wilkinson, March 26, 1878. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 281 Probate Justices. Asa D. Wright, commissioned April 15, 1839, May 1, 1839, and August 23, 1843 ; Nathan Dresser, September 18, 1-846 ; Asa D. Wright, August 11, 1847. r Recorders. William G. Spears, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; Jacob H. Laning, September 11, 1843; Cornelius Rourke, September 17, 1847. Coroners. Martin S. Morris, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; George D. Adams, August 7, 1840; John E. RawUngs, August 5, 1842; Ira McGlas- son, August 9, 1844, and August 27, 1846 ; McLean Wood, August 23, 1848 ; T. P. Garretson, November 20, 1850 ; C. Levering, November 13, 1852 ; W. T. Hutchinson, November 23, 1853 ; William Trent, November 14, 1854 ; F. C. Davis, November 10, 1856 ; J. T. Brooks, December 3, 1858 ; C. Lever- ing, November 24, 1860, and December 8, 1862 ; A. L. Clary, November 26, 1864, and November 28, 1866 ; L. L. Montgomery, June 23, 1869 ; G. W. Hicks, February 20, 1871; J. J. Erwin, November 24, 1874; L. Ahronheim, November 27, 1876 ; Charles Cowan, December 1, 1877. Surveyors. Edmund Greer, commissioned April 15, 1839 ; John B. Gum, September 12, 1843, and September 17, 1847 ; Anno Ritter, December 11, 1849, November 10, 1851, and November 20, 1853 ; E. Hall, November 12, 1855 ; William F. West, November 20, 1857 ; D. N. Carithers, November 25, 1859, and December 9, 1861 ; John'B. Gum, November 18, 1863; A. E. Mick, December 2, 1864, November 18, 1865, and November 14, 1867 ; A. J. Kelly, November 23, 1869, and November 18, 1875. Public Administrators. Lewis B. Wynn, commissioned February 14, 1843 ; George U. Miles, July 31, 1845 ; McLean Wood, February 16, 1849. County Judges. Jacob Garber, commissioned November 22, 1849 ; C. J. F. Clarke, November 23, 1853, and November 14, 1857 ;' J. H. Pillsbury, December 9, 1861 ; M. B. Harrison, November 20, 1865 ; C. M. Robertson, November #, 1869 ; J. H. Pillsbury, November 19, 1873 ; John Tice, December 1, 1877- Associate Justices. James Mott, commissioned November 20, 1853 ; J. Reed, November 23, 1853; C. J. Hutchinson, July 17, 1854, and November 14, 1857 ; Robert Clary, November 14, 1857, and December 9, 1861 ; D. T. Hughes, December 9, 1861'; R. Woldridge, November 15, 1869 ; H. Warn- sing, December 3, 1869. County Clerks. Cornelius Rourke, commissioned November 22, 1849, November 23, 1853, November 14, 1857, and December 9, 1861 ; Hobard Hamilton, November 20, 1865 ; A. E. Mick, November 15, 1869 ; Anson Thompson, November 19, 1873, and December 1, 1877. Circuit Clerks. A. K. Riggin, commissioned September 4, 1848, Novem- ber 13, 1852, and November 14, 1856 ; Joseph Johnson, November 20, 1860 ; William J. Estill, November 12, 1864, and November 20, 1868 ; T. C. Ben- nett, November 15, 1872, and November 27, 1876. States' 1 Attorneys. H. W. Masters, commissioned November 29, 1872, and 'November 27, 1876. 282 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Assessors and Treasurers. John Tice, commissioned November 25, 1857, November 25; 1859, and November 18, 1863; J. W. Cheaney. November 15, 1869, and December 18, 1871; Charles H. Thomas, November 18, 1875, and December 1, 1877. School Commissioners. 0. D. Clarke, commissioned November 20, 1853 ; J. H. Pillsbury, December 20, 1857, and November 25, 1859 ; Edward Lan- ing, November 18, 1863 ; Edward . Booth (changed to Superintendent of Schools), November 15, 1865 ; William H. Berry, November 15, 1869 ; K. B. Davis, November 19, 1873 ; R. D. Miller, January 3, 1877, and December 1, 1877. The present officers of the county are as follows, viz.: County Judge, John Tice ; Master in Chancery, R. N. Stevens ; Sheriff, Frederick Wilkinson, and Deputy, John Cabanis ; County Commissioners, James Altig, Andrew Gaddy and Frank Duncan ; State's Attorney, H. W. Masters ; Circuit Clerk, Theo- dore C. Bennett, with 0. B. Carter, Deputy ; County Clerk, Anson Thomp- son, with E. D. Robertson, Deputy ; Assessor and Treasurer, Charles 'H. Thomas ; Surveyor, A. J. Kelley ; Coroner, David Cowan ; Superintendent of Schools, R. D. Miller. The county owns an excellent farm, well improved, and lying within two miles of Petersburg, which is used as a home for the indi- gent and homeless. PETERSBURG PRECINCT. Mount Vernon, the ancestral home of the Father of His Country, is dear to every American heart. His mortal remains lie entombed there, and feelings of patriotism diverge from the venerated spot, as golden rays are reflected back from the setting sun. As Columbia's first and greatest son, he is embalmed in the national memory as Joseph was by his brethren, and reverently assigned a place "Among the few immortal names , That were not born to die." In that portion of Menard County to which this chapter is devoted, is an his- torical spot, that, next to Mount Vernon, should be highly cherished as long as liberty and true patriotism prevail in this great republic. We allude to Old Salem, formerly the home of Abraham Lincoln. Hefe it may be said that he made his start in the world, and, although little remains of the original town, ' the spot is endeared to the people of the county as the early home of the mar- tyred President. It seems to us a duty that the State owes to his memory, to purchase the site of the old town, appropriately care for it, as the National Government does Mount Vernon, and doubt not but the time will come when this additional honor will be paid him. We shall have more to say of the old historical town elsewhere in these pages. Petersburg is the largest township -or precinct in Menard County, and like- wise the most important, inasmuch as it contains the seat of justice. It' HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 283 embraces portions of Towns 18 north, Ranges 6, 7 and 8 west, and by Gov- ernment survey contains about fifty-seven sections, and is bounded north by Sandridge Precinct, east by Indian Creek and Athens, south by Rock Creek and Tallula, and west by Cass County. The Sangamon River flows through the precinct, entering it at very nearly the southeast corner, running almost a northwest course to Section 25, in Range 7, when it turns due north, passing out through Section 1, when it becomes the boundary line between Indian Creek and Sandridge Precincts. Indian Creek forms the boundary between this and Indian Creek Precinct, while Clary's Creek runs through the western part of the precinct, and Little Grove Creek has its source at a few miles dis- tance, southwest of Petersburg, flowing northwest to the Sangamon River. These streams supply an abundance of water for all general purposes, as well as ample means of drainage. Excellent timber borders the water-courses, as more minutely described in the general history of this work, and consists of the species usually found in this part of the State. A large portion of the precinct is fine prairie land, the timber, as above stated, being confined chiefly to the margin of the streams. The Chicago & Alton Railroad and the Spring- field & Northwestern intersect it, the one crossing from northeast to southwest and the other from southeast to northwest, thus affording ample means of com- munication with the outside world. Petersburg, the capital of the county, is the only town of any note within its borders, and will be more particularly referred to further on in this chapter. It also contains the historic, but now almost defunct town of Old Salem, which receives due notice in another page. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlements made in this division of Menard County are involved in some obscurity, and authentic information' pertaining to them seems almost beyond reach at the present day. With nearly sixty years stretching between the advent of the pale-face pioneers and the present period, it is not strange that there should be conflicting statements as to whom belongs the honor of making the original settlement in Petersburg Precinct. From our investigations and the most reliable sources of information at hand, we are of opinion that the Esteps were the first white men in this locality. They were originally from the State of North Carolina, but emigrated to Tennessee early in the beginning of the present century, and from thence came to Illinois, locating in St. Clair County. In the spring of 1820-21, James Estep came to Menard County, or Sangamon, as it then was, and made a claim in this precinct, near or within the present city of Petersburg. - He was followed in a few months by his brother Enoch and his father, Elijah Estep. Upon the arrival of his father, he gave his claim to him, and moved across the river and located on what was later known as Baker's Prairie. Elijah Estep built a small horse-mill, which was afterward embraced in the city limits, and otherwise improved the claim by erecting on it a cabin of the regular pioneer pattern. He died early, and but 284 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. little is remembered of him by any now living in this section. Enoch Estep removed to Arkansas many years ago, and whether living or not, we do not know. James, who seems to have been a kind of roving character, never con- tented long in one place, from Baker's Prairie moved over into the present township of Crane Creek, in Mason County, where he bought a claim of one James Sutton. In the few years following, he occupied various places, and in 1832 moved to Arkansas, but returned the following year to Mason County. Remaining a few years, he moved back to Menard County, and finally to Mis- souri, but again returned to Mason County, where he died in 1857, on the place now owned .by his son, J. M. Estep. He is described as a man of considerable eccentricity, and, with all his meandering around from place to place, never rented a home, but always bought and sold. True, the old saying is, that " A rolling stone gathers no moss," and Mr. Estep accumulated but little of the world's goods, dying in indigent circumstances. This pioneer, supposed to have been the first white settler in Petersburg Precinct, sleeps in New Hope Cemetery, in Mason County, beside the partner of his life, who preceded him a few years to the " land of shadows." Soon after the settlement of the Esteps probably the latter part of the same year the Watkinses and a man named Teeters came to the precinct. There were Joseph, Samuel, James, John and Thomas Watkins. They were from Kentucky, and some of them settled in Clary's Grove as early as 1819-20. Joseph and Samuel Watkins made claims in this precinct in 1821, as noted above, while James Watkins did not come until 1825-26. Thomas Watkins bought the claim of John Clary, acknowledged by the majority of old citizens to be the first white settler of Menard County, as noticed in the 'history of Clary's Grove. This claim Watkins sold to George Spears, in 1824, and removed to the "river timber," n'ear the present city of Petersburg, where he eventually died. The eld Watkins stock are, we believe, all dead, but there are still descendants of the family living in the county. Thomas, Jr., a son of Thomas Watkins, was born in the county in 1824, and may be recorded among the early births. He is still living in this precinct, and is probably the oldest native-born citizen of the county. He served one year in the Mexican war. Mack Watkins, another son, also lives in the precinct. Teeters moved into Sandridge Precinct, where he is further noticed. Jacob Short and three sons, Obadiah, Harrison and James came in 1822. They were from the south end of the State, where they had resided for some time before coming to this county. In 1824, they moved into Sandridge, where Jacob Short died in 1825, and wher Harrison also died some years later. Obadiah died at Nauvoo, and James removed to Iowa, where he, too, died. During the next two or three years, the little community was increased by the arrival of several additional families, among which were : Jesse Baker, Henry and William Clark, Ephi'aim and William Wilcox, Henry McHenry, Daniel Atterberry, Andrew, Jacob and Spencer Merrill, and perhaps others. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 285 Jesse Baker settled on Baker's Prairie, and from him it derived its name. He moved into Mason County about 1836, and located in the present township of Kilbourne, where he is mentioned as one of the pioneers of that section. He has passed to his last account since we began the work of compiling this his- tory. Henry and William Clark, brothers, came from Kentucky and settled in this precinct. William died many years ago, but Henry is still living upon the place of his original settlement, just across the river from Petersburg. He and his wife have lived together for fifty-six years. Ephraim and William Wilcox were also from Kentucky, and both died in this county, a number of years ago. Henry McHenry still lives in Petersburg, and owns the brick hotel at the northeast corner of the public square. Daniel Atterberry was from Kentucky, made a claim here, but has been long dead. Andrew Merrill and his sons, Jacob and Spencer Merrill, were also from Kentucky. The old gentleman died in 1835, and it is said that he pointed out one day, a short time previous to his death, the spot where he desired to be buried. When he died, his son Jacob carried out his wish and had him laid away in the des- ignated spot. In 1859, his wife was laid by the side of him. Jacob and Spencer are both living but a short distance west of Petersburg, the former in his seventy-fourth year. Thomas Edwards was among the very early settlers, but is described as a rather hard character, and of little benefit to any commu- nity. He remained here but a short time, pulled up stakes and moved on to other frontier settlements. Thomas F. Dowell came about 1825-26, and is still living in Sandridge Precinct, at an advanced age. Jesse Gum was among the early settlers of Clary's Grove, as noticed in the history of Tallula Precinct. He was a native of Kentucky. Charles Gum, living near Petersburg, is his son. John B. Gum, who now lives at Kilbourne, Mason County, and who is one of the largest landholders in Mason or Menard County, is also a son of Jesse Gum. In addition to the names already given, the following recruits were added to the settlement prior to the "deep snow:" George Curry, Henry Bell and sons, John Jones, Zachariah Clary, Bartley Milton, John and Anno Ritter, Pollard Simmons, William Edwards and sons, John Jennison, Bartlett Con- yers, Henry and David Williams, Conrad Strader, Josiah Crawford and others. George Curry came .from Green County, Ky., and laid a claim in this pre- cinct, near where his son, Rev. H. P. Curry, now lives. He died in 1876. Rev. H. P. Curry has been actively engaged in the ministry for thirty-nine years, and at present administers spiritual consolation to four churches, in addition to superintending his farm. Henry Bell and sons were from Ken- tucky. The old gentlemen is long since dead, but some of the sons still live in the county. John Jones was another Kentuckian, and settled in Clary' 8 Grove in 1824. He moved into this precinct some years later, and finally located in Little Grove, where he died. Zachariah Clary, a brother to John Clary, the first settler, came from Tennessee and settled in Clary's Grove in 286 HISTORY OF MENA.RD COUNTY. the latter part of 1819, and, in 1825, moved into this precinct. He sffll lives upon the place where he then settled, a mile or two north of Petersburg. He is eighty-two years old, and he and his good wife, who is also living, have been plodding on over the old stumpy road of life together for fifty-nine years, hav- ing been married, as he informed us, in 1820. John and Anno Ritter were from Kentucky. Anno died here ; John moved to Mason County, where he died. Pallard Simmons removed also to Mason County and died there. David and Henry Williams, and Bartlett Conyers settled in the same neighborhood, but where they came from, we could not ascertain. Conrad Strader is dead, but has a son still living in the precinct. Josiah Crawford moved to Mason County, where he died. This completes the settlement up to the time of the deep snow, so far as we have been able to obtain names and facts. As we have have had frequent occasion to mention, in our capacity as historian, in North- ern and Central Illinois, the "deep snow" is an epoch from which the chro- nology of the pioneer dates " fore and aft." All important events are reck- oned from the deep snow. It is a waymark that will not be forgotten by those who witnessed it, until their life journey closes at the brink of the tomb. Ask the old grandfather or grandmother about the deep snow, and note the sparkle of their eyes, as memory rolls back over a period of fifty years, when " All the land with snow was covered," to a depth of four feet, and so remained for a period of three months or more. They can tell you of the hard times, and the dreary aspect of that long, long winter, better than we, for it was before our day. The population was increased during the five or six years immediately fol- lowing the deep snow, by the following emigrants, a majority of whom came from Old Kentucky, that famous land of blue grass, pretty women and good whisky : The Davidsons, the Taylors, William Butler, Dr. John Lee, William P. Cox, W. G. Greene, Thomas Epperson, William J. Hoey, the Bennetts, C. G. Brooks, S. and C. Levering, A. D. Wright, Jacob H. Laning, James S. Carter, John McNarnar, A. Humphrey, John McNeal, Samuel Hill, Nathan Dresser, Charles B. Waldo, Zachariah Nance and sons, George U. Miles, Chester Moon, Thoims L. Harris, W. C. Dawson, Martin Morris, Jordan Morris, J. W. Warnsing, William Haggefty, Dr. John Allen, George War- burton, Peter Lukins, the Rutledges, Jonathan Colby, Robert Carter, J. A. Brahm, James Goldsby, Nicholas Tice, Abraham Bale, Jacob Bale, Hardin Bale and others. The Davidsons, George A., Isham G. and Jackson, were from Kentucky and were among the early merchants of Petersburg. They first settled in the southern part of the State, in Bond County, we believe, where they resided for a number of years before coming to this county. George A. Davidson lives at present in Greenview, Isham G. in Fulton County, and Jackson has been lost sight of. They were related to the Taylor family, and came to the county soon after, or about the time the Taylors came. The : HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 287 Taylors were from Kentucky. John Taylor was the first merchant of Petersburg, and one of the original proprietors of the town, as noticed in that con- nection. He died in Beardstown, but was living in Springfield at the time. Richard Taylor was a brother, but never a permanent resident here. James Taylor was a son of John Taylor, but did not live here. Made frequent busi- ness visits to the place, however. He died in Springfield, where he made his home. James Taylor, a cousin to the latter, lived here some years and died here. William Butler was a transient guest and did not remain long in the community ; was merely here attending to Taylor's business for a short time. Dr. John Lee was from the Old Dominion and a member of the original L?e family of Virginia. He at present lives at Athens, this county. William P. Cox came from Kentucky and is yet living in the county. William G. Greene came from Tennessee, but his father, William Greene, was a native Kentuckian. He came to Illinois in 1821-22 and settled near where the village of Tallula now stands, where he died. William G. Greene was a mere boy when his father came to Illinois. He is and has been for years a prominent man of the county and is still living. He is mentioned elsewhere as an intimate friend of Mr. Lincoln when he was a resident of Menard County. Thomas Epperson was from Kentucky and died here many years ago. William J. Hoey was a son of the " auld sod" and was one of the early merchants of Petersburg. He had a brother, James Hoey, who was also an early settler, but came several years after William. They both died here. The Bennetts came from Old Virginia, the home of statesmen and the birthplace of Presidents. There were three brothers John, William and Richard E. Bennett. John came to Illinois in 1835, and to this section in 1836, and became one of the early merchants and prominent business men of Petersburg, as noticed in that chapter. He was a member of the Legislature during the session of 1840-41, and was one of the first directors of the old Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, now the Jacksonville division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, besides holding many other positions of importance. He is still living in the city of Petersburg, retired from active business life, and to his excellent memory we are indebted for much of the early history of Peters- burg and surrounding vicinity. William Bennett came to the settlement one year after John, and is long since dead. Dr. Richard E. Bennett came about the same time, and is elsewhere mentioned as the first practicing physician in this portion of the county. Dr. Bennett is dead, but has a son, Theodore C. Bennett, living in Petersburg, who is the present Circuit Clerk. C. G. Brooks was from Kentucky and came in 1836, and died here years ago. Septimus and C. Levering, half-brothers, came from Baltimore ; Septimus came in the spring of 1837, and his brother some time later. The former is dead, but the latter is living here still. James S. Carter was from Virginia and came in 1838. He is at present living in the Tillage of Oakford. Jacob H. Laning came from New Jersey in 1838. He is still living in the city of Petersburg, 288 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. and his sons are among the prominent business men of the place. A. D. Wright is mentioned in another place as connected prominently with the mill interests of the city at one time. John McNamar was a a Down Easter," but from what State is not known. He was one of the early merchants in Salem, and moved to Petersburg after the decline of Salem, where he again embarked in mercantile business. He died here about a year ago. Dr. John Allen was also an early merchant at Salem, as well as an early physician. He moved to Petersburg about the same time as McNamar. They were in business together at Salem, which was continued for a time after locating in Petersburg. He died here some years ago. A. Humphrey was also a " Down Easter," and came here about 1837-38, and died long ago. John McNeal was a native of Pennsylvania, but went to Virginia, where he married, and then removed to Illinois, locating in this precinct, where he finally died. Samuel Hill came from Ohio and first located in Salem very early. He moved to Petersburg in 18-39, and died several years ago. Charles B. Waldo, Nathan Dresser and Thomas L. Harris were natives of Connecticut, whence they emigrated to Virginia, then to Illinois arid settled in Petersburg. Waldo is mentioned on another page as the first pedagogue in the neighborhood. Both he and Dresser moved to the southern part of the State, in the vicinity of Cairo, where they died. Harris, though originally from the same place, came several years later. He was a man of considerable prominence and political aspirations, and served one or two terms in Congress with some distinction. He died here, but his widow and other members of the family are still living. Zachariah Nance and several sons came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1833, locating in what is now Rock Creek Precinct. Here the old gentleman died and was buried in the Farmers' Point Graveyard. Among his sons were Thomas and Washington, the latter now living in Petersburg; quite an old man. "Albert G. Nance, a son of Thomas, served two years in the Legislature, and was a candidate for the ^State Senate, but died a few days before the election. His father is also dead. Mrs. Hill, widow of Samuel Hill, now living in Petersburg, is a daughter of Zachariah Nance. George U. Miles was from Kentucky, and settled here in 1839, but had been living in the southern part of the State several years before coming to Menard County. He is still living, but very old and feeble. Chester Moon was a Yankee, but what State he came from we could not ascer- tain. He died some years ago in Morris. W. C. Dawson came from Ken- tucky about 1840, and resides at present in Springfield. Martin and Jordan Morris, though of the same name, and both blacksmiths, were in nowise related. Jordan was one of those transient characters who are always on the move, and did not remain long in this community, but what actually became of him is not now remembered. Martin Morris, after a residence here of some years, removed to Missouri, where he still lived at last accounts. William Haggerty was also a blacksmith, came with Jordan Morris, worked with him and left with him. J. W. Warnsing was a German, and came here very early. Has HISTORY. OF MENARD COUNTY. 289 been dead several years. Samuel Berry came from Tennessee at an early day arid died long ago. George Warburton, who is noticed in the history of the city of Petersburg as the owner of a part of the land on which the town was laid out, came from the East. He was drowned in the Sangamon River, when the water, it is said, was not over six inches deep. It is supposed that he was intoxicated, as he was in the habit of drinking to excess, and in that state fell into the water, when no help was at hand, and being unable to help himself, was drowned. Peter Lukins, the joint proprietor with Warburton of the land on which the town stands, and for whom Petersburg was named, as noted hereafter, came from Kentucky. He and Warburton. as more particularly detailed in the his- tory of Petersburg, owned 160 acres of land, upon which the original town was laid out. This they afterward sold to Taylor & King, who became the propri- etors of the town. Lukins is noticed as the first hotel-keeper and the first shoe- maker. He was found dead in his bed one morning, supposed to have been the result of excessive drink, as he too, was in the habit of taking overdoses of the fiery demon. The Rutledges are originally from Kentucky, and are elsewhere noticed in this work. The Rutledges went from Kentucky to South Carolina, and from there came to Illinois, locating first in White County, where they remained som'e years, and then came to the present county of Menard, in 1825. William and James Rutledge, and John Cameron, came to the neighborhood together, and settled in the vicinity of Old Salem. Cameron and William Rut- ledge were brothers-in-law. They lived in the county until their death, and still have many descendants residing here. Jonathan Colby came from New Hampshire in 1834, and located where he now lives. His parents lived together as man and wife for sixty years, and at their death their combined ages were 172 years. Robert Carter came from Kentucky in 1830, and settled where his daughter, Mrs. Jemima Gum, now lives. He died in 1866. J. A. Brahm came to this county with his father's family, in 1830, and settled just north of Petersburg. They were from Germany. The elder Brahm died here in 1852. His son, J. A. Brahm, is a prominent banker and business man of the city of Petersburg. James Goldsby came from Kentucky, and settled here in 1830. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and the first Sheriff of Menard County. He has a son, Rev. William M. Goldsby, in this precinct, who has been a min- ister of the Baptist Church for a quarter of a century. Nicholas Tice was a native of Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1831, locating at the village of Athens. In 1832, he purchased a farm at what is now Tice's Station, where he died in 1856. John Tice, a son, is the present County Judge of Menard County. He is one of the faithful county and precinct officers, as evidenced in the fact that he has been in the official harness for thirty years in suc- cession. The Bales were from Kentucky. Jacob Bale located near the present city of Petersburg, in 1830. He was a minister, and the father of Hardin Bale, 290 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. proprietor of the Petersburg Woolen Mills, which are more particularly alluded to on another page. Abraham Bale came to the precinct in 1839, and located at Salem. In 1840, he purchased a farm, on which he resided until 1852, when he bought the mill-site at Salem, and commenced repairing the old mill, but he died in 1853. His sons completed the repairs he had begun, and, in 1873, T. V. Bale became sole proprietor of the once famous Salem Mills, and has ever since operated them. The Bales seem to have had a kind of genius or talent for mills, as we learn that Rev. Jacob Bale bought a small grist-mill, wherein his son Hardin took his first lessons in the business, and thus qualified himself for the successful business man that he is to-day. Aaron B. White was among the pioneers of Clary's Grove, and came from Kentucky. He has a son, William M. White, living in Petersburg, who remembers the hardships of those early days. Judge Pillsbury is a son of Alpha Pillsbury, and is a native of New Hampshire. His father died there in 1831, and, in 1836, the family came West, locating in the town of Petersburg. His mother died here in 1868. He has served several terms as County Judge, and was for several years Principal of the city schools. Mrs. Elizabeth Potter, the widow of Elijah, ranks among the pioneers. Her husband was a native of White County, 111., and came to Menard County in 1819-20. He died in March, 1876, on the place where his widow now lives. Robert McNeely was an early settler in the neighboring county of Morgan. His son, Hon. Thomas W. McNeely, is one of the prominent men of Petersburg. This comprises the early settlement of Petersburg Precinct up to a period when emigrants were flocking to the great plains of the West in such numbers as to render it a Herculean task to keep trace of them. It is a work of no little trouble, owing to the large and irregular divisions of the county, to avoid confusion and error in the location of early settlers, and mention them, in all cases, in the precinct or particular locality where they truly belong. We have exercised the utmost care in this respect, yet doubt not that many such mis- takes have been made. And doubtless, too, the names of many pioneers of the county and precinct have been overlooked, which deserve honorable men- tion in this work. But when we reflect that the allotted period of almost two generations have passed since white men came to this region, and that many of these early comers are gone and the memory of others weakened by age, it is not strange that early facts are sometimes difficult to obtain, and when gath- ered from different sources, as they necessarily must be, are often so at variance as to baffle the historian's skill to place them before his readers in a satisfactory manner. Had the compilation of this work been postponed a few years longer, the last of the old settlers, able to contribute facts and incidents of the far past, would have been beyond the historian's reach, and the opportunity of getting an authentic history lost forever. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 291 THE PIONEER DAYS. If the ghosts of some of the pioneers, whose settlement we have been not- ing in these pages, could rise, like that of Banquo's, imbued with power to observe the changes wrought since they first saw the country, their astonish- ment would doubtless exceed that of Rip Van Winkle's, when he awoke from his long nap in the Catskill Mountains and found himself no longer the loyal subject of George III., but the free and sovereign citizen of " the greatest country in the world." When white men came here, nearly sixty years ago, the forests were unbroken ; the prairies were yet in their pristine beauty, fresh from the Creator's hand, and were the abode of the wolf and the wild deer. The canoe of the Indian was paddled up and down the " Sangamo;" and its forests echoed the crack of his rifle, while the paths' worn by his moccasined feet were the guiding trail of the emigrant. The flight of years has clothed those " verdant wastes " with flocks and herds, with waving harvest-fields and vast forests of rustling corn, in whose depths armies might ambush. The Indian trail has become obliterated by the railway track, and the ox team and " prairie schooner" are displaced by the locomotive and the rushing train. The land- scape, where first the savage set his tepee and where his pale-face successor built his '"pole cabin" or his "three-faced" camp, is now dotted with hun- dreds of happy homes, churches and schoolhouses ; the silence broken by the Indian war-whoop and death song, now echoes to "The laugh of children, the soft voice Of maidens, and the sweet and solemn hymn Of Sabbath worshipers." And these are not all. Many other changes and improvements have taken place, which these rude and honest pioneers never dreamed of in their most extrav- agant flights of fancy. They were content then with the old " Gary " or "bar- share " plow, drawn by the patient ox, and were thankful if they had corn-meal and wild-deer meat to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Their homes were cabins, built of poles or split logs, with puncheon or dirt floors, clapboard roofs and stick chimneys, and their beds were usually wild prairie grass, which honest toil and contentment rendered "soft as downy pillows are." Nor were the women idle spectators. They were in truth helpmates, and metaphorically they put their hands to the plow and, when occasion demanded, did not hesitate to do so liter- ally. They spun and wove cloth, manufactured their own and their families' clothing. No doubt they were as happy then in their humble attire as their fair sisters of the present day are, when robed in silks and salins and sparkling with jewelry. But the pole cabin, the Gary and barshare plow, and the homely raiment are things of the past and are buried beneath the years that have come and gone in rapid succession, while the panorama has been unfolding to view. Soon these " relics of barbarism " will be wholly forgotten. Even now, they are fast becoming fireside legends. 292 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. As is usually the case in townships or precincts wherein are located county seats, the more important events center at the capital, leaving little of historic interest in the township at large. Thus it is in Petersburg. Beyond the mere fact of settling the country, the history of the precinct is mostly con- fined to Old Salem and to the county's metropolis. The first stores, mills, post offices, churches, schools, shops, etc., were established at these places. With a brief notice on one or two points of interest, we will pass to the history of the city. The church history, as we have said, is given more particularly in the town of Petersburg. It is proper, however, that a notice of Baker's Prairie Church should be given in the precinct history. It is one of the old church organizations of the Baptist denomination in the county, and was organized about 1835, by Rev. John Antle. The first church was a log building, and served as both church and schoolhouse for a time, and stood two or three miles east of Petersburg, and about the same distance north of Tice's Station. In 1849-50, a frame church superseded the old log structure, and is still in use as a temple of worship for this pioneer society. Rev. H. P. Curry, who has been frequently mentioned in this work as a Baptist preacher, at present administers to the spiritual wants of the Church. Another of the early churches of the precinct is the Methodist Church, at Tice's Station, which will be noticed in connection with that place. The railroads passing through this precinct are the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton and the Springfield & North-Western, which cross at the town of Petersburg. But, as they have been fully noticed already, we will not repeat their history here. Suffice it, they give the precinct and the town the benefit of transportation in any direction and to any market, and, indeed, bring the best markets in the country to the people's very doors. Petersburg Precinct is Democratic in politics, as is the entire county. During the war of the rebellion, it furnished many soldiers to the Union armies, and performed a good part to maintain the supremacy of the Govern- ment. But for a more complete record of these stirring events, the reader is referred to the war history of the county, which is given in a preceding chapter. As the first schools taught in the precinct were in the present town of Petersburg, the school history is mostly given in that connection. The schools of the surrounding country are in a flourishing state, corresponding with those in other portions of the county. Comfortable houses are conveniently situated, and efficient teachers employed during the usual school term, so that a good common-school education is within the reach of all. and there remains no excuse for children growing up in ignorance. THE CITY OF PETERSBURG. Petersburg, the metropolis of Menard County, is beautifully situated on the west bank of the Sangamon River, at the crossing of the Chicago & Alton and HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 293 the Springfield & North- Western Railroads, twenty-one miles from Springfield and twenty-seven miles from Jacksonville. It extends back from the river on to the bluffs, where are located many elegant residences. The streets are broad and lined with rows of trees, thus presenting an inviting appearance in the sul- try months of summer. The public square is a well-shaded spot, nicely set in grass, and containing many fine trees, in the midst of which stands that immense pile of architectural beauty and magnificence the Court House. The principal portion of the business, as in a majority of Illinois towns, is done around the square, and the business houses, as a class, are superior to those usually found in towns p,f this size. Peter Lukins and George Warburton were the original owners of 160 acres of land, on which Petersburg now stands. This tract of land was embraced in Section 14 of Town 18, and Range 7 west. They laid out the town about 1832-33, surveying and dividing the entire 160 acres into blocks of town lots, which performance being ended, they quietly sat down and waited for the place to grow. It was a rather extensive foundation for a town forty or fifty years ago, and it was probably these ponderous proportions that retarded its growth for the first few years of its existence, as we karn that city real estate com- manded but limited figures in either the home or in foreign markets. Finally, becoming discouraged or disgusted because a town did not rise as if by magic, they sold out to Hezekiah King and John Taylor. These gentlemen employed Abraham Lincoln, then Deputy Surveyor of Sangamon County, to resurvey and plat it, which plat was admitted to record February 22, 1836. The town was named for Peter Lukins, one of the original proprietors of the land. The accident, or incident, which led to the name of Petersburg, instead of that of Georgetown, occurred in this wise : Peter Lukins and George Warburton, who laid out the original town as already stated, were each desirous of being immortalized in history by bestowing his name upon the incipient city, and became involved in a dispute as to whether it should be called Georgetown (for Warburton) or Petersburg (for Lukins). They finally agreeed to play a game of " old sledge," or " seven-up." then the national game (instead of base ball), and allow the winner to name the place. Lukins won the game, and, rising from the costly* Turkish chair (an empty nail-keg) on which he sat, solemnly pro- nounced the name Petersburg. From the most authentic information to be obtained at the present day, it is probable that the first shanty erected on the present site of Petersburg was by Elijah Estep, mention of which has been made in the precinct history. As the settlements there noticed include both town and precinct, we will not recapitu- late the settlement of the town under this head. There was also a building, which people, out of respect, called a mill, erected by Estep, which is supposed to have been put up about 1826. It was what was called, in those early times, a ''gear horse-mill," and, we believe, used for sawing only. If any of our readers are curious to know what a -'gear horse-mill " is, they will have to 294 HISTORY OF MENAKD COUNTY. Consult some of the old settlers, for we cannot enlighten them. The first store was opened by John Taylor, in 1833. Not long after Taylor commenced busi- ness as a merchant here, the Davidson Brothers opened a store, which is said to have been the second in the place. Taylor sold his store to John Bennett, who is still living, and is a highly respected citizen of the town. He was for a number of years one of the leading merchants and business men. Jordan Morris was the first blacksmith, and Peter Lukins looked after the soles of the early settlers, otherwise, the first shoemaker. A post ofiice was established about 1833-34, with James Taylor as Postmaster. It was a very small affair, and could have been easily carried in a man's hat, but Ijas grown to considerable proportions, and its emoluments are more eagerly sought after at the present day than when established nearly fifty years ago. The present Postmaster is A. N. Curry, and, fnstead of a weekly mail, four mails are now received daily. The first practicing lawyer was David M. Rutledge, a brother to Miss Anna Rutledge, once the fiancee of Mr. Lincoln, and whose premature death alone prevented her becoming his wife. Dr. R. E. Bennett was the first located physi- cian. The first tavern was kept by Peter Lukins, and stood in the south end of the town. It was a small and unpretentious affair, but accommodated, in its time, the limited demand made upon an establishment of that kind. At pres- ent, there are four hotels in the city, and several restaurants. The two principal hotels are the Menard House on the southeast corner, and the brick hotel on the northeast corner of the public square. From this small business, beginning back nearly a half-century ago, Peters- burg has grown to be a stirring and energetic little city, of nearly three thousand inhabitants, commanding as large a trade as any town of its size, perhaps, in the State. The little 'store of Taylor has given place to twelve or fifteen large establishments, handling dry goods, groceries and clothing. Mor- ris, the " village blacksmith," is now represented by six shops, the smallest of which is far more pretentious than his, and some half a dozen disciples of St. Crispin supply the place of Lukins. The successors of 'Squire Rutledge in the legal profession comprise a dozen or more attorneys who rank at the head of the bar, and six physicians represent Dr. Bennett, the first of his kind in the town. All other branches of business have correspondingly incpeased, and hardware stores, agricultural, harness, drugs, furniture, meat and millinery stores, and lumber-yards nourish, and are well patronized and maintained. There are also two banks included in the business of the town. The next mill after the small affair already mentioned, was a saw and grist mill, built by one Dorrell. It was operated for a number of years, when a man named Sanford erected a very fine mill, at a cost of $18,000, which he sold, in 1853, to A. D. Wright. After operating it for several years, his sons, J. D. and E. D. Wright, took charge of it. In a few years, the latter withdrew from the firm and the former failed, necessitating the sale of the property. The mill was purchased, in 1878, by D. Fischer and E. L. Gault, who are now running '"Q-. O TALLUU HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 297 it. with good success. They make a fine article of flour, as evidenced in the fact that it took first premium at the State Fair, last year, at Freeport. The Eagle Mills were built in 1867 by Nance, Brother & Co., at a cost of $.14,000, and were operated by them for about fifteen months, when they sold out to Philip Rainey. He operated them for a time, in connection with Thomas Barfield, but, at the present time, is alone in the ownership of these excellent mills. He has recently added what is termed a " New Process," a process, by the way, of which we are ignorant, but, as some of our readers may be better informed upon the subject, we give them the benefit of the information. " The Process," whatever it is, the customers say, greatly improves the quality of the flour. While on the subject of mills, we should not omit to men- tion the fact that in early times the Sangamon River was supposed to be sus- ceptible of navigation, as noticed in the general history, and that about the year 1836, a little steamboat, in paddling up (or down) the crooked stream, became stranded on the beach in this vicinity. The machinery was purchased by John Taylor, who placed it in a saw-mill, and afterward added a grist-mill to the establishment. The machinery proved more valuable here than in the navigation of the Sangamon River, and performed good service until the mill was destroyed by fire. The grain trade of Petersburg, though quite an extensive branch of busi- ness, scarcely equals many other towns of this size. The principal dealers here at present are Phil Rainey, of the Eagle Mills, Fischer, Gault & Conover, of the Charter Oak Mills, and Laning & Co., all of whom have done a large business the present year. Fischer, Gault & Conover have an excellent grain elevator in connection with their mills, which is the only grain elevator in the town. This struck us as a little strange that in a section of country as rich as this, where corn and wheat are the main staples, to find no extensive grain elevators looming up along the railroad tracks. But much of the wheat is shipped as soon as threshed, the corn cribbed by the railroads, where it is shelled and loaded into the cars ; hence, elevators are but little needed. PETERSBURG AS THE COUNTY SEAT. As noted in the general history, the act for the formation of Menard County was passed at the Legislative session of 1838-39. The new county included the larger part of the present county of Mason, which was not set off until two years later. One of the first questions of agitation was the location of the seat of justice. New Market, Huron, Miller's Ferry and Petersburg were the con- testants, and, after a short, but sanguinary struggle, it was decided in favor of Petersburg, and, in the spring of 1839, it became the capital of the county. Its competitors in the struggle for official greatness were long since submerged u 'neath the waves of dark oblivion," and few, except the grizzled pioneers who are left, know that such places ever existed in their county. From this time forward, Petersburg rapidly increased in population, and grew in importance. 298 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. After the formation of Mason, it was found that, by a favorable stroke of for- tune, the county seat of Menard had been located very near its geographical center. For four years after the organization of the county, court was held in the store of Grinsley & Levering. In 1843, the court house was erected, at a cost of $6,640. The old and time-worn building, with the moss of more than a third of a century growing upon its walls, still adorns the town, and though an eye-sore to many, is, perhaps, more ^referable to the majority than being encumbered with an exorbitant debt, contracted to supply a gorgeous edifice. It is the old Kentucky tobacco-barn style of architecture, and on a par with the court houses built in this section of the State forty or fifty years ago. About the time the court house was built, a jail was erected, at a cost of $300. This served as a repository of the lawless until 1870, when a new jail was put up, of brick and stone, which cost about $22,000, and is a far nlore gorgeous build- ing than the court house itself. The coal interest of Petersburg has become an extensive business, and the mines now in successful operation in the immediate vicinity afford employment to a large number of men. The South Valley Shaft and the North Junction Shaft are among the most productive being worked. As the coal interest is more particularly mentioned in the county history, we will not dwell on it here. Suffice it to say, with the double advantage of coal in endless quantities and the water-power afforded by the Sangamon River, there is no reason why Petersburg should not become a manufacturing town. The facilities are almost unbounded, and all that is necessary is to encourage enterprising business men and capitalists to locate in the place. The Petersburg Woolen Mills are but a sample of the facilities presented by this locality for manufacturing enterprises. As an institution of considerable importance, it is appropriate that a description of their origin and progress should appear in the history of Petersburg. The present proprietor, Hardin Bale, a son of Jacob Bale, one of the pioneers of Menard County, built a carding machine at Salem about 183637. After Salem became extinct, he moved the establishment to Petersburg. Here he started up his wool-carding machine by horse or mule power. As trade and business increased, he added machinery and improvements until 1852, when he purchased an engine, enlarged his building and introduced a spinning-jack of 168 spindles and four .looms. With these improvements, he commenced the manufacture of woolen goods, and added a storeroom to accommodate his increased busine In 1865, the entire building, including others adjacent, were destroyed by fir involving a loss of nearly $150,000. Nothing daunted, he made immediate preparations to resume business, and being the owner of a large brick pork house, he at once placed all necessary machinery in it, consisting of a jack of 240 spindles, cards, fulling-mill and five looms. After a short season of pros- perity, he was again, on the 22d of February, 1869, burned out, this time at a loss of about $45,000. Again he set to work to rebuild, and in a short time HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 299 after the conflagration, had still another fine woolen-mill in operation. About the first of May, 1874, he leased it to C. P. Horner, who operated it for a time, when Mr. Bale again assumed control, and is now operating it successfully. In company with his son, Mr. Bale commenced the manufacture of drain tile in 1878, and at this time is conducting an extensive business in this branch of industry. They manufacture drain tile of all the sizes in common use in tliis section of the country. "When they first opened their factory, they used clay taken out of the hill near by, but now work the clay from the coal shaft, which makes, it is said, a better tile. Such enterprises as those given above,, merely go to show the advantages possessed by this locality, and what a busy manufacturing little city this may become if it has a chance to develop ita resources. Mr. Miller, in the general history of this work, speaks very intelli- gently upon this subject, and to his timely hints the attention of business men and friends of the town is directed. SCHOOLS PAST AND PRESENT. After a thorough investigation, it is pretty definitely ascertained that the first school in Petersburg was taught by Charles B. Waldo, a brother-^i-law of John Bennett, Esq., mentioned as one of the early settlers and business men of the town. This school was taught in 1837, in a small log cabin which stood in the extreme south end of the village. In a year or two, a small frame building was erected, for school purposes, on the brow of the hill west of the village, and near the "Old Dr. Allen place." It is described as being "out in the brush " then, with a " little path leading to it." In this primitive temple of learning, the youth of the period laid the foundation of their educa- tion and learned to shoot paper wads, until 1855, when the town purchased the building from the Masonic fraternity, which they had used as a hall, and turned it into a common or free school building,* flinging its doors open to all, rich and poor, alike. About the year 1845 or 1846, the Masons started a school in the lower story of their hall, for the benefit of their children, and engaged W. A. Dickey as teacher. The school was not confined exclusively to their own children, but others were admitted upon a certain subscription. This was continued until bought by the town, as above noticed. After its purchase, an addition was built to it, making a large and comfortable building, which was used for educa- tional purposes until 1874, when the present elegant building was commenced and pushed forward with such energy as to be ready for occupancy by Febru- ary. 1875. It cost $10,000, and has six large, well-ventilated rooms, three on each floor, besides several private rooms, for library purposes, offices, etc. The names of all the teachers employed previous to the inauguration of the .common school cannot be given. *It seems a little strange, but is vouched for as true, that, although the common-school law was passed in 1847, the first free school in this place was not taught until 1855. Up to this date, the old subscription-schools were the ily kind in Petersburg. 300 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. The first free school was taught by Judge J. H. Pillsbury, in 1855 and 1856. The following is a list of Principals, in regular rotation, from Pillsbury down to the present time : Judge J. H. Pillsbury, 1855 and 1856 ; John Dor- sey, 1856 and 1857 ; Edward Laning, 1857 and 1^58 ; J. H. Best, 1858 to 1860 ; A. Bixby, 1860 and 1861 ; W. Taylor, 1861 and 1862 ; Edward Lan- ing. 1862 and 1863 ; M. P. Hartley, 1863 and 1864 ; W. Taylor, 1864 and 1865; C. E. McDougall, 1865 and 1866; J. A. Pinkerton and J. H. Pills- N bury, 1866 and 1867 ; W. H. Berry, 1867 to 1869 ; C. H. Crandall, 1869 and 1870 ; - - Mayfield, 1870 and 1871 ; M. C. Connelly, 1871 to 1876; . L. Hatfield, 1876 and 1877; J. A. Johnson, 1877 and 1878; M. C. Con- nelly, 1878 and 1879. It will be perceived from the above that Prof. Connelly has swayed the scepter over the schools of Petersburg six years, and has, we learn, been retained for the year just beginning. His assistants for the opening year are as follows : G. W. Shepherd, J. W. Whipp. Miss Grace Brown. Miss Clara McDougall, Miss Dora Lorentzen, Miss Mary Fisher and Miss Anna Morris. The school is graded, and includes in its course of instruction all the branches usually taught in the common schools of the country. Prof. Connelly's long administration as Principal shows him to be what he really is, " the right man in the right place." In 1870, the public schools of the town having somewhat retrograded, or, as our informant expressed it, "run down," John A. Brahm, Isaac White, H. W. Montgomery, David Frackelton, J. M. Bobbins and B. F. Montgomery formed a joint-stock company, and erected a building on the hill, west of the public square, for the purpose of having a "good school." This building cost $3,750, and was styled the "Petersburg Seminary." As will be seen from the above facts, it was a private and individual enterprise, and the rate of admission to it was $36 per scholar, for a term of nine months. The first year of the new seminary, W. S. Bennett and Miss M. A. Campbell were employed as teachers ; the second year, D. M. Bone and Miss M. P. Rainey. We may remark here, parenthetically, as a ritatter of interest to our lady readers, that both Principals married their assistants. Whether this fact led to the position of assistant being much sought after by young lady teachers or not, we are not informed. School was conducted two years longer, when the public schools, under th< efficient management of Prof. Connelly, had attained to such a degree of pro- ficiency that the stockholders or Directors of the seminary wisely decided close it. The building, accordingly, was sold, and is now used as a residence. Mrs. Rachel Frackelton bought the ground, and has since erected thereon one of the finest residences in the city of Petersburg. CHURCH HISTORY. Cotemporaneous almost with the erection of the pioneer's cabin, came the .Methodist circuit-rider. Usually these itinerant preachers were the first in the HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 301 field, and, traveling from settlement to settlement, they held meetings in the settlers' cabins, or, in pleasant weather, in the groves " God's first temples." As soon, therefore, as half-a-dozen families had settled upon the site of the present city of Petersburg, the Rev. Mr. Springer, mentioned in connection with the Methodist Church of Athens, and who was a brother to Mrs. Isham Davidson, an early settler of the place, came on his circuit and commenced a meeting in Mr. Davidson's house in 1835. He continued to preach at David- son's residence until the erection of the little log schoolhouse, when it became a temple of worship as well as of learning. This house was used, and after it the frame schoolhouse, until the erection of the Methodist Church in 1846, in which edifice they still worship at the present day. The first appointed circuit- rider by Conference was Rev. Michael Shunk, in 1837-38, so often referred to in the history of both Menard and Mason Counties as a pioneer preacher. Among the early members of this venerable church were Isham Davidson and wife, George Davidson and wife, Jacob West, Parthenia West, E. B. Spears r Ellen Spears, Elizabeth Harrison, John Bagby, Caroline Bagby, M. B. Harri- son, Susan Smith, Ellen Young, Christina Alkire, Anna Engle, Frances Webb. W. P. Elam and Martha Elam. In 1846, Rev. James Newman, the Pastor, deeming the society of sufficient -strength to erect a building, set to work and succeeded in arousing sufficient interest to erect the present edifice. It has been recently remodeled, improved and modernized, until it presents a very handsome and attractive appearance. Among the improvements are new paper, new pulpit, new chandeliers, a re-arrangement of the seats, and many other little items, adding beauty and comfort. All these changes have been- wrought under the administration. of Rev. W. 0. Peet, now in his second year as Pastor. Among the Pastors who have administered to the spiritual welfare of this church are the following, who officiated in the order named : Revs. James Shaw, H. C. Wallace, T. C. Wolf (two years), S. Goldsmith, W. W. Roberts, N. R. Whitehead, S. Goldsmith (two years), W. N. Rutledge, George W. Reed and the present Pastor, Rev. W. 0. Peet. The Church is in a flourishing condition, maintaining an interesting Sunday school and prayer- meeting. We are indebted to Mrs. Hill for much of the history of the Presbyterian Church of Petersburg. She is one of its original members, and had thought- fully preserved a paper containing a sermon preached by Rev. Maurice Waller, in which is given a brief history of the Church. This paper she kindly placed at our disposal, and from it we extract the following item of interest : " The first church of Springfield, which may well be regarded as the mother church of this immediate region, was organized by Rev. John M. Ellis, in January, 1828. The North Sangamon Church was organized in May, 1832, by the Rev. J. S. Bergen. The name of John Allen, one of the first Elders of this Church, appears as one of the members received upon examination into the North Sangamon Church at the time of its organization." 302 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY, The following is from the records of the Petersburg Church : In Decem- ber, 1839, a number of persons met in Petersburg, Menard County, agreeably to previous notice, and were organized into a church by Rev. Thomas Gait, known as the Petersburg Presbyterian Church, under the care of the Presby- terian Assembly of America. The following members were admitted by letter: James White, Sr., John Allen and! Parthenia Hill, from North Sangamon Church ; S. L. Hallock, Second Church, Springfield ; Richard Dey, from Presbyterian Church, Laurenceville, N. J. ; Catharine Conover, from Dutch Reformed Church of New Jersey, and upon examination, Eli W. Hoff, Will- iam L. Conover, Phoebe Conover and Laurenah Conover, in all, ten members. For some time after organization, they worshiped in people's houses and in the schoolhouse. In 1842, a building was erected, and dedicated May 12, by Rev. John W. Little. Rev. Mr. Gait preached for them occasionally the first year, and again from 1842 he appears as occasional preacher until 184647. The first regular Pastor of this Church who resided in town, commenced his labors in 1847, and gave three-fourths of his time to it. He was succeeded, in 1857, by Rev. J. A. Pinkerton, who continued in charge for thirteen years. In 1871, Rev. John Mehan, of Pekin, took charge of the Church as temporary supply, and remained seven months, when Rev. George Wood, of Jacksonville, took charge, and continued until 1872. In February of this year, Rev. Maurice Waller assumed the pastorate, which position he held for six years. During his administration, the elegant church, which is an ornament to the town, was built. It was dedicated in the fall of 1874, by Rev. William. Harsha, of Jacksonville. At present, the church is without a regular Pastor, but is attended occasionally, by the Rev. Mr. Nevins, of Jacksonville. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained and largely attended. The first services of the Episcopal Church held in the county took place in the Methodist Church, of Petersburg, May 26, 1867, by Rev. I. S. Townsend, of Jacksonville. Mrs. Thomas L. Harris was almost the only representative of the Episcopal faith in the town, and it was through her influence that Rev. Mr. Townsend was induced to come here. In October of this year, she organ- ized a Sunday-school class at her own house, of eleven scholars, which increased to fifteen on the next Sunday. She continued to collect them together at her house every Sunday for two months, when the school was removed to Mrs. Thomas Bennett's, as being more convenient to the majority of attendants. It was held at Mrs. Bennett's until the following spring, when Mrs. Dr. Antle tendered the use of her residence, which w,as used for some time. Bishop Whitehouse made a visit to the place, and confirmed those who were desirous of uniting with the Church, the Lutheran Church being used on the occasion. It was also tendered for the use of the Sunday school, and regular services were held in it once a month by Rev. Mr. Townsend. Rev. James Cornell became Rector in 1871, and remained about a year, and was succeeded by Rev. William Gill, of Jacksonville. Through the untiring efforts of Mrs. Harris HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 303 and a few other zealous workers, means were finally raised for the purpose of erecting a church, and in October, 1873, the corner-stone was laid on a lot presented by Mrs. Harris (in the northern part of town), by Bishop White- house, assisted by Rev. William Gill. It was completed and dedicated August 30, 1874, by Rev. Mr. Gill, who remained with them until December of that year, when he removed to Colorado. For some time, services were read by lay members. In 1876, Rev. W. W. Steele became Rector and continued until 1878, when he was called to Dixon, and again they were without a regular minister. Starting with one member (Mrs. Harris), it has now twenty-eight ; and the Sunday school, from eleven scholars, has increased to an attendance of from seventy-five to one hundred, who are instructed by some half-dozen or more competent teachers. The German Lutheran Church was organized in Petersburg in the spring of 1861. Among the original members were Harmon Scherding, John Scherd- ing, Henry Messmann, Henry Fischer, J. P. Bela, J. H. Stagemann, Jerry H. Stagemann, Jerry Bonties and others. They bought a house used by Diedrich Fischer as a carpenter-shop, which they fitted up as a temple of wor- ship, where they met for some time and held services without a preacher. They finally secured, as Pastor, Rev. Paul Lorentzen, and purchased a parsonage adja- cent to the church, at a total cost, for both edifices, of about $1,750. In 1863, Rev. Mr. Lorentzen was succeeded by Rev. Peter Dahl, he by Rev. Mr. Schmidt, and he by Rev. William H. Schmidt, who remained the Pastor until his death, in 1872. Rev. Mr. Dubiel was their next preacher. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. John Karminsky, he by Rev. Mr. Deichmann, he by Rev. Charles Behrends, and he by Rev. Mr. Conrad, the present minister. Services are held in the German language, and the congregation numbers about thirty members. In the latter part of the year 1862, a society of the Roman Catholic faith was organized. The first services of this denomination were held in the pri- vate residences of Cornelius Rourke, Adam Johns and John Lucas. As the meetings increased in importance, they were held in the schoolhouse and Court House, until their numbers increased to such an extent as to render it neces- sary to build a church, which was completed, at a cost of $5,000, and services held in the new edifice in the fall of 1866. The dedicatory services were held by Rev. Father Mettinger, and at the time of the completion of the church the Society comprised about fifty members. The following are the Priests in charge of the Society since its organization : * Fathers Quigley, Zebell, Jarn- sen, Fitzgibbons, Costa, Clifford (the latter at the laying of the corner-stone), Mettinger (at dedication), Jaques, Cleuse, Wegman, Sauer and Ahne. Father Ahne has for some time been in bad health and has been forced to resign his charge in consequence, hence the Church is without a Pastor at present. The Church now numbers 1,500 members. (This includes all members of families * The first seven named, as Missionaries, the remaining five as regular Pastors or Rectors. 304 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. who have been baptized or christened from parents down to infants.) There is but the one Catholic Church in Menard County, and much praise is due to. the zeal and energy of Messrs. Rourke, Luthinger and others, for this prosperous organization and its elegant temple of worship. A parsonage has been erected adjacent to the church, also a schoolhouse, together with stables and other necessary buildings, increasing the value of the church 'property to about $8,500. During the pastorate of Father Sauer, the school building was erected, in which a "mission school," as it is termed, is carried on under the present charge (or for the year just closed) of Sisters Augustine and Teresa. It is attended by from sixty to eighty pupils. The first years of the Christian Church at Petersburg were rather check- ered. Forty years or more ago, a society was formed under the charge, or through the exertion, of Aaron B. White, which continued for some years, receiving spiritual consolation now and then from passing ministers. About 1842, several preachers congregated and held an " open-air meeting," one block southwest of the public square, which resulted in a. great "shaking of the dry bones of the valley," and a large addition was made to the number of believers. From this time until 1850, religious services were held by the society in the Court House, which seems to have, at certain periods, served as a temple of worship for all the religious bodies represented in Petersburg. About this period (1850), many of the early members having died and moved away, the society became considerably reduced and meetings finally ceased altogether, except as an occasional minister passed through and preached a sermon. In- 1862, it was again organized under the influence of William White, and, with varying- success and fortune, existed until 1875, when it was re-organized by Elder D. R. Lucas, and, July 30, a "tent meeting" was commenced, which lasted until the '12th of September. This increased the membership to nearly two hundred. Having no church edifice, a hall was used as a place of worship, but being over a livery stable, as a dernier resort, they moved to the Court House. At the close of the revival mentioned above, an eifort was made to build a church, which resulted in the erection of the substantial brick building standing in the northwest part of the town, and which was opened for services on the first Sunday in March, 1876, Elder D. R. Lucas preaching the dedica- tory sermon. Elder M. M. Goode was secured as Pastor of the Church in February, 1876, and is still laboring in that capacity. The Church is in a very prosperous condition, with a membership of about two hundred and seventy-five, and a Sunday School correspondingly flourishing. Of the Baptist Church, we were unable to obtain any information beyond the following, from a history of it already published : " The Baptist Church was organized in 1854, with fourteen members, the Presbytery being Revs. N. J. Coffey and H. P. Curry. In 1856, it built a comfortable brick church, 35x60 feet, at a cost of $4,000. The list of Pastors who have filled the pulpit from time to time, of this church are N. J. CofFey, H. P. Curry, M. P. Hartly, HISTORY OF MENARD- COUNTY. 305 Clarke, A. Blount, P. G. Clarke, J. M. Winn, Clarke and A. Scott. ?he Church, by death and removals, was so weakened that, for several years, it was without a regular Pastor. Rev. H. P. Curry, who assisted in the first organization of the Church, and who has ever been a pillar of strength in the society, for whose advancement in Central Illinois he has labored with great earnestness and zeal for many years, is at present the Pastor. The society at Petersburg now numbers about eighty members, thirty of whom were added during the past year." The above was written about 1874, and we learn that, at the present time, the Church is again without a Pastor. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized, in 1870, by Rev. James White, with some seven or eight members. He preached to them occa- sionally, occupying the Court House, for one year. The society them became dormant, and so remained until 1874, when it was re-organized by Rev. R. D. Miller, with nine members, viz. : Dr. H. A. Harris, C. L. Hatfield, W. R. Edgar, C. H. Thomas, 'D. M. Bone, T. E. Clarke, Miss Anna Shepherd, Mis& Elizabeth Barclay and Mrs. Lucy Thomas. The Session was Harris, Hatfield and Clarke. Ever since re-organization, services have been held in the Court House, and Rev. Mr. Miller is still Pastor. The society numbers, at present, between forty and fifty members. The Session is comprised of D. M. Bone, C. L. Hatfield and B. P. Blood ; Deacons, C. H. Thomas and Robert Carver. A n-ew church edifice was begun the present summer, and, at this writing, is nearing completion, which will cost not far from $5,000, and will be one of the handsomest churches in the town. To Mrs. Dr. Antle, we are told, more than to any other one person, is the society indebted for the erection of this edifice. The church is known as " Barclay Chapel," and was named in honor of Rev. John Barclay, one of the most promising young ministers of this church in his. day, in Central Illinois. He died in this county about twenty-five years ago, and was a brother to the Miss Barclay mentioned in the organization of the society. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained, under the superintendence of C. L. Hatfield. Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship, those benevolent institutions that exert so wide an influence for good, usually follow close in the wake of the Christian Church. We know that the causes which actuate them are beneficent and good, because the results achieved are so grand and glorious. Freemasonry was introduced in Petersburg nearly forty years ago. Clinton Lodge was organized under dispensation, in October, 1842. In due time, it was chartered as Clin- ton Lodge, No. 19, A., F. & A. M. The first officers were : John Bennett, Worshipful Master ; Martin *S. Morris, Senior Warden ; John McNeal, Junior Warden ; Jacob West, Treasurer ; John Broadwell, Secretary ; David McMur- phy, Senior Deacon ; and W. B. Kirk, Junior Deacon. The present member- ship is 115, and the officers are as follows : John Bennett, Worshipful Master ; Homer Stewart, Senior Warden ; R. S. Stevens, Junior Warden ; H. W. Montgomery, Treasurer ; J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary ; J. R. Carver, Senior 306 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Deacon ; and J. R. Jarad, Junior Deacon. As a matter of interest to the fraternity, we make the following extract from a local writer : " Clinton Lodge was named in honor of ex-Gov. De Witt Clinton, of New York. To perpetuate his memory and great virtues, the Masonic brethren have caused to be built, for the ornamentation of their lodge-room, a ' shell monument,' con- sisting of a collection of shells arranged with genius and skill. As the number of Clinton Lodge indicates, it is one of the old Lodges of the State." Mr. Bennett has served the Orde* as Worshipful Master for nearly a score of years, and, as appreciation of his earnest labors to advance the interests of the society, his brethren have honored him, the present year, by again elevating him to the Oriental Chair. De Witt Chapter, No. 119, Royal Arch Masons, was organized March 25, "L868, with the following as its first set of officers : > Hobart Hamilton, M.\ E.\ High Priest; T. W. McNeely, E.v King; J. T. Brooks, E.-. Scribe; John Bennett, Captain of the Host ; H. W. Montgomery, Treasurer, and J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary. The Chapter has now sixty-one members, and the fol- lowing officers: Hobart Hamilton, M.'. E. - . High Priest; J. H. Traylor, E.\ King; Fred Wilkinson, E.\ Scribe; Anson Thompson, Captain of the Host; T. C. Bennett, Principal Sojourner ; C. E. McDougall, Royal Arch Captain ; H. W. Montgomery, Treasurer, and J. G. Strodtmann, Secretary. St. Aldemar Commandery, No. 47, Knights Templar, was organized Octo- ber 27, 1875, by Right Eminent Sir Hiram W. Hubbard, Grand Commander of the State. The first officers were : Eminent Sir Hobart Hamilton. Com- mander ; Sir T. W. McNeely, Generalissimo ; Sir Charles B. Thacher, Captain General ; Sir Anson Thompson, Senior Warden ; Sir Edward Laning, Junior Warden ; Sir F. P. Antle, Treasurer ; Sir J. G. Strodtmann, Recorder ; Sir J. M. Sawyer, Standard Bearer ; Sir J. T. Brooks, Sword Bearer ; Sir T. C. Bennett, Warder, and Sir J. E. Dickinson, Captain of the Guard. There are the names of twenty-six Sir Knights on the roll, and the officers for 1879 are : Eminent Sir T. W. McNeely, Commander ; Sir Fred. Huggins, Generalissimo ; Sir J. M. Sawyer, Captain General ; Sir T. C. Bennett, Prelate ; Sir Anson Thompson, Senior Warden ; Sir E. W. Eads, Jucftor Warden ; Sir F. P. Antle, Treasurer ; Sir J. G. Strodtmann, Recorder ; Sir I. N. Stevens, Standard Bearer; Sir C. B. Laning, Sword Bearer; Sir Fred Wilkinson. Warder, and Sir John T. Brooks, Captain of the Guard. Bennett Chapter, No. 19, Order of. the Eastern Star, was organized January 18. 1872. The first officers were : John Bennett, W. P. ; Mrs. Isaac White, W. M. ; Mrs. James W. Judy, A. M. ; Mrs. A. D. Wright, Treasurer, and Mrs. John Bennett, Secretary. The officers for 1879 are : Homer Stewart, W. P. ; Mrs. J. E. Dickinson, W. M. ; Miss Elizabeth Beekrnan, A. M. ; Mrs. W. S. Conant, Treasurer, and Mrs. Jennie Harris, Secretary. The Masonic Fraternity, in connection with the Harris Guards, are now engaged in the erection of a substantial brick building, the upper story of HISTORY OF 1VJ.ENARD COUNTY. 307 which will be used as a Masonic Hall. The corner stone of the edifice was laid with appropriate ceremonies, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Masons, on the 9th of September of the present year, by Most Worshipful William Lavely, Past Grand Master of the State. We shall refer to this building again in another page. Salem Lodge, No. 123, I. 0. 0. F., was organized under dispensation April 13, with the following charter members : B. F. Stevenson, C. N. Gould- ing, J. H. Collier, Theodore Baker and Z. P. Cabaniss. The first officers were : John H. Collier, Noble Grand ; B. F. Stevenson, Vice Grand ; Z. P. Cabaniss, Secretary, and Theo. Baker, Treasurer. The Lodge continued under dispensation to the 14th of October, when it was chartered, and, for the first few years following its organization, it flourished almost beyond precedent. At the end of the first year, it had enrolled upward of fifty members. This prosperity continued until the commencement of the war in 1861, and from that and other causes, its fortunes waned and its membership became much reduced in numbers. The few remaining members even contemplated a surrender of their charter, and a vote upon the question, we are tyld, was actually taken, when the dormant energies of the lukewarm were aroused, and the Lodge received a new lease of life. The financial difficulties which had for some time harassed it, were overcome, and from that time it has prospered. Its present member- ship is fifty, and its officers are : W. P. Elam, Noble Grand ; E. M. Morris, Vice Grand ; A. J. Kelley, Secretary ; Douglas Bale, P. Secretary ; Robert Frackelton, Treasurer. An Encampment was organized under dispensation, August 16, 1871, with the following original members : J. W. Cheaney, John W. Briggs, James W. Bracken, Richard Mullen, Alfred E. Mick, George Clemens, W. S. Conant and Charles Fricke. The first officers were : James W. Cheaney, W. P. ; J. W. Briggs, H. . ; J. A. Bracken, S. W. ; A. E. Mick, Scribe ; George Clem- ens, Assistant Scribe. At the October session of the Grand Encampment, a charter was granted to this body, and it was regularly instituted as Charity Encampment No. 125, I. 0. 0. F. It has a membership, at present, of twenty, and is governed by the following corps of officers: Richard Mullen, C. P. ; A. E. Mick, H. P. ; A. J. Kelley, Scribe ; Charles Fricke, Treasurer ; Robert Bishop, S. W., and Douglas Bale, J. W. Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 92, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted- May 5, 1876, and re-instituted March 3, 1879, with sixteen members, to which have since been added twenty-six, making a total membership of forty-two. The follow- ing officers were installed in March, 1879, and still fill their chairs: R. S. Frackleton. N. G. ; Mrs. Sarah C. Cheaney,. V. G. ; Mrs. Helen L. Zilly, Secretary ; Mrs. Belle Coneys, Financial Secretary ; Mrs. Nancy Pemberton, Treasurer ; Charles Fricke, Warden ; Mrs. Mary E. Mick, Conductor ; E. M. Morris, 0. G. ; Mrs. Margaret Clemens, I. G. ; J. W. Faith, R. S. N. G. ; W. P. Elam, L. S. N. G. ; Mrs. Mary A. Mullen, R. S. V. G. ; Mrs. Martha J. 308 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Elam, L. S. V. G., and Robert Bishop, Chaplain. Meetings, the first Thurs- day of each month. Social Lodge, No. 1306, Knights of Honor, was instituted December 26, 1878, and has, at present, thirty-five members, with the following officers : D. M. Bone, Dictator ; J. R. Carver, V. Dictator ; J. M. Walker, Asst. Dictator ; A. J. Kelley, Reporter ; Arthur Young, Financial Reporter, and Thomas Lev- ering, Treasurer. THE CITY PRESS. The first newspaper was established in Petersburg in the fall of 1854. It was published by S. 13. Dugger, and was called the Petersburg Express. After conducting it for about a year, he disposed of it to Henry L. Clay, and it became neutral in politics, and its name changed to the Menard Index. In September, 1858, he sold it to Hobart Hamilton arid a man named Brooks, who changed it into a Republican paper, and continued its publication until 1863, when it was sold and removed from the county. Brooks continued with Hamilton about a year, and says after changing the politics of the paper, and sending out the first issue as a Republican sheet, its patrons became very much enraged, and would come to the office by scores with their papers wadded up in their hands, and, throwing them at the door, would exclaim, "There's your Abolition paper." Shortly before the removal of the Index, the Northwestern Baptist, a religious paper, was issued from the Index office, and edited by M. P. Hartly. After Hamilton changed the Index into a Republican paper, the Menard County Axis, a Democratic organ, was established with C. Clay as editor and publisher. Its first issue wa,s April 12, 1859, and was continued by Clay until 1867, when it was purchased by a joint-stock company, with M. B. Friend as editor, and its name changed to Petersburg Democrat, which name it still retains. Mr. Friend remained in charge of the paper until 1871, when E. T. McElwain became editor. He continued in editorial control until July 1, 1877, when he was succeeded by A. E. Mick. July 1, 1878, Mr. Mick associated S. S. Knoles with him in its publication, and so the firm continues to the present time. During the campaign of Fillnaore, Buchanan and Fremont, in 1856, William Glenn started a paper called the Fillmore Bugle, but it ceased at the close of the campaign. In June, 1868, the Menard County Republican was established with Richard Richardson as editor. He sold out in about a year to John T. McNeely, who conducted it until 1871, when Bennett & Zane became the pro- prietors. About a year after, Zane was succeeded by John Frank, who soon retired, and was followed by F. M. Bryant, who likewise remained but a short time, and Bennett continued alone in its control for a time. F. J. Dubois then became a partner, and assumed editorial control for a year. The material of the Republican wa"s sold to John Frank early in 1874, who had started a new paper the August preceding, called the Menard County Times. It and the Republican were now consolidated and published under the name of the Times. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 309 Frank sold out to F. M. Bryant, who continued the paper until May 9, 1878, when he sold it to G. W. Cain & Parks. Cain had been publishing a paper in Tallula, and when he bought out Taylor, he changed the name of the paper to the Petersburg Observer. The paper is now devoted to the Greenback and Labor party, and is still under control of Cain & Parks. On the 4th day of September of the present year, the Petersburg Republi- can made its first appearance. The salutatory is signed by Martin & Davis, and from it we make the following extract : " We expect to do our utmost to maintain and build up the Republican Party as well as the interests of Peters- burg and Menard County, and, in return therefor, simply ask a liberal share of the public's patronage." The late hour at which this newspaper was born into the world, had well-nigh excluded a notice of it from this work, and these few lines are all the history of it that we were able to obtain. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. The Harris Guards, comprising Co. E, of the Fifth Regiment of I. N. G., with headquarters at Springfield, was organized originally, in October, 1874. md re-organized under the militia law, in July, 1877. The commissioned officers under re-organization, and who still maintain their positions, are C. E. McDougall, Captain ; John M. Walker, First Lieutenant ; and James H. Car- man, Second Lieutenant. The three commissioned officers served in the late war. Capt. McDougall entered the army as a private, and, after nearly four years' service, retired as Captain of his company. The Harris Guards consist, at present, of about fifty-five, rank and file, and are well drilled, and present a very soldierly appearance. In connection with the Masonic Fraternity, of Peters- burg, they are, at the present writing, erecting a building,, the first story of which belong to them, and will be so constructed as to equally adapt it to their use as an armory, or, with a few minutes' work, change it to an elegant Opera House. The building, when completed as designed, will be not only an orna- ment to the town, but an honor to the Harris Guards, and the Masonic Fraternity. The estimated cost of that part of the building belonging to the military includ- ing the ground, is about $5,200, while the Masonic part will cost nearly as much more. Petersburg was incorporated as a village a number of years ago, but, as we were unable to get hold of the early records, cannot give the exact date of its first organization. Although it now claims a population greater than many incorporated cities, it is still under village organization. The question of incorporating it as a city was agitated some years ago. The project, however, was voted down, and thus it still remains a village, subject to village laws, and governed by a Board of Trustees. The following is the present Board : Dr. F. P. Antle, Philip Rainey, D. S. Eicher, John F. Miller and Isaac McDougall. F. P. Antle is President of the Board ; Philip Rainey, Treasurer ; and 310 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Black, Clerk. W. P. Elam is Police Magistrate ; W. B. Vaughn, Town Con- stable ; and A. J. Bless, Night Policeman. The first bank was established in Petersburg by Brahra & Greene, in 1866. The bank is still in operation, and in the hands of the original proprietors, who conduct a general banking business in all its branches. Another bank is carried on by D. S. Frackelton, so that the town and surrounding country have no lack of facilities of a financial character. The bar of Menard County is represented by a body of gentlemen who, in ability and legal lore, will compare favorably with any of the surrounding counties. In a work of this character, we cannot devote space to extravagant panegyrics, however deserving, nor to criticisms, as one might indulge in in a newspaper article. But we may mention in connection with the bar of Peters- burg, the name of Hon. T. W. McNeely, who has represented his district two terms in Congress, and Hon. N. W. Branson, who has served with distinction in the State Legislature. There may be others who have served their country with honor and ability, but of whom we failed to obtain the facts. The health of the city and neighboring country, is in charge of a corps of able physicians, who are zealous in their chosen profession, and watchful of the welfare of the people, whose health is trusted to their care. There are four cemeteries around Petersburg. The first is known as " The Old Burying Ground," which is free to all, and is supervised by the Town Board. It contains the remains of many of the pioneers, who reduced the country from a wild and savage wilderness and laid the foundations of the pres- sent state of civilization. The Calvary Cemetery is under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church. Oakland Cemetery is a lovely spot adjacent to the city. But the most beautiful of all is Rose Hill Cemetery. It was laid out in 1858, and incorporated in 1859, with the following officers : J. M. Greene, President ; Directors, Tilford Clarke, W. M. Cowgill, W. P. Elam and W. S. Conant. The present officers are : N. W. Branson, President ; W. P. Elam, James Robbins, Con. Rourke, Directors ; and W. S. Conant, Treasurer. To the latter gentleman, piore than to any other, is the town indebted for this beautiful little city of the dead. "OLD SALEM." This ancient village of Menard County, now a pile of moldering ruins, was once the center of business for a large scope of country. Before the birth of Petersburg, it was the principal trading-point in the present limits of the county. It is, or was, situated on the " Heights of Abraham," some hundred feet or so above the level o the raging Sangamon, and about two miles from Petersburg. It was surveyed and laid out on the 13th of October, 1829, by Reuben Harrison, for Rutledge & Cameron, the owners of the land. The first dwellings erected were a couple of cabins built for John Cameron and James Rutledge. The first storehouse was put up by Samuel Hill and John McNamar, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 311 in which they opened a stock of goods, probably the first store within the present bounds of the county. The next store opened was by George Warbur- ton, who, in a short time, removed to Petersburg, and became one of the original proprietors of that town, as noted in its history. It is said that he was a man of fine business qualities, an excellent scholar, and without an enemy, except his appetite for strong drink. At Salem, he sold out to two brothers named Crisman, who came from Virginia. After remaining a short time, they dis- posed of their possessions and moved away. A post office was established at Salem, and was the first (or the second) in the county. John McNamar was the first Postmaster. He was succeeded by Abraham Lincoln, who held the office until his removal to Springfield. The following story is told of this pioneer office. There was a man who lived in the settlement, who was never known to get a letter, or mail-matter of any kind, and was in the habit of coming to the office every day and, to annoy the postmaster, inquiring for letters. One day Hill and some others prepared a letter, couched in the most endearing terms, to which they appended the name of a swarthy female of "African descent," living in the neighborhood, and when he again inquired for letters, it was given him in the most matter-of-fact way. He was never known to ask for mail-matter at that office afterward. Dr. John Allen, as noticed in the history of Petersburg, first located at this place; a brother also came here with him. Dr. Allen was the first prac- ticing physician in the village. Dr. Duncan was another of the early practi- tioners of this section. Joshua Miller was the first blacksmith. Edmund Greer, "learned in the law," dealt out justice to the guilty as the first magistrate, and when "law business" was at a low ebb, he filled in the time teaching school, and was the first pedagogue, as well as the first Justice of the Peace. A hotel was opened by John Kelso, and within its hos- pitable walls were entertained the wayfaring men who chanced to pass through the village. Rutledge & Cameron built a mill here at an early period, which was patronized by the people living within a circuit of fifty miles. This is the mill over the dam of which Abraham Lincoln piloted the flatboat, and, with a, display of tact and ingenuity wholly astonishing to those who beheld the opera- tion, relieved the boat of water by a new style of pump not much in use on board of vessels at that day. The story, however, is so familiar to the people of Menard County that we will pass 'over it in this chapter. The Old Salem mill was known far and near, and, as already stated, was patronized by a large district. It was a very rude affair, and stood just under the bluff" upon'which the town was located, and is thus described by a local writer of the period : "It consisted of two or three log pens, anchored with rocks, upon which was erected a platform, where a pair of rough stones were placed, and driven by a water-wheel attached to an upright shaft." It was, however, considerably improved before Salem became extinct, and, in 1852, was purchased by Abra- ham Bale. He set in to repair it, but died before accomplishing his purpose. 312 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. His sons finally put it in order, and one of them, T. V. Bale, still owns and operates it. This is a synopsis of the early history of Salem, except the connection with it of Abraham Lincoln. And upon this point there has been so much written that we will not dwell upon it now. With a brief notice of him and his res- idence here, we will close the chapter. Mr. Lincoln was a native-born Ken- tuckian. Stuve, in his history of Illinois, says : "Abraham Lincoln was born in La Rue (now Hardin) County, Ky., about two miles south of the village of Hodgensville, February 12, 1809. Here his father had taken up a land claim of 300 acres, rough, broken and poor, containing a fine spring, known to this day as the " Linkum Spring." Unable to pay for the unproductive land, the claim was abandoned, and the family moved from place to place in the neigh- borhood, being very destitute. These removals, occurring while Abraham was scarcely more than an infant, have given rise to different statements as to the exact place of his birth. It is said that in that part of Kentucky, four places now claim the honor. " Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abraham, moved to Spencer County, Ind., in 1816. Here he remained until 1830, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Macon County, on the north fork of the Sangamon River, ten miles south- west of Decatur. In 1833, he removed to Coles County, where, years later, he died. There, in a quiet little cemetery, known as " Gordon's Graveyard," he sleeps, without stone or lettered monument to mark the spot. As appropri- ate in this place, we give a poem, written by a citizen of Coles County, on his death, which went the rounds of the press at the time, and appeared in several leading magazines, entitled the " Grave of the Father of Abraham Lincoln : " " In a low sweet vale by a murmuring rill, The pioneer's ashes are sleeping ; Where the white marble slabs so lonely and still, In silence their vigils are keeping. " On their sad, lonely faces are words of fame, But none of them speak of his glory ; When the pioneer died, his age and his name, No monument whispers the story. " No myrtle, nor ivy, nor hyacinth blows O'er the lonely grave where they laid him ; No cedar, nor holly, nor almond-tree grows Near the plebeian's grave to shade him. " Bright evergreens wave over many a grave, O'er some bow the sad weeping-willow ; But no willow-tree bows, nor e'ver-greens wave, Where the pioneer sleeps on his pillow. " Some are inhumed with the honors of State, And laid beneath temples to molder ; The grave of the father of Lincoln the Great, Is known by a hillock and bowlder. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 315 " Let him take his lone sleep, and gently rest, With naught to disturb or awake him, When the angels shall come to gather the blest To Abraham's bosom they'll take him." While engaged in writing the history of Livingston County, we met a gen- tleman, Hon. A. A. Burton, a native Kentuckian, who was a great admirer of Mr. Lincoln, and who was a Lincoln Elector, in Kentucky, in 1860, for the State at large, a position that at that time required considerable grit to assume. Judge Burton had a rail draped in mourning, carefully preserved in his library, to which was attached the following certificate : DECATUR, 111., June 1, 1860. I do hereby certify, that the piece of rail this day delivered to Dr. G. W. McMillan, to be by him sent to A. A. Burton, of Lancaster, Ky., is from a lot of 3,000 made by Abraham Lin- coln and myself in this cdunty, and that I have resided in this county ever since that time. his Attest: R. J. OGLESBY. JOHN X HANKS. mark. It was on this place, settled by his father in Macon County, that Lincoln spent his first winter in Illinois, and "from this place," says Mr. Stuve, " the rails which played so important a part in the campaign of 1860, were procured." In the following spring, having attained his majority, he came to Salem, where the history of his residence is familiar to every school-boy in Menard County. His employment as clerk, and with a partner, his succession to the business, their subsequent failure, are so well known as to require no repetition. After the failure of his firm as merchants, Lincoln turned his attention to surveying, and, as stated elsewhere in this work, surveyed much of .the lands, both in Menard and Mason Counties. When the Black Hawk war broke out, in 1832, Lincoln volunteered his services, and was elected Captain of his company. The same year, after the close of the war, he became a candidate for the Legis- lature, and from that time, his life, until terminated by the assassin's hand, was closely intertwined with State and national history. With the laying-out of Petersburg, the glory of " Old Salem " began to wane, and the location of the county seat at that place sealed its doom. The leading business men removed to the new metropolis, and Salem became another edition of Goldsmith's " Deserted Village." But little remains to, designate the spot where it once stood. The mill is still there, but improved, renovated and changed, until it is a very different establishment from that which Old Salem knew, and which used to "crack corn" for the pioneers of the Sangamon bottom. Tice's Station is on the Springfield & North-Western Railroad, about four miles from Petersburg. It consists merely of a shipping-point for grain, a post office, depot and small store, together with a schoolhouse and church. The place has never been laid out as a village. It is located on the old Tice farm, and at Oak Ridge Post Office. This office was established about twenty- five years ago, with Hampton Woodruff as Postmaster. He was succeeded by 316 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Seneca Winters, and he in turn by A. W. Tice, the present incumbent, and who is a brother of Judge Tice, of Petersburg. The first and the only store at the place is kept by Mr. ,Tice. There is considerable grain bought here, and shipped from this little station. The present buyers are Fischer, Gault & Conover, of Petersburg, and Low & Foster, of Havana. A saw-mill is in oper- ation near the station, owned by Seneca Winters, a prominent business man of the neighborhood. A large and flourishing school is located near the station. The teacher, for the present year, is Prof. W. H. Berry, formerly County Super- intendent of Schools. The school has increased to such an extent that it is thought that an assistant teacher will be required for the year just beginning. Within sight of the station is the Methodist Church, built about 1849-50 r on land given for the purpose by Judge Tice. It is a frame building, and cost, perhaps, about $1,000 or $1,200. Rev. Mr. Eckman, of Athens, is the present Pastor, the Church being included within the Athens circuit. A Sunday school is maintained during the summer season, of which Seneca Winters is Superintendent. The Rev. Mr. Curry, the veteran Baptist Minister of Menard County, resides in this immediate neighborhood. TALLULA PRECINCT. This is sometimes termed the banner township of Menard County. The section of country lying within its borders is one of the finest in this part of the State ; mostly fine rolling prairie, and, without being hilly or broken, is sufficiently undulating to drain well. Besides Clary's Grove, there was orig- inally little timber in what is now Tallula Precinct. It is likewise nearly devoid of water-courses. Clary's Creek and Rock Creek have their source in the central or southern part, but are so small as scarcely to deserve even the name of creeks. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad runs diagonally through from northeast to southwest, and has been of incalcu- lable benefit, as elsewhere noted. Tallula is the southwestern precinct of the county, and contains three sections less than a regular Congressional town. It is divided into four parts by the township and range lines which cross each other one mile north of the village of Tallula, thus throwing a tier of sections more in the two southern, divisions than in the northern, the west one of the latter being three sections short, OAving to a jog in the line. The precinct i& bounded on the east by Petersburg and Rock Creek Precincts, on the south by Morgan County, on th'e west by Cass County, and on the north by Petersburg Precinct. No large cities or towns, nor extensive manufactories exist, but farming and stock-raising are the principal sources of business enterprise. The beautiful little village of Tallula is the only town in the precinct, and will be noticed more fully farther on in this chapter. This section produces coal of an excellent quality, and mining is carried on to some extent in the vicinity of the village. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 317 Notwithstanding Tallula Precinct is the very perfection of civilization, and the home of wealth and refinement, the time was when it might have boasted of the other extreme. Something over half a century ago, the name of Clary's Grove was synonymous with all the deviltry and mischief that occurred within a radius of fifty miles, and the few honorable men whose mis- fortune it was to live among the " border ruffians ", of that remote date, say they were ashamed to tell where they were from when they went to Spring- field. The settlement was composed chiefly of the "'rag, tag and bob-tail" who leave the more civilized sections for their own and the country's good, seek the frontier where they are unrestrained by law and order, and again take up their line of march as the star of empire wends its way westward. So it was here. As civilization advanced, these roughs pulled up stakes and moved on to other frontier localities, and Clary's Grove developed into one of the most quiet and respectable neighborhoods in all the surrounding country, and to-day it is looked on as the very paradise of Menard County. The ill name given it by the lawless deeds of the ".Clary's Grove boys" is almost forgotten, or remains only as the last lingering memories of a hideous nightmare. But we would not have our readers impressed with the idea that we include the Clary family, than whom none better exists in the county, with these hard characters. As we have stated, they were, the rough element always found in frontier settlements. . SETTLEMENT OF THE PRECINCT. The first settlement made in Tallula Precinct was in Clary's Grove, by a man named John Clary, from whom the grove derived its name. Clary was from Tennessee, and squatted here about the year 1819. For three years, he spent the winters in a kind of camp, made of poles, with three sides built up, the fourth left open, and where a huge log heap was kept burning night and day during the winter season, while his family reposed and were sheltered in the camp attached to this burning pile. He sold his claim to a man named Wat- kins, and he sold it to George Spears, who now lives upon the site of this original settlement of Clary's Grove. After selling his claim to Watkins, Clary removed to Arkansas, but many relatives and descendants are living still in the county. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and participated in many of the fierce battles with u King George's red-coats." By nature a pioneer, he sought the wilds of Illinois, and, as people crowded him too close, removed to Arkansas as above slated. Thomas Watkins was from Kentucky, and settled in Clary's Grove as early perhaps as 1820-21, and bought the claim of Clary, as stated above. He sold out to George Spears upon his arrival in the country in 1824, and removed into the river timber near the present city of Petersburg, where he died at a later day. He has two sons and per- haps other descendants living in the county. Absalom Mounts was here also about 1820-21. He built a mill here in a very early day, which was of the 318 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. most primitive pattern, dimensions and capacity. Whence he came, no one seems to know, but he afterward went to Mason County, as we hear of him there in the milling business very early. James White and Robert Conover were brothers-in-law to George Spears, and came from Green County, Ky. White settled here in 1820, and Conover in 1822. They both married sisters to Spears, and they, as well as their wives, are dead. They died on the farms they originally settled, but have left behind them numerous descendants. Solomon Matthews was another of the early comers, and was from Tennessee. He came about 1821 or 1822, but was one of the transient settlers to be found in all new countries, who, as game thins out and becomes scarce, follow it. Matthews left after a few years, and what became of him no one seems to know or care. Another of these very early ones was Bannister Bond, who was also from Tennessee. He remained here some twenty or twenty-five years, when he sold out and removed to Iowa, where he li^ed at the last account of him. Cyrus Kirby came from Kentucky about 1822 or 1823, and settled in the grove. He was rather poor, and had no team to plow and break his ground, but took a mattock and dug up two acres of prairie, and planted it in corn. Think of this, ye " silk-stockinged " farmers, as you ride over your broad fields upon your sulky plows, and watch with pride your reapers and " headers " gliding through the golden grain, and remember that half a century ago, perhaps, some indigent farmer Avas toiling upon the same spot, like Cyrus Kirby, to make bread for his little ones. When Kirby died here some years ago, this memorable mattock was sold at his sale and bought by one'of his sons, who still keeps it as a relic of the pioneer days. Solomon Speer is another of the pioneers who came to the grove in 1820. He came with White, and was a brother-in-law to him. After remaining here a number of years, he moved to Cass County where he died. He has two grand- daughters living in the village of Tallula ; one of them the amiable landlady of the Wathen House, arid the other Mrs. Lovesey. Jacob and Jesse Gum came in 1821-22, and were also from Kentuqky, where most of the early settlers of this section came from. Jesse died in the neighborhood where he settled ; Jacob moved to Knox County and died there some years ago. William Clary was here as early as 1822-23, and came from ^ennessee. He sold his claim to George Spears when he came in 1824, and removed to Arkansas* Andrew Beard came about the same time, and also sold out his claim to Spears, is the place where John Q. Spears now lives. He came from Kentucky, and after selling his claim to Spears, moved over on the west side of the grove, where he remained a few years, sold out and started to remove to Oregon, but died on the Gulf of Mexico, on his way to his intended home. Burton Lytton, another Kentuckian, sold his claim to Spears in 1824, and removed to what is now Cass County. It is not known what year he settled in the grove, but he was here when Spears came. William Revis came here about 1822-23, but did not remain long. He sold out to Conover and followed the star of empire. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 319 Mrs. Jane Vaughn, a widow lady, came about the same time as Revis, but sold out some years later and moved to Knox County. Joseph Watkins was also here as early as 1820-21. He moved to Little Grove, where he afterward died. John Gum, Sr., came in 1822, and was from Kentucky. He afterward removed to Knox County, where he was living at the last known of him. The pioneers named above settled in the grove previous to 1824 the year that George Spears came to the settlement. Some had even moved away before he came, and others left soon after. They were mostly of that character who squat in the wilderness where game is plenty, and when that begins to fail, they, like the Arabs, " fold their tents, And as silently steal away." Mr. Spears came from Kentucky in 1824, and, as already noted, bought the claims of several of the parties, whose setttlement in the grove has b$en mentioned in the preceding pages. His father and mother came here with him, far advanced in years at the time, and died in a ripe old age, as noticed in the biographical department of this work. George Spears bought the claims of these squatters, which were squatter's claims only, and then entered the land when it came into market. He has, since he came here in 1824, entered and opened up over three thousand acres of land and settled his children around him upon good farms. He has seen the wilderness transformed into the excel- lent state of cultivation we find to-day. When he came here, the few scat- - i tering voters had to go to Springfield to exercise that right of American free- men. He built the second brick residence, in 1829, erected in Sangamon County, which then embraced Menard, Cass, Mason and perhaps as many others. That brick residence has been his home for fifty years, and in it, a few years ago, he celebrated, with his beloved helpmeet and a circle of friends, their golden wedding. Since then she has left him for a home up yonder. He is still in vigorous health, both mentally and physically, and to him we acknowledge our indebtedness for many facts pertaining to the early settlement of this section. An earnest and zealous Christian of the Baptist type, he has contributed liberally ro the support, and to the building of the ele- gant church in Tallula. Coleman and John Gaddie, with their widowed mother came in 1824. and were from Kentucky. John Workman was among the early settlers who came in 1824-25. He died soon after, and a man named Simpson bought out the widow. Simpson died some years later, and his family remained on the place until last year, when they sold it and removed to Kansas. John Jones was another of the pioneers of 1824. He came from Kentucky, and died in Little Grove a number of years ago. Mrs. Rebecca Spears, a widow lady, came here with her family about 1826, and settled in the grove, where all the first settlements were made. Elias Conover was the first man who settled out on the prairie. He built his residence four miles from the timber, and was supposed at the time to be 320 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. crazy. He was from New Jersey, and possessed the idea that by locating out on the prairie he would always have an uninterrupted range for his stock on "nature's waving meadows," as it was the universal supposition that those then living would never see the prairies settled up. How nearly correct they were in their estimation of things, the present state of the country goes to show. Mr. Conover settled his family around him and died some years ago on the place of his original settlement. Thomas Arnold was from Tennessee, and came to the settlement in 1826-27. He was very poor when he came, and lived on Spears' land until able to buy land, and finally accumulated a fail- property. John Sewell was a brother-in-law to Arnold and came at the same time. He brought his aged mother to the settlement Avith him. William Tip- pett came about the same time, and both lived on Spears' land until able to buy land. They are mentioned as extremely honest, hard-working men, and finally secured comfortable homes. Samuel B. Neely came from Tennessee and settled in the grove in 1828. He removed to Mason County, where he died recently. Abraham Burgin was from New Jersey and came to the settlement in 182526. He was a man of some prominence and died near Galesburg several years ago. Abraham B. Bell came from Kentucky in 1826 and settled in the neighborhood, where he died a few years ago. He has two sons who are merchants in the village of Tallula and among the live business men of the place. John Kinner was from Virginia and came to the settlement at the same time as did Bell. He is still living in the grove. William T. Beekman came from New Jersey. He is a son-in-law of George Spears, and is still living near the village. Robert Conover, brother of Elias Conover, came a few years before the latter and set- tled in the grove. Other early settlers in what is Jiow Tallula Precinct are George, Jacob and Jesse Greene, William Smedley, Samuel Colwell, Joseph Cot- tingtonj Theodore Baker, Isaac N. Reding and William G. Greene. The latter is a native of Kentucky and came here at a very early day with his parents, who settled near the village of Old Salem, where they died many years later. William G. Greene has spent most of his life in this section and has accumulated a large fortune. As a full and complete history of his career is given in the biograph- ical portion of this work, we will not repeat it here. There are probably other old settlers who deserve mention in this chapter, but a long period has ' elapsed since the first settlements were made in what is now Tallula Pre- cinct, and so few of the early pioneers are left, that it is simply an impossibility to collect the names of all who, by right, come under the head of early settlers. EARLY PRIVATIONS. As we look back over a period of sixty years to the beginning of the century which is now rapidly reeling off the last quarter of its existence, we are struck with wonder at the great change wrought in this flourishing region. In 1819, the first Anglo-Saxon pitched his tent in the little, grove of timber in HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 321 this portion of the county, standing in the prairie like an oasis in the great desert ; while far beyond, to the east and the west, and the north and the south, naught met his eye but the vast -and gloomy wilderness, infested with wild beasts and savages. As other white people flocked to the grove with undaunted jurage, they met the ancient possessors of the soil, whether savage beasts or savage men, and, despite their strongly contested right to it, succeeded in gaining a foothold that has developed into the state of civilization we find around us to-day. These people knew nothing of railroads ; they had never heard of a locomotive, and had any one prophesied the railroad system of the present day, he would have been treated as a lunatic. Steam threshers, sulky plows, mowers and reapers were alike unknown to these pioneers, and are inventions that had never entered into their wildest dreams. The old sod, or Gary plow, drawn by two or three yoke of oxen, was their mode of subjecting the soil to cultivation. Their nearest trading-point was Springfield, and the supply of goods kept there was limited, and often, for the lack of funds, beyond their means to obtain. Springfield was likewise their post office, and a letter from the old home cost 25 cents, and sometimes laid in the office for months before the requisite " quarter" could be obtained to compensate Uncle Sam for its transportation, as the old gentleman had a peculiarity of usually requiring his little fees in advance. Milling was a great source of inconven- ience, to say the least, and, at times, it was almost impossible to obtain meal except by pounding the corn in a mortar, sifting it, making bread of the finest and hominy of the coarser part of it. When they went to the horse or ox mills, it was with an uncertainty as to when they would get their "grinding." The prairie fires, and the prairie-wolves, the " deep snow," the sudden " cold snap," and hundreds of other troubles and trials met them, of which the present generation know nothing, except as they gather around some old grand- mother or grandfather and listen to their stories of the pioneer days. But little more than half a century has passed, and lo ! the change that has come over all. Upon the face of nature the rolling years have written their record, and the wilderness is transformed into a very garden of Eden. The railroad train has supplanted the ox-wagon ; in fact, the country is a perfect network of rail- roads, as an evidence of which an old settler, who has witnessed all these changes, informed us that he could stand in his dooryard and hear the locomo- tives whistle on five different railroads. The horse and ox mill have given place to magnificent steam-mills, while inventions and improvements in farm machinery have kept pace with everything else. What the next fifty years may produce we dare not conjecture ; but, judging of the future from the past, it is not extravagant to predict that, fifty years hence, we will be flying through the air as we now fly over the prairies at the heels of the iron horse. The first mill in this section of the country was built by Absalom Mounts, and was a rather small affair, but was of great convenience to the few residents then in the country. Its capacity was limited, the buhrs being not larger in 322 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. diameter than a half-bushel measure. This supplied the people until the erec- tion of the mill at Old Salem, described in another page. The precinct of Tallula, as bounded at present, has not a mill within its limits, and its citizens patronize the mills of Petersburg and Pleasant Plain. The village of Tallula, situated, as it is, in the midst of a fertile region, seems to us to present an excellent opening for a first-class mill, and that some enterprising individual will, erelong, discover the fact, we have no doubt. The first practicing physicians in this section of the country were Dr. Allen, of Petersburg, and Dr. Renier, who settled in this precinct about 1828-29. The latter was a bachelor when he came here, and, for a period of some four years, boarded with George Spears. He then became a Benedict, and went to housekeeping. In those early days, people could not afford to get sick, and hence doctors were not such important personages as they are now. A man who owned a mill or a blacksmith shop was a " bigger man " than any doctor, as it was supposed that the good wives could do all the " doctoring " with cat- nip tea and "yarbs." Robert Armstrong was the first Justice of the Peace, and, as we are informed, possessed but little legal knowledge. His familiarity with legal technicalities wes limited in the extreme, and his courts the theater of many humorous scenes, as the following will show : A case came before him one day, upon which a couple of lawyers were employed. After the case was decided, the defeated lawyer gave notice that he appealed the case from his decision, when the other lawyer nudged him, and whispered in his ear, " Don't allow an appeal." The Justice drew himself up with all the dignity embodied in the ponderous form of David Davis, and replied, " There is no appeal ; I allow no appeal from this court, sir." The first blacksmith in Clary's Grove is not now remembered, although the blacksmith is usually a necessary character in a frontier settlement. The first stores in the present limits of the precinct were opened at the ancient and now extinct village of Rushaway, as will be noticed further on. The first post office established was also at this village. The first birth, death and marriage are now lost in the lapse of time, but are supposed to have occurred among the early set- tlers who came here, and many of whom left the settlement previous to 1824, at which date we reach a period within the memory of those still living. EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. The first school in the grove was taught by James Fletcher, in a little log cabin erected on the land of George Spears, about 1824-25, for school purposes. Fletcher taught a school in this cabin the first winter after it was erected, and which was the first in Clary's Grove, as noted above. He was not an efficient teacher, according to the standard rules of the present day, but we are informed that he could spell in two syllables, and read a little, by jumping over the hard words. He was the best, however, to be obtained in those HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 323 2arly times, and with him the people were forced to be satisfied. This log cabin served the grove as a temple of learning several years, when it was burned to the ground. The people then erected a hewed-log house, which was used many years for church and school purposes. Now the precinct has some half-dozen neat frame schoolhouses, besides the elegant brick one in the village of Tallula, in which good schools are conducted by accomplished teachers for the usual period each year. The first church organized in what is now Tallula Precinct was the Clary's Grove Baptist Church, and is one- of the oldest, if not the oldest, church organization in Menard County. In regard to this venerable Church, we make the following extract from the "County Atlas," which Mr. Spears informs us is as correct as is possible to get its early history, after the lapse of so many years : " This Church was organized on the 25th of December (Christmas Day), 1824, the Ordaining Presbytery consisting of William P. Crow, William Rol- lin and James Bradly. The constituent members were thirteen in number, viz. : George Spears, Sr., Mary Spears, Rev. Jacob Gum, Samuel Combs, Sr., Jane Combs, Ezekiel Harrison and wife, M. Houghton and wife, Elijah Houghton, Catharine Houghton, Robert Conover and Hannah White. The first Pastor of this now venerable Church was Rev. Jacob Gum, with Robert Conover as Clerk of the Session. The first church-book was made of foolscap paper, and bound with pasteboard. The early meetings of the society were held, for the most part, alternately at the residences of George Spears, Sr., and Robert Conover. From a period a few years after its organization until 1845, a log schoolhouse (the one referred to above) was used by the society as a place of worship. During the year last mentioned, the society erected a substantial frame building, thirty by forty feet in dimensions, which was used as a church building until 1871. This building is thought to have cost about $2,000, and was built under a contract with W. T. Beekman, who did the prin- cipal part of the carpenter work." After the building of the new brick church, the old frame building was sold to Mr. Bell, of the village of Tallula, who converted it into a residence. The new church will be noticed in connection with the village, as it stands within the corporate limits. The Rev. Mr. Berry was also an early preacher in this vicinity, and of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith. He lived in what is now Rock Creek Precinct, but preached in Clary's Grove occasionally. A Christian Church was organized in the grove in October, 1834, with the following members : John Wilson, William G. White, Jane White, Jesse L. Trailer, Obedience Trailor and Lydia A. Caldwell. Services were held in private residences until 1847, when a comfortable little church was built on the farm of William Smedly. In this house they worshiped until 1864, when they sold it and erected a church in the village, as noticed in that con- nection. 324 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. The Methodist circuit riders used sometimes to pass this way, but seem never to have obtained a foothold, as there is no Methodist Church, nor ever has been, in the present limits of the precinct. We believe there is a society of *' sanctified " Methodists, or some members of that peculiar faith, but of them we know nothing. They have no church building. Tallula Precinct is Republican in politics, in fact it is one of the Republi- can strongholds. During the war, and for some time after, there were but eight- een Democratic votes in the precinct. It was, as a natural consequence, and as one would judge from the color of its political faith, loyal to the core, and fur- nished many soldiers to the armies of the Union. Failing, however, to get credit for all of its recruits, it was subjected to a draft before the struggle was over, though we understood that but one man was drafted, and he, with a loyal devotion to his country, furnished a substitute. In addition to the rank and file from this precinct, we have the names of the following commissioned offi- cers : J. W. Judy, Colonel of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infan- try; R. V. Black, Captain of Company H, same regiment; J. T. Workman, Lieutenant in Company F, same regiment, and J. F. Wilson, Assistant Surgeon of same regiment. Also, Capt. Gibson of the Sixty-first Regiment Illinois Infantry, but the letter of his company could not be obtained. The Fourteenth, as well as the One Hundred and Fourteenth, drew many recruits from this pre- cinct. What the history of these regiments was during the war, it is not our purpose to give in this connection. We have not taken the trouble to look it up, but doubt not it was glorious as that of all Illinois soldiers. This precinct originally embraced a part of Petersburg and all of Rock Creek, extending to the Sangamon River, with the voting-place at Old Salem. But the voting-place being remote from some of the inhabitants, after the laying- out of Tallula, boundary lines were changed, the precinct of Rock Creek laid off, and the voting-place of this precinct established at the village of Tallula. The fact that Old Salem, the venerated spot where once lived the martyred Lin- coln, was embraced in this precinct, is still cherished by many of the citizens. But as Salem is more particularly referred to elsewhere, we will not dwell upon it here. The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, as already noted, passes through this precinct, and was completed during the war. As stated in our general county history, this road was begun under the title of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, but was afterward leased or bought by the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. A full history of the railroads of the county is given under another head, and for full information on the subject the reader' is referred to that chapter. This road has been of much benefit in developing this section of the county, and, during the last years of the war, much grain and forage was shipped over it to our army. In building the road, in addition to the stock voted by the county, the people individually took considerable stock, some subscribing for as much as twenty shares. O v HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 325 VILLAGE OF TALLULA. This little gem of a village is situated in the center of Tallula Precinct, id on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about eight miles from Petersburg, the county seat. It is in the midst of a fine rolling prairie, surrounded by a splendid agricultural region in all direc- tions. It was laid out in the latter part of 1857, by W. G. Greene, J. G. Greene, Richard Yates, T. Baker and W. G. Spears. The name of Tallula was given by the latter gentleman,, and is said to be an Indian word signifying "dropping water," though what relation the word or its signification bears to the village, we are unable to discover. There is no dropping water near the place, except when it rains, and water drops from the trees and eaves of the houses. Nevertheless, it is a pretty name, whether appropriate or not, and its sound is as musical as the country around the village is beautiful. The first house was erected by W. G. Spears, soon after it was laid out, and is now owned by R. B. Thrapp. The next building was put up by Robert M. Ewing, and so nearly at the same time with that of Spears, that it is not easy to say which was first. It is now occupied by Dr. Sandford. The first store was opened in January, 1858, by Thrapp een running from Petersburg south several years before this portion of it was finished. It enters the precinct on Section 23, near the village of Greenview, and from thence in a direction almost due north, passes out through Section 31, giving Greenview about five miles of road. It has proved quite valuable to the com- munity as a highway of travel, and a means of transportation of their "exports and imports." Politically, Greenview Precinct is Republican, usually giving a small Repub- lican majority. In the late war, it did its whole duty, turning out a large number of soldiers. An entire company was raised in Irish Grove at an early period of the war, but, by some means, was credited to Logan County. By failing to get credit for recruits in this manner, the precinct had to stand a draft, as a result of its negligence. The draft, however, was small, as most of the quotas were filled in advance. Samuel Blane enlisted as a private, and rose to the rank of Captain in. Company K, of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment of Illinois Infantry. Owing to ill health, he was forced to resign, and G. S. Gritman was promoted to Captain in his place. Both of these were from Irish Grove, in this precinct, and, so far as we could learn, were the only com- missioned officers it claims. The private soldiers 'were of the sturdy sons of the soil, who gallantly sustained the reputation of Illinois' soldiers on many hard-fought fields. VILLAGE OF GREENVIEW. This little village is eligibly located in the midst of a fertile and productive region, on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about eight miles from. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 353 Petersburg. It is on Section 23, of Town 19 north, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, according to Government survey, and was laid out October 2, 1857, by William Engle, elsewhere mentioned as one of the pioneers- of the county. The land upon which the village stands was originally owned by Charles L. Montgomery. The name of Greenview was given in honor of William G. Greene, a prominent citizen of Menard County, residing in the pre- cinct of Tallula. The first dwelling-house erected in the village was put up by Robert McReynolds, soon after it was laid out, and very soon after this, James Stone erected a dwelling. The first brick house was built by John Wilkinson,, and is now used as a hotel. One of the first business houses of importance was built by McReynolds, and afterward occupied by him as a store. There is some question at the present day as to whether McReynolds was the first merchant in the place, or whether Emanuel Meyer & Bro. deserve the honor. These were, probably, the two first stores in the village. Silas Beekman had a store here the fall the railroad was completed through the town. The first tavern was kept by John Wilkinson, and is still in existence (in the brick house mentioned above), but is now conducted by the widow of Mr. Wilkinson and their son. It is an excellent hotel for a village of the size of Greenview. The first blacksmith was Jacob Propst, who opened a shop soon after the laying-out of the village. The first physicians were Drs. Davis and Galloway. At present, the practitioners of the place are Drs. S. T. Hurst and W. A. Mudd~ A mill was built some years ago (the exact date we could not obtain), by McCormick Brothers. In January of the present year, it was burned to the ground. It was a frame building, two stories high, with two run of buhrs originally, but a third run was added at a later day,, and the entire structure was erected at a cost of about $10,000. It has not been rebuilt, which leaves quite a large scope of country between Petersburg and Mason City without a mill. Harvey Yeaman was the first man who handled grain at this point. He built a part of the present grain elevator, and then sold out to Morse & Co., who raised the elevator and built another story under it. This seems to have been on the principle of the Irishman's mode of building a chimney, viz. r "Laying down a brick and putting some others under it." While it is quite* common to build another story on a house, it is rarely we hear of one having a story built under it. They also added cribs, machinery and all modern improvements. It is now owned by Petrie & Co., who are the only grain- buyers in the village. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in Greenview in the fall of 1858. This Church was originally formed at New Market, but, upon the lay- ing-out of the village, was moved, or rather re-organized within the corporation^ and the church building erected the same year. It is a frame edifice and cost about $3,000. The present minister in charge is Rev. S. H. Martin, with a active membership of about twenty-five persons. Its members have been greatly reduced in number by death and removals. About thirty-five children 354 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. regularly attend the Sunday school, under the superintendence of Hugh Foster. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the village in 1858, or rather, was moved from the Knowles' Schoolhouse in Indian Creek, and was originally organized in the now extinct village of New Market. The society erected a church edifice in Greenview in the year named above, which cost about $1,200, and is a substantial frame building. The first Trustees were Thomas Stone, Allen Knowles, Robert McReynolds and Luther Jenison. The congregation at present numbers about one hundred, members, but has been much larger. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained. For the early his- tory of this venerable Church, our readers are referred to Indian Creek Pre- cinct. The Baptist Church was built in 1868, and is occupied jointly by the Bap- tists and Christians, the latter denomination having no sanctuary of their own. The building cost about $2,000 and is a substantial frame. The Baptists have no regular pastor at present and their membership is rather small. The Christians organized their society in the fall of 1869, and have a membership at present of about sixty, under the ministerial charge of Elder D. T. Hughes. A union Sunday school of the Baptist and Christian denominations is car- ried on, under the superintendence of M. M. Engle, with a regular attendance of about forty children. The Catholics have an organized Church society, which meets for worship in Hatch's Hall, and has been ministered to by Father Sauer, of Petersbug. But, as he has very recently resigned the charge at the latter place, the society here is without a minister until other provisions are made for their spiritual welfare. Greenview Lodge No. 653, A. F. & A. M., was organized under dispensa- tion May 12, 1870, and chartered at the following session of the Grand Lodge. The charter members were F. E. Wilson, W. H. Crites, H. K. Rule, Charles Atterberry, W. S. Morse, J. A. Rule, Abner Engle, Jacob Propst, Jr., Fred Wilkinson, M. S. Eby, William Houston, D. A. Petrie, Robert Hornback, Jacob Killion, John Johnson, F. A. Craig, C. R. Pierce, R. B. Godby, A. H. Whit- ney and Hosea Dockum, of whom the following were the first set of officers : ' F. E.Wilson, Master; William H. Crites, Senior Warden; H. K. Rule, Junior Warden ; Charles Atterberry, Treasurer ; W. S. Morse, Secretary ; John A. Rule, Senior Deacon : F. A. Craig, Junior Deacon, and Jacob Propst, Tiler. The present officers are : W. H. Williamson, Master ; H. K. Rule, Senior Warden ; Edward Johnson, Junior Warden ; Alexander Montgomery, Treas- urer ; E. D. Taylor, Secretary ; D. A. Petrie, Senior Deacon ; Samuel Rogers, Junior Deacon, and Thomas Robinson, Tiler. The roll contains the names of thirty-six members, but has greatly decreased by removals, as at one time the lodge numbered over sixty members. The hall is an elegant one for a country town, and is handsomely furnished, but the building does not belong to the HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 355 fraternity. The Odd Fellows had a Lodge here at one time, but from some cause it has ceased to exist. There was no school taught in the village until after the completion of the new schoolhouse in September, 1870. The following winter, Prof. Harris taught a school in the new building. Previous to the erection of this building, the children of the village patronized the district schoolhouso which stood just outside of the corporate limits. There was, we believe, a private or subscrip- tion school taught in the village, in a vacant building somewhere, before the new building was erected, but of it we could learn nothing definite. The elegant brick schoolhouse which adorns the village was completed, as we have said, in 1870, and cost about $10,000. It is one of the finest school edifices in the county. The corps of teachers for the coming year is as follows, viz. : Prof. W. H. Williamson, Principal (his third year in that position); Miss Fuller, Intermediate Department, and Miss H. A. May field, Primary Depart- ment. The average attendance during the school year is not far short of one hundred and twenty pupils. Greenview was incorporated as a village, under special act of the Legisla- ture, and its charter dated 6th of May, 1869. The first Board of Trustees were C. R. Pierce, G. W. Hatch, John Anderson, Fred Wilkerson and A. H. Bogardus. This was the Board upon organization under the charter, but as far back as March, 1868, the records show regular proceedings of a Board of Trustees, which were as follows : C. R. Pierce, J. W. Guyer, John Anderson, Fred Wilkerson and A. H. Bogardus, and were sworn in by H. H. Marbold. Of the first Board under the charter, C. R. Pierce was President and W. S. Morse, Clerk. On the 7th of March, 1877, it was re-incorporated under the general law of the State. The following is the present Board of Trustees : T. C. Pond, J. D. Alkire, James A. Bracken, J. L. Knoles, P. J. Palmquest and M. M. Engle. T. C. Pond is President of the Board; A. P. Blane, Clerk; A. A. Fickes, Police Magistrate; H. K. Rule, Treasurer, and George W. Chamberlain, Town Marshal. It may be an object of interest to some of our readers to know that A. H. Bogardus, the champion shot, was once a resident of this little village. For a number of years, this was his home, and, as he moved about among the quiet citizens of the place, they appeared wholly ignorant of the fact that their town contained "more than Caesar and his fortunes." For several years past, news- paper writers have made the world familiar with "Captain" Bogardus. The village of Greenview is a flourishing place, containing some 500 or 600 inhabitants, and, considering its proximity to Petersburg on one side and Mason City on the other, enjoys quite a large trade. Its business is about as follows: Two dry-goods stores with groceries added, one store of groceries exclusively, one drug store, one store of hardware and stoves, two blacksmith and wagon shops, one harness shop, one shoe shop, two saloons, two carpenter shops, one undertaker, one livery stable, one jeweler, one bank, two lumber 356 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. yards, two physicians, one hotel, one butcher shop and one grain elevator. Marbold, Alkire & Co., carry on the banking business in all its details. A very handsome public square has been set apart in the center of the village and inclosed with a substantial fence. It is well set in trees and grass, and it is intended, we learn, to lay it out in walks, plant shrubbery and arrange rustic seats. When this is done, it will be a spot of which the citizens of Greenview may well feel proud. A strange feature in the history of the village is the fact that it has no cemetery. Its dead are taken mostly to Petersburg for burial. There are also several burying-grounds in the immediate vicinity, where repose many of the early dead, and these cemeteries receive additions, now and then, from the vil- lage ; but, as we said, most of its dead are taken to the cemetery at Petersburg. But the village, in our mind, should have a cemetery of its own. Such a place, kept as it should be, adds much to the interest of a town. "A prophet is without honor in his own country," has grown into a common saying, and often bears upon its face more truth than poetry. In proof of this, the little village of Greenview contains a genius, of whose existence its citizens seem almost wholly ignorant. We allude to the eminent lecturer, Miss Righter. She is a lady of commanding intellect, a lecturer of considerable note, and has a reputation in the lecture-field that is rapidly increasing. A graduate in the science of phrenology, she used to devote much time to the subject, but recently, we learn, has laid it aside, and is now giving her time and talents to the sub- jects of metaphysics and of temperance. She is well known in many portions of Illinois, Indiana and Iowa as a pleasing and fluent speaker. A feeling of pride in home talent should prompt the people of Menard County to highly cherish this gifted woman. SUGAR GROVE PRECINCT. If the garden of Eden was not in Sugar Grove Precinct, then we are inclined to believe that there was some mistake as to the place of its location. So must have thought the early comers to this land of " corn and wine and oil," as they beheld " Earth's unnumbered flowers All turning up their gentle eyes to heaven ; The birds, with bright wings glancing in the sun, Filling the air with rainbow miniatures," and combining to restore, in all its loveliness, "lost Eden's faded glory." No finer section of country should mortal crave than is embodied in this division of Menard County. Fine rolling prairie, rich in soil, with here and there a grove of timber, scattered over the broad plains like " the islands that slumber in the ocean," is no untrue description of Sugar Grove Precinct, and, but for the absence of the 4 ' apples and fig-leaves," might have been mistaken for the original garden. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 357 The hand of civilization has been laid upon it to improve, and not to destroy, its virgin beauty. It has but improved under the sway of man, as the pro- ductive fields and handsome residences abundantly show. The wild prairie grass and the myriads of wild flowers have given place to the corn and wheat, and to the shrubbery and cultivated flowers of men (or women, rather), and the orchards of luscious fruits are to be found on nearly every plantation. And so on, ad finem. Sugar Grove Precinct lies in the eastern part of Menard County, south of Greenview Precinct, east of Indian Creek, north of Athens and west of Logan County. By Government Survey, it is located in Townships 18 and 19 north, and Ranges 4, 5 and 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and contains about thirty-five sections of land. Some three-fourths or perhaps four-fifths is prairie land, sufficiently rolling to need little artificial draining. The timber is principally in what is known as Sugar Grove and Irish Grove ; the latter grove being about half in this precinct and the other half in Greenview. Sugar Grove Creek is the only water-course and is but a small stream the greater part of the year ; but several fine springs are found here, which is a rare occurrence in this portion of Illinois. The name Sugar Grove is obtained from the little body of timber in the northwest part of the precinct, and in which the sugar-maple predominates. Formerly, Greenview was included in this precinct, and was called Sweetwater, after the little village by that name, but, being large in extent, a division was made about 187172 and Greenview created into a separate pre- cinct. The name of this one was then changed to Sugar Grove. No railroads mar its soil, but the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad comes so near its borders that it serves all the purposes of its people almost as well as if it ran through the center of the precinct. The village of Sweetwater is a small place in the edge of Sugar Grove timber, and is scarcely large enough to entitle it to the name of village. THE SETTLEMENT. One of the first settlements in Menard County was made in what is now Sugar Grove Precinct. In 1819, the same year that the Clarys settled in Clary's Grove, James Meadows settled on the eastern side of Sugar Grove tim- ber on the place owned by J. Alkire. He came from Ohio, and located first in the vicinity of Alton, in 1818, and the next season came to this place. He remained here until 1823, when he sold out to Leonard Alkire, and removed to the west side of the grove, where he lived until a few years before his death, which occurred in the village of Greenview in 1869. This last settlement was on the place now owned by H. H. Marbold. a banker of Greenview, and one of the prominent men of the neighborhood. Mr. Meadows was a millwright, and built a mill on this place, which accommodated the neighbors for a period of about eight years. It was of the tread-wheel pattern, and is more particularly mentioned in the history of Greenview. There are but two representatives of the Meadows family now living, viz., Alexander Meadows, living in the village of 358 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Greenview, and Mrs. 0. P. Bracken. Jacob Boyer came with Meadows, and their first night in this region they encamped at a spring on the present farm of Milem Alkire, near Sugar Grove Cemetery. The next morning, being struck with the beauty of the surroundings, and the abundance of pure water afforded by 'the spring, Mr. Boyer remarked, "this is my future home," and proceeded at once to stake off his claim. Meadows moved on to the place as noticed above (the Jack Alkire place), where he, too, located at a fine spring. Boyer also sold out to Leonard Alkire, upon his removal to the country in 1823. A few days after the settlement of Meadows and Boyer, the Blanes came to Sugar Grove. " There were four brothers, viz., Robert, William, John and George, their mother and a sister. They were from the " Gim of the Say," and, being the first Irishmen in the neighborhood, Irish Grove, a part of which is in this precinct, received its name from them. William died in an early day ; John soon returned to Ireland, and remained there some twenty-five years, then <;ame back to this settlement. He raised quite a large family, most of whom are still living in the county. Robert and the sister removed to Wisconsin, leaving George and his mother on the place of their original settlement. This place they sold to Leonard Alkire, in 1823, and moved to the opposite side of the grove, in what is now Greenview Precinct, where they both finally died. The Blanes were well educated, and George, in the early time, held many offices of trust and honor. He was an Old-Line Whig, and afterward Republican in politics. In 1820, Roland Grant came to Sugar Grove, and brought with him a number of sheep, the first of these animals introduced in this section of Illinois. He was from )hio here, but originally from Kentucky, and when the Alkires came a few years later, sold out to them and removed to Island Grove, in Sangamon County. William Grant, a brother, came with him, and also sold his claim to Alkire, and moved away with his brother. As in the different settlements of Menard County, many of the pioneers of Sugar Grove were from Virginia and Kentucky. The following Kentuckians came here among the early settlers : Leonard Alkire and family, William Engle, Lemuel Oifille, the Hugheses, Westley Whipp, Samuel McNabb, the Pentecosts, John and George Stone, a man named Parsons, Matthew Bracken, William Douglas, and perhaps a number of others. The Alkires and Engles came from Ohio here, but were from Kentucky to the Buckeye State, and originially from Virginia to Kentucky. William Engle came in the spring of 1823, raised a crop and then went back to Ohio, and brought out the family of Leonard Alkire. Mr. Engle was a bachelor at this time, but soon after the arrival of the Alkires, he married the daughter of Leonard Alkire. He was a prominent and leading man in the community for a period of nearly fifty years ; he died in March, 1870. He took an active part in organizing the county of Menard, was one of the first County Commissioners, represented the county in the Legislature, and was the first merchant in the territory now embraced in Sugar Grove, Greenview and Indian Creek. Was liberal in his views, an ardent supporter of Christianity, HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 359 and a zealous advocate of education. As stated, he married a daughter of Leonard Alkire, and their first winter was passed in a small cabin near the vil- lage. He then built a cabin where his son, John Engle, now lives. His widow, is still living on the same place, and is' an active old lady for her years. The mother of William Engle (a widow at the time), came to the settlement about ten years after her son. She was a genuine pioneer lady, large and stout almost as a man, kind and benevolent to all, and a great nurse and friend in cases of sickness. William Engle has eight children still living ; one daughter in Lin- coln, a son in Decatur and the remainder of the family (including his widow) in this county. Leonard Alkire, as already stated, was a native Virginian, but emigrated to Kentucky, or was taken there by his parents, more properly speaking, when very young. Arriving at man's estate, and taking to himself a wife, he removed to Ohio, where he resided until his removal to Illinois, in 1823. While a resi- dent of Ohio, he followed, to some extent, the buying-up of cattle and driving them to Eastern markets ; a business at that day exposed to considerable danger. On one of his trips home, after having disposed of his drove, he traveled on horseback at the rate of eighty miles a day, carrying the cash, mostly in silver, received for his cattle, in his saddle-bags. " In swimming the Ohio River," says a local writer, " perched upon his hands and feet on the top of his saddle, his sturdy and fleet roadster stemming the rapid current with great power and speed, when nearing the opposite shore, suddenly went down ; but with a terrible struggle for life finally succeeded in landing his precious freight on terra firma, when Mr. Alkire made the discovery that his saddle- bags (tilled with silver) had drifted back by force of the current, remained suspended by the stirrups, the whole weight resting on the hocks of the noble animal and cramping his movements, thus jeopardizing his life as well as the life and hard-earned treasure of his master." Hearing frequent stories of the beauty and richness of the "Far West," as Illinois was then, he made a trip of inspection to this country. Alone and on horseback, he explored this then almost unbroken wilderness. His route led him to Sugar Grove. Entering it upon the south side, and upon obtaining a favorable view of the surrounding country, he stopped his horse and "viewed the landscape o'er." When fully comprehending the scene, he shouted out at the top of his voice, " Hurrah for old Kentuck, the garden spot of the world.!" He soon came upon the cabin of James Meadows, already referred to, and being highly pleased with the sur- rounding country, he finally struck a bargain with Mr. Meadows, buying his claim. He returned home, sold his farm in Ohio, and the following year removed to Illinois, locating in this precinct, where the remainder of his life was spent. John Alkire, his father, came a few years later. He had removed from Virginia to Kentucky in an early day, during the bloody wars then with the Indians, which gave rise to the appellation the State still bears, that of the "Dark and Bloody Ground," and, like all the other pioneers of the time, he 360 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. bore an active part in those wars. He died here, and was buried in what is called the Blane Graveyard. Leonard Alkire built the first brick house in the then county of Sangamon (now Menard) in 1828, just fifty-one years ago. It is still standing, though a more elegant and modern brick has been reared upon the farm where this original brick house was erected. Three daughters and two sons are still living in this county, a son in Denver and one in Missouri. To his son Milem Alkire, we are indebted for much of the early history of this precinct, as well as to John Engle and Jesse England. Without their aid, and that of Alexander Meadows, our history of Sugar Grove, the early part of it at least, would have been rather meager. William Alkire, of Greenview, is a brother to Leonard, and is also an old settler of this section. Leonard Alkire died in 1877. The following will show the energy and public spirit of the man : About 1828-30, he was appointed Road Supervisor of his district, by the Sangamon County Commissioners, which was then larger than Menard County at the present day, and ordered to open a public road from near the mouth of Salt Creek to Havana, on the Illinois River. A serious difficulty to travel at the time was the Crane Creek Swamp. He called together all the able-bodied men, and proceeded to the place with wagon, tools, provisions, etc., and set to work making rails in the forest and hauling them to the swamp. Then he would cut down a large quantity of the swamp grass, which grew in great abundance and luxuriance. With this he would spread a thick bed on which to lay the rails. After laying down the rails he would place long poles across the ends of them, which would be secured by driving forked limbs astride of them, to prevent the water from floating them off. Then put on more grass, covering it finally with two or three inches of sand. He thus built a road over the swamp, which lasted many years without repair. Lemuel Offille and the Hugheses came among the early settlers and about the same time. James Hughes was a Christian preacher, and one of the first of that denomination in this part of the country. A son. Daniel T. Hughes, now living in the village of Greenview, is also a Christian preacher. James Hughes' family moved into Greenview in 1839, he having died several years previously. Hugh D. Hughes, his son, was one of the first residents of the village of Sweetwater, and one of the builders of the mill at that place, as noticed in the history of the village. Offille and the Hugheses came to this settlement from Indiana, but, as stated, were originally from Kentucky. One of OflBlle's daughters married Hugh D. Hughes. Offille died some years ago, and none of his family, we believe, are here now. Westley Whipp came about the time of the " deep snow.'' He married a daughter of Leonard Alkire, and died several years ago, and is buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Two sons are living in Petersburg. Samuel McNabb was a brother-in-law of John Jenison and came previous to 1824, and has been dead some time. Pentecost and his sons, William, John and George, came in 182425. The old gentleman's first name is not remembered ; all of them are gone from the neighborhood. John Stone came about the "deep snow," HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 361 and had several sons, viz., William, James, Stephen, Henry, Boyd and Oliver. James lives in Green view Precinct, the others in Sugar Grove. Henry lives on the old homestead with his father, who is still living. George Stone, a brother to John Stone, was an early settler, but is long since dead. A man named Parsons was a brother-in-law to the Stones, and came to the country about the s ame time. He had two sons, William and Joseph, the former of which is dead, as well as the old gentleman, but Joseph is living, and is the mail-carrier between Greenview and Sweetwater. William Douglas was here as early as 1881-32, and settled in Irish Grove, and is still living. Matthew Bracken came in 1824-25, afterward sold out to Nicholas Propst, and removed to Woodford County, where he died. A man named McKinney ranks among the old settlers, but there could be very little learned in regard to him. He, with several others, had been to a horse- race, one day, and on their way home got up a little race of their own, when McKinney was thrown from his horse and injured to such an extent that he died from the effects soon after. Enoch B. Smith came to the settlement in Irish Grove in 1821, and Josiah B. Smith, a nephew, came in 1824. The latter was an old Whig, and took an active part in politics. Enoch Smith settled in the south end of Irish Grove, and a son, Jordan Smith, settled in the same vicinity. Enoch Smith died in 1841. His sons are also dead, and the entire family, except Mrs. Jesse England, who is his daughter. Jesse England also settled in Irish Grove in 1834. He married a daughter of Enoch Smith, and is still living on the place where he originally settled. His father came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 1819, and was the first white man who came north of the Sangamon River, and his daughter the first white woman. John S. Jenison was a native of the Old Bay State, and came to Sugar Grove about 1822-23. He sold his claim to Leonard Alkire, and moved into the present precinct of Indian Creek. A son, Luther Jenison, now lives near the village of Greenview. Joseph and Samuel Powell, two brothers and broth- ers-in-law to Leonard Alkire, came about 1825. They were from Ohio here, but natives of the Old Dominion. They raised large families, finally died here, and their families scattered and moved away, some of them to Fulton County, and some to the State of Oregon. Nicholas Propst came from Virginia, and settled in Sugar Grove prior to the " deep snow," that epoch from which the pioneer dates so many events in his early history. He died here a number of years ago, and was an eccentric old gentleman of German descent. A cabinet- maker in the neighborhood owed him a debt, and not having the requisite funds on hand to cancel the obligation, told Propst that he would make him, anything in the furniture line that he might need. Propst said he did not need any- thing just then, but that he would some day need a coffin, and, if he chose to do so, he might make him one. The cabinet-maker went to work on the coffin, and Propst superintended it, and had it made according to his own taste. When finished, there was still a small balance due Propst, so he had the man make a 362 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. long bench to lay him out on when the time came, and he had "shuffled off the mortal coil." Being thus far prepared for final dissolution, he went still farther, and had a tombstone cut out of a limestone rock, nicely dressed, and the single words, "Nicholas Propst," cut in it. When he finally died, this stone marked his resting-place in the Sugar Grove graveyard, until the effacing hand of time crumbled it to pieces, without other words or letters. After his coffin was completed, he got into it to try it i? and, as he said, " to see how it would fit." He afterward told Rev. John Alkire that it scared him like h 1 when he got into it. John Wright came some time previous to 1830, and was, it is believed, from Ohio, though it is not remembered with certainty. He bought out one Samuel Alkire, a cousin to Leonard Alkire, who had settled here about 182425, and removed to Indiana after selling out to Wright. After living in Sugar Grove several years, Wright sold out and removed to Petersburg, and built the first bridge over the Sangamon River at that place. William Gibbs came from Bal- timore, but was an Englishman. He bought out Wright when he went to Petersburg, as above stated. His oldest son lives in the village of Sweetwater. Reuben D. Black came from Ohio, and, after living here "awhile, married a daughter of Leonard Alkire. He was a physician, and, at last accounts, was living in Missouri. 1819 1879. Sixty years ! But a little space, as reckoned in the six thousand years since the creation of the world ; even time itself is only " a brief arc, Cut from eternity's mysterious orb, And cast beneath the skies" and yet what a vast record these sixty years have borne with them from the world. Revolutions have swept over the earth, as troubled visions sweep over the breast of dreaming sorrow. Cities have arisen and flourished for a little sea- son, then disappeared, leaving no trace to tell where or when or how they sunk. New empires have sprung into existence, gathering in a brief time the strength of centuries, and then suddenly sunk from the world forever. The changes and mighty events that have occurred in our own country in those years are equally astounding. The building of railroads and steamboats, and the invention of the telegraph, are but a few of these great events. Sixty years ago, when James Meadows erected a cabin in Sugar Grove, he would not have believed that to-day would present all the changes and improvements that it has presented, " though one had risen from the dead " to proclaim it to him. The wild prai- ries, and the timbered groves and dells, inhabited then by Indians, deer, wolves, panthers and other savage animals, are now vast fields of waving grain ; and the farmers' palatial dwellings are seen now where there were the hunter's cabin and the Indian's wigwam. All these changes are difficult of realization by others than those who have witnessed them. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 363 The pioneers of this section had the same difficulties in procuring meal and flour as the new-comer had in other localities. Sometimes a trip was made to St. Louis for such supplies as flour, salt, and sugar and coffee when the settlers could afford such luxuries. James Meadows made more than one trip to that city in a canoe via the Sangamon, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. He built a mill also in 1823, which was a great convenience to the people in the Sugar Grove end of the precinct. Those in the Irish Grove end used to go to Athens to mill, and even to Springfield, until a mill was erected in the village of Sweetwater, which will again be referred to. The erection of this mill secured to this district the best of facilities for obtaining the "staff of life." Jacob Boyer was the first blacksmith, who followed the trade for the benefit of others. Leonard Alkire kept a forge for his own benefit, as did Propst and James Meadows. Meadows was a wheelwright, but also kept a blacksmith-shop, prin- cipally for his own work. Josiah B. Smith was the first Justice of the Peace in the Irish Grove end of the precinct. Who was the first in Sugar Grove we did not learn. James McNabb taught the first school in the limits of the present precinct of Sugar Grove in a small log cabin near where Gregory Lukins now lives. He is still living, and the cabin in which he taught was erected for school purposes the first temple of learning built in the precinct. As his old pupils look back to the days when he ruled them with rod of iron they call to mind, no doubt, Goldsmith's familiar lines : " Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, With blossomed furze unprofitably gay, There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school ; A man severe he was, and stern to view, I knew him well, and every truant knew ; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disaster in his morning face ; Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ; Full well the busy whisper circling round Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned ; Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault. ****** Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around ; And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew." The precinct has now six schoolhouses, including the one in the village. These schoolhouses are commodious and comfortable, and furnished with all the modern improvements. Good schools are taught during the usual school term by competent teachers, and every facility is offered to the youth of the neigh- borhood for obtaining an education. 364 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. The religious history of Sugar Grove is somewhat complicated, as related to us by those who have been close observers of its mission in this region. It will be more fully given in connection with the village. Rev. John Alkire and Rev. Hughes were two of the early divines of the Christian Church in the precinct; also Rev. Abner Peeler, who afterward removed to Woodford County. A Christian Church was erected at an early day near where Gregory Lukins now lives. It was built of logs with puncheon floor, clapboard roof and a stick chimney at each end of the building. This served the double purpose of church and schoolhouse until 1838, when a frame building was put up 18x20 feet, and alpo used for church and school purposes. About the year 1848, a brick church was built on the site of the original house. It was quite an edifice for that day and was built upon a stone foundation. After the laying-out of the village of Sweetwater, the society moved their quarters, and built a church in the village. This building was then remodeled and changed into a dwelling-house. William Engle and Elizabeth Alkire were married in 1823 and this was the first marriage in the present bounds of Sugar Grove Precinct, or in the eastern part of Menard County. The first birth and death are not remembered. But in proof that there have been a number of both, we refer the reader to the present population, and to Sugar Grove Cemetery. In its quiet shades sleep many of the early settlers of the neighborhood, as well as those who were cut down in the bloom of youth. It has been incorporated, and is beautifully situated on an elevated piece of ground about two miles from the village ; is substantially inclosed and well cared for. William Engle kept the first store in the precinct, and the first in the east- ern part of Menard County, except at Athens. He opened a store on his farm (where John Engle now lives) several years before the laying-out of Sweetwater. After the village was laid out he moved his store into the corporation, where it is again alluded to. In politics, Sugar Grove is pretty evenly divided upon the great questions of the day. At one time, Irish Grove, lying partly in this pre- cinct and partly in Greenview, gave but one Democratic vote, but the sentiment has somewhat changed since then. The precinct taken altogether, is perhaps, Republican by a small majority. During the late war, it did its full share in furnishing troops to maintain the Union. If it had a draft at all, it was for but a very few men, as all calls were promptly filled. Our space will not admit of an extended sketch of the precinct's war record, and we pass with the tribute, that its soldiers did their duty. VILLAGE OF SWEETWATER. Sweetwater was laid out by William Engle and the Alkires on Sections 31 and 32, of Township 19. about the year 1853. It is located in Sugar Grove, a beautiful body of timber, some three miles from the village of Greenview. It is surrounded by a fine farming community, and has a large trade for so small a place. The first store was opened by the Alkires, and about the same time HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 365 William Engle moved his store from his farm, and opened up in the village. A post office was established with William Engle as Postmaster. Just here arises the name of Sweetwater. P. M. Harris was the representative of this district in Congress at the time, and through him the post office was obtained, and des- ignated in the petition Sugar Grove. But it was found that there was already a Sugar Grove in the State, and Harris wrote Mr. Engle to select another name. After some deliberation with those interested, Sweetwater was decided upon as being nearest Sugar Grove the water of the sugar maple being sweet, and thus the name of Sweetwater was obtained. The present Postmaster is Joseph Schofield. When the office was first established, the mail was received on the line from Petersburg to Elkhart, mostly on horseback. It is received now from Greenview. Jacob Propst, Jr., was the first blacksmith in the village, and Dr. John H. Hughes was the first physician. A mill was built soon after the village was laid out, by Deal & Hughes. It is still in operation and doing excellent work, though the building shows the ravages of time. The firm name of Deal & Hughes has never changed since the mill was first built ; the present Hughes, however, being a son of the one concerned in its erection. It is a frame edifice, operated by steam, with two run of buhrs, and it is said makes as good flour as any mill in the county. The business of the village may be thus summarized: Two general stores, including in their stocks dry goods, groceries'^ drugs, hardware, etc., etc.; one shoe-shop; one blacksmith and wagon shop; one post office; one mill; one schoolhouse; one physician (Dr. Hurst) and two churches. The schoolhouse was built about 1868 or 1870, is an elegant two-story brick, and cost something like $4,500. James Steele taught the first school in it. Prof. Ayers has been the teacher for the past two years, and is engaged for the coming year. It is conducted as a graded school, and is fully up to the average standard of that class of schools. If we could write the church history of Sweetwater in the same language in which it was told us, it would be highly entertaining, no doubt, to many of our readers, at least. But we feel inadequate to the task, and hence we give it in our own words. The first church built in village was that of the Christians, or New Lights, and is a sort of continuation of the one mentioned in the history of the precinct as erected near Gregory Lukins'. It is a spacious brick edifice, and cost about $3,500 at the time it was built. There is no regular pastor at present, but transient ministers frequently call and preach to the flock who are wont to worship within its Walls. The original society underwent several changes, as we understand it that is, New Lights, Campbellites and then Apos- tles, or Christians. It finally became somewhat stirred up as Adventists, or a part of the congregation did, when they sold their interest in the building and erected the present frame church, at a cost of about $2,500. When the Advent- ists went up, or, more correctly speaking, failed to go up, some got disgusted, and, as a result, the church was sold to the Methodists, who worshiped in it for 366 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. a time, with services held occasionally by the Presbyterians. The Methodists, eventually, broke down, and, as our informant expressed it, " all went into the mush-pot together." The church was again sold, and this time was bought by the Old-School Presbyterians, who still own it and hold regular services, though the congregation is composed of several creeds. It was re-organized under the Presbyterians by Rev. Mr. Crosier, of Indian Point. A union Sun- day school of the two churches is carried on, but the Superintendent's name we did not learn. This village used to go by the pseudonym of Chloeville, and when we inquired of an old gentleman why it was so called, he said it was for an old lady who once lived in it, whose first name was Chloe, " and some one, in acknowledgment," said he, "of her general cussedness, as a burlesque, called the town after her." INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT. The prairies of the West, though favored with a soil scarcely equaled in the world, and possessed of climate and water unsurpassed, yet, apparently, lacking in the means of producing warmth, were slow to attract the emigrant ; while the eastern portion of the United States, though not so highly favored in these respects, was settled two hundred years earlier than those vast Western plains. When Illinois began to fill up with the Anglo-Saxon race, we find its first occu- pants steering their "prairie schooners" for the groves of timber and the streams of water, where they rightly concluded lay, with a productive soil, also plenty of fuel and water. It was not until nearly every acre of timber-land lying adjacent to water-courses had been " claimed," that people in this section of the country turned their attention to the prairies. With the utmost caution, they ventured out beyond the protecting shelter of the forest, and, as cabins rose up on the broad plains, the croakers, who are ever ready to prophesy evil, indulged in all manner of predictions in regard to the fearless pioneers such as freezing to death, and being blown away by storms. This was the case in this county and in this precinct, as well as elsewhere, and no settlements were made beyond the timber, until necessity compelled the increasing population to ' move on." Indian Creek Precinct, the subject of this chapter, is as fine a body of land asfto use a familiar expression, "a crow ever flew over." The greater portion of it is fine rolling prairie, neither hills nor bluffs, nor low, flat levels, but more resembling the swells of the ocean. It is well watered and drained by Salt Creek on the north boundary, Sangamon River on the west boundary, Indian Creek on the south boundary, and Little Grove and Sugar Grove Creeks flow- ing through it, so that it has no lack of water facilities. It is bounded on the north by Mason County, on the west by Sandridge Precinct, on the south by ;.; HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 369 Petersburg and Athens, and on the east by Sugar Grove and Greenview Pre- cincts, and lies in Townships 18 and 19 north, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, according to Government survey. No villages or towns break the monotony of its vast productive fields at the present day, though quite a village / at one time existed in its territory, as noticed in another page. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad runs through from southwest to northeast, and, while it is a vast benefit to the precinct as a means of trans- portation, yet there is no station within its borders. The shipping point is 'Greenview, principally, which is but a mile or so from the line. This is the smallest precinct in Menard County except Rock Creek, having but about twenty-nine sections of land. But while the land of Rock Creek is rather inferior in quality, taken altogether, that of Indian Creek is of the best, and its farmers, judging from their spacious farms and elegant residences, are among the most prosperous in the county. SETTLEMENTS OF INDIAN CREEK. This precinct was settled mostly from Kentucky, with a few Virginians thrown in to perfect the state of society. The following recruits were received from the old Blue Grass State : James Short, Solomon Taylor, Robert and James Bracken, Andrew Trumbo, John Moore and sons, Robert White, William McDougall, Abraham Hornback and sons, Elijah Scott, Francis Rayburn, William Brewer and son, Samuel Rogers and son, Alexander Crawford, David Onstott, John Pentecost and sons, Michael Killion, William Denton, William and James Estill, Coleman Smoot, Hamilton Elliott, Isaiah Low, and, perhaps, others. James Short is supposed to have been the first white man to settle in the present precincts of Indian Creek. He located here in 1824, and, in 1828, removed to Sangamon County. Solomon Taylor came in about 1828. He is still living; resides in the village of Greenview, and is, perhaps, the second oldest living settler of this precinct. Robert and James Bracken, brothers, came in 182627. Robert died here, but his widow is still living on the place where her husband settled more than fifty years ago, and is in her eighty-first year. She is a sister to Walter Turner, in Athens Precinct. James Bracken removed to Missouri. Andrew Trumbo came in 1828-29, and died in the neigh- O borhood some years ago. Solomon Taylor's wife having also died, Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Trumbo were recently married, and though a rather aged couple to embark, or, rather, to re-embark on the sea of matrimony, it is said to have been an excellent arrangement for both, and that they are living comfortably together in Greenview. John Moore and his five stalwart sons, John, Joseph, Andrew, Samuel and William, came in 1828. They were a fine family, and ranked among the prominent people of the neighborhood. The old gentleman and most of the family are dead. William and Joseph, we Relieve, are all that are left. The latter lives in De Witt County, and Joseph in this county. Robert White came about 1826-27, and was monarch of all he surveyed, from K 370 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. where he located to the mouth of Salt Creek, no family having squatted between the two points. He died here many years ago. William McDougall came about the same time, and was a son-in-law of White. He died a few months ago at the age of seventy-two years. Elijah Scott came about 1825-26. He moved away some twenty-five or thirty years ago. Abraham Hornback and his sons, John, Jesse and Andrew, came about 1826. The old gentleman is long since dead, as well as most of the others, except Andrew, who lives in this precinct. Francis Rayburn came in 1828. He finally died in Iowa, to which State he removed some time before. William Brewer and his son, John Brewer, came about 1827-28. Both died in this precinct. Samuel Rogers and his son, Joseph Rogers, came about l2i>. They also died in the precinct. Squire Godby relates the following anecdote in which he and Joseph Rogers were actors : Rogers was a Captain of the militia, and, as such, used to call the "able-bodied citizens" together for the purpose of "muster." At one of these periodical musters, Godby failed to put in an appearance, for which delinquency, Rogers had him appointed Fourth Corporal in his company. Soon after this, Rogers returned to Kentucky, where he remained some time. Several other officers died, moved away or resigned, so that Godby, the Fourth Corporal of the company, became the senior officer. In this state of affairs, the Black Hawk war broke out, and the Governor made his call for troops r when this company presented the novel spectacle of being commanded by its Fourth Corporal. But, bearing his " blushing honors " with becoming dignity, he summoned the company together, called for volunteers, made up the requisite number, sent them to the front, and then, Cincinnatus-like, returned to his plow. Alexander Crawford came in 1827, and died here some twenty-five or thirty yeatrs ago. David Onstott came as early as 1825, and erected a mill and dis- tillery, which is noticed on another page. He was a character that could not be surrounded, as an old gentleman expressed it to us, and as people moved in, he gathered together his worldly goods and took up his journey to a far coun- try to Arkansas, it is believed. He said he had waded through h 1 to get here, and did not propose to be crowded, so he again struck out for the wilder- ness when people got too thick around him. Coleman Smoot bought him out in this settlement. John Pentecost and three sons, William, Henry and John, came in 1827. They were originally from Virginia, but emigrated to Ken- tucky in early times, whence they came to Illinois, as above. They are all dead or moved away from the precinct. William Denton came in 1830, and died here many years ago. Michael Killion came in 1830. He lived in the Moore neighborhood, and came from the same section that they came from. He died here years ago. When Squire Godby settled here, in 1830, he built his cabin on the prairie, about half a mile from the timber, and Killion remarked that 'that fool Virginian would freeze to death so far from the timber.' William Estill, a brother-in-law of Killion's, came about 1825-26. He is still HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 371 living, and in his eighty-fifth year, quite an active old man, and the oldest liv- ing settler in the precinct. James Estill, his brother, was also among the early settlers, and died long ago. Hamilton Elliott and two sons, Richard and Had- den, came in 1830-31. Richard removed to Fulton County. He is described as an enterprising man, speculated considerably, and, as our informant expressed it, "would risk his life for a coon-skin." He finally went to California, and amassed quite a fortune. Hiram Chapin and Benjamin Day came very early, but did not remain long in the settlement. William Day was another of the early ones. He was a brother to Benjamin. The latter gentleman had entered the ferry on Salt Creek, where the State road from Springfield to Havana crossed, and when William came a few years later, he took charge of this place. He finally moved to Iowa. Coleman Smoot came about 1831, and bought out Onstott. He is dead, and his son, William C. Smoot, lives on the old home- stead. The elder Smoot was an enterprising farmer, a prominent man, and accumulated a handsome property. His son is also a man of wealth and influ- ence in the community. Isaiah Low came in 1831-32, and a few years ago moved to Iowa. These settlers, so far as names are given, all came from Ken- tucky to Illinois, though some of them, and perhaps a majority, were originally from Virginia, as Kentucky was settled principally by Virginians. Squire Godby informed us that when he came to the country, he " squatted right in a nest of Kentuckians, and as jolly good fellows, too, as ever lived." From Virginia, the venerable mother of Presidents, the following additions were made to the Indian Creek settlement : Russell Godby, Isaac Snodgrass Fielding Ballard, William Sampson, with, probably, a few others. Godby came in the spring of 1830, and his first winter here was that of the "deep snow," which cast something of a damper (particularly when it began to melt off in the spring) upon the feelings with which he had regarded the fine prairies of Illinois, as compared to the red hills of " Old Virginny." He was the first man in the present precinct of Indian Creek who settled outside of the timber, and he did not venture very far from its shelter. He still lives upon the place of his original settlement, and is one of the prominent and leading men of the neighborhood, and was one of the early Justices of the Peace. Although his bodily health is failing, his mental condition appears as strong as if still in the noontide of manhood, and we acknowledge our indebtedness to him for many facts connected with this precinct and its early settlement. Messrs. Snodgrass and Ballard were brothers-in-law to Godby, and came the same year. The former gentleman lives now in Salt Creek Township, in Mason County. Bal- lard, though originally from Virginia, had emigrated to Indiana, where he resided for a few years before coming to this county, and, upon his arrival here, bought the claim of Joseph Rogers. He died in this precinct. Sampson came to the Indian Creek settlement several years before Godby, Snodgrass and Bal- lard, probably about 1826-27. He remained a resident of the precinct until his death, which occurred about 1870. Philip Barnett was an Eastern man, 372 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. and a brother-in-law to Godby. These four gentlemen, viz., Godby, Snodgrass, Ballard and Barnett, married sisters. Barnett died a few years ago in Fulton County. John King came from North Carolina in 1826-27. He was born in 1775, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and one years and twenty-nine days. A soldier of 1812, and of the Indian wars of the South, under Gen. Jackson, he was a firm believer in and a devoted admirer of Old Hickory to the end of his life. When he first came to Illinois (1821), he settled in the south- ern part of the State, where he resided until his settlement in this section, as given above. Before his death, he and Tarlton Lloyd, of Rock Creek Precinct, were the only relics left in Menard County of the war of 1812. His death leaves Mr. Lloyd like "the last rose of summer, blooming alone." Dedman Powers was an early settler, but of him not much could be learned. William Duff came in 182728, but where from no one could tell. He is mentioned as a " hard old customer," rough, profane, and a poor acquisition to the settle- ment, any way. He remained but a few years, and then moved away. John Clary came to the settlement very early, and was attending Onstott's mill when 'Squire Godby came in. He was probably from Tennessee ; has a son still living in Menard County, but the old gentleman has been dead several years. This brings the settlement of Indian Creek down to a period when the tide of immigration poured in with such volume and force as to baffle the historian's skill to keep pace with it, and we will not attempt it further, but turn our attention to other items in its history. EDUCATIONAL AND RELIGIOUS. f One of the first moves made by the pioneer, after securing a claim and erecting a cabin to shelter his family, was in the direction of education and religious worship. A school was taught in this settlement as early as the sum- mer of 1830, in a vacant cabin on the premises of Samuel Rogers. It was taught by John Pentecost, who walked a distance of three and a half miles to and from the scene of his labors. The next school was by Dr. David Meeker, who taught in an old house belonging to Coleman Smoot. The first regular schoolhouse built in the present bounds of Indian Creek Precinct was on land belonging now to William Smoot, and was of the primitive pioneer schoolhouse pattern. It was built about 1833, and Silas Alexander Avas the first pedagogue who presided over the young ideas within its classic walls. In this log cabin, known as the " Smoot Schoolhouse," many of the youth of the neighborhood (now old men) took their first lessons in Webster's spelling-book, and in the art of shooting paper wads. The precinct now has five excellent brick schoolhouses conveniently located in its territory, in which every child may receive a good English education, sufficient to fit him for the ordinary walks of life. The first minister who proclaimed the Gospel in this section was the Rev. John Berry, a Cumberland Presbyterian preacher from the Rock Creek HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 373 settlement. He was Pastor of the New Lebanon Church, near the line of the pre- cinct, which was one of the first places of worship of the people of this settlement. In 1843, a society of this denomination was organized at New Market, avillage now extinct, but at one time entertaining rather lofty pretensions. This soci- ety was organized by Revs. J. R. Torrence and A. II. Goodpasture, with the latter preacher as its first spiritual, director. It was known as the "New Market Congregation" for a period of five years, and increased during the time from a membership of thirty to seventy communicants. It was then moved to the Knowles Schoolhouse, and from that time until its removal to the village of Greenview, about 1858-60, was known as the " Bethel Con- gregation." The remainder of its history is given in the chapter devoted to Greenview. A society of Baptists was organized in the precinct before the Cumberland Presbyterian organization, above described, by the Rev. John Antle, who was the first divine of that denomination in this section. It was originally held in a schoolhouse, but, like the Presbyterians, removed to Gpeenview upon the laying-out of that village. These are all the church organizations of Indian Creek Precinct. Although there are no church edi- fices within its borders, there are a number scattered around it in other and adjoining precincts. The first mill in this immediate vicinity was built by David Onstott, away back in the twenties, but just what time we could not learn. Squire Godby says it was in full blast when he came to the settlement in the spring of 1830, and had a small copper still attached, such, perhaps, as are used by the "moonshiners" of the present day in Tennessee and North Carolina. It was a small affair, and worked up the superfluous corn into spiritus fru- menti, which was consumed by the pioneers nearly as fast as it was made, as an antidote (!) for snake-bites. The mill was propelled by horse-power, and served the purpose of making hominy and meal for the neighborhood. This, we believe, is the extent of the mill business in this precinct. Since the burning of the Greenview mills, most of the people of this community patronize the mills of Petersburg. The first birth and marriage are forgotten, but as eyery thing must have a beginning, these had a beginning in Indian Creek Precinct, as the present population will go to show. The first death is supposed to have been the mother of Fielding Ballard, who came to the settlement in 1830. He brought his mother with him, who was quite aged, and who died the next year. The first physician in the settlement was a Dr. Walker, but he did not remain very long. Whence he came or whither he went, we did not learn. Dr. David Meeker was the next doctor, and combined school teaching with the practice of medicine. In those days, people did not send for a doctor on all occasions, as they do now ; consequently had less sickness no offense to the medical fra- ternity intended and fewer doctors' bills to pay. The first blacksmith-shop in the neighborhood was opened in the now extinct village of New Market by 374 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. two men named George Saunders and William F. Rogers. Coleman Smoot was the first Justice of the Peace, and Russell Godby the second in the pre- cinct. The name of Indian Creek was obtained from the creek flowing along the southwest boundary, and emptying into the Sangamon River at the corner of this precinct, Sandridge and Petersburg. The name was applied to the creek in memory of some of the tribes of Indians that once occupied the country. Politically, Indian Creek Precinct is Democratic. During the late war, it was patriotic, as all other portions of Menard County, and turned out a large number of soldiers shoulder-straps as well as muskets. Company K, of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, was raised principally in this precinct. The Captain of the company was Samuel Estill; Lucian Terhune, First Lieutenant, and Henry Roggy, Second Lieutenant. Company F, of the Twenty-eighth Regiment of Illinois Infantry, also drew a few men from this precinct. William J. Estill, of Petersburg, a brother of Capt. Estill of Com- pany K, mentioned above, was Captain of a company, and was wounded on the second day's fight at Pittsburg ; Landing, and came home, leaving the com- mand of the company to Isaac Estill, the First Lieutenant, also a brother. The latter was killed in the battle of Hatchie, Tennessee. Capt. Estill's wound not permitting his return to the army, he finally resigned, and a gentleman from Athens Precinct became Captain of the company. THE VILLAGE OF NEW MARKET. i Doubtless many of our readers are ignorant of the fact that a village bear- ing the above name once existed in their midst. It not only did exist, but even aspired, we are told, to the dignity of becoming the seat of government for the State of Illinois, as well as the capital of Menard County. It was laid out by Dr. Ballard and a man named Speer. Ballard put up a large two-story building, intended for a tavern ; but the glory of the new town waned so soon that it was never needed or used for the purpose. A store was opened by one Clarke, who afterward sold out to Ballard & Speer. A blacksmith-shop was opened, as before noted, by George Saunders and William F. Rogers, and the place presented quite as much the appearance of a town as did Petersburg at the time the county seat was located there. In establishing the county seat, it was " entered for the race" against the latter place for that dignified position, and it is even stated that it was a competitor with Springfield for the State capital. This may be a joke, but we give it as we heard it. If true, it played for a high stake, and lost. With the location of the seat of justice at Peters- burg, it faded away into nothingness. It became a village of the dead rather than of the living ; "a grave for ambition an antidote for pride." The ruins of Baalbec are in many respects a mystery ; Palmyra, at least in vastness, sur- passes even Baalbec ; Athens, Rome, Jerusalem, and other scenes of decay, appeal to our pity and touch our hearts ; but for New Market, the " mighty city HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 375 of lofty aspirations," we can only, like the Hebrew captives of old, "hang our harps upon the willows" and weep. It owed its origin to a rather wild ambi- tion, and waned to its extinction when fate decided adversely to its hopes and Wishes. ( , gweet 8m in n g village, loveliest of the lawn, Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn ; Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen, And desolation saddens all thy green ; One only master grasps the whole domain, And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain ; No more thy glassy brook reflects the day, But, choked with sedges, works its weedy way ; Along thy glades, a solitary guest The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest ; Amidst thy desert-walks the lapwing flies, And tires their echoes with unvaried cries. Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all, And the long grass o'ertops the moldering wall, And trembling,"shrinking from the spoiler's hand, Far, far away thy children leave the land." Finally, when the fact was ascertained beyond any shadow of doubt that it was " born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness upon the desert air," it was vacated, by legislative enactment, and nothing now remains to point out the spot where once it stood. Its original site is a productive farm. SANDRIDGE PRECINCT. This division of the county lies in the extreme northwest corner and com- prises within its limits a little more than fifty-four sections, or a township and one-half. It is designated Congressionally as Township 19 north, Ranges 7 and 8 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded on the north and east by the Sangamon River, south by Petersburg Precinct, and west by Cass County. Originally, its surface was about equally divided between woodland and prairie. The timber was of a fine quality and, untouched as yet by the woodman's ax, was heavier than the third or fourth growth of our day. Much of its surface is sufficiently elevated and rolling to obviate the necessity of artificial drainage. Small portions contiguous to the Sangamon on the east and north are subject to overflow, but afford excellent pasturage. Concord Creek on the east, Clary's and Little Grove on the southwest, tributaries of the Sangamon, afford outlets for the surface waters of a large area. The Spring- field & North- Western Railroad crosses the precinct in a general northwestern direction. The Jacksonville branch of the C., A. & St. L. R. R. touches the southeastern boundary of the precinct. The villages of Oakford and Atter- berry, whose history will be given at the close of this chapter, are stations on the first-mentioned road. A belt of woodland extending in a general north- eastern direction, elevated considerably above the adjacent prairie, and with quite a sandy soil, gives to the precinct the name which it bears. 376 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Few, indeed, in the county antedate the first settlements made within the limits of this precinct. An apparent mist of doubt appears to gather about the answer to the question, " Who was the first settler in Sandridge ? " Jesse Armstrong, William Sampson and Royal Potter were the first to make perma- nent settlements, but just which of these three pioneers was first on the ground is a matter not very readily determined. All were in the precinct in 1819. If there be a preponderance of evidence in favor of either, it points more clearly to Armstrong than either of the others, and, for this reason, we are inclined to confer upon him the honor of making the first improvement. Armstrong was from Tennessee, and laid a claim in the southeastern part of this section on land now owned and occupied by Grady Rutledge. After a few years, he moved to Arkansas, and thence to Texas, where, some years later, he died. William Sampson was from Kentucky, and made an improvement not far from where John A. Clary now lives. He kept bachelor's hall for a time, but was married as early as 1821-22, to Hannah Schmick. After living and making improvements at various points in Sandridge, he finally crossed the Sangamon and settled in Greenview Precinct, where he died. Some of his immediate family are still citizens of this section. Potter was from Tennessee or Kentucky, and made an improvement on land now owned by Henry B. Shipley. This he afterward sold to Sampson and he to Reason Shipley. George and Jesse Miller were here not later than 1820, and established them- selves in the northeast corner of the precinct. They kept the ferry across the river known to this day as Miller's Ferry. The town of Huron, the history of which is given in the general history of Mason County, was located at this point. Bannister Bond came from Tennessee and made an improvement on what is known as the Dolman place, in 1821. Here he lived but a short time, and next located in Clary's Grove. He finally moved to Iowa, and, at last accounts, was living. If still an inhabitant of terra firma, he is not far from his centennial birthday. He was a man of powerful muscular development and great physical endurance. He would cut his timber and manufacture rails by day and then carry them upon his shoulders and make them into a fence by night. George Kirby and William Watkins became citizens the same year. Kirby came from Madison County. His father, Cyrus Kirbj, was a native of Kentucky, and came to this State in 1811. The first settlement of the family was at Clary's Grove. The exact year of removal to Sandridge we have not been able to ascertain. Watkins, who by way of distinction is known as "Fiddler Bill," acquired his citizenship by birth, and is the oldest living native-born citizen- of Menard County. His finely improved farm and the large accumulation of this world's goods by which he is surrounded, afford abundant evidence that life with him has been a grand success. George Hud- speth, from Monroe County, Ala., came in 1823, and though now quite feeble, HISTORY OF MKNARD COUNTY. 377 is still an honored and highly esteemed citizen of the precinct. Elias Hohi- raer, Reasdn Shipley, Jacob Short and his sons Obadiah, James and Harrison, were added to the settlement during 1824. Hohimer and Shipley were from th& " dark and bloody ground," and became permanent settlers of this section from the time of their first arrival. Short and sons were from Madison County, and settled in Petersburg Precinct, whence they came to this section. The elder Short died the year following his removal to this section. Of his sons, Obadiah died at Nauvoo, James in Iowa, and Harrison here. Jacob Short, as were a number of the other early pioneers of this part, was a ranger in the war of 1812, and did good work in the service of his country. The year 1825 brought in a large number of settlers. John Clary, who had settled at Clary's Grove in 1819 with his sons, John A. and Hugh, still citizens of the precinct, came in at this date. William Armstrong and his brother Pleasant, Isaac Colson, William and James Rutledge, John Cameron, Charles Revis and his sons Isham and Alexander, Absalom Mounts and his son James, Rob- ert Davis, and doubtless some others, were here before the close of 1825. The Armstrongs were from Kentucky, and had settled prior to coming to Sand- ridge on Indian Creek. Pleasant, who maintained a state of celibacy, died here a number of years ago. William moved to Fulton County, and is still living. Colson was from Maine, and settled in the northwest corner of the precinct. The Rutledges and Cameron were originally from South Carolina, but they lived some time in White County before coming here. Cameron was a brother-in-law to William Rutledge, and, with them, settled in the southeast- ern part of this section. They remained citizens till removed by death, and many of their descendants are yet to be found here. The Revises were from Tennessee. Alexander became an early citizen of Crane Creek Township, Mason County. Absalom Mounts, whose name has become inseparably con- nected with pioneer milling in Menard and Mason Counties, came into the pre- cinct during the year. He finally moved to Arkansas, where he engaged in his favorite pursuit, and, during the late civil war, lost his life at the hands of federal soldiers. James Pantier and his son David M., came in the winter of 1826. The elder Pantier was a native of Kentucky, and was the second male white child born in the State, his father having accompanied Daniel Boone in his earliest adventures in hunting and warring with the savage red-skins on the "dark and bloody ground." He settled near the site of old Concord Church, purchasing a claim of William Armstrong. Here he continued to reside till near the close of his earthly career, when he made his home with his son. He died in 1859, and, with many of the other pioneer settlers, lies buried in the cemetery, on land owned by W. Goodpasture. Among the arrivals of 1827, we note the names of Thomas Dowell, John and James Yardley, Solomon Nor- ris, James Runnels, George Bowman and John Braham. Dowell was from the South, and settled on the Sangamon bottom not far from where the village of Oakford now stands. The Yardleys and Norris soon crossed into Mason 378 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. County, and a notice of their early settlement is found in the history of Crane Creek Township. James Hudspeth, Mathias Young and John B. Colson were here prior to the "deep snow." Hudspeth and Young may possibly have come as early as 1827, but Colson did not locate prior to 1829. The fall and winter succeeding the " deep snow," quite a large settlement was made in and around the site of the present town of Oakford. Julius Simmons, Legrande Winton, Amos Ogden, Isaac White, William Edwards, Alvin Smith, Matthew Lownsberry and sons Jonathan and Matthew, Jacob and Lee Brown were among the arrivals. Nearly all the early settlers before mentioned were from the South. These, however, were from the Northern and Eastern States, and the settlement made by them was termed "Yankee Settlement," by way of distinction. They were a thrifty, industrious and energetic class of citizens, and many of them acquired a competency for themselves and family. Most of them have followed the beckoning hand across the "dark waters," while a few yet linger on the shores of time. During the two decades immediately suc- ceeding the first settlements, many were scattered here and there throughout the length and breadth of the precinct ; some became permanent fixtures, while others improved a small claim, sold out at first offer, and moved farther out on the borders of civilization. As was the invariable custom, the first set- tlers reared their cabins in and near the timber. The rich prairie lands out of which farms could be made in a day, were left for those coming at a later date. Passing down through the years, we find the list already given increased by the names of William B. Cloe, Samuel Lownsberry, Isaac Ogden, Hayden Thomas, John Waldridge, John Kirby, Milton'G. Combs, James Altig, George R. Watkins, J. L. Short, James Potter and E. C. Stith. These were all here prior to 1840, and many of them settled in the prairie. Many of these yet remain citizens of the precinct, and some on the very farms on which they began life's battle forty-odd years ago. Passing now from the early settle- ments, we come to notice some of the inconveniences and disadvantages with which the pioneer was forced to contend. Some one has asserted that the pioneer settlers of almost every section have been men of a roving disposition, given largely to hunting, fishing, and such like amusements, with strong aversions to agricultural pursuits. While many an old pioneer refers with a just pride to the gala days of yore, when all was " fun and frolic," when hunting and trapping was his daily occupation, we must not for- get that the comfort and welfare of the family depended largely upon the skill and prowess of the huntsman. Most of the pioneers of every section are men of limited means, and, in opening up their farms, underwent many hardships. It is related of Mr. Kirby that he planted his first crop of cereals by digging up the ground with a common mattock. The " wooden mold-board plow " which merely rooted up the surface was a luxury at that period that was not within the reach of many. Farming, in those days, we are assured, was comparatively a slavish occupation, and when we take into consideration the HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 379 indifferent implements with which they were compelled to labor, we can pardon much of the evident aversion of the hardy pioneers to farm labor. Reaping wheat with a sickle, threshing it with a flail, or tramping it out with horses, win- nowing it with a sheet, and grinding it in a hand-mill, or, in the case of corn, beating it in a mortar, were not operations in and of themselves that were cal- culated to impress the early farmers with a fondness for agricultural pursuits. In those early days the women dressed almost exclusively in home-made woolens, cottons and linens of their own manufacture, and wore moccasins (when they wore anything) on their feet. Men wore leather shoes considerably, with pants of buckskin, and generally a hunting shirt. Dandies affected a blanket coat and a fox-skin cap, with the tail turned up over the top. We mention these incidents that the youth who con over these pages may understand something of the habits, customs and inconveniences to which the first settlers were subjected, and that those who read may, by comparison, more fully appreciate the grand strides that have been made in our civilization within the last half-century. While the senior members of our population, against whom we jostle in our daily walks, are, for the most part, unskilled in "book larnin," they have a fund of wisdom gathered from experience and observation which would do credit to the head and heart of many a book-worm of the present day. They were scrupulously honest, and had not learned the " tricks of the trade." When the Rev. Thomas Plasters was called upon to recommend a horse which his son-in-law had for sale, he said to the would-be purchaser, " The horse has two pints about him that well nigh spiles him in my estimation. The first is, he is very hard to ketch, and secondly, when you have ketched him he is of no earthly account." It is needless to add that this brilliant recommendation, coming as it did from the reverend old gentleman, completely put an end to the trade. EARLY MILLING, BLACKSMITHING. ETC. Primarily, the hominy mortar was the instrument used for the production of breadstuff. When wheat began to be raised, a trip, occupying two weeks, to Madison County for grinding, was no uncommon thing among the early settlers, and at a point on the Sangamon, near Springfield, was for a number of. years their nearest mill. Early blacksmithing was obtained at Springfield. If an ox- ring was needed, or a log-chain was to be mended, it necessitated a pilgrimage to the present capital. After the founding of Salem, many of these incon- veniences became things of the past. Money, as a medium of barter and exchange, was but little used by the early settlers. Indeed, as was remarked by one of the pioneers, it was " truck for truck," even to the paying of the the minister for his labors. All the money they needed was the small amount necessary to meet the demands of the Government in the way of taxes, and this required but a nominal sum. One old settler informed us that on the same quarter-section on which in recent years he has paid $75 in taxes, in those 380 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. early days $1.75 was amply sufficient to satisfy all demands. In the matter of church organization, the Cumberland Presbyterians were the first in the field. Their first church was organized in 1826, and for some time services were held, as was the custom, at private houses and in the groves. Old Concord Church, on the creek of the same name in the southeastern part of the precinct, was erected about the year 1830. It was a. substantial frame building and served the congregation a,s a house of worship for about thirty years. John M. Berry was the early Pastor of the flock. James Pantier and wife, William and James Rutledge and wives, Samuel Berry and wife were the original members. Jesse Armstrong was the first received into membership. The denomination has prospered remarkably and has a large membership throughout the county. The present church edifice was built about 1862-63, and is a model of neatness for a country church. The Baptist society effected an organization in the pre- cinct as early as 1833. Revs. Thomas Plasters and John Antle were among the early Baptist ministers of this section. Their first church was doubtless erected near the site of Robinson's Mill, but the date of its building we were not able to ascertain. New Hope Church, built on the northwest corner of Section 16, was the result of the united efforts of the Cumberland Presbyterians and Baptists, who occupy it alternately for public services. The building is a neat frame and was erected about 186162. A German church has recently been built on the southeast quarter of Section 10, but of these last we were able to obtain but very meager statistics. Robinson's Mill was built on Clary's Creek, not far below the confluence of Little Grove Creek and the first- mentioned stream. It was a water-mill and did work for a large scope of terri- tory. Though the exact time of its establishment cannot be given, it is safe to say that it was not far from 1840. A town site was surveyed and platted, but, from some hindrances, failed to develop into much of a village, and is now num- bered with the dead. The only post office ever established in the precinct out- side of the ones now found in Oakford and Atterberry was at this point about the year 1844-45. Over this, John Bonnet presided as Postmaster. The place is now deserted ; no mark or vestige of its former greatness remains. The mill has long since been abandoned, and the merchants and mechanics of " Bobtown " have given her over to the moles and bats. Dr. John Allen was the first practicing physician in this section. He came from the Green Mountain State and located in Salem at an early day. He was thoroughly qualified and became eminent in his profession. Dr. Dun- can was also early in the field, and, like Allen, was a resident of Salem. He afterward moved to Warsaw. He is spoken of as being a well-read and suc- cessful practitioner. Early mail matter was received at Springfield, when the settler was fortunate enough to be able to lift the billet-doux, or a line from the loved ones at home, from the office, for this luxury cost the sum of 25 cents, an amount of. cash not at all times readily obtained. Among those clothed with legal authority in an early day, we may record the names of HISTORY OF MENARU COUNTY. 381 Samuel Berry and Robert Armstrong as the first Justices of the Peace. William Armstrong was, perhaps, the first to serve in this capacity after the present precinct organization was effected. S. D. Masters was also quite an early Justice, and, in 1855, was chosen a member of the Legislature. It was dur- ing this session that Abraham Lincoln first figured prominently as a candidate for a seat in the United States Senate. The history of this precinct has, as regards its early settlement, been so intimately connected with other portions of the county that should the date given as to the coming of some of its citi- zens fall wide of the mark, we can only offer in palliation of the offense, that we have closely adhered to the testimony of the oldest and best-posted citizens now living within her borders, guided, also, by an earnest desire to present the record in as perfect and complete a manner as possible. VILLAGE OF OAKFORD. This is a small village on the S. & N.-W. R. R., and was surveyed and platted by A. J. Kelly, County Surveyor, for the proprietors, William Oakford and William Colson, in March, 1872. The town plat contains sixty acres and is in the midst of a fine agricultural district. The land on which the town is situated belonged to Colson, and Oakford acquired a half-interest for his influence in securing a station. A public sale of lots was made April 11, 1872, at which time some $2,000 worth were disposed of, and soon after improvements began to be made. The first building or shanty on the town site was what was known as the railroad store, a kind of portable affair carry- ing chiefly in stock a supply for the railroad hands. Soon after the village was laid out, William Oakford built a storeroom and opened out a stock of grocer- ies. In the summer of 1872, a general store was opened by Calvin Atterberry, who had been in business at "Bobtown." This was purchased in 1873, by Isaac Ogden and A. G. Colson. In January, 1874, L. W. Roberts bought out Colson, and the firm became that of Ogden & Roberts. In October, 1875, they sold out to Sutton Bros., who operated the store three years and then sold to S. L. Watkins & Bro., who have since conducted the business. In June, 1873, H. A. Bennett, from Petersburg, opened out a stock of drugs and shelf goods in the old railroad storeroom. This he soon after sold to William Col- son, and he in turn to A. G. Colson and J. H. Green. In January, 1876, S. L. Watkins, the present proprietor, bought the establishment. In the spring of 1875, Dr. J. D. Whitney and W. C. Roberts erected a building and opened a drug store. T. P. Renshaw & Co. began the operation of a branch store with a general stock in August, 1878. They occupy the room erected by Watkins & Colson, and formerly occupied by Moon & Gault, of Petersburg. Their main store is located at Chandlerville, Cass County. Oliver J. Moltby and J. W. Walker started a harness-shop in 1876. This branch of business is at present operated by Berget Guist, from Virginia, Cass County. A confection- ery and restaurant is operated semi-occasionally by C. P. Stith. James S. 382 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Carter, from Petersburg, opened a furniture store here in 1877, but did not continue the business long. Dr. J. D. Whitney and Charles Meyers built the first dwellings in the village in the summer of 1872. Meyers had formerly kept a doggery at Robinson's Mills and supplied the villagers and surrounding inhabitants of the infant Oakford with fire-water for the space of two years. James P. Thomas, familiarly known as "Porky Thomas," now issues out rations to the "boys" in the way of "smiles." James S. Carter, after closing out his furniture store, opened a saloon and still operates it. Gilbert Skaggs, now editor of the Chandlerville Independent, built the first blacksmith-shop in the village. This was purchased by James McElhern, who came from Canada, and was the first blacksmith in the place. L. W. Roberts, Isaac Ogden, William Jackson, A. G. Colson, Henry Garter, James McElhern, and perhaps others, built dwellings in the summer of 1874, and for a time the village seemed to be well out on the highway to prosperity. But as the storm is ever succeeded by the calm, so the spirit of improvement gradually subsided and the village has pretty much since remained in statu quo. The first practitioner to locate in the village was Dr. J. D. Whitney, who has recently taken up his residence in Petersburg. Jacob A. Bolinger, M. D., is the present resident physician. He has but recently located here and is a young man of much promise in his profession. He is an alumnus of Missouri Medical College. Rev. John Kennedy, a minister of the Baptist persuasion, preached here in quite an early period of the village history. No schoolhouse or church build- ing has ever been erected in the village limits. Services are held occasionally by the different denominations of the vicinity, in the hall orer the storeroom of Renshaw & Co. The mortality among the children of the village and neighborhood in the summer of 1873, was very great. Five interments some- times occurred in a single day at the Oakford Cemetery. The first death among the adult population, was that of Horace Purdy, whose decease occurred in the winter of 1872. His wife also died a few weeks later. The first birth was that of a son of John Whitley, born in September, 1872. The marriage of A. G. Colson and Rachel Skaggs, in November, 1872, and that of L. W. Roberts and Carrie C. Ogden, in March, 1873, were the ^ first weddings that occurred in the village. The post office was established soon after the village was started. It is at present presided over by S. L. Watkins. Low & Foster built a small elevator in 1877, and handle the grain shipped from this point. A case of justifiable homicide occurred in the village during the summer of 1876. James McElhern, who has already been mentioned as the first black- smith, lost his life at the hands of one A. J. McDonald. McElhern was a man of great physical strength and of rather a quarrelsome disposition, espe- cially when under the influence of intoxicants. It was clearly proven at the preliminary examination that McDonald was making every effort possible to avoid an encounter, but finding every avenue of escape cut off, suddenly turned upon him and delivered a pistol shot which proved fatal. The grand jury HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 383 failed to find a bill of indictment and so the matter ended. The business interests of the village to-day are represented as follows : Two general stores, one drug store, one harness-shop, one boot and shoe shop, one barber-shop, one flour and feed store, one butcher-shop, two saloons and one grain elevator. The popula- tion of the village does not exceed two hundred. Atterberry, a station on the S. & N.-W. Railroad, midway between Peters- burg and Oakford, was laid out by Daniel Atterberry, in March, 1872. By birth, it is one day younger than Oakford. An acre of ground was donated to the road for depot purposes. The town site is in the midst of a rich farming community, but from some cause the growth of the village has failed thus far to meet the expectations of its founder. Not to exceed half a dozen dwellings mark the spot to-day. A post office, which is a mere neighborhood conven- ience, is presided over by Mr. Colburn, the gentlemanly agent of the S.& N. W. R. R. at this point. As a point from which to ship grain and live stock, it pays the railroad to keep a station here. Few points on the road show a larger shipment of live stock, and the grain trade is rapidly increasing. There is some talk of erecting a steam elevator and mill combined at the town, and should this be made an accomplished fact, no doubt a spirit of enterprise and improvement would spring up in the village. ROCK CREEK PRECINCT. " Time writes no wrinkles upon the brow of Old Ocean, as upon those of the fading race of men." With some degree of truth, the same might be said of Rock Creek Precinct. The last fifty years have produced far less change in it than in many other portions of Menard County. The "storms and sunshine " of more than three-score years have " flung their light and shade " over its hills and vales since the first people (whom God made white) laid their claims in ita sheltering timber. Numbers of those log cabins may yet be found upon the summit of the little hills, or nestled away in the valleys and dells, as if hiding from the storms. The log cabins and the old-style rail fences do not show the advance in the " fine arts " displayed by some of Rock Creek's sister precincts, but still bear many of the traces of pioneer times. Much of the land, too, in quality falls below the average standard of the land in the county. There are some very fine spots, however, and upon these may be found the flourishing, well-to-do farmers of the precinct. Rock Creek is the smallest division of Menard County, and, taken as a whole, is, perhaps, one of the poorest in worldly wealth. The larger portion of it is timber, and much of it rough and broken in surface. The heaviest tim- ber is, perhaps, along Rock Creek, which meanders through it, bearing a little to the northeast after passing the center of the precinct, and emptying into the Sangamon River through Section 4. Timber borders the Sangamon Riveiv 384 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. which forms the boundary line between this and Athens Precinct with numer- ous little groves besides, leaving but little prairie land. Geographically, Rock Creek Precinct lies south of Petersburg Precinct, east of Tallula, north of San- gamon County and west of Athens Precinct. Its only water-courses are Rock Creek and branches, and the Sangamon River flowing along its eastern bound- ary, as noted above. According to Government survey, it is pretty equally divided in Ranges 6 and 7 of Township 17 north, and contains but about twenty-three full sections of land. It has no cities or towns, neither has the snort of the iron horse ever echoed through its forests, disturbing the cattle grazing upon its "thousand hills." It is decidedly a rural district, devoted wholly to agricultural pursuits and home industries. In early times, it received the soubriquet of " Wolf County," but just why the name was .given we could not learn. Whether it was owing to the fact that wolves abounded among its hills and brakes, or from some other fancied resemblance to something or some- body, we leave it to our readers to find out, and will now turn our attention to ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first cabin erected in what now forms Rock Creek Precinct, is said to have been built by a man named Amor Batterton. In 1819, the year after Illinois became a State, he settled in this precinct on the place now owned by Jonas Combs. He had, it is stated, made a claim and built a cabin the previous autumn, but did not permanently locate until during the early part of 1819. He came from Kentucky, raised quite a large family, and has descendants still residing in the precinct. The same year that Batterton settled here, a man named Ratliff and four sons James, Job, William and Joshua James Fisher and George Gamerel settled in the timber along the Creek. Jacob Miller settled at what is called Farmer's Point in 1819. Solomon Keltner and William Stephenson came also in 1819-20, and made settlements in this neighborhood. Rev. James Simms and his son-in-law, James Black, also came in 1819-20. They were from Kentucky, and of Mr. Simms we learned the following, which we give for what it is worth without vouching for its correctness : " That he was a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, a great revivalist and leader at camp- meetings. He established a " camp-ground" soon after he came to the neigh- borhood, which, for many years, was the scene of an annual camp-meeting, and that some of the old remains are still to be seen on the sacred spot." Mr. Simms seems to have taken an active part in temporal as well as spiritual affairs, as we are told he was the first. Representative in the Legislature from Sangamon County. At the early period of which we write, Sangamon included in its territory not only Menard but several other of the surrounding counties. He finally moved West, but to what point we did not learn. Absalom Matthews came also this year. Little, however, is remembered of him now. This com- prised the settlement up to the beginning of the year 1821, when the following recruits were added to the number already here : Tarleton Lloyd, George HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 387 Miller, Marshall Duncan, David S. Taylor, Mathias, James and William Yoakum, and, perhaps, others whose names are forgotten. Lloyd came from Virginia, and was born in 1784, and is now ninety-five years of age. He set- tled where he still lives, and says there were two log cabins on the place at the time. Into one of these, which was 12x16 feet, he moved his family. Two years after, he built a log house 18x20 feet, which has since been " weather- boarded," and a frame addition built to it. The house is fifty -six years old, and, like its venerable owner, begins to show the ravages of time. Mr. Lloyd says he had nothing when he came here but his household effects, etc. He bought a cow from a man named Shipley, for which he gave a wagon, and also a cow from George Greene, giving therefor a feather bed. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 ; served under Capt. Henry West, Fourth Regiment, and was in the battle at New Orleans. Miller settled in the Sangamon River bottom, and Duncan, on what is known as Garden Prairie. Taylor bought the place settled originally by Batterton, also the claim of Matthews. The Yoakums came originally from Virginia, but had emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, whence they came to Illinois, first stopping in Madison County, a then in Montgomery, and finally locating in this neighborhood, as above stated. Samuel Combs settled here in 1824, and Jonas Combs, a brother, in 1826. They came from Kentucky. Samuel died here years ago, and Jonas is still living on the place of his original settlement at an advanced age. Ekhu Bone came from Tennessee in 1824, and bought out a man named Flynn, on Rock Creek. He died here in 1856. Isaac Cogdall is from Kentucky, and came to the country in 1826. He still lives on his original settlement, and is quite a prominent man in the community. Joseph Cogdall, the father of Isaac, and a Baptist minister, carne as early as 1823. He died in 1828, and was one of the early deaths in the little settlement. Rev. John Berry, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, came as early as 1821. He organized a church society at a very early day, as elsewhere noticed. Elijah Houghton came in 1824 and settled on Rock Creek, in this precinct. His father, Aaron Houghton, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and a native of New Jersey, though of English origin. He emigrated to Kentucky when it was, in reality, the "dark and bloody ground" and the battle-field between the Northern and Southern Indians, as in after years it became the battle-field between Northern and Southern whites. Elijah Houghton was a man of considerable prominence in the settlement, and died in 1852. A. M. Houghton, a son, resides on the old homestead. Charles Houghton, a brother of Elijah Houghton, came in 1824. He settled on the place now owned by Isaac Cogdall. Robert Johnson, Jesse Vowell, Michael Davis and William Irwin came about 1826 to 1828. J. H. Smith was also an early settler in this neighborhood. He is a son of Samuel Smith, of Rhode Island. The latter gentleman married a Rhodes, of the family of Rhodeses for whom, it is said, Rhode Island was originally named. J. H. Smith is still on his original L 388 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. settlement. C. J. F. Clarke may also be ranked among the early settlers. He was one of the first County Commissioners, and claims to have been the first County Judge of Menard County. He served eight years in the latter office, and four years as County Commissioner. He died some years ago in Cass County. This includes all the early settlers whose names we have been able to obtain. There were, doubtless, others who are entitled to mention in this connection ; but when we look back over a period of sixty years, it is not strange that many of the pioneers who came to the wilderness then and remained but a short time, or died early, are forgotten by the few still left. We are not remembered long after we pass from the stage of action. " If you or I to-day should die, The birds would sing as sweet to-morrow ; The vernal Spring her flowers would bring, And few would think of us with sorrow. " ' Yes, he is dead,' would then be said ; The corn would floss, the grass yield hay, The cattle low, and summer go, And few would heed us passed away. " How soon we pass ! how few, alas ! Remember those who turn to mold ! Whose faces fade, with autumn's shade, Beneath the sodded churchyard cold ! " Yes it is so. We come, we go They hail our birth, they mourn us dead, A day or more, the winter o'er, Another takes our place instead." It is with no intention of injustice to any one that we quote the above lines. They are beautifully pathetic, and as true as beautiful. None miss us when we pass away but our immediate relatives, and in a short time they forget us, and laugh as merrily as when we sat beside them. Such is life, and such is human nature. As we have already noticed, Rock Creek is the smallest precinct in the county, containing a little less than two-thirds of the surface area of a Con- gressional township. Many of its first settlers were from Kentucky and Vir- ginia, where timber and running water abounded in the most plentiful profusion, and hence looked upon the timbered borders of Rock Creek and the Sangamon as a second paradise. The prairies then were supposed to be " barren wastes " that would always be useless except for pasturage. Thus it was that the early settlements , were all made in the timber and along the water-courses. " Drive- wells" had not then been invented, and to have settled out on the prairie at that, early time would have appeared as rash as to attempt to cross the Great Desert without water. HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. 389 CHURCHES. SCHOOLS, SHOPS, ETC. One of the very first church societies formed in what is now Menard County was the Rock Creek Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as it is known at the present day. The society was originally organized by Rev. John Berry, in 1821 or 1822. Rev. John Simms came a short time prior, and these two pioneer preachers laid out a camp-ground, as elsewhere noticed, in the foresta of Rock Creek, held camp-meetings for a number of years, and the " seed sown in good ground" here has developed into the present Rock Creek Church, which stands near the line between Sections 14 and 15. The first start toward a church was a shed put up for the purposes of holding camp-meetings, as above mentioned. The next was a little log building used for both church and school exercises. It was, some years later, rebuilt on a more extensive scale, and, finally, the present elegant frame church succeeded these primitive edifices, and now the people of Rock Creek Precinct have quite a handsome temple or worship. Revs. Berry and Simms were the first preachers of this denomina- tion, and laid the foundation of this prosperous church almost sixty years ago. The present Pastor of the Rock Creek Church is Rev. J. C. Momeyer. A Sunday school is conducted during the summer season. This is the only church edifice in the precinct. A neat little parsonage is attached to it for the accom- modation of the minister. There is also a cemetery adjacent, in which repose many of the pioneers both of the Church and the neighborhood. It is laid out with taste, well kept, and inclosed with a substantial fence. Rev. Joseph Cog- dall was also an early preacher in this settlement, and belonged to the Baptist denomination. The first school taught in the present precinct of Rock Creek, is said to have- been taught by a man named Cumpton, in 182425, in a little log cabin, on the place settled by Tarleton Lloyd. Another of the pioneer pedagogues was Ira McGlasson, who taught in a log cabin, near Andrew Houghton's, probably the next year after Humphreys. The precinct, at present, has five, comfort- able and commodious schoolhouses, all of which are brick or frame, and in which schools are maintained during the usual term each year. The people are- alive to the benefits of education, and have secured ample facilities for educating their children. The following, which is said to have occurred in this precinct, will illustrate the early educational advantages of a new country : A young man applied to the proper authority (an old farmer) for a school in the neighborhood. The old gentleman deeming an examination necessary, put him to reading the Bible as a test of his qualifications. It so happened that the young man opened the book in Genesis, at the genealogical record, and, after reading for a time in those jaw-breaking names, the old fellow stopped him, and said, "he guessed! he'd do to keep school thar," and that he might write out a certificate. The- young man complied, and, after writing the certificate, handed it to the old man to sign, who remarked, " you sign my name and I'll make my mark, I can't write it myself." 390 HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY. Tarleton Lloyd was the first blacksmith, and opened a shop as early as 182223, and did the work in this line for the surrounding country. A mill was built by Rev. Mr. Simms, in 1823, the first in this region. It was a prim- itive affair, and propelled by horse-power, but served to crack corn for hominy, and even wheat was " mashed " on it sometimes, as an old settler informed us. But it has long since passed away, and milling is now done at other points. The first Justice of the Peace is supposed to have been a man of the name of Syniard, who was among the early settlers. One of the Bones was also an arly Justice of the Peace in " Wolf County," as this precinct is familiarly called. In illustration of these early courts, the following is told at the expense of Squire Syniard : Two of his neighbors got into a, wrangle over a debt which one owed the other, and which he had promised to pay in hogs. In the fall, when the debt was to have been paid, hogs happened to be a good price, so the debtor sold his fat hogs, and delivered to his creditor a sow and pigs, which he contended fulfilled his obligation, as they were hogs. The creditor demurred, and a suit was the result. It came up before Squire Syniard for trial, and, after patiently hearing both sides of the question, he rendered judgment in favor of the creditor, deciding that, legally, a sow and pigs were not hogs. A post office was established in the precinct in 1877, called Lloyd Post Office, after the oldest living settler. It is on the creek, east of Isaac Cogdall's, and is kept by L. B. Conover. Politically, Rock Creek is Democratic to the backbone. Farmer's Point is the voting-place. During the late war, it was loyal, and turned out as large a number of soldiers to its population, as any neighborhood in the county. The men of Rock Creek volunteered into the regiments raised in this section, which drew their chief strength from Menard, and among which were the Fourteenth and One Hundred and Fourteenth Regiments, Illinois Infantry. This precinct receives its name from Rock Creek, which meanders through it from east to west. Whether the creek was named for the rock in and about it, or because all things must have a name, we do not know, but leave it to our readers to find out. This comprises the history of this little precinct. The territory being small, and without villages and towns, there is little history beyond the settle- ments made within its borders. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. BY GEN. JAMES M. RUGGLES. INTRODUCTORY. History is but the footprints upon the sands of time, by which we trace the growth, development and advancement of the people constituting a nation. It takes note of the humblest tiller of the soil as well as of the scholar, the states- man, the soldier, and the great and good men and women who build the imperishable monuments of a country's greatness. Tradition tells us of the glories of the garden of Eden, and the purity and happiness of the first pair, and also of their transgression and fall from their high and happy estate. Of the men and things that existed in the world during the many dark centuries that precede the historic period, we know nothing, except through rude hieroglyphics and vague traditions, handed down through the beclouded minds of unlettered and superstitious people. Beginning with the age of letters and improvements in the languages of the world, followed by the modern inventions of printing types and presses, and the immense institution of the daily newspaper and telegraph, minute and reliable records of the world's daily doings are chronicled, and out of these veritable history is formulated. The multiplicity of inventions and discoveries, resulting from a rapid growth of intelligence, during the last half-century, has produced the necessary con- ditions for the production of a more perfected type of the genus homo, by whom the world is peopled, and through whom history of a still higher order will be furnished for those who may live in the hereafter. The events that make up the annals of a new and growing country will always be of interest to the seeker after knowledge, who may in them learn who has lived and what has been done in the past ages of the world. The time is approaching when ignorance of the world's historic past will be a reproach, however it may be as to a lack of knowledge of the future ! America constitutes a great nation of people, made up from the populations of many other nations, and Illinois is one of the greatest and most highly favored by nature of all the thirty-eight States ; extending as it does over a range of five and a half degrees of latitude, causing a more varied climate than 392 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. X any other State, and for its fertility of soil is unsurpassed in the world ; thus making Illinois the jeweled crown in our glorious Union. MASON COUNTY. Mason is one of the hundred and two counties of Illinois, and is entitled to her place in the local history that makes up that of the State, in its intelli- gence, enterprise and industrial wealth and prosperity. The patient toil and hardships of its pioneers, living in their rude huts and log cabins, as well as the noble and patriotic deeds of its public men in later years, and the gallantry of its soldiers on the battle-field are a part of the pride and glory of the State and the nation. The territory that constitutes the county of Mason has been subjected to many changes since the discovery and settlement of America. Originally, or, rather, as far back as we know, it belonged to Mr. " Lo, the poor Indian, whose untutored mind, Sees God in clouds and hears Him in the wind ! " Who Mr. Lo got it from we may never know ; that once the red men lived here in their homes we do know. On the bluff banks of the Illinois River, at Havana and Bath, they occupied their villages, and builded their mounds (pro- viding always that they were not built by some other people who lived here before them) in which they buried their dead and deposited their wares and implements of war, where these trophies of the ages of the past may still be found. Undisturbed in those days by the pale-faced race, beneath the shadows of the rude wigwam, " The Indian wooed his dusky maid, And the red fox dug his hole unscared." These mounds, and the relics they contain, are the only historic chapters handed down to us to tell of the people whose moccasined feet once pressed upon the sands that border upon our beautiful river. With those people there were no learned men to chronicle the history they were making, though among them unlettered sages and warriors there may have been. With us, how different. We know the uses of letters, printing presses, books and telegraphs, and there is no reason why we should die and leave no sign. The history we are making can be handed down to posterity, in the ages that are to come, for thousands of years, when other and higher races of men shall have taken our places in populating and controlling the destinies of the great American continent. For a long period, the territory constituting the county of Mason and the State of Illinois, was dominated by the French nation, whose brave pioneers were the first of the white race to tread upon its soil and voyage upon its rivers. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 393 EARLY HISTORY. In the year 1678, Louis Joliet, a French trader, and James Marquette, a Jesuit missionary, who had possibly received a call, started out from Green Bay on a voyage of successful discovery of the great Father of Waters, which the Indians informed them flowed southward through the great west country. Going up the Fox River and crossing over the narrow portage into the Wiscon- sin, they in due time came to the Mississippi, on the ample bosom of which they floated down to the mouth of the Arkansas. At this point, they became satisfied that the great river emptied itself into the Gulf of Mexico, and, as they were satisfied with the situation and did not propose to make any changes in the course of the river, or put any jetties in its mouth, they retraced their voyage up to the mouth of the Illinois River> and up that stream to Chicago, via the Des Plaines, passing by Havana, and perhaps Bath, on their way. Tradition says that these men of God and Mammon stopped upon the bluff where Havana now stands, and had a grand fish-fry, but it does not inform us that they had the incomparable culinary services of Judge Mallory on that occasion! In their piscatorial exploits, it is said they lost a "spoon hook," and from this little incident, the river coming in on the opposite side was called Spoon River ! As the writer has not had the pleasure of interviewing these distinguished strangers, or of examining their notes of travel, he cannot vouch for the truth of the incident ; but it is highly probable that these were the first white men that trod upon the soil of Mason County, while passing up the river on an excursion, some two hundred and six years ago ! A few years after this, two other French explorers La Salle, a trader and explorer, and Father Hennepin, another Jesuit missionary passed from the St. Joseph River into the Kankakee, and down that river into the Illinois. After the visits of these four French gentlemen, there is no record of this portion of the country being visited by a white man for nearly one hundred and fifty years ! It was, no doubt, a favorite hunting and fishing ground for the Indians, as there is evidence of its abounding in buffalo, elk, deer, and other choice game, as well as fish in abundance, making it the land of " the happy hunting-grounds." In the year 1763, the French nation, after a long and exhaustive war, sur- rendered the Northwest Territory (including Mason County and the State of Illinois) to England, the transfer having been arranged at the treaty of Paris. One of the most celebrated Indians of history was Pontiac, the chief of the Ottawas, of Michigan. After the surrender of the Northwest, by the French, Pontiac for awhile contested the claims of the English, and was known as their most bitter and formidable foe. When he could no longer maintain the contest, he left the vicinity of Detroit, where he was born and had always lived, and with the remnant of his 394 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. once powerful tribe (about two hundred warriors and their families), found refuge on the banks of the Kankakee, near Wilmington, Will County, where he merged the remnant of his tribe with the Pottawatomies. This region of country was claimed by the Illinois tribe of Indians, and a conflict arose between the tribes as to the right to hunt the buffalo on the west of the Illinois River. After fighting for a time over the question, a council was agreed upon to settle the question. This Council met at Mount Joliet (near the city of Joliet), in 1769. Whilst Pontiac was making a speech on his side of the question, he was treacherously assassinated by "Kineboo," the head chief of the Illinois tribe. This treacherous act led to the bloody war which resulted in the destruction of the great Indian city " La Van tarn," which stood upon the site where the little town of Utica, in La Salle County, is now built, and also to the tragedy of Starved Rock, not far distant, and to the final extinction of the once great nation of Indians from whom the State took its name. The treaty of Paris, in 1763, terminated the rule of France over the North- west, and it passed into the British possession, which circumstance somewhat changed the type of religion and civilization of this country*. Many of the early explorers, missionaries and traders, remained, and of these and their descendants it is estimated that two thousand were still within the boundaries of the State at the time of its admission in the Union, in 1818. Now there are but a few local names to remind us that the French nation once exercised the right of eminent domain in the State of Illinois. The termination of the Revolutionary war begun in 1776, and ending in the treaty with England, in 1783 brought the Territory of the Northwest under the dominion of the United States, and by the treaty of 1833, at Chicago, with the Pottawatomies, the red man surrendered his right of domain also. In 1835, these Indians, numbering five thousand, assembled at Chicago, received their annuity, danced their last war dance in Illinois, and took up their line of march toward the setting sun, on the far-off Missouri River. During the progress of the Revolutionary war, Lieut. Col. George Rogers Clark, of Virginia, organized a military expedition to subdue and capture the Northwest Territory, then inhabited by a vast horde of savage Indians, belong- ing to many tribes, and some French -settlements along the river borders. On the 4th day of July, 1778, with his little army of grim-visaged warriors, con- sisting of 300 men, all jaded and worn down with the fatigues and hardships of forced marches across the country from the Ohio River, wading through marshes, swamps and streams, without roads or supplies in the country, he arrived at the French town of Kaskaskia, surprised and captured the town and military fort* without firing a gun/ The capture of Cahokia and Fort Vincent (now the city of Vincennes), soon followed, and thus, without the shedding of blood, but with immense suffering and hardships, was secured the whole Northwest Territory as tKe property of the State of Virginia, by right of conquest, and so remaining HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 395 until, by the Ordinance of 1787, passed on the 13th of July, it was transferred to the United States, under certain conditions as to the formation of States and other matters. In October, 1778, the Virginia Assembly erected the conquered territory of the Northwest into the county of Illinois: a pretty extensive county, which has since been carved into five States Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin with a population of over eight millions of people ! On the 5th of October, 1787, Maj. Gen. Arthur St. Glair was by Congress elected Governor of the Northwest Territory. In February, 1788, Gov. St. Glair, with his Secretary, arrived at Kaskaskia and proceeded to organize all of the State lying north of the mouth of the Little Mackinaw, in Tazewell County, into the county of St. Clair, thus making her the mother of all the 102 counties of the State ! The county was divided into three Judicial Dis- tricts, a Court of Common Pleas established, with three Judges appointed, viz : John Edgar, an Englishman, of Kaskaskia, John Babtiste Barbeau, a French- man, of Prairie du Rocher, and John D. Moulin, a native of Switzerland, of Cahokia, each to hold court in the district of his residence every three months, making what was called the " Court of Quarterly Sessions," the first court established in Illinois. By act o: Congress, May 7, 1800, the territory constituting the States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, then containing a white population of 4,875 ; negro slaves, 135, and an estimated population of 100,000 Indians, was organized into the Territory of Indiana, with the seat of government established at Vincennes, and, on the 13th of May, William Henry Harrison, afterward President of the United States, was appointed Governor of the Ter- ritory, thus dispensing with Gov. St. Clair, who had become very unpopular. ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY OF ILLINOIS. On the llth of January, 1805, Congress passed an act cutting off the peninsula of Michigan from the Territory of Indiana and forming the Territory of Michigan ; and, on the 3d of February, 1809, all that part of Indiana Ter- ritory lying west of the Wabash River and a line drawn due north from the river at Vincennes to the line between the United States and Canada, was, by act of Congress, set apart into the Territory of Illinois, the act to take effect on the 1st of March, 1809. This included what is now the State of Wisconsin. The population at that time was estimated at 9,000, leaving about double that number in Indiana. The entire Territory at that time composed but two coun- ties, St. Clair and Randolph. The formation of the Territory of Illinois, at that time, was due to the election and subsequent efforts of Jesse B. Thomas, (then a resident of Indi- ana), as a delegate to Congress. By pledging himself in a bond to procure the formation of the Territory, he secured the united vote of Illinois, and after a 396 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. bitter contest he was elected by one majority, and if there is truth in history that one vote which made the majority was cast by himself! The population of the Territory of Illinois, by the census of 1810, con- sisted of 11,501 whites, 168 slaves and 613 of all others, except Indians. Ninian Edwards, then Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, was appointed first Governor of the Territory of Illinois by President Madison, his commission bearing date April 24, 1809 ; and Jesse B. Thomas, Alexander Stuart and William Sprigg were appointed the three first Judges of the Ter- ritory. Gov. Edwards continued in office as Governor until the organization of the State in 1818 the act providing for which passed on the 18th of April, and the admission of which was on the 3d of December. During the war with England, in 1812, Gov. Edwards headed a military expedition, composed of 350 men, against Peoria Lake, then the abode of several Indian tribes an Indian village at the head of the lake and a French town and fort at the lower end, where Peoria City now stands. In this expedi- tion the Indian village was destroyed, the inhabitants dispersed, killed and captured, and the town was also burned and the inhabitants taken prisoners down the river. The expedition returned to Camp Russell, near the present town of Edwardsville, from which it had marched out on the 18th of October, after an absence of thirteen days, without the loss of a man. A second expedition to Peoria left Camp Russell in 1813, passing up the Mississippi to where the city of Quincy now stands, and from thence across to the Illinois River, at the mouth of Spoon River, and from thence to Peoria, where the soldiers built Fort Clark, which was burned down in 1818, and the town was again rebuilt in 1819 this first time by American pioneers. The French fort, Crevecosur, was built in 1680, and the first European settlement at that place was in 1778. At the time of the organization of the State in 1818, Illinois was composed of fifteen counties, viz. : St. Clair, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, Edwards, White, Monroe, Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington and Franklin, and contained a supposed population of 40,000 people. POPULATION AND REPRESENTATION. The population of Illinois in 1810 was 12,282, and. the Territory was represented by one delegate in Congress. The population of 1820 was 55,211, with one member of Congress Daniel P. Cook, who was the first member of Congress elected from the State of Illinois. In the year 1830, the population of the State Was 157,445, and three mem- bers of Congress were accorded to the State. In 1840, the population of the State was 476,183, and seven members were given to the State. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 397 In 1850, the population was 851,470, and nine members of Congress were apportioned to the State. In 1860, the population was 1,711,951, and fourteen members of Congress were given to the State. In 1870, the population had swelled to 2,539,831, and the State is repre- sented by nineteen members of Congress, and now there are but two States in the Union that have a greater population or more wealth than the State of Illinois. GOVERNORS. OF ILLINOIS. As a matter of interest to those who are interested in the political history of the State, a list of the Governors who have filled the executive department of Illinois from its organization as a Territory down to the present date, is here given, with the date and time which they served. Ninian Edwards was the first Governor of the Territory of Illinois, 'serv- ing from 1809 to 1818. Shadrach Bond was the first Governor of the State, serving from 1818 to 1822. Edward Coles was the second Governor, serving from 1822 to 1826. Ninian Edwards was the third Governor of the State, serving from 1826 to 1830. John Reynolds, the Old Ranger, served as the fourth Governor, from 1830 to 1834. Joseph Duncan served as the fifth Governor, from 1834 to 1838. Thomas Carlin served as the sixth Governor, from 1838 to 1842. Thomas Ford was the seventh Governor, serving from 1842 to 1846. Augustus Caesar French was the eighth Governor, serving from 1846 to 1849, when the new Constitution was adopted, and after which he was again elected, and served from 1849 'to 1 853. Joel A. Matteson served as the ninth Governor, from 1853 to 1857 the last of the line of Democratic Governors. William H. Bissell, the tenth Governor, was the first of the list which fol- lows of Republican Governors. He served from 1857 to the llth of March, 1860, when death removed him from the executive chair, which he had filled with great ability and to the entire satisfaction of the people who elected him. This is the first and only instance of a Governor dying during his term of office in Illinois. John Wood, Lieutenant Governor, served out the balance of the term of Gov. Bissell, ending with 1861. Richard Yates, the great war Governor of Illinois, served as the eleventh Governor, from 1861 to 1865. Richard J. Oglesby, the popular soldier, served as the twelfth Governor, from 1865 to 1869. John M. Palmer was the thirteenth Governor, serving from 1869 to 1873. 398 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Richard J. Oglesby was elected again, as the fourteenth Governor, in 1872, but declined to serve, having been elected to the United States Senate. John L. Beveridge, elected Lieutenant Governor, served as the fourteenth Governor, from 1873 to 1877. Shelby M. Cullom was elected the fifteenth ^Governor of Illinois, his term beginning in 1877 and ending in 1881. With all these fifteen Governors of Illinois (except the first three), it has been the privilege of the writer to have had a personal acquaintance and more or less intimate relations, and out of that knowledge has grown a profound respect for the high qualities generally possessed by them. UNITED STATES SENATORS. The following is the roll of United States Senators who have represented the State of Illinois in that august body since the foundation of the State in 1818. It is complete, and contains many illustrious names that stand high upon the scroll of fame: Ninian Edwards was elected and served as one of the first Senators from Illinois from October 18, 1818, to the 4th of March, 1819. Jesse B. Thomas was also elected at the same time as one of the first Sen- ators, serving from October 18, 1818, to March 4, 1823. Ninian Edwards was elected his own successor from March 4, 1819, to March 4, 1825, but, having resigned in 1824, to accept the post of Minister to Mexico, John McLean was elected in November, 1824, to fill out the unex- pired term of Gov. Edwards. Jesse B. Thomas was r re-elected as his own successor, and served from March 4, 1823, to March 4, 1829. Elias Kent Kane was elected the successor of John McLean, serving from March 4, 1825, to March 4, 1831. John McLean was elected the successor of Jesse B. Thomas, and served from March 4, 1829, to the time of his death, in 1830. John M. Robinson was elected ' December 11, 1830, to fill the unexpired term of Mr. McLean, and served until March 4, 1835. Elias K. Kane was again elected as his own successsor, and served from March 4, 1831, to the time of his death, which occurred on the llth of December, 1835. William Lee D. Ewing was elected to fill the unexpired term of Mr. Kane, from the 20th of December, 1835, to the 4th of March, 1837. John M. Robinson was again elected as his own successor, and served from March 4, 1835, to March 4, 1841. Richard M. Young was elected as the successor of Gen. Ewing, and served from March 4, 1837, to March 4, 1843. Samuel McRoberts, the first native Illinoisan elected to the Senate, was elected as the successor of Gen. Robinson, and served from March 4, 1841, to the time of his death, which occurred on the 22d of March, 1843. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 399 Jarnes Semple was elected and filled the unexpired term of Mr. McRoberts, ending March 4, 1847. Sidney Breese was elected the successor of Mr. Young, and served from March 4. 1843, to March 4, 1849. Stephen Arnold Douglas was elected the successor of James Semple, and served from March 4, 1847, to March 4, 1853. James Shields was elected the successor of Sidney Breese, and served from March 4, 1849, to March 4, 1855. Gen. Shields was refused a seat in the Senate on account of not having been naturalized the necessary length of time. He was re-elected and admitted, having then been a citizen the required time. Stephen A. Douglas was elected his own successor, serving from March 4, 1853, to March 4, 1859. Lyman Trumbull was elected the successor of Gen. Shields, and served from March 4, 1855, to March 4, 1861. Stephen A. Douglas was for the third and last time elected as his own successor, from the 4tb of March, 1859, after a most brilliant, giant contest in 1858 with Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Douglas died soon after the opening of the war, in 1861, leaving an imperishable name as the most illustrious of all the Illinois Senators. *0rville H. Browning was, in 1861, appointed by Gov. Yates as the suc- cessor of Mr. Douglas. . - Lyman Trumbull was elected his own successor, and served from March 4, 1861, to March 4, 1867. William A. Richardson was elected, in 1863, to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Douglas, ending March 4, 1865. Richard Yates was elected the successor of Mr. Richardson, and served with distinction as Senator from March 4, 1865, to March 4, 1871. Lyman Trumbull was for the third term elected his own successor, and served with great distinction in the Senate for eighteen years, his last term beginning March 4, 1867, and ending March 4, 1873. John A. Logan was the successor of Gov. Yates, and was the second native Illinoisan elected to that exalted position, which he held from March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1877. Richard J. Oglesby was the successor of Judge Trumbull, and served in the Senate from March 4, 1873, to March 4, 1879. David Davis was the successor of Gen. Logan, and was elected for the term beginning March 4, 1877, and ending March 4, 1883. John A. Logan was a second time elected to the Senate as the successor of Gov. Oglesby. His term began on the 4th of March, 1879, and will end March 4, 188o. Thus ends the roll of illustrious Senators for Illinois up to the present time. Of the nineteen men who have filled the high position, the writer was honored with the acquaintance of all but the four first-named, and among them were a number of great men, and none of small caliber. o o 400 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY OF ILLINOIS. Illinois is bounded on the north by the State of Wisconsin ; on the east by Lake Michigan, and the States of Indiana and Kentucky ; on the south by Ken- tucky, and on the west by Missouri and Iowa. Its extent in length is 380 miles, and in breadth at the north end, 145 miles, extending in the middle to 220 miles, and thence south narrowing to a point. It has an area of 55,405 miles and contains 35,459,200 acres of land, nearly all of which is fit for culti- vation. The outline of the State is about 1,160 miles in extent, 850 of which consists of navigable waters. The section of country lying near the southern limits of the lake country forms a summit from which the plane inclines to the south and west to the lower end of the State, at Cairo, where the lower section of the plane is only 350 feet above the sea level, whereas at the upper, or north- ern end of the plane it rises as high as 900 feet. This incline gives a southern or southwestern direction to the principal rivers in the State. The general sur- face of this plane is quite level, though there are some hills in the two ends of the State and along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The arable elevation of the plane is about eight hundred feet above the level of the sea, and the mean height is about five hundred and fifty feet. The principal river of the State is the Illinois, formed by the junction of the Rankakee, taking its rise in Indiana, and the Desplaines, with its head in Wisconsin, and uniting in Grundy County, and flowing from thence west and south to its entrance into the Mississippi, on the south line of Jersey County, at an elevation of about four hundred feet above the level of the sea. The banks of the river are generally low and subject to overflow in times of high water. The high waters of the Mississippi have backed up the Illinois as far as Havana the fall from thence to the Mississippi being fifteen feet. The tribu- taries of the Illinois are the Fox River, which comes from the north, in Wiscon- sin, and enters the Illinois at Ottawa, forty miles below the head of the river. Opposite the city of La Salle, the Vermilion enters the river a good, large mill stream, coming in from the southeast. Sixty miles further down, the river enters Peoria Lake, an expansion of the river continuing twenty miles to the city of Peoria, and about two miles in width, with deep clear water, and no perceptible current making it a beautiful sheet of water, abounding with fish, and lined on either side by high and grand-looking bluffs. Three miles below the city of Pekin, the Mackinaw comes in from its source, some eighty miles east, a turbu- lent stream of no use except for drainage. Next comes in the beautiful Quiver River, a small stream without timber belts a good discharge of clear water fur- nishes fine fish and two very good flouring-mills it is a Mason County enter- prise beginning and ending in the county, discharging into the Illinois two miles above Havana. Opposite Havana, the Spoon River enters. It is quite a large river, watering a large portion of the military tract, heading some eighty HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 401 miles north and meandering through several counties to its mouth in Fulton County. Eight miles above Beardstown the Sangamon enters from the east. It is the largest of all the tributaries of the Illinois, some one hundred and fifty miles in length, and has been in the past navigable as high up as Springfield. On its bluff banks below Petersburg was once the town of Salem, the home of one of the immortals Abraham Lincoln who navigated the river as a flatboat- man. It forms the southern boundary of Mason County up to the mouth of Salt Creek, a large tributary of the Sangamon, which is the southern boundary of the county to where it joins on to Logan County. East of Springfield, the river divides into the north and south fork the former passing near Decatur, through Macon, Piatt, Champaign and Ford Counties, and the latter south through Christian County the several branches watering and draining an immense area of the most fertile soil of the State. It has wide bottom lands subject to overflow, except when protected by levees, which is being done extensively in Mason County. On its banks is a heavy growth of timber, once valuable for its walnut,, oak, hickory and other kinds of trees. These bottoms abound in wild plums> pawpaws, persimmons, pecans, and other fruits and nuts. It was here that the poet Bryant found " The wild cup of the Sangamon," a gorgeous trumpet flower that twines about the trees on the bank of the river. Crooked Creek is an extensive water-course that enters the Illinois six miles below Beardstown, and waters a portion of the military tract. Below Crooked Creek, on the east side of the river, enters Indian Creek, in the lower end of Cass County ; Mauvaisterre and Sandy, in Scott County, and Apple Creek and Macoupin Creek, in Greene County. McKee's Creek, on the west side of the river, enters opposite Naples, and is the farthest down of all the streams that water the military tract. These streams generally traverse rich portions of the State, furnishing necessary drainage, water and timber. The Illinois is one of the finest navigable streams in the world for boats of light draft, the fall being only about one inch to the mile, and the current gentle, with soft, sandy bottom, securing the greatest safety and ease of navigation. It was once the great highway of commerce for a vast region of country on both sides of the river, and continued so until the introduction of railroads, since which there has been a great decline in river business. The navigation of the river by steamboats began in 1828, and, in 1836, there were as many as thirty-five steam- boats navigating the river. The number of arrivals and departures for that year at the port of Havana was 450. The boating business increased and improved in character until the river packets became immense floating-palaces, carrying immense crowds of people and entertaining them in the most sumptu- ous manner. This mode of travel and means of commerce culminated some twenty years ago, and dwindled down to the present time, when one semi-weekly packet boat does the entire business from Peoria to St. Louis, with the help of some local packets from points below. 402 HISTORY OF MASQN COUNTY. The improvement of the river by locks, dams and other means may bring back a portion of this vast trade ; but at the present time the railroads have it mostly their own way. Canal-boating on the river was once a business of large proportions, and this was, to some extent, the cause of decline in the steamboating business. Canal- boats used to line the river and block up the ports with their numbers at a not very remote period, and they took in the corn, wheat, pork and other products during the winter, and carried them to market, either north or south, when the river opened, and all this was done at low rates. Now, however, they are not fast enough to suit the age. There are those, in these degenerate days, who would rather " go to hell in a minute " than spend a little time in fitting themselves for heaven. THE ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL. As this great work has always been a matter of especial interest to the peo- ple living upon the borders of the Illinois River, a short chapter is devoted to that subject. The project of a ship canal to connect the waters, of Lake Michigan with the navigable waters of the Illinois River was first suggested during the war of 1812 by a writer in Ntles' Register. The war had demonstrated the immense advantages of such a work in time of peace, as well as war. It was one of the compensations of that war, to the West, that it was the means of directing attention to this portion of the great Western country. In 1816, the title to a strip of country twenty miles wide was obtained from the Indians for the pur- pose of securing a route for this work. In 1821, an appropriation of $10,000 was made by Congress for a preliminary survey of the canal and for a survey of the twenty-mile strip. Shadrach Bond, first Governor of Illinois, in his first message, called attention to the importance and feasibility of the work. A sur- vey was made, in accordance with .the law of Congress, and the project pro- nounced feasible and highly important. In 1826, Congress donated to the State, for the purpose of constructing the canal, every alternate section of land within a strip ten miles wide along the route from Chicago to La Salle a magnificent domain of 300,000 acres. In 1829, the General Assembly of the State passed an act, creating a Board of Canal Commissioners, and authorized them not to enter upon the work of build- ing a canal, but to sell the lands and give to settlers pre-emptions on the same, by which many old settlers obtained their homes. Fortunately, the folly of tuis course was soon discovered and the act repealed. At the session of 1834-35, another act was passed, creating a new Canal Board, and authorizing the Gov- ernor to negotiate bonds for construction, and pledging the canal lands for their redemption. At that time, however, the immense value of these lands was not appreciated by the capitalists who had money to loan, and it was not until at a special session of the Legislature, in 1835, through the great exertions of Col. J. M. Strode, of Galena, (who then represented the entire region north of Peoria HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 405 in the State Senate), the act was so amended as to pledge the faith of the State for their redemption, that the bonds could be negotiated. The bonds were nego- tiated by Gov. Duncan in 1836, and in the same year preparations were made for active work. William B. Archer, Gurdon S. Hubbard and William F. Thornton, all Colonels as most men were in those days were the first Commissioners, and they fortunately chose William Gooding as Chief Engineer. Subsequent changes brought James B. Fry another Colonel into the Board. The first ground was broken at Bridgeport on the 4th of July, 1836, and the event was celebra- ted in grand style, with an address from Dr. Egan. The work was begun on the " deep-cut " plan, by which the canal was to be fed from the waters of the lake, through the Chicago River, as is now done. At the time of letting the first contracts, the speculative mania was at its height, and labor and supplies were at a high figure laborers getting from $20 to $30 per month, with board ; pork, $20 to $30 per barrel ; flour, $9 to $12 per barrel, and other things in proportion and the contracts were predicated upon these high prices. To facilitate the transportation of supplies, what is called the " Archer Road" was built from Chicago to Lockport, at an expense of $40,000, which created some scandal, on account of Mr. Archer being the pro- prietor of an addition to Lockport. The work was continued by means of the money raised upon the bonds, canal lands and lots in Chicago, Lockport, Ottawa id La Salle, until the year 1842, when, after an outlay of over $5,000,000, the work was suspended. The enterprise was begun when everything had to be done in the most expensive way, and when the country was on the eve of a financial crash, yet the State could have gone through with it, and maintained her credit, if other wild projects had not been connected with it. The central and southern portions of the State, jealous of their own imme- diate interests, looked upon the canal as a northern project, got up for its exclusive benefit, and so they formed a syndicate, as it were, and insisted that, as the price of their votes for further appropriations to the canal, the balance of the State should have all the railroads that were called for by the syndicate and, in the year 1837, an act was passed, which ultimately ruined the credit of the State and ended in financial disaster. By this act, a loan of $8,000,000 was authorized, on the faith of the State, for the purpose of gridironing the State with railroads, and a $4,000,000 loan for the further prosecution of the canal. The sum pf $200,000, out of the eight-million loan, was to be given out to the few counties that got no promise of a railroad, for the ostensible purpose of constructing roads and bridges. Absurd as this scheme was, at that time, loans were readily obtained to the extent of nearly $6,000,000, for the purpose of carrying it out. As a result of all this outlay, the only railroad ever built under this stupendous scheme of folly, was a short line of railroad from Springfield to the Illinois 406 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. River at Meredosia, fifty-five miles of road, with strap iron for rails, nine miles of which were completed in the year 1838, and over which the writer of this had his first ride upon the first trip of this first railroad built in Illinois and in the Mississippi Valley. Much work was done on other roads, but before any other one was completed, the collapse came, and the work on the roads was sus- pended never to be resumed. The financial and commercial prostration that struck the East in 1837, was held in check for a time by the enormous expenditures of money upon our public works, and the work was continued under difficulties on the canal, by the help of canal scrip, and other devices, until the year 1842, when the work was stopped entirely for want of means to continue it. By great exertion, the interest on the canal debt was paid for the year 1841, but no provision could be made for anything more. In the latter part of the year 1840, a debt of $14,237,348 had been con- tracted to be paid by a population of 478,929 nearly thirty dollars per capita for each and every man, woman and child in the State. The canal debt was- over five millions, at the time the work ceased, and the contractors abandoned their jobs, and claimed heavy damages, and things began to look pretty blue for the State. An act was afterward passed providing for a settlement with them and limiting the amount to $230,000. The canal could not, of course, be allowed to remain long in this condition for the bondholders were equally interested with us in devising some means for its early completion it being too important and too costly an enterprise to be abandoned. At the session of the Legislature, 184243, an act was passed which accomplished the purpose. By the provisions of this act, the canal itself and all the unsold lots and lands were transferred to a Board of three Trustees two to be chosen by the bondholders and one by the Governor of the State. The bondholders agreed to advance the further sum of $1,600,000 to complete the canal on the cheaper plan of a high level. The Trustees were to prosecute the work and retain possession of the canal and its revenues until the debt and further cost of completing the same, with the interest thereon, should be fully paid by the tolls and moneys derived from sale of lands and lots. The Board was organized and the work resumed in 1845, and prosecuted to completion in 1848. The canal debt, interest and cost of construction, were paid in full from these resources, in the year 1871, and the canal was surrendered to the State with a balance on hand of $95,742. In the year 1865, an arrangement was entered into by the Canal Trustees,, with the Board of Public Works of Chicago, by which the canal was completed on the original deep-cut plan in the year 1871 thus letting the pure waters of Lake Michigan flow through the canal into the Illinois River and thence down to the Gulf of Mexico, and also opening the way for the beautiful lake perch and other fishes to run down into the Illinois, sport with the croppy, listen to the catfish sing, and assist in getting up fish-fries. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 407 MATERIAL WEALTH OF ILLINOIS. Perhaps the best evidence of the richness and productiveness of the soil of Illinois, as also the wealth and prosperity of the State, will be found in statistics some of which are here briefly given. Of the 35,459,200 acres of land within the borders of the State, about twenty millions are in cultivation, and five millions in woodland, leaving a greater portion of the remaining ten millions of acres of virgin soil yet to be put into cultivation, which is rapidly being done by drainage, levying and other means. There are now growing within the State 8,965,760 acres of corn, which, at a moderate estimate of thirty-five bushels per acre, will produce 313,801,600 of bushels, and valued at 30 cents per bushel will be $94,140,480. In 1875, the corn produced was 130,000,000 bushels, which was at that time more than double the amount raised in any other State, and one-sixth the entire crop of all the States. The acreage of wheat for 1879, is 2,365,798, which, at an estimate of twenty bushels per acre, will produce 47,315,960 bushels, worth, at 90 cents per bushel, $42,584,374. There were thirty millions of bushels produced ten years ago, and that was more than any other State produced at that time. In oats there are 1,448,562 acres. In meadows there are 2,179,122 acres. In 1875, there were harvested 2,747,000 tons of hay in Illinois, which was more than one-tenth of that pro- duced in all the States, and its value was more than all the cotton raised in Louisiana or any other State. The pasturage, at present, consists of 4,157,320 acres, and its value is more than twenty millions of dollars. The number of cattle in the State this year is 1,722,057, and the number estimated for market this year, 376,577. Of hogs now on hand there are 2,814,532, of which 2,013,718 are doomed to slaughter this year. The number of sheep is 762,788. Number of horses on hand is 881,951. Number of mules, 122,348. The number of hogs slaughtered in 1875, was 2,113,845, about half the entire crop of the United States, and the value of all the slaughtered animals in the State was $57,000,000, one-seventh of the total for that year. The value of the farm implements in the State is over two hundred million dollars. The value of the annual manufactures of the State is about two hundred and ten millions of dollars. The mineral, wealth of the State is beyond computation, as there are 41,000 square miles of coal, over forty feet in thickness. There are but 12,000 square miles of coal in all Gfeat Britain, and that is rapidly being exhausted. At the rate which England is using coal the supply in Illinios will last 120,000 years. 408 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Illinois is now the third State in population, and in railroads far ahead of any other State, having at present 7,579 miles of track within her borders, valued at over $600,000,000, using 3,500 engines, and some 70,000 cars in operating them. Illinois also excels all other States in miles of postal service; money orders sold ; internal revenue paid into the National treasury ; in the amount and value of her lumber trade, grain trade, and also in the amount of whisky which she makes, to revive the drooping spirits of the people of other States. Having devoted thus much to matters of the State, the affairs of the county will come next in order. ORGANIZATION OF MASON COUNTY. Mason County was formed out of parts of the counties of Menard and Tazewell, and organized in the year 1841. The records of the county are made up in part from Tazewell, Menard and Sangamon. Menard was taken from the northwestern part of Sangamon County and formed into a county in the year 1838. All that portion of territory lying between the Sangamon River an< Salt Creek on the south, to the north line of the twentieth tier of townships, including what is now Bath, Lynchburg, Kilbqurne, Crane Creek, Salt Creek am Mason City, belonged once to Sangamon latterly to Menard County and the remainder of the county, including the present townships of Havana, Sherman, Pennsylvania, Allen's Grove, Manito, Forest City and Quiver, belonged to the old county of Tazewell, which contained all the territory north of the line just described, as far east as the west line of McLean County, and as far north as the south line of Putnam County, and bounded on the west by the Illinois River. The original county seat was at Mackinaw, and from thence it was removed to Pekin, and in 1835 was removed to Tremont, and from thence back again to Pekin, where it has been for many years. The towns in old Tazewell wert Wesley City, Pekin, Havana and Matanzas, on the river, and Mackinaw, Dillor Bloomingdale and Washington, in the interior. Sangamon County was taken from Madison and Bond, and was organise in the year 1821. In the year 1837, it was the largest and most populoi county in the State, containing sixty full townships o ver 2,000 square mil* of territory. At the time of the admission of the State into the Union, ther was not a white inhabitant in the whole of Sangamon County, and in 1837 (nineteen years after), the population was estimated at over 20,000. As the capital of the State, the home of Lincoln, Baker, and other illustrious names, old Sangamon is held in a spirit of veneration by people who claim to be her offspring. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The lands within the present county of Mason were first surveyed anc opened for settlement in the years 1821-22-23-24, by 'William L. May and others. For many years, the region of country within tbe forks of the Illinois HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 409 and Sangamon Rivers was looked upon by the surrounding inhabitants in other counties as a sandy, barren waste, fit only for the abode of hunters, fishermen and such people as eared not for musquitoes, fleas and other "varmints," arid who were not afraid of the ague and other malarial diseases that then prevailed most plenteously, and so the country was avoided by what was considered the better class of people. These prejudices kept back the settlement of the country until the year 1827. On the 17th of October, 1827, Ossian M. Ross, then living in the neighbor- ing town of Lewistown, entered the first land in the county, where the city of Havana now stands, and on the 12th of November, 1827, the town was laid out by Stephen Dewey for Mr. Ross, the proprietor. The plat was not put on rec- ord until June 2, 1835, at Pekin. The first settler in Havana, and in the county, is believed to have been James Hoakum, who kept the ferry for Mr. Ross. Henry Sears says that he was at his house in 1827, he thinks, and certainly not more than a year later. He had a child born in his house about that time the first white birth in the county. In 1828, John Stuart settled on the head of Snicarte Island, now in Bath Township, and afterward sold out to Amos Richardson, who afterward sold out to John Knight. Some of the Stuart family are still living in the same neighbor- hood, and one of them is now languishing in the county jail under a charge of murder ! John Gillespie settled the same year on the place where the town of Moscow once stood, and soon left it, to be afterward entered by 0. M. Ross. In 1829, 0. M. Ross built the Ross Hotel, which stood on the bluff, south Bide of Market street. Moses Freeman & Bros, were the architects and .builders, and, when completed, Mr. Ross moved into it with his family and there remained to the time of his death January 20, 1837. It is safe to say that Mr. Ross was the first permanent settler. In the fall of that year (1829), the Havana Post Office was established, and 0. M. Ross appointed Postmaster, making the Havana office two years older than the Chicago Post Office. The ferry had been established some time before, and for a long time the place was best known as " Ross Ferry." Asa Langford, the father of our George, was interested in the ferry at a later time, and finally settled in Havana a jolly old fellow. George Gorman and brother were the first settlers in Walker's Grove, Crane Creek, in 1829. They sold out to Solomon Norris. On the 12th of August, 1829, Leonard Alkire made the first entry of land on Salt Creek, in Section 34, Town 20, Range 6, where the Virgins afterward lived. In 1830, William Hagan settled on what is known as the Montgomery place, near the old Salt Creek bridge, where he continued to reside until 147, when he sold out and went to Missouri. Mr. Allen, for whom Allen's Grove was named, lived in Allen's Grove as early as 1830, and that year he had a crop of wheat in the ground during the winter of the "deep snow " in 1830-31. He was a squatter, and soon left for 410 HISTORY 0* MASON COUNTY. other parts. James Price, who had an Indian wife, lived in Walker's Grove in 1830, and sold out and went to Lease's Grove in 1833, and afterward sold out to William Lease and went West to live with the red men and his red woman. We do not know which of these three were first on the ground, but Hagan stayed the longest. In the year 1831 (possibly a year later), Absalom Mounts settled on Crane Creek and built a mill on the land now owned by William Webb. The mill was built to run by water conveyed over the dam through a hollow sycamore log on to a flutter- wheel ; but, on account of a scarcity of water, it was afterward recon- structed so as to run a part of the time by horse or ox power. It was a rude affair, with a pair of 10 or 12-inch stones, grinding a bushel and a half of corn per hour when doing its best. Being the first and only mill in the county, it was considered a big institution in those days, and was patronized by the pioneer people from all quarters. John Sidwell bought out Mounts in 1837, and, among other valuable improvements, he attached a pocket distillery, where the waiting and weary customer at the mill could brace up the inner man whilst waiting for his grist. This was the first mill and first distillery in Mason County. Dock Field says that Sidwell used to take the stones out and carry one under his arm to dinner, and, to save time, dressed it as he went. In 1832, Austin P. and Robert Melton located at Big Grove, and afterward sold out to George Virgin. In the year 1832, Benjamin Kellogg made the first entry of land in Allen's Grove. On the 14th of June, 1832, Henry Shepherd entered the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 28, Town 21, Range 9, and became one among the first land owners and settlers in the -county. He afterward made additional entries of adjoining land, and sold a portion of it to V. B. Holmes and Watkin Powell, who, on the 10th of April, 1839, had the town of Matan- zas laid out by Thomas C. Wilson, County Surveyor of Tazewell County. Mr. Westervelt located as a neighbor to Mr. Shepherd about the same time, and Mr. Barnes at the mounds, north of Havana. Mr. Shepherd continued on his little farm to the time of his death, some thirty years ago. His land, which was a high, sandy place, is now cultivated by William Riggins, and, although it has been in cultivation over fifty years, there is no sign of its giving out. It has produced good crops of corn and wheat for all these fifty years without fertilizers and without rest. The town of Matanzas, like unto the city of Moscow, is now among the defunct towns 6f Mason County. In the year 1836, Jesse Baker settled on Crane Creek, where he still resides in a very feeble condition. He was one of the stalwart pioneers, born in Tenn- essee in 1798 ; came to Illinois in 1816 and settled in Morgan County. In the same year, J. M. Estep, born in St. Clair County, 111., December 14, 1819, settled on Crane Creek, in Mason County, where his sons still live, highly respected. He and Jesse Baker are pioneers in the Crane Creek .settlement. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 411 In the year 1833, William Lease bought out a man of the name of James Price, who was the first settler at what was called Lease's Grove. Solomon Norris was living on Salt Creek in 1833, and must have come a year or two before. Lewis Clarkson was the first settler of Field's Prairie, and came there in the spring of 1833' and located on what is now the Upp place. Levi Blunt, with his family of boys, Thomas F., Samuel (now in Kilbourne), Laben and Richard, all came in the spring of 1834 and settled on the west side of the prairie, where some of the family still live. Henry Sears settled in the county in 1834, locating first in Walker's Grove, buying land of Estep and selling out to James Walker in 1836. He was one of the solid men in those days, remarkable for integrity and eccentricity, and is still living on the old homestead on Crane Creek, as bright and queer as ever. In the year 1834, July 3, Bernard Krebaum, a native of Hesse- Cassel, Germany, landed in Havana via New Orleans. His was the third family in town Messrs. Ross and Myers being then here and here he remained until his death in 1853. v His family consisted of Frederick, Adolph, William, Edward and Charles G. the latter born in Havana, and the oldest native-born white person now living in the county. Adolph, William and C. G. are the surviving ones of the family, and all live in the city of Havana, highly respected and well con- ditioned. Stephen Hilbert, Mr. Myers and Mr. Blair also came and settled here that year. In the year 1835, the population of Havana was re-enforced by a little col- ony of live, active men, consisting of N. J. Rockwell, A. W. Kemp, Daniel Adams and 0. E. Foster, who came from Demorestville, Upper Canada. Mr. Foster kept hotel in Havana until his death, in 1843. Mr. Adams met a violent death on the Ohio River, near Louisville, on a trip East. Judge Rock- well, after filling a prominent position among enterprising public men in Mason County for many years, went into business in Troy, N. Y., where he died in 1878, and where his wife died the present year. Mr. Kemp is the only sur- vivor of this colony, and is now, at a ripe old age, living in the city of Sparta, Wis. John H. Neteler, a native of Hanover, Germany, settled below Havana that year. He was an educated, upright man, and assisted Mr. Lincoln in his early surveys in Mason County, where he resided to the time of his death, December 4, 1863. He left a good estate to his children. Daniel Clark came from Ohio and settled near Mr. Hagan, on Salt Creek, in this year, and remained until his death, in 1854. George Close, John Close, Jr., and Josiah Dobson, each bought tracts of land in Crane Creek in 1835, and became a part of the pioneer population of the county. 412 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. During this year, John Grigg, of Philadelphia, made large entries of land on Field's Prairie, which he sold out in about ten years to settlers at $3 per acre. The year 1836 brought a still larger number of pioneer settlers into the county. On the 16th of March, 1836, Abraham Lincoln entered the north half of the northwest quarter of Section 3, Town 19, Range 7, containing forty- seven acres, and in 1837 sold an undivided half of the same for $30 not a very great speculation for those times. This land lies about a mile above Mil- ler's Ferry, on the Sangamon, near where the famous town of Huron was laid out soon after, and the location of which is not marked by a single house or habitation at this date. On the 1st day of November, 1836, the original plat of the town of Bath was laid out by Abraham Lincoln, Deputy Surveyor of Sangamon County, for John Kerton, proprietor, and, on the 30th of November, the plat was recorded in Springfield, the county seat of the county, in which the town was then situ- ated. The original plat made byMr. Lincoln is still extant, in the hands of Maj. Gatton, of Bath. Pulaski Scoville removed from Cincinnati to Warren County, 111., in 1834, and into Havana in 1836. He was an active, go-ahead man, and the same year of his coming to Havana, he, in company with the three Low brothers, com- menced the erection of a steam saw-mill, in which lumber was manufactured for the first railroad built in the Mississippi Valley, from Springfield to Meredosia, and also timbers for buildings in Alton and St. Louis. He was also an exten- sive operator in real estate and other business enterprises, and now lives with his fifth wife on his beautiful farm, not far from Teheran. In the spring of 1836, Thomas and Eliphaz Low came also from Cincinnati to Havana, and afterward bought lands near the Quiver and settled on them ; and they also operated, to some extent, in real estate. Thomas Low died about 1846, and Eliphaz died in Havana in the year 1864. They were natives of Massachusetts. In the fall of the same year, their brother, Francis Low, came to Havana and entered into active business, dabbling in real estate, buying and selling lands, opening and improving farms, etc. In 1838, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Tazewell County, and, when Mason County was organized, in 1841, he was elected and served as first Sheriff of the county. He also assisted in the building of the Illinois River Railroad, the first built in the county. In the year 1875, he was active in the organization of the First National Bank of Havana, of which he still continues to be President. In farming and other pursuits he has been successful, as an ample fortune bears evidence. In the year 1836, Charles P. Richardson became the first settler on Grand Island, opposite the town of Bath, and tradition says that he assisted Mr. Lin- coln in laying out that town. C. W. Andrus came from Watertown, N. Y., early in the year 1836, to Havana, where he has lived an honored life to the present time. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 41 $ Loring Ames came also the same year and settled in Mason County. He was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1806. Came to St. Clair County in 1818 ; was in the Black Hawk war as a Lieutenant, and still lives on a farm near Topeka. During the year, the Virgins came and settled on Salt Creek, where they remained on their farms until removed by death, which events occurred as fol- lows : George (one of the first County Commissioners) died in 1855 ; Kinsie, in 1853 ; Regin, in 1872, and Abraham in 1873. George had a little store, and there was a blacksmith and shoe shop, constituting an embryo town, which was given the name of Hiawatha. Ephraim Burnell settled near the Mounds, above Havana, this year. He afterward died on the way to California. John Ritter, father of Col. Richard Ritter, settled in the same neighborhood^ about the same time, and remained to the date of his death. A. C. Gregory also settled near the Mounds this year. In the early spring of 1836, Vivian B. Holmes, Albert J. Field and Benjamin F. Wigginton came from Tennessee to Mason County. Mr. Holmes came as the agent of Dr. Drury S. Field under a contract to purchase 10,000 acres of land. In the months of April and June, he entered over three thousand acres for Dr. Field, and some in the name of his brother on Field's Prairie. He also went into- merchandising the same year in a part of Ross' Hotel, with Wigginton as clerk. Col. Holmes was an eccentric man of the old Virginia stamp ; despised work as beneath the dignity of a gentleman, and could endure a vast amount of comfort, which he sought in riding his horse " Pomp " over the country, and stopping for indefinite periods wherever there was good fare and pleasant people to chat with. He was a great admirer of the other sex, and used to say, in a devout way, " When I cease to love the women, or to have the power of responding to woman's love, I hope my heavenly Father will take me home ! " In his time, he was the husband of four wives, and he used to say, in an impressive way, u It has pleased God to give me three angels and but one devil ! " and then he would groan, or moan, like a saint, and, in the next breath, per chance, swear like a trooper ! He died some years ago, at Tremont, leaving a fifth wife. i In June, 1836, Dr. Drury S. Field came from Tennessee to Mason County and settled at what is called White Hall Point, on Field's Prairie. He had been an extensive slave owner and planter in the South, sold out a hundred or two negroes and came North, where he died in 1838, leaving a large family, all of whom are now dead, except two sons A. J. and A. E. Field and two daughters. At the time he settled in the county, and for years afterward, the county fairly swarmed with deer, wild turkeys, prairie chickens and wolves, and it was no uncommon occurrence to shoot a deer from the door of his house. As late as 1844, the writer saw on his land, out in the prairie, a herd of from fifty to sixty deer. The settlers, in those times, used to hunt wolves on horseback, run them 414 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. until overtaken and then dispatch them with the stirrup of the saddle. Turkey were run down and captured on horseback, thus saving ammunition. From the most reliable sources, we hear the Garret family came and settled in what is now Kilbourne Township in 1836, or, perhaps, two years before. Gib- son Garret and Joshua Garret were of the eld stock of pioneers regular Nim- rods and wolf-killers. Joel Garret, an offspring, died on the old hunting-grounds of his father two years ago. James Blakely also settled in what is now Kilbourne Township in 1836, and, without moving, was an inhabitant of three counties Sangamon, Menard and Mason. He died a few years ago, leaving A. S. Blakely and two other sons in the old neighborhood. Aaron Scott also settled, the same year, in the neighborhood where his sons, Martin and Asher, now live. N. R. Murdock also came from New Jersey and settled in the same neigh- borhood with the Scotts the same year. Three years later he returned to New Jersey ; but the Western fever was in him and he had to come back again, and now lives, an honored resident, of Crane Creek. On the 14th of July, 1837, T. M. Neal, Surveyor of Sangamon County, laid out, for John Rea and William May, the town of Lynchburg on the south- east quarter of Section 22 and southwest quarter of Section 27, Town 19, Range 9. The proprietors and Pleasant May, and probably others, had already settled in that neighborhood, but the date is unknown to us, and, therefore, not given. In this year, Joseph Adkins bought lands and settled near where Sadora now is, which he had laid out some years ago. Mr. Adkins died within a year past and left a family of children to take his place. Among the first settlers in Lynchburg was Nelson Abbey, in 1837. He settled near where Snicarte now k. James Walker settled this year at Walker's Grove, coming from Indiana, and died a few years ago at a very old age. He had a family of five sons and four daughters, all of whom have been connected, in many prominent ways, with the history and prosperity of the county. Alexander Stuart, a native of Ireland, settled in Havana this year, and has ever since been an active business man. John H. Schulte, from Hanover, Germany, came to Mason County this year and opened business on the river, which, for years, overshadowed all other places of business. He died in the year 1845, leaving two sons, of whom J. H. ia Deputy County Clerk. Thomas McCarty settled in the county this year, coming from Ohio, and still lives in Mason Citj^ as we believe. Edward Sikes settled on Salt Creek this year, and died there in 1855. John Auxier, Eli Auxier, John Y. Swarr and John Young all came at the same time and settled in the same neighborhood. Of these, all are dead, except, perhaps, Mr. Swarr. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 415 Charles Howell came from Pennsylvania and settled in Quiver this year. The balance of the Howell family came some three years later. John H. Havighorst, from Hanover, Germany, came this year to Mason County. As a county official, he has made his mark upon the records of the Bounty. On the 7th of August, 1837, there was an election held in Havana Precinct to vote for county officers of Tazewell County, at which election twelve votes were cast, viz.: Daniel Adams, Henry Shepherd, 0. E. Foster, N. J. Rockwell, Anson C. Gregory, A. W. Kemp, B. F. Wigginton, V. B. Holmes, C. W. Andrus, William Hyde, J. H. Netler and one other. This constituted the voting population of Havana and many miles around at that time. John Rea and William May were, at this time, living in the neighborhood of Lynchburg ; and at about that time Pleasant May, George Marshal and others settled in the neighborhood. Zephenia Keath was also an early settler near by, followed by George Carpenter and John Johnson, making quite a re-enforcement for the lower end. Isaac Parkhurst came from New Jersey and settled in Havana in the year 1837, where he remained until his death, leaving representatives still in the county. Moses Ray and his sons, Aaron and James, settled on the east side of Field's Prairie in 1837. The old man died in 1845. He was a backwoods preacher, of the Hard-shell Baptist persuasion. In 1837, Washington Daniels settled on Field's Prairie, where his sons, Isley, Callaway, Martin and George still live. Robert McReynolds, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Mason County in 1838, and died in Havana in 1872. He held the office of County Judge and other public places. Thomas K. Falkner came from Indiana, and settled near by Judge McRey- nolds the same year and began the first improvements in what is Sherman Town- ship. In the fall of that year, the families of Hibbs, Hampton and Dentler came to the same vicinity. West of them, toward Havana, were eight other families, and east of them there were no settlers for thirty miles. J. H. Dierker, from Hanover, Germany, came to the county that year, and still lives near the city of Havana. The same year, and from the same county, came Henry Bishop, and settled where Bishop's Station now is. He still lives there and prospers. William Atwater also came in 1838, and settled near Quiver. Also, William Rodgers and John Rodgers, settling in Lynchburg. Amos Smith, Sr., Amos Smith, Jr., and B. F. Smith, came that year from the State of Vermont, and settled in the same neighborhood. Soon after, came John Camp, first Probate Judge of the county, and Richard J. Phelps, fol- lowed soon after by George W. Phelps, James D. Reeves and William Davis, making quite a populous neighborhood. 416 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. George H. Campbell came that year to Mason County, and began to improve his father's land, six miles below Bath. He was highly favored, at an early day, in the way of offices, as the county records show, and, with an event- ful life^ "still lives" in Mason City. W. H. Campbell, present Mayor of Havana, is his first son, born in Bath in the year 1847. There were a number of settlers came from Greene "County that year, among them Robert Elkin and Isaac H. Hodge, both afterward Sheriffs of the county.* "Hall Hodge," as he was called, was the second Sheriff of the county, and in strange contrast with his predecessor in all respects. He was a diminutive, ill-favored, illiterate man, lively and chatty with everybody, using an abund- ance of all sorts of words, of the meaning of .which he was entirely igno- rant. He was a kind-hearted man, that had no guile in him (but generally plenty of whisky, which suggested the calling of him the high- Sheriff ), and was a great favorite of the people in those days. His reading of a summorfs or court paper sounded like a chapter from "Nasby " or the " Innocents Abroad." The law term "versus" which usually occurred in the summons, he invariably called " vestigated," and at the wind-up of reading a legal paper, he always added, with a grand flourish, "thus and so the measures !" In calling court, he would yell out, in his tenor voice, " Oh, yes ! Oh, yes ! the court has met, subject to adjournment!" At one time, he was directed by the court to call the names of parties on a criminal bond, and declare a forfeiture, on account of the absence of the criminal, in accordance with the formula of those days, which was long and precise. The Sheriff was very much excited and nonplused, knowing it impossible for him to repeat so many words correctly. In confusion and despair, he rushed to the window, thrust his head through the crashing glass, and called the names of the parties he could remember, and then mumbled and jumbled a lot of stuff that sounded like the clatter of "four and twenty black- birds," winding up with the words, "You will come into court, or everything will be lost !" The Judge laughed, the bar roared, and the people were delighted to see that they had a Sheriff equal to any emergency. At the time of his last election, there was a fierce strife between the upper and lower end of the county about the county seat, and so the candidates had hard work to "make both ends meet," and secure an election. On the eve of that eventful day, a crowd of friends gathered around the Sheriff, to hear what he had to say about the prospects. He was very jubilant and lavish of big words, saying, " I know I shall be sumptuously elected, for I have ravished the whole upper end !" As Hodge was a virtuous man, the presumption is that he meant " canvassed " " triumphantly," and nothing more. He was invincible before the people, until, in his kindness, he became a defaulter, and subsided into private life. In the year 1839, John R. Chancy, a native of Tennessee, came from Greene County to Mason, and settled near the east line of Havana Township, where he still resides. * Since writing this, we ^re informed that this Greene County colony did not come until 1841. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 417 Mark A. Smith, second son of Amos Smith, Sr., came from Vermont and settled near Snicarte, which he laid out afterward, and where he now resides. Joseph Mowder settled near the center of Havana Township in 1839, where he has lived for forty years of upright life. Abraham Swing came from Ohio in 1839, and settled in Swing's Grove, near the southeast corner of the county. He died in Mason City in 1866. John W. Holzgraffe came from Hanover, Germany, and settled near Havana in 1839, Avhere he still resides. He has five sons in business in Havana. John Bowman and John Cooper came from Greene County and settled half- way between Havana and Bath this same year. In 1840, Samuel C. Conwell first made his appearance in Havana, coming from Indiana, but a native of the little State of Delaware. He has lived here long, and been much mixed with the history of the county, as the land records will show. S. D. Swing also came from Ohio and settled at the Grove with his brother this year. Nathan Howell came from Pennsylvania in 1840, and settled near his son Charles, who preceded him. He has survivors still living near Havana. Solomon Bales also entered land in 1840 on Crane Creek, and settled there. Maj. B. H. Gatton, born in Kentucky in 1808 ; came to Morgan County in 1824, with his father's family, and to Bath, Mason County, May 1, 1841. Since that date, he has filled a large place in the business and enterprise of the lower end of the county, making and losing fortunes by turn, in the vicissitudes of the grain trade and merchandising. He was the first Postmaster in Bath when the office was established there in 1842, and has held other public trusts. Maj. Gatton has taken Greeley's advice, and in the month of July, 1879, took his family to Cass County, Mo., there to live out the balance of his days. R. P. Gatton came also with his brother from Beardstown, and died in the * year 1873, leaving a wife and one daughter there. William H. Nelms, brother-in-law of Maj. Gatton, and also from Kentucky, came also from Beardstown about the same time, and settled in Bath, where he lived an active business life up to the time of his death, many years ago. He was the Deputy Circuit Clerk for J. A. Phelps for some years, and was also engaged in trade for a time. His only living son, John E. Nelms has been a prominent business man in Bath and Peoria, and is now retired to a farm in Lynchburg. In the year 1840, the question of making a new county was agitated by the people of Havana, and decided upon. At the suggestion of John Ritter, it was to be named Mason County. On the 20th of January, 1841, the act was passed, providing for the organization of the county by the selection of a county seat and also the election of the necessary number of county officers. Having traced the early current of emigration to the date of the organ i/a- tioii of the county as correctly as we have the means of testing its accuracy, we leave to the township historian the task of following up the work, which he 418 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. can do more fully and satisfactorily than can be done in the, limited time we can devote to it. It has been our endeavor to be accurate and impartial in all per- sonal references, still there may be errors of date and omissions of names that should have had a place among the early settlers of the county. An Act for the formation of Mason County : SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in General Assembly, That all that part of the counties of Menard and Tazewell included within the follow- boundaries, to-wit : Beginning at the mouth of the Sangamon River, running thence with the channel of said river, to the mouth of Salt Creek, running thence with the channel of said creek, until it intersects the range line between Ranges 4 and 5 ; thence north with said range line, to the north line of Logan County ; thence west six miles ; thence north to the center of Township 23 north. Range 6 west of Third Principal Meridian ; thence west to the Illinois River, to the place of beginning, which shall constitute a county to be called the county of Mason. SEC. 2. All Justices of the Peace and Constables heretofore duly elected and qualified in and for the counties of Menard and Tazewell, and who now reside within the aforesaid bound- aries of the county of Mason, shall hold their offices in and for the said county of Mason, the game as if no division had taken place. SEC. 3. The legal voters residing within the limits of said county of Mason, shall meet at the town of Havana, in said county, on the first Monday in April next, appoint Judges and Clerks of Election, and proceed to elect a Sheriff, Coroner, Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court, Recorder, Treasurer, Probate Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner, and three County Commissioners for said county, and any other county officers provided by law, to be elected for counties, and the returns of said election shall be made by said Judges and Clerks to the Justices of the Peace in said county of Mason, and any two or more of said Justices shall meet at Havana at any time within five days after said election, and proceed to open said returns, make out abstracts of the same, and transmit one to the Secretary of State, and file one with the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of said county of Mason, and to do and per- form all other duties now required by law, in like cases of the Clerks of the County Commis- sioners' Courts and Justices of the Peace. SEC. 4. The legal voters of said county of Mason shall also, at the time and place, and in the manner specified in the third section of this act, vote for sites or places at which to locate and establish the permanent seat of justice of said county of Mason, and the site or place which shall receive the greatest number of votes shall be and forever remain the permanent seat of justice, or county seat, of said county of Mason, and the Judges and Clerks of said election are hereby authorized to open columns in their poll books, and receive votes for the same ; said election to be conducted in all respects, and returns thereof made in the same manner as provided for in the third section of this act, and of the laws of this State in relation to elections ; Pro- vided, however, That the Judges and Clerks of said election are not authorized to open columns or receive votes for any site or sites, place or places, for said county seat, unless the proprietors or friends of said site or place shall first place in the hands of the Judges of said election their promissory note drawn to the County Commissioners of Mason County, or their successors in office, for the use of said county of Mason, for the sum of one thousand dollars, payable three months after date, with good and sufficient security for the payment of the same, to be approved by the Judges of said election, and shall also place in the hands of said judges a bond conditioned for a donation of real estate for the use of said county, on which to erect the public buildings, which donation shall not be less than one block of lots, if the county seat is located at a town already laid off, and not less than twenty acres if on land not heretofore laid off in town lots. SEC. 5. The Judges of the aforesaid election shall deposit with the County Commissioners of said county of Mason, as soon as said court shall be organized, the notes and bonds which may come into their hands in the manner specified in the proviso to the fourth section of this act, and said Commissioners, after the returns of said election shall have been made agreeable to the HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 419 provisions of this act, and it shall have been finally decided which point has received the highest number of votes for the county seat, all the aforesaid notes and bonds shall be returned to the persons from whom they were received, except those received from the friends or proprietors of that point at which the county seat has been located. SEC. 6. The School Commissioner of the county of Mason, as soon as he shall be duly elected, qualified and commissioned, according to law, shall call upon the School Commissioners of the county of Menard and Tazewell, and demand of and receive from them all notes, bonds, mortgages or other writings or obligations which may belong or be coming to said county of Mason ; also the distributive share of the school, college and seminary fund, which said county of Mason shall be entitled to. SEC. 7. The said county of Mason shall constitute a part of the Judicial Circuit and a Circuit Court shall be held for said county, at some convenient house in the village of Havana until the public buildings shall be erected ; the tirade of holding said court shall b e appointed by the Judge presiding on said circuit. This act to take effect from its passage. Approved January 20, 1841. After the passage of this act, it becoming known that Havana was the only voting. place named, parties not in the Havana interest procured the passage of the following supplemental act, providing for polls being opened in Salt Creek and Lynchburg also. An Art supplemental to an act for the formation of the county of Mason : SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in General Assembly, That polls shall be opened at the town of Lynchburg, and at the house of .1 tunes Walker (in Walker's Grove), in the county of Mason at the same time, and for the same objects, and under the same regulations as provided for at the town of Havana, by the act to which this- is supplemental. Approved February '27, 1841. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT. As the legislative and controlling power of the county resided in this Court at the time of the formation of the county and down to the year 1849, we shall devote some attention to their acts and doings. There is no record showing, the result of the vote which elected the first set of county officers, or of the location of the county seat, but the record shows who served the people as County Clerk, Sheriif, Probate Justice of the Peace, School Commissioner and County Com- missioners leavin^us in the dark as to who was the first Coroner and County Surveyor. It also shows that the county seat was located at Havana, at that election, which was held in Havana, Salt Creek and Texas Precincts, on the 5th day of April, 1841. At the first meeting of the Court, in April, the bond of J. A. Phelps, County Clerk, was approved, and five road districts were laid out in the county. At the June term, the number of road districts were increased to nine, and the Supervisors appointed to serve therein were as follows : First District, Daniel Swing; Second, Abraham Virgin; Third, Isaac Teeter; Fourth, William McDaniel; Fifth, John H. Neteler; Sixth, Joseph Lybarger; Seventh, Nelson R. Ashurst; Eighth, William Davis, and Ninth, John R. Chaney. The location of these districts may be known from the residence of the Supervisors. It was 420 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. also ordered that three days' road labor be expended on the roads in the year 1841, by all persons liable to do such work. Ira Patterson was allowed $2 for services as a Justice of the Peace in open- ing the poll books and making abstracts of the first election for county officers and county seat. At this June term of court, it was also ordered that a new Justice's district be formed of the territory lying west of the range line between Nine and Ten, to be called Lynchburg District, and ordered an election for two Justices and two Constables. As a result of that election we only know that Amos Smith w.-is elected one of the Justices, ^nd continued in that office to the time of his death, in the year 1851. . The Court further ordered that George May should pay $5 license for a ferry across the Sangamon, and required him to give a bond of $150, conditioned that he should "keep, the ferry so as to give every person a passage in reasonable time" but the order did not state what kind of physic the ferryman should use. In those days, being hemmed in from the outside world by the Illinois and San- gamon Rivers, the ferries were great institutions, and there were plenty of them and considerable rivalry for business. The Court also ordered that Francis Low be appointed Collector of Taxes for the year 1841, and that' the rate of taxes should be 50 cents on the $100 for county purposes, and 30 cents for State purposes. The Court ordered that the following named persons be summoned to serve as grand jurors at the first term of the Mason County Circuit Court, to be held on Friday, after the second Monday in November, 1841, viz.: James Walker, Daniel Clark, Sr., Ira Halstead, Michael Swing, Austin P. Melton, P. W. Campbell, William Dew, John G. Conover, Thomas F. Blunt, Anderson Young, Samuel D. Becket, George Marshall, G. W. Phelps, Edmund Northern, Ashley Hickey, Hoag Sherman, William Hibbs, William Atwater, Thomas Low, John Rishel, Daniel Deffenbacker, Pulaski Scovil and David Bell. Of all these men, we know but four now in the county Scovil, Blunt, Deffenbacker and John G. Conover, the latter still an active, stout, jolly man, as he has always been. G. W. Phelps is living in Kentucky, but most of them have been summoned to a t-ourt of stern decrees the court of death. The Court also selected the following named persons to serve as travis jurors at the same term of Court, viz. : George Close, James Yeardley, Henry Sears, John Close, Sr., Abel W. Kemp, Jacob H. Cross, James Russell, James Ray, Laben Blunt, James Lockerman, Washington Daniel, Benjamin Sisson, Israel Carman, John Johnson, Orin E. Foster, Frederick Buck, Thomas Faulkner, David Coder, William Chainey, Samuel Patton, James Blakely, William Rodgers, Nelson Abbey, Henry C. Rowland. The writer was acquainted with nearly all the men on both these juries, of whom there are but four of the latter known to be living, making eight out of forty-seven. / HAVANA f HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 423 The Court finished up its business for that term with the following interest- ing order, or decree, which goes to show how the court stood (or perhaps, leaned), on the main question ; we copy literally : " In the Mason County Comrs' . Court: STATE OF ILLINOIS, ) MASON COUNTY. j Be it remembered that permission is hereby given to Richard P. Gatton, to retail spirituous liquors, by any quantity, until the end of the September term of the Co. Com. Court of said county, for which permission the said Gatton has paid the sum of $2.50. ' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my name and private seal, no official seal having been provided. "Dated at Havana, June the 12th, A. D. 1841. " J. A. PHKLPS, Clerk Co. Com. Court, M. C." This was the first liquor license given in Mason County, and the demand for it was so pressing, that they could not wait for a seal to be put on the license, and the party had to take it straight, without any trimmings ! Bath was a little behind on the county seat question, but ahead on the license to sell the stuff that has made such fearful havoc of the peace and morality of the town. With bad whisky "retailed in any quantity," Bath has been the scene of several bloody murders, and of drunken rows and orgies without number ! At a July special term of court, it was ordered that the Judges and Clerks of the April election be allowed $1 each for their services, viz. : Salt Creek John Young, John L. Turner, Abraham Swing, Ira Halstead and John Close ; Texas Precinct Joseph Adkins, George Marshall, James May, Mark A. Smith and Howard Campbell ; Havana Precinct Isaac Parkhurst, Jesse Brown, John H. Neteler, Hoag Sherman and Eliphaz Low. It was also ordered that the sum of $146 be paid, with 12 per cent interest, semi-annually, to Robert Faulkner, George T. Virgin and A. J. Field, County Commissioners, for money advanced for books for county offices. It would seem that the county started in business on borrowed capital, and at a pretty high rate of interest. It was further ordered at this term of court that the bond for $1,000, to be donated for the purpose of erecting public buildings, signed by N. J. Rockwell, Pulaski Scovil, Louis W. Ross and H. L. Ross, be sued upon in the Circuit Court of Mason County, and that the bond of L. W. & H. L. Ross, for a block of lots adjoining the public square, in Havana, for the use of the county, be put in suit for the enforcement of the conditions of the bond. At the September term of court, it appears that A. J. Field, Amos Smith and Israel Carman, together with the County Clerk (alj in the Bath interest), held a term of court, claiming to have been elected at the August election, and drew lots, Carman drawing for three years, Field, two years, and Smith, one year. At the same time, another court was being held by the other two Commis- sioners (Faulkner and Virgin), at which time J. A. Phelps, County Clerk, was removed from office '* for neglect of dutv and for non-compliance" of the County N 424 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Commissioners of said county, and George W. Fielding is appointed bv the Commissioners in his room until another is elected by the people ! " No name appears to the record of this double-barreled Returning Board, but at the next meeting, in December, the record is signed 'by Faulkner, Virgin and Smith, with Fielding as Clerk. As Phelps, Field and Carman disappear from the records, and their official acts were ignored, the presumption is that these three members of the Returning Board were bull-dozed out of office by the action of some higher court ! This was the first round in the battle between Havana and Bath, in which Havana drew first blood! At the March term, 1842, of court, an order was made to prosecute J. A, Phelps and his securities on his official bond, a Havana move to punish the Bath champion. At the June term of court, a permit is given to Charles Howell, Julius Jones and William Pollard, to build a mill-dam six feet high, across Quiver Riv6r, on the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 22, Township 22, Range 8, the site where the McHarry mill now stands, Mr. McHarry afterward purchasing the site and building the mill. It was also ordered that the suits on the $1,000 bond, and the bond for a block of lots, be dismissed. This was a left-handed lick made by Havana, which the Bath boys claimed to be a foul ! : : : At the August election, in 1842, Joseph A. Phelps was again elected by the lower end of the county, to the office of County Clerk. First knock-down for Bath ! At the September term of court, it was resolved that the contract which had been let for the building of a Court House in Havana, was valid, and that $1,800 (the price to be paid), should be paid the contractors when the job was completed. Havana taffy ! It was also ordered that the suit commenced against J. A. Phelps be dis- missed. A back-down for Havana ! At this time, the county seat fight waxed hot between the rival towns, and resulted in the passage of an act by the Legislature, providing for an election in February, 1843, to settle the vexed question. At this election, Bath got the first knock-down, and won the battle ! At the March term, 1843, of County Court, it was ordered that the precinct known by the name of Texas Precinct, be changed to the name of Bath Precinct, and that Bath be the place of holding elections. Also, that the north line of the precinct be extended to the north line of Section 18, Township 21, within a mile of the present city limits of Havana ! " See, the conquering hero comes." Bath has secured a respectable name, as a precinct, and, by the prowess of her stalwarts, has enlarged her dominions ! In consideration of the many fights and murders that have occurred in Bath, it is a question of propriety wheth'er the old name of " Texas" should not have been retained. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 425 An order was also passed at this term of court, providing for a settlement, by referees, with Moses Freeman, the Havana Court House contractor, for dam- ages, in not being allowed to complete the work. At the same term of court, Freeman accepted $250, in county orders, in full settlement. At this term of court, Quiver Precinct was set off from Havana, containing all the territory north of Quiver River, and the place of voting fixed at the house of Isaac Parkhurst. Crane Creek was also set off from Salt Creek, and the place of voting located at the Crane Creek Schoolhouse, making the number of six precincts at this date, viz. : Havana, Bath, Salt Creek, Lynchburg, Quiver and Crane Creek. Up to this time and long afterward, the principal business of the County Court was locating roads and licensing ferries. With all that has been done in the past, is it not a little strange that we have so few good roads in the county ? COUNTY SEAT CONTROVERSY. The county seat question, in its time, was all absorbing, and we shall there- fore devote a chapter to the subject, which may be of interest to old settlers. The agitation began at the formation of the county, when there were about 400 roters in the county, and, at the first election, the vote was a close one between the rival towns. The strife continued, with more or less bitterness, as will be* seen in the County Court proceedings, until the Bath people succeeded in get- ting the following act passed, in January, 1843 : An act to permanently locate the county seat of Mason County. SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That on the second Monday in February, A. D. 1843, there shall be an election held at Havana. James Walker's, Lynchburg and Bath, in the county of Mason, and (he judges and clerks of the different election precincts in said county are hereby authorized to open poll-books and receive votes at said places for the towns of Havana and Bath, in said county, as candidates for the seat of justice for said county. SEC. 2. The election provided for in the foregoing section shall not be held unless the pro- prietors or friends of said town of Bath shall execute and deliver to he Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of said county a good and sufficient bond for a block of lots on which to erect the public buildings in said town, and said proprietors shall also on or before the first day of February, A. D. 1843, make, execute and deliver to said clerk their promissory note with good and sufficient security to be approved by said clerk, and said note shall be drawn in substance as follows: " $1,000. Six months after date, we, or either of us, jointly and severally, promise to pay George T. Virgin, John R. Chancy and Amos Smith, or their order, County Commissioners of the county of Mason, or their successors in office, for the use of the county of Mason, the sum of one thousand dollars, for value received, dated Mason County, Illinois, February the first, A. D. 1843;" and, if the town of Batli shall receive the greatest number of votes for county seat, the Clerk shall deliver to the County Commissioners said note and bond ; which note and bond may be sued and collected the same as other notes and bonds, and a certificate from the Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of said county certifying that the aforesaid note and bond have been filed in his office, with good and sufficient security, approved by him, shall be deemed sufficient evidence to authorize the judges and clerks of election to open poll- books at the several places in said county for holding the election as aforesaid. 426 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. SEC. 3. If the clerks and judges shall refuse to open a column and receive votes for the town of Bath, after a certificate duly certified agreeable to the provisions of the second section of this act shall be deposited with them, the poll-book of said precinct shall be rejected. SBC. 4. No person shall vote at the special election provided for by this act, except such persons were residents and legal voters of said county of Mason on the first day of January, 1843, and shall continue to reside in said county up to the time of said election. SEC. 5. The returns of said election shall be made to the Clerk of the County Commis- sioners' Court, as provided for by law in relation to other elections, and said poll-books shall be opened and compared by said clerk and two justices of the peace of said county, and two abstracts shall be made out and certified and subscribed by them, and one shall be tiled by said clerk in his office and the other transmitted to the Secretary of State. SEC. 6. In case the friends of either of said towns shall be dissatisfied with the abstracts made out by the clerk and justices as aforesaid, and shall wish to purge the poll-books by prov- ing off illegal votes, William H. Nelms and Benjamin H. Gatton shall be considered as repre- senting the interests of the town of Bath, and N. J. Rockwell and H. L. Ross as representing the interest of the town of Havana, and either of said parties may give notice to the other in writ- ing, at any time within ten days after said election, which notice shall specify the time that said contest shall take place, not to exceed twenty days from the time of said election ; and in the event of a contest as aforesaid, John Camp, Probate Justice of the Peace, Ira Patterson and Pollard Simmons, Justices of the Peace in and for said county of Mason, are hereby authorized and required to meet at the town of Matanzas at the time specified in the aforesaid notice, and proceed to hear and determine, from the testimony adduced before them, which of said towns . has received the greatest number of votes for county seat. Said justices are hereby authorized to issue subpoenas, swear witnesses and compel their attendance, and, if either party shall be dissatisfied with the decision of said justices, they shall be allowed an appeal to the Circuit Court of said county. SEC. 7. If either of said justices shall refuse or neglect to attend at the time and place of trial, the vacancy may be filled by the other justices. SEC. 8. If the town of Bath shall receive a majority of the legal votes polled at said elec- tion, it shall be the duty of all officers required by law to reside at the county seat to remove their offices, together with the books, papers and records appertaining to the same, to the town of Bath, between the 20th day of June and the 4th day of July next. SEC. 9. If the county seat shall be removed from Havana to Bath, the County Commis- sioners shall return the vote and bonds given by the proprietors of Havana to said proprietors, and the same shall be null and void. SEC. 10. The Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court of said county of Mason shall give notice of the time and place of holding the election provided for by this act as in case of other elections. SEC. 11. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. Approved January 14th, 1843. At the election held under the provisions of this act, the county seat was located at Bath, by a majority so decided as to obviate any further proceedings, and in due time the records were removed, as the law required, to the town of Bath, and there they remained until in the spring of 1851, eight years. The people of Bath, with commendable enterprise and energy, went to work at once and erected a substantial brick Court House. In a few years the question was again agitated, and at every session of the Legislature, after the year I< s 4 ( i. petitions and remonstrances, signed by men, women and children, went up for and against removal, and at each session the leading men of Havana spent the winter in the lobbies at Springfield laboring to get the question again submitted to the people. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 427 On the part of Bath the contest was resisted, mainly by J. M. Ruggles, jissisted at one session by G. H. Campbell, and successfully resisted at every session until in 1851, when, by the help of outside parties, the Legislature was induced to submit the question again to a vote of the people, under the pro- visions of the following act : An Act to relocate the county seat of Mason County : SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the Genera Assembly, That an election shall be held in the county of Mason, on the second Monday of March, A. D. 1851, at the usual places of holding elections in said county, for the removal of the seat of justice of said county ; at which election the clerks thereof shall open two columns, one for Havana, and one against removal, and shall take and record the vote of each qualified voter for one of the aforesaid places, or against the removal of the seat of justice of said county, as said voter shall direct. SEC. 2. The same rules shall be observed in conducting said election, and in making returns thereof, and in counting said votes, and in all other things, as shall be required by law in elections for Senators and Representatives of the General Assembly of this State. The Clerk of the County Court shall, immediately on receipt of the election returns, in the presence of two Justices of the Peace, open the election returns, compare them, and certify the same to the County Court, and the place having a majority of the legal votes of the county shall be and remain the seat of justice of said county. SEC. 3. No point shall be voted for unless its proprietors, or some of them, shall, at least ten days previous to said election, execute a bond, with good and sufficient security, to the Judges of the County Court of Mason County, for the payment of the sum of $1,000, payable to said County Judges, or their successors in office, for the use of the county, to be applied to the erection of public buildings one-half of said sum of money to be paid when the public buildings are commenced, and the other half when said buildings are completed : Provided, however, that said bond or bonds shall be void and of no effect as to the proprietors of all places except that where the county seat shall be located by a majority of the votes polled. SEC. 4. Should it be found that a majority of the voters of said county of Mason, voting at such election, have voted for the removal of the county seat as aforesaid, it shall be the duty of the County Court of said county, as soon as practicable after such election, to cause all the public offices of said county (required to be kept at the county seat) to be removed to the county seat located under this act ; and it shall be the further duty of the County Court, after such relocation of the county seat, to convey to Kean Mahony and Benjamin H. Gatton the block of lots donated by the original proprietors of the town of Bath, under an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled " An act to locate the county seat of Mason County," approved January 14. 1843, together with all and singular the tenements and appur- tenances thereon and thereto belonging, unto them, the said Kean Mahony and Benjamin H. Gatton, their heirs and assigns forever, in trust for the benefit/>f the original proprietors of the said town of Bath, under such declaration of trust as may be equitably and justly declared by the said County Court, according to the respective interests of said original proprietors of the town of Bath : and it shall be the further duty of the County Court of Mason County, in the event of such relocation of the county seat thereof, to make such remuneration to the original proprietors of the town of Bath, for moneys expended in erecting the Court House in said town, as they may deem advisable, and as shall be proven according to law. SEC. 5. This act to be in force from and after its passage. Approved, February 8, 1851. In the spring of 1850, when the county seat question was running high, John Pemberton was attending court, as one of the associates, in Bath, and, whilst there, some rowdy boys took out his buggy and anointed it all over, cushions and all, 428 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. with an unsavory lot of human excrement. This dirty deed produced considerable excitement, and was denounced by all decent people in town ; still, Pemberton was greatly alarmed, fearing that he might be doped with the same horrible stuff, and he had no rest of body or mind until he was safely out of town. This vile act of the dirty boys rankled in the nostrils of the upper-enders, and they took up the martyr, Jack Pemberton, and made him their representative in the Legislature that year, where he avenged himself upon the Bathites by getting in his vote for the bill to remove the county seat, showing how precarious is the public life of a man who may be elevated so high out of a circumstance so low ! After the passage of the act above recited, the friends of Bath, knowing that the heavy increase of population in the Havana interest greatly endangered their cause, resorted to a piece of strategy to defeat Havana, but were unsuc- cessful. They bought eighty acres of land of Dr. Mastic, in Section 10, in Kilbourne Township, laid it off into town lots, called it Cuba, and went for it as the most central and best place for the county seat, intending to make Cuba swallow up Havana, Matanzas and Bath, and become the seat of government of Mason County. A campaign was opened, meetings were held at Matanzas and other places, in which eloquent speeches were made for and against Havana. Smith Turner trotted out old Demosthenes, Cicero, Galileo, and several other of his ancient friends, to help him in the fight against Havana. Powell, of Havana, pitched into old Galileo, and gave him an unmerciful trouncing, just because he was brought into the meetuig as a friend to help Turner. One speaker said : " Rather than have the county seat at Havana, he would vote it into the middle of Bull's Eye Prairie, where the waters of Noah's flood had not yet subsided, and where the frogs and tadpoles were the only inhabitants !" A Havana Ger- man orator said in reply that he was perfectly willing the people of Bath should " go out and live mit the toads and the tadpoles in Bull Eye. for such neighbors vere good enough for them !'* The day of election came, and Havana gave the final blow that knocked Bath out of time and Cuba out of existence. The people of Bath gave up all hopes of again becoming the county seat, and turned their attention to other enterprises, although some of them .suffered largely in their fortunes by the result. The vote stood : For removal, 894 votes : against removal, 479 votes. PRECINCT HISTORY. At the time of the organization of the county, in 1841, there were but three precincts in the territory out of which the county was formed. The date of the formation of these three precincts is unknown to us. and, as the record of them belongs to other counties, it is not given. Havana Precinct included all the territory belonging to Tazewell County, extending from the north line of the county as far south as the north line of Town 20. The first election in the precinct of which we have any record was on HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 4*29 the 7th of August, 1837, when there were but twelve votes cast. David Adams .and Isaac Parkhurst were, at the time. Justices of the Peace. Eli Fisk and A. W. Kemp were also Justices of the Peace before the county was organized, .and as early as 1838. Salt Creek Precinct contained what is now the townships of Mason City, Salt Creek and Crane Creek, except that part of Mason City that lies north of Town 20. The only Justice known to us before the organization of the county, in the precinct, was Ira Patterson, who was serving as a Justice of the Peace at that time. Texas Precinct included the territory lying west of Salt Creek and extending to the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers, of which Kilbourne, Bath and Lynchburg Townships are now composed. Albert J. Field and Arthur Morrow were elected Justices of the Peace in this precinct in 1838. These three constitute the orig- inal precincts of Mason City, and the remaining precincts were organized by the County Court in the order and date here given. Lynchburg Precinct was formed out of that portion of Texas Precinct lying west of the range line running between 9 and 10, in the month of June, 1841. Crane Creek Precinct was set off from the west side of Salt Creek Precinct in March, 1843. Quiver Precinct was next in the order of formation, and was, at the same term of court, set off from Havana, and contained the territory lying north of the Quiver River to the county line. At this same term of court, Texas Precinct had its name changed to Bath. Sangamon Precinct was formed out of Bath and Crane Creek on the 8th of June, 1847, and was abolished in the year 1850. There was a general change and adjustment of precinct lines at the time Sangamon Precinct was organized. Matanzas Precinct was organized out of Bath and Havana Precincts, on the 7th of September, 1847, and continued to the time of the adoption of township organization, in 1861, when it was left out of the new order or arrangement. Allen's Grove Precinct was organized on the 2d day of September, 1851, out of territory belonging to Havana, Salt Creek and Quiver Precincts. Egypt Precinct was organized out of territory taken from Allen's Grove and Quiver, on the llth of March, 1853, and the name was changed to Manito on the 8th of September, 1858. Prairie Creek Precinct was organized out of territory taken from the east side of Salt Creek, on the 8th of December, 1857. The name was changed to Mason City in September, 1858. Mason Plains Precinct was organized out of the territory that now consti- tutes Forest City Township, on the 8th of December, 1857. Pennsylvania Precinct was organized on the 8th of December, 1857, and was the last precinct organized in Mason County, making an even dozen, which number continued to the date of the abolishment of the precinct system, in 1861. 430 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. TOWNSHIP HISTORY. At the November election, in 1861, the question of the adoption of township organization was submitted to a vote of Mason County, and carried in its favor, by a vote of 1,030 for, and 860 against. On the 4th of December, 1861, the County Court appointed B. H. Gatton, Lyman Lacy and Matthew Langston, Commissioners to divide the county into townships according to law, and make a report to the March term of court. On the 3d day of March, 1862, the court met, received and adopted the report of the Commissioners, concluded its business on the 5th of March, and adjourned, never to meet again for the transaction of county business ! The commissioners divided the county into eleven townships, as follows : 1. Mason City; 2. Allen's Grove; 3. Salt Creek; 4. Pennsylvania; 5. Mason Plains ; 6. Manito ; 7. Quiver ; 8. Havana ; 9. Crane Creek ; 10. Bath ; 11. Lynchburg. The commissioners fixed the boundaries of these several townships, which we do not think it necessary to give, as they are the same as now, except the forma- tion of Sherman out of Havana and Pennsylvania, and Kilbourne out of Bath and Crane Creek, and some slight changes in township lines, that have since been made. On the 12th of May, 1862, the newly elected Board of Supervisors met and organized for business, assuming the official control of the affairs of the people of Mason County. The new system seems to give general satisfaction, especially to those who aspire to be Supervisors, and other township officials. There can be no doubt that the system has added vastly to the county expenses, as may be seen by a comparison of the cost of county assessments under the old and the new order. In 1841, the amount paid for the entire assessments of the property of Mason County, by Ira Patterson, was $24.50. The amount paid J. R. Teney, the last Assessor under the old system, for the year 1861, was $565, more than double the amount paid for any other year's assessment up to that time. That, how- ever, was the last chance, which made it a u ground-hog case ! " It may be that Patterson was looking ahead to the time when he might be Governor of some State, and Teney was not 1 which makes a difference. The total cost of county assessments in Mason County, for the twenty-one years under the old system, was only $3,948.81, and the average yearly expense, $188.04! Under township organization, the amount paid for the first year's assessment in all the towns, was $195, a very favorable contrast with the cost of the year before. The business was a growing one, however, for it ran up gradually and rapidly, until the year 1871, when it reached the sum of $1,224.50. The amount paid out by the people of the county for the assessment of property, from the year 1862, to the year 1872, both inclusive, was $7,915.25, making an HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 431 average yearly expense to the people of $719.57, for the first eleven years, under township organization. Since the year 1872, the law requires each township to- pay its own Assessor, and we have not any information aS to the cost of assess- ments in the several townships since that date. The presumption is that it ha* not been materially diminished. The following is a list of the Supervisors that have been elected and served in the several townships, and also of the Justices of the Peace that are now in office. The townships are given in the order of their creation as precincts or town- ships: Havana 1862, Alfred Biggs; 1863, Alfred Biggs; 1864, John D. Cory ; 1865, Thomas A. Dixon ; 1866, George A. Blanchard ; 1867, George A. Blanchard; 1868, Robert S. Moore; 1869, John L. Mowder; 1870, Jarne* H. Hole ; 1871, William Waugh ; 1872, Judson R. Foster ; 1873, Richard R. Simmons; 1874, Robert Schofield; 1875, James F. Kelsey; 1876, J. F. Kel- sey ; 1877, Marcellus Dearborn ; 1878, J. F. Kelsey ; 1879, J. F. Kelsey. Present Justices of the Peace, Jacob Prettyman and A. D. Hopping. Police Magistrate of Havana, John S. Kirk. Bath 1862, James H. Allen ; 1863, J. H. Allen ; 1864, B. H. Gatton ; 1865> Charles S. Thompson ; 1866, C. S. Thompson; 1867, John H. Schulte ; 1868, B. H. Gatton ; 1869, B. H. Gatton ; 1870, B. H. Gatton ; 1871, B. H. Gatton ; 1872 r B. H. Gatton ; 1873, Gerard H. Havinghorst; 1874, Robert Pierson; 1875, Robert Pierson; 1876, Robert Pierson; 1877, John H. Dierker; 1878, J. H. Dierker, and 1879, J. H. Dierker. The only Justice of the Peace now in office in the township is Leland Carpenter, who has served continuously since 1854. Salt Creek 1862, Selah Wheaden, Chairman ; 1863, Selah Wheaden, Chairman ; 1864, Jacob Benscoter ; 1865, A. H. Fisher ; 1866, Joseph A. Phelps ; 1867, C. L. Montgomery ; 1868, J. A. Phelps ; 1869, C. L. Montgom- ery ; 1870, J. S. Black ; 1871, A. Thompson ; 1872, A. Thompson ; 1873, Aaron A. Blunt; 1874, A. A. Blunt; 1875, A. A. Blunt; 1876, Abner Thompson; 1877, H. C. Burnham; 1878, L. C. Agnew; 1879, H. C. Burnham. The Justices of the Peace now in office are H. C. Burnham and Joseph Silvey. Lynchburg 1862, Isaac Sarf, elected and resigned, and Henry Abbott r appointed and served in his place ; 1863, John J. Fletcher ; 1864, J. J. Fletcher ; 1865, Isaac Sarf; 1866, Isaac Sarf; 1867, Isaac Sarf; 1868, R. J. Phelps ; 1869, William Ainsworth ; 1870, William Ainsworth ; 1871, William Ainsworth ; 1872, William Ainsworth ; 1873, J. H. Layman ; 1874, William Ainsworth ; 1875, William Ainsworth ; 1876, William Ainsworth, Chairman ; 1877, William Ainsworth ; J878, J. H. Layman, and 1879, J. H. Layman. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is John J. Fletcher. Amos Smith was the first Jus- tice elected in the precinct, in 1841, and he served until his death, in 1851. Quiver 1862, Aaron Little; 1863, A. Little ; 1864, A. Little ; 1865, A. Lit- tle, Chairman ; 1866, A. Little ; 1867, A. Little ; 1868, A. Little ; 1869, A. Lit- tle; 1870, John McReynolds; 1871, A. Little; 1872, Pollard S. Anno; 1873, Johu 432 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. McReynolds ; 18T4, James W. Kelly ; 1875, J. W. Kelly : 1876, J. W. Kelly ; 1877, J. W. Kelly ; 1878, J. W. Kelly ; 1879, J. W. Kelly. Philip Brown* is the present Justice of the Peace, and John W. Downey is a Police Magistrate in Topeka. Crane Creek 1862, James L. Hawks ; 1863, James L. Hawks ; 1864, J. L. Hawks ; 1865, J. L. Hawks ; 1866, Harvey O'Neal ; 1867, J. H. Baker ; 1868, H. O'Neal ; 1869, J. L. Hawks ; 1870, J. L. Hawks ; 1871, C. L. Acrnew; 1872, C. L. Agnew; 1873, N. R. Murdock ; 1874, J. L. Hawks; 1875, J. L. Hawks; 1876, J. L. Hawks; 1877, J. L. Hawks; 1878, W. J. Estep; 1879, J. L. Hawks. The Justices of the Peace now in office are John Yardly and John T. Tomlin. Allen's Grove 1862, James Legg ; 1863, James Legg ; 1864, Jonathan Corey ; 1865, Isaac Reed ; 1866, Isaac Reed ; 1867, James Legg ; 1869, James Legg; 1870, James Legg; 1871, William M. Duffey ; 1872, William M. Duffey ; 1873, W. M. Duffey ; 1874, William Smith ; 1875, William Smith ; 1876, E. W. Nelson ; 1877, E. W. Nelson ; 1878, E. W. Nelson ; 1879, B. W. Taylor. Justices of the Peace, Albert McCallister and John M. Cathcart ; C. J. Dillon, Police Magistrate in San Jose. Manito 1862, Matthew Langston ; 1863, M. Langston ; 1864, M. Lang- ston ; 1865, M. Langston ; 1866, William M. Ganson ; 1867, William M. "Ganson; 1868, William M. Ganson; 1869, J. G. Spates; 1870, J. G. Spates; 1871, William Rodgers ; 1872, M. W. Rodgers ; 1873, M. W. Rodgers ; 1874, H. F. Briggs ; 1875, H. F. Briggs, Chairman ; 1876, M. Langston ; 1877, M. Langston ; 1878, M. Langston ; 1879, J. C. Perkins. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is William B. Robinson. Ruloff S. Aiken is Police Magis- trate in Manito. Mason City 1862, R. A. Hart ; 1863, B. A. Rosebrough ; 1864, John S. Wilbourn, Chairman ; 1865, J. S. W T ilbourn, Chairman ; 1866, J. L. Hastings, resigned, and C. Hume appointed in his place, January 28, 1867 ; 1867, C. Hume; 1868, J. S. Baner; 1869, Israel Hibbard ; 1870*, D. E. Lesourd : 1871, D. E. Lesourd; 1872,' William H. Mitchel ; 1873, D. E. Lesourd; 1874, Augustus Green, Chairman ; 1875, Patrick Norton ; 1876, B. A. Rosebrough ; 1877, B. A. Rosebrough; 1878, B. A. Rosebrough, Chairman; 1879, B. A. Rosebrough, Chairman. Justices of the Peace, John P. Hudson and Israel Hibbard. Joseph C. Johnson is the Police Magistrate for Mason City. Forest City which was named "Mason Plains" until 1874 1862, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1863, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1864, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1865, S. H. Inger- soll ; 1866, W. A. McHarry ; 1867, S. H. Ingersoll : 1868, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1869, D. C. White ; 1870, D. C. White ; 1871, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1872, S. H. Ingersoll; 1*873, S. H. Ingersoll; 1874, S. H. Ingersoll: 1875, S. H. Inger- soll ; 1876, S. H. Ingersoll ; 1877, S. H. Ingersoll Mr. Ingersoll died ^ovem- J>er 30, 1877, and S. T. Walker was appointed to fill the vacancy 1878, S. T. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 438 Walker ; 1879, S. T. Walker. The present Justices of the Peace are Thomas H. Gibson and Mayfield Gordon. Pennsylvania 1862, John Mathers; 1863, D. V. Benscoter; 1864, D. V. Benscoter ; 1865,- D. V. Benscoter ; 1866, D. L. Ray ; 1867, J. H. Mathews ; 1868, John W.Pugh; 1869, J. W. Pugh; 1870, J. W. Pugh, Chairman; 1871, John W. Pugh, Chairman ; 1872, J. W. Pugh, Chairman ; 1873, J. W. Pugh, Chairman; 1874, W. E. Dolcater; 1875, G. W. Benscoter; 1876, J. W. Pugh, 1877, John W. Pugh ; Chairman ; 1878, J. W. Pugh : 1879, J. W. Pugh. The present Justices of the Peace are James M. Harris and Andrew J. Gates. Sherman was organized September 12, 1866, with the name of " Jackson Township," which was changed to Sherman on the 28th of January, 1867. Supervisors 1867, M. H. Lewis, Chairman ; 1868, M. H. Lewis, Chairman ; 1869, M. H. Lewis, Chairman ; 1870, M. A. Kisler ; 1871, Thomas Lucas ; 1872, Thomas Lucas ; 1873, T. Lucas ; 1874, Alfred Athey ; 1875, Alfred Athey; 1876, Alfred Athey ; 1877, A. Athey; 1878, Alfred Athey; 1879, Alfred Athey. The only Justice of the Peace now in office is Isaac W. Depue. Kilbourne, the youngest of the thirteen townships, was organized in 1873. Her first Supervisor was, in 1873, A. S. Blakely ; 1874, A. S. Blakely : 1875, A. S. Blakely; 1876, A. S. Blakely; 1877, William Dwyer; 1878, James M. Hardin ; 1879, J. M. Hardin. The Justices of the Peace now serving are J. S. Bingham and C. L. Newell. COUNTY OFFICERS. At the time of the organization of the county, in 1841, to the time of the adoption of the constitution, in 1848, the county business was transacted by three County Commissioners, one of whom was elected annually on the first Monday of August, at which time all county and State elections were held. The probate business was transacted by a " Probate Justice of the Peace," elec- ted once in four years. The real estate records were kept by a County Recorder, elected once in four years, until after the adoption of the constitution, in 1848, when the Circuit Clerk became an ex officio County Recorder. Sheriffs were also ex officio County Collectors of taxes, and continued to be until the adoption of township organization, in 1862. Assessments for taxes were made by County Assessors, elected every two years, who were also ex officio County Treasurers, to the time township organization was adopted. COUNTY COMMISSIONEB8. The following is a list of the County Commissioners of Mason County, giv- ing the dates of their election and time they served, viz.: April 5, 1841, George T. Virgin, three years; April 5. 1841, Robert Faulkner, two years ; April 5, 1841, Albert J. Field, one year ; August, 1841, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1842, John R. Chaney, three years; August, 1843, Abner Baxter, throe years ; August, 1844, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1845, Robert M< Reynolds, three years; August, 1846, Henry Norris, three years; August, 434 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 1847, Amos Smith, three years ; August, 1848, Robert McReynolds, three years : August, 1849, Henry Norris, three years. The County Commissioners' Court was abolished in 1849, and County Court established, consisting of ;i County Judge and two Associate Justices of the Peace. COUNTY COURT JUDGES AND ASSOCIATES. November, 1849, Smith Turner was elected County Judge, and John Pem- berton and Robert McReynolds, Associate Justices of the Peace ; 1853, N. J. Rockwell was elected County Judge, David Corey and John H. Daniels, Asso- ciates. Mr. Corey died in February, 1853, and H. C. Burnham was elected in April to fill the vacancy; 1857, George H. Campbell was elected County Judge, John D. Corey and Joseph A. Phelps, Associates. Judge Campbell resigned September 1, 1858, and Robert McReynolds was elected to fill the vacancy ; 1861, Joseph A. Phelps was elected County Judge, John D. Corey and B. A. Rosebrough, Associates. This terminated the County Court as then organized, being superseded by township organization in 1862. COUNTY JUDGES. Under township organization, the County Judges have been as follows: 1862, Joseph A. Phelps, balance of term for which he was elected ; 1865, Matthew Langston, elected and served four years ; 1869, Henry Warner, elected and served four years ; 1873, John A. Mallory, elected and served four years; 1877, John A. Mallory, elected and still holding the office. PROBATE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. John Camp was first elected to the office, and served from 1841 to 1842. In 1842, Hoag Sherman was elected Probate Justice of the Peace. In 1843, John Camp was elected and served until 1847. In 1847, Smith Turner was elected and served until the office was abolished, in 1849. COUNTY CLKRKS Joseph A. Phelps was the first County Clerk elected, April 5, 1841, and was removed by the County Commissioners' Court in September. George W. Fielding was appointed County Clerk in September, 1841, and served until August, 1842. J. A. Phelps was again elected in 1842, and served one year. In 1843, J. A. Phelps was elected the third time, and served until 1847. In 1847, Adolph Krebaum was .elected, and served two years. In 1849, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, under the Constitution of 1848, and served four years. In 1853, I. N. Onstott was elected, and served until his death, Novem- ber 7, 1856. November 7, 1856, Adolph Krebaum was appointed County Clerk by Judge Rockwell, to serve until December, when he was elected for the balance of the term. 1857, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, and served four years as County Clerk. 1861, Adolph Krebaum was again elected, for the fifth time, and served four years more. 1865, William W. Stout was elected and served until his death, September 4, 1869 ; Samuel Elliott was appointed by Judge Warner to fill out the vacancy. 1869, Isaac Newton Mitchell w;is HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 435 elected Clerk, and served four years. 1873, William M. Ganson was elected Olerk, and served four years. 1877, William M. Ganson was again elected Clerk, without opposition ; still in office. CIRCUIT CLERKS. Joseph A. Phelps was appointed the first Circuit Clerk, by Judge S. H. Treat, in/December, 1841, and served until his successor was appointed, in 1845.^* Franklin S. D. Marshall was appointed Circuit Clerk by Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, May 24, 1845, and served until his successor was elected, in 1848. John S. Wilbourn was elected Circuit Clerk and ex officio Recorder in 1848. and served four years. J. S. Wilbourn was again elected Circuit Clerk in 1852, and served four years longer. 1856, Richard Ritter was elected Cir- cuit Clerk, and served four years. 1860, Orlando H. Wright was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1864, John H. Havighorst was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1868, George A. Blanchard was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1872, Leonard Schwenk was elected Circuit Clerk, and served four years. 1876, Leonard Schwenk was again elected Circuit Clerk, and is still in that office. COUNTY RECORDERS. Smith Turner was elected at the first election, in 1841, and served until September 7, 1843. Leroy S. Jones was elected in August, 1843, and served until the office was abolished, in 1848. SHERIFFS. Francis Low was the first Sheriff elected at the organization of the county, in 1841. 1842, Francis Low was again elected, and served two years longer. 1844, Isaac H. Hodge was elected by one vote over Kean Mahoney, and the race was run over again, when Hodge won the second heat by one vote. 1846, Isaac H. Hodge was again elected, and, at the end of his term, proved to be a defaulter. 1848, John H. Havighorst was elected, and served two years. 1850, Robert Elkins was elected, and served two years. 1852, Robert H. Walker was elected, and served two years. 1854, James H. Hole was elected, and served two years. 1856, J. Price West was elected, and served two years, and ended a defaulter. 1858, John H. Havighorst was again elected for two years. 1860, Joseph Y. Hanthorn was elected, and served two years. 1862, John H. Havighorst was elected for the third time, and served two years. 1864, James L. Hastings was elected, and served two years. 1866, Lambert M. Hillyer was elected for two years. 1868, David B. Phelps was elected, and served two years. 1870, John H. Cleveland was elected, and served two years. 1872, Lambert M. Hillyer was again elected for two years. 1874, Lambert M. Hillyer was elected the third time, and served two years. 1876. Joseph H.-irt- zell was elected, and served two years. 1878, Joseph Hartzell was again elected and is still in office. 436 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. ASSESSORS ANl) TREASURERS. The following is a list of the names of those who served, together with the amounts paid them for making the county assessments : April 5, 1841, Ira Patter- son was elected, and was paid for the assessments, in 1841, $24.50. For the year 1842, $82. "Ira Patterson was an early settler on Salt Creek, was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1838, and some years afterward, removed to Oregon Ter- ritory, and after it became a State, was elected Governor of Oregon ! 1843, Thomas Hubbard was paid for thirty-six days' assessing, $72. It does not appear from the records whether he was elected or not. 1844, George H. Campbell was paid for forty-three days' assessing, $86. In 1845, he was paid for that service, $53.50. 1846, George H. Campbell was elected; allowance for assessment that year, $160. 1847, he was paid, for assessing, $124. 1848, Samuel Cannon was paid, for assessing, $150. 1849, he was paid $197.96, for assessing. 1850, John Cooper was paid, for assessing, $164.60. 1851, he was paid for that work $180. 1852, Joseph F. Benner was paid for assessing, $200. 1853, he was paid for same work, $185. 1854, Robert McReynolds was paid for assessing, $270. 1855, he was paid for that work, $272.50. 1856, Robert McReynolds was paid for assessing, $262.50. 1857, he was paid $232.50, for that work. 1858, Joseph Statler was paid for assessing, $185. 1859, he was paid for assessing, $203.75. 1860, John R. Teney was paid for assessing, $278. 1861, he was paid for that service, $405, and T. J. Kemper, for Assistant Assessor, $107.50, and J. H. Schulte, for assessing personal property, $52.50. This was the last year of the County Assessor's work. COUNTY TREASUREHS Under township organization, the County Treasurers have been : 1861, J. D. W. Bowman ; 1863, Selah Wheadon ; 1865, Benjamin A. Rosebrough : 1867, Isaac Newton Mitchel ; 1869, Benjamin West; 1871, Benjamin West, who died in August, 1873, leaving the office a defaulter; 1873, Marcellus Dear- born was appointed, and served balance of term after the death of West; 1873. Samuel Bivens was elected, and served ; 1875, Samuel Bivens was again elected : 1877, Samuel Bivens was elected for the third time, and is now in office. SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. Since the organization of the county, the following persons have filled that office: 1841, George N. Walker; 1843, John L. Turner; 1848, E. B. Harp- ham; 1851, Samuel C. Conwell; 1854, Richard Ritter; 1857, Orlando H. Wright : 1859, Selah Wheadon ; 1 861, W. E. Kenox ; 1863, William Warnock, Jr. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS. For 1865, H. H. Moose ; 1869, H. H. Moose, resigned in 1872 ; 1872, S. M. Badger appointed to fill vacancy ; 1873, S. M. Badger elected ; 1877, S. M Badger still in office. COUNTY SURVEYORS . For 1841, Patrick W. Campbell ; 1843, P. W. Campbell ; 1845, P. W. Campbell ; 1847, James Boggs ; 1849, James Boggs; 1851, William E. Dicks ; HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 437 1853, John M.Sweeney; 1855, E.Z. Hunt; 1857, P. W. Campbell ; 1859, Win. T. Newton ; 1861, John Donlin, resigned in 1862 ; 1862, P. W. Campbell elec- ted to fill vacancy ; 1863, P. W. Campbell ; 1865, Joseph C. Warnock ; 1867, John J. Fletcher; 1869, John R. Faulkner; 1871, John R. Faulkner; 1873, John R. Faulkner ; 1875, James Boggs, elected for four years under new law. CORONERS. For 1841, Jas. D. Averill ; 1842, John H. Neteler ; 1844, John H. Neteler : 1846, J. D. Averill ; 1848, John Adams ; 1850, John Adams ; 1852, Eli Thornburgh; 1854, James Boggs; 1856, William J. Odle; 1858, John McCor- mac; 1862, Lambert M. Hillyer; 1866, George W. Cole; 1868, Robert Mc- Reynolds ; 1870, Isaac L. Tinkham ; 1872, Isaac L. Tinkham ; 1874, Isaac L. Tinkham ; 1876, Isaac L. Tinkham ; 1878, Isaac L. Tinkham. CIRCUIT JUDGES. Judge Samuel H. Treat, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court and Pre- siding Judge of the Eighth Circuit, held the first term of court in Mason County at Havana, in the Ross Hotel, on the 12th of November, 1841. He appointed Joseph A. Phelps Circuit Clerk, and, in the absence of the Attorney General, appointed John D. Urquhart Attorney General, pro tempore. In two days, the docket was cleared of the thirty-eight cases thereon and court adjourned. Judge Treat held court two days in November, 1842, and disposed of thirty-eight cases on the docket ; on the 8th of June, 1843, he held court one day and disposed of the twenty cases on docket. This was his last term of court in Havana. June 6, 1844, Judge Treat held the first term of court in Bath, which was his last term of court held in Mason County. Judge Samuel D. Lockwood held the next term of court on the 23d and 24th of May, 1845, and appointed Frank- lin S. D. Marshall Clerk of the Court. He continued to hold court in Bath until the 19th of October, 1848, which was the last term held by Judge Lock- wood, and also of Marshall as Clerk. Judge David M. Woodson, of the First Circuit, held the next term of court in April, 1849, John S. W T ilbourn, Clerk. The last term of court in Bath was held by Judge Woodson, November 18, 1850. Judge William A. Minshall held the next term of court at Havana, on the 19th of May, 1851, Robert S, Blackwell,/ Prosecuting Attorney; J. S. Wilbourn, Clerk. The Judges that have presided in the Mason County Circuit Court since Judge Minshall, have been : Judge Pinckney H. Walker (now of the Supreme Court), elected in 1855 ; James Harriott, elected in 1861 ; Charles Turner, elected in 1867 ; Lyman Lacey, elected in 1873, and, at the organiza- tion of the Appellate Court, in 1877, was appointed one of the Appellate Judges in the Springfield District. Judge Lyman Lacy was again elected one of the Judges of the Thirteenth Judicial District in June, 1879, and has since been assigned to the Ottawa District as one of the Appellate Judges. STATE ATTORNEYS. The following is the list of State Attorneys within the Judicial Districts to which Mason County belonged, viz.: Robert S. Blackwell, elected in 184! : 438 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. John S. Bailey, elected in 1853 ; Hugh Fullerton, of Mason, elected in 1857 ; Hugh Fullerton, elected in 1861 ; C. A. Roberts, elected in 1865 ; Gas. Whit- ney, elected in 1869. OOUNTY ATTORNKYS> William H. Rogers was elected the first County Attorney, under the present law, in 1872, and served four years, leaving the office a defaulter. Thomas J. Mehan was elected County Attorney in 1876, and is still in office, in 1879. MASTEBS IN CHANCERY. The records do not show that we had any Master in Chancery before the appointment of F. S. D. Marshall, who served from an early date up to October, 1 1853. Date of appointment not known. Nathan Powell was the successor of Marshall, and served up to the year 1857 ; John S. Wilbourn was the successor of Powell, and served to the year 1861 ; George A. Blanchard was the successor of Wilbourn, and served one year and resigned ; J. F. Coppell was appointed in October, 1862, and served to October, 1865 ; George A. Blanchard was appointed in October, 1865, and served three years ; James M. Ruggles was -appointed in November, 1867, and served to January 29, 1869, when he resigned ; J. F. Coppell was appointed January 29, 1869, and served to August, 1875; John H. Havighorst was appointed in August, 1875, and still holds the office, in 1879. DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS. v Franklin S. D. Marshall, of Bath, was elected and served as a delegate in the Convention that formed the Constitution for the State of Illinois, in 1848 ; Orlando H. Wright, of Havana, was elected and served as a delegate in the Convention that formed the State Constitution, in 1870. MEMBERS OF THE STATE LEGISLATURE. Since the organization of the county, the following persons have been elected and served as members of the Illinois General Assembly : Senators. James M. Ruggles was elected to the Senate from the counties of Sangamon, Menard and Mason, in 1852, and served four years. At that time, the Legislature was composed of twenty-five Senators and seventy -five R epresentatives. Luther Dearborn was elected to the Senate from the district composed of Mason, Menard, Cass and Brown Counties, in 1876. The Legislature at this time is composed of fifty-one Senators and 153 Representatives. Representatives. In 1846, Michael Swing was elected a Representative in the Legislature, and served two years. In 1850, John Pemberton was elected a Representative in the Legislature, and served two years. In 1868, John M. Beesley was elected a Representative in the Legislature, and served two years. In 1870, Matthew Langston was elected a Representative in the Legislature, and served two years. In 1872, H. H. Moore was elected and served two HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 441 years as a Representative in the Legislature. In 1874, John Pugh was elected and served two years as a Representative in the Legislature. In 1876, Jacob Wheeler was elected a Representative, and served two years in the Legislature. In 1878, Jacob Wheeler was again elected a Representative, and is still a mem- ber of the Legislature, in 1879. AGRICULTURAL AND IMPLEMENTAL. At the time of the first settlement of Mason County, agriculture was in its infancy. The farmer was contented and happy if he raised enough wheat to bread his family, do his seeding, and perhaps spare a few bushels to his newly settled neighbor. There were no grain merchants in those days, with mammoth warehouses and elevators, with banks full of money with which to buy up the surplus products of the country. The ground was poorly plowed with wooden plows, slovenly scratched over with wooden-toothed harrows : the wheat was sown by hand, brushed in with a black-jack sapling, cut with a sickle, threshed on the ground by the tread of horses or oxen, and carried to mill and ground by the same animal power. The corn-ground was plowed in the same way, marked both ways with a single plow, planted with a hoe, and cultivated with hoes and single shovel-plows, a little larger than a man's hand. Truly, agriculture was in its infancy then, but the great and grand family of farm implements were not yet born into existence. The virgin soil, however, was generous to the hus- bandman, as the maiden with her first lover, and yielded bountifully with the least amount of cultivation. The people, in those fifty years ago, made their own houses out of the logs that grew in the forest, raised the corn and wheat that made their bread, hunted the deer and turkey when tired of bacon, and, when in want of honey, hunted up a bee-tree and cut it down. The women heaven bless them ! spun flax and wool, and made clothing for the family and themselves, and were just as happy in their linsey-woolsey dresses then, as now in their silks and satins. The hard work, hard living and plain dressing of those days, would cause the girls of our period to elevate their Grecian noses to a very sharp angle ; but it is well enough to remind them that these same women were, perhaps, their own grand- mothers, their cousins and their aunts, who thus toiled and spun " to lay the foundations of fortune, which enables them to live in luxury and elegance. The memory of those days is well preserved in the poetry of some backwoods bard, from which we quote : "The old log cabin, with its puncheon floor The old log cabin, with its clapboard door Shall we ever forget its moss-grown roof? The old rattling loom, with its warp and woof ? The old stick chimney, of ' cat ' and clay The old hearthstone, where we used to pray ? No ! we'll not forget the old wool wheel, Nor the hank on the old count-reel. 442 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. We'll not forget how we used to eat The sweet honeycomb with the fat deer-meat. We'll not forget how we used to bake That best of bread, the old johnny-cake." Tradition says the first innovations in agriculture and animal culture were introduced in this county by S. C. Conwell. In 1840, he brought from Indiana a drove of domestic animals of superior grade and sold them to the farmers at fabulous prices. Pigs were sold at $400 a pair ; calves, as high as $400 apiece ; cows, and cattle of the male persuasion, sheep and other animals, at correspond- ing rates. Like most pioneer benefactors, Conwell was victimized. The farm- ers to whom he had sold became dissatisfied with their stock. George Virgin had bought one of the $400 calves, and concluded it was a young elephant on his hands. He held a war council of his granger friends to- pass upon the quality of the blood that animated his calf. They examined it from head to tail, outside and inside, observed all the flesh marks, compared them with the putative sire, and, finally, pronounced it a fraud ! Mr. Conwell was arrested and taken before 'Squire Patterson (since Governor of Oregon) and bound over in $1,000 bond to appear at the bar of the Circuit Court of Mason County as a first-class criminal ! When the grand jury took the case in hand, Jesse Baker made them a speech in these words, as near as can be remembered : " You can't do nothin' with this young Jerusalem-over-taker ; he's too smart for ye, and ye'd better let him go." And the jury let him go, with but one objecting juryman. The jury let him go, but the reputation which this stock business gave him, with a certain class of people, hangs on to him to this day. Mr. Conwell made the first marker used in the county for corn-planting. The old way of plowing furrows and planting with a hoe was a little too much work for him. He got a saw and auger and old wagon-tongue, and made the original marker that 'laid off four rows instead of one, which was a great saving to a lazy man. Then he got an old spade and fastened on an old shovel-plow stock and made a jumper to cover the corn with. The neighboring people looked on and commented on "the lazy Yankee, with his fool notions;" but in a year or two these were established institutions. The old way of carrying a sack of wheat and sowing out of it by hand vexed the righteous soul of Con, and so he mounted an old horse, took the sack of wheat in front of him, tied a handkerchief over the horse's ears to keep the wheat out, and went on his way rejoicing in that better way which' he inaugurated. When the wheat was ready for thresh- ing, he sent to M. A. Bruce, living in Scott County, to bring his thresher and separator into Mason County, which was so far ahead of anything before seen that it brought joy into the hearts of the admiring grangers. -In the year of 1868, Mr. Connell contracted with Gen. Walker to do a job of prairie-breaking with a steam plow, made in England. The season was wet, the machine was too heavy like all English 'machinery but it demonstrated the fact that plowing can be well done and rapidly, too, by steam. Now there HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 443 are machines for doing all kinds of work, so that, with a little help, large crops can be raised and marketed. In Dakota, there is a wheat-grower who now has twenty steam threshing machines in his wheat-field, threshing wheat and deliver- ing it in wagons to be taken to the cars as fast as it is cut. In Havana, Mason City and other towns in the county there are houses doing a large and exclusive business in agricultural machinery of all kinds required by the most advanced agriculturist. There is a manufactory on Field's Prairie where the best wheat drill now in use is made to a limited extent by John L. Ashurst. There are two wagon and carriage factories in Havana, carried on by Mr. Warren and the Messrs. Yates, where considerable work is being done ; but the lack of more manufacturing establishments in the county is deplorable and a reproach to the enterprise of its people. MASON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. The first movement for the organization of an agricultural society was made in the year 1854, as will be seen from the following, which we find in the local laws of 1855 : "A meeting of the citizens of Mason County was held at the Court House in Havana, on Saturday, the 14th day of January, 1854, for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society. President, J. D. W. Bowman ; Secretary, J. M. Fisk. A constitution was submitted by S. C. Conwell, which, on motion of H, C. Mclntire, was read and adopted. On motion of H. C. Mclntire, J. M. Fisk was elected President ; and, on motion of S. C. Conwell, J. D. W. Bowman, Julius Jones and H. C. Mclntire were elected Vice Presi- dents. On motion, John Covington was elected Recording Secretary, and Fran- cis Low, Corresponding Secretary. On motion, Alexander Gray was elected Treasurer." Under this organization, annual fairs were held at Havana, in which the people manifested considerable interest up to the year 1858, when the Society was re-organized, as will be seen by the following record, taken from the County Court proceedings : " WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Illinois did, on the 8th day of February, 1857, enact-a general law for the incorporation of agricultural socie- ties within the State for the better government of the same, therefore, according to notice, the undersigned, legal voters of Mason County, met at the Court House in the town of Havana on Tuesday, the 8th day of June, 1858, for the purpose of organizing under the act of the Legislature and adopting a constitu- tion and by-laws for the Agricultural Society of Mason County. The meeting being called to order, A. D. Hopping was elected President, and John H. Hav- ighorst was nominated Secretary. On motion, it was " Resolved, That this Society be styled the ' Mason County Agricultural Society.' "Resolved, further, That the Constitution and By-Laws heretofore adopted by this Society be accepted and adopted without amendment. 444 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. "Resolved, further, That the persons elected as officers of the Mason County Agricultural Society, at their general meeting for the election of officers, to wit : A. D. Hopping, President ; A. Biggs, Samuel Rule and William Atwater, Vice Presidents ; John H. Havighorst, Recording Secretary ; Selah Wheaden, Cor- responding Secretary, and William Higbee, Treasurer, be and remain the officers of this Society for the ensuing year and until their successors are elected. " On motion of J. D. W. Bowman, it was resolved that the above proceedings be adopted. Carried. . "John Covington, J. P. "West, J. D. Hays, Judson R. Foster, H. B. McGehe, G. Walker, J. D. W. Bowman, J. H. West, S. C. Conwell, Reuben Heniger, W. Higbee, J. S. Wilbourn, J. H. Havighorst, C. J. Dilworth, C. W. Pierce, A. H. Bower, Joshua Thomas, John B. Seat, A. Nash, R. McReynolds, A. D. Hopping. " On motion, the meeting adjourned. A. D. HOPPING, President. "J. H. HAVIGHORST, Secretary." Under this new organization, the Society continued to the year 1872, when it was re-organized as a joint-stock company, with a capital of $10,000, under the name of the "Mason Countv Agricultural and Mechanical Association." ^ o The officers for the year 1872, the first under the new organization, were : President, James F. Kelsey, of Havana; Vice President, R. R. Simmons, Havana ; Secretary, John W. Jones, Havana ; Treasurer, Thomas Covington, Havana. The officers for 1878-79 are : President, Samuel Bivens ; Vice President, W. S. Dray ; Secretary, Samuel F. Kyle ; Treasurer, Thomas Covington ; Superintendent, W. H. Webb. The Society has had annual fairs from the beginning until 1860, when they were discontinued until 1866, since which time they have not failed. The most of these fairs have been very creditable to the people of the county, and the premiums have run as high as $2,000, or near thai amount : and there has not been an instance where they have not been paid in full, as we are informed by the officers, showing that the affairs of the Society have been conducted in an honorable way. The grounds are situated about a mile north of the city of Havana, with one of the best tracks for trotting in this part of the State. About $5,000 have been expended on the grounds. FARMING IN MASON COUNTY. Whole number of acres of land in Mason County 300,000 Number of acres of improved lands , 212,034 Number of acres of woodland in the county 34,532 Number of acres of corn in 1879 67,599 Number of acres of winter wheat in 1879: 8,056 Number of acres of spring wheat in 1879 852 Number of acres of oats in 1879 6,711 Number of acres of other kinds of crops in 1879 5,347 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 445 Number of acres of meadows in 1879 2,876 Number of acres of pasture in 1879 7,295 Number of acres of orchards in 1879 1,699 Number of cattle in 1879 6,554 Number of hogs in 1879 17,267 Number of sheep in 1879 533 Number of horses in 1879 12,039 Number of mules in 1879 2,156 CORN CROP OF 1877 AND 1878 IN MASON COUNTY. Acres in cultivation in 1877, 81,939; yield 16 bush, per acre; total crop. ..1,311, 024 Value of crop at 31 cents per bushel $406,417 Acreage in 1878, 61,454; yield per acre, 20 bushels; total 1,229,080 Value of crop at 25 cents per bushel $307,270 CROPS IN THE STATE. Acreage of the following crops for four past years in the State. 1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. Corn 8 189 914 8 810 791 7 627 735 8 672 088 Wheat 2 004,275 1 938,527 2,069,563 2,324,755 Oats 758,694 1,660 778 1,456,644 1,568,120 Meadows 2293,333 2 475,782 2 302,888 2 368,854 Pastures 4 219 347 4 289 918 3 760 071 3 983 459 Orchards 311,555 342,682 394,684 412,140 Other field products... 1.471.418 788,207 711.228 711.228 PRINCIPAL CROPS IN THE STATE. The following table shows the yield of the crops named and also the market value of the same for the years 1877 and 1878: ' 1877. 1878. 269 889 742 260 560 810 Winter Wheat, bushels 29 510 032 30 018 147 Spring Wheat bushels 2 980 524 3 870 251 Oats bushels... 67 145 983 62 096 388 Hav. tons... 4.044.969 4.255.471 Value 1877. 1878. Corn $77,552,879 34,960,824 3,041,258 16,269,647 21,971,368 14,764,112 3,589,672 22,738,881 $56,035,848 23,870,257 3,189,203 12,451,889 19,994,341 12,324,647 4,181,662 16,724,384 Winter Wheat Spring Wheat Oats Hav... Pasture Orchard Fruits Hog Products Total $204,898,641 1 $148,772,231 446 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. NO. OF ACRES, BUSHELS AND VALUE OF CORN CROP FOR EIGHTEEN YEARS. Year. 1860. 1861. 1862. 1863. 1864. 1865. 1866. 1867. 1868. 1869. 1870. 1871. 1872. 1873. 1874. 1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. No. Acres. 3,839,159 3,839,159 3,458,903 3,773,349 4,192,610 5,023,996 4,931 783 4,583,655 3,928,742 5,237,068 5,720,965 5,310,469 5,498,040 6,839,714 7,421,055 8,163,265 8,920,000 8,935,411 8,672,088 Average yield per acre. 30 30 40 22 33 35 31.6 23.8 34.2 23.2 35.2 38.3 39.8 21 18 34.3 25 30 29 Bushels. 115,174,770 115.174,770 138,356,185 83,013,681 138,356,135 177,095,852 155,844,350 109,091 000 134,363,000 121.oOO.000 201,378,000 203,391,000 217,628,000 143,634,000 133,579,000 280,000,000 223,000,000 269,889,742 250,560,810 Price per Bushel. 24 23 62 75 29i 43 68 43 57 35 32 24 32 56 34 31 28 22 Total Value. $48,944,277 27,641,944 32,821,911 51,479,44'^ 103,767,101 51,800,536 67,013,070 74,281,880 57,776,090 69,255,000 70,482,300 65,085,120 52,230,720 45962,880 74,804,290 95,200,000 69,130,000 77,562,879 56,035,842 STATE CROPS FOR 1879. Whole number of acres land within the State 35,200,000 Number of acres of improved land in the State 25,838,072 Number of acres of woodland in the State 5,607,990 Number of acres of corn in the State for the year 1879 89,965,761 Number of acres of winter wheat in the State in 1879 2,075,585 Number of acres of spring wheat in the State in 1879 290,213 Number of acres of oats in the State in 1879 1,448,562 Number of acres of other kinds of crops in the State in 1879 711,228 Number of acres of rye in the State in 1879 246,120 Number of acres of meadow in the State in 1879 2,179,122 Number of acres of pasture in the State in 1879 4,157,320 Number of acres of orchards in the State in 1879 412,140 Number of cattle in the State in 1879 1,722,057 Number of hogs in the State in 1879 2,814,532 Number of sheep in the State in 1879 762,788 Number of horses in the State in 1879 881,951 Number of mules in the State in 1879 122,348 LIVE STOCK AND DAIRY. The following are the statistics for the year 1877 : Number of fat cattle sold in the State 423,984 Average gross weight, per head of cattle sold 1,057 Number of fat hogs sold 2,455,573 Average gross weight,.per head of hogs sold 252 Number of hogs and pigs died of cholera 1,445,268 Average gross weight of swine died of cholera 74 Number of fat sheep sold 241,422 Average weight of same '. 96 Number of sheep killed by dogs in the State 39,649 Average value per head of same $2.29 Number of pounds of wool shorn 3,291,677 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 447 DAIRY. Number of cows kept in the State 556,466 Pounds of butter sold 18,970,227 Pounds of cheese sold 4,502,671 Gallons of cream sold 2,744,259 Gallons of milk sold 17,124,506 CLIMATOLOaY. The seasons, like many other things, run in cycles not always of the same duration but observation, extending over the last forty years, has satisfied the observer that dry, or moderately dry, periods, continue not longer than seven years. The earth, that is called inanimate, has many of the characteristics of the animated being. It cannet run more than seven years and maintain its reputation for cleanliness and healthfulness, without having a bath ; and, the bath being ordered, the rains descend, until the big, rounded form of old Mother Earth has had a good washing and cleansing from the impurities that accumulate. The year of 1844 was a flood year. In the month of June, there was more water upon the face of the earth, in the Western country, than ever known since the days of Noah's flood. The seasons then ran along in their usual course until the year 1851, when much water fell. The next wet spell was in about seven, or possibly eight, years. The years 1867 and 1868, ending in the spring of 1869, were very Avet years in this region of country, piling up the waters on the lowlands so that the muskrats had to build high houses to keep above water. The last wet spell began in July, 1876. Being the centennial year, there was a high old time, drowning out all the corn on the lowlands, and keeping up the spree for two long years ! The valleys and sand hills were all filled with water, and the seepage from the higher to the lower lands caused lakes of water to be formed, and whole neighborhoods to be inundated in some parts of the county where water was never seen before. The sand hills take in the water unlike clay hills, that run it off' and when the water gets down to hard pan, or clay strata, it flows out to the lowest ground it can find. Having said something in favor of the periodic theory, it has been further observed that when the dry periods occur in the Eastern Continent, we have our wet seasons in the Western Continent, and vice versa. During the past two years, when we were so flooded with water that we would have been glad to have given it away, there have been some fearful famines in Asia and other parts, produced by the want of rain, that fell where it was not wanted. The ch'ange has already set in that will probably reverse this order. England and the East- ern Continent have this year been deluged with water falling from the clouds. Thus it may be observed that Mother Earth, in taking her bath, washes but one side at a time, and it may be further observed that the law of compensation is ever asserting itself in the adjustment of Nature's divine order, by action and re-action, which is the safetv-valve of the universe. 448 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Planets move in cycles, also, making revolutions in regular periods of time, as do the seasons, too. The tides are periodic, and many of the malarial dis- eases are periodic, as the doctors will tell you. There are numerous and gor- geously grand geysers in the Territory of Wyoming, spouting forth immense volumes of water hot, cold and tepid to the height of the tallest tree-tops, and all of them are perfectly periodic some long and some short but all prompt and regular in their own time, like the breathing of animals. The earth has many of the characteristics of an animal. The rise and fall of the tide once every twelve hours is but the respiration of the huge animal upon which we live ; the great rivers of water that have their internal pass way, as well as those that flow upon the surface, are .only the arteries and the veins that supply the life-blood to the animal ; the great mountain range that extends the whole length of the globe from north to south is only the backbone of the animal ; the mountains that swell up from the body of the earth are but moles and warts on that body ; the great fountain of oil that lies in the bowels of the earth is what the plain-spoken butcher would call "gut-fat ;" the thunders that roll across the vaulted heavens are but the electric sparks that snap and fly from the Thomas-cat's back ; the shrubs and trees that grow upon the globe are but the hair and bristles that cov^er and clothe the body of the great animal ; the mutterings and rumblings of the earthquake are only the eructions and dis- turbances in poor Earth's bowels, and the opening of the huge crater, vomiting forth fire, ashes, stones and red-hot lava, what is that but the discharge of an overloaded and disordered stomach that may have taken in too much unwhole- some food, or, perhaps, too much strong drink? Now, who shall say that the earth is not as much an animal as it is a vegetable or mineral substance ? and who can maintain that the myriads of animals that creep, crawl, leap and fly over the earth's surface, and the millions of men who stand erect upon that same ground, are anything more than parasites that feed and fatten upon the body and blood of this same good old Mother Earth ? And where is the man of science who will undertake to controvert the theorem that this living, moving earth is the "connecting link " that unites man with beast, and feeds and nour- ishes all from the bountiful bosom of one common motherhood ? GEOLOGICAL. The eastern portion of Mason County lying east of Crane Creek and includ- ing the greater portions of Crane Creek, Salt Creek, Mason City, Allen's Grove and Pennsylvania Townships, varies in its formation from the balance of the county. It is a high, undulating prairie, and the soil is generally a rich, brown mold, varying in quantity of clay mixed in the soil, but all containing much more than the balance of the county. There is a small body of timber on the east of Crane Creek, and also on the skirts of the Sangamon River and Salt Creek. There are small bodies of timber in Lease's Grove, and also in Allen's Grove, the balance of the territory being mostly high, rolling prairie. The HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 449 remainder of the county varies very materially in its formation and topography. The prairies are mostly low and flat, and in many places were originally over- flowed, and in places marshy during the wet season of the year. The soil of these prairies is a rich alluvium, generally more or less mixed with sand r which forms, when sufficiently elevated or drained, the best producing soil in the State. These prairies are interspersed with sand ridges some of them quite high and some of them covered with an indifferent growth of timber. One of these timbered sand ridges extends from the Sangamon, north, to the Quiver some fifteen miles passing up on the east side of Kilbourne and Havana Town- ships, and varying from one to three miles in width. Another sand ridge passes from the Sangamon to the north line of Bath, on the east side of Bath Town- ship. Another sand ridge, with timber on it, extends from the Quiver, near Forest City, to the north line of the county. These lands are considered of a, poor quality by reason of the excessive quantity of sand mixed with the soil ; but there are many things that they will produce, and in time they will be put irv cultivation. Field's Prairie, about three miles wide and six long, lies between the first two ridges of timber above described, and is one of the richest and handsomest garden spots that a crow ever flew over. There are other localities where the land is equally good, but none where the locality is so picturesque and inviting to the farmer. The upper end of the prairie needs drainage to bring it to the highest state of perfection. Much remains to be done in the way of drainage in nearly all of the townships to bring the land into a high arid safe state of cultivation, and when it is done, no other land will excel it in richness and productiveness. Owing to this peculiar formation, soil and topography of a large portion of the county, the crop yield is dependent very much upon the condition of the weather, and will continue so until a more perfect system of drainage is adopted and carried out. The richest and best lands of a portion of the county are so level that, in wet seasons, the natural drainage is not sufficient to carry off the surplus water ; consequently, in wet years these lands are more or less non-productive. In the dry years, the high, sandy lands, for want of moisture, dry out, parch up and destroy vegetation to a greater or less extent, so that, in the dry years, the full crops are on the flat lands and in the wet years upon the high lands, where there is so much sand that a stranger to the soil would think nothing could grow. Of course, the best lands are those sufficiently elevated for drainage and containing enough and not too much sand mixed in the loam. There is more or less of this kind of land in all the townships of the county. Without drainage, the eastern portion of the county is considered best on account of being high and undulating. It is remarkable how much life and vigor is imparted to the soil by a plenti- ful supply of sand. If " heat is life and cold is death," we are certainly blessed with a lively life-giving soil. The sun's rays, striking upon the particles of sand. 450 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. produce a warmth that starts vegetation very early in the season and drives it on to maturity with great rapidity. In ordinary seasons, when the frost does not come too early, corn planted as late as July matures and produces well. There have been years when Mason County supplied the country round, in the State and out of it, with the seed which they could get nowhere else, because our corn always ripens and is always ready to grow in consequence of the life and vigor imparted to it by the fructifying influence of sun rays and sand. Mason County is noted for the superior quality of its wheat, when in a wheat-growing period, which runs in cycles. For a series of years, all wheat sown does well because the elements that it requires in its growth are in the soil. When these elements become exhausted, wheat will not do well until a new sup- ply is accumulated. But in corn there is no failure or let-up ; it is always up arid a-coming; and melons, sweet potatoes and all kinds of products requiring much warmth in development find no rival in other soils. Watermelons are generally in market by the middle of July, and in virgin soil they grow to an enormous size. They are often seen as long as a barrel, and have sometimes kicked the beam at sixty pounds ! RAILROADS. ILLINOIS RIVER RAILROAD. As early as the year 1850, J. M. Ruggles began the talk for this road, and, after the removal of the county seat from Bath, he become actively engaged in the enterprise, hoping thereby to make amends for what Bath had lost in the county seat. In the year 1852, Mr. Ruggles was elected to the State Senate from Sangamon, Menard and Mason, and at the first session in 1853, he prepared and secured the enactment of the charter under which the road was built. Under this charter, J. M. Ruggles was made the chief corporator, and immedi- ately went to work and procured subscriptions of over $100,000, unaided by a single individual, and organized a company under the charter. Almost every man on the line of the road in Mason County made liberal subscriptions, and among the subscriptions was one of $50,000 by the county, as will be seen in the county records, as follows : " December 5, 1853. This day came J. M. Ruggles and presented a petition for the court to order an election in the county for taking $50,000 stock in the Illinois River Railroad, bonds to run twenty years and draw 8 per cent interest. The court ordered an election to be held on the second Saturday in January, 1854." At this election, the vote for sub- scription was carried by a very decided majority, and the organization was com- pleted some time afterward. At the first election, Judge William Thomas, of Morgan County, R. S. Thomas, of Cass County ; J. M. Ruggles and Francis Low, of Mason County, and Joshua Waggonseller, of Tazewell, were elected Directors, and R. S. Thomas was elected President ; M. H. L. Schooley, Secretary, and Thomas Plasters, Treasurer. With some changes, not now remembered, this directory HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 451 continued until the road changed its name and ownership. Mr. Low was Pres- ident for a short time, and also Treasurer, and James H. Hole was also Treasurer. B. S. Prettyman was a Director in the later years of the Company, and H. O'Neal for one year. On the 25th of December, 1856, the county of Mason took $50,000 addi- tional stock in the road. In July, 1857, the town of Havana took $15,000 stock in the road and the town of Bath took $10,000 stock about the same time. Cass County took $100,000 stock in the road, and Morgan County took $50,000 stock. The city of Pekin also took stock. The building of railroads in those days was hard work, and every body had to do their level best. W. G. Wheaton, of Peoria, was the first engineer employed, and soon devel- oped a disposition to locate depots and speculate in town lots. He contracted for land a mile south of Manito and a mile south of Forest City, and proceeded to lay out towns of large proportions at these places, with a view to speculation. This led to a fierce conflict between him and J. M. Ruggles, as the newspapers of that time will show, and finally ended in the discharge of Wheaton and the employment of another engineer. The selection of depot grounds and stations in Mason County was afterward put into the hands of J. M. Ruggles, who located the depot at Manito and gave the name to the town. He also located the depots at Forest City, Topeka, Havana and Bath, and the towns which Wheaton had laid out were obliterated and wiped out so effectually that their names are no more remembered. The contract was let in May, 1857, for grading, bridging and furnishing cross-ties between Pekin and Jacksonville, a distance of about seventy miles. Allen & McGrady, of Indiana, became the contractors, and the work began at Bath in September, 1857, and was pushed forward rapidly until completed from Pekin to Virginia, in 1859. Te section from Pekin to Peoria was completed in 1864, and from Virginia to Jacksonville in 1869, since which time the road has done a heavy business. The following extracts are taken from the Havana Herald of September 11, 1857, edited by W. W. Stout: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The election of Directors of the Illinois River Railroad took place at Chandlerville on Sat- urday of last week. A large number of persons were present on the occasion, and an amount of stock was represented equal to $350,000. Considerable interest was manifested among those present in regard to who should be elected to the directory, and as to how they should be appointed. But after the manifestation of considerable feeling in regard thereto, matters were finally arranged, as we presume, to the entire satisfaction of all parties. Judge Thomas was elected Director of Morgan County, R. S. Thomas for Cass, J. M. Ruggles for Bath, Frank Low for Havana and Joshua Waggonseller for Tazewell. The selection of a more efficient Board of Directors could not have been made. They are the very best men to be found along the line of the road, and their selection will meet the approbation of a large majority of the citizens of the different counties through which the road will pass, and give renewed confidence to the friends of this great improvement. After the election, the new Board held a short session and chose Jnmes H. Hole, of Havana, to be the Treasurer of the Company, and M. H. L. Schooley, 452 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Secretary. The Board then adjourned to meet again in Havana on the third Saturday of the present month. THE RAILROAD. It is with no small degree of satisfaction that we inform our readers that active operations have commenced on the Illinois River Railroad at this place. At the present time, between forty and fifty men and some dozen teams are busily at work in despoiling the enormous sand hill, which has so long been an eyesore to the citizens of this place, of its huge dimensions, and they are now hauling away the dirt and making fills therewith on other portions of the road. The citizens of our town seem to manifest an extraordinary interest in the work, judging from the fact that all the shady spots in near proximity to where the work is going on are constantly occu- pied all day long by persons who seem to contemplate, with immense satisfaction, its progress. The enormous sand-hill is rapidly giving way before the " Mickeys," and it is a great pity but the road had been located through the center of it, for the Railroad Company, in making exca- vations for the road, would have done more for the benefit of the town, more toward improving the appearance thereof, in three months' time than the town Council would be able to do in the next three years. During the war, the road changed hands by reason of a foreclosure of first mortgage, and the name was changed to that of the " Peoria, Pekin & Jackson- ville Railroad," and has for years been operated for that Company by John Allen and J. F. Kelsy, Vice President of the road, who have given general sat- isfaction in their management. Something like a year ago, the road went into the hands of a receiver Mr. John Allen who continues to operate the road to this time. The controlling interest of the road has recently passed into the hands of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Company. What that control may develop, when in possession, depends upon the hereafter. The entire length of the road is eighty-three miles, mostly steel rails. The stations that have been located and built up on the line of the road are : Manito, Forest City, Bishop's, Topeka, Havana, Bath and Saidora. Length of road in Mason County, thirty-six miles ; length of side-track, three miles ; standard gauge. CHICAGO & ALTON RAILROAD JACKSONVILLE BRANCH. This road was first projected as the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, incorpo- rated in 1857, of which Richard Yates was President up to the date of his elec- tion as Governor, in 1860. In 1862, it was consolidated with the Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis Railroad Company, and W. Or. Green, of Menard, was the first President of the consolidated company. He was succeeded by George Straut, of Peoria. The road was leased to the C. & A. road, April 30, 1868, by whom it has been operated since that date. For several years, the line of road was operated from Jacksonville to Petersburg. In 1867, it was extended to Bloomington, reaching Mason* City in June and Bloomington on the 23d of September, 1867. The length of roa'd through Mason County is twelve miles ; standard gauge, and, in all respects, first-class. SPRINGFIELD & NORTH-WESTERN RAILROAD. The charter for this road is dated March 24, 1869. The route is from Springfield, via Petersburg, to Havana forty-eight miles. The original HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 453 Directors were : John Williams and John T. Stuart, of Springfield ; William G. Green and William Estel, of Menard, and Hugh Fullerton and R. S. Moore, of Havana. Mason County subscribed $50,000 to the capital stock, and the town- ship of Havana took $25,000, and the individuals along the line of the road subscribed liberally. The work on the road began in 1871 and the road was completed in 1873. Kilbourne, Bowers & Co., of Iowa, were the contractors. Col. John Williams, of Springfield, made heavy advances to the contractors, and, in the end, finished up the road, became the largest owner of stock, and has opera- ted the road since its completion. The road finally went where most of the roads have gone in the past ten years into the hands of a receiver George N. Black, of Springfield and in the spring of 1879 it was sold to a new company, by whom it is now operated and of whom Col. Williams is President and largest owner. It is a well-managed road and is kept in good condition, doing a fair business for a short road. The length of road in Mason County, from the San- gamon River to Havana, is about thirteen miles ; standard gauge. W. M. Bacon and Mike Myers are the present popular conductors of the two trains that make daily trips over the road. The stations on the line of the road are : Sedan, Long Branch, Conover and Kilbourne. INDIANAPOLIS, BLOOMINOTON 4 WESTERN EXTENSION. This road was chartered in 1867, and extends from the city of Urbana to the city of Havana 101 miles and is designed to extend west to the Missis- sippi River. The original Directors for Mason County were : Judge Lyman Lacy and James H. Hole, of Havana. The county of Mason took $100,000 stock in the road; Havana, $40,000; Pennsylvania, $10,000, and Mason City, $25,000. The work of construction began in the year 1872 and the road was completed, in first-class manner, to Havana in 1873. This corporation traveled the usual road to bankruptcy, and, after remaining two or three years in the hands of a receiver, was sold in 1879 to a new company, who are, at this date, preparing to complete "the bridge at Havana and to extend the road to the Mississippi. The road is an important one to Mason County, extending the entire length of the county from east to west, passing through Mason City, Teheran, Easton, Biggs, Poplar City, to Havana twenty-six miles crossing the C. & A. at Mason City and the S. & N.-W. and the P., P. & J. at Havana. Jack Caldwell is a well-known and popular conductor on the road, and it has generally been well managed. HAVANA, RANTOUL A EASTERN NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD. This line of narrow gauge road was projected in the year 1873. It has been built and is now in successful operation from the east line of .the State to Leroy, in McLean County, a distance of sixty miles. A company has recently been organized in Mason County to build the road from Havana to San Jose, on the east line of the county, and the greater part of the stock has been taken in order to secure this section of the road. Francis Low is President of the 454 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Company ; W. H. Campbell, Vice President ; E. A. Wallace, Secretary, and Bentley Buxton, Treasurer. This road is a part of a narrow-gauge line designed to extend east to Toledo, Ohio, and west through Iowa. So far as built, it has proved very popular and has made money for the stockholders. It is three-feet gauge. FULTON COUNTY HARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD. This road is designed as an extension of the Havana & Rantoul road, through Fulton County. It is already graded and ready for the ties from Lew- istown to Havana, and will be in operation within the year 1879. VERMONT & HAVANA NARROW-GAUGE ROAD. This is a projected road, intended to connect with the narrow-gauge road at Havana, and will be built as soon as an eastern outlet is secured. The number of miles of railroad already built in Mason County is eighty- seven, and the assessed value of the same is $317,965. The cost of building these roads was something over $1,000,000. The county debt incurred in the building of these roads is $153,500, and the value of the property in the county taxed to pay interest on this debt is $5,504,263. The township railroad debts are: Havana, $50,000 ; Mason City, $25,000 ; Pennsylvania, $10,000, and Sherman, $7,000, making the total railroad debt of the county and townships, $245,500. The total number of miles of railroad in the State of Illinois built previous to the present year is: Of main line, 6,594 ; side track, 985, making a total of railroad track in the State, 7,579, the assessed value of which for 1878 (includ- ing all railroad property) was $40,641,865. The total amount of railroad indebtedness of all the counties, townships, cities and towns within the State on the 30th of September, 1878, was $13,782,168. The total value of the tax- able property of the State at the same date was assessed at $857,235,762. NEWSPAPERS IN MASON COUNTY. The newspaper has become one of the most potent institutions in modern civilized communities. The daily paper gives to the reader each morning all the important events occurring in every enlightened country on the globe, which are eagerly devoured and digested with the matutinal meal ; and the reading person would about as soon dispense with the one as the other. The first newspaper printed in Mason County was in 1&51 the Mason County Herald edited and published by McKenzie & Roberts, in the town of Havana. In 1853, 0. H. Wright became the editor and proprietor of this paper. He was succeeded by E. L. Grubb, who sold out to Stout & Weeden in 1853. W. W. Stout afterward became the sole editor and proprietor, and, under his management, the Herald became a well-conducted and influential paper. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 455 We can only give the names of the papers and their proprietors that have followed each other in pretty rapid succession, without giving the dates or dura- tion of their several existences : The Squatter Sovereign, in Havana, by James M. Davidson, in 1859-61 ; the Havana Post, by John B. Wright, 1861 ; the Battle Axe, in Havana, by Robert L. Durdy, 1862 ; the Volunteer, in Havana, by W. W. Stout ; the True Unionist, in Havana, by S. Wheaden ; the Havana Gazette, by R. L. Durdy ; the Havana Ledger, by William Humphreyvilie ; the Journal, by J. J. Knapp. This paper was removed from Havana to Mason City and sold to W. S. Walker, who ran it awhile and sold out to Wells Cory. Mr. Cory has conducted the Mason City Journal for nine years with marked ability. The True Unionist and the Havana Ledger were consolidated into the Democratic Clarion, and, after being conducted for a time by Wheaden & Hum- phreyvilie, passed into the hands of Mr. Wheaden, who ran it, with his son, for a number of years, and sold out to J. C. Warnock, of Mason City, on the 10th of September, 1877, when the name was changed to the Mason County Demo- crat. On the 2d of August, 1878, Mr. Warnock sold out to Messrs. Mounts & Murdock, who continue the paper in a way that indicates enterprise and ability. The Havana Gazette, by D. G. Swan, is one of the defunct papers. The Bath Journal was started into existence in the town of Bath by W. W. Stout in 1860, and was afterward sold out to Stafford & Servos. It ended its. career during the war of the rebellion. The Mason City Times, by Haughey & Co., was the first paper started in that place. The first issue was dated December 25, 1866. The Mason City News, by Haughey & Walker had a short career. The Democratic Bugle, a campaign paper, by R. L. Durdy, gave a few blasts in the campaign of 1876, and then blowed out. The Independent, by Haughey & J. C. Warnock, is a well conducted paper in Mason City at this time. ' The Mason County Republican, published in Havana by C. B. Ketchum and edited by F. & C. B. Ketchum, has been in operation for seven years a long life for a Havana newspaper and, therefore, there has been merit in it.. COUNTY HISTORY AND RECORD inf. ol kid killed" Oapt .....Captain. m. o prisr re-e captured. Regt consolidation. 6,000 men, and enough of her sons went from other States to swell the roll to 290,000, far exceeding the total of all the soldiers who served in the Revolution- ary war that achieved our independence. The total period of service of these men was 600,000 years. The laws of Congress called for the able-bodied men between the ages of twenty and forty-five, but the Illi- noisans went in with their boys of eighteen and men of fifty and upward. The enroll- ment was excessive and the quota greater than in any other State. When Mr. Lincoln's attention was called to this injustice, he said, the country needs the sacrifice and we must put the whip on the free horse." But that was not necessary for enough were willing to go without the use of the whip. With one- hirteenth of the population of the loyal States, Illinois furnished one-tenth of all the soldiers that served in the war of the rebellion, and gave to the country, above all calls, 73,000 years of service. The mothers and daughters went into the fields, raised and harvested the crops, and the fathers and sons went into the battlefields to subdue the rebellious land and to reap in the harvest of death and deathless fame. In Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea, there were forty-five Illinois regiments of infantry, three companies of artillery and one regiment of cavalry. Knowing these men as he did, Mr. Lincoln replied to the fears and apprehensions as to the defeat of this army by saying, "It is impossible, there is a mighty sight of fight in a 100,000 Western men." Illinois soldiers raised the first Union flag over the city of Richmond, and brought home with them 300 battle-flags "all tattered and torn." She had the best War Governor of all the States, in the person of Gov. Yates. She furnished the greatest and best of all the Presidents during these perilous times, and she had the yet prouder distinction of furnish- ing the greatest military hero that the world has yet produced. MASON COUNTY, though producing no renowned warriors, has furnished her full quota of soldiers, and is entitled to her full share of the glory of the State. Within her borders were men who were rank Copperheads, opposed to the war, and Knights of the Golden Circle, but never- theless the county was far ahead of all calls HAVANA HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 459 for men, and furnished more than her share of the 290,000 soldiers belonging to the State. Of the Sons of Liberty a secret organization having for its object the release of rebel pris- oners, burning Northern cities, and the defeat of the Union armies Mason County had her share, small though it be. Their names are known, but, for the good reputation of the county, the sooner they are forgotten the bet- ter, and we shall not, therefore, mar this record with them. The population of Mason County, in I860, was 10,9*29, and the county record of enroll- ment shows, for the years 1861, 681 names; 1862, 1,869 names; 1863, 1,529 names; 1864, 1,69-5 names; 1865, 1,822 names. The quota of Mason County was, for 1861, 306; 1862, 210; 1863, 344; 1864, 265; mak- ing the total quotas to January 1, 1865, 1,125 ; total credits to same date, 1,514; excess of volunteers over all calls, 389. The enrollment for 1861 and 1862 is taken from the county record. The remaining items are taken from the records of the Adjutant General of the State. The county record shows the number of sol- diers furnished by the several townships in Mason County to be: Havana, 398; Bath, 350 ; Lynchburg, 73 ; Crane Creek, 61 ; Salt Creek, 59 ; Mason City, 108 ; Pennsylvania, 21 ; Forest City, 46; Quiver, 75; Manito, 119; Allen's Grove, 60; total, 1,370. This record is evidently very imperfect, for the reason that the list of soldiers whose names are given shows a total of 1,549 293 cavalry, and 1,256 infantry. The records in the State and in the county are very unsatisfactory, and the best evidence of the facts is to give the names of the officers and men, which are as correctly given as we have the means of making them. FIRST CAVALRY REGIMENT. Lieut. James M. Buggies, Bath, comd. Quartermaster of the Regiment June 17, 1861 ; trans, by prom, to Major of Third Cavalry Sept. 11, 1861. SECOND CAVALRY REGIMENT. Maj. Hugh Fullerton, Havana, comd. Aug. 30, 1869 ; resd. NOT. 19, 1863. Company B. Blakely, Wm. L., Mason City, e. March 14, 1861, Saddler ; trans, to Co. D, as consolidated. Martinie, Harvey, Salt Creek, e. March 31, 1864 ; trans, to Co. D, as consolidated. Wolf, Washington, Salt Creek, e. March 31, 1864 ; trans. to Co. D, as consolidated. Company C. Company C was organized at Havana July 28, 1861, by Capt. Hugh Fullerton, and ordered to Camp Butler. October 4, went to Cairo ; October 10, to Caledonia, where the command remained until March 30, 1862, when it moved to Hickmau, Ky., and there remained until June 7, when the regiment moved on to Union City, Tenn. June 10, went on picket duty on the Obion River ; July 4, returned to Union City; August 16, went in pursuit of the rebel Capt. Beauford, with 200 men. and chased him thirty miles to Merry- weather's Ferry, when the enemy was re-en- forced, and was fought for half an hour, kill- ing forty men, capturing sixteen prisoners and completely routing him. We lost Lieuts. Terry and Goodheart, one man killed and ten wounded. August 20, left Union City, and joined Lieut. Col. "Hogg at Dyersburg, and, after an eight days' scout, went into camp at Jackson, Tenn. September 8. went in pursuit of rebel Gen. Armstrong; September 9, to Bolivar ; September 27, to La Grange ; October 5, escorted Gen. Hurlbut to Hatchee River ; was in the action at Matamora, and was highly complimented by the General for good behavior in battle. October 19, our battalion had a skirmish with the Hay wood Rangers, at Wood- ville, and captured forty-five of them, and in four days, returned to camp with sixty prison- ers and one hundred captured horses. Nov- ember 4, went to La Grange, drove the enemy's pickets out. and occupied the place ; November 15, with other cavalry, reconnoitered toward Holly Springs ; met the rebel Gen Jackson at Lamar, Miss.; charged on his columns, killing 18, wounding 60, and capturing 130. Novem- ber 30, advanced on Holly Springs, the bat- talion taking the advance of Gen. Grant's army to Oxford, from whence it returned to Holly Springs, and was attacked, December 20, by rebel Gen. Van Dorn with 6,000 men, fighting him from 6 to 11 A. M., when our ammunition was exhausted, and we fell back to Coldwater Station, losing 7 killed, and 43 wounded. December 23, went in pursuit of Van Dorn, harassing his rear until the 29th, when we returned. December 30, went to Memphis and remained on duty until June 27, 1863, when we reported to Maj. Larrison; July 29, went to Fort Pillow ; August 1, went on scout to Denmark ; met rebel Col. Grier ; charged on him and routed his command, and returned August 10 ; August 19, went scouting, and, on the 27th of September, went to Union City, and were continually scouting until the 19th of November, when we went in pursuit of rebel Maj. Sol Street; on the 20th, caught up with him at Merry weather's Ferry ; charged him, killing 11, capturing 40 prisoners, 60 horses and 60 stand of arms. December 4, went on duty at Troy, Tenn.; December 9, went to No. 14 Bend, Mississippi River, and, on the llth, killed 2, captured 20 men, 35 horses and 35 stand of arms, from Sol Steel's command; December 23, went on expedition under Gen. A. J. Smith to Jackson, after rebel Gen. For- rest ; gone 17 days. January 22, 1864, went on cavalry expedition with Col. Warring, and arrived at Collierville February 9. On the llth, went on expedition into Mississippi with Gen. W. S. Smith, as far as Aberdeen and West Point. February 20, returned to Mem- phis, fighting and skirmishing with Forrest's 460 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. advance ; and, on the 22d, a general engage- ment at Guy's Farm, Miss., and, after sixty miles of fighting and marching, arrived at Camp Grierson, the brigade losing 180 men, killed and wounded. February 28, 1864, had brought out of Mississippi 2,500 negroes, from 3,000 to 4,000 horses and mules, and 100 pris- oners from the enemy. April 1, ordered to join the regiment at New Orleans, and, on the 16th, reached Baton Rouge, and joined the regiment, which was stationed there. In November, 1864, the regiment, in com- mand of Col. B. F. Marsh, of Warsaw, 111., left Baton Rouge and marched to Pascagoula, La., and there remained until January, 1865, when it went to New Orleans, and, in Febru- ary, embarked on transports for Pensacola, Fla. In the march from Fort Blakely to Clai- borne. the regiment met a rebel regiment of cavalry and took them in. which was the last engagement in which the regiment participated. From Claiborne, the regiment marched to Montgomery, Ala., and from there to Eufaula, where the retreating and disbanded army of Gen. Lee was met on their way to their homes. From Eufaula, the regiment marched via Tus- caloosa. Columbus and Jackson to Vicksburg. From Vicksburg, the regiment marched to Shreveport, La., and from thence across the State of Texas to San Antonio, and from there to Eagle Pass, on the Rio Grande, when the regiment was mustered out in December, 1865, and reached their homes in January, 1866. Capt. Hugh Fullerton, Havana, comd. Aug. 24, 1861; prmtd. Major. Capt. Samuel Whitaker. Havana, comd. Oct. 11,1862; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. First Lieut. Calvin Terry, Havana, comd. Aug. 24, 1861 ; kid. at Union City, Aug. 15, 1862. First Lieut. John Fallis, Havana, comd. Aug. 17, '62; died Oct. 23, 1862. First Lieut. George Moore, Havana, comd. Oct. 23, 1862; m. o. Nov. 10, 1864. Second Lieut. David Solenberger, Havana, comd. Aug. 24, 1861 ; promoted. Second Lieut. John Goodheart, Havana, comd. Dec. 30, 1861 ; kid. in battle Aug. 15, 1862. Second Lieut. George Moore, Havana, comd. Aug. 17, 1862; promoted. Second Lieut. Peter Holt, Havana, comd. Oct. 23, 1862 ; trans, to Co. B, consolidated. First Sergt. John Goodheart, Havana, Aug. 13, 1861 ; promoted Second Lieut. Q. M. Sergt. John Fallis, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; promtd. First Lieut. Sergt. Philip D. Baxter, Havana, Aug. 12,1861 ; disd. Dec. 29, 1861, for disab. Sergt. Elnathan J. Tinker, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861; disd. Nov. 1, 1861, as Farrier. Sergt. George Moore, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; prmtd. to Second Lieut. Corp. John E. Neikirk, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m.o. Aug. 11, 1864. Corp. Clark S. Chatfield, Bath, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 10, 18C4, as private. Corp. John J. Thomas, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864. Corp. John S. Brooks, Havana. Aug. 12, 1861. Corp. Orrin Breeden, Bath, Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 15, 1861, for disability. Corp. Kuloff S. Eakin, Manito, Aug. 12, 1861; disd. Aug. 20, 186->, as Sergeant. Bugler John M. Shook, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Oct. 11, 1804. Bugler Thomas A. Ringland, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Oct. 11, 1864, as private. Farrier John H. West, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; prmtd. 'Vet. Surgeon. Anderson, W. J., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug 11 1864. Aubere, Lewis, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; prmtd. First Sergt. and then to Lieut, and Regimental Conisy. Bohlier, Caudlip, Havana, Aug. 12,18(51; m. o. Aug. 11. 1864. Bond, John B., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, '64. Barnell, Livingston, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-c. as vet. Broderick, David S., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 1, 1862, for disability. Barker, Samuel G. B., Bath, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m.o. Aug. 11. 1864. Borndollar, John L., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864, as Farrier. Cotterman, Adam, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Connell, John, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m.o. Aug. 11, '64. Davis, John T., Bath, Aug. 12, 1861 ; died at Memphis, Feb. 22, 1864. Dacy, James, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864. Eaton, Robert. Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, '64. Holt, Peter, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; prmtd. Q. M. Sergt. and then Second Lieut. Hill, Win. D., Path, Aug. 12, 1861. Hudson, John D., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. April 13, 1862, for disability. Hibbard, Edwin S., Mason City, Aug. 12, 1861. Hunt, Edgar Z., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861; prmtd. to Reg. Q. M. Sergt. Knappel, Henry, Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 19, 1864. Littell, Geo. W. C., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864. Litler, Wm., Havana, Aug. 12,1861 ; deserted June 20, 1863. Louden, \Vm., Havana, Aug. 12, 1861. Meeker, Abner, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 18G1 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 18(54. Moseley, Robert J., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Maxwell, Volney H., Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864, as Sergt. Otis, Benj. H., Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861; m. o. Aug. 22, 1864. O'Rorke, John A., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864, as Corp. Phelps, Daniel H., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864. Philbrick, John, Havana, e. Aug. 19., 1861; disd. Oct. 20, 1862, as Sergt. Rolle, William, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Stone, Jacob F., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; kid. in Obion County, Tenn.. Aug. 16, 1862. Snowden, Thomas B., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. July 3, 1862. Stall, Christian, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 20, 1864. Sharp, Peter A., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 20, 1862. Swassing, Peter, Havana; e. Aug. 12, 1861. Stewart, Herman, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m.o. Aug. 11, 1864, as Sergt. Sellic, Henry, Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. July 3, 1862. Stover, Henry, Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Snyder, John E., Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864, as Sergt. Stevens, Edwin, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861. Servoss, S. M. B., Mason City, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. Nov. 22, 1861, for disability. Yauatiken, Mannis, Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Vanorman, O. W., Forest City, e. Aug. J2, 1861; disd. June 1, 1862. Walker, Marcellus, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Wall, William, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861; m. o. Aug. 11, 18C4. Wilkinson, Geo. F., Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861. Wallace, William A., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 8, 1861. Williams, David, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 1864. Whitaker, Samuel, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1861 ; prmtd. Sergt., then Capt. VETERANS. Ecker, D. C., Havana, e. Jan. 16, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Myers, Wm. D., Havana, Jan. 16, 1864 ; trans, to Co. A, as consolidated. Myers, George, Havana, Jan. 16, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 461 North, Samuel F., Havana, Jan. 16, 1864 ; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Reeves, Francis M., Havana, Feb. 29, 1864; died at Baton Rouge Nov. 27, 1864. RECRUITS. Bastion. Florint, Havana, Aug. 12, 18G2; disd. June 28, 1864, for disability. Binginhorst, J. H., Havana, Aug. 14, 1862 ; m. o. May 29, 1865. Duvier, Louia, Havana, Aug. 13, 1862 ; died at La Grange, Tenn., Jan. 14, 1863. Ellsworth, Wm. C., Forest City, Jan. 24, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Foskett,'Wm. B. Frogg, Joel, Havana, Aug. 12, 1862 ; disd. Aug., 1863, for disability. Howell, Chester, Havana, April 21, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Johnson, Wm., Havana, Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. June 11, 1865. Martin, Samuel F., Havana, Feb. 24, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Neikirk, George, Havana, July 1, 1861 ; m. o. Aug. 11, 18G4, as Sergt. Ryan, Edward, Havana, Jan. 1, 1864; trans, to Co. B, as consolidated. Shroder, John, Havana, Aug. 14, 1862; m. o. June 11, 1865. Tippey, Willis A., Havana, Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. June 11, 1865. Zappa, Frank, Havana, Jan. 22, 1862; m. o. Jan. 25, '65. Company H. VETERAN. Brewer, Joseph M., Havana, Feb. 2, 1864; trans, to Co. E, as consolidated. Company M. Capt. David Solanbarger, Havana, comd. Dec. 30, 1861 ; resd. June 2, 1863; trans, from Co. C. Capt. H. P. Crawford, Havana, comd. June 2, 1863 ; m. o. June 24, 1865. First Lieut. Henry P. Crawford, Havana, comd. Dec. 30, 1861; prmtd. First Lieut. Wm. A. Maltice, Mason Co., comd. June 2, 1863 ; resd. Slay 27, 1864. Second Lieut. Wm. A. Mattice, Mason Co., comd. Dec. 30, 1861; prmtd. Second Lieut. William Webb, Havana, comd. June 2, 1863. Shearer, 0. H , e. Oct. 26, 1861, and served as Orderly Sergt. for eight months, and was trans, by promotion to Capt. Co. A, 6th Tenn. Cav. Oct. 3, 1862; Oct. 16, 1863, prmtd. to Major; Feb. 24, 1865, prmtd. to Lieut. Col., and July 6, 1865, prmtd. to Col. of the regiment. Anglemire, Henry, Havana, e. Dec. 3, 1861; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865, as First Sergt. Ashurst, .lo-l i mi . Havana, e. Aug. 18, 1862 ; rect. Ash ton, Albert K., Havana, e. Aug. 14, 1862 ; rect. Allman, H. P., Havana, e. Aug. 18, 1862 ; rect. Banks, David E., Bath, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Bartholomew, W., Havana, e. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disd. May 23, 1862, disab. Bearden, F. M., Bath, e. Nov. 11, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Butler, Lawrence, Bath, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865, Bearden, John J., Havana, e. Aug. 7, 1862; rect.; trans. to Co. A. Baker, Greenberry, Havana, e. Dec. 1, 1862 ; rect ; trans. to Co. A. Bremley, John, Havana, e. Aug. 12, 1862; recruit.; m. o. June 11, 1865. Brown, Wm., Havana, e. Ag. 16, 1864; rect.; m. o. June 11, 1865. Butler, George, Bath, e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Cain, A. W., Havana, e. Nov. 20, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9. 1865. Couchman, Wm , Havana, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; disd. for disab. Grossman, John, Havana, e. Dec. 10, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Coggshall, C. G., Bath, e. Nov. 7, 1861 ; disd. June 1, 1862, fordisab. Cline, Henry J., Bath, e. Dec. 7, 1861 ; prmtd. Hospital Steward. Conklin, G. W., Bath, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; died at Memphis March 4, 1864, wds. Curry, R. A., Bath, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Darrel, J. M., Havana, e. Nov. 2, 1861 ; died at Bolivar, Tenn.. Dec. 3, 1862. Dickinson, A., Havana, e. Oct. 20, 1861. Davis, Wm. G., Bath, e. Nov. 8, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Duffield, Geo. W., Havana, e. March 17, 1862, rect.; m. o. March 16, 1865. Doyle, Dennis, Havana, e. Sept. 6, 1862, rect. ; m. o. Jane 11, 1865. England, Richard, Havana, e. Nov. S, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Ellis, J. W., Mason Co., e. March 20, 1862, rect.; Sergt.; died at Memphis April 12, 1864. Farrell, Ed., Havana, e. Dec. 13, 1861 ; deserted Feb. 13, 1863. Fisher, Fred, Havana, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Furrer, George, Havana, e. Dec. 2, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Flemining, A., Havana, e. Aug. 11, 1862, rect. Gee, Amos C., Havana, e. Nov. 8, 1861 ; disd. July 28, 1862. for disab. Gee, Oliver J., Bath, e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865, as Corp. Gibson, Elias, Bath, e. Nov. 8, 186f; m. o. Jan, 9, 1865. Guy, Wm. L., Havana, e. Nov. 8, 1861 ; died at Baton Rouge May 20, 1804. Garret, Jacob, Havana, e. Jan. 30, 1862, rect.; disd. May 5, 1864. Hadlock, Francis, Bath, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, '65. Hopkins, Myron, Bath, e. Oct. 25, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, '65. Howard, F. E., Havana, e. Dec. 2, 1861 ; died April 18, 1862. Ishmael, R. E., Mason Co., e. Oct. 31, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Jones, Jeptha, Havana, e. Dec. 6, 1861 ; died April 8, '62, at Paducah, Ky. Jones, Franklin L., Havana, e. Nov. 11, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Johnson, James, Havana, e. Aug. 18, 1862, rect.; m. o. June 11, 1865, as Sergt. Johns, M., Havana, e. Aug. 14, 1862; died Holly Springs Dec. 18, 1862. Johnson, C. L., Havana, e. Nov. 21, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865, as Sergt. Ketcher, J., Havana. Linewiber, Martin, Havana, e. Dec. 10, 1861; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Lispe, Fred, Havana, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 17, 1862, for disability. Lucas, Thomas, Mason County, e. March 7, 1862, rect.; m. o. Feb. 28, 1865, as First Sergt. Malone, Thos. F., Havana, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; died at Mem- phis May 31, 1864. Millison, 0. G., Havana, e. Nov. 29, 1861 ; disd. Aug. 24, 1864, for disability. Millison, J. S., Havana, Dec. 7, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. McDonald, Daniel, Havana, e. Nov. 27, 1861. Mobley, Thomas, Havana, e. Nov. 11, 1861 ; re-enlisted as veteran. Musselman, Joel, Havana, e. Dec. 3, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 17, 1862, for disability. Morgan, James H., Havana, e. March 17, 1862, rect.; m. o. March 16, 1865. Mobley, John K., Havana, e. Dec. 21, 1863, rect.; trans. to Co. A, as consolidated. McCoy, A., Havana, e. Jan. 30, 1863, rect.; trans, to Co. A. Micklam, S. A. Bath, e. March 7, 1862 ; rect.; m. o. Feb. 28', 1865. Milum, Jackson, Havana, e. Aug. 25, 1862, rect. Neal, Joseph, Bath, e. Nov. 20, 1861; disd. Oct. 20, 18G2, for disability. Owen, S. D., Havana, e. Nov. 9, 1801; disd. 0> t. 17, 1862, for disability. O'Neal, Joseph, Havana, e. March 24, 186:5, rect.; trans, to Co. A. O'Neal, P., Havana, e. Jan. 11, 186 1, rect.; trans, to Co. A. Owens, S. D., Havana, e. Feb. 26, 1863, rect.; trans, to Co. A. Parsley, W. R.. Havana, e. Nov. 29, 1861 ; died at Padu- cah S ^pt. 5, 1862. Pulling, Thomas, Havana, e. Dec. 4, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 17, 1862, for disability. Pearce, Geo. T., Havana, e. Aug. 9, 1863, rect.; Corp.; ab- sent, sick, at m. o. of regt. Ray, John, Bath, e. Nov. 14, 1861 ; disd. Aug. 28, 1862, for disability. Robinson, Geo., Havana, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; m.o. Jan. 9,1865. Ransom, J. A., Bath, e. Aug. 12, 1862 ; died at Bolivar Nov. 5, 1862. 462 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Ray, John, Mason County, e. Aug. 12, 1862, rect.; trans. to Co. A. Renshaw, A. M., Bath, e. March 22, 1862, rect.; m. o. March 21, 1865, as Corp. Rine, John, Mason Co., e. April 2, 1862, rect.; m. o. April 1, 1865. Roy, Joseph, Havana, e. Aug. 13, 1862, rect. Sammis, Warren, Havana, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 27 , 1862, for disability. Stoley, F., Havana, e. Dec. 30, 1861 ; died at Paducah Jan. 31, 1862. Sizelove, Jacob, Bath, e. Dec. 9, 1861 ; disd. May 1, 18H2, for disability. Sizelove. N., Bath, e. Dec. 10, 1861; died in Mason County Aug. 5, 1864. Sizelove, Wm., Bath, e. Dec. 11, 1861; disd. May 1, 1862, for disability. Smith, Andrew J., Bath, e. Dec. 2, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, '65. Spinner, Geo. S., Bath, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; died at Paducah April 3, 1862. Sizelove, J., Bath, e. Dec. 11, 1861 ; deserted Dec. 30, '61. Sizelove, 0., Bath, e. Aug. 23, 1861 ; trans, to Co. A. Somers, Levi, Bath, e. April 16, 1862, rect.; m. o. April 15, 1865, as Bugler. Stull, J. W., Havana, e. Aug. 23, 1861 ; m. o. June 11, '65. Tinckam, Isaac, Havana, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 17, 1862, for disability. Waggoner, L. C., Havana, e. Nov. 15, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Walker, Moses, Havana, e. Nov. 19, 1861 ; died at Baton Rouge Oct. 15, 1864. Warner, Wm., Havana, e. Oct. 28, 1861 ; died at Paducah April 5, 1862. West, Harper, Havana, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; disd. Oct. 16, '62, for blindness. Wallace, John W., Bath, e. Nov. 14, 1861 ; m. o. Jan. 9, 1865. Wallace, J. M., e. Dec. 21, 1861 ; trans, to Co. A. Willson, Isham, Bath, e. Dec. 21, 1861; m. o. June 11, '65. Williams, Wm. V., Havana, e. May 24, 1862 ; m. o. Feb. 28, 1865, as Sergt. Wilson, John W., Havana, e. Sept. 26, 1861. Weston, Edwin, Havana, e. Aug. 25, 1862, rect. VETERANS IN COMPANY M. Crawford, J. A., Mason County, e. March 14, 1864 ; trans. to Co. A. Mobley, Thomas, Mason County, e. March 14, 1864 ; m. o. Juue 22, 1865. The Second Cavalry vvas consolidated into six companies, after having their numbers largely depleted by the vicissitudes of war. In the re-organization, Companies B and C were united in Company B, and Samuel Whitaker, of Havana, was made Captain, and Peter Holt, of Havana, was made Second Lieutenant. THIRD CAVALRY. The Third Regiment of Cavalry was organ- ized at Camp Butler, Illinois, by Col. . A.Carr, in August, 1861. The regiment moved to St. Louis, Mo., September 25. October 1, moved up the Missouri River to Jefferson City, and thence to Warsaw, arriving on the llth of October. On the 23d, marched to Springfield, Mo., in Col. Carr's Brigade, Gen. Asboth's Division. On the 2d of November, Gen. Hun- ter took command of the army, superseding Gen. Fremont, who had been in command one hundred days. November 13, the First and Second Battalions moved, with the army, on Rolla, Mo. The Third Battalion, in command of Maj. Ruggles, remained with Sigel's Division, protecting the rear of the retreating army, and was the last to leave Springfield. Arriving at Kolla, November 19, the regiment remained until the 29th of December, when it moved in the advance of Gen. Curtis' army for the Southwest. Tarrying a short time in Camp Ruggles, the i regiment, with Carr's Division, arrived at Marshfield on the llth of February, and on the 13th the Third Battalion of the Third Cavalry, in command of Maj. Ruggles, fought the first j engagement and won the first victory of Cur- tis' campaign, on the road four miles north of ! Springfield. On the 14th, the army occupied Springfield, Mo. On the 15th, came up with Price's retreating army at Crane Creek, and captured some prisoners. On the 18th, at Sugar Creek, the Third Battalion participated in a cavalry charge, routing the enemy. On the 20th, the Second Battalion marched to Cross Hollows, Ark., where the army remained until the 5th of March, when it fell back to Pea Ridge. On the 6th, the First and Third Battalions marched from Huntsville, forty- eight miles, with Col. Vandever's Brigade. On the 7th, the First and -Third Battalions, in Dodge's Brigade, and the Second, in Vande- ver's, were engaged all day and to the close of the battle of Pea Ridge, losing 10 killed and 40 wounded. March 19, moved to Keetsville, where Col. McCrellis joined the regiment, and went on duiy with Maj. Hubbard. April 10, the regiment arrived at Forsyth, on the 29th, at West Plains, Mo., and, on the 3d of May, at Batesville, Ark. On the 14th, moved to Little Red River. On the 25th, in crossing White River, Capt. McClellan and five men were drowned. On the 4th of June, the regi- ment fell back to Fairview. On the 7th, Capt. Sparks, with 66 men, was surrounded with 300 of the enemy's cavalry, and cut his way out. losing 4 wounded and 4 prisoners. On the llth, returned to Batesville, and from thence to Jacksonport. On the 5th of July, the army moved for Helena, where the Third Cavalry arrived and went into camp on the 15th of July, 1852, and there remained on duty in scouting expeditions, until the 23d of Decem- ber, when Companies B, C, D, H, I and L, in command of Lieut. Col. Ruggies, embarked for Vicksburg, under Gen. W. T. Sherman. Com- panies E and G were on duty with Gen. Carr at St. Louis. The regiment did good service at the battle of Chickasaw Bayou, and from there em- barked for Arkansas Post, in which battle it also took an active and important part, and from there returned to Vicksburg. In the month of February, on account of high water interfering with cavalry operations, Gen. Grant ordered six companies of the regiment to return to Memphis, where they remained, doing duty in West Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky, until the 21st of August. 1864,when a large portion of the regiment embarked for their homes in Illinois, by reason of the expi- ration of their term of service. The remain- ing companies participated in the battles of Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, anfl the siege of Vicksburg, and also in the Banks campaign in Western Louisiana. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 463 The veterans remaining were consolidated into a battalion of six companies, under Capt. Car- nahan, who was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 24th of August. In May, 1865, the battalion returned to St. Louis, and from thence to St. Paul, reporting to Gen. Curtis. On the 4th of July, went on an Indian expedition through Minnesota and Dakota to the British lines, and returned by way of Devil's Lake, Fort Berthold, to Fort Snelling, on the 1st of October, from where they arrived at Springfield, 111., on the 13th of October, 1865, and were mustered out of service. The regiment had the misfortune of many other regiments, to be under the baneful influ- ence of an officer educated by the people at West Point, whose ambition over-reached and beclouded his patriotism and his military abil- ities. Major James M. Ruggles, comd. Sept. 11, 1861 ; prmtd. to Lieut. Col. March 7, 1862; prmtd. to Col., and also to Brevet Brig. Gen. March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services during the war. Company B. Cleghorn, Geo., San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; captured by the enemy, Nov 5, 1863. Crites, James, San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; re-e a veteran. Graham, Samuel, San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; re-e. a vet. Kent, Wm., San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 5, '64. Killpatrick. Joseph, San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; disd. for disability, July 23, 1862. Menkirk.'Nathan. San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861; deserted Feb. 18, 1862. Perdue, Geo., San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; died at Bolla, Mo., June 4, 1862. Sinners, Abner, San Jose, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 1864, as Sergt. Teney, James, Bath, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; re-e. a veteran. Company C. Fair, Wm., Snicarte, e. Aug. 19, 1861 ; re-e. a veteran. Company H. Gilpatrick, J., Snicarte, e. Sept. 24, '61 ; disd. for disab. Knight, Thos., Bath, e. Aug. 28, 1861; re-e. a vet. McDerrit, Edward, Bath, e. Aug. 13, 1861 ; accidentally kid. June 26, 1862, at Batesville, Ark. Steele, Henry C., Snicarte, e. Sept. 24, 1861 ; re-e a vet. Waddle, W. B., Snicarte, e. Sept. 24, 1861 ; re-e. a vet. Waggoner, H., Havana, e. Aug. 28, 1861 ; re-e. a vet. Pearson, M., Lynchburg, e. Jan. 21, 1864; rect. Stubard, T. M., Salt Creek, e. Feb. 22, 1865 ; rect. Sanford, H. M., Manito, e. Feb. 27, 1865; prmtd. Colbert, Geo. W., Manito. e. Feb. 27, 1865 ; deserted. Colbert, Edward, Manitoj e. Feb. 27, 1865 ; deserted. FOURTH CAVALRY. Company E. Second Lieut. George N. Leoni, San Jose, e. Feb. 25, '63; prmtd. to Capt. of Mississippi Rifles. Company H. McCarty, Ed., Mason City, e. Sept. 5, 1861; re-e. McGhee, M., San Jose, e. Oct. 10, 1861; died in Tenn. Merkley, H. R., San Jose, e. Oct. 21, 1861. Miller, F. A., San Jose, e. Jan. 5, 1864. Omart, Christ, San Jose, e. Nov. 10, 1861. Phinney, M. P., Mason City, e. Sept. 20, 1861 ; prmtd. Sweeney, Henry, Mason City, e. Aug. 25, 1861; accident- ally shot. SIXTH CAVALRY. Company C. Allen, Hiram C., Bath, e. March 1, 1864. TENTH CAVALRY. Company A. Fletcher, J. R., Mason City, e. Jan. 3, 1864. Company E. Bates, B. M., Mason County, e. Sept. 20, 1861. Bates, 0. D., Mason County, e. Sept. 20, 1861. Tapp, Lewis G., Havana, e. Jan. 3, 1864. Company H. Peck, Thomas, Havana, e. Sept. 23, 1861; re-e. Pitman, Samuel, Mason County, e. Sept. 23, '61; deserted. ELEVENTH CAVALRY. Company B. Hayner, Geo., Spring Lake, e. Oct. 19, 1861 ; re-e. Company C. Second Lieut. Moses T. Lewman, San Jose, Dec. 20, 1861 ; prmtd. to First Lieut. Dec. 1, 1862 ; resd. July 15, '63. Bowman, Samuel, San Jose, e. Nov. 17, 1861 ; disd. for disability July 8, 1862. Glead, James, San Jose, e. Nov. 14, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865, as Sergt. Gregory, Benj., Spring Lake, Sept. 28, 1864 ; m. o. June 9, 1865. Hill, Samuel, San Jose, e. Nov. 15, 1861, as Corp. Hite, J. W., San Jose, e. Feb. 20, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, '65, as Sergt. Hull, J. C., San Jose, e. Nov. 22, 1861 ; disd. July 11, 1862, for disability. Littlepage, John, San Jose, e. Feb. 20, 1862 ; m. o. Feb. 20, 1865. Neil, James, San Jose, e. Nov. 17, 1861. Company F. Clary, Dennis, Havana, e. Oct. 7, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Lock, Geo., Havana, e. Sept. 24, 1861 ; re-e. as ve Samms, John D., Havana, e. Dec. 20, 1863 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. Senate, Wm., Havana, e. Oct. 7, 1861, Corp.; disd. June 30, 1862, for disability. Westerfield, F., Havana, e. Sept. 20, 1861 ; disd. Aug. 3, 1862, for disability. Westerfield, A., Jlason Co., e. Oct. 18, 1861 ; died at Cor- inth June 30, 1862. Company K. Maxwell, A., Forest City, e. March 3, 1865; m. o. June 2, 1865. Company L. Capt. James Rote, Havana, Dec. 20, 1861 ; died Oct. 25 1862. First Lieut. J. H.Allen, Havana, Dec. 19, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865. Second Lieut. S. D. Poland, Havana, Oct. 28, 1862 ; resd. Sept. 28, 1864. Allen, John, Havana, e. Nov. 20, 1861, Corp. ; re-e. as vet. Bell, John, Havana, e. Nov. 27, 1861, Sergt. ; disd. Nov. 29, 1862, for disability. Bardie, John, Havana, e. Oct. 25, 1861, vet; m. o. Sept. 30, 1865, as Sergt. Carson, P., Havana, e. Nov. 15, 1861 ; trans, to Co. C Jan. 15, 1864. Conover, John B., Havana, e. Nov. 23, 1861 ; died at Keo- kuk July 18, 1862. Conover, John, Havana, e. Nov. 23, 1861. Conover, George, Havana, e. Nov. 23, 1861 ; disd. Nov. 24, 1862, for disability. Conover, Combeo, Havana, e. Nov. 23, 1861 ; died at 8t Louis July 9, 1862. Frazer, Caleb M., Havana, e. Nov. 18, 1861 ; trans, to Co. E. Fisher, Wm., Havana, e. Dec. 9, 1861: drowned in Tenne- see River March 9, 1862. Garrison, James, Havana, e. Nov. 25, 1861 ; died at Jack- son Nov. 6, 1862. DJeck, Michael J., Havana, e. Nov. 6, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. 464 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Kiner, \Vm. H., Havana, e. Nov. 28, 1861, vet. Leadman, George, Havana, e. Oct. 4, 1861 ; trans, to Co. C. Mclntyre, W. W., Havana, e. Nov. 20, 1861, vet. Morris, John, Havana, e. Dec. 5, 1861, vet. Peck, Phtlo, Havana, e. Nov. 28, 1861 ; disd. for wds. July 25, 1862. Pelham, Green, Havana, e. Nov. 28, 1861, vet. Poland, S. D., Havana, e. Oct. 7, 1861 ; prmtd. to Second Lieut. Quiggle, Robert, Havana, e. Oct. 25, 1861 ; died at Louis- ville June 9, 18G2. Rote, Wm., Havana, e. Dec. 7, 1861 ; died at Bolivar Aug. 30, 1862. Stuart, F. M., Havana, e. Nov. 19, 1861, vet. Snider, Amos, Havana, e. Dec. 15, 1861; disd. Sept. 20,' ,1862, for disability. Shihdleman, A., Havana, e. Oct. 25, 1861; re-e. as vet. Spellman, W., Havana, e. Nov. 15, 1861 ; deserted Aug. 20, 1862. Wagner, John 0., Havana, e. Nov. 16, 1861; m. o. Dec. 19, 1864. Webb, Samuel, Havana, e. Oct. 25, 1861. RECRUITS. Adkins, James, Havana, e. Dec. 25, 1861 ; deserted May 6, 1862. Ball, Wm. T., Havana, e. Dec. 25, 1861, vet. Bell, Theodore, Havana, e. May 1, 1862 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864, as Corp. Connan, John N., Havana, e. Nov. 23, 1861 ; deserted May 26, 1862. Doering, Charles, Havana, e. Nov. 25, 1861, vet. Diefenbacher, J., Havana, e. Dec. 25, 1861 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864. Diinmit, John R., Topeka, e. April 19, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864. Halsel, William E., Havana, e. April 21, 1864; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864. Jackson, \V., Havana, e. Dec. 20, 1861 ; died at Jackson Oct. 24, 1862. Maid, Owen, Havana, e. Dec. 25, 1861, vet. Smith, Wm., Havana, e. Feb. 23, 1862, vet. Shundlemyer, J., Havana, e. Dec, 20, 1861, vet. VETERANS. Elliott, John, Havana, e. Dec. 23, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864, as Sergt. Ibeck, Michael, Havana, e. Dec. 23, 1863; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864, as Corp. Shundlemyer, A., Havana, e. Dec. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Sept. 30, 1864, as Sergt. FIRST ARTILLERY. Battery K. Nutt, William T., Mason City, e. Aug. 1, 1862 ; prmtd. EIGHTH INFANTRY Company E. Cahill, W. H., Mason City* e. March 8, 1864, vet. Chesshcr, J. E., Mason City, e. Dec. 8, 1863, vet. Coleman, A., San Jose, e. Jan. 5, 1E64; prmtd. to Capt. Collins, P., Havana, e. Dec. 8, 1863, vet. Shaw, R. J., Havana, e. Dec. 8, 1863, vet. Walker, Jesse, Bath, e. Dec. 8, 1863, vet. Company G. Hunt, W. H., Mason City, e. Nov. 24, 1861 . Lybarger, S., Havana, c. May 13, 1862. ELEVENTH INFANTRY. Company G. Ginter, W. 0., Mason Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; prmtd. Hardsoc'k, W., Mason Co., e. Aug. 1(1, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Hardsock, E., Mason Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Johnson, W. S., Mason Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; prmtd. Kirby, M. F , Mason Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; disd. 18fi4. McCoslin, J. G., Mason Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; kid. at Fort Donelson. Wade, W. D., Maso Co., e. Aug. 10, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. FOURTEENTH INFANTRY. Company B. Bingman, J., Havana, e. Dec. 13, 1863. SEVENTEENTH ^INFANTRY. The Seventeenth Regiment of Infantry was mustered into service at Peoria, 111., on the 24th of May, 1861, and Leonard F. Ross elected Colonel. The first volunteers from Mason County went into this regiment, and were organized into Company K. The regiment left camp for Alton on the 17th of June. Late in July, it moved to St. Charles, Mo., and the next day went to Warrenton, Mo., and re- mained two weeks, Company A being detailed as body-guard to Gen. Pope, with headquar- ters at St. Charles. The regiment went from Warrenton to St. Louis, and from thence to Bird's Point, Mo., where it remained some weeks on garrison duty, and proceeded to Sulphur Springs Landing ; from there, by way of Pilot Knob and Ironton, to Frederick- town, Mo., in pursuit of Gen. Jeff. Thompson, joining Gen. Prentice's command at Jackson, Mo. From Jackson, Mo., the regiment went over into Kentucky to assist in the construction of Fort Holt ; from there to Elliott's Mills, and back to Fort Holt, and thence back to Cape Girardeau, Mo., in pursuit of Jeff Thompson's forces. On the 21st of October. 1861. the reg- iment met Thompson's forces at Fredericktown, Mo., where the regiment had its first battle with the enemy, and in which Lieut. J. Q. A. Jones fell mortally wounded ; Daniel Bell was killed, and Sergt. Jacob Wheeler severely wounded all of Company K. Returning to Cape Girardeau, the regiment went on provost duty until February, 1862, when they pro- ceeded to Fort Henry, and from there to Fort Donelson, where they participated in the Fort Donelson battle, and suffered heavy loss in killed and wounded. The regiment went to Metal Landing, embarked for Savannah, Tenn., and from there to Pittsburg Landing, where it was assigned to the First Division Army of the West Tennessee, under command of Gen. John A. McClernand. The regiment was en- gaged in the battle of the 6th and 7th of April, in which Company K lost 7 killed and sev- eral wounded. The regiment was with the advance on Corinth, Purdy, Bethel and Jack- son, Tenn., and, on the 17th of July, went to Bolivar on provost guard duty. In November, 1862, went iu the expedition to luka, find was in the battle of Hatchie ; returned to Bolivar, and from there to La Grange, reporting to Gen. Logan and going on provost duty. Marched to Holly Springs in December; thence to Abbeyville, and thence to Oxford. After the capture of Holly Springs, was as- signed to Sixth Division, Seventeenth Army Corps, under Gen. McPherson, and proceeded by way of Moscow and Collierville to Memphis, where it remained on duty at the navy-yard HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 465 until the 16th of January, 1863, and then em- barked for Vicksburg ; whence the regiment re- turned to Lake Providence, La., where it remained until the investment, of Vicksburg, when it returned to Milliken's Bend May 1 ; marched to Perkin's Landing; crossed the Mississippi River below Grand Gulf, and ad- vanced, via Raymond, Champion Hills, Jack- son, Big Black, to the investment of Vicksburg. After the surrender of the city, the regiment remained on duty, making incursions in Mis- sissipi and Louisiana, until ordered back to Springfield, to be mustered out and discharged on the 4th of June, 1864. The veterans and recruits whose term of service had not expired at the time of muster- ing out were consolidated with the Eighth Illi- nois Infantry, and went out of service in the spring of 1866 Company C. Callaway, Chancey, Bath, June 24, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Monroe, T., Bath, Juue 24, 1861. Company O. Brown, George, e. June 24, 1861 ; m. o. Company H. Beebe, George, Havana, e. Slay 25, 1861; disd. Hubhizer, John, Havana, e. May 25, 1861. Marlin, E. L., Havana, e. May 25, 1861. McDonald, F. J., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. Mason, John, Havana, e. May 28, 1861 ; disd. for wds. Mills, R. R., Havana, e. June 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Swartwood, C., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for wds. Swa'twood, S., Havana, e. May 25, 1861. Woodruff, W. D , Havana, e. May 25, 1861; disd. for wds. Company K. Capt. James P. Walker, Mason City, April 23, 1861 ; resd. April 28, 1862. Capt. Jacob Wheeler, Havana, April 27, 1862. First Lieut. John Q. A. Jones, Havana, April 23, 1861 ; mortally wounded at Fredericktown, Mo., Oct 21, and died Oct. 21, 1861. First Lieut. Jacob Wheeler, Havana, Oct 26, 1861. First Lieut. Henry F. Hole, April 27, 1861 ; resd. Oct. 22, 1862. First Lieut. James H. Mitchell, Bath, Oct. 22, 1862. Second Lieut. A. J. Bruner, Bath, April 23, 1861 ; died at Bath, Nov. 20, 1861, of typhoid fever. Second Lieut. A. T. Davis, Bath, Dec. 11, 1861 ; mortally wd. at Pittsburg Landing, April 7, 1802, and died at Bath July 2, 1862. Second Lieut. James H. Mitchell, Bath, July 2..1862. Second Lieut. George N. Buck, Havana, Oct. 22,' 1862. Alvoid, George, Mason City, e. May 25,1861 ; disd. March 10, 1863, of chronic sore eyes. Botrgg, James W.. Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Berry, Charles R , Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; promoted to Capt. of 10th La. Vol., Miy 7, 1863. Barns, George, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; deserted Aug. 10, 1862. Bever, Thomas A,, Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. Sept. 27, 1862, of rheumatism. Chatfleld. Chas. H., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; wounded at Fort Donelson, and disd. Juue 13, 1862. Chessher, J. E., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Dec. 8, 1803. Chambers, James H., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for disability from wds. July 11, 1862. Cumber\vortl>. John, Mason City, e. Slay 25, 1861, Cahill, W. H.. Mason City, e. May 25. 1861 ; re-e. as vet. March 8, 1864. Collins, Patrick, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Dec. 8, 1863. Doty, Emerson, Slason City, e. May 25, 1861. Davis, J. Newton, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; prrntd. to First Sergt. Sept. 1, 1863. Davis, A. T., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. Second Lieut. and mortally wd. at Pittsburg Landing. Diamond, James SI., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. April 28. 1862, of disease, Dase, David, Slason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; died of wds. at Vicksburg, June 12, 1863. Eager, Boyd, Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; wd. Fisher, Daniel, Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; kid. in battle at Fredericktown, Oct. 23, 1861. GrifBn, David 0., Mnson City, e. May 25. 1861 ; disd. from wds. at Pittsburg Landing, Nov. 1, 1862. Gatton, Carlton H., Bath.e. May 25, 1861 ; captd. on duty, Feb. 15, 1864. Hines, John, Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. and trans, to Inv. Corpi. for disability. Henderson, Jas. M., Slason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; deserted from Hospital at Qiiincy. Hart, L. H., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 , m. o. 1864. Henry, Albert, Bath, e. May 25, 1861; disd. for disability, April 10, 1863. Hamilton, James M., Mound City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. May 30, 1862. Hammond, W. M., e. May 25, 1861; disd. for disability, Nov. 28, 1861. Herring, Henry J., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; missing at Pittsburg Landing and supposed kid. in battle. Hole, Henry F., Havana, e. May 25,1861 ; prmtd. to First Lieut, and resd. Oct. 22, 1862. Judd, Charles, Slason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. Sept. 4, 1862, from disability caused by wds. John, H. F. M., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for disabil- ity from rheumatism, Oct. 25, 1862. Kirkpatrick, Richard, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; died March 21, 1862, at Savannah, Tenn. Kerns, Richard, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; deserted April 6, 1862, at Pittsburg Landing. Low, W. A., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. and disd. for disability from wda. receivec at Vicksburg Dec. 15, 1863 Lofton, Ira, Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Lybarger, Sani'l, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. and re-e. Leavitt, H. P., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Slitchel, J. H., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. Martin, Edward, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. and re-e. as vet. Dec. 8, 1863. Montgomery, R. S., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; died of wds. at Pittsburg Landing April 11, 1862. Murdock, John S., Mason City, e. Slay 25, 1861 ; disd. for disability April 19, 1862. Morris, Martin. Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for disa- bility Feb. 13, 1862. Murphy, John, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. McKee, Oliver, Bath, e. Slay i!5, 1861 ; disd. May 1, 1862, for disability. McCrealey, James, e. Slay 25, 1861 ; trans, to gun-boat. Moranville, F. A., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. and re-e. as vet. March 8, 1864. Neely, James W., Slason City, a. May 25, 1861 ; wd. and deserted Jan. 18, 1863. Nutt, Calvin , Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; died of disease Aug. 1, 1863. Pflicher, Raymond, e. May 25, 1861 ; deserted from hos- pital at St. Louis. Ross, David D., Mason City, e. May 2.1, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Ross, John, Havana, e. May 25, 1861; missing in action at Pittsburg Landing. R Mason City, e. May 25, 1861; disd. for disability Nov. 11, 1862. Sullivan, W. J., Havana, e. Slay 25, 1861; disd. and prmtd. to Adjt. of negro regiment. Shive.-, Martin, Bath, e Slay 25, 1861 ; disd. for disability from wounds at Pittsburg Landing. Sellick, H. P., Bath, e. Slay 25, 1861 ; disd. July 1, 1861. Sonnenmn, Charles, Bath, e. Slay 25, 1861 ; missing in action at Pittsburg Landing Scott, W. O., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Shaw, R. J., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; re-e. as vet. Dec. 8, 1863. Shafer, Jacob M, Bath, e. Slay 25, 1861; di-d. for disa- bility July 26, 1862. Stafford, Wm., Havana, e. Slay 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Voak, Joseph B., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. May 30, 1862. 466 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Vinnett, Hamilton, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; deserted July 29. 1861. Vandoren, Jacob, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. May 13. 1862. Walker, Jesse, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; captured, returned and re-e. as vet. Dec. 8, 1863. Wykoff, S. H., Bath, e. May 25, '61 ; deserted Aug. 21, '61. Warn, Aaron, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for disa- bility Nov. 16, 1861. Warn, John C., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. March 30, 1862, for disability. West, F. W., Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; died June 15, 1862, of wds. received at Ft. Donelson battle. Wright, Gideon, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; died July 23, '62, of chronic diarrhosa. Wheeler, Jacob, Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; elected Orderly Sergt. May 25, 1861, and prmtd. to Second and First Lieut, and Capt. in 1862. Walker, W. S., Mason City, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for dis- ability April 24, 1862. RECRUITS. Buck, George M., Havana, e. May 25, 1861 ; prmtd. to Second Lieut. Oct. 22, 1862. Foster, George A., Havana, e. May 25, 1861; prmtd. to Capt. in 10th La. Vols. May 13, 1863. Chandler, Samuel, Mason City, e. May 28, 1861 ; trans, to gun-boat Jan. 1, 1862. Leonard, R. F. H., Bath, e. May 28, 1861; trans, to gun- boat Jan. 1, 1862. Livingston, Silas, Bath, e. May 28, 1861 ; prmtd. and re-e. as vet. March 8, 1864. Haskins, Thomas, Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; trans, to gun- boat Jan. 1, 1862 Hutchinson, W. H., Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Hatton, Charles, Bath, e. May 25, 1861 ; disd. for disabil- ity April 6, 1862. Mitchel, H. H., Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; died of typhoid fever Oct. 7, 1861. .Holmes, Phineas, Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; disd. for disa- bility April 24, 1862. Moseby, F. A., Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; disd. for disability Nov. 11, 1862 Brush, John B., Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; discharged for disability April 24, 1862. Morrow, Stephen, Bath, e. May 29, 1861 ; discharged for disability April 10, 1863. Razon, H. D., Mason City, e. May 29, 1861; deserted June 4, 1862, Smith, James T., Mason City, e. May 29, 1861 ; discharged for disability Oct. 17, 1862. Neeland, James, Mason City, e. May 29, 1861 ; deserted July 29, 1861. Smith, Peter, Mason City, e. May 29, 1861 ; transferred to gun-boat Jan. 1, 1862. Vananken, A. J., Mason City, e. May 29, 1861 ; discharged for disability Aug. 5, 1863. Wells, Frank E., Mason City, e. May 24, 1861; twice wounded in battle. Walsh, Michael, Mason City, e. May 29, 1861 ; captured, paroled and deserted. Herwig, Augustus, Mason City, e. June 11, 1861; dis- charged for disability Oct. 2, 1863. Hurt, A A., Mason City, e. June 11, 1861 ; m o. 1864. Martin, Thomas, Mason City, e. June 11, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Patterson, James, Havana, e. June 13, 1861 ; discharged for disability Nov. 11, 1862. Dew, Robert, Bath, e. July 5, 1861 ; captd. and returned. Neal, George W., Bath, e. July 22, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Hay, Jacob, Mason City, e. July 25, 1861 ; deserted July 20, 1862. Patterson, C. C., Mason City, e. July 25, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Bagan, 0. C., Mason City, e. Sept. 18, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Hart, W. W., Mason City, e. Nov. 24, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. Shultz, A. D., Mason City, e. Nov. 24, 1861 ; m. o. 1864. James, Wm. A., Mason City, e. Dec. 1, 1861 ; left in hospi- tal, supposed to be dead. Smith, F. C., Bath, e. Dec. 16, 1861; m. o. 1864. Brickey, A. F., Mason City, e. Feb. 11, 1862 ; discharged May 2, 1862. for disability. Charlie, George, Mason City, e. Feb. 11, 1862 ; discharged Nov. 10, 1862, for disability. Hawkins, Levi, Mason City, Feb. 11, 1862 ; discharged May 13, 1862, for disability. Mosslander, D. H., Mason City, e. Feb. 11, 1862 ; died in hospital April 21, 1862. Oswald, John W., Mason City. e. Feb. 11, 1862; trans. to Inv. Corps Sept. 15, 1863. Sweeney, James H., Mason City, e. Feb. 11, 1862; re-e. vet. March 8, 1864. Daft,, 1865. Corp. John C. Wilson, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Sorgt. Corp. H. 0. Reeder, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. for disab. Jan. 15, 1863. Corp. John O'Brien, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as private. Corp. Francis S. Cogshall, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o June 5, 1865 ; prmtd. Musn. Charles L. Hamilton, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. May 18, 1865. Musn. Francis M. Berry, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; m.o. June 5, 1865. Wagoner A. J. Allen, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Avery, T. J., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. Comsy. Sergt. Beal, Henry, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Black, Clinton, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Nov. 1, 1864. Billiard, N. A., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Conover, Joseph, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Castleberry, H. W., Havana, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. for disab. Oct. 15, 1862. Castleberry, W. H., Havana, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Cady, Joseph, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; died Jan. 4, 1863. Capper, A., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; absent, sick, at m. o. Carlock, Geo. 0., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65, as Sergt. Close, W. D., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. May 16, 1865, wd. Capens, Robert, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Dew, Jacob S , Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Durham, E. M., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. to Q. M. Sergt. Davis, Noah, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1861; kid. by raidroad ac- cident going home. Davis, Wm., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Flow, Cadmus, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; kid. at Peach Tree Creek June 19, 1864. Goben, Allen, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Goben, James, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp- Grisum, Samuel, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Hicks, Willard, Bath, e. Aug. 27,1862 ; died in Anderson- ville Prison May 15, 1864 ; No. of grave, 1,102. Hazelrig, John, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. to Prin- cipal Musician. Harbet, John L., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Hamilton, A. J., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Oct. 11, 1863. Howarth, Henry, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; severely wd. in eleven engagements; m. o. May 20, 1865. Houghton, Elijah, Bath, e. Aug. 27,1862; disd. Feb. 4, 1863. Jones, Henry P., Havana, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; died at At- lanta Oct. 2, 1864. Jones, Daniel, Bath, e. Aug. 27,1862; deserted Nov. 8, 1862. Kicer, Daniel, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; died Dec. 8, 1862. Kerk, Armstead, Bath, e. Ag. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Lowrance, Joseph, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; absent, sick, at m. o. Lowrance. J. A., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. June 3, 1863. Layman, Isaac, Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. July 18, 1865, wd. Matteson, G., Bath, e. Aug. 27, 1865 : m. o. June 5, 1865. Mead, Henry, Havana, e. Aug. 27, 1862; deserted Oct. 6, 1862. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 481 Morgan, Hugh, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; died of wds. July 9, 1864. Monger, Wm. H., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Myers, James, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Murphy, John J., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; died of wds. July 7, 1864. Matteson, Harold, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; deserted Nov. 28, 1862. Noder, Robert, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; lost at Chickamauga. O'Rourke, Pat., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Parks, 0. W., Bath, Aug. 27, '62 ; disd. of wds. April 4, '65. Plasters, John, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Price, John W., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Dec. 11, 1862, at Louisville, Ky. Phelps, John L., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Patterson, T. F., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. to Lieut, and Capt. Patterson, N. C., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65. Phelps, D. B., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. for disability May 23, 1863. Ransom, W. H., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Jan. 4, 1863. Rochester, N. S., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 2, 1865, of wds. Rochester, J. S., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Robins, Alanson, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Blunders, Wm., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1866. Reeder, Elias, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. March 5, 1863. Rny, Rolla, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Feb. 4, 1803. Stilts, Jan^s, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died May 11, 1863. Sizelo'-e, John, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. July 22, 1865, a prisoner. Scholes, John, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Smith, F. M., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Stely, Merton, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Dec., 1862. Turner, Van., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Treadway, M. L., Batn, Aug. 27, 1862; died Feb. 6, 1863. Troy, Martin, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; died at Mound City Oct. 2, 1864. Toley, C. W., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. Feb. 4, 1863. Vanlaningham. Geo., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; deserted Dec. 23, 1862. Welch, J. H., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; kid. at Peach Tree Creek July 19, 1864. Welch. Ira. Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; died Dec. 9, 1862. Wheeler, Christ., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; deserted Sept., '63. Wallace. James, Bath, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Young, Wm., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Yardly, Jaaob, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Scrgt. RECRUITS. Batterson, G. P., Mason Co. ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Pulling, George W., Mason Co. ; deserted Feb 14, '63. Company I. Capt. David M. Halstead, Havana, April 19, 1863 ; resd Oct. 7, 1863. First Lieut David M. Halstead, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. Burbridge, Thos., Manito, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died at Nash- ville Jan. 1, 1863. Cain, Charles, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. July 31, '64. Dingier, Geo., Bath, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 22, 1865. Watson, John, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65, as Corp- Company K. Capt. Robert G. Rider, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. Major. Capt. Samuel Yates, Topeka, April 6, 1863, m. o. June 5, 1865. First Lieut. Samuel Yates, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. First Lieut. Isaac C. Short, Topeka, April 6, 1863; m. o. June 5, 1865. Second Lieut. Isaac C. Short, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. Second Lieut. Eli F. Neikirk, Forest City, April 6, 1863; resd. Nov. 4, 18G4. First Serjct. Robert F. Reason, Havana, Aug. 27,1862; died at Louisville Oct. 22, 1862. Sergt. John N. Hole, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. Feb. 3, 1863, First Sergt. Sergt. John S. Walker, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. May 20, 1864, as private. Sergt. A. A. Carrington, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 6, 1865. Sergt. Wm. Masterson, Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; trana. to 4th Cav. Dec. 1, 1862. Corp. Thomas Jemison, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Dec. 20, 1862, at Nashville. Corp. Joseph Bodle, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as private. Corp. Wm. K. Rose, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Nov. 8, 1862, at Danville, Ky. Corp. John M. Durham. Aug. 27, 1862; died Jan. 22, 1863, at Bawling Green. Corp. Win. H. Hole, Havana, Aug. 22, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Sergt. Corp. Preston C.Hudson, Havana, Aug. 27,1862; trans. to Co. I. Corp. Romeo Magill, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; died Dec. 8, 1862, at Danville, Ky. Corp. James Jemison, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; kid. at Ken- esaw June 24. J864. Musician James Durdy, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. to Drum Major. Musician George Hoagland, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. Feb. 3, 1863. Ames, Orpheus, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65, as Corp. Andrews, Clark N., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; prmtd. Sergt. Major. Beck, William, Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Blakely, W. C., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; died March 7, '63, at Nashville. Barr, John M., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Feb. 26, '63, at Nashville. i Bowers, Jeff., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Feb. 28, 1863. ' Chaplin, Jos., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Colglazier, D. B., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Dec. 9, '62, at Danville, Ky. Cottrell, George H., Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; supposed dead. Durdy, Robert L., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Dec. 27, 1862. Drake, George, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65. Erick, Charles, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65, . as Sergt. Evans, W. H., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Nov. 25, '62. Fountain, Isaac, Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5. 1865. Frank, John, Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Gumbell, Wm., Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Grover, B. H., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Jan. 5, 1863, at Bowling Green. Griffin, A. D., Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862; died Dec. 9, '62, at Nashville. Griffin, J. N., Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Garrison, R. C., Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; kid. at Buz- zard Roost, Ga., Feb. 25,1864. Hopping, G. H., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, '65, as Corp. Himmel, A. J., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, '65, as Sergt. Hetzeller, Geo., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Hibbs, Benj., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Horsey, S. B. Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; First Sergt., kid. at Jonesboro. Ga., Sept. 1, 1864. Hitchcock, C. E., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. Feb. 3, '63. Hopping, Ephraim, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; absent, sick, at m. o. Joneson, Daniel T., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Feb. 4, 1864, Ht Richmond, Va. Jemison, Wm H., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Jan. 1, 1863, at Bowling Green. Jackson, Joseph E., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Killip, Wm.. Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; disd. Feb. 24, 1863. Mohlenbrink, F., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Mohlenbrink, H., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Massey, William H., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. McNight, Josiah, Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. 482 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Morris, L. N., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Morris, Charles, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. Jupe 5, 1865. Neikirk, E. T., Forest City, Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. to Second Lieut. Prettynian, Jac., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Robinson, Ad., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; disd. Feb. 3, 1863. Rakestraw, John, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; died Jan. v 28, 1863, at Louisville, Ky. Riddle, C. P., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Nov. 27, 1862, at Bowling Green, Ky. Reason, H. F., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Hhellibarger, A., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865. Shellibarger, J. W., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Stone, .fumes A., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. May 12, 1865. Shaw, Moses, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Nov. 17, 1862, at Louisville. Spellman, Hy., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, '65. Seibenborn, John, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died May 28, 1864, at Dallas, Ua. Thomas, Zimri, Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, '65, as Corp. Vanhorn, D. P., Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Weidman, S., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m. o. June 5, 1865, as Corp. Wagoner, W. H., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Whitaker, J. M., Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862; m.o. June 5, '65. Went, Henry, Topeka, Aug. 27, 1862 ; m. o. June 5, 1865. Wright, John B., Havana, Aug. 27, 1862; prmtd. to Adjt. Zentmire, David, Mason City, Aug. 27, 1862, m. o. June 5, 1865. Zanise, John, Manito, Aug. 27, 1862 ; died Dec. 6, 1862, at Nashville, Tenn. ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTH INFANTRY. The One Hundred and Eighth Infantry was organized at Camp Peoria on the 27th of August, 1862. October 6, the regiment moved by rail to Covington, Ky., via Logansport, Indianapolis and' Cincinnati, arriving at Covington on the 8th. The regiment drew equipage and transpor- tation, and; on the 17th, marched with the division into the interior of the State, follow- ing the retreating enemy through Falmouth, Cynthia, Paris and Lexington to Nicholasville, arriving on the 1st of November, and remain- ing to the 14th. The regiment, November 14, marched for Louisville via Versailles, Frankfort and Shel- byvillf, reaching Louisville on the 19th, and, on the 21st, embarked for Memphis, where it arrived on the 26th', and went into camp near the city. The regiment remained on duty at Memphis until the 20th of December, when it embarked, under Gen. Sherman, in an expedition against Vicksburg. They proceeded down the river to the mouth of the Yazoo, and up that river to Johnson's Landing, near Chickasaw Bluff, where the regiment encamped on the night of 28th of December. On the morning of the 29th, the division moved upon the enemy, who were found strongly intrenched on the Bluffs running northeast from Vicksburg. Here the One Hundred and Eighth first met the enemy, occupying the extreme right of the Union lines, and resting on the Mississippi River with its right. The skirmishing began on the after- noon of the 29th, and the battle was renewed on the morning of the 30th. The forces in front of the One Hundred and Eighth were forced to retire with a loss of seven killed and four captured prisoners by the regiment. On the 1st of January, 1863, the One Hun- dred and Eighth again went to the front, and remained on the skirmish line until midnight, when, at the time the clock in Vicksburg struck the hour of 1, the regiment, in compli- ance with previous orders, silently withdrew, covering the retreat of the army, and, on the morning of the 2d, embarked on transports. The lines of the armies were so close to- gether that the voices of the opposing foes could be distinctly heard, yet the retreat was so well planned and executed that the enemy knew nothing of it until the fleet went steam- ing down the Yazoo. The fleet passed down the Yazoo and up the Mississippi to the mouth of White Fiver, and up that river, through a cut-off, into the Ar- kansas to Arkansas Post, where, on the 10th of January, the regiment disembarked and par- ticipated in the investment of that fort, and, on the following day. bore an active part in that most brilliant and successful engagement, which resulted in the capture of the fort with [ some five thousand prisoners. The causalties in the One Hundred and ; Eighth during this engagement were 13 men | wounded. On the 17th of January, the fleet : again moved down stream to Young's Point, opposite Vicksburg, where the Twenty-fourth regiment went into camp. The long confine- ment on the transports in this expedition, the want of pure air and sanitary conveniences, cost the regiment more lives than all other causes during its term of service. One officer, Philo W. Hill. First Lieutenant of Company A, I and 134 men, died during the months of Feb- i ruary and March. On the loth of April, the regiment marched with the army across the country via Richmond, Smith's Plantation and I along Lake St. Joseph to Hard Times, landing on the Mississippi opposite Grand Gulf; thence along the levee to Brandensburg, arriv- ing there on the 29th of April. The next day the regiment crossed the Mississippi on board ' the iron-clad gun-boat Lafayette, which had ! run the batteries of Vicksburg and Grand Gulf. On the morning of May 1, the regiment marched rapidly on to the battlefield of Port Gibson and took its position, fighting and marching all day without eating or resting. After a tedious march, the regiment reached Champion Hills, on the 16th, and again engaged in battle and again drove the enemy from the field. On the 17th, the regiment was j assigned to the duty of taking charge of the prisoners, and marching with them to Black River Bridge, where it was joined by the j Twenty-Third Iowa, with another lot of prison- ers, making in all 4,500. On the 19th, it reached Haines' Bluff, on the Yazoo, and the HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 483 next day embarked for Young's Point and went' into camp, where it had left five months before. On the 25th, the regiment embarked with the prisoners for Memphis, and, delivering them to the command there, returned to Young's Point and there remained on duty until the surrender of Vicksburg. On the 18th of July, the regiment crossed over into Vicksburg and reported to Gen. Mc- Pherson, and, on the 26th, embarked for Mem- phis, reporting to Gen. Hurlbut on the 29th, and, on the 5th of August, went to La Grange and was assigned to the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps. On the 28th of October, the regiment marched to Poca- hontas and garrisoned that post until the 9th of November, Cok Turner commanding the post. On the 9th of November, the regiment moved to Corinth and remained on duty until the place was evacuated on the 28th of January, 1864, when it proceeded to Memphis. On the 2d of June, 130 men of the regiment went with Gen. Sturgis' command in pursuit of Gen. Forrest and overtook his forces and had an engagement on the 10th of June. On the 21st of August, 1864, when Forrest made his famous raid into Memphis, the One Hundred and Eighth did good service in compelling him to make a hasty retreat. On the 28th of February, 1865, the regiment left Memphis for New Orleans, where it joined the Sixteenth Army Corps, in command of Gen. A. J. Smith, and was assigned to the Third Brigade, Col. Turner in Command. On the 12th of March, the regiment em- barked on board the ocean steamer Guiding Star for Fort Gaines, on Dauphine Island, which point was reached on the 16th. On the 21st of March, the regiment embarked and proceeded up Mobile Bay and Fish River to Donly's Mills, about twenty-five miles from its | mouth. On the 25th it marched with the j corps in the direction of Mobile, and, on the 27th, the enemy was met and driven within his works at Spanish Fort. Heavy fighting continued all day and in the night siege work began and continued night and day under a constant fire from sharp-shooters stationed behind the enemy's works. The One Hundred And Eighth occupied the dangerous point at the extreme right of the Union lines, where it was supposed the enemy would attempt to turn this flank. The siege of this stronghold lasted thirteen days and was brought to a close on the 8th of April, when the Third Brigade, to which this regiment belonged, charged the enemy's works from the works which this regiment had constructed and pushed two hundred yards nearer the enemy than any other point on the line. The casualties of the One Hundred and Eighth during the siege and assault were one officer, Capt. VV. W. Bul- lock, severely wounded, three men killed and ten wounded. On the 9th of April, the regiment marched with the Sixteenth Corps to Montgomery, Ala., which place was reached on the 25th. Here it remained until the 18th of July on provost duty. Col. Turner in command of the brigade and also of the post. On the 18th of July, the regiment embarked on boat for Selma, thence by rail to Jackson, Miss., via Demopolis and Meridian, and from thence by rail to Vicksburg, on its way to the homes from which the men had been absent for three long years of bloody war. On the 5th of August, 1865, the muster-out rolls were signed and the regiment embarked for Cairo, and from there proceeded by rail to Chicago, where it was paid off and dis- charged from service on the llth day of August, 1865. Company A. Musician Jas. Silbee, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Company C. Morganslarn, L., Spring Lake, e. Sept 20, 1864; m.o. Aug. 5, 1865. McFadden, Wm., Spring Lake, e. Sept. 20, 1864 j m. o. Aug. 5, 18G5. Ross, John, Spring Lake, e. Sept. 20, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Company D. Lombard, Augustus, Spring Lake, Sept. 23, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Woods, James, Spring Lake, Sept. 20, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Company F. Capt. Isaac Sarf, Lynchburg, Aug. 28,1862; resd. April 6, 1863. Capt. John H. Schulte, Bath, April 6, 1863; resd. Feb. 16, 1865. First Lieut. James Tippett. Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; resd. Feb. 16, 1863. First Lieut. John H. Schulte, Bath, Feb. 21, 1863; prmtd. Second Lieut. John H. Schulte, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; prmtd. First Sergt, John Eveland, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; trans. to Inv. Corps Feb. 15, 1863. Sergt. Charles Lippett, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; disd. April 17, 1861. Sergt. d. T. Northcroft, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Sept. 20, 1862. Corp. George W. Patterson, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Sept. 20, 1862. Corp. W. P. Markland, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865, as Sergt. Corp. Robert Moore, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 23, 1863, at Young's Point. Corp. Richard Bradshaw, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865, as Sergt. Corp. Wm. E. Sarff, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; disd. April 7, 1863. Corp. James Butler, Bath. Aug. 28, 1862; disd. April 1, 1863. Corp. Benjamin Dodson. Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. July 28, 1865, as Sergt. Corp. Hezekiah Lynch, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Oct. 5, 1862. Musician Gustave Juzi, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; disd. Oct. 27, 1862, at Covington. Musician Thos. D. Gatton, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; deserted Sept. 22, 1862. Wagoner Thomas Porter, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Arndt, Peter, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Adkins, Isaac N., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; died Dec. 13, 1862, at Memphis. Brandt, Peter, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; died Jan. 19, 1863. Butler, Richard, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died March 4, 1864, at Memphis. 484 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Boyd, M. W., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; trans, to Co. H. Breeden, J. P., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; died Feb. 5, 1863, at St. Louis. Camp, Mead, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; disd. March 6, 1863. Case, Calvin, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted May 5, 1863. Deer, C. E.,Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Dew, Wiley, Bath. Aug. 28, 1862 ; died May 11, 1863. Estes, James, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 3, 1863, at Young's Point. Frank, Matthew, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Fuse, Joseph, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; deserted Sept. 25, 1862. Gobble, George, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Oct. 10, 1862, at La Grange, Tenn. Griffin, William, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Jan. 26, 1863. Hamilton, Thomas, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; died Feb. 23. 1863, at Young's Point. Huffman, William, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Jan. 20, 1863. Harsher, John, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865, as Corp. Harsher, Andrew, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1802 ; Corp.; ab- sent sick at m. o. Haid, Louis, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865, as prisoner of war. Halliday, M. J., Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Oct. 9, 1862. Johnson, Edward, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Oct. 29, 1862. Knight, F. S., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; died May 4, 1864, at Ford, Tex. Kerchean, H., Havana, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Jan. 25, 1863, at Young's Point. Lane, Samuel C., Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865, as Sergt. Madison, Abner, Bath, Aug. 28, '62 ; absent sick at m. o. Mahan, Hassan, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 1, 1863. Neiderer, Arnold, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Perry, James H., Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died March 12. 1864, at St. Louis. ' Piirson, Isaac, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; absent sick at m. o. Ray, Rolla, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; deserted Aug. 28, 1862. Redman, Elias, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1 862 ; died Feb. 6, 1863, at Young's Point. Rempson, Bruno, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1863 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Rochester, S. S., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; didn't go with the boys. Smith, Romane, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Jan. 19, 1863. Sarff, Abner, Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Shafer, Isaac, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted May 5, 1863. Smith, Henry, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; deserted May 5, '63. Sarff, John. Lynchburg, Aug. 28, '62; absent sick at m. o. Tayor, Alex., Lynchburg, Aug. 28, '62; m. o. Aug. 5, '65. Vanblaricum, D., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 13, '63, at Young's Point. Warren, Wright, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; absent sick at m. o. Wood, Wm., Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted May 5, 1863. Wright, Wm., Lynchburg, Aug. 28, 1862; died Feb. 15, 1863, at Young's Point. RECRDIT8. Gaston, Chas., Spring Lake, Sept. 27, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Company H. Capt. Wm. M. Duffey, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. First Lieut. Isaac C. Brown, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862; re- signed Dec. 11, 1863. Second Lieut. Wm. W. Nelson, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; resd. March 1, 1863. First Sergt. Samu< 1 Biggs, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; disd. Sergt. William Little, San Jose, Aug. 28,1862; m.o. Aug. 5, 1865. ai First Sergt. Sergt. Edwin Smith, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 6, 1865, as First Sergt. Sergt. Rufus B. Somers, San Jose, Aug. 28,1862; disd. March 14, 1863, as private. Corp. A. P. Houston, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; disd. Aug. 16,1863. Corp. 0. A. Robinson, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 1, 186<. Corp. Edwin Dillon, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862; absent sick at m. o. Corp. E. C. Kidder, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1866. Corp. John Orm, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; died Feb. 20 r 1863, at Young's Point. Musician J. A. Nelson, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; disd. March 24, 1863. Musician John Radcliff, Bath, Aug. 28, 1862; disd. March 24, 1863. Wagoner Jas. D. Hite, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Black, Clinton, Crane Creek, Aug. 28, 1862; deserted Aug. 29, 1862. Boyer, David, San Jose, Aug. 28, 1862 ; deserted Aug. 29, 1862. Boyer, Em., San Jose, Aug. 28, '62; deserted Aug. 29, 1862. Brown, Jacob, San Jose, Aug. 12. 1862 ; disd. Nov. 16. Boyd, Morris W., Bath, Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Buchanan, J. H. H., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; died Feb. 6, 1863, at Young's Point. Cook, Wm. P , Sau Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; died Feb. 18,1865, at Young's Point. Comesford, M., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; prmtd to Lieut. Dorrance, J. G., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; deserted Sept. 1862. Davis, John B., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; died Jan. 13, 1863, at Arkansas Post. Elmore, Redding, Crane Creek, Aug. 12, 1862 ; deserted Feb. 13, 1863. Frey, Ulrich, San Jos., Aug. 12,1862; deserted Oct. 15, 1863. Ford, John, San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Garran, G. W., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; died Feb. 13, 1863, at Young's Point. Gardner, Leonard. Prairie Creek, Aug. 12, 1862 ; deserted in Sept., 1862. Hutchinson, Sam, San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; trans. t--> Inv. Corps Jan. 15, 1864. Hillman, J. C., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; died Jan. 31, 1863. Jones, John C., Bath, Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Jan. 19, 1863. Kidder, Z. B., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; disd. Sept. 23, 1863. Keiting, Pat., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Lahey, Nicholas, San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Lucas, Alfred, Bath, Aug. 12, 1862; died Jan. 26, 1864. Moore, John, Jr., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; deserted Oct. 6, 1863. Moore, John, Sr., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; died July 13, 1863. Martin, J. A., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; died July 29, 1?63, at St. Louis. McCarty, Michael, San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Dec. 18, 162. McNaughton, Geo., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; m.o. Aug. 5, 1865. McGhee, F. J., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862; disd. for disability Aug. 28, 1862. Orm, R. M., Prairie Creek, Aug. 12, 1862; disd. July 24, 1863. Pounds, Thomas, Bath, Aug. 12, 1862; deserted Oct. 22, 1862. Setters, J. W., Crane Creek, Aug. 12, 1862; disd. March 7, 1862. Soilbee, James, Bath, Aug. 12, 1862 ; prmtd. Principal Musician. Totten, Daniel, San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Tyler C W., San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; disd. for disability May 17, 1865. Yontz, Abraham. San Jose, Aug. 12, 1862 ; died Jan 29, 1863. RECRUITS. Anno, A. N., Spring Lake, Sept. 27, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Campbell, M. A., Spring Lake, Sept. 27, 1864 ; m. o. July 1. 1865. Charles, John, Spring Lake, Sept. 24, 1864. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 485 ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR- TEENTH INFANTRY. Company D. RECRUITS. Holmes. Samuel, Spring Lake, Sept. 22, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Nale. William, Spring Lake, Sept. 22, 1864; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. O'Conor, Peter, Spring Lake, Sept. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 5, 1865. Thompson, J. W., Spring Lake,-Sept. 22, 1864 ; m. o. Aug. 6, 1865. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY- THIRD INFANTRY. (One Hundred lu vs. Company C. Daskin, R. B., Mason City, April 27, 1864. Hewett, S. P., Havana, May 10, 1864. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY- NINTH INFANTRY. (One Hundred Days.) Company I. Capt. W. H. Caldwell, Havana, June 1, 1864, m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. First Lieut. Frank A. Moseley, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. - Oct. 28, 1864. Second Lieut. John B. Brush, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28,1864. First Sergt. W. H. Patterson, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Sergt. John Cogshall, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Sergt. James R. Teney, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28. 1864. Sergt. 0. W. Clotfelter, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Sergt. Wm. A. Martin, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. John Nix, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. C. E. Hitchcock, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. Henry Wilkins, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. C. S. Chambers, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. James H. Daniels, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. Thomas H. Johns, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. Charles A. Gore, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Corp. Oscar H. Harpham, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Musician Wm. H. O'Riley, Havana, June 1,1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Musician Ed. A. Schemerhorn, Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Wagoner John H. Sherwood, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Atkin, Andrew J., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Bowers, J. T., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Brandt, Otto, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Bubert, Henry, Havana, June 1, 1864; died at Cairo. Clarkson, John L., Bath, June 1, 1864; m.o.Oct. 28,1864. Carman, John L., Havana, June 1, 1864; m.o.Oct. 28, 1864. Clotfelter, Charles, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, '64. Cross, Geo. W., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Cogshall, Charles, Bath, Junel, 1861 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Cress, N. R., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Deverman, H. G., Havuna, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Duvall, Simpson, Havana, June 1.1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Dew, James, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Donlin, James C., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28,. 1864. Earl, Geo. B., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. England, Azariah, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. '28, 1864. England, Isaac W., Havana, June 1 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Grant, Charles C., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28 r 1864. Grigjss, Matthew, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Hardin, William C., Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m.o. Oct. 28, '64. Hill, Mark D., Bath. June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Halliday, Geo. S., Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Hollinpiworth, A. B.. Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Jones, Richard, Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Judson, W. H. H., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Krafts, August, Havana, Jane 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, '64. Kirk, James, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Knight, Thomas, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Lacy, Robert, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Littell, Nathaniel, Havana, Junel, 1864; m.o.Oct. >*, 1864. Lisco, James, Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Martin, Godfrey, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28,. 1864. Martin, John M., Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Moore, J. F., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Nichols, C. A., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. O'Leary, George D., Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, '64. Parkhurst, Geo. A., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864 Pegram, Hardin, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Pesterfield, John W., Bath, June 1, 1864 : m. o. Oct. 28 r 1864. Pounds, Henry, Havana, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, '64. Ruckman, Lemuel, Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Rupert, W. H., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Shultz, George M., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Shultz, James M., Havana, June 1, 1864; m. <>. Oct. 28,. 1864. Sisson, Marcus, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Smith, Irving, Bath, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Toland, P. A., Bath, June 1 , 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Tolly, Walter, Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Thompson, N. E., Bath, June 1, 1864; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Walker, W. H., Havana, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. Wente, Fred., Topeka, June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, 1864. RECRUITS. Shay. Martin, Mason Co., June 1, 1864 ; m. o. Oct. 28, '64. Stillman, H. J. B., Mason Co., June 1,1864; m.o. Oct. 28, 1864. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY- FIFTH INFANTRY. (One Hundred Days.) Company H. Earnett, John, Mason City, June 9, 1864; m. o. Sept. 23, 1864. Griffith, John M., Mason City, June 9, 1864; m. o. Sept. 23, 1864. Herwig, Jacob, Mason City, June 9, 1864; m. o. Sept. 23, 1864. Newberry, George, Mason City, June 9, 1864; m. o. Sept. 23, 1864. ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY- EIGHTH INFANTRY. (One Year.) Company C. Corp. A. J. Roberts, Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; absent at m. o. Barnes, John, Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 186V Boone, W. C., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 6, 1865. Douden, John, Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. 486 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Douden, Reese, Manito, Feb. 8, 1865; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. Pollard, Wm., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. Porter, C. H., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. Pollard, B. F., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. Pendleton, C., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; deserted. Reynolds, H. C., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865; deserted, 1865. Smith, G., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865 ; m. o. Sept. 5, 1865. "White, G. W., Manito, Feb. 8, 1865; died in March, 1865. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY- FIRST INFANTRY. (One Year.) Company B. Ranking, John R., Havana, Feb. 14, 1865. Shugart, John, Havana, Feb. 14, 1865 ; deserted. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY- SECOND INFANTRY. (One Year.) Company A. Fisher, Robert F., Easton, Feb. 7, 1865 ; died at Jeffer- sonville. Fisher, J. H. B., Easton, Feb. 7, 1865 ; died at home. The regimental history of other regiments in which the soldiers of Mason County served would be cheerfully given, but there is not room in the book for all ; nor have we the nec- essary time to devote to the work. So far as we have gone, it- is believed that a true and reliable history is given, such as may be handed down to posterity with confidence in its general correctness and completeness. Of course, there may be some errors in names, which will always occur among so many. Justice and impartiality has been aimed at, and if there is any failure, it is not from any prejudice or partiality. The good name and reputation, as well as the welfare of every Union soldier in the great army of volunteers, are dearly enshrined in the memory of the writer, who so long shared in their hardships, their dangers and their triumphs. It is the campaigning and the battle field that make men feel near and dear to each other. The burly Dutchman, the wild Irishman, and all nationalities, mingle together in battle and in death and are ever bound together in one com- mon brotherhood. ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARDS. The Seventh Regiment of Illinois National Guards was organized August 17, 1377, with headquarters at Peoria. Col. Isaac Taylor, of Peoria, has command of the regiment. The Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment is J. S. Kirk, of Havana. Major, Ol P. Crane, Sur- geon, of Mason City. Two companies of this regiment belong to Mason County one in Havana, and the other in Mason City. Company F, of Havana. Capt. Wm. H. Webb. First Lieut. J. C. Yates. Second Lieut. S. F. Kyle. First Sergt. S. A. Murdock. Second Sergt. J. R. Murdock, disd. Second Sergt. J. W. Patton. Third Sergt. C. B. Ketcham. Fourth Sergt. C. N. Warner. Fifth Sergt. W. A. Brown. First Corp. Henry Myers. Second Corp. L. P. Dorreli. Third Corp. E. C. Dearborn. Fourth Corp. H. R. Havighorst. Fifth Corp. J. J. Parkhurst. Sixth Corp. Charles Pollitz. . Seventh Corp. W. C. Rodecker. Eighth Corp. F. W. Blanchard. Musician W. L. Ketcham. Musician E. 0. Wheadon. Privates. Giles Atkins, J. P. Atwater, John Barry, Isaac Bend, Valentine Ball, A. W. Beck, George Brown, John L. Carman (died in 1879), William Chambers, Abe Davis, R. F. Drone, Lewis Doherer, W. H. Emerson, H. A. Ferbrache, Goodwin Ford, Gust. Gartheffner, 01. Green- wait, G. W. Hillyer, W. H. Hillyer, Isaac M. Henninger, George Q. Henningei, W. A. Henninger, Judson Hen- ninger, Charles H. Hoffner. W. C. Hoffner, J. 0. John- stone, Henry Kindorp, Frank Lally, W. W. Langford, Frank Lewis, C. H. Lury, Dan. McMahon, A. W. Nash, J. E. Nelms, Jr., Charles Paul, E. W. Paul, A. Peterson, G. H. Prater, J. P. Prettyman, J. W. Reese, J. W. Sarff, Wm. Schultz, J. H. Schulte, Jr., Walter Spink, John Schwenck, W. S. Stout, E. A. Thornburg. Company I, of Mason City. Capt. Amos Trout. First Lieut. George B. Jackson. Second Lieut. John F. Hefiernan. First Sergt. Geo. H. Kern. Second Sergt. Enoch J. Pittsford. Third Sergt. Harry C. Thompson. Fourth Sergt. George H. Constant. Fifth Sergt. Ed. S. Carrey. First Corp. John J. Cox. Second Corp. Nelson Carson. Third Corp. Henry Kile. Fourth Corp. Wm. H. Malone. Fifth Corp. Samuel B. Spear. Sixth Corp. Charles M. Patterson. Seventh Corp. Willard E. Lesourd. Musician Edward W. Fuller. Privates. W. G. Black, Jno. E. Beck, Melville Ches- ter, Bruce. Chenoweth, Lorenzo D. Cox, Amos T. Cole, Thomas E. Case, Jno. F. Connelly, Hradley W. Case, Elijah M. Crafton, Henry Dallas, Ludwick Davis, Edw. J. Dunbar, Corey Fletcher, Harland F. Gregory, Joseph Harrison, Geo. W. Kinnaman, John W. Krittey, William Keefer, Jno. Krirksman, Francis M. Ludlam, Eugena Mathers, James O'Brien, Wm. J. Rutherford, J. W. Rozell, Henry C. Shaggs, J. H. Strichtman, Gammel Smith, Eugene Spongenburg, Thos. 0. Townsand, Isaac Taylor, Geo. W. Tracy, Edward A. Whitney, Emanuel Wharam. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 487 CITIES AND VILLAGES IN MASON COUNTY. NAME OF PLACES. ORIGINAL PBOPEIETOES. Date of Survey. Popula- tion. H avana 0. M. Ross 1827 2600 Bath John Kerton 1836 800 0. M Ross (obsolete) 1836 1837 M at an zas Homes & Powell (obsolete 1839 Mason City Yates, Straut and others , 1857 1600 Natrona Conklin & Co 1857 100 Fullerton & Cox 1858 450 San Jose Dillon, Morgan, Parker & Kidder 1858 400 1859 Topeka Thomas & Eckard 1860 250 Forest City Dearborn & Kemp 1862 200 Peterville Peter Thornburg 1868 Bishop's H. Bishop 50 K ilbourne J. B. Gum and others 1870 150 Long Branch J M Ruggles and B. H. Gatton 1871 Sedan J F Kelsey 1871 Easton James M. Samuel 1872 200 Teheran Alexander Blunt 1873 50 Poplar City Martin Scott 1873 Bi of ors Paul G Biggs 1875 Snicarte Mark A. Smith 1858 50 POLITICS OF MASON COUNTY. For many years, the political preponderance in the county was so evenly balanced between Whigs and Democrats that the personal popularity of the candidate usually determined the result, and it may be said that the same con- dition still continues, as the present county offices are filled by five Democrats and four Republicans. At the first Presidential election, after the organization of Mason County, the great American statesman, Henry Clay, carried the county by one vote, over James K. Polk. From that time down to 1872, the Democratic majorities for President ranged from twelve to ninety-eight. At the last two elections, the majority has been largely increased. VOTES FOR PRESIDENT. 1844 Clay, 255 ; Polk, 254. 1848^Taylor, 391 ; Cass, 403 ; Van Buren, 4. 1852 Scott, 561 ; Pierce, 624 ; Hale, 5. 1856 Fremont, ; Buchanan, - - ; Fillmore, . 1860 Lincoln, 1198 ; Douglas, 1224. 1864 Lincoln, 1155; McClellan, 1253. 1868 Grant, 1677; Seymour, 1719. 1872 Grant, 1386; Greeley, 1584. 1876 Hayes, 1566; Tilden, 1939 ; Cooper, 86. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN MASON COUNTY. It is said that when some pious adventurers from Spain landed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, the first object that attracted their attention was a gal- lows on which some mutinous explorer of another party had been hung ; the 488 HISTORY Ot MASON COUNTY. sight of this gallows inspired their pious souls with joy, and they immediately knelt in prayer, thanking God "that their lot had been cast in a Christian land." If the gallows and the gibbet are evidences of Christianity, Mason County is a God-forsaken country, for within her borders no gallows has yet been erected and no person hanged by order of any Court. Many murders and other high crimes have been committed in the county, for which the highest award of punishment has been a few years of labor in the Penitentiary. There was a dead man found hanging on a black-jack tree, near Forest City, some years ago, but no jury or court had anything to do with it. It was a clear case of a tree bearing the fruit that comes of a life of crime ! The eco- nomic ideas of the community seemed to justify the act, because the dead man had threatened the life of a good man living in the neighborhood, and was deserving the death which came to him without expense to the county ! In this respect the county has been managed too much in the interest of economy for there ought to have been at least a dozen pair of gallows paid for and used by the county since its organization. The people seem to have ignored capital punishment and have so far acted upon the theory that it is more merciful and less shocking to the sensibilities, to give life to human beings than to take it from them ! Of all the murders and homicides in the county, we cannot call to mind a single one that may not be traced to the intoxicating bowl that destroys the better nature of man and changes him into a maddened brute ! This being the cause of crime may also furnish the reason for a failure of punishment. The average juryman cannot for the life of him determine whether it is the man who made the liquor, the man who sold it, or the victim who drank it and committed the crime, that should be punished. In the per- plexity of the case the man who commits the crime goes free, because the eye of the law is not sharp enough to see who is the right one to punish. BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES IN MASON COUNTY. MASONIC. The first Masonic Lodge in the county was opened in Havana, under dis- pensation, in 1849, and Leopold Stearns was the first to receive the Master Mason's degree. Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 8, 1850. Old Time Lodge, No. 629, Havana, was chartered October 8, 1869, and was consolidated with Havana Lodge, No. 88, February 14, 1877. Havana Chapter, No. 86, Royal Arch Masons, at Havana ; date of dispen- sation, August 3, 1865 ; chartered October, 1865. Havana Chapter joins with Havana Lodge, No. 88, in the construction of Masonic Hall, now building September, 1879. Havana Council, No. 40, Royal and Select Masters, at Havana; date of dispensation, December 12, 1867 ; chartered at the meeting of the Grand HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 489 Council in October, 1868 ; merged into the Havana Chapter, No. 86, by action of the Grand Chapter and Grand Council consolidating into a Grand Chapter, in October, 1877. Damascus Commandery, No. 42, at Havana ; date of dispensation, February 10, 1872 ; chartered October 22, 1872. Bath Lodge, No. 494. A., F. & A. M. ; chartered in October, 1866, at Bath. Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. M., at Mason City ; chartered in January, 1864. Manito Lodge, No. 476, A., F. A. M., Manito ; chartered October 3, 1866. San Jose Lodge, No. 645, A., F. & A. M., San Jose ; chartered October 4, 1870. For a more complete account of the benevolent Orders (Masonic and Odd Fellows), in Mason County, the reader is referred to the local history of the towns in which they are located. We cannot fail to mention the splendid Masonic Hall now in course of erection on the north side of Main street, Havana. It will be an institution of which all the Masonic fraternity may justly be proud. ODD FELLOWS. Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. 0. F., Havana; instituted April 4, 1854. State Encampment, No. 34, I. 0. 0. F., Havana ; instituted May 1, 1856. Bath Lodge, No. 185, I. 0. 0. F., Bath ; instituted in 1849. Mason City Lodge, No. 337, I. 0. 0. F., Mason City ; instituted in 1866. Mason City Encampment, No. 175, I. 0. 0. F., Mason City ; instituted in 1876. San Jose Lodge, No. 380, I. 0. 0. F., San Jose ; instituted October 12, 1869. Valley Encampment, No. 120, I. 0. 0. F, San Jose; instituted October 10, 1871. ORDER OF DRUIDS. Havana Grove, No. 140, V. A. 0. D., in Havana; organized May 13, 1874. They have a hall on the corner of Main and Plum streets. POOR FARM. Mason County is the owner of a Poor Farm of 160 acres : the northeast quarter of Section 32, Township 21, Range 6, near the embryo city of Teheran. Although it is called the " poor farm, 1 ' it is in fact very rich in the quality of its soil, and the many advantages of location it possesses. It furnishes a very healthy, comfortable and desirable home for all the unfortunates who cannot have a home of their own, and is an institution that goes to the credit of the people who pay the yearly taxes to keep it up. 490 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS. Havana, established in 1829, 0. C. Easton, Postmaster ; Bath, 1842, IL B. Lindsey ; Mason City, 1858, J. S. Baner ; Manito, 1860, J. Rosier; Topeka, 1860, J. F. Rule ; Forest City, 1864, A. Cross ; Saidora, 1868, John Adkins ; Snicarte, ; Bishops', ; San Jose, 1860, Albert McAllister; Natrona, 1860, Richard Williams ; Kilbourne, 1872, C. L. Newell ; Long Branch, 1872, discontinued ; Easton, 1873, E. Ferrell ; Poplar City, 1873, S. A. Poland ; Biggs, 1873, William Buchanan ; Teheran, 1874, W. S. Rich. There have been post offices at Lease's Grove, Quiver, Crane Creek and Field's Prairie, but they have long since been discontinued. EDUCATIONAL. When our forefathers declared, in the ordinance of 1787, that knowledge, with religion and morality, " was necessary to the good government and happi- ness of mankind," and that "schools and the means of education should for- ever be encouraged," they suggested the bulwark of American liberty. The first free-school system in Illinois was adopted in 1825, and under that system schools flourished in nearly every neighborhood in the State. In the year 1824, Gov. Coles urged, in his message to the Legislature, their attention to the liberal donation of Congress in lands for educational purposes, asking that they be treasured as a rich inheritance for future generations, and at the same time making provisions for the support of local schools. During the session of the Legislature, Hon. Joseph Duncan (then a State Senator and afterward Governor) introduced a bill, which was passed, with the following preamble, which shows a high appreciation of the subject at that early day : " To enjoy our rights and liberties, we must understand them ; their security and protection ought to be the first object of a free people; and it is a well established fact that no nation has ever continued long in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom which was not both virtuous arid enlightened. And believing that the advancement of literature always has been, and ever will be, the means of more fully developing the rights of men that the mind of every citizen in a republic is the common property of society, and consti- tutes the basis of its strength and happiness it is therefore considered the peculiar duty of a free government, like ours, to encourage and extend the improvement and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the whole people." In that law it was provided that common schools should be established, free and open to every class of white citizens between the ages of five and twenty- one, and persons over that age might be admitted on such terms as the Trustees should prescribe. Districts of not less than fifteen families were to be formed by the County Courts, upon petition of a majority"' of the voters thereof; offi- cers were to be elected, sworn in and their duties were prescribed in detail. The system was full and complete in all particulars. The legal voters were HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 491 empowered at the annual meetings to levy a tax, in money or merchantable produce at its cash value, not exceeding one-half of one per cent, subject to a maximum limitation of $10 to any one person. Aside from this tax, the best and most effective feature of the law the stimulant of our present system was an annual appropriation by the State of $2 out of every $100 received into- the treasury, and the distribution of five-sixths of the interest arising from the school funds appropriated among the several counties, according to the number of white children under the age of twenty-one years, which sums were redistrib- uted by the counties among their respective districts, none participating therein where less than three months' school had been taught during the preceding year. In this law were foreshadowed some of the most valuable features of our present free-school system. It is evident, however, that the law of 1825 was in advance of public sentiment. The people preferred to pay the tuition fees or go without education for their children, rather than submit to taxation, not- withstanding the burthen fell heaviest upon the wealthier classes, who virtually paid for the schooling of their poor neighbors' children', and the law was so- amended, in 1827, as to virtually nullify it, by providing that no person should be taxed for the support of any school, unless consent was first obtained in writing, and the 2 per cent, which was the life of the system, was also abol- ished. Such were the provisions of the first school laws of Illinois, and the virtual abolishment of the law of 1825 developed a crude system of schools that was continued nearly thirty years under which system schools and school houses were left to the local option of the neighborhood: some children having schools to go to and others no such privileges. The adoption of the free-school system, entered upon in 1855, marks the turning-point in the educational system of Illinois, and abolished forever the crude school laws before in force. The donation by Congress of the sixteenth section in every township (or r when sold, lands equivalent therefor), for the use of the inhabitants of the township for school purposes, amounted to over 998,000 acres of land in the State, and, had these lands been properly managed, they would have produced a school fund that would have done away with local taxation for school pur- poses. The Legislature of 1854 took the first step in the right direction, by enact- in a law separating the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction from the office of Secretary of State, and creating a separate educational department of the government. Under this law, Gov. Matteson appointed Hon. Ninian W. Edwards State Superintendent of Common Schools. In January following, he submitted to the General Assembly a full report upon the condition of the pub- lic schools throughout the State, urged the education of the children of the State at the public expense, and presented a bill for a complete system of free 492 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. schools, which, with some changes, became a law. The act was passed on the 15th of February, 1855, and embraced all the essential features of the law now in force. It is questionable whether any other State in the Union has a better educa- tional system than that developed in Illinois during the past twenty-five years. It is well adapted to the wants and conditions of the people, and fully up to the spirit of the age in which we live. It is within that period that all the schools and schoolhouses have been established in Mason County that amount to any- thing worthy of being proud of. The writer of this is gratified with the reflec- tion that, as a member of the State Senate, he helped to pass the laws which inaugurated the free-school system of Illinois, notwithstanding the abuse that was heaped upon him for doing it by those who could not see or appreciate the beneficence of the system. There is yet an advance step to be made to complete the system, and that is the adoption of the compulsory feature. Parents who will not voluntarily send their children to school should be made to do so by the mandates of the law ; and the time is near at hand when it will be so enacted, and when every child in Illinois shall have the benefit of at least a rudimentary education. Those who are especially jealous of their rights oppose compulsory educa- tion on account of its interference with their precious liberty, not think- ing that the law which compels them to pay taxes, work roads, serve on juries, do military duty and many other disagreeable things, is just as much of an entrenchment upon their liberty to do as they please as it would be to compel them to send their children to school : besides, the liberty to bring up children in ignorance and vice is one of those things that ought to be interfered with and prevented if possible. A government that depends upon the intelligence of the people for its existence must use the necessary means to compel the education of the masses, or go to destruction. The way to carry out the grand idea in the Declaration of Independence to make all men free and equal is to do it through universal education. The unlettered man can not be the equal of the educated man, nor can he have a free and fair race in the pursuit of happiness, handicapped by ignorance. Another step, which is to be a tremendous stride in the direction of univer- sal and cheap education, is yet to be made. It is the simplification of the uses of letters in spelling and forming words, so that the English language may be rapidly and cheaply learned by children and those of other tongues. This great reform has long been advocated by wise and thoughtful men, and is now actively inaugurated. There is a class of professional educators who wish to make a monopoly of their profession by making our language so hard to learn that it takes years of labor and mints of money to acquire it ; but this class must in time give way to wiser and better men. Many of the nonsensical, use- less, wicked and fraudulent letters that have marred our beautiful language and HAVANA HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 495 made it a stumbling-block to children and foreigners, have already been dropped out of the places they have wrongfully occupied in hard and crooked words, that cost so much to learn. When the English language becomes purified and made plain and easy to learn, it will become the universal language of the world. The Church in the past ages assumed to be the special patron of education, and, as a part of that education, the religious dogmas of the day were engrafted upon the untutored infant mind, the cunning priest well understanding that "just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." That time has passed by with us, thanks to the liberty-loving intelligence of our people. We have lived to see " The Church and State, that long had held Unholy intercourse, now divorced. She who, on the breast of civil power, ' Had long reposed her harlot head, (The Church a harlot when she wedded civil power,) And drank the blood of martyred saints ; Whose priests were lords ; Whose coffers held the gold of every land ; Who held a cup, of all pollutions full ! " There are school edifices in Havana, Bath, Mason City and J3aston that are justly the pride of the people of their respective localities. The Havana Schoolhouse was built in 1875, at a cost of $30,000. Mr. Thomas W. Catlin, a graduate of Yale College, has held the position of Super- intendent of Havana schools for the past two years, with general satisfaction. The present efficient School Board consists of Capt. Jacob Wheeler, J. R. Foster and H. W. Lindly. With the following statistics which we have obtained from Mr. Badger, County Superintendent of Schools, we close the chapter on education. No. of school districts in Mason County 95 No. of schoolhouses in the county 98 Brick houses, 5; frame, 92; log, 1. No. of High Schools in the county 2 No. of graded schools 4 No. of ungraded schools 91 No. of males under twenty-one years of age : 4,268 No. of females under twenty-one years of age 4,030 Total 8,298 No. of males between six and twenty-one years of age 2,865 No. of females between six and twenty-one years of age 2,757 Total No. between six and twenty-one 5,622 No. of male pupils enrolled 2,217 No. of female pupils enrolled 2,070 Total enrolled pupils , 4,287 No. of male teachers 64 No. of female teachers 75 Total No. of teachers 139 R 496 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. No. of months taught by males 365 No. of months taught by females 468J Total No. of months taught 833| Whole No. of months of school . , 692 Average No. of months of school 7.22 No. of months taught in graded schools 212 No. of months taught in ungraded schools 621.6 Average wages paid male teachers $44 21 Average wages paid female teachers , 34 65 Total amount paid male teachers 15,166 26 Total amount paid female teachers 15,175 74 Total amount paid teachers 30,342 00 Amount paid for fuel and other expenses 3,713 42 Total expenses for schools 34,055 42 Amount of school fund received during the year 66,123 53 Total expenditures for the year ending June 30, 1879 46,105 85 Balance school fund on hand 20,017 68 Value of school property in county 105,776 00 No. of persons between twelve and twenty-one years, unable to read and write 9 SUNDAY SCHOOLS. The Sunday-school work in Mason County has been immensely developed within the past few years, and is a valuable auxiliary to educational interests. The number of Sunday schools in the county, at the present time, is 45 ; number of teachers, 334 ; number of officers, 181 ; number of scholars, 3,483, making a total membership of 4,018. The number of volumes in the Sunday-school libraries, is 997, and the number of Sunday-school papers in circulation is 3,792. The amount of money raised for Sunday work, during the past year, is $1,043.38, a very small sum compared with the good work that has been done. RELIGIOUS HISTORY. The sound of the Gospel, as also the howling of the wolf, were among the loud noises heard in the wilds of Mason County by the early settler. The pioneer minister imagined himself a second John " crying in the wilderness," and, in humble imitation, he not only cried but howled before his congregation, gathered in the woods for want of houses to worship in. One of this class of preachers was old Moses Ray a forty-gallon Baptist minister of the olden time. In one of his black-jack sermons he was laboring to reconcile and harmonize the doctrine of election and fore-ordination, and the goodness, justice and mercy of God with the free will and free salvation of man. As he waded into the depths of his discourse, it soon dawned upon his bewildered mind that the arguments being used were illogical and contradic- tory, and, becoming dumbfounded, he called a halt of some moments of pro- found depression in the midst of his discourse, and then began talking to- himself, as it were, and soliloquized thusly : " Be keerful, old man Ray be HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 497 keerful ; you are getting in deep water, and had better keep near shore ; " and then he waded out of the deep water that has bothered many wiser heads than his ! * On another occasion, he was preaching in the timber at the south of Field's Prairie, where it took all the people of the south end of the county to make a respectable congregation. In the midst of his profound discourse, he observed some persons, forgetting the solemnity of the occasion, smiling and not giving the attention that a minister of the Gospel is supposed to be entitled to, and immediately addressed himself to* the parties, modestly reproving them in this wise : " Ef the friends are laughing at what old man Ray is saying, and doubt the truth of it, he can tell you that he has the documents in the lids of the Bible to obstantiate every word he says (giving the Good Book a tremendous whack with his open hand), but ef they are laughing at the ignorance of the old man, and because he can't eddify them, why then, old man Ray will sub- sist, and you kin go and hear some preacher with more larnin', efyou kin find any sich ! " There were many preachers, in early days, of the type of old man Ray. Among the early preachers in the county were John Camp, the County Judge, and Baldwin, the fisherman. Of the better class was John H. Daniels, of Bath, who is a man well posted in religious lore, and is still preaching to the Baptist Societies of the county, where he has been laboring for the past thirty- five years. He has also served the people as a Justice of the Peace and as an Associate County Judge, but is not as well posted in the law as in the Gospel. A pretty good joke is told on him, asserting that, while a Justice of the Peace, he sold a piece of real estate, made out the deed himself, took his own acknowl- edgment and that of his wife, certifying that he had examined her " separate and apart from her husband !" as the law directs. In these modern times, we have experienced a great change in the ministry, as well as in the kind of religion taught. No longer are the horny-handed sons of toil dressed in homespun coat and short pants, that seldom deigned to meet with the dirty socks the shepherds of the flocks. The modern minister, in order to meet the requirements of society, has become an educated man, and, in order to be popular with his Church especially those of the female per- suasion pays special attention to the vestments he wears in the pulpit, as well as to the utterances that come therefrom. He has learned that " cleanliness is next to godliness," arid that good clothes and good behavior are not altogether unbecoming the minister of the Gospel. The changes in religious teaching in the past third of a century, are still more remarkable. No longer are the blasphemous utterances against God as the author of infant damnation, and endless punishment in hell fire, heard in the land. The God of hatred and vengeance has been changed into a loving and merciful Being, through the processes of education and development. The ignorant and the vicious person makes for himself or herself an imaginary God 498 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. of evil attributes ; and the more enlightened and better-hearted the person, the better kind of God is required for that person ; so that, in fact, every thinking man is the architect of his own ideal Supreme Being. Of all the strange and confused notions about the Deity, among the different churches and people, it is impossible to find out who is wrong or who is right ; for the Bible tells us that "no man hath seen God" only His "hinder parts," on one occasion and from that imperfect view, very little can be known of Him or His attri- butes. The time is fast approaching when it will be a matter of vastly more impor- tance to the world what men DO, rather than what they may THINK of religious dogmas. " Whatsoever ye would have others do unto you, do ye even so unto them," is a good and wise maxim, whether uttered by Jesus Christ or by Con- fucius, hundreds of years before Him. That maxim implies a good, square, honest, kind and neighborly life nothing more, nothing less ! There are five church edifices in Havana, occupied by the Methodists, Bap- tists, Reformed Church, Catholics and Lutherans. In Mason City, there are four church buildings, occupied by the Method- ists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Catholics. In Bath, there are two church edifices, belonging to the Methodists and Christians. In the other towns in the county, there are also a number of churches to accommodate the church-going people. In the county, there are not less than thirty-six church edifices, belonging to the various denominations that worship therein. The character of the ministers in the county is certainly above the average, as there have been but few ministerial scandals, compared with those in other portions of the country. THE LOTUS CLUB is one of the Havana institutions that ought not to be overlooked in the history of the times. It was formerly the custom of men in all grades of society to meet in the public saloons to talk over business matters, politics, or whatever was upper- most in their minds, as well as to join in social games and the social glass. Five years ago, somewhere about a dozen of first-class men joined themselves into a society, as named above, for social recreation, scientific discussions and intellectual pursuits, the transaction of business and discussion of business enterprises, and rented a large upper room and furnished it for that purpose. Neither gambling or drinking (except pure rain water), is allowable. The number of attendants is not so large as it has been, but those who con- tinue to go there find it a very comfortable and agreeable place in which to spend their leisure hours in conversation, reading and other pursuits. It is a HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 499 place that many distinguished people have visited and been delighted with, and, what is still more remarkable in this land of republican simplicity, it has not unfrequently been honored by the presence of kings and queens, that have made themselves quite useful, as well as ornamental, in " playing such fan- tastic tricks, before high heaven, as make the" other fellows weep. GEN. GRANT. There probably will be some people in a few generations hence that may think a history without the name of Grant would be like the play of Hamlet with the one great character left out of it. For the gratification of many such people, it is considered not out of place to speak of Gen. Grant as a retired citizen of Illinois, whose fame is a part of the heritage of Mason County, as also of the State and nation. As a military hero, his name will probably be handed down to posterity, in the ages that are to come, as the greatest of any age or country. In another part of this volume of history, the character of Abraham Lin- coln is more fully discussed, because he was a citizen of Menard County at one time. So long as Illinois is remembered as the hoine of Lincoln, Douglas and Grant, the State will remain immortalized. Some two years ago, after his retirement from the Presidential chair, which he had occupied for eight years, Gen. Grant and family started out upon a voy- age around the world, and visited every crowned head and every nation of people in Europe, Asia and parts of Africa. The progress of his journey was a continuous ovation of the people in every nation and every land, from the highest monarch to the lowest serf each one vying with others in the effort to do the greatest honors to the plain republican citizen of Illinois as he advanced from one country to another. The great fame of the country to which he belonged, was one of causes that led to the bestowal of such unprecedented honors upon Gen. Grant, but his personal qualities as a man and a soldier constitutes the crowning glory of the character whom the world delighted so much in honoring. On the 20th of September, 1879, Gen. Grant returned from his wanderings and again his feet pressed upon the soil of his native land in the city of San Francisco, Cal., where he was met with such a reception as was never before given to mortal man in America. At the time of writing this brief sketch, Gen. Grant is still the guest of the Golden City. His return to his home in Illinois will be marked in every town and city through which he passes, by the same spontaneous outburst of the joy of the people that greeted him on his arrival. Many papers have been urging the nomination of Gen. Grant for another term of the Presidency, which could add no new lustre to' a fame that already fills the world. 500 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. One of the active papers in this movement is the one from which the follow- ing lines are copied, as indicative of the swelling tide of the " Grant Boom : " THE BEAUTIFUL BOOM. BY ONE OF THE AUTHORS OF "BEAUTIFUL SNOW." I. Oh ! the Boom, the beautiful Boom ! Crowding the earth and sky for room ; Over the ocean, over the land, With the pace of a whirlwind's four-in-hand, Whizzing, Sizzing, Whooping along, Beautiful Boom, it is going it strong, Filling all space with a music so sweet That the spheres find it trying to keep their feet. Beautiful Boom, white- wing'd as the dove, Bright as an angel, and constant as love. II. Oh ! the Boom, the beautiful Boom ! How it grows as it goes, and continues to loom ; Whirling about in its glorious fun, It plays in its glee, like a giant Krupp gun. Roaring, Laughing, Quivering by, It lights up the face and sparkles the eye. E'en the man in the moon cannot fail but agree That the man of the Boom is a bigger than he. The country's alive, and its heart's making room To welcome the rule of the beautiful Boom. APOLOGETICAL. Without feeling possessed of any special fitness for the work, the writer has been induced to undertake the task by a desire to preserve the names and the memory of the pioneers of Mason County, and also the names of the brave men and the patriotic deeds of those who risked their lives, and those who lost them, in the great war, inaugurated and carried on to a final victory, to preserve the inestimable blessings of an undivided and unbroken Union. The short time allotted for the completion of so much work, and the imper- fect record of the events of the county that has been kept, have been very great obstacles in the way of getting up the county history in a way at all creditable or satisfactory to the author. It is fortunate that the work was begun thus early, for a few more years would have swept away the few remaining early settlers of the county, out of whose memory of dates and events much interesting and reliable history is formulated. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 501 In the military history, much time and effort has been spent to make it reliable ; still, there will be errors in names, but it is hoped not in any other material matter. The time will come when every soldier's name who served in this great war will be a precious heirloom in every family to which they belonged, and hence the importance of a reliable record that may pass down to the remotest generations that are yet to come. In the hurry of preparation of manuscripts, much has been overlooked that should have appeared in the history, no doubt, but not intentionally. In the record of events that have transpired in the county, the author has, in some cases, had occasion to refer to himself in a way that is not agree- able ; but, in order to vindicate the truth of history, it had to be done. We have been obliged to speak of things of which we knew and of things of which we were a part, making it embarrassing to a modest man. For the jokes told upon ministers and others, we hope no animosities will be treasured up. It takes jokes and anecdotes to enliven the monotony of history, and somebody has to bear them. In justice, it is proper to say, however, that every statement made is in good faith, relying upon the entire truthfulness in all matters where it could be obtained. For a third of a century, the writer has been a resident of Mason County, and more or less identified with its interests. In that time, many things have transpired calculated to endear us to the people of the county. We have seen the county of Mason grow up from a few hundred people without wealth or position into a population of 20,000, many of whom are wealthy, educated, talented and happy. In that time, one full generation of people have passed from the face of the earth, among whom were children, kindred and friends that were dear. Men have arisen from obscurity to high position, and again been relegated to obscurity. On the other hand, the writer has borne with mishaps, misfortunes and per- sonal wrongs, such as few could or would withstand, trusting with an abiding faith that time brings a recompense to all worthy souls that suffer and can wait. Our work is done. September 27, 1879. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. A late writer, reviewing this fast age, remarks that "the world moves much after the fashion of a falling body," and that at present it " has acquired con- siderable momentum." True, its velocity is simply astounding, yet it moved slow enough in the beginning. In the old times, it took nearly a century for a man to cut loose from the maternal apron-strings, and three or four centuries to attain the prime and vigor of manhood. Rome was seven centuries in expand- ing her power and reaching the zenith of her glory ; the temple of Diana at 502 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Ephesus saw 250 years from its foundation to its completion, and the architect* of Babel and the Pyramids planned work for hundreds of years ahead. In these days of mushroom magnificence and tinsel show, one can form but little idea of the gorgeous spectacles, the boundless luxury, the surpassing extrav- agance of those far-away times. Cities grow up now-a-days in a few years, or decades at most, but they amount to little, except as bonfires. Witness Chi- cago. Its growth was unparalleled. It increased in population as no other city perhaps ever did. Like Aladdin's castle, it disappeared in a single night, as it were, and arose again, as if from a touch of the wonderful lamp, and "the new city was more glorious than the first." In the year 2500, where will it be ? Is it likely that it will be Queen of the West, as it is now ? We dare not think so. It will have had its day, and, perchance, its crown will adorn some other brow. Speaking of the Olympian festivities and the old Roman triumphs, and the millions expended on them and their accessories, one of our shrewd business men recently remarked, " We've got beyond all such things now, and I am glad of it, for such things wouldn't pay." That is it exactly ; we have no time for what don't pay. We are economical, and count the cost with the closeness of a Jew. Everything is done for an object, and with a rush. We live fast. Three or four lifetimes are compressed into one. Is it any won- der that our madhouses are filled with insane, with all this strain on vitality and energy ? The ancients were wiser in this respect than we are. They allowed time for their mental and physical capacity to develop. In every- thing we undertake is the same rush and hurry ; we never calculate projects a. hundred years ahead, but live wholly in the present and for the present. As an example of the rapidity with which we move, in 1800 the present territory of Illinois had a population of about 12,000 ; now it has over 3,000,000, or a population equal to the thirteen colonies at the time of the Revolutionary war. Fifty years ago, Mason County was an unbroken wilderness of marshes and sand-hills, with not a half dozen white people within its borders. But a few years have passed, and behold the change ! The city and township to which this chapter is devoted, have sprung into existence. The marshes and sand- hills have developed into fine plantations, adorned with palatial homesteads, and in their midst has arisen a beautiful little city. At the touch of civiliza- tion, the wilderness has been made to " blossom as the rose;" herds and har- vests have followed the pale-face pioneer, and hundreds of human beings of a higher civilization have taken the place of a few wandering hunters and fisher- men. This is the fast age of the nineteenth century, and illustrates our whole- sale mode of doing business. Havana Township lies on the east side of the Illinois River, south of Quiver Township, west of Sherman, north of Kilbourne, and, according to Govern- ment survey, embraces Town 21 north, Range 8 west, a part of Town 21, Range 9, a part of Town 22, Range 8, and contains altogether about fifty-six HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 503 sections of land. It is diversified, like the entire portion of the county along the river, with low, wooded hills, rolling prairie, level land, etc., some of the latter inclined to be a little marshy until drained by artificial ditches. Much of the town is of a sandy nature, but very productive, yielding corn, oats and wheat in good abundance. The territory now included in the township of Havana was originally, perhaps, one-third timber, the remainder rolling and level prairie. It has no water-courses, except those forming a part of its boundaries, viz: Quiver Creek on the north and the Illinois River on the west. The P., P. & J., the L, B. " & W. extension and the Springfield & North-Western Railroads traverse it in all directions, and, with the " narrow gauges " now projected, together with the Illinois River, beatable the greater part of the year, it lacks no facilities for travel and transportation. Havana, which is particularly noticed in another chapter, is a thriving little city of the township and the capital of the county. Besides this, is Peterville, which has been surveyed and laid out as a village, but is merely two or three shops and a few houses. With this preliminary description of the township, we will now proceed to notice its EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first white man to locate in Havana Township, and, in fact, the first in Mason County, is believed to have been a man named James Hoakum, but of him there is little information to be had at the present day. This much, however, is definitely known, that he kept the ferry for Ross, where the city of Havana now stands, which was established in 1823 or 1824, and is supposed to have located on this side of the river as early as 1827. There is little doubt but he was the first " Caucasian " upon the classic sand-hills of Havana after the famous " fish -fry " of Father Marquette and his party, mentioned by Gen. Ruggles in the general history of this work. He did not remain long, however, and Maj. Ossian M. Ross, perhaps, may, with truth, be set down as the first permanent settler. He came originally from the Empire State to Illinois in 1819,. and settled in Madison County. In the spring of 1821, he settled in Lewistown, Fulton County, and was one of the proprietors of that town, which was named for his son, Lewis Ross. Maj. Ross established the ferry at the present city of Havana in 1823-24, as above stated, but even prior to the establishment of a regular ferry, he had an arrangement for assist- ing people over the river on Saturday of each week. He would take them and their baggage in a canoe, while their horse or horses were made to swim by the side of it. Ira Scoville was the next man, after Hoakum, who kept the ferry, and now lives in Fulton County. Mr. Ross built a hotel in Havana in 1829, the first in Mason County. He was also the first Postmaster and a public-spirited man. He died in 1837, but has left able representatives behind him to perpetuate his good name. He had a brother, John M. ROSS, who lived here for a number of years, but moved away, and is now dead. Maj. Ross' family consisted of four sons and two daughters, viz.: Lewis, the eldest, lives 504 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. in Lewistown, Harvey in Vermont, Leonard in Avon and Pike in Canton, all of Fulton County. One of the daughters, Harriet, married A. S. Steele, and Lucinda marriei Judge Kellogg Henry Myers came here very early, the same year, perhaps, that Ross did, but of him little could be ascertained. He moved over into Fulton County in a short time, and further nothing is remembered of him. John Barnes settled in the township at "the Mounds," above Havana, about 1829-30. He sold out there and moved to Quiver. When, some time after, a school was established in a shanty at Mr. Dieffenbacher's, some four miles distant, Barnes took his plow and made a furrow to it, turning the dirt out both ways, thus making a road through the prairie grass for his children to go to school. He had several girls who used to cut " cord wood " and bring it down the river on a raft to Havana. Think of that, ye delicate young ladies of the present day. He finally moved to Kansas, and, some years ago, when Dr. Field was in Kansas, he camped in the woods one night, and, just after he had made his camp, some others did the same near by. Field heard a man talking, and remarked, that if he knew that old man Barnes was in that country, he would say that he heard him talking. " It is old Barnes," said a voice, and up stalked the old gentleman in question. He and Field talked all night about old times. He is probably dead, as he was rather old when he left here. In addition to those already mentioned, the following re-enforcements were received during the year 1835 ; Orrin E. Foster, N. J. Rockwell, Napoleon P. Dirks, Daniel Adams Blair, Abel W. Kemp, Eli Fisk, two men named Ray and Hyde, and the Wheadons. The latter were from New York, and made but a short stop on this side of the river. They went on to Lewistown in Fulton County, and resided there until 1854. Selah Wheadon is well known in Havana, as a newspaper man of experience and ability, and is men- tioned in that connection. Fisk was a native of Connecticut and located in Havana, where he resided until 1837, when he removed to the farm where his son, E. C. Fisk, now lives, and where he died in 1861. He was born in 1781, at the close of the Revolutionary war, and died just at the beginning of another, compared to which the first was mere child's play. His son, Eli C. Fisk, is a public man of some prominence, being a preacher and a lawyer, and has always taken an active interest in the welfare of his country. Foster, Kemp, Adams and Rockwell came together, and were from the Province of Canada. Adams' residence here was brief. While making a trip to the East, he lost his life on an Ohio River steamboat. Kemp is the only survivor of this colony, and at the present time is living in Wisconsin. The following extracts from an address, delivered by W. H. Spencer, at the golden wedding of Mr. Kemp, which occurred the 26th day of August, 1874, are not out of place in this connection : " In 1833, Mr. Kemp and family went to Canada (from New York, their native place), thence moving in 1835, to Illinois, locating on a farm in the bottom-lands of the Sangamon Riyer, near Havana, Mason Oounty. In those days it was very fashionable to get the ague and keep it, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 505 and so Mr. Kemp's family, one and all, immediately joined the company of shakers, and we are told that their faces were of the color of lemon peel, and their teeth did chatter, chatter as unceasingly as old Goody Blake's, in the melancholy cynic poem. There were no doctors in the neighborhood, which, perhaps, accounts for the fact that they all survived the shakes. In one respect, however, this family did not follow the fashions, for at that time, when the houses were all made of logs, and windows were holes in the wall, perfectly innocent of glass, what did this Mr. Kemp do but fly right in the face of pub- lic opinion by purchasing four panes of glass and putting them in the aforesaid hole in the wall. Is it any wonder that his humble neighbors pronounced it one of the vanities of civilization, and looked upon his house as a proud man's castle, and upbraided the inmates as being wickedly extravagant, ' big feelinV and ' sort o' stuck up like !' * Happy the day when they decided to quit this ague farm. It happened in this wise : Mr. Kemp was preparing to build a new house on the old ground, determined, apparently, to fight it out on that line if he shook all his life. But when the foundation was laid, Mrs. Kemp came to look at it and with sallow face and chattering teeth, she admon- ished him that she could not survive another year on that old, bilious farm, and begged him to pitch his tent where she should direct. Like a good and obedient husband, he followed where she led. Riding over the prairie several miles from the site of the first farm, she pointed to a spot and said : ' There, Abel, is where I want my house.' He alighted and drove a stake there, bought the land of the Government, and built his house on the very spot, in the midst of 120 acres of rich soil. From that day, the ebbing tide in fortune stopped, and the flow set in. After remaining several years on this farm, he moved into the little village of Havana, where he kept a hardware store in connection with a foundry. While in Illinois, N. J. Kemp and Frances (now Mrs. John M. Palmer) were born, making in all eight children, three of whom are not living, and who died in Illinois. In 1865, Mr. and Mrs. Kemp came on a visit to their children at this place, and very naturally fell in love with our beautiful village, and decided to make it their future home. * * Mr. Kemp has been a member of the I. 0. 0. F. for twenty-five years. He is therefore a veteran in our ranks the patriarch of the family. No one is more regular in 'his attendance at the Lodge than he, and this week he has shown his interest as well as physical vigor, by riding fifteen or twenty miles to attend the funeral of a brother. * * We honor and congratulate you on this fiftieth anniversary of your wedding, and as a token of our esteem for you as a man of integrity, our respect for you as an honorable citizen, our affection for you as a brother, a long-tried, true, trusty and faithful Odd Fellow, allow me, in behalf of many members of our Order here, to present you this cane. Let its golden head symbolize the fifty golden years that crown your golden life, so full of honor and joy. It is a staff which you may lean upon, not as a broken reed, but a staff as strong as the love of your friends, which will ever bear you up as 506 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. you walk through your declining years. And to you, Mrs. Kemp, in con- gratulation of this event, and as a little token of their esteem, the Daughters of Rebecca, through me, present you this silver cup, gold-lined, and other friends present this gold watch." The following extract is from a letter written by Judge Rockwell, from his home at Troy, N. Y., in 1876, and gives the particulars of his early settlement in the West : " The best part of my life that portion which should be given to active business enterprise was spent in Havana. It was not as fruitful of desirable results as I wish it had been, for if I had the ability, which I do not assert, I certainly had not the pecuniary means to build up a town in a new country. When at the age of twenty-six years, I landed in Havana from the steamer Aid, the last boat up the Illinois River for the season of 1835, Maj. Ossian M. Ross was living at Havana, a man of means and large experience and the projector of the town, ready and willing to expend money, time and influence in building it up. He promised much, which I have no reason to doubt he would have fulfilled had he lived, but death removed him, and left more than half of Havana, the property of an estate, with minor heirs, nearly one-half of the town being sold to a Peoria firm, one of whom soon died, and their portion became involved in the affairs of another estate, with no one connected with either trying to build up the town, but both trying to draw from it a support to live elsewhere. You ask the place of my birth. I was born in Benson, Vt., on the 14th day of February, 1809. Benson, Whiting and Middletown, Vt., were, respectively, my home until my eighteenth year, when my father removed to Watertown, N. Y., where I was a clerk in the store of L. Paddock until my twenty-second birthday. 1 was offered a partnership, in Demorestville, Canada, with James Carpenter, who had been in business there a number of years and was well established. I accepted, and became a member of the firm of Carpenter & Rockwell. In 1835, I sold out my interest in the firm to my partner, and took my savings and started to seek my new home in the Great (and the then far-off) West. Daniel Adams and Abel W. Kemp and their families landed at the same time, all of us having started, with Orrin E. Foster and wife (the late Mrs. E. Low), from Demorestville, in Upper Canada, to settle somewhere in the Great West, and in a warmer climate than that of Canada. Mr. Adams, on a return trip to Canada on business, lost his life by a ruffianly mate on an Ohio River steam- boat, near Louisville, Ky. You know Mr. Kemp's present residence. Of the time and the money which I spent from my slender means for years, to make Havana arid Mason County desirable to live in. it does not become me to speak. Havana seems to me yet more like home than anywhere else I go or live ; not because there is no other place equal to it in this part of the country, but because I lived there so long and because there are so many much less desirable places." Mr. Rockwell filled the office of County Judge one term, with other offices of a minor character. He died in HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 507 1878, and his wife died the present year. Orrin E. Foster, who seems to have been a kind of leader of this little colony, was a native of Vermont, but had removed to Canada, and from there came to the West with this party, as men- tioned. He engaged in the hotel business, and kept the second house of enter- tainment, perhaps, in Mason County. Subsequently, he bought a farm, three miles east of the city of Havana, which was his home until his death, an event that occurred in 1843. His widow married Eliphaz Low, an early settler of this township ; the result of which union was two sons Anson and Rufus Low. There were four children by the first marriage J. R and George Foster, Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. Nash. J. R., or Judd Foster, as he is familiarly called, is a member of the firm of Low & Foster, grain-dealers, and is a business man who stands as high as any in Mason County. Dirks was a Holland Dutchman, and died here. Blair was here but a short time. He came from the other side of the river, sold out to Rockwell, and returned whence he came. He was a car- penter by trade. Ray was a Canadian, and married Hyde's daughter, whom he afterward deserted, and what finally became of him is not known. Hyde, after a few years, moved away. In 1836, the following recruits were added to the settlement : The Low brothers, Pulaski Scoville, Pollard Simmons, C. W. Andrus, Stephen Hilbert, Hoag Sherman, Ephraim Burnell, John Ritter, A. C. Gregory and John and William Alexander. The Lows came originally from the old Bay State, and consisted of three brothers, Francis, Thomas and Eliphaz, of whom none are now living, except Francis. He, at the age of eighteen years, came West, stopping at Louisville, Ky., where he engaged in the mercantile business. In 1834, he went to Cincinnati ; from there, he went to St. Louis, and came here as above. The Lows, together with Pulaski Scoville, built a steam saw-mill here at an early day, which sawed timbers for buildings in Alton and St. Louis, and for the first railroad built in the Mississippi Valley, as well as for the houses erected in this section of the country. Francis Low was Deputy Sheriff of Tazewell County when it included this portion of Mason, and the first Sheriff of Mason County after its formation. He served as Sheriff two terms, and assisted in building the Illinois River Railroad. Mr. Low has always been an energetic business man, taking a lively interest in everything calculated to pro- mote the. welfare of his town and county. He took an active part in organizing the Havana National Bank, of which he is President. Thomas and Eliphaz Low came in the spring of 1836, while Francis came the fall following. They made claims on Quiver, and were honored and respected citizens. Thomas died about 1846, and Eliphaz in 1864. The latter has a son living at present in the city of Havana, engaged in the grain business (firm of Low & Foster), and is one of the substantial business men of the city. Pulaski Scoville removed to Warren County, 111., in 1834, and to this section in 1836, as above noticed. He came from Cincinnati to Illinois, but is a native of Connecticut, whence he removed to New York, where he remained six years before emigrating West. 508 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. As already stated, he, in company with the Low brothers, built a steam saw- mill at Havana, which did an extensive business for many years. He bought a large quantity of land, and was possibly the first grain-buyer in this part of the country, as we learn that he bought a thousand bushels of corn from a Mr. Reese, who lived where Virginia now stands, and 1,200 bushels from James Walker, at Walker's Grove. He is still living in Mason County. Julius, Junius and Lucius Scoville were brothers of Pulaski Scoville, and came to the settlement in a year or two afterward. Julius and Junius were twins, and all three are now dead. C. W. Andrus came from Watertown, N. Y., and located where the city of Havana now stands, and is still living. He engaged in mer- chandising with N. J. Rockwell soon after his arrival, and, about three years later, removed to Fulton County. In 1845, he returned to Havana, and resumed his old business as a merchant. He is the oldest merchant in Mason County living to-day. Mr. Andrus was one of the early Justices of the Peace,, but declined all other offices. He has always been an upright business man,, and is one of Havana's respected citizens. Ephraim Burnell settled near the ' ; Mounds " in the vicinity of Havana, and afterward, in removing to California, died on the route. Erasmus and Evander Burnell were nephews, and came soon after Ephraim. Evander is dead, and Erasmus lives in Kansas. John Ritter and A. C. Gregory settled in the same neighborhood as Ephraim Burnell, and about the same time. Ritter was from Kentucky, and was the father of Col. Richard Ritter, well known to many of our readers as a Colonel in the late war, and who now lives in Missouri. The elder Ritter died on his original set- tlement. Pollard Simmons died here, but we believe has a son still living. Stephen Hilbert and Hoag Sherman were from the East, but what State we did not learn. Both died here a number of years ago. James Blakely came to Mason County this year, but settled in what is now Kilbourne Township, where he lived for a number of years, when he removed to the place in this township where his widow yet lives. He is further noticed in the history of Kilbourne Township. John and William Alexander came this year, but did not remain long. One of them lived near the Mounds, and the other sold to Joseph Mowder when he came to the settlements, in 1839. Further, nothing is remembered of them. From the "golden fields " and " verdant hills " of the Fatherland, we have a large delegation of Germans, who became the best of citizens. Unheeding the pathetic strains of a native poet " Wie wird es in den fremden Waldern Euch nach der Heimathberge Grim, Nach Deutschland's gelben Weizenfeldern, Nach seinen Rebenhiigeln ziehn ! " Wie wird das Bild der alten Tage Durch cure Traume glanzend wehn ! Gleich einer stillen, frommen Sage . Wird es euch vor der Seele stehn, " HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 50& they left the homes of their youth and came to a country where the highest honor to be attained, the proudest title to be won, is that of American citizen. Among them, we may note the following families : The Krebaums, the Dierkers, the Guntlachs, the Havighorsts, John H. Schulte, John W. Neteler, Frederick Speckman, Harman Tegedes, John W. Holzgraefe, and a great many others who do not rank as old settlers. The Krebaum family consisted of Bernhard Krebaum and five sons, Frederick, Adolph, William, Edward and Charles G., the latter born in this township, and supposed to be the oldest native-born citizen of Mason County. There were two daughters, both of whom are still living. Three children, also, died young ; two died in Germany and one in this country. The Krebaums are said to have been the third family in Havana Township, and the fourth in Mason County, and arrived here in the summer of 1834. The old gentleman resided here until his death, in 1853, at the age of seventy-one years. Frederick, the oldest son, died recently, at an advanced age ; Edward died several years ago ; Adolph, William and Charles G. are still living in the city of Havana, honorable and upright citizens. Adolph served several terms as County Clerk, an office in which he gave unbounded satisfaction. Charles G. is an extensive grain-dealer. To Adolph Krebaum we are indebted for much of the early history of both the town- ship and city of Havana. John H.. Dierker and two brothers, Henry and George, came to the present township in 1838, and the former located about one mile from Havana, and still resides on the place of his original settlement. Born in 1799, he has now reached his fourscore years. A local writer pays him this tribute, which his friends unite in acknowledging to be justly due him: " His wealth has not been obtained by narrow and penurious dealing ; but he has ever been noted for generous open-heartedness, and from him the poor never went empty away. Though his sun is now declining into the western horizon, he enjoys good health, and is quite active for his years. He has long been identified with the German Lutheran Church of Havana, the financial interests of which have been in a most healthful state on account of that rela- tionship. His sense of right is his law, doing unto others as he would that they should do unto him." Henry and George settled in Bath Township; Henry died soon after his arrival, and George in 1854. Jacob Guntlach first came to America in 1832 or 1833, returned to Germany, and came back with the Krebaums. His brother Theodore Guntlach came also at this time. They located about two miles northeast of Havana ; but did not remain long in the neighborhood, and sold out and moved away. Augustus Otto and John Woeste came about 1844 or 1846. The former removed to St. Louis about two years ago, and Woeste died here. The Havighorsts are another substantial family of Germans, consisting of several brothers, viz. : John H. and G. H. D. Hav- ighorst, now living in the city of Havana ; Gerard, another brother, a prom- inent merchant of Bath, died there some years ago ; and still another brother is a preacher, and lives in St. Louis. John H. came to America in 1836, and 510 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. remained in New Orleans until the following year, when he came to this town- ship. In 1844, he commenced business in the village of Matanzas, and remained there until 1858. He was elected Sheriff of Mason County in the fall of that year, and removed to Havana. He was again elected to the office in 1862, and Circuit Clerk in 1864. He also served a term as Sheriff, begin- 7 ' O ning in 1848. In all these positions of public trust, Mr. Havighorst made an excellent and efficient officer, and though now beyond the sunny slope of life, is well preserved, and bids fair to live yet for many years to come. G. H. D. Havighorst did not come to this country as early as his brother. He arrived at Schulte's Landing, one mile below Havana, in the fall of 1844, and soon after went to Meredosia, in Morgan County, where he remained until 1849, then returned to Mason County, and located at Bath. In 1864, he made a visit to Germany, and, on his return to this country, settled in. Havana, where he still lives. He owns a large lot of land in the county, and is one of the wealthiest citizens of the community. John H. Schulte came to the United States, and to Mason County, in 1837. He established what was known as Sohulte's Landing, on the river, below Havana. Here he engaged in the grain business. For many years his trade there is said to have exceeded that at Havana. He was also a kind of itinerant merchant, and sold goods in Menard, Cass and Mason Counties. Mr. Schulte .died in 1845. A son is now Deputy County Clerk of Mason County. John William Neteler came to America in 1836. His family consisted of Anna Maria (afterward Mrs. Speckman) Cath- arine Elizabeth (at the time wife of John H. Schulte), and John H., a son. He had come to the country the year previous. The old gentleman died the fall after they came, and was the first German buried in the Havana Cemetery. John H. was an assistant of Mr. Lincoln in his early surveys in Mason County. None of the Neteler family survive except grandchildren. Frederick Speck- man, who married a daughter of Neteler, as mentioned above, came to the country in 1835, and to this township in the fall of 1836. He died in 1854, but has several representatives living in the town. Harman Tegedes came to America in 1844, and located in Havana Township, where he died in 1875. His widow still resides on the old homestead. John W. Holzgraefe came to the United States in 1836, and stopped in the city of Boston, where he remained until 1840, when he came to Mason County and settled in Havana Township. He still lives on the place of his original settlement, and is a wealthy and enterprising farmer. He has five stalwart sons, and a peculiarity in their names is, that each begins with George, as follows : George William, George Henry, George Lewis, George Brantz and George Frank. They are among the successful business men of Havana and vicinity. Leopold Sterns, Michael and Emanuel Steiner and George Weiner were Jews. Sterns went to California twelve or fifteen years ago ; the Steiners to New York, where they are engaged selling "sheap clodings," and Weiner went to Philadelphia. Adam Fassler and Joseph Meyer were Pennsylvania 'Dutch. Fassler removed HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 513 to the West ; Meyer, we believe, is dead, but has a son living in Sherman Township. The population was increased, in 1837, by the arrival of the following new- comers: Charles Howell, the Dieffenbachers, Alexander Stuart, Nehemiah Murdock, Isaac Parkhurst and Jesse Brown. The latter came from the East, though from what State is not known. His first residence was of the pattern which is said to have first given rise to order in architecture, viz., two forks driven into the ground, a pole extending from one to the other, and others set with one end on the ground, supported at the top by the pole resting in the forks. This was covered with prairie grass, with one end left open for ingress and egress. He had logs cut for a house, and Dieffenbacher and Howell pro- posed to help him put it up, if he would give them shelter. This he agreed to, and the three families found shelter in it until they could build their own cabins. He sold, a few years later, to Dan Roberts, and made an improvement on the Springfield road, one mile from Havana, and finally sold out and removed to Missouri. Roberts came from Pennsylvania, and died in this town- ship, but his widow is still living. Isaac Parkhurst came from New Jersey and settled in Havana Township, where he resided until his death. He has numerous^representatives still living in the county. Nehemiah Murdock was a native of New Jersey, and came to Illinois in the spring of 1837, stopping in the present county of Sangamon, and the following year came to this town- ship. The next year, however, he returned to his native place, where he remained until 1854. when he again came to Illinois, and now resides in Crane Creek Township. He has a son in Havana, one of the proprietors of the Mason County Democrat. Alexander Stuart hails from " Ould Ireland," and is a model representative of that nationality. He was one of the first lumber merchants in Havana, an early Justice of the Peace, and one of the early steamboat men. He is still living in the city of Havana, a well preserved pioneer of more than sixty years. Daniel Dieffenbacher is a jolly old Pennsyl- vania Dutchman, and came from the Keystone State, as noted above, in 1837. He served on the first grand jury after the organization of Mason County, in 1841, and has always been an active man in his neighborhood. In 1839, he became identified with the Methodist Church, and has ever since been a zealous member of- that denomination, and is a man in whom there is no guile. He is still living and enjoying good health for one of his years. Of six children still living, but three are residents of Mason County Mrs. Thomas Covington and Dr. Philip L. Dieffenbacher, of Havana, and Mrs. Dr. Willing, of Bath. Dr. Dieffenbacher came to Illinois with his parents, and in 1849 returned to Pennsylvania, where he completed his education, studied medicine, and gradu- ated in Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia. In 1856, he came back to Illinois, and located in Havana, where he has since made his home. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-Fifth Illinois Infantry, and was promoted to Surgeon with the rank of Major, in June, 1863. He served with this regiment until the s 514 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. close of the war, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. Charles Howell is also a native of Pennsyslvania. He came to Mason County and settled four miles east of the city of Havana. This claim he soon after sold and purchased the mill site where McHarry's mill (on Quiver Creek) now stands, in company with Julius Jones and William Pollard. He was a wheel- wright by trade ; and in about 1842, they built a saw-mill, which they after- ward sold to McHarry. After McHarry's purchase, he built a grist-mill on the south side of the creek, a notice of which will be given elsewhere. Mr. Howell is a kind of wandering Jew, and has "roamed through many lands.' r From his native State he went to New York, where he remained but a short time, and returned to Pennsylvania. He next went to Louisiana, where he was for a time engaged in work for the Port Hudson & Clinton Railroad, dur- ing which time he built a bridge for it, still known as the " Howell Bridge." His next removal was to Illinois, as given above. In 1849, he crossed the plains to California, returned in 1850, and, in 1859, made another trip to the Golden Grate. His experience has been vast and varied ; and, after a life crowded with stirring episodes, he has settled down once more in the vicinity of his early home in Mason County, to spend the remainder of his days. Hon. Robert McReynolds, also a Pennsylvanian, came to Illinois in 1839 y and located in this township. He was a neighbor to the Dieffenbachers in Penn- sylvania, as well as in Mason County. During his long residence here, he was called upon to fill various official positions, in all of which he discharged his duty with faithfulness and fidelity. For several years, he served as County Judge. He died in 1872, at the age of eighty-one years. From his obituary notice we make the following extract : " For more than a year the hand of time bore heavily upon him, but, happily and cheerfully, he could say with Job, ' All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.' The deceased was an old-time Christian and united with the M. E. Church in 1831, consequently was not only a pioneer in this country but a pioneer in Meth- odism in the West, and for long years the intimate friend of the venerable Peter Cartwright, who so recently preceded him to the spirit land." Joseph Mowder came from the Quaker State the same year as did McReynolds, also a Methodist preacher named Coder came with McReynolds. Coder had a son, who was a doctor, and removed to Logan County. Mowder still lives on the place where he originally settled, and which he bought from one of the Alex- anders. Jacob T. Mowder, a son of Joseph, still lives in this township, and was a child when his father moved to this country. John R. Chaney came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1837, and located in Greene County. In the spring of 1839, he came to Mason County and settled in Crane Creek Township, and, in the fall of that year, came to this township. He still resides on his original claim made in this town, and is one of the prosperous farmers. He was one of the second corps of County Commissioners after* the organization of Mason County. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 515 Asa W. Langford, a native of Tennessee, came to Fulton County, 111., in 1824, and located where he afterward laid out the old town of Waterford. Later, he became one of the proprietors of Lewistown and of Havana, and, in the latter place, lived for a number of years. George W. Langford, his son, located in Havana when but fifteen years old, and entered the employ of Walker, Han- cock & Co., and, in 1856, became a partner in the firm. He was for many years one of the leading business men of Havana, which place he still makes his home, though of late years he has been a traveling salesman for a large wholesale house in New York. Col. V. B. Holmes and John W. Wiggenton were early settlers here as well as in Bath Township, where they are more particularly mentioned. They were among the first merchants of Havana, and opened a store in the village when it consisted of but a few log cabins. The Wrights, represented in Hav- ana at present by 0. H. and H. A. Wright, are not as early settlers as many already mentioned in this chapter, but came to Illinois in 1845, and located in Fulton County. In 1849, they came to Havana. . George Wright, the father of these boys above noticed, was a soldier of the war of 1812, a son of Thad- deus Wright, a Revolutionary soldier and a native of Massachusetts. He died in Havana, in 1865. 0. H. Wright served one term as Circuit Clerk of Mason County, was a member of the last Constitutional Convention of Illinois, a'nd is one of the oldest newspaper men of Havana. Hon. Luther Dearborn is a native of New Hampshire, and came to Havana in 1844. He did not remain here long but removed to St. Charles, Kane Co., 111., and, the year following, located at Elgin. In 1850, he was elected Sheriff of Kane County, and had for his deputy the well-known detective, Allan Pink- erton. He also served as Circuit Clerk of Kane County, and during the term was admitted to the bar. In 1858, he returned to Havana, where he has ever since resided. He is the senior member of the law firm of Dearborn & Camp- bell, leading lawyers, not only of Mason County, but of Central Illinois. Among the prominent positions held by Mr. Dearborn was that of State Senator in the last General Assembly. Marcellus Dearborn, a brother, and Jonathan Dearborn, their father, came at the same time. The elder Dearborn built the hotel now known as the Mason House, and' kept a hotel for a time. He has been dead for a number of years. Dr. E. B. Harpham came to Illinois in 1844, and located in Havana. He is a native of the " City of Brotherly Love," and, at the age of five years, removed with his parents to Indiana. After arriving at manhood, he studied medicine and graduated, when he came to Havana, as above, where he has prac- ticed his profession for a quarter of a century. He is still living, one of the highly respected citizens of Havana. James, Levi and Silas Harpham are brothers, and came soon after the Doc tor, and, we believe, are all still living in the city and township of Havana. 516 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Their father, Jonathan Harpham, came to Mason County in 1850, and died in 1852. William Higbee is from Lexington, Ky., and came to Illinois in 1836, and located in Greene County, where he resided until 1843, when he removed to Christian County. In 1847, he removed to Quiver, and now lives at his ease in the city of Havana. James Quick came from New Jersey to Illinois in 1841, and to Havana Township in the spring of 1842, where he still resides. John Hurley is also from New Jersey, and removed with his father's family to Illinois in the spring of 1834, locating in De Witt County. In 1843, he came to Havana Township and located near McHarry's mill. Here he remained until 1856, when he went to Kansas, and, with Jim Lane, partici- pated in the " border warfare " of that exciting period. He returned to this township, where he still lives. He says that he built the first house on the prairie between Havana and McHarry's mill; that he helped to "raise" McHarry's mill, and that men came eighteen and twenty miles to render assist- ance. William Wallace came from Ohio in 1843, with his mother's family (his father died in Ohio), and settled in this township, where he still resides. Julius Jone*s also came from Ohio. He located in Menard County in 1837, and removed to Havana Township in the spring of 1842. In company with Charles Howell and William Pollard, built a saw-mill where McHarry's mill now stands, or rather on the opposite side of the creek from it, which is noticed elsewhere. A son, A. H. Jones, lives in Havana Township. Nathan Howell came from Pennsylvania in 1840, and settled in Havana Township. He has a son, B. F. Howell, still living in the town, who is a man of great physical force and endurance. He boasts of having worked through every harvest for thirty-nine years, and plowed through every season, without missing a single week. Ye stripling water-sprouts of this fast age, " make a note on it," as Oapt. Cuttle would say. Alexander Gray came from the " banks and braes o' Bonny Doon," and followed the sea for a number of years. He settled in this township about the year 1842, and has a son, John A. Gray, now living in the town, a prosperous farmer. Reuben Henninger, Philip Opp and Simon Frankenfield came from the old Quaker State of Pennsylvania. Henninger emigrated to Illinois, and located in Havana Township in 1842. He followed farming until 1866, when he retired from active life and moved into the city of Havana, where he has since resided. He still owns a large tract of land in the county, is a highly respected citizen, and has many descendants and relatives, who are among the active and leading citizens of the community. Opp removed to Ohio, and from the Buck- eye State to Illinois in 1842, locating in Havana Township, where he still resides. Frankenfield settled in this township in 1841, where he followed HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 517 farming for a few years, when he removed to the city of Havana, and engaged in tailoring, a trade he had learned in Pennsylvania. He again turned his atten- tion to farming until 1864, when he returned to the city, and from 1866 to 1876, engaged in the dry-goods business, from which he has retired,, and is now living at his ease. Peter A. Thornburg emigrated from Maryland to Illinois in 1840, and settled in Fulton County. He located in Havana Township in 1848 near where he now lives. He is still living, and is the proprietor of Peterville, a small village in the southern part of the town, which he laid out in 1868. S. C. Conwell is a native of Delaware, and came to Mason County in 1840. He located in Havana in 1848, and is one of the leading lawyers of the Mason County bar. He is extensively mentioned in other portions of this work, and therefore but little can be said here without repetition. Charles Pulling is a native of England, but came to America with his parents in early childhood, and resided in Pennsylvania and Ohio until 1848. He then moved to Illinois and located in Havana Township, where he still lives. Isaac N. Mitchell, one of the live business men of Havana, may be termed an old settler of Mason County, but is mentioned in the history of Bath Township, where he lived for a number of years. Israel, Jesse and David Drone were from Penn- sylvania. Jesse still lives in Havana, Israel in Sangamon County, and David died here. Jabez Maranville came from Fulton County here, but his native place is not known. He settled here somewhere in the thirties, and died years ago. George, William and Robert Walker, sons of James Walker, an old set- tler of Walker's Grove, mentioned in another chapter of this work, came here about 183940. They came from Indiana. George was in business here for a number of years, and now lives in Peoria; William is a lawyer and lives in Missouri ; Robert and the father are dead. The latter died at an advanced age in the city of Havana. Reuben Coon came from New Jersey at an early day, but of him not much is known, further than that he died here. This comprises a sketch of the settlement of Havana, city and township, so far as we have been able to gather facts and incidents. Although white men were in Menard County ten years or more before there was a settlement made in the present limits of Mason, yet a sufficient period of time has elapsed since the pioneer found his way to this immediate region, to involve these early settlements^ in some uncertainty. As one looks back over fifty years gone by, the road seems long and tedious, and, if those who have plodded over its weary miles have forgotten events that transpired in those early times, it is not strange. We have exhausted every effort to get the early history of the country correct, and believe we have it as nearly so as it is possible to obtain it at this late day. OTHER EVENTS AND INCIDENTS. The greater part of the early history of this township is so closely inter- woven with that of the city of Havana, that it will be given under that head. Indeed, there is very little, aside from the settlements made within its limits, 518 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. to write about. The notice of early settlers, both in the city and township, is given in the preceding pages, so as to avoid repetition in the chapter devoted to the city of Havana. The first schools, churches, stores, post office, etc., etc., were at Havana, and will be more fully noticed in that connection. With a brief sketch of some incidents belonging more particularly to the township his- tory, we will turn our attention to a review of the county's metropolis. One of the first mills in Havana Township, outside of the city, was built on the opposite side of Quiver Creek, from the present McHarry Mill. It was put up by Charles Howell, Julius Jones and William Pollard, in 1842. It was a saw-mill only. About 1845, they sold it to McHarry, who erected a grist- mill on the south side of the creek. The building of this mill was an event of great interest to the people, and Mr. Hurley, who helped ' raise " the edifice, informed us that men came eighteen and twenty miles to lend their assistance, in order to have a mill nearer home than those in Fulton or Menard Counties. This mill was afterward burned, when Mr. McHarry put up his present mill upon the same site. It is one of the best mills in Mason County ; is a three- story frame edifice, with four run of buhrs, and is driven by water-power, which does not fail through the entire year. The first preachers in this section of the country were the Methodist itinerants, Peter Cartwright and Michael Shunk. The following incident is related by Mr. Dieffenbacher, of the organization of the first church society in the county : " He spent a few weeks in the cabin of Jesse Brown, until he could get his own ready for use, and one day, while at work in the yard, a man rode up and asked him if they ever had any preaching there. He told him he had heard none since he left Pennsylvania. He was then asked if he would allow him to preach there. Dieffenbacher pointed to Mr Brown (who was a very profane man), and told him that was the owner, that he had no house as yet. The man then asked Brown if he might preach there, and Brown told him that the women were getting dinner ; if he would wait till after dinner, he might preach, and in the mean time he would feed his horse. That man was Michael Shunk, and, after dinner, he preached to the four families (Dieffenbacher's, Brown's, Eli Fisk's and Charles Howell's), who then composed the neighbor- hood. He left an appointment to preach there again in eight weeks. Soon after this, several families arrived from Pennsylvania, among them Judge McRey- nolds, who built a residence, in which he set apart a large room for church purposes, and which was so used until the erection of Dieffenbacher's School- house. This schoolhouse was used as both church and school edifice until 1871, when Mr. Dieffenbacher moved into the city of Havana, and other members united elsewhere. Pleasant Point Methodist Church is situated about two miles from McHarry's Mill, and was built in 1859-60. It is a frame building, and cost about $2,000. There have been no services held in it for some ten years, owing to the fact that the roads leading to it have been fenced up, and its communication with the HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 519 neighborhood cut off. A law suit has been instituted for the purpose of re-open- ing them. Much of the early school history belongs also to Havana. Prob- ably, the first school in the township was taught by a daughter of Mr. Dieffen- bacher's, in a board shanty put up by him for the purpose, and was patronized by children living four and five miles distant. This was finally superseded by the schoolhouse already mentioned as being so long used as a church. The town- ship has now some ten or twelve comfortable schoolhouses, besides the elegant brick in the city of Havana, so that there is no lack of school facilities, and a good common-school education is within the reach of all alike, both rich and poor. The first white child born in the township, and perhaps, in Mason County, was a child of Hoakum, who kept the ferry (Hoakum, not the child) for Ross, and occurred about 1829-30. The first deaths and marriages are not remem- bered. The little mounds in the graveyard show where many pioneers sleep, but do not give the date of their demise. The present population would indi- cate that not only has there been a first birth, but many others have succeeded it. The early justices of the peace, doctors, blacksmiths, etc., are mentioned in the city's history. The railroads of Havana Township are the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville ; the Champaign, Havana & Western, formerly known as the extension of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western, and the Springfield & North- Western. The last two mentioned terminate at Havana City at present, but all necessary steps have been taken to extend the line of the Champaign, Havana & West- ern to the Mississippi, and the work, we are told, will be commenced this fall. In addition to these roads, there are two or three contemplated narrow-gauge roads working this way, and will, doubtless, in time, reach this point. But as the railroad history is thoroughly written up by Gen. Ruggles, in another depart- ment of this work, we will not repeat it. Politically, Havana Township and City are Democratic. In the days of Whigs and Democrats, it was very closely divided in politics. During the war, the town was truly loyal and patriotic, and turned out many soldiers, not only " high privates," but officers to lead them to glory and to victory. A full history of their exploits will be found in our war record in another page, to which the reader is referred. The name Havana was given this city and township in honor of the city of Havana, in the Island of Cuba. Our forefathers, other- wise the early settlers of this section, seem to have had a penchant for famous names, as we have in this immediate vicinity Havana, Bath, Matanzas, Mos- cow, Liverpool, Point Isabel, Long Branch and lastly, the Island of Cuba itself. This is the island just above the steamboat landing, which presents now a kind of barren waste, but at the time of the early settlement of the country, was covered with a magnificent forest. Mr. Low and Mr. Krebaum informed us that when they first knew Havana, there were burr-oaks on that island, five and six feet in diameter, and cotton-woods a hundred feet in height, besides many other species. 520 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. THE CITY OF HAVANA. Havana, the capital of Mason County, a flourishing little city of about 3,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Illinois River, on thePeoria, Pekin & Jackson- ville Railroad, at the terminus of the extension of the Indianapolis, Blooming- ton & Western and of the Springfield & North-Western Railroads, and is forty- seven miles from Springfield, forty miles from Peoria and two hundred miles- southwest of Chicago. It was surveyed about 1827-28, and the town staked out by Stephen Dewey, for Maj. Ossian M. Ross, who had entered the land upon which it is located, and the plat recorded, in 1835, in Tazewell County, to which this part of Mason County then belonged. Maj. Ross entered the land in 1827, and established a ferry across the Illinois River at this point, which has already been frequently mentioned in these pages. The first house built in the present city of Havana, if we may except a few rude huts and a couple of block houses which had apparently been built as a protection against the Indians at a time " when the mind of man runneth not to the contrary," was erected by Maj. Ross about the year 1829, and is still remembered in the early history of the county, as " Ross' Hotel." It was the scene of many of the incidents which transpired here forty and fifty years ago. Within its historical halls, the first session of Circuit Court was held after the organization of the county ; the first post office in Mason County was established in it, and the first store in Havana occupied one of its rooms. It stood on the bluff, at the northwest corner of Market and Water streets, of Block 22 of the town plat. Adolph Krebaum owns two-thirds of the original lot and Alexander Stuart the remainder. The first private residence was also built by Ross where the Taylor House now stands. It was a frame building, and, as we have said, the first residence, except the cabins already alluded to and the hotel. Bernhard Krebaum also built a frame residence soon after he came to the town, which was the next after that erected by Ross. Maj. Ross also built six cottages or small dwellings to accommodate new-comers to the future city. The first building erected purposely for a storehouse was put up by N. J. Rockwell, on the river, very near to where Mr. Myer's brick residence now stands. The first store was kept by Maj. Ross in his hotel, and was in operation when the Krebaums came in 1834. The next store was kept by Col. Holmes and John W. Wig- genton and also occupied a room in Ross' Hotel, but was rather a small affair, even for those primitive days. Rockwell was one of the early merchants, and was, perhaps, the next in the field after those we have mentioned. Orrin Foster kept the next hotel after Ross, as already mentioned. There are now three hotels in the city, besides several restaurants. The hotels are the Taylor House, Mason House and the American House. The Taylor House, kept by that prince of landlords, Billy Morgan, is the leading "caravansary" of the town, the great resort of commercial salesmen and of the traveling public gen- erally. The other two are less pretentious, but have a good run of custom. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 521 George Christian was the first regular blacksmith. Ross, who owned a large farm, kept a shop, but principally for his own work. Christian was here very early and entered land in the vicinity of Havana. In 1829, a post office was established at " Ross' Ferry," known at first, we believe, by the name of The Ferry, with Ossian M. Ross as Postmaster. This was before the city of Chicago had a post office, and at a period when mails were usually carried on horseback, and letters cost twenty-five cents apiece at the office of delivery. Although this office outranks the Chicago office in age, it has suffered the latter to out- grow it so far, that serious apprehensions are entertained that Havana will never overtake it. The genial 0. C. Easton is the present Postmaster General of the Havana office. At the time of the formation of Mason County, Havana was one of the three original voting precincts, and included all of that part of the county taken from Tazewell, extending from the north line of Mason as far south as the north line of Town 20. The first election in which the Havana Precinct cast a vote was held on the 7th of August, 1837.* A copy of the original poll-book, in possession of C. W. Andrus, is before us, and from it we learn that it was " an election held at the town of Havana, in the Havana Precinct, in the county of Tazewell, and State of Illinois," etc., and that it was for " County Clerk, Probate Justice of the Peace, County Treasurer and Notary Public." This old poll-book shows that there were twelve votes cast, as follows : Daniel Adams, Henry Shepherd, 0. E. Foster, N. J. Rockwell, Anson C. Gregory, A. W. Kemp, B. F. Wig- genton, V. B. Holmes, C. W. Andrus, William Hyde, J. H. Neteler. (The last named we are unable to decipher, it presenting an appearance of having been struck by a tornado.) B. F. Wiggenton and A. W. Kemp were Clerks. At this election, the candidates voted for were John H. Morrison, for County Clerk ; Joshua C. Morgan, for Probate Justice of the Peace ; Lewis Pretty- man, for County Treasurer, and William H. Sandusky, for Notary Public. The validity of the election is attested by a certificate, duly sworn to by N. J. Rockwell, Henry Shepherd and Daniel Adams, "Judges of the Election." The vote of the city and township of Havana has increased somewhat since the holding of the election above described. The aggregate vote now, when interesting questions call out the "sturdy yeomanry," is not far from eight hundred. ^ The first Justices of the Peace of whom we have any account were Eli Fisk and A. W. Kemp. They were commissioned as such before the organization of the county. Daniel Adams and Isaac Parkhurst were also early Justices of the Peace in Havana Precinct. Such a formidable array of legal luminaries is probably due to the fact that Havana, in an early day, was surrounded by some rather hard characters. Fulton County, we are told, used to come over in force, and, in lieu of the handy revolver of the present day, would bring billets of cord-wood with which to pelt their foes. To such an extent was this pastime * Havana was then in Tazewell County, as Mason was not created until 1841. 522 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. carried, that Point Isabel, a promising village that once stood on the opposite side of the river from Havana, was known far and near as "Bloody Point," and the melees that occurred within its limits were somewhat on the Donny- brook order. And then, too, the natives from Salt Creek timber and the San- gamon bottoms would pay an occasional visit to Havana, always making matters lively while they remained. There is still a prevailing tradition that Jesse Baker (peace to his ashes ! we intend no sacrilege) once raided the town, and conducted himself with such a high hand that Mr. Andrus was appointed a posse comitatus to arrest him, a duty he performed with perfect success. It is, however, due to the honor and credit of Havana to state that these " turbulent spirits " were usually from abroad, and that Havana's own citizens were of a most honorable and law-abiding character, traits that have come down and are deeply seated in the present generation. The first brick house erected in the present city of Havana was a store- house, built by J. H. & D. P. Hole, in 1857. Prior to this, the buildings, with the exception, perhaps, of the Court House and Jail, were of wood. In the same year (1857) William Walker erected a brick residence, the first of that kind in the place. Since that date, many substantial, and even elegant residences have been built which would be no disgrace to a much larger city. The class of business houses are good, and indicate to the stranger an idea of energy and enterprise, as well as business prosperity. Although making no pretensions to a wholesale trade, nor claiming to be a manufacturing city, Havana commands a large and flourishing retail business, and but for its close proximity to Pekin and Peoria, might become an extensive manufacturing town. MILLS, MANUFACTORIES, ETC. The first mill in Havana was commenced by Thomas and Eliphaz Low. Before its completion, Pulaski Scoville bought an interest in it, and, after finishing it, they operated it for a time, when Scoville bought out the Lows. Francis Low had money invested in it. He tells the following story of his experience while interested in the business : He and Scoville were cutting saw-logs over in the bottom one spring, when the river was very high, and the bottom overflowed to the depth of several feet. They would row their boat to a, tree, cable fast to it, and then cut the tree down, always cutting on the side of the tree first in the direction they supposed it would fall. They attacked a large oak one day, in their boat, as usual, and where the water was about six feet deep. Scoville thought the tree would fall one way, and Low thought it would fall the other ; but Scoville, who was a somewhat determined man, would have his way. Finally, however, when the tree fell, it went down in the oppo- site direction to that which Scoville thought it would. Low looked up and saw it coming, and called to Scoville to get out of the way. One jumped from ach side of the boat into the water, and it was cold 'as ice, while the tree came down on their boat, shivering it to splinters, leaving them in a worse fix than HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 523 Crusoe on his island. Fortunately for them, there were two other men cutting logs in the bottom within hearing of them, who came to their rescue. This mill was used for sawing only, and was located at the foot of the "Island of Cuba," or rather opposite the foot of the island, and was run by steam. Upon it was sawed the timber used in building the first railroad in Illinois, as noted elsewhere in this history. There was machinery procured at one time for a grist-mill for this establishment, but, we believe, was never put into it. The mill was employed mostly in sawing heavy timbers, such as are used in large buildings, and was patronized to a considerable extent by Alton and St. Louis. It was finally burned down. There are hints that its destruc- tion by fire was due to the feud engendered between Havana and Bath in regard to the county seat question, but those who are informed on the subject and have a right to know, scout the idea, and maintain that it was accidental, which theory is doubtless the correct one. About 1857-58, William C. Thompson put up a distillery on the corner of Plum and Jefferson streets, which he operated successfully for a number of years. To it was attached a corn-mill for the purpose of grinding material for the distillery. Before the erection of the distillery, Thompson had carried on a brewery for a time near the same place. In both' ventures he made money, and finally built a large flouring-mill on the site of the present Havana Mills, north of town, which was burned about 1864-65. He then erected the Havana Mills, now owned by F. S. Coggeshall. About 1867-68, he sold these mills to James Hole and his son-in-law, Thomas Jones, and built another large mill over the river. After some changes in ownership, the Havana Mills passed into the hands of Mr. Coggeshall, as above noted. They comprise a frame building, excellent machinery and three run of buhrs, together with all other attachments of a first-class mill. The Havana Brewery, located a little south of the city limits, and operated by Dehm & Hoffman, is quite an extensive establishment of the kind, and does a large business in the manufacture of the favorite beverage of the Fatherland. This and the mills mentioned, together with a large number of wagon, black- smith shops, etc., comprise the extent of Havana's manufacturing interests. It seems to us, however, that the city, with the benefit of its railroads and the Illinois River, presents an excellent opening for enterprising business men and mechanics, and that there are not at least agricultural implement manufac- tories, if no others, is to us a matter of some surprise. This would keep a large sum of money at home that is annually taken out of the county for these indispensable articles. The grain trade of Havana is the most extensive business of the entire county, and dates back almost to the very first settlements. In looking up the history of the grain interests, we find that Pulaski Scoville bought 1,000 bushels of corn from a Mr. Reese, "who lived where Virginia now stands," and 1,200 bushels from James Walker, at Walker's Grove. This was away 624 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. back in the thirties, and then corn could be bought for 10 cents a bushel, paid in "store truck " at that. One of the first firms who made the handling of grain a regular business, was H. W. McFadden & Co., who are still prom- inently engaged in it. They commenced in 1863, and are among the heaviest dealers in this section. Low & Foster are another able firm, and are extensive dealers, and handle more grain, perhaps, than any Other firm in Mason or Menard County. C. G. Krebaum is another grain-dealer of Havana. These three firms are the principal dealers, and no town in Illinois, perhaps, of the size of Havana, ships as large amounts of grain annually. We endeavored to obtain some statistics of thef grain handled and shipped at this point, but were unable to do so, and must let it pass with this brief notice. ( The banking business was commenced in the city of Havana about 1854- 55, by Rupert Haines & Co., 0. H. Wright forming the company. Some time after this, a bank was started by an old gentleman whose name is now forgotten. He had for his cashier a man named Littlefield, and it is told of him that when a customer would make a deposit, he (Littlefield) would take the money and go and " fight the tiger" until it was gone, when he would return to his post and be ready for another deposit. As a natural consequence, the bank did not last long. George Walker also did a banking business for a few years, beginning about 1860. In 186263, Kemp & Cappel opened a bank, which, in 1866, became the firm of McFadden, Cappel & Kemp, and so con- tinued until the death of Kemp in 1867. Since that date, the firm has been McFadden & Cappel, and their establishment is known as the Mason County Bank. The Havana National Bank was organized May 17, 1875, with Francis Low as President ; A. Otto, Vice President ; N. C. King, Cashier ; Thomas F. Low, Teller. The officers are still the same, except the Vice President, which position is now held by E. B. Harpham. RELIGIOUS, BENEVOLENT, EDUCATIONAL. The religious history of Havana dates back almost to its first settlement. The itinerant preachers of the Methodist Church, those pioneer soldiers of the Cross, who are always to be found on the verge of civilization, were here at an early day. Rev. Michael Shunk, whose name appears so often in the early his- tory of Methodism in this section of the State, was, perhaps, the first regular preacher in Havana City or township. The following extract from the minutes of the Illinois Annual Conference, seems to us appropriate in this connection ; "Brother Shunk was born at Berlin, Somerset Co., Penn., April 22, 1809; was converted at Masontown, Penn., in 1829 ; received into the Illinois Con- ference in 1837. * * * Brother Shunk was ordained Deacon in 1839, and Elder in 1841, by Bishop Morris. He was a pattern to all in his charac- teristic promptness to meet all his engagements. No condition of weather or roads kept him from his appointments. He was Scriptural and earnest in his HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 525 preaching, and a faithful Pastor, taking special pains to care for the children, both in the family and Sunday school. He was deeply interested in Methodist literature, circulating periodicals and books largely among his people, being himself a subscriber for the New York Advocate from its first issue." Reliable data as to the original organization of the Methodist Church in the city of Havana, are somewhat meager. The minutes of the Conference from which we have quoted above, note the fact that Mr. Shunk had charge of the Crane Creek Circuit in 1888, which then embraced not only Havana Town- ship, but a larger scope of country than the present county of Mason. It also shows him in charge of Havana in 1846. The first church of the Methodist denomination, however, was built in the city about 1845-46, and was the first church edifice within its limits. The society was organized some' time prior to the erection of the building, but particulars of its exact date appear unattainable. This building served as a temple of worship until 1865, when the present elegant building was erected at a cost of about $12,000. Upon the erection of the new church, the old one was sold to Dr. Paul, who used the lumber him- self, but sold the frame to a man living in the eastern part of the county for a barn. This man died before putting it to that use. Rev. George M. Fortune is the present Pastor of the Church, which has about one hundred members. The Sunday school was one of the first organized in Havana, and has an average attendance of one hundred and fifty children under the superintendence of Charles L. Harpham. The following sketch of the Reformed Church is by the Pastor, Rev. George Seibert, and is so well written that we deem no apology necessary for giving it in his own words : " The history of the Reformed Church carries us back to the early settlement of this country for, as early as 1630, adventurers emigrated to this country under the immediate patronage of the Dutch West India Com- pany, which had, in 1623, commenced operations, and, in 1626, set up the ensign of authority by erecting a fort at the confluence of the North and East Rivers. The Puritans were driven to seek a home in this country by persecution. The Hollanders came from a love of enterprise, and though there was every temp- tation to leave their religion behind in the pursuit of wealth, we find that they did not forget the intellectual and moral necessities of their nature, paying early attention to the culture of their children, and the public worship of God, by making ample provisions for both in the organization of churches and schools, modeled after those of the Netherlands. u The subject of a church organization here in connection with the Reformed denomination was under consideration as early as 1859. The Rev. Van Derveer of the Reformed Church came to Havana under the auspices of the Board of Domestic Missions, in August, 1859, and preached in Andrus' Hall to good congregations for several months. He organized what is known as the ' Old Union Sabbath School.' After Mr. Van Derveer left, Rev. Mr. Joralmon came and preached for a short time. In 1865, the Rev. Mr. Williamson 526 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. came and organized what is known as the Reformed Church of Havana. At a meeting held Tuesday evening, October 31, 1865, in Andrus' Hall, for the pur- pose of forming a church, Rev. Uriah D. Gulick, by direction of the Classis of Illinois, presided, and proceeded to examine candidates for church fellowship. The following persons were received by certificate : Dr. Thomas M. Higgins and Clara Strong, his wife ; Harriet Russell, wife of William Caldwell ; Rob- ert L. Durdy and Angeline, his wife, and Rebecca L. Rahauser, wife of Joseph Cochrane. On confession of faith : Isabella Trent, wife of Robert S. Moore ; Benjamin H. Otis and Anna Mann, his wife, and Joseph Cochrane. In the summer of 1870, the corner-stone of the present edifice was laid under the direction of the Pastor, Rev. Mr. Decker. The church was dedicated in Janu- uary, 1871, with proper ceremonies. The building cost $5,575.25, of which $3,575.25 was raised East, and $2, 000 in Havana. The church is an ornament to the city, and a credit to the architect and builder. The present Pastor, Rev. George Seibert, came in March, 1873. The Church has received since its organization in 1865, seventy-four members, of whom about thirty-nine remain in communion. The Sabbath school was organized in May, 1869, and has been actively engaged in its legitimate work without interruption up to the present time. It has an average attendance of 100 scholars. The Church has been the home of many who came from other parts of the country, having in its membership representatives from nearly all denominations, and is noted for its adherence to the teachings of the Divine Word, and zealous in every good word and work." The Baptist Church was organized in Havana July 14, 1849, with the fol- lowing original members : Henry Humphrey, S. G. Baldwin, Elizabeth Bald- win, Joseph Brown, Lydia Brown, Andrew Britton, Eunice Britton, Anna and Eliza Howell. The first preacher was that veteran and pioneer Baptist minis- ter of Central Illinois, Rev. J. L. Turner. The church, a frame edifice, was built in 1866, at a cost of $4,000, and is without a regular preacher at present. The Church membership is sixty-three. The Sunday school was organized December 2, 1866, and has at present an average attendance of about one hun- dred and twenty children, under the superintendence of John W. Jones. The different Pastors who have had charge of the Church since its organization are as follows : Revs. J. L. Turner, J. H. Daniels, F. W. Ingmire, M. P. Hartly, J. M. Wells, J. M. Winn, J. L. Irwin, Sr., C. E. Bristol, R. B. Coon, Sr., and Homer E. Morton. The German Evangelical Lutheran Church* was organized on the 27th of January, 1850, by the Revs. Jacob Schaerer and William Bauermeister, according to the rules and regulations of the Evangelical Lutheran General Synod, of which they were members. Before the organization of this Church, the Germans in and around Havana were visited by an old minister named' Bar tels, who preached now and then at their residences. The original members of the Church were J. H. * This sketch was prepared by the Pastor, Rev. J. Heiniger. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 527 Dierker, Fr. Weber, John Peter Kingshaus, H. Beselbeke, Fr. Speckmann, John Kohrmann, J. W. Holzgraefe, G. Wueste, N. and D. Vortmann, Jacob Nies, John Dierker, G. Himmel, I. Himmel, Israel Drone, Simon Franken- field, Herman Tegedes and John Somenmeier. On the 2d of December, 1850, the congregation resolved to build a church edifice, and, accordingly, .a petition was circulated by the first Board of Trustees, viz.: J. H. Dierker, I. Himmel, G. Himmel, Fred Speckmann and William Holzgraefe, stating that they had secured a lot from Lewis Ross for the sum of $60 whereupon he and Mr. Walker had presented them with $55, Ross having given $30 and Walker $25, and that the remaining $5 had been paid bjthe said Board. The build- ing was commenced April 14, 1851, and finished and formally dedicated June 1, 1851. The following are the Pastors since organization ; Revs. Kobmann, 1850-52, Hunderdose, 1852-53; P. S. Staiger, 1854-57. During a brief vacancy occurring at this time, the congregation was administered to by Revs. G. Grau, of Beardstown, and Reis, from Arenzville, when Rev. A. Tismer came, on the 1st of May, 1859, and remained until 1862 ; Peter Daniel, 1862-64 ; A. Recker, 1864-72 (during his administration, the church building was repaired and a vestibule and steeple added, also a little schoolhouse adjoined to the parsonage in 1867). A Sunday school was organized in 1868. Rev. G. Gerken, 1872-78, and Rev. Johannes Heiniger from 18th of August, 1878, to the present time. A change in the Synodical Convention took place in 1867. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois was separated into two parts, one part accepting the name Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois and other States, and the other the Evangelical Lutheran Central Illinois Synod. Rev. A. Recker and this Church joined the former. This change required a re-organization of this Church, which was accomplished by Rev. G. Gergen. A new constitution was adopted March 16, 1873, and signed by the following : J. H. Dierker, Henry Emme, Herman Uthmueller, Henry Hackmann, Louis Telle, Charles Telle, Robert Becker, Andrew Dehm, Leonard Dehm, George Dehm, J. C. Dehm, Fred Dehm, Louis Emme, Henry Hahn, Henry L. Hahn, Louis Halm, Philip Rubenkonig, William Uthraueller, H. G. Lienisch, Ernst Behre, Leon- hardt Schwenk, Peter Meireis, William Wepener, Bernhard Wittwer, J. H. A. Laumeier, Henry Buhrmann and Herman Hackmann. Improvements have been made in the schoolhouse, as well as around the church edifice, and a new organ purchased. There are at present about one hundred and fifty communi- cants, sixty to one hundred Sunday-school and forty to fifty day-school scholars. St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was built about the close of the war. Prior to this, the few scattering families in and around Havana were occasion- ally administered to by visiting priests from Pekin and Peoria. About the time of the Building of the church, a mission society was formed, which was attended once a month by a regular pastor until the beginning of 1878, when, under the administration of Father Ruby, the present neat little parsonage was 528 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. erected adjacent to the chapel. Father Ruby was succeeded in the pastorate by Father Devine, whose sad and untimely death by drowning is still fresh in the memory of our readers. After the death of Father Devine, which occurred in the early part of the present summer, Father Henry Delbaere was called to the charge, and, at the present writing, is the Pastor. Every alternate Sunday, he administers to the society at Manito. This Church has a membership of about forty families, and a flourishing Sunday school. Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M., was chartered October 8, 1850, and the following were the original members : George Wright, George R. Wil- son, Moses Baldwin, Roberfc McReynolds, Robly Patterson, Gustavus Vigrus and Mahlon G. Carter, of whom George Wright was Master, George R. Wilson, Senior Warden, and Moses Baldwin, Junior Warden. The charter was signed by Most Worshipful W. C. Hobbs, Grand Master, and W. B. Warren, Grand Secretary. Old Time Lodge, No. 629, was formed by M. W. G. Reynolds, Grand Master, and 0. H. Miner, Grand Secretary, by members from Havana Lodge, No. 88, as follows : L. M. Hillyer, Elijah Snyder, G. A. Blanchard, J. F. Coppel, C. W. Emmett, W. S. Dray, Anson Low, J. B. Jiraerson, C. C. Fager, N. Gary, H. Middlecamp, F. Pollitz, J. I. Tinkham, George Weiner, H. R. Cleaver, H. A. Fager, J. W. Lyke, J. L. Walker, W. H. Webb and 0. H. Wright. The first eight names, in the order mentioned, comprised the first set of officers. On the 14th of February, 1877, Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Old Time Lodge, No. 629, were consolidated under a charter issued by Most Worshipful Joseph Robbins, Grand Master, and countersigned by Right Wor- shipful John F. Burrell, Grand Secretary, as Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. It'was formally organized and set to work by Right Worshipful Luther Dearborn, as proxy of the Grand Master. The following were the first officers under consolidation : H. W. Lindley, Master; E. A. Wallace, Senior Warden; L. R. Haack, Junior Warden ; Charles Schill, Treasurer ; L. W. Ross, Secre- tary ; S. F. Kyle, Senior Deacon ; H. R. Nortrup, Junior Deacon, and William Davies, Tiler. The present officers are: H. W. Lindley, Master; Daniel Brown, Senior Warden ; George McHose, Junior Warden ; Charles Schill, Treasurer ; 0. H. Harpham, Secretary ; L. R. Haack, Senior Deacon ; B. P. Yates, Junior Deacon, and William Davies, Tiler. As a coincidence with the number (88) of the Lodge, its membership at present is also eighty- eight. Havana Chapter of Royal Arch Masons was organized under dispensation August 3, 1865, by Most Excellent W. M. Egan, Grand High Priest, and, in October following, it was chartered as Havana Chapter No. 86, with the follow- ing members: L. M. Hillyer, M.-.E.-.High Priest; G. R. Wilson, E.-. King; A. Briggs, E. -.Scribe ; C. W. Emmett, Captain of the Host; J. F. Coppel, Principal Sojourner; E. Snyder, Royal A'rch Captain; G. A. Blanch- ard, H. A. Fager and E. B. Laughton, Masters of the Veils; S. Frankenfeld, Treasurer ; L. Zolman, Secretary ; Isaac L. Tinkham, Tiler, and N. Gary, W. MASON c/rr HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 531 H. Webb, J. M. Shook and A. T. Beck. The present membership is fifty-one, with the following "companions" in office : 0. H. Harpham, M.'.E. \High Priest; L. R. Haack, E.-.King; George H. Sandford, E. -.Scribe; A. T. Beck, Captain of the Host ; E. A. Wallace, Principal Sojourner ; Daniel Brown, Royal Arch Captain ; H. A. Fager, Treasurer ; H. W. Lindley, Secre- tary, and William Davies, Tiler. Havana Council, No. 40, Royal and Select Masters, was organized under dispensation December 12, 1867, with the following members: J. F. Coppel, T.-.I.-.G.-.M.; C. W. Emmett, Deputy; H. R, Cleaver, P.-.C.-.W.; W. S Dray, Captain of the Guard ; J. W. Lyke, Treasurer ; H. W. Lindley, Re- corder, and W. H. Webb, E. B. Laughton, J. W. Kelley and J. L. Irwin. It was chartered at the meeting of the Grand Council in October, 1868. Coun- cil and Chapter Masonry were consolidated by their respective Grand Bodies in October, 1877. Damascus Commandery, No. 42, Knights Templar, stationed at Havana, was organized under dispensation February 10, 1872. The following were the original members : Eminent Sir Luther Dearborn, Commander ; Sir Lewis Keyon, Generalissimo ; Sir J. F. Coppel, Captain General ; Sir L. M. Hillyer, Prelate ; Sir C. W. Emmett, Senior Warden ; Sir H. G. Belke, Junior War- den ; Sir H. A. Fager, Treasurer ; Sir Charles Doering, Recorder ; Sir I. J. Fasen, Standard Bearer ; Sir P. S. Anno, Sword Bearer, and Sir 0. H. Harp- ham, Warder. The dispensation was issued by Right Eminent Sir W. M. Egan, Grand Commander of the State, and at the meeting of the Grand Com- mandery in the following October, it was chartered under the above number and title. At the last annual report the roster showed thirty-two members, with Eminent Sir 0. H. Harpham, Commander ; Sir L. R. Haack, Generalis- simo ; Sir E. A. Wallace, Captain General ; Rev. Sir G. M. Fortune, Prelate ; Sir N. Siebenaler, Senior Warden ; Sir Charles Schill, Junior Warden ; Sir H. A Fager, Treasurer ; Sir Charles Doering, Recorder ; Sir William Davies, Standard Bearer ; Sir 0. H. Shearer, Sword Bearer ; Sir W. H. Lindley, Warder, and Sir Isaac N. Mitchell, Captain of the Guards. The Masonic Fraternity, in company with Anson Low, are at present engaged in the erection of a large and commodious brick building on Main street, the first story belonging to Low and the upper part to the fraternity. The building is 37x76 feet; the main hall of the Masons will be 30x60 feet, with all the necessary anterooms, offices, etc. The Masonic portion, when finished off ready for occupancy, will cost about $3,000, and will be used by the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery in common. The building will be an excellent one, and an ornament to the city, while at the same time it gives to the Masonic fraternity a beautiful home. Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted April 4, 1854, by Thomas J. Burns, D. D. G. M. The charter members were as follows : 'Edwin Rut- ledge, David Corey, Hugh Lamaster, John Hair and D. J. Waggoner. The T 532 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. charter was signed by William Rounsaville, Grand Master, and S. A. Cornean, Grand Secretary. The first officers elected were Edwin Rutledge, Noble Grand ; David Corey, Vice Grand ; N. J. Rockwell, Treasurer, and M. Dear- born, Secretary. The membership at present is fifty, with the following offi- cers : Thomas B. Kettell, N. G. ; William Rodecker, V. G. ; L. R. Haack, Treasurer ; Thomas Covington, Secretary ; John S. Kirk, Con. ; S. A. Mur- dock, Warden ; A. H. Jones, I. G. ; P. B. Geary, 0. G. ; A. T. Beck, R. S. N. G. ; F. S. Coggeshall, L. S. N. G. ; Thomas Sea, R. S. V. G.; George Schemerhorn, L. S. V. G.; George Geary, R. S. S.; W. P. Sigerson, L. S. S.; L. R. Haack, Representative to Grand Lodge. State Encampment, No. 34, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted May 1, 1856, by John W. Shinn, D. D. G. P., with the following charter members: L. F. Ross, D. J. Waggoner, R. S. Moore, J. C. Kemp, James Boggs, C. W. Emmett, R^ R. Simmons and John Covington. The charter was signed by Horace G. Anderson, M. W. G. P., and Samuel Willard, Gr. Scribe. The first officers were L. F. Ross, G. P. ; R. S. Moore, H. P. ; James Boggs, S. W. ; C. W. Emmett, Treasurer ; John Covington, Scribe, and R. H. Simmons, J. W. The present officers are Thomas Covington, C. P. ; A. T. Beck, H. P. ; A. H. Jones, S. W. ; S. A. Murdock, Scribe ; T. B. Kettell, Treasurer ; L. R. Haack, J. W. ; C. R. Emmett, G. ; D. C. Metzgar, S. ; J. L. Rochester 1st W. ; John S. Kirk, 2d W. ; J. W. Boggs, 3d W. ; P. B. Geary, 4th W. ; S. D. Riggs, 1st G. of T. ; J. Dunbar, 2d G. of T. ; L. R. Haack, Representative to Grand Encampment. Havana Lodge, No. 743, Knights of Honor, was instituted September 17, 1877. The following are the present officers : L. Aubere, Dictator ; L S. Kirk, Vice Dictator ; H. Herback, Assistant Dictator ; Thomas Covington, Reporter; G. L. Holzgraefe, Financial Reporter; E. Snyder, Treasurer ; George Seibert, Chaplain ; H. W. Lindley, Guard, and H. Reynolds, Sentinel. SCHOOLS. The first school taught in Havana that is remembered by any of the old residents, was by a man named Price, in 1836-37, and was taught in a little building located near where the Taylor House now stands. One of the early teachers, probably the next after Price, had a taste of the experience of Eggle- ston's Hoosier schoolmaster. Some of the mischievous young men, or boys, one morning set a tub of water over the door, and so poised it " That an infant s touch could urge Its headlong passage down the verge." Thus, when the teacher came in, the opening of the door disturbed its equilib- rium, bringing down the foaming Niagara upon his devoted head. The finale of the matter we are unable to chronicle, but doubt not that it was in strict accordance with the prevailing custom practiced in the early schools, and a free use of the birch was brought into play upon the unregenerate perpetrators. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 533 The first regular schoolhouse was built about 1837-38, on a part of the present public square. This house was used for a number of years, when a large brick was erected on the site of the present school -building. Previously, however, the basement of the old Methodist Church was used as a schoolroom for several years. The present magnificent school building was put up in 1875 and cost $30,000. It is well arranged for school purposes, and furnished with all the modern improvements in the way of school furniture. In addition to this building, there are primary schools taught both in the north and south ends of the city. The teachers for the year just cbmmencing are as follows: Prof. T. W. Catlin, Principal, assisted by Miss E. M. Bean, Miss Margaret Hurst, Miss Theresa Bernell, Miss Nellie Wickizer, Miss Kate Paul, Miss Jen- nie Crane, Mrs. Sallie Heninger, Miss Effie Pierce and Miss Fannie Walker. The present is Prof. Catlin's fourth year as Principal. The schools of Havana have kept pace with the other institutions of this vicinity, and the citizens have good reason to feel proud of their excellence. Besides the graded system at the large brick scheolhouse, the city maintains primary schools in other portions of it, as stated above. VILLAGE AND CITY INCORPORATION. A local history of Mason County, published a few years ago, says that the town of Havana was incorporated in 1848, with E. B. Harpham, President of the Board of Trustees, and Fred Krebaum, Clerk, and that the first ordinance was dated March 2, 1848, and signed by them. We, together with Mr. Ket- tell, the present City Clerk, took a look through the city records, and, as a result of our investigations, found an act of incorporation dated 1853, in which the following were named as Village Trustees : N. J. Rockwell, S. E. Rogers, William Higbee, James Boggs and Joseph F. Benner. Of this Board, Boggs was elected President, Benner, Secretary, and Higbee, Treasurer. A. T. Low was elected Constable, and J. H. West, Street Commissioner. In 1873, it was incorporated under the general law as a city, and an elec- tion held April 15, for Mayor and Aldermen. The city was divided into three Wards and two Aldermen allowed to each Ward, who are elected for two years. That each Ward, however, may elect an Alderman each year, at the first elec- tion they were elected for one and two years. The Mayor, also, is elected for two years. The following is a statement of elections from the incorporation of the city to the present time : 1873 Hugh Fullerton, Mayor ; 0. H. Wright, City Attorney ; Isaac P. Price, Clerk ; Alex. Stuart, Treasurer. Aldermen R. R. Simmons, August Schill, First Ward ; Anson Low, 0. C. Town, Second Ward ; J. L. Randall, Jabez Dunbar, Third Ward. 18740. H. Wright, City Attorney; Isaac P. Price, Clerk; Alex. Stuart, Treasurer ; W. H. Caldwell, Marshal. Aldermen J. F. Coppell, First Ward; W. G. Stone, Second Ward ; W. H. Fenton, Third Ward. 534 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 1875 Isaac N. Mitchell, Mayor; 0. H. Wright, City Attorney ; C. D. Lindley, Clerk; J. H. Knobbe, Treasurer; John W. Patton, Marshal. Alder- men L. R. Haack, First Ward ; Peter Lindburg, Second Ward ; J. W. Boggs, Third Ward. 18760. H. Wright, City Attorney; H. H. Hanrath, Clerk; J. H. Knobbe, Treasurer ; J. W. Patton, Marshal. Aldermen Max Meyer, First Ward; W. S. Dray, Second Ward; Jabez Dunbar, Third Ward. 1877 J. F. Coppel, Mayor; E. A. Wallace, City Attorney; H. R. Nortrup, Clerk ; N. Siebenaler, Treasurer ; J. M. Hillyer, Marshal. Alder- men Fred. Fette, First Ward ; Peter Lindburg, Second Ward ; J. L. Ran- dall, Third Ward. 1878 E. A. Wallace, City Attorney ; H. R. Nortrup, Clerk ; N. Siebe- najer, Treasurer ; J. M. Hillyer, Marshal ; I. S. Kirk, Police Magistrate. Aldermen J. H. Kessen, First Ward ; W. S. Dray, Second Ward; G. H. Meyer, Third Ward. 1879 W. H. Campbell, Mayor; H. R. Nortrup, City Attorney; T. B. Kettell, Clerk ; Max Meyer, Treasurer ; 0. H. Shearer, Marshal ; I. S. Kirk, Police Magistrate; Philip F. Smith, Street Commissioner. Aldermen Jesse Pipkin, First Ward ; Anson Low, Second Ward ; J. F. Kelsey, Third Ward. Havana City and Township, taken together, are Democratic in politics. In city and county offices, the spoils are usually divided, thus promoting peace and harmony in the political family. While the Mayor, and, probably, all of the present city officers are Democrats, the Board of Aldermen are equally divided, there being three Democrats and three Republicans. In the county officers, the Circuit Clerk is a Republican, the County Clerk is a Democrat ; the County Treasurer is a Republican ; the County Judge is a Democrat ; the Superintendent of Schools is a Democrat; the County Surveyor is a Republi- can ; the Sheriff is a Democrat and the Coroner is a Republican. By a provision of the act of the Legislature forming the county of Mason, a vote was taken at the first election, for the purpose of determining the loca- tion of the seat of justice. The two towns competing for the honor were Hav- ana and Bath, and, after a very exciting contest, Havana won the victory. It was also decreed by the Legislature, in the original act, that the friends of each place voted for should first place in the hands of the judges of the election a note drawn to the order of the County Commissioners for $1,000, and also a bond making a donation of one. block of lots or twenty acres of land for the use of the county. The required note of $1,000 was drawn by N. J. Rockwell, Pulaski S^oville, Lewis W. Ross and H. L. Ross, and a bond was executed by L. W. and H. L. Ross, donating a block of lots adjoining the public square. The inhabitants of Bath were very much dissatisfied with the result of the election, and finally got an act passed, in 1843, authorizing another election. This election took place in February, and HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 535 resulted in making Bath the county seat, an honor it retained till 1851, when Havana succeeded in obtaining the necessary legislation to bring the question again before the people, and again Havana won the day. This probably settled the question for all time. With the railroads centering at this place, it is not likely that the county seat question will ever be again agitated. But a more complete history of the county seat war will be found in a preceding chapter. Although Havana as the capital of the county is a settled point, it is an established fact that its Court House is rather a dilapidated old rookery. The dingy building is bronzed with age and "tottering to decay," and, as seen from the street, its " gloomy and frowning walls" have more the resemblance of a prison than a Court House. But a redeeming feature of the place is the public square. It is well set in grass, and is filled with beautiful trees, which, when clothed in summer luxuriance, renders it not only a lovely but very attract- ive place. The legal fraternity of Havana embraces a corps of gentlemen of marked ability. Among them are Dearborn, Fullerton, Lacey, Conwell, Campbell, Mallory, Wright, Wallace and others, all of whom stand high in the profession, and some of them have served with distinction in exalted positions. The med- ical profession is also ably represented, and a number of highly educated and experienced physicians zealously guard the health of the city and surrounding country. The merchants, too, are a class of enterprising, upright, energetic business men, and withal jolly good fellows. The city does not aspire to a wholesale trade, but enjoys an excellent retail business. Company F, stationed at Havana, and attached to the Seventh Regiment Illinois National Guards, with regimental headquarters at Peoria, was organized August 17, 1877. The following are the present officers : W. H. Webb, Cap- tain ; J. C. Yates, First Lieutenant ; S. F. Kyle, Second Lieutenant and S. A. Murdock, Orderly Sergeant. The company is about sixty-five strong, and composed of the young men of the city. The Captain, First Lieutenant and Orderly Sergeant served in the late war, and are the only members who have seen service. The remainder of the company are u fresh fish." The city press consists of two sprightly newspapers, viz. : The Democrat and Republican. The former is a four-page paper, conducted by Mounts & Murdock, and is all printed in Havana ; in other words, it has no patent side, as is the custom with so many country weeklies. The Republican is also a four- page paper, with " patent outside," and is owned and published by F. Ketcham & Son. Each paper is devoted to the political party, whose name it respectively bears. As the history of the county press has been fully written up by Gen. Ruggles, we will not repeat that portion pertaining to Havana. We would, however, drop a gentle hint, to the effect that the newspapers of towns and counties usually are not' treated with the importance they merit. The county newspaper is the county's history. Even the. advertisements it contains, in after years become matters of historical interest, and are of themselves historical 536 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. facts. It is, in our opinion, an oversight that a copy of every newspaper pub- lished in a county is not filed away in the county offices for future reference. The city of Havana is connected with the " State of Fulton " by a mag- nificent wagon bridge spanning the Illinois River at this point. It was built eight or ten years ago on substantial stone piers at intervals, and cost originally about $60,000. A few years ago, it was sold under mortgage, and bought by McHarry, who now owns it, with the exception of a few shares of stock owned by Capt. Bivens and others. This bridge is an important link between Mason and Fulton Counties, and brings to Havana thousands of dollars of trade that but for it would go elsewhere. The city cemetery of Havana is an excellent and beautiful location for a burying-ground, but has 'the appearance to us of receiving less attention and beautifying than many similar places we have noticed in other cities. It con- tains the moldering remains of many of the pioneers of Havana City and Township, and also many fine stones and monuments, and a few hundred dollars spent upon it would considerably enhance its beauty and improve its appearance. The little hamlet of Peterville, located in the southern part of Havana Township, was laid out in 1868 by Peter Thornburg, on Section 34, and con- tains a church, two or three shops, and perhaps a half dozen dwellings. A store was opened here about 186566 by Samuel Porter, and continued for sev- eral years, but at present the place boasts not of a single store. Thornburg & Decker carry on a blacksmith and wood shop. A similar establishment is operated by Benjamin Pulling. A church was built by the Baptist denomina- tion about 1862-63 under the pastoral charge of Rev. P. G. Clarke, and cost some $1,400. At present, it is not used as a temple of worship, nor has it been for a number of years past, the original members having united with other con- gregations. The house stands alone and deserted, a monument of departed glory. Sedan Station is a shipping point on the Springfield & North- Western Rail- road, in the southern part of the township, and consists merely of a side track for shipping purposes. It has never been laid out as a town, nor even a house built on the spot. MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. BY J. C. WARNOCK, ESQ. The history of this township, contained in the following pages, is gathered from those who lived cotemporaneous with the events recorded, and, by personal obser- vation, have become living witnesses to the present generation of the history of the past, and from these recesses of memory the traditional history of this town- ship may now be put upon perpetual record as the first link in the chain that shall be continued as ages and generations succeed each other. In attempting the task, we are met on the very threshold with the fact that the devastating HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 537 hand of time and the progress of art are remorseless and unsparing of primitive landmarks, however dear they may have been to a former generation and how- ever sacred the memories that cluster around them. With these facts before us, we have attempted to surmount the barrier by obtaining the facts and incidents from old residents who were personal witnesses of them, and whose recitals, cor- roborating each other sufficiently, establish the truth of the historical events herein recorded. This township did not receive its present name until the county was organ- ized under the township organization law, in 1862, but up to that time was designated as by the surveyor's record, Township 20 north, Range 5 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and included within its boundary on the south side about seven and one-half miles of Salt Creek, that is, by following the course of the stream in its curvings and windings, and about three-quarters of a mile of Sugar Creek, and on the east about four miles of Prairie Creek. Toward the north, this stream takes a southwesterly course for about one-half mile, then a winding course south for about the same distance, when it turns ^ast and leaves the township to return one mile farther south, now taking a south- westerly course until it reaches Salt Creek. The original survey, as appears from the "field notes," was made in the fall of 1823, and in conformity with an act of Congress, Section No. 16 was set apart for school purposes, and was and is yet known as the " school section," the proceeds of which became a town- ship school fund, from the interest of which the several districts now receive an annual income for the support of their public schools. At the time of the original survey, there was not a resident or habitation in the territory of the township, nor for several years after. The primitive blue- stem prairie grass was a marvel of luxuriant growth to persons unfamiliar wbh such scenery, and to place a man on foot out in this unbroken and untrodden wilderness with no other outlook than the far-away heavens above, was to place him in a position from which it was almost as difficult to extricate himself as from mid-ocean without rudder or compass, though not so perilous. Late in the fall, when the frosts had killed the grass, the great prairie fires would occur, which would be started by hunters shooting into the tinder-like material, or with the flint, for matches were a commodity of civilization and inventive genius that had not yet reached these Western wilds. The grandeur of those prairie fires can only be fully appreciated by being seen. The flames, at times reach- ing high up toward the star-decked dome, and then, swooping down, gathering in their devouring grasp the grass fifty feet in advance of the main column, were to be admired and apotheosized from the rear, but to be feared and dreaded from the front as a fierce and powerful agent, dealing destruction to all that came within its reach. In the north half of the township, the surface of the land takes a gentle and regular decline toward the south, and from this to the south line, it is somewhat broken by blufts and ravines, but only a small portion so much broken as to be untillable. Salt Creek bottom was once considered a 538 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. geological mistake of nature, and counted a perpetual and irredeemable waste because of its frequent inundation by the overflowing waters of Salt Creek ; but, by leveeing, the last few years have demonstrated their safe and profitable cultivation, and a few more years will find the most prolific farms in the town- ship on these once discarded lowlands. Corn, wheat and oats are the principal agricultural products, but nearly all the cereals, as well as the various fruits indigenous to the climate, are produced in great quantities. Coal exists in great quantities at a depth of 200 feet, in the north part of the township, and, at one point on the bluffs in Swing's Grove, there is every evidence of coal near the surface. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settlement made in the township was by Isaac Engle, in 1830, at what is now the S. C. Donevan place, at the northeast side of Swing's Grove,. and, during the same year, John Powell built a round-log house on the west side of the place now owned and occupied by C. L. Stone, about one hundred yards southeast of W. S. Hardin's present residence. This rude hut was suc- ceeded by a hewed-log house built by Austin Melton in 1840, Powell having moved to Oregon. Here Melton lived until 1847, and kept a ferry on Salt Creek, and for him Melton's Ford was named. From here, he moved to Mack- inaw, and, after several years' residence there, went to Walker's Grove, ia Crane Creek Township, where he died in the spring of 1877. Mr. Melton was succeeded as a resident at Swing's Grove, in 1847, by John Alkire, who- built a frame house, which has long since been removed, and the site being culti- vated, hardly a trace of this landmark of early habitation remains visible. Isaac Engle, who, as before stated, settled on the Donevan place, sold out to Michael and Abram Swing, in 1838, when he moved to Fulton County, and died there some years ago. The Swing brothers were both unmarried at that time, and, by a trade between them, Michael became sole owner of the land which, up to 1840, they had held in partnership. The year 1846, Michael Swing was elected to the Legislature, and was the first member ever elected to- that body from this county. He served one term of two years, and while at Springfield attending the session made the acquaintance of the lady who soon afterward became his wife. Their wedded life was but a few years, for Mr. Swing died of the measles, the latter part of December, 1852, at that place, although he had sold it to the Donevan brothers a couple of years before, still occupying it, however, by renting. Mr. Swing was a surveyor, and taught school occasionally in addition to his other somewhat diversified business. The winter of 1851-52, he taught the district school at Big Grove, going on horse- back and returning home each day, a distance of six miles, for the compen- sation of $1 per day. The present editor of the Mason City Independent was one of his pupils at that school. At his death, he left his widow with one child r a daughter, who, upon reaching womanhood, married T. M. Beach, Esq., a HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. prominent lawyer, of Lincoln, Logan County, but she died a month or two ago, after only a few years of wedded life. The widow married a gentlemen named Cass, near Mount Pulaski, Logan County, some years ago, and he died. She was living with her son-in-law, Mr. Beach, at Lincoln, at the time of her daughter's death, and is still keeping house for him and taking care of her little grandchildren. The year 1840, Ephraim Brooner built a round-log house on what is now the Cease-Hubly place, about a quarter of a mile west of the old " Beebe place," now owned and occupied by John Appleman. Mr. Brooner died in 1841, and his widow married Rezin Virgin, one of the pioneers of Salt Creek Township, as will appear in the history of that subdivision of the county. Mr. Brooner was succeeded at that place by Robert Melton (brother of Austin, before men- tioned), and lived there until 1853, when his wife, himself and daughter died within the space of only a few months. From the. death of his wife, Mr. Melton seemed to have lost all interest in this world, and gradually his life ebbed away in silent grief, and, in a few months, he, too, was no more. He held the office of Justice of the Peace several years during his residence there, and many amusing incidents of this early court are remembered by the proverbial " oldest inhabitant," some of which will appear in their proper order. This place of primitive habitation is now marked only by a few storm- wrecked and venerable apple-trees, which can be seen by the traveler as he passes along the public road to and from the Iron Bridge over Salt Creek. The year 1840 seems to 'have been favorable to the immigration of pioneer adventurers and home-seekers. Robert Melton and S. D. Swing, at Swing's Grove, and Stiles and Homer Peck, on Prairie Creek, settled in the township that year. S. D. Swing, now, and since 1860, a resident of Mason City, improved the greater part of the farm now owned and occupied by C. L. Stone^ Having married Mary A. Sikes, daughter of Edward Sikes, Sr., an old set- tler of Salt Creek Township, Mr. Swing and his young wife settled there in 1840, where, by years of toil and privation unknown to the beginners of life's matrimonial voyage now-a-days, they built up a beautiful home and valuable farm. Swing's Grove Cemetery, a beautiful location on a high point of Salt Creek Bluff, about one-eighth of a mile southwest of the house, was set apart for that purpose by them, and consecrated to the dead by the burial there of their first-born, in 1846, since which time the public has used it as a repository for the remains of the departed, until this "village of the dead " now numbers its inhabitants by the hundred. Earlier burials were made at the place now owned by Malcom Robertson, and on a knoll in the west part oi the grove ; but only a few were buried in each, and they were entirely abandoned after the one given by Mr. Swing was started. Stiles and Homer Peck, brothers, made a settlement on Prairie Creek, in 1840, about a mile northwest of where the village of New Holland now stands. They erected there a water-power, saw- mill, and the mill-dam was used as a public wagon road in crossing the creek. 540 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Although this saw-mill was a very small affair, it was by common usage and general consent a " signal station " from which " bearings " were given and taken to all surrounding points for many miles distant, and is yet relatively referred to by old residents. As there were no means of estimating distances, the traveler in those days was given the course from one point to another. At this saw-mill, the pioneer obtained the sawed lumber with which to make the doors, door and window frames of his crude dwelling, and from which they obtained, after a few years' progress in aristocracy, the lumber to take the place of the primitive puncheon floor. A. S. Jackson, of Mason City, made a wal- nut table from lumber sawed at that mill in 1843, which relic is now in posses- sion of Mr. Cooper, of that place. The reader will pardon the digression for a moment while we give a brief description of the dwelling-house of this early day. The usual size was 18x20 feet, made of round logs, notched at the corners so as to make the logs fit as closely as possible together, and give strength to the building to withstand the frequent storms of wind which swept over the prairies with the violence of a hurricane. Chimneys were constructed of split sticks and clay, and were inva- riably placed on the west end or side of the house, so that the strong winds which nearly always came from a westerly direction, would be the better resisted. Those primitive domiciles all had a kitchen, sitting-room, parlor and bedroom but all in one. At the usual mealtimes, it was all kitchen ; on rainy days, when the neighbors of four or five miles away came in to have a chat about the number of deer and wild turkeys killed since they last met, it was all sitting-room ; on Sundays, when the itinerant preacher was around, and the young men, with their " new jeans," paid their tender respects to the young ladies in their best "tow dresses," it was all parlor; at night, when the "wee, sma' hours" passed imperceptibly over a sleeping world, it was all bedroom. The crevices between the logs (the best that could be done to fit them) were large, and, with all the chinking and daubing, afforded ample ventilation ; a laughable illustration of which means of a "free circulation," is given by John Powers "Irish John," as he was universally cognomened in the days of this incident. He now lives in a beautiful and substantial farm house about a mile south of Mason City ; but when he first went to housekeeping, about twenty- five years ago, he lived in a round-log house of the primitive pattern, a quarter of a mile south of his present residence. This house was not in any inclosure of fence, and was protected from cattle making too free of the premises, by dogs. One Sunday, he and his young wife went to spend the day with a neighbor ; and, while they were gone, the cattle gathered about his house and, with their tongues, they pulled out of his bed, through the crevice between the logs, the straw of his bed, and finished up the day's sport by chewing the tick into the consistency of a cud, in which condition he found his dormitory depart- ment on his return. These log huts were covered with "clapboards" about three feet in length, and held to place by " rib poles " underneath and " weight HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 541 poles" on the top of each course of boards. The floors were laid of puncheon slabs, split from three to four inches in thickness, and from six to eight feet in length. The top side and edges were hewed so as to make them as nearly level as possible, and fit close enough together to prevent the foot from going down between them in walking about the house. The fire-place was from four to eight feet wide, and supplied cooking facilities, heat to keep the inmates com- fortable, and light to do the night indoor work by. The jambs, in the proper season of the year, were decorated with strands of apples, cut in quarters with the peel on, and the joists bore a heavy burden of pumpkins, cut in rings and hung on poles. The bedsteads were improvised by boring holes in the logs and driving in wooden pins supported at the inner end by upright pieces. This rude frame was interwoven with buckskin rawhide or bedcord, if the lat- ter could be had ; and with a tick of prairie hay and one of wild-goose feath- ers, our ancestors slept soundly and snored as contentedly as the people now do on veneered bedsteads, woven-wire mattresses and all the gaudy surround- ings of a high-toned bed-chamber. In 1846, John Douglas built a log house in the prairie, about a mile and a half west of Peck's Mill. This was the first house out in the prairie, and his venture so far from timber was looked upon as a daring one. The site of this habitation is now marked by a few dilapidated apple-trees, which are desolate monuments of the first settlement of this prairie. Mr. Douglas died a few years ago, and two of his sons, Ebenezer and William, now reside on good farms with their families, near the wild scenes of their boyhood days. A man named Tullis also settled on the place now owned and occupied by Alexander Appleman, about the same time that Douglas settled there. INCIDENTS OF PIONEER DAYS. The first school ever taught in this township was in the winter of 1846-47, in a log hut, near the county line, about a half-mile north of the site of New Holland. The name of the heroine who was destined to become immortal in history by this circumstance was Miss Sarah Ann Stephens, who afterward became the wife of Randolph Robins, and died in Kansas a few years ago. However insignificant and crude this school, it was the beginning of what is now justly and really the grandest and most prominent feature of our society, and of which we shall write in full and detail in its proper order. But at this time it is due the pioneer school teacher to say that he, she or they will be remem- bered in history with unfeigned gratitude for the labors and toils of these early days. The pioneer teacher who had to contend with the almost untamed spirit of the wild girls and boys of this wilderness, submit to being barred out of the schoolhouse on Christmas and New Year's mornings, until compromised with a "treat," trudge through the snow and driving storm for miles, in "boarding around among the scholars," collect his money after his term was ended, in such installments as he could get, is deserving a prominent place in history. 542 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Settlements now began to increase rapidly, and .the log huts dotted the prairie with the habitations of the aggressive pioneers farther and farther out into the boundless wilderness of grass, hitherto the undisputed home of the deer and wolf. The former ranged together in herds of sometimes over a hundred, and the latter had cities of dens in the favorable locations, where they held their nocturnal orgies of yelps and howls. Those prairie wolves were usually harmless, except as to domestic animals, for which they manifested a disas- trous fondness, and they were especially partial in the selection of the tender meat of lambs and pigs, when it was a matter of choice with them. But, under certain conditions of hunger, and favorable circumstances of advantage, they would show a disposition to attack the human family, illustrative of which is the following incident, which occurred about the year 1848 : " John Auxier, who had been to Pekin with a drove of hogs made up by himself and several of his neighbors, and" who had remained behind, as was the usual custom, until the hogs were slaughtered and weighed, started home on foot late in the afternoon. In assisting in the slaughter, he had received a cut in the arm, which bled con- siderably, and in crossing the sand ridge, which is now High street, Mason City, the wolres scented the blood, and immediately set up their characteristic howl, which was well understood by the pioneer to " mean blood " of some kind. This midnight declaration of war and no quarter, served to quicken Mr. Auxier's steps, and until he reached home on Salt Creek bluff he could hear the yelps and howls of his bloodthirsty pursuers as they gained upon, but, fortunately did not overtake him. Those hog-driving expeditions to Pekin, and Bath in the west part of this county, were always made in the winter, and usually at the coldest and most disagreeable time of winter, but, notwithstanding the excruciating suffering from the cold, when the party got " thawed out " by the log-heap fire in the pioneer's cabin at night, they were as jolly a set as ever "cracked a joke or played a trick." All the innate mischief and pent-up devilment of their inherent and individual natures came to the surface on such occasions, and the nightly con- vivialities of the party would surpass the wildest conceptions of this sedate and long-faced generation. In those days, going to mill was one of the dreaded burdens of our people. With the exception of a small horse-power corn-cracker, owned by Alexander Meadows, at Sugar Grove, there was no mill nearer than the Mackinaw, jn Tazewell County, about twenty miles distant, and its regularity being dependent upon the stage of water, and its capacity deficient, a trip to mill meant any space of time from two days to a week. The people would borrow breadstuff of each other until the whole neighborhood was exhausted of the supply, and then they would each put in a "grist," and two or three teams would go together to mill, taking turns. The administration of justice and execution of the laws in those days were done with the best intentions, but in a way that would be regarded very HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 543 *' irregular " nowadays. The Squire usually made up his decisions from his ideas of equity, and did not cumber his mind much with the statute law. Robert .Melton's court was the scene of many amusing legal contests, and during the residence of Dr. J. G. H. Smith at Swing's Grove, from 1848 to 1850, who was notorious for litigation, this court was kept in almost constant session. One ludicrous incident is thus related : The prominent Constable in this section at that time was William Taylor, " Crooked-Necked Bill Taylor," as he was famil- iarly known. One day, while he and Dr. Smith were riding across the prairie together, the Doctor proposed to straighten Taylor's neck, and without the use of knife or any operation that would cause him pain. Taylor told him if he would do so, he would give him the pony he was riding, which offer was accepted by the Doctor, and the pony delivered into his possession that evening, and the time, a few days on, was fixed for the operation. When Taylor presented him- self at the appointed time, the Doctor took out his knife and was preparing to restore the perpendicularity of his patient's head, by cutting into the contracted side of his neck. This Taylor objected to, and a wordy and stormy conflict between physiological and anatomical science and the legal points of a contract ensued. Taylor preferred a crooked neck to one half cut -off, and demanded his pony. This demand was peremptorily refused, and Taylor went to Squire Melton's and commenced a replevin suit against the Doctor to recover his pony. On the day set for the trial, the whole neighborhood turned out to hear the case, for they knew there was "music in the air," from the known character of the contestants. Preliminary to going into trial, the parties went out and engaged in a pitched battle with such knives and clubs as were conveniently at hand, after which they compromised the matter. However wild the country and those pioneers, those people, with but few exceptions, were actuated by a spirit of justice and right as between man and man, and with these few exceptions, appeals to the law were unknown in their business transactions and settlements. Sometimes, unavoidable and honest dif- ferences arose with reference to the ownership of cattle, but these were usually amicably and satisfactorily settled without the intervention of courts. ' These disputes were unavoidable from the fact that when grass came on in the spring, everybody would turn his cattle out to roam and grow, and, as was often the case, the owner would not see them again until feeding time in the fall. In this interval, young cattle would grow and change color almost beyond recognition. In those days, and even down to the first half of the decade from 1850 to 1860, wild game was plentiful. Deer and turkeys were here in large numbers, and wild geese and sand-hill cranes abounded in immense numbers, and were a devouring pest to the farmers, whose crops, the young wheat and ripening corn, in the fall, afforded food for countless thousands of these feathered foragers. They would retire to the ponds and creeks at< night, and in their flight to the fields in the morning, and return to the " watering places " in the evening, the very heavens would seem to lower with a massive feathery cloud, and the 544 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. quawking and screeching made a discord that could not be surpassed by a united convention of all the bedlam inmates on the continent. RELIGIOUS HISTORY. The professed religious devotees were in a decided minority in those days, but there were enough to establish the foundation of the numerous religious societies which distinguish us as a moral people to-day. Private houses were used for religioua services until sciioolhouses afforded the accommodations. While these religious services were not conducted with the clock-work precision and machine worship of our later and more systematically refined worship, they had the merit of heart and soul devotion, which defied the adverse criticism of the world. The preachers were not college graduates, nor theological prodigies, but what they lacked in mental force they made up in physical power, and they could be heard a mile away in favorable conditions of the atmosphere. Peter Cart- wright, whose eccentric and " bull-dozing ''* propensities gave him a continental reputation and notoriety, dispensed the Gospel to our pioneers frequently, and some of the incidents and anecdotes related by him in his autobiography find a location in this vicinity. Cotemporaneous with him was Peter Akers, now superannuated and retired, at Jacksonville, who was the very antipode of Cart- wright in mental characteristics. He was a man of great ability, learned in theology, science and literature, and a master of elocution and oratory. Thirty- minute sermons were not fashionable in those days, and often this eminent divine would storm the citadel of Satan, and expatiate upon the beatitudes of heaven for four hours at a time. So matchless was his eloquence, and invincible his logic, that his audience never tired or manifested restlessness during his discourses. To make it known that " Old Pete Akers " (for he was even then considered old) would preach at a given place on such a day, was to guarantee nearly the whole county as an audience, if the weather proved favorable. A little later, John L. Turner, a Baptist minister, settled west of Crane Creek. He was a man of good abilities, and held a place in the hearts of the people here that has never been sup- plied by any other minister. When the angel of death visited a household, John L. Turner was called upon to preach at the funeral, and, although a man of rather frail' frame, he exposed himself to^ inclement weather, and faced storms of rain and sleet and snow in answer to the call of distress by his stricken fellow-pioneers. Of him it may may be truly said, " He went about doing good." Levi Engle, of the Christian (Campbellite) faith, occasionally preached at Swing's Grove, at some private house. These irregular services were held at such time and places as the combination of circumstances would permit, until about 1850, when the settlement had become numerous enough to organize church societies, which will be more definitely and systematically arranged under that special department of this historical sketch of the township. * Bull-doziug. as a common term, was not invented then, but it is applicable to the old pioneer preacher all the same'. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 545 The population increased steadily, but not very rapidly, until 1856, when the project of the Tonica, Petersburg & Jacksonville Railroad assumed an earnest aspect by the survey of a random line during the month of July. This line barely touched the northwest corner of this township. The same year, in the fall, another line was surveyed, running almost parallel with, and less than a mile east, of the first. People were led to believe that this second line would be the permanent and fixed one for the railroad, and subscriptions were lavishly given, and bartering of lands among individuals was the order of the day. Imaginary towns dotted the line on almost every section, and the owners of the sites reveled in their sudden transition from poverty to affluence. But these fickle dreams of fortune were dispelled a few months later, when the third line was run, and the road located thereon where it now is, and is an important branch of the Chicago & Alton Railway. This line was, at this point, about a mile and a half east of the second line surveyed. Grading was commenced the summer of 1857, a number of farmers working out their subscription of stock in that way. The work progressed as well as the limited means and many unfavorable circumstances would admit, until the financial crash of 1859, when the work was suspended, except the completion and putting in operation that part of the road between Petersburg and Jacksonville, and was not resumed again until after the close of the war of the rebellion. But the certainty of its ultimate completion gave an impetus to immigration, that neither the financial crash nor the paralyzing influence of the war could very materially check. The heretofore vast expanse of unoccupied prairie was rapidly converted into corn- producing farms, and became one of the most prolific townships in the county for that king staple product of the west. THE CITY OF MASON CITY. The land upon which Mason City now stands was entered at the United States Land Office in Springfield, the year 1849, by an Irishman named William Maloney, who improved and settled on a forty-acre tract of his purchase adjoin- ing the present corporation line on the northwest. He built a log cabin thereon, the dilapidated remains of which are still standing, surrounded by a cluster of for- est trees. To protect his crop from stock running at large, he surrounded his forty-acre field with a sod fence, having no fencing material within his reach. Those sod fences, which were very common in the first prairie settlements, were made by digging a trench about two feet wide and two feet deep, throwing the dirt into a narrow and high ridge close on the inside, and then placing the sod removed in opening the trench carefully on top of the ridge, so that the grass would grow, and soon make a sod over the whole of it, thereby preventing its being beaten down by the rains. Before the railroad was located, how- ever, George Straut, a man of wealth, an influential member of the Board of Directors, and with an eye to business, bought out Mr. Maloney's land posses- sions, and laid out this town, embracing within the original plat 240 acres, in 546 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. an oblong square of three-fourths of a mile in length, from north to south, and one-half mile in width, from east to west. The survey was made in September, 1857, by E. Z. Hunt, assisted by John M. Sweeney, the plat of which was filed of record in the Circuit Clerk's office the 29th of that month. There are thir- ty-seven full, and twenty-two fractional blocks in the original town. The blocks are 320 feet square, and divided into fourteen lots each, twelve of which are 50 x!50 feet, and two are 20x150, in the center of each block and extending east and west, to correspond with the twenty-foot alley extending through each block north and south. The streets are eighty feet in width. The alley running through the blocks between Tonica and Main streets, and extending from Court to Pine streets, however, is an exception to the rule in that it is forty feet wide, the additional twenty feet of width being taken from the east half of those blocks, which leaves the lots on that side 130 instead of 150 feet in length. This wide alley serves as a very convenient thoroughfare and by-way when the streets are crowded. The lots are numbered from north to south in each block, commenc- ing at the northwest corner, which brings Lot 7 in the southwest corner, Lot 8 in the northeast, and Lot 14 in the in the southeast corner. An exception to this rule of numbering are the lots fronting Tonica street, on either side, between Court and Pine. The half blocks fronting this street, in the limit just described, are divided into lots as follows : The east half of Blocks 13 and 16 divided into twenty lots each ; the east half of fractional Block 13 is divided into thirteen full, and four fractional lots; the west half of fractional Block 15 is divided in to six fractional and two full lots; fractional Blocks 8 and 12, and the east half of fractional Block 14, divided into ten lots each. These lots and blocks are made fractional, because of the grounds reserved to the railroad com- pany, upon which the depot and grain elevators are located. Block No. 30 was dedicated to the public by Mr. Straut, as a public square, and Block No. 36 as a park. The east and south sides of Block 13, east, north and west sides of Block 16, aud the east side of Block 17, contains all the mercantile business houses in the city now. Strawn's addition was surveyed by J. C. Warnock and plat filed of record August 8, 1866, Henry T. Strawn, proprietor. This addi- tion consisted of six blocks, laid off in conformity to the plan of the original plat. It is three blocks in length from west to east, and two blocks in width, from north to south, and lies on the north side of the original town, com- mencing at the northwest corner-. Work having been resumed on the ' railroad, called forth this addition. Elliott's Addition was also surveyed by J. C. Warnock, the same year, and the plat filed of record September 25, 1866, Collin J. Elliott, proprietor. This addition consisted of three full and two half blocks, extending three and a half blocks in length from east to west, and two blocks in width from north to south. The streets and alleys correspond with those of the original plat, but the blocks are divided into four lots each, especially designed for residences, with which it is most all now occupied. It lies on the north side of the original town, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 549 extending in length from Strawn's Addition east to the northeast corner of the original town. Rosebrough's Addition was surveyed by Bentley Buxton and plat filed of record October 18, 1867, Benajah A. Rosebrough, proprietor. This addition consisted of two full, two half and one small fractional blocks, laid out on the plan of Elliott's Addition, and is situated on the south side of the original town, bounded on the east by the C. & A. Railroad. Northeast Addition was surveyed by Bentley Buxton in the autumn of 1867, and the plat was filed of record February 29, 1868, William G. Greene, of Menard County, Gov. Richard Yates and John Mathers, of Morgan County, proprietors. This addition contains an area of eighty acres, and is divided into twenty full, four half and one fractional blocks. Its streets running east and west correspond with and are a continuation of those of the original town ; but its streets running north and south are only fifty feet wide. The alleys run east and west through the blocks. The blocks are divided into twelve equal lots each. The lots are numbered from east to west on the north side of the ' blocks, and from west to east on the south side, which brings No. 1 in the north- east corner, No. 6 in the northwest corner, No. 7 in the southwest corner and No. 12 in the southeast corner. This part of town is wholly occupied, so far as improved, by residences, except Block 11, upon which the beautiful new brick schoolhouse is located. This addition extends from the section line on north side of Elliott and Strawn's Additions south, along east end of Elliott's Addition and east side of original town, to the quarter-section line midway between Elm and Arch streets. West Addition was surveyed by John R. Faulkner, and the plat filed of record September 29, 1868, George Straut, proprietor. This is laid out on the same plan as the Northeast Addition, except that the blocks are divided into fourteen lots, which are numbered as those of the Northeast Addition. The east half of Block No. 7 was given by Mr. Straut for a schoolhouse site, and upon it stands a large three-story brick schoolhouse. The west half of the block has since been purchased by the School Board, and the entire block is now used for that purpose. This addition lies on the west side of the original town, commencing at the northwest corner, extending west three blocks, and south along west boundary of original town five blocks, containing fifteen full blocks. Mason City now embraces about three-fourths of a section, laid out in lots, and is divided near the center by the section-line running north and south, between Sections 7 and 8. We will now return to the early settlement of Mason City, and its subse- quent growth and prosperity. The inaugural steps to found a town, after lay- ing it off in lots, was the sale of the lots. A public sale of lots was advertised to commence September 27, 1857, which was continued for two days, and which sale was attended by a large number of buyers and curious spectators, aggregating 550 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. in number over a thousand. The whole county was agog with excitement over the novelty of a town " so far from no place," as they expressed it. Not- withstanding the uninviting, wild location, lots sold at from the high figure of $75 up to the extravagant price of $300 the latter price for choice lots in the sup- posed-to-be future business center of the town. Soon after the sale, David Dare put up the first building in the new town a blacksmith-shop in the east part of the laid-out town, on Lot 14, Block 14, now owned by David Powell, on which is a neat dwelling, occupied by E. J. Eggleston. The next was a frame building for mercantile business, erected by Henry Keefer (who is now an agricultural implement dealer in Lincoln, Neb.), the same fall, near the laid-out line of the railroad, in Fractional Block 13, which, as soon as com- pleted, was occupied by A. A. Cargill (now senior member of the firm of Car- gill & Swing) and W. L. Woodward, who opened and operated the first store in town. After some years and several changes in the business firms occupying it, this house was wholly abandoned as a mercantile establishment. But this building is of historic interest in numerous other ways. Here was centered the first recognition of our town by the Government of the United States, by establishing in it a post office ; and President Buchanan conferred upon A. A. Cargill the distinguished honor of the appointment as its Postmaster the first Postmaster of the town. Another is that the upper story was used as the initiatory step and nucleus of the crowning glory and pride of our town to-day our public schools ; and Miss Rhoda Allen (now Mrs. J. L. Hastings) was the teacher who taught the first school. Here, Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. M., was organized under dispensation, early in the year 1864. Here, also, in the spring of 1866, the nucleus of the first newspaper in the town was founded, in a small job office, by Elder J. M. Haughey and Sheridan Eulass, who, at the time, were engaged in the picture business at that place. Here, also, the first religious services were held, Rev. Mr. Holtsclaw, a Baptist minister of Crane Creek, officiating. The .second store was that of C. Hume, on the corner of Tonica and Chest- nut streets, but this building was removed some years ago, and its site occupied by the handsome brick buildings known as La Forge Block. The old frame building was erected by Joseph Elliott late in the fall of 1858, and, in the upper story of which was organized early the following spring the Presbyterian Church of this city, with Rev. John Andrews as Pastor. The third store was that of Abraham and S. D. Swing, the building which now stands a short distance northeast of the La Forge elevator. The first hotel was a small frame, erected by William Hibberd, which still stands on the north side of the Sherman House. This house was built late in the fall of 1857, on a lot donated by Mr. Straut for that purpose, and was ded- icated on Christmas night by a dance, which was attended, for the novelty of the thing, by parties from all the surrounding towns. The summer of 1858, Henry Keefer erected the building which is now the wooden part of the St. Nicholas HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 551 Hotel, which, as soon as completed, commenced business with Jeremiah Deitrich as proprietor. The same year, John Sutley built the house which now stands on the northeast corner of Tonica and Chestnut streets, and commenced hotel business in the name of the Sutley House, but which was given the name of Lion House by the town wags because the sign bore the figures of two lions. In those days, and up to 1867, all building material, merchandise and every other imported commodity had to be hauled with teams from Pekin, Lincoln and Havana, and that was a very profitable though laborious business, and neces- itated exposure to all kinds of weather. The first and still the largest steam grain-elevator was erected in 1868, by Jefferson Brown and Nicholas Travis, and is now know as the La Forge elevator. The first wedding of resident parties in town, was that of Sheridan Eulass and Miss Emma Hibberd, daughter of Squire Hibberd, October 12, 1859, the ceremony being performed by Rev. S. Wheadon, of Havana. The first child born in town was Charles M. Keefer, son of Henry Keefer, in December, 1857. Although, in 1858, our people were few in number, the " fire of '76 " burned deeply and fervently in their patriotic hearts, and they decided to have a regular old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration and public dinner, which they did in no half-way manner. Every man, woman and child in the town staked their reputations and fortunes upon the success of the enterprise, and with one accord expunged the word failure from their vocabulary. With these fundamentals to commence with, it is almost superfluous to say the celebration and all of its con- comitants were an immense success. That was a year in which this section was visited by frost every month of the year, and the July frost came on the morn- ing of the 4th. At an early hour in the morning, long processions of teams came in from all directions, and by 10 o'clock an immense crowd, for this sparsely settled country, had gathered in. A platform had been erected, and seats, tem- porarily constructed of such building material as could be found loose, were pro- vided. R. A. Hurt, one of the early merchants and the village lawyer, read the Declaration of Independence, and Hon. William Walker, a prominent lawyer of Havana, delivered the oration, after which the hosts were martialed and con- ducted in good order to the extensive and burdened tables, where all were sumpt- uously fed from the lavish contributions of the people. The 4th of July, 1867, witnessed the advent of the first locomotive engine in Mason City, and was hailed with great demonstrations of delight by the peo- ple, which wound up with a free fight between the railroad construction hands and our town bloods. The completion of the road to Bloomington that same fall opened a new era in our commerce, both in produce and merchandise. Chi- cago, which had before been looked upon as a far-away and almost inaccessible metropolis, suddenly was brought near, and a very small amount of business was a sufficient inducement to make a visit there. Business enterprise of all kinds ran 552 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. wild with excitement, and all the mechanical labor within reach was brought into requisition to supply the demand in the construction of new buildings, both of mercantile houses and dwellings. Improved and unimproved lots commanded almost fabulous prices, and the demand for residence locations induced the lay- ing-out of the Northeast and West Additions, the former of which was soon dotted with handsome dwellings. For a few years, the prosperity and growth of the town was the wonder and the admiration or envy, as interests might inspire, of all the country and adjoining towns. Our own people were not indifferent to their growing importance as a town, and the village government under which their public affairs were administered began to look too small in name to some of our more pretentious citizens ; so, late in the session of the Legislature, the winter of 186869, a few of these high-toned gentry of city ambition went down to Springfield and procured the passage of a special charter act, incorporating our village as a city. A large majority of our citizens were thunder-struck with surprise when they learned the fact, and denounced it as an imposition and a fraud ; but the edict had gone forth, and there was no alternative but to submit to the new order of things, under protest. The parties who procured this charter have never been certainly known to the public up to this day, and probably never will be until some one of them discloses it in a dying confession. By this charter, the city was divided into four wards, and the first election was held in April, 1869, the result of which will appear in its proper order. Mason City was organized as a village by an ordinance approved April 7, 1866, signed by J. P. Walker, President of the Board of Trustees, and attested by J. A. Walker, Clerk of the Board, including in the corporate limits the original plat. This form of government continued until the spring of 1869, when the first election under the new charter took place, as above stated. At the city election, the following officers were elected: T. J. Watkins, Mayor; Thomas Lamoreux, City Judge ; S. N. Hornbuckle, City Marshal ; William Warnock, Jr., City Collector ; Dr. I. N. Ellsberry, Alderman, First Ward ; J. C. Montgomery, Alderman, Second Ward; S. D. Swing, Alderman, Third Ward; Dr. J. A. W. Davis, Alderman, Fourth Ward. Officers appointed by the new Council : Dr. J. A. Walker, Treasurer ; S. N. Hornbuckle, Assessor ; G. W. Ellsberry, Clerk. City ehction April 4, 1870 : H. T. Strawn, Mayor ; Well. Housworth, City Marshal ; D. M. Childs, City Collector ; D. E. Le Sourd, Alderman, First Ward; J. A. Phelps, Alderman, Second Ward; John Pritchett, Alderman, Third Ward; George Young, Alderman, Fourth Ward; R. C. Dement (appointed), City Clerk. Judge Lamoreux and Marshal Housworth having resigned, a special election was held December, 1870, to fill the vacancies, which resulted in the election of J. S. Shuck, City Judge, and George Tippey, Marshal. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 553 City election April 5, 1871 : Luther Naylor, Mayor ; M. C. Vanloon, City Marshal ; F. N. Smith, City Collector ; H. M. Anderson, Alderman, First Ward ; George A. Withers, Alderman, Second Ward ; N. Travis, Alderman, Third Ward ; J. S. Gates, Alderman, Fourth Ward. Officers appointed by the Council : J. F. Gulp, City Clerk ; John Lazell, Treasurer. F. N. Smith , having failed to qualify as Collector, and Judge Shuck having resigned, a special election to fill the vacancies was held August 1, 1871, at which J. H. Wandle was elected City Judge, and Jeremiah Riggins was elected Collector. City election, April 1, 1872 : Luther Naylor, Mayor; Joseph Statler, City Judge ; A. S. Jackson, City Marshal ; Rev. S. S. Martin, City Collector. Aldermen H. M. Anderson, First Ward ; Andrew McElhany, Second Ward ; N. Travis, Third Ward ; J. S. Gates, Fourth Ward. J. F. Gulp was re-appointed City Clerk, and John Lazell, Treasurer. A petition, as provided by law, having been presented to the City Council, an election was ordered to take place August 5, 1872, to vote upon the question of organizing under the general incorporation act, which was carried by a large majority of the voters, who were glad of an opportunity to " set down on " the old " Tweed charter," as they contemptuously called the one which they were then under. This required a change in the boundaries of the wards, as it was found, by a census, that we were entitled to but three wards and two Aldermen from each ward. The Clerk and Treasurer now became elective officers, and a City Attorney was added to the list. The city government went into operation under, the general incorporation act at the beginning of the next fiscal year. City election, April 15, 1873: T. J. Watkins, Mayor; J. C. Warnock, City Clerk ; John Lazell, City Treasurer ; W. P. Freeman, City Attorney ; Jacob Benscoter, Police Magistrate ; Dennis Pride (appointed), City Marshal. Aldermen A. A. Cargill, J. S. Gates, First Ward ; W. I. Kincaid, J. C. Ells- berry, Second Ward ; W. S. Chenoweth, L. D. Case, Third Ward. City election, April 21, 1874: Aldermen Dr. J. A. Walker, First Ward; W. I. Kincaid, Second Ward ; M. C. Vanloon (to fill vacancy), Second Ward ; S. D. Swing, Third Ward. John Lazell, City Treasurer ; J. C. Warnock, City Clerk ; G. W. Ellsberry, City Attorney ; John B. Wilson (appointed), City Marshal. City election, April 20, 1875 : T. J. Watkins, Mayor ; J. C. Warnock, City Clerk : John Lazell, City Treasurer ; I. R. Brown, City Attorney. Ald- ermen J. S. Gates, First Ward; M. C. Vanloon, Second Ward; W. S. Che- noweth, Third Ward. John B. Wilson (appointed), City Marshal. City election, April 18,1876: J. C. Warnock, City Clerk; John Lazell, City Treasurer; I. R. Brown, City Attorney. Aldermen Augustus Green, First Ward ; John Dietrich, Second Ward ; S. D. Swing, Third Ward. D. E. Lessourd (appointed), City Marshal. 554 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. City election, April 17,1877: T. J. Watkins, Mayor; J. C. Warnock, City Clerk ; John Lazell, City Treasurer ; W. A. Bartholomew, City Attorney; D. E. Lessourd (appointed), City Marshal. Aldermen J. S. Gates, First Ward ; F. N. Smith, Second Ward; Luther Nay lor, Third Ward. J. C. Warnock having resigned the office of City Clerk, an election was ordered by the Council to take place October 16, 1877, to fill the vacancy. The election was held, but was decided to be unwarranted by the charter, consequently null and void, and the vote was not canvassed. At the meet- ing of October 27, 1877, the Mayor appointed W. H. Weaver to fill the vacancy. City election, April 16, 1878 : J. C. Johnson, Police Magistrate. Alder- men Nelson Warnock, First Ward ; John Dietrich, Second Ward ; S. D. Swing, Third Ward. D. E. Lessourd (appointed), City Marshal. Mayor Watkins having died soon after this election, Alderman J. S. Gates was unanimously appointed Mayor for the unexpired term, by his colleagues in the Council. In consequence of the continued absence of W. H. Weaver in business, the office of City Clerk was declared vacant at the meeting of April 5, 1879, and Frank M. Conehay was appointed to fill the vacancy. City election, April 15, 1879 : J. C. Warnock, Mayor; F. M. Conehay, City Clerk; J. H. Faith, City Treasurer; I. R. Brown, City Attorney. Aldermen Dr. A. M. Bird, First Ward; Henry Wakeman, Second Ward ; J. C. Ambrose, Third Ward. D. E. Lessourd (appointed), City Marshal. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. In this connection we will give a list of the principal township officers elected at the annual town meetings since the adoption of township organization. We will state, however, that the two Justices of the Peace elected in this township after it was organized a voting precinct and thereby separated from Salt Creek Township were William Hibberd and William Pollock in 1857. In 1861, William Hibberd was succeeded by his brother Israel Hibberd, who, with the exception of one short interval, has held the office by re-election from that time until now. The first election under township organization was held in the old frame schoolhouse (which was recently removed and converted into a machine-shop), April 1, 1862, at which town meeting Rev. John Andrews presided as Modera- tor, and George Young acted as Clerk. The full list of officers elected at that meeting was as follows : R. A. Hurt, Supervisor ; John H. Duvall, Town Clerk ; John S. Wilburn, Assessor ; Will- iam Warnock, Jr., Collector; C. Hume, Overseer Poor; J. C. Temple, W. H. Mitchell, E. M. Douglas, Commissioners of Highways ; Israel Hibberd, Dr. W. J. Chamblin, Justices of the Peace ; J. L. Hastings, William McDown, Constables. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 555 Tear. Supervisor. Town Clerk. Assessor. Collector. 18(53 18U4 1865 1866 1867 1868 1869 1870 1871 187-2 1873 1874 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 B. A. Rosebrough.... J S Wilburn Abram Swing W. J. Chamblin William Warnock, Jr. William Warnock, Jr. William Warnock, Jr. William Warnock, Jr. J. S. Wilburn. William Warnock, Jr. William Warnock, Jr. J. A. Phelps. S. M. Badger. S. M. Badger. J. C. Ellsberry. Dr. J. A. Walker. B. A. Rosebrough. J. C. Johnson. J. H. Faith. George Brooker. W. H. Tooker. Ahrnm Swina Joseph Taylor J S Wilburn tSarnuel Sites -Tnsenh Tavlnr . . J L Hastings ... Hr J A WnlkAr IS n Swintr Israel Hibberd Joseph Taylor J S Baner William Hibberd iN^lson Warnonk Edward Copland D E LeSourd G. W. Ellsberry D. W. Wilson S M. Badger Joseph Taylor D E LeSourd J C Ellsberry Joseph Taylor W H Mitchell J J Strome Joseph Taylor D E LeSourd Dr. J. A. Walker Joseph Taylor Augustus Green U. Naylor Joseph Taylor P Norton ,1. C. Ellsberry J. C. Ellsberry J C Ellsberry Joseph Taylor..... B. A. Rosebrough.... B. A. Rosebrough.... B. A. Rosebrough B. A. Rosebrough.... A. L. Clary A . S. Jankson... J. C. Ellsberry IA. S. Jackson J C. Ellsberry IA. S. Jackson CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. While Mason City has much to be proud of in general improvements, bus- iness facilities and beauty of location and surrounding country, none of these transcends in importance and influence her public schools, for here her children are provided a good and substantial education, thorough in every department, from the fundamentals well up into the classics and the higher mathematics. In 1860, a frame school building was erected in the east part of town, which served its purpose well until the population rendered a more commodious building necessary. After renting such additional rooms as could be obtained to accommodate the pupils, a large three-story brick building on the west side was projected, and, after considerable contention, it was decided at an election to build a $20,000 schoolhouse on the half-block donated for that purpose by Mr. Straut, in his West Addition. This building is three stories in height, with two schoolrooms on each floor. It was built the year 1868, and, as soon as completed, a graded school was organized, with Prof. F. C. Grarbutt as Principal. In 1877, our school population had further increased until another school building was demanded, and, to meet that demand, the beautiful new brick schoolhouse on the east side was built, at a cost of about $7,000. This is a substantial two-story brick, with two schoolrooms on each floor. The names of the Principals who have presided over our graded public schools, since their organization as such, are as follows, in the order of their succession : F. C. Garbutt, three years ; G. W. Dominique, three years ; W. H. Williamson, two years ; C. L. Raymond, one year ; W. H. Williamson, one year ; 0. T. Denny, one year. We give a list of teachers employed each term since 1876, in the order of their respective grades ! Term commencing September, 1876 : Prof. C. L. Raymond, Principal ; Miss L. Effie Peter, Mrs. Sara E. Pierce, Miss Hettie I. Hamilton, Miss 556 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Nellie E. Wickizer, Miss Belle May, Mrs. M. A. Slade, Miss Josie Yost, Miss Lilla Cook. Term commencing September, 1877: Prof. W. H. Williamson, Principal; Mrs. Sara E. Pierce, Mrs. M. A. Slade, Miss Nellie E. Wickizer, Miss Josie Yost, Miss Emma Patterson, Miss Belle May, Miss Rinta Lamoreux, Miss Lilla Cook. Term commencing September, 1878 : Prof. 0. T. Denny, Principal ; Mrs. Sara E. Pierce, Miss Agnes A. Gamble, Miss Olive A. Hudson, Miss Nellie E. Wickizer, Miss Belle May, Miss Ida Patten, Miss Rinta Lamoreux r Miss Lilla Cook. Term commencing September, 1879: Prof. 0. T. Denny, Principal; Mrs. Sara E. Pierce, Miss Agnes A. Gamble, Miss Olive A. Hudson, Miss- Adelia Henry, Miss Belle May, Miss Gertie Chase, Miss Rinta Lamoreux, Miss Lilla Cook. The country district schools throughout the township are all in good condi- tion, and each district is provided with a good schoolhouse. The ladies are to be especially commended for the heroism with which they have contended against and effectually broken down the old pioneer prejudice against them as school teachers, until now their abilities are recognized and appreciated in this grand and noble avocation, and, by dint of inexorable perseverance, they are largely in the'majority as teachers in this township. The names of the School Treasurers of the township from its organization down to the present time are as follows, in the order of succession; First,. Michael Swing; second, Rev. L. R. Hastings ; third, William Warnock, Jr.; fourth, Henry Cease ; fifth, John Lazell, present incumbent. The report of the Township Treasurer for this year shows the following statistics : Number males under twenty-one years of age Number females under twenty-one years of age Total under twenty-one years of age Number males between the ages of six and twenty-one Number females between the ages of six and twenty-one Total between the ages of six and" twenty-one Number School Districts in township Number districts having school five months or more Whole number public schools in township Whole number months of school Average number months of school Number male pupils enrolled Number female pupils enrolled Total pupils enrolled ............................... . Number male teachers employed Number female teachers employed ........................ Total teachers employed Number months taught by males Number months taught by females Total months taught HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 551 Grand total days' attendance 63,355 Number graded schools in township 1 Number months taught in graded school 8 Number public high schools in township 1 Whole number schoolhouses in township 5 Principal township fund $1 291 28 Amount of township fund invested or loaned 1,291 28 Highest monthly wages paid any male teacher 100 00 Highest monthly wages paid any female teacher 45 00 Lowest monthly wages paid any male teacher 3000 Lowest monthly wages paid any female teacher 27 60 Average monthly wages paid male teachers 59 72 Average monthly wages paid female teachers 39 53 Amount borrowed for building purposes 9,600 00 Amount district tax levy for school purposes (1878) 7,250 00 Estimated value of school property 18,000 00 Estimated value school apparatus 100 00 Paid male teachers last year 1,433 50 Paid female teachers last year 2,846 82 Paid for repairs and improvements 9 90 Paid for school furniture 6 40 Paid for fuel and incidental expenses 664 73 Paid Township Treasurer for services 121 25 Paid interest on district bonds 536 75 Paid on outstanding indebtedness 500 00 Paid Treasurer Township 21, Range 5 132 68 Total expenditures during year ,. 6,252 03 The County Superintendent of Schools is a resident of this city, and the above is from the last report of the Township Treasurer, on file in the County "Superintendent's office. The first Board of School Directors in this town was composed of Messrs. William Hibberd, Dr. A. R. Cooper and L. D. Cox. The present Board is composed of A. A. Cargill, L. B. Eulass and Mrs. T. C. Chamblin. The latter is the first lady upon whom the official honor of an elective school office was ever conferred in this county. TRAGEDIES. While this city has always maintained a high moral standard, it is not wholly exempt from those shocking tragedies into which perverse humanity often develops. The first was in the fall of 1864, a few days after the Presi- dential election, when political bitterness and strife had reached and assumed its most desperate depth. Frank M. Jones, who came into this vicinity from Virginia about a year before the tragical event now under consideration, had,, from the accident of his nativity, coupled with his undisguised and outspoken sentiments on the political question of the day, incurred the hostility of several parties of the opposite political belief, which was fully reciprocated by Jones, and the bitterness soon ripened into a crisis. Jones was teaching school at the time, a mile and a half south of town, and, learning that a man from Salt 558 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Creek Township, named Moses Thompson, had been in town several days watching for him, to "settle a grudge" that had been engendered on election- day, about a week before, he armed himself with a double-barrel shotgun, and, in the evening, after school wns dismissed, proceeded to town. He saw Thomp- son out on the south side of a saloon which was kept in. a building a short dis- tance northwest of where the La Forge grain elevator now stands, and heard Ms threats against him (Jones), upon which, from the rear of A. & S. D. Swing's store, through which he passed, he fired upon Thompson, mortally wounding him, from the effects of which he died next day. Jones leisurely departed, and was never captured and brought to trial. It is reported that he went to Missouri, and, a few years after, was himself shot and killed. The next was the tragical death of Dr. W. J. Chamblin, in the spring of 1871, at the hands of Zopher Case. This grew out of a land title contest with reference to a beautiful quarter-section adjoining town, on the southeast. Case moved a house on to one forty-acre lot of the disputed land, claiming title from one Tunison, Chamblin's contestant. Case moved his hpuse on the premises in the night, and moved his family into it, which brought about an ejectment suit. In plowing, in the spring of 1871, Dr. Chamblin ordered his men to plow across Case's front yard, in the forenoon of the day of this tragical event ; but Case would not allow them to do so. The matter was reported to Dr. Chamblin by his men at noon, and, when they went out to work in the afternoon, he took a shotgun and bade his plowmen follow him, which they did. He proceeded a short distance in advance of the teams toward Case's premises, and, when he reached the disputed line. Case, who was watching him from his door, took up his shotgun and fired upon the Doctor, killing him instantly. of Wheeling, W. Va., in 1857. The original plat contained sixty blocks, 320 feet square, subdivided into 912 lots, 40x152 feet. The streets were 80 feet in width, alleys, 16 feet. Soon after the laying-out of the town, Daniel Crabb purchased the site, and is at present proprietor of a large portion of it. Nothing was done in the way of building up the village prior to the building of the railroad. In 1866 and 1867, Daniel Crabb built a few small houses east of the railroad. Samuel Ayers, Lear and McDonald, each erected a building about the same time. Crabb erected a warehouse also, in 1867. This was con- verted into a horse-power elevator in 1871, by Henry A. Baily, his son-in-law. Lear was the first merchant in the village of whom we have any account. He kept a grocery and saloon in a small building just east of the railroad track, still standing, and now used by John B. Abbott as a grain bin. In 1868, E. W. Nelson came from Wisconsin, and, in connection with Samuel Ayers, engaged in buying grain. They were the first to handle grain in the place. 614 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. During that and the year previous, a number of buildings were put up west of the track. George Heckel and John N. Cathcart each built a large store building on the west side, and E. W. Nelson a small business house on the east side. Heckel occupied his building with a full stock of furnitdre, James Hampson that of Cathcart with a stock of general merchandise. Nelson opened up a general stock in his building. The first school kept in the village was presided over by Miss Emma Bendy. The school was kept in the second story of Crabb's warehouse. A neat frame building for school purposes was built in 1873, at a cost of $1,800. George W. Murphy, from Ohio, taught the first school in the new building. The post office was established in 1868, and J. E. Reynolds was first Postmaster. E. W. Nelson is present Postmaster and sta- tion agent, though the duties are discharged by R. Williams, at whose store the offices are kept. In 1871, E. W. Nelson built a steam elevator, and this, as well as the one built by Baily, is now operated by John B. Abbott the only grain merchant in the village. The amount of grain shipped from this point ranges from three hundred thousand to three hundred and fifty thousand bushels per annum. R. Williams has the only store in town, and carries a general stock. The Protestant Methodist Church was built in 1877. It is a neat frame building arid cost $1,600. Rev. Starling Turner was first Pastor. Rev. Hamill, of San Jose, at present supplies the pulpit. Among the early communicants we find the names of Jeremiah Corson, William Preston and wife, George Langley and wife, Richard Langley and wife, Robert Preston, Mrs. Larimore, Reuben Dowell and wife, and H. S. Jackson and wife. No one individual has contributed to the building-up of the village more than E. W. Nelson, who has built several of the more substantial buildings on the east side. Natrona was erst known as Altoona, and is so recorded. And since the greatest creative genius that ever li^ed has said, " There is nothing in a name," we doubt not that Natrona would have attained its present importance among the villages of the county had its name remained unchanged. The change was, doubtless, suggested by the fact that the village of Altona, of prior existence in Knox County, from the similarity of name, often led to annoyances in the transmission of mail and express matter intended for this point. We do not give this as positive knowledge, but simply as a reasonable explanation of why the change was made. KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. When Mason County was first laid off into townships or election precincts, what is now Kilbourne was included in the present townships of Bath and Crane Creek, and was not created until 1873, about the time of the build- ing of the Springfield & North-Western Railroad. In its formation, three tiers of sections were taken from Crane Creek and a like number from Bath. It is described as Town 20 north, Range 8 west of the Third Princi- pal Meridian, and contains a few sections in the southwest part over and above HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 615 a regular Congressional Township. The soil, like that of Bath and Havana, is somewhat sandy, particularly in the timbered part of it, but produces well, and, as an agricultural district, is equal to any portion of the county. About three-fourths of the township is prairie, and generally of a level nature. The level land has> been well utilized by artificial drainage, and numerous ditches traverse it, carrying away the surface water, until much of this level prairie may be set down as among the most productive land in the county. . Kilbourne is bounded on the north by Havana Township, on the west by Bath, on the south by the Sangamon River and on the east by Crane Creek Town- ship. The Sangamon River, on its southern boundary, and Crane Creek in the southeast part, with numerous artificial ditches, effectually drain its level lands. The Springfield North- Western Railroad runs through in almost a northwest direction, crossing the Sangamon River near the center, and passes out through Section 6, in the northwest corner toward Havana, its terminus. This road has benefited the town to a considerable extent, and, together with the villages of Kilbourne and Long Branch, will again be alluded to in this chapter. THE EARLY PIONEERS. When the first white people came to this section, it was then a part of San- gamon County. A few years later, it became a part of Menard, and, later still, was embraced in Mason. Mrs. Blakely and Dr. Field, now .among the oldest settlers left, say that they lived in three counties without moving from their original places of residence. The first settlement made by a "white man, in Kilbourne Township, was by Absalom Mounts. He was from that portion of Sangamon County now embraced in Menard, where he had built a little mill on Clary's Creek. He came here about 1831-32, and settled in the southeast part of the present town of Kilbourne, and there built a mill on Crane Creek, which is graphically described elsewhere. The next settlement was made by Gibson Garrett. He settled here, it is supposed, in 183536 ; was from either Virginia or Tennessee, and had first settled in the Sugar Grove neighborhood. He has long ago paid nature's last great debt. Jesse Baker came in 1836, and was from Tennessee. He came to Illinois in 1816, and located in Morgan dounty, where he resided until he came to this neighborhood ; he is still liv- ing in the east part of the township. John Close and Charles Sidwell came in a year or two after Garrett. Close was from the South, probably from Ken- tucky, was an old man when he came to the country, and died many years ago. Some of his descendants are still living in Crane Creek Township. Sidwell was from New York ; he had but one child, a daughter, who married and went to Texas, accompanied by her father, where he died some fourteen years ago. The Fields and Blakelys were the next settlers and came in the fall of 1836. The former are mentioned in the history of Bath Township, as their settlement was made in the portion of Bath included in this township at its formation at a recent date. As stated there, Dr. Drury S. Field entered a large amount of 616 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. land here in an early day. His son, Dr. A. E. Field, lives at present in th( village of Kilbourne. He pointed out to us the old house of his father, the third frame house built in Mason County, and the first in this township. It begins to show the " foot-prints of time." Another son of Dr. Field, Albert J., lives now in Cass County, Mo. James Blakely was a native of New Jersey, and first settled in Sangamon County, seven miles from Springfield, and. after remaining there a year or two, crossed the Rubicon, otherwise the Sangamon, where he stopped for nearly a year, and until he had built a cabin on land which he had entered in the present town of Kilbourne. In this cabin he lived for nine years, when he moved over the line into Havana Township, where he died in September, 1870. He married a daughter of Aaron Scott, also an early settler of Mason County, and who settled in what is now Sherman Township, where he is mentioned among the pioneers. Mrs. Blakely is still living on the place where her husband died, an active old lady of seventy years, possessing an excellent memory, and to her we are indebted for many facts embraced in this chapter. Thomas Martin and Joel Garrett came in 1837 ; the latter is still living in the township. Martin was from Kentucky, and settled about three miles from the village of Kilbourne, where he died many years ago. He had but one child, who lived at last accounts of her, in Sullivan County, Mo. Henry Nor- ris came from Kentucky and settled in the north part of the township. He is said to have erected the third cabin in that immediate vicinity. He has been dead many years. Jacob Cross may be noted among the early settlers, but belonged to the "floating population," and did not remain long. He borrowed a span of horses and wagon, which he neglected to return, and for which little delinquency he was followed by Dr. Field and some others, several hundred miles. The horses were recovered, but Cross and the wagon eluded capture. John Young was from Kentucky, but a native of North Carolina, and came here about 1837-38. He had a large family. Anderson, John, William and Mitchell were his sons, of whom only Mitchell is living, and at present resides in Missouri. There is one daughter, also living. The old gentleman died in 1847. The Danielses came in 1837, and were from Tennessee. They consisted of G. W. Daniels and his sons, Isely, Galloway, George and Martin. The old gentleman is long since dead, but the sons named are all living, and are among the substantial citizens of Kilbourne Township. Another son lives in Lynch- burg Township. The Craggs were early settlers, but lived in that portion of the town taken from Bath, and, like the Fields, were mentioned in the history of Bath. Rev. Elisha Stevens, one of the early divines of this section, came from York State, as he always called it, in 1839. He was a Methodist preacher, and is referred to again. He died in the spring of 1855. John Pratt was also from New York, and located in the settlement in 1838. He died in 1878, having lived here for a period of just forty years. David Pratt, his father, came a few months after him. They had been living some time across the HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 617 river, in what is now Cass County. The old gentleman, after living here a number of years, returned to Cass County, where he died about eighteen years ago. Moses Ray and his son, Aaron, settled on the present site of Kilbourne Village, in the fall of 1838. They came from Indiana here, but whether that was their native place could not be learned. James and Hiram Ray, sons of Moses Ray, came about two years later. All of them are now dead. Moses Ray, the elder, "died on the 10th of December, 1845," says Dr. Field, "for I was married the same day and ought to remember the event." Burgess Ray, a grandson of "Old Moses," came a few years later, remained here a number of years and then moved to Missouri. "Old Becka," a negress, with a face like the mouth of a coal-pit, came with the Rays, and was the first of Ethiopia's fated race to tread the sacred soil of Kilbourne. John Cookson and John Lamb were from Indiana, Posey County, the land of hoop-poles and pumpkins. Cookson came in the fall of 1839, and several years later moved to Missouri, where he lived at last accounts of him. Lamb- was a Pennsylvania Dutchman, born and reared in Indiana ; or, to be more explicit, his parents were from Pennsylvania, and of the good old Dutch stock. Of eleven children born to John Lamb, all are now dead except Christine, the youngest daughter. They were a heavy family, ranging in avoirdupois from one hundred and sixty to three hundred pounds. It is said that the old gentleman weighed three hundred pounds, and his wife two hundred pounds, and, with the exception of one daughter who weighed one hundred and sixty, not one but tilted the beam at two hundred and upward. Dr. Mastick was among the early settlers, but just what year he located could not be ascertained. He was originally from Ohio, and is elsewhere mentioned as the first medical practitioner of the township ; he died a few years ago. William McDaniels came to the neighborhood in 1838, and remained a citizen until his death in 1854. James Ross came in 1840, and was a Southron, though what State he came from is not now remembered. He moved to Peoria, and there, in that great city, all trace of him is lost. Abraham Williamson came from Kentucky in 1843. He first settled in Morgan County, where he remained a few years before coming to this section. He died here some three or four years ago. William Turner also came from Morgan County to this settlement in 1843 ; he died here many years ago. Michael Ott, another Pennsylvania Dutchman, set- tled in 1841 ; was a very old man when he died about five years ago. James and John Tolley, two brothers, came from Kentucky in 1842. John is still liv- ing, and at present a resident of Menard County ; but Ja^mes died some years ago in Kansas. This comprises the settlement of the township, so far as names can be ascer- tained, up to 1845, when emigrants began to pour in with such rapidity as to render it impossible for the chronicler to keep track of them. Among the arrivals in 1845, we may notice those of J. M. Hardin, John Ranson, Edward Gore, Joseph Groves, John Micklam, Edmund McCormick, A. H. Neal, James 618 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Angelo, Samuel Cannon and a host of others, comprising much of the " bone and sinew" of the town. Dr. Oneal, now a resident of Kilbourne Township, was an early settler of Bath, where he is more particularly noticed. John B. Gum, one of the prominent citizens of Kilbourne, and one of the largest land- owners in the county, was a very early settler of Petersburg Precinct, Menard Oounty, where he is further alluded to. If any of the early settlers of Bath, Crane Creek and this township should find themselves a little mixed as to their place of residence, it results from the fact already mentioned, viz. : tbat Kil- bourne was a part of the two former towns until a few years ago, and drew on them about equally for its territory. We have endeavored to keep " things straight," but may, in some cases, have lost our bearings and drifted "across the line" into one or the other of those towns. If so, we console ourselves with the reflection that it is " all in the family, anyway." SCRAPS OF HISTORY. The first " messenger of glad tidings" in the young settlement was Rev. Moses Ray, mentioned among the early settlers. He was of the " Hardshell " Baptist persuasion and used to sing out his sermons to the tune of Old Hun- -dred. His peculiarities are still remembered by the old settlers, how, when well warmed up to his work, and making what he thought a good point, would slap his hands down on his " bow-legs," then fling them aloft in Talmagian style, and sing out, " And my dear bretheren and sisteren, whaf do you think of that, ah?" Rev. Elisha Stevens and Rev. M. Shunkwere Methodist preachers, and the next laborers in the Master's vineyard. Rev. Mr. Shunk used to preach at the people's cabins, long before there were any churches or schoolhouses. One of his regular preaching places was at Mr. Aaron Scott's, who is alluded to as one of the early settlers of Sherman Township. The first, and the only church edi- fice in Kilbourne Township is New Lebanon Church, on Section 13, in the east part of the township. It was erected by the Missionary Baptists, during the war, probably in 1863, and is a frame building. The present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Curry. Alexander Dick was the first pedagogue, and taught the first school, in the spring of 1840, in the first schoolhouse built in the township. The house was built by individual contributions of the neighbors, Dr. Field contributing the logs and boards. It will be seen from the material used, that it was the genuine pioneer schoolhouse. Mrs. Blakely mentions a school taught by an old gentleman named Lease, in a cabin built for a residence, but had been vacated, and thinks it the first in the neighborhood. I. A. Hurd was also an early teacher in this section. There are now seven comfortable and commodious frame school buildings in the township, in which schools are maintained during the usual period each year. Kilbourne is fully up to the times in its school facilities. The first Justice of the Peace in the town was Albert J. Field, and Aaron Ray was the first Constable. The early courts of these gentlemen abounded HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 621 with incidents sometimes very ludicrous. But as our space will not admit of their repetition here, our readers are referred to Dr. Field, who is a regular walking encyclopedia of early facts and fancies. The first marriage that can he called to mind in the neighborhood was that of Jacob Clotfelter, of Bath, to Mary Garrett, in 1839. They were married by Albert J. Field, Justice of the Peace. Death entered the community the same year, and his victim was "old Becka," the negress before referred to. She was buried not far from the present village of Kilbourne. An old gentleman named Lease, mentioned as an early school teacher, was another of the early deaths. The first birth is believed to have been in the family of John Pratt, though it is not asserted with any degree of certainty. The first post office was established about the year 1859, near Mr. Gum's residence, and was called Prairie. Albert J. Field was the Postmaster, and the mail was brought by the stage-coach, running between Springfield and Havana. The first effort at merchandising was by William Gore, who kept about a wheelbarrow load of goods in a little cabin some three and a half miles from the present village, and several years before it was laid out as such. This comprised the mercantile trade until the birth of Kilbourne. Dr. Willard Mastick was the first regular physician in the township. In early times the settlers went to Jacksonville, Salem, and Robinson's to mill. Dr. Field says, when they wanted wheat ground they went to Jacksonville, when they wanted it only mashed, they went to Robinson's mill. Absalom Mounts built a little mill on Crane Creek, in the southeast part of this township, very early. It was so constructed that when the water failed in the creek during the dry season, it could be run by horse-power. This mill Mounts finally sold to Sid- well, who added considerable improvements, in fact almost wholly reconstructed it. Under his administration it is thus described : " The buhrs were but a foot in diameter, and the lower, instead of the upper, turned round. When they wanted dressing, Sidwell would take them up, and with them resting on his arm, as a mother would carry her babe, he would dress them off in going to and from the mill. When the mill was running at full speed, he would put a ' turn ' in the hopper in the morning, go home and work on his farm until afternoon, and then go over to the mill to see how it was getting along. He knew its capacity, and just how long it would take it to grind out a 'turn.' ' But some years later, when a mill was built at Petersburg, no further trouble on this score was experienced. As stated in the commencement of this chapter, the township of Kilbourne was formed in 1873, from Bath and Crane Creek Townships. Bath comprised nearly three Congressional towns, while Crane Creek embraced about one and a half ; and so for the accommodation of the inhabitants in the extreme parts of the towns, this new town was created. Dr. Harvey Oneal, who was active in get- ting the town laid off, was its first Supervisor. It is at present represented in tfie honorable Board of Supervisors by J. M. Hardin ; James Conklin is T 622 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Town Clerk, and J. M. Hardin, School Treasurer. Kilbourne is very nearly divided on the political issues of the day. First one party carries the election, and then the other, with but a few votes difference. During the late war, it was very patriotic, and furnished its full complement of soldiers in advance of all calls for troops. Some of the officers credited to Bath Township rightfully belong to Kilbourne, as they were from that portion of Bath now embraced in this township. Capt. Houghton and Lieut. Raymond were cases in point, but as they are already mentioned in Bath, we will not make any change. Kil- bourne Township was named for Kilbourne Village, and Kilbourne Village for Kilbourne Township, and each for the other and both for Edward Kilbourne, of Keokuk, Iowa, one of the principal men engaged in building the Springfield and North- Western Railroad. This road was completed, and trains put on over this part of it, in 1872. As the town was not organized until the road was well under way, or, in fact, nearly completed, no stock could be taken by it. Individual citizens contributed liberally, taking stock ranging in sums from $100 to $4,000. The enterprise of building this road was opposed, and with good grounds, by the people of Bath Township, who saw in its completion a loss of trade to themselves. And while it has benefited a narrow belt of country, it has also been of more or less injury to other sections ; a proof that what is the gain of one, is the loss of another. When the first settlers came to this section, it abounded in deer, prairie wolves, wild turkeys and all other kinds of game. Dr. Field says he has seen one hundred and fifty deer on the prairie at one time, and Mrs. Blakely says it was almost as uncommon then for the people to be without venison in their houses as to be without bread now. Prairie fires were of frequent occurrence, and often of a destructive nature, although no instance of loss of life is remem- bered to have occurred from them in this immediate vicinity, but n.arrow escape* were nearly as common as the fires themselves. Dr. Field relates a circum- stance of a couple of men who were out hunting deer and wild honey. They had two wagons with them and two horses to each wagon. On the prairie near the Sangamon bottom, the day being calm and but little breeze stirring, they thought to set the grass on fire, and, perhaps, scare up a deer. They had already a considerable quantity of venison and some five hundred pounds of honey in their wagons. They had scarcely fired the prairie when the wind sprang up, veered round, and they were forced to cut their horses loose, mount and flee for life. They succeeded in escaping with their horses, but their wagons, honey and venison were burned. The winter of the sudden freeze (1836-37), is remembered by many and much distress was the result of it, but no one in this neighborhood, so far as we could learn, froze to death. In other portions of Illinois, where this great Manitoba wave swept over, people were less fortunate, and, in our capacity as historian, we have more than once recorded death from its effect. Dr. Field remembers a hailstorm that occurred in 1845, that far exceeded anything of like character that has ever occurred in this latitude. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 623 When it was over, the ground was covered several inches in depth with hail- stones, many of which were nearly as large as a man's fist. It made a terrible havoc among stock, cattle and hogs being killed by scores. Even trees bore the appearance of having been run through a huge threshing machine. The more timid thought the last day had arrived, that the world was about to be blotted out amid the confusion and thunders of Sinai, and, therefore, fell to praying. (It may be that this saved it.) It passed, however, without any loss of human life, so far as we could learn, notwithstanding much stock was killed. Mrs. Blakely says, in those days of early privations, there was no money in the country nothing to sell to bring money, and nowhere to sell it if they had ever so much superfluous produce, except, now and then, a chance to sell something to movers. They went to Springfield to buy their clothing and groceries, when they had anything to buy with. There was a little store in Havana, but it sold goods beyond their reach. As an instance, it sold coffee at u two bits " a pound, and in Springfield it could be bought for " a bit." And yet people, she says, were just as happy then, apparently more so, than at the present day, and far more sociable. "Neighbor" had something of the broad meaning given to it by the Savior of the world eighteen hundred years ago. Kilbourne has borne the reputation of having been the most quiet, peace- able and order-loving community in this whole section of country. Within the last decade or so, however, it has retrograded somewhat in this respect. Quite a severe blow to its good name occurred in the assassination of a man named Hughes, last October a year ago, just outside the limits of Kilbourne village. Hughes was a perfect desperado, his death a public benefit to the country and richly merited by him, yet no less a stain to those who administered it. He had made threats to the effect that he would kill three men of the neighbor- o hood before quitting it.* A day or two before that set for his removal from the town, he was found with twenty-two shot in him, and any one of seventeen of them, we were informed, would have proved fatal. It may be that the perpe- trators of the deed are known, or could be pretty closely guessed at, but, from the character of the murdered man, no one felt disposed to even try to ferret out the assassin or assassins, or to make an effort to bring them to justice. We were told that, during the four years that he lived in the neighborhood, he had fifty-four rows, and it is altogether probable that the people felt a relief when they knew that he was dead. VILLAGE OF KILBOURNE. Kilbourne was laid out in 1870 by John B. Gum, the proprietor of the land, on portions of Sections 28 and 29. It is on_ the Springfield & North- Western Railroad, quite an energetic little place, and contains about one hun- dred and fifty inhabitants. The first store in the village was opened by William Oakford, soon after it was laid out. A saloon had been kept by "old Billy * He was intending to move away on the Sunday after the occurrence above related. 624 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Martin " before Oakford opened the store, but he kept nothing but " bad whisky." Calvin Atterberry bought out Oakford, and, about the same time, Dr. Field opened a store. A post office was established in 1873, with Edward Bigelow as Postmaster. C. L. Newell is the present Postmaster. The school- house was moved into the village after it was laid out probably about 1873-74. It is also used for church purposes, there being no church edifice in the village. The Baptists and Methodists have societies here. Rev. Mr. Low is the Meth- odist Pastor, and Rev. Mr. Curry is Pastor of the Baptists. A Sunday school is also held in the schoolhouse, of which S. M. Rollins is Superintendent. There is no school going on at the present writing, but we believe the teach- ers for the coming session are engaged. The school employs two teachers, there being over one hundred children in the district who are entitled to school privileges. The business of the place sums up about as follows : Three general stores, one drug store, one family grocery, two blacksmith-shops, shoe-shops, two practicing physicians (Drs. Root and Eldridge), etc., etc. An excellent grain elevator was built in 1873 by Low & Foster and McFadden. At present, it is owned by Low & Foster, of Havana. It is well equipped, having patent grain-dumps, and is operated by steam. Low & Foster and McFadden & Co. handle grain extensively at this point. Kilbourne has quite a handsome, well-kept little cemetery. The first burial within its ghostly precincts was Jennie Holmes, a girl about thirteen years old. Most of the early settlers, however, continued to bury their dead in what is known as Pratt's Graveyard, some distance from the village. It is a large burying-ground, and was laid out in the early days of the settlement of the country, and contains the remains of many of the pioneers who have gone to their last rest. Long Branch is a summer resort on the banks of Ruggles' ditch. As a popular watering-place it was not much of a success except in a very wet season. The summer cottages have been moved away, and it now presents a rather lonely appearance on the wide prairie. It is situated on the Springfield & North- Western Railroad, a few miles from the village of Kilbourne, and was laid out in 1871, by Gatton & Ruggles. At present, it consists of merely a side-track, for shipping grain and stock. A post office was established in 1872, with N. S. Phillips as Postmaster; but that, in a few years, was discon- tinued, and nothing now remains but the side-track above referred to. It is, perhaps, needless to say that, in point of interest or popularity, it never equaled its Eastern namesake. It never did. Cuba was another village of the town of Kilbourne, but doubtless there are few who now remember it. Its existence was merely on paper, and short-lived at that. Indeed, it is indebted to the following circumstance for having any existence at all : During the exciting war between Havana and Bath for the county seat, and while the latter place was the seat of justice, the Havana peo- ple succeeded, by a little adroit wire-pulling at Springfield, in securing the t HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 625 necessary legislation for bringing the question up, and having it decided by a vote of the people (which they did in 1851), well knowing that when it came to counting noses, they could out-count Bath. The Bath people thought to offset this sharp manueuver by establishing the county seat upon a new spot, and for this purpose bought eighty acres of land of Dr. Mastick, on Section 9, which they figured out to be the geographical center of the county, though what mathematical rules they employed to do so we are unable to discover. This eighty acres of land they surveyed and laid out in lots, with a handsome pub- lic square, streets, alleys, etc., etc. The election came off, the people voted the county seat to Havana, and thus ended the hopes and anticipations of Cuba. The proprietors paid Dr. Mastick $100 to take back the land, and the plat was never admitted to record. SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. BY J. C. WARNOCK, ESQ. The original survey of this township was made in the fall of 1823, and was designated Township 20 north, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It contains thirty-six sections, each a mile square, except the tier of six on the north side, which are fractional, as is usually the case. Section No. 36, in the southeast corner of the township, is divided by Salt Creek, which meanders through the southeast part, cutting off about one-third of the section. The northern part of the township is a high rolling prairie, once marred by numerous basins or ponds, but now almost wholly drained, and in a good state of cultivation. The south and west parts of the township are more broken, and the south part, which includes Salt Creek Bluffs, very much so. Big Grove extends along these bluffs, at an irregular width of from one-fourth of a mile to a mile and a half, at the south side of which the pioneer settlers made their primitive and crude homes. Lease's Grove, in the northwest part of the township, was originally small, containing an area of about 200 acres, which area is now materially contracted by clearing off the timber for cultivation of the land ; and the same means have very ( materially contractedthe area of Big Grove. The soil of the township is productive of all cereals and fruits indigenous to the climate, but the principal crop is corn, as in all the eastern part of the county. In the earlier days, winter wheat yielded a sure and abundant har- vest, as it was usually the first crop after the sod was broken. Corn, in those days, required but little cultivation, and, after planting the corn, the pioneer usually occupied most of the time thereafter until harvest, breaking prairie, scattering corn along every third furrow. Corn planted in this way produced a large amount of fodder, and the earlier planting a good yield of corn, but the later planting was generally caught by the autumn frosts, and was not good feed. This was marketed for distilling purposes, and from this fact originated 626 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. the term, "sod-corn whisky," which used to be applied to the bad and chemi- cally adulterated grades, as an expression of contempt. The first entry of land in this township was made August 12, 1829, by Leonard Alkire, of Sugar Grove, and was a tract of 120 acres in the south- west quarter of Section 34, contained in what is now known as the Knox farm, but was not improved by the first purchaser, nor until more than twenty years later- August 17, 1829, William Hagans entered 120 acres, west half of the southwest quarter, Section 33, and southeast quarter of the southeast quarter, Section 32, now known as the Charles L. Montgomery place. Here, near the site of the present brick residence, Hagans built a rude log hut, and, with his family, became the pioneer settler of this township, and of what is now eastern Mason County. June 12, 1834, James C. Hagans entered the forty-acre tract of land now owned in part each, by James P. Montgomery and George H. Short, and built a hut where the latter's house now stands. June 15, 1837, John Hagans entered the forty-acre tract where J. P. Mont- gomery now lives, and built a hut near the site of the present residence. A few years later, however, they all sold out to Ephraim Wilcox, and moved away to further Western wilds, and were lost to the knowledge of those who lived after them here. As early as 1830, a family named Slinker, " squatted " on a piece of land up in the grove northwest of the places just referred to, but tradition has but few words of remembrance of them or their habitation, and nothing of their place of migration. In 1830, Leonard Alkire bought a large lot of land in Sections 33 and 34, and held it, as was termed by the settlers, as " speculator's land," without making any improvements upon it. In 1830, Robert and William Hughes entered the land now the farm of M. Vanlanningham, which Daniel Clark, Sr., purchased and settled upon in 1835, and where the old gentleman died in 1853, and was buried near the house in which he lived, and which is still there, though the first house he lived in there was a log hut. His three sons are still living ; Alfred, in 'Crane Creek Township ; Daniel, in Mason City, and William, in Dubuque, Iowa. In 1833, a man named Lease settled in the northwest part of the township, at a grove which, from his settlement there, took the name of Lease's Grove, which name it still bears. Soon after this, Samuel Blunt, George Wilson and the Moslanders settled there, and formed a little isolated band or neighborhood in and around the beautiful grove, from which improvement, farther and farther out into the prairie on all sides the Third School District in the township was grad- ually formed and extended. In connection with the Wilson family, referred to above, it is proper here to state that his son, Orey, committed suicide by hang- ing himself to the limb of a tree, in 1852, which was the first case of deliberate self-destruction in the township, and the last. The news of the rash act was received by the sparsely settled county with horror, and, for years after, the HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 627 scene of the tragedy was a place of dreadful interest, and the helated and soli- tary citizen who passed along the road by it after night did so with light and elastic step, and numerous "hair-raising" stories of suspended ghosts became current in the course of time. To return to Big Grove. In 1835, Isaac Engle entered the forty-acre tract which is now owned and occupied by W. F. Auxier, and built a log hut on an elevation about forty rods southwest of where the dwelling now stands, as a monument to the site of which primitive landmark a stately locust-tree stood until a few years ago, when that, too, fell a victim to the rapacious ax of the modern inhabitant. This place was purchased, with other tracts adjoining, in 1837, by Edward Sikes, Sr., who, with several other families, came out from Ohio and settled in the grove. A few years later, Mr. Sikes built the sub- stantial frame house which now is on the place, and planted out an orchard of the first grafted fruit-trees ever planted in that vicinity, and which yields its delicious fruit now every year, although the hands that planted them have been in the grave nearly a quarter of a century. In the old log house on this place, the first school in the township was taught, in 1838, by one of the daughters of Mr. Sikes, now Mrs. S. D. Swing, of Mason City, who, soon after, set- tled with her husband as pioneers at Swing's Grove, in Mason City Town- ship. In 1835, Michael Engle entered an eighty-acre tract, now known as the Hume place, and built a log hut about fifty yards west of K. M. Auxier's house, nothing of which now remains, but the place where the- well has been filled in can yet be distinguished. In this well a child of John Carter, who later occupied the house, fell and was drowned, the summer of 1849. In 1837, Kinzey Virgin moved out from Ohio, bought this place with other adjoining tracts, built a hewed-log house where the barn now stands, and set- tled down in his new and rather wild and romantic home. He was a man of considerable enterprise as a stock-raiser and accumulated this world's goods quite rapidly, but was peculiarly unfortunate with his family of children, but one of whom ever lived to reach the years of majority, and that the youngest, and but a babe when he himself died in 1852, six children, and all but the one, having preceded him to the grave, and the wife following two years later. Though a man somewhat reckless in his habits and profane in conversation, he held it a sacred duty to have a funeral sermon preached for every one of his children that died, and what was something remarkable, John L. Turner, the "little Baptist preacher," of Crane Creek, officiated at every one of these occasions, and also at that of the father and mother. .The latter, "Aunt Eliza," was one of Nature's noblewomen. The silent grief and heart- pangs which many circumstances pierced like a dagger her very soul, were buried there and without a word of reproach o'r complaint, forever. She was universally beloved and honored for her inherent goodness and nobility of nature. The same year, 1837, George T. Virgin settled a quarter of a mile 628 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. further west on the place now owned and occupied by Kinzey M. Virgin, son of Abram Virgin. George was more of a domestic nature, and employed his time and energies in making home pleasant, not caring so much for stock nor for acquiring all the land joining him. He was a large, corpulent man, of Herculean strength, and, as is usually the case with such persons, sedentary in his habits, enjoying life as he lived and letting the future take care of itself, though not by any means shiftless and improvident. His wife, however, whom everybody called " Aunt Alcy," was a prodigy of ambition and neatness, and so far as her dominion extended, she "hewed to the line." No sacrifice of personal com- fort or demand of labor was too great for her to make for the sick and distressed, and of her it may truly be said, she " went about doing good." To accommo- date the people in that vicinity who had to depend almost entirely upon Havana, twenty miles away, for their groceries, Mr. Virgin fitted up a room of his house, about 8x10 feet, and kept a small stock of coffee, sugar and the very few other kitchen necessaries of that day. When the demands of the commu- nity required it, he moved his store into a log house on the side of the bluff, about fifty yards east of the house as it now stands, where he added a general assortment, that is, a general assortment for those days, which was far within the limit of the present day. When this became too small, he built a store- house at the foot of the bluff, southeast of the graveyard, which, after a few years, was moved to the little town of Hiawatha, of which farther on. Mr. Virgin's unfortunate death in January, 1855, occurred as follows: The family had been using a preparation of corrosive sublimate to poison vermin, and kept it on the mantel with other bottles of medicine and liquids, such as they had fre- quent occasion to use. In the night, Mr. Virgin, having some pain from colic, to which in a light form he was frequently subject, got up and went to the mantel to take a swallow of camphor, which was always kept in that place. He thought he knew the bottle well enough to select it without a light, as he had often done before, but by some strange fatality, he took a swallow from the bottle of poison instead of the camphor, and, although the mistake was discovered immediately and medical aid secured as soon as possible, the deadly drug resisted all remedies and he died a week after. The widow died of cholera at the old homestead in 1873. They had no children. The same year, 1837, Rezin Virgin, another of the brothers, entered and improved the place now owned and occupied by Edwin E. Auxier. In the course of a few years, Rezin entered quite a considerable tract of land on the north side of the grove, and, marrying the widow of Ephraim Brooner, one of the early settlers of Mason City Township, improved his lands and settled down out there, in a log house on the south side of a large pond. From here, he moved to a house on his farm about a mile further northeast, where he died in 1872, and his widow a few years later. Rezin was a man of great energy, though physically weak all his life, and one of the most peculiar and eccentric persons in the whole country, on account of which he was known far and near. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 629 No one that had become even casually acquainted with him could ever forget " Uncle Reze." Abram Virgin, the other of the four brothers, the same year (1837) settled up in the eastern part of the grove in a log hut, as was the prevailing style of architecture in those days. He engaged in stock-raising and agriculture, and went through the hardships and deprivations common to those times. In 1858, he was afflicted with a mental malady that made it necessary to confine him in the Insane Asylum, at Jacksonville, for awhile. He was soon, however, restored and " clothed in his right mind," and returned home, where he lived and directed the affairs of his farm until he died of the scourge of cholera, which swept through this section in 1873. His wife was also stricken down of the dread disease, but lived a helpless, bedridden invalid until 1877, when she died also. She, "Aunt Betsey," as she was familiarly called, was the friend and helper of the sick, afflicted and distressed. They had a family of several children, five of whom are living in the vicinity of their youthful days. A year or two later, Abner Baxter, John Young, Ira Halstead and Ira Patterson settled down in the southwest part of the township. Mr. Young died in 1848, and his widow in 1862. Of their children, William became an extensive land-owner and stock-dealer, and made valuable improvements on his farm, on the north side of the grove from the paternal homestead, where he died in 1865, leaving a widow (now the wife of J. H. Lemley) and several chil- dren, the oldest of whom, of the boys, Thorstein, now being married, occupie* the home place. Ira Halstead was a blacksmith and a Methodist minister, and about twenty- five years ago, moved to Wisconsin, where he still lived when last heard from. Ira Patterson was a Justice of the Peace, a school-teacher, and went to Oregon about 1850, and was appointed Territorial Governor there a few years after- ward. He is one celebrity of the pioneer days of this township that it is well to rescue from the ever-increasing obscurity of tradition. The place where he- lived was a hewed-log house at the foot of the bluff below the mouth of Salt Creek, later known as the Will Henry Hoyt place. On the place next adjoining this on the east, the Armstrong family settled in 1854, too late a date for a pioneer special mention, but historical from the- fact that " Uncle Jackey " and " Aunt Hannah," as they were familiarly called, furnished a home to Abraham Lincoln when he was a young man, and it was by the light of their fire Lincoln stored his mind with much of its fund of gen- eral information, in the reading of such books as he could obtain ; but this occurred in Menard County, and will appear in its proper place in the history of that county. But the gratitude of Mr. Lincoln continued with this family as long as he lived, and was manifested in various ways, even after he became President of the United States. In 1857, William (Duff), who now occupies the old homestead, was indicted by the grand jury of this county as one of the parties to a murder committed 630 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. at a camp-meeting held in the grove near George Lampe's place, of which hereafter, and Lincoln, then a prominent lawyer in Springfield, voluntarily defended and cleared him, without fee and as a token of gratitude to the old mother, who had then become a widow by the death of her husband, about a year before. In 1841, John Swaar settled on a forty-acre lot, the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 35, in Salt Creek bottom, from whom " Swaar Ford," on the creek south of that place, took its name. A few years later, he moved to a forty-acre purchase which ^he entered, on the north side of the grove, where he built a log hut on the site of the beautiful and spacious farm residence he and his family now occupy. By industry and frugality this family has acquired an extensive body of land, and deal largely in stock. Mr. and Mrs. Swaar are now the only living representatives of the pioneers of this early day that have lived in the township continuously from that day to this, and with the exception of the Clark brothers, and, perhaps, a very few others, none of whom are now residents of the township, they are the only representatives of adult age of that time, living. John Auxier, and his brother Eli. who came out with the party from Ohio in 1837, married, several years later, and settled on the north side of the grove ; John, on the place now composing part of D. W. Riner's body of land, and Eli on a forty-acre tract north of it (which is now owned by George Swaar), where he died in 1848. His widow is still living, but in feeble health, with her son, Rev. E. E. Auxier, down near Salt Creek. John Auxier, to accommodate his propensity for feeding stock and enlarge his landed possessions, bought a large body of land at the east end of the grove and built a log house on top of a high bluff, a quarter of a mile south of where the M. E. Church now stands, where he died in 1857. His widow and children now have all removed to a farther western country. As a pioneer of the prairie, John Y. Lane settled west of where Mason City now stands, in 1851, building a hut of poles, prairie grass and canvas, where he and his family spent their first winter and summer in this township. He was then well advanced in age, but was a Tennessean, who fought under Old Hickory Jackson in the war of 1812, and was inured to hardships from his youth. He was somewhat impetuous and visionary, and when the first line of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad was surveyed near his place, in 1856, he and William Young prepared to lay out a town, and Mr. Lane built a large frame house which he designed for a hotel, and which he was unable to finish. That house now stands northwest of the West Side Schoolhouse in Mason City, and was moved there in 1872, by Jeremiah Skinner. About 1847, John L. Chase, who lived in the southwest part of the town- ship, and was a very efficient business man, was appointed Postmaster, by which the post office was removed from Walker's Grove, but still retained the name of Walker's Grove Post Office. Here all the eastern part of the county received and sent out mail, which was carried on horseback, once a week, to HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 631 and from Petersburg ; that is. once a week when the crossing at Salt Creek bridge would permit, which was only about half the time. Sometimes there were three and four weeks that we would be totally shut out from all mail com- munication on this account, even down as late as 1856. Often, some anxious person would take the chances of swimming the sloughs on horseback, and bring the mail over in a grain-sack, locked with a cotton string. Mr. Chase died in 1856, and William Warnock, Jr., who, in partnership with William Young, kept a country store at the farm of the latter, was appointed Postmas- ter, soon after removed it, with the store, to Hiawatha, where the office was sus- pended in 1858, upon the location of one in Mason City. In 1854, George Young erected a steam saw-mill a quarter of a mile south of Big Grove Cemetery, and, the following year, Edward Sikes, Jr., moved the George Virgin store-building, of which he had now become the proprietor, to that place. Several dwelling-houses were soon after erected, and a flouring-mill added to the saw-mill, when the place was given the romantic name of Hia- watha. John Pritchett, who afterward became a prominent hardware and grain merchant in Mason City, and is now a commission merchant in St. Louis, started a blacksmith-shop. Dr. William Hall, a good physician, located there for the practice of medicine, and when the first line of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad struck that place, in 1856, the most extravagant hopes of the people seemed about to be realized. But the railroad went four miles farther east ; Mason City sprung up, and Hiawatha went down, and now not a vestige of the village remains to be seen. The old " Timber Schoolhouse." or Virgin Schoolhouse, was the voting- place for the two townships, now Mason City and Salt Creek, until 1857, and was known as " Salt Creek Precinct." The election of 1856 will never be for- gotten by any one who was an eye-witness to the scenes of that day at this place. With politics at fever heat, and barrels of whisky as fuel to the political fire, no words can adequately describe the hurrahing, quarreling, fighting and confusion of that day, from early morn until dusky eve. At this schoolhouse, religious meetings were frequently held, and the strong- hold of Satan was stormed upon the tactics of border warfare, that is, upon the theory that there is more terror to the enemy in noisy demonstration than in means of eifectual destruction. Sinners were held "breeze-shaken" over the yawning abyss of the preacher's most vivid imagination, and the mighty oaks bowed their majestic heads to the thunders of Sinai, and one unused to such demonstrations would think the "heavens were rolling together as a scroll." In 1857, a camp-meeting of three weeks' duration was held in the grove about a half-mile southwest of George Lampe's place, at which Elder Peter Cart- wright made his last visit to this section. About three-quarters of a mile south- west of this, and, on the ridge a quarter of a mile east of where Michael Malo- ney's house now stands, was the inevitable grog-shop that was always to be found as near the sanctum sanctorum of the camp-meeting as the Jaw would 632 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY'. permit. Here it was that the first and last murder in the township was committed, for which William (Duff) Armstrong and James Henry Norris were indicted at the following term of Court, and for which the latter served a term of eight years in the Penitentiary at Joliet, and the former was acquitted defended by Abraham Lincoln, as we have before stated. The name of the murdered man was Metzker, a citizen of Menard County. It was done about 9 o'clock at night, by being struck on the head with the neck-yoke of a wagon, which fractured his skull, and from which he died next day. Dr. J. P. Walker, now of Mason City, conducted the post mortem examination. Dr. J. P. Walker settled in the west part of this township, at the place now owned and occupied by George McClintick. in 1849, and pursued the practice of medicine, and carried on his farm until 1858, when he moved to Mason City. Dr. A. R. Cooper settled on the farm now occupied by William McCarty about the same time, but removed a few years later. About the same year, Dr. John. Deskins built a hut and located a half-mile east of George Lampe's place. He built his house in the side of a ridge, so that the earth formed three sides of his domicile; but, embedded in the earth as ii was, a tornado, in 1852, swept it away and scattered his goods for miles around, though, as by a miracle, none of the family were seriously injured. The 29th of May, 1850, is a memorable day with the old inhabitants of this township, on account of the violent hailstorm which devastated growing crops, killed small domestic animals, and frightened the people terribly. This storm came from the northwest, and left its marks of violence upon the trees so that they were not outgrown for years after. Beautiful fields of wheat were left as desolate as a barren desert, and fruit-trees were stripped of foliage and fruit. Sheep, pigs and chickens were slain by hundreds with the cold shot from Heaven's artillery. This township contains two church edifices, built about ten years ago, one at Big Grove, and the other at Lease's Grove, both owned by the Methodist denomination. A third building, by the Christian denomination, is in course of construction at Big Grove. The principal cemetery, and the only one in the township controlled by a regularly organized Board of Trustees, is at Big Grove, and has been used as such since the earliest necessity of such a place. It is a beautiful location, well cared for, and, with its monuments and headstones, from a distance looks like a miniature marble city set upon a hill. There are several other burying-gronnds in the township, but most of them have been abandoned, as to future use as such. The Havana extension of the I., B. & W. R. R., now the Champaign, Havana & Western Railway, runs diagonally across the northeast corner of the township ; but there is no railroad station, or town or village of any kind within the boundaries of the township. The first school district organized in the township was down in the southwest part, and is now District No. 1. The house was built of hewed logs, and was HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 633 generally known as the " Chase Schoolhouse." Several years ago, a iiew frame schoolhouse was built about a half-mile northwest of the site of the first, and is now known as the " McCarty Schoolhouse." The second district was organized in the east part of the grove, and is District No. 2. The first house here was in the timber, near the north side of the grove, about a quarter of a mile south- east of the "John Auxier Pond." It was a log house, of course, and was known as the " Virgin Schoolhouse." The original building burned down in 1849, and was succeeded on the same site by a frame, which was used as the district schoolhouse until 1863, when the old house was abandoned and a new one built about a mile further east, which is now known as " Mount Pleasant Schoolhouse." The third schoolhouse was built at Lease's Grove about 1850 ; was also a log house, but, several years ago, was abandoned, and a new house built about a mile east of the old site. The next, in District No. 4, was built in 1854, on a high elevation, three-quarters of a mile west of the present site, and was known, as the present is known, by the name of " North Prairie Schoolhouse." The next, in District No. 5, was built in 1855, and was desig- nated as the ; ' Knox Schoolhouse." Other districts were organized and school- houses built soon after, until the township is well provided with public school facilities. The present Board of School Trustees is composed of the following gentlemen : Robert A. Melton, Elias Hull and L. C. Agnew. H. C. Bumham, the present incumbent, has been Township Treasurer for the last ten or twelve years, whose last statistical report is as follows : Number of males under twenty-one years of age 303 Number of females under twenty-one years of age '. 261 Total... 564 Number of males between the ages of six and twenty-one 192 Number of females between the ages of six and twenty-one 173 Total 365 Number of school districts in township 9 Number of districts having school five months or more 9 Whole number of months of school 59J Average number of months of school 6f Number of male pupils enrolled : 165 Number of female pupils enrolled 164 Total 329 Number of male teachers employed 9 Number of female teachers employed 3 Total 12 Number of months taught by males 41 Number of months taught by females 18 Grand total of number of days' attendance 23,524 Number of schoolhouses rh township 9 Number of volumes bought for district libraries during year.. 43 Principal township fund .$5,130 09 Highest monthly wages paid any male teacher 47 50 Lowest monthly wages paid any male teacher 22 60 Highest monthly wages paid any female teacher 35 00 Lowest monthly wages paid any female teacher 30 00 634 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Average monthly wages paid male teachers 40 91 Average monthly wages paid female teachers 33 05 Amount of district tax levy, 1878 2,270 00 Estimated value of school property 4,100 00 Estimated value of school libraries 35 00 Estimated value of school apparatus 260 00 Amount paid male teachers 1,328 60 Amount paid female teachers 408 87 Amount paid for repairs and improvements , 80 55 Amount paid for school furniture 233 52 Amount paid for fuel and incidental expenses 105 81 The names of the gentlemen who have officiated as Supervisors of the town since the adoption of township organization, in 1862, are as follows : Selah Wheadon, now residing in Kansas ; Jacob Benscoter, now residing in Mason City ; A. H. Fisher, now residing in Logan County, two terms ; J. A. Phelps, who died a couple of years ago, in Nebraska, two terms ; C. L. Montgomery, who died in Green view, Menard Co., in March of this year, two terms ; A. Thompson, three terms ; A. A. Blunt, three terms ; H. C. Burnham, present incumbent, three terms ; L. C. Agnew, one term. The present township officers are : H. C. Burnham, Supervisor ; D. W. Hillyard, Town Clerk ; Joseph Silvey, Assessor ; J. P. Montgomery, Col- lector ; Robert A. Milton, Michael Maloney and C. C. Dare, Commissioners of Highways ; H. C. Burnham and Joseph Silvey, Justices of the Peace. QUIVER TOWNSHIP. Fifty years ago half a century ! A period of time that measures off the birth, growth and decay of almost two successive generations of mankind ! Fifty years ago ! Since then, what mighty changes have marked the onward march of time in this great and growing West ! Cities have been builded,vast areas, even in our own State, populated, and large portions of its territory, reclaimed from native wildness, have been brought to a high state of cultivation and made to yield abundant harvests of plenty to the toiling husbandman. Within these years, the nation has been convulsed from its center to its circum- ference with the thrpes of civil war. The patriot son of the sturdy old pioneer has gone forth to battle in his country's cause, but his return comes not at setting of the sun. Thousands of homes have been made desolate by the cruel ravages of war in our own fair land, but the nation's honor has again been sealed by the blood of her noble and daring sons. Fifty years ago, not a single cabin had been erected in the territory now included in Quiver Town- ships Indeed, it is not definitely known that more than a single family had settled within the limits comprising the present county of Mason. This township is located in the extreme northwest corner of the county, and comprises in its area about fifty sections. It is bounded on the north and northwest by Tazewell County and the Illinois River ; east by Manito and HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 635 Forest City Townships ; south by Sherman and Havana Townships, and west by the Illinois River. By far the larger portion of the township is prairie, the timber-land being, for the most part, confined to the western section along the river bluff. A limited amount of timber is found in the northeast cor- ner of the township, the outskirts of what is known as Long Point timber. The character of the soil is similar to that of the adjacent townships. The western part is somewhat broken, often rising into bold, rounded bluffs and ridges of sand. The woodland portion is not very productive ; it does not afford pasturage, nor, when cleared and cultivated, does it yield as abundant harvests as the prairie land. The central and southern portions are very fer- tile, and annually produce large crops of corn, wheat, rye and oats, though corn is the staple product. Clear Lake and Mud Lake are found in the north- west corner of the township. Duck Lake, an expansion of Vibarger Slough, is situated in the southwestern portion of the township. Quiver Creek is the only stream of any consequence flowing through the township. This stream enters the township at its eastern boundary, flowing in a general southwestern direction through Sections 28, 29 and 30. Near the western boundary line of Section 30, its course changes to the northwest, and from this point the stream forms the dividing line between Havana and Quiver Townships. The township received its name from the water-course, of which we have just spoken. The creek is said to have been named by early huntsmen from Menard and Fulton Counties. At certain seasons of the year, standing a short distance back from the banks of the stream, one was enabled, by gently swaying the body to and fro, to impart a wave-like or quivering motion to the surface for some distance around him. From this it early acquired the name of Quiver land, and to the stream, naturally enough, the name Quiver Creek was applied. While it is a small and unimportant stream, it was made to subserve a large and important interest in the early settlement of the county. On the south bank of the stream, near the northeast corner of Havana Township, Pollard Simmonds erected a small grist-mill as early as 1838 or 1839. But as the mill is now included in the limits of Havana, a full account of the enterprise will be given in the history of that township. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Though a settlement had been made west of the creek as early as 1835 or 1836, no one had ventured to cross the stream and locate in what is now Quiver Township prior to 1837. John Barnes, from Kentucky, had located at the Mounds as early as the first mentioned date. Of his wife it may be truthfully said that she was a faithful helpmeet. She was a woman possessed of great muscular strength, and could wield an ax as skillfully as an experienced wood- man. With an ordinary amount of exertion, she could turn off her one hun- dred and fifty rails per day. At his home, Joseph Lybarger and family, the first settler of Quiver Township, stopped some weeks prior to crossing the creek and starting his improvement. Lybarger was from Pennsylvania, and f)36 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. was a blacksmith by trade. The exact date of his settlement cannot be fixed to a certainty, but it is more than probable that it occurred in the spring of 1837. There are some who think it may have been as early as the summer of 1836, but the preponderating weight of testimony is in favor of the first men- tioned date. Soon after coming, he opened a shop, and for a number of years did the work of general blacksmithing for a large scope of country. In the summer of 1837, Henry Seymour came and settled east of Lybarger's. About one month later, Peter Ringhouse, who had been stopping a short time in St. Louis, came and settled about midway between the ones already mentioned, though a short distance further west. Ringhouse was originally from Germany, but had lived some years in Baltimore before coming West. William Atwater came from Connecticut, and located in the immediate neighborhood in 1838. He had served an apprenticeship and for a number of years had followed the silversmith's trade. He erected a frame building, doubtless the first in the township, and began improving his farm. For some two years after coming, he led the life of a bachelor, and farmed with about the usual amount of success that all old bachelors are permitted to enjoy. The climate did not seem to agree with his constitution, and for some considerable length of time he was annoyed with chills and fever. So thoroughly dissatisfied did he become at one time, that he determined to exchange the best eighty acres of his quarter section for a horse and wagon, and the tail-end of a stock of goods in Havana. These latter articles he intended to peddle through the country, and with the proceeds and avails he hoped to be able to flee the country and make good his return to his native State. But he was destined to become one of the early permanent settlers of Quiver Township, however slow he might be to accept the situation. On communicating his intentions to one of his neighbors, he remonstrated with him at the folly of his proposition, and suggested the pro- priety of his taking a helpmeet and beginning life in earnest. Mr. Atwater acted upon the suggestion, and what we know is. that not many months after- ward, Miss Elizabeth Ringhouse became Mrs. Elizabeth Atwater. The alliance thus consummated led to a life of happiness and prosperity. He continued to live at the place of his first settlement till the date of his decease, which occurred some eight or ten years ago. His widow yet survives him, and occu- pies the old homestead. John Seeley, William Patterson, and a man by the name of Edwards, settled further north along the edge of the bluff timber as early as 1840 or 1841. Isaac Parkhurst settled near Quiver Creek in the southwest corner of the township, in 1840, and was a Justice of the Peace when this section was included in Tazewell County. He remained but a few years, and then moved to Peoria. Daring the year 1842, a num- ber of settlements were made in the township. Benjamin Ross, Daniel Waldron, William E. Magill, and George D. Coon were among the per- manent settlers at the close of 1842. Ross was from Tennessee, and had settled in Cass County some years prior to coming to Mason. Waldron was SNICARTE HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 639 from New Jersey, and remained a citizen of the township till the date of his demise, which occurred some years ago. William E. Magill came from the Quaker State to Menard County, and from there to Mason, as before stated, and is one of the early settlers, who is still surviving. George D. Coon came from New Jersey, and settled in Greene County in 1839. At the same time, Stephen Brown, his father-in-law, and Robert Cross and Aaron Littell, brothers- in-law, came and settled near him. In 1842, Mr. Coon came to Mason County, and settled in this township near the creek, and the following year moved to his present place of residence. Loring Ames, a native of the old Bay State, came West in 1818, and settled in St. Clair County, Illinois Territory. In 1823, he moved to Adams County, and, in 1836, to what is now Mason County. In 1842, he became a citizen of Quiver, and at present resides on his farm near the vil- lage of Topeka. He served in the Black Hawk war, first as a private in Capt. G. W. Flood's company, and later as a Lieutenant in the company of Capt. Pierce, of Col. Fray's noted regiment. Rev. William Colwell, a native of England, emigrated to America in 1838, and first settled in Cass County, 111. In February, 1841, he came to Mason County, and resided near Bath until the fall of 1842, at which time he removed to Quiver Township. He died in April, 1861, from the effects of a kick from a horse. He was a substantial citizen, a man of abilities and great personal worth. He served in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, a period of about forty years, and the result of his labors will only be known in that day when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. George Sleath settled in 1843, but did not remain long. He sold out to Robert Cross and moved away. In 1843, Cross and Littell came and settled on farms adjoining that of George D. Coon. These they improved and occupied until the date of their decease. Fred High, Henry Rakestraw and Freeman Marshall made settlements during the year 1843. High was from Tennessee, Rakestraw from Kentucky and Marshall was a native- born Hoosier. Some of the Rakestraws still reside in the township, near McHarry's Mill, but the names of High and Marshall have long been absent from her citizenship. Moses Eckard, whose name occurs prominently in con- nection with the history of the village of Topeka, came from Maryland, and located in Fulton County in 1839. The following year, he came into what is now Mason County. In 1844, he was married to Sarah E. Simmonds, daughter of Pollard Simmonds, who settled in Havana Township in 1838, and built the mill elsewhere referred to. In the fall following his marriage, he moved to his present place of residence, and has continuously lived there since. At the date of his settlement few, if any, others were living in the southeastern section of the township, all the settlements so far having been made along the bluff tim- ber and in the central portion. In 1847, John M. McReynolds, whose father had settled in Havana Township in 1838, located about two miles northeast of Moses Eckard's. His residence still remains on the farm he first improved. Hon. Robert McReynolds, the father of John M., came from Columbia County, 640 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Penn., in 1838, and settled some seven miles east of the present city of Havana, in Havana Township. In 1849, he became a citizen of Quiver Township, and, as he was at an early day officially connected with the interests of the county, we deem it proper to give some points of his life in this connection. In 1845, we find him a member of the Board of County Commissioners. To this office he was re-elected in 1846, and again in 1848 and 1849. In 1849, he was chosen Associate Justice with John Pemberton, Hon. Smith Turner being County Judge. In every position, public or private, conscientious integrity marked his course. He was an earnest and zealous advocate of the Gospel as taught by the Wesleys, and, having united with the M. E. Church in 1831, was not only a pioneer in this county but a pioneer in Methodism in the West. In building his first residence, an extra large room was provided, which was not only designed for the use of his family but also for religious worship. Quarterly meetings, over which the venerable Peter Cartwright presided, were held here, and, on one occasion, fifty of the brethren and sisters were present for breakfast. The first Sunday school in the county was established at his house in 1841, and consisted of twelve teachers and twenty-one scholars. His death occurred in 1872. His son, following in the footsteps of his father, has been an efficient member of the Church since early boyhood, and for many years has held official relation to the congregation at Topeka. Stephen Brown, who has already been mentioned as having settled in Greene County in 1839, ten years later became a citizen of Quiver. John Appleman, from New Jersey, Thomas Yates and George Ross, from the Buckeye State, became citizens as early, as 1848 or 1849. These all settled in the region of the township familiarly known as "Tight Row." Appleman died some years ago, and Yates in 1876. Ross, after a residence of two years, returned to Qhio on a visit, and while there sickened and died. From 1850, the settlements increased so rapidly that any attempt to enumerate them in the order in which they occurred, would be a fruitless task. Of one who came into the township in 1845, we must speak somewhat at length, as, perhaps, no one of her citizens is more widely or more favorably known. Hugh McIIarry, a native of Ireland, emigrated to America in 1825. He was but a "broth of a boy" of some eighteen or nine- teen summers, who had come to try his hand at making a fortune in "Swate America." He started in life in the land of his adoption penniless. Soon after coming, he engaged in labor on the Erie Canal, but the natural bent of his mind was toward milling. He soon obtained a situation in the mills at Louisville, Ky., where he remained till 1842. During his residence in Louisville, he became an ardent admirer of George D. Prentice, the veteran editor, of the Journal, and through its influence, was molded into a stanch Henry- Clay Whig. With this party he acted during its existence, and, on the formation of the Republican party, he was among the first to espouse its prin- ciples. In 1842, he came to Beardstown, Cass County, and again engaged in milling. . In 1843, he purchased the mill site on Quiver Creek, and, in 1845, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 641 constructed a grist-mill. Julius Jones, Charles Howell and William Pollard had built a dam and erected a saw-mill at this point some years previous. For the improvements made and the site, McHarry paid the sum of $1,500 cash. The saw-mill stood on the east bank of the creek, but when the grist-mill was constructed it was placed on the west bank, and, consequently, stands in Havana Township. A complete history of the enterprise will be given in con- nection with the sketch of that township. Mr. McHarry 's residence stands on the bank of the creek in Quiver Township, and amid its pleasant shades and quiet retreat he is quietly passing his declining years, enjoying the society of his children and friends and the large competency he has acquired by a life of honest toil and well-directed energy. He is by far the wealthiest man in the township, and owns a large amount of the best land in the county. Few citi- zens of the county are more widely known or more highly esteemed for their good qualities of head and heart, than Hugh McHarry, the miller. Though Quiver Township has never had a mill erected within her borders, she has enjoyed the benefits of the early construction of both the Simmonds and McHarry mills, as they stood upon the very threshold of her borders. The first school building in the township was situated on land belonging to William Atwater, and stood near the present site of the Christian Chapel. It was built as early as 1 345, and a German pedagogue by the name of Volerath. presided over the destiny of the first term of school. In addition to the regu- lar course of study, he introduced the science of vocal music, and accompanied the exercises with the violin. This feature of the school was decidedly objec- tionable to the more pious of his patrons, who could see in a "fiddle," as they termed it, naught but a device of the emissary of the evil one to capture and lead their young children down the broad road to ruin, and so his services were not needed for a second term. Volerath was from New Orleans, and his high ideas of Southern life did not accord well with the notions and views of the Western pioneer, and so he was not exceedingly popular with any class. Among others who, at an esrly day, wielded the rod of correction, and led the aspiring youth along the highway of knowledge, we may mention the names of Didier Waldo and George Caven. In an educational point of view, the township has kept equal pace with her neighbors, and to-day her every district is supplied with comfortable frame school buildings, and the annual amount expended in schools is not far from $2,000. EARLY PREACHING, MARRIAGES, ETC. The earliest preaching, as was customary, was done at private houses and in barns. In 1844, Elder Josiah Crawford, a minister of the Disciples' Church, held a protracted meeting in Joseph Lybarger's barn. The nucleus of a church was thus early formed, which, for a number of years, met for worship at the residence of William Atwater. Elders Brockman and Powell were among the early ministers of the congregation. 642 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. There are two churches in the township outside of the village of Topeka. The Old School Presbyterian Church was built in 1853, at a cost of $1,000. It is situated on. Section 14, and for a number of years the congregation was in a flourishing condition. For the past few years, the building has remained unoccupied, save on funeral occasions. The early Pastors of the Church were Revs. William Perkins, C. W. Andrews and Rev. Bennett. Among the early communicants we find the names of John Appleman and wife, Robert Cross and wife, Mrs. Sophia Vanarsdale, Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Esther Brown, Dan- iel Waldron and wife, David Beal and wife. The first Elders of the congrega- tion were Robert Cross and Daniel Waldron. The principal burying-ground of the township is connected with this build- ing. Expensive and tasteful monuments mark the final resting-place of many of her early settlers in this cemetery. The first interment was that of Robert Cross, which occurred in 1852. Since that date, many of his associates have put aside the burden of life, and are sleeping, sweetly sleeping, in the same beau- tiful inclosure. Indeed, the names of most of the early settlers are found here among the sleepers. The Christian Chapel, located in the same section, was erected in 1866, at a cost of $900. Joseph Lybarger and wife, William E. Magill and wife, John Hines, William Atwater and wife, were the earliest members of the Church. Elder Andrew Page was the first Pastor. Elders Judy and Haughey have labored for the congregation, the latter of whom occupies the pulpit at present. The religious zeal of the early settlers often led them to travel a distance of ten miles or more to attend " meetin','' and that, too, riding after an ox team. Now, a man or a woman who will do that will, unquestionably, be saved. They might have walked, no doubt, but for the sake of religion they were willing to sacrifice ease and comfort, and ride. William Atwater and Elizabeth Ringhouse were married in December, 1840, Isaac Parkhurst, Justice of the Peace, officiating. This was, doubtless, the first marriage celebrated in what is now Quiver Township. As this section was at that date a part of Tazewell County, Mr. Atwater obtained his license at Tremont, the county seat. The earliest practitioner of whom we have any record given was a Dr. Buckner, from Cass County. The exact date of his coming cannot be ascer- tained. He also combined school-teaching with his practice. Drs. Allen and E. B. Harpham were early practitioners among the denizens of Quiver, the lat- ter of whom is at present a resident physician of Havana. The first birth in the township was that of Fidelia Lybarger, a daughter of Joseph Lybarger, the first settler. She was born in 1837. A widowed sister of Henry Sey- mour's, Mrs. Maria Elan, who died in 1838, was, perhaps, the first death to occur in this part of the county. The year following, 1839,' the death of Mrs. Henry Seymour occurred. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 648 The political status of the township has been largely Republican since the formation of that party. During the days of Whiggism and Democracy, the old Whig party was in the ascendency. Throughout the late civil war, she furnished her complement of brave boys to the rank and file of the army, and many of her noble sons attested their fealty to the dear old flag by yielding up their lives in defense of its honor in* the hour of its greatest peril. As an agricultural district, Quiver compares favorably with other portions of the county adjacent. Her resources are mainly derived from her vast annual products of corn, wheat, rye, and the other cereals cultivated here. TOPEKA VILLAGE. The village of Topeka is situated about seven miles northeast of the city of Havana, on the P., P. & J. R. R., and is the only village embraced within the limits of Quiver Township. It was surveyed by J.. W. Boggs, for Moses Eck- ard and Richard Thomas, in 1858. In order to secure the town site, Eckard and Thomas purchased 180 acres of David Beal, and 80 acres were made into a town plat. Forty acres were donated to the railroad company in order to secure the station. The first residence in the village was erected by J. L. Yates, in 1860. He was a blacksmith by trade, and had been plying his trade at McHarry's Mill, prior to locating in the village. He was followed, a short time afterward, by E. Y. Nichols, M. D., who built the second residence, and, as a matter of course, was the first resident physician of the place. Harrison Venard was the third resident of the place. Venard was from Ohio, and, in company with a Mr. Rosebrough, who was also from the Buckeye State, opened the first store in the village, near the close of 1860. The firm of Venard & Rosebrough, after a few months, became that of Venard & Mussel- man. A second store was opened in 1863 or 1864. by Musselman and Aaron Littell. The latter came from New Jersey, but had settled in the county and in the township in 1843. Others came, in from time to time, and other stores and shops were opened, till, at one time, Topeka seemed to be on the highway to prosperity. But, like many of our Western towns, it attained its growth almost in the dawn of its existence, and, for some years past, it has remained stationary. A grain warehouse was built by Moses Eckard, in 1860. R. W. Stires, of St. Louis, was the first to operate in grain at this point. R. R. Simmonds, of Havana, and Porter Walker have operated in grain at differ- ent times. The grain was handled in sacks and shipped on flats. In 1875, Flowers. Allen & Sherman built a very small and cheaply constructed elevator; this has been but little used since its completion. Low & Foster, through W. H. Eckard, handle the grain at present. About seventy thousand bushels is the average amount handled annually. A neat and substantial passenger depot was erected by the railroad company in 1872, which adds to the appear- ance of the village. Harrison Venard was the first agent at this point. W. H. Eckard is the present gentlemanly agent, and has held the position since 644 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 1867. The Methodist Episcopal Church, the only house of public worship in the village, was erected in 1865, at a cost of nearly $4,300. Among the early communicants, we find the names of Lewis H. Ringhouse and wife, Mrs. Susan Colwell, David Kepford and wife, Caleb Slade and wife, Phillip Brown, John M. McReynolds and family. Rev. T. J. M. Simmons was the first Pas- tor of the Church. It has since enjoyed the labors of Revs. J. G. Mitchell, A. M. Pilcher, G. M. Grays, and others. Rev. L. A. Powell is the present officiating minister. The congregation is in a prosperous condition, and work- ing harmoniously for the upbuilding of the cause. A Sunday school of fine interest is connected with the Church. The post office at Topeka was estab- lished in the latter part of 1860, or early in 1861. Harrison Venard was the first Postmaster. The salary at no time has been princely, and those who have kept it have endured it as a necessary evil rather than from choice. J. ~F. Ruhl is the present incumbent. A neat frame school building was erected in 1867. It is not grand and imposing in its appearance, but is amply suffi- cient to accommodate the village urchins. VILLAGE INCORPORATED. An act to incorporate the village of Topeka was approved by the Legisla- ture April 10, 1869. Under this act, Samuel R. Yates, Phillip Brown and Robert G. Rider were named as Trustees of the village, their term of office to continue until the first Monday in April, 1870. The Board organized by electing S. R. Yates, President; L. S. Allen, Village Clerk ; Phillip Brown, Police Magistrate, and John Norman, Town Constable. The revenue of the village from license of any kind has been very limited, and whatever public improvements have been made have been paid for by direct taxation imposed upon the citizens, or by voluntary contribution. The members composing the present Board are the following : Phillip Brown, D. W. Flowers, W. H. Eck- ard. The village officers are : Phillip Brown, President ; Theodore Bell, Town Clerk, and Dr. J. W. Downey, Police Justice. The business of the place is comprised in one general store, one drug, grocery and hardware store, one confectionery and two blacksmith-shops. Dr. J. W. Downey is the resi- dent physician, and is a well-read and successful practitioner. The population of Topeka does not exceed one hundred and fifty. Although the village site is the most eligible of any point along the route from Pekin to Havana, yet its proximity to the latter renders it altogether improbable that Topeka will ever be more than the pleasant little village of to-day, drawing its patronage and support from the immediate vicinity in which it is located. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 645 FOREST CITY TOWNSHIP. This township is known as Town 22 north, Ranges 6 and 7 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It is bounded north and east by Manito Township, south by Pennsylvania and Sherman Townships, and west by Quiver Township. It is the smallest of the thirteen civil townships into which the county has been divided, and comprises a little more than thirty-one sections in its area. In surface configuration, it is very similar to the adjacent townships of Manito and Quiver. Timber-land is found only in the northwest corner of the township. Fully five-sixths of its entire surface is prairie land, most of which is very pro- ductive The soil is similar in character to that found in general throughout the whole extent of the county a rich, brown mold, freely intermixed with sand. The proportions of clay, etc., intermingled, vary somewhat in different localities some being far more argillaceous than others. In the woodland portions, the surface often arises into bold, round bluffs, with mound-appearing escarpments so common to the landscape further south along the Illinois River. Quiver Creek, a small stream flowing in a general southwestern direction through the township, take? its rise near the village of Forest City and leaves the township near the northwest corner of Section 27. This, with artificial ditches constructed leading into it, efficiently drains a large amount of the prairie portion of the township. In 1862, when township organization was effected, this division received the name of Mason Plains. Prior to this, it had been designated as Mason Plains Precinct a name given by the early Meth- odist ministers to their appointments in this section. This name it continued to bear until 1873, when, by an act of the Board of Supervisors, it was changed to that of Forest City Township. The reason for the change existed in the fact that difficulties and perplexities often arose in the shipment of matter, intended for Mason Plains, to Mason City, in the southeastern portion of the county. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. So far as we have been able to learn, there were no settlements made in the limits of the township prior to 1840. Robert Cross and family came from New Jersey and settled in Greene County, 111., as early as 1839. In 1842, Alexander, a son of Robert, came to Mason County and settled in Quiver Township, about a mile east of McHarry's Mill. During the summer, he fre- quently passed over this section of the county, and from his statements we learn that, at that time, there were but five houses standing in what is now Forest City Township. These were all in the edge of the timber, in the north- west corner of the township. Four of them were occupied, and the following named persons are given as their occupants : A. Wintrow, Peter Himmel, A. File and Stephen Hedge. Wintrow came in 1840, and was, doubtless, the first 646 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. man to make an improvement in the township. Mr. Cross thinks that Himmel, File and Hedge all came in 1842, while Jerry Miller, who settled, in an early day, across the line in Manito Township, gives it as his opinion that Hedge did not come prior to 1844. Wintrow, File and Himmel came from " der Fader- land," and Hedge from Fulton County. The latter is supposed to have come originally from some one of the Eastern States, as he was a pronounced Aboli- tionist long before that sentiment found a secure lodgment in this section. The unoccupied building stood upon Congress land, and had, probably, been erected and occupied by a "bird of passage," who, after a short sojourn, plumed his wings and took his flight to regions farther west. Hedge, after a residence of some years, returned to Fulton County, of which he continued a resident up to the date of his death. Peter Himmel is the only one of the four now living. In the same neighborhood, at the time of which we are writing, there were living old man Ray, Riley Morris, Abel Maloney, and a few others just across the line in Manito Township, whose places of settlement and date of coming have been given in the history of that township. Settlements in the township did not occur rapidly for a number of years, owing to the fact, no doubt, that its availa- ble lands were prairie. About 1846 or 1847, Alexander Pemberton and a man of " the name of Babbitt settled on the prairie across Quiver Creek, a short distance south of the present village of Forest City. They were the first to venture away from the woods. Alexander Cross came up from Quiver Township and made a settlement in 1848. The same year brought in William G. Greene and his brother, Nult Greene, from Menard County, and William Coolage, from Tennessee. The Greenes settled south of Quiver Creek, where William G., in a few years, possessed himself of a large tract of land. In 1852, he sold out his entire landed estate and returned to Menard County. He is now a resident of Tallula, and is engaged in agriculture and in the banking business. His . brother, Nult Greene, removed to McDonough County, of which he is at pres- ent a resident. In 1850, the population was increased by the coming of August Webber, Greensfelter and Harfst. These all settled in the woods in the northwest corner of the township. They were from Germany, and formed the nucleus of the large German population which now occupies a large portion of the township. The spring of 1852 brought in William Ellsworth, Thomas H. Ellsworth, William Ellsworth, Jr., Joseph C. Ellsworth and their families. These all came from Fulton County, the three last mentioned being sons of the first, but all men of family. T. G. Onstot, from Menard County, came in the same year, and Fred Lux, from Pennsylvania. Most of them are still residents of the township. About the same date, George Nikirk came from Seneca County, Ohio, and purchased the landed estate of W. G. Greene, consisting of over two thousand acres. Mr. Nikirk did not live long to enjoy the comforts of his new home. He died in 1855, leaving to his family his large estate. Twenty years later, his wife followed him to the land of shadows, leaving her HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 647 children pleasant and comfortable homes, nearly all in sight of the old home- stead. The Nikirk brothers are among the most substantial farmers and busi- ness men of the township. John Bowser, also a resident of the township, was a Buckeye, from Seneca County, who came at or near the date of the coming of the Nikirks. From this date forward, settlements were rapidly made in the various portions of the township. The vast superiority of the prairie land for agricultural purposes began to be realized, arid the settler no longer sought the shelter of the timber, with its too sandy soil, but pushed boldly out into the open prairie and began his improvements. Coming on down for a year or two, we find the names of William F. Bruning, Garrett Bruning, Carl Grumble, Silas Cheek, Fred Foster, N. Drake, John Martin, and others of whom time and space forbid that we should particularize, other than to say that they were all good, industrious citizens, and, by the improvement of their farms, added muych to the wealth and prosperity of the township. Samuel H. Ingersoll, who became a citizen of Mason County in 1855, deserves more than a passing notice. He was born in Medina County, in 1828. In 1849, he went to California, where he remained till 1855, at which date he became a citizen of Mason County. In 1859, he led to the nuptial altar Miss Lois A. Van Orman, of Ohio, and soon after located on one of those beautiful undulations or prairie-swells a short distance south of Forest City. His business was that of farming and milling, and his rare judgment and busi- ness tact rendered both a financial success. His popularity with, and ability to serve, his friends and neighbors may be best attested by the fact that he was called at thirteen different times to a seat in the County Board of Supervisors by the citizens of his township. It was in this position that his judgment and influence were largely useful, not only to his own immediate constituency, but also to the people of Mason County. His death occurred in 1877. Recently, as a tribute of respect, Mrs. Ingersoll has erected to his memory one of the finest monuments in the county. The site selected for his burial is one of the finest in this section of the county. It is known upon the public records as the Nikirk Cemetery, and is so situated that it commands a view from all parts of the surrounding country, also from the passing trains on the P., P. & J. Railroad, on which road Mr. Ingersoll was an important shipper, and of which he was an interested friend. SOME OF THE EARLY INCONVENIENCES. Much the same surroundings and inconveniences greeted the early settlers of this township as did those of Manito and other adjacent portions of the county. Their marketing had to be done a long way from home, and the time required for getting their crops to market was almost equal in length to that required to raise them. Their principal trading-points were Havana, Mackinaw and Pekin. Their milling was done at Mackinaw or across the river in Fulton County. The journey to Mackinaw consumed four or five days, governed 648 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. somewhat by the length of time they had to wait for a "grist " to be ground. SSmmonds built a mill on Quiver Creek, in quite an early day, and a few years later, McHarry's Mill, on the same stream, was erected, so that those coming in a few years subsequent to the date of the earliest settlements made in the township, were denied the exquisite pleasure of going to mill at Mackinaw, and on Spoon River, in Fulton County. While there were many inconveniences and hardships to be endured by the early settlers, they had many things of which we cannot boast to-day. They had game of almost all kinds, which could be had for the simple act of killing. It did not require hunting, for there was a superabundance on every hand. Alexander Cross states that on one occasion, he counted forty deer in a single herd, as they rose up one at a time, and then they began getting up so fast that he could not keep the run of them any longer. Thomas H. Ellsworth takes the " trick " and goes fifty-six bettsr. Wild game of all kinds was so abundant that the farmer did not dare to cut up his corn in the fall and place it in shocks ; if he did he was sure to come out in the spring minus one-third to one-half of his crop. The marshes and sand hills around the head of Quiver Creek were famous hunting-grounds in an early day. But the march of civilization, the dense settling-up of the country and its improve- ment into fine and productive farms, have driven out all the larger kinds of game, and we have nothing left save that which is commonly found in the older settled portions of our country. Vast and mighty changes have come upon us during the forty years last past. Forest City Township has never had a grist-mill erected within her borders. McHarry's, in Quiver, and Shanholtzer's. in Man- ito, supply the deficiency. The Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville Railroad, put in operation in 1859, is the only railroad line in the township. It passes diagon- ally through the northwest corner of the township, in a southwestern direction, giving to it about four miles of track. EARLY PREACHING, SCHOOLS, ETC. The 'first preaching, as was customary, was at the houses of the pioneers, and among those who ministered to the spiritual wants of the people in an early day, we find the names of Revs. Gardner, Rutledge, Randall, and the venerable Peter Cartwright. These were missionaries in the M. E. Church. Rev. William Perkins, a Presbyterian divine, occasionally preached in the township, but was regularly engaged in the work at Topeka. Transient min- isters of other denominations discoursed at times to the people, but none remained to effect church organization save the Methodists. After the build- ing of schoolhouses, preaching was transferred to them, and they were made to serve the triple purpose of meeting-house, schoolhouse and voting-place for the precinct. The first school building erected in the township was the one now known as Union No. 1, and is situated about one and one-half miles south oi the village of Forest City. It was built in 1854, and John Covington was the first teacher. Others were built as the increase of population demanded, and HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 649 at present each district is supplied with good frame buildings. The " old log schoolhouse " of the days of auld lang syne has faded away, and comes to us only in visions of the past. The first Sunday school organized in the township was at the house of Thomas H. Ellsworth, in the spring of 1853. William Ellsworth was the first Superintendent. It continued at the residence of Mr. Ellsworth till the build- ing of the schoolhouse in 1854, when it was transferred to that point. It finally became the nucleus of the first Sunday school established in the village. A number of those who took part in the first organization are at present resi- dents of the village, and take a lively interest in the Sunday-school cause. There are two church edifices in the township outside of the village the Ger- man Methodist, or Albright, and the German Lutheran, or Lutheran Evangel- ical. The Albright Church was erected in 1856, and, as the congregation grew in numbers, the building in a few years became too small to accommodate it. In 1865, they rebuilt and greatly increased the size of their house. The Church owns forty acres of valuable land, and upon this stands the church building and parsonage. A neatly laid-out and kept cemetery also occupies a portion of the tract. Their Church property has an estimated value of not less than $7,000. It is, perhaps, the wealthiest congregation in Mason County. Most of its members are well-to-do farmers, living in this and adjacent town- ships. The building is located on a gentle rise of ground, from which a com- manding view of the country may be had on all sides ; its tall, white spire, point- ing heavenward, presents a pleasing appearance to the traveler passing over the line of the P., P. J. Railroad. The Lutheran Church was built a year or two later, is in the same portion of the township, about one and one-half miles south of Bishop's Station. It is also a frame church, and cost about $1,200. Regular services are held, and a flourishing Sunday school is connected with it. Forest City Township has a large per cent of German population, and, as is usually the case, they are thriving, enterprising citizens, possessed of finely - itnproved farms, well stocked. Taken throughout its whole extent, this town ship compares favorably with other portions of the county in. its adaptation to the growth of corn and the other cereals common to this latitude. VILLAGE OF FOREST CITY. The village of Forest City was surveyed, in 1859, by J. F. Coppel and Alexander Cross, for Walker, Kemp, Wright and Waggenseller. The original plat contained forty-seven acres. An addition of forty acres lying east of the original town was made in 1865 by D. S. Broderic. The lines of original sur- vey were run north and south, but were never recorded. The plat, as recorded, lie; parallel with the railroad line. The village is located seventeen miles dis- tant from Pekin and thirteen from Havana. It was, at one time,quite an exten- sive grain mart, but the growth of Mason City on the east, and points on the I., B. & W. R. R., south, have deducted largely from the amount of its annual 660 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. shipments. Alexander Cross built the first residence on the town site, and occupied it in the latter part of 1859. The house is still standing, and has been converted into an office by Dr. James S. Walker. Thomas H. Ellsworth built a residence and became a denizen of the place in 1860. Josiah Jackson, S. T. Walker, T. A. Gibson, E. T. Nikirk and others were among the earliest citizens of the place.. Cross & Walker built the first storeroom and began merchandising in 1861. In 1864, or 1865, Rodgers & Bros., built the second store-building in the village and opened up a stock of general merchandise. The business interests of the village continued to grow till, at one time, it had four good stores in full blast. In 1861, Messrs. Cross & Walker built a grain warehouse and began purchasing grain. The grain trade increased so rapidly that in 1864 they built an elevator at a cost of $6,000. It has a capacity for storage of 40,000 bushels. The grain interests of the village, at present, are looked after by S. T. Walker, agent for Smith, Hippen & Co., of Pekin, and Z. Miller. The annual amount handled approximates 250,000 bushels. Quite an amount of hogs and cattle are shipped from this point. The trade and traffic of the village reaches, perhaps, $40,000 per annum. The post office was estab- lished in 1861, and Alexander 'Cross was appointed Postmaster. He received his commission from Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General. Mr. Cross has acted continuously from his first appointment down to the present time, and has been efficient and accommodating, as might readily be inferred from his long continuation in office. A neat frame school building, two stories high, was erected in 1877, at a cost of $1,500. This is the pride and ornament of the village, and is a fitting monument to the liberality of the citizens of the district, who submitted to a heavy taxation in order to secure the building. The M. E. Church, the only house of worship in the village, was erected in 1863 or 1864. Rev. S. B. Hirsey was the first Pastor. It is a neat frame building, pleasantly situated in a small grove in the western portion of the village. It has a membership of about fifty souls, who meet regularly for worship. A fine and flourishing Sun- day school is held in connection with its services. Dr. George Mastiller was the first physician to locate in the town, as well as the first in the township. E. N. Nichols, M. D., was also in the township quite early. The former is at present a resident of Kansas, and the latter, some years ago, took up his abode in Missouri. Drs. James S. Walker and G. W. Dunn are at present resident physicians, each well skilled in his profession, and enjoying a good practice. A Lodge of Good Templars was organized in 1865. The charter members were Thomas H. Ellsworth and wife, T. G. Onstot, Josiah Jackson and wife, T. A. Gibson and wife, Miss Sarah Ellsworth, and others whose names could not be obtained. In February, 1867, the hall in which the lodge meetings were held was consumed by fire, and the Lodge soon after became extinct. Forest City Lodge, No. 246, I. 0. G. T., was organized Jan. 27, 1879, by J. Q. Detwiler, State Deputy. A charter was granted to Thomas A. Gibson and wife, Josiah HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 651 Jackson, George W. Pemberton, Mrs. Nancy Cross, Susie Cross, G. W. Nikirk, Harry Dunn, Lydia Ellsworth, Mary Ellsworth, Solomon Nikirk, Lillie Ni- kirk, Lizzie Nikirk, W. D. Thomas, E. E. Bird, Ira W. Bruning, Isaac Beard and William F. Bruning as charter members. The Lodge is in fine working order, and, at present, has a membership of about sixty-five. Regular meetings occur on Saturday evening of each week. A substantial iron bridge, erected at a cost of from $1,800 to $2,000, spans Quiver Creek, just south of the village. In the winter of 1876, the citizens constructed a gravel road from the village to, and for some distance beyond, the bridge. The gravel was obtained at Mackinaw, the P., P. & J. R. R. furnish- ing transportation free, and for once, at least, disproving the oft-repeated assertion that railroad corporations have no souls. The neat and substan- tial passenger depot at this point, under the management of Mr. E. T. Nikirk & Son, is an ornament to the town and a credit to the officials of the road. Forest City Township has been largely Republican in her political complexion since the earliest formation of the party. In the days when the old Whig and Democratic parties vied with each other for supremacy, this " district " could always be relied upon for a handsome Whig majority. During these latter years, the Republican party has held the field whenever party lines were strictly drawn. At the outbreaking of the late civil strife, her loyal sons were not slow in attesting their fealty and devotion to the Stars and Stripes. At each and every call, she furnished her full quota, and no draft was made upon her patriotic citizens to fill up the oft-depleted ranks of the patriot army. Many of her noble boys are taking their long, deep sleep in Southern soil, beneath a Southern sun, far from the spot of their early child- , hood. They fell in the discharge of duty and in the defense of their country's honor. Fond fathers and loving mothers cherish with fondest delight the memory of the brave boys whose lives were offered a willing sacrifice upon their nation's altar. Of such we may say, in the poet's fitting strain : "Soldier, rest! thy warfare's o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking ; Dream of battle-fields no inore, Days of danger, nights of waking." Forty years ago, Forest City Township was without an inhabitant. Now her surface is thickly studded with comfortable homes, and thrift and enterprise greet us on every hand. Her citizens are alive to every movement that tends to advance the interests of their section, and her annual productions rank sec- ond to but few townships in the county. Bishop Station, a small village on the P., P. & J. R. R., three miles southwest of Forest City, was laid out for Henry Bishop in the spring of 1875. The post office was established in 1871, four years prior to the date of laying out the town. A grain elevator, two general stores and a blacksmith-shop comprise the business buildings of the village. These, with some half-dozen residences, include all that there is in the town. 652 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY, t We have been able to obtain but very little of its history, though diligent inquiry has been made. Its citizens have been backward in giving us anything like a connected history of the place, laboring, perhaps, under the misappre- hension that we were desirous of buying the town at the present low ruling price, and not recognizing the fact that we were simply desirous of obtaining data from which to compile a historical sketch of the place. However, the prospects for its rapid development into a village of any considerable importance is not, at present, very flattering. Its location about midway between Forest City and Topeka precludes the possibility of its ever being more than a point of local interest. LYNCHBURG TOWNSHIP. A latter-day statesman, making a speech in Congress, a year or two ago, \\ishing to indulge in a little sarcasm at something or somebody, in the course of his remarks said that " When God Almighty made the world, he had an apronful of sand left over, which he poured out on the Atlantic coast, and called the spot New Jersey." If this be true, one might be led to the conclu- sion that He also had enough left to make, not only Lynchburg Township, but the greater part of Mason County. Anyway, the sand is here in considerable quantities, whether it was spilled from somebody's apron, or was washed down from Lake Michigan during the drift period. How it came here is a conun- drum, to solve which is no part of our work in these pages. Lynchburg Township lies in the southwest part of Mason County, in the forks of the Illinois and Sangamon Rivers, and is bounded on the north, west and south by these streams, and on the east by the township of Bath. It is pretty well divided between prairie and timber land, the latter lying contigu- ous to the water-courses. It is well watered by the rivers flowing along its borders and the number of its little lakes within its limits ; and to the irriga- tion thus produced is doubtless owing the prolific nature of this sandy soil, and the fine crops it so abundantly brings forth. In addition to the lakes and riv- ers, is Snicarte* Slough, which runs through the north part of the town, and is almost equal to a little river. Lynchburg has no villages or railroads. The hamlet of Snicarte approx- imates the nearest a town it has ever known. The shipping facilities consist of water transportation, and the hauling of freights over to Bath and Saidora Station, where they are shipped via the P., P. & J. R. R. Upon the whole, the township is a flourishing one. and boasts of many wealthy and energetic farmers. With this preliminary introduction and description, we will now devote a few pages to its *Snicarte is a French word, and is pronounced with the accent on the last syllable. It is said to denote !os* channel, and to have been given to this slough by the early French settlers along this river, owing to the sudden and abrupt termination of the slough in this section. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 653 EARLY SETTLERS. The first settler in Lynchburg Township was Nelson Abbey, in 1833. He came from the Green Mountains of Vermont, and built the first cabin in the terri- tory now embraced in this township, on Section 4. He sold out at an early day and removed to Missouri (near St. Jo), where, at the last account of him, he was still living. As in other portions of Mason and Menard Counties, many of the early settlers in this section were from Kentucky. From that State we have William and John Rogers, the Phelpses, Isaac Bright, Jerry Northern, William P. Finch, Amos S. West, William Davis and perhaps others. Davis came to the town and made a small improvement in 1838. He settled some distance south of where the old village of Moscow stood. At the first breaking-out of the California gold fever, he went to that land of enchantment. Further, we know nothing of him. Amos S. West came to Illinois and set- tled first in Morgan County, and came to Mason County in 1844. He located in this township, but finally moved to Kansas. The Phelpses came to the neighborhood in 1838 or 1839. George W. first settled in Cass County, and afterward removed to Bath Township, whence he came to this place, as mentioned above. He finally sold out, returned to Kentucky, and from there removed to Missouri, where, as the novel-writers say, we at present leave him. R. J. Phelps was a son-in-law of John Camp, and settled about three-quarters of a mile east of Snicarte. He lived here some time, and then removed about a mile further east. His first wife died between 1844 and 1846, and he married a second time, a sister to Mark A. Smith, an old settler and a prominent citizen of Lynchburg Township. Mr. Phelps was one of the early Justices of the Peace of this section. He accu- mulated considerable property, and, after the death of his second wife, he married again, and then removed to the southwest part of Nebraska, where he now lives. Bright settled in the southwest part of the town in 1840 or 1841, but died about 1844. He was also an early Justice of the Peace in this quarter of the county. His widow married one of the Phelpses, and finally removed to Texas. Jerry Northern came to the settlement about 1839 or 1840. He set- tled in Cass County upon his arrival in Illinois, where he remained for a time, and then came here, as above stated. He had a large family, and was also a man of some means and owned quite a farm. He at length sold out and moved away. His sons were Edmund A., John, Wellington and Frank, of whom none, we believe, now live in the town. The Rogerses came in 1838 or 1839. William settled one mile west of Snicarte, and John three miles southwest of the same spot. They were brothers, and the first mentioned was a doctor, while John was a blacksmith. Each was the first of his profession in this section of the country. William Rogers was a brother-in-law of Nelson Abbey. John Rogers died about 1868 or 186!. 654 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. William P. Finch came in 1842 or 1843, and was one of the early peda- gogues, also a Justice of the Peace. A daughter of his married J. A. Phelps. His two youngest sons are still living in the township. Amos Smith came from Vermont, and settled in this township in the win- ter of 1839, about a mile from Snicarte. Amos Smith, Jr., and Benjamin F. Smith, his sons, came with teams to Whitehall, N. Y., and by canal and Lake Erie from Buffalo to Cleveland, and by way of the Ohio, Mississippi and Illi- nois Rivers to Beardstown, where they arrived in 1837. Amos Smith, Jr., was elected Justice of the Peace at the organization of the county, an office he held until his death, in 1850. He was also one of the first County Commissioners. Amos Smith, Sr., the father, died in 1841. Benjamin F. Smith was a car- penter. He accumulated considerable property, and died in 1867. Mark A. Smith, another son of Amos Smith, Sr., came to the town in 1839, and is still living, one of the enterprising men of the county. He arrived with his family at Moscow, in Mason County, on the 15th of October, with a fortune consist- ing of 37 cents in ready money. He tells the following story of his early experience here : When he landed, the family and goods were left on the bank of the river, while he went to explore the town and to procure a team. The town consisted of two log cabins, deserted at the time. He traveled six miles to Abbey's, procured a team and returned about 3 o'clock for his family. He took them to Abbey's, where three families were domiciled in one cabin until others could be built. In 1853, he built a warehouse, and engaged in the grain trade, and, in connection with merchandising, still follows the business to some extent. Simon Ward came from North Carolina in 1838. He^used to follow selling wood to steamboats, at that time quite an extensive business. He removed to Texas, but, after some years, came back, and finally died here. He set out the first orchard in the present township of Lyftchburg, in 1835, on Section 35, of the Congressional Town 20, Range 10 west. James Ward, a. son, still lives on the Burr Oak Ridge. George W. Carpenter was from Tennessee, and came to the settlement early. He raised a large family, and lived there many years, but at last moved to Kansas. James D. Reeves came about 1838-39, but his native State is not remembered. He settled one and one-half miles south of Moscow, where he liad a cabin and a small improvement when the Smiths came to the settlement. He moved away several years ago. Rev. John Camp was from Pennsylvania, and came about 1838. He was a local preacher of the M. E. Church, and hesitated not, it seems, to mingle in the politics of the day, as we learn he was the first Probate Judge of Mason County, being learned in the profane as well as the divine law, and is men- tioned as a man of " moderate learning and moderate ability." He built a horse-mill at an early day, where the pioneers used to get their hominy. He died in the township. HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 657 John Stewart, mentioned as one of the first settlers in Bath Township, is also an early settler in this, and is still living. He settled originally on Sni- carte Island, on that portion now included in Bath, and which he sold to Amos Richardson, and by him was sold to John Knight. He then settled in what is now Lynchburg. Caleb Brown and family came from New York, and first settled in Adarns County, whence they came to Lynchburg in 1843-44. His family consisted of two sons and several daughters. John Healey was also an early settler, but of him little information was obtained. Jonathan Sack- man came in 1840-41 ; remained in the settlement but a year or two. He was elected a Justice of the Peace, and, after receiving this high honor, moved away. He came from Schuyler County to this township, but his native place is not known. John J. Fletcher, an Englishman, came to T;he town in 1848, and is still living, an enterprising citizen, and we acknowledge our indebted- ness for many points in the history of this township. The Marshalls came from Overton County, Tenn., about 1839-40. There were four brothers of them, viz.: George, John, David and Elisha. John died here, years ago. George and Elisha removed to Adams County, and David to Missouri, many years ago. Thomas Bowles came here in 1838-39, but was one of those characters often found in a new country, that do not add much credit to its population. It is said that he strove hard to make money otherwise than by the sweat of his brow. In other words, he was somewhat addicted to " shoving the queer" whenever an opportunity offered. Two men, named Ashley Hickey and Aaron Ray, became interested with him. Hickey furnished means to purchase mate- rial and tools for their new enterprise, and Bowles went to St. Louis to make the investment, but, instead of doing so, spent the shekels in " riotous living," perhaps, and returned home with the story that he had bought the tools and ordered them shipped to the place ; but, as they came not, he was accused, first, of falsehood, and then of swindling, and, finally, kicked out of the neighbor- hood- James M. Ingram came from the Hoosier State in 1840, and settled in this section. He was drowned, some two years later, in Snicarte Slough. Zeph Keith was from Tennessee, originally, but settled in Cass County, whence he removed to this place about 1842-43. He is mentioned as a genial, jolly good fellow, and, after remaining here some years, removed to Kansas. The Lanes came from Pennsylvania about 1842. Jacob Lane, the father, died here in 1873, but his sons are still living in the town. The Mays, Pleasant May andjhis son William, were from Kentucky or Virginia, and came in 1837. William died here in 1850, and the old gentleman moved to Missouri. George May was a brother to Pleasant May, and laid out the village of Lynchburg, as noticed in another page. William Bailey came from Kentucky in 1839, and moved to Kansas several years ago. Thomas, Richard and William Ainsworth are natives of England, and came to America in 1842, and located in this AA 658 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. township. Thomas, the eldest, had $800 ; the other two had $50 apiece. They borrowed some money from Thomas to enter land, and all agreed to work together until they had forty acres of land in cultivation. They are now com- paratively wealthy men. Thomas and William live in Lynchburg Township, and Richard in Mason City. The Laymans are from Ohio, and came here about 1845-46. The father, David Layman, was a native Virginian. He died here in 1854. Several sons are still living in the township. William Howarth came to Lynchburg with the Ainsworths in 1842, and is still living in the town. This includes a list of the early settlers, as far as we have been able to obtain them. Owing to the very sandy nature of this portion of the county, it is not so thickly settled as other and more favored localities. Neither has the town much history of particular interest, beyond its actual settlement. RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL. The first religious society was organized by the Methodists, in 1838. The early preachers of this faith were Revs. Robert Anderson and Williams the latter familiarly known as " Daddy Williams." The original members were John Camp and wife, George Marshall and wife, James D. Reeves and wife. The present membership is about sixty communicants. A frame church was built in 1849-50, at a cost of $1,400, and was dedicated by Peter Cartwright. The church is known as Fairview M. E. Church, and is located on the line between Sections 10 and 15. George A. Bonney took an active part in build- ing up the society. The Sunday school was organized in 1848, with Thomas Ainsworth as the first Superintendent. They have a library of about two hun- dred volumes, and over a hundred children attend the school regularly. William Ainsworth, the present Superintendent, has served in that capacity for the past twenty-two years. Hopewell Baptist Church was organized in January, 1840, by Revs. Daniels and Thomas Taylor, with the following original members : George W. Camp- bell and wife, William Davis and wife, Benjamin F. Smith and wife and Mrs. Lydia Phelps. It was organized at the residence of William Davis, about two miles east of Snicarte. Services were held at private houses until the building of a schoolhouse in the neighborhood, in 1852. This was then used for church purposes until 1865-66, when a frame church building was put at Snicarte, 30x40 feet, at a cost of about $1,200. Many members of the Church have moved away, and it is now on a decline, numbering only about thirty -five mem- bers. They were without a shepherd the past year. In 1864, a Sunday school was organized, with Josiah English as Superintendent. The present Superin- tendent is John H. Reemtsen, and the usual attendance is from fifteen to twenty children. Who taught the first school, and in what year, we were unable to learn. William P. Finch was, however, an early teacher ; but whether or not he was the first, is an unsettled question. There was a school taught by Mrs. Carnp, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 659 a sister of Mark A. Smith, before there was a schoolhouse in the township. H. G. Rice taught the first school, perhaps, after the building of a house for school purposes. At present, there are five schoolhouses in the town, one log and four frame buildings. In these, good schools are maintained for the usual term each year. The first marriage in Lynchburg was that of William Cole and Miss Nancy May. The first birth Henry Ward, a son of Simon Ward, born in 1834, and in the same year, occurred the first death, that of Mary Jane Smith, daughter of M. A. Smith. The first mill was built by John Camp in 1835, on Section 3, of Town 19, and was a small horse-mill. It was of con- siderable benefit to the neighborhood at that early day. The only mill in the township, at present, is a steam saw and grist mill at Snicarte, owned by Hiram Goodrich. It grinds corn, but makes no attempt- at grinding wheat. The latter grain is taken mostly to the Bath and Chandlerville mills. The first two-story house was built by John J. Fletcher on Section 1. Amos Smith was the. first Justice of the Peace. The officers of the township, at present, are as follows : J. H. Layman, Supervisor ; John J. Fletcher, Justice of the Peace (the other Justice, which the town is entitled to, moved away recently) ; Sam Johnson, Town Clerk, and Mark A. Smith, 'School Treasurer. In an early day, the people of this section got their mail at Havana. Later, when a post office was established at Bath, it served them until Snicarte became honored with an office. The township has no railroads, large towns or manufactories, but is devoted entirely to agricultural interests. It is, like other towns in Mason County, Democratic in politics. The part taken in the late war will be found in our war record in another chapter. Snicarte is the nearest approach to a village in Lynchburg Township, and it. we believe, has never been laid out or surveyed. A small grocery store was opened here by Mark Smith in 1858. This was changed to a general store the next year, enlarged and quite an extensive stock of goods opened out. Mr. Smith continued in the mercantile business until 1873, when he sold to Henry C. Hoseman, who still keeps a small stock of goods. A post office was estab- lished here about 1859-60, with Horace Rice as Postmaster. Mr. Rice was Postmaster from the establishment of the office until his death, when M. A. Smith became Postmaster. He held the office until he sold his store to Hose- man, when the latter gentleman succeeded to the office, 1 and is still Postmaster. John A. Reemtsen also has a store at this place, keeps a large stock of goods, and does quite an extensive business. M. A. Smith commenced the grain busi- ness here at an early day. He built a grain warehouse in 1853, and, some years later, built a larger one. In these, he has handled grain, more or less, every year since their erection. He still deals in grain. These branches of business, together with the mill already noticed, a church, blacksmith-shop and a few dwelling houses, constitute the hamlet of Snicarte. There was a village laid out in this township in a very early day, by George May, and was called Lynchburg. But, as a town, it was never much of a 660 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. success. May had his town laid out, then bought a barrel of whisky, and had a sale of lots, but some how it would not go. It is said to have been a pretty site for a town, but, with the proximity of Bath, Moscow and Matanzas, then in the zenith of their glory, Lynchburg was a total failure, and soon abandoned altogether. Fairview consists of a Methodist Church and a schoolhouse, and is so designated from the fact of its being situated on an elevated piece of ground, and whence a " fair view " of the surrounding country may be had. CRANE CREEK TOWNSHIP. Casting our mental vision backward along the stream of time half a century, we behold the region of country now embraced in Mason County one unbroken wilderness. Here and there, near some point of timber, or hard by the bank of some creek or bubbling brooklet, might be found the log cabin of the sturdy pioneer, with a few acres rudely cultivated. These were the only indications of an approaching civilization. Emigrants, regarding these plains and sand ridges as fit only to unite other and better portions of the country, avoided them as unworthy of their notice. Now and then one from a passing train dropped out, more from necessity than choice, and started an improve- ment In this manner the earliest settlements in the county were made. The settler very soon discovered, however, that the forbidding appearance of the surface was a false indication, that an exuberance of productive power lay here concealed under an exterior show of poverty. This fact being discovered led to a steady, uniform and onward progress in the settlement 'and development of the territory. Despised and neglected as she was in the beginning, Mason County to-day may safely challenge the State to produce better crops with an equal amount of cultivation. Crane Creek Township, one of the civil divisions of the county, is situated south of the center, and, in extent, contains a little more than one Congressional township. Originally, it embraced the eastern half of what is now Kilbourne Township. It is bounded, north and east, by Sherman and Salt Creek Townships respectively ; south by the Sangamon River, and west by Kilbourne Township. The surface is about, equally divided between prairie and woodland. The extreme southern portion of this section is subject to overflow, and is valuable for pasturage only. The southwestern part of the timber district has a fine growth of young and valuable timber, which has sprung up within the memory of some of the earlier settlers yet living. A county ditch crosses the northwest corner and, with its tributaries, drains a large extent of its productive land. Much of the timber-land is high and broken, and the soil of an unproductive nature. Yardley, Revis and Long Lakes are small bodies of water found in the south part of the township, tribu- tary to the Sangamon River. Taken throughout its entire extent, it is not the best, nor yet the least productive of the various divisions of the county. In HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 661 point of settlement, it reaches back through a period of fifty years, and to this feature of its history we will now direct our attention. EARLY SETTLEMENT. v The earliest settlement made in the township was in that portion of the woodland section first known as Price's, afterward Walker's Grove. To Henry Sears, who, although he has passed his threescore years and ten, is still in a fine state of physical and mental preservation, we are largely indebted for much that is interesting in the early history and settlement of this section. In 1829, the year in which 0. M. Ross is said to have settled permanently in Havana, George Garman and brother, from North Carolina or Kentucky, made a squat- ter's claim on the east side of the grove. They built a cabin and broke forty acres of the adjoining prairie. Like many other first settlers, they did not remain long before selling out their claim and returning to their native land. The year 1830 brought in a man by the name of Rose, also James Price, Enoch Estep and Spencer Clary. These all settled in the grove, excepting Estep, who located farther south. Of Rose no record has been given, either as to his for- mer place of residence or whither he went. He led a kind of nomadic life, and was probably more or less intimately connected with Price, with whom he came. James Price is well remembered from his intimate relation to the noble red men of the forest. His wife was an Indian squaw, a woman of fine mus- cular development and great physical endurance. On leaving Walker's Grove, Price next made a claim farther east, at what is known as Lease's Grove, in Salt Creek Township, and, after a few years, went west of the Mississippi to the reser- vation allotted to his red kinsmen by the General Government. Here he soon afterward lost his life while engaged in boating. Clary remained a citizen until the date of his decease, and his remains lie buried on land now owned by Uncle Henry Sears. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and is referred to by those that knew him as a clever, hard-working man, but one who did not have the faculty of acquiring property'. He began life with nothing and held his own remark- ably well to the date of his demise. His family and immediate descendants have long been absent from the citizenship of the township. Estep was from North Carolina, and built his cabin at Revis' Springs, in the south part of this section. After a residence of some years, he moved to Jasper County, where he died. James A. Revis, from Warren County, Ky., came in 1831. From him Revis Lake and Springs derived their names. His father, Charles Revis, had been in the Territory .in an early day, and is said to have erected the first hotel in Vandalia in 1816. James A. died in 1838, and, with his companion and some of his children, was buried on a knoll overlooking the Sangamen. The plowshare of the more recent settler has long since made deep furrows over their last resting-place, and but few remain to-day who can point with any degree of certainty to the spot of their interment. Long since, their moldering bodies have passed away, and the earth above them 662 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. has settled in to supply their places. This suggests to us the sad but certain fate that awaits all private places of interment. The little mounds recently formed in the old family burying-ground, where the violets and primroses, planted by surviving love, have blossomed but a few short years, will, when the old homestead shall have passed into the hands of those who knew not the loved sleepers, be trodden beneath unhallowed feet, and children's children shall look in vain for the graves of their grandsires. In 1832, a number of additions were made to the settlement in this section. John Yardley and his sons James and John, originally from North Carolina, but here direct from Kentucky, came and stopped a short time in Menard County. Soon afterward, they located on Crane Creek. The old gentleman, his son John and his son-in-law, Sol. Norris, after a few years' residence, sold out and moved to Texas. All are now numbered with the dead. James, and a number of his descendants, are still citizens of the township, all of whom have led upright and honorable lives. The same year, Josiah Cook, from Green County, Ky., put in an appearance. He made a small beginning in the way of an improvement, but did not move to it. He died, a number of years ago, in Menard County. He is represented as one of those shiftless fellows often met with, whose greatest gift was that of talking, and who moved from place to place as circumstances might permit or occasion demand. By his death, many promises to pay were canceled. About the same date, James Sutton, from Maryland or Virginia, came to Walker's Grove. He bought out the claim of Rose, who has previously been mentioned. The year following, he sold to James Estep, brother to Enoch, and moved to Havana Township. The Esrep family, originally from North Carolina, on leaving that State, first set- tled in Tennessee. From there, in an early day, they carne to St. Clair County, 111. In the spring of 1820, James Estep and his family came to San- gamon (now Menard) County. He laid a claim on land now included in the city limits of Petersburg. The first claim he gave up to his father, Elijah Estep, who came in the following fall or early spring of 1821. Elijah Estep built the gear horse-mill, full account of which may be found in the history of Menard County and Petersburg Precinct. James, after giving up his claim to his father, moved across the river and located on what is known as Baker's Prairie. Being of a somewhat rambling disposition, he occupied various local- ities in the few succeeding years, but finally came and improved the north half of his first claim, and when the market opened entered it. In 1832, he moved to Arkansas, but returned in the fall of 1833, when he made his purchase at Walker's Grove, as above stated. He afterward sold out, moved to Menard County, thence to Southwestern Missouri, but again returned to Mason County. He died in 1857, on the farm where his son J. M. Estep now resides. His remains, with those of his faithful companion, who had preceded him to the spirit-land some two years, lie interred in New Hope Cemetery, in this town- ship. Mr. Estep, unlike most of his sons, was not successful in acquiring HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 663 property. He came poor and at no time in life was he possessed of great means. He was somewhat eccentric in his habits, he never rented but always bought and sold, sometimes more and sometimes less, always being governed by his financial ability to meet his promises. A number of his sons, who are among the substantial, well-to-do farmers of this section, are still residents of the township. Harvey Haskiris was in and about the grove as early as 1833. No very substantial marks of improvement were ever known to have been the result of his indefatigable industry. He was one of those to whom the term "lived round," would aptly apply. It is said of him that he was able to change his location at almost any time with little or no inconvenience, as by walking and carrying the baby, attended by his wife who carried the household effects in a "poke," the feat of moving was readily and easily accomplished. The year 1834, witnessed the arrival of Henry Sears. He was born near Raleigh, N. C., and with his parents came to Kentucky in an early day. In 1822, he came to the State of Illinois. He lived in various localities, most of the time, however, in Menard and Sangamon. In 1834, as stated, he came to Walker's Grove and purchased the improve- ment of James Estep. This he sold to James Walker in 1837, and the following spring moved to his present place of residence, on Section 17, in Crane Creek Township. He is one of the few ancient landmarks yet remain- ing. In the forty-one years of his residence in this one place, he has, by legis- lative enactment, been made a citizen of Sangamon, then Menard, and finally, Mason County, without once changing his location. While the eccentric man- ners of the man have contributed, somewhat, to his notoriety among the early settlers (and the later ones, too, for that matter), no one can be found who would gainsay the veracity of any statement he might make in good faith. Seeing the folly of dram-drinking exemplified in the life of his father, he has led a life of strict sobriety, and largely to this is, doubtless, due the fine state of mental and physical preservation in which we find him to-day. He was a member of petit jury for the first term of the Circuit Court ever held in Mason County. Not far from his residence was the site of the once famous Mount's mill, an institution in its day, and the "pocket distillery," both of which are fully described in the general county history. Abner Baxter, from Kentucky, settled at the grove soon after the coming of Sears. He remained but a year or two before selling out and moving to another portion of the county. He was an important factor at a "hoe-down," as he could handle a ' fiddle " and evoke such sweet strains of music as are wont to charm and edify the backwoodsman. He was honored as early as 1844, with a seat on the Board of County Commissioners. The year 1836 added Jesse Baker, a brother-in- law of Sears, to the settlement. Mr. Baker, at the advanced age of eighty- . one, is still living, just across the line in Kilbourne Township. He was from Tennessee, and was a perfect Nimrod in his day. He has, perhaps, brought down more deer than any other citizen of the county, as he is 664 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. said to have been an unerring marksman, and to have slain great num- bers of them each fall. Alfred Summers came from Kentucky and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Henry Sears, a short time after Baker made his claim. He died in October, 1837, and his death was one among the earliest to occur in the adult population of the township. Passing backward in our note of time, we find the year 1835 records the coming of Josiah Dobson, John Close and his sons, George, John Jr. (or Jack, as he was familiarly known), and Turner. These were all from Kentucky, and settled in the region of Crane Creek. The old gentleman and his son Turner remained citizens of the vicinity in which they settled till the date of their decease. John Close, Sr., died a number of years ago, and in buried on the farm now owned by the Widow Carter. Turner died in 1863, having amassed, during life, con- siderable means, much of which has found its way into the pockets of attor- neys as fees for their services in the litigation of various matters. George, after a short term of residence, moved across the Sangamon, and thence to Iowa. Jack moved to Morgan County, and, after the loss of his companion, returned and located in Havana. Some years later, he took up his residence in Shreveport, and has since died. In 1837, James Walker, from Dearborn County, Ind., came and purchased a large tract of land in what, at that date, was called Price's Grove, but to which we have often referred as Walker's Grove, a name it has borne since the date of his coming. Here he lived and reared a family, which has been largely identified with the earlier and later interests of the county. He built the first frame house in this entire region of the county. The closing years of his life were spent as a citizen of Havana, in which city he died at an advanced age. Robert Gavin, from South Carolina, is thought to have settled in the township in 1837. Of him but little record can be made, as he did not remain long, and his place of removal cannot be determined. Charles and John Haynes, from North Carolina, became citizens of Crane Creek in 1838. They are still largely represented in the township. As early as the close of 1839, Isaac Teeters, George and Hiram Walker, Huff Hines, Henry Norris and Lemuel Pelham were settlers here. Teeters came from St. Clair County, and, leaving his residence here, moved with his family to Texas. Hiram Walker, after a few years' sojourn, moved to Greene County, 111., where he died some years ago. Henry Norris was from Barren County, Ky., and was the brother of Solomon Norris, who was among the first settlers of the township. Hines was a man who made for himself little or no reputation, an easy-going fellow, who, at this date, but few remember. Lemuel Pelham, however, was of a different charac- ter. He was a Buckeye by birth, if full credence might be given to his state- ment in regard to his birthplace. He was one of those rare exotics upon which, after the lapse of long intervals, the early settlers were permitted to gaze. He was one of those who, to use Uncle Henry's expressive phrase, "shackled round" from place to place, and, from the various localities in HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 665 which he had lived, and the length of time spent in each locality, Mr. Sears thinks, must have been not less than one hundred and fifty years of age at the time of his settlement here. Thoroughly wedded to his migratory habics, he did not remain long, and no trace of him has been kept by those who once knew him since his removal from their midst. He is thought, however, to have gone to St. Glair County, where, a number of years ago, he made his final exit from terra firma. Asher Scott, from New Jersey, settled about the last-men- tioned date, possibly a year earlier, in the northwest corner of the township and is still living. His brother Martin accompanied him, but settled across the line in what is now Sherman Township. During the year 1840, Charles Veach, Elijah Riggin, Ensley Hall and John Fumphelan were added to the population of this portion of the county. Veach was from Delaware, and settled where Eli C. Cleaveland now lives. He lost his life, in 1851, by the accidental caving-in of a well, which he was engaged in sinking. Riggin was a " Sucker " by birth and settled in the northeast corner of the township, where a number of the family, in comfortable circumstances, still reside. Ensley Hall came from Ten- nessee to Menard County, thence to Mason, and, after one year, again located in Menard. Fumphelan, as his name implies, was from " der Faderland." He located southeast of where Henry Sears now lives, on land owned by J. H. and E. C. Cleaveland. He was a quiet, inoffensive, well-meaning Dutchman, who, after a few years' residence, moved away, and all further trace of him has been lost. Rev. John L. Turner, from Kentucky, a minister of the Baptist denomina- tion, made a settlement near the present residence of James L. Hawks, in 1840. He was a minister of fine ability, and served the county in important offices, as the records testify. His death occurred twenty -odd years ago. The same year, Samuel C. Conwell came to the grove ; he is a native of Delaware, but was reared from early boyhood in Indiana, He was a young man of prepossessing appearance, and, as the cut of his garments and style of manners differed mate- rially from those of the pioneers by whom he was surrounded, and with whom he was in almost daily contact, he soon discovered that he was growing into general disfavor. Coonskin caps, buckskin breeches and moccasins was the ordi- nary apparel, at that day, among the early settlers. Con's dress indicated a more advanced stage of civilization and refinement, and he soon acquired to himself the distinction of "that d d Yankee," throughout the settlement. He was here as the agent of some fine stock, the property of his brothers-in- law, and a sharp trade or two served to bring him prominently before the brist- ling bar of justice. In no instance, however, was he convicted on the charges preferred, the failure of which led Jesse Baker to exclaim, " It is not worth our while to bother longer with this Jerusalem over-taker, since we cannot convict him of anything." " Con " says a residence of forty years among this people has not served to make him Governor, simply on account of the bad impression he made in an early day. His connection and prominence as the first man in the 666 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. county to introduce improved agricultural implements, has been fully noticed in the general county history. The years 184142 brought in Henry Seymour, James H. and Joseph Norris, George Hall, Christian, Trueman and Harvey Stone. The Norrises were from Kentucky, and settled near the north line of the township. Joseph moved to Texas a number of years ago, where he soon after died. George Hall purchased the James Walker farm at the grove, where he still resides. The Stones were from the Buckeye State. Christian and Trueman were brothers, while Harvey was their uncle. The latter, after a few years, went back to Ohio ; Christian moved 4o Iowa, and from there to Missouri ; Trueman is still a resident of the township. Henry Seymour was from Germany, and died in the vicinity in which he settled, a number of years ago. Samuel Neely, with his sons, William, John, George and James, came from Tennessee and settled in this section in 1844-45. Two or three of the families are still living here. Harvey B. Hawthorne was here in 1846 ; he was born in Kentucky and is of Scotch descent. The name originated during the war between the Scots and Danes, which was continued through a period of more than one hundred years. The Scots, when vanquished on the plains and in the valleys, fought their invaders from the hawthorn brush and groves, within the mountain fastnesses, and from these circumstances, the name of the shrub passed to that of a family. Mr. Hawthorne is still a citizen, and has been very successful in his various enter- prises. The same year, a number of the Tomlins settled in the northeast cor- ner of the township, many of whom still reside there. As early as 1850, Allen Robinson and James L. Hawks became denizens of Crane Creek. Rob- inson was from New Jersey, and came to Menard in 1846. In 1849, he settled in Walker's Grove, on the farm once owned by Solomon Norris ; here he at present resides in affluent circumstances. Hawks was from Kentucky, and has been a continuous resident since his first settlement. Upon the formation of the township, he was chosen to the office of Supervisor, a position in which he has served his fellow-citizens twelve or thirteen years. Elisha T. Davenport came from Kentucky to what is now Mason County, in 1831, but did not become a citizen of Crane Creek Township prior to 1849 ; he resides on Section 9, and is one of the substantial, well-to-do farmers of this section. Others there are, doubtless, who were settlers in this division of the county as early as 1850, and whose names, in justice to all, should be mentioned; but that omissions will of necessity occur, we confidently believe, will be readily granted by any one who will undertake to trace the early history of a township in which the settlements began as early as those in Crane Creek. Having taken this somewhat hasty glance at its early settlement, we next pass to notice some other matters of interest connected with its history. 'HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 667 WALKER'S GROVE. This grove, to which such frequent reference has already been made, was the nucleus around and in which all the earliest settlements were made. It was known as Price's Grove prior to the purchase of James Walker, in 1837, since which date it has been called by its present name. The grove proper embraces an area of not more than four hundred acres, and, in an early day, was as fine a body of timber as could be found in the county. A fine growth of the oak family, black walnut, soft and sugar maple, hickory, both shell-bark and smooth-bark, white walnut or butternut, mulberry ; and of shrubbery, the red-bud, papaw, dogwood, and many other varieties were found here. But little that is valuable, except for purposes of fencing and firewood, remains to-day. Most of those who erected their log cabins near this spot, in the days of its early settlement, have long since crossed over the still waters, and have been succeeded by a class of unpretending 'citizens, that for industry, intelli- gence and moral worth will compare favorably with any portion of the county or State. While the present inhabitants are eager for the daily papers, lest their interests may be affected by the " spring " or " decline " in the " hog market," the pioneers were content with mails once a week, or less frequently during bad weather or high w,ater. Amid the difficulties and discouragements by which they were often surrounded, they had their social enjoyments, as those who have listened to their animated discussions of the respective merits of "gourd-seed" and "flint" corn, or the prominent points of a favorite " coon dog," can abundantly testify. In and around this point were the beginnings of those enterprises which in their nature tend to the permanent establishment and development of society, and which are handmaidens in the onward march of civilization. We refer to churches and schools. " The groves were God's first temples," and here in nature's sanctuary, where the breezes came laden with the perfumes of a thousand flowers, early meetings were held. Rev. Thomas Plasters was the first to lift up the Gospel banner in this section. He was here as early as 1834, and belonged to that order of worshipers known in the West as " Hardshell Baptists," or, as they are otherwise called, the "Forty-gallon Baptist^." His preaching was somewhat after the style of the famous " Come, Buck-ah " sermon, recorded in the " Hoosier Schoolmaster." He had " the see-sawing gestures, the nasal resonance, the sniffle and melancholy minor key," which seems to be for an everlasting inheritance to his reverend brethren. And in addition to all these, as he warmed with his discourse, he had a habit of tugging vigorously first at one ear and then at the other, by way of lending emphasis and solemnity to his remarks. Still it was enjoyed by those enrly settlers who had been for some time without the privileges of the church. He discoursed many times at the residence of James A. Revis, in the southern part of the township. Rev. John L. Turner, who came in 1840, and of whom mention has already been made, was an early minister in the Baptist Churches 668 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. of this section. Rev. Abraham Bale, who should have been classed among the settlers of 1842-43, was a minister in the same connection. He settled on the farm where George Thomas now lives, and was the second resi- dent minister in the township. He built what is known as Bale's Mill, in Menard County, and which passed from his hands to those of his brother, Jacob, but is at present owned by a son of Abraham Bale. Rev. Ross, a radical Methodist minister, preached at the residence of Solomon Norris, in quite an early day. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Revs. William Coder, Wallace and Moreland were among the earliest. A church was built a number of years ago, near the site of New Hope burying-ground, in Walker's Grove, but was destroyed by fire just about the time of its completion, and before ser- vices had ever been held in it. The house was never rebuilt. Another was erected in the Sandridge timber, about the year 1859, but its use has been discontinued for some years, and the building is fast going to rack. Both of these houses were the property of the Baptist brethren, and the latter is the only public house of worship in the township. EARLY POST OFFICE, STORES, SCHOOLS, ETC. A post office called Walker's Grove Post Office was established at the house of James Walker, in 1839. It was on the mail route from Springfield to Havana. James Walker was the first Postmaster. After a period of about eighteen months, it was moved across the river into Menard County. An office was established at the grove, at a later date, and was there in 1854, at which time William Warnock, Jr., now of Mason City, was Postmaster. Jack Close, who afterward occupied rather a prominent place among the early merchants of Havana, had a small country store in the township as early as 1841. This was doubtless the first attempt made at merchandising in this section. Not long after Close began playing merchant, William Walker opened a small stock of dry goods and groceries at the grove. For several years, a small establishment was kept here by different parties, that of William Warnock, Jr., and his uncle being about the last. There is no store in the township at present ; those at Kilbourne, Easton and Mason City, are, however, easily accessible to the citi- zens of Crane Creek. The first schoolhouse built in the township, was on land belonging to Henry Sears, and was built in 1836. It was rather a rude affair, put up by those in the neighborhood for the benefit of their children. It drew patronage from a large extent of country. William Lease kept the first school and was paid for his services by individual subscription. James Buckner, M. D., was from Kentucky and came to this part of the county in 1839. He was the first physician to locate, and stopped for a time at the residence of John Yardley. He is" said to have been a well-read and successful practitioner. The prevailing diseases were bilious and lung fever with an occasional case of chills. Dr. Buckner lived a number of years on rented land in Walker's Grove, and then moved to Petersburg. His last place of residence was near Bloomington, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 669 in McLean County, where he died some years ago. Of him Uncle Henry Sears says: " He was a poor man, but every inch a gentleman." Dr. John Morgan was here early, but did not remain long. He had the gift of gab well developed, but his knowledge of medicine was looked upon as being somewhat superficial. He returned to New Orleans whence he came, and has for a num. ber of years past been a resident of Texas. The milling for the earliest settlers was done on the Mackinaw, and at Broadwell's, on the Sangamon. Later, it was obtained at Simmonds' and McHarry's on the Quiver, and, after the building of the Bales' mill, they, for the most part, went to it. FIRST DEATH, BIRTH AND MARRIAGE. Two children of the family of Alexander Revis, died in 1833, and are sup- posed to be the first deaths that occurred among the early settlers. The father and mother followed them some years later, and were laid to rest beside their sleeping little ones near what is known as Revis Springs. But few, if any, are now living who can point out the exact spot where the mortal remains of most of this pioneer family lie buried. The first wedding to occur in the township, so far as we have been able to ascertain, was that of John Mounts and Jane Summers. This happy event, by which two hearts were made to beat as one, transpired in 1830. No doubt John could exclaim with the poet (slightly varied), "I would, were she always thus nigh, Have nothing to wish or to fear, No mortal so happy as I, My Summers would last all the year." To the squaw wife of James Price is accorded the honor of becoming the mother of the first child born in what is now Crane Creek Township. If liv- ing, he has been reared among the kinsmen of his mother in the Far West, and may, for aught we know, even now be quietly surveying the situation, from the camp of Sitting Bull, preparatory to spreading consternation throughout our Western frontier settlements. Among the early Justices of the Peace, the names of Ira Patterson, Henry Norris and Robert - Turner occur. Patterson and Norris were officers when this was yet included in the limits of Menard County. Turner was perhaps the first after the organization of Mason County. Patterson, after filling this and offices of minor importance for some years, went West to grow up with the country. And that he did grow well is attested by the fact that, a num- ber of years ago, he was chosen to the important position of Governor of Oregon. The first deed to a piece of land that Henry Sears ever had made, was drafted by the late martyred President, Abraham Lincoln. In the good old days of Whigs and Democrats, this section was Democratic, and, since the organization of the Republican party, the township has continued to march under the same banner. The scarcity of money in the days of the early set- tlers was a great source of annoyance, and yet, any one with a liberal amount 670 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. of industry could easily supply himself with an article, which, for purposes of barter and exchange, was in as high favor as the " dollar of our daddies " of to-day. Coons were plentiful, and a good coon-skin was taken by the mer- chant in exchange for goods as readily as the value of it in cash would have been taken. J. M. Estep says that the first pair of boots he ever had he purchased of 0. M. Ross, in Havana, in 1836, and paid the entire cost in coon-skins. That the early settler would sometimes tax his ingenuity and exercise his physical frame in an unusual manner in order to obtain a little of the " 0-be-joyful," is evinced by the following incident: William Summers, who was fond of his "toddy," but who was often without the "wherewithal" necessary to obtain it, laid a wager on a certain occasion, that he could gallop, horse-fashion, on his hands and feet one-quarter of a mile within a given length of time. The feat was accomplished, and Summers, having obtained his quart of "old rye," remarked to his friend Jesse Baker, "We can contrive many ways in order to obtain our whisky, rather than to pay cash." The second apple orchard planted in the county was in this township, near Crane. Creek. The trees were obtained from the Gardner Nursery in Fulton County, which was established in 1824. The trees reared here from the seed seemed admirably adapted to the climate and soil, and at an early age bore well. The fruit, generally speaking, was remarkable for keeping well for long periods. It was not generally of the largest size, but good in quality and variety. The township most probably took its name from the great numbers of sand-hill cranes that were found here in an early day. The evidence, however, on this point, is by no means conclusive. And thus having traced its history as best we have been able, guided by an earnest desire to place it properly on record, we part company with the settler of 1829 and those that have succeeded him, but not without regret. SHERMAN TOWNSHIP. When, in 1862, in accordance with a vote of the citizens adopting town- ship organization, the county of Mason was divided into eleven townships. Sherman had no part or lot in the matter. The voting-places of its citizens were Havana, Forest City, and in the eastern portion of Pennsylvania Town- ship. The distance to be traveled and the difficulty experienced in reaching them, often deterred them from exercising this most inestimable right of the American citizen. In September, 1866, a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors, praying that a new township by the name of Jackson might be created out of portions of Havana, Pennsylvania and Mason Plains (now Forest City) Townships. After mature deliberation, the prayer of the peti- tioners was granted. Though the name by which it had been christened was one which the American people had twice honored with the highest gift in their power to bestow, and was calculated to perpetuate the memory of the hero of HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 671 New Orleans, yet a greater in military exploits than he had arisen. Sherman, who, at the head of his noble and victorious army, had " marched down to the sea," and by his successful warfare, waged in behalf of his country, had endeared himself to every true patriot heart, was a name well-pleasing to many of its citizens. At the January meeting of the Board, in 1867, upon motion, the name Jackson was stricken out, and that of Sherman substituted. It is designated as Town 21 north, Range 7 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and comprises thirty-six sections a Congressional Township. The woodland districts are of a very limited extent. Excepting a small grove in the northeast corner, known as Crane Marsh timber, and the outskirts of Bull's Eye Prairie timber, along the western edge, the entire township is prairie. A county ditch, finding an outlet through Crane Creek, crosses the southeastern corner, and, with its tributaries, affords drainage to an extended scope of its territory. The C., H. & W. R. R. (formerly known as the Havana extension of the Indianap- olis, Bloomington & Western) crosses its southern portion, the length of line through the township being about seven miles. The geographical position of Sherman is south of Quiver and Forest City Townships, west of Pennsylvania, north of Crane Creek, and east of Havana. As an agricultural district, at present it ranks lower than any other township in the county. This is owing to the large amount of wet, swampy land included within its limits. Fully three-fourths of its entire area was comprised in that portion of the county known, a few years ago, as "swamp-lands." Many of its broad acres were at one time held by the Government at the small sum of 25 cents per acre, and even this mere pittance it failed to realize. These low- lands, when effectually drained, have proved to be very productive, and the township, by a thorough system of artificial drainage, may be made to com- pare favorably with other portions of the county in its annual products. With this glance at its topographic features, we come at once to a notice of its EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first improvement made in what is now Sherman Township was that of Thomas K. Falkner. The family, originally from the Empire State, had set- tled in Dearborn County, Ind., in 1815. In 1830, Thomas, then a married man, moved to Madison County, and settled on the bank of White River. Eight years later, he removed to Illinois, and entered lands in Section 7, Town 21 north, Range 7 west of the Third Principal Meridian, then Tazewell, now Mason County. He built a log cabin, and, on the opening of spring, began to break prairie. After a residence of ten or twelve years, he sold out to Henry Cease and moved into Salt Creek, where, in 1865, he died. In the summer of 1839, Mahlon Hibbs and his sons, William and Eli, together with his son-in- law, John Hampton, came from Columbia County, Penn., and settled on the same section. Mahlon Ilibbs settled on the southeast quarter, made an improve- ment, and died the fall after coming. William Hibbs entered land on the 672 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. northwest quarter, improved it, and, after a residence of some six or eight years, traded it for mill property in Island Grove, Sangamon County. From there he removed to Missouri, and, a few years since, to Kansas, in which State he at present resides. John Opp is the owner, at present, of the land he entered. Eli .Hibbs made his farm on the northeast quarter, lived there some years, and then moved to the farm entered by his father, where he still lives. John Hampton located west of his father-in-law, and lived on the farm he entered and improved till October, 1878, when he moved to Shelby County, Mo., where, at last accounts, he was still living. About two weeks subsequent to the arrival of the Hibbses and Hampton, Mrs. Catharine Dentler and family came from Northumberland County, Penn., and settled on Section 18, south of the settlements already mentioned. She moved to Nebraska seven or eight years ago, and died there in the winter of 1878. Solomon Dentler, a young man, nephew of Mrs. Dentler, came with the family. He entered eighty acres on Section 20, but did not improve it. In the fall of 1839, he returned East, and, having traded his land to Henry Cease, did not again come West. The settlers already mentioned comprised the entire citizenship of this section prior to 1844. West of their location, toward the town of Havana, there were seven or eight families along the border of the woods, to wit, Coder, McReynolds, Robert Falkner, Eli Fisk, Brown, Fessler, and a few others. These constituted the inhabitants in the first thirty miles or more east of Havana. Nearly the whole country was a vast, unbroken prairie, over which roamed at pleasure vast herds of deer and wolves. Mr. John R. Falkner relates that, in the spring of 1840, he, with two others, counted on Bull's Eye Prairie fifty- nine deer in one herd, and forty-two in another, all in sight at the same time. James H. Chase was the next in order in the township. He came from Pennsylvania to Hamilton County, 111., in 1839, and from there to Mason in 1844. His improvement was made on the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 8, where he remained till the date of his decease, an event which occurred some years ago. Joseph Lehr settled in the northwest corner of the township in 1845. He purchased two acres of William Hibbs for a building-site, on which he erected a cabin. He laid a claim on Section 6, which he improved and owned to the date of his death. Lehr came from the Buckeye State, but was a native of Pennsylvania. He moved to Wabash County and lived one year, thence to Wisconsin and remained one year, finally returning to Havana, where, a few years ago, he died. Among the list of settlers as early as 184849, we find the names of Henry Cease, John Blakely, William and John Alexander and Charles Trotter. Cease was from the Keystone State, and was the fore- runner of a large number from the same section that settled, at an^early date, in what is now Pennsylvania Township. He purchased the improvement of Thomas K. Falkner, and, a few years later, moved farther east into the township, on land now owned and occupied by J. H. Kellerman. He moved to Missouri a few years ago, and at present resides there. Blakely and the Alexanders HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 675 were from Ohio, and settled east of those already mentioned. Blakely contin- ued a citizen till the date of his decease. The Alexanders first settled in Havana Township, but came, as above stated, to Sherman. William located near the edge of Crane Creek timber, and, several years ago, went to Missouri. John sold out some three or four years after coming,, and returned to Ohio. Charles Trotter was an Englishman by birth, and came to this section from the Bay State. Peter Morgenstern now owns and occupies the farm he improved. He remained in the township but a few years, then moved to Beardstown, Cass County, where, some years later, he died. About the time of the last mentioned date, Mrs. M. B. Devenport and family, consisting of her sons Henry, Lewis, William, Joseph and Marshall, settled in the southern part of the township, about one mile southeast of the present village of Easton. Her husband, Mar- shall B. Devenport, commonly known as Booker, came from Kentucky to Illi- nois in 1832, and died in what is now Salt Creek Township in 1840. Joseph died here a number of years ago. Henry is still a resident of this part, while Eli T. resides across the line, in Crane Creek. Marshall Devenport took up his residence in the Golden State some years since, and, when last heard from, was living. Passing down through the years 1849 and 1850, we find the names of Samuel Adkins, Granville Cheny, Vincent Singleton and Alexander Holler. These all settled in the southwest corner of the township, on what is known as Bull's Eye Prairie. Adkins and Holler were from Tennessee, Cheny from Tennessee or Kentucky, and Singleton probably from the State last mentioned. Adkins settled in the northwest corner of Bull's Eye, and, after three or four unsuccessful attempts at farming, sold out to Henry Cease, lived in different parts of the township until five or six years ago, when he went west to Kansas. Cheny located on the north edge of the prairie, but finally moved to De Witt County, where, quite recently, he lost his life by accident. Singleton remained a few years, moved to Salt Creek, thence to Mason City, of which he is at present a citizen. Alexander Holler lived in the township but a short time, moved into Havana Township, and died a number of years ago. William G. Stone, now a resident of Havana, was a citizen of Sherman as early as 1850. Stone was originally from New Jersey, but came from Pennsylvania to Mason County. John Spellman and Amos Heater came in 1851, and were both Penn- sylvanians. Heater settled on Section 9, and resides on the farm originally entered and improved. Spellman lived only two weeks after completing his house and moving into it. His widow, since married, is still a citizen of the township. His sons, Henry and George, went west to Nebraska some years since. William entered the army in the early part of the war. He was, doubtless, an ardent admirer of the sentiment expressed in the couplet, " He that fights, and runs away, May live to fight another day," for, after the first engagement, he ingloriously deserted, and was seen among his comrades no more. He is supposed to have died some years since, though this BB 673 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. fact is not definitely known. H. Elderbush settled in the edge of Crane Marsh timber about 1852 or 1853 ; the exact date of his coming cannot now be ascer- tained. James M. Samuels, one of Sherman's most prosperous citizens, located on the northwest corner of Section 36, where he still resides. The family, originally from the Old Dominion, had emigrated to Kentucky in 1815, and settled near Hopkinsville when that thriving city was a small village of not more than one hundred inhabitants. In the spring of 1835, his father, Andrew Samuels, came to Illinois, and first settled in Morgan County. Ten years afterward, he settled in what is now Bath Township, Mason County, on the farm now occupied by his youngest son. The remains of himself and wife lie entombed in the cemetery at Bath. ^When James M. settled here twenty-four years ago, there were none living east of him in the township, and, with the exception of Mrs. Devenport and family, none south before reaching the set- tlers in Crane Creek. To one visiting his pleasant home, occupying as it does, one of the most eligible sites in the entire township, the matter of wonder is, that a location so desirable should have been left unoccupied to so late a date, while others, far less so, had been occupied and improved fifteen or twenty years earlier. His connection with the village of Easton will be given in the history of that village. Jacob Kissler and family, consisting of Mark A., Will- iam, James, Thomas, Charles, John and three daughters, came from Washing- ton County, Penn., and first stopped in Havana. In 1859, they came to the township, and, with the exception of Thomas, are enterprising citizens to-day. Thomas returned to Pennsylvania not long after coming. There are others, doubtless, whose names are worthy of mention as being among the early settlers of this section, but whose time of coming and date of settlement cannot be accurately given. TRADING-POINTS, MILLING, ETC. What Chicago is to Illinois and the West, Havana was to the early settlers of Mason County the point to which all their produce must be brought to find sale and shipment, and in which they obtained their dry goods and groceries. Hogs were sometimes driven to Beardstown and slaughtered, as, at one time, it enjoyed the distinction of being the " Porkopolis " of the entire region. Meal was obtainable in limited quantities at Mount's mill, on Crane Creek, but, when flour was to be procured, they were obliged to make the journey to Wood- row s or Kinman's mill, on Mackinaw, or to Wentworth's, on Otter Creek, in Fulton County. The former, though more distant, were generally preferred on account of the scarcity of the ' ; needful " to pay the toll at Ross' Ferry (now Havana) which was 87 J cents the round trip. It was by no means an unusual occurrence to consume four or five days in making the journey back and forth to mill, the length of time being governed somewhat by the period one might be required to wait for his grist to be ground. The mills of Simmonds and McIIarrv, on Quiver, built at a later date, brought almost to their doors con- veniences which the early settlers scarcely dared dream of, much less expect in HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 677 their own day and generation. All mail matter was received at Havana. There was never a mill built or a post office established within her borders until since the advent of railroads through this part of the county. They enjoyed the distinction of having a blacksmith-shop convenient to them at quite an early day. Martin Scott opened a shop just across the line, in Havana Township, as early as 1848 or 1844. Eli Hibbs built a shop in 1848, the first in the town- ship, and has worked at his trade more or less every year since. Before the building of schoolhouses, the " school marm " was abroad in the land. Miss Eliza Dentler was the first to instruct the youthful Suckers in this part of the county. The school was kept at the residence of her mother. She was regarded as a first-class teacher at the time, though it is probable that her literary attainments would fail to secure for her an appointment in most of our city schools of to-day. The first schoolhouse built in the township was designed to be located on the southeast corner of Section 8, on land belonging to James H. Chase. Upon a more accurate survey, it was found, however, to be on Sec- tion 9, on the land of Amos Heater. The building was erected in 1846-47, and Abe Millerson presided over the destinies of the first school. At present, the township has seven good school buildings and makes ample provision for the education of all her youth. The circuit-rider, who came to proclaim messages of divine love, followed early in the wake of the first settlers. Rev. Michael Shunk was, perhaps, the first through this section. Revs. Moreland and Hardin Wallace were here in an early day. Moreland was a man remembered for his more than ordinary ability in the pulpit, while Wallace was a young man noted for his fine singing. Of the latter, it is said he could open services, deliver his sermon, and close the exercises all inside of twenty minutes, especially when a few handsome young ladies were in his audience. Moreland was sent from his charge here to Purgatory Swamp, a name suggestive of the fact that all his eloquence and persuasive powers would be needed to reclaim its inhabitants. A small frame church, the only one in the township outside of the village of Easton, was erected by the German Evangelical Society in 1855 or 1856. Amos Heater and wife, John Shinglemeyer and family, Jacob Shinglemeyer and family, Henry Mehlhop, P. Morgenstern and others were among the early communicants. The first practitioner of the healing art was William Coder, who had settled in the eastern part of Havana Township in 1838. He was a minister of some reputation as well as a physician, and sought by his labors to heal spiritual as well as physical infirmities. Dr. Allen, from Indiana, was a man of fine abilities, and was also here at quite an early date. FIKST BIRTHS, DEATH AND MARRIAGE. Elizabeth Hampton, daughter of John Hampton, born January 24, 1840, and Mahlon Hibbs, son of Eli Hibbs, born May 8, 1840, were the first births to occur in the township. Hampton's daughter attained to womanhood's estate, and was living a short time ago. Hibbs' son died at the age of nine months. 678 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. \ The first death to occur was that of Mrs. Thomas K. Falkner, whose death took place in May, 1839. She was buried at the then recently established burying-ground on the farm of Robert McReynolds. The first interment in the cemetery was that of Grandma Fessler in 1838. The honor of the first wedding in this section belongs either to John McReynolds and Catharine Dentler, or to Alfred Howell and Eliza Falkner, but which was first, no one living here, at present, is able to assert with positive assurance. Their example, in that respect at least, has been followed by many others of later years. The war record of Sherman is alike creditable to herself and the county of which she is a part. The patriotism of her citizens was equal to the demands of her country upon her at all times. All calls were promptly filled, and she furnished men even in excess of her quota. At one time, the Republican party was in the ascendancy, but gradually the scales turned, and, for the past few years, the Democratic party has carried the day. M. H. Lewis was the first Super- visor of the township. Alfred Athey guards her interests at present, and has held the office by successive re-elections for several terms. THE VILLAGE OF EASTON. This village is situated on the C., H. & W. R. R. about midway between Havana and Mason City. It is very near the geographical center of the county, and from this fact it is thought by many that should the question of the removal of the seat of justice again come before the people of the county, a large vote would be polled in favor of Easton. The town site was surveyed and platted by John R. Falkner for James M. Samuels, in 1872. The original plat contained about twenty acres, to which an addition has since been made on the north and east. Edward D. Terrell began the construction of the first building in the village, in the latter part of November, 1872, but did not get it completed and ready for occupancy until the 1st of March, 1873. He then opened out a stock of general merchandise and has since continued one of the leading mer- chants of the village. Diebold Furrer, in the meantime, erected a small building and feeling that the enterprise needed spirit to make it a complete success, rolled in a few barrels and opened out a saloon. He is at present a citizen -of the village, engaged in the sale of dry goods and groceries. Henry Cooper built the first private residence in the village during the summer of 1873. It was quite ample, designed for a boarding-house, and is now owned and operated by Charles C. Dorrell as the Easton House. A drug store, in name, was started in the summer of 1874, by David Carter, but was in fact little less than a second-class doggery, the life of which was somewhat ephemeral. James M. Samuels built a blacksmith-shop during the summer of 1873, and was the first to set his bellows roaring in the village. A fine steam elevator, costing $7,000, was built by Low, McFadden & Simmons, in 1874. A large amount of grain is shipped annually from this point, the territory from which it "draws" extending north two-thirds of the way to Forest City and south to the mouth HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 679 of Crane Creek on the Sangamon bottom. Low & Foster, of Havana, are at present engaged in handling grain at this point. A neat frame school building, costing $3,000, was put up in 1877, and is an ornament to the village. A sub- stantial frame church, free to all denominations, is now in process of construc- tion, which, when completed, will cost about $2,000. The post office was estab- lished in 1873, and E. D. Terrell was the first Postmaster. The first physician to locate was Dr. C.. W. Hough ton, formerly of Newmanville, Cass County. Dr. L. T. Magill, a promising young physician, formed a copartnership with him in 1876, and these two are the representatives of the medical fraternity in the village to-day. Easton was laid out and recorded by the name of Sherman- ville, but when a petition was sent to the Post Office Department asking for the establishment of an office by the name of Sherman, owing to the fact that an office of the same name already existed in Sangamon County, the petition could not be granted. After various names had been proposed, Mr. Samuels, as proprie- tor of the village, requested 0. C. Easton, Postmaster at Havana, to aid in procur- ing the establishment of an office and granted him the privilege of naming it. Easton elected to name it for himself. Soon after the post office was established, the name of the village was changed to correspond, though it stands recorded to-day as Shermanville. .No public sale of lots was ever held, the proprietor preferring to superintend largely the interests of the village himself, and to introduce that class of citizens which gave promise of thrift and enterprise. It is doubtless owing to this, that so few of that objectionable class found in most small villages are to be met with here. It has two general stores, two drug stores, one hardware and two smith shops, a boot and shoe shop, one saloon, one hotel and a citizenship of about one hundred. Situated as it is in the midst of the finest agricultural district of the county, it may yet, at no very distant day, grow to rival the more important towns of the county. Briggs' Station, three miles west of Easton on the same line of railroad, was laid out in April, 1875, but with the exception of a residence, a small store- room, in which is kept a general store, and a small building for the handling of grain, all owned and operated by Paul G. Briggs, the proprietor, no other improvement marks the site. A post office was established here in 1877, which is a matter of some convenience to the immediate neighborhood. Poplar City, laid out by Martin Scott in 1873, on the extreme west line of the town- ship, has failed to rise into a village of any importance. In its palmiest days, its population did not exceed twenty-five souls, and recently it seems to have entered upon a decline. Some grain is shipped from this point. A post office at one time exeisted here, but latterly has been discontinued. 680 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA TOWNSHIP. On the 27th of October, 1682, there arrived upon the coast of Delaware Bay, a man whose life and character have been handed down from generation to generation as worthy of emulation and imitation. He was noted not only for the purity and rectitude of his life, but also for his integrity of purpose toward his own countrymen, as well as toward the uncouth and barbarous sav- age, whose happy hunting-grounds he came to reclaim from their native wild- ness, and transform into a great and growing province. He came as the pro- prietor cf a vast landed estate, and soon had the satisfaction of gathering around him a large colony that was peaceful, prosperous and happy, almost beyond example. He was at once governor, magistrate, preacher, teacher and laborer. The early prosperity and rapid development of the Quaker State was largely owing to the pacific principles adopted in the beginning, and firmly adhered to by its founder and father, William Penn. To the descendants of its early settlers, the section of Mason County of which we are about to write is indebted for its earliest citizens. Pennsylvania Township is designated as Town 21 north, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, and is bounded on the north by Forest City and Manito Townships; east, south and west, respectively, by Allen's Grove, Salt Creek and Sherman Townships. It contains thirty-six full sections, and is one of the two townships of Mason County that exactly coincide with the Congressional survey. Throughout its entire extent it is prairie land. The southern half of the township is rather elevated, while the northern half is low and level. A county ditch crosses the northern portion, through which much of the surface-water of the adjacent bnd finds an outlet. The C., H. & W. R. R. crosses the southwestern corner of the township, its extent from point of entrance to exit being about four miles. Teheran, a station on the road, is located on Section 32, and is the only village in the township. FIRST SETTLEMENT. While permanent settlements did not begin to be made, prior to the year 1849, in this township, still, as early as the fall of 1844, one adventurous spirit was found within its limits. Ambrose Edwards, from Kentucky, made a squat- ter's improvement in what was Red Oak Grove, at the date above mentioned. He was the first to erect his log cabin and begin the cultivation of the soil. The grove in which he located was near the center of the township, but has long since faded from view. It was of small extent, perhaps one mile in length by one-half in width, and was consumed by the earliest settlers while most of it was held by pre-emption right by non-resident parties. Francis Dorrell, who had been a resident of the State since 1835, came from Sangamon County and settled on Section 31, in 1849. His was doubtless the second improvement in HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 681 the township. His widow is still a resident. When he settled, not a human habitation was visible on the north, east or west. Stretching away in the dis- tance, visions were sometimes caught, at sunset, of the village of Delavan, twenty-five miles away. Near the same date, William Briggs settled a short distance from where the village of Teheran now stands, but whence he came or whither he went, no one at present living there is able to say. Peter Speice, from Ohio, came early in 1850, and located on Section 20, and was shortly afterward followed by George Sweigert, his father-in-law, who settled in the same locality. They both made improvements, and, after a few years' residence, sold out and moved to Mackinaw in Tazewell County. A year or two later, quite an influx of population was added to the citizenship of this section from the Keystone State. The settlement became so large in a few years, and the additions made were so uniformly from the same section of coun- try, to the exclusion of almost all others, that it early acquired the distinction of Pennsylvania Settlement, a name yet in use to designate a certain portion of the township. In the fall of 1848, Henry Cease, from Luzerne County, Penn., came and stopped a short time in Havana. He soon purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. During the spring and summer of 1851, Joseph and Abraham Cease, Jimison H. Wandel, John W. Pugh and Benedict Hadsall all came in from the same section of country. The Ceases were men of family, while Wandel, Pugh and Hadsall were single men. All were in what is now Havana Township a short time. In December, 1851, Henry Cease, J. H. Wandel and Abraham Cease went east across Crane Marsh to explore the country, and, on reaching Section 22, in what is now Pennsylvania Township, determined to locate and begin the making of their farms. They each entered a quarter- section and pre-empted the same amount. During the summer of 1852, Abraham and Joseph Cease each built a frame house and began opening up their farms. In April of the same year, Pugh, with whom the climate did not seem to agree, and who had disabled himself by hard work, prevailed upon Wandel to accompany him back to his former home. Wandel, whose favorable impressions of the great and growing West had led him to write back such glowing accounts of the country to his kinsmen, found, to his utter astonishment, upon the day of his arrival, a sale in progress at his fath- er's and uncle's, both of whom, with their families, were on the eve of starting for Mason County. After a short sojourn among his native hills, in company with James Wandel, his father, Isaac Huneywell, a brother-in-law, George Wandel, an uncle, and their families, he again turned his face westward. The entire journey was made by water, and the time consumed in coming from Pittsburgh to Havana was seven weeks. With bright hopes and eager expecta- tions of what their future Western homes would soon be, these families had severed the ties that bound them to their native land, to battle with the thou- sand difficulties incident to pioneer life. But alas for human expectations, the shadow of a great grief accompanied them on their journey. The decease of 682 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. Mrs. Honeywell, who had sickened on the way, occurred on the very night of their landing at Havana. Heart-broken and discouraged, with the care of five small children upon his hands, Isaac Huneywell, with J. H. Wandel as a com- panion, retraced the course so lately passed over. For a time, at least, it seemed that Wandel was destined to belong only to the floating population of the county. During his stay in Pennsylvania, he prepared himself more fully for citizenship in Illinois by taking as a helpmeet Sarah E. Depue, and, in the fall of 1852, with his father-in-law, Aaron Depue, and family, he again came to Mason County. In the summer of 1853, he erected his house and improved forty acres of his farm. He remained a citizen of the township until a few years ago, when he became a citizen of Mason City, in which he at present resides. The others mentioned all settled in the eastern portion of the county, though not all in Pennsylvania Township. Phillip Cease came to the county in 1852, and settled south of Wandel on Section 22. George Wandel pur- chased an improved farm on which he settled near where the village of Teheran now stands. This, doubtless, was the farm owned and occupied by William Briggs, whose early settlement has already been noted. James Wandel entered and improved a farm on Section 27. James Depue and his family, con- sisting of George, Henry, James, Jr., Moses, Isaac and one daughter, Mary, settled just across the line, in what is now Salt Creek Township. During the spring and summer of 1853, we find the following settlers added to the list already given: George W. and Alexander Benscoter, William Legg, Asa Gregory, D. V. Benscoter and Joseph Statler. The Benscoters and Gregory were from Pennsylvania, Statler from the Buckeye State and Legg from Cass County, Hoosierdom. Legg entered the land pre-empted by J. H. Wandel, and made an improvement in the summer of 1853. The sum- mer following, he sold out to George W. and Alexander Benscoter. Asa Greg- ory settled in the northwest corner of the township, remained a few years, then sold out and returned East. Joseph Statler settled in the south part, a short distance north of the present village of Teheran, on land now owned by J. McClung and J. H. Matthews. The records of the county show that he (Statler) was chosen Assessor in 1858 and 1859. He was also ex-offi- cio County Treasurer, as these two offices were combined in one prior to the adoption of township organization, in 1862. A man of strict integrity and fine business abilities, it is needless to say that in these positions of public trust his duties were promptly, faithfully and ably performed. Some years since, he became a resident of Mason City, and the citizens of that thriving and prosperous city, recognizing his worth, have honored him with' the office of City Judge. D. V. Benscoter located on Section 26, east of Statler's, and, with many others of the family, is still a citizen of the township. Jack Conroy, from Ohio, made an improvement in the summer of 1854 on the southeast corner of the school section, where James Hurley at present resides. About the same HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. 683 date, Daniel and James Riner and David E. Cruse became citizens of the town- ship. In 1856, J. Phink, from the Keystone State, made a farm in the south part of the township, and was soon followed by Jacob Benscoter, his father-in- law, who located in the same vicinity. While very many of the early settlers have passed over the river, to the land of shadows, many of their descendants remain citizens, and not a few occupy the farms entered and improved by their fathers. Of others who became citizens of the county prior to 1860, and located in this township, we find the names of Andreas Furrer, A. J. Gates, Alexander Blunt, Charles Hadsall, J. L. Ingersoll, T. L. Kindle, Joel Severns, W. K. Terrell and John Van Hoon. Furrer was from Germany, and settled near the western limits of the township. Gates was from Tennessee, and Blunt from Kentucky. They both settled on Section 32, where they at present reside. Hadsall, Severns and Van Hoon were from Pennsylvania ; Ingersoll, from Ohio ; Kindle and Terrell, from New Jersey. Ingersoll settled in the north- west corner of the township, and the remainder in the central and eastern por- tions, except Terrell, who located in the southwest corner, on Section 30. From the year 1860 forward, changes occurred so frequently, by removals and new arrivals, that any attempt to point out the order in which citizens came in and took up their residence would necessarily be a vain and useless task. John W. Pugh, a citizen of later date, has been so prominently identified with her interests as to be worthy of more than a passing notice. He is mentioned as having come to the county in 1850. He did not locate in Pennsylvania Town- ship until 1864, since which time he has served his fellow -citizens eleven years, in the capacity of Supervisor. He is the present incumbent, and his influence and sound judgment have much to do in the legislation of the affairs of the county. In 1874, he was chosen a member of the General Assembly, and here his influence was felt, and his votes stand recorded creditably to himself and his constituents. His entire official career has been a!ike creditable to his head and heart. The earliest settlers of Pennsylvania Township were not wholly exempt from the inconveniences and difficulties which are ever attendant companions to those who pioneer the way in the settlement and improvement of a new coun- try. The snorting of the iron horse had not at that date been heard within the limits of the county. Mason City and the villages in the eastern and southern part of the county had not yet been born. Havana was the only point for the shipment and sale of their extra produce. A large and, for the most part of the year, impassable swamp lay between them and it. In order to " fetch " their grain to market, the unloading and reloading of it five or six times was by no means an unusual occurrence. So accustomed to miring did teams become that the moment a halt was made, even though it might be on solid ground, they would lie down, through fear of finding the bottom some distance below the surface if they remained standing. Much of the early 684 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. settler's time was consumed in marketing his produce, and the feat of crossing the swamp successfully with a good full load could only be accomplished during the severity of winter. Those coming in since the era of railroads in different portions of the county know but little, by experience, of the difficulties and trials that the set- tlers of 1849 and the early fifties endured.- Their early milling was done on the Mackinaw, and, of later years, at Simmonds' and McHarry's, on Quiver. Their nearest post office was Havana, distant some fifteen or eighteen miles. The township has never had a post office established within its limits, save the one at present existing at Teheran. No grist-mill, so far as we have been advised, has ever been erected in any portion of it. SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC. The first settlers by no means neglected the intellectual culture of their children, and so we find that as soon as a half a dozen families were located in the same neighborhood, a temple of learning was erected. The first school- house in this part was built on Pennsylvania Lane in 1853 or 1854. Miss Martha Randall is credited with being the first teacher. At present there are seven school districts in this township, each supplied with a good frame building, and the annual amount expended for educational purposes compares favorably with that of surrounding sections. The earliest ministers in this part of the moral vineyard were Revs. Mowrey, Randall and Sloan. They were ministers in the M. E. Church. The early meetings were held in the schoolhouse. After a few years, through the death and removal of members, the society became so reduced in numbers that the field was abandoned, and remained unoccupied till 1873, when the Presbyterians organized a society and erected a church build- ing. What is known as the Pennsylvania Presbyterian Church was built in the fall of the last mentioned year. It is a neat frame building with arched ceiling, 30x40 feet, and cost, at the time of its construction, $2,150. Rev. S. J. Bogle was the first Pastor, and gave his first year's labor to the church free of charge. While his regular labor is with the Church in Mason City, he still continues to preach for this congregation on stated occasions. The early com- municants of the Church were John Vanhorn, wife and daughter, Mrs. M. J. Cavern, John W. Pugh and wife, and Mrs. Mary Pottorf. The present mem- bership numbers about thirty. A few members of the Baptist Church are resi- dents of the neighborhood, and Rev. Mr. Hobbs, of Mason City, discourses to them on the second Sunday of each month in this building. This is the only church building in the toAvnship outside of the village of Teheran. Dr. J. P. Walker, now a prominent physician of Mason City, was among the first to practice the healing art in the township. The first death among the settlers of this section was doubtless that of Mrs. James Wandel, whose decease occurred at the residence of her son, Jimison H. Wandel, in the spring of 1854. The wife of Joseph Cease died a few months later. We have not placed these facts, HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. . 685 viz., the appearance of the physician in, and the coming of death to the settle- ment, in juxtaposition in our history, in order that the inference may be readily drawn that the debut of the medicine-man in a community necessarily augurs the speedy demise of some of its members, and lest some noble and devoted disciple of Esculapius might feel aggrieved at the order of facts given, we here enter our disclaimer to any such intention. And" yet the sight of a doctor always sug- gests to our mind the idea of disease, sickness and death. The first to enter the connubial relation was Jimison H. Wandel, whose marriage to Sarah E. Depue was celebrated in the fall of 1852. Many others have since been mar- ried and given in marriage, as is common throughout the length and breadth of this goodly land. Whose was the first birth in the township cannot now be definitely ascertained. That there have been first-born males and first-born females in many families of this section, is fully evidenced by the fact that bright-eyed lads and lasses render joyous and gladsome the hearts of parents in many a household. Among the early Justices of the Peace in this quarter, the invincible Jimison H. Wandel leads the list. He was called upon to discharge the functions of this important, though often belittled office, as early as 1858. He was also commissioned the first Justice for the township after its organiza- tion. As originally set off, it contained a large portion of what is now included in Sherman Township, two sections of Forest City and four of Manito. Alto- gether, it embraced fifty-eight full sections. In 1867, it was reduced to its present limits. The political complexion of the township has always been Democratic. Whenever a strict party vote has been cast, she has never given forth any uncertain sound, but has always raised her voice lustily for the Democratic party. During the "late on pleasantness " she furnished her full quota of war-boys to the rank and file of the army, and was . at no time sub- jected to a draft. Taken throughout its whole extent, it compares favorably with the adjacent townships as an agricultural district. The low or marshy lands, when a little more effectually drained, will constitute the most productive portions within its limits. VILLAGE OF TEHERAN. This village is situated in the southwest corner of the township, and is a station on the C., H. & W. R. R,, about seven miles west of Mason City. It was laid out in 1873, on land belonging to Alexander Blunt. Soon after the village was located, A. J. Gates put up a building and opened a grocery store. D. L. Whitney at one time had a good general store, but has not been num- bered among her merchants for some years past. David Everett at present operates the only general store in the place. The post office was established in 1874, with W. T. Rich as first Postmaster. The present incumbent is David Everett. A warehouse, built some years previous, was, in 1876, converted into an elevator by Low, McFadden & Simmons. The amount of grain handled here, annually, ranges from 75,000 to 125,000 bushels. A neat frame 686 HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY. church was erected by the United Brethren society in 1878. The society is small, but in a growing and prosperous condition. A blacksmith and general repair shop completes the list of its business enterprises. Its population does not exceed thirty souls, and yet, unimportant as it is when compared with vil- lages of a larger growth, it is, nevertheless, a convenience to the neighborhood as a point for the shipment of their produce, and at which daily mails are received. It is hardly to be expected that it will ever exceed its present limits, as its proximity to Mason City on the one hand and Easton on the other, will continually act as checks to its further development. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PATRONS use ^ :R, ID a o U" nsr T PETERSBURG PRECINCT. DR. F. P. ANTLE, physician, Petersburg. Among the physicians of Menard Co. none stand higher than Dr. Francis P. Antle, of Petersburg. He is of Scotch and German descent, and comes from patriotic stock ; his maternal descent is traced from the Buchanans, who early emigrated from Scotland to America, and he is a mem- ber of the same branch of the family with President Buchanan, to whom he was second cousin. The ancestors of Dr. Antle's father came from Germany, and settled in North Carolina. Dr. Antle is the son of Michael and Mary Ann (Buchanan) Antle ; they were married in Kentucky, and lived for a time near Lexington, Ky. ; they emigrated to Illinois in the fall of 1819, locating for a time near St. Louis. In March, 1820, they settled on ^a tract of land eight miles southeast of where Jacksonville now is ; here Francis P. Antle was born, May 1, 1824 ; his early life was spent on his father's farm, and his early education was obtained during the winter months ; so well were his advantages improved that, at the age of 18, he began teaching in the same school where he had been a pupil ; this he followed for a time, then began the study of medicine with J. D. Freeman, of Springfield ; two years were spent in Springfield, and, in 1856, he went to Cincinnati and attended medical lectures at the Eclectic Medical Institute ; at the conclusion of these courses of lectures, he removed to Williamsville, Sangamon Co., and established a drug store and engaged in the practice of medicine. In 1859, he again visited Cincinnati, and took an additional course of lectures, after which he made Petersburg his home, and has since been actively employed with the duties of his pro- fession. Dr. Antle married Miss Dorcas Ann Mosteller, of Menard Co., Jan. 28, 1858. Her parents were early settlers of Sangamon Co. ; they have but two children living T. Powell and Jonah O. The former is a graduate of the Illinois College of Jacksonville. H. B. ALBERS, dealer in boots and shoes, Petersburg; is a native of Prussia, where he was born Oct. 14, 1849. During his early life, he obtained a good business education and learned the trade of a shoemaker. He ^migrated to this country in 1869, landing in New York City June 26 ; he at once came to Illinois, locating in Petersburg, and for a time followed his trade; in 1874, he established his present busi- ness. He is a young man of good business ability and by fair dealing has built up a flourishing trade, and won the reputation of a much respected citizen. He keeps a fine assortment and none but the best of goods, making a specialty of custom work. His is the only exclusively boot and shoe house of Menard Co., his entire attention being turned toward this branch of business. His wife was Miss Mary Ahrends, of his native country ; they were married Nov. 5, 1873 ; they have a family of three children. A. F. BEARD, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; he was born in Sullivan Co., N . H., Aug. 25, 1827, where he was raised and received such school advantages as the place afforded ; during his early life, he lived a farmer. He married Nyrah, daughter of Hiram Hurd, a prominent farmer of this county, Nov. 6, 1852, and settled upon a farm, continuing there until 1862, when he sold out and came to Menard Co., 111., where he has since resided. They have two sons. He owns 160 acres of fine laud. 688 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : J. H. BOWEN, express agent and grocer, Petersburg ; is a native of Brown Co., 111.; born Sept. 23, 1850; his school advantages were quite limited; he began as a laborer at the early age of 13, engaging upon a farm, and devoting such time as could be spared to study ; he gradually obtained a fair business education ; in 1869, he went on the road as a traveling salesman, continuing this until the fall of 1875, when he entered the Medical Department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, and took one course, but not wishing to become a practitioner, as his inclinations were more in the direction of merchandising, he came to Petersburg in 1876, and, for a time, traveled as a salesman ; he embarked in the grocery business in 1877, and was also appointed agent for the United States Express Company at Petersburg ; he has built up a fine trade, and keeps a good assortment of family groceries, provisions, queensware, etc. ROBERT BISHOP, proprietor of a gun-shop, Petersburg; was born in Ports- mouth, England, Dec. 29, 1815, and was brought to this country by his parents while quite young ; they settled in Boston, where Robert was raised and schooled ; his father was the first to invent and put into use the cylinder for revolvers and guns, and died before they were put into general use ; Robert, who then was but a youth, had already shown an inventive mind, and soon became a thorough mechanic ; some ten years of his early life were spent upon the Atlantic Ocean, as a whaler along the coast of Chili, Peru and Panama ; after abandoning sea life, he removed to St. Louis and took up his physician, Petersburg ; son of Joseph and Maria (Royer) Newcomer; was born in Chester Co., Penn., Sept. 17, 1838, where he was raised and received his academical education ; after which he entered Jefferson Medical College, of Pniladelphia, graduating in 1864. He then entered the regular service as a medical officer of the Navy Department. After a service of eighteen months, he resigned and .spent some time in looking for a location. Being favorably impressed with Petersburg PETERSBURG PRECINCT. 701 and its people, he located here in 1866. His uprightness of character gave the people confidence, and his gradual increase of practice is evidence of his skill. He is a mem- ber of the State Medical Association, and President of the Tri-State Society (District of Brainard). He married Miss E. Jennie, daughter of Isaac White, a pioneer of this county, Dec. 5, 1867 ; they have a family of six. JUDGE J. H. PILLSBURY, retired, Petersburg; son of Alpha and Margaret (Caverno) Pillsbury ; was born in Stafford Co., N. H., Aug. 3, 1830. His father died in 1831, leaving a wife and two sons. In 1836, they emigrated to Menard Co., 111., bought land and began to prepare a home. At this time, it was a wild and desolate country, and none but those possessed with a firm will and determination, coupled with industry, could live the life he has lived. Few can look back over their past life with more satisfaction than he, as to-day he enjoys the honor and respect of all who know him. During his early life, he received a good education at Jacksonville College. He settled in the town of Petersburg in 1854, and read law under the instruction of Hon. T. L. Harris; after which he taught school for a time, and in the fall of 1855 was elected School Commissioner, serving six years. In 1856, he was admitted to the bar, and, in 1857, elected Police Magistrate, and appointed Master in Chancery, serving in the latter office eight years. In the fall of 1861, he was elected County Judge of Menard Co. and re-elected in 1873. His brother died in January of 1852 ; his mother survived until April 3, 1868. The Judge married Miss Susan M. Gardner Jan. 3, 1861 ; she is a daughter of Hiram K. Gardner, a prominent pioneer of Sangamon Oo. They have two children living Joseph B. and Susan H. MRS. ELIZABETH POTTER, farmer; P. 0. Tallula; widow of the late Elijah Potter; was born in Jackson Co., Tenn., Oct. 30, 1818, the daughter of Will- iam and Elizabeth Graham (Greene), who emigrated to Menard Co., 111., in 1821, locating upon the farm where she now resides. Sept. 15, 1833, she was married to Mr. Elijah Potter, who was born in White Co., 111., Feb. 24, 1813, and located with hjs parents in what is now Menard Co. in 1819. He began doing for himself, a poor man, with nothing but a determined mind and willing hands, but, in a few years, it could be seen that Mr. Potter was destined to be a prominent and a wealthy man ; suc- cess gradually followed his efforts, until he had amassed a fine fortune ; he assisted in any matter pertaining to the good of the community ; he had bought and improved nearly 1,000 acres; March 23, 1876, he died, mourned by a large circle of acquaint- ances, friends and relatives ; he had two daughters, one of whom now resides with her mother ; Mrs. Potter now superintends the farm ; she is a lady of fine mental powers and a great-grandmother, but as sprightly as -many younger women. W. B. PEAKE, retired, Petersburg; son of Thomas and Sarah M. (Adams) Peake, who were of English descent ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Sept. 6, 1803 ; during his early life, school advantages were very limited, but, by home-study and observa- tion, he became a practical business man ; he entered mercantile life as clerk when quite young, and, after five years' experience, became a partner and accumulated a good pro- perty ; in 1837, he came to Illinois, locating in Menard Co., and opened a general store at Salisbury ; he located in Petersburg in 1844, and for several years was a merchant. His wife was Miss Jane E. Powell, of Fairfax Co., Va. ; they were married Nov. 3, 1836; she was born Oct. 2, 1815. Mr. and Mrs. Pcake enjoy fine health and are sprightly, social and genial ; their combined ages equal 140 years. ELI REEP, farmer; P. 0. Petersburg; is a native of Harrison Co., Ind. ; born Jan. 21, 1840 ; during his early life, his school advantages were limited ; he came to Illinois in 1857, and engaged as a farm laborer, which he followed in summer and attended school during winters ; in this way, he acquired a good business education. He enlisted in the army in 1862 with the 106th I. V. I. ; he served to the close of the war, upward of three years, and escaped without injury. After the war, he returned to where he now lives and engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-dealing, in which business he was for a time very successful. His wife, Anna B., is the daughter of Thomas F. and Anna (Beck) Dowell; Mr. Dowell came from Virginia in 1827, and has been an eye-witness to the great changes in this region from wild forests and prairies to 702 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: a thickly settled county ; the trials and privations of a pioneer life, are yet fresh in his memory ; his wife died May 23, 1863, a faithful wife and devoted mother ; she had raised a family of ten. Mr. Dowell still resides upon the old homestead, where he set- tled in a very early day, and has an ancient-looking orchard which furnished the first fruit in Menard Co. ; many of the trees are over three feet in diameter ; he and his trees have grown old together, and their career has alike been a long and fruitful one * Mr. Dowell has now reached the ripe age of 79 years. The subject of this sketch, in 1873, was elected to the responsible position of Assessor and Treasurer of Menard County. J. F. KICHTER, marble dealer, Petersburg; was born in Germany Oct. 15 r 1834, and came to this country in 1849, locating in Richmond, Ind. ; there he began the trade of a stone and marble cutter, remaining some three years, then went to Day- ton, Ohio, where he finished his trade under the old, established firm of La Dow & Hamilton, which gives him the reputation he justly deserves of being a fine marble- worker; he followed his trade in Springfield, 111., for a number of years; he established himself in the marble business at Petersburg in 1878, and is now prepared to do as fine work at as reasonable rates as any one in Central Illinois. He has married twice, first to Miss Mary Abbott, of Dayton, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1858; she died at Lincoln, 111., in 1866, leaving two children ; his second wife was a sister of his first wife ; they were married in August, 1871, by whom he has one child. NORMAN K. RAN KIN, lumber dealer, Petersburg; was born in Hancock Co. T 111., Dec. 21, 1847, and was taken to McLean Co. by his parents while quite young, and there raised and educated at the Wesleyan University. At the age of 16, he entered the army of the late war, enlisting with the 150th I. V. I., in February, 18(i5 ; was discharged at Camp Butler after a service of one year. His parents having died while he was quite young, he was thrown upon his own resources, and by his own efforts obtained an education. He began doing business on his own account in 1871 r locating at Saybrook, McLean Co., embarking in the lumber business, and there contin- uing for a time, then engaging in the stock business ; in this he met with good success. Nov. 14, 1877, he married Anna, daughter of Squire D. and Lucinda Masters, who are prominent pioneers of Menard Co. ; she is a graduate of the Illinois Female College of Jacksonville, and has given considerable attention to elocution, having given several readings with marked success, and is a lady of refinement and talent ; they have one child Ralph V. They located in Petersburg in 1878, and Mr. Rankin engaged in the lumber trade, firm of Masters & Rankin. PHILIP RAINEY, miller, Petersburg; was born in Boydton, Va., Oct. 7 r 1829, where he was raised and schooled. His first business experience was in connection with the post office at that place, where he continued several years. In 1849, he removed to California, and remained some four years engaged in mining and mercantile business ; during this time, his father died. In 1854, he returned home, and lived with his mother until the close of the late war. He came to Petersburg in 1867, and shortly afterward purchased an interest in the mill of which he is now sole proprietor. He bought out his partner in 1869, and has since devoted his entire attention to grain- dealing and milling. He has, by his fair dealing and business qualification, won for himself a good reputation. He married Miss Marcia H. Rourke, of this county, May 24, 1869 ; she is the daughter of Col. C. Rourke, of this place. They have a family of four children. JOHN H. and HENRY SCHIRDING, farmers and stock -dealers ; P. 0. Peters- burg; sons of Henry and Helen M. (Zurbord) Schirding. John was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, July 24, 1828, and came to this country in 1847. Henry was also born in Hanover Oct. 12, 1833, and, with his parents, came to this country in 1848, and joined John H. in opening their present home farm, which now consists of 781 acres of as fine land as may be found in Menard Co. Their parents still live with them, and have arrived at a ripe old age, their combined ages being 160 years, and enjoy fiue health for old people. Henry married Miss Mary C. Behma, of his native country, June 26, 1864. They have a family of three. They are enterprising, PETERSBURG PRECINCT. 703 benevolent and practical farmers, enjoying the reputation of being much respected citizens. ISAAC C. STITH, of the firm of McDougall & Stith, Petersburg ; is the son of Thomas M. and Susanna (Colson) Stith; he was born in this county March 11, 1848, and raised upon a farm, obtaining such education as could then be obtained. He mar- ried Miss Mary E. Hohimer, of this county, Jan. 25, 1871 ; she was born in this county April 8, 1849. They have a family of two children. For a time, Mr. Stith followed teaming in and about Petersburg, and in May, 1878, engaged in the grocery business with his present partner. They are live business men, and keep none but the best grade of goods. J. M. SAWYER, station agent for the C. & A. R. R. Co., Petersburg ; son of Josiah and Harriet R. (Bates) Sawyer; was born in Tazewell Co., 111., April 28, 1846, where he spent his early life, growing up on a farm, and receiving a good business education. During the late war, he enlisted with the 4fh Mass. Cav., and served some twenty-two months, and was honorably discharged ; he then returned to Tazewell Co., 111., and learned telegraphing. He came to Petersburg in 1867, and engaged with the Jackson branch of the C. & A. R. R. as station agent and operator ; this position he has since held with satisfaction to all concerned. He married Miss Elizabeth M. Walker, of this place, May 1, 1870. They have two children Harriet C. and Angeline M. G. W. SHEPHARD, liveryman, of the firm of Shephard & Rutledge, livery and sale stables, Petersburg ; son of James and Margaret (Parke) Shephard, of Scotch-Irish origin ; was born in Menard Co. Feb. 1, 1847 ; he was raised on a farm, and educated at district schools ; obtained a good business education, and for a number of years taught school. He settled in Petersburg in 1872, and taught a nine-months' school, then bought a half-interest in this stable, which is now well stocked, and has acquired a good i influential men ; he was born in Menard Co. July 9, 1848, and assisted his father on the farm until his marriage with Miss Ella J. Culver, which occurred. Feb. 20, 1878; she was born in Menard Co. July 31, 1849 ; she is the daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Brabfield) Culver, both of whom are now dead ; the former died in 1874, and the latter in 1872 ; they were among the early settlers of Menard Co. Our subject owns 217 acres of nicely improved land ; is a stanch Republican in politics, and a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, as is his wife. JOHN D. LEE, retired physician, Sec. 18; P. 0. Athens; was born in Jefferson Co., Va., April 22, 1812 ; his grandfather, John Lee, was a physician and surgeon, and came from England previous to the Revolutionary war; his son, Robert C. Lee, was the father of John D., and was, for a number of years, clerk of the Superior Court of Jef- ferson Co., Va. Our subject passed his youth and early manhood in the cities of Charlestown and Winchester, Va. ; he received a good education, and, when 12 years of age, he held the position of Deputy Postmaster in the city of Winchester; in 1832, he commenced the study of medicine, and, in 1834, graduated at the University of Maryland ; soon after this, he came to Illinois, and, for some years, practiced in Spring- field ; he at last came to Menard Co. and practiced a year in Petersburg, and then went to Athens, where he continued in the practice of medicine for more than twenty years ; then, owing to ill health, he removed to Indian Point and bought a small farm, upon which he has since resided. Dr. Lee was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Looinis, of Whately, Mass., in February, 1839 ; they had one child John D., who died when 12 years of age. Among the physicians of Menard Co., none stand higher in reputation for professional skill and as an honored, useful citizen, than Dr. John D. Lee. DAVID PROPST, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Greenview ; was born in Grcenbrier Co., W. Va., Jan. 26, 1818. His father, Nicholas Propst, was a native of German}'. He came to the United States when he was a boy and located in Virginia, where he married. He was the father of eight children, three of whom are now living. In 1829, he removed to Illinois and settled in Sugar Grove, Menard Co. Mr. Propst in his lifetime was a great help to the early settlers of Menard Co. He had considerable means and he furnished many a settler with money, at a low rate, to enter land with. He was an " Old Line Whig," as were his sons, until the organiza- tion of the Republican party, when they became identified with it. Our subject passed his youth on his father's farm ; received a limited education, as there were but few schools in that early da} r . He now owns and is living on the place settled by his father, in 1829. When he was yet a young man he purchased, with land warrants, 160 acres of land on Salt Creek, for which he paid 75c per acre ; six years after, he sold the land for $20 per acre. This and like transactions are characteristic of his success in life. He now owns over 400 acres of well-improved land. He was united in marriage with Sarah Wilcox April 10, 1851. She was born in Menard Co., 111., Aug. 11, 1829 ; her parents came from Green County, Ky., in a very early day. From this union there are two children Ephraim, born Feb. 1, 1853, and Melinda, born March 26, 1855. Mr. Propst is a stanch Republican in politics and a firm believer and advo- cate of its principles. LEVI PROPST, carpenter and joiner, Sweetwater; was born in Greenbrier Co., W. Va., Aug. 9, 1828. His grandfather, Nicholas Propst, was a native of Ger- many, and came to Sugar Grove in 1829. John, his eldest son and the father of Levi, came to Menard Co. in 1840. Here our subject passed his youth assisting his father on the farm. His father taught him to read and write, and this was all the education young Propst received. Later in life, however, he applied himself to his books and be- came quite proficient. At 20 years of age, he began to learn the carpenter's trade, a busim ss he has followed all his life except eight years, when he was engaged in the drug business in the village of Sweetwater, during which time he was also village Postmaster. He was married to Miss Elizabeth J. Swank April 10, 1851. She was born in Putnam SUGAR GROv'E PRECINCT. 741 Co., Ind., July 1, 1829. From this union there were six children, three of whom are now living Elzina, David E. and James A. The names of those deceased are Mary E., Annie E. and Clara E. Mr. Propst is a Democrat and a self-made man. E. L. SWINEY, farmer and stock -raiser, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Greenview ; was born in Bath Co., Ky., July 28, 1823. His father died when he was 2 years old. He lived in Kentucky until he was 11 years of age, when he came to Indian Point, Menard Co., with Mr. Kennedy Kincaid. They brought a flock of sheep with them, which young Swiney helped to drive. He continued to live with Mr. Kincaid until 21 years of age. He received such education as the schools of that early day afforded. In 1845, he bought 285 acres of land in Sugar Grove Precinct, upon which he has since resided. He now owns 700 acres of land upon which are good buildings. He was united in marriage with Melinda Johnson Sept. 10, 1846. She was born in Menard Co., 111., Aug. 25, 1824. Her parents came to the county in 1823, and her mother, who is now living, is one of the oldest living settlers. Mr. Swiney is the father of seven children, five of whom are now living Emma, Elijah, Laura, Ned and Frank. Mrs. Swiney departed this life Feb. 9, 1877. Mr. Swiney is a stanch Republican in politics. ADAM SHARP, boot and shoemaker, Sweetwater; was born in Baden, Germany, Sept. 18, 1850. His father was a shoemaker by trade, a business he taught his three sons. In 1853, John, the eldest son, came to the United States, and located in the village of Sweetwater, Menard Co., 111. ; he also lived in Missouri about five years. He died in 1878. Adam came to this country in 1872, and commenced working at his trade in the village of Sweetwater the same year. He was united in marriage with Bertha Kyle Dec. 11, 1877 ; she was born in Logan Co., 111., Feb. 16, 1857. They have had one child Augustus, born Jan. 5, 1879, died April 12, 1879. Mr. Sharp came to this country as a poor German lad, but by close attention to his trade, com- bined with industry and economy, he has gained quite a competency. He owns a large shop, in which he always keeps a large and well-selected stock. He also owns one of the nicest residences in the village. JOSEPH SCHOFIELD, merchant. Sweetwater; was born in Orange Co., N. Y, March 22, 1845 ; son of David and Prudence (Sargent) Schofield. He passed his youth on his father's farm in New York, and received a good common-school education. At the age of 18, he started West, and upon his arrival in Springfield, 111., enlisted in Co. B, 58th I. V. I., and served three years as a private soldier in the war of the rebellion. He was in all the battles that his regiment was engaged in, and he escaped without a wound. After his discharge, he returned to Illinois and attended school for a year', at Bloomington. He then went to Iowa, where he remained two years, when he come to Menard Co., where he has since resided, and where he has been engaged in farming and the mercantile business. He was united in marriage with Alice Meteer O*ct. 14, 1873; she is a native of Menard Co. ; from this union there are two sons Thomas and John. Mr. Schofield is a stanch Republican in politics, an influential citizen and prominent man. JOHN W. SHAVER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Elkhart; was born in Sangamon Co., 111., March 18, 1855; his father, William, was born in Virginia, March 13, 1818, where he remained until about 35 years of age, when he removed to Ohio, and from there, in 1850, to California. On his return, he stopped in Spring- field, 111., and while there bought the Twelve-Mile House and farm of Sangamon Co., where he resided about four years. He then sold out, and removed to Menard Co., where he resided until his death, which occurred Aug. 10, 1871. After he had resided in Menard Co., two years, he returned to his old home in Virginia, where he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Ross, of Augusta Co., of the " Old Dominion State;" this union resulted in three children John W., Lizzie and Mary. John W., is the only surviving child ; he owns 8(52 acres of well-improved land in Menard Co., and 160 in Logan Co. He received a good education and is to-day one of Menard Co.'s most prosperous farmers. He is a Democrat in politics, but quite conservative. CHARLES C. SCOTT, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Athens; was born in Hardin Co., Ohio, Dec. 6, 1849. His father, Charles C. Scott, was a native of 742 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Kentucky, as, was the mother, whose maiden name was Jane Patterson. They were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now living. The father departed this life Jan. 28, 1854. Our subject was brought up to farm labor ; he received a good common-school education; at 18 years of age, he embarked in the mercantile business ; in 1869, he came on a visit to Menard Co., 111., where he became acquainted with Miss Hulda Kincaid, to whom he was married, March 24, 1875 ; she is a daughter of John Ken- nedy Kincaid, one of the early settlers of Menard Co.; she was born Aug. 15, 1854. From this union there have been two children Warren C., born Oct. 14, 1876, and Kennedy E., Dec. 27, 1878. Mr. Scott owns eighty acres of nicely improved land. Is a Republican in politics and a member of the Christian Church. STEPHEN STONE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Sweetwater; was born in Adair Co., Ky., Oct. 16, 1829; is a son of John and Lucy (Preston) Stoae ; both natives of Kentucky ; in 1830, they came to Illinois and settled in Irish Grove; they were the parents of twelve children ; the mother died in 1872. Stephen passed his early liPe with his father on the farm ; he began business for himself when quite young; he received but an indifferent education, and what' he now possesses he has made by hard work and economy. His marriage with Mary C. Young was celebrated March 2, 1863 ; she was born in Menard Co., 111., Sept. 25, 1839 ; she is a daughter of John and Rachel (Purkapile) Stone, both of whom were among the early pioneers of Menard Co. From this union there are three children Carrie V., Morris G. and Charles H. Mr. Stone owns 188 acres of nicely improved land, and is emphat- ically a self-made man. INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT. THOMAS BENNETT, farmer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Petersburg. Prominent among the successful and enterprising business men in this county, is the party w'hose name heads this sketch. He was born in Mecklenburg Co., Va., May 11, 1833 ; he is the son of John Bennett ; his mother's maiden name was Mary Boyd. Thomas was but 2 years old when he came to this State with his parents ; they first stopped near Rochester, remaining but a short time, and then came to Menard Co., where his father located, and was for several years a prominent business man in that place, and was engaged in merchandising several years ; he built what is now known as the Menard House, which he ran for a few years, and, after the sale of the same, he returned to his former love, that of selling goods; this he continued until the year 1857, since which time he lias retired from business. Thomas remained with his father until he attained his majority, during which time, from the age of 16 years, he was engaged in the store 'as clerk for his father ; after reaching manhood, he engaged in business with his father, which he continued for three years ; he then began on his own account in the dry-goods line, and being an active business man, an excellent salesman, and enjoying the confi- dence of the people, his efforts as a merchant were crowned with success ; he continued in the business until 1873, when the close confinement and the nature of the business had so impaired his health that he was compelled to abandon the business ; he then moved to Town 19, Range 6, where he now resides, where he had purchased a large tract of land on the rich alluvial soil in the Salt Creek bottom, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits ; his first efforts as a farmer were not attended with the flattering results that marked his career as a merchant, his lands being subject to the encroachments of high water from the overflow of Salt Creek ; his crops have been for several years almost, and, in several instances, quite destroyed ; this was very discour aging, and, added to the insinuations of many who pronounced the whole thing a failure, was not at all calculated to afford much consolation, yet Mr. Bennett, notwith- standing all this, never lost his courage, and with a determination and firm resolution, characteristic of the man, set to work to counteract these damaging overflows by the erection of suitable levees, and after much labor and expense, has now 1 ,800 acres cor- raled by a substantial earthwork, and the land that was by the masses considered worthless INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT. 743 is to-day the most valuable land in the county, and he has a bonanza in his bottom farm of 1,800 acres; this land will produce, with good cultivation, from seventy-five to eighty bushels of corn to the acre, and for farming purposes is much more valuable than the upland. In November, 1855, was united in matrimony to Lucy Wright, born March 29, 1838, who is the daughter of A. D. Wright, an old and well-known citizen of Petersburg. They have eight children Thomas W., Lucy A., John A., Sandy B., Mary C., Elbert Lee, Ellen B. and Johnnie ; all the family are at home. Mr. Bennett is a member of Clinton Lodge, No. 19, A., F. & A. M., of which his father was the founder, and has been W. M. of same for many years, and is now and has been for several years Deputy Grand Master of the State. JOSEPH W. ESTELL, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Petersburg ; was born in this county and on the same plat of ground he is to-day farming, Aug. 1, 1833; son of William Estell, one of the old pioneers of this country, who was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 30, 1794, and came to this State in 1824, and first stopped near Cantrall, remaining there two years ; then located permanently on the land now owned by Joseph ; he is now past 85, and is well preserved for one of his years. Joseph lived the life of a bachelor until he was 33 years old, at which time he united in matrimony with Mary Knowles, who was born in Gibson Co., Ind., daughter of Burton Knowles ; their marriage was celebrated Jan. 2, 1866. They have four children Martha E., James, Cora E., Effie M. Mr. Estell has a snug farm of 130 acres, well improved. RUSSELL GODBEY, farmer; P. 0. Greenview; was born in Montgomery Co., Va., Nov. 2, 1800 ; is a son of William Godbey, wlio participated in the war of 1812, whose father was a participant in the war of the Revolution. In the fall of 1829, he moved to Indiana, stayed one winter, and in July of the following year, came to this county and entered 160 acres of land on Sees. 20 and 30; Abraham Lincoln was the surveyor, and stayed with him over night, and Mr. Godbey sold him, for $1, a quantity of buckskin, with which he faced his pants to enable him the better to travel through the brush and rough grass ; the sale of this skin paid the bill of surveying. Mr. Godbey soon erected a rude cabin out of rough logs, the raising of which required the united services of all the men that could be gathered in the entire country. Dec. 10, 1822, he married Elizabeth Brown, who was born Feb. 25, 1799. They had eight children, five of whom are now living Nancy, Russell B., Margaret, Eliza and Mary J., three boys, Overton B., William R. and Moses, died after arriving at manhood. Mrs. Godbey died Feb. 19, 1854. He was married, Jan. 24, 1856, to Eleanor Carpenter, who was born in Sangamon Co., Nov. 15, 1822. Had two children, Virginia and John D. In the early time, he was captain of the militia, and at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, was deterred from going on account of sickness in his family. lias been a member of the Baptist Church since Feb. 13, 1841, and is a member of the I. 0. 0. F.; has been a life-long Democrat ; has served several terms as Justice of the Peac^, and has been a resident of this county almost half a century, watching its growth and progress with earnest solicitude. R. B. GODBEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 16; P. O. Greenview; among the young settlers in this county whose interests have been for his life-time identified with that of the county is Russell B. Godbey ; he is a son of Russell Godbey, well known in this county as an old-time friend and associate of the lamented Lincoln ; was born in Rush Co., Ind., Jan. 14, 1830, and was but 3 months old when he came to this county ; remained with his parents until he attained his 23d year, at which time he was married, March 28, 1854, to Susan Montgomery, daughter of Charles L. Montgomery; nine children have been born, but five of whom are now living Eliza E. (now the wife of C. Crawford), Edward E., Harry H., George and Eva S. ; since his marriage, he has been located on the land he now owns ; he has 525 acres of land, 440 acres of which are under cultivation, and which ranks among the best land in the county. Mr. Godbey has always been engaged in farming pursuits, and has been successful in this direction ; he takes considerable interest in political matters, yet never h;is desired office ; he has always been identified with the interests of the Democratic party, and is a member of Greenview Lodge, No. 653, A., F. & A. M. 744 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: MRS. SARAH E, KILLION, farming; P. 0. Petersburg; was born in Bath Co., Ky., April 22, 1822; she is the daughter of John and Abigail (Bracken) Hornback, both of whom are natives of Kentucky, and catne to this county in the fall of 1825, locating on the land now owned by Andrew Hornback ; she was but 3 years of age when she caine to this county, and, having been in the county over fifty-four years, is one of its pioneers, and has grown up with it; their interests have been identical; she well remembers the time when she went to mill with her father and bolted the flour by hand ; she has seen deer in droves; Indians encamped on Salt Creek bottom. Aug. 18, 1840, she married James E. Killion, who was born in Kentucky Dec. 13, 1820 ; had ten chil- dren, but six of whom are now living Catharine J., Robert H., Maria L., Thomas W., John A. and Emery K. ; after their marriage, they had nothing but willing hearts and industrious hands ; their first house was a rude cabin, with r one room, cat and clay chim- ney, puncheon floor, board shutter for window, home-made table, and bed made out of walnut logs ; corn bread was their chief staple. Notwithstanding all these incon- veniences, these were their happiest days ; the first barn her husband built she spun and wove cloth to pay for the covering of the roof; in 1846, they moved to the place where Mrs. Killion now lives, having accumulated money enough to buy them a home. July 5, 1875, Mr. Killion died of consumption ; he and his wife were both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church ; he was an active worker in the Church, officiating as Elder. . / WILLIAM KNOWLES, farmer, Sec. 16; P. 0. Greenview; son of Elijah Knowles, a native of Georgia, and Margaret (Woods) Knowles, who was born in Ten- nessee and came to Gibson Co., Ind., where the subject of this sketch was born, which occurred in the year 1821 ; during his 16th year the family moved to what is known as Logan Co.; remained there until the winter of 1841-42. Oct. 5, 1843, he was mar- ried to Harriet Chapman ; had two children James H. and Margaret M. ; his wife died March 13, 1849; Jan. 11, 1850, he married Mary Taylor; she died Sept. 12, 1859 ; had two children, but one living Sarah (wife of Felix Robinson). Married the third time to Elizabeth Shepherd, and had one child Alice ; wife died Dec. 18, 1872 ; in 1875, was married to his present wife, Mrs. Sarah J. Reynolds. Mr. Knowles has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for thirty-six years ; has 408:1 acres of land, and a good deal of property in the town of Greenview, and has always been engaged in farming, and has been successful. WOODSON B. POWER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Petersburg ; is a son of E. D. Power, one of the old settlers in this county ; was born on the same section he now lives on Sept. 3, 1839 ; remained with his parents and assisted his father in the duties of the farm, and also worked in the saw-mill which his father ran for several years, Woodson officiating as sawyer. Feb. 7, 1861, he married Hannah McDougall, a native of this township ; six children were born, but five of whom are living George C., Anna M.,, Nellie E., Mary T., Williain D. and Surrency, now deceased; Feb. 10, 1873, his wife died with consumption; the fall of 1861, he located on the farm which he now owns, where he has since built the handsome brick residence he now occupies, and made all the substantial improvements that adorn the premises. He was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Ludum, who was born in Kentucky, but raised in this county ; had four chil- dren, three living Emma V., Edgar D., Martha L., Roma (now deceased). Since his first marriage he has been engaged in farming and stock raising and feeding, and is a good farmer, industrious and prudent, and the general appearance of the premises gives evidence of the enterprise and good management of the proprietor. E. D. POWER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Petersburg; was born in Fayette Co., Ky., Sept. 8, 1804 ; son of William and Elizabeth (Stogsdill) Power, natives of Maryland, who came first to North Carolina, thence to Kentucky, where E. D. was born. Feb. 7, 18^8, he married Martha S. Thompson, who was born in Bath Co., Ky., in 1808 ; in 1829, he concluded to cast his lot on the fertile prairies of Illinois, and shipped from Maiysville by boat to St. Louis, and there bought an old horse for his wife to ride, hired an ox team to haul his lew household goods, ard took up his line of march for this country, arriving here with 75 cents in money, an old horse and a few INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT. 745 household effects ; he made him a table out of boards, sawed by hand, and a bedstead of walnut rails, borrowed a horse, and with his own horse, made his first crop ; soon after he bought eighty acre.-), paid what little he had down, and borrowed money to pay the balance, at 40 per cent ; raised one crop, and sold his team, which liquidated the debt; in the spring of 1834, he sold his place, and came to this township, where he bought 200 acres of school land; in 1835, sold eighty acres for $500, and entered 240 acres, where he now resides. Mr. Power spent the early portion of life in the log cabin of that day, built in the rude style of the times. He was more fortunate than many of his time, as he succeeded in obtaining education sufficient to enable him to teach school, which he did in the year 1835, in a log cabin, with puncheon floor, greased paper for window panes, and split logs for seats. With the exception of four years, which he spent in Petersburg, he has been a constant resident of the county. He made the first assessment that was made in the county, on the east side of the county ; names of his children are Nancy J., Elizabeth S., George S., John D. and Woodson B. He has been successful in his business career ; he cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. S. T. ROGERS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Petersburg ; is a worthy and reli- ible citizen, who has spent his entire life in this county, and, like Pat, " would have jeen here longer, had he been sooner born." He was born April 23, 1832, on the same section of land he now owns; his father was born in Bath Co., Ky.; his mother's name, prior to her marriage, was Rebecca Lancaster, also a native of Kentucky ; his father, on his first arrival, bought out a place and its improvements, and then entered the land about him, including that owned by S. T. He died in June, 1843, his wife dying several years previous. Feb. 7, 1858, Mr. Rogers was married tq Nancy Ann Trumbo, who was born in this county Feb. 10, 1835; they had five children, four living John, born in 1858, and died Aug. 11, 1867 ; Flora Bell, born Jan. 3, 1861 ; Charles T., Jan. 16, 1867; Nora A., Sept. 26, 1868; Elizabeth C., Aug. 13, 1874. Mrs. Rogers' father's name was Andrew Trumbo, and her mother was a sister of Henry Sears, of Mason County. Mr. Rogers has 300 acres of choice land, and is an excellent farmer and one of Menard Co.'s best men. W. W. M. REED, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 6. Greenview ; was born in Dubois Co., Ind., Dec. 20, 1823; is the second child of a family of twelve children, born of Isaac and Winnie Morgan Spears, both natives of Kentucky, who came to Indiana at an early day ; at the age of 23, the subject of this sketch came to this county empty- handed, but with ready hands and a willing heart, and resolved to make something of himself, if economy and industry would accomplish it; he began work by the month, for E. D. Powers ; subsequently, went to Indiana, where he was engaged as Super- intendent of a gang of men on the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad, and continued here three years, and discharged his duties with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his employers ; having accumulated means enough to purchase forty acres of land, he returnei to this coun'ty, and made the purchase. Jan. 24, 1856, he was married to Charlotte Lanternuian, who was born May 17, 1836; they have had four children Winnie, born Dec. 18, 1856; Charles H., June 3, 1858; A. J., March 30, 1860; Charlotte T., Aug. 25, 1862. His wife died Aug. 25, 1862, at the birth of last child. Sept. 10, 1863, married Mrs. Elizabeth Wilcox, born Aug. 15, 1835 ; daughter of George and Mary Curry ; have three children Clara F., born July 18,- 1864 ; George C., April 9, 1866 ; Wallace M., Aug. 25, 1875. Since his first marriage, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, and has a snug farm, and i-i a well-to-do farmer, all the result of his own labor. Is a member of Greenview Lodge, A., F. & A. M, No. 653. A. RIGGIN, fanner and stock-raiser, Sec. 9. Prominent among the stanch and reliable men in this county, who have grown up with it, and been identified with its interests, before and since its organization, is A. K. Riiririn, who was born one and one- quarter miles northeast of Athens, April 23, 1822. He is the second child of a family of five born to Harry and Merriam Lee (Rogers) Riggin. The Lees are supposed to eb relatives of the Lees in Virginia, and the Rogerses related to those of martyrdom fame. Mr. Riggin was born in Sevier Co., E. Tenn., in 1793. His wifo, Merriam, was born 746 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in Oswego Co.,N. Y. Harry Riggin came to this country before it was a State, in 1817 r and was married in March, 1818, and located at Troy, Madison Co., and came to what is now known as Athens, in the spring of 1820, where he settled. He obtained a good education for those early times. His father being greatly interested in education, gave his son every advantage, and boarded many a school teacher free of charge to encourage them to give his son some special aid, while at home, which he improved so well, that, before he attained his majority, he had taught four quarters at school. Then attended school at McKendree College one year, also one year at the Illinois College, at Jackson- ville. Subsequent to this, he taught school at different places, and, in the fall of 1848, became a candidate for the office of Circuit Clerk, but was defeated by four votes. This was the first election held for that purpose in the county. He then made a trip to Mis- sissippi, where he taught about one year. In 1852, he was again a candidate for the office of Circuit Clerk, and was elected, and, at the expiration of that term, was re-elected by a handsome majority. After the Lincoln election, he retired from the political arena, and has since been actively engaged in farming. He lived the life of a bachelor until his 52d year. Nov. 26, 1874, he married Mary C. Deal, who was born in McLean Co. April 12, 1850, and is a daughter of Samuel C. Deal, of Augusta Co., Va. Had two children Harry, born Oct. 9, 1875; Augustus, born Oct. 5, 1877. Has always been a temperate man, and owes the practice of this virtue to the teachings of his mother. He deals in fine stock, and remembers when there was no Petersburg or Lincoln. GEORGE G. SPEAR, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Greenview ; was born in Vermont, Oct. 16, 1836 ; was the third of a family of seven children, born to Elisha Spear. His mother's name prior to her marriage was Lucretia Walker. They came to this State in the fall of 1838, and were among the pioneer settlers of this in this county. George was but 2 years of age when his parents came, which makes him a resident of the county forty-one years, and, while there are many older men in the county, yet, not many of them have been here as long as he. He, we might say, never left the parental roof, from the fact that he has always remained on the homestead, though leading the life of a bachelor for several years. Oct. 6, 1870, he changed his mode of living by uniting his fortunes with Sarah A. Dawson, who was born in Indiana in October, 1841. They have three children Flora, born Oct. 2, 1871 ; Elsa, born Jan. 26, 1873; Elisha G., born Jan. 28, 1876. He has, since his marriage, been engaged in farming pursuits, and has 510 acres of land. Has been successful, and ranks among the stanch farmers of this township. W. S. SMOOT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Greenview ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Feb. 13, 1830, and is the youngest of a family of three children, bora to Colman Smoot and Rebecca (Wright) Smoot. The former was born Feb. 13, 1791, and the latter Aug. 3, 1795. They were married March 17, 1817, and, in 1832, came to this county, and settled on the land now owned by William. Colman Smoot died March 21, 1876. His wife died March 27, 1864. July 17, 1851, William was united in wedlock to Catharine A. Engle, who was born in Sugar Grove Nov. 5, 1830. She was a daughter of William Engle, a prominent citizen in his time. Her mother was an Alkire, sister of Milern A. After their marriage, they lived with his parents until he came to the place on which he now lives. Seven children have crowned the marriage of Mr. and Mrs, Smoot Colman ; Mary E., born Dec. 2, 1854; Charles E., July 30, 1856 ; John M., May 14, 1860; Anna M., Aug. 13, 1865, and Edward E., June 23, 1870. Their second child was Rebecca, died Nov. 19, 1860. Mary is now the wife of John W. Terhune, married March 26, 1879. Charles married Tempa Clark the day previous. Mr. Smoot has been unusually successful in his business, and is one of the best financiers in the county, is shrewd, long-headed, and a man of untiring industry, religiously honest, conscientious and just. He has as large and commodious a farmhouse as any in the county. He is Democratic in sentiment, and is now serving as County Commissioner for the second term. HARMON WARNSING, farmer ; P. 0. Greenview. Prominent among the stanch men of the county, who have crossed the ocean from the " Fatherland " and have grown up and thoroughly identified themselves with the interests of this county, SANDRIDGE PRECINCT. 747 is Harmon Warnsing, who was born in Badbergen, Kreisamt, Bersenbeiick, Kingdom of Hanover, in Germany, Jan. 14, 1839 ; he is a son of George Frederick Warnsinir and Margaretti Ottmann ; at the age of 14 years, Harmon took leave of his home and friends to seek his fortune in the land across the sea, and, arriving at New Orleans, he came to this county, where his uncle, John Marbold, lived, and for whom he worked by the month; he also worked for Charles Montgomery; in the winter of 1855, he attended the Lutheran College at Springfield, and, upon his return, began improving some land he had purchased near Salt Creek ; in 1859, returned to Germany, where he remained fifteen months, and, while there, was united in marriage to Maria Liideling, who was born Dec. 29, 1836 ; Aug. 21, 1860, is the date of their marriage. Return- ing the same year with his bride, he located on the land he had purchased, upon which he remained until the spring of 1872, when he moved to the place he now occupies ; he has been successful in his business and now is owner of 1,920 acres of land, 1,650 acres of which are improved. He has not taken much interest in political matters, but was elected County Commissioner one term on the Democratic ticket ; he has two children George, born Oct. 5, 1863; Emilie, Jan. 27, 1862. SANDRIDCE PRECINCT. JAMES ALTIG, farmer ; P. O. Petersburg ; was born in Mason Co., Ky., in 1821 ', his father died soon after this date, and his mother, with her family, removed to this township in 1836; since that date, he has lived within two miles of his present resi- dence. He was first married, in 1844, to Sarah W. Berry, who lived but a short time ; a second matrimonial alliance occurred in 1847, when he was joined in wedlock with Sarah Ann Potter ; they have ten children living ; one of the sons is a Deputy Assessor in this county. Mr. A. has never been active in politics, but has held several offices in the gift of the people ; has been School Director fifteen years, School Trustee two terms and is at present one of the County Commissioners. He owns 468 acres of land, well improved and valued at $15,000. WILLIAM ENSLEY, farmer; P. 0. Atterberry ; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, June 12, 1829; son of Christopher and Elizabeth Ensley ; in 1842, they emi- grated to Fulton Co., 111., where Christopher Ensley died April 8, 1846; after which, Mr. Ensley. with his mother, moved to Menard Co. in 1853 ; Mr. Ensley began life for himself at the age of 13, with good health and plenty of ambition, which has enabled him to provide for his mother and family and also to accumulate a fine farm of 370 acres, well stocked ; he makes stock raising and shipping a specialty. He was married, Jan. 25, 1855, to Chloe H. Aylesworth, second daughter of Philip and Chloe Ayles- worth, of New York. Mr. Aylesworth was the first settler in Beardstown, surveying the country around, and established the first ferry at Meredosia and is one of the oldest and most prominent residents of Fulton Co., where he still lives. Mr. Ensley has two children living Henry E. and Harvey L., and has lost five. Mr. Ensley has filled the office of Road Supervisor and School Director for many years and is at present Over- seer of the Poor. S. D. MASTERS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Petersburg. Prominent among the stanch men of Menard Co.. we find the name of S. D. Masters, who was born in Overton Co., Tenn., Nov. 12, 1812; he is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Matlock) Masters, who were natives of the Old Dominion ; Thomas Masters emigrated to the State of Tennessee, where S. D. Masters was born ; but, slavery prevailing, and he hav- ing seen enough of its workings, he resolved to go North, and, in the year 1830, went to Morgan Co., not far from what is now Jacksonville. March 6, 1833, was married to Lucy Young, who was born in Davidson Co., Tenn., Nov. 11, 1814; nine children ; six lived to maturity, of whom but four are now living Minerva (now the wife of Rev. B. F. Vincent, now of Philadelphia), Hardin W. (attorney at law, at Petersburg), Anna M., (now the wife of N. K. Rankin); Anna and Minerva were both graduates of 748 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: the Female College at Jacksonville ; Wilber is now at home. Harry was drowned in the river Platte while crossing the plains in 1862 ; Mary died during her 28th year, lu April, 1847, Mr. Masters came to this county and located in Town 19, Range 7, and has since been closely identified with the interests of the county ; he is one of the self-made men of our county, having, by industry and economy, acquired a home and a competence for declining years ; he has been a man of progress and enterprise. He has been a Justice of the Peace several years, and, in 1856, represented the county in the State Legislature ; he and his wife for many years have been members of the M. E. Church. He lias always been engaged in farming pursuits and identified with the principles of Democracy. MRS. EMMA MANN, farmer; P. O. Oakford; was born in Marshall Co., Ind., Jan. 10, 1833; daughter of v Allen Burns, whose wife's name prior to marriage was Mary Ann Kelly. Mrs. Mann, during her 9th year, moved to Benton Co., Texas, remaining eleven years. She was married to John H. Brown, and one child was born to them, Franklin, born Nov. 3, 1872. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Galesburg, where^he practiced medicine until his death, which occurred July 26, 1873. April 26, 1875, she was married to William Mann, a native of Pennsylvania. After their marriage, they moved to the place she now occupies. Mr. Mann died April 28, 1879. They had one child, Henry, born Dec. 20, 1876. She is a member of the Baptist Church. J. C. McDOEL, farmer; P. 0. Atterberry ; was born in New York, April 10, 1829 ; son of Varnum and Elizabeth McDoel, of Scotch descent ; was educated in New York and moved to Missouri in 1857. In 1859 he settled in Menard Co., on his present home- stead. He married Caroline Robinson, daughter of Ebenezer P. and Lucy C. Robinson, of Menard Co. Mrs. McDoel was an intimate acquaintance of President Lincoln, he having boarded with her father while surveying in the vicinity. Mr. J. C. McDoel also assisted him in making the surveys. Mrs. McDoel was educated at Princeton and Jacksonville. She was first married to Mr. S. Buckley and left a widow with two children, Newton and J. C. Buckley. Mr. J. C. McDoel has accumulated a tract of 500 acres, and has filled the office of Treasurer for thirteen years. R. C. PANTIER, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; Mr. R. C. Pantier was born in Me- nard Co., 111., March 7, 184r>son of D. M. and Eliza Pantier. He received his edu- cation at home schools. He began for himself at the age of 21, and was encouraged from boyhood to rely upon his own tact in the way of a trade. At the age of 26, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Truth, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Truth. Mrs. Pantier was born in Menard Co. Dec. 20, 1846. Their children are Daniel H., William, 31. E., and Ollie. Mr. Pantier has acquired a tine farm of 142 acres and makes stock-raising a specialty. DAVID M. PANTIER, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Oct. 16, 1808 ; son of James and Susannah Pantier, and his father was the second male white child born in Kentucky, and his grandfather, Philip Pantier, was one of Daniel Boone's sturdy companions. D. M. Pantier came to Illinois and settled in Shaw- neetown in 1815 and to Menard Co., in 1826, on present homestead. He was married Aug. 16, 1829, to Lizzie Armstrong, daughter of Robert ard Nancy Armstrong. Mrs. Lizzie Pantier died Aug. 7, 1848, leaving the following children viz., Nancy, Hannah, Juhn B., James T., Polly and Robert C. Mr. Pantier was married, May 19, 1849, to Maria Haram, daughter of Morris and Elizabeth Hutchins, of New York and by this second alliance, Mr. Pantier has two children Francis M. and Minerva E. Mr. Pantier served in the Black Hawk war, under Capt. Abraham Lineoln, and tells many interesting anecdotes of those times. In 1828, he went 120 miles to mill and often stayed a week for his turn. The first pair of shoes ever worn by Mr. Pantier, he earned trapping in the winter barefooted, carrying a board to stand on while setting his traps. J. L. SHORT, former; P. 0. Petersburg; was born in Menard Co., 111., Oct. 6, 1827 ; son of Elias and Sarah Short, of English and German origin. He obtained what education he could, at home schools, and began life for himself at the age of 18. Mr. Short was married, April 8, 1861, to Ada Potter, daughter of John and Lucy C. Potter, ROCK CREEK PRECINCT. 749 of Menard Co., 111., their children are John R., Leslie M., Ada 0., Meloint, Ollie, Mollie May. Mr. Short has a fine farm of 300 acres, and raises some stock, but is not termed a shipper. R. C. TRENARY, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; was born in Perry Co., Ind., Dec. 16, 1829; son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Trenary. He came to Menard Co., in 1846, and began for himself at the age of 18. Married, Nov. 27, 1851, Elizabeth Altag, daughter of M. Altag. Mr. Trenary and wife both received a liberal education. They have four children living Mary C., Fannie A., Pina M. and Lizzie D. Mr. Trenary makes stock-raising a specialty, and has a fine farm of 250 acres, worth $12,000. GEO. K. W ATKINS, stock-shipper; P. 0. Oakford ; was born in Menard Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1837 ; son of Samuel and Sophia Watkins, who settled in Illinois at an early day. Mr. Watkins was educated at the home schools, and, at the age of 26, mar- ried Mary A. Thomas, in December, 1863, daughter of Joshua Thomas, of Menard Co. They have one child living Miss Alice Watkins, born July 7, 1867, and now being educated in Mason Co. Mr. Watkins began life at the age of 17, with 40 acres of land, and he has now over 2,000. He is one of the largest stock-dealers in this county, shipping annually 110 car loads of hogs and from 40 to 50, of cattle. He also devotes much care to farming; he has now over 1,000 acres of corn, 120 of wheat and oats, the -rest of farm is pasture. ROCK CREEK PRECINCT. JOHN J. CLARKE, farmer; P. 0. Petersburg; son of Charles J. F. and Rachel (Smith) Clark ; was born upon the old homestead, where he now resides, Sept. 7, 1843. His parents were among the first settlers of Menard Co. He has lived upon the old farm, following agricultural pursuits, thus far, and has, by observation and experience, obtained a good business education. He served as Deputy County Assessor for two years. His wife is the daughter of James H. and Sarah (Brown) Thompson. They were married Oct. 19, 1870, and have two children Albert B. and Francis H. Mr. Clark is a young man of good business ability, and a respected citizen. MRS. RACHEL CLARKE, farmer; P. O. Tallula; widow of C. J. H. Clark, and daughter of Samuel and Anna (Rhodes) Smith ; was brought to this county by her parents, in 1836. After a time they removed to Cass Co., where her parents died. She was married to Mr. Clark Nov. 25, 1841. He was one of the prominent pioneers of the county. He served as County Commissioner four years, and eight years as County Judge. He lived an industrious, enterprising and useful life. He died, April 9, 1870, leaving a family of four children John J., Mary A. (now Mrs. John H. Burkholder, of this county), Charles R. and Luella F. Mrs. Clark remembers when this was a wild country. When her parents came to this county, they spent their first winter with another family, in a cabin 12x16, and there were sixteen persons in the two lamilies. She occupies 'a beautiful residence, surrounded by all the comforts of life. ISAAC COGDAL, farmer ; P.O. Lloyd; son of Joseph and Lucy (Sothern) Cogdal, who were among the first settlers of this county. Their advent to this county dates back to 1823. They settled near where Isaac now resides, and there passed the remainder of their lives. His father died in 1828, and his mother survived until 1846. The subject of this sketch was born in Kentucky, Sept. 16, 1812. During early life, he learned the trade of stone and brick mason, which he followed for many years. When a young man, Abraham Lincoln became his warm friend, and they frequently advised each other. After Mr. Lincoln became a prominent lawyer, he advised Mr. Cogdal to study law under his instruction, which he did, and was admitted to the bar in 1860, since which time he has practiced law and superintended his farm. Mr. Cog- dal is a man of ability and of high standing. He has a fine farm of 125 acres. He has twice been married, first to Miss Mary, daughter of Elijah Hougiiton, Nov. 1, 1833. She died Sept. 22, 1347, leaving five children, but throe of whom are now living BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Julia A., Al^P E. and Alvira. He married his present wife July 22, 1848. She was Miss Sanm Whitlow. They have one child Thomas J. AMOS 'COMBS, farmer; P. 0. Lloyd; son of Jonah Combs and grandson of Nelson and Hannah (Glover) Combs. His father was born in Nelson Co., Ky., Oct. 3, 1794, where he was raised, and was married June 23, 1824, to Miss Mary J. Bixler ; they came to Illinois, locating where he now resides, in 1826, and in 1849 she died, leaving eight children. March 23, 1850, he married his present wife, the mother of Amos ; she was Mrs. S. D, Shephard, and daughter of Enoch Ayers, and was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Nov. 26, 1806. The subject of this sketch was born upon the old homestead, where he now resides, June 24, 1851. He acquired a good common schooling, and followed agricultural pursuits. He was married to Miss Virginia M. Primm. They have four promising children Enoch H., Harrie S., Celia A. and Sarah L. Mr. Combs owns 100 acres of the old homestead farm, and is a respected citizen. J. B. GORDEN, farmer; P. 0. Lloyd; son of William B. and Mary (Gunter- man) Gorden, who were among the first settlers of Menard Co.; was born where he now lives, Dec. 29, 1839 ; he has resided on the old homestead, and followed agricultural pursuits thus far through life. He married Miss Julia A. Kirsch, of Springfield, Oct. 25, 1875. She was born Feb. 13, 1853. He now owns 120 acres. GEORGE H. HARRISON, farmer ; P. O. Petersburg ; was born in this county in 1839 ; son of John F. and Parthena S. Harrison. During his early life he endeav- ored to obtain a good education, though he only had the advantage of a few terms at district school ; but by study at home, he became able to teach school, and followed teaching a number of years. He has now turned his attention to farming. He married Miss Luella B. Woods, daughter of Rev. Giles W. Woods, of Sangamon Co.; they were married Sept. 26, 1878. He resides upon his father's farm, superintending it. HARM HARMS, farmer ; P. 0. Lloyd ; son of Jacob and .Margaret (Barnes) Harms ; was born in Hanover, Germany, April 19, 1827 ; his father died in Hanover in 1849, and his mother died in 1867. During his early life, he learned the trade of a weaver, which he followed a number of years. He manufactured woolen and linen goods on his own account for a time, just previous to coming to this country, which was in 1857 ; he came directly to Menard Co., 111., and began farming. In 1865, he removed to Nebraska for a time, then returned to Germany. He returned to this country with Miss Mary Julifs, and they were married at Petersburg Oct. 14, 1866 ; they at once came and settled where they now live. She was born July 2, 1839. He owns 200 acres of good land, the result of his own energy. They have a family of four Anna M., born July 10, 1867 ; Christine, July 24, 1869 ; Fannie D., May 6, 1872 ; Sophia H., Feb. 26, 1874. A. R. HOUGHTON, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; son of Chas. P. and Elizabeth (Vandeventer) Houghton ; was born near where he now resides Feb. 7, 1825 ; he has followed farming, and served one year in the Mexican war. He married Miss Elvira Stevenson, of Menard Co., May 29, 1855, and shortly afterward settled where he now resides; they have raised three children James F., born Aug. 19, 1856, and died Feb. 12, 1877 ; William C.,born Oct. 22. 1859 ; Mary A., April 23, 1862. His farm con- sists of 230 acres of land. A. M. HOUGHTON, farmer; P. 0. Lloyd; son of Elijah and Catharine (Mer- rill) Houghton, who came from Mason Co., Ky., in 1824, locating where A. M. now resides ; here this son was born Oct. 12, 1826, and here he has always lived on the old farm ; he is an enterprising and prosperous citizen and now owns 520 acres of fine laud. His father died in 1852. Mr. Houghton married Miss Barbara A. Renshaw, of San- gamon Co., 111., April 9, 1856 ; they have had two children Ann M. (now Mrs. John S. Hury, of this county), and Wyley P. (deceased). TARLTON LLOYD, farmer ; P. 0. Lloyd ; one of the first white settlers of Menard Co.; came from Rockingham Co., Va., where he was born May 9, 1784, and located where he now lives in 1820 ; here he has since resided, and is, beyond a doubt, the most active man of his age in Central Illinois. In 1800, he was married to Miss Nancy Hunter ; she died in 1834, leaving seven children. In 1837, he married Catharine ROCK CREEK PRECINCT. T51 Keltner, who died in 1876, leaving nine children. He is now, at the ripe old age of 95, residing with his youngest son, who works his farm, which consists of 173 acres. CATHARINE D. PURKAPILE, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; widow of the late James Purkapile ; was born in Mason Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1817 ; daughter of Chas. P. and Elizabeth ( Vandeventer) Houghton ; her parents were among the first settlers of Menard Co., coming from Mason Co., Ky., in 1824. Her father died in 1835, and her mother in 1836. She was twice married first, to Mr. T. J. Nance, Sept. 20, 1836, who was a prominent man of this county, and died in 1842, leaving three children, but one of whom is now living Hon. Albert G. Nance ; she married for her second hus- band, J. Purkapile, May 26, 1859 ; he was one of the prominent pioneers of this county, industrious, benevolent and highly respected ; he died Jan. 19, 1878; she had one child by this marriage Mary E. Mrs. Purkapile owns and superintends her farm, which consists of 230 acres of land. Her residence is among the best in the county. J. H. SMITH, farmer; P. 0. Tallula; son of Samuel and Anna (Rhodes) Smith; was born in Schuyler Co., N. Y., May 4, 1836; the same year, his parents came to Illinois, remaining until 1851, when they removed to Cass Co., 111., where they died in 1877, his father in January, and his mother in June. In 1859. he went over- land to California, and remained some two years, and returned by water. Mr. Smith enlisted in the late war with the 51st I. V. I.; served about twenty-eight months, par- ticipating in many of the most severe battles, and escaped injury. After the war, he came to Menard Co., and, Aug. 22, 1865, married Miss Courtney A. Capper, of Cass Co.; they have two children George H. and Addie R. He owns a fine little farm of ninety-five acres. E. B. YOAKUM, farmer; P. 0. Lloyd; son of Matthias and Elizabeth (McHenry) Yoakum; was born where he now resides Nov. 10, 1837 ; his parents were among the first settlers of Menard Co., coming from Tennessee in 1820, and located where E. B. now resides ; here his father spent the remainder of his life, and died in 1855 ; his mother survives at the ripe age of 80 ; E. B. now owns ninety acres of the old home- stead farm. He married Miss Mary A. Cogdal May 19, 1857 ; she was born March 11, 1841 ; they have raised two children Amanda J., born July 26, 1860, and John T., Jan. 12, 1863. MASON COUNTY. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. CYRENIUS W. ANDRUS, retired, Havana : was born in Rutland, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Oct. 23, 1810, but removed, when about 16 years of age, with his father's family, to Watertown, N. Y., thence, in the spring of 1836, to Illinois. His first loca- tion was at Havana, then within the confines of Tazewell Co. Mr. Andrus, soon after his arrival, engaged in the mercantile business with the late Northrup J. Rockwell, and about three years later removed to Fulton Co., and became a tiller of the soil. In 1845, he returned to Havana, which has since been his home, and again engaged in merchandising. The condition of the country, and the methods of doing business on the arrival (and for many years after) of Mr. Andrus and other early settlers, will be fully set forth in another department of this work. Mr. Andrus served as Justice of the Peace at quite an early date in the history of the city, but declined all other invitations to public honors. He is the oldest in the mercantile trade of any one now living in Mason Co. He was married, in 1834, to Miss Lucy, daughter of Northrup Rockwell, and sister of the late Judge Rockwell ; she was born in Vermont ; died at Havana, in 1853. By this union there were five children, none of whom are now living. In 1855, he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Rutledge, daughter of R. Simms ; her native place was Virginia ; her death occurred in 1873. He was married to Mrs. Sigourney (Clark), bis present wife, in 1876 ; she was born in Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y. HENRY BORGELT, SB., farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Han- over, Germany, Feb. 27, 1827 ; he came to America, in 1844, and first located in St. Louis, Mo. In 1850, he came to Mason Co., and the following year, with others, man- ufactured the brick used in the construction of the Court House, at Havana. He was married, June 7, 1852, to Miss Eliza Horstman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 7, 1832 ; she came to America in 1837. Her father, Henry Horstman, settled near Matanzas, this county. They have nine children Charlotte (wife of G. B. Holz- graefe). Henry, Jr., Frank, Lizzie, William, Charles W., Horace 0., Mary and Yettie. Mr. Borgelt owns 130 acres of farm land, and seventy-three acres of timber. JAMES BLAKELEY (deceased), Sec. 33 ; Havana ; was born in Mon- mouth Co., N. J., May 14, 1807, where he resided until 1834, then removed to Columbiana Co., Ohio, and two years later to Illinois, locating first in Sangamon Co. In April, 1838, he settled in Kilbourne Township, this county. For twenty-three years prior to his death, which occurred Sept. 19, 1870, his home was in Havana Township, where his widow now resides with her son, James H. In 1828, she was married to Mr. Blakeley, by whom she had nine children ; seven are now living Jacob resides in Nebraska ; Aaron S., in Kilbourne Township ; Hannah and Sarah (twins), the former, wife of William Polland, lives in Fulton Co., 111., and the latter, wife of B. F. Wallace, resides in Kansas ; John M. lives in Kilbourne Township ; Lydia A., wife of P. O'Neal, resides in Missouri ; James H. resides on the old home place, in Havana Township ; James, died Jan. 17, 1833; Mary, Oct. 28, 1838. Mrs: Blakeley owns 130 acres of land in Havana Township. James H. Blakeley was born in Havana Township, this county, Aug. 4, 1847. He was married, April 1, 1875, to Miss Caroline, daughter of C. Hurley ; they have two children, Jacob C. and Ella J. Mr. Blakeley owns seventy acres of land in Mason Co., 111., and 160 acres in Nebraska. Mrs. Hannah Blakeley is the eldest daughter of Aaron Scott, who settled in Mason Co. in 1838 ; she was born in Salem, Salem Co., N. J., Feb. 8, 1809 ; although she is now past 70 years of age, her memory of events and dates is remarkably accurate and ready. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 753 BENJ. F. BOWMAN, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Havana Township, this county, Dec. 29, 1846. His father, D. W. Bowman, who was born in Tennessee, came to Illinois in 1836, and settled in Greene Co., and in February, 1845, removed, with his family, to Mason Co., where they have since resided. His mother was Elizabeth Ballard. She was born in North Carolina. The subject of this sketch now resides on the farm, which has been his home since birth. He has served one term as School Trustee, owns eighty acres of farm land in Havana Township, this county, and forty acres of timber in Fulton Co., 111. SAMUEL BIVENS, Treasurer of Mason Co., Havana; was born in Pike Co., Ohio, Aug. 22, 1839, and is a son of William Bivens, a native of Salem, N. J. The subject of this sketch enlisted in the 117th Ohio V. I., in 1862, and remained one year, then, by order of Gov. Todd, proceeded to enlist men for the artillery. From these recruits Battery C, First Ohio Artillery, was formed, and Mr. Bivens commissioned Captain. He served until the close of the war, participating in all the battles from Chattanooga to Atlanta ; also the siege at Nashville. In August, 1865, he was mus- tered out of the service, and, in the following October, came to Illinois, locating at Lincoln, where, for one year, he was engaged in the live stock business, then came to- Mason City, this county, where, for a term of six years, he was engaged in the hard- ware trade. In 1873, he was elected Treasurer of Mason Co., and is the present incumbent. Mr. Bivens is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Mason City Lodge, No. 403 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. DE WITT C. BROWN, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec 33 ; P. 0. Havana ; was bom near Schenectady, N. Y., May 19, 1822, but removed, in childhood, with his father's family, to Chautauqua Co., that State, and subsequently to Allegheny Co., Penn. In 1845, he removed to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, Mason Co., in the spring of that year. He fenced a forty-acre tract by digging a ditch around it, which, to a person coming from a heavily timbered country, was a novelty. He now owns about 1,000 acres of land, a part of which is the original purchase made when he came to the State. Mr. B. has served a period of about twenty years as School Director. He was married, in 1851, to Mrs. Ann (Gibbs) Shelly, who was born in England. Her father, William Gibbs, was a powder manufacturer, and at one time was employed by Du Pont. They have three children John, Charlie, and Josephine, wife of John Brent, who- resides in Mason Co. Mrs. Brown has one child by her former marriage, Julia A., wife of John Mowder, who resides in Kansas. HON. WASHINGTON H. CAMPBELL, lawyer, Havana; was born in Bath, this county, Oct 12, 1847. His father and grandfather, George H. and P. W. Campbell, settled in Bath Township in 1842, and were from Tennessee. They were of Scotch descent, and men of talent and ability. George H. Campbell is at present a resident of Mason City, where he is engaged in the mercantile business. The subject of this sketch resided at Bath until 1857 (then 10 years old), when his father was elected County Judge, and removed to Havana. He entered Lincoln University in 1866, from which he graduated in 1869. He then entered the Law Department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor. In the summer of 1870, he entered the law office of Dearborn & Son, and soon after his admission to the bar formed a copartner- ship with Hon. Luther Dearborn, the elder member of the above firm, which still exists. He has been admitted to the U. S. Dist. Court, the U. S. Circuit Court, also the several adjoining Circuit Courts and State Supreme Court, in all of which he has a large and increasing practice. In April, 1879, he was admitted to the United States Supreme Court, and went to Washington, D. C., where he has in charge, at this time, a case involving over $80.000, which he has gained in the lower courts. Mr. Campbell, after having graduated, kept up his studies as prescribed by Lincoln University, and in June, 1872, the degree of B. S. was conferred upon him, and, in 1873, he addressed the Alumni Society. It would seem almost superfluous to add that Mr. Campbell is one of the ablest lawyers in his judicial district. He was married, March 23, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel C. and Mary A. Conwell, who was born in Havana. They have one child Hillery E. Mr. Campbell is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 754 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 88, A., F. & A. M. He was elected Mayor of the city of Havana in April, 1879, and is the present incumbent. JOHN R. CHANEY, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Biggs Station ; was born in Simp- son Co., Ky., Nov. 4, 1811, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth Chaney, the former a native of Virginia, the latter of Kentucky. The family removed to Tennessee when John R. was about 15 years of age. He removed to Illinois in 1837, locating first in Greene Co., and, in the spring of 1839, settled in what is now Crane Creek Town- ship, Mason Co. He. came to Havana Township in the fall of that year, having located his claim the year previous, and now resides on the original claim, which has been his home for the last forty years. At the second election after the organization of Mason Co., Mr. Chaney was elected County Commissioner. He was married, May 8, 1834, to Miss Missouri Gregor, who was born in Sumner Co., Tenn. They have had ten chil- dren by this union, nine of whom are now living Sarah A., wife of James Haynes, resides in Bourbon Co., Kan. ; James T. resides in Mason Co. ; Elizabeth resides in Mason Co. ; Charity J. lives at home ; Catharine, wife of Daniel Clark, resides in Mason Co. ; Harriet, wife of William H. Williamson, lives in this county ; Martha C., wife of J. R. Poland, resides in Mason Co. ; John ; Missouri A., wife of Albert Glyn, resides in Pike Co., 111.; Thomas H. died Feb. 16,.1873. Mr. Chaney's father was one of the early settlers of Morgan Co., 111., locating there as early as 1830. WALTER L. COON, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Quiver Town- ship, this county, Aug. 16, 1849, and is a son of George D. Coon, who was born in New Jersey, and settled in Mason Co. as early as 1842. The subject of this sketch was married to Miss Emma J., daughter of Charles Howell, Feb. 19, 1874. They have two children George C. and Ralph W. Mrs. Coon's father came to the county in 1837. JOHN N. CARMAN, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hancock Co., Ky., Jan. 24, 1846 ; when about 10 years of age, he came to Peoria, 111., and sub- sequently went to Princeville, Peoria Co. At the opening of the P., P. & J. R. R., he was employed as baggage-master, and checked the first trunk sent over the road. He was in the employ of the company three and a half years, and then engaged as clerk with Frankinfield & Solenburg, of Havana, and, subsequently, for J. R. Foster and Lang- ford & Griffith, in all about ten years. In 1868, he was married to Miss Lucy Nettler, who was born in Havana Township, this county ; her death occurred the same year. He was married to his present wife, Miss Ella Kelsey, in July, 1871 ; she was born in Steuben Co., N. Y. They have two children Fannie and Frank. JAMES COVINGTON, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Feb. 10, 1824, where he resided till he came West, in 1844, locating in Crane Creek Township, Mason Co., 111., in the fall of that year, where he engaged in farming. After a residence in Crane Creek of about three years, he came to Havana Township, where he has since resided. He has served as School Trustee some three terms, and is the present incumbent. Married, April 1, 1851, Miss Sarah Wheeler, who was born in Logan Co., 111. ; she died May 30, 1859. Three children by this union, two of whom are living Arabella, wife of William Prettyman, and Susan P., wife of James Hen- ninger; Catharine, died March 6, 1864. In 1865. he married Sarah Hole, daughter of Stephen Hole : she was born in Washington Co., Ind. ; her death occurred in May, 1870. By this union there are two children William T. and Stephen H. Mr. Cov- ington owns 220 acres of farm lands, and 160 acres of timber. GEORGE CORDES, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Hanover. Germany, in February, 1819 ; came to America when twenty-one years of age, and first located at Baltimore, Md., thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there he removed to St. Louis, Mo. He subsequently went to New Orleans, and on his return to St. Louis, he enlisted in Col. Easton's Battalion, 1st Mo. Inf., and served eighteen months in the war with Mexico, under Gen. Price. In the summer of 1848, after his discharge from the service, he located in Havana Township, this county, where he has since followed farm- ing. Owns 360 acres of land in this township. In 1853, he was married to Miss Ellen Woster, who was born in Hanover, Germany. They had four children Lizzie, wife of HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 755 D. Kretner ; Lucy, wife of William Reipe ; Mary J. and George J. Mr. Cordes is now serving his second terra of Justice of the Peace. SAMUEL C. CON WELL, attorney, Havana ; was born in Sussex Co., Del., Aug. 27, 1819, and is the son of George and Hannah (Gum) Conwell ; when about 11 years of age, the subject of this sketch removed to Shelby ville, Ind. He received his. early education in the common schools in Indiana, and had for a classmate Gov. Thomas Hendricks. Mr. Conwell says the students generally gave more thought to having a good time and enjoying the present, with little regard to the future ; also, that their teacher, on account of the waywardness of the youth, or from some other cause, took to the woods and hanged himself. This tragedy closed the school and graduated the stu- dents. In about 1835, Mr. Conwell went to Zanesville, Ohio, where he served for a time as clerk in a store, and, in 1840, removed to Illinois, locating at Walker's Grove, this county. In 1848, he commenced the study of law with William Walker, at Havana, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1851 ; his license was signed by Samuel H. Treat and Lyman Trumbull. He is the oldest in the practice of his profession of any attorney in Mason Co., and served as the second School Commissioner of the county. In December, 1841, he was married to Miss Mary A., daughter of James Walker, of Walker's Grove. Her father settled there in 1837 ; she was born in Dearborn Co., Ind. Eight children by this union, five of whom are living Amelia L., wife of James F. Kelsey ; Henrietta, wife of F. Pollitz ; Charles A., now practicing law at Rawlins, Wyo- ming Ter. ; Elizabeth, wife of W. H. Campbell, and Fannie. M ARCELLUS E. COVINGTON, drugs, medicines, etc., Havana ; was born in Havana Township, this county, April 14, 1854, where he has since resided; his father, Robert Covington, settled in Mason Co. about 1845. The subject of this sketch has resided in Havana since 1862, and established his present business in 1873. He was married, June 18, 1879, to Miss Katie Kemp, who was born in this city. Mr. Covington is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 743, K. of H., and Prosperity Lodge, No. 114, A. o. u. w. JACOB F. COPPEL, banking and insurance, Havana; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1833, where he resided until March, 1853, when he removed to^Havana and engaged in the stove and tinware business until 1858 ; he then commenced the study of law with Walker & Dearborn, and was admitted to the bar in 1861, and com- menced practice; in 1862, he formed a partnership with William Walker, which con- tinued until 1865, then engaged in insurance in connection with law, and, in 1866, commenced the banking business under the firm name of Kemp. Coppel & Co., until 1867, in September, when Mr. Kemp died, and the firm became McFadden & Coppel, and still so remains. Mr. Coppel served as Master in Chancery for about twelve years ; was Mayor in 1877-7-8 ; appointed United States Deputy Collector of Fourth District July 1, 1878, which office he still retains. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Mary L. daughter of Robert McReynolds, a native of Columbia Co., Penn., but came to Mason, Co., 111., when but 2 years old ; the result of this marriage is eight children Clarence E., Frank M., Charley H., Myrtie L., Daisy D., Thusnelda, Clara E. (died in 1864), and Nellie F. (died in 1873). His father, Daniel Coppel, was born in Philadelphia in 1787, and came to Adams Co., Ohio, when about 18 years old, and thence to Illinois ; he died in 1871 ; his wife (Martha Whiteman) was born in Fairfax, Va., in 1791, and died in 1863. Mr. C. is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lod^e, No. 88 ; Havana R. A . Chapter, No. 86 ; Damascus Commandery, No. 42 ; Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. 0. F. GEORGE W. CRAIG, SR., dealer in cigars and tobacco, Havana ; was born in Canton, Fulton Co., 111., Jan. 28, 1845, where he resided till about 19 years of age; he then worked at his present trade in different localities in the Western and Southern States, and, in 1868, located in Havana, his present home, where he engaged in his present business about eight years since. In December, 1871, he married Miss Annie, daughter of Henry Taylor; she was born in Washington Co., Penn.; they have two children Frank F. and George W., Jr. Mr. Craig is a member of the follow- ing Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Havana Chapter, No. 86. He oo 756 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: enlisted in Co. E, 132d I. V. I., in the spring of 1864, and served till the fall of same year. JOHN M. DEHM, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Havana; was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, May 20, 1832 ; he came with his father's family to America in 1851 ; they first settled in Tazewell Co., 111., where they engaged in farming, and subsequently removed to Woodford Co. He was married, in 1861, to Miss Ann B. Lieb, who was born in Baden, Germany, Jan. 13, 1835 ; she came to America in 1859 ; they have one child John W., born Nov. 27, 1861 ; in 1871, they came to Havana, but have resided some seven years in the State of Missouri. JOHN H. DIERKER, retired farmer, Sec. 31 ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover. Germany, Aug. 17, 1799; in 1838, he came to America with his brother, John Henry ; they made a short stay at New Orleans, La., and with their brother George, who had preceded them about three years, then came to Mason Co. in April of the same year ; George and John Henry settled in Bath Township, and the subject of this sketch on the farm where he now resides. In 1839, he was married to Miss Mary C. Heye, who was born in Hanover, Germany ; her death occurred Dec. 10, 1874 ; they had four children, two of whom are now living Maggie (wife of Louis Hahn), and Hannah (wife of Henry Hahn). Mr. Dierker has been identified with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Havana since its organization, and has contributed liberally fn time and money in building up the society. WALTER S. DRAY, loan business, Havana; was born in Allegheny City, Penn., Sept. 20, 1838, but removed, when about 1 year old, with his father's family to the Territory of Iowa ; thence, in 1845, to Pike Co., Mo., and, three years later to Vermont', Fulton Co., 111. Prior to his leaving Iowa, his mother died, and, as his father was then in California, he became the protege of his grandmother. In 1857, he removed to Cleve- land, Ohio ; but, two years later, returned to Illinois and located in Canton, Fulton Co., and engaged in the jewelry business. He removed to Havana, his present home, in July, 1861, and embarked in the same line of trade. In 1868, Mr. 0. C. Town, who had been with the establishment since 1864, became a partner in the business, which continued till 1875. Mr. Dray then sold out to Mr. Town and gave his especial atten- tion to other interests. He was married, in 1864, to Miss Louisa F., daughter of Hon. William Allen, of Havana ; by this union there were three children, only one of whom is living Gail, a bright and interesting lad of 7 years, who lives with his grand- mother Allen ; Roy, who was born in July, 1866, died Nov. 12, 1872 ; George W. died in infancy. Mr. Dray is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. He has been a member of the Board of Aldermen during the last four years, serving as President of the Finance Committee during that period. PHILIP L. DIEFFENBACHER, physician and surgeon, Havana; born in Northumberland Co., Penn., Feb. 6, 1830. He is the eldest son of Daniel and Cath- arine (Long) Dieffenbacher ; his parents removed to Illinois in 1837, and settled in what was then a part of Tazewell (now Mason) Co. He remained at home and helped improve a new farm until 1849, when he returned to Pennsylvania for the purpose of attending school. He entered the Newville Academy, a preparatory school to the Jef- ferson College, at Cannonsburg, where he finished his preparatory education. He then came to Mason Co. and taught in the schoolhouse he helped to build, known as the Dieffenbacher Schoolhouse, situated about six miles east of Havana. In the summer of 1851, he returned to Pennsylvania and commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. P. H. & S. H. Long, of Mechanicsburg, that State. He entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, in 1853, and graduated at that institution in the spring of 1855 ; during the winter of 1854-55, he attended clinical lectures and prac- tice of Blockley Hospital, West Philadelphia. After graduating, he established his office at Mount Joy, Lancaster Co., Penn., and there began the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1856, he returned to Illinois, locaiing at Havana, and the following year was married to Miss Frances A. Parmelee, of Lockport, N. Y. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the United States Service as First Assistant Surgeon of the 85th Illinois HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 757 Infantry, and was promoted to Surgeon with rank of Major, in June, 1863. He served with this body until the close of the war ; was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea, and at Washington, D. C., where he was mustered out of the service, June 5, 1865, and received final pay and discharge at Camp Butler, 111., on the llth of the same month. He then returned to Havana, where he has since resided, constantly occupied in the duties connected with his profession, in which he makes surgery a specialty. He performed the operation of resection of the shoulder-joint, for a gun-shot wound, suc- C3ssfully in 1860, just before the war. In 1874, he was married to Martha M. Mitchell, who was born in Cass Co., 111. ; they have two children Mattie M. and Edith L. Mrs. Dieffenbacher's parents were natives of Virginia, and came from Kentucky to Cass Co., 111., at an early day, and to Mason Co. in 1846. The Doctor is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, President of Mason County Medical Society, and U. S. Pension Examiner. He is also a member of the following Orders : Prosperity Lodge, No. 1 14, A. 0. U. W. ; I. 0. M. A. and Pioneer Relief Association. He became a member of Humane Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., at York, Penn., in 1854. He has filled all the chairs in both the subordinate Lodge and Encampment. DANIEL DIEFFENBACHER, retired farmer ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Aug. 7, 1803, and is a son of Jacob and Christiana (Cotner) Dieffenbacher ; the former was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Nov. 17, 1775, died Oct. 30, 1840 ; the latter was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Feb. 14, 1784, died Dec. 21, 1858. The subject of this sketch resided in the place of his nativity till the spring of 1827, when he moved to an adjoining county (Northumberland). He was married Jan. 18, 1827, to Miss Catharine Long, who was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Sept. 3, 1808. In 1833, he returned to the county of his nativity, and in the fall of 1837, removed to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, this county, where he engaged in farming the following spring. He served on the first grand jury after the organization of Mason Co., in 1841 ; was also School Director at an early date. He "became iden- tified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in the fall of 1839, at which time services were held in a log cabin. Their first preacher was the Rev. Michael Shunk. Mr. Dieffenbacher's wife died Nov. 4, 1860 ; they had nine children, six of whom are still living Christiana, wife of Thomas Covington, born Dec. 16, 1827, and resides io Havana ; Dr. Philip L. (see sketch) ; Joseph M., born Jan. 25, 1836, resides at Ipava, Fulton Co.," 111.; Mary E., born Dec. 27, 1838, wife of Dr. Willing, lives at Bath; Sarah C., born Nov. 11, 1844, wife of Rufus Smith, resides in Kansas; Lorinda J., born March 4, 1848, wife of Cotner Weaver, resides in Pennsylvania. The following are the names of deceased : John F., born June 3, 1833, died Oct. 7, 1834 ; Susan R., born Aug. 16, 1841, died April 11, 1877 ; Alice A., born July 9, 1851, died May 20, 1860. Mr. Dieffenbacher has disposed of his lands in Mason Co., but still owns a farm of 165 acres in Miami Co., Kansas. JOSEPH DEHM, grocer (firm of J. Dehm & Bro.), Havana; was bom in Bavaria, Germany, Jan. 5, 1837, and came to the United States in 1851, locating in Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and in October, 1854, emigrated to Illinois. He located in Tazewell Co., and engaged in farming, where he remained until 1864, when he removed to Woodford Co., remaining there four years, at the end of which time he came to Havana and engaged in mercantile business ; he erected the building: containing groceries in 1874, and the building containing dry goods was erected by his brother two years ago. He is a member of the firm of Dehm & Bro., and of George Dehm & Co. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Surah L. Barringer, a native of Dayton, Ohio. They have three children Martha J., Jacob B. and Maggie. Mr. D. is a member of the Lutheran Church. HON. LUTHER DEARBORN, attorney (Dearborn & Campbell); Havana; was born in Plymouth, Grafton Co., N. H., March 24, 1820, and is a son of Jonathan and Nancy (Walker) Dearborn ; he received his early education at the Newhampton Academical and Theological Institution, where he spent about five years ; at an early age, he began teaching, and during the winter months followed this vocation, until his removal, with his father's family, to Dearborn Co., Ind., in 1841. His first 758 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: employment in his new home was in the office of the Circuit Clerk, where he also commenced the study of law. In April, 1844, he came to Havana, but after a res- idence here of about one year, removed to St. Charles, Kane Co., this State, and the following year located at Elgin, in the same county ; he was here employed as book-keeper for W. C. Kimball, and afterward engaged in mercantile business on his own account. In 1850 he was elected Sheriff of Kane Co., having for his deputy the well-known Allan Pinkerton. At the expiration of his first term of office as Sheriff, Mr. Dearborn was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court of Kane Co.; during his term of office, he was admitted to the bar, and soon after commenced the practice of law. In the fall of 1858, he removed to his present home and became a law partner of William Walker. For the benefit of his wife's health,' Mr. Dearborn, in 1862, removed to St. Paul, Minn., where he resided for two years, after which, attracted by the educational advantages of Faribault, that State, he went to that beautiful city ; while a resident there, he became interested in the schools, which have, under the able and successful management of Bishop Whipple, acquired such a rep- utation at home and abroad, and was soon after elected one of the Trustees, which position he has since held ; he was also nominated by Gov. Marshall, and twice confirmed by the Senate of that State, as a Trustee of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum, located at Faribault, and, as Chairman of the Building Committee, superin- tended the commencement of that elegant structure, now completed, which beautifies the city and honors the State, and which, in connection with the schools, gives the place such a reputation abroad. In 1867, he was elected by the Grand Chapter of the State as Grand High Priest, and in that capacity visited most of the Chapters in the State, delivering lectures and exemplifying the work of the Order. While on a visit to Illinois, in the spring of 1868, Mr. Dearborn was nominated, unexpectedly to himself, by the Democratic Convention, assembled in St. Paul, as one of the Electors at Large, and made the canvass of the State for Gov. Horatio Seymour, of New York, as their candi- date for President of the United States. In 1869, Mr. Dearborn returned to Havana, which has since been his home. In 1876, he was elected, by the Democratic party, State Senator, for the term of four years. He was married, iu March, 1850, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of James and Elizabeth Walker. Mrs. Dearborn's father bought several thousand acres of land in Mason County, in 1836, and located at Walker's Grove the following year. She was born in Aurora, Dearborn Co., Ind., Jan. 3, 1829. Mr. and Mrs. Dearborn's family consisted of nine children, three of whom are living Luther M., Frank A. and James H. Mr. Dearborn has been a member of the Masonic Fra- ternity since 1846; he is a member of Havana Lodge No. 88, Havana Chapter No. 86, and Damascus No. 42, and has served as the First Commander of the latter body. JABEZ DUNBAR, saloon-keeper, Havana ; was born in Northampton Co., Penn., Oct. 28, 1826, where he resided until his removal to Illinois in 1851 ; he first located in Havana in September of that year, and, about eighteen months later, removed to the State of Wisconsin, where he resided about six years, and then returned to Havana, his present home; he has been engaged in the manufacture of cigars, farm- ing and grocery trade since his residence here, and, in 1877, engaged in his present business. By. his first wife, Elizabeth Keller, there were four children, only one of whom is now living Edward J.; his second wife was Margaret Keller, by whom he had one child. His present wife was Mrs. Mary E. Thompson (Griffith) ; she was born in Tennessee ; they have two children Omer and Preston. Mr. Dunbar is a member of Mason Lodge No. 143, I. 0. 0. F. ISAAC W. ENGLAND, dealer in candies, confectionery, etc., Havana; born in Ha- vana Township, this county, Aug. 11, 1850, where he has since resided ; engaged in his present business in August, 1876. He was married, in 1872, to Miss Annie Elkin, who was born in the State of Kentucky, but came to Illinois in early childhood. Their only child, Kyle, died in 1875. OLIVER C. EASTON, Postmaster, Havana ; was born in Hamilton, Butler Co., Ohio, Aug. 17, 1829, where he resided until 1856; in July of that year, he came West and located at Keokuk, Iowa, which city, at that time, owing to financial depression HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 759 and other causes, was practically bankrupt ; after a residence of about two years, he found himself in about the same condition ; he left Keokuk in the* spring of 1858, with a sum total to defray traveling expenses of 5 cents ; he reached Havana, his pres- ent home, soon after, in a somewhat depressed financial condition ; here he worked for a time at the carpenter's trade, and, on the 1st of March, 1865, he received the apppointment of Postmaster, which position he has since held, with the exception of a period of seven months ; he has served one year as Town Clerk. In 1852, he was married to Miss Angeline, daughter of Spoom R. and Mary Pierce. Mrs. Easton was born in Norwalk, Ohio, May 25, 1832 ; two children by this union, one living Cora ; Belle died in 1857. GEORGE S. EMERSON, agent of P., P. & J. R. R., Havana; was born in Essex Co., Mass., May 13. 1833, but removed in early childhood to Illinois, locating in Tiskilwa, Bureau Co., with his father's family ; he remained in the county from 1836 until 1871, with the exception of a residence of about six years in De Kalb Co.; for about fifteen years, he was engaged in mercantile business at Buda, in Bureau Co.; in 1871, he removed to Whiteside Co., and was employed as agent of the C., B. & Q. R. R., at Prophetstown ; in November, 1875, he located in Elavana and assumed his pres- ent position. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Catharine L. Holton ; born in Catta- raugus Co., N. V., and died in 1867 ; they have had four children, three of whom are living Wilmot H. Fannie P. and Georgiana. He was married, in December, 1867, to Celia L. Stone, born in Stark Co., 111.; had one child by second marriage Roy W., who died in 1873. Mr. E. is a member of Buda Lodge, No. 399, A., F. & A. M. ELI N C. FISK, farmer, Sec. 3; P. 0. Havana; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 22, 1825, but removed with his father's family to Illinois in August, 1835, arriv- ing at Havana, this county, the 6th of that month, where they resided until August, 1837, when they removed to the farm where he now resides. His father, Eli Fisk, was born in Stafford, Windham Co., Conn., April 9, 1781 ; his death occurred Feb. 27, 1861 ; his mother, Margaret (Moore) Fisk, was born in Union, Windham Co., Conn., May 16, 1788 ; she died in February, 1858. The subject of this sketch worked on bis father's farm till October, 1847, when he entered the Illinois College at Jacksonville, graduating at that institution in 1853, receiving the A. B. degree; and, three years later, the A. M. degree was conferred ; he was licensed to preach about 1856, and, on the 19th of February, 1858, ordained Pastor of the Mason Congregational Church; among other literary pursuits, he has studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1869 ; has served as Notary Public since that date, and School Trustee several terms. On the 23d of June, 1867. he was married to Miss Rose A. Wagoner, who was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Oct. 19, 1840 ; six children by this union Margaret M., Lucy A. 0., Eli C., John W., Frank F. aud Rose M. Mr. Fisk has resided in his present home forty- two years, having located there in August, 1837. He owns 380 acres of land in Havana Township. The elm, a large and beautiful tree, a few rods southwest of Mr. Fisk's residence, grew from the seed which he planted in May, 1839. It now measures 10 feet 1 inch in circumference. JUDSON R. FOSTER (Low & Foster), grain and commission, Havana ; was born in Canada West Sept. 14, 1835, but removed in early childhood, with his father's family, to Havana, 111., which has since been his home, with the exception of a resid- ence in St. Louis of about two years. His father, Orren E. Foster, was born in the State of Vermont, in 1812, and removed to the West in 1835; he first stopped at Davenport, Iowa, and while there repaired guns for Black Hawk's son ; Mr. Foster removed to Havana that fall, or in the spring of 1836, and engaged in hotel business ; he subsequently bought a farm, about three miles northeast of Havana, which was his home until the time of his death, Dae. 17, 1843. The subject of this sketch remained on the farm till 1856, then removed to Havana, his present home; here he was first employed as clerk, and, in 1858, engaged in business on his own account; in the fall of the following year, he engaged in general merchandise, under the firm name of Low & Foster (E. Low), and continued in that till 1863. Since the above date, he has been engaged in lumber and grain trade. In 1876, the present firm of Low & 760 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Foster was established. Mr. Foster served as Town Trustee in 1871, Supervisor in 1872, and, during the last seven years, has been a member of the School Board, daring which time the present fine school edifice was erected. In 1859, he was married to Miss Melloria E. Rupert, who was born in Wisconsin ; they have three children Orren W., Anson J. and Luther. Mr. Foster is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. 0. F. ; also of the Encampment. SIMON FRANKINPIELD, retired, Havana ; was born in Lehigh Co., Penn., July 24, 1823, but removed to Clarion Co., that State, when about 14 years of age. In 1841, he came West, and on May 5, of that year, located in Havana Township, Mason Co., where he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed about four years ; he then removed to Havana, and worked at tailoring, having learned the trade before coming West. He subsequently followed farming, but since 1864 has resided at Havana, and, from 1866 to 1876, was engaged in the dry-goods business. He was married Sept. 3, 1846, to Miss Angeline. daughter of Reuben Henninger ; she was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. F. is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. JOHN A. GRAY, farmer, Sec. 35; P. 0. Havana; was born in Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 26, 1838, but removed, when about 4 years of age, to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, this county, about 1842. His father, Alexander Gray, was born in Scotland; he came to America when young, and, for some years, followed the occupa- tion of a sailor ; his mother, Sarah G. (Tempest) Gray, was born in Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Gray has served as Commissioner of Highways and School Director. He was married, Sept. 24, 1867, to Miss Sarah J. Henninger, who was born in Northumberland Go., Penn. ; they have had four children, two of whom are living William F. and John ; Arthur A., died in 1868. Mr. Gray owns 280 acres of land in Havana Township and 240 acres in Sherman. EDWIN B. H ARPH AM, physician and druggist, Havana ; was born in Phila- delphia, April 14, 1814, but, when about 5 years old, removed, with his father's family, to what was then Dearborn Co. (now Ohio Co.), Ind. ; here he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. William Cruikshank, in 1842, and, in 1842 and 1843, attended the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. After graduating, he practiced one year with Dr. Cruikshank, and, in 1844, removed to Illinois, and located in Havana, where he followed the practice of his profession for more than twenty years. His father, Jonathan Harpham, came to Illinois, and to Mason Co., in 1850, and died in 1852 ; his wife was Mary Bates, and seven children were born to them, of whom E. B.,is the eldest ; James A., lives in Havana; Silas G., near Havana; Mary A., widow of G. W. Squibb, lives near Salem, 111. ; Levi, on a farm near Havana ; Louisa, the wife of W. Hoffher, died at Muscatine, Iowa, in 1861 ; John lives in Wright Co., Iowa. Dr. H. served as County Superintendent of Schools. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Laura Holliday, who was born in Ohio Co., Ind. They have three children, Oscar H., who is in the hardware trade, in Havana; Lucy E., wife of J. B. Browning, M. D., of Havana, and Corinne, who died in 1860. JACOB HENNINGER, farmer, Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Columbia Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1828, but removed, in childhood, with his father's family, to Nor- thumberland, and thence to Clinton Co., Penn.; in 1867, he came to Illinois, and located in Havana Township, where he has since resided. In May, 1851, he was married to Miss Lucretia Quigle, who was born in Clinton Co., Penn.; they have had ten children, six of whom are living William, John, George, Isaac, Samuel and Dora; the four deceased are Eli, McClelland, Ada and Etta. BARTLEY F. HOWELL, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Lyco- ming Co., Penn., April 29, 1828, and is a son of Nathan and Anna (Richart) Howell the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey (near Mt. Bethel); the family came to Illinois in 1840, locating in Havana Township, this county, in April of that year ; Mr. Howell worked on his father's farm till about 21 years of age, when he became a tiller of the soil on his own account; he made his first purchase of land, when about 16 years old. On the 15th of November, 1849, he married Miss Amanda, HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 761 daughter of Reuben and Susanna (Boyer) Henninger ; she was born in Dauphin Co., Pcnn.; they have had six children, five of whom are living John W., Mary M., Susan E., Lovina I. and Charles C.; Frances L., died Aug. 8, 1858. Mr. Howell, by nature well endowed, by habits well preserved, shows a record of health and physical force rarely met ; he has, during the last thirty-nine years, worked in every harvest and plowed every season, without the loss of a week by sickness ; he owns 170 acres of land in Havana Township. LOUIS HAHN, farmer, Sec. 32; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Ger- many, July 11, 1836, where he resided till about 15 years of age, when his father's family emigrated to America, and located in Havana Township, this county ; his father. Louis Hahn> and his mother, Fredrica (Cella) Hahn, were born in Hanover, Germany. The subject of these lines was married, Nov. 5, 1858, to Miss Mary, daughter of John H. Dierker ; she was born in Havana Township Feb. 22, 1840, and died March 6, 1859 ; their only child, Lucy, died Aug. 15, of the same year. On the 17th of April, 1860, he married Miss Maggie Dierker (sister of his first wife) ; she was born in Havana Township, this county, April 24, 1842 ; they have seven children Harman L., Hanna F., Henry F., Louis H., Gusta C., Regena L. and Anna M. Mr. Hahn owns 600 acres of land in Havana Township, and 573 acres in Logan Co., 111. JOHN HENNINGER, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Havana ; he is a son of Reuben and Susanna (Boyer) Henninger; was born in Berks Co., Penn., May 28, 1829 ; in the fall of 1842, he came with his father's family to Illinois, locating in Havana Town- ship, this county; Mr. Henninger worked on his father's farm till 23 years of age, when he began farming on his own account. He was married, Oct. 16, 1851, to Miss Altha J. Faulkner, who was born in Madison Co., Ind., Feb. 25, 1835; six children by this union, five now living Charles A., born Dec. 18, 1852; James S., May 18, 1856 ; Ora A., Feb. 24, 1866 ; Ada J., May 21, 1871, and John M., April 19, 1875; William P. was born Nov. 1, 1860, and died March 30, 1861. Mr. Henninger owns 320 acres of farm land in Sec. 1 , and eighty acres of timber in Sec. 12, Havana Township. JOHN W. HEINRICH, manager for the Singer Manufacturing Co. for the counties of Mason and Fulton, Havana ; was born in Baden, Germany, March 10, 1851 ; in the spring of 1853, his father's family emigrated to America, and located at Henry, Marshall Co., Ill ; he worked on his father's farm till past 21 years of age; since 1873, he has been in the employ of the Singer Manufacturing Co.; he located in Havana, his present home, Jan. 26, 1876, and now has charge of the business of the Company for Mason and Fulton, Cos. He was married, Jan. 6, 1876, to Miss Carrie Ward, who, though born in Woodford Co., 111., is of English descent ; they have one child Charles A. REUBEN HENNINGER, retired farmer; P. 0. Havana; was born in Nor- thumberland Co., Penn., Sept. 13, 1801, but removed with his father's family to Columbia Co. in April, 1802, where he resided till about 17 years of age, when the family removed to Berks Co., and, some ten years later, to Dauphin Co.; in 1832, they removed to Trumbull Co., Ohio ; the subject of these lines came to Illinois in 1842, and located in Havana Township, this county, on the 20th of October, of that year ; he has followed farming since his arrival until about 1866, when he removed to Havana, his present home; he still owns a large tract of land in Mason Co., some 1,200 acres, and about 200 acres of land in Kansas. On the 22d of June, 1823, he was married to Miss Susanna Boyer, who was born in Berks Co., Penn , March 8, 1804 : her death occurred Nov. 1, 1847 ; eleven children by this union, eight of whom are now living William, Angeline (wife of S. Frankinfield), John. Amanda (wife of B. F. Howell), Reuben, Daniel, Susan (wife of Charles Fager) and Sarah (wife of George Shaneberg), Margaret J. died in 1847 ; Cyrus, Oct. 16, 1872 ; Franklin, in July, 1879. He was married to his present wife. Mrs. Catharine (Bell) Fager, Oct. 8, 1848; she was born in Union Co., Penn., April 6, 1803, and had three sons by a former marriage John F., Harry A. and Charles C. Fager. ALEXANDER D. HOPPING, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in the Province of Lower Canada Dec. 4, 1809, and is a son of Ephraim and Mary 762 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: (Young) Hopping, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Maine; the subject of these notes resided in his place of nativity till 6 years of age, when the family removed to Dearborn Co., Ind.; Mr. Hopping removed to his present home in 1851. He has served as Justice of the Peace since 1869, School Treasurer since 1873, School Trustee and Director several years. On the 2d of May, 1839, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Covington, who was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Dec. 6, 1816; nine children by this union, four of whom are living George N., Alice A., Charles E. and Milton G. ; the names of the deceased are Mary J., Thomas E., Susanna N., James C. and Harvey P. Mr. Hopping owns 345 acres of land, including five acres in the city of Havana. HENRY H. HAVIGHORST, hardware, Havana ; was born in Mason Co. June 13, 1844, and is the eldest son of John H. Havighorst, Sr., who settled in the county as early as 1837 ; Henry worked on his father's farm until the fall of 1858, when, with his father's family, he removed to Havana, which has since been his home ; he received his education at the Northwestern University at Naperville, 111 ; In 1867, he went to Colorado and spent the greater portion of that and the following year in the mountain and mining districts of Colorado and Wyoming, serving for a time as agent for Wells, Fargo & Co. and also operating a branch store for John Wanless & Co., post sutlers at Ft. Sanders ; he returned to Havana in the fall of 1868, and, on the 22d of December following, was married to Miss Harriett A. Howell, who was born in Mason Co., 111. ; two children by this union Bertha L. and Flora A. In the spring of 1869, he engaged in the hardware business in this city under the firm name of Bennett & Havighorst, and, in 1872, sold his interest to his partner and served as Deputy Sheriff under L. M. Hillyer for nearly one year, and then purchased the hardware stock of his former partner, since which he has continued in the same line of trade. JOSIAH HARTSELL, Sheriff of Mason Co., Havana ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 6, 1836, where he resided until his removal to Illinois in April, 1858, locating in Mason Co.; he followed farming in Sherman Township from 1863 to 1872, and served as the first Collector of that town after township organization ; he was Deputy Sheriff from 1872 to 1876, and, in the latter year, elected Sheriff of Mason Co. and re-elected in 1878, which position he at present occupies; has also served as City Mar- shal. Mr. Hartsell was married, in 1861, to Miss Maria K.Walter; she was born in the same county and State as himself. WILLIAM H. HOLE, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Washington Co., Ind., April 13, 1836, and is a son of Stephen and Lucinda (Mitchell) Hole; the former born on the site of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, July 12j 1795, and the latter in Woodford Co., Ky. ; his father'died Jan. 26, 1873, and his mother Sept. 19, 1877 ; the subject of this sketch resided in his place of nativity till the removal of the family to Illinois in 1856, locating in Havana Township, this county. He enlisted in Co. K, 85th I. V. I., Aug. 18, 1862; was promoted to First Sergeant and served in that capacity during the last year of the war ; was with Gen. Sherman on his march to the sea, arriving at Washington, D. C., June 5, 1865, and received final pay and dis- charge at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 1 1th of the same month. In 1866, he was married to Susan R.. daughter of Daniel Dieffenbacher, who was born in Havana Township ; she died April 11, 1877 ; two children by this union Philip B. and Garnet D. Mr. H. owns eighty acres in Havana Township. THOMAS A. HOLE, farmer, Sec. 32 ; P. O. Havana ; a brother of William H. Hole, whose sketch is given above, and what has already been written of their father's family need not be repeated here ; he was born in Washington Co., Ind., Oct. 15, 1835, and came with other members of the family to Illinois in 1856. On the 9th of March, 1856, he was married to Miss Eliza R., eldest daughter of William Snyder; she was born in Washington Co., Ind. ; they have three children Erne M. and the twins, Stephen G. and William S. Mr. Hole owns 120 acres of land in Havana Town- ship. GIRARD W. D. HAVIGHORST, retired farmer ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Quackenbruck, Hanover, Germany, July 1, 1827. He came to America in the fall of HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 763 1844 and, via New Orleans, reached Shute's Landing, about one mile below the present city of Havana. Soon after his arrival here he went to Meredosia, Morgan Co., 111., and engaged as clerk with Conn, Chambers & Pratt, where he remained till 1849. He then returned to Mason Co. and located in Bath Township, and engaged in farming. In 1864 he visited his place of nativity and, on his return, located at Havana, in the the spring of 1865, where he has since resided. He still owns 640 acres of land in Sherman and Pennsylvania Townships, in this county. He served as Assessor of Havana Township one term, and member of the Town Board oneyear. Married, in 1851, Miss Mary C., daughter of John H. Marbold, who was born in Hanover, Germany. Three children by this union Annie, widow of Ira Williams, Sophia W.,and Grace V., wife of Frank Strickle. Mr. H. is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. 0. F. T and Havana Lodge, No. 743, K. of H. WILLIAM HIGBEE, retired, Havana; was born in Lexington, Ky., Nov. 6, 1813; son of Vincent and Susannah (Poindexter) Higbee ; the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of Virginia ; the family removed to Illinois and located i Greene Co., where the subject of this sketch resided until 1843, when he removed to Christian Co. 111., and to Quiver Township, this county, in 1847. In 1841, he mar- ried Miss Fannie C., daughter of Robert and Maria D. (Brown) Cross, both parents born in Somerset Co., N. J. Mrs. Higbee was also born in the same county and State, Sept. 26, 1821 ; their parents settled in Quiver Township, this county, in 1843, where the family resided at the time of her father's death ; her mother's death occurred after removal to Havana. In February, 1849, Mr. Higbee removed to Havana, hi* present home. His mother, who has nearly reached her ninetieth year, resides at Whitehall, Greene Co., 111. LEWIS R. HAACK, SR., dealer in wall paper, window shades, window glas-<, cur- tains, etc., Havana ; was born in York, Penn., Oct. 1, 1841. He enlisted in Co. K, 87th Penn. V. I., .Aug. 24, 1861, and served till Oct. 13, 1864, when he was mustered out; during the last two years he served as Sergeant. In 1867, he came to Illinois and located at Havana, in March of that year. He was married, April 2, 1867, to Miss Louisa Shermeyer, who was born in Hanover, Germany. They have five children Alice M., Maria B., William H., Lewis R., Jr. and Charles F. Mr. Haack served as Alderman of the First Ward, in 1875-76. He is District Deputy Grand Master of Mastifc Lodge, No. 143, and District Deputy Grand Patriarch of State Encampment, No. 34, 1. 0. 0. F., and of Masonic bodies, S. D. Havana Lodge, No. 88, King, Havana Chapter, No. 86 r and Generalissimo, Damascus Commandery, No. 42. JOHN HURLEY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P. 0. Havana, was born in Ocean Co., N. J., May 26,1824. In the spring of 1834, he came with his father's family to De Witt Co., 111., where he remained till 1843, when he came to Mason Co., and settled in the north part of Havana Township. He engaged in farming until the spring of 1856, when he went to Kansas, but returned in the fall following. He was with Jim Lane all through the Kansas troubles of that period. Mr. H. own 230 acres of excellent land in Havana Township. He was married, Sept. 30, 1847, to Miss Julia A. Baldwin, from near Cincinnati. Ohio, a daughter of Moses Baldwin, a captain in the Black Hawk war, now living in Le Roy, Kansas, but formerly of Havana Township. The result of this union is eight children James M., Sarah E. ( wife of James L. Hurley ) , Mary ( wife of Joseph Snider) , William, George W. and Ellen ; two dead Martha (wife of L. Lawson ), died in 1868, Stephen D., who was 11 years old at the time of his death. Mr. Hurley built the first house between Havana and McHarry's "mill, on the prairie; he helped build McHarry's mill, which was afterward burned, and helped to build the one now in use. Men came eighteen miles to help raise McHarry's first mill. Mr. Hurley possesses a natural fondness for hunting, but has usually turned this sport to profit. He and his sons, aside from farming, are engaged in fishing, from October to May. See card in the Business Directory. JOHN H. HAVIGHORST, SR., retired, Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Jan. 27, 1820, and came to the United States in 1836, stopping in New Orleans until the following summer; he then came to Mason Co., 111., and settled in 764 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Havana Township, where he engaged in farming until 1840, when he entered the store of John H. Schulte as a clerk, at Schulte's Landing, about one mile below the city of Havana; in 1844, he commenced business on his own account at Matanzas, and remained there until 1858. He was elected Sheriff of Mason Co. in the fall of that year, and moved to Havana, where he still resides; was again elected in the fall of 1862, and elected Circuit Clerk in 1864, serving four years; he also served as Sheriff two years, beginning in 1848. He was married, April 16, 1842, to Miss Susanna Mounts, a native of Kentucky, who died in 1851 ; three children were the result of this marriage Henry H., Maggie H. (wife of John C. McBride, residing at Jacksonville) and John H., Jr. He was married to Sarah J. Skinner Dec. 23, 1852; she was born in Erie Co.. N. Y. ; they have had four children, three of whom are living Horace R., Chester M. and Lulie ; Myra M. (died Feb. 3, 1877;. CHARLES HOWELL, retired farmer, Sec. 22 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., Feb. 18, 1808, and is a son of Nathan and Ann (Richart) Howell, both natives of Pennsylvania ; when about 17 years of age, Mr. Howell went to Columbia Co., Penn., where he learned the trade of wheelwright and chair-maker; he subsequently learned the carriage trade in New York, where he resided about four years; in 1830, he engaged in the chair and cabinet business at Horscheads, N. Y., but sold out about a year later and returned to Pennsylvania, where, for about two years, he was engaged with Mr. Richart in manufacturing carriages and sleighs ; he subsequently engaged in chair and cabinet work at McEwensville, Penn., on his own account; in December, 1836, he went to Jackson, La., where he was employed in a carriage-shop for a short time, and then went to Port Hudson, that State, where he helped to build a blacksmith shop and depot for the Port Hudson & Clinton Railroad Company ; the fol- lowing spring, he built a bridge 356 feet in length for the railroad company, which is still called the Howell bridge ; in the latter part of June of that year, he went to New Orleans and purchased some articles of merchandise which he brought to Alton, 111., and sold ; after disposing of his goods, he came up the Illinois River and stopped at Havana, and. in July, 1837, entered land four miles east of the present city of Havana ; he sold to Reuben Henninger in 1842, and, with Messrs. Jones & Pollard, purchased the mill site (now owned by Mr. McHarry) ; they built a saw-mill on the north side of the Quiver in 1842 ; in 1845, sold the site to Mr. McHarry, who built a grist-mill on the south side ; in 1843, Mr. Howell went to Matanzas and engaged in mercantile busi- ness, and the following year went to Bath, where he remained a few months and then returned to the Quiver, where he sold goods some four or five years; in 1849, he went to California via overland route (Sublett's Cut-off north of the Salt Lake route), reach- ing Sacramento, then a city of tents, in October of that year ; here he engaged in man- ufacturing rockers used in mining ; in August, 1850, he returned to the States by way of the Isthmus, and, in the spring of 1859, made his second trip to the Pacific Coast by way of Virginia City, then just springing into existence ; he returned to Mason Co. the following November. He was married, Jan. 16, 1834, to Miss Elizabeth Long, who was born in Columbia Co., Penn.; by this union there were ten children, six of whom are living Mary (widow of J. L. Yates), Sallie M. (widow of Mr. Ballzell), Martha A. (wife of Mr. Hodge), Oscar, Charles L. and Emma J. (wife of Walter L. Coon); the following are deceased : Franklin, Orpha, Catharine 0. and Anson W. Mr. Howell has resided in Mason Co. since 1837, a period of forty-two years, with the exception of his absence in California and a residence in Kansas of a few years. REV. JOHANNES HEINIGER, Pastor of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Havana; was born in the Canton of Eriswyl, Switzerland, Dec. 31, 1843, where he resided until 10 years of age, and then removed to Basle, Switzerland, where he was educated in a Missionary institution of that place. In 1866, he received a call from Beardstown, 111., as assistant Pastor of the Church at that place. He left his native country in 1866, and arrived at Beardstown, 111., on the 10th of August of that year. He was ordained Pastor in full by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Illinois and other States, at Peoria, 111., in 1869 ; he then received a call from Effinghatn, 111., where he served as Pastor from the above date till 1872, when he followed a call to HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 765 Hannibal, Mo., and filled the pastorate at that place from 1872 to 1875. He then, on account of failing health, entered the field as traveling missionary, and organized the congregation at tit. Joseph, Mo. ; also one at Atlanta, Ga. In 1877, he followed a call as Professor in the Normal School near St. Louis, Mo., and, the following year, came to Havana, 111., and has since served as Pastor of the Church here. He was married, June 4, 1868, to Miss.Hanna Looniann, of Beardstown ; they have five children Minna L., born March 25, 1869 ; Johannes, Dec. 28, 1871 ; Lydia E., Feb. 3, 1874 ; Hannah M. E., March 8, 1876, and George L., Nov. 26, 1878. Mr. Heiniger is now a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Wartburg Synod. JOHN W. HOLZGR^FE, farmer, Sec. 13; P. 0. Havana; was born in Han- over, Germany, June 27, 1809 ; he came to America in 1836, locating first at Boston, Mass., where he worked in the factories of that city some three or four years. In July, 1840, he came to Illinois and located on the farm where he now resides. He was mar- ried in Boston, Mass., to Miss Katrina M. Hackmann, May 13, 1837 ; she was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 22, 1814, and came to America the same time as her hus- band. There were nine children by this union, six of whom are living George William, born Aug. 5, 1839; George Henry, Jan. 26, 1842; George Lewis, Feb. 21. 1845; George Brans, Feb. 4, 1848 ; Charlotte H. (wife of Frederick W. Menke), March 4, 151 ; George Frank, Feb. 22, 1854. The deceased are Catherine E., born Feb. 23, 1838, died March 27, 1838 ; George Frederick, born Aug. 22, 1843, died May 31, 1849 ; Catharine M., born May 16, 1855, died Jan. 29, 1860. Mr. Holzgraefe owns 120 acres of farm land, and twenty-three acres of timber in Havana Township. GEORGE HENRY HOLZGRAEFE, billiard and sample room, cigars, wines and liquors, Havana ; Mr. Holzgraefe, son of John W. Holzgraefe, whose sketch is given above, was born in Havana Township, this county, Jan. 26, 1842. He was raised a farmer, and worked on his father's farm till about 26 years of age. In 1866, he engaged in his present business, which he has since followed. He was married, in 1867, to Miss Anna Devermann, who was born in Hanover, Germany. They have had seven children by this union, six of whom are living Matilda C., born June 25, 1868 ; Frederick W., Sept. 11, 1869 ; Julia A., July 3, 1871 ; Oscar R., April 1, 1873 ; Augusta, Aug. 11, 1876 ; John Darwin, Nov. 22, 1878, and Katie M., born May 1, 1875, died Aug. 1, of the same year. Mr. Holzgraefe is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. and Havana Grove, No. 40, U. A. O. D. HERMAN HACKMAN, farmer, Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 8, 1834; came to America in the fall of 1855, byway of New Orleans, and stopped at Quincy, 111., until the following June, when he came to Havana Town- ship, Mason Co., where he has since followed farming. He now owns 240 acres of land. He was married, April 3, 1866, to Miss Hannah Wissmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 9, 1847 ; they have three children Lizzie, VVene and Clara. His father, Ruldolph Hackman, came to America the same year (1855) ; both parents were natives of Hanover, Germany. His mother's maiden name was Mary Hollenback. EDMUND M. JOYCE, of the firm of E. M. Joyce & Co., dealers in groceries, crockery and queensware, Havana; was born in Jefferson, Lincoln Co., Me., Oct. 14, 1835 ; when he was 9 years of age, his father removed to Springfield, 111., where he resided about eighteen months, and then went to Peoria. Edinond here learned the trade of a mechanic, and, at the age of 18, was employed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, and afterward by the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Rail- road ; he was in the employ of the two companies about thirteen years, during which time be performed his various duties to the satisfaction of his employers. He was married, in December, 1864, in St. Louis, Mo., to Miss Agnes Smith, daughter of M. Smith, formerly of Peoria, but a native of London, England ; Mrs. Joyce was also born in London ; the result of this union is seven children, four of whom are now living, viz., Mary I., James E., Aggie L. and Walter M. : deceased William, who died in 1870 ; Blanche A., in 1872, and Aggie E., in 1873. Mr. Joyce engaged in the gro- cery business in Havana in 1872, and may be reckoned among the enterprising busi- ness men of the city. 766 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: ALMON H. JONES, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 21 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Geauga Co., Ohio, June 25, 1828 ; he is a son of Julius and Elvira (Wilcox) Jones ; the former born in Massachusetts, the latter in New York ; in 1837, the family removed to Illinois, locating in Menard in the fall of that year; in the spring of 1842, they came to Mason Co. and settled in Havana Township, where his father, with Charles Howell and William Pollard, built a saw-mill on the opposite side of the stream from the mill now owned by Hugh McHarry. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm till about 24 years of age, and then became a tiller of the soil on his own account ; he has resided on his present farm since 1856 ; owns about 380 acres of land in Havana and Quiver Townships ; he has served as School Director about seventeen years, and, in 1852, was married to Miss Elizabath Pugh, who was born in Luzerne Co. f Penn. ; seven children by this union, four of whom are living Julius P., Iris L. (wife of Sheldon Atwater), Fannie M. and Florence A. ; the three deceased are Orilla, Arthur D. and Charles C. JOHN S. KIRK, Police Magistrate, Havana; was born in Trumbull Co., Ohio, April 4, 1833 ; when about 15 years of age, he went to Iberia, Morrow Co., where he was employed as station agent; in 1853, he removed to Ft. Madison, Iowa, and took a contract to build ten miles of railroad ; he served for a time as guard at the State's Prison, and, in August, 1861, enlisted in Co. E, 19th Iowa V. I. ; in July, 1862, he was commissioned Captain, and served in that capacity till the close of the war ; was at the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Prairie Grove, Red River Expedition, Port Hudson, and Morganzia ; at the latter place, the entire regiment, with the exception of seventeen men, was captured by the enemy, the Captain being among the number not taken. He served for some time prior to the close of the war in garrison duty at New Orleans and, when mustered out of the service in 1866, returned to Ft. Madison, Iowa, and from there to Havana, his present home, in June of the same year ; here he engaged in books and stationery business, and, three years later, on account of failing health, sold out and went to Colorado ; was there one summer, and, on his return, engaged in dry- goods trade under firm name of Hackman & Kirk ; sold his interest four years later, and, in May, 1874. was elected Police Magistrate; re-elected in 1878; Mr. K. is a member of Mason Lodge No. 143, I. 0. 0. F. ; Havana Lodge No. 743, K. of H. ; Standard Lodge, No. 231, I. 0. M. A. ; he is also Lieutenant Colonel of the 7th Regi- ment. I. N. G. FREDERICK KETC HAM, editor of the Mason County Republican, Havana; was born in Lisle, Broome Co., N. Y., Nov. 4, 1809, and was educated at Madison Univer- sity, Hamilton, N. Y., graduating at that institution in 1836 ; in 1845, he received the degree of A. B. at Columbia College, D. C., and, two years later, the degree of A. M. at Madison University, New York. He was married, in August, 1837, to Miss Callista Griffith, who was born in Otsego Co., N. Y., June 17, 1812. In October, 1837, he was ordained a Baptist minister at Saybrook, Conn., and, three years later, removed to Philadelphia, Penn., where he was engaged in ministerial work eight years. He lost his wife in 1846, and, two years after, was married to Miss Elizabeth P. Brower, of Philadelphia, who was born in Pennsylvania Feb. 22, 1821. In July, 1848. he removed to New Haven, Conn., as Pastor of the Second Baptist Church ; he attended scientific lectures under Prof. Silliman. Sr., and Prof. Olmstead ; he removed to Illinois in 1850, and made his first home at Rock Island; subsequently labored at Galena, Peoria and Pontiac, 111. ; by an accidental fracture of the left ankle and the general shattering of the nervous system, he was obliged to retire from pastoral work and engaged in business ; he first engaged in nursery and general insurance business, and, in 1869, with C. B. Ketcham, his eldest son, established the Delavan Independent, at Delavan, 111, of which he remained editor till 1873, when he established the Mason County Republican, at Havana, 111., of which C. B. Ketcham was publisher, and F. Ketcham, editor. The Republic m has now been in existence six years, and has a large and increasing circulation. In connection with his editorial work, Mr. K. has taken a very active interest in the Sunday-school work of Mason Co., and, in 1876, was elected County Secretary of the Sunday-School Association, which position he still holds. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 767 CHARLES G. KREBAUM, grain, commission and live-stock dealer, Havana ; was born in Havana, Mason Co., Dec. 22, 1837, and is the oldest native inhabitant of Mason Co. His father, Barnhard Krebautn, who was born in Germany, came to Amer- ica in 1834, and located at Havana July 3 of that year. When about 17 years of age. the subject of this sketch entered the employ of Walker & Hancock, who were doing a very extensive business in general merchandise ; he was in the employ of differ- ent firms until 1858, when he received the appointment of Deputy County Clerk of Mason Co., serving in that capacity till 1863 ; in September of that year, he engaged in merchandising under the firm name of Langford & Krebaum, and, in 1867, bought out his partner's interest, and then established the firm of Krebaum & Middelkamp ; in December of that year, the store was burned, and the brick building, known as " Kre- baum's Iron Front," was erected the following spring ; the firm continued in business in the new building till January, 1869, when Mr. K. disposed of his interest in the stock and embarked in his present business, which he has since followed. He was mar- ried, in May, 1861, to Miss Mary E., eldest daughter of William M. and H. M. John. Mrs. Krebaum was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio. By this union, there were three children, two of whom are living Nina F. and Carlisle M. ; Frances P. died in August, 1865. Mr. Krebaum is a member of the' following Masonic bodies: Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Havana Chapter, No. 86. GEORGE KARL, proprietor of the Taylor House, Saloon, Havana ; was born in Baden, Gernfany, May 8, 1843 ; came to America in 1862, stopping in New York City about one year ; then came West to Cleveland, Ohio, where he remained a few months, and then went to Dayton, Ohio; in August, 1865, he came to Illinois, lociting in Havana, his present home, where he worked at his trade (stonemason) until 1870 ; he then engaged in his present business, which he has since followed. He was married, March 18, 1868, to Miss Caroline Pump, who was born in Hanover, Germany ; they have three children Emma, Lena and John G. Mr. Karl is a member of Prosperity Lodge, No. 114, A. 0. U. W. ADOLPH KREBAUM, retired, Havana ; was born in the city of Eschwege, in the electorate of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Oct. 10, 1814, and is a son of Bernhard and Frederika (Siebert) Krebaum ; the following are the names of the children of Bern- hard and Frederika Krebaum Frederick (deceased), Adolph, William, Charles (deceased), Emilie (deceased), Mary, Herman (deceased), Gustav (deceased), Caroline ( widow of Dr. A. Burns), Edward (deceased) and Charles G. (see sketch) ; there were fourteen children in all ; three died in infancy, two in Germany, and one in this country; the survivors of this family reside in Havana, and of the deceased members all died in this city except the two mentioned above; the family emigrated to America in 1834, and, in June of that year, located in Havana. The subject of this sketch engaged in the mercantile business in Havana in 1851, but prior to the above date (1847) was elected to the office of County Clerk and served six years ; he was again elected to that office in 1855, and served till December, 1865. In 1853, he was married to Miss Julia A. Morton, who was born in New York ; she died in December of the same year. He was married Jan 1. 1861, to Sarah E. Field, who was born in Massachusetts. Mr. Krebaum is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and the Commandery at Rushville, 111. ROBERT LOFTON (deceased), Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Wash- ington Co.. Ind., Dec. 10, 1835 ; became to Illinois in 1856, locating in Havana Town- ship in the spring of that year. In 1862, he married Miss Louisa M., daughter of Stephen Hole; she was born in Washington Co., Ind.; in 1865, they removed to Liv- ingston Co., 111., and, two years later, to Ford Co., returning to Mason Co. in 1875, the year of her husband's death ; their children are Stephen F., Charlie M., Allie L., K\i and Freddie. ANSON LOW, of the firm of Low & Foster, grain and commission merchants, Havana; was born in Havana Township, this county, Oct. 14, 1846; his father, Eliphaz Low, with two other brothers, settled here in the autumn of 1836. The sub- ject of these lines remained on his father's farm until 10 years of age, when the family 768 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: removed to Havana; in 1862, he entered the Northwestern University at Evanston, 111., where he remained one year, and then entered the Lombard University, at Galesburg r 111., where he pursued his studies till 1865 ; in 1866, he engaged in the lumber trade at Havana, under the firm name of Jones & Low, and, about a year later, Mr. Foster bought Jones' interest ; some two years later, the firm was changed to McFadden. Low & Co., and engaged in the grain and lumber business ; in 1876, the present firm of Low & Foster was established, and their business since that date has been exclusively grain and commission. Mr. Low is a member of the present Board of Aldermen. He was married, in 1875, to Miss Alice E. Long, who was born near Harrisburg, Penn.; they have one child Corinne. Mr. Low is a member of the following Masonic bodies: Havana Lodge, No. 88 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. GEORGE W. L ANGFORD, with W. C. Browning & Co., clothing merchants of New York ; residence, Havana ; was born in Fulton Co., 111., March 17, 1831, and is a son of Asa and Nancy (Nevitt) Langford ; the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Kentucky ; he (the elder Langlbrd) removed to Illinois in 1824, and settled in Fulton Co., and there laid out the old town of Waterford, subsequently becoming one of the proprietors of Lewistown (present capital of that county), and of Havana, this county, also connected, in various ways, with the early history of both counties. George W., the subject of these notes, when about 8 years of age, came with his father's family to Point Isabel, just across the river from the present city of Havana, and about seven years later, located in the latter place; in 1848, he entered the employ of Walker, Hancock & Co., and, in 1856, became a partner in the farm ; this was the principal business house in Havana at that period, and had a large patronage sales ranging from $75,000 to $110,000 per annum; in 1864, he engaged in general merchandise with C. G. Krebaum, under the firm name of Langford & Krebauru, aud about three yeare later went to Chicago, where he remained about one year, and then went to New York City ; since 1869, he has been with his present house W. C. Browning & Co., whole- sale clothiers. Mr. Langford has served as a member of the Town Board, and several terms as a school officer. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Hester A. Allen ; by this- union there were two children William, living in Havana, and Charles R , who vol- unteered to take the place of telegraph operator at Memphis, Tenn., during the prev- alence of the yellow fever there in 1878, after all the operatives in the office had been stricken down with the terrible plague, and fell a victim to it himself, in 1878. Mr. L. was married to his present wife, Mrs. Amanda W. Blanchard (nee Walker), daugh- ter of James Walker, on June 22, 1878 ; she had, by her first marriage, three children Frank W., Dell and Nellie. Mr. L. is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F_ & A. M. HON. LYM AN LACEY, Circuit and Appellate Judge; Havana; was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 9, 1832, and is a son of John and Chloe (Hurd) Lacey, the former a native of New Jersey, and the latter of New York. In 1836, the family emigrated to Michigan, and the following year came to Illinois and settled in Fulton. The subject of this sketch received his early education in the common schools of this State, and subsequently entered Illinois College, at Jacksonville, where he graduated, in 1855, with the degree of A. M. He commenced the study of law the same year, with Hon. L. B. Ross, of Lewistown, 111., and was admitted to the bar in 1856. In October of that year he located at Havana, where he followed the profession of law till 1862, when he was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature on the Democratic ticket, as Representative of Mason and Menard Cos., and served one term. He was elected in June, 1873, Circuit Judge of the. Seventeenth District, comprising the counties of Mason, Menard, Logan and De Witt. In 1877, when the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Judicial Circuits were consolidated, and designated the Seventh Judicial District, embracing, in addition to the above-named counties, Cass, Greene, Jersey, Scott and Morgan, Judge Lacey was appointed by the Supreme Court Appellate Judge of the Third or Springfield District, and, in 1879, re-appointed to serve in the Second or Ottawa District. He was re-elected Circuit Judge June 2, 1879. He was married,. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 769 May 9, 1860, to Caroline A. Potter, of Beardstown, 111., who died Sept. 12, 1863. Two children by this union, one living Lyman, Jr. May 19, 1865, he married Mattie A. Warner, of Havana, who was born in Ohio. By this union there were six children, four of whom are living Charles, Frank, Mattie and Edward. EDWARD F. LEONARD, teacher, Sec. 22; P. 0. Havana; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Dec. 29, 1855, but removed in childhood, with his father's family, to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, this county. In the spring of 1874, he entered the State Normal University at Bloomington. He commenced teaching in 1873, which occupation he has since followed, except when attending school. His father, Charles C. Leonard, was born in Massachusetts, Nov. 12, 1819, and came to Mason Co., 111., in 1862. His death occurred July 9, 1869. Mrs. Leonard's father, Daniel Ott, came to Illinois in 1839. She was born in Bradford Co., Penn., and was married to Mr. Leonard April 9, 1842. They had five children, four of whom are living Florence, wife of C. Travelute, who resides in Iowa ; Robert B., Edward F. and Charles C. Eddie F. died Feb. 25, 1854. FRANCIS LOW, banker, Havana; was born in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Mass., Sept. 28, 1813, and is the son of Nathaniel and Mary (Kendall) Low, both of whom, were natives of Massachusetts. He received his education at the Lancaster and Berlin Academies, and when about 18 years of age, removed with his brothers, Thomas and Eliphaz, to Louisville, Ky., where, for a period of two years, they engaged in mercantile pursuits. From Louisville, the subject of this sketch went to Cincinnati, where he fol- lowed the same business, and also to St. Louis ; thence, he came to Havana, where his brothers, named above, had preceded him a short time. They built a steam saw-mill here, which they afterward sold to Pulaski Scoville. Mr. Low served as Deputy Sheriff of Tazewell Co. when this part of Mason was included in Tazewell ; was also elected the first Sheriff of Mason after its formation as a county, an office he held for two terms. He was connected, at an early day, with the Illinois River Railroad (now the Peoria, Pekin & Jacksonville), and was one of its Directors. He is President of the Havana & San Jose Narrow-Gauge Railroad Company, a company formed for the purpose of build- ing a narrow-gauge road from Havana to San Jose, to connect with the Rantoul, Havana & Western Narrow-Gauge. He took an active part in the organization of the Havana National Bank, of which he has been President during its entire existence. Mr. Low has been married twice. By the first marriage, there were three children, of whom two are living William and Thomas; Frank, the youngest, is dead. He has no children by his- last marriage. Mr. Low is a man of education, and of fine literary tastes and attain- ments, and his ample means enable him to gratify his inclinations in this direction to his entire satisfaction. A personal friend of Lincoln and Trumbull, and the leading men of the times, he has entertained them at his elegant home whenever they visited the city of Havana, as business sometimes led them to do. SAMUEL A. MURDOCK, junior editor of the Democrat^ Havana ; was born in Mt. Holly, N. J., Jan. 12, 1848, and is a son of N. R. and Pho3be B. (Scoti) Murdoch In 1836, his father moved to Illinois, and located in Mason Co., and, after remaining some years, returned to New Jersey, where he resided until 1854, when he again removed to Mason Co., where he still lives. The subject of this sketch has four brothers living John S., Charles H. (now in the regular army, and 1st Duty Sergeant of Co. F, 6th U. S. Infantry, stationed at Ft. Buford, Dakota), James R. and W T ilIiam M., and one dead, Jacob L. Three sisters, two living ; Sarah C. and Mary E., living, and Hannah Elmira, dead. Tw-) half-brothers living Andrew J. and Thorrras K. Mr. Murdock spent his early life on a farm, until his enlistment in the late war, from which he was mustered out in October, 1865. He served in Co. F, llth 111. Cav., of which R. G. Ingdrsoll was the first Colonel. After his discharge from the army, he worked on a farm until February, 1868, when he went to New Jersey, and attended school five months, then returned to Illinois, in October, and commenced teaching. He taught and went to school alternately, until 1875, when he commenced the study of law with Fullerton & Wallace, and remained with them until admitted to the bar, in January, 1878, before the Supreme Court. In April, 1878, he was elected Assessor of Havana 770 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Township, and. in August. 1878, in connection with John F. Mounts, he bought the Havana Democrat, in which he is a partner, and of which he is junior editor. In April, 1879, he was again elected Assessor of the township. Is a member of the Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. 0. O. F., and of State Encampment, No. 34, I. 0. 0. F., also of Havana Lodge, No. 743, Knights of Honor. He was married, Sept. 23, 1877, to Miss Minnie Eagles, daughter of T. M. and Agnes (Fink) Eagles, of Indiana. They have one daughter, Phoebe Agnes. GEORGE MACK (Dehm & Mack), proprietor of Havana Brewery, Havana ; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 29, 1845 ; he came to America in 1864, locating at Freeport, 111., thence to St. Louis, Mo., the following year. In 1868, he started a brewery at Edwardsville, 111., where he remained about one year, and then returned to St. Louis. In 1873, he went to Keokuk, Iowa, and, two years later, removed to Havana, his present home ; here he was employed as foreman of the brewery till 1877, since which date he has been a member of the above firm ; he was married, in 1866, to Mrs. Ernestine Wirth (Franzlaur), who was born in Germany. Six children, the first four by her first marriage Anna, wife of G. H. Carl ; Zelle, Mary, Ella and Ludy ; Maggie and George F. Willie. Mr. Mack is a member of Havana Grove, No. 40, U. 0. A. D. WILLIAM B. MORGAN, proprietor of the Taylor House, Havana; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 29, 1853, but removed with his parents when about 8 years of age, to Champaign, Champaign Co., 111. In 1870, he was employed in the office of the United States Express Company, and about two years later, as agent of the Company, went on the Havana extension of the I., B. & W. Railway, serving in the capacity of messenger on this road, until February, 1878, when he located at Havana, his present home. He engaged in the hotel business, and on the 24th of May, 1879, became proprietor of the Taylor House. The excellent manner in which he keeps his house, his well-spread table, and his universal courtesy and kindness to guests, show him to be what he is a model landlord. He was married, in October, 1878, to Miss Ida Sanford, who was born in Griggsville, Pike Co., 111. They have one child Maud M., born Aug. 12, 1879. JACOB T. MOWDER. farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Lycoming Co., Penn., March 24, 1836, but removed, in early childhood, with his father's family, ' to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, this county, in May, 1839, where he has since resided. He was married, Nov. 25, 1867, to Miss Margaret J. Pond, who was born in Menard Co., 111.; they have three children Emma, Frank and Freddie. Mr. Mowder has served as Supervisor one term, Commissioner of Highways six years, Town Clerk one term, and School Director several years ; also School Trustee. He owns 273 acres of land in Havana and Crane Creek townships. Mr. Mowder, aside from farming, has followed teaching for the last twelve years, mostly during the winter season. ISAAC N. MITCHELL, insurance and real estate, Havana ; was born in Morgan Co., 111., Feb. 13, 1829 ; is a son of Isaac and Frances (Stribling) Mitchell, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky ; his parents removed from Kentucky to Morgan Co., 111. in 1828 ; here they resided till 1846 ; then removed to Field's Prairie in this county. Isaac N. followed farming until about 21 years of age, com- bining with it wolf-hunting, usually devoting Saturdays to that amusement ; when he left the farm, he entered the employ of B. & J. M. Beesley, of Bath ; from 1850 to 1861, followed the mercantile trade. He subsequently served one term as Constable, and, for two years, followed steamboating on the Illinois River. In 1867, he was elected Treasurer of Mason Co., and, two years later, elected County Clerk, serving in that, capacity four years. He was elected Mayor of the city of Havana in 1875 ; was also a member of the School Board, and with his associates (Messrs. Wheeler and Foster), erected the present fine school edifice. In 1856, he was married to Miss Ann L., daughter of P. W. Campbell ; four children by this union, two of whom are living Franklin I. and Gay Edgar ; Charles W. died May 1, 1872 ; Thomas N. died in infancy. Mr. Mitchell is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88 ; Havana Chapter, No. 86 ; Damascus Commandery, No. 42. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 771 HON. JOHN A. MALLORY. Judge of County Court of Mason, Havana ; was born in the city of Lexington, Ky., Nov. 17, 1830 ; but, when 5 years of age, his par- ents removed to Illinois and located in Jacksonville ; his father, Ambrose Mallory, who was a native of Virginia, was among the early settlers of Jacksonville, and it was in this city that the subject of this sketch received his education. At the age of 17, he engaged in the printing business, first with the Pike County Free Press, of Griggsville, 111., and in 1848, with the Morgan Journal, Jacksonville, which paper he edited for six months. He was afterward connected with the Eagle and Enquirer, of Memphis, Tenn., for one year. A man of fine literary tastes, a poet and an editpr, he has given to the world of letters many bright gems of more exalted merit than he himself cares to admit. He was the successful competitor for a silver cup, valued at $50, offered in the city of Memphis, for the best poem on the New Year, in 1860. As a New- Year's poem, it is pronounced almost unequaled. He came to Havana in 1858 ; afterward studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1868. On the breaking-out of the late war, though a Southern man by birth, he deemed it his duty to unite with the Union army ; and, accordingly, he enlisted in Co. B, 85th I. V. I., as Second Lieutenant, in which regi- ment he served until February, 1863, when he resigned. In 1865, he was elected Police Justice to fill a vacancy, and, afterward, elected for a full term. He was elected County Judge in 1869, and re-elected in 1873, by the largest majority any officer ever received in Mason Co. He was again re-elected in 1877, and still holds the office. His official record is without blot or blemish, and his decisions are made according to the law and testimony. HENRY W. McFADDEN, banking and grain, Havana; was born in Cayuga Co., N. Y., Jan. 26, 1826, where he resided until 1848, at which time he came West and located at Peoria, 111. In 1849, he was appointed Deputy County Surveyor of Peoria Co., and in November, of the same year, elected to that office and served four years. He then engaged in farming in Akron Township, that county ; in the spring of 1856, he sold his farm and spent the summer traveling in Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas in company with J. Moffit, and, in the fall of that year, located at Chillicothe, Peoria Co.. 111., and engaged in the grain and lumber business under the firm name of McFadden & Moffit; in 1863, he engaged in the grain and lumber business at Havana, under the firm name of H. W. McFadden & Co., still continuing his business at Chilli- cothe until 1865, being associated there with various partners; in 1866, the banking firm of McFadden, Coppel & Kemp was established and continued under the above firm name until the death of Mr. Kemp in 1867, when the present firm name (McFadden & Coppel) was adopted; in 1868, Mr. McFadden removed to Chicago, where he attended to the purchase and sale of lumber and grain for the firm here, and, also, during the winter of 1869-70, with William J. Dobbins and John E. McClure, built the Central City Elevator at Peoria, which was the first built in that city; since 1873, Mr. McFadden has made Havana his home. In 1851, he was married to Miss Harriet M. Munson, who was born in Monroe Co., N. Y. ; by this union there were five chil- dren, four of whom are living Bruce H. (member of the firm of McFadden & Co.), George C., Benjamin L. and Henry L. ; John W. died in 1873. RUDOLPH MEYER, farmer, bee. 18; P.O. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 15, 1841, but removed to America in childhood with his father's family; they came via New Orleans and located in Bath Township, this county, in the fall of 1848; his father was Harman Meyer and his mother's maiden name was Margaret Horstman ; both were born in Hanover, Germany. On the 16th of May, 1867, Mr. Meyer married Miss Joanna M. Dierker, who was born in Bath Township, this county, Aug. 13, 1846; her parents came to the county in the spring of 1838 ; they were natives of Hanover, Germany. Mr. Meyer owns 365 acres of land in Havana Town- ship ; they have four children living Harman H., John W., August R. and Anna M.; John H. died Aug. 26. 1878. JOSEPH MO WDER, farmer, Sec. 15; P. 0. Havana; was born in Columbia Co., Penn., July 3, 1808 ; when about 6 years of age, his father's family removed to Harrison Co., but he remained with his grandfather; he removed to Lycoming Co., 772 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Penn., when about 25 years of age, and, on the 31st of July, 1833, was married to Miss Judith Stroup, who was born in Columbia Co., Penu., Dec. 4, 1810 : by this union there were ten children, five of whom are living Jacob T., John, Elizabeth (wife of George Lewis, who lives in Nemaha Co., Neb.), Martha J. (wife of John Blakely, who resides in Mason Co., 111.) and Charles C. ; the five deceased are David, Mary C., died in October, 1845; Harriet A., Aug. 2, 1834; one died in infancy. Mr. Mowder removed to Havana Township, this county, in May, 1839, and now resides within one- fourth of a mile of where he first settled ; he says his first residence was constructed of logs and not encumbered with either upper or lower floor. Many of the early settlers had their houses so arranged that (if they were wealthy enough to own a horse) they could hitch to a log of wood and " haul " it in at one door and pass out with the horse at the other, thus securing their fuel by horse power. He now owns 240 acres of land in Havana Township. JOHN H. NETELER, deceased ; was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1801 ; he came to America in August, 1832, locating first at Baltimore, Md., thence to New Orleans, La., the following spring, where he worked at his trade, blacksmithing, sone two years, and then removed to Illinois, stopping for a short time in Menard Co. ; in the spring of 1835, he entered land in what is now Havana Township, Mason Co., and returned to New Orleans, where he was married to Miss Margaret R. Speckmann, also a native of Hanover, Germany. In the spring of 1836, Mr. Neteler and wife located in Havana Township, which was their home up to the time of their death. Mr. Neteler's death occurred Dec. 3, 1863, his wife having died some four years previous. Mr. Neteler, afcer his location in Mason Co., gave his attention for the most part to farming, but for a time worked at his trade, and is frequently mentioned by the early settlers in this connection, fully appreciating his services, as mechanics in these early days were very rare ; he also assisted Mr. Lincoln in the early surveys of Mason Co. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Neteler : Hannah (deceased, wife of John H. Bruning), Henry (whose sketch is given below), Mary (wife of Henry Von- hold), Lucy (deceased, wife of John Carman), Rebecca (deceased), Katrina (deceased) and Rebecca. HENRY NETELER, farmer, Sec. 12; P. 0. Havana; is a son of John H. Neteler, whose sketch is given above, and was born in Havana Township Dec. 16, 1848 ; he now resides on the old homestead near Havana and owns a farm of about 300 acres. He was married, Oct. 7, 1875, to Miss Anna K. E. Devermann, who was born in this township Oct. 10, 1856 ; they have one child Lucy M. Mr. Neteler has served as School Trustee and Highway Commissioner one term each. JAMES C. NEWLIN, Constable, Havana ; was born in Scotland July 27, 1828, and came to the United States with his father's family when a bairn but 1 year old. The family located in Butler Co., Ohio. In 1851, his father came, to Illinois, and died in Putnam Co. in 1854. James C., the subject of this sketch remained in Butler Co., Ohio, till 1858 ; then went to California overland, and remained there until 1864, engaged mostly in mining, but was two years in the employ of Wells, Fargo & Co. ; returned to Butler Co., Ohio, and was married, in 1866, to Miss Jane Lesourd, who was born in Ohio ; one child Rosa. Is a member of Rose of Sharon Lodge, No. 77, A., F. & A. M., in Butler Co., Ohio, has been a member about twenty-two years. He came to Illinois in 1867, and located in Quiver Township, in this county, and engaged in farming ; removed into Havana in 1873. HARMON R. NORTRUP, attorney-at-law, Havana ; was born near Quacken- bruck, Hanover, Germany, April 6, 1852; he came to America when about 13 years of age, and located at Havana, his present home, in the fall of 1865; here he followed clerking and book-keeping for a few years, and, in 1870, was appointed Deputy County Clerk, of Mason Co., serving in that capacity for a period of about three years. He entered the Lincoln (111.) University in 1873, and, two years later, went to Chicago, where he remained for a few months ; he then returned to Havana, and read law in the office of Dearborn & Campbell until the fall of 1877, when he entered the law school at Albany, N. Y., from which he graduated May 21. 1878. and was admitted to the bar of . HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 773 that State the same date ; he then returned to Havana and opened a law office, being admitted -to the bar of Illinois in June, 1878. Mr. Nortrup is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. He is now City Attorney and Public Administrator of Mason Co. . PHILIP OPP, farmer, Sees. 9 and 10 ; P.O.Havana; was born in Lehigh Co., Penn., May 3, 1814, where he resided till about 25 years of age; then removed to Trumbull Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1842, he removed to Illinois, locating in Havana Township, Mason Co., where he has since followed farming. In the fall of 1838, he was married to Miss Margaret Roberts, who was born in Berks Co., Penn. They have had eight chil- dren ; five are now living John A., Benwell H., Benjamin F., George W. and Almira J. Mr. Opp has resided on his present farm, in Havana Township, over thirty years ; he owns 240 acres of land in this township, and 120 acres in Sherman. His parents, Conrad and Margaret (Weise) Opp, were born in Lehigh Co., Penn. CHARLES PULLING, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Bucking- hamshire, England, Jan. 31, 1827, but emigrated to America when about 3 years of age, with his father's family ; they located near Philadelphia, Penn., and soon after removed to Jefferson Co., Ohio. In March, 1848, they removed to Mason Co., 111. The subject of this sketch worked first at brickmaking, for S. C. Conwell, and in 1849 engaged in farming on his own account. In 1852, he went to Oregon, where he was for about three years engaged in the lumber business ; then returned to this township, where he has since resided. He has served as School Director nine years ; owns 340 acres of land in Havana Township. Was married, in April, 1849, to Miss Eliza Leaf, who was born in England ; she died in 1850. By this union, there were two children (twins), Adaline and Caroline, born Jan. 18, 1850, the former, deceased, wife of Charles Waterworth. Mr. Pulling was married to Louisa A. Samms, Dec. 2, 1855 ; she was born in Greene Co., 111. Nine children by this union, three of whom are living Jonathan, born Nov. 30, 1858; Clark, Feb. 20, 1862 ; Evelina, July 23, 1868. The following are the deceased Charles, born Dec. 30, 1860; Thomas, Dec. 21, 1865; Jacob, Sept. 15, 1866; Junetta, Oct. 17, 1871 ; Ann, Aug. 31, 1873; Sarah J., Oct. 10, 1875 ; Josephine, April 5, 1877. ISAAC P. PRETTYMAN, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Cum- berland Co., N. J., Jan. 14, 1822 ; when about 16 years of age, his father's family removed to Philadelphia, Penn., where he learned the cooper's trade. His father, Isaac Prettyman, served in the war of 1812 ; he was born in the State of Delaware, and his mother, Mary (Jones) Prettyman, was born in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1856, Isaac Prettyman removed to Illinois, and located on the farm where he now resides, and has since that date been a tiller of the soil. He has served as School Director and School Trustee, several years. In 1870, he was married to Miss Minerva Beckwith, who was born in Mas^n Co., 111. Five children by this union Perry, Venus, Emeline, Henry and Phil S. Mr. Prettyman owns 301 acres of land in Havana Township. JOHN W. PITMAN, attorney at law, Havana ; was born in Madison Co. 7 Ky., Dec. 11, 1832, where he remained until the fall of 1842, when his father removed to Illinois, locating near Canton, Fulton Co., and engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch worked on the farm until 1852, attending the common schools during the winter. Entered Lombard University, at Galesburg, in the fall of 1852, remaining until 1856, teaching during a portion of vacations. In the spring of 1857, commenced the study of law with Judge G. C. Lanphere, of Galesburg. He was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1859, and commenced practice in Galesburg. Went into the army as Adjutant of 102d I. V. I., in 1862. In 1863. came to Havana, and has practiced his profession here ever since. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Nancy A. Haley, who was born at Monmouth, Warren Co., 111.; she died in .August, 1870. Three children, two of whom are living Park W., Paul B.; former graduated at Havana High School. May L. died in 1870. Second marriage took place Oct. 2, 1878, to Amanda K. Allen, who was born in Shelbyville, Ind. JOSEPH B. PAUL, physician and surgeon, Havana; was born in Solon, Me , April 30, 1823, but removed, when about 16 years of age, to Waldo Co., and 774 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: subsequently to Penobscot. He received his education at the Foxcroft Academy, and for several years followed teaching in different localities, having charge of schools at Houlton, Calais and Bangor, Me. In 1851, on account of failing health, he came West and located at Peoria, 111., where he resumed his vocation, serving as Principal of the Fourth Ward School from the above date till 1855, during which period his spare time was given to the study of medicine. He came to Havana, his present home, in the fall of 1855, and took charge of the public schools. In February, 1857, he graduated at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and commenced the practice of medicine at Havana, where he has since followed the practice of his profession a period of twenty-two years. He was married, in 1848, to Lavina G. Laughton, who was born in Harmony, Somerset Co., Me., March 17, 1827. They have three children Edward, who is a graduate of the Wesleyan University, at Bloomington, 111. ; Charles A. and Catharine C. In 1862, he was appointed, by Gov. Yates, United States Examiner for Recruits. He is a mem- ber of the Brainard District Medical Society ; also a member of the following Masonic bodies: Havana Lodge, No. 88, and Havana Chapter, No. 86. In Doctor Paul we see exemplified the truth of the saying, " The will is father to the way." Privileges of schooling in the backwoods of Maine were not great, therefore he sought abroad what could not be readily obtained at home ; carving, so to speak, out of the solid rock, with his own pick and pen, his own way in the world, ever bear- ing in mind the fact that *' He who would thrive himself must either hold or drive." Hence his success in his chosen profession. JESSE P. PIPKIN, of the firm of Pipkin & Cunningham, manufacturers of farm and spring wagons, Havana ; was born in Jackson Co., Tenn., March 18, 1850, but in early childhood came to Illinois with his father's family and located at Havana. He followed farming until about 19 years of age. when he learned the black- smith trade, and, in 1874, commenced business under the above firm name. He was elected Alderman of the First Ward in the spring of 1879. In June, 1878, he was married to Miss Mary Lienesch, who was born in Germany. The firm of which Mr. P. is a member manufactures farm and light wagons, and plows, but their specialty is the manufacture of farm wagons. All their work is warranted thoroughly first-class. GEORGE W. PARKINS, physician and surgeon, Havana; was born in Greenbrier Co., W. Va., Dec. 20, 1821, where he resided until about 12 years of age, when he removed to Champaign Co., Ohio. He commenced the study of medicine in 1844, and the practice of the same in 1849. He removed to Illinois in 1850, and located in Schuyler Co., where his father's family had settled in 1840. Here he engaged in the practice of medicine in partnership with Dr. McMurphy. He was married, in 1853, to Mrs. Rosa Bell Maxwell (Stevenson), a native of Kentucky. He removed to Havana in 1853, the year of his marriage, and has practiced his profession here ever since a period of twenty-six years. He has one son Horace G., a graduate of the Chicago University. Dr. Parkins is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 143, 1. O. 0. F. JACOB PRETTYMAN, Justice of the Peace, Havana; was born in Salem Co., N. J., March 23, 1824 ; son of Isaac and Mary (Jones) Prettyman ; his father was born in Delaware, and served in the war of 1812, and in the Black Hawk war; the sub- ject of this sketch, when about 21 years of age, removed to Philadelphia, where he resided seven years, then to his birthplace, and in November, 1857, came West and located in Havana Township, where he followed farming until 1864, when he located in Havana, and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and, three years later, gave up this line of trade, and embarked in the grocery business; in 1864, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and, although engaged in other business, has held the office since, and, during 1870 and 1871, he served, also, as Police Magistrate, but resigned the lat- ter office in 1871. He was married, in 1845, to Miss Hannah A. Mullen, who was born in Gloucester Co., N. J., April 25, 1826 ; eleven children by this union, nine of whom are living Jacob H., who served in Co. K, 85th I. V. I., and was with Gen. Sherman in his march to the sea, and now resides in Peoria ; William M. and George W. (twins) the former residing in Sherman Township, and the latter in Forest City ; Isaac P., residing in Havana; Ida V., Klwood, Sylvester, Lena and Charles F.; last HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 775 three and Ida at home ; Elwood resides at Peoria ; two deceased Edward M., born Nov. 6, 1852, and died March 13, 1873; Henry, born Jan. 14, 1862, and died Feb. 4, 1863. Mr. Prettyman is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. JAMES QUICK, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Topeka ; was born in Somerset Co., N. J., July 14, 1820, where he resided until his removal to Illinois in 1841; arriving at Jacksonville in June of that year, and the following spring locating in Havana Town- ship, this county, where he has since resided ; he has served as School Director about fourteen years. He was married, Jan. 7, 1847, to Miss Julia A. Simmons, who was born in Mason Co., Ky.; her father, Pollard Simmons, and John Hitter were both from Mason Co., Ky., and perhaps for the sake of its familiar and homelike sound, selected the name which was adopted for this county ; the following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Quick: Richard R., George W., William T., Harriet, Lucy,. Emma and J. Thomas ; they have lost three Lucretia, John and Charles. Mr. Quick has resided on his present farm since 1 847 ; he owns 207 acres of farm land, and 40 acres of timber. GEN. JAMES M. RUGGLES, retired, Havana; was born in Mansfield, Richland Co., Ohio, March 7, 1818, and in 1837 came to Illinois; at the age of 15, he engaged in the printing business, which vocation he followed some years after locating in this State; in 1846, he settled in the town of Bath, then the seat of Justice of Mason Co.; although he had studied law and been admitted to the bar, he laid it aside and engaged actively in merchandising ; all through the sanguinary war, between Havana and Bath, on the county seat question, Mr. Ruggles fought the battle for Bath against overwhelming odds ; in 1852, he was elected to the State Senate for the district, composed of the counties of Sangamon, Menard and Mason, where he served four years with distinction. Mr. Lincoln was a member of the Lower House at the time, and was a candidate for the United States Senate against Lyman Truiabull ; he solicited the support of Mr. Ruggles, which was given with the utmost zeal and cordiality so much so, that he was carried to the Senate Chamber upon a sick-bed, to cast his vote for Mr. Lincoln ; he was ever a warm friend and ardent admirer of the martyred President, and was a delegate to the Chicago Convention in 1860 ; about 1850, Mr. Ruggles began the agitation of an Illinois River railroad, and during his term as Senator pre- pared a charter, which, mainly through his influence, passed both Houses ; he was one of its corporators, and from the first inception of the enterprise, until the road was completed, took an active interest in it, working faithfully, till the requisite amount of stock was subscribed, to insure its success ; alone and unaided, he drafted the first plat- form on which the Republican party in Illinois was founded ; he, together with Mr. Lincoln and Ebenezer Peck, were appointed a committee for that purpose, during the session of the Legislature in February,. 1856, but the other two being otherwise engaged, the work devolved on Mr. Ruggles ; at the Convention, the same year, he was his party's candidate for. Lieutenant Governor, but declined in favor of a German can- didate. At the beginning of the late war, he entered the army, and was appointed Lieutenant and Quartermaster by Gov. Yates, in the 1st I. V. C., and was sent to Mis- souri, but, dissatisfied with the inactivity of his position, at his earnest solicitation, he was sent to the front, by order of Gen. Grant, and promoted to Major in the 3d I. V. C., in which regiment he served, until mustered out in 1864; at Pea Ridge he was pro- moted to Lieutenant Colonel, and for a time commanded the regiment ; at the close of the war, he was breveted Brigadier General for meritorious services ; after the war, he served a time as Master in Chancery, but has never been afflicted with the mania for office. In all the various positions held by Gen. Ruggles, his official duties have been performed with unswerving fidelity; a scholar, and a man of fine literary tastes, he enjoys, and is sought by the best class of society ; he wields an able pen, but has never been forced to the necessity of using it for a livelihood ; his latest, and perhaps his best literary effort, is the writing of the general history of this work, which is done in the most thorough manner. The reputation he achieved in his younger days, as the editor of a country paper in Scott Co., made him the candidate of the Whig party for State printer in the Legislature of 1844; in all the early enterprises to improve the country 776 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: by the establishment of wagon roads and building of railroads, Gen. Ruggles has been active and energetic ; he was the author of the first drainage law in Illinois, gotten up for the purpose of draining the lands in Havana and Bath Townships, which law was extensively copied into other local laws, for the same purpose. Gen. Ruggles comes of no ignoble stock. Brigadier Timothy Rusgles, President of the first Congress that met in America, in 1765, in the city of New York, and one of the most noted men in New England before the Revolution, was a brother of his grandfather. John Ruggles, another branch of the family, was three times elected to the United States Senate from the State of Maine, and Benjamin Ruggles was the first United States Senator elected from Ohio in 1818, in which body he served for eighteen years. Judge Spooner Rug- gies, the father of Gren. Ruggles, was elected to the State Senate from Ogle and Win- nebago Cos. in 1842, and was a man of note for his integrity and ability in Ohio, as well as in Illinois. JOHN ROAT, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Havana; was born in New Jersey March 7, 1809, but removed, when about 7 years of age, with his father's family, to Warren Co., Ohio, residing in this and Clermont Co., until his removal to Illinois, in the fall of 1851, locating in Havana Township, this county, in the fall of that year; his present residence is located within three-quarters of a mile of where he first settled. In 1829, he was married to Miss Sophie Schuyler, vrho was born in Warren Co., N. J., Jan 4, 1811 ; eight children by this union, six of whom are living Anna, wifeof Joel Crater, born April 27, 1830 ; Jacob, Aug. 23, 1832 ; Margaret, widow of D. Athy, Dec. 3, 1833; John W., Aug. 9, 1841; Christina. Aug. 24, 1845; George W. M., Jan. 1, 1850. The names of the deceased are Elsie C., born March 31, 1837, died in Feb- ruary, 1868, and William, who enlisted in Co. L, llth 111. Cav., Dec. 7, 1861 died while in the service, at Bolivar Aug. 30, 1862 ; he was born Sept. 22, 1838. JOHN W. RHODES, agricultural implements, Havana. The subject of these lines was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Nov. 7, 1841, where he remained until July, 1854, when he removed to Illinois, and settled in Whiteside Co. In April, ,1861, he enlisted in Co. B, 13th I. V. I., and served until the close of the war, a period of four years and eleven months. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in May, 1863 ; in fall of same year, was promoted to First Lieutenant, and to Captain in the early part of 1864. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Chickasaw Bayou, Jackson, Miss., siege of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. After the war ended, he remained one year in Louisiana, and engaged in the cultivation of cotton, after which he returned to Whiteside Co. In 1869, he came to Mason Co., where he has since been actively engaged in farming and merchandising. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Gyrene H. Hancock, who was born in Havana, her father having settled here as early as 1842, when buildings of any kind were scarce their dwelling being used for a court-room at an early session of Mason County Court. They have three children Walter H., Lizzie and Ruth. Mr. R. is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88., A., F. & A. M. MRS. ANN M. ROBERTS, farming, Sec. 3 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Montreal, Canada, Oct. 25, 1829 ; when about 15 years of age she went to New York, and, in 1845, was married to Edward A. Schermerhorn, who was born in New York City. His death occurred June 15, 1855. They had four children Edward A., resides in Havana ; George H., has charge of the farm; Kate M., the wife of Charles G. Howell, resides in Nebraska ; John W. resides in Iowa. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Roberts removed to Illinois, locating in Havana in 1858. In 1861, she was married to Daniel M. Roberts, who was born in Berks Co., Penn., Sept. 5, 1807 ; he settled in Mason Co. in 1842. Mr. Roberts died Dec. 2, 1873. The only child by this union was Harriet A., whose death occurred Aug. 1, 1864. Mrs. Roberts owns 172 acres of land in Havana Township. LEONARD SCHWENK, Circuit Clerk, Mason Co., Havana; was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, July 23, 1832 ; came to this country in 1854, locating at Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., Penn., where he resided till his removal to Illinois. In 1864, he removed to Mason Co., 111., and located in Manito Township, where he engaged in farming. In HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 777 the fall of 1872, Mr. Schwenk was elected to his present office and removed his family to Havana ; he was re-elected in 1876. While a resident of Manito Township, he served as Collector three years, and School Director four years. In 1856, he married Miss Rebecca Singley, who was born in Wayne Co., Ohio ; they have eight children Annie K., wife of Frank Sedlatzeck ; John L., George D., Mary E., William H., Paulina M., Catharine Louisa and Sarah R. Mr. Schwenk still owns a farm of 320 acres of land in Manito Township. MARTIN SCOTT, farmer, Sec. 24 ; Havana ; was born in Rahway, Union Co., N. J., June 10, 1814, where he resided till his removal to Illinois. In the fall of 1837, his father s family came to Illinois ; their first location was at Beardstown, on the 3d of December of that year, and the following February, they located in Crane Creek Town- ship, this county ; they removed to Havana Township in January, 1839, locating on the farm where Mr. Scott and his brother now reside. His father, Aaron Scott, was born in New Jersey, Jan. 22, 1786; his death occurred April 1, 1847. His mother, Mary (Evens) Scott, was born in New Jersey, Dec. 25, 1787, died Aug. 30, 1859. Mr. Scott has served as Assessor six years and Commissioner of Highways three years. He learned the blacksmith's trade when about 16 years of age, and worked in the shops of the Camden & Amboy Railroad, from 1834 to 1837. From 1842 to 1847, he worked at his trade in this county, since which he has followed farming. Owns 160 acres of land in Havana, and 200 acres in Sherman Township. THEODORE STEPHENSON, of the firm of Stephenson & Wahlfeld, groceries and provisions, Havana ; was born in Denmark Jan. 6, 1834 ; came to the United States in the summer of 1867, landing in New York City July 4th, and the following year removed to Mason Co., 111., where he engaged in farming, which occupation he followed about -one year ; he then entered the store of John H. Bruning as clerk. In 1871, he com- menced business at Bishop Station on his own account, and, some four years later, sold out and visited the place of his nativity. On his return, in 1875, he engaged in business under the present firm name. He was married, in 1879, to Mrs. Margaret Bodecker (Deverman), who was born in Germany. She has two children by her first husband Emma, wife of B. Zelle, and Otto. Mr. Stephenson is a member of Havana Grove, No. 40, U. A. 0, D., and also of the Mutual Aid Society. NICHOLAS SIEBENALER, tobacconist, Havana ; was born in the Province or. Luxemburg July 22, 1834, and emigrated to this country in 1848, with his father's family, locating at St. Louis, Mo., and had come from the old country via New Orleans. In 1853, he went to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, reaching the Pacific Slope on the 15th of May, and engaged in trade at McCulma Hill mines. He returned to St. Louis in 1858, and worked at his trade of tobacconist. In the spring of 1859, he came to Havana, and commenced the manufacture of cigars. He was elected City Treasurer in 1877, and served two years. He was married, Nov. 22, 1860, to Miss Sarah E. Graham, who was born in Scotland Nov. 12, 1844. The result of this mar- riage is five children Katie I., William, Lucy, Albert and Gracie. He is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. O. 0. F., and Encampment, also of Havana Lodge No. 88, A., F. & A. M., Havana Chapter, No. 86, Royal Arch Masons, and Damascus Com- mandery, No. 42, Knights Templar, and Havana Grove, No. 40, U. A. 0. D. C. STEVENS, dentist, Havana ; was born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, March 7, 1834. When about 19 years of age, he came West, and located at Peoria, 111., where he resided until his removal to Havana, in the fall of 1868, with the exception of an interval of about three years. He commenced the study of dentistry in 1858 ; a profession he has since followed. In 1855, he was married to Miss Kate Stevison, who was born in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. The result of this union is four children May, wife of Charles Con- nelly ; Frank E., Kate and Gracie B. He is a member of A. 0. U. W. JACOB F. STRICKLE, dealer in dry goods, Havana; was born in Wilmington, Clinton Co., Ohio, Feb. 2, 1845, where he resided till his removal to Bloomington, McLean Co., in 1867 ; there he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for about six years, then removed to Chicago, 111., and, about two years later, located at Havana, his present hume. In December, 1878, he was married to Miss Angie Biggs, who was born in 778 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : Clinton Co., Ohio. Mr. Strickle has a fine stock, and full assortment of staple and fancy dry goods, hats, caps, boots and shoes, constantly on hand. CHARLES STUART, farmer, Sec. 4 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Havana Township, Mason Co., III., Jan. 19, 1848 ; his father, Alexander Stu.art, of Havana, was one of the earlier settlers of Mason Co., locating here in 1837. Charles S., was married, Nov. 29, 1867, to Miss Marilda Rose, who was born in Buffalo, N. Y.; they have two children Walter and Jennie. CHARLES SCHILL, dealer in stoves, tinware, etc., Havana ; was born in Baden, Germany, Nov. 30, 1838. He came to America in .1854, locating first in New York City, and two years later came West and located at Havana, his present home. In 1862, he commenced in his present business, having partially learned the tinner's trade in his native country, and completed it in New York. Mr. S. is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88, Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damas- cus Commandery, No. 42. AUGUST SCHILL, firm of A. & W. Schill, meat market, Havana ; was born in Baden, Germany, May 30, 1830, and came to America in 1851, locating in New York City, where he engaged in the business he now follows, and which he learned when but 10 years of age ; he left home at the age of 18, traveled through Switzerland, France and Southern Germany, being employed in different places. In 1857, removed from New York to Peoria, and with others established the City Market, at corner of Fulton and Madison streets. In 1860, he came to Havana and engaged in his present business. He was a member of the first Board of Aldermen after Havana was organized as a city. He was married Jan. 1, 1861, to Miss Bertha Bruder, who was born in Baden, Germany. They have six children Emma, August, William, Charles M., Ida and Bertha. He is a member of Havana Grove No. 40, U. A. 0. D. ROBERT M. SCANLAND, dentist, Havana; was born in Pittsfield, Pike Co., 111., Oct. 16. 1853. His grandfather, William Watson, was one of the first settlers of that county. In 1872, the Doctor commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. A. B. Carey, of Pittsfield, 111., and two years later removed to Havana, his present home. He was married, in 1878, to Miss Virginia R. Woollen, who was born in Franklin, Ind. They have one child, William W. HENRY H. SHERMEYER, saddle and harness manufacturer, Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Jan. 25, 1826 ; he came to America about 1846, locating first at York, Penn., -where he learned the harness-maker's trade ; after a residence here of some five years, he worked at his trade in Cincinnati, Johnstown and Ports- mouth, Ohio, and in Maysville, Ky. In 1853, he came to Danville, 111., thence to Bloomington, and from there to Petersburg. Since the 4th of July, 1855, he has been a resident of the city of Havana. Has served one year as member of the Town Board. He was married, in 1859, to Miss Elizabeth M. Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have had six children, four living Eddie, Fannie, Freddie and Myrtie L.; the names of the deceased are Allie and William. JAMES P. SMITH, baggage and transfer express, Havana ; was born in Fulton Co., 111., April 22, 1844; his father. Jacob L. Smith, who now resides in Texas, was born near Knoxville, Tenn., and settled in Fulton Co., this State, as early as 1834. The subject of these lines followed farming till 1873, when he removed to Havana and engaged in his present business. He was married, in 1865, to Miss Mary R. Weese, who was born in Fulton Co., 111. ; they have one child living Cienient V. Mr. Smith is a membei of the A. 0. TJ. W. His wife's parents were also early settlers of Fulton Co., having settled there in about 1835. JOHN W. SARFF, farmer and hedge-grower, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Union City, Randolph Co., Ind., March 26, 1844; he came to Illinois in 1860 with his father's family and located at Snicarte, Lynchburg Township, Mason Co. ; in the spring of 1865, he came to Havana Township, and was employed by A. P. Glenn, then engaged in hedge growing; in 1869, Mr. Sarff commenced in the same business on his own account, which he has since followed together with farming ; he has now about forty acres in hedge plants. He was married, Nov. 5, 1865, to Miss Sarah Hill, who HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 779 was born in Sussex, England ; they have three children Lawrence, Ella and Harry. Mr. Sarff owns about 300 acres of land in Lynchburg Township, this county, where his parents now reside. His father, Jacob C., was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother, Sarah (Russell) Sarff, is also a native of the same State. KEY. GEORGE SEIBERT, Pastor of the Reformed Church in America; residence, Havana ; was born in Frankinfeldt Laudkeright, New Stadt Auderich, Germany, Jan. 24, 1839, and is a son of John and Barbara (Hefler) Seibert; in early childhood, he came to America with his father's family, locating in Hudson Co., N. J. ; in 1858, he entered Rutger's College (Grammar Department) at New Brunswick, N. J.,and, a year later, commenced the college course, which he continued for two years, and then enlisted in Co. G. 1st N. J. V. I., May 28, 1861 ; he participated in the first battle at Bull Run and the battle of the Wilderness ; on the 15th of January, 1863, he was discharged from the service by reason of surgeon's certificate of disability. Mr. Seibert spent his spare time after entering the army in study, completing the college course, and, in June, 1862, graduated, receiving the A. B. and A. M. degrees; in the fall of 1864, he entered the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, graduating at that institution in the summer of 1866, and was ordained and licensed to preach by the Classis of Monmouth, N. J., Aug. 12, of the same year ; he was installed by them at the same time Pastor of the Reformed Church of Middletown, N. J., and served in that capacity till March, 1873, when he accepted the appointment by the Board of Domestic Missions to occupy the field at Havana, 111., and commenced his labors there April 1, 1873. He was married June 20, 1866, to Miss Mary F. Gurnew, who was born in New York City Jan. 30, 1841 ; they have five children George G., Edward T., Henry P., Frank A. and their adopted daughter, Jennie. Mr. Seibert is a charter member of the Grand Lodge of Illinois K. of H., also Grand Chaplain of the same. PETER SPECKMANN, farmer, Sec. 23 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Havana Township, this county, March 14, 1838 ; his father, Frederick Speckmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to America in 1835, and settled in Mason Co. in the fall of 1836 ; he died Nov. 27, 1854 ; his mother, Ann M. (Netler) Speckmann, was born in Hanover, Germany ; settled here May 5, 1837 ; her death occurred Aug. 22, 1875. The subject of this sketch was married, Oct. 3, 1865, to Miss Eliza J. Ermel- ing, who was born in Bath Township, this county, Nov. 28, 1847 ; they have had eight children, four living, Anna born Oct. 3, 1867 ; Amelia, March 9, 1869 ; Frederick, Dec. 31, 1870, and Eda, Sept. 10, 1878. Mr. Speckmann has served as Commissioner of Highways two years and School Director several terms. He owns 340 acres of farm lands and 215 acres of timber in Havana Township. FREDERICK SPECKMANN, farmer, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Havana Township, this county, Nov. 13, 1845 ; his father, Frederick Speckmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to this country in 1835, and settled in Mason Co. in^the fall of 1836 ; his death occurred Nov. 27, 1854; his mother, Ann M. (Netler) Speckmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to America in May, 1837 ; she died Aug. 22, 1875. On the 15th of July, 1877, Mr. Speckmann was married to Miss Auna M. M. Strodtmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 18, 1857 ; their only child died in infancy. Mr. Speckmann owns 300 acres of land in Havana Town- ship. WILLIAM SPECKMANN, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Havana; was born in Havana Township, this county, March 14,1838; his father, Frederick Speckmann, who was a native of Hanover, Germany, came to America in 1835, and settled in Mason Co. in the fall of 1836 ; his death occurred Nov. 27, 1854 ; his mother,. Ann M. (Net- ler) Speckmann, was born in Hanover, Germany ; settled in Mason Co. in May, 1837 ; she died Aug. 22, 1875. In 1874, Mr. Speckmann visited, the birthplace of his parents, and, in 1877, made his second journey to that country. He owns 380 acres of land in Havana Township, this connty. HARM AN TEGEDES (deceased), . Sec. 28; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 8, 1821, and came to America, in 1844; he came by way of New Orleans, and located in Havana Township, this county, the same year. In 1852, he was 780 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: married to Miss Mary Kust, who was born in Hanover, Germany, July 14, 1830 ; she came to this country, with her father's family, in 1850, via New Orleans, and set- tled in Havana Township ; by this union there are eight children Mary A., wife of Henry Riep ; Maggie C., Henry J., Anna M., Harman G., August J., Louis H. and Hannah. The death of Mr. Tegedes occurred May 17, 1875, since which his widow has had the management of the farm, consisting of 220 acres of land. . PETER A. THORN BURG, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Havana ; was bom in Har- per's Ferry, Md., Sept. 19, 1818, but removed to Fairfield Co., Ohio, when about 10 years of age, with his father's family; the subject of this sketch came West in the fall of 1837, and, after stopping at Havana, this county, about four months, returned to Ohio. In November, 1840, he came, with his brother Eli, and located in Fulton Co., and about two years later removed to Havana, where Mr. Thornburg engaged in blacksmithing, and established the first permanent blacksmith shop in Havana. In 1850, he removed to the farm where he now resides, and, until about fifteen years ago, worked at his trade, and has since followed farming. In 1868, Mr. Thornburg laid out the town of Peter- ville. He was married, Sept. 26, 1842, to Miss Leah, daughter of James Milleson ; she was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1828; by this union there were fourteen children, four of whom are living John M., Mary J., wife of Edward Eddy, who resides in Kansas ; Geo. S. and Allen C. The deceased are Boanerges, died Dec. 12, 1845 : James L., Sept, 22, 1848 ; Mahlon A., Feb. 7, 1852 ; Jonathan K., July 22. 1854; Malvina, Sept. 1, 1864; Livingston P., Sept. 12, 1869; Virginia L., Dec. 16, 1870 ; Maribe E., March 7, 1872; and Emily A., July 2, 1877. His father, James S., and his mother, Eve (Coon) Thornburg, were both natives of Virginia. Mrs. Thorn- burg's father, James Milleson, was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 17, 1788, and died in Fulton Co., 111., Jan. 29, 1879. Her mother, Dorothy (Knight) Milleson, was born in Pennsylvania May 8, 1791, and died in Kilbourne Township, this county, May 17, 1857. ORLANDO B. THORP, dealer in hardware, guns, pistols, etc., Havana; born at Canton, Fulton Co., 111., Feb. 27, 1850, where he resided until his removal to Havana, in the winter of 1872. Here he first opened a gun-shop, the same year, and in 1878 engaged in his present business. He married Miss Kate A. Wagoner in 1875, who was born in Mason Co., 111. They have one child Edith N. Mr. T. is a mem- ber of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. At Mr. Thorp's establishment will be found a good assortment of sporting goods guns, pistols, fishing tackle and amunition of all kinds. JOHN H. TAYLOR, SR., clothing and gents' furnishing goods. Havana ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 9, 1840, where he resided until 1855, when, with his father's family, he came West and located in Havana, his present home. For several years he followed farming, and, in 1862, went to Colorado and entered the employ of Benj. Holliday, who afterward sold the express line to Wells, Fargo & Co., and Mr. Taylor also acted as agent for the latter. He subsequently engaged in the live-stock business. On his return to Havana, in 1866, he purchased the Taylor House and embarked in the hotel business, and, in 1870, engaged in the grocery business, which he followed until 1874. In 1877, he engaged in his present business. Mr. T. has served two years as member of the Town Board. Married, in 1866, Miss Lou Riggins, who was born in Beardstown, 111. Her death occurred in 1872. By this union there were three children Maud, William S. and Henry J. In 1873, he was married to his present wife, Miss Ida B. Riggins, who was born in this city. They have two children living Lula B. and John H., Jr. Ralph died May 16, 1875. Mr. Taylor is a member of Prosperity Lodge, No. 114, A. 0. U. W. HARMAN UTHMILLER, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Havana; was born in Prussia, April 25, 1808. He came to this country in 1850 (via New Orleans), arriving at Beardstown, 111., in November of that year. In the spring of 1852, he came to Havana Township, where he has since resided. He was married, in September, 1836, to Anna Jane Bulk, who was born in Prussia in August, 1810. Six children by this union Frederick W. ; Mary, wife of Simon Brinkman ; Elizabeth, wife of Geo. HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 781 Dehm. They have lost three children Henry and Frederick ; also one that died in infancy. HENRY VALENTINE, farmer and hedge-grower; P. 0. Havana; was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., Sept. 8, 1832, where he resided till his removal to Illinois, in 1854, locating in Havana Township, this county, in December of that year. He was first employed in the saw-mill of Webb Bros., where he had the misfortune to lose his left hand. He was married, Feb. 19, 1854, to Miss Hannah Chamberlain, who was born in Monmouth Co., N. J. Mr. Valentine owns eighty acres of farm land in Havana Township, and 120 acres of timber in Fulton Co. 111. Aside from farming, he is also engaged in hedge-growing, having on hand from four to five million hedge plants. MILLROY VANLANINGHAM, livery and feed-stable, Havana. The above- named gentleman was born in Marion Co., Ind., Aug. 9, 1834, but removed to Illinois, with his father's family, when about 7 years of age, first locating in Havana Township, where his father engaged in farming. In 1866, the subject of this sketch removed to his present home in Havana, and engaged in the livery business, together with farming. He owns 212 acres of land in Mason Co. In I860 he mar- ried Miss Maria Moslander, a native of New Jersey. They had two children William E. and Alonzo, who died in 1867. His wife died April 19, 1871. He was married Aug. 9, 1871, to Jennie Miller, who was born in Missouri. This marriage resulted in four children Rosa, Emma, Charles and George. He is a member of A. 0. U. W. and I. 0. M. A. CHRISTIAN WEBER, farmer, Sec. 32; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 5, 1818. He came to America in 1848; he came by way of New Orleans, and settled in Mason Plains, now Forest City Township, this county. Ho came to Havana Township in 1858. Married March 16, 1850, to Miss Margaret Tegedes, who was born in the same country as her husband, and came to this country the same year. He owns 280 acres of land in Havana, and Forest City Townships, Mason Co. RUDOLPH WISSM AN, farmer, Sec. 11; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 20, 1840. He came to America in 1866, landing at Baltimore, Md., and, in the fall of that year, came to Illinois, and located in Havana Township, this county. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Catharine Stegenig, who was born in Sher- man Township, this county. They have four children Henry, Mary, Hannah and Louis. Mr. Wissman owns 1 60 acres of land in this township. WILLIAM WALLACE, farmer. Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Highland Co., Ohio, May 18, 1820. In 1843, he came West with his mother and other members of the family (his father died when Mr. Wallace was about 8 years old). They located in Mason Co., and engaged in farming. In 1853 (February 16), he was married to Miss Sarah Kelley, who was born in Knox Co.. Ky., Sept. 6, 1832. Five children by this union, four of whom are living Calvin W., born May 8, 1856 ; Martha E., Sept. 16, 1857 ; Allen, Dec. 29, 1859, and Rempy A., Sept. 1, 1862. Albert was born March 27, 1855, and died April 10, 1855. Mr. Wallace owns 320 acres of land in Havana Township. Mrs. Wallace had two brothers in the Black Hawk war Jeremiah and William Kelley, who went from Sangamon Co., 111., and served through the campaign. ^.ORLANDO H. WRIGHT, of the firm of 6. H. & H A. Wright, attorneys, Havana; was born in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y.. April 22, 1828, and is the eldest son of George and Theresa (Hibbard) Wright, the former a native of Deerfield, Mass., and the latter of Montreal. Canada. His father's family removed to Illinois and settled in Fulton Co., in 1845. The subject of this sketch came West some four years later, and, after a short stay in Havana, returned to his native State, but returned to this city in the spring of 1850, where he has since resided. He commencel the study of law in the office of William Walker, the same year, and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He commenced the practice of law that year, continuing until 1855, when he engaged in the banking business, under the firm name of Rupert, Haines & Co. In 1860, he was elected Circuit Clerk of Mason Co., and served one term, at the expiration of which he resumed the practice of law. He represented the counties of Mason and Menard at the 782 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Constitutional Convention, held during the winter of 1869 and 1870. He served as City Attorney for several years, County Superintendent of schools, one term, and has also held other minor offices. He was married, Nov. 6, 1849, to Miss Harriet M. Par- melee, who was born in Wyoming, Genesee Co., N. Y. Four children by this union, two of whom are living Frances and Douglass. EDGAR A. WALLACE, of the firm of Fullerton & Wallace, attorneys, Havana; was born at Antrim, Hillsboro Co., N. H., June 7, 1843. He received his early edu- cation at the Henniker Academy, graduating at that institution in 1864. He also grad- uated at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. (Law Department), in July, 1867, and was admitted to the bar at Boston, Mass., in June, 1867. In November following, he came West, and located at Havana, where he became a law partner of Hon. Lyman Lacey. In January, 1868, he was admitted to the Illinois bar, and to practice in the United States Courts soon after. The present law firm of Fullerton & Wallace was established in November, 1875. Mr. Wallace has served two years as City Attorney. In 1869, he was married to Miss Gertie E. Lightcap, who was born in Republic, Ohio. Mr. Wallace is a member of the following Masonic bodies : Havana Lodge, No. 88, Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. In the latter body, he holds the office of Captain General, and in the Chapter, that of Principal Sojourner. He also served two years as Eminent Commander of No. 42. HORACE A. WRIGHT, of the firm of 0. H. & H. A. Wright, attorneys at law, Havana ; was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., April 14, 1839, but removed when about 7 years of age, with his father's family, to Illinois, locating at Bernadotte, Fulton Co., and about one year later, the family removed to Point Isabel, on the opposite side of the river from the present city of Havana. During the spring of 1849, the high water compelled the family to seek higher ground, and they therefore came to the east side, and made Havana their permanent home. The subject of this sketch was employed in 1855 carrying mails to Delavan, Tazewell Co., making a trip once each week, and the following year served as Deputy Postmaster at Havana. In 1857, he became cashier in the banking-house of Rupert, Haines & Co., and served in that capacity until 1860, when the business of the bank was closed. He then entered the Circuit Clerk's office as Deputy, where he remained until 1865, and again, in 1869; took that position, and served until January, 1879. He commenced the study of law in 1860, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. Since January, 1879, Mr. Wright has given his lull attention to the practice of law. In July, 1860, he was married to Miss Sarah Josephine, daughter of Winslow Parkhurst. She was born in Tom's River, N. J. Three children by this union, two of whom are living Edgar B. and Don W. WILLIAM WOLL, groceries and provisions, Havana ; was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, Dec. 10, 1845; came to this country in 1853, and, after a stay of a few months in New Jersey, located in Madison Co., N. Y., and in 1855 came West and was first employed at Chicago, by the I. C. R. R. He soon after went to Peoria, and in the fall of 1856, located at Havana, where he was employed in manufacturing brick. In 1864, he embarked in the butcher's trade, and, in 1871, engaged in the diiry business ; four years late^ he commenced in his present line of trade. He was married, in 1867, to to Miss Minnie Backenhorst, who was born in Holland. She died Dec. 1, 1874. One child by this union John W. Mr. W. is a member of Havana Grove, No. 40, U. A. 0. D. Also a member of the Mutual Aid Society. He enlisted in Co. C, 2d I. V. C., in July, 1861, and served until October, 1864. SAMUEL WHITAKER, books, stationery, etc., Havana ; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, October 4, 1836, where he resided until 23 years of age. He then moved to Illinois, settled in Forest City, and engaged in farming. June 23, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d I. V. C. ; in 1862, was commissioned Captain by Gov. Yates, on the petition of his company ; served until the close of the war, November, 1865. He came to Havana in the fall of 1866, and followed clerking, until 1871, when he en- gaged in his present business of books and stationery. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Kate, daughter of Stephen Hole, Esq., one of the early settlers of this county. She was born in Washington Co., Ind., and died in 1870. He was a second time married HAVANA TOWNSHIP. 783 in 1873, to Hattie R., a daughter of James H. Hole, and born in Havana, 111. They have two children Nellie May and John H. Mr. W. is a member of Mason Lodge, Jo. 143,1. O. 0. F. ALLEN E. WIENER, dealer in dry goods and clothing, Havana ; was born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 6, 1844, where he resided until about 1858. When about 14 years of age, he came to Havana, his present home. He was first employed here by Steiner, Stearns & Co., and when the firm was changed to G. Wiener & Co., in!861, he from that date had an interest in the profits. On the 1st of January, 1872, he com- menced business on his own account. He was married, March 29, 1876, to Miss Ger- trude Spatz, who was born in Philadelphia. They have two children Minnie and Lulu. JOHN T. WARK, farmer ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Logan Co., 111., Jan. 13, 1862, and came to Mason Co., in September, 1877. His father, James Wark, resides in Logan Co., and his mother, Martha ( Snyder ) was born near Pekin, Tazewell Co., 111. Her father, William Snyder, now a resident of Havana, located in Fulton Co., in the fall of 1839. JOHN WALKER, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., April 10, 1818, and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Nichols) Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. In 1837, the family removed from Dearborn Co., Ind., to Illinois, locating at Walker's Grove, this county, in the fall of that year. In 1843, he was married to Miss Mercy Coon, who was born in New Jersey. She is a daughter of Reuben and Anna ( Drake ) Coon, both natives of New Jersey; they settled in Mason Co. in 1842. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walker Anna M., wife of John Cunningham ; Julia, wife of William O. Shea; George and Lizzie. Anna died in 1842, John, in 1865, and Marietta, in August, 1865. " HENRY WEDEKIND, farmer, Sec 15; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, July 28, 1826. He came to America in 1851, and located in CassCo., 111. In the spring of 1852, he came to Mason Co., locating in Havana Township, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has served as Commissioner of Highways, three years ; was married, in 1848, to Miss Dora T. Elend, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 11, 1819, and died March 4, 1879. They have four children by this union Henry L.. Mary, wife of Louis Baumbach, Margaret and Lucy. Mr. Wedekind owns IfiO acres of land in Havana Township. HENRY WOLF, Constable, Havana; was born in Prussia March 9, 1828, and came to America in 1855 ; after a short stay at New Orleans, La , he located at Quincy, 111., where he resided until 1857, when he came to Havana, his present home ; here he worked at blacksmithing (having learned his trade in his native country) until 1870, when he was elected Constable, and has since served in that capacity. In 1856, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hackman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, July 1, 1830 ; they have had nine children, four of whom are living Mary, Lizzie, Tilly and Frank ; Adolph died March 7, 1870 ; Louis, Aug. 28, 1870 ; the others died in infancy. CHARLES YETTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Havana; was born in Northampton Co., Penn., Sept. 20, 1821, where he resided till his removal to the West in 1851, locating in Havana Township, this county, on Sept. 11 of that year, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. On Feb. 24, 1848, he was married to Miss Anna M. Keller, who was born in the same county and State as her husband ; her death occurred Jan. 10, 1852 ; they had two children, one living Joseph H., now resides in Pennsylvania; Robert J. died in 1852. Mr. Yetter was married to Rachel Jane Davis Sept. 13, 1853; she was born in Greene, 111., July 19, 1827; her parents. John and Sally Davis, were early settlers of Greene Co., 111. ; eight children by this union, four of whom are living Jacob, Sally A., Joshua and Charles; the four deceased are George, Joel, Rachel J. and John W. Mr. Yetter owns 400 acres of land in Havana Township. JACOB YETTER, farmer, Sec. 4; P. 0. Havana; was born in Havana Town- ship, this county, Dec. 5, 1854. He was married, Oct. 10, 1877, to Miss Sarah C. 784 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Crater, who was also born in this township Jan. 30, 1858 ; they have one child Oscar H. Mr. Yetter's father, Charles Yetter, settled in the county in 1851. G. H. CARL ZELLE, farmer, Sec. 17; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 1, 1851 ; came to America with his father's family in 1857, and to Havana Township, this county, March 11, 1858. He was married, Oct. 24, 1876, to Miss Anna Wirth, who was born in New Orleans, La., June 29, 1856; they have one child George Adolph. Mr. Zelle owns 100 acres of land in Havana Township. His father, Frederick Zelle, was born in Hanover, Germany, July 9, 1811, and was married, July 15, 1849, to Miss Henrietta Utermoehlen, who was born in the same country as her husband, Nov. 9, 1817. MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. WILLIAM ALLEN, retired merchant and farmer; P r 0. Mason City; one of the early settlers; born in Dearborn Co., Ind., March 31, 1807, where he attended school until 20 years of age ; he was engaged in the merchandise trade several years in Indiana, and, in 1840, was elected Sheriff of La Porte Co., serving two years, and again elected to the same office in 1852 ; in 1843-44, he represented the La Porte District in the State Legislature; in 1854, he came to Illinois and located in Havana, and, until 1870, was engaged in farming near the latter place ; in 1870, he disposed of a part of his property in Havana ; re-invested in Mason City and Township, where he has lived since 1877. He was married to Sarah E. Shotwell in 1837 ; she was a native of New Jersey ; they are the parents of five children Jacob R., William S., Louisa, Kate and Henry S. Mr. Allen has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, and has been a member of the Methodist Church for a period of upward of forty years ; his whole family are also Church members, the oldest son now preaching in La Salle, 111. JOHN J. AINSWORTH, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; is a son of Richard Ains- worth, whose biography also appears in this work ; he was born in Mason Co., 111., July 24, 1852 ; he was raised to farming, and obtained a common-school education, complet- ing the same by a course at the Commercial College at Jacksonville, Morgan Co. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Ainsworth upon March 22, 1877 ; she was born in Mason Co., 111., April 2, 1854. and was a daughter of William Ainsworth, a settler of 1842. In March, 1878, he located upon his present place, which contains 240 acres just outside of the city limits of Mason City, which he intends making his permanent home. RICHARD AINSWORTH, retired farmer, Sec. 6; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the early settlers of Mason Co. ; born in Lancashire, England, Dec. 5, 1817 ; after receiving a common-school education, he was engaged in the cotton factories of Blackburn until 25 years of age, when he, with two brothers, emigrated to America, landing in New Orleans ; they then came up the river to Cincinnati, thence to Cass Co., 111., where, after a short residence, they came to Mason Co. and located near Bath in the fall of 1842 ; here he entered eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added until he had accumu- lated between 600 and 700 acres, upon which he resided until 1877, when he disposed of the same and, after a residence of one year at Natrona, removed to Mason City Township and erected his present residence, removing into the same in October, 1878. Mr. Ainsworth is one of the self-made men of Mason Co. ; arriving in the county with- out means ; he borrowed the money to enter his first eighty acres of land ; he has always confined his business to farming, and has, by his hard labor, perseverance and correct business habits, placed himself among the large landholders and successful farmers of Mason Co., owning, as he now does, 1,450 acres in Mason Co. and 1,520 acres in Iro- quois Co., his real estate being valued at upward of $100,000, aside from personal property ; he has not accumulated the above by a miserly manner of living ; he is known as being very liberal ; contributes liberally to the cause of religion and educa- tion, and is very kind to the poor, and especially to his own tenants, with whom, upon MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 785 a failure of crops, he assumes the largest share of the losses ; he has devoted much time to literature, being particularly interested in ancient and modern history, and has, by years of reading and study, become familiar with all the topics of the day. His mar- riage with Mary J. Talbott was celebrated in 1840, in Blackburn, Lancashire ; she was born in the above place in November, 1817; she died in Mason Co. Feb. 24, 1874; they were the parents of eight children, of whom two sons and two daughters now sur- vive, viz.: Mary J., wife of John B. Abbott, of Natrona; John J., farming near Mason City ; Sarah A. and William T., the last two living at home. J. C. AMBROSE, hardware, firm of Ambrose & Sands, hardware stores, etc., etc., Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Mason Co.; born in Morgan Co., Va., May 1, 1818; in 1831, he emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1837, when he went to Quincy, Logan Co., and followed the carpenter and wagon- maker trade until 1853, at which date he engaged in hotel-keeping and the merchan- dise trade until 1861, when he sold out, and, emigrating to Illinois, located in Mason City Township in April, 1861 ; he then purchased forty acres of land, and, the follow- ing August, removed his family upon the farm ; he then put in a crop of corn and wheat, the latter proving a failure, and the corn was hauled to Pekin and sold- for 10 cents per bushel. Mr. Ambrose mentions some facts representing the hardships and privations of the settlers of Mason Co. at that time ; in the fall of 1861, for three weeks, his provisions for his family of six persons consisted of grated corn, rye coffeei salt and potatoes; in November, 1864, he came to Ma?on City and opened the first restaurant of the place, continuing the same some three years, when he was employed as clerk in the hardware trade in 1870, and, in July, 1874, commenced the hardware trade for himself, under the above firm name, which they have since successfully followed. His marriage with Rosanna Yost was celebrated Oct. 19, 1842 ; she was born in Morgan Co., Va., Feb. 14, 1826 ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom three are now living Mary E., Lycurgus E. and John F., the two sons being associated in busi- ness with their father. JOHN J. BURNHAM, farmer; P. 0. Mason City ; Mr. Burnham is another of the old residents of Mason Co. ; born in Windham Co., Conn.. Dec. 26, 1808; at 21 years of age, he started in life for himself and soon after started a peddler's wagon, and, after several years, engaged in the grocery business ; in 1857, he came to Illinois and located upon his present place, where he bought 100 acres of land, which he has brought to its present high state of cultivation, located one and a half miles from Mason City. Upon Sept. 9, 1832, he was married to Clarissa R. Sharp ; she was born in 1809 and died Feb. 19, 1870; his second wife was Persis Rickard, married in 1870; his third wife was Tirzah Rickard, married September, 1876. Mr. Burnham has held the office of School Trustee and School Director several terms during his residence here. DAVID BONN, farmer; P. 0. Mason City; one of the early settlers of Mason Co.; he was born in Somerset Co., N. J., March 21, 1823, and emigrated to Mason Co. and located in what is now Quiver Township, in 1848 ; at that date, there were only a few settlers, some houses being ten miles apart ; he had no means at that time, save his team, and labored for such wages as he could get, taking his pay in corn, etc.; about the year 1850, he purchased some school land, which he sold the following year ; in the spring of 1869, he came to Mason City Township and purchased 410 acres of his present place, where he has since lived; he also owns 134 acres in Logan Co. and has good farm buildings upon both places. His marriage with C. E. Appleman was cele- brated in Somerset Co., N. J., Dec. 18, 1847 ; she was born Jan. 27, 1826 ; three chil- dren were the fruit of this union Martha A., John M. and William C. JOSEPH S. BANER, Postmaster, Mason City. The subject of this memoir is an old, and, because of his hospitable and affable nature, together with superior intellectual culture and ability, a very prominent resident of Mason Co.; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio, June 24, 1824. where he spent his childhood, youth and early manhood; there he attended the public schools until 19 years of age, and was then engaged as Principal, for one year, in the Bellefontaine Academy ; in 1849, he moved to Cincinnati, and, for several years, held the position of confidential clerk in an exteusive 786 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: commercial house, and was then admitted a partner, which relation continued until 1857, when he emigrated West and located in Allen's Grove Township, Mason Co., 111.; he here engaged in farming until 1863, when he returned to Cincinnati and engaged in the commission business until 1866 ; he then returned to the West and located in Mason City, and for the three succeeding years was engaged in the dry goods, drug and grocery trade, under the firm name of Warnock & Co.; he then engaged in the grain trade, in connection with farming, until 1874, when he was appointed Postmaster at Mason City, under the administration of President Grant, which office he now holds, having been re-appointed in 1878, by President Hayes; he has also been frequently elected to town- ship and school offices and is a public-school advocate in heart and practice ; being a fine scholar, a fluent speaker and public spirited, he has from his youth been more or less identified with the political questions and interests of the nation, receiving his first impetus in that direction from the illustrious and brilliant Gov. Corwin, of Ohio, with whom he was on intimate terms of acquaintance and personal association, and whom he took as his model political orator and patriotic statesman ; in 1866, Mr. Baner was ten- dered the nomination for Representative in the Legislature, on the Republican ticket for this county, but he had not the five successive years previous residence necessary to eligibility; at the first election of the Legislature under the Constitution of 1870, he received the nomination for State Senator on the Republican ticket of this, the Thirty- Sixth Senatorial District, and canvassed the district against the Hon. A. A. Glenn, the Democratic candidate ; the district was largely Democratic, but Mr. Baner carried the full vote of his party and much more in his home county; in 1876, he was before the Republican Congressional Convention for the nomination for Congress in this the Thir- teenth District, and stood among the highest until repeated balloting settled into a dead-lock when he voluntarily withdrew his name that harmony and unity might prevail, which gave Judge Tipton, of Bloomington, the nomination and election. He and Miss Cath- arine Mullen were married in 1846 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, and died at their beautiful home and residence in the northeast part of the town, in 1874 ; eight children were born to them, of whom only three are now living Sallie, Assistant Po&t- niaster ; Lydia (wife of N. S. Forsyth), and Frank, who is now attending the State University at Champaign. SOLOMON M. BADGER, County Superintendent of Schools, Mason City ; born in Perry Co., Ind., Nov. 2, 1840 ; at 19 years of age, he engaged in school-teaching dur- ing fall and winter and attending the higher grades of school during the spring and summer terms for a period of five years; in the fall of 1864, he came to Illinois and located in Crane Creek Township, Mason Co., where he taught school six months. Upon the 13th of August, 1865, he was united in marriage with Mary S. Morgan ; she was born in Sangamon Co. and raised in Mason Co. ; they have four children by this union William S., Claude L., Henry A. and Marine R. Upon the marriage of. Mr. Badger, he returned to Indiana, and, after teaching several months, returned to Mason City in 1866, and for three years was Principal of the schools of this place; he con- tinued teaching in different schools in the county until 1872, when he was appointed by the Board of Supervisors as County Superintendent of Schools, and, in November fol- lowing, was elected to the above office for a term of four years, and re-elected again in 1877 for the same length of time ; he has also held the office of City Clerk of Mason City some five years, and Township Collector two years. S. B. CROSS, farmer ; P. O. Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Mason Co.; born in Somerset Co., N. J., Oct. 31, 1824; he emigrated with his father, Robert Cross, and located in Greene Co., 111., in 1839; in 1843, they came to Mason Co. and located in Quiver Township, and upon this place Robert died in August, 1852; the son continued to live upon the old homestead until 1873, when he purchased his present place, where he has since lived ; he still owns the old homestead in Quiver Township, containing 320 acres (and upon which his oldest son is now living), and 195 acres in Mason City Township, and 240 acres in other parts of the county. His marriage with Margaret McReynolds was celebrated in December, 1852; she died Aug. 19, 1856, leaving two childnya now living Robert I,, born Sept. 2, 1854; Stephen Albert, Aug. MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 787 11, 1856; upon Dec. 24, 1857, he was united in marriage with Sarah L. Appleman ; she was born in Somerset Co., N. J., May 19, 1828 ; they have two children living by this union Luther W., born Feb. 16, 1861, and John A., Jan. 25, 1867. F. H. COOK, merchant; dealer in groceries and provisions, glass and queensware, etc., etc., etc., Mason City; born in Logan Co., 111., Jan. 18, 1851 ; when quite young, he removed with his mother to Mason City and attended the common schools until 1865 ; he then entered the general merchandise store of R. W. Porter, and continued in the same store under different firms until December, 1878, when he gave up his position, and, in January, 1879, started in business for himself, carrying a large and com- plete stock of everything in the above lines, giving his personal attention to every detail, and by his honorable and fair dealing is rapidly paving his way to the front ranks as one of the leading merchants of his line in Mason City. His marriage with Harriet E. Sikes was celebrated in March, 1876; she was born in Mason Co. in 1855; they have one child George Frederick. A. G. H. CONOVER, M. D., deceased, Mason City; born in Morgan Co., Ill.,in 1834 ; he devoted all his" spare time in early life to study, and completed his education at the Medical University at Anu Arbor, Mich. ; after two years of practice at Manito, he located in Mason City and followed his profession with great success until his decease, which occurred at his residence March 13, 1874. He took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church ; he was also an honored member of the Masonic Order, having reached the degree of Knight Templar, and had officiated as Master of Anchor Lodge, No. 615 ; the Knights Templar came out by special train to assist in performing the last rites over their beloved brother, the Masonic ceremonies being performed by L. M. Hillyer, of Havana, and J. S. Tuwnsend, W. M. of Anchor Lodge, No. 615, J. S. Baner acting as Chaplain, in presence of and assisted by a large circle of the Masonic Fraternity. At a meeting of Damascus Com- inandery, No. 42, a committee was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the high regard of the above Order for the memory of their deceased brother comrade and Sir Knight, A. G. H. Conover, a copy of which was printed in the Mason City Indepen- dent of March 20, 1874. His marriage with Mary E. Ambrose was celebrated June 27, 1865 ; two children were the fruit of this union; Anna Mason and John Alfred ; Mrs. Conover was a daughter of J. C. Ambrose, one of our prominent merchants, and whose biography also appears in this work. W. J. CHAMBLIN, deceased ; physician and surgeon, Mason City ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., upon the 16th of July, 1820; his general education was obtained in Virginia and at Zanesville, Ohio, after which he entered the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, from which he graduated, after a course of several years' > study. He then commenced the practice of medicine, at Newark, Ohio, after which he practiced in Peru, Ind., and then removed to Menard Co., 111., and after a residence of several years in Ilhnpis, California and Texas, came to Mason City, where he located in ' ^861 ,and followed his profession up to the date of his decease, which occurred April 159, 1872. His marriage with Talitha C. Cheney, was celebrated in 1857 ; she was born /in Springfield, 111. Three children are now living by this union Ida T., William J. and Charles E. Mr. Chamblin was a member of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, 111., and of the Masonic Order of the same place. Mrs. -Cnamblin has taken a deep interest in the cause of education and is now serving her second year as one of the Board of Directors of the schools of Mason City. EDWARD CRAIG, deceased, farmer and stock-dealer ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, March 13, 1835 ; at 8 years of age he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Morgan Co., where he followed farming and stock-raising, until the breaking- out of the rebellion, when he went to Missouri and engaged in stock-dealing until 1866, when he located and followed farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred Feb. 9, 1873, while upon a trip to Missouri to purchase cattle. His remains now He buried in the Allen Grove Cemetery ; he took a deep interest in the cause of religion, and lived and died a consistant Christian. His marriage with Euphemia C. Legg was celebrated Sept. 12, 1866 ; four children were the fruit of this union, of whom Clyde L , 788 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Grace and Blanche now survive. Mrs. Craig is a daughter of James Legg. whose biog- raphy also appears in this work. A. A. CARGILL, merchant, Mason City ; firm of Cargill & Swing, general merchants ; Mr. Cargill is probably the oldest continuous resident and merchant of Mason City. He was born in Norfolk Co., Mass., Dec. 9, 1827 ; at 21 years of age he came to Chicago, where he located in 1849, at which time the above city contained a population of about 29,000. Here he was engaged in the millinery jobbing trade for three years, and in the spring of 1853, he went to Australia, returning in 1856. In the spring of 1857, he came to Mason Co., locating at Cherry Grove, and in June, 1858, he located in Mason City, and engaged in the merchandise trade, under the firm name of Woodward & Cargill, opening the first stock of goods brought to Mason City, and continuing under the above style some eighteen months ; in 1864. Mr. Cargill associated with David Powell, in the above business, under the firm name of D. Powell & Co., this firm existed some seven years, during which time they purchased the corner and erected the building upon the corner now occupied by Cargill & Swing, which firm was formed in 1871, by the admission of F. M. Swing, in the firm under the above name. They carry a full and complete stock of dry goods, hats and caps, gents' furnishing goods, gro- ceries, notions, etc. His marriage with Mary A. Phipps was celebrated in January, 1859. They were the parents of three children by this union, of whom two now sur- vive Chauncy W. and Harry C. ROBERT DONOVAN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mason City; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 21, 1822 ; he was raised in Champaign Co., and came to Illinois and located in Mason Co., in 1848, at which time there were not upward of fifteen families in this township. In 1852, he with his brothers purchased 1,000 acres of land, to which they afterward added, until they owned in partnership 2,800 acres, and after continuing in partnership twenty-eight years, made a division of the land, and Robert now owns for his share 480 acres, and lives upon the place where he has lived since 1859. In 1856 he married Caroline Laughery ; her parents located in Logan Co., about the year 1821 ; she died in 1873. In 1877, he was united in marriage with Mary Colon, a native of New York. Mr. Donovan was the father of four children by his first wife and one by his present. JOHN DIETRICH, firm of Rissinger & Dietrich, butchers, brick and ice dealers, Mason City ; born in Snyder Co., Penn, April 29, 1834, where he worked at brick-making and carpentering until 23 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois in April, 1857 ; located half a mile east of where Mason City now stands. In 1858, he commenced the manufacture of brick, supplying the wants of Mason City some four years. He then followed carpentering and the undertaker's business until 1867, when he asso- ciated with his present partner, and again engaged in making brick ; in 1872, they added the ice business, and in September, 1878, again extended their business by adding the butcher business. Mr. D. is the oldest continuous business man in Mason City, coming here when there was not a single house upon the spot where Mason City now stands. He has held the office of Alderman of the Third Ward for three years. His marriage with Caroline Harmon was celebrated in Pennsylvania. Eleven children were the fruit of this union, of whom four are now living George L., Caroline, Harry L M and Evelina. Mr. D. is a son of George Dietrich, who was born in Snyder Co., Penn., in 1803; came to Mason City in 1858, and followed shoemaking until 1873. Married, in January, 1831, Sarah Houseworth ; she died in Mason City Aug. 17, 1875. Five of their children now survive ; Jeremiah and a son-in-law lost their lives at the battle of Lookout Mountain. J. V. ELLMORE, farmer and stock-buyer ; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the early settlers of Mason Co.; born in Green Co., Ky., Dec. 19, 1828; he emigrated to Illinois and located in Mason Co. in 1855, at which time there was no house nearer than Salt Creek; no house where Mason City now stands. In 1867, he purchased 55 acres of his present place, and now owns 202 acres with good farm buildings, which he has accumulated by his own exertions. Upon the 18th of February, 1858, he was united 4n marriage with Sarah A. Hill, a native of Manchester, Scott Co., 111. Ten children MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 789 were the fruit of this union, of whom eight now survive Henry C., Charles N., Lillie B., Hattie C., Nellie M., Fannie M., Eddie M. and an infant. E. EVERIST, farmer, Sec. 20 ; P. 0. Mason City ; born in Clinton Co., Ohio, Jan. 27, 1839, where he was raised to farm labor until 1859, when he came to Illinois and followed teaming and farming, at and near Havana, Mason Co., until 1865, when he located upon his present farm of eighty acres, where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary E. Hole was celebrated in Mason City. May 31, 1866 ; she was born in Mason Co., July 15, 1847. They have four children by this union Zilla, born Feb. 2, 1868 ; Ralph, April 10, 1870 ; Louie, Nov. 20, 1875, and Cecil, Oct. 16, 1877, and Joseph, who died when 2 years of age. Mrs. Everist is the daughter of Joseph E. Hole, who was born in Washington Co., Ind., about 1821. He was married, in 1846, to Miss Clotilda Green; immediately after his marriage, he came to Mason Co., III., and for more than a year lived upon a farm owned by Daniel Clark. He soon acquired 320 acres of land about two miles south of Mason City, and was elected Justice of the Peace; he was noted for his correct decisions, and was highly respected in the com- munity whore he lived until his decease, which occurred in 1855. Mrs. Hole is now living in Mason City. DAVID ELLMORE, farmer; P. 0. Mason City; one of the old settlers of Mason Co., born in Green Co., Ky., Jan. 19, 1838. In thespringof 1858, became to Illinois, and, in the fall of I860, located in Salt Creek Township, Mason Co. In 1864, he purchased forty acres of his present place, where he has since lived. He now owns 240 acres under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings, nearly all of which he has made by his own exertions. His marriage with Margaret J. Hill was celebrated in 1859 ; she died in April, 1877, leaving seven children John E., David 0., Edward P., Wiley W., Dora M., George C. and Walter S. He married, for his second wife, Bettie A. Scaggs, in April, 1879. JAMES F. EARL, dealer in dry goods, carpets, boots and shoes, etc., etc.. Mason City. The subject of this sketch was born in 1839 and was raised in the State of New York until 1851 ; he then came to Illinois and located at Metamora, the county seat of Woodford Co.. where he attended the common schools until 1856, when he entered the Abingdon and pursued his studies nearly three years: in 1859, he entered the Bethany College, at Brooks Co., Va., and, in 1861, he opened the first exclusively gro- cery store at Metamora ; sold out in 1864 and engaged in the dry-goods, clothing and boot and shoe trade. In 1869, he engaged in general banking and opened the first bank at Metamora, under his own name, receiving the funds of the county among his deposits; it was afterward changed in name to the Metamora Bank. In 1872, he added hardware to his extensive business, which at that time occupied three entire buildings. In 1875, he sold out his bank, hardware and grocery stores and removed his stock of dry goods to Forest, Livingston Co., and, after a short time, to Fairbury, dosing them out in 1876. In 1877, he came to Mason City and purchased a stock of about $10,000 worth of goods of G. M. La Forge and has since carried a full and com- plete stock of dry goods, carpets, boots and shoes, etc., second to none in the town, and has a heavy and rapidly increasing trade, his sales of 1878 exceeding the sales of the previous year by 100 per cent. In 1861, he was united in marriage with Rosalie P. Charles ; she was born in Knoxville, 111. ; they have two children Flora M. and Freddie. N. S. FORSYTH, grocer, Mason City ; born in Schoharie Co., N. Y., April 16, 1845. He emigrated with his parents to Illinois when 11 years of age and located in Lincoln, Logan Co., in December, 1856; here he attended the common and graded schools, completing his education at 'the Lincoln University. He then clerked in the drug trade for seven years in Lincoln, and, in 1868, went to Minnesota, residing two years, and, in the spring of 1870, returned to the employ of his old firm in Lincoln, with whom he continued until the fall of 1874, since which time he has been engaged with C. E. Randolph, in Mason City, in the grocery and provision business. Kis mar- riage with Lydia A. Baner was celebrated in Mason City Oct. 17, 1876; she was born in Logan Co., III., and is a daughter of J. S. Baner, whose biography also appears in this work. 790 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: WILLIAM GINTHER, farmer ; P. 0. New Holland ; born in Prussia, Ger- many, Sept. 15, 1827 ; emigrated to America and landed in Baltimore July 7, 1842 ; he then located in Ross Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1866, when he located upon his present place in Mason Co., and purchased 160 acres of land ; he now owns 280 of good improved land, with two good sets of farm buildings. He arrived in America without means, and has, by his own hard labor and correct business habits, accumulated all of the above property, and now stands among the large landholders and successful farmers of the county. He has been twice married ; his first wife was Christina Ginther; married in Ohio Feb. 2, 1851 ; she died Oct. 31, 1874, leaving five children Christina, Richard, Matilda, Reinhart and Josie. His marriage with Caroline Stouder was celebrated Nov. 7, 1875 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, April 4, 1850; they have two children by this union Katie and Mason City, when he resigned. In September, 1878, he organized the Modoc Tribe, No. 14 Improved Order of Red Men, and received a charter from the Great Council of the U. S. in 1879. He was the first Sachem of the same, and, in June, 1879, was elected by the Great Council of the State as representative to the Great Council of the U. S., to be held in New York, Sept. 9, 1879 ; he also holds the office of Deputy Sachem (of the State) of this Order. His marriage with Frances A. Weatherly was celebrated Aug. 28, 1867; she was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., April 25, 1849; they were the parents of two children, of whom one died in infancy; the living Libbie was born in 1870. JAMES LEGG, retired farmer, Mason City ; one of the old settlers ; born in Fayette Co., Ind., in the year 1816. He followed agricultural pursuits in Indiana until 1855, when he located in Allen's Grove Township, Mason Co., 111., and purchased 280 acres of land to which he afterward added until he had upward of 500 acres, and upon which he lived until Sept. 16, 1873, when he located in his present residence in Mason City, where he has since lived, retired from active labor, but personally superintends the management of his farms. In 1845, he was united in marriage with Vilura Corwin, also a native of Indiana ; they have one child by this union Euphemia, widow of Edward Craig, whose biography also appears in this work. Mr. Legg was Supervisor of Allen's Grove Township five years, and Justice of the Peace twelve years in succession. THOMAS N. MEHAN, attorney at law, State's Attorney, Mason City. The subject of this memoir was born in the city of New York April 1, 1844 ; he emigrated West when 12 years of age, and located near Delavan, Tazewell Co., and followed farm- ing until he attained his majority, receiving for his nine years' services $ 100. He then entered the Lombard University at Galesburg, and attended one term. The following six years, he engaged in school-teaching and improving every spare hour for his own btudy ; he commenced the study of his profession with Roberts & Green, at Pekin, in 1866, was admitted to practice at the bar in July, 1868. After following his profession in Delavan a short time, he removed to Pekin, where he practiced until 1875 ; was City Attorney one year, received the nomination for the second, but would not accept. In the spring of 1875, he came to Mason City, and has a large practice with a constantly increasing business from year to year. In the fall of 1875, he was elected District State's Attorney for four years. Mr. Mehan is one of our self-educated and self-made men in every respect, and has, by his continued energy and perseverance, placed him- self among the first of his profession in Mason Co., and we expect for him a bright future. His marriage with Emily E. Stranbridge was celebrated Jan. 2, 1872 ; she was a native of Pennsylvania; they have three children Sarah Etta, Willie M. and Benjamin A. J. B. McDOWELL, physican and surgeon, Mason City ; born in Bedford Co., Penn., Feb. 22, 1818; his literary education was completed at the Bedford Academy. He commenced the study of medicine at 19 years of age, and graduated from the State Med- ical School at St. Louis in 1844. He then located in Lewistown, Fulton Co., where he successfully followed his profession for a period of twenty-eight years. In 1871, he located at Mason City, where he has since successfully followed his profession. In 1850, he entered 160 acres of land one-half mile west of where Mason City now 794 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: stands. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having been a member of the Church for many years. In 1849, he was united in marriage with Sarah W. Rice. She was a daughter of Dr. E. D. Rice, one of the old settlers of Fulton Co., and a practicing physician of Lewistown for nearly fifty years. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell were the parents of two children, of whom one died in infancy; the other is now farming in Mason Co. Mrs. McDowell died April 30, 1879. L. NAYLOR, grocer, firm of Naylor Bros., groceries, provisions, etc., Mason City; born in Adair Co., Ky., April 21, 1834; at 1 year of age he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in Morgan Co., and, after a residence of five years, he went to Virginia City, where he attended the graded schools until he obtained his majority. He then followed farming two years in Minnesota, and returned to Cass Co., and was engaged in business until 1862, when he engaged as steward and teacher at the Institution for the Blind, at Jacksonville, until 1867, at which date he, with his brother, came to Mason City and engaged in the above business, which they have since success- fully followed for a period of twelve years, and are the oldest continuous firm in their line in Mason City. His marriage with Lydia C. White was in 1862. They have four children Minnie E., Mattie E., Frederick L. and an infant. Mr. Naylor has filled the office of Alderman for the Third Ward one term, and Mayor of Mason City two terms. R. J. ONSTOTT, books and stationery, Mason City; proprietor of the Masoo City Book Store, and dealer in pianos, organs, sewing machines, etc. ; born in Menard Co., 111., in December, 1830. When 9 years of age he removed from Salem to Peters- burg, where h'e lived until 1845. He then followed farming in Mason Co. five years, when he removed to Havana, where he followed clerking until the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1861, when he assisted in raising a company for the 27th I. V. I. He was then appointed mail-route agent upon the P., P. & J. R. R., holding this position two years. He was then engaged as clerk in Peoria and Pekin until 1871, and the two years following, on account of ill health, he was unable to attend to business. In 1874, he came to Mason City, and, in 1875, purchased of John Danby his business, which he has since successfully followed. His business card appears in the Directory of Mason City, in this work. The father of R. J. Onstott was Henry Onstott, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Menard Co. in 1824. Mr. Onstott was married to Martha H. Hudson in January, 1864. She is a daughter of J. P. Hudson, one of our early pio- neers, whose sketch appears in this work. They have one child by this union. Mr. Onstott is a strong Republican, and assisted in organizing the first Union League in the United States, at Pekin, and from this sprang all the Union Leagues of the loyal States. JOHN POWERS, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Mason Co. ; born in city of Waterford, Ireland, June 18, 1829. At 2 years of age he came, with his parents, to St. John, N. B., living there three years; then five years in New York City ; then to the West Indies for four years, from which place he shipped with his uncle as sailor, and followed the sea nearly six years. In the spring of 1849, he came to Chicago, and the following January came to Mason Co., and, in the spring of 1851, purchased forty-seven acres of his present farm, upon which he located in 1855, and where he has lived for a fourth of a century. He now owns 235 acres with good farm buildings, which he has made by his own hard labor. His marriage with Rebecca E. Sheples was celebrated in Lincoln, 111., May 30, 1855. She was born in Scott Co., Penn., Dec. 27, 1836. Three children by this union Joan of Arc, born April 9, 1856; Mary C., born Oct. 8, 1857, died Jan. 19, 1860, and Mary E., born Jan. 8, 1860. The oldest daughter is married, and lives three miles east of Mason City, the younger daughter living at home. ROYAL W. PORTER (deceased), merchant and banker, Mason City; one of the old settlers; born in Gallia Co., Ohio, in 1833; he obtained a fair common-school education, and, in 1853, came to Illinois, and, in 1855, to Crane Creek Township, Mason Co., and settled upon eighty acres of land, and, in 1859, came to Mason City and engaged in the merchandise trade, under the firm name of Hurst & Porter. In 1861, he raised Co. C, 27th Regt. I. V. I. ; was elected Second Lieutenant, and, with MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 795 his regiment, went forward to battle for the Union, leaving his partner managing the merchandise trade at home; in August, 1862, he was promoted to First Lieutenant, from which time he acted as Captain a large part of the time ; at the battle of Stone River, while acting as Captain, he so distinguished himself that his company unani- mously resolved to present him an elegant sword and belt, appropriately inscribed, which he held in grateful remembrance up to the time of his death. In April, 1864, he was mustered out of the service and returned 'to Mason City, and bought out his partner; in 1867, he associated with G. H. Campbell, under the firm name of Campbell & Porter, and did an extensive banking and exchange business, in connection with their merchan- dise trade ; in 1871, they organized the First National Bank of Mason City, with R. W. Porter as Vice President; he soon after organized the firm of R. W. Porter & Co., of which he was the head for many years. The success and prosperity of Mason City owes as much to the efforts of Mr. Porter as to that of any man in the county. In 1855, he was united in marriage with Martha H. Baker ; she was born in 1836 ; four children were the fruits of this union Laura L., Walter R., Jessie and Otho B. Mr. Porter was H member of the Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. M.; Chapter 86, R. A. M., and a Knight Templar. His death occurred May 16, 1879. While training a colt, he became entangled in the carriage ; the colt ran away, and Mr. Porter was dragged a mile, and, when reached, life was extinct. DAVID POWELL, banker (firm of F. N. Smith & Co.), Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Mason City; was b irn in Knox Co., Ohio, in the year 1830 ; at 5 years of age he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Menard Co. two years. They then located in Fulton Co., where he was raised to farm labor, until 17 years of age, at which time he commenced the blacksmith trade, following the same four years. In 1852, he went by ox teams overland to California, where he arrived, after a tedious journey of four months ; after following his trade, in connection with mining, for upward of three years, he returned to Mason Co., and the following three years engaged in farming and working at his trade. In 1859, he came to Mason City and was engaged in blacksmithing until 1864, when he associated in the general mer- chandise trade with A. A. Cargill, and continued the same until 1871, during which time they purchased the lot and erected the building now occupied by Cargill & Swing ; from 1872 to 1874, he was associated with E. M. Sharp in the general merchandise trade, and, at the latter date, on account of ill health, severed his connection with the mercantile trade, and, after spending the summer at Delaware Bay, returned to Mason City, and, upon Dec. 20, 1874, associated with F. N. Smith, in the banking business, which they have since successfully followed, their business card appearing among the business cards of Mason City, in another part of this work. His marriage with Mary A. Cox was celebrated in 1860; she died March 16, 1877, leaving four children Clara, Arthur. Laura and Flora. J. REISINGER, brick manufacturer, butcher and ice dealer, firm of Reisinger & Dietrich, Mason City ; born in Perry Co., Penn., July 15, 1833 ; raised to agricultural pur- suits until 20 years of age; he then followed farming, carpentering and running a saw-mill until 1858, when he came to Mason Co. and located where Mason City now stands, when there were but two houses here ; he is consequently one of the oldest settlers ; he engaged in carpentering and contracting until 1867, the last three years of which he was associated with his present partner. In 1867, they engaged in the manufacture of brick ; in 1870, they engaged in the ice business, and in September, 1878, they also engaged in the butcher business, and are conducting all of the above branches of trade. His marriage with Emily Leighner was celebrated Feb. 20, 1876 ; she was born in Snyder Co., Penn., in 1841. B. A. ROSEBROUGH, farmer; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the early settlers of Mason Co.; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, April 16, 1832 ; when 17 years of age, he came to Illinois, and located in Mason Co. in June, 1849 ; in 1850, he commenced the carpenter's trade, which he followed until elected County Treasurer, when he removed to Havana and resided during his term of office, and until 1871, at which date he located upon his present place in Mason City Township, where he has "since lived. He was the 796 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES second Supervisor of this township, was re-elected again in 1875, and has since held the above office for four years ; has also held the offices of Justice of the Peace and other petty offices, and is the present Democratic candidate for the office of County Treasurer. He was united in marriage, Nov. 20, 1856, with Maria L. Tomlin ; she died March 6, 1873, leaving five children Rebecca E., Cora E., Benajah A., Frank and Maria B. He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Anna A. Sites, daughter of Abram Swing, upon the 28th of September, 1876; one child by this union Frederick S. Mr. Kosebrough settled in Mason City in 1858, where he followed his trade until 1865, and purchased building lots at the first sale, held in 1858. S. ROBERTSON, retired farmer, Mason City. Among the settlers of Mason Co., of 1851, we find the gentleman whose name heads this sketch ; he was born April 7, 1818, in Kentucky; in the fall of 1836, he located in Morgan Co., 111., and fol- lowed farming until 1851, when he sold his farm, and followed teaming and farming, near Havana, until 1854, when he purchased eighty acres of his present place, and, in 1858, located upon the spot where he now lives, just outside the limits of the corpor- ation of Mason City, which he has watched spring from the prairie, until it is now a city of upward of 2,000 inhabitants, and reaches the boundary of his farm ; he now owns upward of 400 acres, in Mason and Tazewell Cos., and, by his hard labor and correct business habits, has become one of the large landholders and successful farmers of Mason Co. His marriage with Martha L. Jones was celebrated Dec. 10, 1848 ; she was born iu Virginia March 5, 1831. They were the parents of five children, of whom three are now living George S., born Oct. 28, 1852 ; William, Dec. 26, 1864, and Nancy A., Oct. 17, 1866 ; of the deceased, one died in infancy, the other, Eliza B., was born Aug. 1, 1857, and died Oct. 25, 1863. F. N. SMITH, banker, firm of F. N. Smith & Co., Mason City. The sub- ject of this memoir was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, upon the 29th of August, 1841. At 18 months of age, he emigrated with his parents to America, and located in Holmes Co., Ohio ; here he was raised to farm labor, obtaining a good academical edu- cation, until 18 years of age; he then followed school-teaching two winters, and upon Sept. 9, 1862,- enlisted in Co. D, 128th Ohio V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; after serving in the Union army two years and nine months, he was mustered out of service, and returning home, engaged as clerk in the drug business for eighteen months. In 1867, he opened a drug store at Bluffton, Ohio, selling out in 1868 and coming to Illinois ; located at Minier, Tazewell Co., where he associated in the drug trade with J. J. Strome, continuing the same for two years. In the spring of 1870, he with his partner, located in Mason City, under the firm name of Smith & Strome, and for three years continued doing the largest drug trade of Mason Co. In 1873, they sold out to Dr. Dunn, and Mr. Smith opened a drug store at Lincoln, which he disposed of after six months and returned to Mason City, and upon Dec. 20, 1874, associated with David Powell in the general banking business, which they have since successfully followed. A card of their business will be found in the Directory of Mason City, in another part of this work. HAMILTON TIBBETS, firm of Ironmonger & Tibbets, millers, Mason City ; born in Shenandoah Co., Va., Dec. 11, 1818; he was raised upon a farm until 28 years of age, during which time he learned and worked at the refinery trade seven years; in 1846, he removed to Maryland and followed refining and coal mining some nine years, when he returned to Virginia and followed different branches of business until 1859, when he came to Illinois and located at Lincoln, Logan Co., where his fam- ily now resides; in 1872, he associated with his present partner and Mr. Johnson in the milling business in Mason City, and has since continued the same business under different firm names, the present firm, however, having been together since 1872. He was married, in 1844. to Lydia A. Wierman ; she was born in Page Co., Va. ; they have one son now living Benjamin, engineer of the mill. W. F. THOMPSON, furniture dealer and undertaker, Mason City; born in Rich- mond Co., N. Y., Feb. 18, 1833; came to Illinois in 1859 and located in Logan Co. ; engaged in farming until 1871, when he removed to Mason City; in June, 1873, he MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 797 purchased an interest in the above business of T. J. Watkins, and carried on the same under the firm name of Watkins & Thompson until 1878, when he purchased the interest of his partner, since which time he has conducted the business under his own name ; in 1874, he erected his three-story brick building, the whole of which is occu- pied by his business, and which is one of the finest in town. JOSEPH TAYLOR, retired farmer, Mason City ; was born in Barren Co., Ky., Aug. 20, 1819 ; he went to Pike Co., Ind., in October, 1836 ; at the age of 10, he was left an orphan with no friends that could be of any pecuniary advantage to him, there- fore he had to look out for himself in procuring a livelihood ; early in life, he became an expert rider of running horses, and did a great deal of it, always to win ; has ridden but few races since he came to Mason Co. ; he came here in April, 1851. He married Lucinda Houchin May 16, 1838; she was born in Edtnonson Co., Ky., Oct. 2, 1821 ; when they married they were not worth a dollar, but they were young and vigorous and together they determined to win or die, and bent their united energies to good purpose, and now are among the most prosperous in worldly goods of the early settlers of Mason Co. ; -they have had ten children, viz., Benjamin W., born Oct. 20, 1840; John J., Jan. 29, 1842; William D., March 15, 1843, died March 28 following; Malinda E., born April 23, 1844; Lucy A., Feb. 1,1846; Joseph A., March 21, 1848, died Sept. 10, 1851; Georgia A., born July 4, 1850 ; Melissa J., June 19, 1853; Reason A., Dec. 16. 1854, died July 20, 1869, and Charles E., born Feb. 14, 1861, died Jan. 17 following. Mr. Taylor moved to Mason City in 1860, and kept a livery stable a year or two, and was Assessor some eight years ; virtually he has retired from business; a few years since, he owned 1,250 acres of land in this county, but has given here and there to children, so that now he has only 486 acres, a good home and eighteen lots in Mason City. Since they married have never broken housekeeping, and he has never belonged to any order or organization. D. W. VICKERY, farmer,* Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Mason City ; the subject of this memoir was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., upon the 28th of February, 1838 ; he was raised to agricultural pursuits until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he was one of the first to respond to the call for soldiers to suppress the same, enlisting April 23, 1861, in the 12th N. Y. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in many severe battles, among which we mention both battles of Bull Run, battle of Fredericks- burg, the Peninsular campaign ; at the battle of Malvern Hill he was wounded in the chin, but continued on duty until the- expiration of his service, receiving his discharge in May, 1863; in December, following; he re-enlisted in the 15th N. Y. V. C., and si-rvod until the close of the war, serving under Gens. Custer and Sheridan; upon the night previous to the surrender of Gen. Lee, he received a wound in the right shoulder by a minie ball, from which he has and still continues to suffer severely, and for which he draws a pension; he received his discharge July 1, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly four years. He is one of our strong Republicans in politics, having never been made to see why he should not vote as he fought. After receiving his dis- charge, he returned to New York and followed farming until 1868, when he came to Mason Co. and located one mile northeast of Mason City, where he has a pleasant 'home of forty acres, with good buildings, and which was obtained at an expense, including buildings and improvements, of upward of $100 per acre. Upon Jan. 30, 1866, he was united in marriage with N. Ellen Garrett; she was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 27, 1843; they have two children by this union Hattie B., born April 1, 1867, and Una A., June 16, 1871. J. H. WANDELL, Mason City; one of the early settlers of Mason Co.; pro- prietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel and Livery Stable, Mason City. We live to eat and eat to live ; therefore, to point out a good hotel, is an act of kindness to be appreciated by the hungry traveler. Of the St. Nicholas it can be said with truth, that in quality and variety of fare it is not excelled by any house on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, south of Bloomington. J. H. Wandell, the gentlemanly proprieior, was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., April 13, 1820 ; in early life, he learned the molder's trade, which he followed, in connection with farming, boating, etc., etc., 798 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: until 1849, when he came to Illinois and located in Mason Co.; he first engaged in running a saw-mill in Quiver Township, and, in 1850, entered 160 acres of land in Pennsylvania Township, in Mason Co.; in 1851 , he returned to Pennsylvania, and the following year, cauie back, and probably through the influence of Mr. Wandell, came a large part of the settlers of Pennsylvania Township ; in 1853. he had charge of a set of men and assisted in building the C. & A. R. R , and. in the fall of the same year, erected a house upon his land into which he removed and commenced improving his place ; upon the 2d of July, 1854, his house was destroyed by fire, and he again rebuilt and lived upon his place uutil the decease of his wife, after which he engaged in breaking prairie and selling patent rights until 1864, when he came to Mason City, and exchanged eighty acres of his farm for the Sherman House corner ; he then engaged in the butcher business until the fall of 1866 ; he then took charge of a gang of men and assisted in grading this division of the C. & A. R. R. until the fall of 1867; in August of the year 1867, he purchased his present hotel, and, after running the same one year, rented it until April 20, 1877, when he again took possession of the hotel, which he has since successfully run in connection with his stable ; he has since erected a large, commodious brick sample-room for the use of commercial travelers, from whom he has his full share of patronage. Upon Jan. 8, 1852, he was united in marriage with Sarah E. De Pugh ; she died Dec. 30, 1860; they had one -child, which died in infancy; on Dec. 30, 1865, he was united in mar- riage to Christiana A. Benscote/ ; she was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., March 28. 1846. WILLIAM WALKER, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in April, 1829 or 1830; he was a son of Robert Walker, who emigrated to America about 1836 and located in Belmont Co., Ohio ; in 1862, he located in Mason Co., where he died in December, 1869 ; his wife died in Ohio, in April, 1858. Will- iam Walker lived with different parties from 7 years of age until Oct. 16, 1856, when he wasjmited in marriage with Elizabeth Jarvis, in Lincoln, Logan Co., 111. ; she was born in Greenbrier Co.-, W. Va., Oct. 31, 1839, and came to Ohio with her parents when 7 years of age ; they were the parents of nine children of whom two are now living Mary I. and Anniah B.; the deceased were Eliza P., born July 23, 1859. died May 12, 1866 ; Charles F., born June 8, 1861, died Feb. 22, 1862 ; Thomas J.,born July 14, 1865, died March 30, 1867 ; William V., born Nov. 16, 1867, died Aug. 26, 1869 ; Robert M. died in infancy; George B. F., born Jan. 23, 1871, died Nov. 20, 1877 ; Elizabeth L., born April 23, 1876, died Nov. 18, 1877, the latter two dying within forty-eight hours of each other. Mr. Walker located in Mason Co. in 1861 ; in '1864, he purchased eighty acres of land and now owns 165 acres and is out of debt, having accumulated all of the above by his own hard labor and good business management, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife. Mr. Walker has shown a degree of energy and perseverance in accomplishing what he has, under the trying afflictions of sickness and death, which have been visited upon his family, which is well worthy of imitation by the young men of the present day. J. T. W ATKINS, deceased; born in Ross Co.. Ohio, March 5, 1834; in early life, he learned the carpenter's trade and for several years followed contracting and build- ing; in 1856, he removed to New Holland, and, in 1862, raised a company for the 90th Ohio V. I. and served as Captain two years ; received his discharge on account of dis- ability ; he afterward served as Adjutant of the 155th Regt. Ohio National Guards; in 1864, he located in Champaign Co.. 111.; in July, 1866, came to Mason City and engaged in the furniture business, conducting the same with different partners until 1878, when he disposed of his business and retired from active labor ; he was the first Mayor of New Holland, Ohio, and also the first Mayor of Mason City, which office he held ac the time of his decease, being the sixth year. He died April 25, 1878 ; the funeral was held at the Presbyterian Church, at which a large concourse of friends and citizens assembled ; the procession was formed as follows : Mason City Light Guard Band, Mason City and Havana Military Companies, hearse, pall-bearers and relatives, City Council, etc., etc., the last sad rites being performed by the Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. M. He was married, in 1855, to Sarah Marot, of Ohio; two children now living Elmer E. and Grace. MASON CITY TOWNSHIP. 799 J. S. WILBURN, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Illinois and Mason Co.; born in Cumberland Co., Ky., Aug. 25, 1805; in 1820, he came to Illinois and located twelve miles west of Springfield, in what is now Sangamon Co., where he lived. several years ; he then followed lead mining in Galena several years ; in 1830, he went to Chicago and purchased the corner where the Tremont House now stands, for $61, and, two years later, sold the same for $600; in 1831, he located at Beardstown and engaged in merchandising, milling, pork -pack ing, running flat-boats to New Orleans, freighting his own goods down and back, having branch stores both in New Orleans and at Galena ; he continued in this business eleven years ; he then fol- lowed the merchandise trade at Springfield and Pekin, and erected and ran a flour-mill in Peoria Co.. and, in 1846, came to Mason Co. and engaged in hotel-keeping and mer- chandise trading in the town of Bath; in 1848, he was elected Clark of the Circuit Court of Mason Co., which office he held for eight years ; he was then Master of Chan- cery several years, and, in 1861, removed upon his present place, where he has since lived. Mr. Wilbourne took an active part in the old Black Hawk war of 1831-32, and erected the first fort, which was located near La Salle, and was named in honor of its builder, Fort Wilbourne ; he also took up the first boat-load of provisions up the Illinois River from St. Louis to his fort, and from which place the soldiers received their provisions, etc. ; he was commissioned, by Gov. Reynolds, as Captain of Volun- teers, which office he held during the war ; during his residence in Cass Co. he was County Judge many years, aside from other military and civil offices. Mr. Wilbourne has been in active life for a period of fifty years ; he has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life, and, at the advanced age of 75 years, is in possession of all of his faculties ; he has suffered greatly the last few years on account of the loss of one of his limbs. He was united in marriage, in 1837, with Anna Dale; she was born in Kentucky ; they have two sons and two daughters now living, viz., Belle, Sarah A., John and Edward. JOSEPH C. WARNOCK, editor, Mason City ; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Jan. 10, 1840, and, in the fall of 1850, emigrated, with his parents, to Illinois, and settled in Salt Creek Township, Mason Co., and has been a resident of the county ever since ; he was reared to farm life, and pursued that avocation till about nine years ago ; he obtained his education under the difficulties and unfavorable circumstances which sur- rounded the pioneers of the county, and mostly by his own unaided efforts, pursuing his studies into the " dead of night," after the day's farm work was done ; he com- menced teaching school at the age of 19, which he pursued with the exception of the winter following for five consecutive winter terms. Having married, he settled, in 1861. at Big Grove, Salt Creek Township, where he resided until 1871, during which time he was elected to and served as Town Clerk, Tax Collector and County Surveyor ; the latter he resigned after a little over a year's service; in the spring of 1871, he bought a half-interest in the Mason City News, which was then changed to Indepen- dent, assumed editorial charge, which positi m with the exception of a year at Havana, as editor of the Mason County Democrat, he has held ever since! and now holds. At the session of the Legislature in 1877, Gov. Cullom appointed him one of the three Trustees of the Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children, which position he now holds. During his residence in Mason City, he has held the office of City Clerk sev- eral termri, and, at the last election, was elected Mayor, which office he now holds. J. A. WALKER, physician and surgeon, Mason City. Among the foremost in his profession in Mason City is Dr. J. A. Walker, who is also one of the pioneers of the place ; he was born in Cass Co., 111., in 1833 ; he commenced the study of his pro- fession in 1856, with Dr. J. P. Walker, at the grove which bears his name ; in 1857-58, he attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and, in the spring of 1858, com- menced the practice of medicine at Ma^on City, and has been in continued practice in this place, with the exception of one year since the above date, during a period of twenty-one years, and is one of the oldest practicing physicians of Mason City, and his large and lucrative practice is conclusive evidence that he stands in the front ranks of his profession in Mason Co. During the period from 1867 to 1870, he was engaged 800 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: in the drug trade in connection with his practice, but in no instance did he allow the mercantile branch to interfere with his professional duties ; he is a member of the State Medical Society, and Secretary of the Brainard Medical Society, which is composed of the medical profession of Mason and adjoining counties. His marriage with Eliza A. Harris was celebrated in 1862 ; she was born in McDonough Co., 111., in 1842. When Dr. Walker located here in the spring of 1858, there was but one family living where Mason City now stands ; he has witnessed the remarkable growth of a city of upward of 2,000 inhabitants, embracing hundreds of acres within its corporate limits. WILLIAM WARNOCK. JR., Mason City ; was born Oct. 2, 1833, near Bain- bridge, Ross Co., Ohio. The Warnock family were once inhabitants of the North of Ireland, but have been in this country since the beginning of the present century. They were a long-lived and hardy race, and it is narrated that the grandfather of Will- iam, Jr., was the only one out of a thousand troops at Sandusky, Ohio, in 1812, that could lift the breech of a cannon. William Warnock, Sr., was born on the same farm where his son William first saw the light. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Young, was a native of Ohio, and they were married Jan. 1, 1833. When he was 21 years of age, William, Jr., left the farm and went into a country store at Walker's Grove with his uncle ; after two years, he removed to Hiawatha, in the same township ; after one year here, he sold out and came to Mason City. In the summer of 1859, he applied himself to the study of medicine with Dr. J. < . Patterson, and attended lec- tures in 1860-61 at Rush Medical College. At this point in his life he determined to leave his profession and devote his time and ability to business ; he went into a store with Cortes Humes, on the corner now occupied by La Forge's block, corner of Chest- nut and Tonica streets; after three years, he was admitted into partnership and con- tinued in this business until 1868, when the firm sold to Andrews & Griffith, and dis- solved. In addition to their mercantile business, Humes & Warnock carried on an extensive exchange and banking office, and were the first bankers in Mason City, and did the largest business in that line done in Mason Co. During the war, this firm never refused credit to the families of soldiers, and when they could not get trusted for what they needed, they were always certain of accommodation there. When the town of Salt Creek was drafted, Mr. Warnock was among the number to furnish money to fill up the quota. During some of these years, the town of Mason City was nearly deserted by physicians, who were in the army ; and then the early study and knowledge of medicine became exceedingly useful to Mr. Warnock, and he was enabled to relieve many suffering persons by his professional assistance ; he practiced in many families, and among then some of the most eminent in the place. In 1862, he was placed on the Democratic ticket as candidate for County Superintendent of Schools, and was elected to his second public office his first being that of Postmaster at Walker's Grove. Many teachers in Mason Co. received their first certificates from Mr. Warnock. among them Mr. S. M. Badger, the present County Superintendent. He was naturally inclined to mathematical studies and in measuring corn by cribs was the first to introduce the measurement of 3,800 cubic inches to the bushel ; he proved this formula by weight and measurement, and used to be very often called upon to measure cribs and estimate their contents. So far, Mr. Warnock has parsed through life with vigorous health of mind and body, but not without experiencing some of the vicissitudes of fortune ; he has handled large amounts of money and did much to promote the pecuniary interests of Mason City ; he has expended more than $20,000 in making permanent improvements in the place. In whatever state of circumstances, financially, Mr. Warnock has been placed, in easy times or trying times, he has always maintained the reputation of an honorable, honest man. KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 801 KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. JOHN C. ADE, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Norick, Wurtemberg T Germany, July 26, 1824; son of Michael Ade, whose wife's name prior to her marriage was Barbara Ceh. John was 32 years of age before he left home, at which time he emigrated to this country ; he came first to Hamilton Co., Ohio, where he remained three years employed as gardener ; from there he went to Middletown and stayed one year, and from there to Berlin, Sangamon Co., where he farmed five years. May 6 r 1854, he married Nancy Chlichtes, who was born in Keckarweimghen Ludwigsburg, Wurtemberg, March 22, 1833; they have nine children living Mollie, Nannie, Caro- line, Julia, Charles, Rosa, Lizzie, Harry and Willie. In September, 1859, he moved to this county and located where he now resides, on Section 34, and has now eighty-six acres of land, which he has cleared and earned by " hard knocks," economy and good management. E. H. BIGELOW, grain-dealer, Kilbourne. Prominent among the business men of this township is Mr. Bigelow, who came to this township the day previous to its birth as a town, and has since been a resident and identified with its interests ; he was born in Livingston Co., N. Y., Dec. 30, 1834 ; son of Henry Bigelow; his grandfather par- ticipated in the battles of the Revolution ; at the age of 10, E. H. moved with his parents to Indiana and remained there a few years, afterward moving to Wisconsin ;. then he spent several years traveling; was all through the Southwest and journeyed the the entire length of Texas astride a mule ; in 1868, he came to this State, and, in 1870, to this township, the day previous to the sale of the town lots. March 31, 1876, he married Miss Sarah Marshall, who was born June 19, 1843 ; she is a native of Birming- ham, England ; they have three children Emma, Fannie and Charles. Since the railroad has been built, he has been the company's agent and an energetic and thorough business man ; he is a member of Havana Lodge and Chapter. WILLIAM BRENT, farmer ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Yorkshire, England, Aug. 31, 1842 ; the son of Robert Brent, who came to this country in October, 1864, and, like many others, lodged in Mason Co., where he has been a resident ever since. In January, 1870, he married Mrs. Martha Hanline ; two children have been born from this union Harry, Nov. 16, 1871; Stella, April 29, 1874. He is engaged in farming and always has been, and is striving to make an honest living and hopes by attention to his business and exercising economy to attain a competency for his declining years. BARNEY BOYLE, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne. Among the representatives of the Emerald Isle who have located in this county and have attained success and are self-made', is the name of Barney Boyle, who claims County Antrim, Ireland, as his birthplace, and 1828 as the year of his birth ; in 1849, he emigrated to America, and, later, made his way to Jersey Co., and then to Whitehall, Greene Co., where he worked as a farm hand for several years; in 1850, he made his way to this county and worked by the month until 1854, when he rented land, and, in April, 1859, married Frances Raymond ; they have had nine children, seven now living Harry, Katie, Fannie, Barney, Lizzie, John and Frank. In 1878, he bought out John Lee, who had a well- improved farm, and he is now the sole possessor of 576 acres of land, all of which he has obtained by the sweat of his brow and by the exercise of frugality and rigid economy. BENJAMIN BRENT, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; born in Yorkshire, England; son of Robert Brent; they emigrated to this State in 1866; and, in his 20th year, set out for himself and began work on a farm by the month. Nov. 9, 1872, he was united in matrimony with Caroline Pulling; born in this county Feb. 19, 1850 ; daughter of Charles Pulling, a native of England ; one child has been born to them Robert, born Aug. 1, 1873. Mr. Brent has begun life with a determination to make something of himself, is hard-working and attentive to his business. 802 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : JOHN BLAKELY, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; born in this county and town- ship Aug. 20, 1842 ; son of James Blakely and Hannah Scott, who were natives of New Jersey, and among the early pioneers in this county; his father died. John was 25 -years of age when he left home, and was married to Rachel Anderson Dec. 10, 1867; they had two children Orley C. and Harry L. His wife died Jan. 24, 1875. He was married to Martha Mowder, daughter of Joseph Mowder; she was born Jan. 13, 1844; their marriage took place Dec. 22, 1875 ; they have had two children Alice M. and Ettie. After his marriage, he made a trip to Nebraska, but not being suited, he returned to Mason Co., and has since remained here. March 13, 1877, he bought 160 acres of land, and is a successful farmer ; his father died in 1870. HENRY BECKWITH, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; born in Crawford Co., Ind., April 25, 1841 ; son of Elijah Beckwith and Evaline Ceny ; his great-grandfather par- ticipated in the Revolutionary war. The Beckwiths are a long-lived race ; his grand- father lived to the age of 84, and then met his death by accident his horse running away. Henry moved to this county with his parents, first locating near Havana, and remaining there until 1864, when they moved to the section he now resides upon. Nov. 30, 1866, he married Sarah Heston, born in Chester Co., Penn., April 29, 1845 ; they have four children Lizzie E., Bertie H., Howard P. and Charles F. DANIEL COFFEY, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born in Kerry Co., Ireland, about the year 1837 ; he was the only child of his parents, whose names were Timothy Coffey and Mary Sullivan ; they dying when he was about 14 years old, he was left to " shirk " for himself; he was one year on a vessel plying along the coast; then worked among the farmers until 1857, when he embarked for America, landing at New York ; he worked some time on the 0. & M. Railroad, and P., P. & J. Railroad ; he then came up the river to Bath, and hired out to Charles Thompson, working for him four years. Aug. 15, 1862, he married Ann Burke, a native of the same county as himself; they have four children John, Eilen, Catharine and Bridget. After his marriage, he rented land for four years on the ground now owned by Messrs. Cragg& Boyle; he then rented land of Stephen Dolben for eight years. In 1877, he bought ninety acres, and is now farming successfully. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. WILLIAM L. COBB, farmer, ; P. O. Kilbourne; is a native of St. Clair Co.; born May 11, 1833. His father, William, was a native of North Carolina, born in 1804, and died in 1877 ; he came to this State as early as 1830. Jane Reid, his wife, was born in Missouri, in 1807, and is still living in St. Clair Co. William, at the age of 18, embarked for himself, and worked by the month as farm hand, until he attained his 25th year, when he was married to Nancy Ware. The date of her birth is Sept. 8, 1841. Nine children now gather around the festive board James, Mary, John, Flora, Serilda, Dora, Ada, George and Norman. He was a renter up to the year 1872,, when he bought eighty acres where he now lives. Mr. Cobb came to this county in 1864, and lived on Crane Creek seven years. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at New Lebanon, and are trying to honor their profession. MRS. ANN M. CRANE, farmer, P. 0. Kilbourne; is a native of the Empire State, born in Orleans Co., Oct. 17, 1829. Her father's name was Ezra San- ford, and her mother's was Almira Chamberlain, both natives of Vermont. Mrs. Crane moved to Michigan at an early age, and was married Jan. 7, 1846, to Amzi G. Crane, a native of New Jersey. In 1849, they moved to Aurora, Dearborn Co., Ind., remaining there until 1865, when they moved to Havana, and in 1869, moved to Crane Creek Township. While there, he associated with Mr. Cobb, under the firm name of Crane & Cobb, which partnership continued until the death of Mr. Crane, Sept. 6, 1871. Mr. Crane, during his life, was an active business man, and an enthusiastic worker in the Church. They had six children, but two now living Jennie and George. Jennie is an efficient teacher in Havana Public School. Mrs. Crane now resides in Kilbourne Precinct, and, in conjunction w^th her son, is engaged in farming. WILLIAM CRAGGS, farmer, P. 0. Kilbourne; brother of Charles Craggs, of this township, was born March 22, 1823, in Yorkshire, England, and during his 6th year, KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 803 came across the briny deep in company with his parents, to cast their lot in the land across the sea ; the family located west of Jacksonville, Morgan Co., at what is now known as Lynnville, where a colony, or a number of English, from Yorkshire, had settled, and the Craggs were among the number. They were eight weeks on the ocean, and the crew come very near running out of both water and supplies, and were, for a time, allowanced. In the spring of 1845, the family moved to this township, and William's first purchase was eighty acres of land, at $3 per acre, $12 down, balance at 6 per cent interest. 'He put in a crop, and intended to marry the following year, and was engaged to be married ; but that season there came a severe hail-storm, and almost entirely destroyed his crop, and the prospects for assuming his matrimonial obligations were almost disheartening, but he finally mustered up courage, and borrowed of a neighbor, Frederick Shirtliff, money to buy the license and a shirt to be married in. Mr. (Drane has now 520 acres, and has become identified with the interests of the county as one of its valued citizens. He was first married to Jane Williamson, a native of Kentucky ; four children, Mary A., Henry B., William A. and John, were the off- spring; she died January 8, 1855. Oct. 14, 1857, he married Frances Folley, also a native of Kentucky ; they had seven children, five now living Isabel, Charles F., Amelia J., Jessie, Wesley and Caroline. Oct. 7, 1878, his wife died ; since her demise, his daughters have been keeping house. He has always been a man of true Christian principle and of generous impulse, and has given much in charity, and there is no better man in Mason Co. R. A CURRY, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; is a native of Albany Co., in the Empire State, where he was born April 26, 1845. the fourth of a family of five children by his father's second marriage. His father's name was E. R. Curry, and his mother's Harriet Jones both of them natives of New York. At the age of 9 he moved to this county, and first located in Bath, in company with his parents, in the year 1854. When but 16, he enlisted in the service of his country, in Co. M, 2d I. V. C., and served three years and four m onths. Upon his return to peaceful pursuits he began farming and finally bought 160 acres of land which he farmed until the spring of 1879, when he was compelled to abandon it on account of poor health, occasioned by chronic diarrhoea contracted during his term of service. Jan. 1, 1866, he married Mary E. Conklin, born in Bath Township April 10, 1848, a daughter of John Conklin. They have three children John T., born Nov. 30, 1867 ; Ollie May, Aug. 15, 1872 ; Leona F., Feb. 20, 1875. J. B. CONO VER, farmer j P. 0. Kilbourne ; is one of Mason Co.'s enterprising young business men, and was born in Cass Co., Sept. 28, 1844 ; son of William Conover ; his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Hopkins ; his parents died when Joseph was quite young and he was left to fight life's battles alone. July 13, 1862, at the age of 18, he enlisted in Co. D, 85th I. V. I., and participated in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Cbickainauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain and lastly at Peach Tree Creek, Ala., where he lost his right arm ; at this battle, he was taken pris- oner, and, while suffering extreme pain from the amputation of his arm, was confined several months in Andersonville Prison, where he suffered untold misery at the hands of those in charge ; Nov. 20, 1864, he received his parole at Savannah, and in February, 1865, obtained his discharge. Upon his return home, he attended school two years in Havana and one year at the Soldier's College at Whiteside Co. Upon his return home he engaged in stock-trading. Dec. 26, 1869, he married Charlotte Coggshall, who was born Oct. 9, 1849; daughter of William H. Coggshall; they have had three boys Marshall 0., born Oct. 20, 1870; Leonard, Aug. 12, 1873; and an infant, Nov. 19, 1878. In 1869, Mr. Conover was elected County Treasurer, which office he filled two years ; he then moved to the place he now lives on and has since been engaged in farm- ing and stock-trading ; he has 800 acres of land, and though deprived of the use of his right arm, yet he accomplishes more manual labor than most men with two. GEORGE VV. COGGSHALL, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born in Wash- ington Co., Ohio, Sept. 14, 1830 ; the son of Job Coggshall, who was born in Mari- etta, Ohio ; his mother was a Weatherby and a native of Pennsylvania. John left the 804 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: State when he attained the age of manhood and came to this county and began work by the month; he worked two years and then began for himself; he was in business for a time at Bath; kept a livery stable for a time, and March 2, 1864, married Frances Edwards; they have two children James L., born Oct. 22, 1865, and Myrtia, born April 10, 1868. Soon after his marriage, he bought land and located in the suburbs of Kilbourne, and has a snug farm gotten by his own labor and by patient industry. W. H. CALDWELL, farmer ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 29, 1828 ; the son of William Caldwell. William, in early life, had a desire to learn the carpenter's trade, which he partly learned before he came West ; his father was a potter by trade, and died when W. H. was in his infancy. In 1843, in company with his mother, he came to Ohio and there remained until 1855. July 5, 1852, he married Ava A. Lathom ; they have four children Adelia, Henry B., Will- iam and Elmer E ; his wife died in 1862. After coming to this State, he located in Havana, where he engaged at his trade and built several of the best buildings now in the town. He was elected City Marshal, and was at one time nominated for the office of Sheriff on the Republican side. In 1865, he was married to Harriet L. Russell ; they have had four children, but one now living. He has been a member of the Masonic body for several years. WILLIAM A. CRAGGS, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; son of William Craggs, an old settler in this county, who is of English birth. Was born in Bath Township Jan. 28, 1851. At the age of 19, he began for himself. March 3, 1872, he married Nancy Ketcham, ^daughter of Lemon Ketcham, of this township. She was born in 1854. Names of their children are Nellie M., born May 12, 1875; John, July 29, 1877, and an infant, unnamed, June 6, 1879. He and his wife are both members of the Baptist Church. JOHN CRAGGS, farmer, Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; son of William Craggs, and was born in Bath Township June 25, 1852. Not wishing to pattern after the example set by the many bachelors in the township, he, on becoming of age, took a wife to him- self, in the person of Miss Orinda Jackson, daughter of Elias Jackson, who was born May 9, 1852. They were united in wedlock Sept. 28. 1873, and have two children Mary J., born Dec. 19, 1875 ; William E., Oct. 31, 1878. After his marriage, he located on land of his father's, and remained two years. He then went to Iowa, and remained about one year, and the country not meeting his expectations, he returned to Mason Co., where he has since remained. CHARLES CRAGGS, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne. Prominent among the stanch and self-made men of this county is Charles Craggs, who was born in Yorkshire, Eng., Dec. 22, 1821 ; son of William Craggs and Isabel (Making). He came to Morgan Co. when he was 8 years of age, in company with his parents. They were among the pioneers of that county, there being no settlements between Lynnville and Jacksonville at that time. During his 24th year, he moved to this county, located on Field's Prairie, on the land now owned by James M. Hardin, and bought eighty acres, at 83 per acre, paying $12 down, and the balance at 6 per oent interest. He married Phoebe Pratt, daughter of David Pratt. She was born Dec. 12, 1829. Eight children have crowned this union, five of whom are now living William H., George T., Emily, Sarah and Bessie. In 1855, he sold out and went to Bath, where he, in company with his brother, went into the milling business, and afterward sold or traded his interest for a farm, where he now lives, and has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Notwithstanding the unfavorable circum- stances in which he began life, he is to-day one of the wealthiest men in this part of the county. JOHN CONKLIN, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Washington Co., Ohio, April 5, 1829 ; son of Henry Conklin, a native of Chemung Co., N. Y., and Eliza (Nottj Conklin, a native of Ohio. At the age of 7, John moved with his par- ents to this State and located in Fulton Co., remaining there about seven years ; Mr. Conklin's early educational advantages were very limited indeed ; in the spring of 1843, the family moved to Section 5. Bath Township, where they opened up a farm ; John K1LBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 805 remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of 18 years, when he married Catherine Daniels; she was born March 15, 1830 ; she was a daughter of Washington Daniels; their marriage occurred Jan. 10, 1849; they have had fifteen children, eleven of whom are now living Mary E., Thomas J., William H., Sallie Ann, John C., James S., Charles E., George M., Martha J., Carrie E. and Ella C.; Mr. Conklin's occupation has been farming, and, by hiis industry, he has acquired 800 acres of land ; politically, he has always been identified with the Democratic party ; a man of quiet demeanor, just and upright and a goo4 citizen. CHARLES E. CONKLIN, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; a native of Bath Town- ship, Mason Co., and marks the date of his advent to that locality Sept. 1, 1857 ; with his parents, he came to this township when quite young. He married, March 5, 1877, Miss Mary J. Clotfelter, also a native of Bath Township and a daughter of Michael Clotfelter ; she was born March 5, 1856 ; a child Justice V., was born to' them Feb. 17, 1879. Mr. Conklin and wife are both members of Mount Zion Baptist Church. Since his marriage, he has been engaged in farming on Section 6. WILLIAM H. CONKLIN, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; born in Bath Township, June 6, 1851 ; second son and fourth child of John and Catharine Conklin, well-known residents of this township ; William remained with his parents till his 22d year, when he married Jennie E. Gore, daughter of Mrs. Jane Gore, of this county ; their marriage took place March 11, 1874 ; they have had two children Nellie G. and Jessie. After his marriage, he located on the section of land which he now occupies and is engaged in farming. STEPHEN DOLBIN, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; born in North Wales May 7, 1812 ; his father's name was John and his mother's name was Jane Williams ; in early life Mr. Dolbin, having heard glowing accounts of this country, resolved that he would visit it, and if satisfactory, settle, and, during the fall of the election of James Buchanan, Mr. D. and his wife arrived in this country ; they spent four years in Schuyl- kill Co., Penn.; at the solicitation of a friend, he moved to this State and located on Sand Prairie, where he had purchased some land ; the snow covered the ground, and, it being so highly recommended by his friend, he bought it but it proved to be a bad bargain; he paid $1,000, but was glad to realize $300 for it; then he bought where he now lives and has labored hard and now owns 493 acres, attained by his own industry. May 18, 1838, he married Mary Huck, born Dec. 21, 1810 ; but two children are living Robert and William. Mr. D. has always lived in peace with his neighbors and never had a law-suit. FRENCH DAVIS, farmer ; P. 0. Havana ; was born in Mercer Co., W. Va., Sept. 13, 1830 ; his father's name was Jeremiah L. Davis, who married Elizabeth Bolin, both natives of Virginia, but of German descent ; at the age of 23, he came to this State, and Havana was his first stopping-place. Oct. 7, 1854, he married Cath- arine Pulling, who was born March 6, 1837; she is a daughter of Thomas Pulling; they have five children Lavega, born May 4, 1859; Frank, Nov. 11, 1862; James H., Nov. 9, 1864; William, Oct. 5, 1872; Julia, March 25, 1875; since his marriage, he has been engaged in farming ; during the fall months, he carries on a molasses factory. ROBERT EATON, farmer; P. 0. Havana; a native of Kent, Eng.; was born Dec. 12, 1841; son of Thomas Eaton and Elizabeth Newman; he came to this county in company with his parents ; his father died in 1861, and his mother in 1852. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C, 2d I. V. C., and served three years; he then went into Co. A, 10th I. V. I., in which he served until the close of the war, receiving an honorable discharge; upon his return to peaceful pursuits, he began farming. Oct. 11, 1865, he married Anna E. Crater, born March 12, 1845, a daughter of Joshua Cra- ter, of Fulton Co. ; they had six children, four now living Katie V., Ernest E., Bertha M. and Willard F.; same year he bought 115 acres of improved' land ; he has now good buildings on the same, and the land under excellent state of cultivation ; he is a good farmer, and a man of enterprise, and is attaining what might be termed a suc- cessful career. He is a member of the Baptist Church, at New Lebanon. 806 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: C. C. FAGER, farmer; P. 0. Havana; was born in Harrisburg, Penn., Jan. 24, 1837 : he is a son of Samuel Fager, who died when Charles was quite young; in the year 1848, he moved West with his mother, and first landed in Havana ; he lived in the country three years, and then worked at house carpentry for two years, then he returned to Havana, where he worked with the trowel for several years, and assisted in building of nearly all the structures in the town. June 13, 1861, he was married; his _wife was born in April, 1840 ; they have five children Emma, Mary F., May, Charles H. and John Bertram ; in the spring of 1877, he moved to the country, where he bought 200 acres of land, and has now turned his attention to farming exclusively. Emma graduated at the High School at Havana, and is preparing to teach. Mr. Fager is a member of Old Time Lodge, A., F. & A. M., since consolidated with No. 88 ; also a member of Havana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. ALGERNON E. FEILD, merchant, Kilbourne. Prominent among the stanch and upright men in this township, whose interests have long been identified with the county, is A. E. Feild, who was born in Mobile, Ala., March 6, 1823; son of D. S. Feild, a native of old Virginia, and came to this State in 1836, and entered land south of Kilbourne ; during his life, he was a very successful practitioner of medicine, and died in 1838 ; Algernon was 14 years of age when he came to this county, and had but limited educational advantages ; he was a pupil, for a short time, of the lamented Douglas ; Mr. Feild has always been engaged in farming pursuits, until recently ; in 1872, he embarked in the mercantile business in the town, and has since continued it ; he still carries on his farm with the assistance of his boys. He was married, Dec. 10, 1845, to Bessie Craggs, who was born in Pontefract, Eng., May 2, 1827 ; seven children have blessed this union, but four of whom are living Drury T., Mary Frances, Charles A. and Henry. Mr. Feild has always remained true to the principles of the Democ- racy, and, in the earlier part of his life, advocated the same upon the stump ; he was a ready and fluent speaker ; he also served as Justice of the Peace several years. MRS. JANE GORE, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born July 5, 1820, in County Antrim, Ireland ; she is the daughter of Alexander Thompson, and her mother's maiden name was Jane Stewart. Mrs. Gore, in her 14th year, came to this country with her parents, locating near Carrolton, Greene Co., this State. While in this locality, she was married to Edwin Gore, who was born Nov. 21, 1816. They were married Jan. 26, 1843. Nine children are the result of this union Frances A., Charles A., William R., Thomas E., John W., Jennie, Mollie, James H. and Mattie M. In 1845, they moved to this county and built them a log cabin, near the place she now lives on. They cooked one summer out of doors, and the cabin they lived in for some time had no doors or win- dows to close the openings. She has been a member of the M. E. Church since 1841. Mr. Gore died April 16, 1866. He was an honest and upright man, and died lamented by all who knew him. MRS. MELISSA HUNLE Y, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; is a native of Mason Co., where she was born April 15, 1843; diughter of William Nevil, of Barren Co., Ky., who came to this State at an early day, and located in this county. At the age of 17, she married James J. Hunley, born in Metcalf Co., Ky., Nov. ^7, 1834. This mar- riage took place Oct. 4, 1860. They then located on the land occupied by Mrs. Hun ley, and after ten years of great happiness, he passed away, and his remains now rest in the quiet retreat of New Lebanon burial ground. His death occurred Nov. 23, 1870. He was an active and zealous worker in the church of which he was a member. Since his death, Mrs. Hunley has remained on the farm, which she still carries on with the assistance of her two boys George W., born Nov. 1, 1863; James R., born March 7, 1866. JAMES M. HARDIN, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne. Prominent among the old settlers in this township, and whose interests have long been identified with those of the county, is James M. Hardin, who was born in Talbot Co., Md., Dec. 12, 1817 ; the son of Henry and Ann (Chambers) Hardin. The family are of Scotch and Irish descent. James' parents died when he was quite young, and he was thrown upon his own resources. At the age of 21, he started for the great West, staging it to Wheeling, and KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 807 thence by river to Alton, and lived near Carrolton. Greene Co., where he worked on a farm as a common laborer. March 13, 1842, he was married to Martha A., daughter of John Micklam ; she was born in London. After their marriage, he began renting land. In 1845, he came to Mason Co., and located on the same section he now lives on. He worked for and with his father-in-law three years, and then bought forty acres. He subsequently bought out Mr. Charles Cragg, and then moved one mile south, where he has since lived. Mr. Hardin has twelve children, all living. Seven are now in Nebraska. Mr. Hardin and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church, the former since 1838. He has for many years been a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and in former times of the I. 0. 0. F. Society. No man in the county has a better record than James Hardin for honesty and uprightness. LEMON A. KETCH AM, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., and came with his parents when they located in this county. His father, Hiram Ketcham, in 1849, was struck by lightning, and lay helpless and unconscious for the space of twenty-four hours finally recovered, but died subsequently, Aug. 7, 1864. The marriage of Mr. Ketcham has been blessed with a family of six children, three of whom are married Mary E., to James Chancy Sept. 5, 1871 ; Nancy M., to Wiljiain A. Craggs, son of William Craggs, March 3, 1872; John B. Ketcham, to Pollie A. Tond Sept. 26, 1873. He has always been engaged in farming, and he has a snug farm one mile northeast of Kilbourne. MRS. ELIZABETH KEMPER, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Han- over, Germany, Aug. 1, 1826; she was a daughter of Bernard Nehman, and her mother's family name was Helman. Mrs. Kemper's mother's name was Mary, and like her husband, was a native of Hanover, in which place they lived and died. Nov. 2, 1851, she was married to Henry Kemper. The year following, they emigrated to this country, and were seven weeks crossing the ocean from Bremen to New Orleans, their landing-place ; soon after their arrival, they located at Havana, in this county, where they rented land about five years, and. in 1867, purchased 160 acres cf land, on which the family has lived to the present time. Since Mr. Kemper's death she has remained a widow. They have had seven children Minnie, Frederick, Mary, Lizzie, Willie, Frank and Louie. HENRY KNOLLENBERG, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; born in Prussia July 27, 1839 ; son of Frederick Knollenberg and Elizabeth Yerdling ; his father died in 1862, and, in 1866, Henry crossed the ocean and came to this State, going first to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained some months, and then to this county. March 3, 1876, he married Mary Wehmhoff, born in Hanover, Prussia, Aug. 23, 1848 ; she came to this State in 1874 ; her father's name was Harman H. Wehmhoff. Since Mr. Knollenberg's marriage, he has been farming, and is a hard-working and industrious man. WILLIAM A. LEE, grain-dealer, Kilbourne ; was born in Cass Co., 111., Aug. 25, 1855 ; is the son of John and Mary Gordly Lee, who were natives of Kentucky and born near Lexington, and came to Cass Co. many years ago ; he was but 7 years of age when he came to this county ; his father located and improved the land now owi ed by Barney Boyle ; his father died March 18, 1874 ; his mother Aug. 25, two years later. He is the eldest of a family often children, all of whom are now living, and is a grad- uate of the Jacksonville Business College. In the spring of 1879, he came to this town, and is now engaged in the grain business, and will soon have a new grain elevator. MRS. LOWRANCE, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne ; daughter of Richard Lane and sister of Isaac D. Lane, of this township ; was born in Schuyler Co., Feb. 11, 1835 ; her parents moved to Menard Co. when she was quite young. July 4, 1859, she was married to Jacob A. Lowrance. They had two children Jacob and Isaac. In July, 1862, Mr. Lowrance enlisted in Co. D, 85th I. V. I., and was out one year, when he returned home on account of ill health ; he died Feb. 3, 1877. Mr. L. and wife were both members of the church at New Lebanon. ISAAC D. LANE, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne ; is an old settler and came to this State in 1827 ; he lived in New Salem, Menard Co., many years, and came to this county in 1844, and since that time has been a permanent resident ; his early education 808 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES was obtained in a log schoolhouse, his seat a rude one, made of a rail, with pegs for its support, and doors and windows then almost unknown. Deer and game of all kinds were in abundance, and Indians were then seen roaming about. Mr. L. is a son ot Richard Lane and Rachel Drake; his mother was a native of Baltimore Co., Md., and his father a native of the Old Dominion. Sept 28, 1819, was the date of Isaac D.'s advent to Warren Co., Middle Tennessee. The second epoch in his life was Jan. 14, 1845, when he took to wife Sarah Skipton ; she was a native of Ohio. They have had seven children, but five of whom are living Jordon R., Louisa J., Henry C., Matilda and Isaac D. Mr. Lane's father was an Antislavery man, and left Tennessee on account of the prevalence of slavery ; his son, early in life, imbibed those principles, and could never look upon involuntary servitude with any degree of allowance. It may be said of Mr. Lane, that in all his transactions with his fellow-men, litigation has been a thing unknown, and while he may not leave after him much of this world's goods, yet he does hope to transmit to them a good name, and a remembrance that their paternal ancestor was an honest man. JOHN P. LANGE, farmer ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct.' 1, 1842 ; son of John Lange and Kate Fickan. At the age of 12, he began for himself, and worked out until he was 25 years old ; Dec. 24, 1867, he came to this coun- try ; he came to Havana and worked one year or more for George Westin. Jan. 18, 1877, he was married to Sarah C. Parker, who was born Feb. 14, 1844, in Grant Co., Ind., and raised in Ohio ; they have one child Lucy Anna, born Feb. 4, 1878. His mother's name in German was Cetharna Margaretha Fickan. The date of John's leavin the old country was Oct. 8, 1867. and he was fifty-nine days on the ocean. He was naturalized April 7, 1864, and has always been engaged in farming. JOHN A. LINN, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; son of Phillip Linn, now of Clacka- mas Co., Oregon ; his mother's name (prior to her marriage) was Mahala McDaniel ; they are natives of Bourbon Co., Ky., and were among the early pioneers in Brown Co. In the summer of 1865, they moved to their present place of abode in Oregon. John has since made a trip to that country and would have located but for his wife's unwill- ingness to leave her native State. He was born Oct. 30, 1843, and, in his 20th year, he married Nancy Briggs, who was born in August, 1845; daughter of William Briggs ; they have five children William E., Minnie, Annie, Eugene and Jennie. Mr. Linn is a man of energy, and a hard worker, and has been successful so far. Mr. Linn is a member of Kinder Lodge, A., F. & A. M., Brown Co. GEORGE L. McDANI'EL, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born in this town- ship Jan. 12, 1851 ; his father's name was William and his mother's before marriage Mary Lewis, both of them natives of Kentucky; they came to this State during its early history ; his father died when he was a small boy and he was then under the sole care of his mother. Jan. 2, 1875, he was united in wedlock to Louisa Hughs, who was born in Kentucky April 24, 1857. In 1879, he bought forty acres of land, which he now owns. H'e and wife are members of the Baptist Church at New Lebanon. JOHN MICKLAM, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne. "Uncle Johnnie," as he is familiarly called, first saw the light of day in the city of London April 7, 1796, and is now in his 84th year ; he has seen many of the " notable " and crowned heads of Europe, George III and IV the Queen's father, Alexander I and Old Blucher, and many others, and can relate very many interesting things, of which he was an eye- witness, that are now matters of history. John was the eldest of a family of eight children born to John Micklam and Ann Goulds. Feb. 17, 1819, he emigrated to this country, landing at Norfolk, Va. ; thence to Petersburg, where he was engaged as a dealer in tobacco and lived about three years ; he has now in his possession several bills of lading and invoices of goods (seen by the writer) in the quaint handwriting of that time, showing the character of the business done. Subsequently to this, he engaged in growing tobacco. In early life, he learned the tobacco business with his father. While in Virginia, he saw the first steamboat that ever sailed on the James River, a rude affair, with a hulk like a canal boat, and an engine with upright arms working vertically. In 1827, he emigrated to Kentucky and Tennessee, and remained until 1836, when he KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 809 arne to Bluffdale, Greene Co., this State, and remained there until 1845 ; he then came to Mason Co., and has since lived here. June 13, 1821, he married Maria Pegram in Dinwiddie Co., Va. ; they have had eight children John W., Martha A., Indiana M., Mary D., Charles E., Stanfield A., Sophia and Harriet M. Mr. Micklam has always been a very temperate man, and was never drunk in his life, and is a man of excellent information, a great reader, and a true type of an old English " gentleman." CHARLES MOWDER, farmer, Sec. 5 ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; is a native of Mas >n o. and was born in Havana Township Oct. 21, 1847 ; he is the seventh of a family of ten children born to Joseph and Judith (Stroup) Mowder. who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and came to this State at an early day, locating on land east of Havana, which they entered. Charles remained at home until he married Rebecca Lehr, who was born May 23, 1852, in Sherman Township ; her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, the mother born in Bucks Co. and the father in Lehigh Co. Charles has had good educa- tional advantages in addition to those of the common school and is a graduate of the Commercial College at Jacksonville. After his marriage, which occurred Dec. 25, 1875, he settled on the land he now occupies and has since been a tiller of the soil ; they have one child Joseph, born June 8, 1878. HARVEY ONEAL, retired physician, Kilbourne ; is one of Mason County's stanch and reliable men, and has been closely connected with its interests and has been as much service to the country in the line of his profession as any man in the county ; he was born in Barren Co., Ky., May 19, 1818 ; seventh child of a family of eight children of Bennet Oneal and Sallie Emery, who were native^ of the Old Dominion. Harvey's father was engaged in mechanical pursuits, which, being distasteful to his son, led him to follow another line of action for a life business ; he early had a desire to study medicine ; this did not meet with his parents' approval, but he cherished his desire, and, after he attained majority, turned his steps to Illinois, and, the same year, began reading medicine with Dr. Schooler ; he pursued his studies until graduation, receiving his honors in St. Louis Medical College in 1843 ; he began the practice of his profession in Virginia, Cass Co. ; he located in Bath. In November, 1844, he married Ann Beesly, daughter of Benjamin Beesly ; three children were born, none of whom are now living; she died in 1850. In September, 1851, he was married to Charlotte West, daughter of Amos S. West, a native of Kentucky ; they had five chil- dren, four now living James C., Helen J., Richard M. and Harry W. The Doctor continued the practice of medicine in Bath for twenty years, when, it becoming too severe upon him, he was compelled to abandon it on account of his health, and, in the year 1864. moved to this township and bought a farm and has since turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits ; he has been long a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was raised a Whig and is a man of sound information and well read on the topics of the day ; he is a zealous advocate of the Greenback doctrine and is firm in the belief of the final triumph of that party. GEORGE W. RANSON, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; is a son of John B. Ran- son, who was an old pioneer in this county, and one who was a zealous and enthusiastic worker in the ministry, and was identified with the society called Christians, sometimes termed " Campbellites ;" his mother's name was Ann Audas ; both of them were natives of England, and came here at an early day. George was born on the same place where he now resides Dec. 17, 1848, and was left an orphan at an early age, and was then under the care of his elder brother; after his 13th year, he earned his own living, and, in 1870, began farming on his own account, and subsequently united in marriage with Sarah E. Ainsworth, born Sept. 26, 1851 ; she is a daughter of Thomas Ainsworth, of Chandlerville ; they have two children Alonzo, born June 23, 1876; Clara, Sept. 10, 1878 ; he and his wife are both members of the M. E. Church. JOHN ROUTT, blacksmith, Kilbourne; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., June 24, 1838 ; son of Byrauib Routt ; his parents were natives of Kentucky ; his father died when he was but about 8 years old, and when at the age of 16, he moved to Mon- roe Co., Mo., with his mother, where he lived seven years; having a mechanical turn, learned the blacksmith trade and came to this county, wjiere he followed his trade at 810 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Havana and also at Peterville, and finally located at Kilbourne, where he and his brother are associated together in running a blacksmith and wagon-making business ; they are good workmen, and are having a large run of business ; they are men who attend to their business strictly, and thus merit the patronage of the people. Aug. 19, 1861, he married Jonana Pulling; they have had nine children, five of whom are now living Byramb B., Eleanor B., Florence, Daisy and an infant not named ; his wife is a daughter of Thomas Pulling, and was born April 16, 1844. JAMES ROUTT, wagon-maker, Kilbourne ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., March 15, 1845 ; son of Byramb Routt, whose wife's maiden name was Eleanor C. Riggs, and also a native of Kentucky ; the family came to this State in 1852 ; from Kentucky they first went to Mercer Co., Mo. ; lived for a time in Monroe, and finally the boys came to Mason Co. and have since remained. James was a loyal soldier, and enlisted in Co. A, 28th I. V. I., serving until the close of the war. Dec. 25, 1868, he married Mary A. Sayre, daughter of Rachel and Jonathan Sayre ; she was born in Virginia Dec. 8 r 1847; they have four children living Charlotte E., Emma J., James H. and Anna M. After his term of service expired, he went to Morgan Co., and to Mason Co. in 1875 ; he worked at Peterville and worked at his trade, then went to farming, and, July 15, 1879, came to Kilbourne. J. W. ROOT, physician, Kilbourne; was born in Fayette Co., Penn., Aug. 18, 1845, and emigrated to this State, locating in Schuyler Co. ; having a desire to study medicine, he ran away from home and entered the army, where he remained until the close of the war ; in the mean time, he applied himself closely to the study of medicine and surgery ; at the close of the war, he attended a course of lectures at St. Louis, and, upon his return to Schuyler Co., began the practice of medicine and continued at it for nine years successfully. Oct. 14, 1868, he was united in marriage to Malinda Scott, a native of that county ; three children have graced their fireside, but two only are living Prudence and Elizabeth ; Clarence, the younger, died from being scalded. In the spring of 1876, he moved to Kilbourne and has since been engaged in his profession, and his efforts in this direction have been crowned with marked success ; he makes a specialty of the treatment of bleeding piles, without the aid of caustic, knife or liga- ture ; it matters not how long or unsuccessfully the patient has been treated, cure guar- anteed or no pay ; consultation free, and all letters of inquiry answered promptly ; he has been very successful in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases, as his patient* can fully attest. He is Republican in sentiment; in the fall of 1877, he was brought out as a candidate for Superintendent of Schools in this county, and had flattering pros- pects of being elected, when he withdrew, as the duties of the office required him to visit schools, which the practice of his profession would not admit of; he is a member of Browning Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., Schuyler Co., and an honorable and upright gentleman. HENRY C. RUGGLES, druggist, Kilbourne ; was born in Winchester, Scott Co., March 29, 1845 ; son of J. M. Ruggles, of this county, who is one of its promi- nent citizens ; at the age of 17, he enlisted in the service of his country ; was enrolled as drummer boy in Co. F, 51st I. V. I., -and afterward was mustered in as private, and served as such until the close of the war ; was engaged in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, at which place was taken prisoner and served about eighteen months in rebel prisons, at Anderson ville, Richmond, Danville and other prisons ; was paroled at Goldsboro, N. C., Feb. 28, 1865 ; at the close of the war, he received an honorable discharge; in 1867, he embarked in the drug business, and he has continued in the same to the present time ; first set up at Bath, then Ashland, Cass Co., and, on Oct. 6 r 1875, was married to Mary Webb, of Havana ; they have one child Emma, born April 11, 1877. April 29, 1875, located in Kilbourne, where he is now doing an excellent business ; he keeps a full line of general stock, and is making a success ; is a member of Bath Lodge 494, A., F. & A. M. HENRY STAGING, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born Sept. 2, 1832, and was a namesake of his father ; his mother's name, previous to her marriage, was Mar- garet Pomp. In the year 1852, in order to better his fortune, Henry turned his steps toward Australia, and, in company with several of his companions, took a mining claim r KILBOURNE TOWNSHIP. 811 which they worked quite successfully for a time, and amassed a quantity of the yellow dust, but finally lost the entire amount by an unprofitable investment, buying an engine, teams and other effects ; upon the failure of the mine to produce the rich dirt, they sold their machinery, after running it two years ; Henry remained in the mines eight years in all after this he went to England, and then to America; he worked near Peoria one year, as a farm hand, then in Logan Co., where he worked two years. He was married, Aug. 3, 1872, to Mary Kemper, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Kemper; they have three children Henry, Lizzie and Mary. JOHN SEARS, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; son of Henry Sears, one of the oldest settlers in the county, who was born in Wake Co., near Raleigh, N. C. in November, 1805, and came to this State in 1822, finally locating in Crane Creek Town- ship in 1828, where the subject of this sketch was born Feb. 16, 1835. He remained with his father until his marriage with Mary A. Turner, who was born Aug. 29, 1838, in Buckingham Co., Va. Their marriage took place Nov. 5, 1863 ; two children are the only ones living out of six born to them Ewin and Miles ; since their marriage, they have remained at their present place of abode. Mr. Sears is a man of few words, quiet and unassuming, and attends to his own business, paying no attention to the affairs of others. F. E. SHIRTCLIFF, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; is a native of Pontefract, York- shire, Eng.; born April 21, 1829; son of Edward Shirtcliff and Anna Makin ; he emi- grated to this State, with his parents, during his 3d year, locating in Lynnville, Morgan Co., where his father built the first store building and sold goods at that place ; at the age of 15, Fred left home and came to this county and lived with A. Feild, a rel- ative, remaining with him until Sept. 30, 1848, when he married Sarah J. Redwine, daughter of James Redwine, a native of Kentucky ; six children were born, five living Edward J., Fred F., John W., Hannah E. and Alice; after their marriage, Mr. S. helped build the first frame house that was erected in this part of the county now in Kilbourne ; Mr. C. has remained, the greater portion of his life, in this county, and has made several trips to the North and West to better his condition, but has invariably returned to old Mason Co., and though he may not have much of this world's goods to bequeath to his successors, will yet have a name and character for honesty and up- rightness, of which they need not be ashamed. He is a member of the Masonic Order, Bath Lodge, No. 494. MARGARET WALTERS, farmer; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Prus- sia, Jan. 2, 1832 ; daughter of Frederick Renaiker, and in the year 1860, came to this country in company with her parents, and located in Havana Township. In April, 1856, she was married to Rudol Brooksmidt ; two children were born Caroline and Lizzie. Mr. Brooksmidt died in 1858. In 1862, she married Frederick Walters, a native of Prussia ; they had three children Henry, Lucy and Frank. Oct. 1, 1872, Mr. Walters died of consumption. She has 1 20 acres of land, which she farms. JOHNS. WILLIAMSON, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; one of the old settlers. He came to the State in 1830, and located, with his parents, in Morgan Co., where they remained about fourteen years, and in 1844 moved to this township. Mr. W. was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 15, 1826; son of Abraham Williamson. His mother's name, before marriage, was Keziah Smith, a native of Kentucky, and the father from New Jersey. Sept. 5, 1850, John was married to Matilda Lane, daughter of Richard Lane, of Virginia. Seven children have blessed this union, five of whom are now liv- ing Richard W., Isaac N., Rachel, Martha and Anna. After their marriage they located on the place they now occupy. PETER WILLIAMS, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Prussia Feb. 1, 1818 ; son of Peter Williams and Joanna Maundell. At an early age he was bereft of his parents. Upon arriving at maturity he married Anna Sholts, daughter of Carl Frederick Sholts. In 1841, he emigrated to this country, and worked at various points , St. Louis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, and other places, upon some of our public works, and also as deck hand and roustabout on the river. He is a man of great strength and remarkable powers of endurance. Sept. 29, 1869, he came to this township and located 812 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES on the land he now owns, which was all timber, and has made therefrom a good farm, well improved. He has had twelve children, but three of whom are living Mary, born Nov. 20, 1859 ; Charles, born Oct. 6, 1862 ; Peter, born Feb. 21, 1866. He has 320 acres of land, and has acquired it by honest labor and rigid economy. BATH TOWNSHIP. ALFRED ADKINS, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Saidora ; was born in Campbell Co., Term., May 10, 1831, but removed to Illinois with his father's family in 1833 ; they first settled in Morgan Co., and about four years later removed to what is now Bath Township, this county. His father, Joseph Adkins, was born in East Tennessee in 1812 ; his death occured Oct. 30, 1878 ; his mother, Betsey (Johnson) Adkins was also a native of Tennessee. The subject of this sketch was married, March 11, 1853, to Miss Sarah Schoonover, who was born in Delaware; they have six children Nancy J., Joseph F., Clarissa L., Herman B., Richard C. and Mary B. Mr. Adkins owns 243 acres of land in Bath Township. RANDALL J. ADKINS, farmer, Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Saidora ; was born in Bath Township, Mason Co., 111., Nov. 6, 1846. He was .married, March 22, 1871, to Miss Josephine Bishop, who was born in the State of Ohio. Mr. Adkins owns 350 acres of land in Bath Township, Mason Co. Further mention of Mr. Adkins' father and the family will be made in the history of Bath Township and the general history of the county. JOHN C. ADKINS, merchant, Saidora ; was born in Bath Township, Mason Co., 111., Feb. 7, 1846, where he has since resided. He was married, Feb. 7, 1870, to Miss Mary M. Hall, who was born in Pennsylvania ; they have one child Joseph C. Mr. Adkins owns ninety-seven acres of land in Bath Township. He is now engaged in the mercantile and grain trade at Saidora. See card in the Business Directory of this work. JAMES S. ALLEN, groceries and restaurant, Bath ; was born in New York State July 26, 1833. When about 4 years of age, his father's family removed to Illinois, locating first in Fulton Co., and about one year later removed to Bath Town- ship, this county, in 1837 ; in 1844 they returned to Fulton Co., where they resided till 1853; then came to Mason Co., which has since, been the home of the subject of these lines. His father, James H. Allen, was at Chicago as early as 1833, and at that time traveled over a part of the State; he died in November, 1869, and his wife a few days later; both were natives of the State of New York. James S. was raised a farmer, which occupation he followed until 1874, when he engaged in his present busi- ness in July of that year. He has served as Collector and Assessor, one term each. He was married, March 21, 1858, to Miss Lillie A. Moore, who was born in Ohio; they have two children Elizabeth M. (wife of James M. Lacy) and Luella M. (wife of James E. Lippert. Mr. Allen is a member of Bath Lodge No. 494, A., F. & A. M. JOHN L. ASHURST, manufacturer of the Blunt Succor Drill, Sec. 36; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Bath ToVnship, Mason Co., 111., March 15, 1838, and is a son of Nelson R. and Jemima Ashurst. The family removed from Tennessee to Illi- nois in 1832, settling first in Menard Co., and about one year later removed to Mason Co., locating in what is now Bath Township. The subject of this sketch was married Feb. 12, 1858, to Miss Amanda C., daughter of Laban and Klizabeth K. Blunt, who were early settlers of Mason Co. Mr. Ashurst followed farming for some years, but, in about 1857, gave his attention to mechanical pursuits, purchasing a few tools and embarking in the blacksmithing business in a small way, mainly for the purpose of doing his own repairing ; he soon gave up farming and devoted himself to his trade ; he assisted Bobert Blunt, patentee of the Succor Diill, in the construction of the first machine, and the second was built wholly by Mr. Ashurst; since the death of Mr. BATH TOWNSHIP. 813 Blunt, his son George, together with Mr. Ashurst. have made some improvements which place this drill on a footing with any manufactured, and, by many, believed to be superior to anything of the kind in the market. Mr. Ashurst has manufactured an/1 Bold about one hundred drills this season, but by no means supplying the demand, which has been some four to five hundred. DANIEL W. BARR, proprietor of Central House, Bath ; was born in Wash- ington Co., Md., July 29, 1828, where he resided until 1859, then removing to Ogle Co., 111., and about one year later to the State of Missouri ; thence to Kansas, where he resided from 1860 to 1862, and returned to Illinois the latter year, locating in Morgan Co., and, in 1865, came to Bath, this county, which has since been his home. During the year 1866, he was engaged in butchering, and the following year embarked in the horse and mule trade. He lias been proprietor of the Central House since 1871 ; has served one year as Police Constable. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Catharine Foster, who was born in Washington Co., Md. They have had twelve children, nine of whom are living Elizabeth, wife of Morris Lester, resides in Peoria, III. ; Laura ; Addie, wife of George D. Mills, train baggage-man on C. & N.-W. Ry. ; Charles, Sudie, Fannie, Lona, James and Edward ; the deceased are William H., Frank, and one who died in infancy. Mr. Barr owns 160 acres of land in Bath Township, and, in addition to farming and other business, makes training of saddle horses a specialty, having taken eleven premiums at the Mason Co. fairs, also several premiums at other fairs in Central Illinois. THOMAS R. BLUNT, farmer, Sec. 36 ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in what is now Bath Township, this county, June 22, 1838. His father, Thomas F. Blunt, who was born on Kent Island, Md., July 14, 1800, emigrated to the West as early as 1831, and first settled in the State of Missouri. The family came to Mason Co., 111., in 1833, and located near the present residence of Thomas R., with whom his father now resides. His mother, Sinai F. (Alderson) Blunt, was born in Kentucky Nov. 9, 1795 ; her death occurred Oct. 2, 1864. The subject of this sketch was married, Dec. 23, 1858, to Miss Jane Parks, who was born in Scott Co., 111., June 24, 1837. Six children by this union, three of whom are living Alice M. M., Lena R. and ; Delta M. died Dec. 12, 1864 ; Marshall Y., Nov. 7, 1867 ; Charles J., March 28, 1866. Mr. Blunt has been a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, which was organized in April, 1842, since 1855, and has served as Deacon some ten years. He owns 260 acres of laud in Bath Township. ROBERT E. CAMERON, of the firm of Cameron & Fletcher, proprietors of Bath Mills, Bath; was born in Franklin Co., Ark., March 8, 1841, but removed in early childhood, with his father's family, to Illinois, locating in Fulton Co. in 1843. They removed to Lynchburg Township, this county, in 1848. The subject of this has resided at Bath since 1867, where he first engaged in the grocery business. In 1874, he purchased the flouring-mill, which was burnt about seven months after, and rebuilt in 1875. He was married, Sept. 18, 1864, to Miss Addie Hunter, who was born in Oliio. They have two children living Jennie and George E. Mr. Cameron is a member of Bath Lodge, No. 494, A., F. & A. M. HERMAN DIERKER, farmer, Sec. 27; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, July 25, 1834. In 1838, he came to America with his father's family, and located in Bath Township, this county, where he has since resided. His father, John H., died May 1, 1844, and his mother, Ellen (Basselbecke) Dierker, died in September, 1 ^.~>4 ; both were natives of Hanover, Germany. The subject of this sketch was married, April 30, 1857, to Miss Margaret Meyer, who was born in Hanover, Germany ; her father came to America in 1848, and to Mason Co. in the fall of that year. They have had six children, five of whom are living August, Charlotte, Sophie, Janie and Mar- garet ; their son, Frank, died April 23, 1864. Mr. Dierker owns 380 acres of land in Bath Township. JOHN G. D. DEVERMANN, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Bath ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 12, 1839. When about 10 years of age, he came to America with his father's family, leaving their native country the 1st of October, 1849, arriving at New 814 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Orleans, La., in the fall of the same year. They came to Mason Co. the following Jan- uary, reaching Schulte's Landing at 11 o'clock P. M., of the llth of that month. They occupied the house of Frederick Speckmann, Sr. ( now deceased ) for about one year, ttten located near where Mr. Devermann now resides. His father, John H. Devermann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Sept. 22, 1796, died Ocr. 20, 1861. His mother. Katrina M. ( Shiphorst ) Devermann, who was a native of the same place, was born May 12, 1803 ; she now resides with her son ( J. G. D.). On the 15th of June, 1865, Mr. Deveruian was married to Miss Eliza Woesten, who was born in Havana Township, this county, Nov. 14, 1849. By this union there were five children, four o whom are living Serina C., born April 14, 1866; Henry J., born Aug. 25, 1869 ; died Oct. 28, 1869 ; Gustav H. D., born Dec. 16, 1870; Adolph G. D., born March 20, 1873 ; Lissie M., born Dec. 14, 1875. Mr. Devermann has served as School Director four years, and Commissioner of Highways one term. He owns about 300 acres of land in Bath Township, Mason Co. JOHN H. H. DEVERMANN, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. O. Bath ; was born in Han- over, Germany, Oct. 28, 1834, and came to America with his father's family in 1849. For further mention of his father's family and their settlement here, see the above sketch of his brother. Mr. Devermann was married, Feb. 11, 1864, to Miss Mary, daughter of G. Dierker. Her grandfather, John H. Dierker, came to this country in 1838, when her father was about 9 years of age. She was born in Bath Township, this county, Oct. 2, 1841. They have had eight children, seven of whom are living Hannah M., born Dec. 10, 1864; Harman H., born Oct. 10, 1866; Katrina M. and Frankie D. (twins) May 24, 1869, (Frankie D. died Nov. 20, 1872) ; Anna M., born Jan. 9, 1872 ; Ida M., born July 10, 1874; Willie G. and Henry A., twins, born April 7, 1877. Mr. Devermann owns 360 acres of land in Bath Township, Mason Co. JOHN G. H. DIERKER, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 12, 1811. He came to America in 1851. They located in Bath Town- ship, Mason Co., the same year. He was married, in 1837, to Miss Katrina M. Budan, who was also born in Hanover, Germany. They had three children, one living Cath- arine, wife of Frederick Hahn. Mr. Dierker's wife died in 1842. and in 1844 he mar- ried Ann M. Vallenghorst, a native of Hanover, Germany. They have one child Kat- rina, wife of Henry Nehmilmann. She was married to Mr. Nehmilmann in 1867. They have four children living Harman, August, Mary and Henry/ They have lost one, Lewis, who died in March, 1877. STOKES EDWARDS, farmer, Sec. 36 ; 'P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Orange Co., Ind., Feb. 7, 1819. In 1832, he moved with his father's family to Morgan Co., 111., and in 1838, his father, Richard Edwards, moved to the State of Iowa. The sub- ject of this sketch located in Kilbourne Township, this county, in September, 1846, where he engaged in blacksmithing, which trade he followed for some twelve years, also improving a farm at the same time. In 1858, he removed to the village of Bath, and in February, 1863, located where he now resides. He was married, Oct. 28, 1843, to Miss Emily Ward, who was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., July 28, 1824. Her father's family removed to Morgan Co., 111., in about 1837. Elijah Ward, her father, built the third house erected in Waverly, Morgan Co. They have one child living Mrs. Neal Hasher, resides in Kilbourne Township. Mr. Edwards owns 307 acres of land in Bath and Kilbourne Townships. JOHN FLETCHER, farmer; Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Saidora; was born in Yorkshire, England, Dec. 28, 1827 ; he came to America in the spring of 1855, with his father's family ; they settled in Lynchburg Township, this county. The subject of this sketch was married, in January, 1859, to Mrs. Anna B. Carpenter (Moffat), who was born in Yorkshire, England ; she came to America in childhood ; they have five children, four of whom are living Edward S., Frederick B., Francis J. and Mary J. S. Douglass died May 29, 1863. Mr. Fletcher has served as Commissioner of Highways three years in Lynchburg Township, and two years in this, and is the present incumbent ; he owns 297 acres of land in Bath and Lynchburg Townships. He removed to his present home in 1863. BATH TOWNSHIP. 815 EZEKIEL FRIEND, retired physician, Saidora ; was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., Dec. 30, 1815 ; he received his early education in the common schools of Cum- berland and Franklin Cos., in which he resided some time prior to his removal to the West. In 1830, he commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. W. Cooper, of Chainbarsburg, Franklin Co., and in 1839, commenced the practice of his profession ; in the fall of 1841, he removed to Illinois, locatod in Cass Co., near Chandlersville, where, for many years, he was associated with Dr. Chandler in the practice of medicine. The Doctor removed to Mason Co., in the fall of 1854, and to his present home in August, 1855. On the llth of August, 1846, he was married to Miss Mary A. Ray, who was born in Kentucky, April 24, 1826 ; her death occurred Feb. 3, 1849 ; they had one child John C., born July 16, 1847. He was married to Sarah Humphrey June 28, 1849; she was born in Indiana Feb. 1, 1824; died July 2, 1854; two children by this union Mary Jane and Thomas. He was married to his present wife, Mary E. Curry, Aug. 31, 1855 ; she was born in New York July 1, 1838, they have nine children George W., born July 26, 1856 ; Josephine, January, 1858 ; Ellen V., Oct. 20, 1859 ; Alice P., Aug. 16, 1862; Adaline, Nov. 29, 1864 ; Charlotte E., June 7, 1867 ; Lucy A., Nov. 30, 1869 ; Charles H. F., Feb. 11, 1873 ; Theodore E., June 10, 1875. The Doctor is a son of John and Mary (Oliver) Friend ; his mother was a daughter of Nicholas Bonner Oliver, who came from England and settled in Philadel- phia, Penn. Dr. Friend has been in the active practice of his profession in Cass, Mason and adjoining counties, since 1841 (until within the past seven years), a period of nearly a quarter of a century. DAVID C. HARM1SON, physician and surgeon, Bath; was born in Berkeley Co., W. Va., Nov. 16, 1844, and is a son of John S. and Hannah (Butts) Harmison, both natives of Virginia. In 1849, the family removed to Champaign Co., Ohio, and, in the spring of 1852, came West, locating in Knox Co., 111., where the Doctor's parents still reside. The Doctor followed farming until 1864, and in October of that year enlisted in Co. A, 59th I. V. I., and served till the close of the war ; was mustered out of the service at San Antonio, Tex., Oct. 16, 1865. He was at the battles of Lynnville, Spring Hill, Colum- bia, Franklin, Duck River, Nashville, Pulaski, and the skirmishes, and was twice wounded at the battle of Nashville. On Jan. 2, 1866, he entered Hedding College at Abingdon, 111., completing the scientific course and graduating at that institution in 1869. He engaged in teaching, devoting his spare time to the study of medicine with Dr. J. J. Lobaugh, of Elmwood, Peoria Co., 111. He entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1877, and graduated in June of the following year. The Doctor came to Bath in August, 1875, and for two years had charge of the public schools. Since 1878, he has been in the constant practice of his profession at this place. He was married, Dec. 29, 1870, to Miss Isabelle Rafferty, who was born in Madison Co., Ohio. Five children by this union, four of whom are living Junius B., William V., Maud U. and Luclara. Laura M. E. died Jan. 31, 1876. GERHARD H. HAVIGHORST, deceased; was born in Hanover, Germany, Nov. 28, 1823 ; came to America in 1846 and located in Bath, Mason Co., 111., the same year ; he first engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed for many years, and subsequently engaged in the grain trade ; this he continued up to the time of his death, which occurred April 11, 1876. His widow, whose maiden name was Catharine J. Horstman, still resides at Bath, she is also a native of Hanover, Germany, and was born Jan. 2, 1830 ; her marriage to Mr. Havighorst took place June 1, 1850 ; by this union there were five children, three of whom are living Emma J., born Jan. 1, 1857 (wife of William Heberling); Franklin, Sept. 13, 1859; Stephen G., Feb. 6, 1866; the two deceased are Henry, born March 1, 1851, died July 23, 1857; Catharine E., born Jan. 4, 1854, died July 11, 1857. Mrs. Havighorst came to America with her father's family in earlv childhood; they settled at Matanzas, in this county, about 1838. WARREN HEBERLING, merchant, Bath; was born Harrison Co., Ohio, Feb. 3, 1839, and is a son of Henry and Hannah (Lewis) Heberling, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The subject of this sketch followed merchandisini: in 816 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Ohio for several years, and, in 1864, removed to Bath, Mason Co., 111., and engaged in his present business. He was married, July 31, 1860, to Miss Sarah J., only daughter of Isaac and Mary (Fulton) Vail, both natives of Pennsylvania. They removed to Illi- nois in 1843. and first settled in Fulton Co., and two years later came to Mason Co. The names of Mr. and Mrs. Heberling's children are as follows Mary L., Laura A. r Charles W. and Annie D. Mr. Heberling is Master of Bath Lodge, No. 494, A., F. & A. M., and has served in that capacity four separate terms since the organization of that body. He owns about 2,000 acres of land, 160 acres of which is in Kansas, and the balance in Mason and Fulton Cos., 111. J. HERMAN HEYE, farmer, Sec 10; P. O. Bath ; was born in Hanover, Ger- many, Sept. 15, 1836. His father, John H. Heye, died in 1837. In 1844, Mrs. Heye came to America with her only child (J. H.). They first stopped near Havana, Mason Co., and, in the spring of 1845, located in Bath Township, which has since been their home. His mother, Mary (Hiuslaga) Heye, who now resides with her son, was born in Hanover, Germany, Sept 16. 1800. The subject of this sketch was married, June 15, 1865, to Miss Anna C. Devermann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, May 8, 1843. She came, with her father's family, to America in the fall of 1849, and to Mason Co. the following spring. (Further mention of her father's family will be found in the sketches of her brothers, Jno. G. D. and Jno. H. H. Devermann.) They have four children living Henry, born Oct. 15. 1869; William, born Aug. 31, 1871; Carl, born Dec 14, 1873, and Margaret, born Feb. 6, 1876. Mary (deceased) was born Aug. 27, 1867, and died Oct. 6, 1869. Mr. Heye has served as School Director several years, and School Trustee two terms. He owns 360 acres of farm land and ninety-one acres of timber in Bath Township, Mason Co. JOHN W. HORSTMAN, of the firm of Horstman Bros., merchants, Bath ; was born at Matanzas, Bath Township, Mason Co., 111., April 20, 1842; his father, John R. Horstman, came to America in 1832, locating first in New Orleans, La; in the fall of 1836, he settled in what is now Bath Township, this county; he was born in Han- over, Germany, in 1808, and died Dec. 31. 1860 ; his wife, Eliza C., was born in 1818 in the same country as her husband ; her death occurred May 16, 1863. The subject of this sketch remained on his father's farm until 30 years old, and then removed to a farm near the village of Bath; he engaged in the mercantile business at Bath Jan. 1, 1875, under the firm name of Horstman & Schaaf ; in September, 1876, he sold his interest in the store and engaged in milling with R. E. Cameron ; he disposed of his interest in the mill the following May, having purchased an interest in the store of his brother, John R., April 2, 1877, since which, the firm has remained as above. He has served as member of the Town Board and as School Trustee each one term. In 1871, he was married to Miss Eliza C. Missinan, who was born in Bath Township, this county ; they have one child John F. Mr^. Horstman's father, Gerhard Missman, came from Hanover, Germany, to America in 1849. JOHN R. HORSTMAN, merchant, Bath ; was born in Bath Township, Mason Co., Feb. 5, 1849 ; he followed farming till about 21 years of age, and, in April, 1875, engaged in the mercantile business at Bath ; he sold an interest in the store to his brother, John W.. April 2, 1877, since which, the business has been conducted under the above firm name. On the 29th of April, 1875, he was married to Miss Eva L. McGehee, who was born in Bath Township, this county; they have orfe child living Hattie. Mr. H. is a member of the Town Board and has served as Collector one term. ROBERT HOUSTON, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. 0. Bath ; was born in Wheeling, Ohio Co., W. Va., Aug. 2, 1822 ; when about 12 years of age his father's family removed to Jefferson Co., Ohio. The subject of this sketch removed to Illinois,.in the spring of 1853, locating in Havana Township, this county, where he was employed on a farm till 1856, when he purchased a farm of 115 acres ia Bath Township, and now owns 360 acres in the same locality. Mr. Houston has served one term as Commissioner of Highways. He was married, in 1842, to Miss Sarah Moore, who was born in Belmont Co., Ohio; they have had nine children by this union, seven of whom are living Edward S., Ann E., wife of H. Allen , Sabina, wife of J. Keefer ; Virginia, wife of I. Pirish ; BATH TOWNSHIP. 81 1 Caroline, wife of William Matthews ; Julia, wife of G. W. Taylor, and Mary ; West and William R., are deceased. In March, 1862, Mr. Houston enlisted in the 51st T. V. I. r and in November following was transferred to the Engineer's Department, serving under General O. P. Morton. In March, 1863, they were ordered to Nashville, Tenn.; here Mr. Houston assisted in building two gun-boats and was placed in command of one. He served till the fall of 1863, and then resigned. In 4 ne &U f 1862, he received his commission as First Lieutenant. Mr. Houston first came West as early as 1837, and located in Iowa, but returned, after a residence there of about two years, to Ohio. HERMAN MIDDELKAMP, dealer in lumber, furniture, etc., Bath ; was born in Hanover, Germany, May 15, 1843 ; his father's family emigrated to America when he was about 12 years of age; they came via New Orleans, and settled in Bath Town- ship, where his parents still reside, in the fall of 1855. His father, John, and his mother, Adelhit (Hingstlage) Middelkamp, were born in Hanover, Germany. The subject of this sketch worked on his father's farm till 22 years of age, after which he worked at the carpenter's trade till 1878, when he engaged in his present business under the firm name of Middelkamp & Dierker. He was married, May 12, 1878, to Mis* Lena Frank, who was born in Mason Co., 111. They have one child, Mary. ERNEST A. MEYER, farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Havana; was born in Hanover, Germany, March 4, 1844, but cams to America with his- father's family in early child- hood. They settled in Bath Township, Mason Co., in 1848. Mr. Meyer was married, April 29, 1869, to Miss Anna C., daughter of George Dierker ; her father came to America in 1835, and located first in New Orleans, Li.; his brothers, John Henry and John Herman Dierker, cams from Germany in the fall of 1837, and the following year the three brothers came to Mason Co. Mrs. Meyer was born in Bath Town- ship, this county, Au2. 13, 1846. They have three children, Harman H., born Feb. 18, 1870; Emma M., Oct. 2. 1871, and Mary J., April 4, 1875. Mr. Meyer owns 484 acres of land in Bath, and 176 acre^ in Kilbourne Township. WILLIAM RIGGINS, farmer, Sec. 33 ; P. 0. Bath ; was born in Union Co. v Ind., March 14, 1827 ; in 1840, he removed to Illinois with his father's family, locating at Beardstown Feb. 22, of that year; he followed farming in Cass Co. till 1852, when he went to California, overland, via Salt Lake City ; in 1854, he returned from Cal- ifornia by way of the Isthmus, and the following year located in Mason Co., where he now resides. He was married, in 1857, to Miss Henrietta McGehee, who was born in Fulton Co., III.; her father settled in Fulton Co. at an early date, and was also an early settler of Mason Co.; they have four children Ada (wife of B. F. Gatton), Alva. Stephen and Nelson. Mr. R. owns 160 acres of land in Bath Township. BENJAMIN F. ROCHESTER, clerk, Bath; was born in Bath, 111., April 25, 1846. His father, Sidney Rochester, who was born in Knox Co., Ky., May 8, 1814, came to Illinois in 1835, locating in Whitehall, Greene Co., and was there married to Miss Sarah Stevenson, April 23, 1836, she was born in Middlesex Co., N. J., March 29, 1810 ; they removed to Mason Co. in 1842, and settled near Bath. There were nine children by this union, only two of whom are now living John L. and Benjamin F.; the deceased are Nathaniel S , William H., Charles G., George W., James S., Mary M. and Cornelia E.; John and William served in Co. E, 27th I. V. L, and Nathaniel and James in Co. D, 85th I. V. I.; all served till the rebellion was crushed. William, when mustered 'out, was in command of his company, with rank of First Lieutenant. Charles G. died in 1845 ; Cornelia E., Aug. 23, 1853 ; Geo. W., April 8, 1861 ; Mary M , Dec. 1, 1868 ; James S., Jan. 4, 1872, leaving a wife and one child; Nathaniel S., May 15, 1872 ; Wm. H., July 19, 1877, leaving three children, the death of his wife having or-curred some time previous. Mr. and Mrs. Rochester still reside in Bxth, hav- ing attained a ripe old age. John L. also resides in Bath, and is engaged in black- smithing. The subject of this sketch, prior to 1872, followed farming for sevejal years, and then engaged in teaching, which vocation he followed till the spring of 1875, when he entered the employ of J. R. Horstman, as clerk, and remained with him one year. He was married, Dec. 26, 1875, to Miss Lois A., daughter of Geo. A. and Sarah Bonney. Dec. 12, 1876, he was commissioned Postmaster at Bath, and on the first of January 818 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: following, took charge of the office. He resigned his office April 23, 1879, and entered the employ of A. Schaaf, as clerk. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Rochester are Ernest P., born Aug. 21, 1878, and Arthur N., June 9, 1879. Mr. R. is a member of Bath Lodge, No. 125, I. 0. 0. F., and has served as Secretary of same since July 1, 1875, with the exception of one term, when he was chosen Noble Grand. HENRY L. SAMUELL, farmer, Sec. 36; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born near Hopkinsville, Christian Co., Ky., Dec. 15, 1827, and is a son of Andrew and Sarah (Braddus) Samuell, both natives of Virginia; the former died in October, 1869, and the latter in January, 1865 ; in the fall of 1834, the family removed to Morgan Co., 111., and in the spring of 1846, located in Bath Township, Mason Co. The subject of this sketch was married, Feb. 24, 1848, to Miss Lydia Blunt, who was born in Barren Co., Ky., Feb. 9, 1829 ; her father, Thomas F. Blunt, settled in Bath Township, as early as 1833 ; by this union there were eleven children Brooking A., born Jan. 4, 1849, resides in Bath Township ; Ella C., Jan. 5, 1851 (wife of Perry Sutton), resides in Cass Co., 111.; Hickman B., Aug. 26, 1853, resides in Sherman Township; Lavinia J., May 22, 1855 (wife of W. Sutton), resides in Cass Co., 111.; Henry C., Aug. 30, 1857, died in September, 1858; Cassius M., Aug. 29. 1859, died in September, 1862; Frances L., Oct. 2, 1861, died in 1863; Joseph, born Aug. 8, 1864; Kittie W., Dec. 16, 1866; Charles A., April 25, 1869; the last three are at home; one child died in infancy. Mr. Samuell owns 360 acres of land in Bath Township, and 120 acres in Cass Co., 111., and is one of seven sons, who all (with the exception of one, who did not attain his full height, on account of hip disease) stood 6 feet 2 inches ; his father and twin brother also attained the same height as above. ANl)REW SCHAAF. groceries, queensware, etc., Bath ; was born in Hesse- Darmstadt, Germany, Sepc. 7, 1834. He came to America when about 12 years of age, with his father's family, locating first in Arenzville, Cass Co., 111., where they resided about three years, and then removed to what is now Bath Township, this county. Mr. Schaaf followed farming until 1875, when he engaged in his present business, under the firm name of Horstman & Schaaf, which continued under the above firm name till September, 1876, when he bought his partner's interest. He served as Collector in 1873; was a member of the Town Board about six years, and School Treasurer since 1873. Married, Oct. 8, 1857, Miss Sarah Welch, who was born in Ohio ; they have two children living George S. and Warren J. JOHN H. STRUBE, SR., farmer, Sec. 35 ; P. 0. Bath ; was born in Hanover, Ger- many, in August, 1819. He came to America in 1839, locating at New Orleans, La., where he resided till 1844, when his father's family came to this country and with their son to Bath Township. Mason Co., the same year. His father John H., was born in Hanover, Germany, December, 1787 ; died Aug. 7, 1870 ; his mother, Katrina ( Kemper) Strube, was born in the same county as her husband in 1785 ; she died in September, 1844. Mr. Strube was married, July 8, 1849, to Miss Helen M. Nullen, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 24, 1818 ; they have had five children, four of whom are living John H., born Aug. 11, 1852, he resides in Quiver Township; Henry, born July- 29, 1854; Mary, wife of Henry N. Stagin, resides in Bath Township, she was born Oct. 11, 1856 ; Richard F., Sept. 26, 1859. Mr. Strube owns 389 acres of land in Bath and 229 acres in Quiver Township. WILLIAM W. TURNER, billiard hall, Bath ; was born in Scott Co., 111., Nov. 30, 1834 ; when 10 years of age his father's family removed to Field's Prairie, Bath Township, this county. Mr. Turner worked on his father's farm till 22 years of age, then became a tiller of the soil on his own account. He enlisted in Co. D, 85th I. V. I., July 20, 1862 ; promoted to Second Lieutenant Dec. 21, of the same year, and resigned in 1864. During his term of service he was in the following engagements: battle of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Buzzards' Roost. Mr. Tur- ner was married, in 1858, to Miss Hannah Van Winkle, who was born in Morgan Co., 111.; they have five children Benjamin P., Lucy, Maggie, Felix H. and Bertha. He is a member of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. 5l. Owns 160 acres of land in Kansas. Since August, 1874, he has resided in Bath, his present home. QUIVER TOWNSHIP. 819 JAMES C. WHELPLEY, groceries, Bath ; was born in the Province of Nova Scotia, Nov. 19, 1839, but removed in early childhood with his father's family to Port- land, Me., where he resided [about seven years ; then removed to Peru, 111.; he came to Mason Co. July 28, 1866, and first worked at the harness trade, and about two years ago engaged in the grocery business. He served as President of the Town Board in 1877-78, and as School Trustee one term. In 1869, he was married to Miss Mary Cotnyges, who was born in Peoria, 111.; they have one child living William E. Mr. Whelpley is a member of Bath Lodge, No. 125, I. 0. 0. F. * QUIVER TOWNSHIP. LORING AMES, farmer; P. O. Topeka; son of Zephaniah Ames, whose ances- tors came over in the Mayflower during the reign of William and Mary. They were of English descent. His mother's maiden name was Case. She was born in Connecticut, and was married to Mr. Ames in Maryland. In 1818, they came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in St. Glair Co. for a few years. They moved, in 1823, to Adams Co., where they both died he, in 1835, and she, in 1825. The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 13, 1806, and, when 1 year old, moved with his parents to Hem- lock Forest, in Pennsylvania, and was there until 15 years old, when he came to Illinois with his parents. In 1827, he went to the lead mines in the West. During the time he was there, he participated in a war with the Indians, who were headed by Red Bud. He returned in 1829, and shortly afterward took a flatboat, starting from Quincy, 111., and running to New Orleans. This was the first flatboat ever run down from Quincy, and was loaded with hogs, corn, potatoes, onions and oak staves. _ He returned in 1830, and worked on a farm for Gov. Wood, for two years. He had con- siderable management of Gov. Wood's business, and was often called Governor by strangers. He next worked on a steam mill for Holmes; afterward, on a farm until 1832, when he was in the Black Hawk war. On his return, he began farming:, and continued it until married, which was in 1833, to Elmira Jones, daughter of Deacon Jones, who laid out Canton. In 1836, he moved to Fulton Co., and made brick in partnership with his father-in-law for one year ; he then farmed in Fulton Co. until 1856, when he came to Mason Co., and settled the present farm of 160 acres, which they have obtained by their own labor. He became a member of the Congregational Church in Quincy, 111., in 1831, and is now with the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Topeka, 111. His wife is also a member. The names of their children are Ardelia, Orpheus, who was in the war of the rebellion for three years ; Joel, also in the war ; George, Charles, Diantha and Emily. L. S. ALLEN, farmer and teacher ; P. 0. Topeka ; son of Sylvanus Allen, who was born in Mason Co., Ky., Feb. 10, 1797, and moved to Ohio in 1804 ; was married Nov. 29, 1821, to Miss Bakehorn, daughter of George Bakehorn ; she was born April 11, 1803, in New Jersey, and died Dec. 31, 1875. In the spring of 1830, they moved to Miami Co., Ohio, where they afterward resided. Mr. L. S. Allen was born Jan. 24, 1834, on a farm in Miami Co., Ohio ; at the age of 17, he began teaching, and made his home with his parents until he was married, Aug. 27, 1865, to Mrs. Ella F. Davis, a daughter of Amos Flowers ; her husband, Mr. Davis, died in the late war. In 1864, Mr. Allen began merchandising at Lena, Ohio, in partnership with Mr. Brecount. In 1865, Mr. Brecount drew out, and Mr. Allen continued the business until 1867, when he came to Mason Co., 111., and soon engaged in merchandising, at Topeka, in partner- ship with his brother-in-law, Mr. Flowers, and continued thus until about 1874, when they sold the business to Colviri & Hoagland. He then began teaching during the winters and farming in the summers, which he still continues. They have, by their frugality, secured themselves a house and lot in Topeka, and eighty acres of well- improved land near by. They have no children ; he has held the office of Town Clerk, and is at present a Notary Public ; he and his wife are members of the M. K. Church, at Topeka, in which ho has h^ld the offices of Steward and Trustee, and is now KK 820 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Superintendent of the Sabbath school in that Church. He was once Justice of the Peace, and was also in the war, enlisting in the 147th Ohio V. I. A. B. APPLEMAN, farmer; P. 0. Topeka; is the son of John and Catharine Appleman, both of New Jersey, the former of whom was born Oct. 7, 1800, came to Illinois about 1848, and was killed by a team running away, Sept. 28, 1866. He was a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. His wife was born Oct. 26, 1800 ; her maiden name being Cross. Her confession was with the Reformed Church, but she afterward united with the Presbyterian, in which communion she died, April 6, 1872, a faithful Christian, sincerely devoted to the interests of the Church. They had a family of eleven children William C., born Dec. 4, 1821 ; Mary A., Jan. 2, 1824; Cornelia E., Jan. 27, 1826; Sarah L., May, 1828: Margaret A. (deceased), Nov. 18,1830; Alexander C., Jan. 22, 1833 ; Emeline, Sept. 22, 1835 ; Fannie C., Feb. 14, 1837 ; Augustus B., Nov. 1, 1838 ; John, March 14, 1841 ; Josephus M., Nov. 5, 1843. The subject of this sketch was born in Somerset Co., N. J., and when 9 years old came with the family, by team, as was customary in those days, to Mason Co., 111., and settled on the farm which he now owns. It was then a raw prairie, but by their labors has become fine arable land. At 21, he rented of Mr. Anno for one year, afterward working on the farm of his brother-in-law, Mr. Cross. He then bought the present farm, the old homestead of his father, of 160 acres, and has since increased it to 280 acres. His marriage with Hannah C. McReynolds was celebrated Dec. 31, 1869, by Rev. Henry E. Decker, of the Reformed Church. Her father's name was Robert McReynolds, who was born April 13, 1791, in Columbia Co., Penn. He was a farmer, Assessor and Judge. Her mother's maiden name was Moyier. She was born Nov. 14, 1801, in Pennsylvania. They were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which communion they died. Mr. Appleman has been blessed with the following children Clara F., born in February, 1870 ; Clarence and Clayton, twins, Aug. 30, 1872 ; Frank M., Dec. 11, 1878., He has been and is now School Director, and was once Road Commissioner. His farm, which lies two miles northwest of Topeka, is one of the finest in the country. One could not be otherwise than happy, being thus surrounded by the fields and groves that lie adjacent to this residence. Yet Mr. Appleman has reasons for desiring to change localities. CHARLES BARTELS, fanner and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Topeka ; son of Henry Bartels, a native of Germany, who came to America some thirty years ago , was a farmer and coal miner, and now makes a home with Mr. Bartels, whose mother's name was Long, daughter of a noted farmer of Germany ; she came to America about thirty- three years ago. The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 15, 1849, in Pottsville, Penn., where he remained until 21, at which time he came, with his parents, to Illinois, settling on the present farm of 160 acres, eighty of which now belong to him, the rest to a brother ; this is the old homestead of his father. Mr. Bartels has made good improvements and possesses a fine little home. His marriage with Anna Wills was celebrated Aug. 11, 1872 ; she is a daughter of William Wills, of Topeka, one of the noted men and early pioneers of the township, and one of the first settlers of Mason Co. ; she was born in 1854, in Mason Co., III. ; two children were the fruit of their marriage George H., born May 30, 1873; Lillie A., Aug. 7, 1876. Mr. Bartels has followed threshing and carpentering; he has been no ofEce seeker, and has spent his past years in rural life. THEODORE BELL, druggist and hardware, Topeka ; son of William Bell, who was born in Pennsylvania ; was a stonemason, and died in August, 1861; his wife's maiden name was Hennigh, daughter of Daniel' Hennigh, a noted farmer; she survived her husband and, two years after his death, came to Illinois, and is now making her home in Kansas, with her son Daniel. The subject of this sketch was born May 18, 1846, on a farm in Pennsylvania, and remained there engaged in going to school most of the time until 15 years old, when he left the scenes of his childhood soon after his last farewell to his father, and came, with his two sisters and one brother, to Mason Co., 111.; two years afterward, his mother came. Mr. Bell engaged, at his settlemem, in farming for his older brother, Mr. Daniel Bell, with whom his mother makes her QUIVER TOWNSHIP. 821 home in Kansas, and worked for him one season ; when nearly 18, he enlisted in Co. L, llth I. V. C., and served eighteen months; returning from war, he began working for his brother, on a farm, for one summer, and then engaged in clerking in a drug store for Harper & Robinson, of Havana, for six months; he then taught school for some time in Sherman Township. Mason Co., and afterward attended school at the Northwestern University at Plainfield, 111., for two terms; from there he went to Penn- sylvania and engaged in reading law for a year with the firm of Longworth & Jenks ; afterward, he made a visit to Kansas and soon engaged in teaching school for three years, and, in 1875, he, like others who have left the beautiful plains of Mason Co., returned and engaged in teaching school for three years ; he then bought the drug store at Topeka, owned by C. H. Martz, to which he has added a hardware department,, and in which business he still continues ; he has held the office of Town Clerk. NATHAN CLARK, farmer ; P. 0. Petersburg ; is a native of Otsego Co., N. Y., where he was born May 9, 1818. There his boyhood and early life were spent, and, being of a musical turn, he studied music, and was for many years leader of a string band that became quite noted. He remembers furnishing music for Gen. Winfield Scott, and a number of other distinguished guests. He came to Illinois in 1863, locat- ing in Mason Co. He now owns a fine tract of land. He removed to Petersburg in 1877, and renovated the Elmo House, and opened it as the Clark House. He married Elvira, daughter of Capt. Benedict, of Maryland, Sept. 2, 1845. They are parents of nine children, all of whom are now living and well educated, five being already teach- ers. Few can look back with more satisfaction over their past life than Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Mr. Clark was for a number of years passenger conductor on the P., P. & J. R. R. In 1879, Mr. Clark moved upon his farm in Quiver, where he now resides. GEORGE D. COON, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Topeka ; son of Reuben and Anna Coon. The former was born on a farm in New Jersey, in 1787, and came to Illinois in 1842. His wife's maiden name was Drake, daughter of George Drake, of New Jersey. She was born in 1793. They are both dead; he died in 1862, she in 1853. They were both members of the Baptist Church of New Jersey, and died in that faith. The subject of our sketch was born April 9, 1813, in New Brunswick, N. J., and remained there until 1839, and was engaged in farming and blacksmith- ing. In that year he came, by team, to Illinois, and settled in Greene Co., where he remained until 1842, at which time he moved to Mason Co., and settled on a farm for some time. He then settled on the present farm of eighty acres, which he had entered from the Government prior to his settlement on the same. He has given his attention entirely to agricultural pursuits, and has increased his land to 820 acres, and has improved the same. Seven hundred and twenty acres of this land is the fruit of their own labor and management. He celebrated his marriage, in 1836. with Harriet Brown, daughter of Stephen Brown, of New Jersey. He came to Illinois in 1849, with a family of seven children. His wife's maiden name was Bishop. Mrs. Coon was born in 1815. Six children were the fruit of this happy marriage Mary J. (now Apple- man), who has taught school, Waller L., Reuben G., Sophia B., George D. ; deceased, R. R. Mr. Coon retains a membership in the Baptist Church in New Jersey. At (he time of Mr. Coon's settlement the county was but little settled, and there yet remained now and then a wild animal which had perhaps narrowly escaped the flint-lock and spear of the savage. He has toiled on in rural life in the same channel with his neigh- bors, and has improved these raw prairies. ALBERT CROSS, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Topeka; son of S. B. Cross, of Mason City Township ; his mother's maiden name was McReynolds, daughter of a noted farmer of New Jersey; he was born Aug. 11, 1856, on a farm in Mason 'Co.; 111., where he remained until 16 years old. at which time he moved with his parent* to Mason City Township, where they remained engaged in farming for four years. Mr. Cross, Sept. 20, 1876, was married to Fronia Slade, of Ohio, daughter of J. W. Slade ; her mother's name was Van Gorden. a native of Ohio. After marriage they settled on his father's farm in Mason City Township, and remained there some time, when they moved to the present farm of 160 acres, owned by J. W. Slade, which Mr. 822 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : Cross controls, and on which he is having good success, having this season raised, wheat which averaged over twenty bushels per acre; this farm is finely improved. They have been blessed with one child Stephen R., born Nov. 23, 1878. SARAH A. CADVVALADER, boarding, Topeka; is a daughter of Isaac Wise- man, a farmer of Ohio ; he was born in 1776 in South Carolina, and died Dec. 31, 1833, in Hamilton, Ohio. Her mother's maiden name was Harper, daughter of a farmer of Virginia; she was born in 1789 in Virginia, and died in 1856 in Ohio. The subject of this sketch was born in 1819 in Butler Co., Ohio ; when 14 years old, she went with the family to Hamilton, Ohio, where the family had gone for the benefit of part of them who were suffering with consumption, which disease ended the life of her father. In 1837, she was married to Hugh Beaty, a bricklayer and plasterer ; they settled at Hollow Springs for one year ; in the latter part of 1838, Mr. Beaty died, leaving her with an infant, which, shortly afterward, died also ; she then went to her mother's home in Hamilton, Ohio, where she bore this sad bereavement. In 1842, she came with her mother and sister to Havana, 111., where she remained seven years. We here noto a matter which shows a kind and sympathizing heart : This lady helped to make the shrouds and to lay out the bodies of eighty-five persons during a period of seven years. In 1849, she was married to Rees Cadwalader, a mechanic of Pennsylvania ; he was of a Quaker family, in which denomination he con- secrated his all: he died in 1867. She, sometime afterward, bought and improved some property in Topeka, 111., 1 where she now resides. By her last husband she had two children, both of whom died while infants. She is a strict member of the M. E. Church at Topeka, 111., in which communion she consecrated herself early in life. JOHN G. DEVERMANN, farmer and stock-dealer, P. 0. Topeka; son of John Deverman, of Hanover, Germany, who died about 1862. Mr. Deverman's mother's maiden name was Hurkamp ; she was born in 1803 in Germany, and died May 8, 1879, at Mr. Deverman's residence, in Quiver Township, where she had been living for some time ; she came to Illinois about 1863. Mr. Deverman was born Nov. 19, 1835, on a farm in Germany, and remained there until 22 years old, when he came to Illinois, settling in Havana for two months, and working for his brother-in law, at butchering; he next went to Matanzas, and engaged in farming for R. Havighorst, for one year, when he began farming, renting of George Beal for five years. He then, in 1864, married Anna Budke, of Germany, born in 1845 ; she came to Illinois, with her parents, in 1848 ; they were blessed with seven children Henry, Mary, Heoman, Willie, John, Lizzie and Katie (deceased). Mr, Deverman is now holding the office of School Director. He certainly felt decidedly the effects of poverty in his younger days ; on his arrival in this country he had but $15 ; this talent he improved, until now he has a farm of 225 acres, finely improved, the reward of his energy. J. W. DOWNEY, physician and surgeon, Topeka; son of W. B. Downey, who was a native of Indiana, and is a farmer, now living in Allin Township, McLean Co., 111. His parents were English descent; his mother's maiden name was Eaton, a daughter of John Eaton, of Indiana ; his father was also a farmer. Dr. Downey was born Nov. 4, 1851, near Martinsburg, Keokuk Co.. Iowa. At 41 years. he came with his parents, by team, as was customary in those days, to McLean Co., 111., and then engaged in farming and attending school. When 17 years of age, he began learning photography with Benjamin Gray, at Bloomington, 111. ; he continued this for one ye'ar, and then engaged to Gray and managed a gallery for him at Lincoln, Bloom- ington, and Fairbury ; while at the latter place, he bought this gallery from Gray, and moved it to Chatsworth, and there continued the business for six months In 1871, he quit photography, and returned to Allin Township, McLean Co., 111., where he attended school in the country. In 1872, he began teaching, which he continued, in connection with reading medicine, for over three years. In 1872, he attended one term at the Normal School, in McLean Co., 111. ; during the period he was teaching, he devoted every spare moment to the study of Latin and other branches congenial to his taste ; so earnest was he in the pursuit of the knowledge requisite to his future profession, that he studied on his way to and from school, and recited at night to John Q. Harris, who QUIVER TOWNSHIP. 823 was Principal of the Stanford Schools. He has passed through many of the higher studies. In 1875-76, he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in which he graduated, and then engaged in practice with Dr. S. B. Wright, at Stanford. 111., for one year. In 1877, he came to Topeka, 111., where he has since practiced. He is an active and enthusiastic member of his profession, and enjoys an extensive practice. He has served a full share of those humble, but important public offices. He has twice been a member of the Board of Trustees of Stanford, 111., and was also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library at the same place, of which he was one of the founders. He is' now Police Magistrate of Topeka, and also Town Treasurer. MOSES ECKARD, farmer ; P. O. Topeka ; son of Henry Eckard, of Balti- more, Md. ; was of German descent. His mother's maiden name is Glass. She was from Maryland, and of German descent. They raised a family of four, two of whom survive Mr. Eckard and Elizabeth Morton. She is now living on the old homestead of her father. Mr. Eckard was born Oct. 8, 1812, in Fredericks Co., Md. He worked at farming. In 1837, he left the scene of his childhood for Ohio, where he worked at farming, carpentering, and such work as he could get to do. He afterward went to Kentucky, and there worked by the month at $12 until 1839, when he settled in Fulton Co , 111., for one year, and then worked for Jacob Moss for one year. He then came to Mason Co., and worked by the month for a long time. In 1844, he began farming eighty acres a part of the present farm of 500 acres, which was then raw prairie, but now has become fine arable land. By marriage he added 200 acres, making 700 acres. He was married to Sarah E. Simmonds Feb. 15, 1844. She was a daughter of Pollard Simmonds, who was born May 2, 1799, and was a farmer and mil- ler. His father was born in 1773. His mother's maiden name was Ritter. She was the daughter of Richard Ritter, of Maryland, born in 1763. Their marriage occurred Aug. 7, 1821, in Kentucky. Mrs. Eckard was born June 29, 1822, in Mason Co., Ky. She was the oldest of nine children, of whom but five survive Her father and mother are dead. He died Feb. 14, 1864, in Illinois, and she died May 10, 1855, in Illinois. They have had six children; the living are Sarah, W. H., station agent at Topeka, James P. and Johti-R. W. H. ECKARD, express and station agent and grain merchant, Topeka ; son of Moses Eckard, who was born in Maryland and a mechanic ; his mother's maiden name was Simmons ; daughter of P. Simmons, of Kentucky; she was born in 1823, in Kentucky. The subject of this sketch was born .May 1, 1846, on a farm in Mason Co., 111., and remained there engaged in farming until 1867, when he engaged in merchandising at Topeka for a year, after which he engaged as statioa and express agent at Topeka ; also in buying grain for McFadden & Simmons, at this place, which he still continues. He was married, in 1868, to Amelia J. Bandean, daughter of John and Jane Bandean ; her father was drowned in a lock at Louisville, Ky., about the year 1846; her mother died in July, 1874. Mr. Eckard has held the office of Township Collector and Clerk, and is now School Director. He has frugally used his means, and has secured a nice house and lot in Topeka. Has three chil- dren Freddie R., Elmer^M. and Harry W. D. W. FLOWERS, merchant, Topeka ; son of Amos and Phoebe Flowers ; was born in Pennsylvania ; the former was a merchant, physician and minister of the M. E. Church ; he died July 30, 1861, in Ohio ; the maiden name of the latter was Longstreth, daughter of Miller Lougstreth, a noted farmer ; she died Aug. 12,1874. Theyliad eleven children, all of whom died in infancy except four. Mr. Flowers was born Juno 9, 1846, in Pal estine, Darke Co., Ohio, and remained there until 6 years old, when the family moved to Miami Co., Ohio, where Mr. Flowers remained until 1866, when he came alone to Mason Co., and settled, teaching school at the Walker district, Mason Co., for one term ; he then came to Topeka and engaged as clerk in the dry-goods store of Eckard & Nichols for two years ; he then went into partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. L. S. Allen, in dry-goods, under firm name of Allen & Flowers, and was thus connected six years. They then drew out, and the firm became Colvin 824 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: & Hoagland. He then engaged in buying grain at Topeka for tVo years, for himself, after which he engaged in clerking for the firm of S. V. Brown (now Oliver Brown), which he still continues. His first marriage was in 1869, to Cassie Kelley, daughter of James Kelley, a farmer and stock-raiser; she died July 5, 1873, leaving two chil- dren Harry W. and Ellis C. In 1875, he was married to Mattie Curtis, daughter of Alfred Curtis, of Butler Co., Ohio. By this wife he also had two children Edna M. and Laura B. He has held the office of Town Trustee of Topeka, and Director of Schools, which he still holds, and has also been Town Clerk and Postmaster. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church of Topeka. J. H. HUGHES, farmer and stock-dealer; P. 0. Topeka ; son of Harry Hughes, of Scotland, who was awhile in Pennsylvania a physician and overseer of iron-works. His wife was Hannah Penchion, daughter of John Penchion, of Ireland. She was born in Pennsylvania. He died about 1849, and his wife some time afterward came to Ohio, where she died in 1871. They were both strict church members. The subject of this sketch was born Oct. 5, 1841, on a farm in Franklin Co., Penn., and there remained till 21, when he enlisted in the 21st P. V. C., and served nearly two years; was a Corporal, and was wounded in the thigh at the battle of Bunker Hill, Va. On his return from the war, he engaged in teaching and teaming, in Noble Co., Ind., for about two years. In the spring of 1865, he left Indiana, with but little means, and came to Mason Co., 111., having on his arrival at Havana only $13.60 ; he engaged at work in a livery stable for Joseph Taylor, of Havana, for three months, when having saved his means, he engaged in partnership with Taylor, and was thus connected for three years, when Mr. Taylor drew out and the firm changed to Hughes & Banould, and continued such until : 869, when they sold to Taylor, and Mr. Hughes engaged in farming on 40 acres of land, near Mason City, which he owned ; he was also renting in addition ; he continued his farming at said place for two years, during which time he added 80 acres, and then traded his 120 acres for the present farm of 250 acres to which he has since added, until he now has 450 acres, which have been obtained entirely by his own labor, and which he has improved and made of fine quality, and well adapted to cattle raising, which he makes a specialty. Mr. Hughes was married, in 1867, to Georgiana Taylor, daughter of Joseph Taylor, one of the early settlers of Mason Co., and once Mr. Hughes' partner in the livery business; Mr. Taylor's wife's name was Honchin ; she was born in Kentucky, and is still living ; she had six chil- dren. Mr. Hughes has been no office-seeker, but has been connected with the schools. He and his wife are members of the Christian Church at Ebenezer. Their marriage blessed them with three children, all living Cleggitt, born April 28, 1869 ; Ethiel G., July 31, 1871 ; Lulia B., Nov. 7, 1875. CONRAD HEINHORST, farmer and stock-dealer ; P. 0. Bishop's Station ; son of William and Louisa Heinhorst of Germany ; the former was born in 1811 ; the lat- ter in 1811, also ; her name before marriage was Miller, daughter of Fred Miller ; they came to this country in 1854. The subject of this sketch was born in 1837, on a farm in Germany, and remained there until 17 years old, when he came with the family to Illinois, settling near Chicago and remaining there two years ; while there, three of the family died with cholera. They next moved to Mason Co., and settled at Long Point, near Bishop's Station, where he lived until 1861, when he enlisted in Co. G, 38th I. V. I., and was four and a half years in the war, and was Corporal. On his return, he married Mary Himmel, daughter of John Himmel. They at once settled , 1 879, in Allen's Grove Township; they are buried in Circleville, Tazewell Co., 111. Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Reed have three children John Isaac, born 842 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Feb. 19, 1874; Frederick, May 14, 1876, and Charles E., born Feb. 18, 1879.. Leonard Reed is a member of Lodge, No. 645, of A., F. & A. M., at San Jose. CHRISTIAN F. SCHLINGER, merchant, dry goods, groceries, notions, queens- ware, etc. (country produce bought and sold), San Jose ; was born in North Prussia June 23, 1832; until he was 18 years of age, he remained home with his parents, attending school and farm work. He arrived at New Orleans in June, 1850; from there he went up to St. Louis : on account of the prevalence of cholera, they were quarantined five days, but reached St. Charles, Mo., his place of destination, in July following; there he remained, engaged variously in mercantile business, until 1865; that year, he became a member of the German Southwestern Methodist Episcopal Conference; was ordained Deacon in 1867, and an Elder in 1869; up to 1875, preached regularly ; then, on account of impaired health, he took a superannuated position, which he now holds. He married Catharine A. Westenkuehler July 18, 1855 ; she was born in Germany in August, 1826 ; they have had five children Paulina S.,. born Jan. 1, 1859 ; Julia W., April 17, 1861 (died May 30, 1864) ; Sophia H. H., April 12, 1863 ; Mary C. E., May 2, 1865, and Annie R., Feb. 17, 1870. He owns a farm of eighty acres in Tazewell Co., and a store and three lots in San Jose. ISAAC F. STONE, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; one of the old settlers of Mason Co. ; born in Chenango Co., N. Y., where he lived until 14 years of age, at which time he came to Illinois with his parents, and located in Menard Co., and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, until he attained his majority. In 1852, he went by ox teams overland to California, crossing the Rocky Mountains at South Pass ; he followed mining in Califor- nia, until 1858. when he returned and purchased 80 acres upon Sec. 32, Town 21, Mason Co., to which he has since added until he now owns 635 acres, with good farm buildings, where he has resided for a period of twenty years. He married Maria P. Freeman in 1858; eight children were born to them, of whom Lettie M.. John F. and Walter now survive. WILLIAM STEFFAN, merchant tailor, San Jose ; was born in Babenhausen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Sept. 6, 1834; he learned and worked at the tailor trade in Germany. He landed in New York City June 14, 1853; arrived at Chicago the next week ; settled at his trade at Blue Island, Cook Co., 111. ; came to San Jose, where he resides, in October, 1875. He married Catharine Elizabeth Bauer, at Crown Point, Ind., Mareh 27, 1859 ; she was born in Newark, N. J., Nov. 27, 1837 ; her father and mother were born in Germany, and married in Jersey City, N. J. ; her father, George Bauer, died in Sandwich, 111., Nov. 6, 1875 ; her mother, Catharine E. Bauer, resides in Blue Island, 111. Mr. jnd Mrs. Steffan have had four children Catharine E., born March 22, 1860, died Jan. 6, 1873; George W., born April 13, 1862; Frederick Adam, Oct. 31, 1876, and Samuel Christian, Dec. 16, 1878. He owns a house and lot in San Jose. BENJAMIN W. TAYLOR, Supervisor, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Pike Co., Ind., Oct. 20, 1840; came to Allen's Grove, with his parents in April, 1851. He has followed farming and stock-raising, mainly, fine horses and swine. In April, 1865, he went into the mercantile business in/ Mason City, but not finding it altogether to his liking, and too confining for his health, he sold out in the fall following; he married Harriet E. Hill Sept. 13, 1865: she was born in Scott Co., 111., Aug. 6, 1850, and came to Mason Co., with her parents (who now reside in Mason City) in 1860. They have five children Harry W., born Sept. 18, 1866 ; Reason A., Sept, 18, 1869 ; Charles L., July 11, 1871 ; Benjamin W., Jan. 25, 1873, and Bessie, Dec. 25, 1875. Mr. Taylor was elected Supervisor in April, 1879 ; has filled the office of School Director for six years, Clerk of the Board three years; also Commissioner of Highways six years, and Clerk of that Board, also Treasurer. As a gentleman he com- mands the respect and confidence of all who know him. He owns 460 acres of land, and a fine home in Allen's Grove Township, where he resides. SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 84 3 SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. WILLIAM F. AUXIER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Floyd Co., Ky., Jan. 26, 1834 ; from the age of 14 to 18 years, he followed boating on the Big Sandy and Ohio Rivers ; all the schooling he received, he got in about three months, under immeasurable difficulties, though he is now a well-informed, self-edu- cated man, having an excellent faculty of expressing and elucidating any subject, on any and all occasions ; in business, he has always been successful ; in 1852, he came to Mason Co., and worked here and there farming and herding cattle for wages, until 1855 ; he then commenced on his own account, and in 1856, he took his first lot of fat cattle to New Yor-k City, being the first ever shipped by cars from Salt Creek Town- ship. Oct. 25, 1859, he married Mary A. Denham ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in 1839 ; they have three children Emma, born March 20, 1861 ; Clark, Dec. 27, 1863; Cora, Dec. 15, 1865. He owns 400 acres of good land in Salt Creek Town- ship. ISAAC BELLAS, farmer ; P. 0. Mason City ; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., March 2, 1820 ; his advantages for a common-school education were fair for those days ; several winters he engaged in teaching district schools, and in the summer worked at farming. Before he moved West, Nov. 21, 1846, he married Miss Dorcas Bens- coter ; she was born in the same county March 17, 1827 ; they moved to Mason Co., 111., in April. 1854; he worked by the day, farming, until fall, when he put in a crop of wheat for himself; the next spring, he bought the place where he now resides, in Salt Creek Township ; he has never taken any active part, politically, but has held some township offices twice Assessor, Collector six years, and School Director ten years ; was elected Justice of the Peace once, but declined the office ; they have had eight children James, born Oct. 4, 1847, died Sept. 15, 1849; Monemia C., born Sept. 6, 1849, died Oct. 8, 1852; Dyson B., born Jan. 17, 1853, died April 1, 1862; Susanna E., born May 5, 1857; Sarah A., Dec. 28, 1860, died April 8, 1869; Mary J., born Aug. 7, 1863; Ross, Feb. 25, 1866; Rosa A., Nov. 19, 1868. He owns a nice farm of 120 acres; is a Republican, and belongs to the Order of Red Men, in Mason City. AARON A. BLUNT, President of the First National Bank of Mason City, farmer and stock- ra iser ; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Hart Co., Ky., Feb. 21, 1831, and moved to Field's Prairie, in what is now Bath Township, Mason Co., with his parents, Dec. 6, 1833 ; since his early youth, he has given his attention mainly to farming and stock-raising; has been a Director in the First National Bank of Mason City since its organization, and was elected its President in February, 1879. He married Martha Ann Trailer Feb. 26,1852; she was born in Springfield, 111., June 23, 1831; they have had nine children Laura, born Dec. 12, 1852, died Sept. 18, 1853; Hiram M., born March 2, 1854, died June 20, 1855 ; Stephen L., born Sept. 25, 1856; Sinai E. r Jan. 3, 1859; Franklin D., Feb. 23, 1861, died Sept. 30, 1863; Lydia A., born May 9, 1863; Mary I., Nov. 6, 1865; Juliette A., Sept. 21, 1868, died Aug. 10, 1870; Alonzo A., born March 23, 1872. Mr. Blunt united with the Baptist Church Dec. 16, 1849; was ordained to the ministry, and has held the pastorate of several churches. His father, Thomas F. Blunt, was born in Kent Co., Md., July 24, 1800, and moved to Kentucky in his boyhood. Feb. 26, 1822, he married Sinai F. Alderson, of Hart Co., Ky.; they had eight children, four of whom are living Aaron A., the subject of this sketch, Lydia F., Hiram and Thomas R. In the fall of 1831, he moved to Cal- away Co., Mo., and in 1832, to what is now 'Mason Co.; Dec. 6, 1833, he was an organic or charter member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and is the only male char- ter member now living in the county; in 1849, unaided and alone, he built a house for school and church purposes, and at his own expense provided a teacher for the ensuing winter; he bought and used the first power threshing machine, also the first reaper ever used in Mason Co.; the 17th of August, 1872, had an attack of palsy of his right 844 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: side, from which he has never recovered. Though infirm and aged, he is living happy and contented with his youngest son, Thomas R., at Field's Prairie, in Bath Township, Mason Co. HENRY C. BURNH AM, farmer; P. 0. Mason City ; was born in Hampton, Conn., Jan. 30, 1826. He was educated at home, and also furnished the advantages of high schools and academies abroad. At the age of 19, he moved to Champaign Co., Ohio, and engaged in teaching school for awhile, and finally entered the mercantile bus- iness, which being too confining, he sold out and returned to Connecticut. He there married Miss Angeline Currier Dec. 1(5, 1847. She was born in Genesee Co., N. Y., Dec. 16, 1825.. Her father, Elisha Currier, married Mary Blaisdell Oct. 9, 1817, in New Hampshire, and, in 1823, they moved to Naples, N. Y. Her mother died ( in Woodstock, Ohio, May 15, 1868, aged 73 years ; her father still resides in Woodstock, in the 87th year of his age. Mr. Burnhani came to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and settled in Salt Creek Township ; he is a member of and Master of Mason City Lodge, No. 403, A., F. & A. Masons ; he has been Associate Justice of the County Court ; Treasurer of the school fund many years ; is Supervisor ; though in no sense has he ever been an office-seeker. They have seven children Lora M.,born Oct. 16, 1848 ; Alonzo F., June 29, 1853 ; Rose A., Oct. 8, 1855 ; James E., January 9, 1857 ; George T., Aug.^20, 1860 ; Henry P., Dec. 7, 1862, and Caroline A., July 4, 1866. He owns a fine farm of 320 acres, and a good substantial home with modern improvements and com- forts. ABRAM CEASE, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mason City ; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., June 6, 1824; he followed farming and lumbering. Married Ellen Wandel Feb. 13, 1847 ; she was born in the same county Dec. 28, 1826. Her father, James Wandel, was also born in that county May 3, 1790, and married Lucy Tilbury, who died May 22, 1854, aged 61 years 10 months and 26 days. She was buried in Penn- sylvania Township. James Wandel died in Luzerne Co. while on a visit to his old home, Feb. 18, 1874. During his lifetime in the Eastern wilds, and on the Western prairies, he was a great hunter ; many a noble buck, bear, wolf, catamount and fox, and smaller game have succumbed to his unerring aim. Mr. and Mrs. Cease moved to Mason Co. in May, 1849 (her parents came a year later), and entered land in what is now Pennsylvania Township. In the spring of 1851, they moved a granary building (thirteen miles), which was 10x12 feet, on to their farm on Pennsylvania Lane, in which they (family of five persons) lived while they erected a house, which was the first built on Pennsylvania Lane. They moved into it Sept. 15 following. That season they raised corn ; in the fall sowed wheat; so they were comfortably fixed in their pioneer home. In 1867, sold their farm and moved to Mason City, and, in 1878, moved to their farm where they now reside, in Salt Creek Township. They have had ten children Elvira, born March 5, 1848, she married Schuyler J. Ross ; Eliva, Aug. 28, 1849, she married William Stickler; Emma J., Nov. 16, 1850, she married Simon Stickler; Henry B., born Sept. 21, 1852. died Nov. 8, following: Mary M., born April 8, 1854, died Nov. 14, 1855 ; Charles W., born June 26, 1855 ; Frances L., Nov. 29, 1857, she married Isaac W. Hendry; George A., March 2, 1860; James P., born Feb. 8, 1863, died Nov. 26, fol- lowing; and Oscar J., born June 16, 1865. They own a fine farm of 240 acres, also two houses and lots in Mason City. In politics, he is a Democrat. GEORGE W. ELY, farmer; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Batavia, Clermont Co.. Ohio, Feb. 11, 1820, where he followed market gardening. He married Lydia C. Noble July 27, 1846. She was born in Bethel, the same county, Feb. 26, 1826. They moved to Cass Co., LI., in the spring of 1854, and to Mason Co., where he now resides, in the fall, on to his own farm. His father, George Ely, was born in New Jersey, and married Mary Maunt in New Jersey. They moved to Clermont Co., Ohio, at an early day ; lie bought land, and laid out Batavia on his farm ; he kept a hotel, and was Sheriff of the county a number of years. Mr. G. W. Ely commenced farming here under a cloud of unfavorable circumstances, largely owing to the breaking-out of the rebellion, being in debt, having to pay exorbitant interest (18 per cent), his corn bringing only 8 to 10 cents per bushel, but energy and perseverance have enabled him to overcome and SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 845 rise above all these troubles, and place him and his in comfort and independence. They have five children Sarah J., born July 6, 1846; Eugene B., Dec. 4, 1848; George C., Nov. 8, 1851 ; John H., Sept. 9, 1801 ; James N., May 24, 1863. The first three were born in Newtown, Ohio, aud the other two in Salt Creek Township. He owns a fine farm of 304 acres, and a good home. In politics, is a Republican. WILLIAM P. FAULKNER, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Mason City ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Dec. 23, 1825 ; with his parents, he went to Fulton Co., 111., Nov. 30, 1838, and, in February, 1839, to Mason Co. In the spring of 1851, he began farming on his own account; not being worth a dollar, yet his credit enabled him to buy forty acres prairie land on time, and live in a shanty until they could do better. He married Melissa A. Virgin March 20, the same year; she was born in Ohio Dec. 4, lS:n. They had five children Thomas J., born Dec. 27, 1852, and died March 8, 1853 ;/ Eliza J., born Feb. 25, 1854, died Aug. 3, 1873; Arabella E., born Feb. 28, 1856, died April 15, 1857; Belle A., born Nov. 6, 1860, died April 28, 1865, and Francis R., born Dec. 16, 1863. Mrs. Faulkner died March 22, 1877. His second marriage was celebrated Sept. 5, 1877, with Mrs. Mahulda Phillips, of Mason Co. ; she was born May ,24, 1855. She has, in her union with John M. Phillips, deceased, two children Walter R., born Sept. 4, 1873, and William K., born Jan. 13, 1875. By this second marriage, they have one child Ora May, born Feb. 19, 1879. Mr. Faulkner now owns 604 acres of as good land as there is in Mason Co. DAVID W. HILYARD, farmer and stock-raiser ; P.O.Teheran; was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., April 1, 1827. Married Catharine F. Tomlinson, of the same county, Sept. 4, 1851 ; her birthday occurred March 9, 1833; they moved to Mason Co., 111., in March, 1855, and opened a general country store in Salt Creek Township, but sold it out in the fall of 1856 ; in the spring of 1857, moved to the farm where they now reside; Feb. 17, 1867, their house was entirely destroyed by fire, and so sud- denly, though at midday, they found it impossible to save anything except a very little bedding and personal clotMng. They have had twelve children, viz., Mary E., born Oct. 15, 1852 (she married Lorenzo F. Chester, and resides in Cass Co., Iowa); Han- nah H., born Sept. 11, 1854 ; Preston J. P., June 4, 1856 (lives in Cass Co., Iowa) ; Emer E., Aug. 26, 1858, died Sept. 23, 1859 ; Lincoln Hamlin, born Aug. 26, 1860 ; Edmond F., Aug. 15, 1862; Robert F., March 2, 1865; Emer E., Dec. 10, 1867; Charles B., Sept. 9, 1869; George H., Nov. 2, 1871, died Aug. 14, 1872 ; Walter R., born Feb. 16, 1874, died July 31, 1874, and Joseph L., born Sept. 30, 1876, died Oct. 27, 1876. In New Jersey, Mr. Hilyard was a member of the I. 0. 0. F., and in politics is a Republican ; he owns a good farm of 160 acres, and a nice home. MICHAEL MALONEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Westinade Co., Ireland; in the fall of 1854, he landed in New York City; there he worked at his trade stone-cutting until the next summer ; he then went to Mason Co., 111., where he worked at farming about a year and a half for wages, then he rented farm land ; in 1867, he made a small land purchase where he now resides, in Salt Creek Tuwnship. He married Sarah E. Hadlock, of Mason Co., in 1861 ; they had two children, viz., Mary A., born Aug. 4, 1862, died March 18. 1866 ; Edward F., born March 9, 1864, died Sept. 24, 1864; Mrs. Sarah E. Maloney died Aug. 19, 1866. His second marriage was celebrated March 26, 1867, with Mrs. Sarah A. Auxier ; she was born near Swing's Grove, in Mason Co.. Dec. 13, 1840; she had four children by her marriage with Samuel W. Auxier, viz., George W., born July 19, 1855, died Oct. 22, 1864; 'Mary L., born April 3, 1857, died Sept. 10, 1858 ; John, born July 8, 1860, and Samuel L., born March 26, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Maloney have five children, viz., Anna Virgin, born Jan. 31, 1868; Elizabeth E., Nov. 16, 1870; Emma D., March 31, 1872; Thomas L., April 20, 1874, and Sarah May, June 8, 1876. Mr. Malony is serving his second term as School Director, and second year as Commissioner of High- ways ; he belongs to the " Modoc Tribe of Red Men," No. 14; he owns a fine, wull- improved farm, containing 305 acres. GEORGE W. MOSLANDER, farmer; P. O. Teheran; was born in Sangamon Co., 111., May 13, 1844; son of James and Elizabeth Moslander ; they moved to Mason 846 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Co. in 1845. He married Frances E. Douglas, of Fulton Co., Ill , Nov. 11, 1869 ; she was born in Clark Co., 111., Feb. 12, 1848; they have had three children, viz., Law- rence, born July 29, 1871, died July 31, 1872; Ida May, born Oct. 12, 1873; Louis, June 28, 1875. In August, 1802, Mr. Moslander enlisted in Co. C, of the 85th I. V. I., for three years' service; was engaged in the battles of Peiryville, Ky., Stone Rive r, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, and at the siege of Atlanta, Ga. ; July 27, 1864, was taken prisoner and taken to Anderson ville ; in three months, was removed to the prison in Millen, Ga. ; kept about three months, then to Savanna, Ga., about six weeks ; he was then taken back to Andersonville, where he was kept till April 29, 1865 ; was then sent to Jacksonville, Fla., and exchanged ; he was given transportation from there to Annapolis, Md. ; thence to St. Louis, Mo. ; thence to Springfield, 111., where he got his discharge, in June, 1865. When he entered Ander- sonville prison, he weighed 145 pounds; when he left it, his weight was reduced to 65 pounds. Comment is unnecessary here. He then returned to his farm in Salt Creek Township, where he now resides, and owns a fine home and farm of 1 60 acres. WILLIAM McCARTY, farmer and breeder of blooded Holstein and Jersey cattle and Yorkshire swine; P. 0. Mason City; was 'born in Menard Co., 111., Dec. 11, 1845 ; is the eldest son of Thomas McCarty, of Mason City. He married Sarah J. Ely, daughter of George W. Ely, of Salt Creek Township, Dec. 16, 1866; they have four children, viz., William E., born Sept. 11, 1867; George T., March 14, 1870; Malinda J., Sept. 25, 1873, and Francis Otis, Feb. 19, 1878. He is working one of his father's farms in Salt Creek Township, of 240 acres, and has a pleasant home. JOHN McCARTY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mason City ; was born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 19, 1836 ; came to Menard Co., 111., with his parents in the fall of 1838 ; in 1839, moved to Mason Co., where he now resides ; has always followed farming and raising stock; his father and mother moved from North Carolina to Ohio. Mr. McCarty married Anna Josephine Beck November 14, 1867 ; she was born in Shelby Co., Ohio, March 9, 1847. Mr. McCarty began life with nothing and never had a cent given him ; he now owns a fine home and 1,066 acres of land in Salt Creek Township and ten acres inside the corporation of Mason City. Is a Director in the First National Bank of Mason City ; was Commissioner of Highways nine years, but declined the honor in 1878. He belongs to Modoc Tribe of Red Men, No. 14, of Mason City. They have two children Onie Bell, born May 7, 1869, and Ida Dell, born Jan. 10, 1873. JACOB F. MULFORD, farmer: P. 0. Mason City : was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., Aug. 12, 1838; came to Mason Co., 111., in November, 1847. Aug. 1, 1861, he enlisted in Co. A, 28th I. V. I., for three years' service ; previously, he enlisted for the ninety days' call, but was not ordered out unti] after he re-enlisted, as above stated : he received a bullet in his leg at the battle of Shiloh that laid him up about two months ; he was in many other and some serious engagements ; he re-enlisted Jan. 4. 1863, for another three years or during the war, and remained in the service almost a year after the surrender of the last rebel ; was discharged at Brownsville, Texas, April 14, 1866 ; what were le't of their regiment disbanded at Springfield, 111. He married Miss Clarinda McCarty May 27, 1866 ; she was born in Salt Creek Township Mar?h 18, 1848 ; they have had nine children Thomas E., born April 28, 1867 ; Carrie I., Dec. 5, 1868; Norman 0., March 7, 1870; Effie M., Sept. 14, 1871 ; Rosie E., Jan. 29, 1873; Jacob E., Aug. 22, 1874, died Dec. 26, 1877 ; John H., born June 14, 1876; William L., Nov. 4, 1877, and the baby, March 12, 1879. Sept. 12, 1874, they moved to Missouri and remained three years, and then returned to the farm where they now reside in Salt Creek Township. ALPHEUS P. ROLL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Teheran; was born in Sangamon Co. 111., Sept. 17, 1830; moved to the place where he now resides in Salt Creek Township in 1851. His father, William Roll, was born in Essex Co., N. J., June 16, 1786, and married Mary Eddy, of the same place; she was born Feb. 18, 1793 ; they moved to Sangamon Co., 111., in 1830 ; he died Aug. 11, 1849, and she died Dec. 6, 1876. Alpheus P., the subject of this sketch, married Mary E. Moslander April 6, SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP. 847 1850, at Bath, Mason Co., 111. ; she was born in Cape May Co., N. J., Jan. 12, 1828 ; her father, James Moslander, and her mother, Elizabeth, were born in Cape May Co., N. J., he in 1795, she in 1806; they moved to Sangamon Co., 111., in 1840, and to Mason Co. in 1845 ; he died in April, 1849 ; she died Nov. 24, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Roll have had seven children L. G., born Sept, 24, 1850, died Aug. 28, 1851 ; James M., born Oct. 7, 1851, died Aug. 24, 1853; John E. and Mary E.^born Sept. 14, 1853; Rosa R., April 26, 1859, died Nov. 15, 1862; Charles H., born Sept. 13, 1863; Sidney R., March 19, 1866. John E. married Phoebe D. Roll; they reside near his father. Mary E. married William Peterson and resides in Cass Co., Iowa. Mr. Roll owns 360 acres and a very fine home and surroundings complete, also a house and lot in Mason City. JOHN Y. SWAAR, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Mason City; was born in Scioto Co., Ohio, March 17, 1816 ; from 1829 to 1836, he was engaged in boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers; moved to Illinois in 1837; although he has ever since lived within five miles of his present residence in Salt Creek Township, has lived in Sangamon, Menard and Mason Cos. He mawied Sarah R. Powell, of Menard Co., Aug. 20, 1840 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, June 4, 1822 ; her father and mother moved from Kentucky to Ohio, and from there to Indiana, and to Menard Co. in 1825 ; they have had twelve children Henry M., born Aug. 9, 1841 ; Harriet E., Aug. 27, 1843 (married Edward S. Hibbard and lives in Kansas); William M., Nov. 3, 1845; George H., Oct. 6, 1847 (married Mary E. Engel (deceased June 10, 1879, aged 19 years 4 months and 3 days); Sarah K., born April 6, 1850 (married William Mark- well); Alcy J., born Feb. 20, 1852; Samuel P., Sept. 1, 1854, died Sept. 14, same year; Amanda I., born Nov. 26, 1855; John C., Dec. 21, 1857; Oratia N. and Letitia A., Sept. 12, 1859 ; Abigail, Oct. 4, 1863. Mr. Swaar and his sons own 640 acres of fine land in Salt Creek Township. PULASKI SCOVIL, farmer; P. 0. Teheran; was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., January 28, 1808; in 1826, he went to Livingston Co., N. Y., bought a saw- mill and 300 acres of timber, which he soon sold at an advance, and went to Brockport, in company with a silversmith and jeweler ; but he soon had the business alone, and manufactured silverware and sent out peddlers of his wares and jewelry until 1831, when he moved to Geneva, N. Y., continuing in the same business, with the addition of dry goods and notions. In July, 1831, he married Sarah Jerome; she was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1813, and deceased in 1840. In the fall of 1832, betook his broken stocks to Buffalo, N. Y., and opened an auction store; it took three months to dispose of all the goods ; he then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and commenced the manu- facturing of silverware ana the jewelry business in general, which he continued success- fully five years ; in the spring of 1837, he moved to Havana, in this county, where he owned an interest in a steam saw-mill, bought the balance of the mill, and went to lum- bering generally; this mill burned down in 1841 ; he then went to Waterford, Fulton Co., 111., and bought an old mill and fitted it up, and, in 1845, he built another ; both of these were destroyed by fire in 1850 uninsured ; he then went to Salt Creek Township, where he now resides, and has since followed farming ; the first year, with the help of one man, he broke 120 acres of prairie, from which he got his first crop of fall wheat .'5,5(1(1 bushels, which may be considered a good yield. The issue, living, of his union with Sarah Jerome are Louisa, Ellen, George W. and Emily. His second marriage was with Olive Cross, of Havana, III., in the fall of l842 ; she died in 1845 ; he then married for his third wife Anna Bordwine, of Fulton Co., 111., in 1847 ; by this union, they have one son living Benjamin F. His fourth marriage was with Caroline N. Button, of Connecticut, in 1855; she died in 1860; he then married Mrs. Hannah Jones June 23, 1862; she was born in Washington Co., Ohio", Dec. 29, 1832; they have, by this issue, five children living Katie S., Pulaski J., Oliver H., Martha L. and Arthur A. By her marriage with Greenberry Jones, she has four children living William E., Abner, Mary K. and Cornelia Jones. Mr. Scovil owns 565 acres of splendid land in Salt Creek Township, and a fine home and surroundings, and 400 acres in Missouri. 848 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: FOREST CITY TOWNSHIP. W. F. BJIUNING, farmer; P. 0. Forest City; was born near Bremen, Germany, Feb. 5, 1822; when about 18 years of age, he shipped on board the German whale- ship Izaria, bound for Greenland, where the crew engaged in catching whales and seals ; the Izaria sailed within a very short distance of the most northern point known at that time. Mr. Bruning followed the sea for several years, visiting many different parts of the world, and seeing many curious sights. In 1848, be came to Illinois, and, in the following year, located on the farm where he now resides. June 18, 1841, he mar- ried Miss Magdelain Allebrand in New York City ; they have seven children, six of them boys Elizabeth J., Fred L., Harman G., Ira W., Henry T., William A. and George A. Mr. Bruning assisted in organizing the first Sunday school in this part of the country, and is a consistent member, of the Baptist Church. He owns a fine farm of 160 acres situated near Forest City, 111. GEORGE W. DUNN, physician, Forest City; son of Richard and Ann (Wil- kinson) Dunn. His father was born at Gales, Yorkshire, England, in 1806 and died in 1875 ; he was a shoemaker. His mother was a daughter of James and Letitia Wil- kinson, of England, was born in 1809 and is still living, in England. They had four children, all of whom survive, viz., James, living at Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, who is general freight agent of the Trafalgar Street Station ; Jane, living in Richmond, England ; Ann, married and living in Edinburgh, Scotland ; and the subject of our sketch, who was born June 29, 1841, in Richmond, Yorkshire, England ; he early attended school at the national and corporation schools in Richmond; in 1854, he was appointed as pupil teacher in the national school, in which he served five years. He passed a yearly examination ; in 1860, he came to Massachusetts and engaged for six months in a woolen mill ; leaving there, he assisted in the office of the American Tem- perance Union, at New York, for some time, and afterward engaged in charge of the M. E. Church, at Milburn, N. J.; in September, 1861, he was received into the North Ohio Conference of the M. E. Church, and, in 1863, was ordained Deacon and, in 1865, Elder. He was married, Sept. 10, 1863, to Kate Shaffner, daughter of Martin and Susannah ShafFner, of Pennsylvania ; her father was born in 1787 and died in 1870 ; her mother was born in 1809 and died in 1850; both were members of the M. E. Church, he for sixty-five years. Mrs. Dunn was born April 4,1841. In 1865, the Doctor moved to Missouri and settled in Knox Co., engaging in the ministry and practicing medicine; in 1869, he moved to Barton Co., Mo., and continued in the ministry and practicing, afterward moving to Jasper Co., Mo., continuing the same avocations ; in 1871-72, he attended the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati. Ohio, was valedic- torian of the class and graduated in the spring of 1872; he returned and continued his practice at Georgia City, Jasper Co., Mo.; he afterward moved to Newton Co., Mo.. practicing there some time, and thence to Barton Co., in 1876 ; he still continued his professions, and, while there, was made President of Barton County Sabbath School Association for two terms; they then located at Forest City, 111., July 12, 1877, where they have been ever since ; he still continues his practice and is doing a lucra- tive business. He not only devotes his time to his profession but throws his soul into the duties of the Sabbath school, church and temperance movement, which should be the effort of every physician who expects the smile of Providence on his labors. He is now Vice President of the Sabbath School Association of Forest City Township and was chose"n lay delegate to the Illinois Conference of the M. E. Church for 1879 ; he and his wife retain their membership in the M. E. Church at Forest City ; he has been a member of the Missouri State Eclectic Medical Society and is at present a mem- ber of the Illinois Eclectic Medical Society ; he was also Corresponding Secretary of the Missouri Medical Association. They have five children Harry W., A. Lincoln, Kingsley G , Anna K., and Richard Martin deceased in February, 1879. FOREST CITY TOWNSHIP. 849 GEORGE HIMMEL, farmer ; P. O. Bishop's Station ; is a brother of J. W. C. and T. F. Himuiel, whose sketches appear elsewhere in this work ; he was born Dec. 11, 1835, in Germany, and in 1846 he came with the family to Mason Co., 111., making their first settlement in Quiver Township, on the farm now occupied by T. F. Himmel ; he remained there until married Sept. 14, 1859, to Elizabeth Haas, daughter of Carl Gumbel, of .Germany, a blacksmith. They soon settled on her farm of 200 acres in Spring Lake Township, remaining there eleven years, and then moved to Forest City Township, and settled there on 160 acres, partly inherited by his father; they have in all 520 acres, probably worth 50 per acre. In 1864, he was licensed as a local preacher of the Evangelical Association ; he has had nine children Elmira, Katie E., Charles E., Annie, George A., Henry, Mary, Frank and an infant deceased ; all belong to Church. Mr. Himmel has been connected with the school offices, and has been Super- intendent of Sabbath schools. Though his sun is now declining in the western horizon, he enjoys good health, and is quite active for his years. Faithful and reliable in all his relations of life, he bids fair for more extended usefulness in the country where he resides. MRS. LOIS A. INGERSOLL, farmer ; P. O. Forest City ; widow of the lateSam- uel Hinkley Ingersoll, who was born in Hinckley, Medina Co., Ohio, Dec. 20, 1828. At the age of 21, he went with the rush of emigration that swept westward to California in 1849, and there remained until 1855 ; upon his return, he went into the commission business in Chicago, 111., where he remained for about a year. In 1856, he moved to a farm about five miles south of Forest City, Mason Co. He was united in marriage with Miss Lois A. Van Orman, Dec. 13, 1858 ; Mrs. Ingersoll is a native of Medina Co., Ohio. They had ten children, seven of whom are living, three boys and four girls. When Mason Co. was first organized, under township organization, Mr. Ingersoll was elected the first Supervisor of what was then Mason Plains Township, now Forest City Township, and was re-elected, year after year, with a few exceptions, during the remain- der of his life ; he died in the prime of life, deeply mourned by all who knew him, Nuv. 30, 1877. The estate comprises 1,060 acres of as fine farming land as can be found in Mason Co. Mrs. Ingersoll has, with rare business tact, succeeded in managing her large farms admirably well. JOSIAH JACKSON, carpenter and builder, Forest City ; was born in Seneca Co., Ohio, May 8, 1834, where he remained until he arrived at manhood. He married Miss Mary A. Beard Jan. 6, 1856. In the spring of 1857, they left their home i Ohio and came to Illinois, locating in Vandalia, where he worked at his trade as carpen- ter for four years. He then removed to the place where Forest City now stands, and immediately went to work at his trade. Mr. Jackson built the first two dwelling-houses in Forest City. He. continued to work at his trade here for a year and a half, when he returned with his family to his old home in Ohio, and resumed his accustomed occupa- tion. May 2, 1864, he enlisted in Co. B, 169th Ohio V. I., and was mustered out of the service in the following September ; he then returned to his family in Ohio. Again the little family took their way to Illinois, where he found employment as a school teacher, immediately after his arrival. Mr. Jackson entered into the mercantile business, but met with reverses that caused him to abandon it, and resume his old occupation of carpenter and builder, in which he is still engaged. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1866, and again in 1874 ; he has held a commission as Notary Public for twelve years in Forest City ; for the last ten years, he has devoted all his spare time to the study of the law, and is occasionally engaged in the pracrice of that profession, with a fair degree of success. With the usual amount of study and practice, he is bound to succeed in this profession. Mr. Jackson has just been awarded the contract for building the schoolhouse at Manito, which is a capital indorsement of his capacity and energy as a business man. They have been blessed with four children Eva D., born May 28, 1857; B. Fuller, Aug. 28, 1860; Sherman G., Jan. 22, 1865; Rutherford, Oct. 3, 1876. HELENE KREILING, farmer; P. 0. Bishop's Station; was born September 25, 1821, in Germany; her father's name was Harman Wittc; she came to Illinoi> in 850 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: 1849, and, in 1852, was married to B. H. Kreiling. who was born in Germany and came to Illinois about 1 850 ; they settled for some time on a farm near Havana ; in 1854, they bought and settled on the present farm of 180 acres, which they have improved and made of fine quality. Mr. Kreiling held offices connected with the schools, and was a member of the Lutheran Church; he died April 1, 1879, leaving a wife and nine children Harman, Anna, Henry, Maggie, Mary, Liddie, John, August and George. They are all members of the Lutheran Church. ZACHARIAH MILLER, farmer ; P. 0. Forest City ; like many other citizens of Mason Co., Mr. Miller was born in the adjoining territory, which is now Menard Co.; he was born Aug. 24, 1823, near where Athens now stands. He married Miss Nancy Cogdall, a native of Kentucky, Sept. 5, 1845 ; they have eight boys and two girls, all living except the eldest son, Nult, who died in 1872 ; their births were as fol- lows : Minerva, Aug. 3, 1846 ; Nult, Oct. 5, 1848 ; Hardin, March 13, 1851 ; Sidney, Nov. 7, 1852; Mahala, Jan. 19, 1854; Simeon, Dec. 25, 1856; Clinton, Feb. 25, 1859 ; Austin, Dec. 27, 1860 ; Terry, Aug. 14, 1863 ; Holley, Sept, 3, 1865. When Mr. Miller, with his wife and one baby, came to Mason Co., in 1846, his worldly pos- sessions consisted of a horse and cow. Mr. Miller now owns 200 acres of good farm land in the vicinity of Forest City, Mason Co., 111.; he now resides in the village of Forest City. ELI T. NIKIRK, station agent, Forest City; born in Washington Co., Md., Sept. 6, 1828 ; moved to the present site of Forest City in 1853 ; his wife's maiden name was Olivia G. Beard ; they have had four children Clyde G. (who is now sta- tion agent on the P., P. & J. R. R., at Pekin, 111.), Charles Otho (tplegraph operator and railroad book-keeper, at Forest City, 111.), and the two younger children, Laura D. and Don Juan. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1857, and served four years. He enlisted as a private in Co. K, 85th I. V. I., and was commissioned Second Lieu- tenant by Gov. Yates May 26, 1863 ; the regiment was engaged in many severe battles, and closed their military career with the memorable march to the sea under Gen. Sher- man ; he was mustered out in 1865, having served nearly three years. On his return to Forest City, he opened a grocery store and restaurant, which he conducted for nine years ; he was appointed station agent on the P., P. & J. R. R., at Forest City, which position he now holds ; he owns 240 acres of fine land in the vicinity of Forest City. T. G. ONSTOT, merchant,- Forest City ; was born in Sugar Grove, in what is now Menard Co. His father settled in that section in 1824, being one of the very first set- tlers of Sangamon Co. The Onstot family moved to New Salem, on the Sangamon lliver, in 1831. At this time, the timber-lands along the Sangamon and Salt Creek were full of roving Indians. The family remained at New Salem, where the elder Mr. Onstot kept the village tavern, until 1840. Abraham Lincoln boarded at this house when he began his first law studies with Squire Green, and made his home with the Onstot family for two years, during which time young Lincoln practiced surveying in the surrounding country. Mr. Lincoln and the elder Mr. Onstot were warm friends as long as they lived. In 1840, the town of New Salem was moved bodily two miles north, to the present site of the city of Petersburg, which was made the county seat of Menard Co. The Onstot family moved their buildings with the rest to the new town, where they resided until 1847, when they went to Havana, where they remained until 1852. Mr. Onstot, the subject of this sketch, was married to Miss Sarah L. Ellsworth March 18, 1852. Immediately after their marriage, they moved upon a piece of raw prairie, three miles from the nearest house, where, by hard work and frugal habits, they contrived to improve their farm and make some advance in prosperity. Mr. Onstot lived on this farm for thirteen years, when he moved to Forest City, and engaged in the lum- ber business, and still continues in this line of trade. In the spring of 1879, he formed a partnership with George W. Pemberton, under the firm name of Geo. W. Pemberton & Co , and engaged in a general merchandise business. Mr. and Mrs. Onstot have had six children, three of whom are living Ella C., born May 6, 1859, died Dec. 20, 1878; Mary E., Susan E. and Lulu C. They also have an adopted son. Mr. Onstot has PENNSYLVANIA TOWNSHIP. 851 served the people of Forest City Township as Tax-Collector for four years, and Justice of the Peace four years. , SAMUEL T. WALKER ; P. 0. Forest City ; was born in Adair Co., Ky., Jan. 30, 1830. At the age of 23, he left his native State, coming directly to Mason Co., where he worked on a farm one year. The next few months were passed in a cabinet shop in Havana. In 1855, Mr. Walker removed to Spring Lake, where he assisted his brother John, who was engaged in a general merchandise business, for about three years. In 1858, Mr. Walker, in company with his brother and three other young men, made the memorable trip to Pike's Peak, with the usual degree of success, being absent about six months. Upon his return, in 1860, Mr. Walker went into partnership with Mr. A. Cross, in the grain, lumber and general merchandise business, at Forest City, 111., which business was continued for several years. Mr. Walker was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Fosket April 13, 1863. They have had eight children, one boy and seven girls, three of whom are still living, as follows : Esther E., born Sept. 1'2, 1864 ; Polly S., April 1, 1874; Patsey Y., April 7, 1878. Mr. Walker owns a fine residence in Forest City, and about one hundred acres of good farming land in the vicinity of the village. He has been Clerk of Forest City Township for twelve years, and was elected Supervisor in 1878, and re-elected in 1879. JAS. S. WALKER, physician and surgeon. Forest City. Dr. Walker was born at Walker's Grove, in what was then Sangatnon County, May 4, 1839, being one of the first white children born in that part of the country. At the aj;e of 19, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Dieffenbacher, at Havana, and in the fall of 1860, entered Lind Medical College, now the Chicago Medical College, and graduated in 1863; he then began practice in the same neighborhood where he was born and raised at Walker's Grove ; he practiced there for three years, with very flattering success. In 1865, he formed a partnership with Dr. Hall, and engaged in practice in Mason City. This partnership lasted for two years, when he became a partner with Dr. J. C. Patterson ; this lasted until 1869, when Dr. W. removed to Forest City, where he now resides. He was married to Miss Sarah E. Updike, a native of Trcniout, Tazewell Co.; 111., Aug. 16, 1864. They have had four children, three of whom are living Alma, March 12, 1866; Ella, Jan. 4, 1868; Frank U., Dec. 22, 1869; Artie, March 16, 1874, died when a little more than a year old. The Doctor enjoys a large and lucrative practice in Forest City and the surrounding country. MRS. L. C. WHITAKER, farmer; P. 0. Forest City; was born in Adair Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1836, her maiden name being L. C. Cheek. She was married to Mr. John B. Whitaker Sept. 22, 1857. Mr. Whitaker was born May 13, 1826, in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, and removed to Winchester, 111., in 1849 ; he removed to Mason Co., upon the farm now occupied by Mrs. W., in 1852. She has five children living Henry, born Oct. 27, 1858; Mary, Oct. 15, 18'U ; James and William, twins, born July 16, 1864; Reuben, Aug. 23, 1871. Mr. Whitaker died in 1872. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Whitaker has carried on her farm, with the help of her children, with good success. They own about 200 acres, situated one and a half miles south of Forest City. PENNSYLVANIA TOWNSHIP. DAVID E. CRUSE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Teheran ; was born in Hun- tingdon Co., Penn , Nov. 1, 1833; his father, Augustus, was born in Cumberland Co. Penn., and married Elizabeth Rench ; they reside in Miami Co., Ohio, and have eight chil- dren living Joseph R., Lena M., 'David E., Luther C., Cinderella, George W., Demetrius A. and Roxanna N. In 1839, the family moved to Ohio ; David E. Cruse moved to Mason Co., where they now reside, in September, 1855, and married Hannah Touilin Nov. 30, 1856; she was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Dec. 21, 1838, and came to Mason Co. with her parents in 1854. Mr. C. has been School Director most of the time, the last seventeen years, in Pennsylvania Township. They have had ton children MM 852 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Cinderella, born July 27, 1857, died Oct. 5, following; Caroline W., born Oct. 3, 1858 ; Matthew A., Feb. 1 1 , 1860 ; Hannah E., June 29, 1863 ; Margaret M., May 1, 1865; lloxanna B., July 4. 1867; David S., Feb. 1, 1869 ; John S., Jan. 7, 1871 ; Oraella, Jan. 18, 1873, and George I., Jan. 21, 1878. Mrs. Cruse's father, Matthew Tomlin, was boro in Cumberland Co., N. J., May 30, 1803, and married Hannah Homer, of the same place ; he died in Mason Co. Feb. 22, 1873; she died Dec; 1, 1878, in the same place. Mr. Cruse owns a well-improved farm of 160 acres. ID politics, he is a Democrat. ANDREW J. GATES, grain merchant, farmer and stock-raiser, Teheran ; was born near Hillsboro, Coffee Co., Tcnn., Sept. 28, 1833 ; came to Jefferson Co., 111., with his parents, in 1834 ; they moved to Greene Co., Mo., the same year, remaining two years, then moved Hamilton Co., 111., where his parents remained; his father, James L., was. born in Alabama Aug. 14, 1809, and married Nancy Shelton Jan. 7, 1831 ; she was born in Virginia Jan. 9, 1808. He died Aug. 10, 1846 ; she, Oct. 3, 1876. A. J. Gates, the subject of this sketch, came to Mason Co. Oct. 16, 1854, but spent the next winter in Fulton Co.; the next fall, commenced farming, and has followed the business ever since; he bought land in Pennsylvania Township, where he now resides, in 1858, near Teheran. In 1874, was elected Justice of the Peace ; still officiates. ' August 24, 1855, he married Emily 0. Scovil, daughter of Pulaski Scovil, of Salt Creek Township ; she was born in Havana, Mason Co., Nov. 26, 1838. They have had twelve children Clara I., born Sept. 9, 1856 ; Anna A., Nov. 6, 1858 ; Mary E., Nov. 24, 1860 ; Lillie E., Nov. 14, 1862 ; William S., Feb. 10, 1865, died Nov. 21, 1866 ; Joseph A., born Feb. 8, 1867 ; Charles I., Feb. 17, 1869 ; Walter J., Feb. 13, 1871 ; Effie May, April 19, 1873; Olive A., April 3, 1875; Ada J.. May 3, 1877, and Jessie M., Jan. 20, 1879. He owns 249 acres of land, and a fine home and outbuildings in Teheran. In politics, he is a Republican. MRS. MARY ANN DOLCATER, farming; P. 0. Easton ; widow of Henry E. Dolcater, deceased ; he was born in Bielsfield, Germany, Sept. 23, 1832, and came to this county in September, 1856, and settled in Mason Co., and followed farming and stock-raising until his decease, which occurred April 12, 1879. He married Mrs. Mary A. Samuell Aug. 23, 1859; she w.is bom in Sangamon Co., 111., Feb. 13, 1833; her father, William Pelham, was born in Connecticut Nov. 27, 1797, and married Almira Phelps, of the S;ime State; she was born Sept. 3, 1803; they moved to Illinois in 1824; she died Dec. 6, 18H4; he died Nov. 13, 1863. Mary Ann, the subject of this sketch, married (first husband) Thomas A. Samuell Aug. 23, 1856; he was born in Caroline Co., Va., March 1, 1807, and came to Illinois in 1835, from Kentucky; by this marriage was one boy William Thomas; he was born Oct. 1, 1857, and died Jan. 20, 1860. Henry E. DJcater was elected in April, 1874, Supervisor, and served two years. Mr. and Mrs. Dolcater have five boys Henry C., born Aug. 23, 1861 ^ William C., Dec. 6, 1863; Franklin J., Aug. 25, 1865 ; Edward H., Oct. 11, 1867; Charles F., March 24, 1870. che owns 164 acres of fine prairie, and a beautiful home in Pennsylvania Township, where she resides. HULDAU DORRELL, farming; P. 0. Easton; widow of Francis Dorrell, deceased; he was born in McKey.sport, Penn., Feb. 1, 1808. and moved to Hamilton Co., Ohio, with his parents, in 1H^2, and married Huldah Dcnman Feb. 23, 1832 ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Sept. 30, 1806; her father, Nathaniel Denman, was born in New Jersey Aug. 29, 1780, and married Susanna Crow in June, 1802; she was born in Pennsylvania in 1782, and died Feb. 11, 1811 ; he died March 16, 1836, in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Mr. Dorrell was subject to heart disease and consump- tion, but was called to the sick-bed of his son, who was in the U. S. Army Hospital, at Bolivar, Tenn.; he arrived there only in time to close his eyes in death ; attended his funeral, and on his return, himself worn by excitement and overcome by grief, suc- cumbed to the inevitable, in Havana, even before he reached his home ; they have had ei-ht children Susanna C., born Nov. 20,1832; Saiah H., Aug. 18, 1835; Mary A., Aug. 26, 1837 ; John M., Sept. 22, 1835 enlisted in the Federal army, in 1861, and died of camp disease, at Bolivar, Tenn., Dec. 6, 1862; Charles C., born Oct. 30, 1841 ; PENNSYLVANIA TOWNSHIP. 853 David D., Sept. 27, 1844 ; Rebecca, April 11, 1847. died April 5, following; Lauretta, born March 24, 1848, died July 5, following. Susanna C. married William C. Thomp- son in December, 1860; he was born in England Aug. 10, 1821, died July 29, 1873, in Wyoming Territory; they had four children Francis D., born Oct. 13,' 1861 ; Car- oline, Jan. 16, 1865, died Aug. 4, following; Andrew, born Aug. 23, 1867, died at the age of 3 weeks and 3 days; and Ric'mrd, born Aug. 15, 1872. Mrs. Dorrell owns 160 acres of excellent prairie land, of which she has been sole and successful manager since her husband's decease now at the age of 73, in the possession of good health and remarkable vigor and wonderful memory of every event in her eventful life. JOSEPH FJNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Teheran ; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., June i3, 1832 ; except two years that he was employed clerking in a store, has followed farming ; he came to Pennsylvania Township, where he now resides, in 1856. He married Angeline Benscoter Dec. 2, 1855, in Luzerne Co., Penn., where she was born Aug. 4, 1836; her father, Jacob Benscoter, was born July 7, 1804, and married Jane Moss, in March, 1826; she was born April 2, 1807, and died July 1, 1866, in Mason City, where Mr. B. now resides. Mr. and Mrs. Fink have had nine children Walker B., born Dec. 7, 1856, and married Fannie Johnson Dec. 22, 1877, and moved to Kansas City July 15 ,1879 ; Emma L. J., born Sept. 22, 1858 ; Derie It., March 18, 1860; Porter H., Sept. 19, 1861; Lot, Nov. 22, 1863, died March 23, 1867; Harvey D., born Sept. 15, 1865; Jacob B., April 6, 1873; Arthur S., March 17, 1875, and Joseph M., Sept. 29, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Fink are members of the M. E. Church, and the four eldest children of the Society of United Brethren. He owns a good farm of 125 acres good house and outbuildings. ANDKEAS FUHHER, farmer and stock -raiser; P. 0. Easton ; was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 24, 1839; he landed in New Oilcans in June, and in Havana, Mason Co., July 3, 1853, with his parents ; he has made farming his business ; in 1863, bought eighty acres in Pennsylvania Township, where he now resides. Dec. 30, 1860, he married Mary Ann Dorrell ; she was born in Sangamon Co., 111., Aug. 26, 1837; she is a daughter of Francis and Iluldah Dorrell (see biography of Huldah Dorrell, widow). In June, 1876, Mr. Furrer concluded to take a vacation, by a grand excursion to the Centennial Exposition,, in Philadelphia, and a visit to his old home in Germany, visiting all the principal cities on the route, including Paris, the capital of France. On his return, Mrs. Funvr meeting him at Philadelphia, they visited points of interest on their return to the West ; they have six children Huldah D., born Dec. 11, 1861 ; John D., March 13, 1865; Nathaniel D., June 10, 1867; Sarah E., Dec. 5, 1869; Susanna C., June 22, 1872, and Francis D., Feb. 5, 1875. He owns 440 acres of land, and a fine house, barn and outbuildings. JAMES I. HURLEY, firmer and stock-raiser; P. O.Teheran; was born in Ocean Co., N. J., June 11, 1836 ; there he followed the business of burning charcoal ; they moved to Mason Co., 111., in the fall of 1852 ; his father, Aaron Hurley, died on board a boat, on their Way West, with the cholera, and was buried on Liberty Island, just below St. Louis. (See biography of Christopher Titus.) After they came to Mason Co., Mr. James I. Hurley worked at farming by the month or day, until March 1861, when he purchased eighty acres of improved land, where he now resides, in Pennsylvania Township. He married Emma J. Riggs March 11, 1869 ; she was born in Orange Co., N. C., May 30, 1850, and came to Mason Co. Oct. 28, 1868; they have had seven children Maggie E., born Feb. 17, 1870 ; Sybil P., March 18, 1871 ; Olive M., May 29, 1872 (died July 18 following) ; Petro N., Oct. 25, 1873; Lena F., Sept. 12, 1874; Bertha V., Jan. 5, 1877; Royal E., June 8, 1878. He owns 140 acres of land, a good house and barn, and outbuildings, which he has erected since 1867. JOHN W. PUGH, Supervisor, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mason City ; was born in Plymouth, Luzerne Co., P.enn., Aug. 5, 1824. His father owned a large farm, a grist and saw mill, which gave him plenty of miscellaneous and general employment while at home. lie moved to Mason Co. (Havana Township) in 1850 ; entered eighty acres of land that fall, in Section 27, Township 22, Range 7, and has since followed farming, mainly, though during the year of 1854, was captain of a boat 854 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES : running between Havana and Chicago, on the Illinois River. June 8, 1854, he married Miss Sarah Apple, daughter of Maj. Henry Apple, of Fulton Co., 111. She was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug. 7, 1827. Mr. Pugh was elected Supervisor in April, 1866, and has held the office ever since, except two years that he was in the State Legislature, to which he was elected in November, 1874. They have had six children Henry A., born Feb. 22, 1855 ; Mary E., Nov. 21, 1856 ; Charles W., Sept. 7, 1859 ; George B., Oct 22, 1861 ; Clara E., April 19, 1864; John F., born July 29, 1867, died Aug. 26, 1868. He owns a fine home, and 343 acres of land. They belong to the Presbyterian Church. In politics, Mr. Pugh is a Democrat. GEORGE W. SCOVILL, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mas^i City. "Yankee" was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 31, 1837 ; moved to Adams Co., 111., in 1857 ; worked by the month for wages about four years ; he then returned to his old home, but returned, in August, to Mason Co., and leased 200 acres of new unbroken prairie, of Harvey Scovill, for five years. In 1865, he bought a farm, where he now resides. He married a daughter of Pulaski Scovil, of Salt Creek Township Mrs. Maria L. Paul, April 17, 1867. She was born in February, 1833, and married Thomas E. Paul Sept. 6, 1854, who was born Feb. 13, 1830, and died at Nashville, Tenn. (in the Fed- eral army), of typhoid fever, Dec. 8, 1861. They had three children Sarah E., born May 9, 1856, died April 2, 1862 ; Fantley R., born April 6, 1858 ; Stephen A., born Dec. 25, 1860, died Dec. 25, 1862. Mr. George W. Scovill's father, John W., was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., and married Martha Wilson, of the same county; died March 4, 1863. She resides on the old homestead, in Connecticut. After his father died, Mr. Scovill rented his farm out, and returned to farm a portion of the old home- stead, but soon tired of his efforts to obtain wealth from the little earth distributed among the rocks of Connecticut, and gladly returned to his rural Western home. They have had four children George W., born Feb. 3, 1867 ; Mary L., born Feb. 14, 1869, died Au2. 17, 1872 ; Addie L., born Sept. 27, 1871 ; Martha C., born Nov. 22, 1876, died March 4, 1877. He owns a fine farm of 230 acres, a new house, cost $2,000, and tine outbuildings, also a house and two lots in Mason City, and began life in the West without a dollar of his own. CHRISTOPHER TITUS, farmer ; P. O. Mason City; was born in Luzerne Co., Penn., Aug. 25, 1832, where he worked at farming, carpentering, boating, etc. ; moved to Mason Co. in August, 1852. The next spring, he bought eighty acres in Salt Creek Township, where he resided a year ; after that, lived in Havana and Quiver Townships ; moved on to his farm where he now resides, in Pennsylvania Township, in February, 1867. He married Mary Jane Hurley Nov. 23, 1858 ; she was born in Ocean Co., N. J., Aug. 15, 1830. Her father, Aaron Hurley, married Fannie Dennis; they both were born in New Jersey; he died Oct. 2, 1852, with cholera, on board a boat while on their way to the West, and was buried on Liberty Island, just below St. Louis ; he was born Nov. 21, 1803. She was born Feb. 18, 1804, and now resides near Mr. Titus. Mr. and Mrs. Titus have had six children James, born Oct. 12, 1859 ; Halleck S., Oct. 9, 1862 ; Margaret and Fannie, April 24, 1865 ; Sarah, born Jan. 26, 1868, died Dec. 1, 1874, and Mary A., born Aug. 11, 1871. Mr. Titus is a member of the society of United Brethren in Christ. He owns 160 acres of land in Pennsylvania Township. JOHN VAN HORN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Sept. 16. 1816 ; his father, David, was born in the same county March 27, 1781, and married Sarah Gillen ; she was born Aug. 11, 1786. They moved to Warren Co., Ohio, and then to Miami Co., Ohio ; he died there in September, 1854 ; she died in Wabash Co., Ind., in August, 1870. John Van Horn, the subject of this sketch, learned the business of stone-cutting in Miami Co., Ohio, and" followed the bus- iness a number of years. He married Jane Mathers Dec. 24, 1840 ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio. Sept. 8, 1822 ; her father, David L., was born in the same county Nov. 15, 1797, and married Margaret Williams March 22, 1821; she was born in New Jersey July 1, 1798; he died ia Miami Co. Sept. 11, 1850, and she died near Mason City, Mason Co., 111., Jan. 24, 1875. John Van Horn, the subject of this sketch, moved to Mason Co., where he now resides, in the spring of 1857, has been CRANE CREEK TOWNSHIP. 855 Justice of the Peace, but, after serving two years declined a renomination, preferring to give his whole attention to his farming interests. They have had ten children David P., born Feb. 4, 1842 ; Sarah J., Oct. 16, 1844 ; John E., Nov. 11, 1846 ; Mar- garet, March 16, 1849 ; Joel, May 20, 1851 ; Martha A., April 17, 1854; Elizabeth, July 31, 1856 ; Susan, Jan. 6, 1859; Job, June 15, 1861, died April 3, 1867 ; and Miles, born Oct. 17, 1863. He owns 723 acres of land, a fine house and outbuildings and reads and writes without glasses. EDWARD WILSON, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Mason City; was born in Pennsylvania June 4, 1812; moved with his parents to Greene Co., Ohio, when he was about a year old ; his father, George Wilson, married Annis Ashcraft ; they were born in Pennsylvania; he died in Greene Co., Ohio, in 1820 ; Mrs. Wilson, with her children, Edward, John and James, in 1823, moved to Madison Co., Ohio, and, in 1836, to Tazewell Co., 111., near Pekin, where she died in January, 1840. Edward Wilson, the subject of this sketch, married Rebecca Woodrow March 3,1846; she was b,orn in Licking Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1823. Her father, Samuel Woodrow, was born in Penn- sylvania Jan. 6, 1789, and married Catharine Montanye ; she was born in New Jersey Sept. 7, 1798, and died Nov. 10, 1863; he died Dec. 12, 1874; both are buried in Cincinnati Township, Tazewell Co., 111., where they lived ; they were among the first settlers of Ellison's Prairie in Illinois, in 1824 ; they moved to Tazewell Co. in 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had ten children Samuel W., born Jan. 9, 1847, died Dec. 20, 1851 ; Amelia, born Sept. 17, 1848, died Nov. 3 following; Malvina, born March 24, 1850; Catharine, March 2, 1853 ; John A., Sept. 24, 1854; Charles W., Jan 31, 1856; Mary E. and Cornelius R., Aug. 25, 1858; Mary E. died Jan. 25,1859; Annabel!, born Oct. 21, 1861 ; and a little girl unnamed. He owns a fine house and outbuildings and 446 acres of land. CRANE CREEK TOWNSHIP. JKSSE BAKER (deceased), farmer ; Mr. Baker was one of the first white set- tlers of Mason Co.; he was born in Tennessee in 1799, and uame to Illinois Territory in 1816 and settled in what is now Morgan Co., and, in 1833, located in Mason Co., where he passed the remainder of his life. He has had a varied experience ; possessed of an unu>ually vigorous and robust frame, he endured the privations and hardships of pioneer life, the chase of the deer ajid the defense against the noble red m^n, which few could endure ; he has fojught the Indians from tree to tree ; was cotemporary with Ross and Scovill, of Havana, and others ; he engaged in farming upon Crane Creek; near where he and his descendants have resided for nearly half a century ; he raised ninety bushels of corn per acre and sold supplies to Mr. Faulkner, the first farmer of Sherman Township. His descendants are among the substantial residents of the county. -Upon Aug. 20, 1879, Jesse Baker passed down the dark valley at the age of 80 years. He was a man esteemed very highly for his many noble traits of char- acter, and one of whom his cotemporaries will admit that his life was net a failure and he did not live in vain ; he was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln, in the rafting and old Salem days of the latter. He was the father of Mrs. R. W. Porter, of Mason City, who was with him several days before and up to the time of his death. GEORGE W. ESTEP, farmer; P. 0. Kilbourne; was born at Baker's Prairie, across the river from Petersburg, Menard Co., 111., March 6, 1823 ; his father, James Estep, and his grandfather, Elijah Estep, were the first owners of the land Petersburg is built on. George W. Estep commenced farming on his own account in Mason Co., in 1848. He married Cynthia Norris Aug. 2, 1849; she was born in Greene Co., 111., May 8, 1828, and came with her parents to Mason Co. in 1835 ; they have had eight children Finis M., Rhoda K., William II., Celia J. and Alvin are living; Celestia died aged 8 days ; James A. died in his 13th year ; Mary died in her 18th year ; Finis and Rhoda are married ; the others reside at home with their parents. He owns a farm 856 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: of 130 acres in this and Kilbmirne Townships. Himself, wife and three children, are members of the Baptist Church. WM. J. ESTEP; farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Easton ; was born in Menard Co., 111., Jan. 4, 1831 ; went with his parents to Ja>per Co., M)., in the spring of 1839, and in 1844, to Davis Co., Iowa, and to McDonough Co., 111., in 1846, and to Crane Creek Township in 1848, where he has since resided ; his father, James Estep, and his grandfather,- Elijah E^cp, were the first owners of the land on which Petersburg, Menard Co., is built; they went there in the spring of 1820. The subject of this sketch married Miss Judith Toiulin July 26, 1855 ; she was born in Cumberland Co., N. J., Jan. 23, 1835, and came to Mason Co. with her parents, in February, 1846. Mr. Estep has never taken any very active part in politics, but has held some Township offices, School Trustee, Commissioner of Highways and Supervisor one year, etc. ; He owns 362 acres of land and a fine home. DAVID C. ESTEP, farmer ; P. 0. Kilbourne ; was born in Menard Co., 111., Nov. 7, 1838; went to Jasper Co., Mo., with his parents in the spring of 1839; in 1844, to Davis Co., Towa, and to McDonough Co , 111., in 1846, and to Crane Creek Town-hip in 1848; his father, James Estep, died Feb. 5, 1857, and his mother, Feb. 9, 1855 ; his father and his grandfather were the first owners of land that Petersburg; Menard Co., is built on. In 1857, the subject of this sketch left home and worked here and there farming; he mar-ied Mary F. Baker, of Menard Co., Nov. 12, 18U3 ; she was born May 10, 1846. They have four children living Etta M., Miles E , Misty May, David F. Mr. E^tep commenced farming his own land in the .spring of 1865, and moved on to the farm lie now owns (160 acres) in the spring of 1868. JAM US M. ESTEP, farmer; P. 0. Havana; was bora in St. Clair Co., 111., Dec. 14, 1819 ; in the spring cf 1820, his father, James Estep, moved to the spot now occu- pied by Petersburg, Menard Co., and a year or two later, his grandfather, Elijah Estep, came there, and both made the necessary improvements to hold the land and enter claims when it should be put on the market by the Government, and effected their purchase in 1827 ; so that the father and grandfather were the first owners of nearly all the land on which Petersburg was built. Mr. James M. Estep holds land grants over the signatures of J. Q. Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, James K. Polk and Z. Taylor. James Estep was born in North Carolina, Feb. 16, 1795, and died Feb. 5, 1857, in Crane Creek Township ; he married Abigail Teter, of Virginia, Dec. 31, 1816 ; she was bom Dec. 5, 1794, and died Feb. 9, 1855. James M. Estep's school advantages were little beyond what he taught himself ; he has always followed farming, and purchased here in 1849; he married Mrs Maria F. Perkins, (Short) Feb. 14, 1858; she was born in Menard Co., 111., June 12, 1835, and had two children by her first marriage Ed_car, who died at the age of 10 years, Jame-< D., lives in Kilbourne Township ; her father was burn in January, 1805, in Kentucky; her mother in St. Clair Co., 111., Dec. 28, 1808; her father died Nov. 27, 1846, in Govtrnment service in the Mexican war. Mr. and Mrs. Estep have had six children Sarah A., born Jan. 24, 1859 ; Dillard M.. S<r, and her mother, Catherine E. Keil, were born in Germany. Her father died Oct. 20, 1865; and her mother resides in Taze- wcll Co. Louis List and Catharine (Gable), parents of the subject of this sketch, were al) which they began with, they were then enabled to purchase a piece of land which now contains 200 acres; it was then raw prairie, but now has become one of fine quality, and of good improvement. Mr. Heater makes a specialty of raising hedge-plants, and has on hand thousands of fine quality ; they have had eleven children, the living are Augus- tus, Jennie, Ninnetta, Catharine, Jacob, Fannie, Perry, Adelbnrt ; three are dead. Mr. Heater has held offices of Constable and School Director and Treasurer. He and wife are members of the M. E. Church, also all the family belong; he has also been Super- intendent of Sabbath schools and taught classes. JOHN LANDWER, farmer ; P. O. Biggs Station ; is a son of Harinan Landwer and Mary (Spode) Landwer ; he was of Germany, and died 1835 ; she was a daughter of John Spode of Hanover, Germany ; she died about 1830; they had ten children, three survive. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 9, 1829, in Hanover, Germany. In 1849, he engaged in carpentering in connection with farming ; he then came to 862 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES: Illinois, and engaged in farming for Henry Cramer, one year; he then rented of D. Strube near Matanzas, for four years ; he then joined his little resource thus gained with the improved talent (45c.) which was his only treasure at his landing, and bought 80 acres, a part of the present farm of 700 acres, and has made it one of beauty and fine quality. He was married, Aug. 18, 1854, to Catherine Busch, daughter of Henry Busch, of Hanover, Germany. She was one of five children, and was born Dec. 3, 1872. Their marriage blessed them with three children, all living Mary, married to R. Keest, now living in Bath Township, Harmon, living at home, Anna, living at home. They are members of the Lutheran Church. PETER MORGENSTERN, farmer; P. 0. Havana; is a son of Peter Morgen- stern of Europe, who came to Pennsylvania in 1847, and in 1850, to Illinois; he died in 1878. The subject of this sketch was born Sept. 15, 1828, on a farm in Eurooe, and c'ame with his father, as stated ; he remained at home until 1851, when he was married to Caroline Louvine, daughter of a noted shoemaker of Germany ; she was born in 1831, and caine to Illinois in 1850. They settled on a farm of 140 acres, in Sher- man Township, and remained there until 1865, when they moved to the present farm of 1 60 acres, which they have improved and made one of value ; they have added to this until now they own 1,175 acres attained mostly by their own management. He has held offices of schools, and is at present Director ; he and wife belong to the Albright Church, in which he has held office of Class- Reader and Superintendent of Sab- bath schools, and is now teacher of a Bible class in the same. Nine children were the fruits of this happy marriage, living are Caroline, Lucinda, Lizzie, Emma, Anna, Sammy, Charlie, Henry, (infant dead). DANIEL 'MARTZ, farmer ; P. 0. Topeka ; is the oldest son of Abraham Martz. who was a shoemaker by trade and died about 1856. The subject of this sketch was born in 1811, in Pennsylvania; when 16, he began mining, and, at the age of 24, he was selected as " boss" of the company. He opened several important mines in Penn- sylvania and was very successful in his management, not even losing a single man under his orders ; he continued this business until 1861, when he came to Mason Co., 111., and settled on the present farm of 120 acres, attained entirely by his own management. It is probably worth $35 per acre. He was married, in 1833, in Columbia Co., Penn., to Elizabeth Henninger, daughter of Frederick Henninger, of Pennsylvania; they had eleven children, five living, six dead ; the living are Sarah, Lavina (has taught school and married John Allen, of Fulton Co.; is now living in Ipava ; is a druggist); Emma E. (married R. B. Leonard, of Mason Co.) ; Ellen, Charles (living in Topeka.) SUSAN TROUT, farmer; P. 0. Topeka; is a daughter of Elias Musselman, of Pennsylvania; he was a farmer and came to Illinois about 1847 and died in 1859 ; her mother's maiden name was Messinger, of Pennsylvania ; she died in 1864 ; they were both members of the Lutheran Church of Pennsylvania, and had a family of ten chil- dren, four of whom survive. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 2, 1820, in Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois in 1847. In 1849, was married to William Trout, son of George Trout, of Pennsylvania; after marriage, they settled near Havana until 1861, when they moved to Forest City Township (then Mason Plains) ; one year after- ward moved to the present farm of 280 acres, attained entirely by their own labor and management ; Mr. Trout died Aug. 31, 1873 ; he was a member of the Lutheran Church of Erie Co., Penn ; they had five children George (he married Carrie Mor- genstern, of Mason Co., daughter of Peter Morgenstern whose sketch appears else- where), Israel, Aaron ; and two are dead William and an infant. ERRATA. On page '203, instead of Col. Rogers as first Postmaster in Salem, should be John McNamar, first Postmaster, who was succeeded by Abraham Lincoln, who retained the office until he removed to Sprinjzfi.'ld. On page 308, instead of " The Mmard County Axis was established with C. Clay as editor and publisher," read, was established by H. L. Clay, who was succeeded by C. Clay. BUSINESS DIRECTORY, IMI IE :N .A. IR, ID OOUISTTY. PETERSBURG. AlberS, H. B., Dealer in and Manu- facturer of Boots and Shoes. A fine assortment of Ladies' and Misses' Shoes in all sizes on hand ; also Boots and Shoes of his own Manufacture, for Men and Boys. The only exclusive Boot and Shoe House in Menard County. Anile, F. P., Dr., Physician and Sur- geon. Bale & Co., Manufacturers and Deal- ers in Drain Tiles of every description. Office at Woolen Factory. Bale, F. V., Proprietor of the Salem Flouring-Mill, which is now in a flour- ishing condition. Bale, Hardin & SOD, Manufactur- ers and Dealers in Cloths, Cassimeres, Doeskins, Satinets, Jeans, Tweeds, Flannels, Blankets, Fancy and Plain Stocking Yarn, etc., etc., West street, one-half mile south of Court House. Bishop, Robert, Manufacturer and Importer of Guns, Pistols, Rifles, Bowie-Knives and Sporting Apparatus in all its branches. All kinds of repair- ing done at the shortest notice. South side Square. Blane, S. H., Attorney at Law and Notary Public. Office qn north side Square. Bone, D. M., Dealer in Furniture, Wall Paper, Coffins and Caskets. Bo wen, J. H., Dealers in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Glassware, Queens- ware, Wood and Willow Ware, Red Front, west side Square. Brahm, Lanning & Wright, Dry Goods Dealers. Brahm & Greene, Bankers. Branson, N. W. } HOD., Attorney at Law. Cain & Parks, Editors of the Peters- burg Observer and Job Printers. Clark, N. & L. B., Proprietors of the Clark House, formerly the Elmo, north- east corner Square. First-class accom- modations. Cook, J. W\, Practicing Physician and Surgeon. Deerwester, S., Wagon and Carriage Manufacturing, Blacksmithing, and Gen- eral Job Work. Elliott, C. E., Practicing Physician. Frackelton, D. S., Banker. Collec- tions made and promptly remitted. Hatfield, C. L., Dealer in Lumber, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Stucco, Lime, Hair, Cement, etc., etc. Hofing, J.. Proprietor of the Menard Hotel. First - class accommodations. Fine Sample Room on ground floor. Johnson, Breese, Attorney at Law. Office on north side Square. , T. S., Attorney. 864 BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Masters, Hardin W., Attorney at Law and Solicitor in Chancery ; State's Attorney for Menard County. Mick & KnOles, Proprietors and Editors of the Petersburg Democrat. Job Work done on short notice and at low rates. Morris, E. M., Wagon Manufacturer ; also Blacksnnthing and General Job Work. North Main street. Masters & Rank in, Dealers in Lum- ber, Lime, Lath, Doors, Sash, Blinds, Hair, Stucco, Cement, etc., etc. Office and Yard, corner Main and Cherry. Montgomery, B. F., Stock Dealer. McNeely, T. W,, Hon., Attorney at Law. McDougall & Stitb, Dealers in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Glassware, Queensware, Woodenware, Teas, Cof- fees, Spices, Tobacco, etc., etc. Morris, D. T., Manufacturer of and Dealer in Harness, Saddles, Collars, Bridles, Whips, Combs, Brushes, etc., etc.; also Wholesale Dealer in Case Collars. NeWCOmer, J. W., Practicing Phy- sician. Rainey, P., Miller and Grain Dealer. RlChter, J. P., Importer and Dealer ? in Italian and American Marble, also Scotch and American Granite Monu- ments. Prepared to turn out as fine work as any in Central Illinois. Shop and Yard near northeast corner of Square. Stewart & Truckenmiller, Deal- ers in Pure Drugs, Medicines, Perfum- ery, Toilet and Fancy Articles, Choice Wines and Liquors for medicinal use, and all Druggists' Sundries, Fine Imported and Domestic Cigars. Phy- sicians' Prescriptions carefully prepared. West side Square. Stoker, A. W., Foundry, General Machine Shop and Job Work. Shephard & Rutledge, Livery and Feed Stable. First-class Rigs at reason- able rates. Stevens, R. N., Attorney at Law and Master in Chancery. Whi f 6, William M., Contractor and Builder. , W. C., Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, Carpets, Oil Cloths, Trunks and Valises, also Gro- ceries, Glass and Queensware, Wood and Willow Ware. Young, Arthur, Justice of the Peace and Insurance Agent, Represent- ing the Royal Insurance Company of Liverpool, England. TALLULA. Bell Bros., Dealers in Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Groceries, Provisions,. Queensware, etc., etc. I inkel, J. A., Manufacturers and Dealer in Furniture and Undertaking, also Wall Paper. Metcalf, E. T., Dr., Practicing Phy- sician. Robertson, C. M., Dr., Physician and Surgeon. Spears, J. Q., Merchant and Grain Dealer. Sa dford, G.H., Dr., Physician and Surgeon. Thrapp, F. S., Dealer in Drugs, Med- icines and Chemicals, Perfumery, Soaps, . Combs and Brushes, Trusses, Support- ers, Braces and Toilet Articles, Books, Stationery, etc., etc. Thacher, C. B., Capt., Justice of the Peace. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 865 Thrapp, R..B., Proprietor of the Tal- lula Nursery. Complete assortment of Fruit, Shade and Ornamental Trees, Evergreens, Roses, etc., etc., with a fine assortment of Small Fruit. WathOD, J. F., Dealer in Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots, Shoes, Hats, Caps and Fancy Goods, also Groceries, Provisions, Queensware, Glassware and Confection- eries. Wathen Hotel, J. F. Wathen, Pro- prietor. New house, newly furnished ; First-class accommodations expressly for transient trade. ATflENS. Clark, C., Manufacturer of Brick and Tiling. Large quantity of the best quality constantly on hand. All sizes of Tile from 3 to 7 inch. Hurt, J. A.. Capt., Proprietor Hotel and Boarding-house. Hargrave, M. T., M. D., Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Books, Stationery, etc., etc.; Pure Liquors for medical use ; also Paints, Oils, Perfum- eries, Toilet Soaps, Hair Oils, Combs, etc., etc. Hall, C., General Merchant. Kinhart, J., Manufacturer of Wagons, Carriages and General Job Work ; also Blacksmithing in its various branches; also Dealer in Agricultural Implements. Primm, T. J., Dr., Physician and Surgeon. Rob-rts, William P., Dr., Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Window Glass, Putty, Books and Stationery, Wail Paper, Window Curtains, Pure Wines and Liquors for medical uses. Thomas, E.D., Dr., Practicing Phy- sician. CREENVIEW. Alkire, J. D., Banker. Engle, M. M., Merchant. Foster, J. T , Merchant. Hughes, Daniel T., Druggist and Apothecary. Prescriptions carefully pre- pared. Also Justice of the Peace. Hurst, Stith J., Physician. Marbold, H. H., Banker and Dealer in Live Stock. Petrie, John A., Dealer in Hardware, Grain and Farm Implements. Petrie & CO., Dealers in Stoves, Tin- ware, Agricultural Implements, and Grain. Petrie, David A., Dealer in Lum- ber ; also Contractor and Builder. Paulson, O. P., Livery, Feed and Sale Stable. Rule, H. K., Merchant, and Dealer in Groceries, Dry Goods, etc. SWEETWATER. Alkire, D. H., Merchant. Deal, George T., Dealer in Live Stock. Deal, John H., Miller. Lee, John D., Physician. Propst, Levi, Carpenter and Joiner. Sharp, Adam, Maker of and Dealer in Boots and Slices. Schofleld, Joseph, Merchant. MASON COUNTY. HAVANA. Bivens, Samuel, Treasurer of Mason County. Conwell, S. C., Attorney and Coun- selor at Law. Particular attention to Foreign Collections, Paying Taxes, and Buying and Selling Real Estate. Office second story, front room, over Krebaum & Middlekamp's store. Coppel, J. P., Fire Insurance Agent, Attorney and Notary Public. Repre- sents the following reliable Fire Insurance Companies : Home, New York ; Hart- ford of Hartford, Conn. ; ^Etna, Hart- ford ; Phoenix, Hartford ; North Brit- ish and Mercantile, London, England, and American Central, St. Louis, Mo. Covington, M. E., No. 4T Main st., Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Toilet and Fancy Articles, Fine Soaps, Brushes, Perfumery. Patent Medicines, Alcohol, Pure Wines and Liquors for medicinal use. Physicians' Prescriptions carefully compounded. Craig, G. W., Manufacturer of and Dealer in Cigars and Tobacco, Smokers' Articles, etc., 29 Main street. Dehm, J,, & Bro., Dealers in Grocer- ies, Provisions, Queensware, Glassware, Wooden and Willow. Ware, etc., corner Main and Orange streets. Dearborn & Campbell, Attorneys. Dehm & Mack, Proprietors of the Havana Brewery. Delbarre, H., Rev., Pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. Dieffenbacher, P. L., M. D., U. S. Pension Surgeon for Mason County Office No. 15 South Orange street. Special attention given to Surgery. Office hours from 1 to 3 P. M. Calls for visits should be left before 9 o'clock A. M Dray, Walter S., Loans and Dis- counts. Easton, O. C., Postmaster. Emerson, George S., Freight and Ticket Agent Peoria, Pekin & Jackson- ville R. R. England, I. W., Dealer in Choice Candies, Tropical and Native Fruits, Vegetable Produce, etc. Fuller ton & Wallace, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, and Solicitors in Chancery. Haack, L. R., Dealer in Wall Paper, Window Glass, Window Shades, Cur- tains, Fixtures and Wood Moldings. Painting and Papering done on reason- able terms and in a workmanlike man- ner. Har sell, Josiah, Sheriff of Mason County. Harpham & Browning, Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Oils, "V arnishes, Glass, Paints, Putty, and Patent Medicines. Havighorst, Henry, Dealer in Hardware and Cutlery. Sole Agent for Simmons' " Keen Kutter " Axes. Main street. Heiniger, Johannes, Rev., Pas- tor of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church ; also Teacher of German and English. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 867 Heinr'ch, J. W., Manager for the Singer" Manufacturing Company for the Counties of Mason and Fulton. All orders promptly attended to. Attach- ments furnished on short notice, and repairing of the Singer Sewing Machine a Specialty. Office at Whittaker's Book Store. Holzgrsefe, G. H., Billiard and Sam- ple Room, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Choice Wines, Liquors, etc., etc., 12 Plum street. Hurley, John, & Sons, Dealers in all kinds of river Fish. Market at Havana and two miles northeast of Havana. All orders promptly filled during the season, from October to May. Joyce, E. M., & CO., Dealers in Sta- ple and Fancy Groceries, Crockery, Queensware, Glassware, Wood and Wil- low Ware, Cigars and Tobacco, Main street. Karl, George, Proprietor of the Tay- lor House Saloon, 25 Main street. Kirk, J. S., Police Magistrate and General Insurance Agent. Krebaum, C. G., Dealer in Grain, Live Stock, Hides, Furs and Rags, Buys Grain and Live Stock at all Sta- tions on P., P. & J. R. R. between Chandlerville and Pekin, and on L, B. & W. road at all Stations west of Mason City. Call and see me before selling. . Office No. 8 South Plum street. Krebaum, A., Dealer in Real Estate. Lacey, Lyman, Hon., Circuit and Appellate Judge. Langford, George W., Salesman for Browning, W. C., & Co., Manufac- j turers and Jobbers of Men's, Youths' j and Boys' Clothing, 502 and 504 ! Broadway, New York. LOW, T. P., Teller Havana National Bank, No. 2,242, organized Feb. 15, 1875. LOW & Poster, Shipping and Com- mission Merchants. Mason County Corn a specialty. McPadden & Co., (established 1861) Grain. Mason County Corn a specialty. Mallory, J. A., Hon., Judge of Mason County Court. Mason County Bank. Organized in 1865. McFadden & Coppel, Bank- ers. Transacts a General Banking Bus- iness. Special attention given to Col- lections in this and adjoining counties. Refer to Ninth National Bank, New York; Fifth National Bank, Chicago; Lucas Bank, St. Louis ; Second National Bank, Peoria. Mason County Democrat. Offi- cial paper of Mason County. Estab- lished in 1849. Circulation 1,000. Pub- lished weekly. Subscription $2, or $1.50 if paid in advance. Mounts & Mur- dock. Publishers. Mason County Republican. Published Friday of each week. Terms, $1.50 per annum, in advance. F. Ketcham, Editor ; C. B. Ketcham, Pro- prietor. Mitchell, Isaac N., General Fire and Life Insurance. Real Estate, Loan, Pension and Collection Agency, No. 51 Main street. Represents the following reliable Insurance Companies: Insur- ance Company of North America, Phil- adelphia ; Underwriters', New York ; Connecticut, Hartford ; Continental, New York ; Springfield Fire and Marine, Massachusetts ; Phenix. Brook- lyn ; German, Peoria, 111. ; German American, New York; Manhattan, New York ; Royal of Liverpool, England Western Assurance Company, Toronto ; N> BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Lycoming, Pennsylvania ; Imperial and Northern, London, England, and Fire- man's Fund, California. Total Assets of the above Fire Companies over $70,- 000,000. Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany of New York, Assets over $87,- 000,000 ; Travelers Life and Accident Insurance Company of Hartford, Assets, $4,500,000. Total Assets of the above Companies over $160,000,000. Morgan, William B., Proprietor of the Taylor House. Morgan, W. B., Proprietor of the Taylor House. Mlirdock, S. A., Attorney and Coun- selor at Law. Newlin, James C., Constable. Nortrup, H. R., Attorney at Law. Parkins, G. W., Physician and Sur- geon, Main street. Paul, J. B., Physician and Surgeon, 101 Main street. Pipkin & Cunningham, Manu- facturers of Farm and Spring Wagons, and General Jobbing. Pitman, John W., Attorney and Counselor at Law, north side Main st. Prottzmen, J., Justice of the Peace, Plum street. Deeds, Mortgages made and acknowledged and Collections made promptly, and strict attention paid to all business appertaining to his office. Also Agent for Real Estate. Rhodes, John W., Dealer in all kinds of Standard Farm Machinery. Sarff, J. W., Wholesale Dealer and Grower of Hedge Plants. Schill, A. & W., Butchers and Deal- ers in Fresh, Salted and Smoked Meats. Cash paid for Hides. No. 43 Main st. Schill, Charles, Dealer in Stoves. Tinware, etc., No. 35 Main street. Schwenk, Leonard, Circuit Clerk of Mason County. Seibert, George, Rev., Pastor of the Reformed Church in America. Shermeyer, H. H., 77 Main street. Manufacturer of and Dealer in Harness. Saddles, Collars, Bridles, Whips, Halt- ers, Curry-combs, etc. Repairing done neatly and cheaply. All work war- ranted. Give me a call. Also Dealer in Uncle Sam's Harness Oil. Siebenaler, N., Manufacturer of Fine Cigars; also Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Tobacco and Snuff, No. 58 Main street. All orders promptly attended to. Stephenson & Wahlfeld, Dealers in Groceries and Provisions, Hardware and Tinware, Plum street. Stevens, C., Dr., Dentist. Strickle, J. P., Dealer in Staple and' Fancy Dry Goods, Hats, Caps, Boots and Shoes, etc. Smith, James P., Baggage and Trans- fer Express. Prompt attention given to the transfer of passengers and bag- gage. Taylor, J. H., Dealer in Clothing and Furnishing Goods, No. 23 Main street. Thorp, O. B., Dealer in Hardware, Guns, Pistols, Ammunition, Sporting Goods, Fishing Tackle, etc. Breech and Muzzle Loading Guns made to order. Repairing done at reasonable rates, and all work Warranted. Vanlaningham, M., Proprietor Liv- ery, Feed and Exchange Stable, corner Plum and Bridge street". Valentine, H., Wholesale Dealer in and Grower of Hedge Plants. Whitaker, S., Bookseller, Stationer and Dealer in Wall Paper, Latest News- papers and Periodicals, Toys, Fancy Goods and Children's Carriages. All kinds of Moldings. Picture Frames to order. Corner of Main and Plum streets. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 869 Wiener, A. E., Dealer in Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Carpetings, Curtains and Trimmings, Trunks, Valises, Carpet-sacks, etc., etc., new Masonic Hall Building. Woll, William, Dealer in Groceries and Provisions, 26 Main street. Wright, O. H. & H. A., Attorneys at Law and Solicitors in Chancery, Real Estate and Loan Agents. MASON CITY. Ambrose & Sons, Dealers in Hard- ware, Cutlery, Stoves, etc. Badger, S. M., County Superintendent of Schools. Cargill & Swing, General Merchan- dise. Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Boots and Shoes, Notions, Groceries and Provisions, etc., etc., etc. Cook, P. H., Retail Grocer and Dealer in Queensware, Glassware, Lamps,Wood- enware, Cutlery, etc. Earl, James F., Dealer in Dry Goods, Carpets, Boots and Shoes, Hats and Caps, Notions, etc., etc., etc., Chestnut street. Fagan, T. J., Dealer in Wines, Liquors and Cigars. Proprietor of Bank Sam- ple and Billiard Room, Chestnut street. First National Bank of Mason City, 111. A. A. Blunt. President; John Van Horn, Vice President ; Otho S. King, Cashier. A General Banking Business done. Hudson, J. P., J ustice of the Peace- Hulshizer, John, Proprietor of Hul- shizer's Billiard and Sample Room, and Dealer in Wines, Liquors, Cigars, etc. Entrance on Chestnut and Tonica sts. Ironmonger & Tebbetts, Proprie- tors of Mason City Mills, and Dealers in Grain, Flour, Feed, etc., etc. etc. Merchants' milling promptly attended to. , H. T., Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Provisions, etc., cor- ner of Tonica and Chestnut streets. Dealer in Farm Produce. McDowell, J. B., Physician and Sur- geon. Mason City Independent, Haughey & Warnock, Proprietors. The Independent is published every Friday at $1.50 per year, and is now in the thirteenth volume. Office, No 16 Chestnut street, between Main and Tonica. Mehan, T. N., Counselor and Attor- ney at Law. District State's Attorney. Naylor Bros., Dealers in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Confectionery, Tobac- cos, Cigars, etc. Onstot, R. J., Proprietor Post Office Book Store. Books, Stationery, Wall Paper, Notions, Pianos, Organs, Sewing Machines, etc. ReiSinger & Dietrich, Brick Man- ufacturers, Ice Dealers and Butchers. Randolph, Charles E., Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Groceries, Queens- ware, Cigars, Candies. Nuts, etc. Smith, F. N., & CO., Bankers. Receive Deposits subject to call ; Buy and Sell Foreign and Domestic Ex- change, Government, County, Town and School Bonds ; make Collections on all accessible points, with prompt returns at current rates ; Discount Notes and Commercial Paper ; Make Loans upon Real Estate Securities for a term of one to five years. References : Chase National Bank, New York ; Merchants' National Bank, Chicago ; St. Louis National Bank, St. Louis, Mo. Thompson, W. F., Furniture and Undertaking, No. 11 Chestnut street. Walker, J. A., Physician and Sur- 870 BUSINESS DIRECTORY. Wandell, J. H., Proprietor of the St. Nicholas Hotel and Livery Stable. Large Sample Room for Commercial Travelers. BATH. AllGD, J. S., Dealer in Staple and Fancy Groceries, Queensware, Crockery, etc. Also Proprietor of the Restaurant one door east of Grocery Store. Barr, Daniel W., Proprietor of the Central House. Dealer in Horses and Mules ; also Trainer of Horses. Saddle Horses a Specialty. Livery in connec- tion with the Hotel. Cameron & Fletcher, Proprietors of Bath Flouring Mills. Dealers in Grain, Flour, Feed, Bran, Shorts, etc. Queen of Mason brand of Flour a Specialty. Orders promptly filled. Harmison, D. C., M. D., Physician and Surgeon, and Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, etc. Physicians' Prescriptions carefully compounded. Heberling, Warren, Dealer in Grain, Groceries and Hardware, Queens- ware, Agricultural Implements, Salt, Lime and Cement. Horstman BrOS., Dealers in Dry Goods, Clothing, Hats, Caps, Boots, Shoes, and Notions. Horstman & CO., Commission and ! Grain. LOW & Foster, Shipping and Com- mission Merchants. Main office, Havana, 111. Mason County Corn a Specialty. : Middelkamp, H., Undertaker and Dealer. in Lumber, Lath, Shingles, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Household Furniture and Undertakers' Goods. Schaaf, A.., Dealer in Groceries, Queensware, Hardware, Notions, Stoves, Tinware and Salt. Turner, W. W., Proprietor of Billiard Hall. Turner, W. W., & CO., Dealers in Agricultural Implements and Farm Tools of all kinds. Repairs furnished. Whelpley, J. C., Dealer in Groceries and Family Supplies. Goods sold at Lowest Prices for Cash. Highest Price Paid for Produce. KILBOURNE. BigeloW, E. H., Grain Merchant. Davis, French, Manufacturer of Sor- ghum Molasses on Shares or by the Gallon. Feild, A. E., Groceries and Provisions, Tinware, Notions, etc. LOW & Foster, Shipping and Com- mission Merchants. Main office, Havana, 111. Mason County Corn a Specialty. B,OOt, J. W., M. D., Physician and Surgeon. Treatment of Piles a Spe- cialty, without the aid of Knife, Caus tic or Ligature. Cure Guaranteed. Routt, J. W. & Brother, Black- smiths and Wagon-makers. Wagons and Sleighs made, and all kinds of Repairing to order and satisfactorily. RuggleS & Field, Dealers in Drugs, Medicines, Chemicals, Fancy Toilet Articles, Trusses and Shoulder Braces ; Grass and Garden Seeds ; Pure Wines and Liquors for medicinal " purposes ; Paints, Oils, Varnishes and Dye Stuffs, Glass, Putty, Carbon Oil, Lamps and Chimneys ; Stationery. Prescriptions accurately compounded. Also Dealers in Hardware. MANITO. Eakin, R. S., Notary Public and Jus- tice of the Peace ; Collecting Agent. Lumber, Doors, Blinds, Sash, Brick, Lime, Cement, Drain Tile and Chimneys. Heckman, George, Blacksmith and Carriage-maker. BUSINESS DIRECTORY. 871 Kosher, E. A., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Hats and Caps. Interest on all accounts after sixty days. Sauter, Richard, Manufacturer of and Dealer in all kinds and grades of the Best Boots and Shoes, Rubbers, Arctic Overshoes, etc., for Men, Women and Children. Schoeneman, F., Dealer in Saddles, Harness, Bridles, Collars, Whips, Blan- kets, etc. Shanholtzer, J. N., Proprietor Lib- erty Mills. Manufactures and keeps in Stock the Best Family Flour, Meal, etc., which is sold cheaper than at any other place. EASTON. Cunningham, J. H., Dealer in Pure Drugs and Hardware; Books, Station- ery ; Paints, Oils, Brushes and Fancy Goods of all kinds, at prices below Competition. LOW & Foster, Shipping and Com- mission Merchants. Main office, Havana, 111. Mason County Corn a Specialty. Terrel, E. D., Postmaster and Dealer in Dry Goods and Groceries. MISCELLANEOUS. Adkins, J. C., Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Notions. Boots, Shoes, Hard- ware, Cigars, Tobacco, etc., etc. Cash | paid for Grain. Saidora. Ashurst, John L., Manufacturer of the Blunt Succor Drill. This Drill has been manufactured only to a limited extent, mainly since 1873, when he was first associated with Mr. Blunt. Since 1874, Mr. Ashupst has conducted the manufacturing alone, and has made and sold about one hundred of these Drills this season. The demand has been far in excess of the supply, and it is Mr. Ashurst's intention to increase his facil- ities for manufacturing so that the demand for the coming season can be met for this Drill, which is surpassed by none in the market. Section 36, Town 20, Range 9, Bath Township. P. 0. Kilbourne, 111. Bell, Theodore, Dealer in Drugs, Medicines and Hardware, Topeka. Downey, J. W., M. D., Physician and Surgeon, Topeka, 111. Office over Martz's Store. Jacobs, A., & CO., Manufacturers of and Dealers in Agricultural Implements, Wagons, Buggies, Carriages, etc., San Jose, 111. LOW & Foster, Bishop's Station. Shipping and Commission Merchants. Main office, Havana, 111. Mason County Corn a Specialty. Neuman & Knapp, Dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots, Shoes, Cloth- ing, etc., San Jose. PaddOCk, Howarth & CO., Pro- prietors of the Sangamon Valley Mills, Chandlerville, 111. Dealers in Flour and Feed. Smith, Mark A., Dealer in Grain, Snicarte, 111. POPULATION OF MENARD COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS. .TOWNSHIPS. 1 o H 'a 677 1068 204 1059 318 1184 1052 311 803 2380 1465 797 402 289 417 393 187U. e bo Z ~ Township 18, R. Township 19, R. Sweet Water Township 17, R. Athens 5 W 793 116 175 26 113 33 87 187 62 77 441 327 144 70 50 60 33 793 1243 230 1172 350 1270 1239 373 880 2814 1787 941 472 339 477 426 5W 1243 . . 230 6 W 1172 ! 351 Township 18, R. Township 19, R. Greenview . 6 W j 1271 6 W 1239 i 373 Township 17, R. Township 18, R. Petersburg,. 7 \V ; 880 7 W 2821 1792 Township 19, R. Township 17, R. Tallula 7 W 941 8 W 472 .. ., . . 339 Township 18, R. Township 19, R. 8W 477 8W 426 I860. Colored. 3 791 Colored. 1136 1 951 392 1 1177 841 8 682 7 5 2013 1196 3 962 305 374 265 POPULATION OF MASON COUNTY BY TOWNSHIPS. 1870. 18 60. TOWNSHIPS. 1 Native; S> 'g 3 Colored. jfl Colored. Allen's Grove 1199 1027 172 1199 Bath 2124 1802' 322 ! 2124 1070 Bath 464 425 39 464 513 Crane Creek 1068 1020 48 1068 Havana 2933 "406 527 2930 3 2075 1 Havana, 1785 1465 320 1782 3 Lynchburg . ... 804 692 112 1 804 Manito 1352 1088 264 1352 Manito 375 332 43 375 Mason City 2387 2244 143 2387 / 652 Mason City 1615 1537 78 1615 264 Xlason Plains . . . 806 639 161 800 Pennsylvania 932 875 57 932 Quiver 893 788 105 893 Salt Creek 1102 1044 58 1102 Sherman... 590 492 98 ' 590 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA HISTORY OF MENARD & MASON COUNTIES, ILLI