USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
USA > Illinois > Moultrie County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 1
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M. LI
977.301 Sh4 c 1198/71
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00828 0015
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
https://archive.org/details/combinedhistoryo00unse
1763.
COMBINED HISTORY OF
Shelby and Moultrie
COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ith
Illustrations
DESCRIPTIVE OF THEIR SCENERY
AND Biographical Sketches of some of their Prominent Men and Pioneers
PUBLISHED BY BRINK, MCDONOUGH & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
1881.
-
PREFACE.
1198171
HE publishers desire to return their sincere thanks to those who have aided in making this work thorough and com- plete. For the incidents relative to the early settlement of the two counties, we are indebted to a few early pioneers, who have seen a wild, frontier country develop into a wealthy and populous community. For other facts we are under obligations to a class of intelligent men. who, amid the ordinary pursuits of life, have taken pains to thoroughly inform themselves on the resources of their county. Among those who have specially contributed to the completeness of the history of Shelby county, are Yo- seph Oliver, Fudge Anthony Thornton, the Hon. S. W. Moulton, and the Hon. William M. Wright of Shelby- ville; John M. Friedley, and the Hon. A C: Campbell of Moawequa; and such old residents of the county as John Armstrong, James Tolly, John Casey, James Cochran, Benjamin Moberly, John Pugh, Robert Pugh, John Spain, Jacob Eliott, John Renshaw, William Price and A. Francisco.
In the preparation of the history of Moultrie county, we have been materially assisted by John A. Freeland, the first county clerk, f. H. Waggoner, W. W. Eden, Capt. A. B. Lee, Dr. B. B. Everett, Arnold Thomason, Dr. A. L. Kellar, H. Y. Kellar, Hon. John R Eden, A. P. Green, Gilbert Waggoner, Gideon Edwards; George Purvis, Doc. Patterson, Alvin Waggoner, David Mitchell, John B. Mitchell, William Purvis, deceased. and f. H. Snyder.
The articles on the common schools have been pre- pared by gentlemen thoroughly acquainted with their
subject, whose names appear at the head of the sketches in the body of the work. Among the chapters most fruit- ful in interest to a great number of our readers, will be found those which treat of the early history of the churches. Many persons now live whose fathers and grandfathers, in the humble log cabin, which was then the only house of worship, assisted in founding organi- zations which have been of the greatest good to subse- quent generations. To the clergymen of the different denominations, and to many of the older members of these societies, we are indebted for much valuable information. The editors of the several newspapers have also rendered assistance in that prompt and cheerful manner so charac- teristic of the journalistic profession.
We have endeavored, with all diligence and careful- ness, to make the best of the material at our command, but we by no means claim to have produced a work be- yond criticism. If, as is sometimes remarked, a book perfect and free from mistakes has never been published, what shall be said of such a work as this, where the facts are gathered from a hundred different sources, and de- pend largely, not on exact written records, but on the uncertain and conflicting recollections of different indi- viduals ! We have tried to preserve the incidents of pioneer history, to accurately present the natural features and material resources of this portion of the state, and to gather the facts likely to be of most interest to our present readers, and of greatest importance to coming generations. If our readers will take into consideration the difficulties of the task, we feel assured of a favora- ble verdict on our undertaking.
THE PUBLISHERS.
n ¥
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
COUNTY HISTORY.
CHAP.
PAGE.
I .-- Brief Sketch of north-
west Territory. . . II .- Brief IIist'eal Sketch
of Illinois. . . . . 20
III .- Geography, Agricul- tural Resourees and Railroad facilities of Shelby & Moul- tric Counties . . . 30
IV .- Geology of Shelby and Moultrie Counties. 34
V .- Fauna of Shelby and
Moultrie Counties. 38
VI .- Flora of Shelby and
Moultrie Counties. 39
VII .- Pioneers and Early Settlers. . . . 10
VIII .- Customs of early days. 49
IX .- Civil History of Shel- by County. . . . 53
Civil History of Moul- trie County. . . . 65
X .- Bench and Bar of Shelby and Moul-
trie Counties. . . 75
XI .- The Press of Shelby and Moultrie Coun- ties. . 82
XII .- Common Schools of
Shelby and Moul-
trie Counties. . . 88
XIII .- Patriotism of Shelby
and Moultrie Coun-
XIV .- Erelesiastical History
of Shelby and Moul- trie Counties. . . . 122
BIOGRAPHIES.
Adams, E. S. . 248
Allen, J. G. 241
Allen, Peter. 232
Ames, Truman E. 173
Andes, James A.
277
Atkinson, John. . . 246
PAGE.
Baker, Wm. K. . 211
Baker, Evan. 232
Bandy, Geo. A. . 315
Barbee, John.
. 302
Biddlecome & Toby. 228
Bisdee, Edward. . 173
Birkett, Skelton . 250
Blythe, Alfred, (dee'd). 233
Blythe, Joseph.
308
Bristow, D. F. 193
Brisben, Capt. John P. 210
Brownlee, James
220
Calvert, E. L. .
. 271
Calvert, William.
. 272
Campbell, A. C. 206
Catherwood, (M.D.) Thomas L. 172 Carlisle, Dr. McDonald . 293
Chew, Hon. Wm. .
171
Cheever, (M. D.) Nathan. 223 Clark, C. C. 198
Clark, William R. 287
Cochran, W. A. 163
296
Compton, Chas.
Cokenower, Dr. J. W. . 193
Cra.klick, A. M. 278
Crowder, Robert, (dec'd). .247
265
Davis, J. W. . 215
Davidson, (M. D.) David L. . 251
Dawdy, John W.
212
Dearing, B. P. . 162
De Garmo, Rufus. 286
Dilley, Matthias.
177
Dove, S. L. 280
Doyle, E. M. . 205
Dunseomb, John H. 195
Duncan, Dr. John 297
Durkee, Geo. A. 303
Eden, John R. 180
Elder, Wm. 192
Elam, Joel J.
313
Frazer, James F 170
PAGE.
Franeiseo, Allen. 299
French, E. S. 304
Freeland, James, (dee'd). . 245
Freeland, John A. 191
Friedley, John M. 202
Fringer, Dr. G. V . 277
Fritts, IIon. Thos. J. . 218
Foster, (Lieut.) W. C. . . 228
Foster, Joseph.
252
Gammill, S. F. 212
Gaskill, Rev. Allen. . 307
Gilbert, W. C.
194
Gillham, Perry B. . 195 McDonald, J. F. . 274
Graybill, Thomas J.
. 167
MeNutt, Dr. Isaac B.
219
Greene, Alvin P. 189
Grier, Dr. D. D. . 211
Halley, Wm. T. 220
Hall, Cyrus. .
. 175
Hall, John HI ..
. 278
Hamlin, Howland J. 174
Hamer, J. W. 166
Harris, Joseph T.
. 189
Hess, W. W. .
165
Higginbotham, Lafayette. . .160
Hill, George B. . .267
Hilsabeck, Dr. W. I .. . 211
Ho.lkinson, George.
283
Homrighous, John W. . 311
Howell, Charles.
Howell, John T.
Hoxsey, Dr. An lerson P. . 208
Hughes, Thomas M. 207
Jackson, W. H. 302
James and Yanti :.
177
Johnson, Hiram. . 257
Keeler, George W. . 168 Row lybush, Milton. 218
Kellar, Dr. A. R. . . 197
Kennedy, James C. . 211
Kelly, Wm. C. . 176
Kinkade, John B (des'd) . 212
Kirkwood, Wm 1.90
PAGE
Kirkwood, James. 199
Kleeman and Goldstien. 164
Knox, Dr. J. J. 312 Kurtz, C. J. 178 Lane, John E. . 318
Leonard, Jolin T.
211
Lloyd, J. Wm. .
176
Longenbach, Isaae.
301
Marshutz, W. B. 158
Martin, Horace L. 166
Mc Dermith, James. 203
MeDermith, Dr. S. T. 202
Mecker (Julge) .J. . 187
Messer, Harrison, (dlec't) . 308
Middlesworth, John. .206
Middleton, David. 257
Miller, W'in. C.
Miller, D. O. 279
Miley, Aaron. . 197
Mitchell, John B.
218
Mize. W. J. .
192
Morgan, Dr. Jolın. . 250
Morrow, George, (dee'd). 238
Moulton, S. W. 150
Nance, W'm. W. 293
Noble, Thomas.
215
Noble, Robert C. 253
Osborn, A. Lanson.
Pierce, Addison G.
Penwell, Dr. Enos.
171
Huffer, John C. 173 Price, J. Henry. 210
Reber, (M. D.) Chas. T.
172
Roane, Charles L.
. 192
Robson, Victor.
. 294
Sanner, Samuel, (dec'd). 256
Sanner, John W. 257
Sanner, E. B. 259
Sanner, S. H.
260
Sanner, David G.
2H-1
Harper, Robert.
. 267
Minor, II. M.
226
Daugherty, Reuben.
Day, Henry I'. . 207 ties. . . 99
9
6
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Sanner, Jacob H. 262
Scott, James W. 253
Scott, A. E. D. . 193
Sharp, Robert H. . 195
Zeigler, Charles E.
292
County. . facing p. 70
County Poor-farm. 152
Craddick, A. M. .
278
De Garmo, R.
286
Doyle, E. M.
204
Dubler, W. H.
240
Fisk, L., Mr. & Mrs ..
312
Friedley, J. M,
202
Foster, John.
=
288
Goodwin, Geo.
256
Hall, John H.
278
Harris, Joseph T.
178
Howell, John T.
228
Lane, John E.
152
Log School-house. p.
96
Jackson, W. H.
fac'g p. 202
Killam, John T.
272
Killam, Nathan.
286
Kirkwood, J. .
264
Middlesworth, John. 296
Miller, David O.
280
Mittendorf, Louis .
272
Nazworthy, W.
.304
Ney, Frederick, .
284
Old log Court-house.
194
Public Buildings of Shelby
County. . facing p. 56
Public School Building . . p. 89
Rincker, W. H.
. facing p. 310
Ruch, John.
318
Sanner, E. B. .
258
Sanner, David G. .
260
Sanner, John W.
=
256
Sanner, S H.
266
Scott, J. W. .
253
Sexson, Perry, :
191
Sharp, R. H. .
194
Shephard, H. C.
226
Shepherd, E. L.
192
Short, Amo4.
198
Short, W. A. 198
Short, Willis.
198
Smith, T. M.
206
Snyder, W. J.
282
Snyder, M.
284
Stewart, James G.
208
PAGE.
Strain, J. A. . fac'g p. 192
Thompson, G. M. . 258
Thompson, H. B. 262
Thornton & Sons. 172
Turner, John .
254
Vanhise, J. H. 226
Vaughan, Geo. W.
196
Webster, S. H. . 240
Wemple, H. M ..
266
Whitfield, Z. B.
296
Wiley, J. B.
264
PORTRAITS.
Bandy, George A. . 311
Birkett, Skelton, sen'r. facing 250
Birkett, Mary, (dec'd). 250 Birkett, Elizabeth. 250
Calvert, E. L. 271
Campbell, A. C. 206
Cochran, W. A. 163
Eden, John R.
186
Friedley, John M.
202
Foster, Joseph.
252
Foster, Mary.
252
Graybill, Thomas J.
167
Hall, Cyrus.
175
Hess, W. W .. 165
Homrighouse, John.
316
Kirkwood, Wm.
190
Minor, H. M .
226
Moulton, S. W.
159
Sanner, E. B.
259
Sanner, Naomie P.
259
Sanner, David G.
261
Shelton, Arch ..
169
Smyser, Alfred N.
188
Thornton, Gen. Win. F. fac'g 156
Thornton, Anthony.
161
Partial List of Patrons. 319
Constitution of Illinois. 334
Declaration of Independence. 341 Constitution of United States. 342
Amendments to Constitution
of United States. . . 34.1
Wolf, C. W.
280
PAGE
Wright, Wm. M. 158
Wright, Capt. George. . 303
Wright, James B.
285
Shepherd, M. T.
227
Shelton, Arch.
169
Shinn, W. H.
. 191
Shuman, Charles.
265
Sittler and Launey
171
Silver, J. H. .
179
Simpson, John T.
220
Smart, A. T. .
219
Smith, William.
: 270
Smith, Samuel. .
979
Smith, Col. Dudley C.
162
Smyser, Capt. Alfred N.
.188
Snyder, Valentine. 204
Snyder, Wm. J. 233
Stearns, D. F.
497
Strain, J. A.
241
Stuart, Thomas W.
178
Sweet, Orson.
260
Thompson, G. M.
258
Thornton, Gen. Wm. F.
157
Thornton, Julge, Anthony.
. 161
Trower, W. A ..
170
Torrence, Lieut. L. G.
290
Torrence, R. C.
294
Turney Family.
299
Turner, John. 254
Van Reed, Dr. D. R. 160
Vanhise, J. H.
194
Vaughan, George W.
193
Voris, Hon Chas. 239
Waggoner, E. E. 177
Waggoner, J. II. 194
Warren, T.
291
Warden, J. L. 239
Webster, Samuel H. 168
Webster, Capt. Phil. R. 179 Wendling, George. . 318 Wemple, H. M. 268
Westervelt, (M. D.) C. J.
179
Whitlatch, Rezin. 316 Wilson, J. D. 312
Bailey, Samuel. .
312
Bandy, Geo. A. . . bet. 314 & 315
Bendsley, Mrs. E. . facing 312
Birkett, Skelton.
250
Bisdee, Edward.
172
PAGE
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.
Ash Grove.
305
Big Spring.
230
Cold Spring
216
Dora. .
233
Dry Point.
289
East Nelson.
263
Flat Branch.
281
Holland.
294
Jonathan's Creek
273
Lovington.
221
Lowe.
288
Marrowbone.
241
Moawequa.
199
Oconee.
213
Okaw 297
Penn
255
Pickaway.
300
Prairie.
309
Richland.
313
Ridge.
268
Rose.
317
Rural.
266
Shelbyville.
152
Sullivan
180
Todd's Point.
249
Tower Hill.
275
Whitley.
208
Windsor.
236
ILLUSTRATIONS
Adams, E. S. . . facing page 248
Atkinson, John. 246
Bake:, W. K .. . bet. pp. 234 & 235
Bail, E. T. .
fas'g p: 264
· Wiley, Joseph B. 264
Winings, William. 235 Wood, Samuel S. 230
Campbell, J. C. . . . facing p. 206
County Maps. . 9
County Buildings of Moultrie
INTRODUCTION.
ISTORY is but a record of the life and career of people and nations; and the historian, in rescuing from oblivion the life of a nation, or a particular people, should " nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice ;" myths, however beautiful, are at their best but fanciful ; tradi tions, however pleasing, are uncertain ; and legends, though the very essence of poesy, are unauthentic. The novelist will take the most fragile thread of vivid imagination, and from it weave a fabric of surpassing beauty. But the historian should place his feet upon the solid basis of fuet, and, turning a deaf ear to the allurements of fancy, and sift with careful and painstaking scrutiny, the evidence brought before him, and upon which he is to give the record of what has been. Standing, as he does, down the stream of time, far removed from its source, he must retrace, with patience and care, its meanderings, guided by the relics of the past which lie upon its shores, growing fainter and still more faint and uncertain as he nears its fountain, ofttimes concealed in the debris of ages, and in mists and darkness im- penetrable. Written records grow less and less explicit, and finally fail altogether, as he approaches the beginning of the community whose life he is seeking to rescue from the gloom of a rapidly re- ceding past.
Memory, wonderful as are its powers, is yet frequently at fault ; and only by a comparison of its many aggregations can he be satis- fied that he is pursuing stable-footed truth in his researches amid the early paths of his subject.
It cannot then be unimportant or uninteresting to trace the pro- gress of Shelby and Moultrie's gratifying development, from their crude beginnings to their present proud positions among their sister counties. And therefore we were to gather the scattered and loosening threads of the past into a compact web of the present, ere they become hopelessly broken and lost, and with a trust that the harmony of our work may speak with no uncertain sound to the future Records will be traced so far as they may yield the informa- tion sought ; the memories of the pioneers will be laid under tri- bute; the manuscripts of the provident will give their contributions and all sources will be called into requisition to furnish material,
reliable and certain, to bring forth a truthful history of these counties.
Individual success is a proof of triumphant energy, and pledges a like career to corresponding enterprises ; therefore, biographies of earnest, successful representative lives, intimately connected with the development of these counties, will illustrate what energy, de- termination, and indomitable will have hitherto accomplished, and can yet accomplish; to foster local ties, to furnish examples of heroism, to exhibit the results of well-applied industry, and to mark the progress of the community, literature, art, and topography (an attractive trio are freely employed to embellish and render invalu- ble a practical and interesting work ).
In prosecuting our enterprise, we shall essay, first, something of the history of the north-west territory, and of the state of Illinois in its early settlement, with a brief sketch of the title to the fec of the millions of acres of prolific soil within its splendid domain. Then will follow in their order an account of Shelby and Moultrie counties, from their earliest settlement, up to and including the present, showing their surprising development in agriculture, trade, manufactures, political influence, population and wealth, not for- getting to do honor to the brave men, of all political faiths, who rallied to the common defense of the country when armed treason raised its bloody hand against the national life, and who bore the banner of the Prairie state through the carnage of many hard-fought fields, onward to ultimate triumph.
Brief histories of the several townships and villages composing the respective counties will follow, wherein will appear the names of the carly settlers, and the more important events, interspersed with incidents, humorous and sad, which invariably attach to border life, but which, however graphically they may be told, cannot give to us of the present day, who have come into our pleasant places through the toils and privations of the pioneers, any realizing sense of the rugged, thorny paths those heroes and heroines patiently and hopefully trod for many long weary years.
Now, kind reader, we leave ourselves in your hands. Read our work carefully, judge it charitably, and pronounce not against it until time shull afford an opportunity of testing its merits.
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HISTORY
OF
SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER I.
A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY.
GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION.
N 1784 the North-western Territory was ceded to the United States by Virginia. It embraced only the territory lying between the Ohio and Mississipi rivers; and north, to the northern limits of the United States. It coincided with the area now embraced in the states of Wiscon- sin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and that portion of Min- nesota lying on the east side of the Mississippi river. On the first day of March, 1784, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and James Monroe, delegates in Congress on the part of Virginia, executed a deed of cession, by which they transferred to the United States, on certain conditions, all right, title and claim of Virginia to the country known as the North- western Territory. 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. It includes an arca of 1,887,850 square miles, being greater than the united areas of the Middle and Southern states, including Texas. Out of this magnificent territory have been erected eleven sovereign states and eight territories, with an aggregate population at the present time of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one-third of the entire population of the United States.
Its rivers are the largest on the continent, flowing thousands of miles through its rich alluvial valleys and broad, fertile prairies.
Its lakes are fresh-water seas, upon whose bosom floats the commerce of many states. Its far-stretching prairies have more acres that are arable and productive than any other arca of like extent on the globe.
For the last quarter of a century the increase of population and wealth in the north-west has been about as three to one in any other portion of the United States.
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
In the year 1512, on Easter Sunday, the Spanish name for
which is Pascua Florida,* Juan Ponce de Leon, an old comrade of Columbus, discovered the coast of the American continent, near St. Augustine, and in honor of the day and of the blossoms which covered the trees along the shore, named the new-found country Florida. Juan had been led to undertake the discovery of strange lands partly by the hope of finding endless stores of gold, and partly by the wish to reach a fountain that was said to exist deep within the forests of North America, which pos- sessed the power of renovating the life of those who drank of or bathed in its waters. He was made governor of the region he had visited, but circumstances prevented his return thither until 1521; and then he went only to meet death at the hands of the Indians.
In the meantime, in 1516, a Spanish sea-captain, Diego Mi- ruclo, had visited the coast first reached by Ponce de Leon, and in his barters with the natives had received considerable quan- tities of gold, with which he returned home and spread abroad new stories of the wealth hidden in the interior.
Ten years, however, passed before Pamphilo de Narracz un- dertook to prosceute the examination of the lands north of the Gulf of Mexico. Narvaez was excited to action by the late astonishing success of the conqueror of Montezuma, but he found the gold for which he sought constantly flying before him; cach tribe of Indians referred him to those living farther in the interior. And from tribe to tribe he and his companions wan- dered. They suffered untold privations in the swamps and forests ; and out of three hundred followers only four or five at length reached Mexico. And still these disappointed wanderers persisted in their original fancy, that Florida was as wealthy as Mexico or Peru.
Among those who had faith in that report was Ferdinand de Soto, who had been with Pizarro in the conquests of Peru. He asked and obtained leave of the King of Spain to conquer Florida at his own cost. It was given in the year 1538. With a brilliant and noble band of followers he left Europe, and in May, 1538, after a stay in Cuba, anchored his vessels near the
. Pascua, the old English " Pash " or Passover ; " Pascua Flori la " is the " Holy- day of Flowers."
10
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
coast of the Peninsula of Florida, in the bay of Spiritu Santa, or Tampa bay.
De Soto entered upon his march into the interior with a deter- mination to succeed. From June till November of 1539, the Spaniards toiled along until they reached the neighborhood of Appalachee bay. During the next season, 1540, they followed the course suggested by the Florida Indians, who wished them out of their country, and going to the north-east, crossed the rivers and climbed the mountains of Georgia. De Soto was a stern, severe man, and none dared to murmur. De Soto passed the winter with his little band near the Yazoo. In April, 1541, the resolute Spaniard set forward, and upon the first of May reached the banks of the great river of the West, not far from the 35th parallel of latitude .*
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