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IVF (CASS Co.) Perrin
HISTORY
OF
CASS COUNTY,
1
ILLINOIS.
EDITED BY WILLIAM HENRY PERRIN.
ILLUSTRATED.
CHICAGO : O. L. BASKIN & CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS, LAKESIDE BUILDING.
1882.
459269
..............
CHICAGO LEOAL NEWS OO., PRINTERS.
PREFACE.
A FTER several months of laborious research and persistent toil, the history of Cass County is completed, and it is our hope and belief that no subject of general importance or interest has been overlooked or omitted, and even minor facts, when of sufficient note to be worthy of record, have been faithfully chronicled. In short, where protracted investigation promised results commensurate with the undertaking, matters not only of undoubted record, but legendary lore, have been brought into requisition. We are well aware of the fact that it is next to impossible to furnish a perfect history from the meager resources at the command of the historian under ordinary circumstances, but claim to have prepared a work fully up to the standard of our engagements. Through the courtesy and assistance generously afforded by the residents of Cass, we have been enabled to trace out and put into systematic shape the greater portions of the events that have transpired in the county, up to the present time, and we feel assured that all thoughtful persons interested in the matter will recognize and appre- ciate the importance of the work and its permanent value.
A dry statement of facts has been avoided, so far as it was possible to do so, and anecdote and incident has been interwoven with plain recital and statistics, thereby forming a narrative at once instructive and entertaining.
To those who have assisted our corps of writers in gathering material, or who have fur- nished, direct, matter incorporated in the work, our thanks are due, and to Hon. J. Henry Shaw and Judge Jno. A. Arenz, of Beardstown, we acknowledge special indebtedness.
SEPTEMBER, 1882.
THE PUBLISHERS.
18
-
CONTENTS.
PART I.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I .- Cass County-Early Notes on Illinois-The French Travelers and Explorers-The Indians- Wars of the Iroquois and Kickapoos-Legend of Monsoela - Different Owners of Illinois-Beards- town Mound-Purchase of the Country from the In- dians-Miscellaneous, etc. 11
CHAPTER II .- Settlements of the Country Not Included in Cass County-Some of the Pioneers and Where They Settled-The Sangamo Country-Its Fertility -Prairie. Schooners- First Land Entry-Beard's Ferry-Beard & Marsh's Entry of Land-First Set- tlers of Beardstown-Deed of Defeasance-Going to Egypt for Corn-Arrival of Other Settlers-The En- try of Land, etc. 18
CHAPTER I .- Increase of Population-The Deep Snow of 1830-The Black Hawk War-Rendezvous of Sol- diers at Beardstown-Cause of Dr. Chandler's Settle- ment-Meeting Between Him and Abraham Lincoln -Business of Beardstown in 1834-The Early Log Cabins-Yankees and Yankee Tricks-Corn Bread, etc .. 25
CHAPTER IV .- Organization of Cass County-The Con- vention at Rushville-Legislative Act Creating the County-Other Acts-First Election for Officers- The Number of Voters-An Incident of a Wolf-The Cold Day of 1837-Location of the County Seat- Scarcity of Money-The County Machinery Put in Motion-The Courts-Trouble from Horse Thieves- Eugene Honorius-The Census, etc ... 36
CHAPTER V .- Fertile Lands of Cass-Its Geological For- mations-Coal Measures-Different Deposits-Coal -Building Stone-Legislative Representatives from Cass County -- Principal County Officers Since For- mation-Illinois River Items, etc .. ... 52
CHAPTER VI .- Agriculture of Cass County-Farming in the Primitive Times-Improved Farm Implements -- Agricultural Fairs and Associations-Lists of Offi- cers -- Cass County Park Association-Its Organiza- tion, etc .- Fine Stock of the County-Short Horn Herds, etc .- The Railroads, etc .. 66
CHAPTER VII .- Virginia Precinct-Description, Bound- aries and Topography-Western Pioneer Life-Set- tlement of the Precinct by White People-Character of the Pioneers-Their Trials, Troubles and Hard- ships-Early Improvements and Industries-Roads, Bridges, ete-Schools-The First School-houses-
Early Teachers-Present Educational Facilities- Churches and Preachers-Old Shiloh Church-Mis- cellaneous, etc ...
72 CHAPTER VIII .- City of Virginia-Its Birth, Location and Growth-Sale of Lots, and Additions to the Town-Dr. Hall, Founder of Virginia-First House and Store-Public Square and Court House-Busi- ness in the West End-The Present Business Center --- IIotels, Mills, etc .- Doctors and Lawyers-Bank- ing Business-Incorporation of the City-Municipal Offices-Summary, etc ... 79
CHAPTER IX .- Virginia-Its Growth and Develop- ment as a City-The Era of Railroads-Project of Building the Illinois River Railroad-The Ohio and Mississippi, etc .- Newspapers of Virginia-First Paper Established in the Town-The Present City Press-Court Honses and the County Seat Question -The Jail-Miscellaneous, etc. 91 CHAPTER X. - Virginia - Religious History - First Churches and Preachers-The Different Denomina- tions aud Their Temples of Worship - Sunday Schools, etc .- Educational-The Early Schools of Virginia-Pioncer Teachers-The Public Schools- C. P. College-War History-Secret and Benevolent Institutions, etc. 97 CHAPTER XI .- Beardstown-City and Precinct-Laying Out ofthe Town-Its Location-Organization-First Officers-The County Seat Question-Churches- Schools-The Press-Railroads-The Professions- Early Settlers-Business Interests-War Record, etc .. 108
CHAPTER XII .- Chandlerville Precinct-Topograph- ical Features-Pioneer Times-Early Families- Educational-Societies-Mills-Village of Chand- lerville 122 CHAPTER XIII .- Ashland Precinct-Physical Features -Early Settlers - Pioneer Times - Schools and Churches -- The Village of Ashland 133 CHAPTER XIV .- Arenzville Precinct-Its Early History -The Three Mile Territory-Early Residence of the Settlers-Emigrants from Germany-School-houses and Churches in the School Districts-The Village of Arenzville-First Lots Surveyed-Business of the Town-Churches and School-houses in the Villages - Some of the Prominent Men of the Time-Francis Arenz, John L Cire, Dr. George Engelbach, and Others-Miscellaneous, etc .... 143
CHAPTER XV .- Princeton Precinct-General Descrip- tion-Boundaries, Topography and Surface Feat-
vi
CONTENTS.
I'AGE.
ures-The Early Settlement-Pioneer Hardships- First Mill, and other Improvements-Walnut Grove School-house - Present Schools-Churches - Old Princeton, and its Business Enterprise-Little In- dian Village ... I55
CHAPTER XVL-Richmond Precinct-Physical Features -Indians-Pioneer Times-Early Settlers-Schools, Churches and Stores ... 160
CHAPTER XVII .- Philadelphia Precinct-Descriptive- Topography and Physical Features-Organization as a Precinct-The settlement of the Whites-Their Life on the Frontier-Pioneer Improvements- Churches, Schools, etc .- Philadelphia and Lan- caster-A Lost City, etc .. I66
CHAPTER XVIII .- Monroe Precinct - Description -
Physical Features-Settlement and Pioneer Times- Growth and Improvement-Churches, Schools, etc ... 170
CHAPTER XIX .- Oregon Precinct-Description and Settlement-Pioneer Life-Indians-Churches and Schools 178
CHAPTER XX .- Hickory Precinct-Physical Features- First Settlement and Subsequent Growth-Progress of Industries and Improvements-Churches and Schools IS3
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Virginia-City and Precinct .. 193
Beardstown-City and Precinct. ...
227
PAGE.
Chandlerville Precinct
Ashland Precinct. 303
Arenzville Precinct 313
Indian Creek Precinct. 321
Princeton Precinct.
327
Richmond Precinct
330
Philadelphia Precinct.
Monroe Precinct ..
310
Oregon Preciuct.
317
Hickory Precinct .. 355
PORTRAITS.
Arenz, J. A. 45
Boone, N. H.
Brauer, Frederick 105
Campbell, William .. 207
Carr, David ..
189
Chandler, Charles 63
Cire, L. J 315
153
Decker, John.
117
Engelbach, Herman
243
Leeper, W. D. 351
Linn, William 333
Lohmann, Frank.
Nollsch, Gottlieb 297
Petefish, S. H 81
Shaw, J. Henry
27
Skiles, Ignatius
99
Tureman. J. H. 171
Wagner, David
225
3
1
Crum, James
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THE NEW FORK PUBL LB ARY
Astor Lenc) and Toden Foundations 1909
PART I.
HISTORY OF
CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
CASS COUNTY *- EARLY NOTES ON ILLINOIS-THE FRENCH TRAVELERS AND EXPLORERS- THE INDIANS-WARS OF THE IROQUOIS AND KICKAPOOS-LEGEND OF MON- SOELA-DIFFERENT OWNERS OF ILLINOIS-BEARDSTOWN MOUND
-PURCHASE OF THE COUNTRY FROM THE INDIANS- MISCELLANEOUS, ETC.
ILLINOIS dates its white settlements among the first in North America. Four years prior to the settlement of Plymouth, Le Baron had explored Upper Canada, and twenty years later the hardy and ambitious French traders and voyageurs and zealous mission- aries had erected trading posts and missions along the rivers and upon the lake shores, now within the jurisdiction of Illinois and Wisconsin.
At that period the surface of Illinois was much lower, geologically considered, than it is at the present time. Since its creation, the thin crust of the earth has been under- going slow mutations, breathing, as it were, by centuries, elevating and depressing in the lapse of ages under the influence of its mighty lungs of fire, sinking slowly and im- perceptibly beneath their former level eon- tinents and islands, and as gradually raising others above the waste of waters.
While the countries bordering upon the
Levantine seas have been gradually en- croached upon by the water, there has been a corresponding rise in the earth's surface here. Two hundred years ago the white settlers of Illinois navigated the Mississippi and Illi- nois rivers to the great northern lakes. French pirogues and Indian canoes found no difficulty in passing through the portages of the North to Hudson's Bay. The routes from the Mississippi river-up the Wisconsin and down the Fox to Lake Michigan; and up the Illinois or "River of the Miamis," as it was then called, to Chicago river; or up the Kan- kakee and down the St. Joseph-were well known and navigated. Indeed, but a few centuries since, these rivers were the south- ern outlets for the waters of the great lakes, and the Illinois penitentiary, near Joliet, now stands upon a ledge of rocks over which a great river once flowed in rapids similar to those of the Upper Mississippi.
In the southern part of the State, at that point now known as Tower Rock, this great river was dammed up by a wall of rock, over
* The Chapters on the County at large are written for this work by Hon J. Hen y Shaw, of reardstown.
12
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
which it fell one hundred feet, forming a cataract of such volume and height as to rival even Niagara. But the continual wearing power of the water, aided materially by earth- quakes, which have left their sign in the vicin- ity, finally opened the present channel of the Mississippi, and gave an outlet to the ocean of waters that lay stagnating in the swamps, now prairies, above, and causing the present agricultural productiveness of the ancient beds of these great waters.
Two hundred years ago Northern and Central Illinois was inhabited by two power- ful nations of Indians, the Illinois and the Miamis. The latter occupied the northern part of the present State and part of Wiscon- sin, and their chief town was upon the present site of Chicago.
The Illinois tribe occupied the country bordering upon the Illinois river, called by the French the " River Seignelay, " and all the country between that and the "River Col- bert," or Mississippi.
The principal tribe of the Illinois were the Muscootens, and their town was upon the present site of Beardstown, on the east bank of the river, at the foot of Muscooten Bay, and was called by the French the " Mound Village." The Peorias, another of the Illi- nois tribes, generally occupied that portion of the country between the rivers, having their town on the west bank of the Illinois river, four miles above the Muscooten village, upon the bluffs back of the present town of Fred- erick. The present site of Beardstown was at that time an island, surrounded on the north, east and south by almost impassable swamps, containing dangerous quicksands and quaking bogs, and which could be cross- ed only in canoes, or by Indians jumping from hillock to hillock of the turf grass with which these swamps were interspersed, and on the west by the Seignelay or Illinois River. The Indian town of the Muscootens was a
beautiful place. It was built upon a series of mounds, covered with grass, and partially shaded by tall trees, which stood like sentinels upon the hills, or ornamental trees upon a lawn, so scattered as not to obstruct the view of the whole town from the river. The island had evidently been selected, not only on ac- count of its natural beauty, but for its easy defense and safety from enemies.
By two bends in the river, forming two ob- tuse angles, the allied villages of the Peorias and the Museootens stood at the two elbows, in plain sight of each other, the broad river forming a straight sheet of water between, while north of the Mound Village, and in front of the Peorias, spread the wide and glassy surface of Muscooten Bay, separated from the river by a narrow peninsula. Back of the swamp which protected the rear of the town, was a wide belt of rich prairie bottom land, and beyond, six miles, loomed up the Sangamon Bluffs, looking like miniature Andes in the distance, between which and the island, in the day time, all approaching foes could be discerned.
This island town was a favorite resting place with the weary voyageurs and devout missionaries; a large cross was erected here, and friendly relations established between the " children of the forest " and the white men. This favoritism on the part of the French towards the Illinois Indians, excited the jeal- ousy of the Miamis, and they determined upon revenge. In vain did the missionaries try to prevent animosities. The Miamis in- vaded the country of the Illinois, and took some prisoners.
At this time the Chevalier La Salle, who had built a fort called Creve Coeur, or the Broken Heart, where the present city of Peoria now stands, in order to prevent further hostilities, made a journey alone down the riv - er to the Muscooten Village, but his efforts were without avail, and the war continued.
-
1
13
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The Muscootens believed that La Salle was acting as a spy for the Iroquois, whose chief town was then where Buffalo, N. Y., now is, and who were the most powerful Indian nation upon the continent. This impression seemed to be confirmed when it became known to them that the Iroquois and Miamis had formed an alliance for the purpose of exterminating them.
Many battles were fought between these hostile nations, but, by the superior numbers of their enemies, the Illinois were worsted and besieged in their towns. The Peorias forti- fied themselves with earthworks upon the bluffs at their village, and passed men down the river in canoes, as necessity required, to the Mound Village, or received help from there, the river being protected from the arrows of the enemy by marshy ground on one side and the bay on the other, which for- bade their near approach.
The Muscootens were beseiged in their island town. Occasionally they were assailed by parties of their enemies, who, more coura- geous than their fellows, crossed the swamps in the night, on the grassy hillocks, with the help of poles. On these occasions fierce bat- tles were fought, and none of the daring as- sailants survived to recross those trembling hillocks. At each defeat the Miamies and Iroquois became more enraged. In the night time, when out of danger from arrows, the allied Indians cut grass and sinall trees, and gathered floating wood, and built a causeway across a part of the swamp. When it was completed, with the aid of canoes disguised by branches of trees, in the night time, they rushed upon the island, and for several days the battle raged fiercely. There was no quarter given or asked. Death was dealt by unsparing hands on both sides. They had been rendered doubly savage by hunger and delay. Their revenge had long been at usnry, and they were now satisfying principal and interest.
The battle at intervals temporarily sub- sided, but only when the combatants became exhausted, and was resumed when rest brought returning strength. Those who from fatigue were unable to rise, were scalped and tomahawked, entering from the dreamland of life to the dreamland of death.
At length, exhausted and overwhelmed by superior numbers, the Muscootens began to fall back towards the river, when with yells of victory their allied enemies rushed upon them, and with tomahawks and scalping knives ended the battle. A few of the un- fortunato Muscootens swam the river, and concealed themselves until night in the high swamp grass beyond, and a small number of men, women and children fled in canoes to the village of the Peorias, and some were taken prisoners.
The battle being over, then came the mourning for the slain. Funeral rites, in which the missionaries took part, were per- formed, and in the great mound on the bank of the river, which had been raised centuries before by a long forgotten race, they buried the slain warriors with their bows, arrows and tomahawks, together with the silver and flint crosses of the missionaries.
After these ceremonics were concluded, the Iroquois returned to their own country. The Miamis, with their prisoners, encamped upon the present site of Chandlerville, where game was plenty, and attended to their sick and dying, great numbers of whom did not survive their wounds.
Those that died were buried in the bluffs near by, and long after the settlement of Chand- lerville their ghastly skeletons lay in white rows, exposed to the sun, laid bare by the ac- tion of the wind upon their sandy covering.
Many years ago, at the request of a young friend, the writer put into verse and rhyme one of the incidents related above, which is as follows :
1
14
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
THE LEGEND OF MONSŒLA.
Far, far into the long ago, and upon the very place Where Beardstown stands, there lived and loved and died a noble race.
Where pretty lawns and spacious streets and lofty buildings stand,
Monsœla's Indian village stood upon the hills of sand.
It was an island then, and round the hills on which it stood
The river ripples wandered in a long continuous flood; While over all the tall oaks waved in foliage bright and green,
And the trees and tents were mirror'd on the broad and glassy stream.
Far above the stars were shining, bathed in clouds of silv'ry light,
And the gentle breeze of summer-day had slumbered into night ;
The murmur of the wavelets flowing, and hum of in- seet wings,
Fell lightly- on the sleepers' ears, nor waked their slumberings.
Three weary moons two Indian tribes had been in deadly strife,
And Miamis and Muscoutens had yielded many a life ; Till the allies of the Muscontens had left them all alone,
And the Miamis besieged them upon their island home. Slowly, at night, across the waters upon the southern sile,
The Miamis were paddling up their canoes against the tide ;
While in advance of every boat was held a branching bough,
Which from the gaze of watching eyes might shield the advancing prow.
Upon the island, faint and tired, the Muscoutens lay at rest,
All witless of the coming foe as the flowers which they pressed ;
They had fought them day by day, their watchfires burning night by night,
U'niil glimmered on their ashen beds the last faint rays of light. Inst as the distant glittering beams that led the morn- ing sun
Sat lightly on the yellow knobs of the bluffs of Sangamon
A yell as of a thousand fiends fell on the startled ears,
And sleepers woke to sleep again pierced by the foe- mens' spears.
Monsola then, Museouten's Chief, raised high the battle cry,
And bade his warriors follow him and win the fight or die ;
Now on the left, now on the right, his ponderous war- elub fell,
And many an Indian skull crushed he, and stifled many a yell.
Now backward borne, now pressing on, Muscouten's wavering braves
Proved that the blood that nerved their arms was never meant for slaves ;
'Till overpowered, and rank by rank fell weltering in their blood,
The brave Monscela fought alone amidst the crimson flood.
Then the old chief's daughter, White Wing, ran through the rift of spears ;
'Though gentle as a fawn, that day she showed no childish fears ;
Pierced to the heart, into his arms she threw herself, a shieldl,
lIe grasped her lifeless form and slowly bore her from the field.
Where the golden grass was waving on the river's western shore,
Monscla's birchen shallop touched the flowery bank once more ;
There oft before the same proud chief had pushed his light canoe,
With warriors in sinewy keels-three hundred brave and true.
Near two hundred years have entered into the dreamy past
Since the chief of the Muscoutens on his village looked the last-
One longing, lingering look he gave toward his island home,
Then drew his mantle round him and wandered forth alone.
Some years later, Mound Island was taken posses ion of by the Kickapoo Indians, upon
15
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
which they built a village, known as " Kicka- poo Town," although still remembered by the French Missionaries as the " Beautiful Mound Village." This became a favorite trading post and missionary station, and continued in the possession of the Kickapoos until its set- tlement by Thomas Beard, in 1820, after whom the present city of Beardstown was named.
A few years later the great mound in Beardstown began to be encroached upon by the spade and pickaxe of the avaricious white man. Still later, Horace Billings built upon its river front a huge mill, for the pur- pose of grinding corn, bolting it fine like wheat flour, kiln-drying, sacking it, and ship- ping it to Europe as bread stuff. This build- ing was five stories high, a massive frame, and the mound was so excavated with winding roads that teams could be driven to three different stories, to load and unload.
This enterprise proved a ruinous failure. The drying process destroyed the vitality of the meal, and prevented its sale. The build- ing was destroyed by fire. The earth, of which the mound was composed, and which is supposed to have been taken by its builders from the bottom of the river, was stolen away by wagon-loads to cover house lots and streets with, and its site was finally reduced to the level of the adjacent streets.
The decaying bones of the red warrio.'s, as they lay in their quiet and lovely resting place, with the implements of war around them; the silver and flint crosses of the mis- sionaries, even the beautiful mound itself, which as an ornament and historic feature to the town and river, should have been held sacred, could not restrain the money-making white man from destroying it, and it is now recollected only by the old settlers, who used to sit upon its summit and watch the passing away of the last of two races-the Indian in his canoe, and the French voyageur in his pirogue.
In 1700, Illinois was a part of the territory owned by the French government, and was called New France.
In 1720, all the country west of the Missis- sippi River belonged to Spain, with Santa Fe as its capital.
In 1763, Illinois was ceded by France to Great Britain, after a "seven year's war," Many French inhabitants, rather than live under British rule, joined La Clede and set- tled in St. Louis, then French territory.
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