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HISTORY
OF
FAYETTE COUNTY,
ILLINOIS.
Mith Illustrations
DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
AND
Biographical Sketches of some of its prominent Men and Pioneer
PUBLISHED BY BRINK, MCDONOUGH & CO., PHILADELPHIA.
CORRESPONDING OFFICE, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.
1878.
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The reproduction of this book has been made possible through the sponsorship of The Fayette County Genealogical Society, Vandalia, Illinois.
A Reproduction by UNIGRAPHIC, INC. 4400 Jackson Avenue Evansville, Indiana 47715 Nineteen Hundred Seventy Two
Binding by MODERN PRE-BINDING CORPORATION Portland, Indiana
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PREFACE.
O the citizens of Fayette County, who have aided and assisted us in the preparation and compilation of this volume, the publishers render their thanks, and would be pleased to mention by name each and every one who has aided us in this enterprise if space would permit. Especially are we indebted and acknowledge the same, to Judge Jacob Fouke, through whose courtesy we were permitted to examine many old and rare books and manuscripts. We would also render thanks for the aid and assistance given by the venerable John Enochs and B. Ward Thompson, whose vast store of historical recollection was called upon and cheerfully given, also to Judge J. W. Ross, William and John Henninger, William and Frank Lee, Hon. John Shirley, Hon. John Thompson, Judge William Farmer, H. S. Prater, A. S. Coon, Capt. Wilson Campbell, Dr. B. F. Haller, J. W. L. Tucker, Rev. Ben. Mahon, Rev. Jos. Gordon, Rev. T. H. Herdman, Hon. G. H. Dieckmann, Col. Ferris Forman, A. H. Dieckmann, and particularly are we indebted to Mr. B. F. Shipley, for the scholarly articles prepared by him on the common schools and press of the county.
Also to Charles G. Smith, H. S. Humphrey, Hon. E. M Ashcraft, Dr. R. T. Higgins, Dr. G. W. Bassett, Capt. John H. Welch, J. M. Watwood, Hon. B. W. Henry, Augustus Snyder, Judge J. P. Van Dorstan, C. B. Lessing, William ' Sonnemann, and E. Irland.
We are under many obligations to the members of the different professions for the favors conferred by them. From the press we have received that aid which members of the profession so cheerfully render to one another. We return our hearty thanks to the county officials for their assistance ; and especially do we acknowledge the courtesies extended us by Robert W. Ross, Circuit Clerk, and J. D. Perine, County Clerk,
In conclusion we would acknowledge our sincere obliga- tions to all those who have extended us courtesies in various ways. For the information received from the various religious denominations, and to the gentlemen who have contributed . in this department we are under obligations.
THE PUBLISHERS.
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CONTENTS.
-
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
PAGE.
THE ABORIGINES
9-10
CHAPTER I .- Early History-Settlement of Mar- quette-Organization of Territory of Louisiana 11 CHAPTER II .- Prosperity of the Colonies-Divi- sion of the Territory-Fort Chartres the Capital-English Occupation - Exodus of French Inhabitants-Cession to the United States Government by the State-Territorial Government Formed-Gen. St. Clair Ap- pointed Governor . 11-12
CHAPTER III .- Ohio Admitted as a State-Indi- ana and Illinois follow . 12
CHAPTER IV .- Removal of the Seat of Govern- ment-Vandalia Selected-Building of the State House-Its Destruction by Fire-Tem- porary Quarters of both Houses of the Legis- lature-Organization of Fayette County . 12-13
CHAPTER V .- Early Banks-Their Organization -Effect upon the Community 14
CHAPTER VI .- Prosperity of the County-First Deed recorded in County-First Session of County and Circuit Courts, etc., . . 14-15
CHAPTER VII .- Additional Acts-Visit of Gen.
Lafayette, Etc.,
15
CHAPTER VIII .- Fayette County in the Black Hawk War . . 16-17
CHAPTER IX .- An Act to Establish the Capital Permanently-An Act Concerning the Town of Vandalia-Private Laws, &c.,-Removal of Capital . 17-19
CHAPTER X .- Bench and Bar-Recollections of
the Early Bar by Col. Ferris Forman . . 19-20
CHAPTER XI .- Mexican War-Captain Forman raises a Company- Rendezvous at Alton 20
CHAPTER XII .- Comparative Statements of the Value of Property -. Roster of Officers-Vote at Presidential Election, 1876 . 20-25 ciety
CHAPTER XIII .- Pioneers and Early Settlers- Incidents and Anecdotes . 25-31
CHAPTER XIV .- Early Customs and Mode of Living-Duel-Elective Franchise-Naviga- tion of the Kaskaskia . 31-32
CHAPTER XV .- Education-First School-How Formed - How Supported - Character of School Buildings, Furniture, etc.,-Manner of Conducting School-Branches Taught- Text Books used-The Pioneer Teacher- His Qualifications-His Salary-" Boarding Out," etc .- Pioneer School Officers-The
PAGE.
"Committeeman "-His Duties-Incident of School History-Advocates of the Public Schools-"Illinois Intelligencer"-Personal Mention of Pioneer Teachers-Celebrities who have been Teachers in the Schools of the County-School Commissioners-Their Du. ties-School Superindents-Their Duties- Teacher's who were in the Service of the United States in the War of the Rebellion- Teachers Institutes-Statistics, 1860-1870- 1877-School Buildings of the Present- School Grounds, Furniture, etc .- Character / of Schools-Brauches Taught-Text Books Used-Qualifications of Teachers-Mode of Teaching-Teachers' Salaries-School Off- ce13 of the Present-Their Duties -- Present School Treasurers of County-Graded Schools -Vandalia-Ramsey-St. Elmo-Farina- La Clede-Conclusion . . 32-36
CHAPTER XVI .- Ecclesiastical History of Fayette County-Methodist Episcopal Church-The Lutheran Church-The Catholic Church- The Evangelical Association-The Chris- tian Church-The Presbyterian Church . 36-39 CHAPTER XVII .- The Press of Fayette County- Vandalia Intelligencer-Illinois Intelligen- cer-Illinois Advocate and State Register- State Register and Vandalia Republican- The Vandalia Whig-Vandalia Free Press -The Olive Leaf-The Western Souvenir- Illinois Sentinel-Fayette Yeoman-The Age of Steam-Fayette Observer-Fayette Demo- crat-Vandalia Union-St. Elmo News-
CHAPTER XX .- Fayette County Agricultural So-
. 43-44
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. .
PAGE.
City and Township of Vandalis
46-48
Evans, James S.
62
Township of Bear Grove .
60-61
Farmer, William
89
4
Kaskaskia
.
65-66
Fehren, Matthias (Dec'd) .
49
Ramsey
67-69
Forman, Col. Ferris .
53
PAGE.
Township of Bowling Green
71-72
Wilberton
.
74-75
La Clede 76-77
Wheatland .
78-79
¥ Hurricane . 79-80
= Sefton . 81-82
Sharon 83-84
Seminary 85
=
Otego . 87-88
Pope . 89
Avena
90-91
¥
Loudon
91-92
"
Lone Grove
92
Roster of Enlisted Men
93
List of those who Died in the Late Rebellion
.
94
Partial List of Patrons.
95
Revised Constitution of Illinois .
99
Declaration of Independence
106
Constitution of the United States.
107
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
PAGE.
Anderson, Bennett
69
Arnold, Joshua .
83
Austin, Jacob
74
Blankinship, E.
70
Bolt, C. L.
71
Buckmaster, John Hillory 84
Burnett, R. W. .
76
Campbell, Wilson
88
57
Coon, A. S.
77
CHAPTER XXI .- Flora
44
Creel, E. J.
64
CHAPTER XXII .- Fauna
45
Crouch, J. W.
62
Dieckmann Brothers .
59
Doyle, A. P. H. (Dec'd)
55
Dycus, George .
70
Eckard, William (Dec'd) .
56
Enochs, John
84
Ernest, Ferdinand
54
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Farina News-Fayette County News . . 39-41 CHAPTER XVIII .- Geography of Fayette County 41-42 CHAPTER XIX .- Geology of Fayette County . 42-43 Capps, Ebenezer
Carson, John
83
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CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
Fouke, Jacob Jr.
48
Mahon, Benjamin
91
Schuricht, Rev. Charles G.
75
Frye, Edwin A.
67
Manion, James M.
75
Sears, Levi
81
Ginger, William
73
Merrimann, M. M.
61
Sefton, Henry
82
Gordon, Joseph Rev.
55
Mitchell, Robert
68 Shirley, Hon. John
86
Gould, James D.
75
Morey, L. D.
88
Sidwell, Abraham
82
Greer, James M.
82
McInturff, Wesley
63
Smith, J. G.
64
Greathouse, Tevis & Lucien
52
Mclaughlin. Col. Robert K. (Dec'd)
54
Smith, Hon. Charles G.
53
Gregory, Judge David
50
Neeley, Bowling
71
Snyder, Augustus
62
Hankins, G. W. .
79
Pealer, John P.
78
Snyder, W. H.,
63
Haller, Francis B., M. D. .
58
Perine, John D.
59
Snyder, Daniel .
64
Henry, Hon. Beverly W. .
51
Peters, John W.
76
Snyder, Dr. Asa
77
Henninger, William .
64
Poland, Moses .
70
Sonnemann, Hon. William
58
Henninger, John B.
65
Pope, Micajah .
80
Stokes, Elias B.
70
Higgins, Dr. Richard T.
49
Pope, John
81
Sturgess, Col. Robert W. .
51
Holland, N. W. .
50
Prater, John M.
80
Taylor, A. C. .
86
Humphrey, H. S.
52
Prater, Hollaway 8.
80
Thompson, Benjamin Ward
60
Ireland, Emanuel
54
Ransom, Brig. Gen. T. E. C. (Dec'd).
55
Thompson, Hon. John
86
Johnson, Wm. H.
79
Ray, Andrew
85
Van Dorston, J. P. . 51
Knowles, Dr. Joseph S.
57
Remann, Frederick Col. (Dec'd)
48
Watwood, J. M. 69
Lee, Benjamin Franklin
66
Rheiner, Dr. Edward
75
Watkins, William W.
56
Lee, Royal Newlin (Decrd)
67
Ritter, Jacob Jr.,
56
Welch, Capt. John H.
73
Lee, William H.
66
Rogers, Jeremiah T.
. 71
Whittenmeyer, Henry
63
Little, Iverson M.
84 Rows, Robert W.
57
Yarbrough, The Family
62
ILLUSTRATIONS.
VIEWS.
PORTRAITS.
PAGE.
Lee, Wm. H.
67
Campbell, Wilson
88
Lee, Mary A.
67
Cappa, Ebenezer
57
Merrimann, M. M.
61
County Map
11
County Buildings
20
Farina
76
Fouke, J. .
48
Rons, Robert W.
58
Henninger, Wm.
64
Holliday, Thos.
88
Gregory, David
facing
51
Bonnemann, Wm.
58
Lee, Benj. F.
66
Haller, F. B.
59
Smith, Chas. G.
54
Lee, Wm. H.
66
Henninger, Wm.
64
Sturgess, R. H.
facing
51
Morey, L. D.
Henninger, Mary J. .
Taylor, A. J.
86
Remann, Hon. F.
Higgins, Dr. Richard T.
50
Van Dorston, J. P.
51
Watwood, J. M.
69
Humphrey, H. S.
53
Watwood, J. M.
69
Welch, J. H.
78
Knowles, Joseph 8., M. D.
57
Watwood, Luvina
89
West, A. B.
76
Lee, Benj. F.
66
Welch, John H.
73
Wright, W. R. .
88
Lee, Charlotte L.
66 Welch, Mrs. J. H.
73
Fehren, M.
49
Perine, J. D.
60
Forman, Col. Ferris .
53
Rons, Joshua W.
52
Gordon, Rev. Joseph
56
Sonnemann, C. A.
facing
51
88
64
88
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FACING PAGE.
PAGE.
INTRODUCTION.
ISTORY in all ages, and among all conditions of men, has always occupied a foremost place in their thoughts and studies. Whether it be in the curriculum of the University, or the romantic tradi- tions of semi or uncivilized peoples, there is the same instinctive desire to preserve the record of the past. The animus that prompts the scholar to investigate, the bibliographer to collect and the historian to com- pile events and facts pertaining to their ancestors, is only the intensified desire of the savage, who, in the depths of the wilderness or the blackness of the desert, listens patiently and perseveringly to the traditions of his race. Both have the self-same objects and aspirations, viz. : to know of their ances- tors and to perpetuate that knowledge. And as each succeeding year brings greater strength and development to the human mind, more extended efforts are made to collect and preserve the story of the lives and acts of those who have gone before. It may, perhaps, to those who glance superficially through these pages, seem presumptuous that a work containing the record of so insig- nificaut a portion of the earth and the human family should be designated history. And if we think of the vast amount of matter preserved; the exis. tence and knowledge of which is indispensable to the student, it indeed seems a work of supererogation. We can think of no better reply to such criti- ciams, than that of the historian, when hesays," " No period in the history of one's own country can be considered as altogether uuinteresting. Such trans- actions as tend to illustrate the progress of its constitution, laws or manners, merit the utmost attention. Even remote and minute events are objects of a curiosity, which, being natural to the human mind, the gratification of it is attended with pleasure." And while this work is necessarily limited as to the essentials that go to make up a great history, it will prove none the lees inter- esting to those immediately concerned in its publication. In looking back, and calling to mind that less than a century since the great common- wealth of Illinois was a wilderness, inlabited by savage beasts and no less savage men, we are vividly reminded of the following 'passage, the signifi- cance of which can be more fully appreciated by ourselves than any other nation. t Those who compare the age on which their lot has fallen with a golden age that exists only in their imagination, may talk of degeneracy and decay : but no man who is correctly informed as to the past will be disposed to take a morose or desponding view of the present.
The marvelous growth and development of our country and State in mate- rial wealth and prosperity, civil and religious liberty, in free educational institutions, and in the moral and intellectual advancement of the people, has no parallel in the world's history. This county, as an integrant of the State, bears the same relati in to the State that the State does to the Union, and it would be difficult to find a man who would say that a history of Illinois would be valueless to preserve or unprofitable to peruse.
Some of the principal objects to be attained by the publication of a work of this kind, are to bring forcibly before the people the remarkable fertility of the soil, and its adaptation to grain growing and stock raising. To arrest the tide of emigration that is constantly going through our State, seeking homes in the far west. To show them that in this, the garden S ate of the Union,
we have cheap and productive lands contiguous to good markets, with rail- road and shipping facilities unequaled by any State in the Union. With churches and schools in a flourishing condition, a moral and law-abiding com- munity, a county unencumbered by debt, taxation comparatively light, these are strong inducements to hold out to persons desirous of securing cheap and permanent homes. These, in connection with the fact that the average value of lands is much less than it would cost to put land in a similar condition in the wilderness, should be made known, for the benefit of the present occu- pants of the county, by attracting emigration to, and getting it to locate within its borders.
Biographies of leading citizens and families have also been incorporated, care being taken to select only such whose family history is of interest to the people of the county generally, as well as to their own immediate families.
Maps and illustrations have been made, statistical and other interesting and valuable information collected.
The Constitution of the United States and of the State of Illinois, a roster of the soldiers of the late war, all inserted, with a view to make the work creditable alike to the people of the county and to the publishers.
That the work is incomplete in some particulars we are well aware. It is the fate of all books, and especially books of this character, that such should be the case, and as long as men continue to look at objects with different eyes, that book will never be published that will meet with the approval of all.
If, however, this work will be the means (and we think it will) of preserving to posterity an accurate and authentic account of the early trials and subse- quent triumphs of their forefathers in making "the wilderness to blossom as the rose ;" if it will help demonstrate to the people the beauty. productiveness and desirability of their lands for the farmer-self-evident facts, which we are prone to overlook because they are so,-if it will call the attention of foreign- ers and others seeking new homes, to the foregoing facts ; and, above all, if it shall stimulate the rising generation to a worthy emulation, and impress in- delibly upon their minds that " Honest labor has its sure reward,"-that the patrimony they inherit is the result of such, and continuous labor,-if it will serve to convince those already here, (especially the young), and those that may be induced to come, that nowhere in this broad land has nature done more for her children, then we say our task has been well done, despite whatever adverse judgments may be passed upon it.
That such may be the case is our earnest desire, but should it fail in this, the fault lies with us, and we shall ever reiterate the foregoing sentiments, only regretting that worthier and more able hands had not the pleasure, and her people the profit, of giving Fayette her proper rank among the first counties of this great State. To unbiassed judges we are willing to submit our work. To all others we have only to add-
" A man must serve his time to every trade, Save censure-critics are already made. *
*
* * * Fear not to lie, 'twill seem a lucky hit; Shrink not from blasphemy, 'twill pass for wit ; Care not for feeling, pass your proper jest, And stand a critic, hated, yet caressed."
· Proscott's Charles V., Vol 1.
t Macaulay, Vol. 1.
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THE ABORIGINES.
O the writer of fiction, the American Indian is an inexhaustible subject. Their history is a romance; that is, so much of it as is known to us,-a romance with a most wonderful and tragic ending. But two short centuries since they were mighty in their numbers, and the sovereigns of an empire, rivaling in extent any of ancient or modern times; a country upon which nature had lavished her choicest gifts.
From whence they came, and at what period, has been the question that has engaged the attention of scholars and savants for many years. This very obscurity, while it detracts nothing, and may even be made attractive in romances or quasi-historical works, is the stumbling-block to the writer of authentic history. Our own history would be like unto it, with the May- flower, Plymouth Rock and Bunker Hill buried in oblivion. Nowhere in history do we find the origin of a great race, (great in point of numbers) enveloped in so much mystery, unless it be the lost tribes of Israel, one of which, some writers contend, the aborigines of this country were.
Speculation has ever been rife as to their origin. Many theories have been promulgated, none of which will bear strict investigation. Most of them seem probable enough ; but the very probability that any, or all of them, may be true, stamps them all as visionary as the romantic traditions, which all the tribes possess, of their antecedents.
The most generally accepted hypothesis, that they are of Asiatic extrac- tion, is weak in some very important particulars. Their language has no affinity with the dialects of Asia, or any of the known tongues of the world. Literature (in which Asia is rich, and to which philologists are constantly adding new treasures, until the record of her children is almost as perfect as that of modern Europe) they had none, which is sufficient to condemn the theory. As well might we expect to find that our own ancestors had left behind them all knowledge of the history of their race, and all desire to per- petuate it. It has been said, " Let a civilized community be begirt with savage tribes, and its standard is gradually lowered. The line of demarcation grows fainter and fainter, until at length all traces of high social and reli- gious culture have disappeared ;" and cites, as a verification of this state- ment, the Dutch Boers of South Africa, who, within the period of our own history, have become nomadic, lawless, sanguinary barbarians. The women, descendants of the fair-haired daughters of German princes, were menial slaves,-beasts of burden, whose characters were as low as the degrading services which they performed.
It may be said that we might have descended to the same level with our savage neighbors, had it not been for the relations we maintained with civilized Europe,-a condition of things which saved us from such a fate, and finally regenerated the Boer. Had such been the case, and had we, as have the aboriginal Americans, been sufficiently numerous, and advanced in some of the arts,-that of building and the moulding of pottery, (some of the designs of which bear a striking resemblance to that found in Asia by antiquarians,) would it not be fair to assume that we would, as the Aryan, and all other castes and tribes of Asia have done, left some imperishable monument other than dumb stone to tell the past history of our race? Can the leopard change his spots? Could the red man, if such had been his lineage, have so utterly and completely lost all knowledge of the most
important part of his heritage,-his literature and history,-and have retained so comparatively an insignificant a portion as the methods of hewing stone or moulding clay ?
Other writers maintain that American antiquities were the works of a primordial race. They might go further, and say that, like luxurious Rome, they were overrun by a race of northern barbarians, and their whole fabric destroyed. It would furnish a famous illustration of history repeating itself. It only needs the fertile imagination of some erudite antiquary to make the remarkable discovery, and to demonstrate (to himself at least) its truth beyond cavil, until some ignorant though practical gaberlunzie shall open his eyes to the fact that "He hae done sic a daft-like thing as to gie grund weel worth fifty shillings an acre for a mailing that would be dear o' a pund Scots."
At the present time, then, we must be content with a history having other- wise such fatal omissions as the essentials of origin and early history. The result of white supremacy has been terrible to the red man. That it might have been otherwise will be apparent to any thoughtful person giving the subject consideration.
Conquest by extermination seemed to be the policy of the psalm-singing Puritans, and has continued to be that of the Government nearly ever since. Had a conciliatory course been adopted,-had an effort been made to assimi- late this seeming incongruous and actual discordant element, it would have relieved the Government from the just aspersions of unbiased judges, and would, perhaps, have enabled us to have collected such information as would have led to the solution of the problem. As it is, the country must ever carry the foul blot on its escutcheon of having first robbed a people of their patrimony, and then humanely set to work killing them, that they might not suffer from or become cognizant of their injuries.
Literature and history, it may be, suffer an irreparable loss in having buried forever in darkness the records of a race whose women had the gentle grace and humane qualities of a Pocahontas, and whose men were capable of such heroic achievements as Massasoit and Tecumseh. For the same traits they were known to have possessed,-great powers of endurance, heroic courage, stoical indifference to suffering, and the tenacity of friend- ship,-songs are wafted to us down the long avenues of time; and the mytho- logical creations of the epic poets seem less the creations of fancy since having known of the red man and his better attributes.
Since the foundation is wanting, and nothing at hand suitable to im- provise one, the superstructure of necessity must be imperfect. The same darkness surrounds the tribes of this State and section as did those of the Atlantic States. Comparatively nothing is known of them save their ex- istence. The tribes inhabiting this section were commonly called Kicka- poos, Kaskaskias, Piankashaws and Shawnees, kindred branches of the Algonquins, a powerful and numerous family, numbering nearly three hundred thousand, less than three centuries since, and occupying a vast extent of territory east of the Mississippi River, reaching from the Lakes to the Gulf. Nothing now remains of them save a few beggarly representa- tives, scattered through the Indian reservations of the far West, and numer- ous mounds through the States, evidently their burial places, from the human remains discovered within them. These, with rude and primitive imple-
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ments of war and peace, are all that is left to tell the sad story of Christian predominancy. Traces of small mounds can still be seen in various parts of this county, principally along the banks of the Kaskaskia River and Hur- ricane Creek. In Townships Six-One East and Five-One East, graves have been discovered, with human skeletons in a fair state of preservation. Stone axes, square arrow-heads and rough pottery, have invariably been found with their remains.
The Kickapoos had a populous village about one hundred miles north of Vandalia, and the territory comprised within the present limits of Fayette County, was a portion of their hunting-grounds. They are spoken of by the early settlers as being peaceably disposed, and anxious to live on terms of friendship with the white neighbors. In the early part of 1815, however, a party of five or six hunters were killed by them. The cause of the massacre is unknown. This led to the establishment by the Rangers of the war of 1812 of a Fort on Shoal Creek, called Hill's Fort, now incorporated within the limits of Bond County. Several sanguinary engagements occurred after its erection.
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