USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 14
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John Worley, heir of Samuel Worley granted 100 acres of land for military duty by authority of Congress, 1791- Kaskaskia records. Deed; Shaffer to Lawrence N. W. Quarter Sec. 32 township 13, S. Range 1 east, 1815. An early transfer in this county proper was Mathew Mathis sold to William Mathis S. W. quarter of S. E. quarter of section 30, township 12, S. range 3 east; another early transfer Thomas Gore ownership of property to John Gore, recorded in 1816. John Bain bought land here 1830, E. half of N. E. quarter, Sec. 4 township 12 S. range 3 east; Benjamin McGee sold to John S. Copeland W. half of the
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north W. quarter, Sec. 30, township 14 S. range 2 east, recorded August, 1837.
Peck's Gazzeteer published in 1837 states the following in regard to Johnson County as it was at that time. "Cache River empties into the Ohio River about six miles above its mouth at Trinity, a town of one hotel and one store, founded about 1817 and was at one time a rival of Cairo. Elvira settlement on Lick Creek, branch, of Cache, contains about 35 or 40 families. George's Creek empties into Cache, a settlement by this name of about 25 or 30 families." "Tradition says this creek was named for an Indian Chief, George, whose home was on this stream and who was a resident here long after the white settlers came. "West Settlement in Johnson County on the west side of Cache, fine fertile tracks of land, 30 families. The McFatridge settlement eight miles northeast of Vienna, on old road from Golconda to Kaskaskia, on Cedar Creek, 60 or 70 families. Bridges settlement ten miles west of Vienna, good land, 60 families."
COLORED PEOPLE
There must have been negroes here very early in the settlement of this county, since there are records of their sale and lawsuits concerning them found in the very first of our history. There were colored people brought by Renault to work mines in this section 1719. Some histor- ians say there were remains of these mines found in John- son county but if in the present territory no one living now has any knowledge or tradition concerning them. The following is an extract from the court record of 1813. "On motion of Thomas Green one of the executors of the estate of Nathanial Green, it is ordered that the said Thomas and Parrish Green executors as aforesaid do hire out to the highest bidder a certain negro girl named Hannah left as a special legacy to Nancy Green, the daughter of Nathanial Green for the term of one year from the time of hiring and no longer and to take security for the return of said girl at the expiration of the term and payment of hire." Some of the families owning slaves were Greens, Wilcox, Eu- banks, Copeland, Borin, Whiteside and Cox. There were no doubt others but no record is found of them. Several colored slaves were taken up by the authorities, served out their terms by the law were advertised and freed. This
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being so near the South there may have been an under ground station in this county. If there was there were so many sympathisers with slavery in this section that it was never known who kept them. The following shows the course pursued to recapture a runaway slave, "$150 RE- WARD! RAN AWAY from the subscriber a negro man named Patrick. He left on the 21 of July last, a dark cop- per color and will weight a hundred eighty or one hundred ninety pounds, about thirty-four or thirty-five years old, five feet and seven inches tall, round shoulders and heavy made. He has a few marks on his right side near the shoulder, caused by a whip from patroles. He has a down look when spoken to, a high forehead and a small bald place on his head, very polite, he is extremely fond of liquor and can read print a little, make coarse shoes and can cooper very well, a good basket maker and can bottom chairs very well. Also a handy fellow with tools about a farm. He was raised in Bedford County, Tennessee by Robert Elison and was sold to me by Little and Thompson in February last. He and his wife. He has very short hair and close to his head and had on heavy whiskers when he left home. Since he left home I learned that he has been an old runaway and no doubt but what he will be hard to get hold of. When last heard from he was in the state of Illinois, Saline Coun- ty inquiring for a free negro by the name of Jackson. He was in four miles of Jackson's. The settlement is called South America in consequence of the free negroes in it. If taken and well ironed in jail so that I can get hold of him I will pay the above reward and all necessary expenses by addressing me at Bahalie office, Marshall County, Missis- sippi, November 23, 1850, D. B. Linsey." The above notice which was printed in poster form on November 23, 1850, and sent to sheriffs over the country, has been kept in the Gray family for seventy-four years. It was received by B. S. Gray who was sheriff of Johnson County at that time and the father of our fellow townsman, A. J. Gray. James Gray, a grandson loaned the above article.
An old lady long since passed on told this story of one of the early slaves of this county named Nathe. His master regularly gave him to each of his children, when married as a wedding present, but he was so incorrigible except by his old master that they were glad to return him to the
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father in a short while, so that he was always ready to be the present for the next wedding in the family.
The negroes took their masters name. There are de- scendants of these early slaves named Copeland, living near Belleville and in Mound City. There are also some of the colored Whiteside family who live in Pope County. There are several colored families living in the county at the present time, some of them very good farmers.
We have only a few colored people who were born in slavery, none natives of this county, and while they are all getting on in years, they are independent and self-support- ing. These few are Lee, and Aunt Dolly Smith, Jennie Hessee, Tobe, Richard and Julia Thomas, Aunt Huldy Cole, and Aunt Ann Worrells. As a whole the colored popula- tion of this county is above the average. The Allens who live on the west side of the county, S. T. Oliver, William Lathem, R. Thomas and a number of others have proved themselves substantial citizens.
The Wheeler family, colored, came here from the south soon after the Civil War. The father was born in slavery, and was said to have sold at one time for $1,000, owing to his strength and reliability as a man. He raised a family that any father could be proud of. One son, Green Wheeler is a minister living in Vienna, a reliable and well respected citizen. Another son, John, graduated from a medical col- lege at Nashville, Tennessee and is now a successful phy- sician in Chester, Tennessee. Another son, Henry, is prin- cipal of the colored school of Fredertown, Missouri and Winnie, the only daughter is married and living in May- field, Kentucky.
The Murrell family, colored, came here from the south several years after the war. The mother and father were born in slavery, and possibly two of the older children. Aunt Ann Murrell, as every one knew her was kind hearted as any woman that ever lived in this neighborhood. There was no case of poverty or sickness where Aunt Ann would not assist to the very best of her ability, and in many cases she would go to their relief when others hesitated on ac- count of conditions. Aunt Ann and Uncle Ben raised a respectable family all of whom are doing well. One son deserves special mention as he has educated himself, com-
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pleting the High School in Vienna, taking a course at the University of Illinois, and finishing at a Theological School. He is now a prominent minister of the colored Baptist Church and located at Quincy. He served several months in France as a Y. M. C. A. worker during the World War.
The Summer family coming here from Pope County were another very reliable colored family, but they have left the county.
There were twenty-four slaves and free born colored people in this county when the state was admitted to the Union. Bogg's says, "slavery was not entirely eradicated from Illinois till 1848." When the vote was taken in 1824 as to whether Illinois should be free or slave Johnson Coun- ty was a tie vote, 74 for and 74 against. Buck, a historian of Illinois, speaking of the first constitutional convention, 1818, says, "In Johnson County the only known candidate who was not elected was a slave holder and an active advo- cate of slavery in Illinois. He was said to have been beaten by only a few votes. His name was John Copeland."
We have had very few colored people in the county for a number of years until 1923, when many have come from the south to assist in the new industry of cotton raising.
LAWYERS
There have been so many prominent lawyers of South- ern Illinois who practiced in our courts, that it seems fit that their names and residence be given as far as possible. Under the first judiciary system, territorial judges held courts throughout the Illinois territory. The prosecuting attorneys for the people were appointed and traveled the circuits just as the judges did until 1872 when the new con- stitution was adopted and the office of States Attorney established. Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Belleville seem a long way to come to practice in the courts of Johnson County, especially when the fees in some cases were only two dollars and a half, but Vienna was one of the principal courts of the territory.
The first lawyer on record was William Russell, who began to practice here in 1813 and continued until 1833. His residence is not known, but he probably lived in Kentucky. Russell E. Heacock began about the same time, Moses, an
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historian of Illinois says he came to St. Clair County in 1800. He later moved to Jonesboro, married in that vicin- ity and practiced law in that section for several years. He moved then to New York City and later to Chicago. An- other historian says, Heacock had a law office in the village of Chicago in 1833.
Elias K. Kane whose name appears frequently in the first courts was a resident of Kaskaskia. He served as Secretary of State, Member of the General Assembly, was twice elected to the United States Senate and died in Wash- ington, D. C., during his last term of office.
Benjamin T. Hall, Adolphus T. Hubbard and Robert McLaughlin frequented this court as lawyers from 1813 till 1817. William Mears was our District Attorney in 1813. He continued to practice here till 1839 and resided at Cahokia, moving to Belleville when the county seat was changed to that place in 1814. Davis, McHenry and Delaney were lawyers here as early as 1814 and 1815.
Thomas C. Brown settled in Shawneetown in 1812. He held our court in 1813, served in the Territorial Legislature also as District Attorney. "He was allowed ten dollars for his services as prosecuting attorney for the year 1816, agreeable to law," for Johnson County. He was elected one of the first associate judges and served in that capacity thirty years. Joseph Conway was another who attended the courts here at that time; he resided in Kaskaskia in 1812 and served in that State Legislature as a senator. About 1819 the name of Henry Eddy of Shawneetown is first found on our records. His name continues until 1848. He edited "The Illinois Emmigrant," published at Shawnee- town, the second paper published in the state. He served in the war of 1812, also in the State Legislature, was made circuit judge in 1835 and was a Whig in politics. A. P. Field lived at Jonesboro and practiced in Vienna courts in 1823. He served three terms in the General Assembly, also as Secretary of State in 1828. Thomas Reynolds was an- other attorney of this time, as was also Nathaniel Pope. He was the first Secretary of the Territory and acted as gov- ernor until the arrival of Ninian Edwards. He also repre- sented the territory in Congress and was appointed United States Judge for Illinois after her admission as a state. Pope County was named in his honor.
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Browner and Jason Chamberlain were contemporaries of Daniel P. Cook, who served as judge of the western cir- cuit of Illinois, also as Attorney General of the state, and was elected to Congress several times, practiced here about 1825-26. Cook County took its name from Daniel P. Cook. Samuel McRoberts and Johnathan Ramsey of Hardin Coun- ty, procured licenses to practice law in our courts in 1818. William Sprigg among the first territorial judges, held court here in 1815 and many times afterwards. Richard M. Young was a resident of Kaskaskia who held this court in 1825 and was also a district attorney. Jeptha Hardin was an early resident of Shawneetown and was made a circuit judge. He held our courts and attended them as an attorney about twenty years, beginning in 1819. John Mc- Lean was another of Shawneetown's famous citizens. He began practice here in 1821. McLean was elected to Con- gress one term and served many years in the State Legis- lature. most always as Speaker in the General Assembly. Dunn's name appears in 1823 and continues on the records about twelve years. James Hall, who served in the legis- lature was a jurist and author. He began the practice of law at Shawneetown in 1820 and moved later to Vandalia. He had cases here in 1823-24. David J. Baker, who lived at Alton, began practicing in our courts in 1824 and was present at almost every term for about twenty-five years. He was the father of Judge David J. Baker, Jr., of Cairo, who practiced in and held our courts as circuit judge until 1878, when he was elected to the Supreme bench.
Sidney Breese's name first appears on the court records here in 1825. He began his work as a lawyer with Elias K. Kane at Kaskaskia, and reached a very high place in the annals of our state. Thomas Hoyne, his biographer, says that he compiled the first volume of law reports for the state and this was the first book printed in the state. He filled the office of circuit attorney for the third judicial district, was a member of the General Assembly, United States Senator, Circuit Judge, Supreme Judge and twice Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. His "Early History of Illinois" is considered one of the most valuable of its period. He was a frequenter of our courts as late as 1840, holding court at that time.
Thomas Reynolds and W. J. Gatewood who were resi- dents of Shawneetown, began in our courts in 1827. Gate-
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wood continued for fifteen or twenty years. Richard Ham- ilton attended the courts in 1830. Alexander F. Grant resided in Shawneetown, practiced in Johnson County courts from 1831 until his election as judge of the third judicial district, 1835. He also served in the legislature. Walter B. Scates conducted cases in this court the same year. He was circuit judge, held our court several years and was later elected to the Supreme bench. John Dough- erty of Jonesboro, came as an attorney in 1832. He repre- sented his district in the legislature, served as lieutenant governor and was later elected circuit judge. He was con- nected with our courts almost fifty years. H. R. Jones lived at Jonesboro, practiced here in 1820. Sander, James Evans and Morrison were attorneys here about 1833. S. D. Marshall, of McLeansboro was also of this period.
John M. McClernand was a resident of Shawneetown and frequented our courts for several years. He became a very conspicuous figure in Southern Illinois, representing his dictrict several times in the State Legislature, served in Congress and reached the grade of Lieutenant Colonel of the forty-eighth regiment in the Civil War. A. J. Kuy- kendall, a native of Johnson County began his practice in 1840, he served in the State Senate and also in Congress. W. H. Stickney, who lived in Shawneetown, Whitehead, Husbands, W. J. Sloan of Golconda, and J. M. Davidge of Pulaski County began attending this court about 1834; Richard S. Nelson, H. W. Clement in 1832. The name of Allen first appears on the attorney list in 1841. One would think immediately of W. J. Allen, but this was Willis, father of W. J. £ Willis continued attendance on our courts many years, frequently having cases with his son, W. J., who continued his practice here long after the Civil War. They lived at Marion where W. J. Allen was elected to Congress. He moved to Carbondale, was later appointed Federal Judge, served in Springfield in that capacity until his death. H. W. Billings, of Cairo, Caldwell and Cato were others practicing here about the forties. Nelson T. Hays, Soloman Waytt and Barlow came the following year with Demming of Marion as circuit judge. LeRoy, John- son and Pierce were of 1846, W. H. Hacker of Jonesboro and L. W. Fern, of this county began here about the same time. R. P. Corder of Marion, M. W. Casey, of Mt. Vernon were also attorneys during this period.
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Jeddiah Jack was a resident and practiced law in the courts of Vienna in the forties. He later moved to Metro- polis and was appointed to defend Decatur Campbell, a negro living in that county in 1850, and the defendant in the famous Decatur Campbell case, of Massac. In this trial before the Supreme Court of the state, the principle was first established in Illinois that a person is justified in defending himself in cases of apparent, as well as real danger, also that the law makes no distinction as to color in a trial for murder, found in Vol. XVI, Illinois reports, page sixteen.
W. K. Parrish, who lived at Benton and later at Du- Quoin began his visits here as an attorney 1851 and con- tinued throughout his business life. William Vaughn, Murry and Wallen appear as lawyers here in the same year. John A. Logan's name is first found in our records 1852, this was before he became the General of Civil War fame, Member of Congress, United States Senator from Illinois and candidate for Vice-President. He had cases in almost all circuit courts here until the Civil War. W. J. Allen came a little earlier perhaps, but they were law partners many years, residing in Marion, Illinois. W. W. Clement and George W. Young were also Marion lawyers of that time. B. O. Jones and T. H. Smith of Metropolis, who was another Civil War hero, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Montgomery and McElvain were contemporaries with Logan and Allen. James Pearson and Delevan are names appearing about this time. The latter part of the fifties we find the names of Mckay, W. J. Gibbs of Vienna ; S. D. Parks, who later located in DuQuoin; Monroe C. Crawford, of Benton, who later moved to Jonesboro and was district attorney; A. D. Duff, Circuit Judge, later of Carbondale ; W. H. Green of Metropolis, who afterwards moved to Cairo ; H. M. Smith, of Caledonia, Pulaski County and H. R. Wise of this county as attorneys.
John A. Thompson, and S. G. Simmons of Jonesboro, practiced here in the sixties, also John R. Thomas, who was a resident of Metropolis, and later served as Congress- man from this district for ten years.
The following are lawyers practicing here after the Civil War and up until the present time: Marion Young- blood of Benton and later of Carbondale, John C. Mulkey,
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of Benton, later of Metropolis, who was elected to the Su- preme bench from there; S. P. Wheeler and D. T. Linegar were also of Cairo. T. G. C. Davis was an earlier attorney (latter part of the forties) who lived at Metropolis, and was said to be one of the finest looking men of his time and a wonderful orator. M. J. Inscore of Anna, C. K. Davis, James Gregg, of Harrisburg, William Parrish and his son, John, also of Harrisburg, were frequenters of our courts. Some members of our own bar were C. N. and A. G. Damron, R. M. Fisher, W. A. and H. A. Spann, T. Chap- man, O. A. Harker, B. F. Olden, John T. Allison, T. A. Stewart, John T. Keith, P. T. Chapman, A. K. Vickers, L. O. Whitnel, G. B. Gillespie, D. J. and J. O. Cowan, O. R. Morgan, C. J. Huffman, George W. English, George W. Ballance, T. H. Sheridan, W. Y. Smith, John B. Bain and G. A. Vunkirk.
PHYSICANS
The first physican that is found on record in Johnson County is a Dr. Holt, 1815. He may not have been a resi- dent of this county, but a bill of his is found filed against an estate as a physican that was settled that year. Dr. J. D. Martin is another of that period. Dr. Brooks, who lived in Union County, also practiced here in 1827. Dr. W. J. Gibbs came here in 1831. Dr. A. B. Moore, 1851. Dr. A. P. Stewart practiced here as early as 1845, perhaps earlier and for many years afterwards. He had children, Ann, who married Washington Boyt, Thomas, who was a farmer of this county for several years, Green, who was a printer and another son, Smith.
Dr. Johnathan Mulkey came to this county from Williamson sometime in the fifties. He was the father of Dr. Phillip D., who married Angeline Brown, settled in the western part of the county in 1870, followed his profession throughout his life in the neighborhood of Cypress and Mt. Pisgah. Other children of Dr. Johnathan were, Melissa, who married first Asa (see Carter), second Andrew Martin ; Martha, married Deam West; Malinda, married Alexander McClain; Malvina, married Dr. Thomas Burris; Margery, married Frank Bently; Mary, married John Beggs; Alice, married Mr. Sailor; Monta, married Mr. Williams; the two latter live in Colorado. One son Robert died soon after the Civil War from injuries sustained in service Samuel C., married Emma Stone and removed to Union County.
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Dr. T. R. Burris was a son of Hiram Burris, a farmer who came to this county in 1851; other children of Hiram Burris were John (2), Martha (2), who married John Graves; Stephen (2) married Jane Grissom, had children, Thomas (3), and Pleasant (3). He married second Mildred Stockdale and had children Edith (3), who married Robert Lough; Mary (3), married Adolphus Mathis, both of this county ; Albert (3), married Eunice Veach; Fanny (3), married Alva Pickens, children, Magdaline, Josephine and Marion; married second, Edward Mathis, and has Daniel D; Ethel (3), married Dolphus Alexander, and has Orval, Ruth, Jane; Arthur (3), married Meta Miller; Walter (2), married Martha Pringle and had Carrie, who married Basil (See Simpson.) He married second Mary Dooley and had three children. Mary (2), married William (see Chap- man) ; Amanda (2), married Adam Harvick; Elizabeth (2) married Mr. Biddle; Dr. Elias H. (2), married Sarah Camp- bell of Kentucky, and had Columbia (3), Don (3) and Daws (3). He practiced here about ten years, when he re- moved to Kentucky where his family now reside. Dr. T. R. (2), married Malivna Mulkey, practiced. in and around Vienna about twenty-five years and spent his last days on a farm one mile north of Vienna. His children were Frank J. (3), married Ella Lovlace and had Frances (4) and others. Dr. Hiram H. (3), married Julia Bridges, they had Nellie (4), Ward (4) and removed to Union County. Cle- tus G. (3), married Mamie Hershbealer; Maude (3), mar- ried Richard Hoague and had Rubby (4), Thomas (3), mar- ried Edith Glassford; Bert (3) was accidently killed by an exposed telephone wire about ten years ago; Elizabeth (3), married Ernest Cates and has Ernest (4), Glenda (4), and Howard (4), Mabel (3), married Joe Price (see Price) ; Myrtle (3), married Ed. Veach and has Imy (4), Amy (4). Graduate physicans practising in Johnson County in 1878 were; G. W. Elkins, W. A. Looney, L. F. Walker, J. M. C. Damron, N. J. Benson, George Bratton, W. R. Mizell, R. M. McCall, C. N. Whitnel, Josiah Whitnel, R. M. Whitnel, O. P. Martin, J. J. Walker, L. W. Carlton, and W. J. Fern. Those practicing under the ten year law; L. L. Shadrick, A. T. Mobley.
Dr. Lewis Mehlear was a native of Germany, acquiring his profession in that country. He located in Flatwoods, Simpson Township, about 1850 and practiced there many
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years. All that is known of his family is that he had a son who studied medicine and located in Arkansas. The son returned to Simpson in 1923 where he soon died, being approximately 75 years old.
Dr. J. H. Norris was a phsician living in Vienna and practicing there in the 60's, if not earlier. He was a faith- ful member of the Methodist church, always attending the quarterly conferences.
Dr. Dill came to this county during the Civil War, settled and practiced in Goreville Township, married Mary (Burris) Chapman.
Dr. James Sullivan was a native of this county who resided in Goreville and practiced in that vicinity.
Dr. Cole was a physician of Reynoldsburg neighbor- hood, coming there soon after the Civil War.
Dr. Edward Scarsdale was a student under Dr. C. N. Whitnel and practiced a short time with him in Goreville.
Dr. Ballenger came to this county about 1865, he re- sided and practiced in the Drake neighborhood in Elvira Township.
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