USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 24
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William Rinehard, John Collier, Jacob Wolfe, John T. Griffin, John Beattie, Sarah Craig, John Denison, were other names appearing at this court. The jurymen whoses names have not appeared before, for the Spring term of 1834, were Ishmeal Veach, James Lasley, James McKee, Gabriel B. Sidwell and Isaac C. Kidd. The new contestants in suits were Samuel Grace, Jesse Grigsby, Jesse Pratt, Lucindy Webber, Elizabeth Davis and Thomas Hart. For the November term of this year the only jury- men not mentioned before was James Hitchcock. Dr. B. W. Brooks was the only new white client. William Boni- face and John Bannister, were colored men, who had been taken up as runaway slaves and served their term out as the law required, presented their certificates and were de- clared free. The case of Harry, a man of color vs. Owen Evans was continued. For the April term of 1835, the new grand jurymen were Thomas Pitt, Benton Modglin and James Holt. Joseph Young is recognized as an attorney at this court. Henry Williams, Elias Holmes, Casper Weaver and William Munsun had cases in this court. Owen Evans
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was acquitted in the case of Harry, the man of color. David Elms, John O'Linear, Beverly B. Parker, Jesse Pratt, A. M. Hicklin, Thomas Hall, Christopher Kelly, D. J. Tucker, Allen Pruet, Martin W. Dorris, and Pleasant Meadows were other people interested in this court. Heretofore Thomas C. Brown has held all the courts from 1829 to 1835. At October court, 1835, the Hon. Justin Harlin, is the Judge, Samuel Copeland is the clerk, and Benett Jones the sheriff. All the names of the grand jurors are familiar. The Dis- trict Atorney was John Dougherty, of Jonesboro, Illinois. William Howard, Reuben Wilson and Abraham Baker are new contestants in this court, also Joseph Williams a man of color, who presented his certificate from Ivy Reynolds, Coroner of the county, as having been dealt with as the law required of a runaway slave, and obtained his freedom. One other case pretaining to the heirs of Nathaniel Sidwell. The early courts opened at 8 A. M.
At the May court, 1841, Judge Walter B. Scates was in charge. William McNickol, N. P. Cardwell and Samuel Short served on the Petit Jury. At the November term, same year, William Bullock, Levi Rice, John Carmichael and Zachariah McKee are new grand jurymen. The term of court held May, 1842 was under Judge Scates, with W. J. Allen as District Attorney. This is getting down to such a late date as to make the records modern. The county records are very complete from 1840.
MISCELLANEOUS COURT NOTES
At a court held in 1827 Jacob Harvick was fined fifty cents for assault and battery. "Ordered that John Oliver be paid $2.50 for attending on the court two days and fur- nishing wood, "November term, 1820." At the May term 1825, the case of the People vs. William Russell, indictment for giving a challenge to fight a duel. The people were represented by Sidney Breeze and Russell was found guilty. Fee bills for a suit brought by Reynolds and Gray vs. W. B. Ward, June 1840, justice docket, 121/2c, summons 183/4c, judgment 25c, execution 25c, renewing execution 25c, miles six at five cents, 30c serving summons 25c, total cost of suit, $2.111/4.
Account of Thomas C. Paterson sheriff, 1815, debtor to James Finney 621/2c to Dr. Davis for note $6.50, to cash
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lent William Peterson, $2.1212. Some cases recorded March term, 1814 Richard McBride vs. Elizabeth Keith, Arthur Love vs. Joshla and John Graves, 1815; Johnathan Clark vs. E. Russell and wife, 1825, State Bank of Illinois vs. Randolph Casey and Joshua Elkins, 1825, Daniel Chap man vs. Jesse Canady, 1823; Washington McFatridge vs. John Bain 1827; the people vs. Pleasant Ward, 1814, Will- iam Easton vs. John A. Magnus, Stephen Kuykendall, late of Center Township, had a case in court, 1815, Chas. Meek vs. Adam Harvick and Jesse Allen, 1815, King Hazel vs. Luke Williams, 1816, Elisha Reynolds and Thomas Little page vs. Hannah Borin, 1816, Peggy Taylor vs. Robert H. Loyd, Patsy Fisher and Owen Evans, administrators vs. John Hays, Martha McCall vs. Levi Graham, 1817, Sus- annah Latham vs. Alexander Beggs, 1820, Susannah Price and Joseph Palmer setled with the court 1820 as adminis- trators of the estate of Abram Price. Thomas C. Paterson was allowed $10.00 for Prosecuting Attorney for the past year at June court, 1816. Milton Ladd was ordered to lay off, under the direction of George Brazil, one half of the whole length of section 10, township 15, range 3 east, June 1826. In 1823 James Copeland as sheriff was ordered by the court to purchase one half bushel, one gallon, one quart, and one half pint measures to be of the gage provided by an act of the General Assembly of the State. David J. Baker was allowed $30.00 in specie or $60.00 in state paper, for his services as prosecuting attorney in 1825. December term, 1825, Richard Elkins was made guardian for Ezekiel, Robinson and filed bond to give him a year's schooling and when twenty-one to give him a horse worth $50.00 or other property worth that much and one good suit of clothes, of domestic manufacture, 1825. Jasper and Elizabeth Mount had children, Thomas M., Nancy J., and Mathias. These children chose their mother as guardian, September, 1820, as their father had died. One of the first divorce cases is found in May court, 1818, Elizabeth vs. John Elkins.
George Smiley makes application for a permit to keep tavern, March 12, 1814, Dishon, Givins & Co., Thursday entered with me for a license to vend merchandise, J. Fin- ney, January 29, 1814. Weir & Craig had a lawsuit against Samuel Simpson in a court held in 1813, David Elms was made guardian for the children of William Fisher, Levi and Williams, 1818. April 1828, the following order from
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the court, "that a tax of one-half percent be levied on the following kinds of property, to-wit, on town lots, slaves, re- quistion and indentured negroes or mulatto servants, pleas- ure carriages, distillers, stock-in-trade, horses, mares, muleg asses, neat cattle above three years of age, and on water mills with their appendages.
Grand jurors 1808, William Alexander, John Worley, James Henderson and William McLaughlin, Jacob Solomans Christphor Lore, John Henderson and Nathaniel Sidwell. Walter B. Scates presided at the Spring term, 1837. Jacob C. Kidd, Thomas Pitt and Amos V. Lasley were new jury- men. New men in court were Nathaniel Mullinax, Elisha Cowgill, James Teagnor, J. M. Webster. Jane Hill, Admin- istratrix of Curtis Hill. Sam Harrison, a man of color, was declared free by the court under the same law that Wash- ington Thompson had been freed the year before. There were several indictments against persons for keeping a tippling house open on the Sabbath day, another was fined for playing at dice on the Sabbath at this period it would be called "shooting craps." Joseph Strahl, Solomon Grace, James Emerson, Abel Ford, Peter Yokum, John Shinall, Francis Marberry, were new names appearing on the 1837 court records. In 1838, we have the same judge and officers. The defendants were Watts and Franklin, W. B. Donaghy, John McIntire, Wiley Wise, Wiley Simmons, Nathan Richardson, William Hooker. At the April term, 1839, Abram, Nathan and Reuben, men of color, were in- dicted for some misdemeanor. John Copeland went on their bail. He was the owner of at least one of them, per- haps all. The indictment was quashed and they were dis- charged. There is also a case of slander, Thomas Johnson and wife vs. Cornelius Vanderbilt and wife, tradition says, this Vanderbilt family, who had a beautiful home and farm on the Ohio River opposite the Grand Chain, was a member of the famous Vanderbilt family of New York. In the November term of court of this year, Levi a man of color, appeared before the court and claimed freedom under the law, which was granted. The 1840 court shows some names not seen before, J. W. Corbin, Peter O,Neal, Peter McMahan, J. A. Rhodes, Powell Towler, and J. W. McKee. Judge Sidney Breeze held the November term of court, 1840 with W. H. Stickney, District Attorney. Levi Gifford, J. B. Spotts, Henry Freeman, J. K. Cheek, are connected with
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this court. John Fisher presented his bond of $10,000 as sheriff, with C. C. Latham, William Fisher, Burrell Ander- son, Berry Sexton and W. H. Graves as bondsman.
Copied from the fee book of J. Finney Circuit Clerk, John Bowman Dr., to James Finny Cash : 1814 the amount of my fee in the case, $13.00; 1815, Capt. Daniel T. Cole- man Dr., to same cash lent, $5.00; 1817, July, lent Martin Harvick, $5.00; October, 1817 William Garner cash lent, $3.80, paid. Record and copy of deed, $2.50. 1817; Stephen Smith Dr., to James Finny M. $1.00, 3 letter post- age 681/2c paid. Hoseah Borin Dr., to two certificates and seals at 75 cents $1.50 postage on two letters 25c each. 50 certificates and seal 75c. Postage on letters 121/c, 871/2c, Benj. F. Conner Certificate 75c postage 371/2c, $1.121/2, October, 1817, Lieutent William Townsend ten dollars. To postage 28, $10.28, December, 1819, lent George Smily 50c. John Smith letters 50c, Peter Slark Dr., for postage 371/2c, Robert Hargrave Certificate 75c, John F. Smith, balance on letters of Administration, paid $2.50, October, 1819, John S. Graves to cash, one time $4.00, at another $3.00, to post- age on letter, 25c, $7.25; Milton Ladd postage on two letters 50c, John Elkins Dr. To James Finny clerk, for making copy of record by order of his attorney, William Russell, 1991 words at 121bc for every 72-$3.4034 Dr. Jacob Roberson, by order of his attorney William Russell Dr. To James Finny Clerk, for copy declaration 300 words 511/5c, James Brown Dr. for postage 1 at 25c and 1 at 181/2, John Bridges 1 at 25c, Simon Price 1 at 25c, Rice Sams 1 at 183/1, Hosean Borin 2 letters 50c. January 7, 1817, Robert Hays Dr. To James Finny Clerk, for making complete record in the case of Patsy Fisher and Owen Evans vs. John Hays, appraiser, $4.80. James Silton 35c, 1818, July; William Lawrence, for two copies of deed 8716c. Record 1818. David Elms, for certificate and seal 75c, 1819, May 26, John Elkins Dr. To James Finny Clerk To copy, of an indict- ment 68c; July Isaac, D. Wilcox Dr. for 8 certificates and seals at 75c $6.00, "Squire Choat" tavern license, $5.00 paid.
EARLY MARRIAGE DATES
Daniel T. Coleman and Lucy Craft, 1820; John Tweedy married Mary Craft some time before 1825; Martin Har- vick married Nancy Fisher, 1821; Naman Martin married Temperance West Axley, 1825; Stanton Simpson married
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Nancy Higgins, 1831 ; in 1835 licenses were issued to James T. Collier and Parmelia Chapman; Thomas Mercer and Minerva Allen; John Cooper and Betsy Harrell; James H. Cooper, and Jane Elliot, John Allen and Mary Sarah Mer- cer, Gilbert H. Padget and Amanda Chapman; John Jones and Esther Carter, 1839; Washington Chapman and Cyn- thia Jobe, 1835; John S. Copeland and Ann Ward, 1835; Joshua S. Copeland and Elizabeth Axley, 1835; Issac S. Copeland and Eleanor Gore, 1835; Alfred Copeland and Agnes Phillips, 1841; James Mabrey and (Mrs) Elizabeth Copeland, 1841; Alfred Copeland and Katherine Elkins, 1844; John A. Copeland and Cynthia A. Scroggins, 1857; John West and Nancy Ann Allen, 1859. James A. Mecalf married a daughter of N. O. Gray. The Metcalfs resided in that section of the county that made Pulaski.
Judging from court records Bennett Handcock married Mary Peterson, widow of Wm. Peterson, who had the infant children, Elizabeth, Joshua and Sally, and whose will was written, 1815.
James Weaver married Mary, children, James, Sophia, Mariah; Mary widow of James Weaver married Thornton.
OFFICERS
Johnson County Territory was included in St. Clair, at its organization in 1790. Thomas Bradley was the first sheriff, William St. Clair is given as sheriff the same year. William Biggs was appointed coroner in 1790. Randolph County was formed in 1795, George Fisher, sheriff, 1801 and James Edgar, 1805. Robert Moris and James Edgar served as clerks of Randolph County between the years 1806 to 1808. Pierre Menard, George Fisher and James Finney were appointed Judges of the court of common pleas for Randolph County, 1806. E. Entsminger was deputy sheriff in 1809. John Bradshaw and John Phelps were appointed Justices of Peace in 1809. James Galbreth. sheriff 1809. Marvin Fuller, Nathan Davis, and J. B. Mur- ry were appointed J. P. for Randolph County in 1810. (This was copied from Randolph County records.)
The County of Johnson was organized September 14, 1812, and the following officers were appointed by the Governor: Thomas C. Patterson, sheriff ; Thomas Furguson, Nathaniel Green, Judges of the court of common pleas and
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James Finney, clerk. Jessie Griggs, who lived in the Murphysboro neighborhood, was appointed a Justice for this county, 1812. I. Weaver, who lived in Center Town- ship, Thomas Griffith and John Byers, who lived in the section that made Jackson County in 1816, were appointed Justices of the Peace in 1812. Henson Day and Thomas Green were appointed J. P. in 1813, and John Palmer, coroner. Archibald McAllister, coroner, 1814, George Hacker, Jessie Echols and George Hunsaker were J. P. in 1814 and in the same year James Finny was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court; Gilbert Marshall was appoint- ed surveyor. John Earthman was coroner in 1815. Will- iam M. Lammison, Joshua Davis, Vance Lusk, William Smith, James Bain, John Bowman and Thomas Lawrence were appointed J. P. in 1815. William Mears was appoint- ed District Attorney in 1813 and Thomas C. Brown to the same office in 1814. John Weldon was appointed J. P. in 1816, he lived on the west side of the county which made Union when it was created.
James Weaver, Benjamin Maneer, Hosea Borin, Will- iam Stiles, Irvin Morris, and Andrew Cochran were ap- pointed Justices for the County in 1816. Vance Lusk and James Whiteside, T. Lammison and James Fox lived in that section of Johnson that later became Pope County. In 1817, the Governor appointed John Copeland, James Crunk, David Elms, John Whittiker, George Brown, Joseph Palmer Justices. John Hargraves, who lived in Union in 1818, sur- veyor.
Commissioners 1818; Hezekiah West, 1821, William McFatridge, 1820, Joseph McCorcle, 1823, John Peterson, John Russell, 1824, Samuel Chapman and Lancaster Cox, 1826; David Shearer, William B. Smith, Rix Carter and Carter Latham; 1840, Elijah Smith and Worthington Gibbs, 1837; Ivy Reynolds, 1853; B. S. and W. B. Smith, Marvel Scroggins, 1855; John Shadrick and John Simmons, 1857; Branum Worrell, John Oliver and John N. Mozley, 1857; J. S. Toler and H. S. Lawrence 1858; William Barnwell, 1861; Jason B. Smith, 1866; Mark Whiteaker, 1886; John F. Casper, 1878; W. D. Deans and R. Brown, 1878; John F. Casper, 1878; W. D. Deans and R. W. Brown, 1879; T. J. McCormick; Lewis F. Walker, 1870; W. Y. Davis, 1872; T. M. Cavitt, 1884; Green R. Casey, 1893. So far this list is incomplete, but from 1914 to 1924
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the list is correct. H. O. Cavitt, J. L. Thornton, J. C. Carter, H. W. Emerson, William Nobles, J. W. Rushing, N. J. Mozley, J. C. Chapman, J. Wormack and Thomas Bal- lance.
Sheriffs, dating from 1815: Hamlet Furguson, James Davis, Irvin Morris, John Oliver, James Copeland, Samuel Copeland, John Fisher, Bennett Jones, R. D. Hight, Basil Gray, James M. Finney, D. C. Chapman, F. C. Kirkham, Lorenzy D. Craig, H. C. Carson, J. N. Mozley, William Perkins, A. J. Gray, J. H. Carter, W. C. Allen, Mark Whit- teaker, L. H. Frizzell, R. R. Ridenhower, James F. White- head, M. A. Hankins, John L. Veach, J. P. Mathis and T. C. Taylor, who is the present incumbent.
County Judges : A. J. Kuykendall, 1837; T. C. Brown, 1878; C. N. Damron, 1879; P. T. Chapman, 1882; T. J. Murry, 1890; O. R. Morgan, 1898; W. Y. Smith, 1900; W. A. Spann, 1906; J. F. Hight, 1914; J. O. Cowan, 1918.
County Clerks : James Finney was appointed 1812. No other name is found as clerk until Samuel Copeland's name appears 1834; D. Y. Bridges, 1834; I. N. Pearch, 1848; W. J. Gibbs, 1857; B. S. Smith, 1861; W. W. Boyt, 1873; F. M. Jones, 1877; J. W. Gore, 1886; W. H. Thomas, 1890; Thomas, M. Gore, 1894; I. L. Morgan, 1902; E. F. Throg- morton, 1906, and he has held the office continuously since.
County Superintendents of Schools. The first superin- tendent coming under the 1855 law, was William Culver, J. S. Whittenberg, R. M. Fisher, Thomas G. Farris, P. T. Chapman, W. Y. Smith, M. T. Van Cleve, Sara J. Whitten berg, W. M. Grissom, Emma Rebman, E. W. Sutton, F. E. Worrell.
Circuit clerk: The first persons to hold this office were S. C. Rentfro, 1831 and John Dun, 1834. They were called "recorder of deeds." .In 1864, J. S. Crum was elected J. W. Gore, 1876, J. S. Francis, 1880, F. B. Thacker, 1888, L. J. Smith, 1892. C. W. Mills; 1904, Grant McFatridge, 1908, John W. Carlton, 1916.
County Surveyor : Gilbert Marshall, 1815; Milton Ladd 1820; L. W. Fern, 1855; H. M. Ridenhower, 1865; Joshua J. Scott, Charles W. McCoy, 1871; W. B. Lewis, W. C. Watson, 1907; Clint Hunt, 1916. Charles Hook was the first county supervisor of roads, 1914; John Sharp and Almus Ragsdale. The latter is filling the position at pres- ent, 1924, John Sharp, surveyor, 1924.
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States Attorney : The first States Attorney was C. N. Damron, elected in 1874, A. G. Damron, 1878, Dick Fisher, 1882; G. B. Gillespie, 1886; D. J. Cowan, 1900; T. H. Sheridan, 1908; H. A. Spann, 1912; O. R. Morgan, 1916; C. J. Huffman, 1920; O. R. Morgan, 1924.
Assessor and Treasurer : Blewitt Bain, 1854 and suc- cessively, B. S. Smith, G. P. Finney, John Slack, Joel Du- Bois, Owen G. Peterson, William B. Pearce, F. B. Thacker, John S. Bridges, T. B. Reynolds, I. N. Elkins, J. F. White- head, G. H. Huffman, H. V. Carter, W. F. Marberry, Charles Peterson and Paul E. Phelps.
TOWNSHIPS
There are nine townships in Johnson County, namely Goreville, Elvira, Cache, Tunnel Hill, Bloomfield, Vienna, Burnside, Simpson and Grantsburg.
Goreville is in the north west corner of the county and was settled by the Gores, Adams, Barnards, Carrol Craigs, Dunns, Kelleys, Newtons, Walkers, Stanleys, Ridenhowers and Parrishes. Madison Parrish was a Justice of the Peace for many years and served as an associate of the county. G. P. and West Sullivan were settlers of this township be- fore the Civil War. They were educated men and G. P. did what one would call a country lawyer's business, such as writing wills, filling out papers and justice work. His children were Marcellus, (called Bud) Lycurgus, Rhoda and Mathilda. West was a teacher, and had one daughter who married a Mr. Russell. The Sullivans were from the South and Democrats in politics and Goreville Township is still the stronghold of that party in our county. A few of the farmers living there at present are: J. M. Francis, A. M. Smith, W. P. Gore, J. A. Carlton, J. N. Maze, M. M. Pickles, D. A. Stone, John A. Vancil, Charles Patrick, J. H. Hudgens, Benjamin Johnson and T. C. Crawford. Gore- ville is the principal town.
Elvira lies south of Goreville and borders Union Coun- ty on the west. The first settlers here were Worleys, Little- tons, Elkins, Stokes, Graves, Barnetts, Morrises, Mangums and a little later the Pearces, Ragsdales, Suits and Browns. Among the farmers of this section today are: J. K. Elkins, J. B. Suit, Dr. Charles Nobles, Dr. W. P. Robertson, J. C. Grinnell, John W. Goddard, F. M. Hunsaker, George John- son, Melvin Jones, Claude Beggs, E. L. Ragsdale, Ad and Sherman Smith, George M. Mozley, L. F. Poor and Charles
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Truelove. Buncombe is the main village and Pleasant Grove Center is situated in this township.
Cache joins Elvira on the south and its southern boundary is formed by Cache river. It was settled almost as early as Elvira by the West. Carter, Mercer, Peterson, Axley, Gore and Bridges families some of whom were as early as 1810. The Peeler, Martin, Casper, Wilhelm fam- ilies came about the fifties. Cypress and Belknap are the main towns of this division and a few of the good farmers are L. A. Mulkey, J. C. Carter, J. L. Beanard, W. J. Jones, Frank Capron, L. S. Beggs, P. T. Chapman, J. M. Brown, D. C. Casper, W. O. Peeler, Frank Penrod, Lee Moak, Charles Marshall and Mrs. Sabine Mason.
Tunnel Hill is on the northern border of the county and just east of Goreville. It has Tunnel Hill for its main village, and its first settlers were Choats, Goddards, Hobbs, Whiteheads, Kuykendalls, Cavitts, Bradleys, McMahans and Mitchell Webb who was the founder of a large family. Andrew Kelley, a man held in high esteem by his neighbors, Joseph was the head of the Smith family. His children were William, Joseph, Isaac, Richard, Mathilda and Hiram. Most of these families with the Vinsons and Simmons are members of the church of the Latter Day Saints. When this church was broken up at Nauvoo, Illinois, these fam- ilies located in this township. They have intermarried so that their descendants are most all related. Other families settling here about the fifties, were John Ridenhower, Felix Boyt, Burkalows, Carsons and the D. C. Chapmans. Some of the present residents are G. H. McMahan, Guy Beauman, A. G. Benson, J. B. Cavitt, the family of the late A. N. Webb, Isiah Lowery, J. L. Mohler, and David Cover, Jr. The Centralia Fruit and Orchard Co., is located in this township.
Bloomfield lies almost in the center of the county and was a part of Cache Township when it was organized. It was settled by the Caseys, Harvicks, McFatridges, Thac- kers, Bains, Daniel Chapman, Sr., Taylors, Finneys, Odoms and Petersons. Bloomfield is the name of the largest town. Farmers living there now are J. S. Plater, J. N. Benson, I. N. Davies, John Taylor, O. W. Ruppert, George W. Mathis, T. F. Travis, L. J. Smith, J. M. Brown, and the Shetlers.
Vienna lies south of Bloomfield. The families of James Bain, Mathew Mathis, Henry Beggs, John Oliver, James
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Jones, Samuel Chapman, James and J. L. Hogg, Jackson Simpson, David Shearer and Thos. Johnson were the first residents. A few years later came the families of Dr. Dam- ron, A. J. Kuykendall, Redden, Henry, Burnett, John Bain, Farris, Donaghy and Hight. Vienna is the seat of justice and the principal town of the county. It is situated in the northwest part, in section 5. West Vienna and Foreman are other villages in the township. Some of the progressive farmers are J. C. Johns, L. T. Farris, J. L. Lindsey, John Dunn, D. W. Mathis, Milo Clanahan, J. W. Shinn, A. Hook, R. R. Ridenhower, J. M. Farris, T. J. Cowan, Jr. H. L. Bridges, J. C. Chapman and A. E. Mckenzie.
Burnside is located in the north east corner of the county. The Harper, Choate, Lawrence, Howerton, Damron, Gill, Whiteaker, Burton, Ballance families were a few of the early settlers of this township. It is known as the fruit growing section and some of the residents and farmers are J. C. B. and J. W. Heaton, F. B. Hinds, Nor- man W. Casper, J. W. Choat, G. W. Murphy, J. W. Rush- ing, J. M. Safford, and J. R. Chester. New Burnside and Ozark are the villages of this township.
Simpson is south of New Burnside and borders Pope County on the east, it had its first settler in 1805, William Simpson, from whom it took its name. Other early settlers were Mckees, Veaches, Barnwells, Whitesides, Kerley, Keltners, Scotts, Simmons, Murrays and Mounts. Simpson is a thriving villiage of this section. Some of the farmers and fruit growers are: T. B. Murray, T. B. Mount, J. W. Reynolds, T. B. Kerley, W. H. Grissom, J. H. Taylor, C. W. and Otto Murrie and J. L. Thomas.
Grantsburg corners with Massac and Pope Counties on the south east. Some of the first settlers here were: Walkers, Pors, Cummins, Marberys, Helms, J. B. Smith, Green B. Veach, Pleasant Rose, Sr., Grissoms, Modglins, Bowmans, Bains, Pearces, Fishers and Allen Jones. Wart- race, New Grantsburg and Ganntown are the principal centers and some present farmers are; E. E. Farquahar, F. M. Simmons, J. D. Wormack, W. J. Miller, E. E. Morgan, Otis Nelson, W. F. Hight, Charles Shelton, Delaskey Walker, E. E. Trovillion, L. P. Morris, C. H. Gray, Pleas- ant Rose, W. P. Walker and John Hand.
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EARLY TOWNS
The towns or settlements located on the Ohio River within the original bounds of Johnson County were: Ft. Massac (see Clark's Trail), Wilkinsonville, Napoleon, Cale- donia, Trinity and America.
Wilkinsonville, Reynolds says in his history written 1825 "General Wilkinson, who was a British Governor of the northwest territory, appointed in 1769, built canton- ment Wilkinson." In the History of Union, Pulaski and Alexander Counties, quoted from Bradley, "General Wilkinson ascended the Ohio River about the close of the war of 1812, to the head of the Grand Chain, with a large body of troops, and built expensive barracks. When the troops were removed, it fell into decay and there is nothing left but graves to designate the place." Which statement is correct one cannot say. There is a plausible reason why the fort might have been built, if it had been 1806 or 1807, as General Wilkinson of the United States Army was understood to be connected with Burr's conspiracy and this fort would have been useful if Burr's plan had carried.
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