USA > Illinois > Johnson County > A history of Johnson County, Illinois > Part 4
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
days of Johnson County's organization. At the May term of court in the year 1815 the people petitioned for a road from Elvira to intersect the road from Furguson's to Cape Girardeau at Cache Post Office (The United States Post Master General's Office says, "there was never a post office by that name until recent years there was one established in Alexander County"). The above road order was taken from the county records. In 1815, the court ordered that Robert Lott and William Thornton be appointed to view a road the nearest and best route from Johnson Court House to William Lawrence's mill. At the same session, 1815, George Smiley, Joseph Palmer, and Henry Earthman were ordered to lay out a road from Elvira to Earthman's ferry on the Mississippi to be governed as far as possible by the township line between townships 11 and 12. About this time William Simpson and John Robinson are allowed to establish a ferry on the Mississippi, below the mouth of Apple Creek, and to it they must have a road. Giles Pal- merly, Jacob Craft, Thomas C. Patterson and Andrew Cochran were appointed to lay out said road. Joshua Davis, William Simpson, Thomas C. Patterson and John Byers were given the task of laying out a road from Johnson Court House (Elvira) to Big Muddy so as to meet the road from Kaskaskia to Muddy. A petition was presented in 1815 by the inhabitants to have the road leading from Johnson Court House to Furguson's ferry viewed and opened. John Reed, who served as commissioner in Pope County in 1825 and must have lived near the present Johnson County line, judging from another road ordered, Jacob Littleton and James Whiteside were viewers of this road. This was lat- er known as the old Golconda and Jonesboro road. It ran through Bloomfield Township across the farms of Joseph Plater, Mrs. Davis, John Veach and Gus Casper and cross- ed Dutchman where the second site for a county seat was selected. This road also passed through Simpson, by Pleas .. ant Ridge church house, crossed the old Marion road near the John Veach place and merged with the present Bun- combe road near the Soper farm. At a court held in 1816 Levi Graham, Absalom Lankston were appointed to view a road from Smith's ferry on the Mississippi to Wm. Law- rence's mill on Cache. John Bowman was to open a road from Johnson Court House toward Furguson's ferry as far as McFatridges. In 1817 Peter Clark, Henry Sams and
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Benjamin F. Clark were appointed to view a road already established to Hay's ferry from Elvira till it intersected the road leading from Dutchman settlement, which was about two miles southwest of Jonesboro and at that time in Johnson County, to Brownsville, a town on the north bank of Big Muddy River and the first county seat of Jackson County, by way of Patterson's, who lived in what was afterward Rich Precinct, Union County, "Peter Clark is made supervisor of that part of the road, from Elvira to Brownsville, from his home to where the road intersects the road leading from the Dutch settlement. "The same year John Weldon, John Robinson and John Tweedy were ordered to lay out a road from Earthman's ferry on the Mississippi to intersect Greens road, near Tweedy's Mill." Another road built about this time was from Johnson Court House to Gallaher's old place on the Mississippi, below Green's ferry, John Bradshaw, John Grammar and Joseph Palmer, all were residents of Union at its organization, are viewers of this road. The description of the road is as follows: "Beginning at the court house and running by William Townsen's farm thence near to John Bradshaw's, leaving his house to the left, crossing Big Creek at the mouth of Wallace's branch, thence passing along between the plantations of John Grammar, and Sophronus Standles, thence by John Whitekers and thence to Gallaher's old place on the Mississippi, all of which we have marked," signed John Grammar, John Bradshaw, David Vance, David Arnold." Report on road leading to Robinson and Simp- son's ferry on the Mississippi. "To-wit: Beginning at the court house thence agreeably to the way newly marked out to Thomas C. Patterson's and through his land, thence to Tripp's thence to the old Indian trail, where it crosses Drury's Creek thence to Palmer's, thence passing the widow Craft's and leaving her home to the right from there to Earthman's ferry." (Formerly Robinson and Simpson's ferry). This report was given in 1815 and Giles Parmerly was appointed supervisor at this same court. The commis- sion appointed to lay out the road to Muddy, having failed to act T. C. Patterson, William Simpson, William H. and Josuha Davis were appointed instead.
The roads up to this time most all seemed to be in the direction of the Mississippi River, but when Union was organized and the county seat changed, the roads began
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
their trend in other direction. At the July court, 1818, William McNorton, John Copeland and John W. Gore were appointed viewers of a road the nearest and best route, from the new seat of justice toward Jonesboro, as far as the county line." This is, in part at least, the present Anna and Vienna road having been laid out a little more than a hundred years ago. Imagine, if you can, the work and money that has been spent on this road in the past one hundred years. If they had built less than one quarter of a mile each year we would now have a good road to our neighboring city. Perhaps these pioneers were excusable, although the Appian way had been constructed before the Christian era, but the present day citizens are not excusable as they know all about hard roads, how to build them and have plenty of material at hand in this county. Yet the process of wasting money on roads continues in this sec- tion. "Adam Harvick, Joel Johnson and John Grisham are appointed at this same court, 1818, to view a road from the new seat of justice to Golconda, as far as the county line of Pope." All persons living north of the road to within one half mile of the old Elvira and Jonesboro road and all living south within five miles of said road shall work this road." September, 1819, the court ordered that Richard McGinnin, who lived at Pleasant Grove, the present home of Willis Elkins, Millington Smith, whose home was on the present farm of Stanley Beggs, and James Jones, who lived on the farm now divided and owned by Fred Shetler and John M. Brown, be appointed to view the nearest and best practicable route for a road from John Gore's planta- tion, so as to meet the road lately laid out from Vienna to Jonesboro at the county line. "This road began at John W. Gore's thence by George Brazell's mill to Jane Lizenby's, thence along the ridge leading down Cache River to the same, thence on a ridge to William Russell's farm leav- ing the same on the left, thence the safest and best route to meet said road from Vienna to Jonesboro. The mean- ing is a little obscure as there had been a commission the year before to lay out a road from Vienna to Jonesboro, but it is possible they did not complete it farther than John W. Gore's, another theory is that the first Vienna and Jonesboro road led south and then west instead of the pres- ent direction owing to the high water directly west of us. The road leading from Vienna south to Caledonia, Mound
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
City and Cairo and passing Indian Point was laid out in 1821. In 1824, John Copeland and John S. Cooper reported on a road to Wilcox's warehouse, which was on the Ohio River in section 7, township 15, range 3 east. A Mrs. Riley owns the farm on which this warehouse and landing was located. It was first called Copeland's landing. James Copeland operated a ferry there about 1824. It was later called Mabery landing. Tradition says most of the roads leading from the north came to this landing. It was on what is now the county line between Massac and Pulaski Counties, almost directly south of Vienna and doubtless the port from where our imports came and our exports were shipped. At this time Johnson County had a road leading out in every direction to the neighboring towns and, no doubt, many settlement roads. In 1819, David Elms was appointed supervisor of the old Golconda and Jonesboro road, from the corner of his farm, this farm now owned by J. H. Taylor and J. R. Hill, to Pope County line ; Squire Choat from the same corner east to Bloomfield Township line; Alexander McGowan from there to Dutch- man Lick (No knowledge of Dutchman Lick possibly it is what is now Lick Creek.) from Dutchman Lick to Union County line. William Gothard was appointed. These supervisors must have lived on or near the sections of road to which they were assigned. Stanton Simpson was ap- pointed supervisor, for the new road, from Vienna toward Golconda as far as the Pope County line 1824. In 1820 it was ordered that: "James Bain, Lewis Simpson and Levi Casey be appointed to view a route from Vienna to Saline Lick and that Milton Ladd be appointed to survey it." The following men were designated to work this road that ran toward Saline Lick, passing Lewis D. Simpson's which was the present Simpson road, William Simpson, Sr., Levi Casey, Jacob Cannady, Ishmael Veach, Joseph McCorcle, William Hendry, Robert Little, James Copeland, Ivy Rey- nolds, Benj. Carroll, G. Morris, Irvin Morris, William Huckam, Francis Geehen, James Bain, Henry Adams, Mar- tin Harvick, David Elms, Reuben Wright, William S. Cooley, George Giles, Squire Choat, Benjamin Bowman, William Abraham and Noah Shelby, Willis Simpson, and John Fisher. The supervisors were allowed $1.00 per day for summoning hands to work the road, in 1823. For December, 1821, Joseph McCorcle, James Jones and Mathew
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Mathis were appointed by the court to view and mark out the nearest and best route for a road from Vienna toward the Saline so as to intersect the road leading past Lewis Simpson's.
Hezekiah West, Thomas Standard and Moses Cochran were appointed to view the nearest and best practicable route for a road from Vienna to Wilcox's ferry on the Ohio River, so as to intersect the county line between Johnson and Union Counties near Concord meeting house. 1821 Joel Johnson, Levi Casey and Lewis Simpson were appoint- ed to view a road from Vienna to meet the road from Elvira to Saline Lick. In 1821, Abraham Hendry, Jesse Canady and Martin Harvick were designated to view a road from Vienna to cross the creek below Joseph McCorcle's tan yard, which was about where Joseph McDaniel's house stands at present, on east main street, proceeding from there so as to intersect the Massac road at or near a place called Indian Mounts, this side of the bridge on what is called Black Slough. Indian Mounts, was, no doubt, the same as Indian Point. "Ordered that Robert Axley, Thomas Standard and Richard Mercer be appointed to view a road the nearest and best route for a road to be laid out from Concord meeting house to some point on the Ohio River near Wilcox's ware house." Concord meeting house must have been near the cemetery of that name which is near the line of Union and Johnson and one half mile due north of the old William Yearly Davis place. At September court, 1823, Isaac D. Wilcox, John L. Cooper and John Cope- land were appointed to view a route for a road from Vienna to Wilcox's ware house on the Ohio River. They reported on this road in 1824 and were appointed supervisors of same; all living within three miles of the road to the bridge must work this road and all within seven miles must work it beyond the bridge to the ware house." It evidently took a great deal of work and time of the citizens to make roads at that time; one can scarcely decide which the greater burden to work and open up new roads as they did in those days or to keep them up at the present. Three notches on a tree indicated a public road, a blaze on a tree marked a neighborhood road. The following men were appointed to supervise certain sections of these roads, 1823. "The road from Golconda to Jonesboro," that part of said road that lies between the bridge on Cache and the county line of
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Pope." John Peterson to superintend that part between the afore said bridge and the town of Vienna. " Ivy Reynolds from Vienna to Simpson and Samuel Stanton Simpson from his house to the county line of Pope." "On the old road from Golconda to Jonesboro; Joshua Elkins to superintend that part of said road which lies between Dutchman Lick and the county line of Union." "Samuel McGowan from said Lick eastward as far as the line that divided Vienna and Bloomfield Townships." William Shelby from the north east corner of his land to the county line of Pope." The road from Golconda to Jonesboro passing through Vienna was divided into two districts, known as eastern which ex- tended from the county line of Pope to Vienna, and western district which extended from Vienna to the county line of Union. Ivy Reynolds was appointed supervisor for the eastern district for the year, 1826 and William Elkins for the western district for the same year. The old road run- ning through Bloomfield was divided the same way, the same year with Washington McFatridge in charge from Pope County line to Bloomfield and Henry Mangum was supervisor from Bloomfield west to Union County line." To the honorable judges of the court of Johnson County, Greeting-In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, approved January 15, 1825. "We, your petitioners pray that you would lay out a road beginning at the county line, be- tween Johnson and Pope Counties, near Thomas Reeds on Big Bay, thence through the settlement of Mark Rentfro thence the nearest and best route to Hardy Johnson's on the old road, from thence to intersect the old Kaskaskia road at or near Ezekiel Choats on the little Saline, as we believe it will be a road of great utility and that you appoint suit- able persons to review it. Signers-(the only names legible were) : Hardy and Joel Johnson." J. H. G. Wilcox pre- sented a petition to the May court, 1827, praying for a road from Vienna, by Reuben Wilson's on Georges Creek, to his ferry on the Ohio River. It was granted and Ander- son Douglas, Martin Harvick and John Shearer were ap pointed viewers of the road. (Reuben Wilson entered land, 1836, which is now owned by J. L. Broadway.) In 1828, a number of citizens petitioned for a road beginning at Pope County line near Thomas Reed's on Big Bay thence through the settlement of Mark Rentfro thence to Hardy Johnson's on the old road, from thence to intersect the old Kaskaskia road at or near Ezkiel Choats on little Saline. In 1856, the
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
following road was ordered : "Beginning at H. Carson's and running in a northwest direction to Williamson County line passing O. Francis, F. Boyt's, D. C. Chapman, E. F. Francis, H. M. Ridenhower, James Parish and the widow Ollis, L. W. Fern and D. C. Chapman were reviewers." This is a later date than others but is used to complete the middle Marion road.
The county was well supplied with roads which had been laid out in a comparatively short time. The lack of good roads has long been a menace to our county as well as to the rest of the state. Our citizens began to take an interest in the hard road question only a few years ago. Our commissioners began putting in permanent bridges and culverts about 1900. An enthusiastic meeting was held in Vienna in the fall of 1913, especially planned in the interest of the "Logan and Lee" highway. A number from ad- joining counties and Kentucky attended and it looked like the road was almost here. The result of this convention remains in the red, white and blue stripes on the telephone poles through the county, marking the proposed great high- way. This, of course, is something but not what was ex- pected. This remaining sign and the successful meeting was due mostly to the efforts of Noel Whitehead, who was at that time mayor of Vienna. The state road which is being built from the $60,000,000 bond issue was surveyed in 1921. It enters the county from the northeast, just south of Stone Fort, passes through Burnside Township to the southwest, passes through Tunnel Hill Township, a little east of the railroad and directly through Guy Beauman's farm and Bloomfield in the same general direction. It crosses the Big Four railroad above the little village of Bloomfield, cutting directly through the farm of T. J. Clay- ton and entering the limits of Vienna on the northeast corner thence through the eastern section of the town. It crosses the Big Four rail road two miles directly south of
Vienna. This road is a part of route one and connects Chicago and Metropolis. It is called the "Wonder Land Route." In 1918, 1730 votes were cast in this county for the $60,000,000 bond issue to build state roads and only 260 against. The public roads of the county are much better than ten years ago and, no doubt will improve continuously. Fourteen miles of the above road is now open to traffic, 1924.
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. A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
FERRIES
One would think ferries a rather queer subject for the history of a county so far inland as Johnson County is at present, but it must not be forgotten that in our former greatness as a territorial county, we bordered on two rivers.
All families coming here from the south had to cross the river to reach the desired haven which necessitated a ferry, and many coming from the east floated down the Ohio on rafts. They might be taken into the farther side by the current and needed a ferry to land them on the right side. Perhaps it would be interesting to know how many of our later settlers reached this section by way of the rivers. They built rafts which were logs pinned together, put the lumber they wanted to use in building their houses on them, and shoved them into the river; loaded the family, the stock, and all their belongings onto them and floated away. There was usually a small inclosure in the center to shelter the family. The cow was staked out to one side, the chickens, pigs and other domestic animals were coralled in an inclosure; they cooked, ate, milked and churned, fed the stock and lived at home on this mininature farm with- out soil until they reached their destination. The father guided this frail bark into Hull's or Mile's Landing, Fort Massac or Mound City.
Many people emigrating to Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and other parts of the state further north and west came to the Kentucky shore and crossed at Lusks Ferry. Fort Massac was a favorite landing place for emigrants since the first one came. And the Mississippi River must have been almost lined with ferries judging from the number given in our first courts as applying for permission to estab- lish them.
At the second term of Johnson County court, held in 1813, "on motion of Henry Earthman to have his ferry on the Mississippi, formerly known by the name of Waller's Ferry established." It was so ordered by the court. This is the first mention of a ferry on our records and the fol- lowing rates were established for the government of this ferry, to-wit: for crossing a wagon and team, $3.00; a carriage of pleasure with four wheels, $4.00; two wheels of the same description, $2.00; a cart $1.00; a man and
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
horse 621/2c, pack horse 621/2, single man or horse 25c, neat cattle 20c, sheep, hogs or goats 10c, for all kinds of pack mules, oxen and horses, the same rate as a horse.
At the September court, 1814, William Simpson and John Robinson were given leave to establish a ferry on the Mississippi below the mouth of Apple Creek. Later, in 1815 Charles Bradley entered a ferry on the Mississippi opposite Cape Girardeau and the same rates were to govern as had been allowed for the others. In 1816 Smiley had a warehouse and ferry on the Mississippi. Green operated a ferry on the same river in 1814. In 1815 John Earthman had leave to operate the ferry established by Simpson and Robinson the year before in the name of John Hay, John and Henry Earthman and William Garner. The ferries on the Mississippi in 1816 were Tweesday's, William Smith's, Thomas Green's, Samuel Penrod's Charles Bradley's, Reu- ben Glover's, Lewis Crane's, Power's and Smiley's. Obidiah Russell had a ferry on Cache. All these ferries paid taxes into the Johnson County treasury for 1816.
Furguson's ferry was on the Ohio opposite the mouth of the Cumberland River. Mile's Trace began at Elizabeth- town, and Mile's ferry must have been located there. Rey- nold's says it was a few miles above Hull's landing. Lusk's ferry was on the Ohio, opposite the present site of Golconda. Established 1799. Hull's landing was a few miles above Golconda 1780.
In 1821 Issac D. Wilcox was given leave to establish a ferry on his land on the Ohio River at his warehouse now being erected in section 7, township 15, range 3 east of the third principal meridan. The following rates were charged, being much less than those established in 1813; wagon and team of four horses, $1.50 ; a carriage, two wheels and team, 75c ; a single man and horse 371/2 ; at high water for horned cattle 121/2 ; for low water 1834 ; at high water hogs, sheep or goats 6c each; at low water 8c each. He was also licensed to keep tavern at this place. This ferry was later operated by James Copeland, and was called Copeland's landing, His widow married Captain Williamson. It was then known as Wiliamson's landing, and later as Sharp's land- ing. It lies between the old John Copeland place, now owned by Mrs. Riley, and the old Sharp farm, and not far from the present Massac and Pulaski line.
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Samuel Copeland owned a ferry where Joppa is now located, after the civil war, which was operated by his sons, Perry, Richard, James and Clinton.
In March 1824, James H. G. Wilcox, having made ap- plication to establish a ferry on his land about one mile be- low Massac, section 11, township 16, range 4 east; the court ordered his petition granted and the same rates were allow- ed that had been established for Issac D. Wilcox' ferry in 1821. This was in the present limits of the city of Metropolis which was laid laid out about eighteen or twenty years later, and the ferry was located about where the present Metropolis ferry now operates.
In 1816 the Territorial Legislature passed a law grant- ing free ferriage to ministers of the gospel but repealed it in December 1817. Imagine, if you can, the number of preacher crossing the river while this law was in force.
The taxes on these ferries were $8 and $3. The capac- ity of the craft had, no doubt, something to do with the difference in the rate of tax. When the counties bordering on the rivers were organized, our control of and the revenue from these ferries ceased.
MILLS
The first mills of this county were doubtless hollowed out stones or stumps with pestles for the grinding and muscle for the power. Wheat was not produced to a very great extent in the very first years of the county's history.
The water mill succeeded these primitive mills and were of necessity located on streams. The horse mill followed these.
The first mill we have any knowledge of in this county was owned by John Whiteker and located somewhere be- tween Elvira and the Mississippi river. This is not very definite, but we know that he paid taxes on this mill in the year 1816.
Brazel had a mill somewhere west of Vienna sometime in the 20's. Price had one on McCorcle Creek in 1823. Huse operated a mill on Cache on the new road from Vienna to Jonesboro in 1828. William Lawrence had a mill on Cache in 1816 and was taxed 60 cents on it that year.
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A HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Samuel J. Chapman had a mill on Cache near the James Arnett farm, now owned by Marvin Smith, in 1845. Laugh- lin, father of R. W., worked a mill on Big Bay in 1839, which was first run by water power. This mill was sold to Whiteside, and later to Adair who added an engine. Many people from Vienna went to this mill for their bread stuff. Major A. J. Kuykendall, future congressman from this district, was often seen there as a patron when a small boy. A mill begun by William Price about where the Gol- conda road crosses the McCorcle Creek, was finished by Walter Scott in 1857. This was among the first steam mills of the county.
These are some of the primitive mills of the county, the larger mills will be listed among the assests of the town in which they are located. Boggs says, "Minute regulations were established by the territorial laws for mills as well as ferries. Mills were required to use a pre- scribed measure and to grind for prescribed toll. The toll for a horse mill being higher than a water mill, unless the owner of the grain furnished the horse." An act of 1799 made the toll for grinding and bolting wheat and rye into flour one eighth of the quantity, if only ground, one tenth. Penalties were imposed for excessive tolls and millers were made accountable for all grain received. It required two hours to grind one bushel of corn on a horse mill. The early settlers had to go miles to mill and sometimes wait all day for their grinding, as the rule of "first come first served" prevailed. "In the southern settlements the people procured their grinding at New Design, Leven's or Kaskas- kia." (Reynolds)
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