USA > Illinois > Atlas of the State of Illinois, to which are added various general maps, history, statistics and illustrations > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
1
Edwards County is diversified by prairie and good timber. The soil is very fertile, and wheat and corn are the principal crops. Albion was laid out in 1819, settled principally by English immigrants, and incorporated in 1860. Its location is high and healtby. There are two factories, and school and eburch facilities are ample. The Louisville, New Albany & St. Louis Railway terminates bere. In 1870, the population of the county was 7,565, of wbom 4,855 are natives of Illinois and 1,000 of foreign countries. There are twenty-three manufac- turing establishments, producing annually goods to the value of $70,748. There are twenty-two religious organizations, with $26,000 invested in church property. The leading denomina- tions are the Christian and Metbodist, although the Baptist, Preysbyterian and United. Brethren denominations have each quite a following.
The county is bounded on the north by Richland, on the east by Wabash, on the south by White, and on the west hy Wayne Counties. The principal streams are the Bonpas Creek, on the east, and the Little Wabash River on the west. The southeastern corner of the county barely touches the Wahaslı River at Grayville. Besides Grayville and Albion, there are no towns of any considerable importance.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
EFFINGHAM COUNTY lies in the southeastern portion of tbe State, bas an area of 483 square miles, and was organized from Fayette in 1831, reaching in 1870 a population of 15,653. Originally the county seat was located at Ewington, where it remained until February, 1860, when it was removed to Effing- liam. The pioneer Commissioners were T. M. Short, I. Fan- chen and William I. Hawkins. The first jail was erected in 1833, hy L. Jordan and James Neal. John Coventry secured a license to keep a tavern, and sell spirituous liquors, on pay- ment of $5.00. William I. Hawkins was the first County Surveyor. The total county tax for 1832 was $58.66, and for 1856, $972,202. Effingbam was laid out in 1854, by Messrs. Alexander & Little. Among the oldest settlers now living are T. J. Gillenwater, J. Brown, P. Hawkins and' S. Hawkins. The Little Wabash River flows southwardly through the county. Tho Illinois Ceutrsl passes south westwardly aoross, the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute diagonally, and the Springfield & Illinois Southeastern cuts through the western tier of townships. The larger number of settlers came from Obio and Indiana, and one-sixth of the population are natives of Germany. There are 120,343 acres of improved and 83,000 acres of wood and unimproved land. The number of farms is 1,738, and among their products for 1870 were 6,606 pounds of tobacco, 35,650 pounds of wool, and 210,155 pounds of butter. There are ninety-eight manufacturing establishments, employing 261 men, with an aggregate capital of $174,900, and a product of $547,920.
4
191
FAYETTE COUNTY.
FAYETTE COUNTY is hut sixty miles south of the center of the State, and nearly equidistant from its eastern and western borders. To give its history would be to give that of a great share of the Northwest. Before a railway had been laid in the State, the "Curuherland Road " was the westward trail for all immigrants. This road was opened across Fayette County at a very early date, and over it eame, from the East, all pas- sengers, mails and freights, to scatter thence through the wil- derness in search of permanent homes. Vandalia was from 1820 to 1840 the capital of the State and tho center of its political influence. Here entered the political arena the giants Lincoln and Douglas. The county was organized in 1821 and has an area of 720 square miles, nearly three-fourths of which is under cultivation. There is no etter soil in the State, and timber of fine quality is abundant. Vandalia is underlaid hy a vein of bituminous eoal, six feet in thickness, which is now being developed. A lively interest is manifest in regard to fruit growing. The railroads of the county are the Illinois Central, main and branch lines, the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute, and the Springfield & Southeastern.
Vandalia is mounted upon a succession of hills on the west bank of the Kaskaskia, is the county seat, and has ahout 2,000 inhabitants. It is n prosperous trading point, and has several fine church edifices. Ramsey, twelve miles north, doea a large business in railway ties and lumher. St. Elmo, laid out since the last census, is a bustling place in the heart of a rich farming region. Farina ships considerable fruit and grain. The population of the county, in 1870, was 19,638, of whom 11,168 are natives of Illinois, 2,064 of Ohio, 930 of Indiana, and 1,516 of foreign countries. The original county seat was at Perryville, now extinct, and the earliest Commissioners were Paul Beek, W. Johnson and J. A. Weakfield, James Jonas heing County Clerk. The first tavern license was issued to J. F. Eckman, and the rates for entertainment were fixed at 25 cents for breakfast or supper, 182 cents for horse feed, and 12} cents for a half pint of whisky. The assessed value of the county, in 1873, was $11,424,127.
FORD COUNTY.
FORD COUNTY lies in the northeastern quarter of the State, is very irregular in form, and contains 486 square miles. Among its early settlers were John and Thomas Carruthers, John Knox, Samuel and Archibald Moore, Jedediah B. Ho- gan, Jackson Pitzer, John Wallacc, Samuel Todd, Daniel C. Stoner, Benjamin Stites, Gustavus Foos, Samuel and William Swinford, William Jackson, Asa and Robert Trickle, James P. Button, William Irving, Devilla Danforth, James Hock, Mars- ton Dudley, Mathew Elliott, Howard Case, Leander Britt, Ransom Murdoek, Jacob Ilarmon, the Strayers hrothers, William Walker, David Patton, James Flagg, Samuel and John Middlecoff, Eli and John Dops, Jacob Tanner, A. B. Lucas, Silas Wyman, Richard and William Bryant. The connty was organized from Vermilion in 1859. The first court was held on June 22d, at Paxton, the Commissioners he- ing David Patton, William Swinford and Andrew Bartlett. The former gentleman has been County Judge from that date. The earliest Circuit Court was held by Judge David Davis. Howard Case was Sheriff and John P. Day, Treasurer. Pax- ton has had three names, taking its last from an English lord, who, just previous to his death, had contemplated the purchase of a township in the vicinity. It now has a Lutheran college, several manufactories, and a population of about 1,500. Piper City has a fair trade with the farmers in its vicinity. Five railways penetrate the county. The population, in 1870, was 9,102, of whom 3,167 are natives of Illinois, 1,118 of Ohio, and 1,998 of foreign countries. The region is almost exclu- sively prairie, with very little timber and no outerop of roek. The rich soil is from one to five feet in thickness. The north- ern strip is wholly destitute of coal, but it is probable that the wholo southern district is underlaid by one or more work- able seams within 350 feet of the surface. Paxton Towusbip leads in agriculture, having 23,630 ucres of improved land, valued, with improvements, at $1,273,126, with a corn erop, in 1870, of over 100,000 hushels. On the western horder of Ford County is located the 48,000 acre farm of M. L. Sul- livant, which is traversed hy the Chicago & Paducah Railway. For 1875, he had 24,000 acres in corn.
COUNTY HISTORIES.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
FRANKLIN COUNTY is situated in the center of the south- ern portion of the State, and eoutains 423 square miles. It is one of the oldest counties in Illinois, having been organized iu 1818. It is bounded on the north hy Jefferson, on the east hy Hamilton and Saline, on the south by Williamson, and on the west hy Perry and Jackson Counties. It is separated from Perry County hy the Little Muddy River, which forms the boundary line.
The county is well watered hy tbo Big Muddy River and its numerous branches, aud is well supplied with timber. The average temperature is about 56 degrees Fahrenheit. A large amount of tobacco is raised here, also an abundance of peachies and various other fraits. Sweet potatoes thrive well, and even cotton ean be grown to a limited extent. The principal agri- cultural produetions are winter wheat, corn, oats, tobacco, potatoes, heans, honey, sorghum, fruit, pork and wool. The number of acres of improved land, in 1870, was 80,749, and the value of live stock $749,598. Tho amount of hutter made was 64,556 pounds. Manufacturing, although not ex- tensively engaged in, is increasing. The total number of establishments in 1870 was 16; number of steam engines, 8; number of hands employed, 54; amount of capital employed, $44,800 ; and value of products manufactured, $100,632. Of the latter, $51,925 was of flouring-mill products and $11,500 of saddlery and harness manufactures. The county contains no large cities or towns. Benton, the county seat, is the largest, and contains ahout 700 inhabitants. No railroads have yet been constructed within the limits of the county, but several are projected. A good railroad extending across the county and through Benton, connecting with other railroads, is greatly needed to develop the resources of this section.
The population is very evenly distributed, and the improve- ments, though fair, are still in their infancy. Franklin County is possessed of many resources; and when these become prop- erly developed it will rank among the wealthiest counties in the State. Theinhabitants are mostly composed of native Americans, there heing not more than 100 of foreign birth. A large por- tion of the settlers came originally from Kentucky and Ten- nessee, and preserve to a great degree the characteristics of the citizens of those States. Prominent among their distinguish- ing traits is a generous hospitality whiel is not surpassed among the citizens of any other county in Illinois. The county is well supplied with schools and churches. The lead- ing denominations are Methodist, Baptist and Christian. The population of the county, in 1870, was 12,652.
FULTON COUNTY.
FULTON COUNTY was originally a part of Pike. The first traco of white settlement dates back to 1818, on Otter Creek. Craig & Savage, from St. Louis, built a saw-mill there, hut a sudden rise in the stream swept away the whole affair, while the first log was heing sawed. Dr. Davison, a hermit, is be- lieved to have resided in solitude on Spoon River for years pre- vious to 1820. The advent of Ossian M. Ross, in the spring of 1821, was an event of importance to tho new region. Lew- istown was laid off upon his land in 1822, by Stephen Dewey, and named after the eldest son of Mr. Ross; Mr. Dewey huild- ing the first house. The earliest births in the county were those of Abner C. Barnes and Lucinda C. Ross. The first marriage was that of Thomas L. Ross to Susan Nye. The county was formally organized in 1823, and Lewistown chosen as the county seat. The Commissioners at that time were David W. Barnes, Joseph Moffett and Thomas R. Covell. William Eads was ap- pointed Sheriff by the Governor, and John Reynolds was Cir- euit Judge. Ossian M. Ross built the first horse-mill, and Stephen Phelps kept the first dry goods store. Jacob Ellis kept the earliest school. The first hotel in the whole military traet was erected at Lewistown in 1827, and for years kept by Truman Phelps. In the summer of 1823, a flat-boat ferry was established at Havana.
Fulton County is well watered, has plenty of timber and n rich soil. Of late the coal business is the most important hraneb of trade. Lewistown contains over 1,500 inhabitants, and has a large woolen factory and several mills and stores. Canton was platted in 1825, Isaae Swan ereeting the first cabin. It is on a high prairie ; has a heavy vein of coal beneath
it ; has a number of manufactories, and a population of nearly 4,000. Farmington has a good trade with the farming com- munity in tho vieinity, and lias over 1,000 people. Vermont and Astoria aro wealthy and progressive towns. Fulton County had, in 1870, a population of 38,291, of whom 20,720 aro na- tives of Illinois, 4,521 of Ohio, 3,043 of Pennsylvania, 1,488 of New York, 1,160 of Indiana and 1,993 of foreign countries. Tho area in square miles is 864. For a distance of thirty miles the Illinois River fortus its main boundary on the east and southeast. Spoon River and its tributaries traverse nearly tho whole region, and Copperas Creek drains n considerahle area in the northeastern part. Mueli of what was once a deuse forest has given place to splendid farms. The prairies are gen- erally rolling, with a soil of black mould ranging from one to three feet in depth. The hottom lands on the western hank of the Illinois are from one to four miles in width. The bluffs generally range from 125 to 150 feet in height, and are usually eut into sharp ridges by the valleys of the small streams that drain the adjacent region. Leaves and fragments of wood have frequently been found below the drift clays. Nearly all the uplands in the county aro underlaid by coal, and the ex- posure of produetive measures is the most complete in tho State, there being seven consecutive scams all exposed by this natural outcrop, the aggregate thiekness heing twenty-five feet. Prof. Worthen estimates that in seven townships there are nine million tons of coal to the square mile, within ono hundred and fifty feet of the surface. A thin seam'of cannel coal occurs in tho vieiuity of Avon, which was at an early day mined for the distillation of oil. Fire elay is taken out at Avon and near Marietta, and sand and clay for briek are abun- dant in all the uplands.
GALLATIN COUNTY.
GALLATIN COUNTY lies on the southeastern border, with an area of 324 square miles. It was the fourth county organ- ized in the Territory of Illinois, having eivil government in 1812, and, through the influence of John Caldwell, was named in honor of the Secretary of the Treasury. Among its citizens when the State was organized were Michael Jones, Leonard White and Adolphus F. Hubbard, who signed tho new Con- stitution. As early as 1800, Michael Sprinkle built the pioneer eahin of the county, at Shawneetown, which place was, for many years, n trading post for the Indians, and a distributing point for the settlers in four States. Alexan- der Wilson Pool' was the first white child of the region, his father, John Pool, arriving about the commence nent of the century. The ferry established in 1803, hy Alex- auder Wilson, is still held by his descendants. John Buek arrived from Kentucky in 1805, and William Ellis from North Carolina in 1808. Jobn Marshall located in 1804. The Saline Reservation was twelve miles square, and, while held by the General Government, attracted many immigrants, and furnished the Northwest and Southwest with salt. The governineut survey was made by Stephen Rector, in 1807, and lands could be located in 1814, hut did not come into market until 181S. Mrs. Fatima McClernand and family set- tled in 1811, her son, John A., being boru the following year. In 1810, the settlers creeted a fort for defense against the savages. Indian trading parties came in as late as 1820. The earliest eourt was held in July, 1813, hy Hon. John C. Sloeum, Leonard White being Clerk. The oldest living white male settler is Joseph B. Barger, who has resided in Shawnee- town sinee May 1, 1815, and been County Clerk since 1856. The oldest female settler is Mrs. Sinia Crenshaw. Among the pioneers must not be omitted Marmaduke S. Daven- port, an early Sheriff of the county, who removed to Rock Island, and gave his name to the thriving Iowa city. John Marshall, James Ware and O. C. Vallandigham wero merehants in early days, and rode on horsehack to Phila- delphia to purehase goods, taking the eoin in hulk. Their merchandise went to Pittsburgh in wagons, and thence by keel-hoats. Lafayetto received an ovation at Shawneetown in 1825. That place was, from 1837 to 1843, a distributing post office, and four lines of four-horso coaches ran in different directions. In 1839, a State railway was surveyed to Alton, and graded to Equality, hut the earliest locomotive to enter Shawneetown caure in 1870. A great curiosity is Sugar Loaf
192
Mound, covering four acres and rising to a height of 55 fect. Several vaults havo heen opened, and Indian skeletons ex- humed. The Bowlsville Mining Company holds over 3,000 acres of mineral land in fee simple, and between 4,000 and 5,000 of mining rights. In February, 1832, during tho great- est flood on record at Shawneetown, the steamer Madison went up Main street and took on a cargo of salt. Ono hundred houses aro reported to have been washed away. Rev. David Macklin was ono of tho pioncer preachers, and Revs. B. Bruse and J. Bennett among the earliest school teachers, Shawnee- town had, in 1870, a population of 1,309, and has sinee greatly improved. Grain is tho chief production of the farmer, and nearly every seetion in the county has timber. A weekly paper, called the Illinois Emigrant, was edited here in 1818, by Henry Eddy. There are four miles of sewers at Shawnee- town, averaging ten feet in height, constructed at a cost of $125,000. The difference between low water, at this point, and the higbest on record is 51} fect. The lower levee gave way, on August 12, 1875, and within four hours the city was flooded to a depth of from oue to seven fect, tho erops de- stroyed and fences swept away. Equality has the largest coke works in the State. As early as 1750, a portion of the Shawneo tribe located at the site of the city which hears their name, and, during Pontiac's war, assisted in repelling the at- tempts of their English enemies to get possession of the terri- tory now comprising the State of Illinois. After the cession of the French possessions to the English, Col. Croghan came hither to coneiliate tho Western tribes, and, with his attend- ants, were made prisoners.
GREENE COUNTY.
GREENE COUNTY .- Previous to 1818, this county was on the southwestern frontier of settlement, and the number of pioneers was very small. The prairies were traversed mostly by Indians. The first government survey had heen made in some portions of the county, but the savages had destroyed many of the original landmarks and continually made raids upon the adventurous settlers. The eredit of being the original pioneers of the county helongs to David Stockton and James Whiteside, who settled south of Macoupin Creck in June, 1817. They were, during the next year, followed by Samuel Thomas and others, and the population increased so rapidly tbat the Assembly, in 1821, separated Greene from Madison County, locating the county seat at Carrollton. The first tene- ment erected north of Macoupin Creek was the log cabin of Samuel Thomas, huilt in August, 1818. Gen. Jacoh Fry cut the timber for the first house in Carrollton and manufactured the first coffin for the first pioncer called home by deatb. The first marriage was that of William Stockton and Peggy McFadden, in 1820. Among the pioneer preachers were Joseph Piggott and C. J. Gardiner. The first County Clerk was Samuel Lee, Jr. ; the first Sberiff, Thomas Carlin ; and tbe first Coroner, Jacob Waggoner. The first execution was that of Patrick Cavanaugh, in 1832, for the murder of a lad named O'Laughlin. Greene County, in soil and elimate, is adapted to a great variety of productions, and for wheat and fruit is one of the best regious in the State. Clay and build- ing stone abound, and Macoupin and Apple Creeks furnish abundant water power.
Two lines of railway penetrate the county-the Chicago & Alton Railroad, which, entering the northern part, branches at Roodhouse, passing by the Jacksonville branch south- ward, and by the Louisiana branch westward, to the Mississippi, and tho Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, which passes through the county in a south- easterly direction, intersecting the Jacksonville branch at Whitehall.
There are niueteen villages, chief of which aro Carrollton and Whitehall; tho former containing a population of twenty- seven hundred and sixty, the latter twelve hundred. The latter does a large ahipping business, and both enjoy an ex- tensivo trade from the surrounding country. The county seat was laid off in 1821, by Thomas Carlin.
The population of tbo county, in 1870, was 20,277-13,157 natives of the State; other principal nativities being, Ken- tucky, 1,066, and Ohio, 629, hesides 1,647 from foreign countries.
COUNTY HISTORIES.
GRUNDY COUNTY.
GRUNDY COUNTY lics in tho northeastern quarter of the State, and contains 275,000 aeres of land. William Marquis arrived at the mouth of the Mazon in 1828, driving a " prairio schooner " from the Wabash, Five years later, Col. Sayers built a cabin in the preseut town of W" uponsce, which was the next year occupied hy W. A. Holloway. Alexander K. Owen and John Taylor next erected log cabins in Mazon. In tho follow- ing year, James MeCarty took possession of a bottom in Wau- ponsce Grove, formerly worked by that chief as a eorn pateh. In September, eamo Joab Claypool, James Robb and William Brown, with their families, and at onco made claims. Previ- ous to the land salo in 1835, there were but thirteen other permanent settlers in the county south of the Illinois River. Among these were Edward Hollands, the earliest blacksmith, James P. Ewing, the first shocmaker, and Sylvanus Crook, from New York City, who opened tho piqueer dry goods store. North of the river, William Hoge located on Nettle Creek, in 1831; James MeKeen and John Beard, Sr., near tho mouth of tho Kankakee, in 1833; and Samuel and Isaao Hoge, Will- iam II. Perkins, Rodney Honse, Salmon Rutherford, John and Thomas Pencock and others, on scattered claims, in 1834. Tho county was organized from La Salle in 18-41, aud named after a distinguished Tennesseean. Tho first poll-book showed 148 voters. Morris was declared tho county seat. Its post office was established in 1842, Isaae Claypool being the first Postmaster. Two-thirds of tho county is rolling prairie, under- laid hy a continuous coal seam threo fect in thickness. The Illinois River, Chicago & Rock Island Railway, and Illinois & Michigan Canal cross the north half, and the southeast corner is penetrated by tho Chicago & Altou Road. Tho agricultural iutcrest is the main one, although there are forty-one manufac- tories. Building stone is abundant near Morris, and potter's clay at Goose Lake. The population of the county is about 15,000, of which Morris has over 3,000 and Gardner about 1,000.
HAMILTON COUNTY.
HAMILTON COUNTY, lying in the southeastern portion of the State, and bounded north by Wayne, east by White, south by Saline, and west by Franklin and Jefferson Counties, contains an area of 432 square miles.
The surface is rolling, with numerous creeks traversing east and south to join the Ohio. Two broad swamp hasins are found, but drainage develops a soil of great fertility. Conl erops out in several localities southwest of McLeansboro. The county is beavily timbered, and was originally uearly covered by a dense forest growth. Ten saw-mills are here in full opera- tiou.
The St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad passes through the center of the county, branching at McLeanshoro, east to Carmi, aud southeast to Shawneetown.
Among the pioneer sottlers were Mr. Auxier, who gave the namo Auxier Creek in 1815; Adam Crouch, of Elk Prairie ; Joseph Standifer, T. Stelle and the Biggerstaffs, near Logans- port ; Mr. Garrison and Mr. Wilson, in 1818: W. T. Golson and Louis Baxter, in 1821; James Stall, in 1822; F. Lasater, near Jamestown, in 1825; also in the southeast Mr. Flanni- gan, in the east Messrs. Mayberry and York, while other fam- ilies early on the ground were tho Allens and the Rileys.
The county was organized in 1821. The original court house was a primitive structure, and cost but $70. McLeans- boro, the county seat, located in the center of tho county, is a place of about 1,200 inhabitants, and contains thirco stearu mills, besides the usual number of stores, offices, ete.
By the last census tho county contained over 100,000 acres of improved lands, and a population of 13,014, of whom 9,087 were natives of the State, tbe otber principal nativities being Kentucky and Ohio, with a slight proportion of foreign birth, There are in all sixty-two school houses, with an attendance of 4,900 scholars.
We have bere a climate of that mild phase chamcteristic of Southern Illinois, and eminently adapted to raising fruits of all kinds.
Tbe ellief agricultural products are corn and tobacco; of the former, hy the census of 1870, 735,252 hushels ; of the latter, 471,860 pounds, while of oats the product was 203,464
bushels; of winter wheat, 92,347 bushels ; Irish potatoes, 28,402 bushicls ; wool, 42,776 pounds ; sorghum syrup, 34,074 gallons ; butter, 195,246 pounds.
In its industrial statistics there were nine flouring-mills, with a product of $122,504; nine saw-mills, producing $42,020; two woolen factories, value of products, 819,085, besides fifteen carriage and wagon establishments.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.