USA > Illinois > Fulton County > Canton > Canton; its pioneers and history : a continuation to the history of Fulton County > Part 3
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The same preacher exemplified the doctrine of "once in grace, always in grace," in this wise :
"My dear brethering and sisters-ah, when a soul is once con- verted-ah, it allers stays converted-ah. It's jist like me the other day-ah, I was a goin' to Canton-ah, and as I rid past old Mr. Eggers-ah, old sister Eggers run out-ah, and she hollered, 'Broth- . er Tatum-ah, won't you take a coon-skin to town-ah, and sell it and buy me a plug of smokin' terbacker-ah ?' And I said sartin, sister Eggers-ah; and so I took the coon-skin-ah, and when I got to town I tried to sell it to Joel Wright-ah, but he said coon-skins wer n't of much account now-ah, and he would n't buy it-ah, so I took it to Mr. Stillman-ah, and he would n't buy neither-ah, then I tried to give it to Mr. Stillman-ah, and he would n't have it-ah, and then I took it back to Joel Wright-ah, and I tried to give it to him-ah, but he would n't have it neither-ah. So I bought sis- ter Eggers a plug of terbacker-ah, and I tied the coon-skin to my saddle-ah, a thinkin' for to lose it-ah, and I started for to go back- ah, and when I got most back to sister Eggers-ah, I heard some body behind me a hollerin', 'Mr. Tatum-ah, Mr. Tatum-ah,' and my brethering and sisters-ah, when I looked back-ah, I seed a man a comin'ah, with that very coon-skin in his hand-ah, a holler- in' 'Mr. Tatum-ah, you've lost your coon-skin-ah.' And so, my brethering and sisters-ah, it is with religion; you can't sell it-ah, you can't give it away-ah, and you can't lose it."
"At a Methodist meeting in these early days, Daniel Ulmer, who had been a very profane man, was at the "mourners' bench," and was surrounded by the older members, who were praying for him with primitive zeal and exhorting him to give himself up to the influence of religion. Daniel at length arose to his feet and began clapping his hands and shouting at the top of his voice, "Glory to God! I've got religion, I've got religion, and I don't care a G-d d-n who knows it." He was perfectly serious in his ex- clamation. The force of habit only was answerable for his re- ligious profanity.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
DARGO B. JONES,
One of the earliest singing-school teachers of Canton, was a relative of Deacon Jones. He taught in the old Presbyterian Church, in about 1837 and 1838. Jones was a most enthusiastic teacher. He loved his profession, and it was with a zest and rel- ish unknown to modern music-masters that he stood up before his class and beat time with both hands,-now sounding a note to show the class how it should be sounded; now, with a querulous, excited voice, checking some tuneless soul that was making horrid discord with flats and sharps. Leonard F. Ross and Robert Sebree laid the foundation for their splendid musical education at the singing-school of Mr. Jones, as did also most of those young people who lived in Canton and were musically disposed at that early period.
The first marriage of a couple residing in Canton was that of Isaac Garland to Hannah Kinney, which was celebrated by John Orendorff, Esquire, at his residence east of Canton, on the 3d day of January, 1827.
Isaac Swan, the proprietor of Canton, was married to Miss Elizabeth Addis, by Esquire Orendorff, on the 16th of January, 1828. At this time there was no magistrate and no settled min- ister in Canton. The marriage ceremony was performed, in the few weddings that occurred, in most cases by Esquire Orendorff, who was exceedingly popular as a weaver of the nuptial tie.
The first wedding celebrated in the Village of Canton was cele- brated by Esquire Joel Wright, on the 20th day of October, 1830, when he united in wedlock Thomas A. Morse to Miss Harriet C. Jones, the eldest daughter of Deacon Nathan Jones.
Joel Wright was the first magistrate who resided in Canton. Mr. Wright's commission bore date January 9th, 1830, and he was qualified and entered upon the duties of his office May 27th, 1830.
Isaiah Stillman was the next magistrate residing in town. His commission was dated September 15th, 1831, and he was qualified September 26th of the same year.
In Orion township, Sands N. Breed was qualified and entered upon magisterial duties August 30th, 1839, and Parley C. Stearns September 17th, 1839. Both these gentlemen now, after the lapse of thirty-one years, are acting magistrates in the City of Canton.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
ISAAC SWAN,
The original proprietor of Canton, was a native of Vermont, but emigrated with his father to Western New York while that re- gion was still a wilderness. At the age of about twenty years he left New York, in company with his brother-in-law Nathan Jones, and started for the Great West. Making several short tar- ryings in different parts of Indiana, they finally established them- selves in St. Clair county, Illinois, about 1818. They remained there until 1820, when they removed to Montgomery county, and tarried there until 1824, when they removed to Fulton county, arriving at the present location of Canton in the spring of that year. Isaac Swan was a man nearly six feet in hight, splendidly proportioned, and remarkable even among pioneers for his strength and activity. His courage was unquestioned, and made him a valuable acquisition to any new settlement in which his lot was cast.
Mr. Swan had only such education as could be obtained in the log school-houses of Erie county, New York, fifty-five and sixty years ago; yet he had so far improved his limited opportunities as to have been considered a man of fair education. He was a Methodist, an honest man and a good citizen, one whose word was his bond. He gave to Canton its establishment and almost all of its early prosperity -his enterprise and energy directing attention to it and bringing in new settlers, who were attracted by the desire to setthe near him, in many cases. He was killed by the storm in 1835.
As early as 1833, Rafe Dixon, Emsley Fouts and George Smith owned and operated a small distillery on Duck Creek. This was a small, old-fashioned copper still, and made pure if not palat- able whisky from corn. It is related of some of the pioneers that they would, when in need of their accustomed beverage, shell a bushel of corn, put it on a horse, mount on top, and ride to Gabriel Walling's little band mill on Copperas Creek, get their grist " cracked," then ride over with it to the Duck-Creek Distil- lery and wait until it could be turned into "sperrits." They were some times plagued very much while at the distillery by a fellow by the name of Garron, who, it was asserted, would drink the whisky as fast as it ran from the still.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
Daniel Babbett, from Scott county, Indiana, came to Fulton county, and landed at the Cottonwood Grove, three miles south- west of Canton, on the 8th day of January, 1828. Cottonwood Grove farm was then owned and occupied by Elias Foster. His family, consisting of his four sons, Jacob, William, Daniel and Silas, and two daughters, Cynthia and Christina, were considered a great acquisition to pioneer society. The daughters soon mar- ried-Cynthia being chosen by John Swegle, and Christina be- coming the wife of John W. Abbott. Mr. Babbett farmed a por- tion of the Foster-now Barnard-farm the first season, selling his surplus to and purchasing his goods of John Coleman, sen., who at that time was the owner of the only stock of goods in Canton.
Mr. Babbett soon moved nearer Canton, some where east or northeast of town, and followed his trade, that of a brick and stone mason.
Mr. Babbett was not a church-member, but was an attendant on the ministrations of Rev. James Tatum, Rev. Strickland, and other pioneer preachers. His children were sent to school, during the winter, to a Mr. Cubbidge, who was teaching in a log out-build- ing belonging to Col. Barnes. Mr. Babbett boasted. in his life- time that he had had no occasion for bolts or locks in those early days, and that crime was unknown.
In 1833, Mr. Babbett moved into Farmington township, where he was elected magistrate the same year, and was regularly re- elected up to April, 1847 or 1848.
Silas Babbett, the youngest of Daniel's sons, is still a resident of Fulton county, residing in Farmington township, eight miles north of Canton. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1868, which position he held to the entire satisfaction of the people for one full term.
STUMP QUARTERS.
The "stump quarter" was one of the pioneer institutions. Without it many a prairie farm would have gone unfenced for a long time, many a fire been more scantily supplied with fuel, and many a " speculator" the better off financially on making sale of his tract of western land. The "stump quarter" was a conven- ient tract of land owned by some castern "land-shark," as the non-resident owner was dubbed. To tax him inordinately was
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
considered good and sound political economy, and to steal the timber from his lot, if it happened to be wooded, was not looked upon as an offense. The Morse quarter was one of the first "stump quarters" contiguous to Canton, and was completely bared of its timber at quite an early day. The next in course was what was known as the "Canton quarter," west and north of the Lewistown Bridge. This furnished fuel for perhaps a dozen years, and fencing for twice that number of small farms. After this came the "Rawalt quarter," northeast of town, just north of what was known to the old settlers as the Jacobs or Shecklar place. Both these quarters were owned by speculators, and when the first attack was made, the best citizens of the surrounding country thought it no moral wrong to swing their axes vigorously into the timber of the odious "land-shark," while it would have been difficult to find a pioneer jury who would have rendered a verdict for stealing timber in such cases.
Ministers as well as congregations would participate in these attacks, and it is a fact that the old Congregational Church in Canton was framed from " stump-quarter" timber. A "bee" was made, church-members and world's people turned out together, and in one day the timber was felled, much of it scored, hewed and hauled, and Deacon Jones, Lyman Walker, Cheeny Jones, and a host of others-good, pure-hearted Christian men, against whom no breath of calumny has ever blown,-aided and abetted. " We settle the country," said they; "we bear the burden of pio- neer life; our labors make these lands valuable; and we will make the non-resident owner pay us for our labor in his behalf, whether willingly or not." It is true that most of these "stump quarters" were thin clay land, of but little value except for timber, and when divested of that were comparatively worthless; still, with the one argument conscience was stilled and the taking. of other men's property justified. Custom, popular and powerful custom, made the law and furnished the justification.
BRISK BUSINESS.
Coon-skins were currency up to 1835, and values were frequent- ly expressed in coon-skins. Whisky was one coon-skin per quart. Childs & Stillman were selling it at that price, and their store was a place of resort in consequence. The counter of this store 1
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
was a rude affair, and the front of it not closely jointed : indeed, there were interstices between the clapboard panels through which a coon-skin could be readily pulled. One day Jesse Dol- lar called for a quart of whiskey, and in payment handed over his coon-skin. The coon-skin was tossed under the counter, and the whisky drank among the crowd. Dollar had a ramrod in his hands with a wiping-screw on the end. This he slyly inserted through the cracks in the front of the counter, and, twisting it into the fur, drew it out, and with it paid for the second quart, which was also passed through the admiring crowd. Dollar was liberal, generous, indeed prodigal, with his one coon-skin, making it pay for five quarts of whisky in almost that number of minutes. Childs & Stillman were pleased at their prosperous trade. The crowd werc pleased at the joke, and Dollar was glorious.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HISTORY.
THE original records of this church-copies of which are still preserved-are in some respects very full and complete, in others sadly deficient. It appears that the first organization included all the Presbyterians at that time (1828) residing in the county, and had at first no local habitation. The record says :
"This church was formed, the Rev. John M. Ellis presiding, Sept. 13th, 1828, consisting of the following persons: Nathan Jones, Samuel Mallory, William Proctor, Robert Grant, Jane Grant, Matilda Jones, and Elizabeth Jacobs. Samuel Mallory and Nathan Jones were chosen Elders. Sermon preached on the occasion by Rev. J. M. Ellis."
Where this and several subsequent meetings were held does not appear from the record.
On the 14th of the same month, "William Proctor was chosen Elder, and Samuel Mallory and Wm. Proctor ordained -Nathan Jones having been previously ordained."' The record says that on this day the Lord's Supper was administered at Lewistown, and several baptized, and Nathan Jones the same day appointed a delegate to the Presbytery.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
"Nov. 11th, Rev. Solomon Hardy preached in Canton." Dec. 21st, " The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered in Canton, by Rev. Horace Smith." "Jan. 1st, 1829, a meeting was held at the house of Isaac Hulick."
Meetings seem to have been held, during the first few years of the church's existence, alternately at Canton and Lewistown, and the church to have been called "The Presbyterian Church of Fulton County."
The record for July 18th, 1829, is dated at Lewistown-Rev. John G. Bergen, of Sangamon county, presiding at the session.
At the meeting of the Session held July 4th, 1830, the follow- ing was adopted :
"Believing that the use of ardent spirits is the cause of form- ing intemperate appetites and habits, and that while it is con- tinued the evils of intemperance can never be prevented; the members of this church do agree that we will abstain from the use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine in case of sickness, or for external applications; and that we will not allow the use of them in our families, and neither give nor sell them to our neigh- bors or friends, or persons in our employment, and that we will discountenance the use of them in all suitable ways in the com- munity."
At this time-July 4th, 1830-the following were the names of all the members of the Presbyterian Church of Fulton County.
Nathan Jones,
Adelia Rice, Susan Ross,
Samuel Mallory,
Wm. Proctor,
Thos. E. Dunham, Sabrina Mallory,
Robert Grant,
Matilda Jones,
Helen Tyler,
Betsy Chase,
Phebe Nichols,
Elizabeth Owens,
Sarah Ann Jacobs,
Parnock Owens,
Hannah Jones,
- Alethia Owens,
Rebecca Henderson,
Ezra Fairchild, Anna Fairchild,
Joseph M. Kelso,
Thalia Rice, Benj. H. Milcs,
James McPheters, Mary McPhcters,
Robert McPheters,
Sarah Beadles, scn., Sarah Beadles, jun., Thalia Beadles,
Nancy Kelso, Phebe Gunsaulis,
Eliza Ann McPheters,
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
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Henry Belford, Jane Harris, Eliza Anderson, Elizabeth Beadles, Olivia D. Barnes, Louisa D. Farnum,
John J. Culton, John Huff,
Rhoda Osburn,
Isabel T. Miles,
Roswell C. Jerome,
Amanda Jerome,
May Waugh, Elizabeth Westerfield,
Betsy Harkness,
Williston Jones,
Polly Bagley,
Elmira Jones, Electa Fairchild,
Isaac Hulick,
Wm. K. Nichols,
Ruth Ann Hulick,
Asaph Rice, Abigail Rice, Hannah Miles, Juliet Warren,
ยท Sarah R. Rowland, Mary Clark,
Robt. Taylor,
Dianthy Wright,
Erasmus D. Rice, George R. Rowland, Jane Grant,
Samuel G. Wright,
Eliza M. Wright,
Elizabeth Jones,
Jno. M. Wright,
Laura Proctor,
Jemima Dewey,
Emily Wright,
Jno. McPlieters,
George Jacobs,
Casey Westerfield,
Rowland Burbridge,
Archibald Henderson,
Mary Clark,
Christopher Miles,
Deborah Orbison, Sally Westerfield, Maria Jacob's.
Eugenie Madison,
Eighty-six members in all, in the county.
Diana Wright,
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At a meeting held in Lewistown, August 6th, 1831, it was, "af- ter some deliberation, thought desirable and expedient that Rev. Messrs. Barnes and Farnum labor the current year in this eounty "; and at the same meeting the following "vote passed": "viz., to raise by subseription whatever we can in the county, either in money or produce, for the support of the Gospel"; also, "that Messrs. Proetor, Jones, Miles, Westerfield, Drs. Riee, jun. and sen., be a committee to draft a subscription-paper, eireulate it, eolleet the subseription, and pay over the same to Messrs. Barnes and Farnum, dividing it between them as, in their judgment, shall be thought best; also, said committee shall, in rotation, take eare to inquire into the wants of the families of Rev. Messrs. Barnes and Farnum, from time to time, and see that they are seasonably supplied with all the necessaries of life-each member of the committee acting in sueeession one month at a time during the year."
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Samuel Warnock,
Peter Westerfield,
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
Up to this period the Canton portion of the Presbyterian So- ciety had been assembling for worship at private houses or at the log school-house on Wood street. They were beginning to be strong under the care of Romulus Barnes, their pastor, who was a man of talent and of indomitable energy. They now felt called upon to build for themselves a house of worship. The "Old Constitution" of the Presbyterian Church vested the title of all church property in the Presbyterian General Synod, and this was the only objection that existed in the minds of the society to pre- vent them from making an effort to build. They wanted to con- trol the property, and were unwilling to intrust it to any body that was distant from and did not understand them. In Febru- ary, 1832, a meeting was held of the members of the society, at which it was determined to make an effort to build, with the ex- press provision that the church property should be vested, not in the General Synod, but in the subscribers to the building-fund.
The following is a copy from the record of this subscription :
"We, the undersigned, willing to aid in the support of the Gos- pel, and feeling the need of a house for the worship of God, do agree to pay the sums annexed to our several names for the erec- tion of a house for the said object. Said house shall be built ac- cording to the directions of the subscribers, and shall be held in trust (1) for the First Presbyterian Church and denomination in Canton, according to the direction of the subscribers, when built. The subscribers shall not be holden to their subscriptions until the old constitution shall be disposed of.
NAMES. AMOUNTS.
Mr. Arthur Tappan-by order. (2)
$100 00
Mr. John Tillson-Hillsborough(3) 50 00
J. Wright. 50 00
Ezra Fairchild (in plank) 10 00
Peter Westerfield (in property) 30 00
Samuel Mallory . 10 00
Wm. K. Nichols (work)
10 00
Carried forward, $260 00
(1) It will be observed that this church was not to belong to the Presby- terian Church, but to be held in trust for it.
(2) Arthur Tappan was a well-known gentleman of New-York City, noted for his wealth and liberality.
(3) John Tillson was a large owner of western lands, some of which were located near Canton.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
Brought forward, $260 00
Nathan Jones (work and materials).
50 00
Cash pledged. 40 00
Asaph Rice (in plank) 15 00
Romulus Barnes (materials) .
10 00
Isaac Hulick (produce) 5 00
George Jacobs (work). 25 00
John Huff (work or lumber) 15 00
Wells Tyler (joiner work)
10 00
Isaiah Stillman. 50 00
D. B. Jones (lumber) .
10 00
H. LaMasters (produce or labor)
10 00
J. M. Kelso (produce)
10 00
Jos. Anderson (work).
10 00
Finis Mccutcheon.
5 00
Marvin Tryon (labor)
15 00
John Sempson. 3 00
Wm. S. Williams
10 00
Jacob Ellis (lumber)
10 00
James McPheters. 25 00
Royal and S. G. Wright (produce or labor) 40 00
John J. Culton. 4 00
Robt. Taylor (hauling) 10 00
Oliver Dewey (labor) 10 00
Milton C. Dewey 6 00
Lyman Ensign.
5 00
Total subscription $663 00
. On the 26th of February, a meeting of the subscribers to the meeting-house was held in the school-house, with Nathan Jones as chairman and Rev. Romulus Barnes as secretary, and it was " voted that the old constitution and all the obligations which it imposes be and hereby is null and void. Yeas, 9; Nays, 2." A. plan for the new meeting-house was received and read. The sub- scription-paper was by vote amended in its last clause to read "according to the direction of the subscribers when built." A building committee was now selected, consisting of Isaiah Still- man, Joel Wright, and Dargo B. Jones. It was further voted that the building committee be authorized to collect the subscrip- tions, to contract for and superintend the building of a house of such size and on such a plan as they may think proper.
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
This committee went to work, and worked faithfully until they had the satisfaction of announcing the new church ready for oc- cupancy.
The Session Record of the Presbyterian Church gives no men- tion of the building of this house, of its dedication, or first occu- pancy. It says, under date April 28th, 1833, "Session met at the house of Elder Jones," while the record of the next meeting of the session, dated Canton, August 11th, 1833, reads, "Session met at the meeting-house, and was opened by prayer": so that it must have been opened for occupancy some time between those two datcs.
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"April 7th, 1834, Fulton County Presbyterian Church met, agrecably to a previous arrangement, and, after meeting was opened by prayer by Rev. Rob't Stewart, proceeded to elect by ballot the four following persons to the office of Ruling Elders, viz., Rob't Taylor, Royal Wright, Asaph Rice, and Peter West- erfield." There was a session meeting the same day, of which the record says, "Session met and was opened by prayer-present, Robert Stewart, minister"; from which it appears that Mr. Stew- art became pastor of the church in March or April, 1834. He continued as the pastor of the church until after the division, which occurred in September, 1838. Mr. Stewart was a man of fine talents, good education, a fair speaker, and one who gave constant evidence, in his walk and conversation, that he was in- d'eed a follower of that Jesus whom he preached. Under his pastoral care the church waxed strong, until the division between the Old and New School occurred, and then his example and in- fluence held two-thirds of the church in the New-School wing, which he had selected as, in his judgment, the true church.
On the 28th of March, 1835, Samuel G. Wright was set apart to the office of Ruling Elder. Mr. Ezra Fairchild was also set apart to the same office at the next meeting, and both continued for a long period with this church as elders.
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Up to January, 1836, Lewistown and Canton were each in- cluded in the boundaries of the Fulton County Presbyterian Church. On the 10th day of January, 1836, the session met, and it was "Ordered that the request of the following-named persons for letters of dismission, in order to form a church at Lewistown, be granted, viz., to Wm. Proctor, Benj. A. Miles, Jas. Gilson, Christopher B. Miles, Thalia N. Rice, Juliet E. Warren, Eugenia
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CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
E. Madison, Rhoda Osborne, Isabel T. Miles, Laura Proctor, Erasmus D. Rice, Asaph Rice, Abigail Rice, and Jane Rice"- fourteen persons in all. At the next meeting of the session this list was extended by the granting of letters for the same purpose to Wm. Elliot, jun., Julia Phelps, and Adelia Rice.
At the meeting of the session held June 24th, 1838, Samuel G. Wright was received into the church, and it was ordered "that Brother Wright, having been a ruling elder in our church, retain his office of eldership."
THE CHURCH DIVISION.
The records of both the Old and New School Churches are exceedingly indefinite in regard to the division of the Presbyte- rian Church of Canton. It appears that united it had prospered and become a strong and powerful church. Rev. Robert Stewart was pastor, and was in sympathy with the New School, as were all but two of the elders and nearly all the members of the church. The Old-School record shows only the following entry upon this subject, under no date. The record says:
"The following preamble and resolution is a record of facts adopted by the session and members of the Presbyterian Church in Canton, September, 1838, by unanimous consent :
"'WHEREAS, Our church has become large, and infected with some of the prevailing heresies and disorders of the times, which are maintained and practiced in our midst; and whereas, errors are taught and received which are at variance with the Bible and our Confession of Faith, and per- sons are received to membership from other denominations with all their prejudices alive against our doctrines and order, and without being required to renounce them; and whereas, these disorders are becoming every day more glaring and barefaced, and our church as a body has virtually rejected . its own system of doctrines and order; therefore,
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