USA > Illinois > Fulton County > Canton > Canton; its pioneers and history : a continuation to the history of Fulton County > Part 7
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
About three o'clock of the day of the "shuckin'," the young folks would begin to arrive: the beaux dressed in linsey-woolsey "hunting-shirts," or "wamuses," and the girls in checked linsey,
71
CANTON : ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
or cotton gowns, with cow-hide brogans. The corn liad been di- vided, when hauled, into two separate piles of equal size; and be- fore these piles the assembly was convened. From among the most expert huskers two captains would now be chosen. These captains, when selected, would toss up for first choice of huskers, and then choose alternately from among those present, male and female, until all the working hands had been selected. Now rails were placed between the piles to prevent the sly kicking of corn from one pile to another, and at a given signal work would begin.
And now the fun would grow fast and furious, each side striv- ing to outstrip the other, and each side taunting the other with their lack of skill and sloth. Whenever some lucky fellow found a red ear in husking, he was entitled to a kiss from his girl. At . some frolics the "red ear" entitled its "shucker" to a kiss from all the girls on his side; of course, the announcement of a "red , ear" was the signal for fun, and many a tussel would ensue be- tween some stout and buxom pioneer lass and stalwart beau; he determined to have the kiss to which the "shuckers'" law de- clared him entitled, and which with the maiden coyness and fun she would pretend to refuse. It was noticed, however, that the man in these encounters was always the stronger vessel, and would be sure to obtain his kiss. And such is human nature to this day.
At frequent intervals, during the evening, the bottle of Mo- nongahela whisky would be passed, and all "took it by word of mouth"; i. e., each would turn the bottle up to their lips, drink from it and pass it to their next neighbor, male or female.
The victorious captain would be seized by the party, raised upon the shoulders of a few stout men, and borne from the husk- ing-pile to the house, surrounded by the crowd, cheering and shouting; the bottle-holder marching by his side, furnishing him refreshments by the way.
After the piles would be husked, loud crowing and shouting would announce the victory; and the winning party enjoyed themselves hugely at the expense of the vanquished. Husking completed, supper was next in order. This meal had been pre- pared by the more sedate of the matrons, while the young folks were busy "shucking." Boards were spread, borne upon boxes or tables, and a bounteous meal prepared. The choicest pewter and delft dishes from the whole neighborhood had been borrowed
72
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
for the occasion; and the table fairly groaned under its load of venison, stewed squirrel, squirrel pie, chicken pie, johnny-cake, hominy, honey, and stewed pumpkin. Perhaps, too, if the land- lord was rich, there would be a high dish of fried doughnuts at each end of the table.
At these frolics many a backwoods youngster would master courage to tell his inamorata, in faltering terms, of his love, and receive her coy pledge of fidelity.
After supper the tables would be cleared, the furniture removed to the "yard," the dogs driven out, and a dance begin. Thc fiddler, who was an important personage at these gatherings, with an air of pompous authority, would take his position at one end of the room and announce with professional dignity a four- handed reel, or jig. At these dances there was no standing still; each "hoed it down" with might and main, in a style that would cxcite the astonishment of a dancing-master of to-day. The jig , was a favorite dance, as it gave the boys an opportunity to cut cach other out, and in it each tried to tire out all the rest; so that it would some times continue for hours.
The bottle passed as frequently during the dance as it had be- fore the "shucking," and we confess, with shame, that our ances- ters would some times get just a little uproarious before daylight, for it was not until daylight that any body thought of going home.
When the dance broke up, bashful swains and coy maidens would trudge off homeward, on foot, hand in hand; or, perhaps, both mounted on one horse, go jogging along together telling of the fun that they had enjoyed. Carriages and sleighs were then unknown; and had they not been, the roads were not in a condition to have made it pleasant traveling over them.
THE SHINGLE WEAVER. THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE IN CANTON.
ONE of the earliest steamboats in the Illinois-River trade was the stcamer "Exchange," which plied between St. Louis and ' .Peoria. She was familiarly known as " the Shingle Weaver"; so called from the fact of her carrying upon her hurricane deck a machine for cutting shingles, which was operated by the ma-
73
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
chinery of the boat, cutting whenever the boat was in motion. Shingle timber would be obtained at the wood-yards along the river, and market found for the manufactured goods cither at St. Louis or Peoria. This boat was an especial favorite with the people of Canton, many of whom would, when desiring to take a trip by river, wait for hier coming, and most of the early stocks of goods were shipped on her; she also carried most of the Can- ton " beeswax" and other products to their market.
The first frame house crected on grounds now within the pres- ent city limits was built for Dcacon Nathan Jones, in the spring of 1830. Isaac Swan was the " boss carpenter," and was aided by the deacon. This building is still standing, on the south side of Joncs street, between Wood and Lewistown streets, and is now occupied by Mrs. Dean. It is a two-story frame house. The frame, of the "old-fashioned" variety, was built without any sawed stuff; the joists and studding being split out of heavy tim- ber, the sills and plates hewed, and the weather-boarding split boards, shaved. The weather-boarding was not jointed, but the ends of the clapboards were shaved thin, and lapped. The roof was laid with split and shaved oak shingles. The floor, door- frames, corner-boards and stairs, were alone of sawed lumber. When the carpenters had finished their work, Mrs. Jones took the job of painting, and did quite a respectable job, too, painting it Venctian red. This house was considered to be the most styl- isli in the country. As Deacon Jones was Postmaster and kept the Post-Office at his house, it became the place of resort for the most intelligent of the pioncers, who would congregate here and discuss educational and religious topics. This building was not on the original town plat, however, being then considered out of town. The first frame erected on the original town site was built in 1831, and was the property of Joel Wright. This building was, in fact, but an addition to an already existing cabin. Isaac Swan was also the builder of this. It was occupied by Mr. Wright as a store-room; and was situated on the southeast corner of Wood and Illinois streets. This building is still standing, but has been removed from its original site, and is now standing on First street, between Illinois and Cole strects. It was occupied until recently by David Will, as a wagon-maker's shop.
10
74
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
"SHOW-DAY."
"Snow-DAY" was an institution twenty years ago. The dead walls and the bar-room walls had been plastered, for weeks pre- eeding, with pictures of all sorts of impossible feats. Animals unheard of in natural history were to be there in abundance. Two elowns, the wittiest that ever were known, had been engaged at an unheard-of expense, expressly for this "great combination show." What excitement these bills produced. On Saturday crowds would stand before them, commenting on the wonders that were to be exhibited.
"Show-day" here at last. By the first gray streak of early dawn the boys are wide awake, and have gone down to the Lew- istown Bridge, to see the show come in. They are small boys at first who wait about the bridge; but by seven or eight o'clock older boys begin to arrive, and by nine o'clock a few gray hairs are sprinkled among the waiting crowd. A few adventurous spirits, not content with waiting at the bridge, have disappeared an hour ago over the hill toward Shepley's, and now their shouts are heard, as they discern in the distance-away out toward Captain Slosson's-the pioneer teams of the coming show. There is a rush now; across the bottom, up the hill, splash, splash, through the mud they go, until the first wagon is reached, and then -but pshaw, it's only a baggage-wagon at last! And now they pause and wait, as one after another of the long train of wagons pass, and all are anxious - they want to see the band- wagon, the actors, the elephants, and camels. The procession stops in the Big Creek bottom, and the forty-horse team is har- nessed to the band-wagon, whose body resembles, in a distant and uneertain kind of way, the mythieal dragon which no body ever saw. How the boys wonder, and how wisely the gray heads talk of "them ar leaders, and that ar off wheel-hoss." The band are mounted now, and the procession moves. How the excitement boils and bubbles, until every fellow wishes it was always show- day. The band has crossed the bridge, but the elephant refuses to trust his weight upon the frail structure. How anxious the boys grow! Will they ever get him aeross? What a whopper he is. But the dilemma is overcome; he has forded the narrow stream, and the great tracks in the soft mud will be visited
75
1
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
for a month after the show is gone. As the procession reaches the hill by "Bishop" Clark's, there are accessions to the crowd; men, women and children gather and fall into line upon both sides of the road. When the square is reached, it would not be exaggeration to say that there were more people on the square than there was population in the town. As the band moves around the square and through the principal streets, there is a shouting, yelling procession that reminds one of pandemonium let loose.
And now Grandmother Bridgman has set up her cake-stand, and quarter-sections of gingerbread begin to appear under the arms of hungry fellows from the country, who have started this morning before breakfast, so that no part of the procession or show might be lost. And now comes Captain Haackee with a barrel of cider, and more gingerbread, which he is selling to hungry and thirsty customers. The peripatetic candy-stand has also been opened. The vender of razor-straps and patent soap has opened his mouth, and gathered an admiring crowd. The regular circus bummers, who follow in its train, are named legion, and all are low gamblers, and will have had victims when the tents are folded and show-day is over. Here comes good old Deacon Jones, to hear the music; and there is-but why single out, when, with one excuse or another, all will be sure to see the show; at least stand outside where they can listen to the clown and the music.
He who was not a boy in a western village on show-day, at least once in his life, knows but little of life, and is to be sincerely pitied for his ignorance. Old men, young men, old women, young women, and children, all are here, and all will see the show. They have been picking blackberries and selling, saving eggs and churning rolls of yellow butter for the occasion. I well recollect when I visited my first show. I had earned the money by cutting "jimpson weeds" around the old church in the public square, and I was richer then-prouder of my success- than I have ever been since, or ever expect to be.
-
ยท 76
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
THE WESTERFIELD DEFEAT.
IN the spring of 1832 the Black-Hawk War was a source of great alarm to the citizens of Canton. Major Isaiah Stillman, of Canton, in command of a battalion of volunteer infantry, was in the field, and had under him most of the young men of the com- munity. On the 13th of May, 1832, the force under his command. met with a defeat above Dixon, in Lee county, on what has since been known as "Stillman's Run," and the news soon reached Canton, coupled with the fact that Bird Ellis, Tyus Childs and John Walter, from the vicinity of Canton, had been killed, and a number of others from here wounded. This news not only cast a gloom over the community, but created a feeling of insecurity in the bravest of the settlers, and of decided alarm, amounting in many cases to absolute panic, in the more timid.
The settlers were certainly liable to attack from the red-skins, who were known to be in force and on the war-path to the north. There was no adequate force in reach to prevent any incursion they might feel disposed to make, when the "Westerfield Dc- feat," as it was called 'in derision, occurred. Perhaps never in the history of frontier life has there occurred so broad a farce with so many of the elements of tragedy and melodrama com- bined. The news of Stillman's Defeat had reached Canton, and grief-stricken mothers were in the first anguish of their mourning for slaughtered sons, when rumors reached the settlement of a purpose on the part of Black Hawk and his warriors to move southward for an attack on scattered inhabitants. The excitement was intense. Stories of slaughtered families, of burnt homes, of "captive women and children subjected to every fiendish indignity, were the current subjects of conversation at every gathering. Meetings were called in every neighborhood, and preparations for defense or refuge begun. Block-houses and 'stockade forts were erected, and scouts kept constantly in the prairies to the north- ward to warn the people of the approach of the Indians.
One of these forts was erected around the store and residence of Joel Wright, on the corner of Wood and Illinois streets, where Mrs. Wilson now resides. This fort consisted of two block- houses and a palisade inclosure of split logs. This was built by standing the logs on end in a deep trench, whichi was then filled up and the dirt well pounded around the logs.
77
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
In March, 1832, scouts were sent out by the people of Canton to see if any indication of hostile Indians could be discovered. These scouts had been out several days, but had brought in no report of an alarming nature, when one day, toward the last of the month, Peter Westerfield, an old frontiersman, and Charley Shane, a Frenchman, determined to go on a scouting expedition on their own responsibility. They were both well mounted, and, crossing Big Creek north of town in the prairie, rode nearly north until they reached a point nearly in the line between Farm- ington and Ellisville, on Spoon River. The morning before they started out a number of mounted white men had crossed the prairie from Peoria toward Quincy, and their trail, of course, was fresh and showed very plainly in the dried prairie grass. They had rode single file, in Indian style, and a better scout than even Peter Westerfield might have been deceived by their trail. When Westerfield and Shane reached this trail, they both dis- mounted, examined it carefully, and both were satisfied that it had been made by a large party of mounted Indians. They cau- tiously followed the trail until their suspicion crystalized into comparative certainty, when, remounting, they started back to- ward Canton to alarm the citizens, and take measures for the safety of themselves and families. As they neared Big Creek - which by the melting of snow had risen until it was out of its banks,-they had a new cause for alarm.
Jonathan Buffum and Ed. Therman had holed a wolf, and were shooting into the hole. They were in a direct line between where Westerfield and Shane reached Big Creek and Col. Barnes's place - where John Lane now lives. These boys were not only shoot- ing, but indulging in all sorts of uncarthly yells, imitating In- dians, screaming and hallooing. Another pioneer was squirrel- shooting in the same vicinity, and another party shooting at a mark in the same neighborhood.
Westerfield and Shane listened to these noises with undisguised fear. That it was Indians there could be no mistake-Indians at bloody work, shooting, tomahawking and scalping the families of Col. Barnes and Henry Therman. They did not stop long to con- sider, but plunged headlong into the turbid waters of the raging Big Creek, and right gallantly did their noble steeds buffet the mad waves, until the angry stream divided them from the dread- ed foe. Their saddles were wet and heavy, and would load their
78
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
beasts too much for the fearful race for life they were entering upon, and, with a coolness never too much to be admired, they dismounted and relieved their gallant steeds of the dripping leathern saddles, which were deposited for safety in a convenient thieket of hazel. This was the work of but a moment, when they remounted upon the backs of their bare-backed animals and were away over the smooth prairie, across the few ravines, and on, on to the fort at Canton. As they passed the cabin of Wheaton Chase, they shouted "Injins are killing Barnes's folks: flee for your lives !" Soon Coleman's grocery was reached, and the ery of "Injins ! Injins!" reiterated. On, on to the fort they rode, and still their ery was "Injins ! Injins !" "The Injins have killed every body at Barnes's and Therman's !"
And now began a scene of the wildest confusion. Men shouted the dreaded alarm; women sercamed; small boys, pale with fright, crept into the dense hazel-thiekets and fled for their lives. Some of these boys were thus hiding for days and days, subsist- ing on roots, berries, and elm-bark. "To the fort! To the fort!" was now the cry, and soon the people were gathering, a pale, nervous, affrighted throng, within the little wooden inelosure which was then their only hope of safety. To us, who from the distance of nearly forty years contemplate the scene, it is a broad comedy; but to those affrighted pioneers it was a tragedy, the denoument of which might prove fatal to them and their loved ones. It was known that Keokuk and three thousand warriors were encamped opposite the Yellow Banks, held in cheek only by his promise of neutrality; and who would believe the word of the treacherous red-skin ? Black Hawk's band, too, were on the war- path. They had defeated Major Stillman, and men from Canton were among the victims, while between here and the scene of that disaster there was no sufficient force for the protection of the infant settlement. All these facts were well known, and had been frequently canvassed among the settlers. Peter Westerfield was a man, too, in whose word the most unbounded confidence was placed. He was a Baptist licensed preacher, a man of undoubted courage, and had had a considerable frontier experience. He be- lieved the trail lie had seen, the yells he had heard, the firing he had listened to, the work of Indians, and had no doubt that Col. Barnes's family had been massacred. What wonder the defense- less people were frightened !
1
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
79
Preparations for defense, however, were not neglected. The women filled several large kettles with water, and determined to aid all they could in the common defense by using it on the foe. There were incidents of broad comedy intermingled, even then, with the tragedy, that caused grim smiles to illumine even faces white with fear-incidents that have served to enliven many a fireside description of those frightful days.
Joel Wright was, by common consent, selected as the com- mander of the fort, and Isaac Swan as his second in command. Joel was dressed in a light suit, with a linen round-about. Dur- ing the excitement he was every where; assuring frightened women, issuing orders for defensive preparations, and distributing powder and lead to the men.
Be it understood, the women preserved their courage far better than their lords, as was evidenced by the fact that when no male hand could be found sufficiently steady to pour melted lead into bullet-moulds, a woman volunteered to make the bullets, and made them without spilling a drop of the melted meltal. Mrs. Doctor Coykendall was particularly noted for her coolness and courage on this occasion, and did most of the bullet-moulding.
,
To recount all the varied phases of this scare would itself re- quire a volume: some were dramatic, most farcical, as viewed through the light of forty years, and by the knowledge that there was absolutely no danger. Among the amusing incidents of the day was the arrival at the fort of Jerry Coleman and 'Squire McKim, who were at Coleman's mill, on Big Creek, when West- erfield's news was communicated to them. Jerry got the word a few seconds in advance of McKim, and, being lame, set out at once. McKim was not long in overtaking him, however. Mc- Kim wore an old-fashioned dress or swallow-tailed coat, and as he ran past the slow-paced Jerry, the coat-tails offered so tempt- ing an aid to the boy's flight that he could not refrain from seiz- ing hold of them with both hands. McKim was a large, portly man, who weighed nearly two hundred : at the same time McKim was a frightened man, and fright is ever selfish. He was not willing to be retarded by the weight of Jerry attached, like the weight to the tail of a kite, to his coat-skirts, so he turned on Jerry and tried to disengage his hold; but Jerry's grip was al- ways good, and fear had turned it into a grip of iron; he would not let go.
.
80
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
" For God's sake, Jerry, let me go, or we will both be killed ! Please, Jerry, let me save my own life !"
But Jerry heeded not his pleadings : like Sinbad's Old Man of the Sea, he could not be shaken off.
MeKim turned to run, but still the weight of the crippled boy would retard his speed, and he would turn again and plead and fight, and pray for deliverance from the tormenter. Jerry loved life and feared Indians too much to be influenced either by prayer, threats, or blows. He hung on, and was still hanging on when MeKim dashed into the fort.
Jerry found his father gone and the store thrown wide open. He took possession and sold out the whole stock of powder and lead in a few moments, not stopping to take an account of sales or settle with customers. It had cost him nothing, and he sold at cost and was satisfied.
Wm. Hannan, Charles Reeves and William Babbett, boys of perhaps a dozen years old, were so much infected with the con- tagion of fear that they determined to seek refuge in flight. They accordingly left town and took to the timber. They crossed Big Creek north of Jacob Ellis's mill, and struck down the creek through the timber to a point west of Lewistown, where they hid in a dense thicket. Young Reeves had on a pair of buckskin breeches, and during his flight he had got them completely satu- rated with water. When the party took to cover he pulled them off and hung them up on some brush to dry. This was a serious error on Charles's part, as the sequel showed. He had not taken into his calculation the peculiar idiosyncrasy of buckskin, and found, to his chagrin, that the pants which liad fitted exactly be- fore they were wet, been too large while saturated with the treacherous fluid, were in their dried state infinitely too small- so much so that by no amount of stretching, coaxing or pulling could they be induced to come over his bare limbs. He liad to give it up in despair, and made the rest of his trip through brush and briers in a primitive toilet, more simple and convenient than pleasant. They were out all the day of the Westerfield scare, all the succeeding night, and until the next night, subsisting on berries and elm-bark. How long they would have hidden no one can affirm-perhaps they would have been hiding until this day, -had they not been attracted by the sound of an ox-driver's " Wo-haw, Buck," and ventured to "interview " him, thus learn-
81
CANTON: ITS PIONEERS AND HISTORY.
ing that the danger was over and that they could safely return to their homes.
At Col. Barnes's the news was tardy in coming that Wester- field brought. The eolonel was out serving at the head of his company under Stillman. Stephen Babbett's wife heard the alarm sounded on the east side of Big Creek, and, gathering up one ehild and ealling to her two remaining ehildren to follow, ran at her utmost speed to Barnes's. Henry Andrews, then a boy of perhaps fourteen years old, saw her eoming and ealled to know what was the matter. "Oh," she exelaimed, "the Indian's are murdering every body across the ereek. The people are running and hallooing Indians! Indians !" Andrews at once sent Col. Barnes's two younger boys over to old Mr. Swegle's to give them alarm, and in a short time they returned, bringing with them the old gentleman- who was far advaneed in years-and his old lady and daughter. Mrs. Barnes now took the direction of affairs, and directed the party to seek shelter in a thicket at the head of a neighboring ravine. To reach this thieket the party were in- strueted to strike the ravine at a point considerably below, and then to follow up the bed of the stream, wading in the stream to hide their trail. The two small boys led the way, and the old gentleman and the women and children followed. There were fourteen persons in all, and only one boy, armed with a trusty rifle to protect them, Henry Andrews, brought up the rear; and as he followed he picked his flint and prepared for the struggle for life and for the lives of the women and children who were confided to his guardianship.
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.