USA > Illinois > Fulton County > Canton > Canton; its pioneers and history : a continuation to the history of Fulton County > Part 8
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" Oh, Henry," said Mrs. Barnes, "what can you do with so many of us ?"
"I will do the best I can and kill as many of them as I can," responded Henry.
On reaching the cover of the dense hazel-thicket, the party took to eover, exeept Henry, who stood guard for a couple of hours-and they seemed mortal hours to the boy, who looked each moment to have the red-skins pounce upon him. At last, grown tired of waiting, Henry determined to venture to Canton and see what the real condition of affairs might be. He pro- eeeded very eautiously, keeping in the eover of the hazel-brush as much as possible, until he reached the "Morse quarter" ad- joining Canton, when he came upon John Huff, who was out on
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guard. Huff was frightened, and it was with difficulty Henry succeeded in making himself known: he succeeded finally, and proceeded to the fort. Here he found the wildest confusion ex- isting. All crowded around him, believing him the sole survivor from among the settlers on the west side of the creck. Mutual explanations followed, and at once the scare was at an cnd. This scare was named, in honor of its progenitor, " Westerfield's Dc- feat," and as such is still known.
The Westerfield scare was by no means confined to Canton, but spread through all the surrounding townships. In the Mal- lory settlement-now Putman township- were living quite a number of settlers, among whom were the Mallorys, Fellows, Stricklands and Holcombs. There was an understanding be- tween Isaac Fellows and Joel Coykendall, at Canton, that if any serious alarm was given, Joel should communicate the news to Fellows.
No sooner had the word brought by Peter Westerfield reached Canton, of proximity of Indians, than Joel mounted a flect horse and rode at utmost speed to Fellows's, to warn him of danger, according to his promise. The men in the neighborhood had met that afternoon to drill; the place of muster being near old Mr. Holcomb's. Thither Coykendall was directed by Mrs. Fellows, who, terribly alarmed, gathered up her two children, Penella and Stephen, and calling for her sister-in-law, Mrs. Cyrus Fellows, started for the same place.
The company at drill were terribly cxcited when Coykendall communicated his news, and at once, by common consent, sepa- rated, with the understanding that they would meet and fort at Holcomb's, whose house was the most roomy in the settlement.
Holcomb's house was a cabin, with two rooms, and situated on the prairie. He had no stable, but on the ground, ready for rais- ing, had the logs for a small log-barn.
The men were wonderfully expeditious in collecting their little families at Holcomb's; so expeditious, indeed that not a man of them had thought of his arms. When all werc assembled, the scene would have beggared the pencil of Hogarth to paint all its serio-comic and tragic effects. Women, with disheveled locks, were praying; men palsied with fear, and children screaming with affright. Some one suggested that a fort must be built about the house. The suggestion was grasped at, as drowning men grasp at straws.
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Qld Mr. Holcomb seized a spade, and rushing out before his door began to excavate. "What on arth'are you a doin', old man ?" shouted his wife.
"Diggin' a fort," said he, as he frantically exhumed spadeful after spadeful of the rich, black loam.
It was, soon discovered that the supply of barn-logs would not be sufficient for a stockade; so it was decided to build a breast- work. This was soon completed, and was only about three feet in hight. Then was discovered a dire calamity. Here was a breast-work, and here were brawny defenders, but there was only one gun that was serviceable. .
Breast-works are a good thing in themselves, but without arms their strong points in defensive warfare could not be brought out to advantage. What was to be done? So much time had been occupied in preparing their fortifications that it was not probable there would be time to return to their homes for arms before the murdering savages would be upon them, and then, the women have since suggested, that their lieges were too much-well, say demoralized,-to venture so far from the fort. Some one sug- gested clubs; and as there happened to be a convenient thicket, the suggestion was at once adopted. Clubs, those primitive weapons of warfare, were cut in such abundance that Mrs. Isaac Fellows persists to this day in saying there were fully four wagon- loads; enough to keep the Holcomb family in wood until long af- ter corn-planting.
While the young and athletic men were engaged in the club . business, old Mr. Strickland, who weighed nearly three hundred pounds, and was too fat to venture so far as the thicket, engaged in improvising for himself a weapon more formidable than the club. Procuring a bayonet with about one-third of the point end broken off, he fastened it to a hoe-handle; then stationing himself before a window in an arm-chair, he poised his blunt spear, and, with an expectant look, pronounced himself ready to send whoever of the red-skins should present himself at that win- dow to his last account. As Strickland sat expectant, waiting,' watching, he prayed- for he was a religious man -watched and prayed, determined to die at his post-and no Indian within fifty miles. While Strickland was preparing his formidable weapon, old Mrs. Stewart, who weighed nearly as much as that old hero, was loading and doubly loading the only serviceable gun.
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Still the Indians did not come, and men and women began to breathe easier. Finally one bold pioneer volunteered to go down the road toward Canton and see if he could discern any signs of the enemy. He soon returned with hair erect, and eyes dilated, and declaring that the "Injins" were coming, marching in solid column, at least a thousand strong.
And now Pandemonium was a quiet place compared with Fort Holcomb. Men, women, children, all were screaming, all were praying, all were-but why attempt to describe what is indescriba- ble? Had Black Hawk, with any of his braves, been within a mile, the noise then and there would have frightened them out of the country.
Still the Indians did not appear. Dark came, lights were extin- guished, and in darkness and doubt the frightened people watched and waited. Twelve o'clock, and still no ruthless savage. Dawn, rosy dawn, came, and still the wary savage failed to make morn hideous with his terrible war-cry.
And now came a suspicion, faint at first, but gradually growing stronger until it crystalized into conviction, that the scare was without foundation, and then, all at once, men became brave. Messengers were now found willing to go to Canton to learn the extent and cause of the alarm. They soon returned, bringing the good news that there was not an Indian within, perhaps, one hun- dred miles of the county line.
The Westerfield scare was communicated to the Moores's Grove settlement by a runner, who crossed below the Lewistown Bridge and made his way to Harvey Crosswait's. Crosswait communi- cated the alarm at once to his neighbors, inviting them all to take refuge at his new log-house, which was quite roomy and tolerably well calculated for defense. Between. Crosswait's and Joshua Moores's there was a ravine that, on account of the melting snow, had been converted into a raging torrent. Crosswait went as nearly to Moores's as this torrent would permit, and hallooed across to old Mrs. Moores. The old gentleman was now quite old, and Walters, his son-in-law, had just been killed at Stillman's defeat. Old Mr. Moores gathered up his sick wife in his arms and, followed by his daughter Jennie, her sister, and their four children, they started for the , expected place of safety. On ar- riving at the slough; they waded in across the bottom for some distance to a foot-log across the small stream, Mr. Moores carry-
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ing his wife, the two daughters wading, each carrying a child and leading one. When the foot-log was reached, Mrs. Moores ex- pressed her belief that the alarm was false, and insisted on being taken back home; but at length, yielding to the entreaties of her children and the expostulation of her husband, consented to go forward. The whole party crossed over-the old folks by crawl- ing on their hands and knees, and the younger women by wading through the swift current, carrying one child and dragging the other. This was not accomplished without danger, as the water was deep and the current swift.
When the two young women had reached the shore, they noticed close behind them a neighbor woman-Mrs. Robinson, with two children, wading through the overflowed bottom toward them, and at once determined to wait for and assist her across. When Mrs. Robinson reached the foot-log, Mrs. Walters called to her to know where he was. Mrs. Robinson replied, "I don't know. Him and his brother were with me until we got to the creek, and then dis- appeared : I don't know what has become of them." It proved that both men, who were young, stout and hearty, had deserted the poor woman to her fate, and in company had started, as fast as their frightened limbs would carry them, for Springfield. They did not return for more than three weeks.
Mrs. Walters and her sister aided Mrs. Robinson to cross the stream, and accompanied her to Crosswait's, where the company, with many of their neighbors, remained until dark, when another runner arrived from Jacob Ellis's, informing them that there had been no danger.
John Orendorf, Esq., relates the incidents of the Westerfield scare occurring east and south of Canton.
Orendorf and Richard Addis had started to Hazael Putnam's place- since known as the " Woods Farm,"-to attend the muster of their militia company. On the way across Canton prairie, and when near the mound, they met Richard Tompkins, who in- formned them that Peter Westerfield had just come home, and brought word that the Indians were killing every body north of Canton-that Barnes's folks had all been killed, and the danger was imminent.
" Who seen Westerfield ?" asked Orendorf.
" George Anderson," was the reply.
Orendorf expressing doubt of the truth of Anderson's state-
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ment to some extent reassured Tompkins, and he consented to return and go with Orendorf and Addis to Westerfield's house. Westerfield resided on what is now known as the "Capps farm." On arriving at Westerfield's, they found the place deserted- Westerfield having fled to the woods with his family for shelter. They accordingly turned and rode over to Putnam's. Here they found the militia company in consultation as to the course to be pursued. Esquire Orendorf was called upon for his opinion, and, after questioning Anderson, who was the only person present that had seen Westerfield, he expressed himself in favor of sending a messenger at once to Canton to ascertain the facts, and volun- teered to go himself on that errand. Addis at once volunteered to accompany him. The company agreed to remain together at Putnam's until their return.
Orendorf and Addis set out at once on their mission, and had scarcely struck the high prairie before they discovered Peter Westerfield coming from toward his place, and evidently with the intention of joining them. Westerfield was mounted, bare- backed, on a sorrel raw-boned animal; his head was enturbaned with a red bandana handkerchief; he carried his rifle and shot- pouch by his side, and wore a look of grim determination. He was evidently going to war, and his courage would not fail him. Westerfield communicated his news to Orendorf and Addis, said he had hid his family, and was going to the fort at Canton to aid in its defense.
On arriving at Canton, they found the scare had subsided- Henry Andrews having come in from the Barnes farm with news of their safety, and that no Indians were in that vicinity. When Westerfield heard this, he grasped Orendorf's arm, and ex- claimed, "I tell you, Orendorf, it is true, I know. Didn't I hear them and see their trail?" It was no use telling Westerfield that his senses had betrayed him.
Orendorf and Addis now rode back to Putnam's to notify the company that the danger was imaginary; but on arriving there they found that the valiant militia, taking a new scare, had run to their homes and were hiding out their families.
Thus ended the most exciting day in Canton's pioneer history.
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THEODORE SERGEANT
WAS Lieutenant of the Canton militia company during the Black- Hawk War, and in that capacity for a considerable period had the command of the company. After Stillman's defeat, an order came from the Governor to Sergeant for seven men from the Canton company. Sergeant at once . mustered his company in front of Childs & Stillman's store, and read the requisition, calling on those who would go to fall in after the music, which was at the same time ordered to march and countermarch. Up and down tramped the musicians before the company, but not a man fell in behind them. Sergeant was equal to the emergency. Ordering the music to cease, he went into the store and bought two gallons of whisky, which he passed down the ranks, treating every man. "Now, boys," said he, "I've got to have seven men, or I'll draft them. Music! forward, march! Boys, fall in, you who want to go." Either the whisky, or the threat, or pa- triotism, proved potent, and nine more than the required num- ber at once fell in.
JAMES SEBREE.
JAMES SEBREE came to Canton on the 27th day of October, 1832. He was from Piqua, Ohio, and was a farmer by occupa- tion. Mr. Sebree brought with him to Illinois seven children, five of whom were boys and two girls-one of the girls, Nancy, being married to Lewis Bidamon, who was also with the family. Mr. Sebree's arrival here was quite an epoch in Canton's history, not only from the impetus given to population by the addition of so large a family, but from the amount of wordly effects Mr. Sebree brought with him. Of his sons, Preston was twenty-two, Robert T. nineteen, Curren- who died here in October, 1837- fourteen, Charles W. twelve, and Howard W. ten years old. Eliza Jane, his single daughter, was also a young lady. She af- terward married Jolın C. Parks.
Mr. Sebree came overland from Ohio, and his moving cavalcade was quite an imposing one, consisting of one six-horse team and
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one two-horse earriage. Mr. Sebree bought property on the northwest eorner of Main and Cole streets, where he soon after opened the "Sebree Tavern," of which mention is made else- where. Mr. Sebree was for many years familiarly known as " Old Boon," from a faneied resemblance in person or eharaeter to that old pioneer. He was a genial, honest and intelligent man, a hard worker, and in all respeets a good eitizen.
Mr. Sebree used to raise honey, and one winter, soon after com- ing to Canton, a paek of graeeless boys eoneeived the idea of stealing a stand to satisfy the eravings of their "sweet tooth." Accordingly, Duke B. and A. J. Coykendall, the Porter boys, one of the MeConnels, and some others, made a deseent on the bee-beneh of old Boon, and captured one of the heaviest gums. It was taken to MePheeters's oil-mill and stored away in the loft, where it received regular visits from the boys so long as its sweets held out. Old Boon made no complaint, never mentioned his loss to any one, indeed, but kept an eye out for the offenders.
While the honey lasted, a revival meeting was commenced at the Methodist Church. Old Boon attended, stationing himself near the door. The boys also attended, and were in the habit of visiting their stolen treasure before going to ehureh, and would eome in past old Boon lieking their fingers, some times, too, with a piece of eomb in their hands. Sebree by this means found them all out, but kept his own eounsels until spring. In the spring he ealled on the young gentlemen and informed them that he must have pay for the stand of honey they had stolen, and that they eould choose between working for him two days each load- ing and hauling manure from his stable or being prosecuted. The boys had no alternative but to do the work. Aeeordingly, Mr. Sebree set a day for the work to eommenee, and all were on hand. at noon the boys were ealled in to dinner, and at the table old Boon would pass an empty honey-dish to each, insisting that he should take some of it. All worked their time out but Jaek Coy- kendall, who was discharged by the old gentleman for breaking three forks the first half-day. Of course, the forks had been pur- posely broken. While the boys were at work, they were visited by nearly the entire population of the town, who enjoyed them- selves poking fun at them. Rev. Dr. Perry rode by and, stopping by the fenee, inquired of them which they preferred-honey, or manure. The lesson was not soon forgotten by the boys.
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Mr. Sebree continued to reside in Canton until his death, which occurred in 1867-he having reached the ripe old age of eighty- three years. He retained his vigor to the last, and caught his death-cold by wading throught the swamps and lakes in the Illi- nois-River bottom, while hunting, only a few weeks before, his death. He was old Boon to the last.
DEWEY BROTHERS.
AMONG the sons of Orville Dewey, who came to Canton from Vermont in 1832, were two-Roswell W. and Carroll C. Dewey -who have since become well-known and highly-respected mer- chants. Roswell began his business education as a clerk for Joel Wright, in 1836 or '7; and Carroll by clerking for Tracy Doolittle, in 1840. They both continued at clerking until 1849, when they were offered a copartnership with Joel Wright. They accepted, and the new firm began business under the name of Deweys & Wright, and did business in the old Wright store- room, still standing, on the north corner of the Public Square. In 1855 this firm was dissolved by limitation, and the Dewey Brothers established business on their own sole account, under the name of R. W. & C. C. Dewey. They purchased the store- room of Sully & Tracy, who were then closing out business, and from that time until January, 1867, continued to do business in the same stand. At that time their store-room was consumed by fire, and for the succeeding year they transferred their business to the west room of the Maple Block, now occupied by Thornton, Eyerly & Co. They purchased during that year the location at present occupied by C. C. Dewey, and, remodeling the building, made of it a store-room one hundred feet in depth, forming the north wing of Union Block. In 1870 Roswell W. Dewey retired from the firm, selling his interest to C. C. Dewey, who still continues in business.
The Dewey Brothers have never failed of friends or customers since they commenced business, and have passed, by judicious management, through all the financial revulsions without a failure. Patterns of business integrity, their example is of great value to the younger class of business men.
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SAMUEL PORTER.
IN 1834 Samuel Porter came to Canton. He was originally from the City of Boston. Mr. Porter was a painter by trade, but, finding very little business in his line among the log-cabins of the pioneers, with true Yankee adaptability to circumstances, he turned his attention to wagon-making. Porter lived on Main street, on the lot now occupied by Heald's boarding-house. He went into partnership with a man by the name of Davis, in a dis- tillery which was located in Utica, at some time between 1834 and 1838, but did not long continue in it.
Mr. Porter was said to have brought the first violin to Canton. When he came he brought with him a well-supplied medicine- chest, and furnished many indispensable articles to Drs. Donald- son and Newton. Mr. Porter also traveled, during his residence here, as a land-agent, in the employ of Timothy Gridley, a noted land-speculator of that day. He was a Universalist in religious belief. He removed from Canton in 1838.
HENRY CLARK.
HENRY CLARK-or, as he was familiarly known, "Brady Clark"-came to Fulton county in 1832, from Ohio. He was born and educated in Connecticut. Mr. Clark settled at first in Totten's Prairie, near the "Tazewell farm," below Cuba, where he commenced business as a hatter. Mr. Clark remained but a short time in the place of this settlement, removing to Canton in the spring of 1833. On his arrival at Canton he purchased three acres of ground from Isaac Swan, giving him twenty-five dollars per acre, which was considered at that time to be an extravagant price. This property is situated on South-First street, south of the Lewistown road, and has been known at different times as the "Bishop Clark place," the "Slosson place," and is now owned by J. S. McCreary, Esq. Mr. Clark established here
THE FIRST HATTER'S SHOP
in Canton, which he operated for perhaps one year, when he sold to Darrow & Rice, who afterward took into partnership with
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them Irwin Whitaker. The business was continued until about 1840.
Mr. Clark sold his improvement, soon after making it, to - - Dunn, and made another improvement south of his first, on the same street. A portion of this new improvement-twelve acres - he sold to Thompson & Watson, on which the Slosson Mill was erected. The house built by Mr. Clark was long known as the Bennett Taylor place, now owned by Pat. Rafferty.
In 1839 Clark purchased a lot on Main street, immediately · north of Piper's Woolen Factory, where he still resides. After selling his hatting tools, he began - with true Yankee versatility -carpentering, which he still follows.
Frank, his only son, is now living in Clarinda, Iowa, where also resides his daughter Mary, the wife of George Burns, late sheriff of Page county, Iowa. G. W. Hardesty married one of his daughters, and still lives in Canton. Jonathan Neece married an- other, and is now living in Oregon, Holt county, Missouri.
THE STORM.
THERE is one night in the history of Canton that will never be forgotten so long as one of its survivors is alive. "The Storm " has been and will long continue to be a household word of fear among the citizens, old and new; for, so vividly have its incidents been described by the old to the new citizen, that he, too, has caught the infection of dread its terrors produced.
The 18th of June, 1835, had been a showery day, and as night fell, dark clouds were observed looming up in the northwest. As the twilight deepened, from the ominous bank of thick clouds there would blaze out lurid flashes of red lightning, that illumin- ated and made more ominous the approaching tempest. Nine o'clock came, and the people had either retired to rest or were preparing so to do. Isaac Swan was at family worship: so were several other families in town, when the roar of the thunder, which had grown constant and terrific, was almost lost in the ter- rors of another roar, so mournful, so dreadful and wild that it will never pass from the memory of one who heard. It was the roar of the tornado; and in a moment it descended upon the doomed
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village, descended with a devastating force which could not be withstood by any frail tenement of man that opposed its course. In a moment of time the air became filled with the roofs and fly- ing timbers of exposed houses. Rails and timbers of all kinds so filled the air that woe to the luckless animal or person who had no shelter; and in another moment few of the citizens but were shelterless. And now came great hailstones and a rain-fall, that it seemed as though the windows of heaven were indeed . opened and the rains descending in a solid volume. Over and above all the roar of the tempest, the cries and shrieks of the wounded and dying were heard, and by the constant glare of the lightning it was seen that nearly the whole town was in ruins. As the wind lulled, those who were not too badly injured would venture out to aid the wounded.
Bryant L. Cook was at Philip Grimm's when the storm struck. Grimm's house was unroofed, the children sleeping up stairs, al- most by a miracle, preserved, and no one hurt of the family. Cook at once ran over to Isaac Swan's. He stepped upon a pile of ruins which had been the house, and as he did so, Betsy Swan cried out from under the ruins "Oh, help me!" Cook went to her, and found her kept down under the weight of one of the cabin-logs. On removing it, she cried, "Oh God, my poor baby is dead !" and it was. She had held it in her arms during all the storm, and its brains were knocked out by falling timber. Cook heard a groan. Betsy too heard it, and said "Oh, Bryant, try to get poor Isaac out." Cook lifted one after another of the logs, and soon found Swan's body under the debris; but he was fatally injured. By this time help had arrived, and he was conveyed to the Presbyterian Church, on the Square, which had sustained but slight injury.
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