USA > Illinois > Madison County > Centennial history of Madison County, Illinois, and its people, 1812 to 1912, Volume I > Part 72
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"In response to an inquiry for a sample of the early settlers in Madison county it is sug- gested that a fair specimen may be shown by a brief outline sketch of some emigrants, who came from New England to Illinois about the time the state was admitted into the Union.
"In the year 1818 Rev. Isaac Scarritt, with
his family of four children, came from the state of New Hampshire to Illinois and being a Methodist minister, took work in the confer- ence as pastor of circuit societies thinly scat- tered, but growing. A few years later he was appointed to a mission among the Indians and for a time labored with them on, and near the site of the city of Chicago. Two of his daughters married Methodists ministers and gave their lives to the work. One of these raised three sons who heard, and heeded the call, 'Go ye'-and all spent their lives in active service. One of these raised a son who also entered the ministry early, prepared for mis- sion work, and is now ( 1912) an efficient su- perintendent of a large mission district in Africa. Thus it is shown that three genera- tions of Madison county early settlers con- tributed largely to the promotion of Christian civilization in enlightened Illinois and dark Africa.
"A counterpart of this sketch of Rev. Isaac Scarritt is found in the life and family of his younger brother, Nathan Scarritt, who came from the same old home town in New Hamp- shire, two years later-1820-with family of parents and four children in two wagons, mak- ing the journey to Edwardsville in just ten weeks, when they were congratulated upon their safe and 'speedy' arrival.
"Nathan was a Methodist, but not a minis- ter. He did his part in furnishing a congre- gation and sustaining the ministry by supply- ing material for it, and for its support, and as his household eventually consisted of ten sons and two daughters it was wise and well that he sought to make a permanent farm home. With this purpose in view, and with govern- ment land galore at uniform price, he made his purchase four miles north of Alton, and became the first permanent settler in that part of the country. The new settlement was for a long time known as Scarritt's Prairie. There is a current tradition that the eighth son, Jo- tham, was the first white child born in that
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
part of the country, north of Alton (now known as Godfrey); and in that home two other sons were born later.
"Immediately upon his decision where he would locate his life-time home, Nathan Scar- ritt became active and discreetly earnest in making acquaintance with representatives of prospective emigrants, many of whom were passing to and from the government land office in Edwardsville and by kindness, with judi- cious influence, induced the desirable classes to become neighbors with him and with each other, so that in a few years there was planted a valuable citizenship, prosperous and progres- sive in civic, social and moral character. This policy became quite common and effective in Madison and the adjacent counties, and for many years there was no section of the state more influential in promoting exalted ideals in all lines of excellence.
"The fruitage from this wise planting of noble aspirations soon appeared in substantial monumental form, by the establishment of three chartered institutions of learning- Shurtleff, McKendree and Monticello-within twenty-five miles of Edwardsville, built and promoted respectively by three denominations of Christians; and for three quarters of a century have sent annual classes of certified experts, to enter the various professions and build other similar institutions in the rapidly growing west.
"In 1849 Nathan Scarritt closed his quiet, but very busy life, falling asleep in the pioneer home, where he had reared and carefully trained his family for self-reliant activities, for noble achievements in the world's work. Three of his sons that lived to reach maturity were business men, and like their father were imbued with a Christian and patriotic spirit which identified them actively and officially with civil and religious agencies, which 'make good' for righteousness and the highest type of civilization. The two other sons that lived to reach manhood were early enlisted, under
vows, for entire devotion to work in the min- istry. The elder one of this couple-Nathan, junior, spent his whole life in strenuous official work, with church agencies, in establishing and maintaining churches, missions, mission schools, and a 'bible training school' for train- ing missionaries. This school bears his name as its founder. His base of operation was in Kansas City ; his 'field,' for nearly fifty years, was in the states of Kansas and Missouri.
"The other one of this couple of ministers -and the only one of the family now living- began his official connection with ministerial work in 1851. He was first appointed to a cir- cuit charge-Bunker Hill circuit. His itiner- ancy has been mostly in the western part of the conference territory, between Alton and Cairo, and in these two cities repeatedly, in Cairo twelve years, and in Alton, including time on district work, twelve years. And now this only survivor of that large family, the oldest minister and member in his conference, at the age of four score and five, is resting in comfort and peace in the 'superannuated' re- lation near his birthplace and the graves of parents, brothers, sisters and children, with their mother, in full sympathy with God's work, and the active workers, feeding, some- times feasting, on precious memories, inspired by steadfast hope and waiting for His com- ing."
SOME NOTES OF THE SCARRITT FAMILY
One of Nathan Scarritt's daughters married Rev. W. T. Luckey, Methodist preacher, and removed with him to California. It is re- lated of Mr. Luckey that he was very absent minded. At one time he was chaplain of the State Penitentiary and one Sunday when he opened service, with all prisoners present, he prefaced his discourses with the remark : "My friends, I am glad to see so many of you pres- ent to-day," oblivious of the fact that the poor fellows were there because they couldn't help themselves. Another story regarding him is
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
that the chaplain of the legislature, in session at Sacramento, was absent one day and Mr. Luckey was sent for to offer the invocation. Forgetting his environment he offered the usual petition he used at the penitentiary, and prayed fervently for "those who had been sent up here from different sections of the state, in punishment for their crimes." That prayer made a sensation.
Another daughter of Nathan Scarritt mar- ried John S. Ellet, a member of the famous family of engineers and soldiers of that name. Two of her sons served in the Union army as did several other grandsons of Nathan Scar- ritt.
Rev. Nathan Scarritt, Jr., was a preacher and teacher all his life, but became a million- aire through judicious real estate investments in Kansas City and elsewhere. His large fam- ily now occupy contiguous blocks in the finest residence section of Kansas City. Isaac Scar- ritt, was for many years a leading merchant, banker and public official of Alton. Russell Scarritt, a fourth son, became one of the mer- chant princes of St. Louis. Certainly a re- markable family of zealous Christian work- ers sent out from one township to bless the world both in secular and ministerial relations.
TRANSPORTATION
Godfrey has ample means of rail transporta- tion. The township is traversed by the main line, the Kansas City branch and the "Cut Off" of the Chicago & Alton, while the Chicago, Pittsburg & St. Louis passes through the southwest corner. The Alton, Joliet & Pe- oria electric road passes through the township from southeast to northwest. The country roads, however, are no better than they were three-fourths of a century ago, with the ex- ception of a mile of rock roadway built by the enterprise of the farmers of the Grafton road section.
CHANGES IN POPULATION
The population of Godfrey as to nationality has greatly changed in the last fifty years. All the old American pioneers are dead and their descendants have almost all moved away. Their places have been taken largely by Ger- man farmers who are active and industrious in developing the agricultural interests of the community.
Capt. Jabez Turner, a soldier of the Revolu- tion and an early settler of Godfrey, is buried in the village cemetery. The descendants of Captain Turner still reside in Godfrey, in the old homestead.
In addition to the old families whose sons have made Godfrey famous, Monticello Ladies Seminary has made the township well known in educational circles throughout the land.
Another institution, of both a philanthropic and educational character, is known as "Bev- erly Farm." It is conducted by Dr. W. H. C. Smith, an eminent specialist in his profes- sion. The aim of the institution is the instruc- tion and development of deficient children, in which noble endeavor it has been remarkably and gratifyingly successful.
A GREAT INDUSTRY
The largest and most important industry in Godfrey township is the immense plant of the Alton Brick Company, with a capacity of 185,- 000 brick per day. It employs a large force of workers in its several departments. It manufactures building brick, paving brick, fire brick and other specialties. It is located above and adjacent to vast deposits of shale from which the finest quality of brick is made. The plant is equipped with the most modern and complete labor-saving machinery. Edward Rodgers is president of the company and Eben Rodgers, secretary.
CHAPTER LXI
HAMEL TOWNSHIP
THE ORIGINAL PIONEERS-ALSO CAME BEFORE 1820 IN THE TWENTIES-EARLY CENSUS -CENTENARIAN-TOWNSHIP IN 1853-A SCREAMING TORNADO-THE JUDY FAMILY- CARPENTER-PROPERTY VALUATION.
One of the important townships of Central Madison is Hamel. It is bounded on the north by Omphghent, on the east by Alhambra, on the south by Pin Oak and on the west by Fort Russell. It is traversed by three railroads, the Wabash, the T. W. & W. and the Jacksonville Southeastern, now the Litchfield & Madison. It is also traversed by the Illinois Traction line which has a "booster" station at Hamel's Cor- ner. These excellent transportation facilities give it not only direct communication with the county seat but also with St. Louis which is the main market for its corn, wheat and other farm products. Its pursuits are mainly agri- cultural. It was originally settled by immi- grants from Kentucky, Tennessee, the Caro- linas and Virginia, but in later years the Ger- man element has been attracted to it in large numbers and the population is now largely of German descent.
THE ORIGINAL PIONEERS
While the early settlers were mainly from the south they were not the original pioneers. This honor belongs to a band of Massachusetts people consisting of Robert and Anson Al- drich, George and Henry Keley, Mrs. Henry Keley, Mrs. Ann Young, Henry T. and Har- riet Bartling. They located on section 29 of this township in 1817 and built the first cabins. Robert Aldrich rose to prominence in the new
community and represented the county in the Legislature in later years besides filling vari- ous local offices of honor and trust. He lived to an advanced age. He left a sketch of the township in early times which is here trans- scribed as the most authentic data available. Mr. Aldrich records : "Hamel township is situ- ated mostly on Ridge Prairie, called Prairie du Long by the French and is a northern con- tinuation of the old Goshen settlement. It is the watershed between the Kaskaskia and Mis- sissippi rivers, but is naturally less fertile than old Goshen, having a shallower soil, and inter- mixed in the northern parts with those in fer- tile spots called "scalds." The south boundary was surveyed in April or May, 1808, by John Messenger. The east boundary was surveyed in February, 1814, by J. Milton Moore and the subdivision in March of the same year. In 18II a small improvement was made on sec- tion 7, in the timber on Cahokia creek by a man named Ferguson who abandoned it on the beginning of the war of 1812.
ALSO CAME BEFORE 1820
1812-Beck had a block house on Sec. 5, T. 4, R. 7, near the southern boundary and oc- cupied it during the war.
1817-Benett Jones settled on section 3, and Allen and Keltner on section 5, but remained
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
only one season. Archibald Lamb, a Tennes- sean, settled on section 3 during this year.
1818-Robert Aldrich, a native of Massa- chusetts, settled on section 29 and is still liv- ing thereon (about 1875). Thos. Barnet, a North Carolinian, settled on section 32, and terminated his pilgrimage there April 21, 1852, aged seventy-three years.
Henry Keley, settled on section 29, but left there in 1823. Elder Thomas Ray, a Virgin- ian, settled on section II, southern boundary, in 1818, and died there October 21, 1854, aged eighty years. William Hoxsey, a Rhode Is- lander, settled on section 6, T. 5, R. 6, eastern border, and died there October 18, 1832, aged sixty-six years. James Hoxsey, his only sur- viving son, occupies the old place. William Hinch, a Kentuckian, settled on section 19 and died there January 5, 1845, aged 60 years.
1819-Paris Mason erected a log dwelling on section 8, which has been occupied by sev- eral families. Present owner is Theodore Rinkle.
IN THE TWENTIES
1820-Oliver L. Kelly built a log house on section 20 which has been occupied by differ- ent families and is now owned by the heirs of John Love.
1822-Thomas Wall moved into the town- ship and settled on section 8. He died at the age of 69. He was a Virginian.
1827-Daniel Roach, a Kentuckian, settled on section 3, and died there February 10, 1848, aged fifty-nine years. Zachariah Robin- son, a North Carolinian, settled on section 4, and died there in November 1831. Jacob F. Hoosier, a Pennsylvanian, settled on section 5.
1829-Estabrook & Livermore, Massachu- setts men, erected a saw and grist mill on Cahokia creek, in section 6, which continued in operation until 1852.
EARLY CENSUS
1847-The treasurer of the township took the census and found the following resi-
dent land holders: Aldrich, Robert; Axley James M .; Barnet, Thomas; Bartlet, Martin S .; Davis, William; Davis, Stephen; Fleck, Alexander ; Fleck, William; Fruit, Washing- ton; Fruit, John; Glass, William; Gontzleben, Conrad ; Handshy, Frederick ; Hedges, Amanda; Kremer, Frederick; Lamb, Archi- bald; Love, Mrs. Jane; Mitchell, William M .; Morse, William; Morrison, Henry ; Ort, Con- rad; Roach, David; Shumake, William; Smith, William; Sloss, James E .; Stephenson, Pres- ton; Volles, Levi; Wall, Thomas; Wall, John A .; Weaver, John ; Wilson, Albert G .; Wilson, Edward; Wilder, James.
A CENTENARIAN
1845-Francis Roach died in July, at Lamb's Point, aged 106 years. He was a Virginian, and a soldier of the Revolution. Roads-The old Kaskaskia and Peoria trace passed through the middle of this township and was traveled by the French carts prior to 1800. In 1832 the Edwardsville and Staunton road was established. In 1835 the Edwards- ville and Hillsboro and in 1837 the Alton and Greenville. The Decatur & St. Louis (Wa- bash) railroad in 1870.
1830-One citizen of township (Robert Aldrich) was elected county commissioner and also at three subsequent elections.
1842-One citizen of township elected to the Legislature (this also was Robert Ald- rich.)
1853-Another citizen of township elected to Legislature (Thomas Judy). Two others elected school superintendents. (One of them seems to have been John Weaver.)
TOWNSHIP IN 1853
The township is divided into four school districts ; have good school houses. The Ger- man Lutherans have erected a comfortable brick church in section 1. A steam flour mill was established at Hamel's Corner by A. J. (Jack) Hamel and Handshy & Sparks which
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
was conducted for four years. A hotel was also erected on section 31, west of the forks of the Hillsboro & Greenville road.
The old Beck block house was the most northern residence of the old Goshen settle- ment whose people, formed into ranger com- panies, guarded the scattered settlements dur- ing the war of 1812.
Don Alonzo Spaulding, formerly county surveyor, ascertained in establishing lines of land owners in the central part of the town- ship, that there was a variation of the mag- netic needle.
A SCREAMING TORNADO
One struck section 18, in 1814, coming from southwest, prostrating all timber in its path. In 1823 another, also from southwest, with pathway only one rod wide, fairly screamed as it tore through section 29.
Mr. Aldrich elsewhere says: "There was not a peach, pear or apple tree in the township when I came in 1817. In 1819 Henry Keley and Anson Aldrich went to Griffith's Nursery, at Portage des Sioux, Mo., and procured apple grafts. That was the start of my apple orchard which was still in bearing fifty-six years later."
THE JUDY FAMILY
Of the early settlers of Madison county none were more widely known than the Judys. Col. Thomas Judy was a son of Col. Samuel Judy. He was born December 19, 1804, at the old Judy homestead in the Goshen settlement. In 1850 he removed to Hamel township. He was elected to the Legislature in 1852. He was a successful farmer and large land owner. He died October 4, 1880, at a good old age. He reared a large family. His sons, Thomas and William, became prominent farmers, the former in Pin Oak and the latter in Hamel.
John and Jefferson Frit were among the
first to improve farms in the southern part of the township. Among the prominent residents were Judge Henry K. Eaton, a native of Mis- sissippi. He was born April 4, 1811. He spent his early manhood in Kentucky where he married Miss Elizabeth Pomeroy. The family removed to Edwardsville in 1836. He became prominent in public affairs and was elected county judge and served eleven years. It was during his administration that the pres- ent court house was built. In 1856 he with- drew from public life and settled on his farm in Hamel township, where he died April I, 1881, aged seventy years. His son, W. P. Eaton, served through the war in the 117th Illinois and, after the war was elected county superintendent of schools. The latter's son, Henry, named after his grandfather, the judge, is now a leading lawyer of the county.
CARPENTER
The largest town in Hamel township is Car- penter, on the Wabash road. It is a flourishing village and important shipping point. The site was laid out by John F. Opel and the plat was recorded May 9, 1877.
The population of Hamel township has been practically stationary for the last twenty years. In 1890 the population was 1,205; in 1900 it was 1,103; in 1910 it had declined to 1,078. The township is well supplied with churches to minister to the spiritual needs of the popu- lation there being five churches, one German Evangelical; two Lutheran, one Baptist and one Presbyterian.
The supervisor of the township in 191I was Fred Henke, whose post office address is Fruit.
PROPERTY VALUATION
The assessment of property in 1911, on a valuation of one third, was : Lands, $1,317,420 ; lots, $10,710 ; personal property, $340,950.
CHAPTER LXII
HELVETIA TOWNSHIP
THE PIONEERS-ANIMALS, BIRDS AND INDIANS-SETTLEMENTS IN WESTERN SECTIONS-SEB- ASTOPOL-ST. MORGAN-PROMINENT FARMERS.
The ancient history of the county, previous to the settlement by white people, being noted elsewhere, this sketch of Helvetia township is made to begin with the era of white set- tlers, and in doing so, for the sake of avoid- ing unnecessary length, only the most essen- tial of interesting details, not already men- tioned elsewhere, will here be considered.
The township is situated in the southeast corner of Madison county, designated as No. 3 north, 5 west of the 3d principal meridian. From 1812 to 1817 it was part of Sugar Creek precinct, and upon the organization of Bond county made a part of old Silver Creek; from 1840 to 1876 it was called Highland precinct ; and upon the adoption of township organiza- tion (1876) it received its present name- Helvetia. Official surveys record the area of the township at 22,998 26/100 acres.
THE PIONEERS
It is claimed that the first settlers came from Kentucky and North Carolina in 1804, locat- ing in the southeast corner of the township, among them Joseph Duncan with his wife and first child (born during their trip to Illinois). At about the same time the Higgins and Hobbs families settled in Clinton county, about one- half mile south of the Madison county line. The old lady Mrs. Hobbs, however, contra- dicted the 1804 date by having declared that the settlement only began in 1808, so that there
appears to be an uncertainty regarding the year of first settlement. Like Jos. Duncan, James Good, Gilbert Watson, and Jonathan L. Harris also settled permanently on Sugar creek. Duncan had been a ranger during the war, and at the conclusion of peace in 1814 located in section 15, on the east side of the creek. He was appointed justice of the peace in 1817, and when in 1827 the office became elective, he was chosen by the citizens from term to term for almost forty years. For many years he also had a post office at his place, acting as postmaster. He died in 1852. He raised a family of five children, and his grandson, Joseph Duncan, is the present owner of the place, the fine Pleasant Hill farm, one of the best in that section. It has been in possession of the family to this day, and is the oldest farm in the township. Other settlers, who located: in the east side before the foreign settlers began to come in the thirties, were: Herbert and John Hobbs, George and Lee Cuddy, Alexander Forri- ster (who was a ranger during the Black Hawk war), James Gingles or Jingles, John L. Hearin, James and Norris W. Ramsay,*
* Norris W. Ramsay, father of Wm. S. Ramsay now living in Highland, was a great worker, who, as road supervisor, built the road from the east line of the township to Highland, and became the owner of 1,016 acres of land, improving it into an excellent farm around the heights just north of Sebastopol.
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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
Robin Craig, John Gracey, Allen Bryant, B. Gullick, Thos. Savage, Adam Kile, Calvin Lee, Oliver Hoyt. The earliest of these settlers lived on their lands many years as squatters before they entered them. Wm. Morrison, a merchant and contractor of Randolph county, became the first bona fide land owner in the township, having entered section 36 on April 10, 1815, for speculation without locating on the land.
ANIMALS, BIRDS AND INDIANS
In those early days deer were abundant in herds, occasionally the elk was seen, and car- nivorous animals (such as panthers, bears and lynx) lived in the woods, while at night the howling of wolves could be heard in the fields and forests. The Carolina parrot was still seen on the trees, and every spring innumer- able aquatic birds were found on the streams and lakes. With such wilderness the first set- tlers had to content themselves and build their cabins. They cultivated only a few acres of land, depending for their subsistence mainly upon the game in forest and field. Their wants were few, and they were satisfied to live in peace, but had to be continually on guard against marauding Indians. Up to 1812 the Indians, usually Kickapoos, were friendly, but with the beginning of the war with Eng- land they became hostile, plundering, stealing horses and murdering, so that the settlers often had to take refuge in so-called forts, consist- ing of a number of log cabins enclosed by a row of strong posts. One of these forts (Chilton's) was on Silver creek, about two miles west of the present town of St. Jacob, and another (Cox's) near old Aviston. In this township Mrs. Jesse Bailes was shot and killed by Indians on Sugar creek in 1814.
The first white child born in the township was H. M. Duncan, Dec. 16, 1816. In 1824, Geo. Ramsay taught school in a private cabin on Sugar creek, followed by Jas. A. Ramsay
1828, and John Shinn 1830. Religious (Pres- byterian) services were also held there.
Up to 1830 not more than 25 families were in the township, cultivating about 500 acres, each family about 20 acres, 40 acres to culti- vate being deemed risky. Cotton was raised for home use up to 1830, each family about from one to two acres.
SETTLEMENTS IN WESTERN SECTIONS
Settlements in the western part of the township began later and were not so numer- ous until the European immigrants began to come during the thirties and forties, who readily understood the advantages of the prairie lands, so that the greater part of new arrivals then settled there. The Koepflis and Suppigers, who started the colonization and development of Saline and Helvetia townships in 1831, but whose greater interests were on the Helvetia side, first looked for locations in Missouri, then came over to Illinois, go- ing as far as Vandalia, but upon returning decided to settle here, the Koepflis buying (Oct. 15, 1831) their first land (450 acres) from a book agent by name of Haugh. Solo- mon Koepflis, in his historical sketch of High- land (issued 1859) describes their decision of locating here very interestingly, as follows :
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