USA > Illinois > Mason County > Centennial history of Mason County, including a sketch of the early history of Illinois, its physical peculiarities, soils, climate, production, etc. > Part 20
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
The milling for the family was taken to Mount's mill, and Hiram informs us that he has ridden a horse, with three pecks of corn in a sack, to mill, and waited twenty-four hours for it to be ground.
The supply of pork was obtained by hunting it in the woods where Ross had numberless wild hogs, and gave new settlers one- fourth for killing it and bringing in.
Hiram Sloane got a special contract, in which he got one-half of all he killed, and Ross found one pound of powder and four pounds of lead. Sloane well knew an important rendezvous of the hogs he did not care to find under the old contract. With his bro- ther Samuel, and Frederick Krebaum, in half a day they killed fifteen hogs of heavy weight, that furnished supplies for a year, and some for sale. He once had a desperate hand to hand fight with a wild hog, where the M. E. Church now stands, and finally dispatched him with his knife. His dog died from wounds received in the encounter.
Hiram followed the river to some extent at an early day. In 1834 he arrived at the Havana levee in a little keel boat. A man named Mallory kept a trading post here, and a lot of Indians came for whisky, and were refused. They said they were friendly and peaceable, and carried no knives. He gave them whisky, got seri- ous trouble on his hands, and sent to the boat for help.
About the time help came from the boat Mrs. Mallory blew the top of an Indian's head off by the discharge of a musket, and the fight became hot. One of the boat's crew, Ben. Hokum, killcd two, and another man named Odd was also busy. A Mr. Terry was cut off from the party, and ran north, pursued by an Indian, with a drawn tomahawk. Terry's knee became dislocated and he fell, and as he was about to be tomahawked, the Indian was struck on the back of the neck with a stick and felled by the hand of Ter- ry's friend, and Terry siezed the tomahawk, intended for his head, and buried it in that of the prostrate Indian. While he was doing this the friend who saved him pulled his dislocated knee into place, and Terry and his friend returned together. Mr. Sloane did not in- form us who this friend was, but we infer from what we know of him that he was not an idle spectator of the scene.
On their return they saw three Indians crossing the river in a canoe. Hokum shot two of them with a steady hand and unerring aim, and the third sank before he reached the east bank of the river. Sloan and his party proceeded to Fort Clarke, now Peoria, where
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
they arrived on the third day, and discharged their cargo; were visited by Indians who enquired if that boat came from Havana. They replied, no. The Indians were not satisfied, and our party must either seek safety by flight or in the fort. They chose the former, and at nightfall left with muffled oars in a light skiff, for the south, and rowed to Beardstown by sunrise the next morning. Here again the Indians were on the alert and suspiciovs, and our party concluded they had pressing business at St. Louis, and left for that destination on the first steamer.
In after years Hiram boated on the river steamers and traded along the Illinois, and to his energies were the family indebted for much of their early supplies, as were also many of the other set- tlers. Much might be said in this connection of the kindness of carly pioneers to each other. Many were the sacks of apples and potatoes brought over by Mr. Gardiner, the grandfather of the present proprietor of the Gardiner estate across the river, and dis- tributed to the early settlers here without money or price, and to those he had never seen before as freely as to those he knew.
In closing this department of the work we regret that there are a number of interesting biographies we have been unable to obtain. Among those are the Horstman family, Henry Sears, Solomon Bayles, the Scott family, the Blakely family, Wm. Atwater, Peter Ringhouse, Peter and Adam Himmel, Mr. Fisk, Henry Buck, and others, that would have added to the interest of this work. Some it has been impossible to obtain data from; to others we have ap- plied and received no response. We cannot use matter unob- tainable.
BENEVOLENT ORDERS
OF
MASON COUNTY.
We assume, in the following pages, to give the organization, etc., of the various benovelent organizations in Mason county, from such data as we have been able to obtain on that subject, and fol- low with some quotations from various publications, which we deem relevant to this division of our work. From personal knowl- edge and our own experience in the work of the various orders, we cannot write. From our observation, our reading, and conver- sation, and a long association with members of these organizations, we can give our opinions from a disinterested standpoint.
The following little circumstance illustrates our individual views : Many years ago, in an Eastern city, a stranger stopped for the night at the principal hotel, and after registering his name, retired for the night. During the night he was taken suddenly ill. He called a servant and enquired for any member of a masonic organ- ization. A member was sent for, and he brought other members. The stranger grew rapidly worse. In the beginning he gave his trunks, money, letters, and all his valuables, unreservedly into the keeping of his strange brethren. They watched his sick-bed day and night, and furnished him the best medical attendance the city afforded.
In four days the stranger died. His funeral was largely attended by members of the order to which he belonged, and the citizens. A funeral sermon was preached on the occasion at the First Pres- byterian church, by its pastor. The sermon closed, the minister spoke on the kindness and care bestowed on the stranger by the order to which he belonged, and closed his remarks by saying:
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
"That if professing christians did their duty, these organizations- these orders, would have no existence; that commendable as were the acts of kindness shown this stranger, it was only what should be done under like circumstances in any and every christian com- munity." That very small word "if," boy as we were, when we heard those remarks, looked to us as an important feature of that paragraph, and those words have remained in our memory nearly forty years.
From a work on the table on which we write we make the fol- lowing extracts :
The order of Freemasons has for its object beneficence, the study of universal morality and the practice of all the virtues.
It has for its foundation-stone the existence of a God, the immor- tality of the soul, and the love of humanity.
It is composed of freemen, who, submissive to the laws, unite themselves into a society governed by general and particular statutes.
Freemasonry occupies not herself with the various religions spread throughout the world, nor the constitutions of different countries. Having her place in the sphere of ideas, she respects the religious faith and the political sympathies of all her members. And so at her meetings all discussions upon such subjects are form- ally forbidden. She ever maintains her ancient device-Liberty, Equality and Fraternity-but she reminds her members that while walking in the domain of ideas one of their first duties as Masons and as citizens is to respect and to observe the laws of the country in which they live."
Below we give the organizations in this city and county :
HAVANA LODGE NO. SS, A. F. AND A. M.
Chartered 1850.
George Wright, W. M .; George R. Wilson, S. W .; M. Bald- win, J. W.
Number of charter members, 7.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
H. W. Lindley, W. M .; Charles Schill, S. W .; A. T. Beck, J. W .; N. Leibenaler, Treas .; H. H. Hanrath, Sec'y .; O. H. Harp- ham and Geo. Bigg, S. and J. D.
Present membership, 88.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
OLD TIME LODGE NO. 629, A. F. AND A. M.
Chartered 1869, August 27.
Organized 1869, September Ist.
Charter members, 20.
Original officers were-L. M. Hillyer, W. M .; E. Snyder, S. W .; G. A. Blanchard, J. W .; J. F. Coppel, Treas .; C. W. Em-, met, Sec'y .; W. S. Dray, S. D .; Anson Low, J. D .; J. B. Jimer- son, Tyler; W. H. Webb, J. W. Lyke, Stewards.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
C. C. Fager, W. M .; E. A. Wallace, S. W .; G. A. Sanford, J. W .; C. W. Emmet, Treas .; J. C. Yates, Sec'y .; E. Snyder, S. D .; G. H. Holgrafe, J. D .; Wm. Prettyman, Tyler.
No. members since organization, 52.
No. members at present time, 39.
HAVANA CHAPTER NO. 86, R. A. M.
Date of dispensation, August 3, 1865.
Date of charter, October, 1865.
Original officers-L. M. Hillyer, H. P .; G. R. Wilson, E. K .; A. Biggs, E. S .; C. W. Emmet, C. H .; J. F. Coppel, P. S .; E. Snyder, R. A. C .; G. A. Blanchard, Jas. Kelly, S. H. Ingersoll, Masters of Veils; A. Krebaum, Sentinel.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
W. S. Dray, H. P .; E. Snyder, E. K .; W. H. Hamlin, E. S .; O. H. Harpham, C. H .; A. T. Beck, P. S .; N. Seibenaler, R. A. C .; L. R. Haack, Charles Schill, H. H. Hanrath, Masters of Veils; C. W. Emmet, Treas .; H. W. Lindly, Sec'y .; E. A. Wallace, Sentinel.
Total membership, 60.
COUNCIL NO. 40, R. AND S. M.
Date of dispensation-December 29, 1867.
Date of charter-October, IS68.
Charter members :- C. W. Emmet, J. F. Coppel, J, W. Kelly, J. W. Lyke, E. B. Laughton, W. H. Webb, H. R. Cleaver, H. W. Lindly, J. L. Irwin.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
L. M. Hillyer, G. M .; J. F. Coppel, Deputy G. M .; C. W. Emmett, P. C .; W. S. Dray, Captain of G .; E. Snyder, Treasurer; O. H. Harpham, Recorder; J. B. Paul, Conductor of C .; Isaac Tinkum, Sentinel.
Number of members, thirty-two.
DAMASCUS COMMANDERY, NO. 112.
Sir L. M. Hillyer, E. C .; Sir O. H. Shearer, General; Sir C. W. Emmett, Capt. General; Sir E. Snyder, Prelate; Sir W. S. Dray, S. W .; Sir O. H. Harpham, I. W .; Sir E. A. Wallace, Warden; Sir I. N. Mitchell, Recorder; Sir N. Siebenaler, Treasurer; Sir C. C. Fager, S. Bearer; Sir W. H. Webb, Standard Bearer; Sirs W. H. Hamlin, Anson Low, J. L. Waller, Guards; Sir H. A. Fager, Capt. Guard.
The Odd Fellows organizations in Havana, and the Masonic and Odd Fellows, in Bath, we have been unable to reach, though frequently applied for.
ORDER OF DRUIDS.
Havana Grove No. 40, V. A. O. D .- Hall corner of Main and Plum streets.
Organized May 13, 1874.
ORIGINAL OFFICERS.
J. H. Knobbe, N. A .; Wm. Dargel, V. A .; J. G. Reichel, Sec .; R. Hackman, Treas .; H. Stockert, J. G.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
R. Hackman, N. A .; A. Marquardt, V. A .; A. Lope, Sec .; J. Lebeck, Treas .; H. H. Hackman, J. G.
Meets every Wednesday evening.
MANITO LODGE 476, A. F. AND A. M.
Charter dated October, 1866.
Charter members were :- H. A. Sweet, A. G. H. Conover, P. W. Gay, A. A. Griffin, P. W. Thomas, Z. Miller, R. S. Eakin, John Thomas, B. Ruthenburgh, Smith Mosier, H. Latham, W. W. Pierce.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
ORIGINAL OFFICERS.
H. A. Sweet, W. M .; R. S. Eakin, S. W .; A. G. H. Conover, J. W.
PRESENT OFFICERS.
R. S. Eakin, W. M .; F. Schoeneman, S. W .; J. A. McComas, J. W .; Peter Fox, Sec .; Joel Cowen, Treas .; J. A. Rodgers, S. D .; W. B. Robison, J. D .; R. Sauters, Tyler.
Total membership at present, thirty-three.
MASON CITY LODGE NO. 403, A. F. AND A. M.
Regular communications on the second and fourth Tuesday evenings of every month. S. M. Badger, W. M .; J. F. Culp, Secretary.
MASON CITY LODGE NO. 337, I. O. O. F.
Regular meetings every Thursday evening, in their Hall, La- Forge Block. G. W. Ellsberry, N. G .; P. Mundt, Secretary.
NEWSPAPERS OF MASON COUNTY.
To give a sketch, historically, of the different newspapers pub- lished at various times in Mason county is at this time an impossi- bility. Perpetuity has not been a characteristic of that important industry, "that art preservative of all arts" that is so much the pride, and so very justly the boast of our age and country. The art of printing is second to no other. Of its first origin, histories differ, but enough is known to place beyond a doubt that it was practiced in Asia before its discovery in Europe. But it has fallen to the lot of our own country to render it a popular institution, and so cheaply executed that the poorest of the people of this country are abundantly supplied with reading matter of the latest date at a mere nominal rate. The mechanic and laborer, as well as the man
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
of leisure and the professional man, can this morning read in his daily, the yesterday's proceedings of our congress, the British Par- liament, the French Congress, the doings of the city of Rome and Constantinople, and in Egypt.
To the printing press of our country, and largely to the local press, is due that general diffusion of intelligence so characteristic of the American people. This enterprise and intelligence has car- ried the press and the English language and the newspaper to every country on the globe. Our American-English language is thus diffused, American enterprise made notorious, till Americans offi- cer the armies of Egypt, and hold high positions in its government. Americans are the civil engineers of Russia and Turkey, and many in China are teaching our language and arts, while Japan has a head to her department of agriculture from our neighboring coun- ty, and a postmaster general from a neighboring State. Nor is this all: China looks out from all
"Her mystic past, And opens wide the fast Barred doors which once her Empire hid."
And an American built railroad has invaded her long-secluded do- main. The railroad engineers of the United States have overrun South America in all her fastnesses, probed the Andes, and travers- ed the plains of Columbia and Brazil,
"And where the Amazon's deep tide
Full-hearted glides through banks of green."
The American engineer, stimulated by his characteristic enter- prise, and guided by that intelligence that ever in human history has followed in the wake of the printing press, is marking his lines of railroad, and directing the nominally-priced labor of the country in its construction.
Eight years only were allowed to elapse after the organization of Mason county before the local newspaper was established in our midst.
In 1849 Messrs. Mckenzie & Roberts established the first news- paper in Mason county, called the "Mason County Herald."
In 1851 we find O. H. Wright, Esq., of Havana, editor and pro- prietor. He was succeeded by E. L. Grubb, who also published a paper under the same title. Then Stout & Wheaden published a
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
county paper under the same title. This was in 1853.
Stout & Wheaden were succeeded by W. W. Stout; Wheaden re- tiring, and under his management the "Herald" became a paper of much influence and ability.
From this time on we are unable to give dates of the "Arrivals and Departures" of the local papers, that in most cases were very short lived, but the following are their names and their editors. We cannot even give them ad seriatim-so ephemeral were the existence of some :
The Squatter Sovereign, by James M. Davidson.
The Havana Post, by John B. Wright.
The Battle Axe, by Robert L. Durdy.
The Volunteer, by W. W. Stout.
The True Unionist, by S. Wheadon.
The Havana Gazette, by Robert L. Durdy.
The Havana Voter, by D. G. Swan.
The Revielle, by D. G. Swan.
The Havana Ledger, by William Humphreyville.
The Journal, by J. J. Knapp.
This was removed from Havana to Mason City, and sold to W. S. Walker, and there published by him, and is now the Mason City Fournal, so ably and efficiently conducted by Mr. Wells of that city.
The True Unionist and the Havana Ledger were consolidated by their editors, Messrs. Wheadon and Humphreyville, and formed the Democratic Clarion, of Havana, now ably conducted by Mr. Wheadon.
The Havana Gazette, by D. G. Swan.
The Bath Fournal, of Bath, by W. W. Stout.
The Bath Fournal, by Stafford & Servass.
The Mason City Times, by Haughey & Co., the first number of which issued Dec. 25, 1866, lies on our table.
The Mason City News, by Haughey & Walker.
The Independent, by Haughey & Warnock.
The Democratic Bugle, by Robert L. Durdy.
If there are others we have been unable to get data of them, and can only use such material as is within our reach. We will in the following pages give brief extracts from some of the earliest publi-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
cations in the county, and such other interesting references as are obtainable.
EXTRACTS FROM OLD MASON COUNTY NEWSPAPERS.
From Herald, April, 1857.
COURT.
The next term of the Mason Circuit Court will be holden in Havana, on the third Monday in April next. The following per- sons have been subpænaed to attend as jurors:
GRAND JURY.
Wm. Allen,
Thos. Walker,
James Boggs,
Sam. Webb,
E. Low,
T. Tomlin,
J. S. Wilbourn,
A. Hoyt,
W. T. Chapman,
J. M. Logue,
W. E. McGill,
H. Cheek,
S. Rule,
John Rodgers, Steele,
J. R. Chaney,
G. A. Phelps,
P. H. Odle,
R: Anderson,
J. M. Hardin,
J. M. Robinson,
J. M. Lampton, John Micklam,
PETIT JURY.
M. Scott,
I. Mussleman,
John McNight,
C. W. Pierce,
J. Y. Lane,
John Higbee,
J. W. Vaughn,
John Covington,
H. Perry,
C. G. Millesson,
Jas. Atkins,
D. Black,
Jas. Brown,
W. Caldwell,
John Haslerig,
E. B. Hibbard,
A. E. Field,
W. C. Barnett,
R. P. Gatton,
D. M. Hillyard,
H. Blunt,
F. Shurtcliffe.
Robert Donevan,
Thos. Covington,
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
DEMOCRATIC COUNTY CONVENTION.
The undersigned, Democratic Central Committee, give notice that there will be a democratic convention held at the court house in Havana, on Saturday, the 12th of September next, at 1 o'clock, P. M, for the purpose of nominating candidates to be supported at the November election, 1857. The primary meetings in each pre- cint, for the purpose of choosing delegates, will be held at the usual place of holding elections in each precinct, on Saturday, September 5th, 1857, at 1 o'clock, P. M.
Each precinct will be entitled to five delegates, to represent them in said convention.
C. W. ANDRUS, H. FULLERTON, ALEX. GRAY.
MAIL ROUTE.
Some time ago, we noticed in some of our exchanges, a state- ment to the effect that a new mail route, from Havana to Lincoln via Mason City had been created, and that the same would soon be placed under contract. But we suppose the announcement was all humbug, as we have heard no more in reference to it for some months. Such a route is very much needed, and it is greatly to be desired that it be obtained, as there is a very large extent of terri- tory, with many inhabitants, who are almost without any mail facilities whatever.
EGYPT STATION.
Our readers should by no means forget the fact, that on Satur- day, the 27th inst., there will be a great sale of town lots in Egypt station. This town, as all are well aware, is beautifully located, being situated on the Illinois River Railroad, and in the heart of the most productive portion of Mason county. A better location could not possibly have been selected than the one on which it is situated. It is quite apparent to all, that in a few years hence there must be quite a flourishing town at some point in that neighbor-
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
hood, and it will, in all probability, be at Egypt station, as that place has every advantage required for its support. Persons who wish to invest money in a paying speculation would do well to attend the sale, as no loss can be sustained in making purchases at that point. The terms of sale are extremely reasonable, only ten per cent. to be paid at the time of purchase.
MARCH 19, 1858.
Improvements are rapidly going forward in our town. Many new and substantial buildings are in course of erection; new busi- ness houses are being opened, all of which goes to show that our town is in a prosperous and flourishing condition.
Messrs. Stewart & Reichman will open a drug store in the course of a few days, in the building formerly occupied by John Close. They are at present in St. Louis making their purchases.
Messrs. Otto & Thee inform us that they intend opening a fam- ily grocery in the building formerly occupied as a store by Adolph Krebaum, Esq.
Mr. James C. Kemp, who recently made an assessment of the real estate and personal property of the town of Havana, subject to taxation, has kindly furnished us with the following statement:
Amount of personal property $134,957
Amount of real estate 1 56,800
Total.
$291,757
Of course due allowance must be made for the fact that it was generally understood that the assessment was made for the purpose of levying a tax, consequently the estimate of property would be put at considerably lower figures than its real value.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
THE THIRTEENTH.
To-morrow will be a great day in the annals of Havana. The morning will be ushered in by the booming of cannon and the en- livening strains of music. At an early hour of the day the citizens from all sections of the country will commence flocking in, and our town will soon be densely crowded with the "sovereigns," all anxi- ous to get a view of the illustrious advocate of popular sovereignity. Large delegations are expected to be in attendance from Lewis- town, and also from Pekin and Peoria. The steamboat Excelsior will arrive here on to-morrow morning, and return to Peoria in the evening, thus affording to the citizens of the up-river points an excellent opportunity to be here during the day and hear the speeches. Two excellent bands of music, we understand, are ex- pected to be in attendance. The oration will be delivered at the grove north of town, at two o'clock, P. M. A torch-light pro- cession will probably come off in the evening. Taking all things into consideration, the affair promises to be one of rare interest. Mr. Douglas, during his sojourn in our place, will be the guest of M. Dearborn, Esq.
-
MASON HERALD .- W. W. STOUT, EDITOR.
Havana, Fune 4, 1858.
DELTA.
This boat is the Havana and Peoria daily packet. She made her first appearance at this port on Monday last. A number of gentlemen were on board, taking a pleasure trip; among them was the "local" of the Transcript, a very pleasant fellow. We had the pleasure of an introduction to Mr. Whittington, Captain, and Mr. H. N. Forsythe, Clerk, who are both "capital fel- lows." The Delta made her first trip in less than five hours, making landing at all the intermediate points, which are Liver- pool, Spring Lake, Coperas Creek, Kingston and Pekin, which is as good time as is usually made by any of the St. Louis and Peoria packets. The Delta is well fitted up, and although there is noth- ing gaudy about her fixtures, everything looks neat and comfort- able, and she can accomodate, with ease, about fifty passengers,
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
and likewise carry a considerable amount of freight. This boat is a great accommodation to the citizens of Havana, and other towns along the river, and should be well patronized by them. She leaves Havana every morning at half-past seven o'clock, and re- mains in Peoria some three or four hours previous to starting on her return trip to this place. To many persons this will be an ad- vantageous arrangement, as those having business in Peoria can go up on the Delta, have time to transact their affairs, and return on the same boat at night. Our citizens, especially, should appreciate and assist in the encouragement of the enterprise, as the men en- gaged in the running of the boat are eminently worthy of patron- age. We understand that, so far, the boat has made her expenses, which we consider a very flattering beginning for her, considering that there is such a good stage of water at present in the river, and plenty of very fine steamers making daily trips. We think there is not a doubt but the business of the Delta will be largely in- creased, and the investment made in the running of a daily packet from Havana to Peoria will prove a paying one. There is not a doubt but she will do a heavy business if we should have low water at any time during the summer.
OCEAN SPRAY VICTIM (?).
A passenger on board the Sam Gaty, on her last trip up the river, informed us that he saw the body of a man floating in the Illinois river, near Harris' Landing. As every person found drowned at the present time is set down as "a victim of the Ocean Spray disaster," we suppose this is another person who was lost by the burning of that ill-fated steamer! St. Louis papers please сору.
As we are now in daily communication with Peoria, perhaps some of our citizens would like to subscribe for some of the daily papers published in that city. If such is the case, we can recom- mend to the republicans the Peoria Transcript as being a very good paper, both for news and commercial matter. The paper is neat in its mechanical execution, and its proprietors are gentlemen.
-31
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
Should any of our citizens visit Peoria-which they do every day- they should call and see the Transcript office, as it has recently been adorned by a new steam press.
-
THE HERALD .- W. W. STOUT, EDITOR.
Havana, October 2d, 1857.
CANDIDATES.
Adolph Krebaum announces himself as a candidate for the office of county clerk, subject, however, to the decision of a democratic county convention, to be held at Havana on the 12th day of Sep- tember next.
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