USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 14
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We give the following classification of birds into three divisions, as found in the "Transactions of the Illinois State Horticultural Society " of 1876 :
1st. Those of the greatest value to the fruit-growers in destroying noxious insects, and which should be encour- aged and fostered in every way.
Blue Birds, Tit-mice or Chicadees, Warblers, (small summer birds with pleasant notes, seeu in trees and gardens), Swallows, Vuros, (small birds called green necks). All birds known as Woodpeckers except sap, Suckers (Picus varius). This bird is entirely injurious, as it is not insectivorous, but feeds on the inner bark cumbium (and the elaborated sap) of many species of trees, and may be known from other Woodpeckers, by its belly being yellowish, a large black patch on its breast, and the top of its head a dark bright red. The male have also a patch of the same on their throats and with the minor margins of the two central tail feathers white. This bird should not be mistaken for the two other most valuable birds which it nearly resembles, to wit : The Hairy Woodpecker (Picus Villiosii et vars) ; and the Downy Woodpecker, (Picus pubescens et vars). These two species have the outer tail feathers white-or barred with black-and have only a small patch of red on the back of the head of the males. The Yellow Hammer or Flecker (Colaptus auratus), is somewhat covered with yellow, and should not be mistaken for the sap-sucker. It is a much larger bird. The Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), sometimes pecks into apples and devours cherries, and should be placed in the next division (2d). The Wren, Ground Robin (known as Cherwick), Meadow Lark, all the fly- catchers, the King Bird or bee-catcher, Whippoorwill, Night Hawk or Goat Sucker, Nut-hatcher, Pewce or Pewit. All the Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Finches (Frin- gillidæ), Quails, Song Sparrows, Scarlet Tanager, Black, White and Brown Creepers, Maryland Warblers, Indigo Birds, Chirping Sparrow, Black-throated Bunting, Thrushes, except those named in the next class, and all domestic fowls except gèese.
2d. Birds of Doubtful Utility.
Which include those which have beneficial qualities but which have also noxious and destructive qualities in the way of destroying fruits, and whose habits are not fully determined. Thus the Robin, Brown Thrush and
* In the preceding mention of animals, both the scientific and common names are generally given for the convenience of the reader.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Cat Bird are very valuable as cut-worm eaters, but also very obnoxious to the small fruit growers. The Jay (Blue Jay) not only destructive to grain and fruits, but very noxious in the way of destroying the nest eggs and young of smaller and better birds, Robin, Brown Thrush and Cat Bird, Shrike or Butcher Bird, Red-headed Woodpecker, Jay Bird or Blue Jay, Crow and the small Owls (Screech Owls), Pigeons and Mocking Bird.
3d. Birds that should be Exterminated.
Sap-sucker, or Yellow bellied Woodpecker (see above), Baltimore Oriole, or Hanging Bird, Cedar Bird, or Wax-wings (Ampelis cedrorum), Hawks and the larger Owls.
The names, and a carefully prepared list of the animals of a country, state, or county, are always of interest to the inhabitants, and especially so to the scientist and student of natural history. After inquiring into the political and civil history of a country, we then turn with pleasure to the investigation of its Natural History, and of the animals which inhabited it prior to the advent of man ; their habits and the means of their subsistence become a study ; some were animals of prey, others were harmless, and subsisted upon the vegetable products of the country. The early animals of this part of the state ranged over a wide expanse of country, the habits of which will be fully found and set forth in all of our zoological treatises.
CHAPTER VII.
PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS.
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES.
O rescue from oblivion the incidents of the past, and to preserve the names of the hardy few, who in fact were the real instruments of paving the way toward making the wild forests habitable, is one of the main objects of the historian. In a little time the gray hairs of the pioneers, who still live as tottering monuments of the good old times, will be gathered to their fathers ; their children engrossed by the busy trans- actions of life, will neglect to treasure up the doings and recollections of the past, and posterity will search in vain for land-marks and memorials thereof. How necessary then that no time be lost in gathering together the frag- ments of our infant history, which still exist, and thus rescue it from entire forgetfulness.
A little less than three-quarters of a century ago this beautiful country was in a state of nature, and the only inhabitants were the uncivilized Indians and the wild game of the forest. The white man came, and lo! the transition ! Beautiful fields of grain wave in the gentle breeze, and neat villages and farm houses dot the land- scape. In that early day the means and facilities for tilling the soil would be considered a burlesque on farm-
ing to-day. When they turned the sod with the old wooden mould-board plow and gathered the harvest with the reap-hook, the threshing was as slow and laborious as the reaping, the process being by tramping out the grain by the use of cattle, or beating it from the straw with a flail. Presto change; nearly seventy-five years have glided by, and we cast our eye upon the landscape and what a transformation ! The old mould-board has given way to the elegant sulky plow ; the reap-hook is transformed into the wonderful mechanism known as the self-binder, and the tramping of the cattle, and the thud, thud of the flail have yielded to the steam engine and the hum of the gigantic thresher. It is thus that the results of the labors and hardships of the pioneers, combined with the efforts and genius of their children, are written not only in history, but more unmistakably engraved upon every highway in the land. Let the reader stop for a moment and reflect, if he would do justice to those who have led the way and so nobly done their part. Do not chide or jeer them for their odd, old-fashioned ways, but keep in mind, that it is to them that we, " Young America," are indebted for the surrounding comforts which our land yields to-day. But a few years more, when we have grown gray and feeble, shall we be pointed out by the busy, bustling throng of a more advanced age, as the old fogies, and as among those who have passed their days of useful- ness.
EDWARDS COUNTY.
FIRST SETTLEMENT AND EARLY SETTLERS.
Tradition relates that the first white men to penetrate the wilds of Edwards county, were three brothers by the name of Daston, as early as 1800. They were great hunters, and spent most of their time in hunting and trapping. They made little or no improvements, and all that is known of them by the pioneers who made per- manent settlements, is that their cabins were left stand- ing in sections 10 and 15, in township 15, 1 north, range 14 east, when the first permanent settlers came to the county. From whence they came or where they went, tradition is silent.
The first families to make a permanent settlement in the county were those of Jonathan Shelby, Thomas Carney, John Bell, Lot Sams, and Isaac Greathouse ; these all made their advent here in 1815. Shelby and Carney came together with their families and located near each other in township 1 north, range 10, now Shelby precinct. They were from Tennessee, and made the long journey to Grayville with their families over- land, in wagons, the only method then for traveling. They halted at Grayville, where they remained one year, when they removed to the northern part of the county, as above stated. Mr. Shelby located in the north west quarter of section 34, where he erected a cabin and commenced the life of the pioneer in the wilds of Edwards county. He was an active and energetic man,
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and in a few years had under cultivation several acres of land, and was surrounded with the comforts of a good home. In 1831, he moved to section 18, on the Little Wabash, and four years later constructed a water grist mill on this stream, it being the first water-mill in Shelby precinct. He was one of the first justices of the peace in the county, which office he held for many years. He died about 1838.
Mr. Carney also located in section 34, and subse- quently became one of the leading farmers of the times He had the confidence of the people, and in 1832, he was elected to the county commissioners' court, which position he held until 1838. Mr. Carney was always a public-spirited man, and to him belongs the honor of constructing the first mil! in his neighborhood. This was in 1832. The mill was propelled by horse-power, but it answered the wants of his neighbors. About 1844 he moved with his family to the State of Missouri, where he died a few years ago.
John Bell was of German descent, but was born in South Carolina. In an early day he moved to Ken- tucky, and from thence to Tennessee. From this State he enlisted in the war of 1812, where he served about one year; and in 1815 he moved with his family to Illinois and settled in section 27, township 1 north, range 10 east, where he resided until his death. He was a plain, unassuming man, and a good neighbor. One son, H. C. Bell, resides in section 10.
Lot Sams was a native of North Carolina, but had been a resident of Kentucky and Tennessee. He came with his family to Illinois in 1815, and located in sec- tion 35, township 1 north, range 10 east. His mode of travel to this State was by pack horses; upon these he made the whole distance with his little family. In 1821 he located in section 25, where he died in the fall of 1863. At his death he had accumulated considerable property, and the little hamlet of Samsville, in Shelby precinct, has the honor of bearing his name.
Isaac Greathouse came from Kentucky in 1815, and with his family, located in this part of Illinois, where he followed the pursuit of farming for a short time ; but the Indian depredations drove him into one of the forts. Being tired of the Indian warfare on the frontier he returned to his native State, where he remained several years. Again, in 1821, he moved to Illinois and settled permanently in the S. W. } of the N. W. } of section 13, Salem precinct. He was a plain farmer, never aspiring to office of public trust. He died at the old homestead. Enoch, the eldest of the pioneer children, is a wealthy farmer residing in section 18, township 1 north, range 11 east. Francis, another son, lives in section 13. The father of Isaac was one, if not the first English settler in this part of the State, west of the Wabash river, a sketch of whom will be found in the chapter of Mt. Carmel precinct, and pioneer history of Wabash county.
In 1816 a settlement was formed in the south west part of the county on or near Big Creek, the first of whom was " Captain" Jeremiah Birk, who came from one of
the Southern States, and located in the edge of Big creek timber, where he erected a small cabin and cleared a patch of land on which he raised a meager crop of corn sufficient for the wants of his family. His cabin was erected just in the margin of the timber overlooking quite a prairie belt, which subsequently received the name of Birk's Prairie. His family consisted of his wife, four sons and three daughters, and their mode of living was of the most primitive character. Their cabin contained but one room, which served the purpose of kitchen, eating and sleeping room. The family remained here but about three years, or until about the time of the English colony settlement, as Mr. Birk was of the pure type of the backwoodsman and could not tolerate civilization. To use his own language as re- lated by one of the pioneers, "He did not wish to live where neighbors were so plenty ; that to see three neigh- bors within a day's ride was sufficient for him."
Walter Anderson, who came about the same time, located in section 30, township 2 south, range ten east. He had the honor of planting the first orchard in the county, on his little clearing, in 1817. He remained but a few years, when he moved to some other portion of the State. John Hunt located iu the same settlement and remained here until his death ; but one of his de- scendants is now living in the county, a grandson, James T., who resides about a mile from his grand- father's old home. Others who lived in this settlement were, Hugh Collins, Rollin and Joseph Lane, and Wil- liam Ham. They were all natives of some of the Southern States, and remained only a few years after coming.
In the fall of 1816, quite a sensation was created among the few settlers of this part ofthe country, caused by the killing and mutilating of the body of one Joseph Boltinghouse. He was a single man, the family then residing in White county. In the fall, Joseph drove to the Big creek timber, quite a quantity of hoge to feed and fatten from the mast, then so plenty in this part of the county. He built him a camp, a little south of the creek, on what is now the Churchill land. While here a band of Shawnee Indians prowling through the country espied his camp, and finding that he was alone, took him by surprise, and murdered him upon the spot. When found his body was lying close to his camp in a mutilated condition, and his head, which had been severed from the trunk, was suspended upon a pole near by. Tradition relates that the murderers suffered dearly for the crime. They were captured near the Wabash river, stones were lashed to their bodies and they were sunk in the river. The following spring, James and Daniel, brothers of the above, moved to the county from Gallatin, now White county, and located in section 26, township 2 south, range 10 east, a little south of Big creek, in the edge of the timber, overlooking the prairie that subsequently took their name. Daniel was a man of family, and his brother James residcd with him. They cleared and improved a good farm, and became
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
prominent citizens of the county. In about 1837, they all moved to the State of Arkansas.
Thomas Riley, a native of Ireland, settled ncar the Boltinghouse's, the same year, 1817. Mr. Riley was then a single man, but subsequently married Sarah Morris, a daughter of one of the pioneers. He improved a good farm, where he resided until his death, which occurred about 1852. His father-in-law, Isaac Morris, came from the south and settled in section 5, township 3 south, range 10 east, in the same year.as the above. He had a large family, and was a genuine back woodsman. Hespent the most of his time in hunting, and was noted for his exaggerated tales and hair-breadth escapes while in the woods. He remained in the county until his death, which occurred many years ago. His children are scattered to the many points of the West, none of his descendants being now residents of this part of the county.
Another pioneer of 1817, was Clem Martin, who located in section 33, township 2 south, range 14 west. He came from the southern States, partaking of the spirit of emigration to the new Eldorado, then so popular with the poorer class of the south and south west. Mr. Martin was what would be termed to-day, a man of eccentric for peculiar ways. He was outspoken and fearless in character, somewhat rough and uncouth in manners, and thus made enemies when he might have had friends. For some reason the family stood in rather bad odor in the new settlement; this was undoubtedly due to the wild, unpleasant ways of his children. He died in the county many years ago., It is said that some of his descendants are living in White county.
About this time, in 1817, a new era dawned upon the settlements made in what is now Edwards county. Morris Birkbeck and George Flower, both well-to-do Englishmen, made a tour of the west in search of the " beautiful prairies " they had heard and read about, in the new world, with the view of establishing a colony of their countrymen within the same, should the reports given meet their expectations. Mr. Flower crossed the Atlantic, landing on American shores in the spring of 1816. He spent one year in making inquiries and be- coming acquainted with the people, country and insti- tutions of our republic. One year later Mr. Birkbeck aud family came to the United States, and in company with Mr. Flower, they made a tour of the west. The country pleased them, and it was agreed between Mr. Flower and Mr. Birkbeck that the former should return to England and induce immigration to their chosen spot, Edwards county, while the latter was to attend to pro- curing the necessary lands, and otherwise to prepare for the reception of their countrymen. Of the first emigrants their names, time, and manner of coming, we quote from the account as given by Mr. Flower in his history of the English settlements in Edwards county. He says, " Early in March, 1818, the ship Achilles sailed from Bristol with the first party of emigrants, destined for our settlements in Illinois. Mr. Charles Trimmer, of Yeatly,
Surrey, a young farmer, and a neighbor and acquaint- ance of Mr. Birkbeck, with forty-four men and one married woman, sailed in this ship. The men were chiefly farm laborers and mechanics from Surrey. Many of them had for years worked for Mr. Birkbeck, others were from his neighborhood, and were personally ac- quainted or knew him by reputation. This party was under the special care and leadership of Mr. Trimmer. About an equal number, composed of London mechanics and tradesmen from various parts of England, formed, another party that sailed in the same ship. These were under the guidance and direction of Mr. James Lawrence, merchant tailor, of Hatton Gar- den, London. Mr. Lawrence being a man of property, a resident of the city, and well acquainted with the usages at the docks, custom-house, shipping, etc., became actually the head of the whole party." Another pro- minent party in this ship's company was Mr. Hugh Ranald's, from Hammersmith, near London. He was then a single man, but subsequently married Mary C Flower, a sister of George Flower.
According to the account given by Mr. Flower, the emigrants landed at Philadelphia early in June, 1818. They made their way to Edwards county overland, some in wagons, others on horseback over the mountains to Pittsburg, then descended the Ohio river in flat boats to Shawneetown, and from thence on foot, in wagons or on horseback, to Mr. Birkbeck's cabin, situated on Bolting- house prairie, the place being subsequently named Wan- borough, after Mr. Birkbeck's old home in England. He had received notice of their coming and had made the best preparation possible for their reception. A . square of rough log houses had been erected, each cabin being supplied with two doors with a small sash window in each door. This hamlet was subsequently denominated " The Barracks," and was open to all new-comers. It was here that the first ship's company-eighty-eight in number-were accommodated, all men, excepting three women. Mr. Flower, in his reminiscences, says of this novel state of affairs in the new found land, " I must leave to imagination the various feelings of its motley in- mates, some of whom were used to the refinements of civilized life; all to the comforts of a home however humble ; some without money, and all for a time, with- out occupation ; without vegetables ; corn bread and salt pork their only diet; whisky their sole luxury and consolation, and some not able to get that. It was for a time a fermenting mass. Strange and conflicting emo- tions exhibited themselves in ludicrous succession. Some laughed and joked, some moped and sulked, while others cursed the fates that brought them there. All things worked out right in time. The activity and energy of the national character soon displayed itself, and all be- came fairly satisfied with the condition of things."
Mr. Birkbeck had laid out the town of Wanborough in five-acre lots, and on these were built cabins, rented by some, and bought by others as the means of the im- migrants would permit. In a short time an ox mill was
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
erected for grinding their corn, aud the necessary black- smith shop was added to the village. This formed the nucleus of the new-founded colony.
In April, 1819, another ship-load of emigrants swelled the numbers of the already prosperous little community. Of this accession Mr. Flower says, " My own immediate family and friends occupied the cabin, and my domestic servants and other emigrauts going out to join us, filled the steerage; my live stock of cows, hogs and sheep from the choicest breeds of England, took all the spare room on deck." Among those who came in this ship were, Mr. and Mrs. Flower, parents of George Flower . the latter's two sisters, his brother William, a mere lad' his two sons, Miss Fordham and the servants of Mr. Flower. These constituted the immediate family party of Mr. F. Prominent among others seeking the prom- ised land were Francis Rotch and brother, friends and acquaintances of Mr. Birkbeck ; an elderly gentleman of means, Mr. Filder ; Dr. C. Pugsley and family ; Adam Corrie ; John Wood, then a single man ; John Ingle and family ; David Bennett and family ; Mr. White and family ; a carpenter and builder from London, and Cap- tain Stone and family. These, with some others, formed an emigrant party of upwards of sixty, who were bound for the " prairies " of Illinois.
On arrival upon American shores, they divided into parties preparatory for their long and tedious journey to the wilds of the west. Their manner of traveling was similar to those who had preceded them one year before. Mr. Fordham, under the instructions of Mr Birkbeck, had in the meantime been busy in preparing for the re- ception of the new emigrants. He had made frequent excursions into the prairies to assist in the preparatory arrangements, as well as making more distant journeys to Cincinnati and Louisville, for many articles needed by the settlers, which he loaded upon flat boats and sent down the Ohio river to be conveyed to the new settle- ment. The emigrants, for a time, were obliged to oc- cupy the log cabins of the hollow square of Wanborough, until other and better arrangements could be made. The increase of population far exceeded the privilege of comfortably receiving them, though all was done that could be for their comfort and convenience. It must be rembered that this part of the country was in a state of nature, and that buildings and improvements could not be made with the facilities they are to-day. Mr. Fordham had also built two cabins on the land of Mr. Flower, and it was at one of these cabins that Mr F. deposited his family after the long and tedious trip from the seaboard. We here give the language of Mr Flower relating to his arrival at his new found home. Ile says, " I entered the prairie with my carriage at the same spot from which we had, one year before, first scen it. The prairie grass completely enveloped my horses, and they laburiously dragged the heavy-laden vehicle. The cabin built for me hove in sight, which was to be our home in the new found land. It was well sheltered by wood from the north and east, with an arm of the
prairie lying south in a gently descending slope for a quarter of a mile, and was as pretty a situation as one could desire. The cabin, however, could boast of no comforts. It contained a clap-board roof, held down by weight-poles, a rough puncheon floor, and had neither door nor windows. Two door-ways were cut out, and the rough logs were scutched down inside. All the chips and ends of logs left by the backwoods' builders lay strewn upon the floor. We were now face to face with the privations and difficulties of a first settlement in the wilderness." From Mr. Flower'a statement it seems that one of their greatest privations was the lack of good water. A well had been sunk on his land, but it was a quarter of a mile away. He further says that, " The floor of their cabiu being cleared, a fire was kindled in a hole where a hearth was to be. One of us had a half mile trip for water. Then for the first time we knew the blessing of an iron tea kettle. Our first meal was spread upon the floor from such provisions as the car- riage afforded, cheese, crackers, tea, etc. The tea we drank alternately from one or two tin cups. Some sit- ting, some kneeling, some stretched at length, resting on an elbow upon the floor. ancient fashion, was the way we took our first meal. But then I was in my own house, on my own land, in a free and independent republic, and could cast my vote into a hollow tree for coon or 'possum to be president of the United States if I so de- sired." It will thus be seen what privations and discomforts the pioneers underwent, although some of them at the time of their settlement were accustomed to all the comforts of life that wealth could give. Mr. Flower and Mr. Birkbeck both were representative men in England, and each commanded quite a fortune when they landed in this county. Whether their philan- thropic efforts have been fully appreciated, the present generation of Albion and vicinity must answer. The for- mer lived to see the "prairies " and surrounding country largely populated with prosperous farmers of his own countrymen. The little colony which he had been accessory in planting, had become among the most pros- perous and independent of the great prairie State. After seeing and enjoying the results of his patriotic efforts, he passed the portals of this life at the city of Grayville, January 15th, 1862. For some reasons, his and Mr. Birkbeck's relations in social or business matters were not altogether agreeable, but that is a personal matter and belongs to no part of history. Mr. Birkbeck dur- ing his life time looked well and took good care of the interests of his countrymen, who had virtually placed themselves and families under his care and advisement. Wanborough, for a time, grew and prospered as a town. Albion springing up and getting the precedent as a county seat, in 1821, was a death blow upon the little town of Wanborough, the parent town within the pres- ent limits of Edwards county. Mr. Birkbeck became one of the leading men of the State, and it is said that through his efforts, aud a few others, Illinois never has had the stain of slavery placed upon its escutcheon.
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