Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490

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 50
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 50
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 50

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My first surprise over, finding his name was Birk, I told him who I was and my errand, at which he did not seem well pleased. What surprised me was the calm self-possession of the man. No surprise, no flutter, no hasty movements. He quietly said that he had just come from mill at Princeton, thirty miles distant, and was cooling himself a bit. His cabin, 14x12 feet, and 7 feet high, with earth for a floor, contained a four-post bedstead ; said posts driven into the ground, were sprout- ing with buds, branches and leaves. The rim of an old wire sieve, furnished with a piece of deer-skin punctured with holes, for sifting meal, a skillet and a coffee-pot were all the culinary apparatus for a family of seven. A small three-legged stool and a rickety clap-board table was the only furniture. An ox lay at the door aud a rifle stood against the wall. Himself and boys, when clothed, wore buckskin ; his wife and three daugh- ters were dressed in flimsy calico, sufficiently soiled, and not without rents." Such is part of the description as given by Mr. Flower of the first pioneer of the precinct.

* For much of the data of this chapter relating to the early English settlement, we are indebted to the notes prepared by George Flower, now deceased.

2)1

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASHI COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Mr. Birk moved to the "Sangamo " country about 1819. He was a genuine hunter and backwoodsman, and could not bear the onward progress of civilization. To use his own language, he "did not want to live where neighbors were so plenty ; that to see three neighbors within a day's ride was sufficient for him."

The prairie, near this little improvement, is yet known as Birk's Prairie.

Walter Anderson, before mentioned, cultivated a small patch of ground in section 30, and it is said that he planted on his place the first orchard in the county. This was about 1817. He, like Birk, remained but a short time, when he removed to a less civilized part of the country. Hugh Collins settled in section 20, and in a year or two sold his improvement to John Woods, Senior. John Hunt, of the same settlement, died here in 1820, leaving quite a family of children. But one of his descendants, a grandson, James T. Hunt, is now living ; he resides about one mile north west from the old farm of his grandfather. Rollin and Joseph Lane, and William Ham moved away long ago, none living now to tell where or whence they went.

In 1817, a new era opened to this part of the west. Morris Birkbeck and George Flower, both well-to-do Englishmen, came to this country, the latter in 1816, and the former one year later. They had known each other in England, and on meeting in this country, they mutu- ally agreed to explore the western country together, and if possible find the new Eldorado that was then agitating the minds of the people of the south and east. They had heard of the beautiful prairies of the Illinois territory, and so infatuated were they with the glowing accounts given, that they determined to see for themselves ; and if it came up to their expectation, it was their intention to plant a colony of their own countrymen within the western wilds. They left Richmond, Virginia, in the spring of 1817, party being composed of Mr. Birkbeck and family, and Mr. Flower. Mr. B. was a widower, but had four children with him, two sons and two daughters, named respectively, Bradford, Charles, Eliza, and Prud- ence. There were also four others in the party, a servant boy of Mr. Birkbeck's named James Gillard, Miss Eliza J. Andrews, Elias P. Fordham, and Elizabeth Garton, an orphan girl adopted by Mr. Birkbeck. Miss Andrews was well acquainted with the Birkbeck family in Eng- land, and desired to share the adventures with them in the new world. She afterwards became the second wife of Mr. Flower.

The journey was a long and tedious one, the distance being made by stage and horseback. At Princeton a halt was made, and suitable quarters obtained for the parties except those who proposed to press forward and find the goal of their ambition. This trio was composed of Mr. Birkbeck, and his son Bradford, and Mr. Flower. After several days' travel they came in sight of Bolting- house Prairie, and the emotions it brought forth when it first met their gaze, I will give in Mr. Flower's own lan- guage. He says, "Bruised by the brush wood and exhausted

by the extreme heat, we almost despaired, when a small cabin and a low fence greeted our eyes. A few steps more, and a beautiful prairie suddenly opened to our view. At first, we only received the impressions of its general beauty. With longer gaze, all its distinctive features were revealed, lying in profound repose under the warm light of an afternoon's summer sun. Its in- dented and irregular outline of wood, its varied surface interspersed with clumps of oaks of centuries growth, its tall grass with seed stalks from six to ten feet high, like tall and slender reeds waving in a gentle breeze, the whole presenting a magnificence of park scenery, com- plete from the hand of nature, and unrivalled by the same sort of scenery of European art. For once, the reality came up to the picture of imagination. Our station was in the wood, on rising ground ; from it, a descent of about a hundred yards to the valley of the prairie, about a quarter of a mile wide, extending to the base of a majestic slope, rising upward for a full half mile, crowned by groves of noble oaks. A little to the left, the eye wandered up a long stretch of prairie for three miles, into which projected hills and slopes, covered with rich grass and decorated with compact clumps of full-grown trees, from four to eight in each clump. From beneath the broken shade of the wood, with our arms raised above our brows, we gazed long and steadily, drinking in the beauties of the scene which had so long been the object of our search.".

Their ideal of the vast rolling prairies of the west was fully realized and verified, and now came their plans for action. After long and deliberate consultation, it was decided that they should jointly put together all the means that they could then command, and Mr. Birkbeck was to proceed at once to Shawneetown, the general land-office, and enter as much land as possible with his means at hand, while Mr. Flower was to hasten to Eng- land for more money, and also to superintend and ex- pedite the scheme of forwarding emigrants to form the new colony. Mr. Birkbeck, it was understood, should return to their lately bought possession, to prepare and receive the emigrants. Both fulfilled the part they had to perform, and the English colony became a reality. Too much cannot be said of the indomitable energy and perseverance of these two pioneers; nay, more should be said ; they were among the foremost philanthropists of their age. They left a home of plenty, surrounded with the comforts of life that wealth can give, and took upon themselves the hardships, sufferings and dangers of the pioneer. Through their efforts, many of their country- men were provided with comfortable homes, not having means sufficient, in their own country, to supply them. They risked their all in this mammoth enterprise, and virtually speaking, lost all, both of them dying comparatively poor in worldly means. Both were strong anti-slavery men, and did much to prevent the slave system being planted in the State of Illinois.

Mr. Birkbeck, until his death, had a large influence in matters of State of the new formed commonwealth,

RESIDENCE , STOCK & GRAIN FARMS OF DEUEL GOULD, SEC.5, T.I, S. R.14 N.ALBION PRECINCT, EDWARDS CO. ILL.

LIBRARY Of THE

UNIVERSITY

205

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

having the honor of receiving the appointment of Secre- tary of State under the administration of Governor Coles in 1824. He was drowned in Fox river, near New Harmony, Indiana, in 1825. His remains were found and buried at the same place. It is but a short time since that a friend of the family received a letter from the Hon. E. B. Washburn, stating that he would be re- sponsible for a donation of five hundred dollars toward erecting a suitable monument to Mr. Birk beck's memory, providing his remains could be brought to the State of his adoption, and place of his noble efforts. It is to be hoped that the future historian may be able to record the epitaph inscribed upon the proposed monument. After Mr. Birkbeck's death his children scattered to the four corners of the earth, all of whom are dead, except Eliza, wife of Gilbert T. Pell, who, at last accounts, was residing in Australia.

Mr. Flower lived some years after Mr. Birkbeck, and aided, as well as his crippled means would permit, to build up the little colony, being one of the founders of the neat little city of Albion. He died at Grayville the 15th day of January, 1862. We insert the following closing words of tribute, paid to Mr. Flower by Dr. Barry, then librarian of the Chicago Historical Society, and which appeared in the Chicago Tribune of March 22, 1862: "On the morning of the 15th of January last, there lay, under the loving and sad watch of dear friends, at Grayville, the sinking form of the aged man, whose worth we have poorly attempted to set forth, and the partner of his long and chequered life. But a week before they had expressed the hope, often repeated, that, happily united in life, they might not be divided in their death. While the rays of the morning sun were gilding the room of the fond wife, she expired ; and soon after the going down of the same day's sun, followed, to his last and welcome rest, the spirit of George Flower." Ouly three of Mr. Flower's family are living ; Camillus resides a little south of Albion ; Alfred lives in Paris, Edgar county, and a daughter resides at Grayville, Illi- nois.

Another pioneer of 1817, was Alan Emmerson, a na- tive of Kentucky, who, in an early day, emigrated to the Territory of Indiana. He was then a single man, but subsequently, in 1810, he married Nancy Mounce, and in the summer of 1817, he moved with his family to Edwards county, and located in section 4, township 2 south, range 10 east. There were four pioneer children, Martha, Jesse, Sanford, and Indiana. The latter died soon after their coming. and is said to be the first death in the precinct. Mr Emmerson entered a quarter sec- tion of land, erected a log cabin, and commenced the life of a pioneer. After many privations and hard struggles, he improved a good farm and enjoyed the fruits of his labors. Having the confidence of the people and extended acquaintance, he was elected, several times, to fill offices of trust by their suffrages. He was elected County Judge for a succession of terms, filled the office of County Treasurer and Assessor, and served

2 1840-44

one termAn the State Legislature. He and his wife both died in 1876, Centennial year. They were widely known, and their loss to the community was mourned by a large circle of friends. Only one of the pioneer children is now living, Jesse, who resides in Albion, and is one among three of the oldest pioneers in the county.

Rev John Depew emigrated from the South in 1817, and located joining farms with Mr. Emmerson. He was the first Methodist preacher in this part of the country, and so fastidious with regard to his religious views, that upon one occasion, when invited to eat honey that was taken from a bee tree on Sunday, he utterly refused the sweet morsel, although very fond of it. He remained here but a few years, moving to Marion county in 1820.

One of the oldest settlers of this part of the state was James Chism, a native of Virginia, who came to II- linois Territory-now Wabash county-in 1813. He located at Bald Hill Prairie, near the center of the coun- ty. His family consisted of his wife Sarah, and three children, Ellen, Elisha and Permelia. The father and mother died more than half a century ago. Elisha is the only one of the family living. He resides in Albion, and is one of the oldest surviving pioneers, in either E.l- wards or Wabash counties.

William and John Woodland were from South Caro- lina, and came to the precinct in 1817, and located about four miles west of Albion. They both went off with the Mormons.

The heavy tide of immigration commenced in 1818. It was in this year that Mr. Flower sent from England the first ship load of immigrants, and this was but the precursor of what followed in the way of, immigration until 1820, and perhaps later. Among those who came at that early date, and who have descendants yet resi- ding in the county, are the following : Joel Churchill, John Woods, Sr., John Tribe, Brian Walker, William Nich- ols, Hugh Ronalds, John Brissenden, William Wood, William Fewkes, George Woodham, William Harris, John Skeavington, Elias Weaver, Henry Sydney, and John Spring, Henry Birkett, James O. Wattles, and several others. It would be impossible in this chapter to give space to all the numerous newcomers of the years 1818, 19, 20,

Mr. Churchill, above mentioned, was one of the im- migrants of 1818. At his coming, he was a single man. He entered quite a large tract of land southeast of Al- bion, where he located and remained until 1823, when he moved to Albion. In 1824, he married Eliza Simp- kins by which union eleven children were born, nine of whom are living. Mr. Churchill led a busy and active life. He died in the spring of 1872,in the city of Albion. Mrs. Churchill is yet living, and is active for one of her age. Charles and James Churchill are prominent business men in Albion. John Tribe came to the precinct in 1819, and located at Wanborough. He was then a single man, and a carpenter by trade. Some time after coming he married Jane Stanley. A large family were reared by them, eight of whom are now residents of the coun-

206

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

ty. William B. Tribe, a son, is the present efficient Cirenit Clerk of Edwards county. Mr. Tribe was noted for his intelligence and goodness of heart. . He died at Albiou in August, 1880, his wife surviving him.

John Woods, Sr., came to Edwards county in the fall of 1819, and located in Wanborough. His family then consisted of his wife and five children, William, John, Jr., George, Ann, and Elizabeth. One son was born in the county, Thomas T. Mr. Woods subsequent- ly moved to Albion, and thence to Shawneetown, where he died. Two of the pioneer children are living, John, Jr., and George. The former is a merchant in Albion, now upwards of eighty years of age. In 1829, he mar- ried Elizabeth Penfold, daughter of Abraham Penfold, another pioneer, who located in Wanborough, in 1819. John, Jr. held the office of County Treasurer for about forty years. George Woods is residing in Wisconsin, and Thomas T. is a prominent farmer in Albion precinct. Other settlers of about the same date, were three bro- thers, Moses, John, and George Michels, who were na- tives of the state of Maine. The former was elected to the State Legislature for the term of 1820-22. George, Jr., a son of the pioneer George, is a resident of Albion.

A prominent accession to the colony in 1821, was Gen. William Pickering, a native of Yorkshire, Eng- land. He made his first settlement in the Village Prai- rie, but subsequently moved to Albion. He was the first to introduce blooded stock from England to the new colony. In 1824, he married Martha Flower, sister of George Flower. Mr. Pickering took a lively, interest in all matters of State, and became a leading Whig poli- tician. He represented his constituency iu the State Legislature from 1842 to 1852. He was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln; on the latter's election to the presidency, he appointed him governor of Washington Territory. He died at his son's residence, near Albion, in 1875. Only one of the family is now living in the county, Richard, who resides in section 2, a little west of Albion.

A prominent settler of 1827, was Alexander Stewart, wbo was born in Scotland, and a descendant of one of the old Scotch families. He landed in New York City, in the fall of 1818. On Christmas of the same year he reached Illinois and located in Carmi, White county. His family then with him consisted of five sons, and his wife Mary, nee Mclaughlin. Four daughters were left in Scotland, who afterwards came to America in 1824. One of the sons, Alexander, Jr., came to Edwards coun- ty in 1827, and located in Albion, his family then being his wife and one daughter. He commenced the business of blacksmithing, which occupation he followed for sev- eral years. Subsequently he engaged in the mercantile and pork-packing business, etc. He was very success- ful in all his transactions, and retired from active life in 1876, with a good competency. He is yet residing iu Albion with a host of friends, whu feel that their com- munity has been largely bettered by the industry and example of Mr. Stewart. Two sons, Charles and Ed- win, are extensive merchants in Albion.

George Bower, Sen., was another early settler, and came from Germany to the United States in 1827, and in 1831 he moved to Albion. He had a family of three children, Adam, John and Margaret. Two children were born to the family after coming-George, jr., and Henry. Mr. Bower was a potter by occupation, and was one of the first to establish the business in Edwards county. He was a useful citizen in his day ; both he and his wife died some years ago. Only three of the family are now living-Adam, John and George, junr., all of whom reside in Albion. Among other early resi- dents of the precinct are: F. W. Johnson, Joseph Skeav- ington, John Walker, Joseph Mitchels, Mary A. Mor- gan, Charles Nichols, Mrs. Sarah J. Daver, nee Wells, George, Francis, and Lucius Harris, Dr. F. B. Thomp- son, Dr. H. L Dixon, John Smith, S. N. Dalby and his wife (Sarah H., nee Skeavington), George Gillard, George Bunting, William Bowman, and others.

Believing that the lands first entered in the several townships of the precinct will prove of interest to the present and future readers of history, we here present them :

The following are those for the years 1816, '17, '18, within twp. 1 south, range 10 east of 3d P. M .: Oct. 1st, 1816, Henry Houston entered the south west quarter of section 29. January 27th, 1817, Alexander West entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 31. Sept. 12th, 1817, John Embree entered the south- east quarter of section 27. Sept. 26th, 1817, Benjamin Clark entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 19. Oct. 3d, 1817, Gorum A. Worth entered the northeast quarter of section 20. Oct. 13th, 1817, Wm. Embree entered the southwest quarter of section 27. Same day, Edward Mitchell entered the southwest quar- ter of section 38. Jan. 13, 1818, James Emmerson en- tered the northeast quarter of section 28. April 1+, 1818, Henry Houston entered the east half of the south- east quarter of section 19. May 4, 1818, John Houston entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section 20. July 6, 1818, Morris Birkbeck entered all of sec- tion 24. September 17, 1818, Robert Leslie entered the northwest quarter of section 20. Same day, William Baston entered the southwest quarter of section 32. August 16, 1818, Hugh Reynolds entered the east half of the southeast quarter of section 29. November 12, 1818, James Green entered the northwest quarter of section 36. Sept. 17, 1818, J. and J. Dunlap entered all of section 30 in twp. No. 1 south, range 11 east.

The following entries are in twp. No. 2 south, range 11 east : Nov. 2, 1814, J. G. Pattson and G. Loftis entered all of section 18. May 15, 1818, Wm. Nichols entered all of section 6. June 13, 1818, George Nichols entered all of section 7. The following entries are in twp. 1 south, range 14 west of the 2d P. M. : Morris Birkbeck entered all of sections 4 and 5. Dec. 8, 1818, Richard Flower entered the southwest quarter of section 33. The following entries are in twp. No. 2 south, range 14 west of the 2d P. M .: May 15, 1818, J. Woods and

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

others entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 6. July 25, 1818, J. Sherrington and T. Brown entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section 7. Same day, John Brissenden entered the south west quarter of section 7. The following are the earliest en- tries made in twp. 2 south, range 10 east : September 14, 1816, Walter Anderson entered the northwest quar- ter of section 7. September 28, 1816, Robert Anderson entered the southwest quarter of section 7. October 7, 1816, Hugh Collins entered the southesst quarter of section 19. October 14, 1816, Sidney Spring entered the northeast quarter of section 18. Same day, Samuel Anderson entered the northwest quarter of section 18. October 23, Rollin Lane entered the southeast quarter of section 18. October 24, 1816, Joseph Lane entered the northeast quarter of section 19. October 30, 1816, John Hunt entered the southwest quarter of section 17. November 1st, 1816, Daniel Grove entered the east half of the northeast quarter of section 24. May 22d, 1816, Jeremiah Birk entered the northwest quarter of section 29. October 12, 1816, Wm. Ham entered the south- west quarter of section 30. January 19, 1817, Uriel Emmerson entered the east half of the southeast quarter of section 5. Feb. 18, 1817, John Woodland, senior, entered the northeast quarter of section 8. May 12th, 1817, Alan Emmerson entered the northwest quarter of section 4.

Several other tracts were entered in 1817-'18, but are too numerous to record.

One of the customs of those early days was the re- quirement of every one of lawful age to meet at some designated point and muster once a year, or be fined for non-attendance. The first muster was held at Bolting- house prairie in the spring of 1820. The rank and file not being supplied with arms, corn-stalks and hoe-han- dles were substituted. To get a vivid account of these trainings, and the consequent amusements accruing therefrom, it is absolutely necessary to receive a descrip- tion of the same, first-handed, from the pioneer.

That the present generation may have some idea of the prices of general merchandise, as compared with the price of produce, we here give a table of the leading articles :

Sugar per pound 3716c.

Coffee do.

6216

Sheeting per yard . ,50

Prints do. . 3776

Nails per pound . 25

Tea-cups and saucere per 'set . . 75

Plates do.

$1.00

All kind of produce was very low, as the following will show :

Corn per bushel . 10

Pork per 100 lbs.

$1.25

It is yet told of Benjamin Skinner trading 1800 lbs. of dressed pork for a saddle. It will be seen from the above quotations what the first settlers were obliged to undergo in order to supply a living competency for their families.

A DEPARTED GLORY.

The first town laid out in this precinct was by Morris Birkbeck in the month of August, 1818, and situated in township two south, range eleven east, and about two miles due west of Albion. The latter town came into existence a few months later, and they thus became rival villages. For a time Wanborough was in the ascendency, having a population of about 150 inhabi - tants, while Albion had but thirty. Indeed, Wan- borough had become a place of considerable pioneer im- portance, having at the height of its glory, a stocking factory, one store, a flouring mill with two run of stones (Hine and Knight proprietors), besides other shops and industries above the average frontier town. It was laid out in five-acre lots, Mr. Birkbeck believing that every town family should have sufficient ground to raise all necessary vegetables, etc., and that it was conducive to the morals of the community that the children of neigh- bors should not be brought into too close contact with one another. After the county seat was established at Albion, Wanborough began to wane, and it was but a few years when all the business had been removed to Albion, so that to-day, Wanborough is only a thing of the past ; nothing left to mark the spot, that this was once the site of a town named after the beloved home of Mr. Birkbeck back in old England.

ALBION.

This town was laid out by George Flower & Co., in October, 1818, and as already stated, only about three months after Wanborough was platted. For the details of its birth we are indebted to the notes of Mr. Flower. He says: "As yet I had done nothing in erecting buildings for the public in general, as there had been no time. One evening, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Ronalds, and I think, Mr. Fordham, called at my cabin, when we discussed the measures that should be taken to form some village or town, as a centre for those useful arts necessary to agriculture. Every person wanted the services of a carpenter and blacksmith. But every farmer could not build workshops at his own door. Daylight ceased, darkness followed. We had no can- dles, nor any means of making artificial light. On a pallet, mattress, or blanket, each one took to his couch, and carried on the discussion. After much talk, we decided that what we did do should be done in order, and with a view to the future settlement, as well as our own present conveniences. The tract of forest lying be- tween Mr. Lawrence's settlement in the Village Prairie, on its southern border, and mine at the north of the Boltinghouse Prairie, was about three and a-half miles through. Somewhere in the centre of this tract of woodland seemed to be the place. To the right of this spot, eastward, lay, about a mile distant, several prairies running north and south for many miles, and others running east and west to Bonpas creek, from three to five miles distant. Northeast from Mr. Lawrence's cabin, prairies of every form and size continued on in-

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Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 50

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co. Number of Pages: 490

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. L. McDonough & co.
Number of Pages: 490