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 57
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 57
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 57
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*For this data we are Indebted to the secretaries of the societies.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ducted in the village, speakers were at hand, and the crowd became very enthusiastic. As is usual on such occasions, powder had to be burned in order to give due eclat to the same. An old iron gudgeon, with a hole drilled in it, was used as a substitute for a cannon. Through some unknown cause, while loading it, it burst into hundreds of pieces, dealing death to one, and badly maiming two others. The sudden joy turned to sadness, and every heart bled for the poor sufferers and the friends of the deceased.
Griswold is a small town of about fifty inhabitants, sit- uated at the O. & M. junction, one mile south of Law- renceville, on the N. E. + of section 12, township 3, range 12. It was laid out August 21st, 1866, by Jesse K. Dubois, and received its name in honor of William D. Griswold, then general superintendent of the Ohio and Mississippi railway. The only business is one hotel, kept by James N. Musgrave.
Bridgeport lies partly in Lawrence precinct, but as the larger and business portion is in Bridgeport township, the history of it will be found in that chapter.
LAWRENCE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD
Was organized in 1858. The society purchased five acres of ground, located about one-half mile south west of town, for which they gave $200. Subsequently they added about four acres mora to it, miking nearly nine acres in all. A fine third-mile track was prepared, besides good com-
fortable buildings were built for the convenience of ex- hibiting the wares of its patrons. For a time, the enter- prise was prosperous, proving beneficial to the public and paying to the society. A few years ago the town of Bridgeport became ambitious, and it also organized a society and opened a fair ground. The result was, that with a season or two of rainy weather and too much fair in the county, both societies became swamped for funds, which subsequently proved their overthrow. The members of the societies at Lawrenceville, in order to keep faith with their patrons, borrowed a sufficient sum of money to pay their premiums in full. To obtain this they mortgaged their ground as security for the amount of the loan. They struggled along for a time with this load upon them, but the income from the exhibitions was insufficient to cancel any part of the debt. Becoming discouraged about ever being able to discharge the debt, they concluded to sell the ground for what it would bring, and go down into their individual pockets for the remainder. This was done, and thus passed away one of the finest little fair grounds in southern Illinois. The last exhibition was held in the fall of 1878, but the so- ciety did not become defunct until the winter of 1882. The enclosure and buildings may yet be seen a little southwest of Lawrenceville,
Prior to this organization, in 1855, the first fair was somewhat impromptu, and was held in the court-room. These impromptu exhibitions were kept up until the or- ganizing of the foregoing society.
CITY AND PRECINCT OF MOUNT CARMEL.
WABASH COUNTY.
HE early history of Mt. Carmel Precinct dates back nearly three-fourths of a century. The first settlers were mainly hardy pioneers from the State of Ohio, and it is owing to their indomitable energy and perseverance that the present generation are now enjoying the fruits of a cultivated society and a land of plenty. It was they who cleared the forest, faced the wild Indian, and prepared the way for the incoming tide of immigration and civilization that now marks our border, extending to the Pacific coast. We say, blessings on their noble efforts, for they will surely reap a rich reward in the unknown beyond.
Mt. Carmel precinct has the honor of containing the capital of the county, and receives its name from the fine little city of Mt. Carmel. The precinct extends along the west side of the Wabash river, and is bounded on the
north by the Base Line, east by the Wabash, south by Coffee precinct, and west by Bellmont and Lick Prairie precincts. The surface is mainly level, and was origi- nally covered with heavy timbers of walnut, oak, syca- more, elm, hickory, poplar, and many other varieties, which may be found mentioned in the chapter on Flora. Two small prairies ure located in the north of the pre- cinct, Bald Hill prairie and English prairie. The soil is mainly the dark alluvial loam of the Wabash bottom, and the terrace lands are what are familiarly known as second bottom land. The latter is lighter in color, and not so deep as the former, but is better adapted to the cultivation of wheat ; while the soil of the first bottom is unexcelled for the culture of maize and the grasses. The transportation facilities are excellent, the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railway extending northeast and south-
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
west through the precinct ; while the Louisville, Evans- ville and St. Louis road passes from east to west through its territory, forming a junction with the former road at the county seat, Mt. Carmel. Besides the railroads, it has the advantage of the river facilities, which at certain seasons of the year are of no small importance.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first to make a home in Mt. Carmel precinct was Enoch Greathouse, a native of Germany, who emigrated to the United States in a very early day and first located in Pennsylvania. He subsequently removed to Ken- tucky, and in 1803 or '4 came to Illinois, and located where the city of Mt. Carnel now stands. His family consisted of his wife, four children and one grandchild. The children were-Enoch, jr .; Rachel, nee Beatton ; Leah, nee Woods; and Isaac. The grandson was Elias Greathouse, father of Sylvester Greathouse, who now lives in the city. Mr. G. sold his possessions to Messrs. Hinde & McDowell, and located at the now extinct town of Centerville, where he died many years ago at the ad- vanced age of 110. years. Several of his descendants are living in this and Edwards county. Mrs. Sylvester Great- house is a great-grand-daughter.
One of the early settlers to locate in this precinct was William McIntosh, ahout 1814. He had come into possession of a large tract of land in the Illinois terri- tory, which was known in an early day as the " McIn- tosh Reserve." His house, which was quite pretentious for that day, was situated near the Wabash, at the foot of the Grand Rapids, about two miles north of the present city of Mt. Carmel. He was a single man, but tradition says that his serving-woman (colored) bore him several children. But all have passed away, and none are left to bear the name or to give a history of the pro- prietor of McIntosh manor. Jarvis Deal and Seth Gard were here about as early as McIntosh. The former was among the first to locate in the now extinct town of Pal- myra, and the latter, with Gard and a few others, were the projectors of the town.
Gervase Hazleton was one of the first settlers of old Palmyra, having come here as early as 1814. The first courts were held at his house. He was appointed clerk of the county in 1821 and served until 1823.
A prominent settler of 1817, and one of the founders of Mt. Carmel, was the Rev. Thomas S. Hinde, a native of Virginia. His father was the well-known Dr. Hinde of Virginia, who, during the French and Indian War, was a surgeon in the British navy, and was present when the gallant Gen. Wolf fell storming the Heights of Abra- ham. He subsequently located in Kentucky, and it was here that Thomas S. grew to manhood. When Ohio was organized as a State, Thomas was among the first pio- neera. He had the honor, for several years, to be a member of the legislature in the new-formed State. In 1817 he associated himself with the Rev. William Beau- champ and Dr. William McDowell of Chillicothe, Ohio, to form a settlement or colony on the Wabash river, Il-
linois. They reached the wilds of the Prairie State in 1817, and Beauchamp was detailed to survey and plat the town. Several emigrants came with them, and the nucleus for a settlement was founded. Messrs. Hinde and Beauchamp located with the other settlers in their new- found home. Subsequently the former returned to Ohio, where he remained until the decease of his wife, when he married again and returned to Mt. Carmel. He did much good for his fellow-man in his time, and died re- gretted, Feb. - , 1846. His remains repose by the side of his second wife in the city cemetery of Mt. Carmel.
Mr. Beauchamp, for many years, followed his chosen profession, that of the ministry, and died suddenly in the State of Indiana, while conducting a camp-meeting. He was a noted Methodist preacher, and a writer of more than local reputation.
Hiram Bell was born in Virginia, and, when a young man, migrated to Illinois in the fall of 1817. He first located in Friendsville precinct. In 1824, he married Elizabeth Buchanan, by which union several children were born. When the county of Wabash was organized in 1824, he was elected circuit clerk, which office he filled for twenty-six years. The county seat was first established at Centerville. When it was removed to Mt. Carmel, in 1829, he moved thither, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1867. Having the confidence of the people, his life was spent mainly in their service. He filled the office of county clerk twenty- five years, besides being elected prohate judge for a time. Mrs. Bell is yet living, and is a resident of Mt. Carmel. Four of the children are living, two of whom reside in the city: Judge Robert Bell is a prominent attorney, and James H. is a book-keeper for a firm in the town.
Joshua and James Beall, brothers, were born in Ma- ryland, but subsequently moved to Ohio; and in 1818 came with other emigrants to the new-formed colony. They were both single men, and blacksmiths by trade. In 1819, Joshua married Judith Russell, and a few years later, abandoned blacksmithing, and embarked in the mercantile business, which occupation he followed until 1840, when he retired from active life. He died in Mt. Carmel in 1865. The only one of the family now living is Mrs. Wilson, widow of William Wilson, who resides in the above named city. James married a sister of Joshua's first wife, and reared a family. He also re- tired from blacksmithing, and subsequently held various county offices, besides serving one term in the State Legislature. He was twice married, his second wife being Caroline Cook. He died in Mt. Carmel in 1862, . his wife surviving him; she is now a resident of Indian- apolis. None of the children are living in the county.
Others who were among the first emigrants from Ohio, were: Isaac Ingersoll, Edward Ulm, Joseph Jones, James Townsend, William Simonds, Aaron Gould Abraham Russell, Scoby Stewart, James Black, and several others, of whom, at this late date, it ia impossible to get any record.
The former, Mr. Ingersoll, came when he was a mere
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TENANT HOUST & FARM LOOKING WEST.
RESIDENCE , STOCK & GRAIN FARM OF JACOB SEILER, SEC.35, T.I. R.13. MT CARMEL PRECINCT, WABASH CO. ILL.
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AMIVE STY . . NO!
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
237
boy. He died in Mt Carmel but a few months ago, being at his death the oldest pioneer in the precinct. A daughter of Mr. Ulm, wife of William Stone, is a resi- dent of this precinct. Mr. Stone is also one of the early settlers. John D., a son of Andrew Dyar, is a resident of the precinct, and has had the honor of being twice elected to the office of sheriff of the county. Two of the family of the pioneer, Joseph Jones, live in Mt. Carmel, Frank and Caroline,-the latter is the widow of Hiram Bedell. Two of James Townshend's children are yet living : John, who is in Mt. Carmel, and a daughter who resides in Indiaua. Aaron Gould remained here for some years, when he removed to another part of the State ; several of his representatives are residents of the county. Scoby Stewart was one of the first merchants and justices of the peace in the city. He died many years ago.
William Simonds came from Ohio, and located about one and a-half miles northwest of Mt. Carmel, and was one of the first to cultivate a farm in the precinct. He had a family of five children : Stephen, Elijah, William, junr., David, and Lydia (now the widow of George Le- gier). The latter resides in Mt. Carmel, and David lives at the old homestead. Mr. Simonds and wife died some vears ago.
A pioneer of 1819 was Beauchamp Harvey, a native of Maryland, who in an early day went to Ohio. It was here that he enlisted in the service of the war of 1812, and was with General Hull's troops at the memo- rable surrender of Detroit. At the close of the war he returned to Ohio, where he married Esther Saylor, in 1816. In 1819 he migrated to Illinois, and located in Mt. Carmel. At this time the family consisted of two daughters, Jane and Sally. Five other children were born to the family : James, Mary, Judith, William P., and David, four of whom are living-James, and Judith (wife of Daniel Titus) reside in Mt. Carmel; David is in Coffee precinct ; and Mary (wife of Thomas J. Ray) re- sides in Lawrence county. Mr. Harvey died at the old homestead in 1859; his wife survived him until 1873.
John Tilton was another emigrant of 1819, and was from New Jersey. He first located at Bald Hill prairie, in Friendsville precinct, but soon afterward moved to Mt. Carmel. He was one of the first hotel-keepers of the town, and subsequently engaged in the mercantile business. He died here long ago. Several of his de- scendants are residents of Mt. Carmel and vicinity.
Samuel and Robert Rigg (brothers) came from Ohio in the same year as Mr. Tilton. Both of them had fami- lies. F. M. Rigg, a son of Samuel, resides at the home- stead of his father, about three miles west of Mt. Carmel ; and James, another son, lives near him. Dr. Rigg, of Mt. Carmel, is a descendant of the Rigg pioneers. The county is largely sprinkled with those springing from these old families.
One of the oldest living settlers in the precinct is Cap- tain James M. Sharp, a citizen of Mt. Carmel. He was born in Kentucky, and with his parents, moved to Indi-
ana in 1814. He came to Mt. Carmel a single man, in 1825. He learned the trade of blacksmithing with Joshua Beall, with whom he remained until 1830. In 1836, he married Rebecca Tougas, from which union four children were born. Mrs. S. died in 1849. He sub- sequently married a sister (Julia) of his first wife. Only one of the children is living, Thomas P, who resides in Mt. Carmel. In 1832, Mr. Sharp engaged as engineer on the river, which occupation he followed until 1844. He subsequently became a river pilot on the Wabash and Ohio rivers, and continued in this service until 1856, when he retired from the business and engaged in farm- ing. . He was elected to the State Legislature three terms, 1861, 1863, and 1867, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1870. He has now retired from active life, and is enjoying his old age with his wife in peace and plenty.
Isaac Hoskinson also came in 1825. He was a native of Virginia. His family then consisted of his wife and four children. He established the first foundry in the town, which was one of the first in the West. He died in 1828. Two of his sons reside in Mt. Carmel, F. A., and Isaac, Jr. O. B. Ficklin, now of Charleston, Coles county, Ill., was a settler of 1830, and was once editor of the Mt. Carmel Register. He is now practicing law, and is among the oldest practitioners in the state. We glean the following from a speech made by him at an old settler's meeting a few years ago, in the city of Olney. In speaking of the traffic of those early times, he says : " The ' possum' and the coon were important factors in the stock and trade. The meat was used for food and the furs for commerce. Deer skins, beeswax, and wild honey were a medium of traffic for the flat boats between Mt. Carmel and New Orleans, and in re- turn they brought sugar, molasses, and other products of the South Bees were so numerous that they were hunted by saint and sinner." He relates of one of the pioneer preachers, when giving out his appointment du- ring the bee-hunting season, as saying, " That he would preach at - church on the next Sunday if it was not a good bee day." This smacks of ye olden time, and conveys to the reader a glimpse of the customs of the pioneers.
Isaac N. Jaquess was born in Kentucky, and when a mere boy migrated with his mother to Missouri. He came to Mt. Carmel a single man, in 1831. Three years later he married Jane Tilton. She died in 1863, and in 1867, he married Katherine McClintock. Ten children have been born to him, four of whom are yet living ; I. W., James H., Laura J., wife of Dr. Rigg, and Ellen S., wife of Richard Weaver ; all of whom reside in Mt. Car- mel and vicinity. Mr Jaquess is one of the Black Hawk soldiers, and served as Chaplain in the War of the Re- bellion. He has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for many years, and has had the honor of representing the people in the State Legislature one term, 1872-3. He is now 72 years of age, and hale and hearty for one of his years. Is engaged in the lumber trade in Mt.
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Carmel, besides he owns considerable real estate both in Illinois and Indiana.
Other early settlers were Elijah Harris, Robert Lucas, Curtis Ivy, Jacob Tombs, A. L. Hobbs, P H. Bagwell and others who have probably passed out of mind of those now living.
The first medical practitioner in this part of the county was Dr. Reuben Baker, who located in Mt. Carmel sev- eral years before the county was formed. Other early physicians were, Drs. Allison, Fithian, Trall, Anderson, Harvey and Rigg. Dr. Fithian left Mt. Carmel in the spring of 1833. Dr. James Harvey has retired from practice. Drs. T. J. Rigg and Paul Sears are yet prac- ticing in the city.
First Land Entries .- Believing that the early land en- tries will be of interest to the reader, we here record the first made in the precinct. The following are in Tp. 1 S., R. 12 W .: October 24th, 1814, John Marshall en- tered the N. W. } of fractional sec. 28. Nov. 1st, 1814, Enoch Greathouse entered all of fractional sec. No. 20 that lies within the limits of the state. April 25th, 1817, Thos. S. Hinde entered 480 acres of the east part of sec. 29. The following entries are in Tp. 1 S., R. 13 W .: June 12th, 1816, James Majors entered the S. W. } of sec. 1. April 12th, 1817, Enoch Greathouse entered the N. W. } of same section. Jan. 7th, 1817, Henry At- ter entered the S. E. } of sec. 3. June 16th, 1817, A. Vanderveer & Smook entered the N. E. } of sec. 11. Maudove Beauchamp entered, Aug. 5th, 1817, all of sec 14, except 58 acres in the northeast. James English, Apr. 25th, 1817, entered all of sec. 24. The same date, John Collins entered the N. } of sec. 25. Same date, Joshua Beall entered the E. } of the S. E. } of sec. 25. Same date, Cornelius McCallen entered the S. W. } of sec. 26. Jan. 22nd, 1818, David Beauchamp entered the S. E. } of sec. 26 March 18th, 1818, John Russell entered the W. } of the S. W. } of sec. 12. June 15th, 1818, Henry Christy entered the W. } of the N. E. } of sec. 12 June 10th, 1818, Wm. Beauchamp entered the E. } of the S. W. } of sec. 23. Sept. 17th, 1818, J. & J. Dunlop entered the S. W. } of sec. 15. June 26th, 1818, Scoby Stewart entered the N. E. } of sec. 1. The following entries are in Tp. 2 S., R. 13 W .: Dec. 13th, 1815, A. Lavulette entered the S. E. } of sec. 3. Jan. 3rd, 1817, John Nestler entered the S. W. } of sec. March 20th, 1817, Thos. S. Hinde entered the S. } of sec. 2.
EARLY NAVIGATION OF THE WABASH.
The first navigation of the Wabash river was by means of rudely constructed flat and keel boats, which were propelled by poles or sweeps. So unwieldy were they, that after propelling them to the markets below, they were left, and the navigators usually walked back to their homes. Ye of the Iron Age, where steam power has virtually wiped out distance, imagine, if you can, a tramp on foot from New Orleans to Mt Carmel, and with the small amount of money obtained by traffic safely stowed in a side pocket.
The first steamboat that came up the Wabash as far as Mt. Carmel was the Commerce, commanded by Jacob Strades, in 1819. It came from Cincinnati, and passed up the river as far as Terre Haute. It was not until about 1832, that steam-boating on the Wabash commenced with much regularity. Prior to this, one boat within the year was about the extent of steam nav- igation. From 1832 to 1856, the business was quite active, but soon afterward the railroads came into vogue, and the steamboat traffic became almost a dead letter, so that to-day there is scarcely a boat on the river. Now and then a tug-boat makes its appearance, but this is only at long intervals.
OLD PALMYRA.
This extinct town was the first county seat of Edwards county when said county embraced about one-third of the present state of Illinois, and quite a portion of the- states of Michigan and Wisconsin, its northern bound- ary extending north to Upper Canada. The town was laid off by Seth Gard & Company, April 22nd, 1815, and is described as follows: Lying on the Wabash river on part of the two fractional lots or sections, numbers 4 and 5, in township one south of Base Line, and range twelve west of the second principal meridian. In its palmiest days it was a town of considerable pretensions, contain- ing several stores, hotels, banks, etc., beside the county buildings. The buildings were constructed mainly of hewed logs, many of them being double in proportions It seems that it was a great oversight by the County Commissioners in selecting this point for the capital of the county, as it is at a sluggish bend in the river, on a sand ridge, and was nearly surrounded,with low marshes and sloughs. The Indians warned the people by saying, "Indian die here, squaw die here, pappoose die here, and white man die here." It proved too true, for the town became noted as one of the most sickly localities in the West. The inhabitants died by the hundreds and were- buried in the sand ridge below the town. Nothing but a cornfield now marks the spot of either the town or cemetery ; not even a head-stone exists to inform the passer-by that hundreds of Palmyra's dead lie here.
It would be needless to add that in a few years a vote was submitted to the people to re-locate the county seat. Albion and Mt. Carmel were rival towns for said honor, the former town being the choice of the people- This was in 1821, only a few years after the close of the war of 1812. Albion being an English settled town, the people east of Bonpas creek felt very much aggrieved over the county business passing into the hands of the British, as they somewhat jealously termed the citizens of Albion and vicinity. Four companies of militia-men. were enrolled and drilled in and about Mt. Carmel, and made ready, at a moment's notice, to march upon Albion and secure the records. The crisis arrived, and the companies of militia met at Bald Hill Prairie, where they encamped for the night, preparatory to marching on to Albion early the next morning. Before reaching
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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the town they were met by a committee, sent from Al- bion to make terms of peace. A compromise was effected and the militia disbanded. Three years later, Wabash became a county, and had the privilege of managing its owu domestic affairs.
CITY OF MT. CARMEL.
This fine little city is situated on a prominent bluff overlooking the Wabash, nearly a half mile distant to the southward. Intervening is a large common belong- ing to the city, and by its side the river silently wends its way to mingle its waters with the Ohio. It is the capital of Wabash county, and geographically, is located in the central eastern part of the precinct, township one, range twelve west of the second principal meridian, and now comprises about three square miles. The founders, Rev. Thos. S. Hinde and William McDowell, in. 1817, conceived the idea of establishing and populating a town on the Wabash-then the Western frontier-that should have a civil and moral code peculiar to their views of right and justice. Some time in 1818 the site was se- lected, surveyed and platted. The town was laid out on a large scale-and, to induce immigration, lots were dos nated to those who would improve the same within a given time. Articles of association were drafted for the government of the town and placed of record, Sept. 21, 1818. These articles made liberal provision for the building of a seminary, and instituting a bank, all of which should be under the joint control of the law- abiding citizens of the town. Article 18 of the associa- tion has, in later years, been denominated " blue laws," on account of their Puritanic significance. We will here give a synopsis of the aforesaid Articles : " No theatre or playhouse shall ever be built within the bounds of the city. No person shall be guilty of drun- kenness, profane swearing or cursing, Sabbath-breaking, or who shall keep a disorderly house, shall gamble, or suffer gambling in his house, or raise a riot in the city, or be guilty of any other crime of greater magnitude, etc., he shall be subject to trial by the court or mayor." On conviction, the culprit was disqualified from holding* any office in the city, or the bank, and was also disquali- fied to vote for any bank or city officers. This ostracism was to continue for three years after the commission of the so-called crime.
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