Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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 71
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 71
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 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

LANCASTER.

WABASH COUNTY.

ANCASTER precinct is bounded on the North by Richland and Lawrence counties, on the East by Friendsville, on the South by the same and Lick Prairie precincts, and on the West by Ed- wards county, Bonpas Creek forming the boundary line. Territorially, it embraces the area lying within the fol- lowing limits : The northern tier of sections of T. 2 N., and the northern half tier of sections 22, 23, 24, 19, 20, and 21, of T. 1 N. inclosure; and Bonpas creek and the western half tier of sections 35, 2, 11, 14, and 28, of R. 13 W., except section 15, and one half each of sections 14 and 12, and one fourth of section 23, T. 1 N. R. 13 W. It derived its name from the town of Lancaster, within its limits. The surface, aside from the prairies, is somewhat broken. Round prairie, on which Lancaster is situated, is about a mile and a half in diameter. West of Lancaster is Round prairie, so called on account of its shape, being about three miles long northeast and southwest, and some two miles wide. The balance of the surface was originally quite heavily timbered, with white oak and hickory, especially in belts along Jor- dan's and Bonpas creeks. Bordering on the prairies there was a considerable amount of post work. Most of the timber has been cleared away in the interest of agri- culture, except along the streams The soil on the Bon- pas contains but little sand, is light-colored, and not fertile. That on the upland is a light clay and yields corn, wheat and clover, abundantly. The resources of the precinct are such, principally, as spring from the soil. There is a considerable quantity of sandstone rock, visi- ble along the streams, suitable for building purposes. Drainage is supplied by Jordan's, Little Bonpas and Bonpas creeks. A large proportion of the population derive their descent from the Pennsylvania Germans, and display much of the industry and thrift peculiar to that people. The principal early industries were hunt- ing, stock-raising and farming. The progress of the latter, however, was much impeded by low prices and the difficulties of transportation. The price of corn from 1817 to 1825, did not exceed ten cents a bushel.

The earliest permanent settlements were made in 1814. In that year came William Jordan, Nathaniel Osgood, Benjamin Reynolds, and Henry Mills. Jordan was from Kentucky, and had a family of four children, viz : Elizabeth, Louis, Jane and Sallie. He settled on the

S. E. quarter of section 4 and, as early as 1818, put up a distillery and made corn whisky. He died at his residence on the place of his first settlement. The Os- good family came from Ohio. It consisted of Nathaniel, a married son, Almarine, Almira, Lydia, (wife of James McMullen, and Lefie. They settled on the S. half of section 14, T. 2. N., Nathaniel living in a separate house on the estate. Benjamin Reynolds was from Kentucky. He had a family of three sons, John, Richard and Har- rison, and four daughters. He settled on the N. W. quarter of section 8, and there, as early as 1820, had a horse-mill and distillery. His death took place on his farm. Col. Henry Mills was also from Kentucky, and settled on section 8. He brought with him a negress while Reynolds brought a negro named Ned Mills, and after a sojourn of two or three years, moved to Edwards county. John Arnold, son-in-law of William Jordan, came with the latter from Kentucky and settled in sec- tion 4. He was a man of character and influence and an early justice of the peace, as such, performing the marriage ceremony of John Higgins and Judah Ker- acher, fifty years ago. He served his state and country in the Black Hawk war, in the capacity of captain of one of the two companies from Wabash county. He subsequently moved to Wayne county, where he died. Tarlton Borin came to the precinct in 1815, and settled permanently on the N. W. quarter of section 7. He was a man of industry and economy, and accumulated a considerable amount of property. As early as 1828, he had a tannery which proved quite a convenience to the settlement. One of his daughters, Mrs. Cunningham, is a resident of the precinct.

In the year 1816, some ten or twelve families left Al- leghany county, New York, for the wild and uncultiva- ted shores of the Wabash. Among them was George W. Higgins, John Higgins, Willis Higgins, Edward Brines, Henry Utter, Lemuel Haskins, David Moss, John Harrison, Benjamin Smith, Levi Couch, and their families. They left their native State in " family boats," on the Alleghany river, and floated down its mountain lined course to the Ohio, and there to the site of Evansville, whence, having exchanged their boats for a keel boat, they proceeded up the Wabash, landing at Palmyra. Good fortune, with a single exception, smiled on the little fleet, as it noiselessly made its way down

303

304

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

the Ohio: as it neared the falls at Louisville, precau- tion suggested the employment of a pilot, who was ac- quainted with the river at that dangerous point. The pilot-boat, however, which was John Higgins', lodged in a shoal and dipped water at the stern, spoiling some goods. The women and children who were carried ashore, joined the boat some distance below. A mirth- provoking little occurrence worthy of note happened on the way : A spirit of friendly rivalry took possession of John Higgins and Levi Couch, and each contended for the lead. Couch was in the act of using his boat-pole to impede the progress of Higgins' boat, when the latter seized the pole and pulled the former into the water. Couch sank from view, but soon came to the surface, and sha king the water from his head and face, exclaimed he, he, hurrah for our boat! Of this little band of im- migrants, Harrison, Couch, Moss, Smith, and John Hig- gins settled in what is now Lancaster precinct ; Brines, Utter, Haskins and George and Willis Higgins in Friendsville. John Higgins' family consisted of his wife, and six children, viz: William, George, John, Delia, Betsey and Sophia, He settled on the N. W. quarter of section 4., where the town of Lancaster, of which he was one of the proprietors, now stands. Long prairie was an inviting and eligible spot, and in itself a natural pre- diction of the graceful little town now within its bor- ders. Higgins was a representative man. Though he was not a regular disciple of Gaelen and made no pre- tensions to skill in the healing art; his house was the . resort of those with broken and dislocated bones, and also for the entire neighborhood at the annual vernal bleeding, a thing esteemed of the highest importance to the proper performance of the functions of life. He was a justice of the peace, and for two or three terms a member of the board of county commissioners. His death took place in 1852. Two of the six pioneer chil- dren are yet living, George in Richland county, and John in Lancaster. Harrison was married, but had no children when he arrived. He subsequently had a family of ten, one of whom, George, the only survivor, is living on the old homestead, the N. E. } of section 5, where his father died, about 1840. Couch had a family of nine children, by name Ebenezer, Hiram, Levi, Laura, Cynthia, Dianthia, Sally, Samantha, and Betsy. He settled about two miles southeast of Lan- caster. Mr. Couch was a plain, industrious farmer, and accumulated some property. He lived where he first settled for a period of twelve or fifteen years, and then moved to the neighborhood of old Timberville, where he died. Moss had three children, Daniel, Harriet, and Hannah. He settled on section 4, where he lived about ten years, and then moved to Cincinnati. Smith, who settled on the S. E. } of section. 4, had two sons, Rensse- laer and John. He and his wife were quite advanced in years when they arrived. They and their two sons are now dead. Isaac Harness was a Virginian, but had lived some years in Indiana. He came to what is now Lancaster precinct in 1816, bringing a wife and three

children, Thomas, Isaac, and Sarah, who married Hiram Cusick. The Cusicks came from the State of New York, and in 1817 Henry, the original representative of the family, settled on the S. W. } of section 4. There are now many descendants of both these families living in the county. James McMullen came from Ohio in 1816. He married a daughter of Nathaniel Osgood, and set- tled on the S. E. } of section 33 T. 2 N. He was a high-strung, though veracious and honest man. Two brothers, George and David Pugh, came to the precinct in 1816, and located on the S. E. } of section 7. George made the first truck-wagons in the settlement.

The brothers, George and Andrew Knight, arrived about 1817 or '18 from Kentucky. The former was a single man, but married and settled on section 31, T. 2 N., R. 12. Andrew was married and settled on the ad- joining section 22. James Rollins came about 1819, bringing with him a family of four children, Rachel, Rebecca, Shadrach and Loyd. Other children were born subsequently. Rollins died many years ago. Jesse Jones, the first weaver in the precinct came from Kentucky in 1820. He brought three children and settled in the S. W. one-quarter of section 4. This same year came George Glick, from Pennsylvania, with a wife and one child, Louis, now living on the old place, the N. W. onc-quarter of section 7. After a residence of some years, he moved to Mt. Carmel precinct and there died. Elias Bailey and his wife arrived from Maryland in 1821 or '22, and settled on the S. W. one-quarter of section 4. He was twice married and reared quite a number of children. He held the office of justice of the peace, and was the first cabinet maker in the precinct. Rozander Smith, a farmer and stock raiser, who now resides on section 12, came from the State of New York in 1822. About this time, Samuel Fisher, a single man, from Berks county, Pa., married and settled on section 7. He was a house carpenter and farmer, and served as a soldier in the Black Hawk war. He and his brother- in-law, George Glick, opened the way for quite an exten- sive immigration from their native county.

The precinct was represented in the Black Hawk war by John Arnold, captain ; James McMillan, Thomas Louis, Henry Beil, Abner Turner and James A. Dodds. The first school was taught by one Abbott in 1810 on the west one half of the N. E. one-quarter of section 3, in an old cabin. A building for school purposes was raised on the site of Lancaster about 1822. The Cu- sicks, Higgins', Mosses, Cunninghams, Borins, Rey- nolds', McMullens, Harrisons, Harness' and Pughs attended this school. It was taught by Schoolmaster Fox, who came to the county with the Comptons at an early day. About 1825 the school-house was moved a half mile west of the village to accommodate the Long Prairie settlers, and Willis Higgins taught the school. The New Light doctrine was the first preached in the precinct by Rev. Rote, from Pennsylvania ; and a church was organized about 1820. One of the earliest marriages was that of a man named Bush, about sixty

EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH, LANCASTER

KOPH FALL

CHARLES SEIBERT CHEAP CASH STORE

BUSINESS PROPERTY OF CHARLES SEIBERT, LANCASTER, WABASH CO., ILL.

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES SEIBERT, REBUILT 1881, LANCASTER, WABASH CO., ILL.

11BRARY OF THE I'MIVERSITY OF LINEE

305

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

years of age, to the widow, Demarie, by 'Squire John Arnold, on a rainy night, at the cross roads in Lancas- ter, about 1820. They were married at this place be- cause of the reputed law exempting a husband from the previous debts of his wife, when the marriage was cele- brated in the " public street." As the bridal pair were approaching the appointed place, through the darkness, Henry Cusick called out " Who comes there ?" Bush replied : " The multipliers of the generation works." The first mill (horse-power) was built by John Arnold on the S. E one-quarter of section 4, as early as 1825. Prior to this, the settlers had their milling done at Vin- cennes, or after 1820, at Col. Simmonds' horse-mill in Friendship precinct. Andrew Knight built a log water-mill on the west bank of little Bonpas creek in section 6, about 1831. It had one set of burrs and a hand flour bolt. The following are the earliest land entries all in T. 1 N., R. 13 W .: May 6, 1814, John Waggoner entered the N. E. one-quarter of section 21; December 23, 1814, William Jordan, the S. E. one- quarter of section 4; December 30, 1814, Benjamin Reynolds, the N. E. { of section 8; January 15, 1815, Tarlton Borin, the N. W. one-quarter of section 7; May 9, 1815, Jeremiah Ballard, the W. one-half of the N. E. one-quarter of section 3; . June 1, 1815, Jeremiah Slaughter, the S. E. one-quarter of section 17; June 11, 1816, John Pugh, the N. E. one-quarter of section 7, aud Richard Maxwell, the S. W. one-quarter of section 8; November 14, 1816, Isaac Harness, the N. W. one- quarter of section 3 ; January 15, 1817, John Harrison, the N. E. one-quarter of section 5, and John Huggins, the N. W. one quarter of section 4. The following are in T. 2 N., R. 13 W .: May 25, 1816 James M. Mullen, the S. E one-quarter of section 33; June 1, 1815, Na- thaniel Osgood, the W. one-half of the S E. one-quarter of section 34. On the S. E. one-quarter of this section Mr. Isaac Harness preserves and points out the grave of a little boy, the last victim of the Cannon massacre. The Indians had encamped near the spot and built their camp fire deep down in a ravine so that its light might not attract the notice of their pursuers. Sentinels sta- tioned upon the bluffs are supposed to have seen the flames of the avenger'a camp fire near where Lancaster now stands, on the old Indian trail, and, the savages, preparatory to decampment, to have murdered the boy, who was to them probably a burden or a source of an- noyance.

LANCASTER,

With about two hundred and fifty inhabitants, is pleasantly situated near the centre of Round Prairie, and contains a number of handsome frame residences. The business is supplied mainly by the rich and populous farming community that surrounds it. Its name was derived from Lancaster, the county seat of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, from which locality many emi- grated to this vicinity. It was surveyed and platted by James Knapp, county surveyor, about the year 1846. The proprietors were John Higgins, sr., John Keracher,

Solomon Seibert, Elias Baily and Horace Woodward, The first house, where the town now stands, was a log dwelling, built by John Higgins in 1817. The second, now standing as a slaughter-house, was built by him in 1820. In this year he also put up a blacksmith-shop, and himself worked at the forge. The first mercantile house was built by H. Gunn, about 1846, and by him occupied with a general stock of goods, for some eight or ten years. He was followed in this place by Wilford Proctor, who kept a grocery store. About 1850 Horace Woodward built a frame store-house, where I. Hershey's general store now stands, and kept a general stock of goods. About 1851, a number of farmers united and bought a general stock of goods and sold them by their clerk, Bowdoin Baily. They continued business some eighteen months. About this time I. Hershey bought Woodward's store property and goods, and began business. Some time after this, Charles Seibert built his present store-house and began the sale of general merchandise. About 1858 or '9, Levi Couch and Rus- sell Harrison built a frame store and kept a general stock of goods. They subsequently sold to Robert Ridgely, who continued business for seven or eight years. The building is now occupied by Dr. McJilton, who came to Lancaster about fifteen years ago. Dr. Reed, a botanic physician, located in the town as early as 1845, and remained about four or five years. In 1848, Dr. Cleve began practice, but continued only a short time. Two brothers, Drs. Philbrick, came to Lancaster in a patent-medicine wagon, in 1850. They remained about two years and were succeeded by Dr. William Friend, who still continues in possession of a lucrative practice. Shortly after Dr. Friend came Dr. Flanders, who, after a sojourn of two years, removed to Lawrence county. The first school-house (frame) was built in 1846. The present one, a frame two-story building, was erected in 1866 at a cost of $1800. The Christian Church was built in 1857 as a " Union Church," and was so called. It cost about $2000. The Albright was erected in 1866, at a cost of about $1000. The Lutheran Evangelical, built in 1877, is a handsome brick structure, erected at a cost of about $3500. The Methodist Episcopal was built in 1880, for about $2100. Lancaster Flouring Mill was built by Penrose Beihl and William Rowland, about 1858. Some of the machinery and one run of burrs from Beihl's old mill on Little Bonpas, was utilized in this. It is a frame two-story building, with two runs of burrs, and a capacity of from 25 to 30 barrels of flour a day. After quite a number of changes of ownership, the property is now in the hands of Joel and F. J. Dreibelbis, in equal shares, and is operated by the latter. The saw-mill was put up the winter of 1881; by John Leightly and Solomon Grismore, who moved it from Bonpas creek, Edwards county.

GENERAL BUSINESS.

Physicians .- William Friend, F. Waller, Edward McJilton.

306

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

Druggist .- A. Corrie. General Merchants .- J. Hershey, Charles Seibert. Shoemaker .- T. Deiber.

Harness Maker .- Peter Scherer. Milliner .- Miss Minnie Malotte. Blacksmiths .- Henry Reiber, William Raybuck. Justice .- Isaiah Berninger.

Carpenters .- William Ginther, M. & J. Sugar, Ross McMillan, James Seibert.

Painter .- Joel Berninger.

Wagon Makers .- Isaiah & Amos Berninger.

Butcher .- David Spitler.

Cattle Dealer .- Simeon Mull.

Tinware and Stoves .- John Leighty.

BIOGRAPHIES.

JOSEPH B. SHEARER,

THE popular and efficient Justice of the Peace, Post- master and farmer at Gard's point, was born in Ben- nington county, Vt., September 4th, 1842. His father and family came to Wabash county in 1851. The family comprised four children, two of either sex. Mr. Shearer enlisted as a soldier during the rebellion, in Co. C 115th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and was with his command in all its marches, skirmishes, etc. As a soldier, he was brave and true. He was married to Mary Hallock, March 22, 1869. She was at the time a country school teacher, the daughter of Aaron B. Hal- lock, a native of New York city, who located in Mt. Carmel in 1839. The Hallocks trace their family back to the time of the landing of thirteen Pilgrim Fathers, one of whom was Peter Hallock, at New Haven, Conn., in 1640. Peter Hallock was the first of the band to step on shore among the Indians in Southold, at a place still called Hallock's Neck, in honor of the event From the Indians he purchased the Oyster Ponds in the near vicinity, and returned to England, where he was mar- ried. In his absence the Indians resold the tract to other parties, so that, upon his return, he had to seek another location. His only son, William, died Sept. 28, 1684, leaving a will, which cut off a son, John, from all participation in his property, because he apostatized from the faith of his fathers, embracing as he did the Quaker or Friends' belief, in which cause he was most earnest and faithful. He became the first of a line of six preachers of the same name. His death is recorded in Brookham, 1737, where the record says: " both very ancient and in unity with Friends." The neat dwellings of himself and his son John yet remain in Setauket, preserved by the Friends. John, the second, died in 1757. The sixth of the name John was the father of James C., of New York ; Allen C., of Evansville; Rich- ard B., of Princeton ; Aaron B., of Mt. Carmel, already referred to as being the father of Mrs. Shearer.

Mr. Shearer is a prominent outspoken Republican. In his religious convictions he is liberal. He is a man highly respected for his real worth, and because of his talents.

GEORGE W. KEEN,

WHOSE parents were among the early settlers of Wabash county, was born September 2, 1827. His father, Dennis Keen, was a native of Ohio, a farmer by occupation. Wben but a small boy, George was set to plowing, a vocation he has all through a busy life kept up. His schooling was quite limited, extending over less than five months altogether. This was in the Little Rock district, near the present site of Allendale. Arrived at the age of twenty-one, his father gave him an eighty acre tract of land, all heavily wooded. With a will, he went to work clearing out a farm. For five years he " kept bach," as it is termed, in a cabin, while day by day he was engaged in felling trees, burning brush, and plowing the ever enlarging tract of farming land. At the end of that time he had some fifty acres in fair cul- tivable condition, and to the attractions of his home he added a wife, being married to Jane Campbell on the 17th day of February, 1853. The marriage ceremony was performed by Thomas Armstrong, at the time judge of the county court, a gentleman who had often twitted George on his bachelor way of living, and who bad re- peatedly asked for the chance of " marrying him without charge, ' he always added. At the time of the marriage, Mrs. Keen had a cow, a horse, some bed-clothing, and a hundred and twenty-five dollars cash given her by her father. Mr. Keen had fifty acres of cleared land, and six head of horses. During the first few years he was peculiarly unfortunate in horses, losing no less than nine head, three of which were accidentally killed. Such discouragements he bore patiently, and only toiled the harder to make amends for the loss. Mrs. Keen was the daughter of James, of Wilson county, Tenn .; and Mary Campbell, of Virginia. They came to Illinois in 1851. The long and tedious journey was made by Mr. and Mrs. Campbell, an aunt, an uncle, a hired hand and four children-one son (James) and three daugh- ters. The trip was made by wagon, on foot and on horseback.

An incident in the early lives of Mr. and Mrs. Camp- bell is worthy of mention. Mrs. Campbell, whose maiden name was Pritchett, was the sole dependence of

307

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

her widowed mother. She had the plowing to do, the wood to chop; in short, the various farm work that usu- ally falls to the lot of boys was hers to do. Hence, her mother forhade the match with Mr. Campbell; but, as was the custom, the neighboring boys aided James by stealing the girl from her mother's house and aiding a runaway match. Starting as they did, penniless, they had a hard time ofit. He split rails at twenty-five cents per hundred, to get money with which to defray doctors' bills. James Campbell died March 1st, 1879, and his wife Mary P. Campbell, on March 17th, 1876. Both lie buried in Gard's Point grave-yard, a few miles south of Lancaster.

On the old place cleared out by Mr. Keen they lived till 1866, when he moved to his present home, where he had bought four hundred acres of land. To himself and wife were born ten children, nine of whom are living : Sylvanus, Mary Elizabeth (dec'd), Margaret Jane, Effie Isadora, Rosanna, Isabella, Sarah, James, Dennis and Louisa. Of these, Sylvanus was married to Harriet Susan Bryant, daughter of Samuel Bryant, Lawrence county, Sept. 3, 1879 ; Margaret was married to Russell Ridgeley, of Richland county, May 4, 1876; and Isadora was married to Constantine Shiek, a Christian minister, now of Richland county, May 4, 1882.

Mr. Keen is a Democrat of the old school, his voting having commenced with a ballot cast for Lewis Cass. He and his wife are faithful, earnest members of the Christian Church. A good citizen, a kind neighbor, he has hosts of friends.

SAMUEL MARX,

A FARMER living about two miles south of Lancaster, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, August 13, 1830. As the name indicates, he was of German extraction. Both ofhis parents came to America fron Ger- many in the year 1828. Michael Marx, his father, had mar- ried Margaret Bisch, by whom he had one child, now Barbara Deischer, before coming to America. To them were born nine children in this country. The family came to Wabash county in 1836, where they located in the woods and with strong and willing arms, Michael hewed out a farm. He died December 11, 1878. His wife had only a month before been carried to her last resting place, having died November 4 of the same year. Of the family two brothers and as many sisters yet survive. Samuel Marx married Fannie Schlauker, daughter of Gideon Schlauker, February 2, 1853. By her he has had ten children : George Linder (deceased), Lizzie Clara (deceased), Samuel S., Amanda, Mary, Gideon, Jennie, Belle, Isaac and Charles H. When Samuel commenced life for himself he had a horse and about forty dollars in money. He worked earnestly, and as soon as possible became a land owner. Steadily he has added to his earnings, until now he is the happy possessor of one of the finest farms in his vicinity. He is a sterling Demo-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 71

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