Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers, Part 76

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 76
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 76
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 76

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On the 4th of August, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss N. J. P.utman, daughter of Eber and Tryphosia Putman, old settlers of Illinois and Wabash county. Her family were originally from Massachusetts, and from there removed to Ohio, then to Indiana, and in 1818 came to Illinois. Mrs. Parmenter was born in Wabash county, March 18th, 1830. There have been seven children born to Mrs. Parmenter, six of whom are living. Lester, one of the sons, was accidentally killed at the age of fourteen years. The names of the children in the order of their birth are Adin T., who married Miss Mary Alice Bristow, and have two children; Lettie A., Sarah, Merriam, Henry, and William Franklin Par- menter. Mrs. Parmenter and two eldest daughters are members of the Christian church. Politically the family were originally old line Whigs, then Republicans. Mr. Parmenter votes the Republican ticket on all National and State occasions.

Mr. Parmenter is one of the substantial farmers of Wabash county. He is an old settler, born and bred in Wabash county. Here where he has lived among these people who know him best, he is regarded as a straight- forward wide awake energetic and honorable business man, conducting his business on correct principles. He has also lately been interested in constructing ditches for the purpose of draining the low lands in the county.

RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF BLASHEL FOSTER, 1/4 MILE WEST OF WEST SALEM, EDWARDS CO. ILL.

Vr .HE !INIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

BRIDGEPORT.

LAWRENCE CO.

HIS township is bounded on the north by Petty, east by Lawrence and Dennison, south by Lukin, and west by Christy township, and coniprises an area of about fifteen sections. It was or- ganized as a voting precinct, in 1872, by taking two and a half sections from the east side of Christy. It was first settled by Kentuckians, and the first to locate here were Samuel H. and his brother, Rezin Clubb; they came and settled on the Old Indian trace, in 1817, on the southeast quarter of section 12, township 3-13, where Samuel H. erected a cabin for his family. Sam- uel H. was born in the year 1788, and came here with his wife at the date above mentioned. Soon after, con- siderable immigration began, and Mr. Clubb enlarged his cabin and opened an inn, and entertained travelers for several years, and his house became quite a noted place. Among other pioneers, soon after the laying out out of the county seat, he moved there and became county treasurer, and subsequently laid out Clubb's addition to the town. He also represented the county in the legislature of the state. Mr. Clubb was three times married and left four children. Henry A. Clubb, Deputy County Clerk, is the only son living. Mr. Clubb died March 28th, 1863. Rezin Clubb lived but a short time in this county, moving farther west and settling on land afterward included in Richland county, where he reared a family, some of whom are yet living. On the 18th of April, 1818, James Lanterman, a Kentuckian, arrived ; he settled with his family on section 17, (T. 3 -12). He made the trip here in an old Virginian wagon drawn by six horses. His father-in-law, Hugh Drennen had come to the county the year prior, and entered 160 acres of land for each of his children. When Mr. Lant- erman came, he found an old Indian with his squaw and three children, who had an elm-bark camp on this tract, which they were occupying. He soon made a trade with the Indian, and for a quart of whisky and a half side of bacon, the camp was purchased, and the Indian with his little family, left never to return again. The camp was moved a short distance, to a small elevation of ground, and a canvas tent placed near it ; the old bark tent was used for a kitchen and the tent and large cov- ered wagon for sleeping apartments. It was here they made their residence, until after their crop had been planted, and a log-cabin was completed, into which the family moved on the 3d of July. Mr. Lanterman's family consisted of himself and wife, whose name was

Jane, and their children, Lettie, David D. and Margaret, who were then quite small ; besides, there was Robert Drennen, Richard McCann, and another young man. James Lanterman was a good and useful citizen, he died in the year 1861, in the village of Bridgeport. Of those of his family who came with him, his son, David D., is the only one now living. He is still a resident of Bridge. port, hale and hearty, and delights in relating incidents and anecdotes of the olden times. In the year 1817, Nathan Rawlings settled on section 8. He was a Ken- tuckian, and a man of large family. His sons were Provence, Nathan, James and Scott. They all subse- quently married and continued to reside in the county. They are now all deceased, but some of their descendants still survive. The elder Rawlings was a noted hunter in his day, and was quite a champion in all athletic sports.

Henry Bennett, an Ohioan, came here in the fall of 1817, and settled on the N. E. quarter of section 17, almost within the present limits of the town of Bridge- port. He reared a small family and died about the year 1828, soon after which his wife and family returned to Ohio. William Martin, a Yankee, as the early settlers termed him, also came in the year 1817. He located with his family on section 18, where he erected a cabin, tilled some ground and lived for about ten years, and then left the county. His father, John Martin, resided with him until his death, which occurred a few years after he came. Thomas Fish, a native of the state of Vermont, settled on the south west quarter of section 18, in the year 1818-the same year that Illinois was ad- mitted into the Union as a State. His family consisted of himself, wife, and three children, Sally, Josiah and John. The latter is still living on the old homestead, and is among the oldest residents of the county. Samuel Newell, a Virginian by birth, came to the county as early as 1816; first stopped on Allison's prairie for a year or two, where he made a farm; he then removed to section 8, T. 3-12, where he erected a cabin and made other improvements, and lived until his death, which occurred about the year 1854. He had a large family of children, only three of whom are now living in the county, viz : Mrs. William Cooper, Mrs. T. A. Martin and Samuel. Another son, John A. lives in Kansas and is over seventy years of age. Samuel resides on the old home place. James Stewart, a Tennesseean, was also another early settler, arriving in 1817.

Early Schools and Churches .- The first school was

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

taught by John Martin, on section 18, in a little log- cabin, in the year 1819. Among the scholars were David D. Lanterman, Lettie Lanterman, the Miller children and the Fish children. In a year or two, 1820- 21, a log school-house, with greased paper windows, was built on the southwest corner of section 17, T. 3 -- 12, near which was built a hewed log church by the "New Lights," (Christians) about the same time, which were known as the Spring Hill church and school-house, so named on account of there being a perennial spring near by.

William Kinkaid was the earliest resident preacher in the neighborhood. Among the traveling preachers were, Rev. James Hughes, John Rogers, David Mc Donald and Elijah Gooden.

A burial ground was started here, and the first person interred therein was James Flanigan.

Mrs. Ealsa Miller, a widow with eight children, (she was a daughter of Samuel Kinkaid), came with her father and brothers, Hugh and William, in the spring of 1819. She settled on the N. E. quarter of section 20 (T. 3-12), where she reared her family. Josephus M. Miller, her son, born in Kentucky in 1809, has always live on the old homestead, and is well-known as among the older residents of the county. It is related that when Mrs. Miller came, during a part of the years 1819-20, a band of about five hundred Shawnee Indians were camped on the Indian creek, in this township. They were on a hunting expedition and did not molest the few and scattered settlements. The Indians were accompanied by their squaws and children. The settlers would frequently congregate at the camp of the Indians for purposes of barter, and to witness the antics and various other amusements of the papooses.

John Scott, a Kentuckian and a Christian preacher, settled on section 19, in 1817, he continued to reside there about five years, with his family-then they removed to one of the centre counties bordering on the Illinois river. Barney McMann came in 1817 and settled west of Bridgeport; he was soon after taken sick, and died. After this date, settlers came in quite rapidly and the county became more thickly populated.

Land entries : On the 30th of July, 1816, Samuel Newell entered the N. half of section 8, (T. 3-12), and August 12th, 1816, Nathan Rawlings entered the E. half of S. W. quarter of section 8, (T. 3-12.) June 10th, 1817, Cornelius Vanarsdale entered N. E. quarter sec- tion 32, (T. 4-12); Aug. 13th, 1817, W. French and "T. Roseman, S. W. quarter section 32, (T. 4-12) ; Oct. 30th, 1817, James Stewart, S. E. quarter section 12, (T. 4-12); Samuel Clubb entered the S. E. quarter section 12, (T. 3-13) on the 12th of May, 1818, and the same day and year, May 12th, 1818, William Martin entered the N. E. quarter of section 13, (T. 3-13). Frequently the settlers would "Squat " on the land and make an improvement, and live on it for a time before entering the tract.

The following gentlemen have represented this town-

ship in the board of supervisors. The township was organized at the September term, 1872, and the first supervisor was M. E. Barnes, 1873, David D. Lanterman, 1874, by re-election held the office until 1879. G. A. Abernathy, 1879, and by re election held the office four terms, until 1883; Hyatt W. Bunn, elected in 1883, is the present incumbent.

Stiver's Mineral Springs, located about one and a half miles southwest from Bridgeport, are gaining some pop- ularity. The waters are strongly impregnated with valuable medical properties, to the curative effect of which many can testify. They are situated in a beautiful grove of natural trees, and the surrounding scenery is pleasant and interesting. A hotel and bath-houses have been erected, and other conveniences made for the en- tertainment and comfort of the guests. Moses Stivers is the proprietor. .

TOWN OF BRIDGEPORT

Is located on parts of sections 8-9, (T. 3-12), on the line of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. The original proprietors were David D. Lanterman and Aaron Shaw. They had the town laid out and platted by Walter Bu- chanan, County Surveyor, in the summer of 1854. During the building of the O. & M. R. R., the company erected five or six shanties on the north side of the road, (which have since been torn down), and John Burk, one of the foremen, named it Bridgeport, from the bridge crossing Indian creek at this point, and a year later, when the town was laid out, the name was continued.

Samuel Thorn erected a frame one-story store building, just north of the railroad, which is still standing on what is now the west side of Main street. He put in a general stock of goods. In 1854, G. W. Cooper, jr. built a small frame store-house on the lot where now stands the Centennial Hotel. It was the first business house erected after the town was platted. In the spring of 1854, George Schreck erected a small log-house on 2d street, between Main and Jefferson, which was the first residence in the town. About the time of the completion of the above, several parties began the erection of resi- dences and stores, and during the remainder of the year ten or a dozen were completed. Among the parties who erected buildings, were George W. Cooper, sr., George W. Cooper, jr., Philip Guines, Henry Guines, James Lanterman, John and Jerre Hill. Jackson Lamott built the first hotel, in 1858. The town kept on growing until the fall of 1861, when a fire broke out in the centre of the business block, on the west side of Main street and destroyed the whole block. Within a year or two the buildings were replaced, only to be again destroyed by fire about twelve years later. The block was again re- placed with larger and more durable buildings, this time with substantial brick structures.

The first resident physician was Dr. Samuel Hayes. He is still practicing here. Samuel L. Spencer was the first blacksmith.

About the year 1870 the town reached its most pros-

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

329

perors condition. It then had a pork packing establish- ment and other enterprises and industries flourished here, which attracted the citizens from several miles of the surrounding country, and the place became quite a business centre for trade with the farmers. It was a rival of Lawrenceville for the county seat, for which a vote of the people of the county was taken, the majority vote, however, was in favor of retaining the county seat at Lawrenceville.

Corporation. Bridgeport was incorporated by special act of the Legislature, Feb. 16th, 1865, by the name and style of "The Town of Bridgeport." The government being vested in five trustees, to be elected by the voters of the town, on the first Monday in April, of each year ; also to elect one Police Magistrate, and town Constable. The corporate trustees were M. D. Frazier, Gideon Schlenker, Lyman Utter, G. W. Cooper, jr., and William Lockwood. The present board at this writing, (March, 1883), are John A. Baird, president of the board, Theo. Smith, Martin Eshelman, B F. Watson and Adolph Schmalhausen. Carl Busse, Clerk and Police Magis- trate. William Gray, Constable.

Early Churches .- The first house of worship erected in the town, was by the Christian denomination, about the year 1858. At the present writing, there are a Christian, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catholic, all substantial buildings.

Early Schools .- The first school-house was a frame building, erected in the northwest part of the town, in 1860. It was used until the present commodious brick struc- ture was erected, in 1881, at a cost of upward of $4000.

Bridgeport City Mills, was built by J. L. Coleman, about twenty-five years ago. The present proprietors are J. D. Sage & Son. They purchased the mill in 1873. It is a three-story building, operated by steam, and con- tains three run of burrs, one set of rolls and two purifiers,

and is both a custom and merchant mill. "Sages Pride" and several other brands find a ready market in Cincin- nati, besides many local points. Capacity, 100 barrels per twenty four hours.

Lodge .- A Masonic lodge was organized here a short time since, and is in a flourishing condition.

PRESENT BUSINESS.

General Stores .- Casper Pixley, and Warner Bros.

Druggists .- L. R. Schmalhausen, F. Frazier, and G. W. Cooper.

Groceries .-- Schmalhausen & Co., Jacob Schleuker, G. C. Schleuker, C. Busse.

Hardware and Groceries .- W. C. Fyffe.

Stoves and Tinware .- H. Schmalhausen.

Agricultural Implement Dealer .- F. W. Cox.

Millinery .- Mrs. Ellen Cooper, Mrs. A. M. Piper and Miss Annie Cappass.

Photographer .- H. W. Bunn.

Furniture .- B. F. Bunn.

Blacksmiths .- W. H. Black, H. Milbern, Wade Bros.

Shoemakers .- C. Busse, Daniel McBride.

Barber .- A. B. Wolf.

Paint Shop .- B. F. Watson.

Livery Stable .- Gillespie & McBride.

Hotel .- Paul Sheridan.

Grain Dealer .- W. L. Gray.

Insurance Agents .- J. M. Rosenborough, Charles Vannausdel.

Postmaster-H. K. Lanterman.

Butchers .- Lanterman & O Donell.

Physicians .- M. D. Frazer, A. M. Maxwell, H. V. Lewis.

Dentist .- Samuel Hayes.

Harness Maker .- William Williamson. Sewing Machine and Organs .- J. T. McJunsey.

BIOGRAPHIES.

HARLIE V. LEWIS.

THE Lewis family trace their ancestry back through several generations to David Lewis, a Scotch-Irishman, who came to America in the latter part of the last century, He was a tall, athletic man, the father of Isaiah, who came to Lawrence county in 1820, and settled on a farm known since as the Bear farm, where he lived a number of years, then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. He taught the first school, in several different neighbor- hoods. Prior to coming to Illinois there was born to him a son, Philip, who remained in Lawrence county, Philip, a wheelwright and farmer, was for sonie years a preacher of the Universalist faith. During the latter

part of his life he was equally zealous as a member of the Christian church. He died Feb. 4, 1873. His family consisted of sixteen children. One of these, William M., was born in 1828. William M. Lewis was an active business man. When a young man he followed the trade of a carpenter. When Bridgeport was first laid off he erected the depot, and soon after commenced dealing in grain. In this business lie continued until the time of his death, which occurred February 3d, 1882. During the last five years he combined with his other interests that of dealer in hardware. As a busi- ness man he possessed marked ability. Although he had never attended school longer than six months, but

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HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

he was a natural mathematician, and as such was often appealed to for arbitration in cases where settlements between parties were difficult. He was married to Catharine Eaton, daughter of Caius Eaton, a native of Vermont, who survives him. Caius Eaton was among the first teachers as well as first justices in Lawrence- ville. Mrs. Lewis is an evangelist in the strictest sense of the term, as she proclaims her faith in every house-

hold. Few more zealous or active Christian wo- men can be found than she. To William M. and wife were born six children, Henry H. and Mollie M., now dead. Harlie V .. Siegel D., and Marion are living.

Dr. Harlie V. Lewis obtained a good common school education, then attended the medical institute of Cin- cinnati, whence he graduated March 2d, 1880. He was married to Hettie Ray, daughter of Dr. Thomas Ray, Oct. 5, 1881. In 1882 he was elected coroner of Lawrence county. He is a pronounced democrat po- litically, an active member of the Christian church, religiously. As a physician he is acquiring a fine prac- tice.

DR. MILTON D. FRAZER.

THIS leading physician was born in Richmond, Wayne county Indiana, April 26th, 1824. His father, Daniel Frazer, wasa native of Randolph county, North Carolina, as was also his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Hays. About the year 1814, they moved from their Carolinian home to Indiana. Their ancestral line runs back on the father's side to English birth, and on the mothers, to Scotch. To David and wife were born a fam- ily of thirteen children, two of whom died in infancy. The members of this family are much scattered, some in Kan- Sas, Missouri and here. David Frazer died in 1845. Milton D Frazer obtained a fair common school educa- tion in New Castle, where his parents located, in 1833, which was supplemented by attendance at the County Seminary. In 1844, he commenced the study of his chosen profession, that of medicine, with Dr. James Horne, of Middletown, Indiana, with whom he remained three years, when he commenced practice in Yorktown. He continued in the practice here about five years : then in Xenia, Miami county, Ohio, until 1861, when he came to Bridgeport. He was graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery, in 1863. In his practice he has had marked success. He is a member of the Grant county (Indiana) Medical Society, and of the Lawrence co., Society of which he is president. He was united in marriage with Eliza Haupt, daughter of Abraham and Eliza Haupt, of Wabash county, June 28, 1845. To them have been born six children, two of whom died in infancy, and four are living, namely : Car- oline Beauchamp, of Tipton, Indiana ; Charles Frazer, a practicing physician, at St. Francesville, Wabash coun- ty, Illinois ; Fremont, a clerk in a drug store, and Edwin H., Deputy clerk, Lawrenceville, and attorney at law. Edwin H. was educated in Vincennes, Bloomington and

Chicago Law Schools. Politically, the Doctor is an ar- dent, earnest Republican, although he affiliated with the democracy from the time of casting his first ballot, which was for James K. Polk, until the organization of the Republican party, in 1856. He is a member of the M, E. Church, also of the Masonic order, being Mas- ter of the Bridgeport Lodge No. 383, at the present time. Social in his demeanor, skilled in his profession, earnest in his study, he is recognized as among the best physicians of this part of the state.

PHILIP BELLES.

THE subject of the following sketch was born in Lu- zerne county, Pa., in 1843. He was the fourth son of Philip Belles, Sr., who married Jane Keichline. He emigrated with his parents to Lawrence county in 1854, and settled on section 29, range 3, 12 west. He resided with his parents until 1862, when, on the 14th day of August of that year he enlisted in company I, 130th regiment Illinois infantry. He took part in the follow- ing engagements: Port Hudson, Champions Hill, Big Black river, Siege of Vicksburg and Jackson, Miss. After these engagements he was transferred to the Gulf department, and during Banks' unfortunate expedition up Red river he was taken prisoner at Sabine Cross Roads. He was immediately taken to Camp Ford, near Tyler, Texas, where he was confined as a prisoner of . war from April 6th, 1864, until paroled May 25, 1865. The prisoners who were confined there were put in a stockade eight feet high in which was a dead-line fifteen feet from the stockade, and any prisoner passing that line, either accidentally or otherwise, incurred the penalty of death, at the option of the guard. It is also his candid opinion, from circumstances which came under his own personal observation, that guards were promoted and given furloughs for shooting down a prisoner when found over the dead-line. To illustrate it more distinctly. he remembers a case in which a prisoner from an Ohio regi- ment was persuaded across the dead line by a sentinel, with promises that he should not be molested, as he simply wanted to talk to him. When the prisoner was within five or six feet of the stockade the sentinel warned the man that he would shoot him, and as the prisoner turned to run the sentinel shot him in the back. That sentinel was not seen again for thirty days, and when next seen was sergeant in command of a squad of Con- federate soldiers. During their confinement three differ- ent attempts were made to tunnel out of the prison. Owing to the treachery of some of the prisoners these were not very successful, and even when successful, the chances of escape to the Union lines were very meager, as there was a corral of blood-hounds kept at the stock- ade for the purpose of capturing escaped prisoners Some of the hounds would strikea trail forty-eight hours old and overtake the prisoner. At one time he was an eye-witness where six blood-hounds caught a prisoner and mangled him so that he died within five days. At one

HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.

331

time their rations for five days were a pint and a half of shelled corn. The above are some of the hardships endured by Mr. Belles and his comrades in a rebel prison. To enumerate all of them would require a volume. He was mustered out of service on the 17th day of June, 1865, and immediately returned to his father's home, where he has since followed the occupa- tion of a farmer. He was married Dec. 20.h, 1866, to Miss Lizzie Ramsey, daughter of Joseph and Mary Ramsey, nee Winship, who now reside in Richland county, Ill. From this union there are no offspring. He united with the Presbyterian church in 1881, of

which he is still a consistent member. He became a life- member of the Union Ex-Prisoners of War Association Jan. 12, 1882. Since he became a voter he has always been a staunch Republican, being the only one of his family who incline to that belief. He is a representa- tive man of his party, having been several times dele- gate to county conventions, and also strongly solicited to serve as supervisor of his township, which honor he has studiously declined. He is an honest, upright, industrious citizen, respected by his neighbors and loved by his friends.

COFFEE.

WABASH COUNTY.

OFFEE precinct derives its name from the circumstance, that a quantity of coffee was lost from a keel boat, in her passage up the Wabash, near the island which also received the name of Coffee island. It is irregularly triangular in shape, and embraces all that portion of the county lying between Bonpas creek and the Wa- bash, and south of the northern tier of sections of township 2 south. It is bounded on the north by Bell- mont and Mt. Carmel precincts, on the east and south by Indiana, from which it is separated by the Wabash, and on the west by Edwards' county, from which it is separated by Bonpas creek. The surface is mainly level. A range of bluffs extends along the Wabash, and gradually terminates towards the Bonpas bottom. The soil both of the upland and the bottom is sandy. It is fertile, and yields corn and wheat abundantly. South and west of Keensburg is Compton's prairie, about two miles long and a mile and a half in width. There are heavy belts of timber along the Bonpas and Wabash. The country around Keensburg, some of which now supports a heavy growth of timber, was originally covered by " blackjacks." There was once a large quantity of cane in the bottom, now displaced by timber. Coffee and Village creeks supply drainage for the interior.

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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 76

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