USA > Illinois > Perry County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Randolph County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Monroe County > Combined history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry counties, Illinois . With illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 100
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Grand Cote-from the French-meaning Beautiful Prairie, was first settled by Thomas Swanwick, who came from Chester, England, and located on the northwest quarter, and the east half of the southwest quarter of Sec. 11, T. 4, R. 4, which he had entered February 13, 1818. The lands first settled by Thomas Swanwick are now occupied by J. J. Swan- wick, his son, who is past the meridian of life, a most estim- able and respected citizen. With Thomas Swanwick came James McMurdo to the western county. The second settler in Grand Cote was Wni. P. Elliott, from the State of Georgia. Ife located on section 20, T. 4, R. 4, about the year 1820. He brought his family in the spring of 1821. Next came Jonathan Petit in the spring of 1825, from Ran- dolph county, from what was then known as the "Irish Settlement," and located on section 30, T. 4, R. 4. In the ensuing fall Petit sold out his claim to one Absalom Wilson, a native of Washington county, Virginia, who did not move upon the lands until 1840. George Cherry, of the Chester District, South Carolina, arrived the same year, 1825 and located on section 5. Ile resided there until his death in March, 1867. In the year 1828, James Kirkpatrick, a native of South Carolina, settled on section 9, on lands now occupied by B. Semple. So far as we are able to learn, these men who came to Graud Cote were its original pioneers. From some cause, between the years 1829-1833, no additions were made to this little band of bold and venturesome pioneers, who formed the nucleus, in their wild and almost unbroken lands, of what is now one of the most prosperous
and refined farming communities in the little county. John White is a native of South Carolina. He came to the county in 1832, and now resides in section 6. Robert H. Allen, who lives in section 25, was born in Perry county in 1834. W. M Adair, a merchant of Swanwick, was born in Illinois, and came to the county in 1837. Hugh Cooper of Section 9, T. 5, R. 4, was born in South Carolina, and located in Perry county in 1831. About the year 1835, a new and full tide of immigration began to pour into this settlement. Among the first was Alexander Craig, a native of Ireland, who, on his way to his western home, had stopped in South Carolina and Kentucky. He located, in 1835, on section 25, the present Craig's station on Cairo Short Line Railroad, being on the lands originally settled by him. In 1834, William Rainey came out from St. Clair county and settled on section 24. In 1836, he sold his farm to Solomon Maxwell, from Bedford county, Tennessee, the latter re- maining upon it until his death. Benjamin Ragland was the eighth of the settlers in 1835. He came from Kentucky and settled on section 24. Fu 1836, he sold his farm to John MeMillen, and again settled on section 14 of the same town- ship. Mr. McMillen in turn sold his farm in December, 1838, to Joel Rushing, for one hundred aud twenty dollars. In the year 1836, Henry H. Elliott, son of W. P. Elliott, and father of the Rev. J. C. Elliott, settled on section 13, on the farm now occupied by H. H Rice. About the same year John IInghey settled on section 26, and Newton Frank- lin on section 14.
From this time the settlers flowed into the precinet very rapidly, among whom we might mention the Craigs, Justices and others, and the country was filled up almost as by magic.
Between the years 1822 and 1840 the dry goods and gro- ceries were most generally purchased from R. G. Shuman, of the then little town of Columbus, Randolph county, better known now as Sparta, Mr. Shuman carrying on to considerable extent the grain trade, purchasing corn at Chester and shipping to New Orleans. In the year 1845 the first dry goods store was opened in this precinct by J. C. Steele, near where Swanwick statiou is now located. He also kept the first post-office in the precinct. In 1846 upon the breaking out of the Mexican war, he turned the store and post-office over to one, Samuel Hughey, and went into the army. John M. Woodside afterward kept the store and post-office at the same place. In 1840 Grand Cote had a shoemaker named Isaac Fowler.
In the years 1822-'23 William P. Elliott built the first
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
band or tug grist mill on the farm now owned by T. S. Elliott, Esq. In 1834 he replaced it by a draft mill with cog- wheel attachment. The burrs were made from grauite bould- ers, stray waifs as it were, which were occasionally found scattered over our prairies in those early days. Both of these mills were the work of Mr. Elliott, and were very gen- erally patronized by the neighbors for a distance of ten or fifteen miles around. The only record furnished us of the earliest preaching in that precinct, was by the Rev. Robert Moore, of the old Regular Baptist tenets, at the house of Solomon Maxwell, about the year 1841. The first school taught in Grand Cote precinct was in 1832, by James Holli- day, in a little log cabin located on the S. E. } of section 30, the price of tuition being $2 per scholar. The next school was kept by John Fulton in his kitchen on S. E. } of section 31, about the years 1836 or 1837. His schedule was the first to draw public moneys on that side of the county. David Baldridge was the county school commissioner at the time. Alexander Skelly was next in the order of school teachers in that precinct. He taught in a little log cabin built for a residence on section 13, about the year 1841 ; tuition $2 per quarter.
With this concludes our early history of Grand Cote prairie. To the Rev. J. C. Elliott are we indebted for most of the information concerning this precinct. The first land entries in this precinct, in the order of their dates, were as
follows : January 18, 1819, Thomas Swanwick entered the E. ¿ of the N. E. }; and the S. E. } of section ten in town four, range four ; May 27, 1819, James Parker, the N. W. ֏ of section 29, and the S. W. ¿ of section 20; June 7, 1821, Alexander Campbell, the W. } of the S. W. } of section 32; the N. E. { of the S. E. } and the S. E. } of the S. E. } of section 31, all in town four south, range four.
SWANWICK.
This little village was laid out by William Moore and surveyed and platted by D. C. Benson, deputy county sur- veyor, May 27, 1871. Its location is the S. E. of the N. E. of section 21, township 4, range 4. It is a station on the Cairo Short Line Railroad. The present business of the village is as follows : Physician, W. H. Ferguson ; general merchants, Harmon & Adair, William Gray; postmaster, William Gray; blacksmith, James Luna; carpenter, A. Shockency ; grain dealers, W. Sokup; carriage maker, D. J. Woodside.
CRAIG.
This hamlet is a station on the Cairo Short Line Railroad, and is situated on the east half of Sec. 25, township 4, range 4, and on the boundary between Grand Cote and Pinckney- ville. It was laid out by William Craig and surveyed and platted by William Golightly, county surveyor, October 23, 1871. The postmaster is J. Allen. A general store is kept by W. L. Pennoyer.
BIOGRAPHIES.
REV. JAMES C. ELLIOTT.
THE history of Perry and Randolph counties would be incomplete without a sketch of the Elliott family. They are the descendants of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mem- bers of the family came to America prior to the Revolution- ary War. William Preston Elliott, the grandfather of James C. was a native of Virginia, and one of seven brothers. He married in Virginia, and a few years later moved to Georgia. In 1814 he came to Illinois and settled in the American Bottom, in the Goshen settlement. Ague and fever prevailed to a considerable extent then, and be- lieving that the country was unhealthy, returned to Georgia. But the rich, fertile and productive lands of Illinois had left their impression, and the old pioneer longed for the " Flesh Pots " of Illinois. He accordingly returned in 1818, and settled in Randolph county west of Sparta, on what is known as "Temple Hill," and there built a house which was the first erected there. He remained there until the spring of 1821, when he removed to the south side of Grand Cote prairie about two and a half miles south of Coulterville, where he opened a farm, and there continued the peaceful avocation of a farmer until his death, which occurred in 1840. He married Margaret Murdock of Virginia. She survived her husband a few years and died in 1843. By that union
there were eleven children, who grew to maturity. One of her sous, the father of the subject of this sketch, was named Ilenry Hodge Elliott. He was born in Virginia, February 18, 1801, and was but thirteen years of age when the family first settled in the American Bottom. He returned to Georgia with his father, and came back with the family to Illinois the second time, and here grew to manhood, followed farm- ing and remained in the precinct until his death, which took place March 4th, 1872. He married Miss Margaret, daughter of James and Elizabeth (McBride) Couch. Her mother was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, born in the north of Ireland, and was but eight years of age when her parents landed in Charleston, South Carolina. Margaret (Couch) Elliott was born August 9th, 1810, and departed this life August 7th, 1847. By the union of Henry H. and Mar- garet Elliott there were seven children, two sons and five daughters. William P., one of the sons, was born July 31st, 1836, and died in Andersonville prison in September 1864, in his twenty-ninth year. He enlisted in Co. "C" of the 30th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was taken prisoner before Atlanta July 22d, 1864, sent to Andersonville prison, and there died as did thousands of others from exposure, neglect and lack of sufficient to eat.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Catharine was the eldest daughter. She was born July 24th, 1847, and died in her sixteenth year. Jane was the wife of William Gallegly. She died April 24th, 1873, in her fortieth year. She left five children. Frances Elizabeth was the wife of Joseph Lively. She died without issue April 10th, 1870, in her thirty-first year. Mary W., wife of John W. Lively, died March 14th, 1876, in her thirty-fifth year, leaving four children. Rachael C. died February 12th, 1870, in her twenty-fifth year. James Couch Elliott, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family and the only survivor. He was born in Randolph county, Illinois, near Sparta, January 6th, 1830. He was reared on the farm, and acquired his primary education in the subscrip- tion schools of his neighborhood. From fifteen to twenty- one he hired out, and his wages went to the support of the family only retaining enough to elothe himself. He attended one term at the Academy in Sparta, and then taught school for several terms. At the age of twenty he entered the State University at Bloomington, Indiana, and graduated from that institution. He had resolved to enter the min- istry of the United Presbyterian Church, and with that idea in view he spent three terms of seven months each in the Theological Seminary at Monmouth, Illinois. He was licensed to preach May 7th, 1862, and regularly ordained a minister of the church Oct. 7th, 1863. In the latter year he went to Wyoming in Iowa county, Wisconsin, and was the "Supply " for six months, after which he be- came the pastor of the Wyoming and Blue Mound United Presbyterian Congregations, and remained in charge until in February, 1868. In July of the same year he was called to the pastorate of the Bethel Congregation in Grand Cote, Perry county, and has remained in charge up to the present, a period of nearly fifteen years. On the 14th of April, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia A. Moreland of Randolph couaty, Illinois. She was the daughter of James and Margaret Moreland. She died December 7th, 1873, leaving one son, named William Zwingli Elliott, now in attendance at the Academy in Coulterville, Illinois.
On the 10th of October 1876, he married Miss Maggie, daughter of Rev. James M. and Nancy (MeClanahan) Hen- derson, of Oakdale, Washington county, Illinois. Mrs. Elliott was born near Madison City, Indiana. Politically, Mr. Elliott votes the Republican ticket, but takes no farther interest than exercising the right and duty of every Ameri- can citizen by casting his ballot. Ile is very much in favor of prohibition, and regards the licensing of saloons, an offense against religion, good morals and the best interest of society.
CAPTAIN WILIAM M. ADAIR
WAS born in Randolph county, January 6, 1837. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Ilis grandfather came to America from the north of Ireland, and settled in South Carolina, and there his son William was born in 1781. The latter grew to manhood, and was a soldier in the wai of 1812, under Gen. Jackson. Soon after that war he came north to Illinois, and settled in Perry county, on "Six Mile Prairie;" subsequently removed to Randolph county to a place eight
miles east of Kaskaskia, on the Shawneetown road. He died in Perry county while back here looking after the im- provement of land that he had entered, the date of which was in 1856. He was also a soldier in the war of 1831-32, with Black Hawk, and was major of the regiment. He was appointed Receiver of the Land office, a few years before his death, and was in that position when he died. Soon after he first came to P'erry county, he married the daughter of James Brown. She died, leaving two children, one of whom is yet living. He afterwards married Mrs. Rebecca Lacey, widow of John Lacey. Her maiden name was Taggart. She was of Irish parentage, and born in South Carolina. She died in 1877, aged eighty-two years. By this marriage there were two children, twins, son and daughter. The daughter is the wife of Frank Moore, a resident of Randolph county. William Miles Adair, the son, was reared upon the farm ; received a fair English education, and remained at home until the breaking out of the late war, when he en- listed for three years in company "C," of the 30th regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. On the organization of the company he was elected Orderly Sergeant. The regiment was brigaded at Cairo, and formed a part of the 3d Brigade, 3d Division of the 17th Army Corps, Gen. MePherson com- manding. The regiment received its first baptism of fire at the battle of Belmont, and subsequently participated in the capture of Forts Donaldson and Henry, siege of Corinth ; marched to Jackson ; was in the battle of Brittain's Lane, in Tennessee, then to Memphis and to Vicksburg; took part in the siege and capture, and in the meantime was in the battle of Champion Hills. While at Vicksburg the 30th regiment veteranized, then came home on a furlough ; returned and was in the Atlanta campaign, and in the fight before Atlanta, on the 22d of July, 1864, Mr. Adair was taken prisoner, and was held until the 1st of September, of the same year, when under an arrangement between the Generals of the Union and Rebel armies, he and others that were captured were exchanged. He joined Sherman's forces, and then went with him in his memorable march to the sea, up through the Carolinas and to Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review. The company was mustered out at Somer- ville, and finally discharged at Springfield, July 17, 1865, having been in the service a few days lacking four years. He enlisted August 20, 1861. He entered as a private ; was elected Orderly Sergeant, commissioned 2d Lieutenant, Janu- ary 28, 1862; Ist Lieutenant, May 16, 1863, and commis- sioned Captain of the Company, August 20, 1864. Captain Adair was in every battle and skirmish in which his company and regiment participated, except those occurring when he was a prisoner, which was only a few weeks. After the war he returned to Randolph county, and engaged in farm- ing. In 1872 he came to Perry county, and he continued in same avocation up to 1880, when he came to the village of Swanwick, and engaged in mercantile business, in which he still continues. Ile married Miss Parthena, daughter of John and Florinda (Uhles) Harmon She was born in Randolph county, September 11, 1844, and died March 10, 1882, leaving no children. Capt. Adair is a member of the United Presbyterian church. Politically he has always
432
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
since casting his first vote, been a Democrat. This in brief is an outline history of Capt. William M. Adair. He was
a gallant and brave soldier, and old settler, and an honest and upright citizen.
SOUTH WESTERN.
PERRY COUNTY.
HIS precinct is situated in the southwes- tern corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Cutler, on the east by Pinckneyville, on the south by Jackson county, and on the west by Randolph county. Pipestone creek furnishes ample drainage and water supply. The surface is undulating and the soil fertile. The St. Louis and Cairo Railroad erosses the southwest corner of this precinct. By the last census, in 1880, the precinct had a population of one thousand and eighty-nine.
Among the first settlers, as early as 1817, were Simon Williard, who located on section two, town six south, range four, where he entered, January 19th, 1819, 504.60 acres of land. James Craine settled on the northeast quarter of seetion thirteen, of the same town and range; and became the owner of the tract of one hundred and sixty aeres by en- tering the same at the land office in Kaskaskia, May 14th, 1818. Benjamin Brown was also one of the settlers of this precinct in 1817. We fiud him making his home on the west half of the southeast quarter of section eleven, town six south, range four west, which he entered, January 14th, 1819. Richard Green, Robert Johnson, Robert Crow, with their families, were also living in this locality at the same time, and together with William H. Threlkel, Robert Gilli- han, Jacob Short and John Stuart were leading characters in the early history of the county. They were natives of New York, Kentucky and Tennessee. Stephen Kelly was also an early pioneer. Alexander A. Watkins, a farmer and stock raiser, who resides in section 19, township 6, range 3, is a native of Tennessee, and came to the county in 1839.
The first dry goods, groceries etc., shoes, plows, and wagons were bought of Lyhorger and Reed, at Kaskaskia, previous to 1827. Mueh of the trading was done with Col. Jones, of Georgetown, Randolph county, between 1827 and 1840. The first dry goods and grocery store in this precinct was kept in 1827 by a man named Jacob Short. The first blacksmith shop was kept by John MeClure, in 1839. There was a wagon shop in 1850, kept by Gadbuy. John McClure had the first plow shop in the precinct. The first hand grist mill was built here by a man named Willard, in 1819. It did pretty good work for a mill of its kind, for a period of nine or ten years. In 1834 a good many of the settlers had their milling done at Riley's Mill, in Kaskaskia. They also had milling done at Glide's mill in Georgetown
,
about 1834. Dickey P. Smith was the first preacher in the county. In 1830 the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in this precinct, consisting of ten members. The name of the minister who organized the church was French. They held their meetings in a small school-house, where Denmark now stands. In 1835 the Methodist Episcopal denomination built their first church near Denmark. The first Sabbath-school was held in this precinct in 1859, with twenty-eight scholars; it was the work of the Associate Reformed Presbyterians. Robert Crow and Green Derring- ton were teachers. The first school taught in this precinet was in 1825, by a man named Robert Clark, near the present residence of Franeis Smith. The first school-house was built iu 1825, out of round logs. Weight poles were used to hold the roof on. The books used were the American Preceptor, English Reader, and Columbian Orator. The school lasted from three to six months. Tuition rated from $2.00 to $2.50 per quarter. The writing paper was coarse, unruled, and goose-quill pens and maple bark ink were used.
Land entries of South Western precinct: April 25th, 1815, William McIntosh entered three hundred and twenty aeres in the N. } of sectiou 3. February 5th, 1818, Jona- than Bowerman entered the E. { of the N. E. } of section 6, seventy-nine and twenty-hundredths acres. August 12th, 1818, the same entered the E. } of N. W. } of section 6, eighty-seven and sixty-four hundredths acres.
DENMARK.
The little hamlet of Denmark, is situated in the western part of South Western precinet, the nearest railroad station being Cutler, some five miles distant. The town was laid out by John D. Rees, on the northwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section twenty-four, in town six south, range four west, and was surveyed and platted by Robert Steele, county surveyor, on the first day of April, 1860. It formerly bore the euphonious name of " Jack Town."
The first house was built by John D. Rees, whose family, and those of several Canadian-French, were the first to settle in that seetion. The house was a small frame. John D. Rees opened the first store, and the post-office was kept by Brown. There are two handsome church buildings in the town, belonging respectively, to the Presbyterian and Bap- tist denominations. Also a neat school-house.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Postmistress .- Mary Rees. General Store .- William Boan. Wagonmaker .- James Eeatou. Blacksmith .- J. L. Tessier. Dressmaker-Mary Rees.
432A
STORE , COULTERVILLE.
STONE QUARRY.
FARM RES. PROPERTY OF J. WHITE.
"ROCK BRANCH FARM, RESIDENCE OF JOHN WHITE , SEC. 6, T.4, R. 4, (GRAND COTE PRECINCT,) PERRY CO. ILL.
DU QUOIN.
PERRY COUNTY.
U' QUOIN precinct lies in the southeast- ern part of Perry county, bounded on the north by Tamaroa, east by Paradise pre- einet and Franklin county, south by Jackson county and west by Pinckney- ville. The surface is mostly rolling prai- rie, excepting the southern and western portions, where it is somewhat broken. Along Beaucoup and Little Beaucoup creeks, there is quite 1 a heavy belt of timber, comprising the various species that are usually found in this latitude. The soil is rich and pro- ductive, wheat being the principal crop, although a consi- derable quantity of corn is annually raised. The lands are well drained by Little Muddy river, Rees's and Beaucoup creeks and their numerous tributaries. Underlying the whole surface of this precinct, there is an almost inexhausti- ble body of coal, which, in the vicinity of the railroads, is extensively mined, and gives employment to a great num- ber of men, and brings a large sum of money among the people. This interest was not developed until after the advent of railroads, in 1854, when the Illinois Central was completed through this county. Prior to the building of the railroads the county was thinly populated, and farming was the only occupation of the inhabitants except a few of the mechanical trades and merchandising at the old town of Du Quoin, about four miles southeast of the present city of that name. The building of this road, at that early day, was the beginning of a new era in Illinois. All along its line sprang into existene; thriving towns and villages, and Du Quoin, now the metropolis of Perry county, was one of their number. This road enters the preeinct on the north, at the line between sections 19 and 20 of township 5 S., range I W., and passes in a southern direction, leaving the precinet on section 32. " The Cairo Short Line " traverses the county in a southeasterly course across the precinct, through the city of Du Quoin. These roads with their con- nections with the various main lines and larger cities of the west, gives excellent facilities for the shipment of the pre- duets and manufactures.
The following are a few of the earliest land entrics, which will show the names of a number of the early settlers. In township 6 S., range 1 W., Dec. 5, 1814, Jerrold Jackson entered the S. W. quarter of section 35, 160 acres ; Feb. 13, 1817, L. Bebee and J. II. Root, S. W. quarter section 34, 160 acres ; April 25, 1815, William McIntosh, N. W. quar- ter, section 30, 160 acres ; May 7, 1819, John Pyle, W. half N. W. quarter, section 19, 81 acres; Feb. 26, 1819, Edward II. Rees, W. half, N. E. quarter, section 9, 80 acres ; Nov. 26, 1828, Jacob Lipe, W. half, N. W. quarter, section 6,
77, acres. In 1829 Blackwell Gochar, David II. Mead, and Thomas Gochar also made entries here in 1829. In township 6 S. range 2 W , the first entries were made April 25, 1815, by Sebastian C. Lavoche, part of S. W. quarter, section 17, 84 acres, aud William Melntosh the whole of section 18, containing 628 acres. April 23, 1818, Thomas Taylor entered the S. E. quarter of Sec. 25, 160 aeres ; Oct. 2, 1818, Elijah Wells, W. half, N. W. quarter, section 23, 80 acres ; Nov. 11, 1818, Robert McElvain, E. half of N. E. quarter of section 23, 80 acres. June 25, 1819, Louis Wells entered the E. half of S. E. quarter of section 24, 80 acres.
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