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 103
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 103
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 103
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444
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Strony Berth
THE subject of the following sketch is one of the rising young lawyers of Perry county. The family is of English descent. His ancestors settled in New Hampshire, and from there removed to Vermont, in the year 1840. Charles W. Scott, the father of Henry P., came to Illinois, for his health, in 1866, settled in Bureau county, and there died in 1871. He married Incy Kellum. She died in 1854. By that union there were eight children. Henry Percy Scott is the youngest living. He was born, in Johnson, La Moille county, Vermont, Aug. 2nd, 1852. His primary education was re- ceived in the excellent schools of his native state, and sub- sequently much improved by a two years' term in the acad- emy in Johnson. He came west with his father, in 1866, to Bureau county, and worked on a farm, until 1868. In 1869, he came south to Centralia, and three months later went to Murphysboro, in Jackson county, and on the 10th of March, 1870, came to Du Quoin, and there engaged in the sewing machine business, as general agent for the Florence sewing machine company. In 1873 he added music, in which lat- ter trade he, to some extent, still continues. In 1877, he opened an office, with real estate, loan and insurance busi-
ness, in which he is still largely interested. In 1878, he commenced the study of law, nnder S. G. Parks, and in August of 1881 was upon examination admitted to the bar. He commenced the practice in Du Quoin, and has met with very flattering success. He is a young man of industry, energy, and to the possessor of these qualities, continued success is assured. He held the position of City Clerk of Du Quoin for two years, and in that position, gave complete satisfaction to the people of that city. Politically, he is a sound Republican, and has been frequently called upon to represent his constituency in the various county, Senatorial and Congressional conventions, held in his district. He is a member of the Ancient and honorable order of A. F. & A. M., and also a member of the I. O. O. F., and Knights of Pythias. On the 12th of March, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Ella M., daughter of A. J. & Sarah Blakes- lee, of Du Quoin. That union has been blessed with four children. Mrs. Scott was born in Metamora, Woodford county, Illinois. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scott are members of the Episcopal Church.
445
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
R. W. S. WHEATLEY,
ONE of the rising young attorneys of Perry county, is the subject of the following sketch. He was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, August 19th, 1850. The family were formerly natives of Virginia. Mordecai Wheatley, the grandfather, came from that state to Ohio, and from there to Perry county, Illinois, in March, 1842, and remained here until his death, which occurred in 1880. He married Mary Wheately who was also a native of Virginia. She de- parted this life in Du Quoin, in the spring of 1882. By that marriage is Warren Wheatley, father of the subject of this sketch. Ile was born in Tuscaroras couuty, Ohio, in 1828, and came with his father to Perry county on the date above mentioned. In 1850, he moved to St. Clair county, and lived there a few years then returned to Perry and settled in the vicinity of Du Quoin, and subsequently moved into town and resides there at present. He was by occupation a farmer, also a wagon maker hy trade. On the 14th of August, 1849, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel. daughter of Robert and Martha, (Beard) Stewart. She was born in Jeffersonville, Indiana. By that union there are three children living, Robert W. S., is the first born ; Martha, the only sister, and James W. Wheatley are the names of the sons and daughter. Robert's education was received in the public schools of Du Quoin and vicinity He followed different callings until he was eighteen years of age, at which time he entered the office of Col. R. R. Townes, an attorney of Du Quoin, and commenced the study of law. He read the standard text books and prosecuted his studies diligently until the spring term of the supreme court, 1871, held at Mt. Vernon, Illinois, when upon ex- amination he was admitted to the bar. Ile commenced the practice in Du Quoin, and has continued there until the present. In the practice of his profession he has been more than ordinarily successful, and at present has the largest practice, and is the most successful criminal lawyer at the bar of the county. He brings to it energy, studious and in- dustrious habits which in due time bring their own reward, which is seen in his constantly increasing practice. Mr. Wheatley early learned that the law is a jealous mistress that required all the time of her devotees if they would succeed and become eminent and learned in the profession. What he is in the law, and what he may become, depends upon himself. Ile entered the profession under no advan- tageous circumstances nor had he any powerful or influential friends to back him or lend him a helping hand ; but his success, so far, is due to his indomitahle energy and de- termination to win a place in the front rank at the bar. He is emphatically the architect of his own fortune. He has filled acceptably the position of City Attorney of Du Quoin for several years. In 1882, he was the Independent ean- didate for the office of County Judge, but was defeated by
so small a majority that his candidacy reflects eredit upon himself. Politically he is a Republican. Ile is a member of the I. O. O. F. order. In his habits he is temperate, and never indulges or befogs his brain with any intoxicating liquors of any kind.
JOHN T. BEEM,
ONE of the editors and publishers of the Du Quoin Trib- une, was born in Pittsburg, Peun., Aug. 23rd, 1838. He is the son of Andrew and Margaret (Hoppe) Beem. His parents removed to Illinois in 1844, and settled in Alton, and there John T. was educated, and grew to manhood. At the age of fourteen years, he entered the office of the Alton Telegraph, and served an apprenticeship of four years at the printer's trade. The Telegraph, was then one of the most prominent journals in Illinois, or in the west. He continued in the office until 1860, when he became one of the owners and editors of the paper. The war of the rebellion breaking out soon after, he sacrificed his interest in the office to enter the service, his father, and two brothers entering before him. He enlisted in Co. "G.," of the 97th Regt., Ills. Vol. Infty. Six months after the enlistment, he was placed on detached service, serving oue year with the Chicago Mercantile Battery, and one year and six months as clerk at the head- quarters of Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, Gen. M. Lawler and Geu. E. R. S. Canby, at New Orleans. After the war, he returned to his home, in Alton, and worked at the printing business for two years, then came to Du Quoin, arriving in the latter place in June of 1868. He worked as a " jour." until Nov. 7th, 1870, when in connection with C. P. Richards he purchased two thirds interest in the Tribune. The firm of Berry & Co. published the paper until 1874. when Barry's interest was purchased by Messrs. Beem & Richards, and they became the sole proprietors and publishers of the Trib- une, and have continued its publication to the present. The Tribune, under their management, has risen to an honor- able and prominent position in the journalism of the State, and is recognized as the leading organ of it> party, in the 20th Cong. District. Mr. Beem is a practical and thorough print- er and skilled workman, and has few superiors anywhere. Specimens of his handicraft show artistic beauty and original- ity of design. On the 17th of May, INi, he married Miss Elvina McGowen, of Butler county, Pa , daughter of James MeGowen. She died June 10th, 1575, Having two children named Della and Loren Beem. On the ard of Sept , 1879. he was united in marriage to Miss Cara D., daughter of Rev. E. F. & Anna HI. Fisk. She is a native of Ohio. By that union there is one child, named Cara. Mrs. Beer is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Politically, Mr. Beem east his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and in all subsequent general elections voted and worked for the Republican ticket.
CUTLER
PERRY CO.
S in the extreme western portion of the county. It is better known as Lost Prairie, which name was changed a few years ago. Its northern boundary line commencing at the west, is the south line of section thirty-one of Grand Cote, then following along the west bank of Galum Creek to the southeast corner of section eight of town five south, range four west, thence due east to the western boundary line of town five, range three west. Ou the east it is bounded by Pinckneyville, on the south by South Western, on the west by Randolph county, and on the north by Grand Cote. It comprises the two northern tiers of sections in town six, range four, and all of congressional town five south, range three, save those sections lying east of Galum Creek and north of the southern boundary line of those sections north of the boundary line of the tier beginning with section thirteen of that town. It is admirably watered and drained by both branches of Galum Creek, which enter from the north at sections three and six, and unite in section thirty- four, flowing southeast and passing out at the southeast corner of the precinct.
The Tamaroa, Chester & Western railroad passes through this preeinet from the northeast to the southwest. A large portion of this precinct was formerly timber land, though the Six Mile Prairie extended from north to south, through the entire precinct. Much of the timber land has been con- verted into valuable farms. Conant's and Eatou's prairie are also within the limits of this precinct; and the lower edge of the Lost Prairie has its terminus in the northern part. It received the name of Lost Prairie at a very early day in the history of the county. The occasion of giving it that name, grew out of the circumstance of a party of several men getting lost there on their way from Vincennes to Kaskaskia. The date of its receiving that name is not known, or the circumstances that gave rise to it, other than above stated.
Among the first settlers was Enoch Eaton, who is still living. He settled on the N. E. one-quarter of section 24, T. 5, R. 4, where he now resides, in 1825, the territory belonging then to Randolph county, previous to the organi- zation of Perry. There were at that time only six or seven families residing in the precinct. Their names were John Murphy, the father of Robert, James, Richard G. and William C, Murphy, names familiarly interwoven with the history of this county, and natives of Smith county, Ten- nessee; the family of Richard Green, a native of N. Y. ;
Hugh Brown, the father of John Brown of Conant's prairie, from South Carolina; Matthew Vaun, from Tennessee ; Andrew Cooper and Shadrach Lively, The nearest post- office in those early days was Kaskaskia, and this was also the place of the nearest store, kept by a merchant, Lamm. The nearest grist mill was that of George Steele, on the present site of Steelesville. It was a tread mill operated by five or six yoke of oxen. The early settlers had most of their blacksmith work done at that place also.
In 1830, Isaac Eaton opened a cabinet shop in the precinct. He stocked plows, put up some wagons, and did general repairing. He constructed a turning lathe, and furnished the neighbors with bedsteads, chairs, tables, &c., and especially spinning-wheels. His pay was often work for work. The party who came for work would go out and make rails for him, while he worked in the shop. IIe relates the circumstance which is not liable now to occur to our minds, that there were no matches in those early days. If a family happened to let the fire go out, the first thing to do would be, to go out and see from what one of the neigh - bors' chimney smoke could be discovered, so that no mis- take might be made when in quest of fire. It used to be quite a common remark, years after matches came into use, when a neighbor went to another's house in a hurry, for him to ask "if he was after fire," as one was always regarded as being in a hurry when after that element, especially to get. breakfast. A flint and steel were sometimes used to start a fire, and were, in those early days, the stand-by, when all other expedients failed.
In 1832 a Baptist church was organized by Peter Hagler in Eaton's prairie, at the house of Samuel Eaton.
A church building was put up about that time by the members of this deuomination, on a ridge north of the Sparta road, between Lost prairie and Eaton's prairie, and was the only church building for many years in that precinct.
About 1832, Clark built a horse or ox mill. This mill proved a failure, and did not run long. It was located on the east side of Lost prairie, about a fourth of a mile north of the Sparta road. The settlers then got their milling done at Pope's Steam Mill, on Mary's river, in Randolph county.
The first school taught in Lost prairie was in 1827 or '28. It was taught in a barn belonging to Green, by Miss Elvira Tilden. It was a neighborhood school, and consisted of about ten scholars. The tuition paid was two dollars per scholar. In 1835 the first school-house was built in the precinct, on section 16, T. 5, R. 3, by the neighborhood. It was a rude log cabin, covered with clap-boards, secured by ·ridge pales. A log cut out of one side served for a window without any glass. The desks, as well as seats, were of split
446
446A
NEW PALESTINE STONE
LOUIS GRANNEMAN
RESIDENCE, FARM AND OTHER PROPERTY OF LOUIS GRANNEMANN, SEC.13, T.6,R.7, CHESTER PRECINCT, RANDOLPH CO. ILL.
-
-
MILLS
RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH BROWN, CUTLER, ILL.
ANCHOR FLOURING MILLS, THE PROPERTY OF JOSEPH BROWN, CUTLER, ILL.
447
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
logs. The first school teacher was John Cooper, a South Carolinian. The house was built in the spring, and he taught school in it during the summer season. The school- books consisted of the old-fashioned Webster's spelling book, biographical sketches, and the Testament for reading; Pike's arithmetic, and Walker's dictionary. These consti- tuted our first boys' school, and outfit in those early days and a boy was considered lucky if he had all of those.
In 1837, a school was kept in the edge of Conant's prairie, near Robert Cunningham's. It was soon after removed near where Squire IIenry Brown lived.
Dr. Brayshaw, in Nine Mile, near old Du Quoin, admin- istered to the medical wants of the earliest settlers in this preeinet, as in many others, for several years, when the county was in its infaney. Their next physician was Dr. Jennegin, located at Steele's Mills.
The lawyers, known to the early settlers of that precinet, were David J. Baker, Sidney Breese, Col. J. L. D. Morris- son, of Kaskaskia; John Daugherty, of Union county ; Jeff' Gatewood, and S. S Marshall, of Shawneetown, and old Governor Reynolds. These were the legal fraternity that most generally followed the courts around from circuit to circuit, and from county to county. People did not need many lawyers, in those days, and we sometimes hear a sigh for a return of those good old days.
The following are the first land entries in that portion of T. 5 S., R. 4 W., which is included in Cutler : April 25, 1815, William McIntosh entered the N. E. } of section 34 March 27, 1818, Matthew Vaun entered the S. E. } of sec- tion 21. January 13, 1819, Shadrach Lively entered the E. { of the S. E. } of section 31. March 10, 1819, Charles Owen entered the E. } of the N. E. } of section 33. January 6, 1820, Alexander Wier entered the N. E. } of seetion 8.
CUTLER.
This village was laid out by D. C. Barber, president, and W. B. Stephenson, secretary of the Chester and Tamaroa
Coal and Railroad Company, on the east half of the south- west quarter of section five, township six south, range four ; and by R. C. Allen, on a part of the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of the same section. It was platted and surveyed by J. V. Tyler, County Surveyor, February 25, 1873. It is situated in the southwest corner of the precinet of the same name, and is a station on the Chester and Tam- aroa railroad. The village school-house is a frame building in which is taught an ungraded school. The United Pres- byterians, since the fall of 1881, have met for worship in a neat frame church. Half a mile north of the hamlet, the Re- formed Presbyterians have a handsome brick church, which was built in 1858. Near the village is Maynard's coal mine, from which are daily raised, by horse power, about one hundred and fifty bushels of coal.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Physicians .- A. Bruce, F. P. Gillis.
Druggists .- Bruce & White, F. Famen.
General Stores-Gardner and Bros., C. Preston.
Books and Stationery .- John MeClure.
Lumber .- W. T. White & Co.
Grain Elevator .- H. C. Cole & Co.
General Merchandise, Grain and Livery .- John Brown. Mill .- Joseph Brown.
Station Agent .- W. T. White.
Saw Mill .- Battey Bros. Carpenter .- Henry Darrough.
Blacksmith .- James Kelso, George Krontz.
Shoemaker .- Peter Keller.
CONANTS.
General Store and Post-office .- P. J. C. Hamm. Saw Mill .- J. Shutt. Blacksmith. -- E. Koontz.
NEW HANOVER.
MONROE COUNTY.
HIS precinet was created in the year 1875 out of Eagle, Fountain and Bluff. It lies in the northern part of the county, and embraces in geographical area portions of township 1 south, range 10 west, and township 2 south, ranges 10 and 11 west. The population, census of 1880, was 568. The surface, generally, is elevated and broken. Drainage is afforded by Fountain creek and Andrews' run, a tributary flowing west. There is an abundance of lime rock along both these streams, and of sandstone along the latter.
Attica, a station on the St. Louis and Cairo R. R., which extends north and south through the eastern part of the pre- cinct, is a convenient shipping point. The inhabitants at present are principally German and of German descent. They speak the English language as well as that of their native tongue. It is a subject worthy of remark, that while the German builds his residenee of brick, the pioneer or his descendant occupies the primitive log dwelling. He adheres to it apparently with an attachment not unlike that evineed by the Indian for the game-haunted hillside and ravine. There are two public schools in the precinct, one in the
448
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
town of New Hanover, and one a mile and a-half north- east of it.
The oldest permanent settlement in what is now New Hanover precinct, was made in the northern part by Jacob Judy, in the year 1794. Jacob Jndy was a very ancient and respectable pioneer in Illinois. He came and settled in Kaskaskia in the year 1788. He was boru in Switzerland, and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was three years old. He married in Frederick county, Maryland. In the year 1786 he and his family descended the Ohio river to Kentucky. On the river, at the mouth of the Scioto, he heard the Indians making noises to decoy him to land, but he kept straight on. He had but one man with him besides his family. His danghter, Nancy Judy, then eighteen years old, steered the boat, while her father, her brother, Samuel Jndy, and the hired man, rowed the craft with all possible speed by this dangerons section of the river. He remained two years in Kentucky, near Louis- ville, and descended the Ohio in a flat boat. He was forced up Cash river, in the present county of Alexander, for pro- tection from the Indians, and remained there for seven weeks, until a boat could come from Kaskaskia to his relief. He resided in Kaskaskia four years, and then moved in 1792, to New Design. In 1794 he settled at his mill and died there in 1807. Judy worked at his trade in Illinois, and accumulated considerable property. He possessed a strong mind, with much enterprise and energy. Samuel Judy, his only son, came with his father to Illinois in the year 1788, and became a very conspicuous and enterprising citizen. He married into the Whiteside family and settled in Goshen in 1801 *. Judy's mill stood on Gilmore, formerly called Judy's creek, where the St. Louis and Cairo Railroad crosses that stream south of Columbia village, in section 34, township 1 south, range 9 west. It was an overshot water- mill, and the first in Monroe county. In the early part of the present century it was patronized by the upper colonies, including the Goshen settlement. George Valentine also had a water mill on the stream west of Judy's at an early day.
With a few exceptions the territory of New Hanover was not early settled. Seth Converse settled on the S. W. } of section 8, a mile and a half south of New Hanover as early as 1814 or '15. He established a tannery, which was in oper- ation as early as 1820. William Bradshaw settled in section 8 on a property adjoining that of Converse. John Hender- son settled in section 8 on Fountain creek. A portion of his place was afterward occupied by MeKendrick Moore, who had a saw mill on Fountain creek. Jordan Johnson, about the year 1818, married Susanna Lock and settled on the N. E. & of section 8, Township 2 South, Range 10 West. Mrs. Johnson is still living in the precinct at the age of eighty-four years. Abraham Neff, about the year 1820, set- tled on Fountain creek. Henry Imon was an early settler on Bond creek in section 18, Township 2 south, range 11, west. One Osborn was among the early settlers on Andrews' run. He was in search of silver, and in pursuance of his object blasted some ten or twelve feet into the solid rock.
John Vanarsdal was also an early settler. Hiram Whiteside was born in Columbia precinct. About 1825 he married Delila Kidd and settled on the S. W. } of the N. E. } of section 8, Township 2 south, range 10 west. This was his home for life. Mrs. Whiteside is still living at the age of seventy-two, with her son William, on the old place. As early as 1825 Mr. Whiteside followed the trade of shoemak- ing. The neighbors obtained leather at the taunery of Seth Converse, and had it made into shoes. This was also, at a little later date the trade of Elias Clover, who was born near Harrisonville in 1810. In 1829 he was married to Anna Kidd and settled ou the W. } of section 8, Township 2 south, Range 10 west. His widow survives him at seventy- one years of age.
John Cloves, a brother of Elias, at a little earlier date, married a Miss Brownfield, and settled on the N. half of section 8 John Dulan was a resident on Fountain creek, near a natural pool of water named Dulan's spring, which perpetuates his memory. About the year 1830 Robert Coleman, whose wife was a McRoberts, moved from Colnm- bia precinct, and built a mill at the point where the road leading from New Haven to Dug Hollow, in the bottom, crosses Fountain creek in the S. E. quarter of section 7, township 2-10. John Fischer, of German descent, but an immigrant from Virginia, a mill-wright and cabinet maker, constructed the Coleman mill. He settled on the S. E. quarter of section &, southwest of New Hanover. The following are the first land entries : Seth Converse, Decem- ber 3, 1814, entered the S. W. quarter of section 8, 115 acres. September 24, 1816, James B. Moore entered the W. half of the S. E. quarter of section 9, 80 acres. The N. E. quarter of section 10, 160 acres, was entered, April 3, 1816, hy John Slaughter.
The Germans began immigrating in 1835. In this year John Martin, with his wife, came from Hanover, Germany, and settled about two miles east of New Hanover, and there improved a farm. Ernst Schrader settled one-half mile south of the village. He came from Hanover and brought his wife and his son Henry. The latter married and set- tled on the old homestead. He now lives a little north of New Hanover. Henry B. Stehr arrived from Hanover, Germany, in 1839. He settled on the site of the village of New Hanover, whose founder he became.
VILLAGE OF NEW HANOVER.
This well built hamlet derived its name from Hanover, Germany, of which Henry B. Stehr, its founder, was a native. It is situated in the northern part of the precinct on the S. W. } of the S. E. + of section 5, township 2 south, range 10 west. It was platted and surveyed by Hngo Ropiquet, county surveyor, January 17, 1860. The first house, a frame dwelling, was built by John Karius about 1815. Mr. Karius was a tailor, and kept some goods for his own trade. To these he made additions for the purpose of trade, and thus founded the first store in the town which was also the first in the precinct. Not far from the same date Mr. Stehr built a blacksmith shop which was operated by his son, Henry Stehr, jr. Charles Mindermann began shoemaking
* From Reynolds' Pioneer History.
448A
F
RESIDENCE OF THOS J. PAYNE, WATERLOO, MONROE CO. ILL.
11!
GARDNERROLLER
MILLS.
GARDNER ROLLER MILLS, PROPERTY OF T .KOENIGSMARK, COLUMBIA, MONROE CO. ILL.
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