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 59

Author: McDonough, J.L., & Co., Philadelphia
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.L. McDonough & Co
Number of Pages: 578


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 59
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 59
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 59


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MEN FROM PERRY COUNTY.


Lieutenant-Colonel .- Stephen Wetmore, disc. Dec. 31, 1864.


NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.


Chief Bugler .- Hugh Smith, dise. June 20, 1865. Sadiller Sergeant .- David C. Stedlin, minstered out Aug. 31, 1865. MUSTER ROLL. COMPANY D. Captain. Robertson, John. trans. to Co. F. M. o. Inne, 22, 1865. Robertson, Wm. H, m. o. Ang. 11, 1865. Second Lieutenant. Srone>, Andrew, died at Pine Bluff, Ark, July 30, 1864. Stuart, David C., m. o. Ang 31, 1865. Willams, Christopher, disc. June 25, 1864.


Zebedee P. Curlee, m. o. Sept. 10, 1864.


Andrew M. Anderson, m. o. Sept. 10, 1804. Priettes.


Austin, Win. A., m o. Ang. 31. 1865, as l'orporal,


Benedict, John, m. o. Ang. 31, 1805.


Bolton, Thomas F., died at Benton B'ks , Boswell, Fred., In. o. June 16, 18G5.


April 3, 1804.


Earles, Robert, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865,


Fagg, Alex., trans, to Co. H. Died at Camp Butler, Ill., March 10, 1864. Hester, Reuben, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Hickerson, William, m. o. Aug, 31, 1865. Kent, Wm. M., died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Sept. 20, 1864.


Mathews, Beven, trans, to Co. H.


Moore. Henry, trans. to Co H.


Pngh, Thomas, died at Camp Butler, Ill., Feb. 13, 1864.


Pugh, Bales. killed near Pine Bluff, Feb. 11, 1865.


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY E. Private,-Peel, Daniel T.


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY F.


Cupluin.


Nipian E. Orten, in. o. Ang. 31. 1855. First Lieutenants. Cyrus W. Lindsay, trans. to Co. D. M. O. Ang. 31, 1865, ns Sergeant. Samnel Evans, died at Tamaroa, []l., Nov. 29. 1864. John McKee, m. o. Ang 31, 1865. John F. Hunt, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Feb. 7, 1865


Benjamin H. Crain, died Aug. 10, 1864. Wm. E. Sparron, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Secout Lieutenant. Wm. S. Junkins, m. o as Sergeant, Aug. 31, 1865. First Sergeant.


Wm. E. Sparron, promoted 2d Lieut. Com. Sergeant. James J. Elans, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865, as Sergeant.


William Yates, Jr, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Feb. 25, 1865. Sergeants,


Thos. Hammock, priv., trans. to Co. C. M. O. Aug. 31, 1865.


Samuel Shaffer, m. o Aug, 31, 1865. William Rue, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865.


Jonathan Chiles, died Pine Pluff, Ark., Dec. 16, 1864.


James N Mahar, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865, as private.


Joseph H Graham, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865, as Sergeant.


John W Dobbins, m. o. Ang 31, 1865. Jonathan J. Howell, died Ang. 28, 1864, Wounds.


Privates.


Anderson, William, disc .. Oct 7, 1862. Disability.


Brownlee, Wmn, R., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Baughman, George M. m. o. Aug. 31, 1845.


Baker, Newton, G., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Bardness, Abram, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Barclav, W'm. G., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865, as Corporal.


Beard, John W., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Burns, James, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Chiles, Joseph, m. o. Ang. 31. 1865.


Christian, Archibald, died Pine Bluff, July 7, 1864.


Coover, Samuel E., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Coleman, Joha L., died at Alton, Ill., May 3, 1864.


Cook, William M., died at Camp But- ler, Ill., Feb. 5, 1804.


Coffey, Henry, C., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Chiles, James W., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Christian, Thos. W., m. o., Ang. 31, 1865 Dixon, Wm., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865.


Deason, John B., m. o. Aug. 31, 1805.


Falls, James A., died nt Pine Bluff, Oct. 12, 1864.


George, James L., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Hunt, Jeremiah M., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Hutchings, John, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Harris, John M., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Hall, Wm. A., died at Little Rock, Ark., July 10, 1864.


Hardsock, James L., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Hester, Thomas, m. o. Nov. 11, 1865. Hugs, Peter.


Johnson, Mordecai, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Kennison, Thomas J., died at Tama- roa, Ang. 20, 1864.


Lawhead, Wm., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Marlow, Aiex., died at Pine Bluff, Aug. 31, 1864.


Murphy. John, m. o. Ang. 31, 1805. Miller, James N., Pro. Asst. Surg. 97th Ill. Infty.


McKee, James, m. o. June, 11, 1865.


Marshall, Theophilus, died at Pine Bluff, Ang. 6, 1863.


Mahar, Joseph, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865.


Nailer, Christian, died at Camp Butler, Welch, Win. H., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865


1Il., Feb. 6, 1864.


Pugh, Ahram R., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Pensar, James I., m. o. Aug. 31. 1865. Provins, Wm. S., Disc. det. 8, 1864. Rice, William H., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865. Ridgway, Edw'd, d. at Pine Bluff, Ark., Aug. 9, 1864.


Ridgway, Robert C., m. o. Ang. 31. 1865. Raider, William, m. o. March 8, 1865. Renfro, Mark W., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865.


Sterling. J. R., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865, as Cor. Sams, Benj. F., trans. to Co. D. Disc. March 4, 1865, as Sergeant.


Stilly, gtlas, M. O. Ang. 31, 1865 Thompson, Jas. d. Pine Bluff, Ju 18, '64 Tolbert, Sherrod W., died Camp Butler Feh. 11, 1864


Tinsley. John M., M. O. Ang. 31, 1865 Taylor, Henry. M. O. Aug. 31, 1865 Taylor, John M., M. O. June 20. 1865 Tinsley, Isainh, M. G. Ang. 31. 1865 Troester, George, M. O. Aug. 31, 1865 Thompson, Henry, M. O. Aug. 31. 1865 Tucker, Henry M. O. June 20, 1865 Walter, Clifton M. O. Aug. 31, 1865 Ward, Daniel, died Brownsville, Ark., June 14, 1864


Recruits.


Crane, Ranson N., M. O. Ang. 31, 1865 Cross, William E , M. O. Aug. 31, 1865 Crump, Chas, M. M. O. Ang. 31, 1865 Hotchkiss, Alex., M. O. June 20, 1845 Morrow, Wm. J., M. O. Aug. 31, 1865


Malkey, Isaac N. died Pine Bluff, Aug. 9. 1864


Shevals, Robert, m. o. Ang. 31, 1835 Stickey, William S., m. o Ang. 31, 1865 Thompson, James, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Williams, .I., d. Pine Bluff, Aug. 18, 1864


Yearian, Francis M., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY H.


Second Lieuterant. S. M. Weaver, m. o. Sergt. Aug. 31, '65 Privates.


Boswell, James R., tr. Cu. D m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 as Corpl. Bryant, Wm., d. Camp Butler, Feb. 10, 18G4 McCollon, J. D., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 Corp Montagne, Benj. F., tr. to Co. D Ang. 31 1865 as Corp'l. Mitchett, Silas W., trans, to Co. D d. at Pine Bluff May 9, 1865


Rapalyed, Daniel, m. o. June 20, 1865 ns Com. Sergt. Shettleworth, Saml., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Watson, G. W., trans. to Co. D In. o. June 20, 1865 Woodward, Gilbert, tr. to Co. F m. o. Aug. 31, 1x65 Walle, John. tr. to Co. F d. Benton Bks Mar. 24,1864 Young, William J. B., tr. to Co. F m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 as Corpl.


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY I First Sergentut. - Henry C. Hoffman, m. o. July 20, 1865 Recruits .- Duncan, Chns., d. Pine Bluff of accidental wounds, Nov. 1, 1864 Spann, Solom d, died Pine Bluff Oct. 27, 1864.


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY K.


First Lieutenant.


Rudolph A. Wheatley, m. o. Sergt Aug. 31, 1865 Second Lieutenant.


Theop. T. Fouotnia. m. o. Sept. 4, 1864


Privates. Crouch, Wm. L., m. o. June 22, 1865 Covens, Wm., m. o. Oct. 4, 1865 to date Ang. 31, 1865


Chandler, J., d. Pine Bluff, July 9, 1864 Drew, Je-se, absent at m. o. of Regt. Dye, Elmore C., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Foster, Thos. m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 Kirk, George M.


Lawrence, Henry S., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 | Rusk, Claiborne R, m. o. June 30, 1865 Lawson, J. B., disch. July 3, 1865 Sergt. | Wayman, Chas., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY L.


Captain.


Recruits.


James Crain, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 First Lieutenant.


Wm. G. Anderson, m. o. Sergt. Ang. 31, 1865 Pricute. Ballard, William, disch. Ang. 31, 1864


Berry D. J., d. Little Rock Sept. 20, 1864 Fetter, Jac., d. Pine Bluff Apr. 13, 1865 Moore, Thomas, disch. Feb. 15, 1865 Miller, Jno. d. Pine Bluff Sept. 14,'1861 Thompson, Gideon


MUSTER ROLL, COMPANY F.


Prirates. U'unassigned Recruits. Butler, Bailey, rejected Chalford, Chas. M., d. Camp Butler Apr 2, 1864


Roper, Wm., ir. to Co. D d. Pine Bluff Sept. 25, 1864 wounds


Reed, Wm., tr. 10 Co. F d. Pine Bluff Sept. 22, 1864


Fallon, Robert, rejected Ros«, James Sullivan, Thomas


MEN FROM RANDOLPH COUNTY.


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY L.


Captains .- Geo. W. Sewsberry, resig'd June 7, '65. Sergeants .- John Risenor, M. O. Aug. 31, 1865. John W. Malone, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Aug. 25, '65.


Recruits.


Craig, Wm. A. m. o Aug. 31, 1865.


Fallon, Don (, m. o. Ang. 31, 1865, 84 Corporal.


Fallon, George T., m. a. Ang. 31, 1865. Griffin, Benjamin. Hester, John, in. o Ang. 31, 1865. Holt, Richard, m. o. Aug. 31, 1865. Kinsey, Ivane M., m. o. Ang 31, 1865. Steele, John S . m. o. June 16, 1865. Sterling, Jolin P., m. o. June 20, 1865 Wilson, Samnel B., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865, as Sergeant. Woodside, Abner J., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865.


Corporals.


Moore, Wm., m o. Oct 11, 1805 to dat Aug 31, 1865 Parker, Ed C., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Sergt Rentfro, William B., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Rentfro, Wilham L., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 Rentfro, William F., m. o. Ang. 31, 1855 Short, Stph. d. Camp Butler Feb. 13 1864 Searle,,John Q. C., disch. Nov. 11, 1864 Short. Joel A., m. o. Ang. 31, 1865 Wheatley, Ise. L., disch. May 10, 1864; disability Recruits


Gorden, Wm., ahsent sick at m. o. Reg. Hodges, Jas., m. o. Aug. 31, 1865 Corpl. Parker, Levi R., disch. May 9, 1865 to date Ang. 31, 1865


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Corporals.


James Dunbar, M. O. Ang. 31, '65, as private.


Francis Smith, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., July 14, '64.


Edward M Smith, M O. Aug. 31, '65.


William Jenkins, private, dird at Pine Blutf, Ark., Sept. 26, '64.


Bugler.


John T. Smith, died at Alton, III., May 1, '64. Wounds.


Artificer.


Samuel C. Stewart, detached at M. O. of Regiment.


Privates.


Armour, James M., M. O. Aug. 31, 1865. Arney, Andrew, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Oct. 21, '64.


Biley, Alfred, claimed by and Trans. to lluth Ill. Infty.


Beckett, John F., disch. Feb. 17, 1x64. Disability.


Condor, Adam, M. O. Aug. 31, 18h5. Corwin, Elijah, M. O. Aug. 31, 1×65.


Edwards, John, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., July 30, 1×64. Jenkins, Sam' C., M. O. Aug 31, 1865.


MeLaughlin, Win. H. died at Pine Bluff, Ark., June 13, 1804.


FIFTEENTH CAVALRY REGIMENT .- ( Three Years' Service.) MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.


Prirutes-Bean, Oliver W., killed near Hickman, Ky, June 4, 1862.


Cunningham. Francis M., transf to loth Cav., as consolidated. Lett, Sherrod.


FOURTEENTH CAVALRY .- MEN FROM PERRY COUNTY.


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY C.


Pruate-Crocket, John C., died at Peorin, III., April 7, 1863. MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.


Privates-Arney, Benjamin, mustered out June 12, 1865. Pris, War. Darnes, James, mustered ont July 31, 1865. Ingram, Chas., mustered out July 31, 1-65. Mosley, James P.


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY G.


Private-Leffer, Thomas, missing in action since Aug 3, 1861.


FIFTEENTH CAVALY REGIMENT .- (Three Years' Service.)


MI'STER ROLL COMPANY C.


Privates-Cox, Jasper, mustered out Aug. 31, 1863. Cox, Lewis.


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY E.


Sergeant-James M. Blackmore disch. June 24, 1864. Disability. Bugler-George Tatfee.


Privates-Bacon, Benjamin, transf. to foth Ill. C'av. a> consolidated. Shank Oliver, transt. to loth Ill. Cav. as consolidated.


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY F. Private-Coleman, Miles H., transf. to Co. L., 10th Cavalry, as consolidated.


SIXTEENTHI CAVALRY REGIMENT .- ( Three Years' Service.)


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY L. Prirute-Guard, John.


Prirales-Winters, Lonis .1 .. , escaped prisoner, M. O. Aug. 19, 1865 as Corpl.


ALTON BATTALION INF RY-100 days-FROM RANDOLPH CO. Captain Simon S. Stockey's Company. Corporals. Thomas Horner, m. n. October 7, '61 Barns, Lewis. m. o. October 7, '64 Jackson, Alexander, m. o. October 7, 64 Hurke, Franklin M., mn. o. Oct. 7, '64 McMellon, William T., m. o. Oct 7, 64 Benson, Newton, m. o. October 7, '64 Short, William, mn. o. Oct. 7, '64


FIRST ARTILLERY -( Three Years' Service. ) MEN FROM RANDOLPH COUNTY. Battery D. Privates .-- Herbert, Charles F., tr. from 30 III.


Battery G.


Sergeant.


Privates.


William Bradley, m. o. Sept. 7, '64


Hathaway, Theodore, disc. Jan. 30, '65 Keller, John P., tr. to V. R. C. Feb.7,'64


MEN FROM PERRY COUNTY. Battery D. l'eteran .- Eaton, William, mustered out July 28, 1863.


Battery G.


Printes. Robinson, George, disc. Feb.15,'65,corp Stevenson, George, dise. Feb. 5, '65


Barclay, John, died Feb, 29, '64 Breen, Dennis, mustered out Dutee, Thomas


Fuller, Robert H., disc. June ],'62;disab.


Manjon, Thomas, disc. July 1,'62; disab


Maxey, David, disc. Feb. 5, '15


McGrail, Miles, disc. Sept. 30, '62 Stevenson, Jas., m. o. Jnae 19, '65, corp.


Battery I.


Recruit .- Lany, Abram V., discharged October 30, '62 SECOND ARTILLERY .- ( Three Years' Service.) MEN FROM PERRY COUNTY. Battery D. Recruit .- Todd, John, discharged September 24, '64 ; term expired Battery F. Recruit. Davis, Samuel, dropped from the rolls August 1, '64


MEN FROM MONROE COUNTY. Battery E. Privates. Nagel, William, Vet. trans. to Bat. A.m.


Eberlein, Charles, Vet. tr. to bat. A, o. July 27, '65 Summer, John, Vet. trans. to Hat. A, m.


m. o. July 27, '65 rty,


o. July 27, '65


Langebohn, Jacob, killed at Liberty, m. o. September 17, 61 Recruit .- Engsling, Stephen.


CHAPTER XII.


COMMON SCHOOLS.


RANDOLPH COUNTY.


BY S. B. HOOD.


ONSIDERING the early settle- ment and organization of this county and the faet of its having contained the chief eity and greatest centre of civilization in the Missis- sippi Valley, we should expect that the history of its schools would be attended by more than ordinary in- terest. And such, no doubt, would be the case with a complete history ; but the very antiquity that would add to its interest hangs the mists of centuries before our eyes. Governor Reynolds, in his history of Illinois, >peaks of the sebool-houses being guarded during school hours, and of the dangers to which children were exposed in going to and returning from school in the country distriets in early times. The only book education, therefore, that many of these children received was from their parents in their eabin homes.


In the villages, however, schools were established and sustained from a very early period, and it is fair to presume that those of Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher were taught in French. They were of the parochial type, since the leading men of these villages were Frenchmen-men of culture, and of the Catholic religion. Unfortunately, no records of these schools were kept, and tradition is almost silent respeeting them. In later years the churches sustain- ing these schools have kept records of them, which will be found in the chapters devoted to these elurehes.


The earliest schools were principally taught in the de- serted log huts of the itinerant squatter or hunter. These were much inferior to the first houses built expressly for school purposes, a typical one of which I shall endeavor to present to the reader's mind :


The walls were of unhewn logs, and the cracks were daubed with mud mortar from the yard. This black mortar was mixed with dead prairie grass to make it stiek, and was put on with the hand, so that corrugations were formed in it by the finger prints of the dauber. The roof was of clap-boards, held down by weight-poles kept in position by pieces of wood called knees or eripples placed between them. The door was on the south or east, and turned on wooden hinges and was fastened by wooden latch or pin. On the


Forns, John A. Greenawalt, Henry, died at Pine Bluff, - Ark., Sept. 1, 1x64.


Galler, Wm. H , M. O. Aug 31, 1865. Holt. W'm. S., died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Oct. 25, 1x64. Lype, Gabriel A., M. O. Aug. 31, 1865. Powell, Guy II., M. O. Ang. 31, 1865. Pressley, Wm., died at Pine Bluff, Ort. 20, 1861.


Perking, Peter, M. D. Aug. 31. 1865. Poypus, Chas., M. O. Ang. 31. 1865. Throup, Francis M., absent sick at M.O. of regiment.


Throup, Thomas, M. O. June 20, 1865. Verner, Jos., disch. Aug. 18, 1865, disab. Williams, George, M. O. Ang 31, 1×65.


Wren, Josiah F., died at Benton Bar- racks, Mo., March 2, '64.


Recruits.


Benson, John, M. O. Ang. 31, 1865. Candle. Francis M., M. O. Aug. 31, 1865.


Davis, Emzly, M. O. Ang. 31, 1865, 28 Corporal.


Davis, Jolin W., transf. to Co. E.


Finley, William, died at Pine Bluff, Ark., Oct. 28, '64.


Recruits.


Baxter, Joseph, disc. March 11, 65 Garety, Peter, M. O. June 10, '65


MUSTER ROLL COMPANY M.


232


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


opposite side a log was cut out to admit light to the writing- desk, a long slab fastened to the wall just below this open- ing.


The above cut represents the exterior of one of these cabin school buildings. The seats consisted of puncheons, sup- ported by four legs driven into the holes near the ends. The legs, usually put in green, were too small for the holes when seasoned, and would stick up through the bench far enough to prevent the " pushing off" process, to which the pupil on the end of the bench was ever exposed. These benches, without backs, were placed end to end round the walls of the room, so that the pupils could rest their aching spines against the projecting logs. The bench at the long window was a high one, as none but the " big " boys and girls wrote in those days. As Judge Murphy, of Sparta, once said in addressing a teachers' meeting : " The school benches in the old times, were much like the seats in modern railroad cars, springy and reversible, only that in the former the boy had to do the springing and reversing " The heating apparatus consisted of a wide chimney or fire-place, built of mud and split sticks. The wood, dragged up in the tree by three or four yoke of oxen, was cut into suitable lengths by the school-boys, detailed in regular order for the work.


The school-house ax was reputed the dullest in the neigh- borhood, and yet no one ever stuck it into the ground. The large girls swept the puncheon floor by turns with a wild- grass home-made broom. Water carrying from the ever adjacent spring or creek was a privilege usually awarded to the meritorions.


School-books in these days were far different from those used now. The elementary spelling book, with its alternate pages of spelling and reading, was the only book for begin- ners, and the Testament for advanced readers. In later days, the English Reader and the Introduction were used in some of the most progressive schools. In Arithmetic there was but one book for the older and the younger pupils, the teacher giving such individual help as he thought needful. The copy books were made at home, of common unlined paper, which the teacher ruled. He also set the copies and made and repaired-" fixed '-the goose-quill pens. Pen-


making was quite an art in those days, and the sharp "pen- kuife" was one of the teacher's first necessities. Spelling, reading, writing and arithmetic constituted the school cur- riculum. Pluck, and muscle to back it, were considered im- portant qualifications, and the teachers were usually males ; yet we hear of some few females who taught in this county at a very early day, and gave the young women of their schools instruction in needle-work.


The schools were sustained by subscription to an agreement to pay the teacher a certain price for a specified number of scholars, for a stated time, the article specifying the branches to he taught. The price per scholar ranged from 33}c. to $1 25 a month, according to the studies taken. Besides the regular term pupils there were " day scholars," who paid live cents a day when at school. As the schools were neces- sarily small, teaching was not very remunerative; but the small salaries were supplemented by free board, or " board- ing round," as it was called, among the patrons. Many of the teachers were of limited education, but some were men of thorough scholarship.


As many children had to travel to school through track- less forests, the fathers usually, on the first day of school, blazed a path to the school house, marking the trees on both sides so as to guide the children in going either way. Large trees were felled across the streams for bridges, and pole haud-rails were placed on forked stakes driven into the ground on either side of the log. Even as late as 1841, most of the streams in this county were without bridges, and, when swollen, a source of danger to the lives of both teachers and pupils in crossing,-though few fatal accidents from this cause are remembered.


The following touching account was given by Mrs Mary G. Allison, of St. Louis, the mother of one, and the sister of another of the unfortunate victims of pioneer life, whose names this sketch shall perpetuate : In 1841, Miss Rachel M. Graham, aged seventeen, and daughter of Hugh Graham, who then lived near Chester, taught a school near Gordon's mill. On the 22d November, Miss Graham started for her school on horseback, taking her nephew, Chelsey Drew, a lad ten years old with her to return the horse. Mary's river, at that time swollen by the heavy rains of the previous Sun- day, was crossed at a ford some distance below the bridge on the old Chester and Georgetown road. It secmed from the tracks of the horse that they entered the river with no fear of danger ; but the rapid current swept the horse and its precious burden down the stream. Miss Graham sank and perished. The boy caught hold of the branches of a tree that hung across the stream, and cried for help. A German woman living near by, hearing his cries, ran to the river, and saw the boy holding on to the limb, sometimes above the water, and sometimes disappearing beneath it. Seeing she could do nothing herself, she ran for her hus- band, who, mounting his horse, galloped to the ford, dashed boldly in and tried to swim his horse to the rescue. But again the stream prevails,-horse and gallant rider both go down and swiftly pass the rising, sinking, hoping, now de- spairing child. Being washed from the horse's back, Mr. Daningbunk, the noble German, caught around the animal's


233


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


neck, urged by his wife, who had again reached the river, to try to save his own life For a quarter of a mile the struggling horse and man were swept down by the current, till at length the horse getting footing, emerged from the water and clambered up the steep bank, but his heroic rider, exhausted, fell back into the hungry stream and sank. Deeds less daring, sacrifices less noble, have been immortalized in song.


The woman, though deeply heart-smitten, by the dreadful death-scene of her husband, still determined if possible to save the boy. She ran and informed a Mr. Chapman of his condition. Ile, mounting a horse, rode rapidly to the fords, but when he reached it all was hushed and still save the dis- mal gurgling of the angry stream whose cold resistless cur- rent disdaining alike the purity and beauty of womanhood, the strength and courage of manhood and the helpless inno- eeney of pleading childhood, had covered all three in the gloomy depths of a watery grave,


But to return to our history :- Where the first school was taught in this county is not certainly known, but it is a matter of history that as early as 1720 the Jesuits founded a college at Kaskaskia, which flourished until 1754, and schools of a lower grade probably existed at a still earlier date


John Doyle, one of General Clark's old soldiers, returned to Kaskaskia after the war and taught school, many years between 1790 and 1800. About this time a heavy immigra- tion set in from the States, and early in the present century, we find settlements scattered all over the county. We shall therefore take these settlements, as represented by the townships, in which they are located and give as nearly as possible the school history of each. Township 4, range 5, including Coulterville : The first school-house in this town- ship, was a log cabin ereeted probably in the fall of 1828, and located in the N. E. quarter of seetion 27. The first school was taught the following winter by Mr. George Campbell, who still lives near Sparta, Henry L. McGuire and Benjamin Wham, afterward Dr Wham, were among its other early teachers There was another school taught at a very carly day in the western part of this township, in section 19, west of the old Stuart Burns' place, but its date is not known.


Mr. Blair Strahan, now an old man residing in the north- ern part of the township, attended this school when twelve years old. James B. Parks and William McKee taught in this school. In later years, the school was moved further north and a round log school-house ereeted on the land now owned by Thomas Lindsey. Rev. James Morrow, now an aged man living on Mud ercek, taught a number of terms in this house.


The first school under the free school law was taught by David Coulter, now a minister, in Winchester, Kansas. Miss Martha Bailey, (now Mrs. West, of Edwardsville), Mr. Frank Anderson, now of Wyandotte, Kansas, Miss Lydia Morland, late Mrs. Rev. Elliott, of Swanwiek, and Mr. George MeKay were among the early teachers of this school. The township has now six schools, including the graded school of Coulterville, 541 children of school age and


a township school fund of $1931, 82. It has also a good academy, the partienlars of which will be found in the his- tory of Coulterville.


Township 5-5, containing Eden. The first school in this township was taught in 1821 by an Irishman by the name of Robert Moor. The school house was one of the typical kind, and was located in section 7. The District, including the present location of Sparta, was about six miles square In the summer of 1822, G. T. Ewing, afterwards a. covenan- ter minister, taught a school in section 9, east of Eden, an apple tree on the farm of Mr. Tavlor Nesbit, marking the site of the old school-house. Robert ('lark, one of the noted teachers of his time, taught here in 1834 and 1835. Rev. Samuel Wylie, late of Edlen, frequently had private students. The names of Don Morrison and brother and the Bonds of Kaskaskia were among his pupils. The township now has 7 schools, 387 children of school age and a township school fund of $2550.70.




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