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 77
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 77
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 77
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FLORENCE.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
N Township 6, R. 7 West, lies Florence precinct. It has many natural advan- tages, in the respect to good soil, and a plentiful supply of timber, admirably adapting it to the growth of all the grains grasses and fruits. It is drained by Nine Mile creek and its tributaries, Little Nine Mile, and Robison creeks. The Kaskaskia river, bounds its western side, and affords a means for transporta- tion of its products. Evansville bounds it on the north, Blair and Chester on the east, and Chester and Kaskaskia on the south. It is from the number and charac-
ter of the pioneers though, that much of the interest attached to this precinct derives its origin. Ellis Grove on section 17, in the middle of the western part has long been renowned. Here improvoments were made as early as 1780 by settlers who had formerly been soldiers under the famous Colonel Clark. The names of these old settlers were John Montgomery, Joseph Anderson, John Dodge, John Doyle, David Pagon, M. Augustus, James Curry and Levi Teel. This settlement on which, at first, a few small farms with their humble cabins served to sustain and shelter the pioneers was almost broken up before the year 1790.
The year 1797 marked the advent of one of the most no- ted aud prominent pioneers, a man who was the hero of numberless exploits with the Indians, who had been one of
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IHISTORY OF RANDOLPHI, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Colonel Clark's old soldiers, when he made his march to the Wabash in 1778, and who took part with General St Clair in his disastrous defeat in 1791. This was Stacy McDonough. He was born in the state of New Jersey, and was of Scotch descent. A natural backwoodsman, fond of the rifle, he seemed to court danger. In 1793 while passing down the Ohio river on a boat which be commanded, he received a wound from a shot in the shoulder by the lurking savages, which afflicted him through life, still he was undaunted and always engaged in some perilous exploit. He served with General Anthony Wayne, whose disposition suited him. During the war of 1812, he carried the mail from St. Louis to Shawneetown, though a route thickly beset with dangers from the hostile Indians, but the danger did not deter him, and he made his trips regularly. He was a Captain in the ranging service, and proved a man of marked ability, and one of the most popular men in the new settlement. He lived on a farm where he first located nearly half a century and died deeply mourned. He left two sons, James and David; the former settled on the lower end of Opossumden Prairie, about the year 1820. David lived on the farm made by his father.
In 1798 Jonathon Pettit another noble specimen of the pioneer, came to the settlement, and was a valuable acquisi- tion. He erected a mill on Nine Mile creek, at a point where the Chester and Evausville road crosses it. He was an aetive and leading man, and was prominent in all important. movements. He joined the Rangers, in 1812 and discharged his arduous duties in a highly creditable manner. His sons were David, Henry, Jonathan and Joseph. Among the first emigrants to the county after 1800, was Robert Rey- nolds from Tennessee, and originally from Ireland. He located first in Kaskaskia and after a short time came to the settlement of Hughs and Pillars. He became a leading man and filled several important officers. After a residence of twenty years he went to Madison county where he died. IIe was the father of John Reynolds, who afterwards became Governor of the state, and Thomas Reynolds who became an eminent lawyer and Judge. George Franklin who came to Illinois in 1801, settled on a farm in section 22, T. G, R. 7 W. John and Ephraim Bilderback came to Ilinois in 1802. Ephraim made a farm in the region of the settle - ment on the east side of the Kaskaskia river, about one mile north of Riley's mill. They soon became representative men and were noted for their ability and industry. Their deseen- dants are numerous, and are now scattered in every direction.
lu 1811, there came to the settlement a man named John Young, who located on a farm near Ellis Grove. Stephen Young who lived in the same neighborhood was his son. John Young arrived iu company with Harmon's family
James Milligan living on section 21. T. 6, R. 7 W., is the son of David Milligan who emigrated from North Carolina to Tennessee, and thence to Illinois in 1812 He first settled four miles south of Pinekneyville, ou Four Mile Prairie, and after a years residence there, removed to where Sparta now stands. Ile rais d a family of nine children, five sons and four daughters, Fergus, James, David, Hezekiah and William were the names of the sons, and Elvira, Sarah,
Mary and Martha were the names of the daughters. James Milligan is the second son, and was born in North Carolina, March 1th, 1801. Ile came with his father to Illinois in 1812." In 1821 he married Nancy McDonough, a daughter of Stacy McDonough before mentioned. Mrs. Milligan was born March 17th, 1808, on the old McDonough place within a mile of where she now lives. He served in the Black-Hawk war. One of the early settlers in the vieinity of Ellis Grove, was William Fisher, a son of Archi- bald Fisher, who came from Scotland to America some time before the Revolutionary war, and settled first in South Carolin + aud afterward in Tennessee, where his son William married Aon White. He was the father of the Archibald Fisher, who received his grandfather's name, and was born in Tennessee. In 1804 William Fisher moved to Randolph county, Illinois, and settled a few miles northeast of Ellis Grove. Archibald was at this time a boy of three years. The Bollinger Family were among the early settlers of Ran- dolph county. They were natives of Tennessee, where they were a numerous and well known family. Daniel Bollinger eame with his father to Ellis Grove about 1828. In 1873 he opened a store in Ellis Grove. In 1874 he was appoint- ed post-master.
Elisha aud Edward Seymour came to Randolph county in 1822 Edward lived in Randolph county until 1849 when he joined the adventurous band who were attracted to the Pacific SlopP. Ile accompanied his brother Elisha, and engaged in mining, with varied success, until the death of his brother, who was drowned iu May, I>5}, while trying to ferry a man over Salmon river when it was swollen and in a dangerous stage. In the winter of 1851-'52, Mr. Seymour made the journey homeward by way of Panama, and returned to his old home in Randolph county, where he settled up his brother's estate, and continued to reside in the county until his death in 1876. He left two sons, George D. and IIenry E., both of whom live in the county. Elisha, his brother, married Sarah MeDonough, a daughter of Stacy Me- Donough, and sister of James Milligan's wife.
Christian Beare is an old settler, who came from Switzer- land in 1832. IIe first located upon a place two miles north of Ellis Grove, and engaged in farming until 1842, when he settled upon his present place, section 18, a quarter of a mile southwest of the village.
Hiram Roberts came to Randolph county in the year 1839, when fifteen years of age, sinee which time he has resided in it, except a period of three years spent ou the Pacific coast. His father's name was James Roberts, a na- tive of New Jersey, who was married to Margaret Murphy, in the city of New York. He first moved to Ohio, and set- tled at Columbus, where Iliram, his son, was born. The fami y moved next to Michigan, aud subsequently to Taze- well county, Illinois In 1839 they moved to Randolph county and settled in the neighborhood of Ellis Grove. Daniel Preston Roberts, the grandson of William Roberts, who came to Illinois from Kentucky about the beginning of the present century, was born Nov. 30th, 1816, near Kas- kaskia. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and was appointed register in the land office at Kaskaskia until its
40
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
close. In 1866 he bonght a farm half a mile west of Ellis Grove, where he still resides.
One of the earliest Germans to locate in this precinct was John George Schoeppel, a native of Bavaria, Germany. He emigrated to America in the fall of the year 1839, landing at New Orleans. On coming up the river the boat was frozen in the ice opposite Kaskaskia. This incident caused him to stop at that place, though it was his intention to settle in Missouri. He was a tailor, and, after working a few weeks at his trade, he settled abont one mile north of Ellis Grove, and engaged in farming. He died in 1858. Some of his children are still residing in the vicinity.
There are few of the old settlers now in Florence precinct. They have fonght their battles with bfe and passed away. The old landmarks have gone with them. The primitive log church has been supplanted by those of br.ck or frame, and the old squatty school-house of ronnd poles, without window or floor, has been succeeded by elegant frame struc. tnres. On every hand the old traces of pioneer life are gone.
Riding along the road from Evansville to Ellis Grove, if the traveller were to panse when he comes to Nine Mile Creek, he would look in vain for any remains of the old mill erected by Jonathan Pettit in 1798, but he can let his memory revert to the scenes at that time. The little band of pioneers or their boys, engaged in games of ball or feats of wrestling and throwing the shoulder-stone, while awaiting their turn for their grist, enjoying themselves in their leisnre time in the rude manner of the pioneer life, wonld to day, if sketched by the artist, make an interesting picture.
ELLIS GROVE.
The village of Ellis Grove is beantifully located in an
elevated region abont two miles east of the Kaskaskia river, on the west half of section 17. The region around the vil- lage has some natural advantages in the way of timber, soil and water. It was at an early period a place of note. In 1852 George Ellis purchased a part of the old Hunt farm, put up a house and opened a store A post-office was also established and Mr. Ellis appointed post-master. A Union meeting-house was erected the same year, which still stands, though now used as a dwelling. A school-house was put up also. These buildings gave to the little place somewhat the appearance of a village. Mr. Ellis bad his land surveyed into town lots, and called the place Ellis Grove. The plat was recorded Oct. 9, 1855. In 1855 a church building was erected by the Baptists, which was burned in the spring of 1882. The society was in a flourishing state. Mr. Ellis had his store destroyed by fire in 1857, and removed to Ur- bana; and William Crawford moved in, opened a store, and took charge of the post-office.
Present Business .- The town has now a population of about two hundred, some of whom are of German ancestry ; one dry goods store, owned by J Beard & Brother ; two hotels, one by Mrs. John Schoeppel, and one by Mrs. Fred. Peters ; two blacksmith shops, one by William Kuntz, and one by Frederick Dudenbostel ; one wagon shop ; one drug store, by llenry Lilly, who is also the post-master, a justice of the peace, and a notary public; two physicians-Dr. J. B. Ray, and Dr. J. Howard ; also, one German Methodist church.
There are two school-houses, one quarter of a mile each from the centre of the village; and a saw-mill, owned by Heub, Lutz & Neuling.
WATERLOO.
MONROE COUNTY.
ELLEFONTAINE was the ear- liest settlement in the county. The first American colony came from Maryland and Vir- ginia to Illinois in 1781, and of its members three. James Moore, Larken Rutherford, and James Garretson, settled at or near the Bellefontaine in 1782. This name had been -> COPYRIGHT COMSOM applied by the French to a spring of water a mile sonth of the site of Waterloo, at which they had doubtless often camped on their journeys between Kaskaskia, Cahokia and St. Louis. By the side of this spring Moore determined to build his future home, Rutherford settled in the vicinity. Early in the present century he removed to the neighborhood of the present town
of Belleville, in St. Clair county, where he died. He had been a soldier under Colonel Clark in his expedition to III- inois in 1778. Garretson selected a location a mile northeast of where the town of Waterloo now stands, on claim 516, survey 720, a grant of land which he received from the gov- ernment. He afterward removed to the American Bottom, near Moredock Lake, where he ended his days. Moore and his family clung to the original settlement at the Bellefon- taine. The grant of four hundred acres of land which he obtained from the Government (claim 220, survey 394) cov- ering the spring, has remained in the possession of the Moore family from the last century to the present time.
Captain James Moore was born in Maryland in the year 1750. He subsequently settled in Virginia, his oldest son, John Moore, being the only one of his children born in Maryland. Ile settled in Virginia on the banks of the Kanawha river. He took part in the expedition to Illinois
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES ILLINOIS.
in 1778, under the command of Colonel George Rogers Clark, in which it is generally supposed he served in the commissary department. He was adventurous and daring in disposition. He, with his companions, reached Kaskaskia in the fall of 1781, and there remained during the winter. The next spring he settled at Bellefontaine. It was supposed when these immigrants left the country east of the Alleghe- vies that little danger need be feared from the Indians. It was not long, however, before the savages began to make trouble, and James Moore was elected captain of the com- pany which came to be raised for the protection of the colony. Illinois at that time was a county of Virginia, and the com- mission which Captain Moore received was from the Gover- nor of Virginia, Patrick Heury. He was directed to estab- lish a military post and command the Illinois militia. A fort, or blockhouse, was accordingly built at Bellefontaine, and afterward, during the Indian war this was one of the most frequent and noted places of resort. Captain Moore's etforts were of great value in establishing amicable relations with the Indians, so that it was not until 1786 that serious trouble began with the hostile tribes. With Gabriel Cerre, a wealthy merchant of St. Louis, he entered into trade with the Indians, and for some time maintained his headquarters on the site of Nashville, Tenn. He died in or about the year 1788, his family obtaining scanty results from his ven- ture in the Indian trade. His wife, whom he had married in Maryland in 1772, was Catharine Biggs. At her hus- band's death she was left with a family of six children, the oldest of whom was but fourteen years of age, and the youngest an infant. She kept the family together, though her situation was one of trial and embarrassment. By this time the Indians had resumed their eneroachments, though their object seemed to be to steal rather than to kill, some of them boasting that they spared the settlers so that they might raise horses and provisions for them. Her neighbors planted for her a crop the first season after her husband's death, some standing guard against the Indians while others tilled the field. At one time the danger became so immi- neut that the family was driven to the block house in the American Bottom for protection.
The oldest son, John Moore, on attaining his majority in 1794, married Elizabeth Whiteside, the oldest daughter of William Whiteside, who had reached Illinois in 1793. He settled north of Waterloo, on claim 223, survey 397. He died in the year I>33. He was a lieutenant in the Illinois militia, in the ranging service during the war of 1812-14, and the first treasurer of Monroe county. William and Benjamin, the two next sons of James Moore died in early life. The fourth son, James Biggs Moore, known as General Moore, was born in Virginia in 1780. He embarked in various business enterprises, and for some years traded on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers between New Orleans and Pittsburg, making his voyages in a keel boat. He aban- doned the boat business to settle three miles northeast of the present town of Waterloo, on what was known as the "tan yard farm." He here invested in a large tanning enterprise, at that time, perhaps, the largest west of the Alleghenies. He organized a company of rangers in the war of 1812-'14,
and was commissioned its captain. He was appointed sheriff of Monroe county by Governor Ninian Edwards, and was the first to fill that office after the organization of the county. He was sheriff' several years, and afterward for two terms represented the county in the State Legislature. He was a man of active business enterprise, and established a mill on Prairie du Long creek, and a carding factory vear his own homestead. Ile died on the tan yard farm in 1840 Enoch Moore, the next son of the pioneer, was born in the old block house at the Bellefontaine in the year 1783, and was probably the first white child born within the limits of the present county of Monroe. He secured a good education and became an excellent surveyor Mach of the gov- ernment surveying in this part of Illinois was done under his direction and supervision. He married Mary Whiteside. During the war of 1812-'14 he served as a private iu the company of rangers commanded by his brother, Captain James B. Moore. He was a delegate to the convention that framed the first constitution of the State of Illinois, and was elected a representative in the State Legislature. He was also at different times circuit clerk aud judge of the probate court. He was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church In company with one of his sons, MeRendree Moore, he engaged in the mercantile business at Waterloo. He died in the year 1818. His home was the farm now o vned by Joseph W. Drury north of Waterloo. Mary Moore born at Bellefontaine in 1751, became the wife ot Colonel David Robinson. J. Milton Moore, the youngest son of the pioneer, Captain James Moore, was born in B .He- fontaine in 1786. Several years of his boyhood were spent with his uncle Zaccheus Biggs, in Virginia, where he re- ceived a good common school education. He had a strong liking for mathematics and qualified himself as a surveyor. Soon after he was sixteen years of age he was made surveyor of St. Clair county, and filled that position for several years. He surveyed a considerable part of the public land in Mon- roe county, running the lines of the sections and townships. He was in the ranging service during the war of 1812-'14. and served as a justice of the peace for many years. He died in 1844.
The old claim 2666, survey 978, a mile or more southeast of Waterloo, was granted by the government on account of an improvement made by Auguste Bigger-taff in the year 1786. The testimony before the board of commissioners to adjust land claims in the Kaskaskia district showed that Biggerstaff cultivated corn and raised a erop that year. Peter Casterline testified that he assisted Biggerstaff to lay the foundation of his eabin, to deaden some timber and put in a crop. Andrews' run, a tributary to Fountain creek, which rises north of Waterloo, was so called from the An- drews family, which settled at its head in early times, and who were massacred by the ludians. James Andrews was a young Virginian who came to Illinois, and shortly afterward married Capt. Joseph Ogle's daughter, and settled on An- drews' run. Here he was attacked by the Indians, himself and wife killed, and his child, a girl three years of age, taken prisoner. Her name was Drusilla. She was recovered through the agency of some French traders of St. Louis,
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
and was raised in the family of James Leman, at New Design ; she married Henry Mace. Governor St. Clair con- firmed a grant of four hundred acres of land, covering the original improvement made by Andrews, to his daughter Drusilla, on which she and her husband afterward spent their days. The Huff and Moredoek family, on coming to Illinois first settled in the vicinity of Bellefontaine, and in 1809 the claim was affirmed by the commissioners to John Moredoek. The massacre of Mrs. Huff and part of the family by the Indians, in their journey up the Missis- sippi, is elsewhere related. Huff himself was killed by the Indians, on the road between Kaskaskia and Prairie du Rocher. The family removed to the American Bottom, un Moredock jake, and John Moredock became a noted citizen of the county. On claim 229, survey 784, about three miles north of Waterloo, the first improvement was made by Samuel Hanley. This grant was confirmed by Governor St. Clair to William Biggs, in whose possession it also was at the time of the report, made in 1813, of the commis- sioners to adjust land claims in the Kaskaskia distriet.
Biggs lived a long and eventful life in Illinois. He was born in Maryland in the year 1755, and at the age of twenty-three enlisted in the expedition for the conquest of Illinois, commanded by Colonel George Rogers Clark. He held a commission as lieutenant, and served during the years 1778 and 1779. He returned to Virginia, was married, and shortly afterward, in company with his two brothers, came to Illinois and settled at Bellefontaine. In the spring of 1788, while on his way to Cahokia, in company with John Vallis, he was attacked by the Indians and taken prisoner. He was released on the payment of $260 ransom money. He afterward wrote a narrative of his eaptivity. He was appointed by Governor St. Clair sheriff of St. Clair eounty in 1790, and filled the office for a number of years ; he was also a justice of the peace, and judge of the court of common pleas lle was elected to serve in the legislature of the Northwestern territory two terms. In 1808 he was chosen to represent St. Clair county in the legislature of Indiana territory, and by his efforts contributed to the divi- sion of the territory and the establishment of the Illinois territory the following year. From 1812 to 1816 he repre- sented St. Clair county in the legislative council of General Assembly of the territory of Illinois.
South of the Moore tract, below Waterloo, Michael Miller settled at an early day. He was from Pennsylvania, and came to Illinois about the year 1800 The farm north of Waterloo, which was for many years the residence of Geo. L. Ditch, was first improved by Benjamin Marney. While returning up the river from New Orleans, where he had taken a flat-boat loaded with produce, he was seized with yellow fever, died and was buried on the bank of the Mis- sissippi. This was in the early part of the year 1822. William Agnew was an old resident of the precinet, and occupied a farm in seetion 2 of township 2 range 10, now owned by Conrad Kohlmar. James Taylor lived on the Loehr place, three miles north of Waterloo, on the St. Louis road. In the same neighborhood was the old Eberman place, where the Rev. William Eberman lived for many
years. At this place, early in the present century, Thomas Marrs, afterward a residentof the American Bottom, settled.
David Robinson, who has been mentioned as having mar- ried the only daughter Capt. James Moore, was a lieutenant in the company of his brother-in-law, Capt. James B. Moore, in the war of 1812-14, and was afterward appointed by Governor Ninian Edwards a colonel of militia. In later life he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died in the year 1833.
CITY OF WATERLOO.
The tract of land on which the original town of Waterloo was laid out was purchased by George Forquer, in 1818. The projectors of the town were Forquer and Daniel P. Cook. The latter was a prominent lawyer, a resident of Kaskaskia and afterward a member of Congress. Forquer was born in Pennsylvania in 1794, and eame to Illinois with his mother, Mrs. Ford, and his half brother, Thomas Ford, (afterwards Gov. Ford), in 1804. He also was the original proprietor of the town of Bridgewater, on the Mississippi, above Harrisonville. He opened a store at Waterloo, but his mercantile venture proved a failure. He then under- took the study of law and engaged in polities, in both of which pursuits he was successful. The Ford family lived in Waterloo for many years, inhabiting a little log house which stood at the west side of the present Main street, just south of the old Morrison place. Mrs. Ford died here, and was buried in the cemetery east of town. At Waterloo Thomas Ford grew up to manhood and began his distinguished legal and politieal career.
Much of the land on which the town is now built was, previous to the laying out of the town, owned by David H. Diteh who acquired it by entry from the government. He was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1781, and married Hannah Forquer, sister of George Forquer. They came to Illinois in 1804, Mrs. Diteh fording the Kaskaskia river on horseback with one of her children tied behind her. After living some time in the vicinity of Kaskaskia, and in the American Bottom near Harrisonville, Mr. Ditch moved to the site of Waterloo. Hle built the log house, afterward known as the Morrison house, which stood until the spring of 1881, when it was torn down. This in early days was used as a hotel, and when Waterloo first became the county seat, the courts were held in this building.
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