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 89
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 89
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 89
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Early schools were held in the basement of the R. P. Church after its erection until 1857, when R. B. Elliott and John Robinson built the old brick school. It stood on the same spot where the present one was erected. Among the carly teachers were Margaret Guitillius, George Mckay, Profes- sor Sweazy, Frank Anderson and H. Coulter. The present school-house is a beautiful brick building, two stories high, and contains four rooms. The school is graded, employing four teachers. There are at present four churches in the village-United Presbyterian, O. S. Reformed Presbyterian, N. S. Reformed Presbyterian, and Methodist Episcopal.
Coulterville Academy .- This institution was established in 1871. The building is a neat frame, containing two rooms. There are two courses, classical and normal. It is now under the professorship of R. G. Ramsay. It is controlled by a board of managers, elected by the stockholders .. The acade- my is well patronized by the citizens.
Incorporation .- There have existed at least two incorpor- ating organizations, the first being from some eause illegal. At an election held July 15, 1874, the question whether the place should be reorganized and ineorporated under the gen- eral law as a village was carried. It is controlled by a board of trustees elected each year as provided by law. The present board are J. Q. A. Nisbet, president ; William Hood, James M. Jones, W. T. Craig, J. S. Milligan and John Os- born. S, M. East, clerk ; William Orr, treasurer ; John Dixon, street commissioner; William McDill, constable; Nathaniel Childs, Police Magistrate.
Coulterville Cemetery is situated one mile north of the vil. lage, and contains two acres nieely laid off and set with or- namental trees. It is managed by a board of trustees.
Elliott's Mill was erected in 1877, and began operation in November of the same year. It is frame, constructed in elevator style, occupying '110x30 feet on the ground. It contains three run of buhrs and two sets of rolls, and has a capacity of 100 barrels in twenty-four hours. Elliott's Best and Champion are the brands manufactured. There is an elevator in connection with the mill operated by steam power. A cooper shop is also a part of the establishment, and manufacture the barrels for shipment. R. B. Elliott is owner and proprietor.
Coulterville Mill was erected by Elliott and Jamison in 1863. It is a frame, three stories high, 40x46 feet, steam power, now owned and operated by A. R. Smith, who pur. chased it in April, 1881. It has three run of buhrs with a capacity of 100 barrels in twenty-four hours. Process Strait and White Rose Patent are the brands manufactured. It has a eooper shop in connection. These are both custom mills.
Coulterville Coal Company .- This shaft was sunk in 1872, by Kennedy and Jones. It is three hundred feet to the sur- face of the coal. The veiu will average seven feet, and is an excellent quality of coal. The mine is dry, and the coal is easily worked. It is operated by steam power, and when working its full capacity, can raise and load twenty ears per day. Work from sixty to eighty men. James M. Jones and J. Q. A. Ni-bet, are the proprietors and operators.
Coulterville Foundry and Machine Shops were established in 1877 by Miller & Demier, and are now owned and oper- ated by Adam Miller. All kinds of repairing iu iron and castings is executed with neatness and despatch.
The Hotel Elliott .- This is one of the ornaments of the village. It is situated just opposite the depot, and the grounds comprise nine acres, two of which are taken up with "East Lake." The grounds are laid out in park-like style, with numerous walks. A large number of shade trees and ornamental trees, flower beds, mounds, vases, fountains, statuary, rustic seats, summer-houses, etc., are appropriately and tastefully arranged. There is also a quarter-mile race course, with a band stand in the center. The lake is sup- plied with fish, and a number of small boats for the pleasure of the guests. There is a mineral spring near the house, the water of which is an excellent cure for rheumatie, dyspep- tic, kidney and liver diseases. In connection with the spring is a well-arranged bath house, where the guests are aceom- modated with either hot or eold sulphur baths. The location is beautiful and healthful. In the warmest days of sum. mer there is always a good breeze passing over the Grand Cote prairie. The place is fast becoming a favored summer resort. Mr. Michael Adami is the proprietor.
PRESENT BUSINESS - TRADE OF 1882
Physicians -C. J. Childs, R. S. Edgar, A. R. Leeper, Andrew Marlow.
General Merchandise .- W. J. Crawford, W. W. Jamison, Woodside & Wiseley.
Dry Goods and Notions -John Osborn.
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Drugs, Books and Stationery .- Edgar & East, J. S. Mil- ligan.
Hardware, Stoves and Tinware .- Thomas Crawford, J. M. Elliott.
Groceries .- Nathaniel Childs, J. B. Morrow.
Clothing .- Stewart & Armstrong.
Books, Stationery, Jewelry and Postmaster .- W. A. Milligan.
Harness Store .- William Orr & Co. Shoe Stores -Christ. Emig, James Millikin.
Jewelry .- William Warnock, Thomas Orr.
Livery Stables. James W. Gillespie, Wiseley Bros
Furniture .- Burns & Stewart.
Lumber Yard and Curpenter Shop .- Wiseley & Lyle.
Newspapers .- " Coulterville Headlight," Ash wood & Mar-
low, editors ; "Coulterville Clipper," William Beattie, editor. Dentist .- S. H. Wirtz.
Brick Yard .- Robert McAfee.
Painter .- John Saffer.
Carpenter Shops .- J. P. Williamson, J. P. Patterson, James Wylie.
Insurance Agents .- S. M. East, J. A. Nisbet, Anthony Steele.
Hotels .- Hotel Elliott, M. Adami, proprietor ; Coulterville House, John Dixon, proprietor ; City Hotel, Mrs. Harben, proprietress; Stranger's Home, I. N. McCollum, proprietor. Wagon Makers. - M. G. Treffts, A. W. Rideway.
Blacksmith Shops .- William Craig, Adam Miller.
Butchers .- J. C. McKelvey, S. B. Brown.
Restaurants and Bakery .- Matthew Wilson, John Rich- mond, Mariah Anderson.
Cigars and Confectionery .- Samuel Williamson.
Millinery .- Anna McKelvey, Harman Mclaughlin.
Dressmakers .- Mrs. Mason, Mrs Elder, Sarah A. Pettigrew.
Barbers -John Costley, Samuel Tabor.
Justices .- David Munford, Anthony Steele.
Constables .- Rufus East, Jesse McBride.
BIOGRAPHIES.
MESSRS. ASHWOOD & MARLOW.
THESE young men are the proprietors and editors of the Coulterville Headlight, a paper that displays energy and good practical management on their part. J. W. Ashwood is a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where he was born in March, 1861. He received his education in the schools of Pennsylvania and Kansas. In Kansas he gradu- ated from Winchester Academy. In 1880 he came to Ran- dolph county and commenced teaching in Jordan's Grove school, a position he has since retained, a compliment to his teaching ability. In connection with Mr. Marlow he bought the Headlight March 1st, 1882.
Alexander II. Marlow is a native of Tennessee, from which State he removed with his father's family and settled in Me- tropolis, Massac county, Illinois, in 1870. In 1871 he entered the office of the Metropolis Weekly Times to learn the prin- ter's trade. Here he remained three years. In 1875 he be- came foreman of the Gibson Courier, and in 1879 he took charge of the Clay County Gazette, published at Flora, Illinois, at which place be was honored with the presidency of the National Christian Temperance Union, with a mem- bership of eight hundred. In December, 1880, he became foreman in the office of the Headlight, and remained in that position until the time of the purchase of the paper. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Woodside, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., a few months since.
Of both members of this firm it may be said they are men of excellent habits, good citizens, and are highly respected by all who know them.
WISELY BROTHERS.
THE energetic liverymen of Coulterville are of Irish ex- traction, their father, Peter Wisely, having been born in county Armagh, Ireland, May 6, 1806, and their mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Lindsay, in county Derry, August 22, 1808, same country. Peter Wisely came to America, landing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Septem- ber, 1828, and in 1831, came to Washington county, Illinois, thence to Randolph in 1852, where he died April 25, 1861.
Of the brothers, J. L. was born August 15, 1831, in Frank- lin county, Pennsylvania, and Alex. in Washington county, Illinois, February 17, 1847. Brought up as farmers' sons inured to toil, they obtained fair knowledge of books by attendance at school during the winter months. Both have forsaken farming for other pursuits. They jointly own the livery stable, which, under their management, is proving profitable. They are held in high repute as citizens, being active in prosecuting whatever is calculated to promote the public welfare.
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
373
C
Shunt The Fie 1
THE present able representative from Randolph county in the State Legislature, boasts of being of Scotch descent, his parents having both been born in the land of the high- lands. His father, John, and his mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Borland, were married in the country ( f their nativity, and had seven children before embarking for this country, where they arrived in 1845. They came by way of the lakes, and touched first at Chicago, and theu made their way to southern Illinois, and settled in Wash- ington county. After a residence there of some five years came to this county and located near Conlterville. Mr. MeFie received in Scotland a finished education, and fol- lowed teaching several years before coming to this country, and also a number of years after becoming a citizen of Illinois. He died at his residence in Coulterville, August 7th, 1862, after a lingering illness of four years. He was a devout member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church. He possessed fine natural abilities, and bore an untarnished reputation. Two children were added to the family circle after coming to this country, John R. and Elizabeth. William, the only other surviving member, lives at present in Colorado. Both these sons served in the Union Army
during the late rebellion. William volunteered in 1861, and was in the army three years. John enlisted in 1864, and served until the close of the war. He volunteered in Co. E., 30th Ill. Infantry, and was made regimental P. M. He was with Sherman in his march to the sea.
Mr. MeFie's early inclinations led him to adopt the law as a profession, and he commenced a course of legal reading at the age of twenty-two, under J. B. Jones, now of Chicago. He was admitted to the bar in April, 1870. He at once established a practice in Coulterville, where he has since resided. He was elected to the State Legislature by a very flattering majority in 1876 and again in 1880. As a legis- lator he serves his people faithfully and earnestly, and has established a reputation for activity and legislative ability second to none in that body.
He was married to Miss Mary B. Steele, a lady of fine accomplishments, October 9, 1876, at the residence of her parents in Coulterville. They made a bridal tour to the great centennial exposition at Philadelphia. Mrs. McFie's father was Matthew Steele, a citizen for many years of St. Louis, and latterly of Coulterville.
BREWERVILLE.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
REWERVILLE lies in the western part of the county, and the precinct received its name from the little town of Brewerville, situated in township five, range nine. Its formation and established boundaries are of recent date, and it constitutes a part of four congressional townships as follows: townships five and six ranges eight and nine.
It is bounded on the north by Ruma and Evansville precincts, on the east by Kaskaskia and Kaskas- kia river, south by the Mississippi and Kaskaskia rivers and west by Prairie du Rocher. The surface is much broken, after leaving the American Bottom, and the bluffs rise to an altitude of several hundred feet. About one half of the precinct is included in the bottom, which constitute some of the richest farming land in the West. Large groves of pecan trees still exist, and are made useful for their bountiful supply of nuts. This soil is better adapted to the culture of corn than the uplands, though much excellent wheat is raised. After reaching the bluff, wheat becomes the principal crop. In an early day the upland was covered with a heavy growth of timber. Large forests of timber yet remain, but it is mainly of a later growth. An early settler pointed out to the writer, trees that were a foot and a half in diameter that had grown since his boyhood, and stated that prior to their growth the wild grass was growing there six feet in height. But a small portion is sectionized, hav- ing been early settled by the French, and they obtained grants of various sizes and shapes, some of which were but one arpent wide, and extended from the river to the bluff. Big creek extends through the central eastern portion of the precinct, and discharges its waters into the Kaskaskia. The population is a mixture of English, German and French nationalities. The district is sparsely settled, containing only about one hundred and fifty votes.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
As abovestated the first tillers of the soil were the French. They owned their arpents of land in the bottom, but lived in Kaskaskia or Prairie du Rocher for many years after selecting and cultivating their lands. This was as early as 1750, or before.
The first English settlement was made in 1806, by Dr. George Fisher. He came from Virginia in 1798, and first located in Kaskaskia, where he resided for eight years. He then moved with his family and settled at the foot of the bluff in survey 360 about four miles south east of Brewer- ville, on the land now owned by the heirs of Daniel Willis.
He became an influential man in his community. When the Indiana Territory was organized, he was appointed Sheriff of Randolph county. Upon the organization of Illi- nois Territory, he was elected a member of the first General Assembly, and from his popularity was chosen speaker of the Lower House. On the admission of the state into the Union, he was chosen a member of the Constitutional Con- ventlon which framed the first Constitution of the State. He died on the old farm at the foot of the bluff in 1820. This part of the precinct is yet known as the " Dr. Fisher settle- ment." He had but one son, John who cultivated a farm on the west side of the Kaskaskia, near the shoal. He subsequently emigrated to Arkansas.
Ezra Owens and Thomas J. V., his son, located in the Dr. Fisher neighborhood as early as 1809. Mr. Owens became quite a prominent man in the community. He was chosen major of the militia, and filled the office with credit to him- self and satisfaction to his comrades. His son Thomas was elected to the office of sheriff, and had the honor of repre- senting his constituency in the State Legislature.
Ignatius Sprigg was an emigrant from Maryland, and located in the Menard Survey, on what is known as the Rector farm. This was in 1817. He had a wife and four children, William, Joseph, James D., and Margery A. He was twice married, and two children were born from the second marriage.
Mr. Sprigg was a high-minded man, and became one of the leading spirits of the pioneer times. He filled the re- sponsible office of Treasurer, and afterwards held the office of Sheriff for a period of ten years. He moved with his family to the state of Arkansas in about 1865, where he died. One of his daughters, Margery A., wife of Thomas Blais, resides in Prairie du Rocher.
Another early settler was James Mudd, a native of Mary- land. His father and family moved to Kentucky in an early day, where James grew to manhood and married Amelia O'Harra. In the winter of 1818 he moved to Illinois and locat- ed at Kaskaskia. The family then consisted of two children, William and Margaret. A few years later he moved to this precinct and settled in section 29. Here he commenced the cultivating of a small farm, and on account of the milling privileges being so meager, he erected a little horse mill on his premises. This was the first and only mill within the boundaries of Brewerville precinct. Mr. M. resided here until his death, which occurred in 1835.
Benedict Horrell came from Kentucky in 1818, and lo- cated near the line dividing Brewerville and Ruma. The family have all passed away. John Brewer was also an
374
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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
early settler, locating here not long after the above. He came from Kentucky and made his settlement in the western part of the precinct. He had a family of four sons and three daughters,-Thomas, John, Felix, Vincent, Susan, Polly and Sophia. Two children were born after their com- ing, George and Pius. The family are now all gone from the county except one daughter, who resides on the edge of Prairie du Rocher Commons. Mr. Brewer died at the old place about fifteen years ago. Several of the descendants are residents of the county, and from this family the precinct received its name.
William Hamilton, Adkins and Signer were among the pioneers. Hamilton and Adkins were from the South, and at their coming they located in the Menard Survey. They resided here until their death.
The custom in the early times of burying the dead was for each family to have a private place of interment on the clearing near the settler's cabin. Hence it was not nntil about fifty years ago that a public cemetery was established. This is situated in section 29 near the precinct line between Brewerville and Ruma. School privileges were very mea- ger in those times, and the pioneer children had but limited
chances for even a common school education. It was little more than half a century ago that the first school was tanght in the precinct. The school-house was a small log building situated in section 28, and among the first teachers was Henry Noah. The house and teacher passed away years ago. One of the first to practice medicine in this part of the county was Dr. Seargeant, who resided iu Prairie du Rocher. He subsequently moved to St. Genevieve, Missouri, where he died.
TOWN OF BREWERVILLE
Is situated just at the bluff in the western part of the pre- cinct, in township 5, range 9, and reccives its name in honor of Thomas Brewer. It is a new town, only having been laid out but a few years. It was here that the first post-office and the first goods were sold within the precinct. It con- tains at this writing one general store, Wallace Snooks pro- prietor. Mr. S. is also postmaster. Henry Hine conduets the business of general blacksmithing. This constitutes the business of the town except one saloon. The facilities for trade are so meagre, that the most sanguine could scarcely expect to see it rise to a place of any considerable impor- tance.
PRAIRIE DU ROCHER.
RANDOLPH COUNTY.
FORT CHARTRES.
HE settlement of Prairie du Rocher pre- cinct dates from the building of Fort Chartres, for many years the seat of mil- itary and civil authority in Illinois. In 1718 Pierre Duqué Boisbriant, who had been commissioned commandant at the Illinois, reached Kaskaskia. Selecting a site for a military post sixteen miles above that village, he began the erection of a fort, which was completed in 1720, and called Fort Chartres, in compliment, in all probability, to the Due de Chartres, the son of the regent of France. The French commandants at the fort, after Boisbriant, were M. De Siette, Pierre D'Artuguiette, La Buissoniere, Benoist St. Clair, the Chevalier de Bertel, Chevalier Makarty, Neyon de Villiers, and St. Auge de Belle Rive.
While in the possession of Franee, the fort was the basis of important military operations. D'Artuguiette, in 1736, with a force composed of the garrison of the fort, a company of volunteers from the French villages, and a throng of In- dian warriors, some of whom had come even from Detroit, set out to subdue the Chickasaws. He was defeated, and with the Chevalier Vinsenne, whose name is perpetuated in that of the city by the Wabash, the Jesuit priest Seuat, and
others of his companions, he was burned at the stake. Dur- ing the French and English war, 1754-59, the fort was the depot of supplies and place of rendezvous for the united forces of Illinois and the other provinces of Louisiana. The fort was originally built of wood, and was soon ont of repair. It was rebuilt of stone by Chevalier de Makarty, who reached the fort, and assumed command, in the autumn of 1750. The new fort was completed in 1756. Blocks of stone were quarried from the bluff, and transported to the fort over the intervening lake. The place from which they were taken may yet be seen. The finer stone, with which the gateways and buildings were faced, were brought from west of the Mississippi. The French government felt the importance of the post, and spared no expense to build an impregnable fort- ress. The minute of its surrender to the British, in 1765, has been preserved by the French, and in it is a careful de- seription. The gateway was arched, and fifteen feet in height. Above the gate was a cut-stone platform, a stonc. stairway of nineteen steps, with a stone balustrade, leading to it. The walls were stone, and eighteen feet in height. The four bastions, each with forty-eight loop-holes, eight embrasures, and a sentry box, were constructed of stone. Within the walls was the great store house, ninety feet long by thirty wide, two stories high, and gable-roofed; the guard house, with a room above for a chapel ; the commandant's house, with iron gates and stone porch, a coach house and a
376
HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
pigeon house adjoining, and a large stone well inside; the intendant's house of stone and iron, with a portico, and two rows of barracks. The magazine was thirty eight feet long. thirty-five feet wide, and thirteen feet high above the ground, with a doorway of cut stone, and two doors, one of wood and one of iron. The prison had four cells of cut stone, and iron doors. There was a bake-house with two ovens, and a stone well in front.
By the treaty of 1763 Fort Chartres passed into the posses- sion of England. French troops composed the garrison for more than two years afterward. It was during this period that Pontiac organized the Indian tribes from the great lakes to the mouth of the Mississippi for war against the English. The great chief himself, at the head of four hundred warriors, appeared at the fort, and demanded of St. Auge, who had succeeded De Villiers in command, arms and ammunition with which to prosecute the war. Major Loftus, with four hundred British troops, while ascending the Mississippi, in February, 1764, to take possession of the fort, was fired on by the In- dians, a short distance above New Orleans, and compelled to return. In the fall of 1765 Captain Sterling, in command of a hundred men of the forty-second regiment, descended the Ohio, and reaching Fort Chartres, formally received its surrender from St. Auge, who, with his garrison of twenty- one men, retired to St. Louis. Some three months after his arrival Captain Sterling died, leaving the office of command. ant vacant, and the affairs of the Illinois settlements in some confusion. St. Auge, therefore, returned from St. Louis, and acted as commandant till another British officer could reach the fort. The garrison was strengthened in December, 1765, by the arrival from Mobile of a detachment of the thirty-fourth British foot. Colonel E. Cole, a native of Rhode Island, and an officer in the old French war, who commanded a regiment under General Wolfe at the siege of Quebec, was stationed at the fort from 1766 to 1768. Colonel Reed be- came the commandant, and by his tyrannical and oppressive measures, gained the hatred of the feeble French settlements. He was relieved in September, 1768, by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilkins, the former commander of Fort Niagara. He reached the fort from Philadelphia, by way of Pittsburg, in command of seven companies of the Eighteenth, or Royal Irish, regiment. Under his administration, on the sixth of December, 1768, was convened, at Fort Chartres, the first court of common law jurisdiction ever held in Illinois.
The fort was abandoned in 1772, and the British garrison transferred to Fort Gage, at Kaskaskia. When first built the fort was about one mile distant from the river. In 1724 a great flood swept over the bottom, and washed away a portion of the bank in front. In 1756 the river bank was half a mile distant. A few years afterward a sand bar formed in the river, turning the current against the bank nearest the fort, which began to wear away rapidly. By 1770 the river had approached so near as to alarm the officers of the garrison. In 1772 the river bottom was again inundated, the flood sweeping away a bastion and part of the western wall. It was never subsequently occupied by a garrison.
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