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 91

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 91
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 91
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 91


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HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


" Very well, Daniel, as I am really the possessor of ticket 58,600, I suppose that the opera-house really belongs to me, and I just say to you, that it is for sale. I suppose some- body wants to buy it, and I have to ask you to sell it for me. It is impossible for me to leave my wife in her present condition, or I would go up to you at once. I must wait until she gets better, whether I get the opera-house or not. She is very ill, indeed ; but I think her symptoms are favor- able for improvement. At all events, write to me on receipt of this. Your friend and brother,


"A. H. LEE."


The following communication of Mr. Lee to the Chicago Times embodies the reasons for the sale of the opera-house to Mr. Crosby, and explains satisfactorily the dilatoriness of Mr. Lee in reaching the city of Chicago, and the reluctance he entertained relative to being made an object of curiosity and remark :


" To the Editor of The Times :"


DEAR SIR :- I desire to_pub- licly acknowledge the obligations I am under to Mr. N. II. Crosby for the promptitude and courtesy with which he has dealt with me as the drawer of the opera house. As soon as the books were unsealed by the committee and my name discovered, a telegraphic message was sent by him to Pettes & Leathe, the agents of the association at St. Louis, to " put a faithful man on horseback and at once notify me of the fact," and this was done without expense to me.


The illness of my wife prevented me from coming sooner


to Chicago. It was my wish and request that I might come here and transact my business with Mr. Crosby without being the object of unpleasant notoriety, and without having my name heralded in the newspapers, and I feel deeply in- debted to him for the considerate manner in which the re- quest has been observed, especially since it has caused him some embarrassment as well as occasioned invidious comment.


Feeling that the opera house should properly be owned by Mr. Crosby, I made him the offer to sell it to him for $200,000, and the offer was accepted in a spirit which is very gratifying, and the money promptly paid to me.


My connection with the opera house having thus happily terminated, I am, sir,


Very respectfully and sincerely, yours, A. H. LEE.


The above two letters of Mr. Lee plainly delineate his fine character. His many friends found him entirely un- changed after the acquirement of his fortune, and he always continued to be the same, whole-souled, liberal and high- minded A H. Lee of old .- Mrs. Lee, to whom her husband was closely attached was not permitted to enjoy their good fortune long. She died only a few months after, on Sep- tember 20th, 1867, at the age of 40 years, 9 months and 7 days. Her remains are interred in Calvary cemetery, St. Louis.


Mr. Lee, while traveling, died suddenly at the Burnett House at Cincinnati, on July 23d, 1869, at the age of 51 years, 9 months and 7 days. His remains are interred by the side of his beloved wife at St. Louis.


RENAULT.


MONROE COUNTY.


ENAULT precinct bears the name of one of the most conspicuous men connected with the early French settlements of Illinois. The Company of the West was organized in France in 1717 with the object of develop- ing the mineral resources and great wealth of the Mississippi valley. This company was invested with exclusive and valuable privileges. A branch called the Company of St. Phillip's was formed, to improve the mines of Illinois and Upper Lonisiana. Philip François Renault, a native of Picardy, France, and a man of sound mind and much energy, was selected as the principal agent to carry out the plans of the company. He sailed from France in the year 1719 with two hundred mechanics, miners and laborers, and stopping at the island of San Domingo secured five hundred negro slaves to aid in working the mines. These negroes were the first slaves in Illinois. He arrived at Fort Chartres with this colony, the largest which up to that time had reached the Mississippi valley.


To aid him in his nndertakings he received several con- cessions of land. On the fourteenth of June, 1723, he re- ceived a grant " in freehold, in order to make his establish- ment upon the mines " of a tract of land a league and a half in width by six in depth on the "Little Marameig " in Upper Louisiana (Missouri) ; another tract of two leagues " at the mine called the mine of Lamothe ; " another of one league in front of Pimeteau on the river Illinois ; and " one league fronting on the Mississippi, at the place called the Great Marsh, adjoining on one side to the Illinois Indians, settled near Fort de Chartres, with a depth of two leagues, this place being the situation which has been granted to him for the raising of provisions, and to enable him to furnish them to all the settlements he shall make upon the mines."


This conveyance is signed by Boisbriant, the commandant at Fort Chartres, and Des Ursins, the principal of the Royal India Company. The Company of the West in 1719 had been merged into the Company of the Indies, under the title of the Royal India Company. The grant at Pimeteau on


383


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


the Illinois river was in the vicinity of Peoria, and was sup- posed to cover a copper mine. That of one league front on the Mississippi at the Great Marsh was what has since been known as the Renault grant in the south corner of Monroe county. Numerous explorations were made throughout Illinois in fruitless search of metal. Renault was more suc- cessful in Upper Louisiana, now Missouri, and melted con- siderable lead which was conveyed by pack horses to the river, and thence transported to New Orleans. It will be noted that the fertile tract of bottom land in the Renault grant was intended to furnish supplies for the mines. Farmers and mechanics were induced to settle on this tract, and the village of St. Phillips, five miles from Fort Chartres, was founded. Renault himself had his headquarters at the fort. Persons claiming to be his legal representatives, have lately attempted to recover, through the courts, possession of this land from those who have been living on it for many years, and who have been engaged in its cultivation.


THE VIILLAGE OF ST. PHILLIPS.


Renault received his grant of land in June, 1723, and shortly afterward the village of St. Phillips began its growth. A chapel was here established under the care of the church of St. Anne at Fort Chartres village. Surveys made on the 24th of March, 1736, show that the St. Phillips common field lands, beginning at the south boundary, were then divided among the settlers.


The village of St. Phillips never grew to any great size. It was built on claim 1308, survey 303 and adjoining survey 3, on the east what is known as the " Stringtown road," and little remains to show its site. Captain Philip Pitman, of the British army, thus describes it in 1766: " Saint Phillipe, a small village about five miles from Fort Chartres, on the road to Kaoquias. There are about sixteen houses and a small church standing. All of the inhabitants, except the captain of the militia, deserted it in 1765, and went to the French side ( Missouri.) The captain of the militia has about twenty slaves, a good stock of cattle, and a water mill for corn and planks. The village stands on a very fine meadow, about one mile from the Mississippi." After 1766 the village rapidly declined, and before the close of the last century contained not a single French family. John Everett was the only inhabitant in 1803, on claim 1568, survey 317, a lot containing about twenty acres, was a water mill, owned at one time, according to the records, by Charles Cadron. who acquired title in 1736.


AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS.


In this part of the country was made one of the first American settlements in Illinois by Robert Kidd. He had been a soldier under Colonel George Rogers Clark, and had taken part in the capture of Kaskaskia. He returned to Illinois in 1781, in company with four others, with the inten- tion of permanently settling in the country. His com- panions chose locations near the present town of Waterloo, and in the bottom in what is now Moredock precinct, while Kidd settled in the bottom above Fort Chartres. His home was under the bluff, at the head of Kidd lake. He died in


1849 at an age upwards of eighty years. The old house in which he is said to have lived, is still standing on survey 939. His farm is a part of the estate of Jacob Fults. He was a good citizen, quiet and domestic in his ways, and rais- ed a family of children among whom were two sons, John and Samuel Kidd. Some of his descendants still reside in the country.


On survey 633, claim 995, in the bottom, not far from the Randolph county line, lived Alexander McNabb. He acquired this tract under the act of Congress granting a donation of one hundred acres to each militiaman enrolled and doing duty in Illinois, on the first day of August, 1790. He had a genius for mechanical pursuits, and was master of several trades. At one time he carried on the manufacture of powder in the cave in the bluff a mile above Prairie du Rocher.


The McDavid prairie received its name from John MeDavid, who came to Ilinois from Virginia, and lived for many years in this part of the county. With him came his brother Jonnathan MeDavid, who died not long after his arrival. John McDavid rented land belonging to Mrs. Fisher, a daughter of Henry Levins, and the widow of John Fisher, son of Dr. George Fisher of the vicinity of Kaskas- kia. McDavid finally married Mrs. Fisher. Samuel Nolan settled in early times near the vicinity of Ivy Landing. Below the landing also at an early day settled Daniel Winn. The farm on which he lived has disappeared in the river. A sister to Samuel Nolan married Lewis Greene, and after the death of her first husband she became the wife of Daniel Winn. Elizabeth Greenc, a daughter of Lewis Greene, married Jacob Fults, one of the former residents of Renault precinet. She was born September, 1803, near Cahokia, and was married to Jacob Fults, in 1818, near Rush Tower, Missouri. Jacob Fults was born in Pennsylvania in the year


1793, his parents having emigrated to that state from Germany. He served five years in the regular army, taking part in the war of 1812 -- 14. He left the United States service in 1817. He first settled on Moredock lake, and afterward came to Renault precinct where he died July, 1841. He lived for a time half a mile up Braun's hollow, and then on survey 309, claim 1309, where his son Jacob afterward lived for many years. He came to this location in the year 1829.


GLASGOW CITY.


Glasgow City was laid off by James Glasgow in the year [860. A frame storc-house was built by Stamen Keagy, who began the mercantile business. He kept the store two or three years, and was then succeeded by John Glenn. This store stood on Main street in the north part of the town. After Glenn relinquished it Frank Briekey was the proprie- tor. Among other merchants who have transacted business in the place have been Jacob Meyer, John Burkhardt, Frank Burk & Brothers and Andrew Sale. A steam flouring mill was built in the year 1868 by James G. Elliff. IIe only ran the mill a short time, and then Simon Sale became the proprietor. The town now contains twenty-eight dwelling houses and a population of about one hundred and


384


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


fifty. Abraham B. Sale and Dr. Jesse Chewning carry on general stores. The latter also sells drugs. Peter Studt, George W. Dashner and William Hess are engaged in the blacksmithing business. Anton Stagel and John Agelstien are wagon makers. Harmon K. Tilkemeyer has a shoe- making establishment. Hotels are kept by Harmon Church, George W. Dashner and James Wright. The mill owned


by Simon Sale has three run of buhrs. There are two churches, one Catholic and the other Lutheran. The post office is called Renault. The town is built on the old St. Louis and Kaskaskia road, which ran from Prairie du Rocher along the bluff till south of Glasgow City, and then ascended the bluff, passing through Burksville and Water- loo to St. Louis.


SPARTA.


RANDOLPH CO.


RETROSPECTIVE of sixty years carries the reader of history back to the first settle- ment of this precinct. It was originally about three-fourths timber land, the remain- der being prairie of a rich sandy loam. This was known as Flat Prairie, situated in the northeast. The timber was mainly of post oak and black jack varieties, interspersed with hickory and walnut. The soil was of a clayey loam, sprinkled with sand, and pecu- liarly adapted to the culture of wheat. In the early days corn and cotton were the chief products. A few years later the castor bean was introduced and became the leading in- dustry of the husbandman. To-day the staple is winter wheat. The surface is undulating and the natural drainage is almost complete. In the northwest is Plum creek and its tributaries, which forms an important auxiliary for the drainage of that portion of the precinct. Tributaries to the Little Mary's river in the south and east constitute an ex- cellent water-way for that section. The following are the present boundaries of the precinct : On the north by Tilden and Coulterville; on the east by Coulterville and Perry county ; south by Steele's Mills and Blair precincts ; and on the west by Blair and Central precincts.


The transportation facilities are very good, the Cairo and St. Louis railway entering the precinct from the west, in the northwest corner of section 2, town 5, range 6, and passing through the precinct in a southeasterly direction, crossing the line in section 27, town 5, range 5.


EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


The first to make a home in Sparta precinct was the pio- neer, Robert Huggins; he came from South Carolina in 1798, and located near Kaskaskia; subsequently in 1812 he moved with his family and squatted in section 19, town 5, range 5, on the land now owned by Samuel Wilson. Ife erected a small pole cabin and commenced the life of a pioneer, living mostly by trapping and hunting. He cleared a piece of ground and raised a patch of corn sufficient to supply the wants of the family, but occupied the greater part of his time in hunting ; indeed, he was purely a back-


woodsman of the Daniel Boone type, and it is said of him, that there was but one man who was his equal as a hunts- man in all the country around, and that was a Frenchman at Kaskaskia. He moved to Perry county in 1823 and resided there until his death. One son, John, lives in Perry county, being upwards of eighty years of age. Near the cabin of Huggins was built a fort or block-house; it was constructed of logs, and was two stories high ; it was built in 1812 or '13, and was the place of refuge during those troublesome times when the States were at war with Great Britain. This was then the frontier, and the settlers took every caution to pro- tect their families from the Indians ; if an alarm was given, the whole neighborhood would fly to the forts for protection and safety. In the second story port-holes were gashed in the logs, and so arranged that the rifle could bear upon any point within range of the fort. This building might have been seen standing as late as 1820. It was subsequently torn down and the logs utilized for stables by the early settlers.


David Huggins, a brother of Robert, settled in section 18, town 5, range 5, about the same time as the above; he re- mained but a few years, moving to Washington county in 1815. James Huggins, a son of Robert, was the first settler in Flat Prairie ; this was in 1817 ; they have long since mi- grated to other portions of the States.


Another pioneer was James Patterson ; in 1817 he moved to Randolph county and settled in section 13, town 5, range 6, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1828.


Among the most prominent early settlers was Maj. Andrew Borders. He was born in South Carolina, and when a young man went to the State of Georgia, where he married Martha Clark in 1813. Three years later he emigrated to Illinois, and settled in section 3, township 5, range 6, on the farm now owned by Silas M. Little. His family then con- sisted of his wife and one daughter, Mary A. He arrived the first of January, 1816. Having no house to go into, the family lived for a short time in a tent prepared for the pur- pose. In the meantime a rude cabin was constructed.


Subsequently he entered a quarter section of land, and


384A


TENANT


HOUSE.


SCHOOL.


RESIDENCE AND FARM (255 ACRES) OF PHILIPP A. MAUS, RENAULT PRECINCT, MONROE CO. ILL.


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


commenced the improvement of the same. Several children were born to the family as follows: James J., Michael W , Elias K., Sarah E., Rachel, Cynthia, Martha, and Minerva II. Mr. Borders was a good financier, frugal in his habits, and thus became one of the wealthiest men in the county. At his death, which occurred in January, 1864, he was in possession of seven or eight thousand acres of land. James J. is a baker in Sparta, Michael W. lives in St. Clair county, Sarah, widow of Andrew Mellwain, lives in town 4, range 6, and Minerva H., wife of Silas M. Lott, resides at the old homestead in town 5, range 6. No other members of the family are now living.


James MeClurken was also born in South Carolina, but while in Kentucky he married Susan Leaper. Soon after- ward they moved to the State of Indiana, and in 1816, emi- grated to this eounty, and located in what is now Central precinet. Two years later (1815, he moved to Sparta, and located in section 6, and entered the land that the city now occupies. The family, at this time, were his wife and three children, Jane, Susan, and Samuel. Six other children were born to the family, Sarah, James L., Matthew, Mary, Florence A., and Thomas. Mr. McClurken entered quite a tract of land, and became one of the leading business men of that day. He constructed the first cotton gin in this part of the country, and thus became an important factor in the indus- try of the culture, and propagation of the cotton plant. Subsequently he built a castor oil press, and was largely en- gaged in the traffic of the eastor bean product, and the commerce of the same. In 1839 he erected a saw mill in Sparta, and the following year (1840) built the first stcam flouring mill in this part of the county. His etforts as a shrewd business man were appreciated, and in the same year he was elected to represent his constituency in the State Legislature. During his whole business life he was one among the leading men of the day. His death occurred in Sparta, January, 1851. All the children have passed away except Matthew and Florence. The former is a resident of Sparta, and is one of the foremost business men of the city. Ile owns the woolen mills, and is largely engaged in the mereantile affairs of the town. In honor of his birth, which was among the first in the village, he has ereeted his dwel- ling over the very spot where he was born. Florence, widow of Henry Gardner, is also a resident of the city.


Samnel Nisbet was a native of Ireland, born in 1782. Hle came with his parents to America in 1789, and landed in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1805 he married Nancy Morris, and in the fall of the same year they moved to Ten- nessee, where they remained until the fall of 1819. The year before he had come to Illinois and entered land on section 9. He returned, and the next fall removed his family to the new-made state. The family then consisted of three sons and three daughters : James, Robert, Samnel T., Jane C., Agnes and Mary. Their first shelter was a tent, where they lived for three weeks, or until a cabin could be erected. This house was a rude atl'air, 16x18 feet, and constructed of logs or poles, such as four men could conveniently handle. Neighbors were so scarce, that Mr. N. was obliged to go six miles to obtain help in the raising of his cabin. Windows


were luxuries in those days that the pioncers were unable to purchase. For lighting purposes, a crack between the logs at the jamb was left open. The door was made of rived clap-board-, and the roof was of the same material, held down with " weight-poles." The floor was mother earth, and the chimney was constructed from sticks and mud. He became a prosperous farmer ; he was also a carpenter. He died in 1872.


Quite an addition was made to the little colony in 1x19 and 1820; among whom were: Arthur Park-, William and Samuel Gordon, John and James Baird, Thomas Me- Dill, James Wilson, William Chambers, Alexander, John and Ebenezer Alexander, Thomas and William Finley, and John McMillan.


The Alexanders were also early settlers. - o was William Chambers and family. James Wilson was another carly settler ; he came in 1820, and raised a large family, all of whom are deceased. He and his wife died several years ago. Arthur Parks settled in this precinct in the spring of 1819 He was for a time county commissioner, and served many years as justice of the peace; he died in 1×44. The MeDill- were from South Carolina, and settled here in 1820. John and James Baird became residents of what is now this precinct in 1>19. Thomas and William Finley (brothers) were natives of Ireland ; they settled on sec. 7 in 1820, and both had families. William and Samuel Gordon also located here in 1820. William was a tanner by trade.


His brother Samuel married here and reared a family. He was a blacksmith and established the first shop in this precinct on section 19. He subsequently became interested in the culture of eastor beans. He constructed the first oil press and was the leading factor of that industry. James Anderson came from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1821, and settled in section 8, a little south of Eden. He and his wife are both deceased ; he died in July, 1>27. Samuel Wylie, an Frishman by birth, became a resident of the county in 1817. He first located in Kaska-kia and in 1820 came to this pre- einet. John Armour located here in Is26. He was a school teacher, and was a man of considerable reputation and en- terprise One of the most prominent citizens here of his time was Robert G. Shannon. Ile was of Irish descent, and came to Ilinois in 1818. In 1827, he established himself in the mercantile business on section 6, a mile south of Sparta. In 1828, he moved to the present site of that town, and es- tablished the first store. The first post-office in the town was ealled Shannon's store, and Mr. Shannon was the post- master. He was one of the leading business men until his death, which occurred in 1849. Nine children were born to the family, only one of whom is living, John R. who now resides somewhere west of the Mississippi. Joseph Brown emigrated from South Carolina to the precinct of Sparta in the fall of 1827. His family then consisted of his wife Elizabeth, and three children, Isaac, James M. and Eliza J. He first located in section 13, T. 3, R. 6. The following spring he moved to section 12, a little south of Sparta. Several children were born to the family after their coming. All are living except James MI. Isaac, Eliza J. and William are in Kansas. David is in Perry county,


49


386


HISTORY OF RANDOLPH, MONROE AND PERRY COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.


Margaret lives in Sparta, Joseph resides near Coulterville, and Mary lives at the old homestead. Mr. Brown is yet living, and in his eighty-sixth year of age. He yet resides in section 12, where he located in 1828.


Lawson Murphy was a Tennesseean, and moved with his family to this precinct in the spring of 1829, and first located in what is now Tilden precinct. He remained here but a few months, when he removed to Sparta, where he lived un- till his death. At his coming he had a wife and an infant son, William P. Seven other children were born to the family, all of whom are now dead. William P. is the only survivor of this numerous family. Mr. Murphy was a brick mason by trade, and was auxiliary in making the brick, and constructed the first brick houses in Sparta. He died in 1851. William P. has for many years been a prominent citizen of the county. Ile has filled the office of county treasurer, been the assessor of internal revenue for Randolph county, held the office of Judge of the Common Pleas Court of the city of Sparta, and was the last county Judge up to December, 1882.


William Rosborough settled in Sparta in the spring of .


1833. He was for many years an active business man. Among other early residents were, James Bottom, John Michan. The latter has for many years been a leading lawyer in the county. The Beatties, James S. Brown, Wm. J. Morrison and A. Stewart, may also be mentioned.


Believing that the early land entries will be of interest we append a few of the same :


April 10th, 1815, William Morrison entered all of section 19, being 611 acres. June 30ch, 1817, N. Pope and W. Harrison entered the E 3 of section 20. March 3d, 1818, James Andersom entered the S W. 1 of 8. July 29th of the same year, James and John Huggins entered the W. } of the S. E. I of seetion 8. August 26th, 1818, Jacob Rann entered the N. W. 4 of section 17. November 28th, 1818, Samuel Nisbet entered the E. { of the N. E. } of section 9. August 8th, 1818, John Murphy entered the E. } of the S. E. } of section 30. August 24th, 1818, Augustine Davis entered the E. } of the N. E. } of the same seetion. Sep- tember 22d, 1818, Nicholas Bowerman entered the N. E. ¿ of section 25. October 1st, 1818, William Marshall entered the W. 1 of the N. W. } of section 4. October 15th, 1818, John McMillan entered the W. & of the S. W. } of section 5. December 17th, 1818, James McClurken entered the S. W. # of section 5. The above entries are all in township 5, range 5. Francis Beatty entered 400 acres in section 33, town 4, range 5. August 3d, 1818, Samuel Hill, jr. entered the S. W. } of section 30, same town aud range.




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