USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 7
USA > Illinois > Moultrie County > Combined history of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of their scenery and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 7
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October, 1812. Shadrach Bond, then a resident of St. Clair County, was elected the first Delegate to Congress from Illinois. Pierre Menard was chosen from Randolph County member of the Legislative Council, and George Fisher of the House of Representatives. The Legislature convened at Kaskaskia on the twenty-fifth of November, 1812.
In April, 1818, a bill providing for the admission of Illinois into the Union as a sovereign State was passed by Congress. A Convention to frame a Constitution assembled at Kaskaskia in the following July. The first election under the Constitution was held in September, 1818, and Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieutenant Governor. Illinois was now declared by Congress admitted to the Union as on equal footing in all respects with the original States. The Legislature again met at Kaskaskia in January, 1819. This was the last session ever held at Kaskaskia. Vandalia, the same year, was selected as Capital of the State. It was stipulated that Vanda- lia was to be the Capital for twenty years. At the end of that period it was changed to Springfield. Below we give list of governors and chief officers of Illinois.
Illinois was constituted a separate Territory by aet of Con- gress, February 3d, 1809.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
STATE
SOVEREIGNTY
FROM 1809,
TO 1878.
TIONAL UNION
ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
NAME OF OFFICER.
OFFICE. OR INAUGURATION.
Nathaniel Pope,.
Secretary of the Territory, March 7, 1809.
Ninian Edwards,.
Governor, .April 24, 1809.
H. H. Maxwell, Auditor Public Accounts, ...
1816.
Daniel P. Cook,.
January 13, 1816.
Joseph Phillips,. Secretary, December 17, '16.
Robert Blackwell, Auditor Public Accounts, .. .April 5, 1817.
Elijah C. Berry.
August 29, 1817.
John Thomas, Treasurer, 1818.
STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Shadrach Bond Governor, October 6, 1818.
Pierre Menard,.
Lieut-Governor,
6, 1818.
Elias K. Kane,
.Secretary of State, 6, 1818.
Elijah C. Berry, Auditor Public Accounts, 1818.
John Thomas, Treasurer,
1818.
Robert K. Mclaughlin, ... August 2, 1819.
Edward Coles, Governor,
December, 1822.
Adolphus F. Hubbard, ... Lieut. Governor,
1822.
Samuel D. Lockwood, .... .Secretary of State,
18, 1822.
Abner Field,
Treasurer,
January 14, 1823.
David Blackwell, ..
Secretary of State,
April 2, 1823.
Morris Birbeck
October 15, 1824.
George Forquer,
.January 15, 1825.
Ninian Edwards, Governor, December, 1826.
William Kinney. Lieut-Governor,
1826.
James Hall, Treasurer, Febr'y. 12, 1827.
Alexander P. Field, Secretary of State, .. January 23, 1829.
DATE OF COMMISSION
29
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
John Reynolds, Governor, December 9. 1830.
Zadock Casey, Lieut-Governor, 9,1830.
Jolin Dement, Treasurer, February 5, 1831.
James T. B. Siapp, Auditor Public Accounts, August 27, 1831.
Joseph Duncan, Governor,
December, 1834 " 1834.
Alexander M. Jenkins .... Lieut-Governor,
Levi Davis, Auditor Public Accounts.
Nov. 16, 1835.
Charles Gregory,
Treasurer,
December 5, 1836.
Jolın D. Whiteside,
March 4, 1837.
Thomas Carlin, ..
Governor,
December, 1838.
Stinson H. Anderson, .....
Lieut-Governor,
1838.
Stephen A. Donglas, ........ Secretary of State,.
Nov. 30, 1840.
Lyman Trumbull,
March 1, 1841.
Milton Carpenter, .. Treasurer,
James Shields, Auditor Publie Accounts.
1841.
Thomas Ford,
Governor,
December 8, 1842.
John Moore, .. Lieut-Governor, .. 8, 1842.
Thomas Campbell,. .Secretary of State,
March G, 18 13.
William L. D. Ewing Auditor Publie Accounts, ..
6,1843.
Thomas HI. Campbell, 16 P. A. (to fill vacancy), 23, 1841.
Augustus C. French, .Governor,
December 9, 1846.
Joseph B. Wells.
Lieut-Governor,
9, 1846.
Horaee S. Cooley,
. Secretary of State,.
23, 1846.
Jolin Moore, Treasurer, (to fill vacaney), . August 14, 1848.
William MeMurtry,
Lieut-Governor,. .January, 1849.
David L. Gregg,
Joel A. Matteson,
Gustavus Koerner,
Lient-Governor,
1853.
Alexander Starne, ..
Secretary of State,.
1S53.
Ninian W. Edwards Super't. Publie Instruction, ..... March 24, 1854. .Governor, January 12, 1857. William II. Bissell,
Jolın Wood, Lieut-Governor,
Ozias M. Hatelı Secretary of State, .. 12, 1857.
Jesse K. Dubois Auditor Publie Accounts, 12, 1857.
James Miller,.
Treasurer
12, 1857.
William II. Powell, Super't. Publie Instruction, ...
12, 1857.
Newton Bateman, 11
10, 1359.
William Butler,. Treasurer (to fill vacaney) ...... S.ptember 3, 1859.
Richard Yates, .. .Governor, January 14, 1S61.
Franeis A. Hoffinan, Lieut-Governor, 14, 1861.
Ozias M. HIateh, .Seeretary of State, ..
14, 1831.
Jesse K. Dubois, . Auditor Publie Accounts, 14, 1861.
William Butler,
Treasurer,
14, 1861.
Newton Bateman, Super't. Publie Instruction
14, 1831.
Alexander Starne, Treasurer,
12, 1863.
John P. Brooks,. Super't. Public Instruction, ..
12, 1863.
Richard J. Oglesby, Governor,
16, 1865.
William Bross, Lient-Governor,
16, 1865.
Sharon Tyndale, .Secretary of State,.
Orlin II. Miner, Anditor Publie Accounts, .....
Dee. 12, 1864.
James H. Beveridge, ... Treasurer, January 9, 1865.
Newton Bateman, .Super't. Public Instruction ...... January 10, 1865.
George W. Smith, .. .Treasurer,
January, 1867.
John M. Palmer,. Governor, January 11, 1869.
Jolın Dougherty,
Lieut-Governor,
= 11, 1869.
Edward Rummell, .Secretary of State. 11, 1869.
Charles E. Lippincott.
Auditor Public Accoun>;,.
11, 1869.
11, 1869.
Newton Bateman, .Super't. Public Instruction, ...... Jannary, 1871.
Nov. 8, 1870.
Richard J. Oglesby, Governor,
January 13, 1873.
Jolın L. Beveridge, .. Lieut-Governor,
13, 1873.
George H. Ilarlow. .Secretary of State
13, 1873.
Charks E. Lippineott, .... Auditor Publie Accounts, 13. 1873.
= 13, 1873.
Jolin L. Beveridge. Governor,
= 23, 1873.
John Early
Lient-Governor,
23, 1873.
S. M. Cullom
Governor,
8, 1877.
Andrew Shuman
Lieut-Governor,
8, 1877.
George H. Harlow, Secretary of State, =
8, 1877.
Edward Rutz, Treasurer,
=
8, 1877.
T. B. Needles,
Anditor Public Accounts 8, 1877.
S. M. Etter. Saper't. Publie Instruction, = 8, 1877.
=
8, 1879.
J. C. Smith,. Treasurer.
8, 1879.
S. M. Cullom, Governor.
44 10. 1881.
John M. Hamilton, . Lient .- Governor.
10. 1881.
Henry D. Dement,. Secretary of Sate, ..
10, 1831.
Charles P'. Swigert,. ... Auditor Publie Accounts,. = 10, 1831.
Edward Rutz,. Treasurer, ....
10. 1<81.
Believing that it will be interesting to the younger readers of our work, we subjoin the following list of Presidents of the United States :
PRESIDENTS UNDER THE CONSTITUTION. TERM OF SERVICE.
12, 1857. George Washington. Virginia, ... .. 1780 to 1797, eight years.
John Adams. Massachusetts, .... 1797 to 1801, four years.
Thomas Jefferson
Virginia, .. .1801 to 1800, eight years.
James Madison
Virginia .1809 to 1817, eight years.
James Monroe ..
Virginia, 1817 to 1825. eight years.
John Quincy Adams
Massachusetts, .1825 to 1829, four years.
Andrew Jackson
Tennessee,. 1820 to 1837, eight years.
Martin Van Buren New York,. 1837 to 1841, four years.
William H. Harrison. Ohio ...... .1841,
one month.
John Tyler.
Virginia, .. 1841 to 1845, four years.
James K. Polk
Tennessee, .1845 to 1849, four years.
Zachary Taylor
Lonisiana, 18-19 to 1850, one year.
Millard Fillmore. New York. . 1850 to 1853, three years.
Franklin Pierce New Hampshire .. 1853 to 1857, four years.
James Buchanan
Pennsylvania .. .1857 to 1861, four years.
Abraham Lincoln, (murdered) .. Illinois. .1861 to 1865, 4 yrs. 1 mo.
Andrew Johnson.
Tennessee,. 1865 to 1869, four years.
Ulysses S. Grant.
Illinois, .1869 to 1877, eight years.
Rutherford B. Hayes
Ohio,
1877, to 1831. four rooms.
James A. Garfield Ohio, 1881, present incumbent.
Erastus N. Bates,
.Treasurer,
Erastus N. Bates, Treasurer,
Edward Rutz, Treasurer,
1811.
J. P. Slade,
See'y. of State (to fill vacancy ), April 3, 1850. .Governor,
January, 1853.
16, 1865.
30
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER III.
GEOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES AND RAILROAD FACILITIES OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES.
SHELBY COUNTY.
HE county of Shelby lies between the 39th and 40th parallel of latitude, and the third prin- cipal meridian forms a small portion of its western boundary. It lies a little south of the centre of the state, and is bounded as follows : On the north by Christian, Macon, and Moul- trie ; east by Moultrie, Coles, and Cumberland; south by Effingham and Fayette; and west by Montgomery and Christian counties. It is thirty miles from north to south, and its greatest breadth thirty-six miles from east to west. Its area is about 800 square miles, or 512,000 acres.
Population .- The population of the county, according to the census of 1870, was 25,476, and in 1880 is given at 29,951, and is principally composed of persons of English, Irish, German, and French extraction, with a few colored persons. The population by townships is as follows :
TOWNSHIPS.
Shelbyville, .
4,105
Dry Point,
2,326
Prairie, 2,163
Big Spring, 1,983
Windsor, . 1,952
Cold Spring,
1,651
Oconee, . .
1.607
Ash Grove, .
1,563
Tower Hill, .
1,479
Holland,
1,463
Rose,
1,335
Richland,
1,143
Moawequa,
1,121
Flat Branch,
1,080
Rural,
1,045
Ridge,
1,015
Okaw,
913
Pickaway,
834
Penn,
614
Todd's Point,
509
29,951
Shelbyville, the capital of the county, is situated in township 11 North, Range 4, on Sections 7 and 18-it derived its name from the county, and it from Isaac Shelby, an officer of the revolution. Its location is near the center of the county, and on the line of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad. The Kaskaskia river in its sinuous course passes along the eastern boundary of the city, fur- nishing a most excellent drainage. The city by rail is one hundred and ten miles north-east from St. Louis, seventy-nine west from Terre Haute, and one hundred and fifty miles west of Indianapolis.
Land Surface .- The land surface is divided between timber and prairie, the greater part being originally covered with a luxuriant growth of timber, a large portion of which has, ere this, given way before the axe of the pioneer and old settler. The surface in different localities is rather undulating. There are occasionally small hills or bluffs adjacent to the streams, principally along the Kaskaskia river and its tributaries.
Soil and Agriculture .- This county contains within its limits some
of the best, richest and most productive soil in the state; especially is it so of the North-western section of the county. Agricultural pursuits are in fact the leading employments of the people, and the rich returns which it brings to those engaged in them, promise to attract strangers, and reward all who devote labor to it. The leading staple products are Indian corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay, tobacco, and sorghum; the productions are so various as to warrant the assertion that no year or season can occur in which the prudent husbandman will be completely disappointed in his hopes. Every desirable fruit, every useful grain, every nutritive grass is found here growing to perfection ; industry may grow rich by the proper use of its resources, and domestic comfort, and even luxury, may find ample opportunities to 'gratify evcry reasonable desire. Its intelligent and enterprising people may advance in wealth, in knowledge, in refinement, and in all the arts and blessings of life. No spot is more favored, and none is more full of promise of future growth and influence.
Drainage and Climate .- It is drained by several streams-the Kaskaskia river running nearly through the center of the county, from north to south, is the largest, and drains the greatest area of country ; it enters the county on a line almost between Windsor and Okaw township, and runs in a south-westerly course, in a zig-zag manner, through Windsor, Okaw, Shelbyville and Rose town- ships, touching Holland slightly, on the east, and entering Dry Point on section 3, and leaving it on section 15, (township 9-3). Its principal tributaries are Robinson's, Sand, Coon, Jordan, Richland and Brush creeks. Robinson's creek rises in Pickaway township, and gathering numerous affluents, drains a large district and passes through Ridge and Rose townships, and mingles its waters with the Kaskaskia on section 34. The north western portion of the county is drained by Long Grove Branch and Flat Branch and their tributaries; the south-western section of the county is admirably watered and drained by Beck's, Opossum, Stone and Mitchel's creeks, while the south-eastern part of the county is drained by the Little Wabash river, Rattlesnake, Copperas, Green and Wolf creeks and their tributaries; each of these streams has its affluents, so that the entire surface of the county is well watered and drained. In portions of the county good water is afforded by copious springs and small lakes. The surface of the county is higher as a rule than the adjacent counties, as may be inferred from the fact that so many streams have their source here. The high grounds are the water sheds between the creeks. The natural and artificial groves, the fringed banks of the water-courses, the smiling farms, with their fields of maize and grain, and herds of cattle, all go to form a picture of surpassing loveliness. But little of the land is too flat for drainage, or broken for tillage, and hence the greater portion is susceptible of cultivation, and affords the widest appli- cation for machinery. The climate is healthful, and is a happy medium between the extremes of heat and cold.
Political Divisions of the County .- Shelby county is divided into twenty municipal townships, or voting precincts, viz .: Big Spring, Ash Grove, Prairie, Richland, Windsor, Holland, Shelbyville, Okaw, Todd's Point, Dry Point, Rose, Ridge, Pickaway, Penn, Cold Spring, Tower Hill, Rural, Flat Branch, Moawequa, and Oconee ; of this number only eight are congressional townships ; the balance are fractional, some more and some less than full con- gressional townships. The southern tier of precincts each comprise one and a half townships, or fifty-four sections of land.
MOULTRIE COUNTY
Was originally a part of Shelby and Macon counties, out of which it was formed. It is bounded on the north by Macon and Piatt
31
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
east by Douglas and Coles, south by Shelby, west by Shelby and Macon counties. It is situated a little south-east of the center of Illinois, and was organized out of the north-eastern portion of Shelby . and the south-east corner of Macon, and was named in honor of William Moultrie, a brave and gallant soldier of the Revolution. The greatest length of the county from the north to the south line is about twenty-three and a half miles, and its greatest breadth from east to west is eighteen miles. It contains 218,524 69-100 acres, or nearly 342 square miles, divided into seetions, many of which con- . tain more and some less than 640 aeres.
Sullivan .- The capital of the county is situated a little south-east of the center, and at the crossings of the P. D. & E. and W. St. L. & P. railroads. It is quite a thriving and enterprising place.
Population .- The population of the county as shown by the census of 1880, is 13,539. The population of 1870 was 10,385, showing an increase in the last ten years of 3,154 persons. Moultrie is peopled by the representatives of several nations, forming a mixed population. Here the English or Anglo-Saxon finds his home. Also representatives of the Celtic and Teutonie raees are found within its borders. Here too are met with, the impassioned and freedom loving Frenehmen, and the honest and energetic Swedes, have also made their homes amongst us-also a few fami- lies of the colored race.
Topography .- The general surface of this county is flat or level; however, in some parts it is gently undulating, and in the regions of the various water courses the land is more broken ; particularly is this the ease along the Okaw (or Kaskaskia) and West Okaw ereeks, where there are low sand and clay hills, and in several places they rise to a considerable height above the surrounding surface. Originally there were about 65,920 acres of timber land in belts ranging from two to six miles wide along the various streams, much of which has been cleared and made into farms, yielding annually large erops of important cereals. The larger part of the county consists of prairie, the timber being confined to belts along the Okaw and West Okaw ereeks, and their tributaries. In the southern part where it predominates, there is some timber of excel- lent quality. In the northern tier of townships there is only a narrow strip along the West Okaw, in Lovington township, there being no natural timber in either Dora or Lowe.
Hydrography .- The principal natural water course in this county is the Okaw (or Kaskaskia) creek-or river, as it is called lower down. It enters the county on the east side of Seetion 24 in East Nelson township. Its course through this county is north, west, due west, and south-west, and after making numerous crooks and turns through East Nelson, and the southern portion of Sullivan town- ship, it passes out of this county into Shelby near the south-west corner of Seetion 31, (Tp. 13, R. 5). Jonathan Creek heads in Section 3, T. 14, R. 6, and meanders in a southerly course, and has its confluence with the Okaw on Seetion 17, East Nelson township. It has several small affluents. Whitley Creek, which flows into the Okaw in the south eastern corner of Sullivan township, enters the county on the north-east corner of Whitley township, and has several tributaries which drain the south-eastern part of the county. The West Okaw, which drains the more central and western portions of the county, rises in Piatt county about one mile and a half north of the county line between Moultrie and Piatt. . In its course it flows in a south-westerly direction, through Lovington, north-west corner of Sullivan township, along the east side of Marrowbone, touching the north-east corner of Shelby county, where it changes its course to a south-eastern direction, and mingles its waters with the Kaskaskia on Seetion 31, (13-5). Marrow- bone creek, the largest tributary of the West Okaw, rises in the
north-western part of Dora, and with its affluents drains the southern and the central portions of Marrowbone township. Wel- bourn creek flows across the south part of Marrowbone town- ship, from west to east, and empties into the West Okaw. Thus it will be seen that this county is quite well provided with natural drainage.
Tile Draining is being introduced in parts remote from these water-courses, and in time, when the system of draining becomes better understood, and generally applied, it will result in great good to the agricultural interests of the county. There are many small and several large ponds and lakes in the county, two or three of which contain several hundred aeres each, which might in this way be drained and the land redeemed and cultivated.
This tiling, which has been in general use only some five or six years, is made out of a species of fire elay, of which extensive beds are found in the county. The average cost of laying tiling is twenty-five cents per rod ; the average depth to which it is laid in the ground is three and a half feet. The price of tiling varies according to diameter, as follows :
Tiling 3 inches in diameter, per 1000 feet, $12
4
66
15
5
=
18 35
6
66
= 45
8
10
As the benefits resulting from tile draining become more appreci- ated, and its importance more fully realized, by the farming com- muuity generally, it will be still more extensively used, and millions of wealth thereby added to the agricultural interests of the state.
The Resources, Soil, and Agriculture .- The resources of Moultrie county are chiefly agricultural ; the manufacturing interests, according to recent statisties, employ only about one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars capital. There are several briek and tile factories, wagon and carriage factories, flouring and saw mills, and one woolen mill. The amount of capital invested in the respective enterprises is fully set forth in the statistics in the eliapter on civil history.
The soil of this county is somewhat diversified ; there is, however, very little land that is not susceptible of cultivation, and that will not yield rich returns to the agriculturalist. The soil of the prairie lands, and these constitute the greater portion of the county, especially on a line due east and west, and north of Sullivan, are composed of a black, peaty loam from three to ten feet deep, and commonly termed "vegetable mold." On the Okaw hills or bluff's the soil has a light yellowish color, with reddish brown clay containing sand and gravel intermixed. The arenaceous and argillaceous soil of the timber changes rapidly into the deep, rich black soil of the prairie.
In all ages, and in all conditions of society, and nations, agricultural pursuits have been the most necessary and im- portant employment of mankind. From the broad bosom of mother earth, families and people of every elime have drawn their sustenance. In the same proportion that the tiller of the soil thrives and prospers is the success of the merchant, the manufae- turer, and the artisan. The surplus products of his labor form constant additions to the wealth of the state, and help to swell the capital of the nation. When farming fails, famine flourishes, poverty prevails, commeree ceases, and progress is paralyzed. The chief occupation of the people of Moultrie county. is farming and stock-raising. Most excellent corn erops are annually raised. The
55 90
7
32
HISTORY OF SHELBY AND MOULTRIE COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
average yield of this cereal is about sixty-five bushels per acre, and sometimes far exceeding this number.
Oats, barley, and rye grow luxuriantly, rarely failing to yield bountiful crops. The potato, turnip and all other garden vegeta- bles and tuberous plants, are successfully cultivated. The fruits and berries of all varieties, such as apples, pears, peaches, plums, grapes, currants, grow well, and in favorable seasons produce more than enough to meet the demands of the local markets. But wheat, especially the winter variety, is considered a very uncertain crop. However, for the last two years wheat has done well in this county, and has made a favorable average with other counties in this part of the State. The principal cultivated grasses are : blue grass, timothy, red-top, orchard-grass, and clover. These afford rich and nutritious pasturage for stock, and an excellent quality of hay for the market. The acreage of pasture and meadow is being yearly increased, indicating a tendency on the part of farmers to take advantage of the great facilities nature has here furnished for stock raising. The domestic animals are of improved breed. The horses, cattle, sheep and hogs are of far finer quality now than they were a few years ago, showing progressive spirit and enterprise on the part of farmers in keeping with all other branches of industry.
Political Divisions .- This county is divided into eight townships ; a more extended notice of which may be seen in a carefully pre- pared history of each, in another part of this work. The names of the townships are as follows : Whitley, East-Nelson, Jonathan- Creek, Lowe, Sullivan, Lovington, Marrowbone, and Dora.
Timber .- The native kinds of timber in Shelby and Moultrie counties, are fully set forth in the chapter on the Flora, and hence demand but brief mention here. The largest quantity of timber found in the two counties is adjacent to the water-courses, in the southern tier of townships; in the south-western part of Shelby, was originally mostly covered with a heavy growth of the several varie- ties of oak, hickory and elm, linden, wild cherry, honey locust, black walnut, sycamore, hackberry, and cotton wood. The same will apply to Moultrie county, in the valleys and hills adjacent to the Okaw, Whitley, West Okaw creek and their tributaries ; and occasionally the timber line would jut out into the level or prairie land. Fine belts of timber originally skirted the banks of all the streams in these counties, furnishing an adequate supply of timber for fencing and fuel. Artificial groves and belts, consisting chiefly of hard and soft maple, elm and fruit trees, and the Osage orange for hedges, have been planted on the prairies, and add inuch beauty by their presence to the landscape.
RAILROAD SYSTEM. Transportation Facilities.
Perhaps the most important factor in the business development and prosperity of a city or county, is its railroad communications. At least it is safe to assert that such has become a demonstrated fact with regard to Shelby and Moultrie counties. A retrospection of their history since the advent of railroad facilities, will convince the careful observer of the immense benefit resulting from the introduction of this essential adjunct of commercial enterprise. We here insert brief sketches of the railroads traversing these counties.
Illinois Central R. R.
The main line of this road enters Shelby county on section 19, township 14, Range two east, and traverses the north-western corner of the county in a south-westerly direction, leaving the county on section seven, in township 13-2. Its course is then through Christian county, in the same direction, until it strikes section 4, (township 10-1), Oconee, when after crossing the line of sections
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