Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 36

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860

USA > Illinois > Cumberland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 36
USA > Illinois > Richland County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 36
USA > Illinois > Jasper County > Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical > Part 36

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Feet. Inches.

Silicious shale 20 2

Gray pyritiferous shale, passing into limestone

Jet black bituminous shale, with fish scales and spines.

Coal, breaking into small cakes 6

Fire clay 3

Gray silicious shale and flagstone B 8

This thin coal was sometimes found split by hard bituminous shale, leaving only about an inch of coal in each division.

The section of the Embarrass River, southwest quarter of Section 31, Township 7, Range 10, is as follows:

Feet.

Inches.

1. Covered slope- 10

2. Bluish-brown argillaceous shale. 10

3. Brown and black bituminous shale 3

4. Fire clay

5. Gray fossiliferous limestone.

6. Blue argillaceous shale

7. Brownish-black impure limestone 3

8. Blue shale. 2

9. Bluish shaly sandstones 10

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HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

Two miles north of Saint Marie, on the west half of Section 7. Township 6, Range 11, a shaft was sunk twenty feet to the river level and some fragments of impure limestone were thrown out. About a hundred yards up the river this limestone is just at the water's edge. It is eight or ten inches thick, and is probably the equivalent of the limestone near Newton.

The second bluff or terrace is about forty feet above low water. About thirty feet above low water, in the face of the bluff, there are remains of an old furnace. It is about three feet in diameter, of a circular form and walled with rock. Around it are pieces of burnt limestone, charcoal and cinders. On the top of the bluff there are a number of Indian mounds, arranged in the form of an oblong square, inclosing a court. The peculiar arrangement of the mounds, and the presence of mica in the sandstone, and also in the drift bowl- ders found here, led to the belief that silver existed in the rocks and could be extracted from them, and the existence of the mounds and the furnace led to the sinking of the shaft in pursuit of the same precious metal.

On Crooked Creek, a half mile west of Brockville, the follow- ing section was found:

Feet.

Inches.

Buff-colored limestone without fossils

Blue argillaceous shale

Rotten limestone with fossils

Black bituminous shale 4

Blue argillaceous shale

One mile and a half southwest of Harrisburg, on Lick Creek, the following beds were found:

Feet. Inches.

Bluish argillaccous shale. 10

Black bituminous shale

Impure limestone with fragmentary fossils

Bluish argillaceous shale. 2

The water of the creek is slightly saline, and some prospecting for brine has been done in this vicinity.

All these outcrops belong to the Upper Coal Measures, and range about the horizon of coals No. 14 and 15 of the general section. From the general trend of the strata it may be inferred that the lowest beds that outerop in the county are those along its eastern border, and the highest, those upon the western.

MATERIAL RESOURCES.

A limited supply of coal may be obtained from the beds out- cropping near Newton and New Liberty, but neither the average

377

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

thickness of the seams, nor the quality of coal they afford, would justify an attempt to work them save in a limited way. The main coals are here from five to six hundred feet, or more, below the sur- face, and to reach the bottom of the coal measures, would require a shaft more than a thousand feet in depth. It will probably be many years before the demand for coal in this county will be such as to warrant the opening of mines at this depth.

Building stone, of good quality, is not abundant; the main sup- ply being from the sandstone overlaying the coal at Newton and in this vicinity. At some points this bed affords a brown sandstone of fair quality: and at others it passes into silicious shales or shaly sandstones too soft and thin bedded to be used for building purposes. On Limestone Creek, in the southwestern portion of the county, there is a bed of compact, gray limestone, in layers of a foot to eight- cen inches in thickness, that is quarried for foundation walls, etc., for the supply of the adjacent region. The only limestone found in the county, that seemed to be at all adapted for use in the lime kiln, was that on Limestone Creek, in the southwest corner of the county, and a fair quality of lime may be made there for the supply of such portions of the adjacent region as are remote from railroad transpor- tation.

Sand and clay are abundant, and good brick and tile may be made at almost any point on the uplands, where they may be required. Sand for mortar and cement, oceurs at many places along the bluff's of the Embarrass, and may be found in heds of most of the small streams, and in nearly every portion of the county.

The chief resource, however, of the county is its soil. The bot- tom lands of the Embarrass have a rich alluvial soil, and when cleared and brought under cultivation, produce large crops of corn, to which they seem best adapted. The soil of the prairie region is a chocolate-colored, clay loam, similar to that of the adjoining coun- ties, and produces fair crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass. On the timbered uplands, the soil is somewhat variable. When the surface is broken the soil is thin, but on the more level portions, where the growth is composed in part of black walnut, sugar tree, hackberry, etc., the soil is very productive and yields large crops of all the cereals grown in this latitude. The varieties of timber found here are the common species of oak and hickory, black and white walnut, white and sugar maple, slippery and red elm, honey locust, hack- berry, ash, etc.

378

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

SWAMP LANDS.

Originally, a large part of the territory of this county came under this classification. By a general act. dated September 28. 1850, congress ceded to the several States of the Union. all the wet and overflowed lands within their borders, not otherwise disposed of, for drainage purposes. The legislature of this State accepted and rati- fied this act of congress. by complying with the special requirements and subsequently, in furtherance of the objects as aforesaid, granted to the counties the lands lying within their boundaries. Between the years 1850 and 1856, much of this land was entered of the general government, through the United States Land Office at Palestine. at $1.25 per acre, with "swamp land serip," " land warrants," and cash, the commissioner of the general land office issuing patents therefor. Under the act of congress, where land was selected and paid for with "serip" or "warrants," the State was entitled to receive an equal quantity of United States land. subject, however, to the approval of the department of the interior, The secretary of the interior in construing this act of congress has decided that the land intended to be given in lieu of which was entered with " serip" or " warrants," must be United States land, unoccupied, and lying within the State claiming the same, and cannot be located elsewhere. The United States lands in Illinois have long since been entered. hence the county will only receive indemnity for such swamp land as has been entered since 1850 with cash.

The county has made several efforts to secure its rights under this provision, and of late has entered into contract with an attor- ney to collect the indemnity due from the general government. Some 10,000 acres have been claimed and the requisite proof filed. The county has sold a considerable amount of these lands originally selected, at such prices as they would bring, much of which has been reclaimed and is now under cultivation.

AGRICULTURE.

Jasper County is strictly an agricultural county, though pos- sessed of good water-power and timber, and situated within the region of the coal measures, manufacturing interests, beyond such mills as the local necessity demanded, have found seanty encourage- ment. It is probably too early to judge of the future of manufac- turing interests here, as the lack of railroad facilities. before 1876, prevented any successful attempts at manufacturing. Since the build- ing of the Mattoon & Grayville Railroad, and the construction of

379

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

other lines, several rigorous manufacturing establishments have found place here, and with the construction of other roads which are promised at this date, the character of Jasper County's industries may be entirely revolutionized in the coming decades.

The prevailing system of agriculture practiced here may prop- erly be termed mixed husbandry. Specialties find little favor with the farmers. The practice is to cultivate the various kinds of grain and grasses, and to raise, keep and fatten stock; the latter business rapidly growing in favor with a majority of the wealthier farmers. Though organized in 1834, the development of the county was slow, and until 1860 the larger part of the county was not entirely in the hands of actual settlers. The farmer, therefore, has not yet felt able to indulge in any scientific theories of cultivation. So far, the main object has been to gain a subsistence and make sufficient returns to pay for the land, and but little more than this has been accomplished. Of late, there is more improvement noted, and, while the farming community may be said to be in limited financial circumstances, the character of later improvements are of the best kind. Houses and barns of improved architecture and the higher order of comfort and ornament, are going up everywhere, and a new era of prosperity is marked. The need of studying the principles of such branches of learning as relate to agriculture, will be felt, and a consequent improvement in the system of farming will naturally follow.

Wheat has been considered a reasonably sure and remunerative erop, and is cultivated to a large extent. Some failures in this crop, however, have admonished the farmers that this is not to be depended upon solely, and other grains are dividing the attention of the farming community. Oats and corn are prominent products, and the failure of any oue crop is not counted a fatal calamity. In 1881, a drouth occurred, no rain falling between the latter part of June and the last of August, a period of sixty-eight days. The wheat and corn crops were almost entirely destroyed, and business was almost at a stand-still. Such experiences are, however, very rare, the gen- eral complaint being too much rain. Most of the land in the county is low, and very much in need of drainage. This subject is now attracting considerable attention, and two extensive tile factories have this year been put in operation, with the prospect of ample patronage.

Fruit culture may safely be said to be in its infancy in Jasper County. The first settlers, deprived for a time of its use, and real- izing the great demand in every family for this important article of

380

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

food, early set about planting orchards. But little care was exer- cised, in a majority of cases, in the selection of varieties, or in the care of orchards after once well set, and, taking into consideration the value of good fruit as a substantial element of food. as a valuable agent in preserving and promoting health, and as a luxury which all classes may enjoy, this subject has not received the attention which its importance merits at the hands of the agriculturist. The orchard culture of apples has only of late years begun to command the seri- ous attention of farmers. The product is barely enough to supply home demands, but each year marks an increase in the acreage devoted to this fruit. Peaches rank next to apples in the number of acres devoted to their culture. The region is ordinarily favorable to their culture, and a good yield is generally had here. Pears, plums and cherries are found occasionally about the house enclosure, but are not cultivated to any great extent. There are one or two pear orchards recently set out. Small fruits are not yet grown to any great extent, save for private use. There is a growing market for all these products, right at home, and there will be an improvement in this direction as soon as this demand is recognized. There are no nurseries in the county, and dependence is had chiefly upon traveling agents, who find this a profitable field.

In the matter of stock, the interest of farmers is being gener- ally attracted toward the profit of stock-raising. Grass never fails, save in such an exceptional year as 1881. The moist nature of the ground renders the crop a sure and luxuriant growth. For the cul- tivation of grain, it requires a large expenditure of time and labor. and the question is being seriously discussed whether a larger pro- portion of stock-raising would not yield greater returns. Cattle and hogs are already an important source of income to the farmers, and a considerable number are improving the grade of their stock by the use of thorough-bred animals. Short-horns, Jersey and Devon cattle are made a specialty by some half a dozen stockmen in the county, and their influence on the grade of stock to be found here is quite marked. In hogs, the Poland-China and Berkshire are repre- sented by several stock-breeders. Sheep, though not so generally kept by farmers as the other mentioned stock, are still found in con- siderable aggregate numbers, though most of the flocks are small. Among the breeders, the Cotswold is the favorite, though the South- down and Merino breeds are represented. On the subject of horses, there is considerable interest manifested. Oxen have been super- seded here for some years, but the average farm-horse has not been

381

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

greatly improved over the original stock. JJust now, this class of farm property has felt the impulse manifested in every county inter- est, and a number of fine horses are in use for breeding purposes. These are principally of the Norman and Clydesdale blood. Some interest is manifested in roadsters and speed animals, but the finan- cial status of the farmers, the demands of the farm, and the condition of the roads, inclines the general favor towards such a cross with the heavy draft horses as will produce a substantial animal for all pur- poses. Mules are bred and used to a large extent, and they seem to be growing into greater favor rapidly. Besides the argument used in favor of their economical keeping and hardy characteristics, they are found to be more salable at good prices than horses. Horses are found to be subject, also, to some fatal disorder which causes serious losses. This subject has not been fully investigated, but the sudden unexplained death of a good horse is frequently reported. It is believed by many that the latitude is not favorable, and such losses are generally supplied by mules. Another reason for the increased attention to stock-raising is the fact that the average farm is quite large, perhaps 200 acres. This, it is found, is too large for success- ful cultivation in grains, and some stock is found necessary to utilize all the acreage. Then the question arises, whether it is not more profitable to feed the grain grown, and thus retain the offal to enrich the soil. The question is more and more being decided in the affirm- ative, and there are those who confidently predict that the future will find this a stock-growing rather than a grain-producing county. Dairying has not been attempted here, though there is some discus- sion as to the subject. With increased shipping facilities and a rea- sonably close market, there seems to be no reason why it should not be as profitable a source of revenue here as elsewhere in the State.

FAIR ASSOCIATIONS.

An effort to organize a Fair association was made about 1855. Improvement in stock had reached an advanced stage, and some of the more prominent stockmen and others, among whom were John Brooks, James Wagle, A. G. Colwell, Sr., and T. J. Martin, formed an association. Only two or three exhibitions were held, the O'Kean grounds being leased and enclosed for the purpose. After this, the interest failed and nothing more was done in the way of fairs until 1870. In this year, the County Agricultural Board formed an Asso- ciation and held annual exhibitions until 1880. The plan of organ- ization was not such as to give the highest financial results. The

382

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

State report for 1877, the only one to be obtained, speaks of the exhibition of that year as in every way a success. "Our premiums were large and hotly contested for in every department. The show of stock in the different departments was larger and finer than ever before, while Floral Hall was filled to overflowing with the choicest productions of needle-work, fine arts and staple productions of the soil. * * The display of agricultural implements was com- plete, and was within itself an exhibition which could be pointed to with pride by the exhibitors. Our system of financial returns in proportion to individual tickets, but under the depressed financial condition of affairs, gives better satisfaction.

" By economy in expenditures, we were enabled to pay twenty- five cents on the dollar awarded in premiums (which is twenty-five per cent. more than the society has ever paid). Our current expenses for the year also discharged'a large part of our mortgaged indebtedness." The value of the grounds and improvements was put at $2,000. It was found, notwithstanding the favorable charac- ter of the above report, that the association could not make a finan- cial success, and on April 5, 1880, the " Jasper County Agricultural Joint Stock Company " was incorporated. The leading men in this movement were: Wm. E. Barrett, Jas. C. Ireland, Daniel O'Donnell and Wm. L. Heath. A large number of the citizens of the county took stock, which aggregated $3,000, in shares of $10 each. This organization has made a complete success of the fairs, and now own a finely improved ground west of Newton, valued at some $6,000. In 1881, owing to the severe drouth, no exhibition was held. In 1882, the " Twelfth Annual Fair of the Jasper County Agricultural Board" was held under the auspices of this company, at which pre- miums were offered to the extent of some $1,500, which were all paid in full.

THE EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The immigration to which this part of the State is indebted for its carly settlement came principally from the Southern States by way of Palestine. The " Wabash country " began to attract settlers as early as 1811, a few families finding their way to the west side of the Wabash River, in the territory now covered by Crawford, Clark and Edgar counties. The war with Great Britain and the conse- quent unfriendly disposition of the Indians retarded the further increase of the settlements until the close of the war in 1815. A number of families, however, who had started for this region gath-

383

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

ered about Palestine, where the general government stationed a company of troops and built a palisade fort. On the pacification of the savages, the cooped-up whites rapidly spread over the country contiguous with the river, where many had made claims and built cabins before it was thought safe to remove their families from the fort. The country in this region offered every desired characteristic for pioneer settlements, and for some years absorbed the tide of incoming population, so that the outlying portions of Crawford, which are now Jasper, were little known save to the hunter and that class of persons who preferred a terra incognita. The result was that the first inhabitants of Jasper County territory were principally squatters; men who found it safer to leave the more settled parts of the older States and seek a refuge where the arm of the law could not reach. The " Dark Bend," a copse-like bottom of the Embar- rass, in the southeast corner of Jasper County extending into Craw- ford County, was the principal spot occupied by these characters, though at an early date it was popularly supposed that " the woods was full of them." In the nature of the case, but little can be learned of these people. The earliest permanent settlers occasionally came in con- tact with them, and, in one way or another, learned something of their history. Soon after the settlement was formed at Saint Marie the fam- ilies of that community were visited by half a dozen or so of the ladies of the "Dark Bend," whose attire and general appearance con- firmed the colonists in all the worst opinions they had formed of the people in that benighted region. Mr. Joseph Picquet relates that soon after his settlement at Saint Marie, he learned of a desti- tute family living in this region, and, moved by his sympathy, three or four of them made a visit to the place. The man had murdered his brother and fled to this region to escape the just penalty of his deed. Here he was found, surrounded by several dirty, ill-kempt women and a dozen or more squalid, scrofulous looking children, living in a long, low shanty, like so many hogs. The man was well advanced in years, and all so ignorant and degraded as to exhibit no distaste for their surroundings, nor desire for any change to some- thing better. The party from Saint Marie went armed, as they did not like the character of the neighborhood, and at first created con- siderable commotion in the conscience stricken household. This was the end of the association, however, and the family moved away some- time later unheeded. Counterfeiters and horse-thieves made this section their abode for many years later, and were a constant source of annoyance to this whole region. Counterfeit money was one of

384

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY.

the early trials of the pioneers of Jasper and vicinity. At home much of this coin passed undetected, but it often occurred that when a farmer went to purchase a season's supplies he would find his available funds greatly reduced by the counterfeit money he held. Martin Grove relates an incident, the memory of which is perpet- uated by the name given to one of the streams of the county-Mint Creek.

Cornelius Taylor kept a ferry in Lawrence County, and was, or had been considered an honest man. He had for sometime been in the habit of loading his wagon with meat and other provisions, and start- ing off with the ostensible purpose of going to Saint Louis to market. After a time Mr. Taylor was suspected of being a little crooked, and after watching a little, his neighbors became convinced of the fact. It was observed that Taylor made some trips in a remarkably short time, and at other times he would be gone for several months, and that on his return from these trips a quantity of counterfeit silver and paper money would get into circulation in the county. These indications, with other circumstances, led to his being suspected of complicity with some gang of counterfeiters, and some of the best citizens secretly agreed to watch him. On his next trip to Saint Louis, his neighbors found that Taylor suspected their intentions, and so loaded up his wagon after night-fall. In that way his absence was not noticed until he had been gone several days; but they being determined not to be cheated in that manner, gathered np a crowd and followed the wagon tracks (it will be remembered that wagons were very scarce in those days), which soon left the Saint Louis road and struck out northwest. They followed the track then, with more zeal than ever, knowing there must be something wrong, until they came to a thicket or thick. woods, almost impenetrable, about seven miles north, and a little west of where Newton now stands, near the mouth of a little creek that empties into the Embarrass River, known since that day by the name of " Mint " Creek, where they found, not the wagon, but a little cabin under the brush, in which they found a man by the name of Acre Williams, who, after being hung up by the neck two or three times until nearly dead, agreed to tell all he knew. He, after a few more threats from his tormenters, delivered up a lot of molds, dies and other materials for making counterfeit silver and paper money. The dies, etc., were taken to Lawrenceville and destroyed in the court house. Ile (Williams ) claimed that he was only hired by the counterfeiters to keep house, hunt and cook for them. He said the principal man of

385

HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY,

the counterfeiters was named Hornback. He gave other names also, but the principals all got away; but the men getting their tools and implements, it broke up their business at that place, but we have yet the creek (that took the name from the Mint that had been run there) to remember the circumstance by. This was about 1822 to 1824.

The earliest permanent settler in Jasper County, probably was Benjamin Shooks. But little is known of him. It is said that he was among those who occupied the fort at Palestine, and came imme- diately after the cessation of hostilities to this region. He built his cabin in 1816, on the North Fork, where Samuel Atkinson now has his farm. The exact location is not pointed out, but it was in the " bottoms " northeast of Yale and west of Bellaire, and here he lived and died a few years later. From Mr. Johnson's historical sketch, which is found to be unusually accurate, it is learned that,

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Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland, Illinois. Historical and biographical, Part 36

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co. Number of Pages: 860

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : F. A. Battey & Co.
Number of Pages: 860