USA > Illinois > Stark County > Documents and biography pertaining to the settlement and progress of Stark County, Illinois : containing an authentic summary of records, documents, historical works and newspapers > Part 13
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A number of valuable historical letters were read before this meet- ing, references to which are made in other pages.
The old mill brought here in 1836, and owned by S. G. Breese. was placed on the grounds during the old settlers reunion of 1883.
The seventh annual reunion of the old settlers was held at Toulon, August 26, 1884. A. P. Miller delivered the address of welcome. Dr. Copestake described Stark county as he found it on his arrival here. A. G. Hammond, who settled at Wyoming thirty-four years before this meeting when a boy of sixteen years, delivered an historical address. Henry G. Little was here at the organization of the county, and related some pleasing facts of that time. C. C. Wilson, the first super- visor from Valley township, delivered an interesting speech ; and the president, Oliver Whitaker, explained all about the exhumed log, which
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lay on the platform ; the time it grew where the court-house now stands, when it was used in bridging the slough on Main street, and its discovery while repairing a bridge at this place in 1884. George N. Brown, then of the Wyoming Herald. now of the Peoria Transcript, said some pretty things of the pioneers. A list of men and women who died since the last reunion was read, and next a large number of interesting letters from old settlers, who could not respond to invita- tions to be present, were read. The Glee Club, represented by R. J. Dickinson, D. I. Walker, F. W. Lyon, L. L. Long, Mrs. Ida M. Swee- deen, Mrs. M. S. Higgins, Misses Edith Diekinson, Bird Thornton, and Mattie White. The officers elected were: Oliver Wintaker, president ; Dr. II. M. Hall, secretary : Benjamin Turner, treasurer: the vice-presi- dents chosen were : Eceless West. W. Jersey : G. II. Redfield, Goshen ; P. P. Johnson, Toulon : Henry Colwell, Essex ; Cyrus Bocock, Penn : Samuel Wrigley, Valley: Joli Locker, Osceola, and Myrtle Brace, Ebnira.
The death-roll for the year ending Angust 1, 1884, is made up as follows : Mrs. Mary Hoffman, of W. Jersey, died September 10, 1883. aged 71 years. Mrs. Barbara E. Smith, daughter of John Emery and a resident of the county for forty-four years, died April 21, 1883, aged 52 years. Mrs. Frances Barnes, daughter of Sewell Smith, formerly of Essex township, died at Lincoln. Neb., August 10. 1883. Mrs. Mary A. ('ruchfield. daughter of the late David Cooper and for twenty-seven years a resident here. died in Essex township, JJanuary 1. 1884. aged 76 years. Mrs. Elizabeth Chaffee, widow of Jarvil Chaffee, formerly of Essex township, died in Taylor county. Ja., March 3. 1884. aged So vears. Allen Stimmell, died in West Jersey township, January 4. 1884. Mrs. Joseph De Wolf died in West Jersey township, January 19. 1584. aged 54 years. Mrs. Martha A. Myers, died in Toulon, January 23. 1884; she came here in 1855. Mrs. Kate Hogle died near Toulon, January 23, 1884. in her 33d year. David McCance died at Toulon, February 19. 1884, aged 69 years: he resided here thirty-six years. The death of Charles W. Wright. J. F. Chapin. Mrs. Philander Pome- roy. Darins Panders, Miss Sarah Anderson, Mrs. Ruby Greenfield, Mrs. Gertrude Wagner. (. S. Fulper, H. S. Johnson, James A. Hender- son, Stacy Cowperthwaite, Mrs. Amelia Butler, Jefferson Trickle, S. P. Fast, George Harvey, Andrew Swartz, Lucy P. Cooley, John Miller. Mrs. Margaret R. Hawkes. Patrick Cavanaugh, Cyrenius Dewey and William Thomas-each one is noticed in the township histories. Let- ters were read from N. P. Cross, of Pleasanton, Kan .; John M. Burns, of Orion. Ill .: Cyrus Shinn, of Eagle Springs, Kan .: B. F. Fuller, Wash- ington, D. C .; 1. E. Bush, Beatrice, Neb .; David Fast, Irwin, Mo .; Daniel W. Henderson, Jefferson. Ia .: A. J. Whitaker, Washington. D. C .: Henry G. Little, Grinnell, Ia .: W. E. Dunn, Galesburg. Ill .; W. W. Winslow, Osceola, Ill .; S. G. Butler, Farragut, la.
Henry G. Little, writing in 1884, says: " You first tried for Coffee county. taking one township from Henry and some from Knox. I worked hard to help defeat it, and we did so." David Fast, writing from Irwin, Mo .. says: " On September 28, 1850, I came to Stark and lived there until September 28, 1881. In 1850 I started a harness
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PIONEER ASSOCIATIONS AND REMINISCENCES.
shop in an old frame building south of uncle Norman Butler's house. and afterward used by B. (. Follett as a stable."
The eighth annual reunion of old settlers was held August 25, 1885. Miles A. Fuller delivered the address of welcome; Martin Shallenberger spoke on the subject of pioneer manners and customs; Captain Thomson read letters from absent friends: T. J. Henderson also delivered an address, and the list of all settlers, who died since the last meeting, was read. The officers elected were: Oliver Whit- aker, president: Henry M. Hall. secretary: Benj. Turner, treasurer: John F. Rhodes, Wm. F. Nicholson, and Harlan Pierce, members of exeentive committee. The vice-presidents chosen wore C. W. Young. New Jersey ; Barney Frail. Goshen: Henry Colwell. Essex; Eugene Lyon, Toulon : David Corrier, Elmira : Edward Colgan, Valley ; Wes- ley Brown, Penn; and John Lackie. Osceola. Among those present were Perry Smith, of Wyoming. the first white child born in this county, fifty-four years before this meeting: M B. Parks, who built the first house in Elmira township; Adam Perry, who taught the first school in the county; Samuel G. Brees, of Wyoming, whose parents. on coming here, moved into a stable, where he was born on Christmas day: Dr. and Mrs. L. Hurd, who were the first couple married in Henry county. Jerome B. Thomas, of Ohio, who settled here forty- one years prior to this meeting, was here. O. P. Emery. of Galva. and Little, of Kewanee, were also here, The pioneers of fifty years ago or more, present at this meeting, were Perry Smith, came fifty- four years ago: Mrs. Jonathan Pratz, Perry Winn. N. W. Holmes, Minot Silliman, each fifty-one years ago: Nelson Grant. Jacob Emery. Barnabas Frail, Hiram Albright, G. II. Redfield and wife, R. Il. Moore, each came fifty years ago. The old settlers, who were here forty years ago or more at date of eighth reunion, are named as follows: M. B. Parks, Wm. Sheets, John Fowler. Wm. Ogle, Levi Eekley. Jonathan Pratz. Mrs. George M. Hazen, Miles A. Fuller. Washington Trickle, each forty-nine years.
Archibald Vandyke, Unele Johnnie Turnbull. Dr. H. M. Hall. Perry Grant, Wallace Mason, Mrs. Josiah Moffit. Mrs. John Black. Samuel Brees, Win. Mason, Henry Colwell, each forty-eight years.
Calvin Eastman, Oliver Whitaker and Mrs. Whitaker, Wm. Oliver, Wells White, Barney Jackson, Win. Sturms. Andrew Oliver, W. T. Leeson. Thomas Oliver, Orlando Brace. Benj. Brown. each forty-seven vears.
Amos Bennett, Mrs. Sarah Bennett, Mrs. Colburn Robbins, Walter M. Fuller, W. P. Currier, each forty six years,
Mrs. D. R. Gelvin, J. P. Headley, Harrison Miner, Benj. Turner, Orin Maxfield, Dr. Walter Hall, each forty-five years.
Mrs. A. M. Snyder. A. I. Finley. Edward Nowlan, Mrs. W. M. Fuller, each forty-four years.
Mrs. Charles E. Shinn. S. R. Hazen, John and G. M. Hazen. Eli Emery, Charles Rhodes, Michael Emery, each forty-three years. Wm. White. R. C. Briggs and A. J. Maxfekt, each forty-two years. Mason Trickle. Isaac Thomas, Jerome B. Thomas, Charles Sturtevant, and Jackson Lawrence, each forty-one years. John Ogle, Win. Sweet,
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Sammel Jones, L. P. Himes, Joseph Atherton, Mrs. C. E. Harrington, Willard Palmer, Samuel Thomas. Sylvester H. Saunders, A. C. Himes. Wm. Allen. David Oziah. Mrs. John R. Atherton, each forty years.
The above seventy-five named, with others mentioned hereafter. constituted the pioneer circle in September. 1885.
The pioneer necrology for the year was reported as follows :- Jacob Stimmel died in West Jersey township March 24, 1885 ; aged 66 years. Capt. George W. Buchanan died September, 1884 in the 87th year of his age : he came with his family to this county in 1837 and remained here until 1853, when he moved to Davis county, Washington terri- torry, where he resided up to the time of his death. Christopher Hiner, of Chenoa, IH., died November 8, 1884, in the SOth year of his age: he was a resident of West Jersey township from 1849 to 1866. W. L. Shirts of Galva, died November 14, 1884, aged 62 years. Ile was a citizen of Toulon from 1854 to 1867. since which time he has resided in Galva. Mrs. Mary E. Austin died at her home in Elmira, Stark county. November 18, 1884, aged 65 years : she was the daughter of John Leeson, was married to Lewis Austin in 1838, moved to Ehnira in 1840, where she resided to the time of her death. Mrs. Hannah Guller died in Ehnira, Stark county, December 30, 1884; she was married to Ambrose Fuller in 1816, and they settled in Ehnira in 1839 ; her husband died in 1845, and his was the first grave in Elnira ceme- tery. Mrs. Lydia Fuller Shivvers died in Toulon. December 20, 1884. aged 60 years : in 1844 she was married to Ansel Fuller in Osceola, but they moved to Wethersfield township, where they resided until his death in 1863 : September 5, 1882, she married Hopkins Shivvers and resided in Toulon until her death. Mary Pierson White. daughter of J. D. Pierson, ched September 8, 1884, in the 22d year of her age. HI Blakely died in Toulon. December 26, 1884. Walter II. Blair died in Toulon. December 26, 1884. in the 23d year of his age. Isaae P. Spen- cer died in Osceola, December 27, 1884; he was one of the first comers to the grove early in the thirties. William Williams died at the resi- denee of David Lowman, in Hastings, Neb., January 6, 1885; Mr. Williams was a native of England, was born in 1794; eame to Amer- ica 1839, to Stark county in 1855, where he resided until Davis Low- man and family moved to Nebraska, he accompanying them. Capt. John R. Atherton died at his residence in Toulon, January 31, 1885, in the 83d year of his age: lle moved from Kentucky, his native state, to Illinois, in 1831, and to Stark county in 1845. Daniel Woodward died near Bradford, January 20, 1885 ; he was an old time settler of Stark county. Mrs. Mary Shannon died near Des Moines, Iowa, Feb- ruary 6, 18$5 ; she had but recently moved to Iowa from West Jersey, where the remainder of her life had been passed. Zara Newton died in Elmira township, Feb. 6, 1885, aged 78 years; he came to Stark county many years ago. Charles Bolt died in Osceola township, Feb- ruary 23. 1885, aged 70 years : he came to this county in 1845, settling in the township in which he died. Thomas Faulconer died in Valley township, March 18, 1885. He was a long time resident of that town- ship. Elijah Bocock died at Castleton, March 18, 1885, in the 87th year of his age; moved to Illinois in 1837, and to Stark county in
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1866. Solomon Wilkinson died in Essex township, April 2. 1885, aged SS years; he came to this county in 1849, and settled on the farm where he died. Mrs. Peter Shaffer died near Starwano. March 16. 1885, an early settler in Stark county. Robert Patterson died near Fairmount. Neb .. April 15, 1885. aged 71 years: he came to this connty in 1855 and remained here until about two years ago, when he moved to Nebraska. William Henry Butler was born in New Haven. Conn., October 5. 1511. emigrated to Putnam, now Stark county, in 1835, and in September of that year married Mary Fuller, of Elmira : in 1880 he moved on to a farm near Lineoln. Neb., where he died, March 29. 1885; he was a printer by trade. learing to set type in the old Franklin printing office in Richmond, Va., in 1823: worked seven years with Harper Brothers and on' dailies in Wall street : after he came west he was connected with the Peoria Register, and afterward with what is now the Stark County News. Josiah Molfit died in Essex township. April 17. 1885, in the 76th year of his age: he came to this county in 1837. settling on the farm where he died. Adam Oliver died in Elmira township, May s. 1885, in the Toth year of his age : he settled in that township in 1838. Jacob Smith died in Galva last fall. in the 82d year of his age : he settled in West Jersey township in 1835 and lived there until 1876, when he moved to Galva. Mrs. Catherine Buchanan, wife of Capt. Geo. W. Buchanan, died in Davis county. W. T., July 23, 1885. in the 84th year of her age. Nathan Bevier died in Lafayette. July 23, 1855, in the SSth year of his age : he moved to Lafayette in 1856 and has since resided there. Daniel Gingrich died in Essex township. August 20, 1885, aged 76 years ; he came to this county in 1837. Joel Goodale died in Tonlon township, Angust 21. 1885, in the 76th year of his age : he came to Stark county in 1876. Branson Lowman died in Hastings, Neb., March 13, 1885. aged 67 years : he came to Illinois in 1832. to Stark county in 1857. where he lived until 1882, when he moved to Nebraska. Mrs. Rachel Brown, daughter of Virgil Pike, died at Frazee, Minn., January 10, 1585, one of Stark county's pioneers. 11. B. Dorrance died near Modena. March 23. 1555, in the 48th year of his age : he was a native of this county. Mrs. Robert Grieve died in Elmira township. March 30. 1855. in the 55th year of her age. Mary Ann Woodward died in Osceola town- ship. March 13, 1855. Mrs. Sarah M. Simth, formerly wife of the late Sewal Smith, died in Lafayette, March 22. 1855, aged 77 years : she came with her husband to Stark county at a very early day. Mrs. Abby Ann Todd, wife of Major C. W. Todd. died at Lafayette, March 16, in the 76th year of her age; she came to this county with her husband in 1840. Samuel Montooth, senior, died near Modena, Febru- ary 16, 1885, aged 76 years. Total number : 38- six more than last vear.
The meeting of August 19, 1886, surpassed all other reunions in method of organization and number of persons present. The weather. too, was delightful, and the old court-house grove was clothed in all the richmess of smmner. The dinner was excellent in material and arrangement. This important part of the programme was carried out under the auspices of the Congregational society, and earned for the
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.
uses of that church over $100. The ollicers elected were : Oliver Wit- aker, president ; Jonathan Pratz, West Jersey ; Minott Silliman, Go- shen ; John McMillan, Essex: Isaac Thomas, Toulon ; John Turnbull, Elmira: Samuel Wrigley, Valley ; Cyrus Bocock, Penn ; and John Lackie, Osceola, vice presidents : Benjamin Turner, treasurer ; B. F. Thompson, secretary. The executive committee comprised Orlando Brace, William Nolan and Chester M. Turner. Capt. Thompson acted as secretary of the meeting, rice Dr. Hall, removed to Kansas. To him is entirely due the compilation of the death roll, given as follows: William Dawson died at Stark, September 10, 1885, aged 75 years, 10 months and 3 days ; came to Illinois from Ross county, Ohio, in 1839, and lived in Valley township since 1850. Miss Lonisa Colwell, daugh- ter of llenry Colwell, died at her home near Duncan, October 21. 1885, aged 21 years ; her entire life was spent in the vicinity where she died. Abram Bowers died in Penn township, November 14, 1885, aged 74 years ; came to Stark county in 1856, and lived in the county until the time of his death. Robert Mckinney Bocoek died at his home in Penn township, JJanuary 19, 1886, aged 60 years ; came from Ohio to Fulton county in 1837, and in 1854 moved to Stark county, where the re- mainder of his life was spent ; he served as justice of the peace in his township for sixteen years, and was serving his thirteenth year as a member of the county board of supervisors, of which he was chairman. Anthony Robinson died at his home near Wyoming, May 21. 1886. aged 61 years. Warren Pattee died at his home in Penn township, May 4, 1886, aged 74 years. Mrs. Sarah Bennett, wife of Jeremiah Bennett, died at Saxon, February 3, 1885, aged 83 years, 2 months and 22 days : moved to Fulton county in 1838, and the year following came to Stark county, where her remaining days were spent, a resident for forty-eight years. Mrs. Keziah Young, wife of Stephen Young, died at Toulon, February 3, 1886, aged 86 years and 11 months ; came from Maine to Iowa in 1854, and in 1858 moved to Toulon, where her days were ended. Thomas A. Oakes died near Toulon, March 15, 1886, aged 74 years, S months and 10 days. Mrs. Lucretia Ruston died at her daughter's. Mrs. Anderson, in Toulon, February 28, 1886, aged 65 vears; came to Lafayette in 1851, and lived there about one year: her first husband was Homer limes. Mrs. Sophia S., wife of Moses Il. Weaver, died at Osceola. April 24, 1886. Hon. James Holgate died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Snare, at Snareville, March 22. 1886, aged $1 years, 7 months and 24 days ; came from Pennsylvania to Penn township in 1830 ; he was one of the three commissioners that. managed the county affairs until 1849, when he was elected judge, and served until 1853 ; he was assessor of Penn township for sixteen years. and the first supervisor from the township and the first chairman of the board of supervisors in the county : in 1863 be served one term in the state legislature. Mrs. Ann Dixon died near Stark, March 25. 1ss6. aged 72 years: came to Stark county in 1851. Joseph Atherton died near Lafayette. May 1, 1886, aged 72 years. 4 months and 13 days : came from Ohio to Hancock county in 1836, and from there to Stark county in 1845, where he terminated his life. John White died at Lafayette, May 8, 1835, aged 54 years, 6 months and 28 days : came
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PIONEER ASSOCIATIONS AND REMINISCENCES.
from Ohio to Stark county in 1836, and lived on the same place till the time of his death. Geo. Springer died May 16, 1886, aged 70 years, 7 months and 9 days; came from Ohio to Stark county in 1841. settling in Essex township, and there lived to the time of his death. Thomas Graves died in Essex, December 12, 1885, aged 68 years, t1 months and 14 days. Mrs. Rebecca Diekinson, widow of Win T. Dick- inson, died at Lafayette, September 12. 1885, aged 85 years, 11 months and 28 days. Mrs. Sarah Headley, wife of James Headley, died in Toulon, June 11, 1886, aged 85 years, 9 months and 17 days. Mrs. Jane P. Sweet, wife of William Sweet, died at Toulon, June 15, 1856. aged 60 years, 4 months and 6 days. Geo. B. Harlan died in Wyo- ming. November 15, 1885, aged 72 years and 2 months. Mrs. Martha A. Morris, wife of Geo. Morris, died in Toulon, December 10, 1855, aged 48 years. Anthony Robinson died near Wyoming, May 2, 1886, aged 61 years. Mrs. Elmira F. Eastman, wife of Calvin L. Eastman, died at Toulon, July 3, 1886, aged 63 years : was a resident of Stark county for forty two years, and an occupant of the same house for thirty-four years. Benjamin F. Young died at Toulon, July 21, 1886, aged 59 years. Solomon B. Bass died in Toulon, July 30, 1886, aged 76 years, t month and 20 days. Spencer Faulconer died in Valley. May 22, 1886, aged 77 years. Mrs. Margaret Brain died near Wady Petra, July 2. 1886, aged 67 years, 10 months and 5 days. Mrs. Mary P. Adams died near Bradford. November, 1885, aged 85 years. John V. Bevier died at Bradford, January 30, 1586, aged $1 years. Nicho- las Sturm died in Osceola, March 21, 1886, aged 78 years. Mrs. Dorcas Cushing, wife of Geo. Cushing, died at Bradford, March 29, 1856, aged 64 years. Micagy Swiger died in Penn, February 9, 1886, aged 63 years. 8 months and 15 days. Mrs. Hannah F. Downing, wife of Nathan Downing, died in Penn, March 5, 1886, aged 44 years. James MeNulty died in Penn, June 29, 1856, aged 72 years. Mrs. Sarah Harty. wife of Andrew Harty, died in Penn, July 28, 1856. William Miner died in Southern Missouri, JJuly 31. 1885. Mrs. Rosannah Dixon died at Peoria, September 2. 1885, aged 77 years. Mrs. Jane Sturm, wife of Peter Sturm, died at Cambridge. March 21, 1886. Mrs. Fanny Smith, noe Silliman, wife of William P. Smith, died at Prines- ville. April 2. 1886, aged 82 years. Jesse T. Turner died at Marietta, Fulton county, April 28, 1886, aged 74 years. 7 months and 13 days. Mrs. Porter, wife of William Porter, died at Atkinson, May, Isso. Mrs. Sarah F. Brown, née Hodgson, wife of Alva W. Brown, died at Medale, Harrison county, lowa, June 23, 1886 ; born in Stark county. in 1840. Mrs. Rebecca Dickinson died at Galva, Il., June 24, 1886. aged SI years: Mr. Diekinson was her fourth husband. Mrs. Rebecca Nelson, wife of Upton Nelson, and sister of Peter Sturm, died in Mis- souri about the 1st of August, 1886: born December 18. 151>. Mrs. Elizabeth Whitman, mother of Thomas Gemmell, died at Peoria while on a visit, April 18, 1886, aged 69 years, S months and 14 days: she came from Scotland to this country in 1866, and lived here most of the time till her death. Mrs. S. A. Miller died in Farragut, lowa. while on a visit. May 19. 1856, aged 45 years; came from Ohio to Knox county in 1849, and moved to Stark county in 1861. Joseph
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C'atterlin died at Abilene, Kansas, May 21, 1886, aged 96 years, 7 months and 15 days: moved from Virginia to Springfield in 1835; came to Toulon in 1849. Mr. Silas Moody died at Perry, lowa, July 10, 1886, aged 70 years, 6 months and 9 days. William Walker died at Eldora, Towa, July 30, 1886, aged 65 years. Mrs. Sabrina (Chat- field) Hilliard died at New Virginia, Iowa, January 28, 1886, aged 69 years: she came to Stark county in 1834, and lived near Lafayette until 1873, and was the first female that taught school in Stark county. Mrs. Maria Kightlinger, wife of Jacob Kightlinger, died at her home in Yates City, July 16, 1886, aged 84 years; she came from Pennsyl- vania to Stark county in 1837, living here two years, then removing to Knox county, and later to Yates City. Henry G. Kinkade died at Starwano, August 19, 1886, aged 31 years, 9 months and 1 day ; has lived in Stark county since he was one year of age.
M. A. Fuller's historical address, delivered at the meeting of 1880, stands as one of the most elaborate portrayals of pioneer life ever given.
The underground railroad must not be overlooked. About the time Stark county was organized this line began to assume practical Form in the neighborhood. and was patronized by a few passengers. A few years later the road grow in favor with refugee slaves, and ulti- mately became an important highway between the Sunny South and the bleak Canadas. Galesburg Station was one of the best organized on the line of the Underground Railroad. There Nehemiah West, George Davis. P. Neeley and Samuel Hitchcock were the permanent conductors on the division extending to Ontario, in Knox county, and through Stark county. In Ontario township the house of C. F. Camp was the depot, and Rod Powell conductor.
Rev. John Cross. con- nected with the railroad in 1843, was charged with aiding in the escape of slaves, but before the trial he removed to Bureau county, where a deputy sheriff was sent to arrest him. Mr. Cross offered to go with- out opposition, but there were no means at the disposal of the deputy to travel, so that his prisoner agreed to supply his own team. They started oa Saturday, staved with Oliver Whitaker at Osceola Grove next day, where the prisoner preached. On Monday they left en route for Knox county, where Mr. Cross defended himself. Prior to this, in 1839 or 1840, he was imprisoned in the Galesburg jail, but was bailed out by the abolitionists.
From Rev. S. G. Wright's journal the following extract is taken, as bearing on this railroad system : " December 24. 1841 ; started for Walnut Creek ; great rain ; the creek was swimming; Richard C. and William Dunn were with me; difficulty in crossing branch above Trickle's mill ; had to break ice for near an hour, and go around by Traker's Grove; preached at Mr. Foster's Friday, April, 1842; went' to Knoxville to hear debate between Kinney and Frazer : also to ob- tain a teacher : May 2, went to Lafayette to hear Mr. Harris expose Mommonism ; rehearsed his lecture to my people at Mr. Webster's. February 6, 1543: On Friday another fugitive from slavery came along, making twenty-one that have passed through this settlement on their way to Canada ; the ink freezes on my pen as I try
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to write. May 22, 1843: Saturday went to Emery settlement, but found so strong an antipathy against abolitionists that few would hear me preach, so I went ou and preached at Toulon Sabbath morning ; report saitl the Mormons meant to draw me into debate here. May 20: The grand jury found a bill against me and my elder, W. W. Webster. for harboring runaway slaves. June 24: Witness in case of The People vs. Cross, for harboring runaway slaves. January 5, 1847 : Arrived home on Friday ; found that two fugitives were along with only Christmas papers.
W. II. Adams, in one of his pioneer sketches published in the Senti- nel, speaks of Fountain Watkins, "the laughing Abolitionist." and of his connection with the Underground Railroad. better known as the " Great Southern and Canadian Underground Railway." In his sketch he refers to Dave Frisby, the first school-teacher in the Elmwood dis- triet. Knox county ; Mrs. Watkins, wife of Fountain Watkins; Eli Wilson, an old abolitionist ; Peter, a colored Fugitive: George Pierce and John Dalton, anti-abolitionists: Elias Wycoff and Nehemiah Wycoff, well-known names in Stark county. One of Watkins' stories as told to Mr. Adams is as follows: " Some time late in the forties. Eli Wilson brought quite a likely young man to my place, who said he had been a waiter on a Mississippi river steamboat. Ile stayed with us For about a week, and played with the boys in the woods. Some of our kind of men at Farmington sent me word one evening to push the boy ahead, as hunters were on his track. It would not answer to start that night, as it would be certain to invite pursuit. I finally con- eluded to wait until morning, and studied out a plan how the old woman and me would go visiting the next day on horseback. As the fall winds were kinder hard on the wimin's' faces, it was no more than natural for her to have on a veil. So the next morning I saddled a gray team I owned, and had Peter put on one of my wife's dresses and veils, and helped him to mount the horse with the side-saddle just as though it was my wife. I mounted the other horse, and admonished Peter not to talk unless I spoke to him. We struck out, taking a road that led in the direction of the east side of the mound west of the town of Elmwood. The road across the Kickapoo bottoms was lined on each side with a dense growth of high weeds and brush. While in this place we saw a team coming towards us with George Pierce and Jolin Dalton in the wagon. I had been toll that Dalton had been blowing around that if ever he canght me 'running off a nigger,' he would arrest me. I pulled ont to the right and Peter to the left to let the wagon pass. I said: . Good morning, ha! ha!' and they said . good morning.' We had not got more than a rod from them when I heard George say: 'I'll be d -- d if I don't believe "Fount" has got a nigger with him.' Here the road made a sharp turn, the ground was soft, and didn't we ply the bud and let the horses go until we reached the high ground at the mound. Here we pulled rein and looked back. Not a soul was in sight. I told Pete that it was twelve miles to the next timber, and we had to travel, as there was danger of them cusses following us We reached the hazel brush south of Rochester, on Spoon river, where I hid Pete and started for
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