USA > Illinois > Warren County > Early days in Greenbush : with biographical sketches of the old settlers > Part 2
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Many farmers kept sheep and did their own shearing. The women pieked the wool, carded it with hand cards into rolls, spun and wove it into flannel, linsey, and jeans.
The men wore brown or blue jeans clothing-pants made with a flap in front, knit-yarn suspenders, and sometimes a coonskin cap. They also wore heavy cowhide boots or shoes. Overshoes were unknown at that time. The first overshoes that appeared were made from buffalo hides and were large and clumsy. They attracted considerable attention and were the talk of the neighbor- hood.
Some of the early settlers would buy leather and take it to the shoemaker who would measure the feet of the entire family and agree to make the shoes and have them done at a certain time. In this the shoemaker often failed and some of the family would have to wait.
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EARLY DAYS IN GREENBUSH
. THE SCHOOLS OF GREENFIELD AND GREEN- BUSH IN THE EARLY DAYS.
"O. were you ne'er a school-boy. And did you never train. And feel that swelling of the heart You ne'er will feel again ?"
In the early days in the township there were three school- houses. These houses were made of logs and did not differ much from a common log-cabin. They had a big fireplace in one end. one door and one or two small windows. The children sat on benches made by splitting logs and facing up the pieces with an ax. Holes were then bored in them in which the legs were fastened. For writing-desks, holes were bored in the wall in which were driven wooden pins or pegs on which a board was laid.
Foolscap paper was used for copy-books. The teachers would write the copy for the pupils. Some of these copies would read like this :
"Many men of many minds;" "Command you may your mind from play :" "The pen is mightier than the sword."
Goose quills were used to make the pens, and the teacher was expected to make them and keep them in repair. The ink was often made from indigo, oak bark or poke-berries. Webster's Spelling-Book was the main book in the school and was often used as a reader. Afterwards came MeGuffey's Readers : Ray's Arith- meties: Smith's. Kirkham's, Murray's, and Clark's Grammars; Parley's, Ohney's and Mitchell's Geographies.
The school trustees in the township in 1840 were Thomas Moul- ton, Lauren Rose. John Sargent, John Plymate, and Abel Chase,
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At that time John C. Bond was treasurer. Gustavus Hills, James F. Chambers, and E. B. Stephens were the school-teachers.
At that time there were only three school districts in the town- ship. The north half of the west half of the township was called Greenfield district. The south half of the west half of the town- ship was called Van Buren district. The balance of the township was in one district and was called Stringtown district.
At a meeting held July 13, 1840, it was ordered that the school-house in Van Buren district be no longer used during school-hours for public worship: also that Lauren Rose and Dr. Abel Chase should have the power to employ a teacher for the school in Greenfield on such terms as they might think proper.
The school-teachers in 1841 were Isaac Bell, Gustavus Hills. Charles Tinker, Charles A. Williams, and Sarah Woods. The directors elected in Van Buren distriet were Wm. B. Bond and Harvey J. Hewett. In Greenfield district, Henson C. Martin and J. E. Heath were elected directors. Thomas Teeters, John Plymate, and Charles Plymate were elected directors in Stringtown district. Greenfield had one hundred and three persons under the age of twenty, Stringtown eighty-nine, and Van Buren ninety-five.
At a meeting held January 10, 1842, it was ordered to pay the treasurer four dollars and fifty cents for his services for the last two years. At that time all sehool money was loaned at twelve per cent. John Sargent was appointed school treasurer.
In 1846 an election was held to determine whether the rate of interest on school money should be eight or twelve per cent. Every vote cast except two was for twelve per cent.
In 1848 the township was divided into districts by numbers 1, 2. 3. 4, and fractional 4 and 5. John Wingate was then ehosen treasurer.
This entry is made in the treasurer's book :
Coon Section, January 27, 1849.
A very bad spell of weather, good deal of rain. Very icy and slippery, creek higher than it has been for two years. No business done by the trustees.
John Wingate, Treasurer.
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THE GREENBUSH ACADEMY.
In the year 1851 the citizens of Greenbush and vicinity began to talk about erecting a building for a high school or academy, but there was nothing definite done until early in January. 1852, when notices were posted calling for a meeting.
The minutes of that meeting are here given :
Pursuant to notice, the citizens of Greenbush and vicinity met at the schoolhouse in Greenbush, Tuesday evening. January 27. 1852. to take measures for building a house for a high school or academy in Greenbush. On motion of J. C. Bond, Alfred Oshorn was appointed chairman and F. H. Merrill secretary. When. by the request of the chairman. J. C. Bond stated the object of the meeting. enforcing its landableness in a brief and interesting ad- dress. When Dr. N. B. MeKay offered the following. viz:
Proposition for a building in Greenbush for a high school. to be from 26 to 30 feet by 40 to 48 feet or more, two story, one room. to be used by different denominations for religious meetings. when the school in not in session, subject to the same rules as observed in cases of district houses. The whole to be under the control of trustees elected by the stockhoklers, each share having a vote in the election. Shares to be ten dollars cach.
In consideration of the above we. the undersigned, agree to pay to the said trustees the sums set opposite our respective names in installments, as follows: One quarter of each share by the first day of April next, and as much at the expiration of every three months from that time. till all is paid to be offered for sub- seription.
W'm. B. Bond moved that the following words be erased from the above proposition, viz: "subject to the same rules as observed in cases of district schoolhouses." which. after an interesting dis-
Photo by Moses Simmons.
THE GREENBUSH ACADEMY AS IT NOW APPEARS.
AKT
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cussion, was carried, when the above proposition was adopted and submitted for subscribers.
Elijah Lieurance advocated the building of a house worth $1,500. Stephen Lieurance motioned that we organize when $1,000 of stock should be subscribed, but not to commence building until $1,500 shall have been subscribed. J. C. Bond offered as an amendment that we commence building when $1.000 of stock is subscribed, which was carried and the original motion lost. On motion of Stephen Lieurance, the chairman appointed the follow- ing persons to solicit stock, viz: John C. Bond, John M. Hois- ington, N. B. McKay. A. W. Simmons, and Stephen Lieurance.
On motion of J. M. Hoisington, the chairman appointed the following persons to draft a constitution and by-laws to present for adoption at the next meeting of the stockholders: J. C. Bond, John Butler, and N. B. McKay.
Adjourned to meet next Tuesday evening at the schoolhouse at early candle light.
At a meeting of the stockholders held February 3, 1852 a subseription of $1,042.50 was reported, and the constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following-named persons were elected by ballot for trustees: John M. Hoisington, Eliphalet C. Lewis, and Alfred Osborn for the term of three years; Dr. N. B. McKay, Julius Lathrop, and Andrew W. Simmons for the term of two years; Hanson H. Hewett, John C. Bond, and Stephen Lieur- ance for the term of one year; Squire J. Buzan, treasurer; Frederic H. Merrill, secretary.
The academy building was ereeted in 1853. The contract was let to Levi Lineoln. He was assisted in the work by his brothers Clinton and Osear. The building committee were N. B. McKay, J. T. Lathrop, and Alfred Osborn ; John M. Hoisington was after- wards added to this committee.
Very heavy timbers were used in the construction of the build- ing, and on the day of raising many persons gathered to assist in raising the timbers. Levi Lincoln first began to give orders but his voice was not strong enough; so David Armstrong took his place and gave orders both loud and strong.
After the building was finished, it was decided to dedicate it with a grand supper. So everybody was invited and nearly ever-
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body came, and they came prepared. many of them bringing baked chickens. After the tables were all set, David Young was appointed carver. ('linton Lincoln, who was present on the occasion, says David dispatched his work swiftly and dextronsly.
During the year of 1853, the legislature granted a charter to the school under the name of The Greenbush Academy.
The first teacher employed as principal in the Academy was W. W. Happy of Jacksonville, Illinois. He was assisted by Miss Margaret Gaines. They received the tuition fees for their services.
In January, 1854, Mr. Happy reported to the trustees that there were only about twenty students and that he wished to resign at the expiration of the term, but the school gained in attendance and was for a long time in a prosperous condition. At one time, when Daniel Negley was principal, there were nearly one hundred students attending.
In 1854. the Academy had a belfry but no bell. The women of Greenbush and vicinity took an active part in procuring one. Miss Jane Mather, Mrs. Alfreda Crissey, Mrs. Mary Buzan and others were engaged in soliciting subseription. They found it a difficult business as the people had been often called on for sub- scriptions in the building of the Academy. But the women were persistent and the bell was procured. Year after year it was heard by the people, sometimes at a distance of three or four miles, as it rang for school, literary society, Sunday school, and entertain- ments of different kinds.
Different religious denominations used this bell to call the people together, where the minister exhorted them to a better life. Often as the years went by, it tolled the years of departed ones in tones that were received in sadness and sorrow.
In 1855, Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Christian church, preached in the Academy. It was here that Imecoe and Westfall held their debate on endless punishment.
The school has been abandoned for many years, and the build- ing is going to decay.
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CHOLERA IN GREENBUSH.
It was in June, 1851, that the cholera made its appearance in Greenbush and vicinity. There were about twelve deaths from this disease at that time. Lawson Walker was the first one. He died June 15, 1851. Abner Walker and his daughter Abigail died on the same day, June 24, 1851, making three deaths in the same family. Abner Walker lived on the north side of the square in the village and was engaged in keeping hotel.
The following-named persons also died: Juliett, wife of Dr. Thomas M. Luster, June 26, 1851; Joseph Sisson, June 23, 1851; Abijah Roberts, June 23, 1851; Sullivan, son of Alfred Osborn ; Lafayette Ratekin, George Tally, Jacob Perkins, and A. J. Willey.
Several families left the village and did not return until after the disease disappeared.
Porter J. Jack and John C. MeCall took an active part in doing everthing they could for the sick and dying. Philip Karns was also very helpful in removing the dead to the cemeteries and burying them.
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ELDER R. M. SIMMONS TELLS OF HIS TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS.
On the 20th day of March, 1843. I started with F. G. Snapp from Greenbush, Illinois. He had fat cattle that he wanted to market at New Orleans. On that day we drove the cattle six miles to Moses T. Hand's. Here we put up for the night and here a hard blizzard and snow storm struck us, but we braved through and made our drive all the same.
We arrived at St. Louis, March 30, and left there on Friday, April 7: arrived at New Orleans, April 13, with 51 head of cattle. We sold the eattle for $1,605.00
We left Orleans for home, April 18. 1843. Snapp engaged passage on a new steamer. "The Harry of the West." She was a fine boat and was to make her first trip from New Orleans to St. Louis. The captain swore he would make the quickest trip ever made on that river or blow the boat np. "The Alex Scott " had made the trip in four days and six hours.
We went aboard "The Harry of the West." and when I saw the cords of pitch-pine and piles of bacon for fuel, I refused to take passage. I told Snapp the captain would be as good as his word, and if the machinery was able to stand the pressure he might get to St. Louis; but if not, we should be in great danger of a wreck.
This boat started on a full head of steam, full of passengers and a good enrgo. Just above Vicksburg and near Memphis. she blew ont her boilers and killed two passengers and had to be towed to St. Louis.
We took passage on the "Charlotte." a fine steamer, and was ten days on the trip to St. Louis with a drunken pilot. The
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first evening he ran the boat on a raft of logs in a fog. The pilot gave the bell to go ahead instead of back, and he ran her on the raft good. The next morning we loosed from the raft.
One night afterwards he ran into a cornfield - said they wanted wood. After we passed Cairo we seraped the rocks on what is known as the "Devil's Chain," where many steamboats have been wrecked. Our boat rocked heavily, but we came out safely.
The morning we reached St. Louis, the pilot ran our boat under some projecting tree branches and broke down both smokestacks. The captain paid him off and hired another.
Snapp and I parted at St. Louis. The boat ran up to Peoria and La Salle. Snapp stopped at Copperas creek landing. He said the boat was a fine runner.
I went out to Troy, Madison county, Illinois, and got a horse for father on the farm he sold; from there to Green county, where we had left Snapp's horse as we went down.
When I came to Beardstown the river was from Beardstown to Frederick. They crossed me over and let me out in water up to the horses' knees, and some times up to their breast; then took me on a "flat" to the next wading, and so on until I reached the bluff.
I arrived at Mr. Standard's on the night of May 13. That night there came up a heavy storm of wind, thunder, lightning and rain. This was at Pennington's Point, thirty miles from Greenbush.
The storm having passed over, I told Standard I would make F. G. Snapp's by 12 o'clock noon. When I arrived they had just sat down at the table for dinner.
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THE ARCHIE FISHER AFFAIR
SHOWING THE DANGER OF CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
Archie Fisher, a native of Scotland, came to Warren county, Illinois, about the year 1836. He was a brother of Mrs. Lachlan McGowan, and an unele of James McGowan, and Mrs. Oliver Crissey and Mrs. D. C. Woods, who now reside at Avon. Illinois.
Mr. Fisher was a carpenter by trade and built the first barn in Greenbush township. This barn was built for Win. Trailor on the farm. a little west of the village of Greenbush. known as the Amos Seigler place. Mr. Fisher also built a barn for Col. John Butler on his farm near Greenbush.
In May. 1841. Archie Fisher, in company with Wm. Trailor, started in a buggy to Springfield. Illinois. Wmn. Trailor then resided on his farm west of the village of Greenfield. now Greenbush. On the way to Springfield they were joined by Henry Trailor, a brother of William. They then went to Archi- bald Trailor's, who resided in Springfield and was also a brother of William.
Shortly after their arrival. Fisher was missing and was reported murdered. The Trailors were arrested, and at their preliminary trial Lamborn appeared for the prosecution and Logan Baker and Lincoln defended.
Ward II. Lamon, in his " Life of Abraham Lincoln, " says: " In the summer of 1841. Mr. Lincoln was engaged in a curious case. The cirenmstances impressed him very deeply with the insuffi- ciency and danger of circumstantial evidence. So much so that he not only wrote the following account of it to Speed, but another more extended one which was printed in a newspaper published at Quincy. Illinois. His mind was full of it: he could
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think of nothing else. It is apparent that in his letter to Speed he made no pause to choose his words; there is nothing con- strained and nothing studied or deliberate about it, but its simplieity, perspienity, and artless grace make it a model of English composition.
What Goldsmith once said of Locke may better be said of this letter: 'He never says more nor less than he ought and never makes use of a word that he could have changed for a better.'
'Springfield, June 19, 1841. 'Dear Speed :
'We have had the highest state of exeitment here for a week past that our community has ever witnessed; and although the public feeling is somewhat allaved, the eurious affair which aroused it is very far from being over, yet eleared of mystery.
'It would take a quire of paper to give you anything like a full account of it, and I therefore only propose a brief outline.
'The chief personages in the drama are Archibald Fisher, supposed to be murdered : and Archibald Trailor, Henry Trailor, and William Trailor, supposed to have murdered him.
'The three Trailors are brothers: the first, Areh. as you know, lives in town: the second, Henry, in Clary's Grove: and the third, William, in Warren county ; and Fisher, the supposed murdered, being without a family, had made his home with William.
'On Saturday evening. being the 29th of May. Fisher and William eame to Henry's in a one-horse dearborn and there staid over Sunday, and on Monday all three came to Springfield (Henry on horseback) and joined Archibald at Myres,' the Duteh ear- penter. That evening at supper Fisher was missing, and so next morning some ineffeetual search was made for him; and on Tuesday at 1 o'eloek p. m., William and Henry started home without him. In a day or two Henry and one or two of his Clary Grove neighbors came baek for him again, and advertised his disappearance in the papers.
'The knowledge of the matter thus far had not been general, and here it dropped entirely till about the 10th inst., when -3
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Keys received a letter from the postmaster in Warren county that William had arrived at home and was telling a very mysterious and improbable story about the disappearance of Fisher, which indneed the community there to suppose he had been disposed of unfairly. Keys made this letter public, which immediately set the whole town and adjoining country agog. And so it has continued until yesterday. The mass of the people commenced a systematic search for the dead body, while Wickersham was dispatched to arrest Henry Trailor at the Grove and Jim Maxey to Warren county, to arrest William.
.On Monday last. Henry was brought in and showed an evident inclination to insinuate that he knew Fisher to be dead and that Arch and William had killed him. He said he guessed the body could be found in Spring creek between the Beardstown road and Hickox's mill. Away the people swept like a herd of buffalo and cut down Hickox's mill-dam nolens volens to draw the water out of the pond, and then went up and down and down and up the ereek fishing and raking and raking and dueking and diving for two days. and after all no dead body found. In the meantime a sort of senfiling ground had been found in the brush. in the angle or point where the road leading into the woods past the brewery and the one leading in past the brick grove meets. From the seuffle ground was the sign of something about the size of a man having been dragged to the edge of the thieket where it joined the track of some small wheel carriage drawn by one horse, as shown by the road tracks. The carriage track led off toward Spring creek. Near this drag trail. Dr. Merryman found two hairs which. after a long scientific examination, he pronounced to be triangular human hair. which term he says ineludes within it the whiskers, the hair growing under the arms and on other parts of the body: and he judged that these two were of the whiskers, because the ends were ent. showing that they had flourished in the neighborhood of the razor's operations.
'On Thursday last. Jim Maxey brought in William Trailor from Warren. On the same day Arch was arrested and put in jail. Yesterday (Friday) William was put upon his examining trial before May and Lavely. Archibald and Henry were both
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present. Lamborn prosecuted, and Logan and Baker and your humble servant defended.
'A great many witnesses were introduced and examined, but I shall only mention those whose testimony seems most important.
'The first of these was Capt. Ransdell. Ile swore that when William and Henry left Springfield for home, on Tuesday before mentioned, they did not take the direct route which you know leads by the butcher shop, but that they followed the street north until they got opposite or nearly opposite May's new house, after which he could not see them from where he stood; and it was afterwards proved that in about an hour after they started, they came into the street by the butcher shop from towards the brick-yard. Dr. Merryman and others swore to what is stated about the scuffle ground, drag trail, whiskers, and carriage tracks.
'Henry was then introduced by the prosecution. He swore that when they started for home, they went out north, as Ransdell stated, and turned down west by the brick-yard into the woods and then met Archibald; that they proceeded a small distance farther, when he was placed as a sentinel to watch for and annonnee the approach of any one that might happen that way; that William and Areh took the dearborn out of the road a small distance to the edge of the thieket, where they stopped and he saw them lift the body of a man into it; that they then moved off with the carriage in the direction of Hiekox's mill, and he loitered about for something like an hour, when William returned with the carriage but without Areh, and said they had put him in a safe place; that they went somehow, he did not know exactly how, into the road close to the brewery and proceeded on to Clary's Grove.
'He also stated that some time during the day William told him that he and Arch had killed Fisher the evening before; that the way they did it was by him (William) knoeking him down with a club and Arch then choking him to death.
'An old man from Warren ealled Dr. Gilmore was then introduced on the part of the defenee. He swore that he had known Fisher for several years: that Fisher had resided at his house a long time at each of two different spells - once while he built a barn for him, and once while he was doetored for
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some chronic disease: that two or three years ago Fisher had a serious hurt in his head by the bursting of a gun. since which he had been subject to continued bad health and occasional aberration of mind. He also stated that on last Tuesday, being the same day that Maxey arrested William Trailor, he (the doctor) was from home in the early part of the day and on his return. about 11 o'clock, found Fisher at his house in bed and apparently very unwell: that he asked him how he had come from Spring- field: that Fisher said he had come by Peoria and also told of several other places he had been at, more in the direction of Peoria, which showed that he at the time of speaking did not know where he had been wandering about in a state of derange- ment.
'He further stated that in about two hours he received a note from one of Trailor's friends advising him of his arrest and requesting him to go on to Springfield as a witness to testify as to the state of Fisher's health in former times; that he imme- diately set off, calling up two of his neighbors as company, and riding all evening and all night overtook Maxey and William at Lewiston, in Fulton county; that Maxey refusing to dis- charge Trailor upon his statement. his two neighbors returned and he came on to Springfield.
'Some question being made as to whether the doctor's story was not a fabrication, several acquaintances of his (among whom was the same postmaster who wrote to Keys as before men- tioned) were introduced as sort of compurgators, who swore that they knew the doctor to be of good character for truth and veracity and generally of good character in every way.
'Here the testimony ended and the Trailors were discharged. Arch and William expressing. both in word and manner their entire confidence that Fisher would be found alive at the doctor's by Calloway, Mallory, and Myres, who a day before had been despatched for that purpose: while Henry still protested that no power on earth could ever show Fisher alive.
'Thus stands this curious affair. When the doctor's story was first made public, it was amusing to sean and contemplate the countenances and hear the remarks of those who had been actively engaged in the search for the dead body. Some looked quizzical. some melancholy, and some furiously angry. Porter, who had
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