USA > Illinois > Warren County > Early days in Greenbush : with biographical sketches of the old settlers > Part 3
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been very active, swore he always knew the man was not dead and that he had not stirred an inch to hunt for him. Langford, who had taken the lead in cutting down Hickox's mill-dam and wanted to hang Hickox for objecting, looked most awfully woe- begone; he seemed the "wietem of hunrequited affection," as represented in the comic almanacs we used to laugh over. And Hart, the little drayman that hauled Molly home once, said it was too damned bad to have so much trouble and no hanging after all.
'I commenced this letter on yesterday, since which I re- ceived yours of the 13th. I stick to my promise to come to Louisville.
'Nothing new here except what I have written. I have not seell since my last trip and I am going out there as soon as I mail this letter. Yours forever,
LINCOLN.' "
Joshua Fry Speed, to whom the foregoing letter was ad- dressed, was an intimate friend of Abraham Lincoln. He died at Louisville, Ky., May 29, 1882.
The postmaster mentioned in the letter was Charles Stice who kept the office in Greenfield (now Greenbush) at that time.
Archie Fisher had a large wooden chest which he kept at Wm. Trailor's during the time he resided there. It was sup- posed by some that it contained considerable money; it was also alleged that it had a seeret drawer in which the money was deposited.
After leaving Dr. Gilmore's, Mr. Fisher went to Col. John Butler's, where he resided until his death which occurred August 9. 1845.
His property went to his sister, Mrs. Lachlan MeGowan. The chest, about which so much has been said, became the property of Col. John Butler. After his death, it was given to his son Vincent W. Butler; after the death of Vincent, his son Manley took the chest.
Abyram Roberts says that he had heard so much about the Archie Fisher chest that he became anxious to see it. So he
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called at the residence of Manley Butler, where it was shown to him. After examining it closely. he found where a hole had been bored in a portion of the inside of the chest and the hole had been plugged with a wooden pin. His curiosity was so aroused that he was determined to extract the wood pin and see what was in there. He finally procured a brace and bit and bored the pin out. and found a small roll of paper which. upon examination, proved to be a receipt given to Archie Fisher for money paid to some person in New York.
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PATRICK LYNCH CRATED
Patrick Lynch lived near Greenbush in the latter part of the '30s and early '40s. He was an Irishman and spent consid- erable time riding about the country swapping horses. He traded a horse for lots eight and nine on section sixteen. after- wards known as the Henry Beam place.
During the presidential campaign of 1840, when Martin Van Buren was running against Wm. Henry Harrison, Patrick rode into the village of Greenfield on a horse possessed of high mettle, of which Patrick was very proud. Some four or five men stood on the corner near a store, talking. Patrick took occasion to ride by them shouting for Van Buren. This did not please Harvey Darneille, who was one of the men in the group, as he was a staunch Harrison man. He told Lynch to shut up and go away from there. Patrick rode around the second time, shouting for Van Buren. Harvey again told him to go away, saying: "If you come around here again, I will fix you."
In a short time Lynch made another circle, riding up nearer the group and making the same exclamations for Van Buren. As he went to pass them, Harvey stooped down and picked up an old queensware crate that happened to be there. This he swiftly threw over the head of Patrick. The crate being lengthy. when one end was over Patrick's head. the other end dropped over his horse's hips after the style of a breeching.
The horse immediately became wild and frantic. Patrick in trying to hold him had no time to lift the crate off his head. Every man in town did his best to separate the crate from Patrick and his horse, but it was not an easy thing to do. But the horse was finally caught and the erate removed. No bad results followed, although Patrick was somewhat tired and said nothing more about Van Buren.
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WM. PATTERSON KILLED.
On the tenth day of January, 1862, William Patterson and Elza Magers went to the steam saw-mill of William G. Bond. which was then located near the residenee of Major John C. Bond. Patterson and Magers had a log there for sled crooks. When they arrived at the mill, they concluded the log was too long. So Magers went up to the residence of John C. Bond to get a cross-cut saw to use in sawing off one end. It was noon- time and all the hands had gone to dinner, except Leander Bond, who was then engineer; he was at the engine which was attached to the boiler, and William Patterson was standing in front of the furnace warming himself.
A loud report was heard by those who were near the mill; and upon going there, it was found that the boiler had burst and William Patterson was found dead. The explosion had thown him about 60 feet from the boiler. He was badly burned and mangled.
Patterson was a son of John Patterson who was deaf and dumb, and was a brother of Thomas and John Patterson. He left a wife and three children. His wife's maiden name was Sarah Magers. She was a sister of Elza Magers.
Wm. Patterson was buried in the MeMahill graveyard in Greenbush township.
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THE MURDER OF HARVEY J. HEWETT.
The murder of Harvey J. Hewett, in 1850, caused great ex- citement all over the country. Everybody talked about it and everybody was anxious that the murderers should be brought to justice.
Mr. Hewett was an honest, upright eitizen, well known in Warren county and highly esteemed by all who knew him.
In 1850, one Mr. Hurd of Fondulae, Wis., bought some cattle of Harvey J. Hewett; he also bought some cattle of Franklin G. Snapp and some of John A. Butler. Mr. Hurd told these men they would have to go to Peoria for their money, as he had a deposit in a bank there.
It was finally agreed that Hewett should go to Peoria and get the money. Snapp told Hewett he ought to be armed. Hewett took a toothpiek from his pocket and jokingly replied, "This is all the arms I need."
Mr. Hewett arrived in Peoria late in the evening, driving a small bay mare to a buggy. He put up at a hotel. During the evening he inquired of the landlord about what time the bank would open in the morning. It is supposed that some of the robbers heard this talk and commenced to set up their job for procuring the money.
The next morning Hewett went to the bank to draw his money. Three men were around the bank waiting and watching for him: Thomas Gitte, whose real name is not known, and who was the leader in the matter; Thomas Brown, and George Williams.
They watched Hewett draw the money and then followed him. Ilewett left the bank, got in his buggy, and drove to the foot of Kickapoo hill. Here he got out of his buggy and started
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to walk up the hill. driving his mare. Brown and Williams were close to him and Gitte was a short distance behind.
When Hewett had got about half-way up the hill. Brown and Williams attacked him. In the souffle Hewett came very near being too much for them until one of them hit him on the head with a stone, fracturing the skull. They then took the money and Hed.
It has been said that Brown and Williams helped Hewett into his buggy. At any rate Hewett was again in his buggy and the bay mare, being very gentle, proceeded on the journey. After going some six or seven miles on the road, the mare went up to a house and stopped. Here it was found that Hewett was badly injured. He was taken in and cared for. He lived about a week and died October 18, 1850, at the age of 54 years.
As soon as it was found out that Mr. Hewett was robbed. the alarm was given. The people turned out and finally tracked Brown and Williams to Springfield. Illinois. where they were found in bed at a hotel. They were brought back to Peoria. tried, convicted and sentenced to be hung.
The day for their execution was set in December. 1850. but Governor Ford issued a stay for fifteen days in order to get Tom Gitte from New Orleans to Peoria so that Brown and Williams might identify him as being connected with the murder of Hewett.
On the day set in December for the hanging. many people had assembled in Peoria to witness the sight: and when they found the hanging had been put off. there was much dissatis- faction. Finally a mob was raised who proceeded to set up the gallows which was then framed and near the jail. This they had ready about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
The mob then got long heavy timbers and battered in the front door of the jail: they then went into the jail hall. Brown and Williams were in opposite cells, one on the north. the other on the south. They worked hard until 4 o'clock. At that time they had only succeeded in getting Williams, but somehow failed
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to get Brown out of his cell. They finally put Williams back in his cell, gave up the job and disbanded.
Again the people assembled in large numbers in January, 1851, to witness the hanging of Brown and Williams. The stage had arrived that morning, bringing Tom Gitte, who was identified by Brown and Williams as their leader.
The hanging occurred in the south part of Peoria, then an open prairie. Under the bluff the platform was suspended by a rope. Brown was very anxious that the rope used in hanging him should be so adjusted that the fall would be sure to break his neek. After the arrangements were all made, Brown from some cause turned his head around, the drop fell, and Brown struggled a long time, the rope having turned under his chin. Williams seemed to die easy.
Brown and Williams made a confession which was published in pamphlet form in Peoria and met with a ready sale. Gitte was convicted and sent to the penitentiary, where he died about a year afterwards.
After Mr. Hewett's death, his body was brought to his home in Greenbush township, where his funeral was preached by Ben- jamin Applebee, a minister of the Methodist church. One of the hymns sung at the funeral was.
"Plant ye a tree That may bloom over me, When I am gone, I am gone."
His remains were laid to rest in the MeMahill graveyard.
Mr. Hewett was born in Waldo county, Maine. He moved with his family in 1831 to Licking county, Ohio: came to Green- bush, Warren county, Illinois, in August, 1837, and located on seetion 29, where he resided up to the time of his death.
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II. H. HEWETT'S LETTER.
The following letter from Hanson H. Hewett was received in answer for information concerning the early days in Green- bush.
Hopkins, Mo., May 11, 1902. Wm. L. Snapp-Dear Sir:
Yours of April 28 received. Have been rather busy or should have answered sooner. Your letter dated at Greenbush is the first one I recollect receiving from the old township since leaving in 1880.
Now first in regard to my father's death. Brother Oscar and myself were in California at the time. We returned the next spring (1851). I enclose you a newspaper slip a Mr. Bates sent to Mrs. Hewett by an old acquaintance of hers, a Mr. Barnes, a lawyer now living at La Harpe, which will give you some in- formation in regard to the affair. He has one or two mistakes - one the Christian name and the amount of money.
My father was born in Waldo county, Maine; also myself and brother Oscar. The date of his birth I do not recollect. We left Maine in 1831: moved to Lieking county. Ohio, and left there in the spring of 1837; arrived at our old location in the early days of August; spent the winter in a little fourteen by fifteen foot cabin on the Livingston place: built and moved into the old residence the next summer. I was twelve years of age in September. 1837.
I recollect those early days of nearly sixty-five years ago nearly as though it was yesterday. Of the early settlers of my recollection on our side of the timber when we came there were the Ratekins and Sisson families at the head of the timber some five miles west : Moses T. Hand. Wm. McMahill. John Foster, John Sargent. P. A. Vaughn. Abraham JJohnson. Jacob Bear. I think Aaron Jennings, John P. Wood, and the Bond family -
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father and six sons - John C., Benjamin who died in '39 or 40, Joel, Barnet, Walter, and Nathan; all men of families except Walter who died about 1847, and Nathan who moved to Oregon, about 1851 or '2, and died there. Walter was the first constable that I can recollect. There was your grandfather. Alexander Willard, and son William, married with one or two children; and 'Squire Thomas Moulton who was the first justice that I can recollect and held the office as long as he would have it. The first family to the east was the Goram family. 10 miles away.
On the north side of the timber, the Snapps and James and Roley Simmons families. If there were any others I do not recollect them. The Jones and Pierces may possibly have been.
Peter Cox, some six miles east of Greenbush, was the banker of the vicinity. If one wanted five or ten dollars, Peter was the man to apply to. I may have forgotten some that lived in the vicinity of Greenbush, but I think I did not know of any others.
My father and Joseph Sisson were the only Yankees of all the number, as I recollect; the balance were all southerners; the most of them had moved from Sangamon and Morgan counties. Of all the full grown persons that I knew in 1837, only two are now living-John Simmons and my old neighbor, P. A. Vaughn. Each must be over ninety years old.
Greenfield was then located, afterwards changed to Green- bush. The first postmaster that I recollect was Charles Stice. He also kept hotel and saloon, with John Wingate behind the bar. Dr. Isabell was the first physician, or possibly Dr. Sovereign. Drs. Ragon and Saunders were among the early physicians. A doctor of Berwick (have forgotton his name) was the first one that I ever knew to practice in Illinois.
I recollect your father very well; recollect the day of his funeral: also he, Mr. Doty, and myself covering corn together with the hoe. Your mother, as well as the brothers and sisters, were schoolmates of mine.
Your uncle William Willard and Barnet Bond were two of the first men that I worked with in Illinois. The work was cutting slough grass with the scythe. We would burn our oat and wheat straw at night as soon as threshed and work hard cutting prairie
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grass. when the straw was nearly or quite as good feed as the prairie hay ; and we kept it up for years.
Of the Snapp family. I will say something a little farther. Your father was a stalwart, stout man, stood some six feet two or three inches in height and rather fine looking. Your linele Robert had the most tenacious memory I think Lever knew. He used to say that he could tell the ages of all his brothers and sisters and their children. Perhaps not one man in a thousand could do it. Your uncle Franklin I used to think one of the shrewdest business men we had. I recollect the first drove of cattle I ever saw going to market was one he shipped to New Orleans. Hle drove them. I think. to St. Louis and shipped them from there, about the year 1843. R. M. Simmons went with him.
While I have my hand in I cannot help referring to Major John C. Bond. There was one of the best men I ever knew - always had a good word and in fine spirits, well read and one of the best if not the finest conversationalist I ever knew. My father used to say that if he had been educated and turned his attention to law he would have made a brilliant lawyer. His daughter. Ruby. I always considered one of the brightest intel- lectual women of my acquaintance.
In the early days we had wolves and deer by the hundreds and prairie chickens by the thousands. Round Grove (first one south of us) used to be a good place for our hunters for game for many years.
Well. I will say something of our own family. My mother died some eleven years ago at Des Moines, lowa. My sister Miriam, Dr. T. J. Shreve's wife, lives at Des Moines. Iowa. The doctor has a very fair practice. The youngest sister, Mrs. Blood, lives at Sioux City. Iowa. Brother Oscar died some three years ago in Colorado. Leander is farming in northern Nebraska. Of my own family. four boys and one girl. Alvin. the oldest, is living near here farming and in the dairy business; Lawrence and Ney and danghter are unmarried and living at home. Edgar. the youngest. is married and lives in New Mexico, at Las Vegas. He is president of the State Normal university; salary $2,500 per year: has contract for five years - now on his third year. For one of his age he is probably one of the best educators in the West.
My health is tolerably good: my weight is one hundred and
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seventy-five pounds. Will be seventy-seven years old next Sep- tember. This would sound somewhat as if I was along in "the sear and yellow leaf."
I have not answered you fully in regard to my father's death. 'The two men, Brown and Williams, accosted him as he was walk- ing up the hill by his horse and demanded his money. On his refusal, they clinehed and they elaimed that he was too much for them. and one of them seized a stone and struck him on the head. fracturing the skull. They then took his money. some seventeen hundred dollars, and helped him into his buggy; and the bay mare, being gentle, went on some seven miles and then stopped at a house. The people took him in and he died there after some seven days. From what I could learn no murder that ever took place in Illinois created the excitement that this one did. The other man that was the instigator of the two doing the deed, was sent to the penitentiary for life, and died in about one year.
The money was all recovered except about two hundred dollars.
Respectfully yours, H. H. HEWETT.
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THE CALF MARKET IN 1840.
About the year 1840. John A. Butler, being thirteen years old, coneluded he would like to work out for wages. So he hired to F. G. Snapp for the sum of twelve and a half cents a day, and worked for him up to harvest. lle then went to binding wheat for David Bay at thirty-seven and a half cents a day. He afterwards worked in harvest at the same price for Elder Peter Downey.
At this time John A. was the owner of two calves. having purchased one of them from his uncle Harry Butler. paying him one dollar and twenty-five cents for it; the other he got of J. E. Heath, giving Mr. Ileath an old ax and one dollar and twenty-five cents for it.
About this time Charles Vandiver, who was a Baptist preacher living west of Greenfield, took a notion to sell a black yearling steer calf he had. So he told his son Absalom to take the ealf to St. Augustine and sell him to Mattingley.
Abs. placed a chain around the calf's horns and started with him. When he arrived at Greenfield. he stopped on the street to rest. John A. Butler saw him, went to him and questioned him about the ealf. and finally asked Abs, what he would take for him. Abs. replied, "Father told me to take him to Mat- tingley and sell him for three dollars."
John A. said, "I will tell you what I will do. I will just give you two dollars and a half for the calf and it is all he is worth." Abs. was not satisfied to take it, and told John A. he would take the three dollars or take the ealf to Mattingley.
AAbout this time Andrew Stiee. Henson Martin, and Aaron Holeman came up and said, "Trade. boys, trade." Stice and Martin then proposed that they split the difference. John 1. consented to this, but Abs. held off for some time.
The price was finally agreed on at two dollars and seventy-five cents. Abs. told John A. that the chain did not go with the ealf. John A. said he must have the chain. So the matter was left to the by-standers who decided that the chain went with the calf.
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THE KILLING OF SHEFFIELD.
In 1836 or '7, in the village of Greenfield, Jerry Moles and his brother engaged in a quarrel and fight with Richard Ore and Roley Simmons. This Roley Simmons was a son of William Simmons, who was better known as "Old Billy" Simmons. Richard Ore was a son-in-law of Wmn. Simmons.
After the fight they separated, but the Moles brothers were not satisfied. About this time John Sheffield had come to town and was in the store, trading. As he went to pass out at the store door, one of the Moles brothers hit him on the head with a stone. Moles was mistaken in his man; he thought it was Richard Ore.
:
Mr. Sheffield was taken to his home; he then resided in a cabin a short distance south of "Nigger" creek on lot 10, section 16. John C. Bond and Thomas Moulton with their wives waded through deep snow from Moulton's house to Sheffield's cabin.
They found that Sheffield was badly injured. They washed the blood from his head and did what they could for him. In the meantime a doetor was called. Sheffield died a few days afterwards. It is alleged that he was buried in what is ealled the lost graveyard across the creek a short distance west of the Greenbush grave- yard.
Jerry Moles was arrested on a warrant issued by Moses T. Hand, justice of the peace. At his preliminary trial, Cyrus Walker appeared for the prosecution. He was bound over and sent to Monmouth jail. The Moles brothers looked very much alike and it was difficult for the witnesses to tell which one threw the stone that killed Sheffield. Moles was finally acquitted.
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THREE FATAL ACCIDENTS.
AAbout three miles west of Avon on section 22 in Greenbush township. Warren county, Illinois, on the publie highway there is a covered bridge across a small stream. Up the hill. a short distance east of this bridge. William Lloyd was killed, January 21. 1862.
On that day. James Marshall, who had been engaged in making a sleigh for himself. was going to Israel Spurgeon's to return some tools he had borrowed, and had put his shotgun in the sleigh thinking he would find some prairie chickens before he returned.
He met his uncle, William Lloyd. on the hill east of the bridge, and stopped to talk with him. Lloyd, thinking he would play a joke on James, reached for the shotgun: and as he took hold of it. the horses started and the gun was discharged. killing Mr. Lloyd - the whole charge striking his head and fracturing the skull.
At the place where the covered bridge now stands. in (stober. 1885, Thomas Crabb was engaged in building a bridge. R . had in his employ Stephen Balderson, who then lived west of Avon in the edge of Warren county.
They were placing the stringers or girders across the stream. and Balderson had placed a prop under one end of a long heavy stick of timber: this prop shipped out and the timber fell on Balderson, injuring him so badly that he died the same day. in the evening.
In the fall of 1888. Charles West was running a steam thresh- ing-machine in Greenbush township. He had finished a job of threshing at Simon Sailor's, and on the eleventh day of Septem- ber. 1888. he started from Sailor's to Win. Smith's to thresh for
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him. George Stuekey rode on the engine with West and Harvey Gordon : Edward Long and Joseph Balderson rode on the separator.
When they came to the bridge across the stream where the covered bridge now stands, West got off the engine and examined the bridge. Stuckey and Gordon also got off and crossed over the bridge. West said the bridge was dangerous and told Long and Balderson to get off. He then mounted his engine alone and started across.
When the engine reached the center of the bridge, bridge and engine went down with a crash, breaking steam pipes and other por- tions of the engine. West was caught between the engine and the tank wagon. He was immediately enveloped in steam. so that the men could scarcely see him.
They found that one of West's hands was elinched on the throttle and the other on the steering-wheel. After removing him from the engine, they placed him on bed quilts and carried him east. up the hill, to the residenee of B. C. Welsh.
Drs. Clayberg and Weaver were called who attended to his injuries. It was found that one leg was broken and his jaw was also broken; he had a bad sealp wound, and also injured by in- haling hot steam. This accident occurred about noon, and West died that night about eight or nine o'clock.
It is said of Charles West that he had been a good railroad engineer, and was the man that placed the locomotive vane on top of the passenger depot of the C., B. & Q. R. R., at Galesburg, Illinois.
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INTERESTING STORY RECALLING THE DAYS WHEN COAL OIL WAS MANUFACTURED NEAR AVON.
This reliable serap of history, by W. II. Rose. is taken from The Aron Sentinel:
Before the discovery of oil wells in Pennsylvania kerosene, or coal oil. as it was more commonly called, was manufactured from cannel coal in several different places in the United States, and was a very profitable business, as the product sold at a fancy price, never less than $1.00 per gallon and sometimes as high as $1.50. On account of the high price, the oil was but little used and its sale was principally confined to the larger cities.
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