USA > Illinois > Champaign County > Early history and pioneers of Champaign County : illustrated by one hundred and fifteen superb engravings by Melville : containing biographical sketches of the early settlers, the early history of the county obtained from the most reliable sources and many graphic scenes and incidents from the bright and shady sides of pioneer life > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25
Philip, attended the common log cabin school about three months per year, some- what irregularly between the age of ten and eighteen years, after which he taught school to get money with which to buy books in order to prosecute his studies further.
At the age of twenty he commenced read- ing medicine with Dr. Turner, of Jackson- ville, Indiana, and at the end of one year changed to Drs. McNett and McKey, of Annapolis, Parke county, Indiana, and while keeping at his medical studies attend- ed for two terms the Western Agricultural College, near Annapolis, which was under the control or management of the Quakers. He left this college the term before Mr. Cannon, our present member of congress entered it. After leaving college he taught for six months to raise money to purchase an "outfit" in the way of books, instruments and medicines, for the practice of medicine. He received the princely salary of one dol- lar a day and board himself, or if he perfer- red to "board around," he had that privi- lege. The prices of books and medicines were much higher than now, Quinine was $5.00 an ounce and opinm $8,00 per pomd. Having procured the necessary supplies, he commenced the practice of medicine at Poolsville, twelve miles west of LaFayette, Indiana. IIe afterwards practiced at New- town, Ill., a short time, and in April, 1851, he located at Old Homer, in this county. At that time this was regarded as the most sick- ly portion of the state. Fever and Ague and other malarial diseases prevailed very gener- ally and Dr. Mosier was thus engaged night and day in his practice. In the course of a few years of such arduous labors his health threatened to give way and he thought best to abandon the practice and seek some of- cupation which necessitated less exposure and loss of sleep and rest.
After eight years of dispensing medicines in which he was very successful he engaged in farming, dealing in real estate and loan- ing money. He has served many years as assessor of his township and several terms on the board of supervisors. He has re- sided on his present farin for fifteen years, one and a half miles south of Homer, and has succeeded as a farmer admirably, while he has enjoyed better health, being better to-day than he has been for 40 years. While not a robust man be still shows the posses-
106
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
sion of a good constitution and bids fair to live to a good old age.
Dr. Mosier was married April 1851 to Miss D. Jane Burton, of Fountain county, Indiana, who has been the constant and faithful companion of the Doctor, through all the years of his labors and still surrives. She is the daughter of Clement and Ann Burton, of Virginia. He is what is termed a Free-thinker and in some respects is of the Ingersollian persuasion ; he believes in a God but not in the inspiration of the scriptures.
Politically he was a democrat until 1856 at which time he became a republican and has remained a staunch and active member of the party ever since, Doctor Mosier is a modest man and does not force his ideas upon any one, but is an interesting con- versationalist and he soon convinces his auditors that he is a vigorous and independ- ent thinker and must have a reason for any faith which he embraces. Honorable in business, pleasant in manner and cautious in action, he has the high regard of all who know him.
MELVILLE CHI
SAMUEL BOYD
Was born in Ireland, county Antrim, . Au- gust 26th, 1802. His parents were John Boyd and Agnes (Miller) Boyd. They were both Scotch and descended from a long line of Scotch people. Mr. Boyd was married in a Presbyterian church, six miles from Belfast, Ireland, to Sarah Miller, in October, 1833. She died in 1848, at Lawrenceburg, Indiana. In 1843, he, with his family, con- sisting of wife and his three eldest children, crossed the Atlantic and came to Lawrence-
burg, Indiana: there he worked in a tlour mill and distillery until 1851. He spent a short time at Rising Sun, Ind., and in 1851 crossed the plains with a six mule team to California; there he hunted for the golden nuggets with some success, although sub- jected to the hardships and privations of mining life, until 1955, when he returned and married his second wife, Miss Eliza- beth Statford, of Aurora, Indiana, in 1857. In same year he came to Champaign county, Illinois, and settled near St. Joseph. Hle had brought with him, from California, about $2,000 as the result of his California mining operations. This he invested in land, and for twelve years successfully fol- lowed farming. His children by his tirst wife are John F., now in Missouri ; William, now in Nebraska; James M., who resides in Indianapolis and is a locomotive engineer ; Mary Johnson, who resides south of Ur- bana, and Hugh, who resides near Lost Grove. James M. entered the army and served gallantly throughout the war for the Union, and stands high among the men of his calling as well as among his acquaint- anees everywhere. John F., Hugh and Wil- liam, also served through the war in the Union army. By his second wife he had five children, two of whom are now living, viz: Jennie, who is living at home, and Rosa, who married Peter Good, and re- sides north of Urbana. Mr. Boyd was raised a Presbyterian and through the greater part of his life was identified with that stalwart branch of the christian church. He and his present wife, how- ever, are members of the Baptist church. He was forty-six years old before he was entitled to vote, but he allied him- self with the whig party upon his arrival in America, and voted for Zachary Taylor for president, in 1848, for Gen. Scott in 1852, and for Fremont and the succeeding repub- lican candidates including James G. Blaine, in 1884. Ile is a hardy Scotchman of 84 years, and is as active and industrious as he has always been. He resides now about two miles northeast of this city, where, doubt- less, his remaining years will be spent. He has lived to see his family grow up and en- gage in active business, and he calmly and confidently awaits the summons which shall call him to a better world. Meantime he will perform the duties of a good citizen, as he has always done during a long and ac- tive life.
107
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
EARLY HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT .-- PROCEEDINGS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT .-- COUNTY OFFICERS AND TERMS OF SERVICE .-- SURPLUS REV- ENUES .-- FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE .-- INTERESTING INCIDENTS, ETC.
May 6th, A. D. 1833, Isaac Busey, Jacob Bartley and George Akers having been elected as the first county commissioners, met at the house of Phillip Stanford and organized the first county commissioners court for Champaign county. The first act the court did was to appoint Thomson R. Webber as clerk. The next was to ap- point Garrett Moore as constable, then Moses Thomas assessor and treasurer of the county. The next meeting of the court was held June 3rd, at which time T. R. Webber was recommended to the governor to be ap- pointed recorder, which was done, his com- mission dating July 2d, 1833. At this meet- ing Garrett Moore was appointed surveyor. At the same meeting Moses Thomas the assessor reported the revenue of the county to be $71.37.
The court divided the county into two election districts, calling one the Salt Fork precinet and appointed Moses Thomas, Rob- ert Prather, and Capt. Wm. Nox, jr.,as judg- es. The other precinct was called the Big Grove, and Matthew Busey, Joshua Triekle and John Whittaker were appointed judges. The court then adjourned to assemble at the call of the elerk, when the commission- ers, appointed by the act of the legislature to locate the county seat, should be ready to report.
On the 21st day of June, Stephen B. Shel- ledy and John F. Richardson presented to the court a written report locating the coun- ty seat at Urbana. The court allowed them the sums of $16 and $20, respectively, for their services. Some interesting incidents connected with the location of the county seat will be found in the article written by Indge Cunningham.
In September, 1833, a plat of a state road was filed, running from Pekin, in Tazewell county to the 40 mile post near the "Big Grove." This was located by the legisla- ture.
The meetings of the court had been here- tofore held at the house of Phillip Stanford, but at the September meeting it was ordered that hereafter they be held at the house of Matthew Busey. John Salisbury was ap- pointed sheriff soon after the organization, and September 2nd, 1833, he was ordered to proceed and collect the revenue, amounting
to $71.37. As it was necessary to have a source of revenue, November 7th, 1833, a license was granted to Isaac II. Alexander to retail goods, wares and merchandise until the end of the next term of the court-the license being $5. Afterwards the time was extended $3.00 worth. Soon after this the commissioners fixed the following rates of prices to be charged the public, viz: For keeping a man and horse one night, includ- ing supper, bed and horse feed, 75 cents; single meal, 1894 cents: horse feed, 1212 cents; one-half pint whiskey, 644 cents ; one- half pint French brandy, 1834 cents; }2 pint wine, 188% cents; 1/2 pint gin, 1212 cents; 1/2 pint rum, 1834 cents; 12 pint domestic brandy, 18% cents.
The first fiscal statement was made by T. R. Webber and showed county orders un- paid, $85.25; fees for surveying 84 lots in the town of Urbana, $21; recording plat, $3.36; fees of commissioners and for station- ery, $17.75; making a total indebtedness of $127.36; deducting the revenue, $71.37. left $55.99; then deducting license of Alexander, $5.00, left the indebtedness of the county, December 2, 1833, at $50.99.
March 3, 1834, the county was divided into road districts and Win. Peters, Daniel T. Porter, John G. Robertson, Mijamin Byers, Phillip M. Stanford, Win. Nox, jr., John Whitaker were appointed road supervisors.
March 4, 1834, the first grand and petit juries were appointed as follows: Grand jury-Thomas Deer, Jefferson Huss, Wmn. Nox, sr., Joseph Thomas, Henry Thomas, Robert Trickle, James Brownfield, Walter Rhodes, James Johnson, Samuel G. Beckley, John W. Swearingen, John B. Swearingen, John Zanes, Robert Prather, Valentine Iliff, Gabriel G. Rice, Matthew Busey, John Tine- man, Samuel Bromley, Arthur Beaird, Har- ris Wilson, William Corray and James Os- bourne. Petit jury-James Moss, Matthew W. Busey, Elias Stamey, David Gabbert, William T. Webber, Augustine M. Webber, Larkin Deer, Stephen Boyd, Elijah Jackson, Andrew Wilson, Adam Yeazle, James Free- man, JJacob T. Hobbs, John Coddington, Jacob Heater, Moses Kirby, Elias Kirby, John Brownfield, sr., William Coddington, Elias Thomas, Moses Argo, William I. Pe- ters and Hiram Rankin.
108
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
At a meeting of the county commissioners, held December 1, 1834, it was ordered that hereafter the court meet at the house of Isaae Busey, The court appointed T. R. Webber, agent, in July 1835, to sell the lots in Urbana, at following prices: Corner lots on Main street, on public square at $30 each; corner lots elsewhere, $20; back lots. $10.
January 1836, a temporary court house was ordered to be built on lot 25, to be of hewn logs, good size. The building was to be 24×20 feet, one and one-half story, shingle roof, hewn joists and sleepers, one door and two windows on each side. The contract was let to John Craig, but the building was never finished to the satisfaction of the com- missioners and court continued to be held in private houses until 1837, when a frame court house 22x30 feet, with two rooms, was built by Moses and Williams Harvey. This building was replaced in 1849 by a briek building 30x40 feet, two stories, with offices below and court and jury rooms above. In 1859 this building was torn down and the present court house erected at a eost of $40,000.
The following is a list of the commission- ers, the first three already having been men- tioned. In 1834, John Brownfield, William Nox, Daniel T. Porter; 1836, Cyrus Strong, Hiram Johnson and Wm. Nox: 1838, James Clements was elected for one year, Daniel T. Porter for two and Jefferson Huss for three years. After this one was elected each year as follows: James Clements. 1839, Daniel T. Porter, 1840, Jefferson Huss, 1841, James Clements 1842, Wm. Taylor, 1843, John W. Swearingen, 1844, Archa Campbell, 1845, B. F. Harris, 1846, William Nox, 1847, James Clements, 1948.
The probate judges are as follows: Moses Thomas elected in 1833, and served until 1837, when John B. Thomas was elected. M. W. Busey was elected in 1839, John Brownfield, 1841, Daniel T. Porter, 1843, who served until 1848, when Archa Campbell was elected. In 1848 the new constitution (T. R. Webber being a member of the eonven- tion which adopted il) made a change, or- ganizing a county court with one judge and associate judges. Under this law, in 1849 John B. Thomas was elected county judge; Jesse W. Jaquith and Matthew Johnson, associates. 1553. Elisha Harkness was elected judge and M. D. Coffeen and Win. Stewart, associates. In 1557, Edward Ater was elected judge. Lewis JJones and JJohn l'. Tenbrook, associates. In 1559, Fielding L. Scott was elected in place of Jones.
In 1860 the county adopted the township organization and with it another change was
made. J. O. Cunningham was elected coun- ty judge and served four years, being suc- ceeded by A. M. Ayers, in 1865, who served until 1823; J. W. Sim in 1878, J. W. Langley, 1877, the present incumbent.
Moses Thomas was first county treasurer and served until 15337, when Green Atwood was elected. Jacob Bradshaw was elected in 1539 and served until 1843 when Col. M. W. Busey was elected who served until 1851, when Elisha Harkness was elected. Win. HI. Pearce was elected in 1:53, C. M. Sherfy, in 1855, Win. Munhall in 1857, P. M. Parks 1559, R. T. Miller 1861, re-elected in 1863, G. W. Kennard in 1865 and 1867, and J. M. Davies in 1869, who was sneceeded in 1871 by John W. Hill, who in turn was succeeded by Thomas A. Lewis, the present inem- bent.
The Sheriff's of the county are as follows: John Salisbury in 1833, A. II. Stevenson in 1834 and 1836, David Cox 1838 to 1844, Wilson Lewis 1844 to 1850, Edward Ater 1850, F. M. Owens 1854, Penrose Stidham 1856, N. M. Clark 1858, R. C. Wright 1860, Nathan Towl 1862, J. D. Johnson 1864, T. J. Scott. 1866, Peter Myers, 1868, H. C. Core 1870 to 1874, J. D. Johnson 1874 to 1878, J. E. Oldham 1878 to 1882, J. C. Ware 1882 to 1886.
School commissioners are as follows: John Mead 1838, Moses Thomas 1840, Jomm B. Thomas 1846 and 1848, Win. Peters 1850, Paris Shepherd 1852, J. W. Jaquith 1854, John B. Thomas 1854, Thomas R. Leal 1857 to 1873, S. L. Wilson 1873, Calista E Larned 1877 who resigned in 1881 and G. R. Shaw- han, the present incumbent, was appointed.
Clerks of the county court: T. R. Web- ber from 1833 to 1853, when the offices of county and circuit elerks were divided, 'T. A. MeLaurie 1853 to 1857, S. J. Toy 1857 to 1885, N. M. Clark 1865 to 1869, J. W. Shuck 1869 to 1873, J. S. Mccullough 1873 the pres- ent incumbent.
Circuit elerks are as follows: T. R. Web- ber 1833 to 1856, W. 1I. Somers 1856 to 1864. (). O. Alexander 1864 to 1878, E. T. Whit- comb 1868 to 1876, J. W. Porter 1576, the present incumbent.
The revenne increased in 1836, to $255,85, December 3, 1836, Jonathan Osborne and Isaac Busey were appointed a committee to locate a state road from Urbana to Bloom- ington, to run by the house of JJohn Bryan. Joseph Stayton and Elias Thomas, on same (late, were appointed to locate a road from Urbana to Paris. At the December term, 1836, a lieense was granted Wm. Osborn to keep a ferry on the Sangamon river at a point where the state road crosses it, lead- ing from Moses Thomas' to Bloomington- Osborn to pay $2.00 license. The following
109
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
ferry rates were established at the same meeting, viz: Ferrying one man, 644 cents; one horse, 614 cents; one-horse wagon, 25 cents; two-horse wagon, 37% cattle per head, 614 cents; sheep and hogs per head, 3 cents.
At the March meeting 1837, it was ordered that the office of assessor and treasurer be let to the lowest bidder; and Thomas L. Freeman having bid the sum of $12.50 was appointed to that office and qualified as such.
In 1837 the liabilities of the county were $216.341%; and the revenue being $258.85, the county had money in the treasury for the first time, amounting to $32.5612, to which add $431.50, notes on sale of town lots in Urbana, and cash donations, unpaid, $45, made the cash and resources of the county $476.50.
March 1837, it was ordered that the follow- ing property be taxed one-half per cent., viz: Horses, mares, mules, asses and neat cattle over the age of three years, elocks and watches with their appendages, and pleasure carriages.
In 1837 license to retail goods were grant- ed and heenses charged as follows: A. Bruer, $5.00; James T. Roe, $5.00; T. R. Webber, $15.00; James H. Lyons, $25; Daniel T. Porter, $5.00; Noah Bixler, $5.00.
June, 1837. ordered that Matthew W. Busey have a writ of ad quod damnum, for con- demning a mill seat on north end of E12 S W 44 Sec. 8, 10, 9. Same year Green At- wood was allowed a license to keep a tavern at Homer. Also a license was granted to Isaac A. Brown to keep a tavern at Sidney, each to pay a license of $4.00.
September, 1837, a writ of ad quod dammum was granted to Charles Haptonstall to build a mill. A like writ was granted at same meeting to A. H. Jose for a mill seat on Sangamon river, on lot 15, See. 16, T 20 R 7. At same meeting it was ordered thata bridge be constructed over the Salt Fork at Cyrus Strong's ferry and that Major Nox attend to advertising for bids and to insert an ad- vertisement in the Danville Enquirer. The building of this bridge was let October, 1837. to Win. 1. Peters, for the sum of $426 and he to have one year to build it.
The first county prison, to be completed by March, 1839, was arranged for Jannary 1838; it was to be 15 feet square, The lower story to have two windows, one foot square each. Building was to have a brick and log foun- dation and to be built of logs, and to be two stories. It was struck off to Col. M. W. Bu- sey at the sum of $850.
March 19, 1838, it was ordered that an election precinct be established on the Mid- dlefork and that elections be held at house
of John Manning, near the town of Brother- ton in sand precinct.
June 1838, a license was granted Groen- endyke & Coffeen to retail goods at Homer, and that they pay for same, $15. At the same meeting a county road was ordered from south end of Market street, in Urbana, to Sidney. December 1838 A. Bruer was granted a license to keep a tavern in Ur- bana and that he pay $2.00 for same.
At the December term, 1839, it was order- ed the clerk convey to the officers of the Methodist Episcopal church, a lot to be se- lected by them, if they shall have erected a house of worship thereon in twelve months. And we also make to the Baptist society the same offer in all respects. The Methodist people raised the money and built a church which was afterwards known as Benner's livery stable. The Baptist people, however, did not comply at that time.
Col. M, W. Busey having donated a three acre tract to the county, permission was given to erect a school house on same. De- cember 1839, Col. Busey, Jacob Bradshaw and Elias Stamey were appointed a com- mittee to select a suitable spot for said house.
June term, 1840, it was "ordered that we sell to Rev. A. Bradshaw, lot 51 (where Hubbard's hardware store now stands) for the sum of $3, the same to be deeded to the Methodist society when it shall be shown that the society has a legal right to receive a deed. Also that we sell to David Cox, for Baptist church with same restrict- tion, lot 76, east of Kerr's tavern, for $2.00."
The salary of T. R. Webber, as clerk, .was not very heavy; he was allowed $77.98 in full for his services as clerk for year ending June 7, 1841.
At the June term, 1842, M. D. Coffeen rep- resented that it was too far for the people of Homer to go to the house of James Cope- land, in the Salt Fork precinet, to vote; he therefore presented a petition that the name of the precinct be changed to Homer pre- cinet and the voting be done at the school house in Homer, which was ordered done.
October 2, 1843, the contract for building a bridge across the Sangamon at Mahomet, was awarded Williams Harvey of Urbana.
June, 1844, on petition of citizens, an election precinct known as the Middlefork precinct, was ordered, and that the voting place be at house of Sammuel Swinford, and Samuel Swinford, Samuel Kerr and JJames Kellor were appointed judges. At same meeting, James Orr, sr., Henry Swearingen and Elias Thomas were appointed judges of Homer, Marshall Cloyd, John Crabb and James Myers, of Urbana, and Jonathan
110
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Maxwell, Benjamin F. Ilarris and Joseph T. Everett of Sangamon precincts.
The tax books for the year 1844 show that the taxable property is increasing, the amount returned being $334,373. The levy was as follows: 20 cents on the $100 for state purposes, making $668.75; 20 cents for county, $668,75, and 10 cents for road mak- ing $334.37.
William D. Somers seems to have been the county physician in 1844. At the De- cember meeting of the county court it was "ordered that Dr. William D. Somers have an order on the treasury for the sum of $2.00 in full for medical charge for attending Robert H. Newlon.
At the June meeting, 1845, William D. Somers was appointed to take the census of the county.
Col. M. W. Busey, county treasurer, made his report July 1846, He reports a balance on hand of $561.37 as follows: $332.00 in paper money; $155.52 in gold and $73.85 in silver. The county seems to have been in good condition as Col. Busey was ordered to Joan the county funds at 6 per cent. interest, reserving a sufficient sum to pay outstand- ing orders, and that he take ample security in all cases and that he collect the interest in advance, that the notes be so drawn that additional security may be required if it is deemed necessary by the treasurer or com- missioners.
At the JJuly term, 1848, Col. M. W. Bu- sey was appointed a messenger to carry the vote of this county, for senator, to Danville, for the purpose of being canvassed, and Williams Harvey was appointed a like mes- senger to Decatur, to carry the vote for rep- resentative.
May 2, 1849, the new court house having been completed, the old one was sold to the Urbana school district for $105 on a credit of 12 months. At the June meeting a bridge was ordered to be constructed at Homer, provided the cost did not exceed $400. June 20 the contract was struck off to M. D. Cof- fren, James S. Wright, Harmon Stevens, John B. Thomas, Solomon Dill, Samuel A. Harvey and W. S. Coe for $600; $400 to be paid by the county and the balance by pri- vate donations,-the bridge to be completed by the following December.
October, 1849, it was ordered that Clapp & Russell have leave to renew their license to retail goods on same terms as before. March term 1850, Henry M. Russell having bought ont A. O. Clapp was granted license for one year by paying $25.
The county court cut and carved the bills, in the olden time, very inneh as is done in later days. March, 1850, Benjamin C. Mor-
ris presented a bill of $22.25 for services, board, medical attendance and funeral ex- penses of Daniel Wheat, a poor person. The court, after examining into the matter, decided that said Morris is justly entitled to pay for the coffin and shroud and therefore allowed him 87.25 and rejected the balance of his claim.
At the March term, 1851, it was decided to enelose the public square with a fence which contract was let to Win. Park and John Cantner for $80. At the July term, 1851, on petition of Samuel Dean and Da- vid Cantner, permission was granted them to establish a ferry on the Sangamon river at the crossing of the state road leading from Urbana to Bloomington. The follow- ing rates were fixed as ferry charges: For man and horse, 10 cents; footman, 5 cents; wagon and one horse, 15 cents; wagon and two horses or oxen, 20 cents; each addition- al horse or ox, 5 cents; each head of cattle, 4 cents ; each hog or sheep, 2 cents.
At the October term, 1851, J. W. Jaquith, John Gere, Calvin Higgins, president and trustees of the town of Urbana, and William D. Somers, clerk, presented to the court a poll book of an election, whereby it appears that at an election held in the town of Ur- bana, September 8, 1851, for the purpose of voting for or against the incorporation of said town the following votes were cast in favor of same, viz: W. D. Somers, Geo. O. Potter, Wilson Lewis, W. S. Garman, Jo- seph M. Harry, Elisha Harkness, Wm. Park, John Cantner, Calvin C. Higgins, Wm. Abel, Robert Logan, Wm. Waters, Lewis Higgins, John Black, Edward Ater, Asa Gere, Wm. Gill, Samuel M. Logan, Thomas J. Newport, Silas Chadwick, John C. Hankins, David M. Ireland. J. W. Jaquith, Samuel Waters, George W. Toy, 25 Against, Thomson R. Webber. At the election Joseph M. Harry was the judge, and John Ireland, clerk.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.