USA > Illinois > Tazewell County > Washington > Early history of Washington, Ill. and vicinity > Part 2
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
The second school in this vicinity was taught by Eli Red- man, a brother of John Redman, before mentioned. The
12
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
house in which it was taught was built by William Weeks, as a residence, on the Portman farm. Like its predecessor, it was a subscription school, and was only kept during the win- ter of 1828 and 1829. It numbered among its pupils W. B. Harvey, Esq., Lawson Holland, Mrs. H. Riddle and Matthew Holland.
In 1830, John Berry taught a school in a log house on the farm now occupied by Squire Baker, near the burying ground on Baker's farm. This was the first house built and used for a school house longer than one term. It was suc- ceeded by the district school house, built in 1837 or 1838, on the site of the west school house in Washington, and was the only school house in the neighborhood up to that time.
The first religious society here was organized by Jesse Walker, a Methodist preacher, in 1828 or 1829. Their first meeting was held at William Holland's, whose family and the family of James Harvey constituted most of the society at that time. Holland and Harvey were the ony male members. Their meetings were held in Holland's house for the first few years, then at other private houses until the public school house was built, in which they held their meetings until 1840 or 1841, when they built the old church near the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, now used by Sickler & Zaneis as a carpenter shop. This society now owns the most valuable church building in town, but those first members have all passed away.
In 1832 the Christian church was organized here by the Rev. Richard B. McCorkle, in the school house on the Squire Baker farm. Of its first members we find the names of Rev. R. B. McCorkle and wife, James McClure and wife and John Johnson and wife. It was the second church organization in Washington. Up to this time the Methodist had enjoyed full control in religious matters. From this time forward the two seem to have kept even pace, and are still among our most numerous and influential religious societies, showing, as we think, that in spiritual matters as well as temporal, much is gained by a good start. This denomination erected the old brick church now used by the German Lutherans, and is still the only brick church building in the town. Of these first members only John Johnson and wife remain.
The Presbyterian church of Washington was organized on the 16th day of November, 1834, by Rev. Flavel Bascum and Leonard Foster, a committee of the Presbytery of Sanga- mon, appointed for the purpose, at the request of sundry in- dividuals residing at Holland's Grove. The meeting for the organization was held at Dorsey's store. Among the articles
13
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
kept for sale by Dorsey were various kinds of liquors, which, during the organization of the church, were concealed from view by suspending a tablecloth from the upper shelf in front of the bottles. The following named persons united in the organization: Henry Kice, Mary Kice, John J. Tool, Eliza- beth Tool, Horace Blair, Rebecca L. Blair, Elizabeth Ried, Charlotte Berrghet, David Gibson and Mary Gibson, of whom David Gibson and Horace Blair were elected ruling elders. From this germ has grown the present Presbyterian church of Washington. The seats of all these members of the first organization are now vacant.
There were some Baptists here as early as 1831, but their church was not formally organized until 1835. Prior to that time they attended church at Tremont, where they had a church organization, and a Baptist minister named Babcock preached here occasionally. Mr. Abraham Van Meter and wife and their son, William C., now extensively and popularly known throughout this country, Matthew and Martha Crane, and Mr. Sherman and wife were of its first members. The minister officiating at its organization was the Rev. Thomas Brown, and of these first members the name of Mrs. Martha Crane only appears on its church roll.
These four were the only churches organized here up to 1838, and are, therefore, the only ones that come within the purview of our narrative. In addition to these four, we now have two Lutheran, one German Methodist or Evangelical Protestant, and one Catholic church.
The first marriage in the neighborhood was Mr. James Hendricks and Miss Sallie Redman, a daughter of John Red- man. It was solemnized sometime in 1829 or 1830, but whether by a minister of the Gospel or a justice of the peace we are not informed.
The first funeral was that of a child of Henson Thomas. It was buried in the graveyard on the Squire Baker farm. The funeral services were performed by Rev. Zaddock Hall, now residing in Woodford county, and well known to this community.
The first adult buried here was a Mr. Pembrock, a stranger who had stopped on account of illness at the resi- dence of William Heath, where he died. He was buried in the burying ground above mentioned.
The first physician that located here was Dr. R. T. Good- win. He came from Vermont in 1832, where he had studied medicine with Dr. G. P. Wood. He was a successful physi- cian, and also a good business man. He and Dr. G. P. Wood were for several years partners in business, and were the
.
14
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
proprietors of Goodwin & Wood's addition to Washington. Goodwin is still living and practicing his profession at Dun- dee, Kendall county, Illinois.
Previous to Goodwin's location here each man was his own doctor, and the principle medicine used was white wal- nut bark. It was peeled upward if desired as an emetic, and downward if its cathartic effect was required. Boneset, also, was used as a remedy for "fever and ager".
In 1833 James Huggins came from North Carolina. He had learned wagon-making in the same shop in which Hol- land worked at blacksmithing. He lived here for many years and practiced medicine. In 1860 he removed to Peoria, and died there in 1870. He and Holland both lived to be old men without any break in their early friendship.
Dr. G. P. Wood removed here from Vermont in 1835, and formed a business partnership with Dr. Goodwin. They prac- ticed their profession with marked success, but the history and services of Dr. Wood are too well and favorably known here to require more than the mention of his name. He died here in 1871. He left a large family, all living in this vicinity.
Dr. R. W. Burton came from Kentucky and settled here in 1838. He practiced his profession, and also kept a stock of drugs and medicines. His was the first regular drug store opened in Washington. He was a spirited citizen, and took an active part in all of the enterprises undertaken by the citi- zens. He died here in 1859, leaving a large family, many of whom still reside here.
The first lawyer to gain a foothold in this new commun- ity was Thornton Walker, from Virginia. At what precise time he came, or how long he remained, our informant does not know; nor have we any farther reliable information in re- gard to him. We therefore deem it fair to presume he was a fair representative of the profession, and that in his fre- quent tussels with justice he dealt it many staggering blows, from which it will probably never recover. Of course, like lawyers in all ages of the world, he sympathized with villiany and defended wrong from choice, but could be hired to do right for a money consideration. Upon what community he inflicted his baneful practices after leaving this one, we can not say. So rejoiced were the people to be rid of him that they kept no reckoning of his future course. Peace be to his ashes,
In 1829 William Holland and William Thompson were elected to the office of justice of the peace for this precinct. They were among the first elected in this county. Their ter- ritorial jurisdiction were co-extensive with the boundaries of
15
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
the county, which then embraced a broad expanse of terri- tory east of the Illinois river and extended northward to Chicago and southward to Jacksonville.
The first constable elected was Jonathan Hodge of Stout's Grove.
The first member of the board of county commissioners from this place was James Harvey. He was succeeded by Benjamin Mitchell, to whom we shall have occasion to refer hereafter. Prior to this time, however, and while this was part of Peoria county, William Holland was a member of the board of county commissioners.
The first land sales for this district were held in Spring- field in 1830 or 1831. Prior to that date no title could be ac- quired to any land in the district. The settlers, however, recognized the justice of securing to each of their number the benefit of his labor, and gave effect to this idea by ap- pointing one of their number, Col. Benjamin Mitchell, agent or registrar of claims. By this arrangement, and the paying of twenty-five cents to the registrar, each applicant secured the registration of his claim, and the right to buy the land he had improved when it came into market. This gave the lands a commercial value in the hands of the holder, and also enabled the person making the claim to sell and transfer it, if he so desired. These claims soon became an important item in the limited commerce of these early times-the other items of which were grain, beef and pork. The principle purchasers were immigrants, most of whom had little if any money, but labor and good promises passed current at par, the latter be- ing secured by the honor of the promissor. They were usual- ly religiously observed. Indeed, men usually make much of their honor when it is their only stock in trade. Still, we are inclined to think that the pro rata of honesty was really greater in those days than now, and for the following reasons: These men were not speculators or fortune hunters, but earn- est men, seeking homes in the virgin soil of the Great West, and, actuated by this generous impulse, honesty was the natural sequence.
The trade in those days consisted chiefly in the direct ex- change of commodities. There being but little money the community had no use for middle-men, of whom so much compaint, is now made. They found no place among these eary settlers, and perhaps the surest way to rid the country of them would be to abandon money and commerce, and roll the tide of human progress back half a century, adopt the primitive habits of the early settlers, and thus effectually squelch them.
16
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
We know but little of the social habits of the people in those days, except what may be inferred from the facts and circumstances above stated. Their appreciation of education is shown in their efforts to establish schools, temporary at first, but finally permanent. Their religious zeal is shown by their successful efforts in establishing churches, and their Christian liberality by the number and variety of them. Nor are we informed in regard to the amusements indulged in by the young folks; but, being young folks, we have no doubt they found many ways of robbing Old Time of loneliness. It would be unfair to suppose them, especially the ladies, desti- tute of fashionable aspirations, but the means for gaudy dis- play were very much circumscribed in those days. The male attire consisted chiefly of buckskin, or home-spun cloth,-we might add home-woven, the loom being far more common in or near their rude huts than the piano or organ They were not, however, destitute of musical taste, and many of their vocal performances would compare favorably with our pres- ent choirs. We may safely say they sang with the spirit. Most of the ladies, also, wore home-spun, which they manu- factured from wool, flax, cotton and the bark or lint of the nettle, colored with such ingredients as nature provided, with- out the aid of art; a few adopted buckskin. How many yards of the latter article were required for a fashionable dress in those times, or in what particular style they were cut and trimmed, we are not informed, and must leave the ladies to draw their own conclusions. These dresses certainly were durable, and shielded the wearer in outdoor exercises incident to the planting, attending and gathering of the crops-in which pursuits the ladies in all new countries assist. Another of the prevailing fashions was that of carrying firearms, made necessary by the presence in the neighborhood of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensibly friendly, but like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreliable. These tribes were principally Pottawattamies. There were, also, in the north part of the state, several tribes of hostile Indians, ready at any time to make a murderous, thieving raid upon the white settlers, and an Indian war at any time was an ac- cepted probability, and these old settlers today have a vivid jecollection of the Black Hawk and other Indian wars. And, while target practice was much induged in as an amusement, it was also necessary for a proper self-defense, the settlers finding it necessary, at times, to carry their guns with them when they went to hoe their corn. In some instances their guns were stacked around them, and then moved the guns to a certain position and again proceeded with their work.
17
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
These were only a few of the hardships incident to pioneer life, which was largely made up of privations, inconveniences and dangers. They had few labor-saving machines, and no reliable market. Each communication by letter with their distant friends and relatives was rendered difficult for the want of proper mail facilities, and sometimes for the want of money to pay the postage on the letters sent to them-the postage then being twenty-five cents for one single letter, many of which remained in the office for weeks on account of the inability of the persons to whom they were addressed to pay the demanded postage. But time has changed all these things, and in the short pace of fifty years we have grown from a handful of hardy pioneers to be a populous, thriving, energetic community, with all the improvements and ad- vantages of an old settled country, and a town unsurpassed for business, considering the capital invested, by any in the country, while our surplus products are enough to supply some of the petty kingdoms of the old world.
Early History Biographical Sketch of David Kindig Written by Himself
Benjamin Kindig, born 1783, married Hester Witmer, born 1785. (Parents of David Kindig born in Lancaster county, Pa.), married in 1807, moved to Va. in 1811.
My mother died in Va. in 1824. My father married again in Va. to Abigail Patterson. In 1833 moved to Illinois. My step-mother died in 1835. My father again married, Betsy Page, of Metamora, Ill. My father died in 1856 and my second step-mother died in 1871.
My own mother had four daughters and three sons: Ben- jamin, Esther, Mary, Matta, David, Leah and Henry. David and Leah yet living. My step-mother had three daughters and two sons: Betsy, Anna, Samuel, Susan and Emanuel. Samuel, Susan and Emanuel yet survive.
Benjamin Kindig had eight brothers: Emanuel, Joseph, Isaac, Martin, Samuel, John, Abraham, Henry, and two sis- ters: Mary, Leah. All deceased.
David Kindig, born in Augusta country, Va., Sept. 12, 1816. Home, Washington, Tazewell county, Ill. The follow- ing are the sisters and brothers living: Leah Grove in Wash- ington, (state), Samuel Kindig in Mo., Susan Kindig in Neb., Emanuel Kindig in Iowa.
18
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
A little remarkable, each one in a different state.
(David Kindig was married twice; his first wife was a McCord and his second a Conn. The following were the chil- dren, all by his first wife: Virginia, who became the wife of John Wilson of Washington; Liza Zane, who married a Mc- Murtrey and lived in Missouri; Zura, who lives in Kansas City and never married; Laura, who married Gila Mapes and lived in Kansas City, son of a former Christian minister who lived in Washington; Marion, who married a Nesmith, sister of Chas. L. Nesmith, and lives in Kansas. Miss Zura and Marion are the surviving children).
David Kindig, with his parents, also Andrew Cress, moved to Ill. with one four-horse wagon, one three-horse wagon, one one-horse carry-all. (But it failed to carry all).
We started for Holland's Grove, Tazewell county, Ill. Traveling west, we passed through the Warm and White Sulphur Springs, crossed the Alleghany Mountains to the Ohio river 255 miles. Crossing the Big Sandy river at its mouth over into Kentucky, passing through Lexington, Frankford, and on to Louisville, on the Ohio river. Crossed the river into New Albany, Indiana, thence to Vincennes, on the Wabash, thence to Vandalia, Ill., thence to Springfield, Ill., then a small village, it being the last one we saw until we saw Peoria. We inquired for the Fort Clark road and as we came on we inquired for Holland's Grove.
We landed on the farm where Christian Engle now lives, (near the Union cemetery), on the 22d of Oct. 1833, distance of 800 miles, being on the road seven weeks, or 49 days, camp- ing one tent and wagons.
When we came here we found William Holland and John Linley. Linley had a twin cabin, lived in one, had store and postoffice in the other. Dorsey Van Meter on the Switzer place. North where Peter Portman now lives; Heath and Cur- tis in the grove, the Higgins and Wrenn places. The Banta's, Peter P. Scott, John Johnson, McCorkle, Henson Thomas, Mitchel, Dr. Goodwin and Wood, (Dr. Wood's father), James Harvey, (Squire Harvey's father).
My father purchased of James Harvey the farm which A. J. Cress and Ioeger now occupy. 160 acres deeded land, 160 acres timber claim three miles west of that, also 80 acres where the cabin stood. Compensation, 900 dollars. Other settlers were Jolin Bromfield, (they being the only family we knew here). Peter Cline, now Andrew Gongloff farm. Zea- dock Hall, also William Hester, in what was then called Rag- ged Grove, now John Weeks.
Looking back 56 years we find but three of those old
19
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
settlers living, namely: Mr. Z. Hall, now of Kansas, and Mrs. John Johnson of lowa. Also Mrs. Adam Switzer of Washing- ton.
When we came here we got a cabin on the Huguet place, stayed three weeks; then William Berry came from south part of the state and occupied it. We built a shanty by roll- ing two logs together, ten feet distance, covering with clap- boards. Besides this shanty we had a tent and wagon. We moved in, living in those three weeks, until we built a log house, now standing in A. J. Cress's yard. We hauled lum- ber from Camlen's water mill on Farm creek east of Peoria. John Lowman's father made the shingles. Later we laid the upper floor with linn plank procured from J. J. Banta's saw mill, run by hand, being the only saw mill in this part of the country in those days. Our next lumber was made at a steam saw mill that Dunham built on Farm creek just south of the R. R. bridge west of Washington. The first mill 1 went to, and all the mill here, was in the grove where John Weeks now lives. Hester had a corn cracker. The mill was a novel- ty. It stood in a scoket, a shaft twelve feet long with a truck wheel run on the ground by means of a shaft, turning the stone, and, when the horses went around the mill, the hopper and all went around on its own axis.
Our nearest flour mill was at Pleasant Grove; that, too, was a horse mill -- eight horse power. Father bought some timothy hay and sheaf oats in stack near the mill. A. Cress and myself would go for hay, take a grist and grind at night, return with our hay next day. We got along very well so long as the ground was frozen, but we left our load until the ground thawed out. What then? We went for the balance of the oats. On one occasion Cress sent me ahead to find a good place to cross a slough. As I was not posted on sloughs, I said here is a dry place-where there had been no travel. He started on a run, but when he came to the opposite bank he was there, hub deep. We unloaded our oats, and four horses could scarcely pull out the empty wagon. That was our first introduction to a slough. We always knew what a slough was after that.
Well, about the first of Feb. 1834, we commenced mak- ing maple sugar, and continued for six weeks. On one occa- sion my neighbor, John Bromfield, and myself was left to at- tend the camp one night. One kettle would boil over in spite of all we could do. He said to me, get a bacon rind and he would stop it running over. (All right I said). He greased the kettle near the top, then he sent me for some assafoedita. He said he was sick, and wanted to make a pill. By the time I
20
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
came back he said we will have to stir this sugar off; it was burning. We commenced dipping it out. You better believe it stuck to every vessel, black as tar. Kettle was red hot. We dashed a bucket of cold water in, then we heard a racket. That was my first sugar making.
Well, we had plows that would shove the ground around -wooden mould boards. Father would stalk his and some of his neighbors' plows. At one time father and I were plowing-he said we would try an experiment. At noon he cleaned off his plow; said he would bring a bacon rind and grease it. We went about six feet and it stuck; he cleaned and greased again, started-stuck again. Said I, a little more grease.
On the 20th of June, 1834, Andrew Cress married my sister, Mary, and commenced housekeeping on the farm where his son, Calvin Cress, now lives. He and wife lived and died on the same farm they first settled on.
Well, we lived a frontier life for 20 years, raised flax and wool to make out clothing. The land was not in market then. Came into market in the fall of 1838. Then the rub. We had no money and money was hard to get. No sale for stock. The best horse would not bring $30; best cow not $5 in cash. I had raised some wheat and oats. I took wheat to the river mill, then took the flour and peddled it out in Peoria. I sold some oats there and received a little money I borrowed some from John Linley, paying 60 per cent interest. (Some paid 100 per cent). I bought eighty acres where I now live and a piece of timber. My home is the only piece of land that has not changed hands to my knoweldge.
The neighbors all went together to Springfield with their teams, taking feed and provision; was at Springfield three days. We employed Stephen A. Douglas to call off our lands as they were put up for sale. In some cases speculators would bid against settlers. We all plotted together to prevent it. Mr. Henry Kice (father of John Kice, in Washington) was a large man, weighing 330 lbs. He was standing in the crowd with a large club or cane. He remarked if any man bid on his claim they would feel the weight of that stick. I heard a number remark, you see that large man with that stick. I would not like for him to give me a lick with it. But we all got our land in peace-those that had the money. In sell- ing land they would commence in section one ne section, in town 26, range 3, w of the third principal meridian, offer the e '1/2 neqr sec 1, etc., etc. How much I hear for it, bid $1,25- who will give more? If no bid, would be sold. Pass on to the next w 1/2, same qr., and so on until the section was sold.
21
EARLY HISTORY OF WASHINGTON, ILL.
Then to the next, etc. We all were happy when we got our lands, came home rejoicing and have been happy ever since.
In 1845 the brick mill at Washington was built. In 1846 I assisted in hauling the pine lumber from Chicago to com- plete the inside work. Asa Danforth & Co. hired teams to go to Chicago for lumber. Load with wheat and reload with lumber. The round trip would cost fifteen dollars. Board yourself and team. A trip would occupy from 10 to 12 days. I hauled a load of my own wheat there and sold it for 621% cents per bushel. I loaded back with lumber at $1.00 per hun- dred feet. Could buy best clear lumber for $10 per thousand. The first Christian church built in Washington was a brick, built in 1851, now occupied by the German Lutherans. William Holland laid out the town of Washington in 1834. On Nov. 28, 1869, the second Christian church was dedi- cated. This house burned Feb. 17, 1870, by defective flue. Another and third building was erected which was dedicated Aug. 28, 1870, and Oct. 29, 1876, was also burned; this time by lightning. But the congregation, not disheartened, erected another, and on July 29, 1877, it was dedicated. Whole ex- pense on the several houses was near $32,000.00.
I will state here that in the fall of 1834 there were several accidents happened. One was a stranger, came to Ill. He got work at Jonathan Reed's, living on the Brown farm now owned by Witmer Kern. He went to the timber to haul rails out onto the prairie, and in coming down a short hill, by some means the team became frightened and ran away. When found he was lying in the road dead, the wagon having passed over him. The team was found not far off tangled up, there being four horses. The stranger was buried in the grave yard on Squire Baker's farm. The other accident was a daughter of Mr. Heath, (sister of Mrs. Adam Switzer) then living in the grove now occupied by Mr. Wrenn. It happened thus: There was a long school house built near the grave yard on the land now owned by Squire Baker. This girl, with others, was seated at the desk facing a window east. The Banta family lived some three hundred yards due east from school house. Cornelius Banta had been having typhoid fever and ague. One day he took the gun and went out to kill a squirrel. He found one sitting on a tree 200 yards from the school house. He shot direct north, the school house be- ing west of him. When he shot the ball struck a limb or something and glanced, going direct through the window and striking this girl in the head. Old Drs. Wood and Goodwin were called. They removed the ball (as supposed) from under the scalp, believing the trouble was all over, but not so; the
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.