USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 38
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WING to the placing in the compiler's hands of documents and letters relating to periods of local history after the chapters covering the same time had gone to press he is moved to close the volume with a salmagundi chapter, consist- ing of a series of disconnected articles or collections of items as follows :
First .- THE KELLOGGS' CABIN IN 1819 AND THE SUBSEQUENT HISTORY OF THESE PIONEERS.
We are permitted to make the following extracts from a private letter to Mr. Tin- othy Chamberlain, written from Golete, Santa Barbara county, California, by Florentine Erwin Kellogg, a grandson of Elisha Kellogg, who, with his brother Seymour, built the first white man's home in Morgan :
You ask me to pen some of my early remembrances of times, persons and things, connected with the early settlement of our family in Morgan county, III., as my father and uncle were the first to settle in Morgan county. I was quite young then, but still 1 remember very well some of the earliest settlers, who came in soon after the families of my father and uncle, who were the first. They left the State of New York in the spring of 1818, and came down the rivers, Albany and Ohio, in a flat boat of their own construction, with their families and their few earthly goods; and after many weeks of hardships and dangers were landed at Shawneetown, near where the Ohio joins the Mississippi. Here we bought four yoke of oxen and two wagons, and went to a small town called Carmi.
We stopped at this place until the spring of the next year, when we again started north. After many delays and stops at several places we finally came to a halt in what is now Morgan county. About the 1st of September, 1819, we encamped on the head of Mau- vaisterre creek about ten miles east of the city of Jacksonville, that is where it now is, but it did not look much like a city at that time. Our nearest neighbors were thirty miles away upon Spring creek, near Springfield, where Sangamon county now is. While occupying our first camp in Morgan county, one afternoon about 3 o'clock, while my father and uncle were out looking for a suitable place to build a house, we saw the prairie fire coming with great rapidity towards the camp. That morning my father had burned off a small piece of ground, about an ncre in size, just to please the children, and into this my mother, aunt and the children carried the goods of our camp, and then rolled in the two wagons, just in time to escape the flames which encircled us on all sides, and for a time almost suffocated us with smoke. Very soon after the fire had passed away my father and uncle came hurrying to camp, almost frantic with appre- hension for what might have been the fate of the families, but found us all safe, though somewhat frightened. The near approach of winter made us hurry up a cabin, and soon we were as comfortable as circumstances would permit. Away from neighbors and far from any place where we could get anything to supply our many wants, we had to go ninety miles down to Edwardsville for corn, and then take it home and pound it in the
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THE KELLOGGS-PIONEERS IN MORGAN.
hominy block ; then boil and eat it, with water for sauce and little else. Only once in a while our Indian neighbors would give us a piece of meat. My father and uncle were not hunters. If they had been we could have lived much better; and they did not even have a gun, save a small shotgun, with which we sometimes succeeded in getting squirrels, and they were a luxury in more ways than one. The squirrel made nice food and the skin was seized upon by the nearest of the children and drawn over the foot, where it did good service as both stockings and shoes, as we had no others. During this winter there came to our house three men; one was Dr. Roe, who is supposed by some to be the first settler of Morgan county ; but he was later by nearly one year than my father; one was Thomas Beard, who afterwards settled where Beardstown now is, the other was Billy Robinson, the old bee and deer hunter. These were the first white men we saw after we settled here. One year. afterwards my father sold his property to Mr. Slattern and moved three miles northwest of where Jacksonville now is. Here my uncle also settled. About this time or a little later, there came others and settled not far away. James Deaton and Abram Johnson, and still later Judge Aaron Wilson and Isaac Reeve, who had the first blacksmith shop that I can remember. Geo. Hackett came and put up a small store. James Deaton built a small horse mill to run with a raw-hide band twisted around the spindle. We now entered upon an era of comfort, and thought we were able to have a school. My father, I think, taught the first school in the county ; we also had a Sunday school at Uncle Jimmy Deaton's. Stephen Corban, John Car- penter, Mr. Hibbard, Moses Carlock, Benjamin Spartzen and others now came in; also Adam Allison and the Holidays. About this time Jacksonville came into being as a town; with Rearick, Rockwell, Cobbs, Carson, Taylor and others. The first nurse was Mrs. Carson; I remember she was a lady with kind feelings.
Our first article of export from Morgan county was cotton. My father and uncle made a large canoe, or perogue as they were called, and ran the freight down to St. Louis, all joining together. About this time the lead mines of Galena were beginning to attract attention and my father started in the midst of winter, with his team loaded with feed, and drove the first team eyer driven to Galena ; and eventually sold out his place in Morgan to a man by the name of Isaac Dial. Finally in the spring of 1832 he moved up to Jo Daviess county, again on the frontier, twelve miles from the nearest neighbors. Here I lived for thirteen years; the place became thickly settled, I was a man grown and married the daughter of Elias Williams, of old Morgan county.
My father died and again I felt the pioneer spirit stir me for a newer country. And in 1846, or 38 years ago, I left Illinois for the still farther west. I started with two teams of oxen and a double buggy to carry my wife and babies. After braving the wild, mountainous country, filled with wild beasts and still wilder Indians, for seven months I finally reached Napa Valley, Cal. Again I was in a country wild enough to rejoice the heart of any true pioneer ; here I found nature in her primitive grandeur and beauty ; and unlike my father and uncle when they came to Illinois, when I came to California I did not come without my trusty hunting rifle and with the hunter knowledge to use it. It was my living here. It brought me my meat, shoes and clothes for a long time. The mountains were full of elk, deer, grizzly bears and other game and I enjoyed this hunter's paradise for many years. Every Saturday I went to the mountains to get my supply of meat for the ensuing week. I have killed seventy-five grizzly bears, and deer without number; have seen elk by the thousand in droves and as many as 154 deer at one sight in one place. So you see I consider myself a pioneer in the fullest sense. But this is now the most thickly settled country in which I ever lived and I can scarce- ly tell where to turn to find another new country to go to. I expect I shall have to be content nere the balance of my life. My health is excellent; I can still do my share in the hunt. Last year in one of our hunts we got nine deer and one bear. But I must stop, though I have not told you a tithe of my frontier experience. I would like to attend one of the Old Settlers' meetings, but hardly expect that of all things; I don't see it clear to do so now, and so I will bid you good-bye, asking to be kindly remembered.
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POSTAL ROUTES IN 1832.
Second-MAIL FACILITIES IN 1832. MEMORIAL TO CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT.
The following article taken from the Illinois Patriot, formerly published in Jack- sonville, of the date of February 23d, 1832, is of interest in itself, and gives a vivid sug- gestion of the growth of the state and the wonderfully increased means and facilities of communication since that period :
The following letter was received by a gentleman of this town :
QUINCY, February 230, 1832.
SIR :- The undersigned, a committee of correspondence appointed by a meeting of the citizens of Quincy, take the liberty to enclose to you a copy of their proceedings, hoping that your citizens cannot fail to perceive the interest they have in co operating with us. We understand that the inhabitants of Jacksonville have petitioned the post- master general upon the same subject. But believing as we do that he has no power to establish such mail routes as these, we thought it better to apply at once to the press. We respectfully request that you will procure the enclosed copy to be inserted in the paper in your town, and that you will use your influence to get up a public meeting in Jacksonville to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning Congress on the same subject. If it shall be inconvenient for you to bestow your personal attention upon this matter, we request that you will at least interest some of your personal friends to take the matter in hand. We have the honor to be your obedient servants.
JAMES H. RALSTON, THOMAS FORD, ROBERT TILSON.
A meeting of the citizens of Quincy was held on the 11th day of February, 1832, when Adolphus F. Hubbard was appointed chairman and William G. Flood secretary. On motion
Resolved, That the chairman appoint a committee of fifteen members to draft a memorial to Congress on the subject of the mails to and from this place.
Whereupon the chairman appointed Thomas Ford, Williams, Robert Tilson. Earl Pierce, O. H. Browning, Levi Wells, George Taylor, W. G. Flood, J. H. Ralston, E. L. Pierson, J. M. Higbee. Arthur Anderson, H. H. Snow, E. S. Freeman and D. G. Whitney. On motion
Ordered, That this meeting adjourn until the 13th inst., at 2 o'clock.
MONDAY, February 13.
The meeting convened pursuant to adjournment and Thomas Ford, from the com- mittee appointed on Saturday, reported the following memorial :
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Congresx assembled:
Your memorialists, citizens of the town of Quincy, state of Illinois, in public meet- ing convened, respectfully represent :
That the transportation of the mail to and from this place is arranged in a manner exceedingly inconvenient. That there is no direct mail to or from any place, but Mon- tebeli and others, two of the least considerable points with which we have communica- tion. The great mail from Vandalia, by which alone we receive our eastern and most of our southern intelligence, is so arranged as to come by Springfield, Jacksonville, Carrollton and Atlas, making a distance of two hundred and forty miles. The distance on a straight line, by Hillsboro and Jacksonville, is only one hundred and sixty miles. and the mail might be transported on that route in four days; whereas on the route now established nine days are required.
Your memorialists further represent that the town of Quincy has lately grown into considerable importance, and is improving with unusual rapidity. It contains about eight hundred inhabitants, is the seat of justice of a county containing upwards of three thousand, and is the principal place of deposit for a large district of country. Also a
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MAIL FACILITIES IN 1832, 1878 AND 1884.
land office where considerable business transacted. The town of Rushville contains about six hundred inhabitants, and is about forty-six miles east of this. With that place we have no mail communication except by way of Atlas, Gilead, Carrollton, Jack- sonville, Job's and Beardstown, making a circuit of two hundred miles and requiring near two weeks to accomplish the route. With Lewiston, Peoria and Galesburg we have no communication except by a route equally inconvenient and circuitous.
Your memorialists further represent that the town of Palmyra, in the state of Mis- souri, is situated eighteen miles west. To that place there is no mail except by way of Atlas, Louisiana and New London, making a circuit of more than a hundred miles, and requiring ten days for transportation. Our principal commercial intercourse is with the city of St. Louis, from which place the mail is brought by way of Bowling Green, New London, Palmyra, Louisiana and Atlas. At the latter place it is permitted to re- main six days before it is conveyed to Quincy. By establishing a route from Palmyra here, we would receive intelligence from St. Louis and the greater part of Missouri, seven days sooner than by the present arrangement.
Your memorialists represent that the arrangement of the mails for the military tract in the state of Illinois is a real grievance to all its inhabitants, requiring the speedy interposition of Congress. That the country north of the Illinois River is organized into eleven counties, and by a reference to the late census, it will be perceived that it contained in 1830 seventeen thousand. This whole region is nearly destitute of mail privileges. The alterations herein suggested could be made, not only without injury, but with profit to the post office department, inasmuch as the revenue of the single office at Quincy amounts to four hundred dollars annually, and would much increase if we enjoyed more facilities of mail communication.
We earnestly solicit the attention of congress to the subject of this memorial, and therefore pray your honorable bodies will establish a mail route from this place direct to Vandalia by way of Jacksonville and Hillsboro; also a route to Peoria by way of Rushville and Lewiston; and a route to Palmyra in Missouri. On motion,
Resolved, That the memorial be adopted.
Resolved, That James H. Ralston, Thomas Ford and Robert Tilson be a committee of correspondence, and that they open a correspondence with citizens of such places as may be interested in the objects of the meeting.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and a copy thereof be transmitted to each of our members of congress.
ADOLPHUS F. HUBBARD, Chairman. WILLIAM G. FLOOD, Secretary.
Now, in Jacksonville, there are more than a dozen daily mails received and forwarded. During the twelve months, ending March 31, 1878, the number of mails received daily, was fifteen, the same number being dispatched. Number of letters mailed during same time, 510,000, and the number received was 540,000. The receipts from the sale of stamps and envelopes was $16,000; number of money orders issued being 4,940, amount- ing to $45,000; number of money orders paid 7,890, amounting to $65,000. The num- ber of letters registered was 875.
As to the business of the Jacksonville postoffice for the year 1884 we are indebted to Postmaster Gordon for the following information : Number of money orders issued 10,681, postal notes 1,500; money order business. paying and receiving, amounts to an average of about $500 per diem. The receipts for stamps and envelopes $18,000. Number of mails received daily 13, and sent out 15; pieces of mail matter letters and papers going out over one million. Letters and packages sent out as registered matter 1,610. Number received or handled in transit 2,701. Total number handled 4,311
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DAVID MANCHESTER.
Third-ONE OF THE EARLY SETTLERS-DAVID MANCHESTER.
One of the county's earliest settlers, David Manchester, was born by the side of Lake George, in Warren county, N. Y., in 1798. As soon as he was old enough he en- gaged in the lumber business and often went to Quebec, Canada, with lumber and brought back groceries, etc. When about twenty-one years old he left home and went to Fort Du Quoin, in Pennsylvania, bought a skift and rowed alone to Shawnetown then went on foot from there to St. Louis and worked in a liverystable four months for $5 per month, when he came to this county with less than one dollar, and settled where he now lives. Times were hard then ; provision scarce and no money in the country. He split over 500 rails for a pair of shoes, very poor ones at that. The leather was tanned in a trough, and the hair not one-half removed, and to get clothes he raised cotton which he took to Beardstown and traded for cloth.
They suffered very much in the winter of 1830 from the deep snow. It commenced snowing in November and snowed steadily forty days and nights in succession. They were forced to dig the corn out of the snow and dry it by the fire when they took it to Hall's Mill, where they had it ground. The only road they had was a sort of Indian trail and once when he and his brother-in-law had been to mill, his horse stepped from the path, and it was several hours before they could get him back, and get home; and they were nearly frozen when they got home. Ile was a fifer in the war of 1812 under General Strong, and Captain Spencer, thirty days, saw the battle of Plattsburg and thinks that our victory was owing to a quarrel between two English Generals; was through the Black Hawk War and was chief musician of Colonel Ewing's spy batal- lion with Captain Lindsay, and discharged from service by Major Anderson of Ft. Sumpter fame. While in this campaign he often saw Gen. Taylor, Jefferson Davis and A. Lincoln and was under the the immediate command of Gen. Atkinson. Enlisted as musician under Gen. Hardin to go to the Mexican War. Went as far as Alton and was taken sick, and sent back to Jacksonville where he was discharged, but was 'in the cam- paign against the Mormons. At the time he came here there were very few white peo- ple here, and the Indians were encamped all around here but they were friendly.
DNILY &WEEKLY JOURNAL OFFICE
DAILY JACKSONVILLE JOURNAL
THE JOURNAL OFFICE, IST 85. See page 201. EAST STATE STREET.
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J. A. WILLARD .- HOUSE PLANTS IN 1837.
Fourth .- A PIONEER ABOLITIONIST OF MORGAN. SKETCH OF MR. WILLARD'S LIFE.
In September, 1884, the venerable J. A. Willard died at the advanced age of 91 years at the home of his son Samuel Willard, M. D., in Chicago. Mr. Willard will be remembered by many of the early settlers of this county as one, who, with his son above mentioned, stood up so fearlessly for the cause of human rights in the perilous times described in Chapter VIII.
Mr. Willard had a varied career during his life, but leaves a fragrant memory. Coming from Vermont at an early day he first located at Carrollton, Ill., but soon after went to Alton. While there he made the acquaintance of the sainted Lovejoy and at one time defended him with his gun from a furious mob. Soon after 1837 he removed to this place and engaged in the dry goods business, keeping up his efforts in the cause of freedom.
In 1843, while assisting a fugitive slave to escape, he was arrested and hardly treat. ed, narrowly escaping the vengeance of the mob. He waived trial, carrying his case to the Supreme Court, and losing it there. Nothing daunted he continued to be a station agent of the "underground railroad," where he did good service in helping fugitive slaves to escape. He became so disgusted with the indifference and opposition of the church in the cause of human rights that he withdrew in 1840, and never renewed his membership. In 1845 he removed to Quincy, returning to Alton in 1850. Under Buck- master he became clerk of the penitentiary. In 1864 he quit active work, and moved to Springfield, busying himself with his garden and poultry. In 1871 he came to Chi- cago and lived with his son till his death. He lost his wife in October, 1875. At the first appearance of spiritualism he began to take an interest in that phenomenon, and in his last years he was as energetic in spiritualism as he had been in the church. He passed away full of hope, rejoicing to go, feeling that his warfare was accomplished and his work done.
Dr. Thomas of Chicago, at the funeral, referred to the services of Mr. Willard in the cause of the oppressed negro, when to do so was to court social ostracism. A man of that calibre could not be forced to say he believed what he did not believe. Grand old Lyman Beecher was of the same stock. He would not change a chapter in his history had he the power. He stood with the Lovejoys, the Lincolns, Garrisons and Phillipses.
Fifth .- SOME REMINISCENCES OF EARLY TIMES BY MARY JANE FAYERWEATHER,
JACKSONVILLE, OCT. 6th, 1884.
Sir :- I have thought you might be interested in the following statement for your History of Jacksonville: I came to Jacksonville in June, 1837. At my home in the east, not far from New York City, I had some greenhouse plants. Desiring to bring them with ine to my new home, I employed a skillful gardener to pack them. Of the geraniums there were the rose, beefsteak, nutmeg, silverleaf, horseshoe, &c .; the pas- sion flower, coral honeysuckle, calacanthus or sweet-shrub, mountain daisy, &c., were in the collection. I was told by friends that called, these were the first greenhouse plants brought to Jacksonville. I did not bring the flower pots, and thoroughly hunted at all the stores in the town for them and could not find one, I believed it was true; the best I could do was to purchase some "milk crocks," and with a gimlet pierce a hole in the bottom and use pie plates for saucers. The plants all lived and thrived finely, in the next two years I am unable to tell how many slips I cut and gave away. A young lady friend from the Jacksonville Academy, dubbed the rose geranium the "Patriarch." The coral honeysuckle and calacanthus in Dr. Sturtevant's yard are descendants from some of the original plants. In hunting for flower pots I was informed several times that there was a pottery in Winchester, if I would send an order describing the article I wanted, I might receive some in a month or so. We also brought a colored girl, about 12 years old, who was bound to my sister, (now Mrs. J. H. Chamberlain,) who, with my brother, James R. Fayerweather, was laid under bonds of $1,000 that she should never become an expense to the State of Illinois. The girl died in 1845.
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OTHER FIRST THINGS,
Sixth .- FIRST THINGS IN JACKSONVILLE, ACCORDING TO MR. ANDERSON FOREMAN.
John Eads first blacksmith. John Handy first carpenter. Joseph Meeker first tin-shop. Richard Nelson first rope walk.
Tolbert Hite the first shoe shop. Orsen Cobbs the first tailor shop. Frank Reed the first silver-smith.
Mr. Hardwick the first bake shop.
Murray McConnel the first lawyer.
George Rearick kept the first store.
Thomas Carson kept the first tavern.
Mr. Terry first Windsor chair maker.
Caleb Breech the first carriage shop. George Hackett had the first tan-yard.
The first blacksmith-Isaac Reeve, Sr.
Samuel Vanpelt made the first pumps.
John Henry kept the first cabinet shop.
Andy Newcomb first spinning wheel wright.
Sinclair & March manufactured spun cotton.
John P. Wilkinson built the first brick house. Parkinson & Miller first wool-carding machine.
Thomas J. Starr first stationed Methodist minister. The first school teacher-Judge Wm. Thomas, 1826.
The first ground was broken for cultivation in 1820. James V. Hedenberg first manufactured linseed oil. Smiley H. Henderson took out first license to sell whisky. The first female born here was Mrs. Ellen Conn nee Rearick.
The first male born in Jacksonville was Archibald W. Carson.
The first man to plant a crop of corn was John Reeves in 1824. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Jolin Glanville in 1822.
The first church was organized in 1822 in Father Jordan's cabin. The first circuit court was held by Judge Reynolds in April, 1823. The first male child born in the city and now living here Wm. Rockwell. The first white settlers in the county-Seymour and Elisha Kellogg, 1819. The first marriage in Jacksonville was John Smith to Deborah Thornton. The first to die in county was Isaac Fort Roe ; first in the city Daniel Ditson. Lorenzo Dow preached on the ground where the Rataichak Hotel now stands, in 1830.
JACKSONVILLE WOOLEN MILLS
CASH FOR WCOL
WOOLEN MILES OF JOS. CAPPS & SONS. See pages 187 8.
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BAPTIST CHURCH-DR. BATEMAN --- REV. EDDY.
Seventh .- HISTORY OF THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF JACKSONVILLE FROM 1841 TO 1884.
The Jacksonville Baptist Church was constituted June 1st, 1841, at the house of M. C. Goltra, lately deceased, who was one of its constituent members. Rev. Alvin Bailey served as pastor for six years, from its organization ; the first two and a half years of which he preached two Sabbaths each month, after that every Sabbath. Its first house of worship was dedicated in 1845.
Rev. W. F. Boyakin assumed pastoral care of the church Jan. 1st, 1849, remaining with the church for one year. In June, 1851, Rev. A. J. Bingham took charge of the church and continued a year and a half. During his ministry, Rev. Jacob Knapp held a protracted meeting of six weeks, as the result of which, nearly one hundred persons united with the church, few of whom proved to be permanent members.
On the 1st of April, 1854, Rev. G. W. Pendleton entered upon his labor as pastor of the church, and continued until 1858, when W. S. Goodno became pastor, serving two years. Dedicated new house of worship at a cost of $15,000, April 9. 1858. In 1862, Rev. W. T. Nelson, and in 1863, Rev. Win. G. Pratt served as pastor, one year each. In 1865, S. A. Kingsberry settled as pastor and continued to serve the church for three years. In May, 1868, Rev. Wm. Green entered upon the pastorate of the church and remained two years. Rev. S. Washington became pastor of the church, November, 1869, and served five years, until 1874. Rev. Hugh S. Marshall served as pastor from October, 1875, to October, 1876. Rev. M. T. Lamb served as pastor from 1877, to July 10, 1879. Rev. C. C. Pierce supplied the church from Oct. 1st, 1879, until February, 1883, when he resigned as pastor. Rev. B. F. Simpson was his successor until 1884.
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