USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Jacksonville > Historic Morgan and classic Jacksonville > Part 5
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After the hand-mill and mortar came the horse-mill, made after various plans, which, in its day, was considered a great improvement on its primitive predecessors. During the first years of the settlement of Morgan county, the pioneers of that time,
31
CORRECTING MISREPRESENTATIONS OF PIONEER LIFE.
did they desire better accommodations than that furnished at Diamond Grove, were compelled to go to Edwardsville, eighty-five miles away. The settlers were greatly dependent on each other during this period, and were noted for their hospitality and kindness toward one another and to strangers. Their latch-strings were always out, and though frugal their fare and humble their accommodations no one was allowed to go away hungry or uncared for. During this early period the settlers were much de- pendent on each other, in illustration of which it is related that one of them during the first summer, trudged eighteen miles in the tall prairie grass to borrow an iron wedge of his neighbor. Long journey's would have to be made to procure tools to use in their daily avocations. It was not uncommon for men to go fifteen or twenty miles for an ax, a chain, or any such article when needed.
During the fall of 1820, sometime in December, Mr. John Bradshaw visited the settlement and marked out his claim on what was known later as the Warner farm. and still later as the Chestnut place, adjoining this city on the southeast. He did not, however, remain during the winter or make any improvements until the following spring.
Gen. Murray McConnel, a gentleman who has since occupied no mean position among the noted men of the state, also paid his first visit to Morgan county during the fall of 1820. He made his settlement on the place now owned and occupied by Mr. Riggs, in what is at present known as the Gilham neighborhood, within the present lin :- its of Scott county, but did not commence improvements or remove his family to hi ; claim until the following spring.
Thus the early annals of Morgan county have been opened up, and details of it., history given, based upon the personal knowledge of persons who were upon the spo: and themselves witnessed what has been described, the facts given covering the period of the first year of the settlement of the country within the present limit of the county. Some of the first settlers of that period yet remain, and numerous descendants of others of them who have passed away, yet live in the county, some of them on the very spot first settled by their father or grandfather.
The Kerr place was settled in 1820 by Mr. Jesse Ruble. He sold his first improve ment and claim to Mr. Kerr, who came the following year. Mr. Bailey says:
"The delineation of the early western frontier character has become hackneyed, yet many of the writers upon this subject have picked up their information in every possi - ble way, except that afforded by a long personal experience and observation. Hence much of error has naturally crept into published descriptions of pioneer character and its early primitive surrounding.
. "This fact is illustrated in a recent article of considerable length in the Atlantic Monthly, giving a descriptive account of the early settlement of Sangamon county, Illi nois, purporting to be from the pen of an eastern guest of Win. H. Herndon, of Spring- field, upon whose authority many of the incidents embodied are given. While the ar- ticle referred to gives some true descriptions, there is also interwoven much that the early pioneer will recognize as exaggeration and absurdity ; and the writer's deductions and conclusions in reference to the pioneer character as a class, are in some particu- lars little short of positive slander. For instance, he pictures the early settlers of Illi- Dois as characterized by looseness of morals in the relations and intercourse of the sexes, ascribing the cause to the absence of the enlightened social refinement of a more advanced civilization.
"Never were the pioneers of Illinois more grossly misrepresented. In honesty and purity of morals they were the peers of the men of Massachusetts, and in openness of character, kindly hospitality, neighborly fraternity and some other noble qualities, their superiors; because uncontaminated with the vices of a refined and advanced east- ern civilization. Female purity was a marked social feature among the early settlers. A majority of them were newly married people who came to establish homes. Of the unmarried the young men outnumbered the young women, and as the girls grew to ma- turity they were early sought in marriage, few remaining single to the age of twenty
32
NEIGHBORLY COURTESIES-ANOTHER "FIRST BABY."
years. Incentives to vice that are incident to densely populated communities in the east, were not to be found in the scattered settlements of a new country ; hence purity in the social and domestic relations was a ruling characteristic among the pioneers.
"The early settlers were especially noted for kindly fraternity of feeling. They were much dependent upon each other, having to borrow and lend and the strong bonds of fellowship were cemented by mutual interests and necessities. The visit of a neigh- bor always awakened pleasurable emotions, and the stranger was welcomed to the homely cabin with an open hospitality unknown and unfelt amid the surroundings of an old settled country. The settler would cheerfully leave his own work and walk five, ten or fifteen miles to assist his neighbor in rearing his cabin or the performance of any heavy labor requiring help, regarding it as a pleasant duty which his neighbor would, if required, perform for him with equal cheerfulness.
"There was no law in those days, nor need for any, the rule of kindly fellowship governing in the intercourse and business relations of the settlers, while politics as a disturbing element was unknown. It was several years later when disreputable char- acters began to straggle into the settlements, rendering the organization of "regulators" necessary.
"As the supply of clothing which the settlers brought with them began to wear out, they were driven to shift in the best way they could to supply that want. Many of them had brought with them their spinning wheels, and those who were so fortunate as to own a few head of sheep were in a measure independent, the women being able to spin and weave linsey and jeans for the family wear, the weaving being done on home-made wooden looms. The game beginning to multiply after the first season, the rifle was brought into requisition and the skins of the deer were dressed and converted into warm and comfortable clothing.
"The Corrington farm on the Mauvaisterre, was settled in 1821, by Mr. W. Miller. Stephen Jones settled the Cassell place, and Joseph Slattern made the first improve- ments on the O'rear place.
"Billy Robinson, an old, white-haired hunter, made an improvement north of Anti- och Church, on which Bennett Jones afterward settled. Isaac Edwards and Mr. Scott located north of the Curts and Reeve places.
"John Anderson settled on the Layton place; James Taylor taking the farm west of the Stephen Dunlap place, on the northern side of the north fork. Mr. Murray was the first settler on the Dunlap farm, and Mr. S. Berey took possession of the quarter section east of it.
"Mr. Olmstead settled on the quarter-section east of Colonel Matthews. All of the above settlements were made in 1821.
"Rev. Peter R. Boranau was one of the early Methodist preachers in the county: he became a noted revivalist, and died in Chicago, some forty years ago."
"Martin Lindley settled at Camp Hollow, since known as the Fisher Place, near Beardstown; and Timothy Harris and John Catrough accompanied him. Harris set- tled on the north side of the creek opposite the Bluff House; but Catrough remained with Lindley for some time afterward, and during a prairie fire came near losing his life, his jeans clothing being burned to a crisp. On December 20, 1820, Julia A Lindley, daughter of Martin Lindley, was born; supposed to be the first white child born in the county. In 1821 Mr. Lindley moved to Peoria, where he remained one season, then proceeded down the river and stopped for a time at the mouth of the Mauvaisterre, from thence returning to Camp Hollow. He was killed by the caving in of a well in the year 1830; his family remained at Camp Hollow until 1855.
"Mr Thomas Beard came to Beardstown in 1820, but did not commence improving until 1822 It is related that he built his cabin over a den of snakes, and for some time the inmates were annoyed by the reptiles crawling through the crevices of the puncheon floor. In 1826 he married Miss Sarah Bell, I. R. Bennett, Esq., of Emerald Point performing the ceremony. After the location of the seat of justice at Beards- town, it became an important shipping point, and Mr. Beard became wealthy. Elisha Lenn, Mr. Waggoner, Simeon Lenn, Solomon Bery, John Baker and Nathaniel Herring were among the earliest citizens of Beardstown.
33
THE FIRST STEAM BOAT-MRS. JOB AND THE INDIANS,
"The first steamboat ascended the Illinois River in 1826, the river being navigated, prior to that time, only by kecl-boats, flat-boats and canoes.
' Bees were very plenty, and two of the settlers, Messrs, Buckleman and Robinson, collected in 1827 fourteen barrels of honey, selling the wax for money enough to enter their claims.
"Mauvaisterre Creek is said to have been named by the early French voyagers ou the Illinois River. Indian Creek is supposed to have been named by the early rangers under General Whitesides, from the fact that while pursuing a marauding band they killed an Indian on that stream, in 1814 Archibald Job, subsequently, for many years a noted public man, settled on Job Creek, in Cass county, in 1820 With his family he left Pittsburg on a keel boat, on the 30th of October, 1819, and landed at St. Louis early in February, 1820, having been detained some time by ice. Leaving the keel-boat in charge of his wife and children, Mr. Job came up the river located his claim and built a cabin. He broke twelve acres the first season, fencing it by fell- ing saplings with their tops interlocked. About the 12th of May, 1820, David and Thomas Blair settled in Mr. Job's neighborhood, and during the same season went for their families. On the authority of Mr Job, it is understood that the first Baptist preacher was Rev Samuel Bristow; Rev. William Sims and Rev. William Crow being next in order.
When Hon. Archibald Job came to Morgan county, as mentioned above, he left his wife on the west side of the Illinois River, alone in camp by a log fire, while he came over into the Sangamo country to meet a brother-in-law. During his absence twelve Indians came to Mrs. Job's tent and demanded whiskey. She told them her husband had taken it all away with him, but they refused to believe her or to leave and she had to remain there all night alone, with those savages lying upon the ground on the opposite side of the camp-fire. How few matrons of the present day could stand such a trial of nerve !
' Alexander Wells, James Gillbam and Alexander Bell were the first settlers in the 'Gillham neighborhood.'
"Mr. Keller was one of the settlers of 1821, and was killed by the Regulators.
"In the year 1820, Mr. Thomas Arnett settled near the present reservoir for the Insane; he was the first justice of the peace in the county, and one of the proprietors ot Jacksonville. He sold his first claim to John Leeper and moved to the Loar place.
"Col. Joseph Morton and John Bradshaw came to Morgan county in 1820, and located claims, but did not remain. They returned the next season and commenced improvements Col. Morton used a wooden cart-in which there was no iron to be found-when hauling his rails and doing farm work They fenced eighteen acres the first season. Mrs Minnie Conover settled on Indian Creek about 1821 The public lands in this section were surveyed in 1821 and brought into market in 1823. Mr. C'barles Robinson settled at the head of the southern fork of Mauvaisterre Creek in 1820; his money capital was twenty-five cents, and he invested that in whisky to make bitters for curing the ague. He hunted bees for a time, and sold wax enough to enter the first eighty acres He afterwards became wealthy.
"Miles Wood settled the Posey place, adjoining Jacksonville on the east.
"The first school taught regularly in the county was held at Isaac Edwards' farm, on the Springfield road-now owned by John Shuff-Mr. Palmer being its teacher.
"After Rev. Joseph Bisey, Rev. John Miller was the first local Methodist preacher, but. Rev. Newton Pickett rode the first Methodist circuit established in the county. Rev. Levi Springer traveled trom Indiana to Morgan county, Illinois, in company with his wife, each on horseback, in the fall of 1823 From Paris they started on the 'lost trace,' crossing the Grand Prairie to the head of the Sangamon River. They were two nights on the prairie, sleeping on the grass, with no protection save the blankets which they carried, the wolves howling all about them. Reaching Springfield they found only a few cabins, and thence proceeded to Crow's Point, on Indian Creek, near which place they settled.
"Abel Richardson, and his sons Daniel and Benjamin, settled on the Mauvaisterre in 1821, on the place now owned by Benjamin Richardson, three miles east of Jackson- ville. During the same year Judge I R. Bennett located at Emerald Point. He was one of the early justices, and performed the ceremony between Mr Beard and his first wife. He afterward served in the legislature, and as associate county judge.
"Joseph Slattern settled in 1821, on the Orear place. In the year 1823 Enoch C. March came, and afterward built the Exeter mills, being one of the proprietors of Ex- eter, and held the first sale of lots, in the fall of 1828
"Roland Shepherd came to the county about 1821, and in 1823 built a band-mill, which was run by horse or ox power. It was located on what is now the William Taylor farm, situated on Indian Creek.
34
FROZEN TO DEATH-A COTTON GIN.
"Deaton's mill was the next built, and Magill's mill was afterward erceted on the northern fork of the Mauvaisterre. John Wyatt afterward built a horse-mill.
"Rev. John Brich came to the county at a very early day, and left it many years
ago He perished in a winter storm in the wilds of one of the northern countries, while pursuing his missionary labors. Finding himself overcome by the cold, he took his will from his saddle-bags, signed it, and hung the saddle-bags on a bush. He was afterward found dead near the bush, the saddle-bags leading to the discovery
"The first census of Morgan county was taken by General Murray McCounel, in 1824; but the returns were lost with other county records by the burning of the first court-house. At that time, in a northeasterly direction from Crow's Point, the coun- try was wilderness. Led by the barking of a dog in that direction, General McConnel found a family encamped; but upon inquiry, and examination of a blazed line and witness-tree, he found he was on the line of Sangamon county, and that the camp was in Sangamon "
The Cumberland Presbyterians were also among the pioneers in religious organiza- tions in the settlements. They had a camp-ground and church six or eight miles north- east of Jacksonville, and here they maintained regular religious services for many years. No records of their organization can now be found. nor can any one now living remem- ber the year when this church was founded. Mr. Huram Reeve remembers they were holding camp-meetings in 1824, and thinks their organization had been in existence but a short time. Others concur in this view, although some maintain that this church is as old as any in the county. The latter view is in all probability incorrect, for had such a church existed in 1821 or 1822, it would have been well remembered by the settlers of that time. This church was probably organized about the year 1823, and though it does not exist at present was one of the oldest in the county.
About the same time that Col. Morton and Mr. Bradshaw settled on their claims in this county, the Rev. Samuel Bristow, a Baptist minister, brought a colony, composed of the Box, Reid, Curlock and Boyer families. These were organized into a church, which was in all probability, the second religious organization in what afterward became Morgan county. This little colony settled about three miles northwest of the present city of Jacksonville, in the vicinity of Box Creek, which derived its name from one of the families who settled near its banks, on what now is known as the McDonald farm. This Baptist Church continued in existence for many years, but the organization has for some time been disbanded. The preaching of the Rev. Samuel Bristow was probably the first religious services of this kind, held in that settlement. The Methodist ministers are generally found with the advent of settlements, and are almost always among the pioneers, proclaiming the good news of salvation. It is not definitely known whether any were here during the years of 1820 or 1821. Mr. Huram Reeve, says, that the first Methodist preacher that he remembers being in the settlement, was the Rev. Joseph Basey. Rev. Samuel Thompson was the first presiding elder here, and held a camp meeting on Walnut Creek, within the present limits of Scott county, in 1822 or 1823. Mr. Reeve remembers attending this camp-meeting and thinks his recollection is correct.
The season of 1820 is remembered as being remarkably dry. One of the settlers remembers that no considerable fall of rain occurred from April, 1820, to the same date the following year. A good crop of corn and other field products, owing to the richness of the soil, and the heavy dews, was however grown. The next season considerable cotton was raised, and a cotton gin erected by Mr. Johnson, on the farm later owned by C. M. Dewey, Esq., on the Meredosia road. To this gin the neighbors from far and near brought their raw cotton to have it ginned. Esquire Sears, who with Mr. Johnson and some others settled early this year, is reported to have raised one thousand pounds of cotton on four acres. The cotton when woven with hemp or flax made an excellent article of clothing. Until cotton and flax were raised the clothing of the settlers in some cases gave out, and they were compelled to supply the deficiency as best they could. Deer skins, when properly tanned, made a good article of clothing, much worn by the early pioneers. As soon as cotton and flax could be raised they were spun and woven into cloth by the women, who used the spinning wheels, often brought from their former homes, and the old-fashioned wooden loom.
During the spring of 1821, a storm occurred, in which a tree was blown down upon the roof of the cabin of James Crain. The roof was crushed in, and Jehu Reeve killed. Mrs. Crain was badly injured. One of her arms was broken and one shoulder was put out of place. The broken arm was set by a man named Langworthy, but his limited medical knowledge did not lead him to discover that the shoulder was out of place, and in consequence Mrs. Crain remained ever afterward a cripple.
It was during the summer of 1821, that Dr. Ero Chandler located and began his practice. He erected his house and office on the ground now occupied by the Grace M. E. Church, in Jacksonville. He proved a useful man in his profession, and in after years accumulated considerable property. It is related of him that he came into the
35
FIRST MEDICAL FEES-D'OSIA LAKE AND VILLAGE.
settlement on a broken down horse, and with but the single suit of clothes he was wear- ing. When in his pedestrian visits to his patients his clothes were rent by underbrush or briars, he was accustomed to borrow a needle and thread and repair the damage himself. His medical fees would be regarded as exceeding moderate these times, his charge for a visit made on foot and not occupying a whole day being seventy-five cents. When the visit occupied a day, and he had to borrow a horse to accomplish the distance, his charge was a dollar. But the doctor prospered with the growth of the country, and he afterward owned the eighty acres of ground in Jacksonville on which the Academy stands, and on which Chandler's Addition, now occupied by many of the most valuable residences in the city, was platted; and by him the Rockwell house was built. His memory is warmly cherished, and his usefulness remembered by the early settlers.
"Point or Turn-round" Brown built the first tavern in the county in 1821, at a place about seven miles south of the present county seat, on what was then the St. Louis road, afterward the upper road. The accommodations afforded by this tavern would not compare favorably with those furnished by the hotels of to-day. The sleeping arrange. ments consisted of two beds, one of which was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and the other a large square bedstead, in which the children slept. The children were placed with their feet to the center and their heads out on the four sides, thus enabling them to economize sleeping space. Travelers of that day usually carried a few bed quilts with which they "turned in" on the floor ; but when a bed was called for at the tavern, the old folks gave up their bed and crowded in with the children.
The first bridge in the county was built this summer (1821) over the Mauvaisterre Creek, at a place east of the city on the Springfield road, where Rock bridge now stands, by Col. Joseph Morton, Mr. Levi Deaton and a few others. The long sills intended to span the creek, were drawn to the bank by cattle, and the work of getting them to their place was accomplished by splicing together a sufficient length of log chain to reach across the creek, one end being attached to the sill and the other stretched to the oppo- site bank, where the oxen were hitched to it and the sill drawn over to its place. Split puncheons were then pinned on the sills for flooring, and the bridge was finished to be used until the next flood carried it off, when the work had to be repeated.
When the Robertson family came to Morgan county, in 1821, and struck the north- ern fork of the Mauvaisterre, where they settled, the only white men living on Indian Creek, were Roland Shepherd, who was settled at Taylor's Point, and his son, Peter Shepherd, who had made an improvement at Adams' Point. The Kelloggs had built two cabins in the neighborhood, in 1820, one on what is now known as the Roach place. and the other on the place settled by Alexander Robertson. They vacated these cabins and claims, for a location further west, in the Gilham neighborhood.
During the period between 1823 and 1827, there was a constant increase of emigra- tion to Morgan county, principally from the southern counties of the state.
But little trouble with the Indians was experienced by the early settlers of Morgan county. There were none in its limits, after the white men entered, save straggling hunters or small roving bands who came to some parts, especially those near the river, to fish and hunt. The western part of the county contains several Indian mounds of great antiquity. Just above Meredosia, on the east bank of the river, is a beautiful level plateau containing about fifteen acres. This was the village home of a tribe of Indians, and it was here that Antoine D'Osia, a French priest from whom the lake and present town of Meredosia received its name, labored for the good of these sons of the forest. The Indian village and its dusky inhabitants have long since gone, but the name of D'Osia will live as long as Meredosia and its Inke remain. During a visit of some Indians to Washington City, not many years ago, they stopped at Meredosia while on their way, where one of them, nearly ninety years of age, related how he had roamed over various parts of the county, and pointed out many objects of interest to his com- panions. He also related to one of the citizens of Jacksonville, while they were en- camped at the fair grounds, many interesting stories of his youthful days. He had
36
THE KELLOGGS AGAIN-THEIR JOURNEY WEST.
hunted and fished in the woods and streams near the present city, when no thoughts of the white man existed in his mind, and when he and his comrades were sovereigns of this country.
No depredations by the Indians were ever committed among the settlers of Mor- gan county, and no record of the killing of any white men, after the settling of the county, is known to have occurred. The settlers north of the Illinois River were, how- ever, not so fortunate.
The Kelloggs with their families, being the first permanent settlers within what is now Morgan county, deserve a more extended notice. When the erection of the monument to the memory of Isaac Fort Roe, took place, in 1869, it was supposed that he was one of the first three settlers in the territory of which we are writing. He was one of the first three explorers passing through this region, as narrated, and was the third settler in the present limits of the county. Mrs. Minerva Richards, now living in Jacksonville, a daughter of Ambrose Collins, distinctly remembers the settlement of the Kelloggs. She states that in the Summer of 1818, her father, a native of Ontario county, New York, left his home with his family, a few articles of household furniture and provisions enough to last some time, came with two wagons to the Alleghany River, above its junction with the Susquehanna, where he procured a flat-boat on which he embarked his possessions, and proceeded down the Ohio River. His destination was the southern part of Illinois. On the way down the river he fell in with Seymour and Elisha Kellogg, who with their families were proceeding in a similar conveyance to the same destination. Mr. Collins and Seymour Kellogg had been acquainted in their native state. The latter had been a Colonel in the war of 1812, and was known by that title. At Shawneetown they disembarked and proceeded in their wagons to Carmi, on the little Wabash River. They remained here during the winter and the following summer. Early in the autumn of 1819 they loaded their effects again into their wagons, and went on westward to Edwardsville. IIere Mr. Collins was taken sick and was compelled to remain through the winter. The Messrs. Kellogg with their families and Charles Collins, a son of Ambrose Collins, with their teams, some cattle and provisions for the winter, started for the Sangamo country. They followed a more northern route than that generally adopted by emigrants. Their only guide was the compass and a few indistinct trails, made by roving Indians or adventurous bee hunters. Late in the Fall of 1819, they arrived near the head of Mauvaisterre Creek, erected two cabins and made provisions for the winter, now rapidly approaching. The country lay about them in all its native wildness. No signs of life were seen, save foot-prints in the brown paths, worn by Indian feet ; and the shy, frightened birds, squirrels, or deer, that darted away into the wildwood, at the approach of the emigrants. No foot of white men save that of the adventurous scout, or wandering hunter, had pressed the sod of these wild prairies, or roamed through the trackless forests. Mauvaisterre Creek had not known the abode of a white man. Anxious to build homes where they could rest secure, and where they could gather the fruits of a life-time, these pioneers braved the dangers of a frontier life and founded their homes where now are :
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