USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 4
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On January 4. 1893. the new jail was in- spected, accepted, and taken possession of.
POOR FARM.
We have stated in the previous pages that Shelby county is rich in farm products, and with the comforts and luxuries of life, and that her citizens are those of affluence. Yet the utterance of the "lowly Nazarene." spoken so many hun- dreds of years ago, is true of our county today : "The poor ye have always with you." And it was with the view of supplying a suitable home for these indigent poor, that the Board of Super- visors, in 1867. appointed a committee to pur- chase a farm to be used for that purpose. The men who served on that committee were Edward Roessler. W. J. F. Howe and Michael Frey- burger. After mature deliberation and diligent search, they finally selected the farm of James . I.
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
Livers, situated four and one-half miles north- west of the City of Shelbyville. The farm con- sisted of 240 acres. 130 acres being under culti- vation and the balance in timber. It was con- veniently situated and admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was purchased. This farm cost the county nine thousand, sixty dollars.
After securing the farm. the committee ad- vertised for some one to lease the farm and care for the poor. On the 12th of AAugust. of that year. David Price was appointed superintendent. and entered into an agreement with the board for a term of two years. It necessarily took some time to get the place in readiness for its unfortu- nate occupants, as more room had to be supplied. together with beds, bedding, and other house- hold furnishings, so that it was some little time later that the first quota of paupers. eleven in number, were received. The terms of agreement by which Mr. Price took charge of the farm and its occupants, stipulated that he was to receive six hundred dollars per year. in addition to what he could make upon the farm, provided the in- mates were not more than ten in number. If the number increased. he was to receive two hundred dollars per year additional for each who could not work. and one hundred dollars for each who could perform labor, the county physician deciding as to the physical ability of such pau- pers : and in the event of a failure of the crops. or their destruction by storm. Price was to re- ceive reasonable compensation for keeping the poor : he was also to provide for the inmates good and wholesome food. and keep the resi- (lences in a clean and wholesome condition.
Early in 1868, fifty-six of the citizens of the county signed a petition and presented it to the Board of Supervisors, requesting their imme- cliate attention to alleged mismanagement of the Poor Farm, and the suffering condition of the
poor. A thorough investigation was at once made by the Board. in person, and upon infor- mation furnished them, added to what they dis- covered for themselves, they unanimously de- cided to relieve the superintendent from further control, which, however, was only amicably ar- ranged by paying him one hundred fifty dollars. and allowing him to retain two-thirds of the wheat crop.
In March, 1868. the farm was let to Francis Winson for one year. In 1869. J. J. Cline rented it for one year for the sum of three hundred eighty-four dollars, the county paying two dol- lars and forty-five cents per week for the support of each pauper. Subsequently it was determined that it was a better plan to employ a superintend- ent. at a salary of five hundred dollars a year, to manage the farm and look after the inmates, than to rent a $9.000 farm for $834 per year. Thereupon the Board of Supervisors employed such superintendent upon salary, and this plan has been adhered to down to the present. Since that time commodious brick buildings have been erected, and we now have a good. substantial Poor House, capable of housing a large number of the unfortunates who are obliged to seek pub- lic aid. The main building is in square form of two stories : a wing. about 120 feet long and 24 feet wide. is attached to the north side. The inmates receive every attention and suitable care from the present superintendent. L. J. Heinz. who is serving his ninth year in his present capacity.
The overseers and superintendents of the Poor Farm have held office as follows :
David P'rice 1867
Francis Winson 1868
J. J. Cline 1869-1870
John E. Lane .1871-1876
Theodore Allen 1877-1878
.
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
John E. Lane 1879-
Harvey Boyles -1891
1 .. J. Heinz. . 1802-
We quote from the report of Mr. Heinz to the last meeting of the Board of Supervisors :
"Since my last June report I have received 11 inmates, and 14 have left my custody ; dis- charged, 7 : died. 3 ; homes found for 3; deserted, 1; total, 14. There are at present on the Farm, 39 : fifteen males, and twenty-four females, classi- fied as follows: Blind, 4; insane, 3 ; old and in- firm. 5 : children, 11 ; crippled, 2 : simple minded, 6: afflicted in various ways, 8; total. 39. The general health of the inmates is good, the Farm is in good condition, and the stock is all looking well. The following products were raised on
the Farm last year : Corn, 3,000 bu. ; wheat. 407 but .: oats, 800 bu .: clover seed, 12 bu. : hay. 30 tons : potatoes, 275 bu. : beans. 3 bu. : onions. 6 bu. ; beets, 5 bu. ; cabbage, 1,000 heads ; butter. 1,100 lbs. : apple and other butters, 87 gal. : canned fruit. 144 gal. ; soft soap. 300 gal. ; hard soap. 400 lbs .: lard, 125 gal .; apples, 175 bu. ; pickles of various kinds. 135 gal. : dried fruits, 8 bu .; and a lot of other garden cereals. I have butchered ten hogs, estimated gross weight. 260 lbs., on average. AAm feeding one beef. and nine hogs more, which 1 intend to kill. Have sold various articles, amounting to $500.79, which amount I have turned into the county treasury."
This report surely shows a good condition of affairs at the Poor Farm.
LOOKING WEST FROM DOME OF COURT HOUSE, SHELBYVILLE.
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GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION-SIZE-TOPOGRAPHY - DRAINAGE-PRIMEVAL CONDITIONS, ETC.
CHAPTER III.
Geographically. Shelby county is situated between parallels of latitude thirty-nine and forty. A small portion of its western boundary is formed by the third principal meridian. It lies a little to the south of the centre of the state, and is surrounded by the following coun- ties, viz: Christian, Macon and Moultrie on the north : Moultrie, Coles and Cumberland on the east ; Fayette and Effingham on the south ; Christian and Montgomery on the west. From north to south, it measures thirty miles. and from cast to west its greatest breadth is thirty- six miles. The area of the county is a little more than eight hundred square miles, and con- tains about 512,000 acres of choice fertile soil, which ranks amongst the richest and most pro- ductive in the state. Especially is this true of the northwestern portion of the county. The leading employments of the people are agricul- tural pursuits, which are carried on quite exten- sively, rewarding the laborers richly. The lead- ing staple products are Indian corn, potatoes. vams, hay. sorghum. wheat. oats and broom corn. The raising of the latter has become quite an industry, many of the farmers having from fifty to one hundred acres of it the first season. Broom corn commands a good price. a clear profit of from forty to fifty dollars an acre being realized on it. Unlike sections of the country where only one or two kinds of produce
are to be depended on. the farmers of Shelby county are always sure of an abundance of farm produce, because of the variety which can be, and is grown here. You can name scarcely any fruit, grain, grass, or vegetable which is not found in abundance on the farms of the county. It is no wonder then, that the enter- prising and intelligent people. who go to make up the greater part of the population, are pros- perous and fore-handed, and are in a position to have every reasonable desire gratified. Com- fort and even luxury are to be found upon every hand. No spot is more favored, and no county in the state has a greater number of people who are farther advanced in affluence, intelli- gence, refinement. and, in fact, all the blessings of life.
COUNTY CAPITAL.
The capital of the county is situated in town- ship eleven north. range four. on sections seven and eight. A part of the city-Moulton-ex- tends over onto section thirteen of Rose town- ship. Shelbyville is near the centre of the coun- ty, and is on the lines of railroad of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, and the Cleveland, Cin- cinnati, Chicago and St. Louis.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The greater part of the surface is smooth prairie land : a part is undulating : while there is a large number of small hills or bluffs, and deep ravines. These are to be found adjacent to
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
the numerous streams of the county. Particu- larly do we find this true along the Kaskaskia river. MMlong this river one may drive for many miles, over rolling hills and through beautiful. wooded glens, ever and anon fording the quiet little river, which, however, plays no unimpor- tant part in the natural
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
of the county. This river, which is the largest stream in Shelby county, enters on the bound- ary line between Windsor and Okaw town- ships, takes an irregular course toward the southwest, and leaves the county at the south- ern line of section 15, of Dry Point township. It finally mingles its waters with those of the Mississippi river at the western extremity of the state. In its course it passes along the eastern side of Shelbyville, and affords the pleasures of boating, bathing and fishing to the people of the city. The Kaskaskia, with its tributaries, drains the greater portion of Shelby county. The Lit- tle Wabash river has its source in numerous small streams in Ash Grove township, and drains Ash Grove, Big Spring and Sigel, leav- ing the county on section eighteen of the last named township. The principal tributary of the Little Wabash is Copperas Creek. which enters it from the east, on section twenty of Big Spring township. Wolf. Brush and Richland creeks furnish the waterways of Prairie and lolland townships. Richland creek being swelled by the waters of Brush creek, and join- ing the Kaskaskia on section eleven of Dry Point. Mitchell creek is the principal stream of this township, aside from the Kaskaskia, and crosses a corner of Cold Spring in its south- ward course. Beck's and 'Possum creeks drain Oconee and the western part of Cold Spring. Rural is watered and drained by Mud creek and
its numerous branches. Flat Branch and Mo- weaqua have Flat Branch creek, which flows in a northwesterly direction, leaving the county on section six of Flat Branch township. It has a number of small tributaries. It is readily seen that the entire county is threaded with a net- work of small rivers and streams, so that the surface is well watered and drained. Beside these streams, in many portions of the county are found springs of clear, cold water, and nu- merous small lakes. The surface of our county is higher, generally, than that of adjoin- ing counties, as may be inferred from the fact that so many streams have their source here. The climate is all that could be desired, the happy mean, between the extremes of heat and cold.
TOWNSHIPS.
Shelby county is divided into twenty-two municipal townships. Running from north to south, and beginning at the west, they are as follows: In the first tier. Oconee, which is at the southwest corner of the county ; second tier. Moweaqua. Flat Branch, Rural, Tower Hill. Cold Spring and Herrick : third tier, Penn, Pickaway. Ridge. Rose and Dry Point: fourth tier. Todd's Point, Okaw. Shelbyville and Hol- land : fifth tier, Windsor. Richland and Prairie : sixth tier. Ash Grove. Big Spring and Sigel.
Oconee. Dry Pomt. Holland and Prairie each comprise one and one-half townships, or fifty-four sections of land.
POPULATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
The population of the several townships of Shelby county, as determined by the census of igoo, is as follows
Ash Grove 1.348
Big Spring 961
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
Cold Spring 1.133
Dry Point. 2.520
Flat Branch
991
Herrick 887
Holland. 1.833
Moweaqua 1,802
Oconee. 1.691
Okaw
1,408
l'enn.
541
Pickaway
890
l'rairie
2,096
Richland
1.350
Ridge
1.084
Rose
1.415
Shelbyville
4.304
Rural. 867
Sigel. . 980
Todd's Point
629
Tower Hill
1,538
Windsor
1.808
Total
32.076
SOIL.
A more definite allusion to the soil miglit be made than that already contained in the pre-
ceding pages. The soil of most of the northern part of the county is a dark, rich loam, and produces finer crops of corn than that of any other portions of the county. In the south- western part of Shelby the soil of the flat prairie and timbered lands, is very thin; and on the mound slopes exceedingly rich and productive. Good crops of wheat are raised in most of the northern part of the county, and on the mound slopes of the southern part.
Excellent sand for use in plastering is pro- curable on Little Wabash and Kaskaskia rivers. on Sand creek, and from some of the drift ex- posures. The sand and gravel of the county are good material for the building of roads. Shelbyville is particularly fortunate in having an almost inexhaustible supply of splendid road material. conveniently located. A good quality of clay for brick-making may be found almost anywhere in the county. Limestone, suitable for lime, can be obtained only on Sand creek. and four or five miles north of Shelbyville.
It is readily seen that nature has wisely and generously provided for the needs and com- forts of residents of Shelby county.
STATE ROADS BRIDGES-STAGES-POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS.
CHAPTER IV.
It is ours to give but a brief survey of those highways for public travel within the county. which are known as State Roads ; and though we may not make mention of all of them, still we shall speak of the most important-the ones upon which there is the most travel.
Good roads are a sign of civilization. The wild animals make winding and devious path- ways through the forests; the savage is content to follow a crooked trail across the prairie or through the wood ; but civilized man casts up a highway, straight and level. upon which to drive his teams and haul his loads of produce to market. The more thrifty and in- dustrious are the residents of any given com- munity, the better will be the roads of that community. Some classes are content to travel on for decades over roads which have no bot- tom, into the mire of which the wheels of their vehicles sink deep : or over the old corduroy roads which still exist in some localities, and which would serve very well as the proverbial road over which the "pauper's" bones were to be rattled. Good, hard roads are always cheaper than poor ones, as many men have found ont to their cost.
One of these state roads, and perhaps the one over which there is the most travel, is that leading westward from Terre Haute, Indiana. connecting that city with Shelbyville, and of which Main street, of the latter city, is a con- tinnation. Another takes its way in a zig-zag
diagonal across Shelby county from Vandalia, forty miles to the southwest, and takes in Shel- byville on its course. Still another, is the high- way between Shelbyville and Springfield, about eighty miles to the northwest. Taylorville is one of the towns along the road between the two cities above mentioned. This same road extends south and cast of Shelbyville as far as Charles- ton. It was over these roads that the old stage coach of pioneer and ante-railroad days took its slow and lumbering way, carrying the United States mail, and occasionally a passenger or two. Once in a while quite a distinguished per- sonage would be carried to and fro through our county. No less a man than Martin Van Buren. the eighth president of our Republic, once passed through Shelbyville by stage, and stop- ped over night at Tresler's tavern, at Cochran's Grove, where there was what was then known as a "stage stand." James Cochran was then postmaster at that place. We can say with equal truth that no greater man than Abraham Lincoln ever passed this way, patronizing the stage coaches and inns by the wayside. The Tallinan House-now Leland-Greer's Tavern. three and one-half miles east of the city, where Bud Hilton now lives, and the tavern at Coch- ran's Grove were the most popular ones of all along the route, and it was the Tallman House where Lincoln and other lawyers used to board while in Shelbyville, attending court. Old Mrs. Tallman, who was hostess of that house in the olden days, and who still resides in the city. has a very pleasing recollection of the immortal
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a
ABRAM MIDDLESWORTH.
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
Lincoln. During one session of court, at which "Abe" was in attendance, Mrs. Tallman pre- pared one day an old-fashioned "boiled din- ner," the like of which we all remember well. Of this Lincoln ate with a relish, and literally gorged himself, so fond was he of that prepara- tion. Some time later, coming to Shelbyville to attend court again, before going to the court house in the morning, Mr. Lincoln sought Mrs. Tallman in her kitchen and said: "Mrs. Tall- man, can't you give us another boiled dinner. today?" which she proceeded to do. and of which the man, who was destined to become the "Savior of his country." ate just as raven- ously as he did of the first dinner he ate in the Tallman House.
The roads, even the state roads, were ex- ceedingly bad in the early days, and it some- times became necessary to carry the mail in a rude box, hoisted upon the axle between two wheels, and even then employing from four to six horses to drag this outfit through the mud. The only post office between Shelbyville and Cochran's Grove, was kept by the father of Jasper L. Douthit, four and one-half miles east of the city, on the farm where he then lived.
Some of the other taverns which existed in the early days through this section. were lo- cated : One on Washington street where B. M. Davis' livery now stands ; one on the south- west corner of the public square : the Harrison Tavern. on the corner of Main and Broadway. where Scovil's store now stands : one kept by James Culter. Sr .. in Moulton, known as "Old Culter Stand :" and one at Prairie Bird. now Henton. Still another was about eight miles out on the Springfield road, which supplied a stopping place for the stages and travelers.
At some seasons of the year. as may still be done. it was possible to ford the various
streams of the county, at almost any place : but at other seasons they rose to a raging torrent. and then bridges became a necessity. The first bridge over the Kaskaskia was one erected just east of Shelbyville, and finished and accepted by the county commissioners. in 1834. From that time on other bridges were constructed. some of a poor class, and others of a much more sub- stantial and worthy kind. Today there are a great many bridges within the county, and many of them of as good material and as substantially made as any to be found. Iron bridges, with stone abutments prevail. In this connection we must speak of the gigantic piece of en- gineering skill displayed in the construction of the C. & E. I. R. R. bridge across the Okaw, just at the eastern limit of the City of Shelbyville, and which is the largest bridge in the state of Illinois. Its erection was completed in the fall of 1897. It is a massive structure. 1600 feet from end to end. and 106 feet high.
POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS.
The history of the political parties and leaders is better known by the old .residents of the county, than we can record it. still some little mention must be made of it in these pages.
A number of the different parties have had existence within Shelby county, though some of them never attained great prominence : the most important ones being the Democratic. Republican and Whig. The old residents can look back and recall with vividness some stormy scenes of the early 60's, when hearts beat quick and blood ran riot through the veins : when good. patriotic men. ordinarily. were led away by par- tisan prejudice and hot-headed leaders. to per- form acts which in moments of their cooler judgment they would have spurned from them.
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HISTORIC SKETCH.
From the inception of the county it had been a Democratic stronghold, always giving one of the largest majorities of any county in the state. No other party had been able to have representation through the press, until the pub- lication of "The Shelby Freeman," in 1860, and as a natural consequence, the dominant party had things all its own way, and was loth to ad- mit any force or factor which would deteriorate from its own power. Hitherto "free speech" and a "free press" were unknown quantities in the county, as any effort to secure the publica- tion of an article which was in the shghtest de- gree censorious of the existing condition of affairs, was summarily "squelched."
The organization of the Republican party. in the Lincoln issues of '58 and '60, was the signal for the passing of the Whig party. many of the members of the same uniting with the Republicans, though a few went with the Democrats. Under the circumstances which then existed it is not strange that through par- tisan prejudice otherwise excellent citizens were led to take sides with the enemies of the gov- ernment.
E. F. Chittenden. J. W. Johnson, and oth- ers, were able supporters of the new party and its principles, and their papers, the Freeman and the Union, published first in 1863. won the sup- port of many of the sober and fair-minded Democrats, amongst whom was Hon. S. W. Moulton. There were others, however, who were not openly friendly, but by adherence to the right. as they saw the right. were enabled to prevent their party from running off to the greatest extremes of "copperheadism" as it was then termed. AAmong such might be mentioned General Wm. F. Thornton. Judge Anthony Thornton, and others. Both of these gentle .- men, whose names appear, though bound by ties
of birth, blood and training to a Southern view of the question at issue, ever spoke loyal and patriotic words from the beginning, and did much to prevent riot and bloodshed within our borders. In a meeting of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a semi-secret organization for the purpose of inciting resistance to the draft. Judge Thornton was vehemently denounced as a traitor because he had advised submission to the government at Washington, and condemned those who were arming and drilling in our midst.
A certain preacher (?). by name Woods. made use of these words in addressing the "Knights," and was roundly cheered when he made this reference to Judge Thornton : "Had it not been for such weak-kneed, cowardly traitors we should have had King Lincoln de- throned long ago, yea verily, and beheaded."
Jasper 1. Douthit was appointed to take the enrollment of the eastern half of the county, and so bitter was the opposition to this work. that his life was in constant danger, and at one time his house was bombarded in the middle of the night. Doubtless his life would have been sacrificed in the discharge of his duty had it not been that he often went from place to place in disguise. John R. Harding, who superintended the enrolling in the county. Elliott, in Holland township. Manly and Huffer, in Prairie, Turner. in Richland. Wilkinson. Hilsabeck and Rose. in Windsor, were men who were members of the various political parites, yet aided much in prevention of violence, and in submission to the Federal government.
General Thornton was perhaps as great a political leader as our county has ever seen, and though dominating in things political, he was a man of pure mind and integrity of purpose : and it is pretty good evidence of the righteousness
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1596004
HISTORIC SKETCH.
of his reign that the adherents of his party were quite willing to be led by such a man.
Another party to be reckoned with in the political circles of Shelby county, is the Prohi- bition party, organized in a convention called for that purpose. by Geo. L. Douthit. May 29. 1886. Believing that the time was ripe for an organized warfare against intemperance. this gentleman, with the assistance of a number of others. succeeded in this organization. After- ward they went heartily to work, and by a tre- mendous effort raised the vote from 80 for St John. in 1884. to 436 for their candidate for state treasurer. in 1886. In 1888. 327 votes were polled in this county for their candidate for presi- dent. The organization of this new party stir- red up nearly as much unjust criticism and opposition as did the efforts against slavery twenty-five years before. J. L. Douthit was the leader of the new forces, and published Prohibi- tion literature in profuse quantities : and again. as in the 60's, his life and property were threat- ened by destruction. But an unswerving cour- age and loyalty upon the part of this little band of workers against a great evil, has won for
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them also the respect of the older parties, and for years no harsh criticism has been heard.
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