USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Historic sketch and biographical album of Shelby County, Illinois > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
While in those former days the political arena in Shelby county was the scene of bitter strife and factional feuds, in these latter days there is an absence of that base fraud and chi- canery so noticeable in many localities. And though the Democratic party is the one which still holds the balance of power. yet there exists a wholesome respect for one another.
We look to the future with a calm and steadfast faith in our Federal constitution and government, believing them to be the best on earth, and though sometimes the storm clouds of the smoke of battle may roll above us, and the thunderous booming of the cannon may be heard : and though perchance we may be stirred from center to circumference by civil or inter- national unpleasantness, yet the ship of state will ride securely over the troubled seas, and glide safely into the harbor : political tricksters and demagogues will be a relic of the past. purity in politics will everywhere prevail, and none but good men and pure, will secure nomination for any political office.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE PIONEERS THEIR HARDSHIPS, HOMES, ETC. -
CHAPTER V.
While the old century is a-dying, let us withdraw our gaze for a little, and take a retro- spective view of the happy past, when the cen- tury was young-a past which can never come again, and the like of which can never again be seen in this part of our noble land.
Our minds have been upon the intrepid, daring, modern explorer, who is carrying his life in his hand as he persistently and unflinch- ingly pursues his undaunted way toward the Pole ; let us think, for a moment, of the hardy pioneer who, gathering up his few belongings. and with his little family in. carts or upon the backs of horses, leaving the friends and scenes of his youth behind him, pushes out into a coun- try unknown to him, and the journey toward which is fraught with hardships and dangers the extent of which he does not know. This perhaps requires as much faith and courage upon his part, and is perchance as great an un- dlertaking in the eyes of those he leaves behind, as the heroic efforts of the explorer in Arctic regions.
Our thoughts are with the modern architect and builder, who are planning and erecting superstructures of rare symmetrical grace and beauty, of gigantic proportions and wondrous strength ; let us turn our minds to the humble pioneer, who, with no other mechanical imple- ments than his faithful ax and cross-cut saw, and without any knowledge whatever of pillar,
cornice of archivolt, goes into the forest, and saws and hews for himself a log palace which he may call home, and of which he is King, and his wife is Queen.
We are thinking of the artist, and gazing with enraptured eyes upon the magnificent landscape which he has placed upon the canvas ; then let us think of the pioneer farmer, who comes into a wilderness of forest and wild prairie land, and after a little, under the magic touch of his hand, there spring up the fields of waiving grain and the gardens of fruit and vege- tables, which are not alone pleasing to the eye. but are pleasing to the taste as well.
We may be contemplating with wondering amazement the perfecting of the electrical ap- pliances, by which it is possible to flash a mes- sage around the globe in a few seconds of time : let us turn our thoughts to the pioneer, who necessarily waited weary weeks and even months for an answer to his written message, carried on foot and by horseback to his early home, and for the sending of which he might pay as much as a half dollar, or even more.
We gaze upon the marvelous machinery which lightens the toil of the farmer, and ex- pedites his agricultural labors, and then think of the plow with wooden mold-board, the hoc, sickle and rake of the pioneer, with which he did most of his farm work.
Contemplating with a good deal of satis- faction the many charitable organizations and institutions, through which flows help to our more unfortunate fellows, let us turn our eyes
36
1
LOOKING NORTHWEST FROM DOME OF COURT HOUSE, SHELBYVILLE.
HISTORIC SKETCH.
backward and behold the true charity of the settlers, who, with more sincerity than tact, per- haps, relieved the distress of the unfortunate, and shared their little with the neighbor who had less.
The man who came to this country in those early days, and now, with dimming eye and whitened hair, sits by the fireside and talks in a happy, garrulous fashion of his youth and young manhood, can not be made to believe that these latter days are better than the former ; that there is an increase in happiness, an im- provement in social life, a higher standard of morals, and an upward tendency in all that re- lates to mankind. And we would not undeceive him if we couldl. Blessed pioneer-the founder of our homes, and the forerunner of our suc- cesses !
The majority of the pioneers of Shelby county came from the states of Kentucky and Tennessee, while many came from Ohio. Many of those from the first two states named were descendants of the intrepid Indian fighter and hunter. David Crockett, and settled in the southern and eastern parts of the county, while those from Ohio, generally of a little wealthier class, settled in the northern part of Shelby. The latter were distinctively the better agricultur- ists.
In speaking of the Ohioans as belonging to a "wealthier class" than the others, we must not be understood to mean "wealthy" in the sense in which it is now generally understood; for in those days all men were poor. having but few of the comforts, and none of the luxuries of life. With this, however, it is important to re- member that their poverty carried with it no crushing sense of degradation, as does that of the very poor of our own day. They lived in log cabins, it is true. but they were their own.
and had been reared by their own hands. toil- hardened and labor-stained as they were. The houses, too, were built in the prevailing style of architecture, and did not suffer by comparison with those of the neighbors, which were neither better nor worse. As has been indicated. these houses were of logs, made in the simplest style. all of them having wide. gaping fire-places, and many of them having no other escape for the smoke than that afforded by a hole in the roof, It was an unmistakable sign of the "aristocracy" to find a frame house, rude though it may be. with a brick chimney. This, however, was a rarity indeed. The prevailing custom was to have one large room which was used for recep- tion room, drawing room, library, parlor and bed room, and a smaller room, where the cook- ing and eating were done. Another plan, and there were many houses built after this fashion. was to have two large rooms with log walls, and a broad hallway between them. These rooms were called the "big-house." and "kitchen." respectively. Occasionally there would be a loft over these rooms, which would sometimes be dignified by the name of "up- stairs."
Another fact worthy of note was that very many of the pioneers located their cabins "in the brush" along the river, and a man who built upon the open prairie was openly denounced as a "fool" in no unmistakable terms. This antip- athy toward the "open" was due, in all prob- ability, to the settlers having come from the protected regions of mountains and woods.
The furnishings of these humble dwellings comported admirably with the house itself, and hence. if not elegant, were in perfect taste. It was all of the simplest pattern, and was shaped entirely with no other tools than the ax and auger. The tables were rude affairs, made from
37
HISTORIC SKETCH.
a puncheon, a log split in two, and the rough side hewn off with ax or adz. To this were affixed four legs, and the table was complete. The chairs were principally three-legged "stools." Each man was his own carpenter, and some of them exhibited considerable skill in the construction of agricultural implements, uten- sils, and furniture for the kitchen and house. Wooden vessels, either dug out or coppered were in common use for bowls, out of which each member of the family ate mush and milk for supper. Gourds were used for drinking cups.
The diet and cookery were of the simplest. Wild game abounded. The settlers brought with them enough provision to last them until they could plant and raise a crop on their new land. Indian corn was raised, which was re- duced to meal by being beaten in a mortar, This meal was made into a coarse, but whole- some bread, though many times the teeth were "set on edge" by the grit which it contained, Johnny-cake and pones were served up at din- ner, while mush-and-milk was the "old stand- by" for supper. While they had a plenty of game and vegetables all the week, the corn bread was mostly reserved for Sunday, and coffee was served only on Sunday morning, or to visitors. Then each member of the family, even the child of but a few years, was indulged to the extent of a "gourd of coffee." Maple sugar was much used and honey was but five cents a pound. This was also the price of butter. and eggs were but three cents a dozen. Corn was but six and one-fourth cents per bushel. The "truck patch" furnished roasting ears, pumpkins, squashes, beans and potatoes, and these were in common use. The streams abound- ed in fish, which furnished a healthful and abundant article of diet. Chickens, geese, tur- keys and ducks were very numerous. Wild
grapes and plums were to be found along the streams, and nature vied with man in producing for the latter an abundance of the most sub stantial and stable provision for his temporal needs. Truly, there are today worse places thai "Old Shelby" was in the pioneer days.
Each house contained a card-loom and spinning wheel, which were considered by the women as necessary for them, as the rifle for the man. The sheep were sheared, the wool carde and spun, the manufactured cloth dyed and made into clothing. all within the family. Everyone wore "homespun," most of which was dyed with walnut bark, while Indigo was re- served for "something very fine." In cool weather, gowns made of "linsey-woolsey" were worn by the women. The men and boys wore "jeans," sometimes blue, and sometimes "but- ternut" in color. Many times when the men gathered to a log-rolling or barn-raising, the women would also assemble, bringing their spin- ning wheels with them, with which they would busy themselves, the hum of the spinning being accompanied by the pleasant murmur of the voices of the fair manipulators.
The dressed skin of the deer were much used for pantaloons by the men and boys. Meal sacks were also made of buckskin. Caps were made of the skins of the wolf. fox. wild cat and musk-rat, tanned with the fur on. Both sexes wore moccasins, which in dry weather, were an excellent substitute for shoes. There were no shoemakers, and cach family made its own shoes.
The settlers were separated from their neighbors, often by miles, and as there were no "meetings" to call them together. the alacrity with which they accepted an invitation to a "bee" of any kind, can easily be imagined. The utmost good will and brotherly love existed
38
HISTORIC SKETCH.
among these pioneers. It is related that at one time a man by the name of Price, who lived in what is now Ash Grove township, was taken sick and was unable to harvest ten acres of wheat which needed cutting. The weather was pleas- ant and it was the "full of the moon." Imagine the pleasurable surprise when. upon going to the door one morning. Mrs. Price discovered that the kind-hearted neighbors had come under cover of the night and had cut and shocked the whole field of wheat. This is but one of many such kindlyacts which go to illustrate the spirit which existed in the early days, and which is, alas! too little known today.
At all log-rollings. house-raisings and corn-shuckings it was customary to provide liquor and a dance. Excessive drinking was not engaged in, however, and the company pre- sented a gay appearance throughout the even- ing and much of the night, after the labors of the day were ended, and the supper had been disposed of. Great sport was had at the husk- ings. Then, the corn was not husked from the stalk as it is today, but was hauled in the husk to the side of the cribs, where, when divested of its husk, it would be thrown directly into the crib. This done, and the whole neighborhood assembled for the sportive task. "sides" were chosen, and the work began. As the pile had been evenly divided. between the two opposing sides, the work of husking resolved itself into a veritable contest between the two factions, each party endeavoring to complete the husking of its allotment first. One of the rules which pre- vailed, was, that whenever a male husked a red ear he was entitled to a kiss from the girls. This was sometimes abused, however, as it has been confided to us by one of the "old boys" that fo- days before the husking they would be on the alert for red cars, which they would carry with
them, and then at frequent intervals during the evening, produce them, claiming to have just found them in the heap before them. Thus many a laddie has kissed his lassie under the abused privilege of the red-ear custom.
The amusements of that day were more athletic and rude than those of today. Among the settlers in a new country, from the very nature of the case. a higher value is set upon physical than mental endowments. Skill in woodcraft. superiority in muscular development. accuracy in shooting with a rifle, activity and swiftness of foot, were qualifications which brought their possessors fame. Foot racing was often practiced. and frequent contests were en- tered into with the Indians. Every man had a rifle, and always kept it in good order. ready for instant use. His flints, bullet-moulds. screw- driver. awl, butcher-knife and tomahawk were fastened to the shot-pouch strap, or to the belt around his waist. At all gatherings wrestling and jumping were engaged in. Cards, dice. and other gambling devices were unknown. If dis- putes arose, they were settled by a fair, hand to hand fight, and no other weapons than the fists were used.
Hospitality was one of the dominant vir- tues of the pioneers, a stranger never being turned from the door. and no charge ever being made for the entertainment provided. though sometimes the guest freely offered something. One of the older men tells us that he has seen as many as fifty people lodging upon the floor of his father's house, while in attendance upon a meeting of a Baptist association.
While we would not step back into the pioneer days, if we could, we may still sigh for some of the noble traits and characteristics. unknown now, which disappeared with the pass- ing of the Old Pioneer.
39
WINNOWED GLEANINGS FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS.
CHAPTER VI.
To the majority of human beings it is ever a source of pleasure and a matter of interest. to get a glimpse of the past. There are several. ways in which this may be accomplished. One of the most pleasurable is that of tradition. Who among us, is not delighted when permit- ted to sit in the circle of those whose locks have been silvered by the snows of many winters : whose eyes have grown dim and their steps more slow and feeble, and listen with eagerness as their minds, still bright and strong, and filled with thoughts of the past, wander back over the years, and they recount the incidents and hap- penings of early days? How the eye brightens. and the cheek takes on lustre, and the voice grows strong and animated, as the olden memor- ies take possession of the mind ; and how pleased they are when one will attentively listen to the reminiscences which are, to them, the renewal of their youth! It is from such that we gather much of the truest history-that which cannot be gathered from any other source. Blessings on the wrinkled brow and whitened head! May they always be revered and sacred to us.
Another source of information relative to matters past. is the official record : and from this we purpose gleaning this chapter of our His- tory. This, too, gives us an insight into the manners and customs which prevailed in the earlier day, and owing to the kindly courtesy of the officials, we are permitted to produce for our
patrons and friends many interesting excerpts from the official records of Shelby county. Some of these which we have selected will appeal to the humorous, and still will give us a good idea of the simple, homely manners which were of sufficient "polish" to serve all purposes of the pioneers. As some of the extracts will be copied verbatim. it may be seen that the oll spelling book was not a very popular vohime ; that cap- italization and punctuation were practically un- known arts ; still a thorough knowledge of these things does not seem to have been necessary in order to add to the legality of any document or transaction in law. We refrain from further comment, and copy
THE FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE NOW' ON RECORD.
"State of Illinois. Shelby County. The people of the State of Illinois.
"To all to whom these presents may come. Greeting: Know ye, that license and permis- sion are granted unto any judge of the supreme court, or any inferior court in the State of Illi- nois, any justice of the peace, or licensed minis- ter of the gospel in Shelby county, to join to- gether in the holy bonds of matrimony, as man and wife, W. I. Provalt, and Miss Lidy Wilborn, now both of Shelby county, according to law and custom of this state, and for so doing this shall be their sufficient warrant.
"Witness, Joseph Oliver, clerk of the Coun- ty Commissioners' court of Shelby county, and
40
1
HISTORIC SKETCH.
his private seal. no official seal provided yet. at Shelbyville, this third day of October, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, and of American Independence, the 52d.
"JOSEPH OLIVER, Clerk,
"County Com. Court."
MARRIAGE LICENSE NO. 100.
We also transcribe the 100th marriage li- cense which was issued by the clerk of the court. showing a slight change in the construction from that of the one above :
"State of Illinois. Shelby County. The people of the State of Illinois.
"To all to whom these presents may come. Greeting : Know ye, that license and permis- sion is hereby granted to any licensed minister of the gospel, judge or justice of the peace, in the County of Shelby, and State of Illinois, to solemnize the rites of matrimony between John W. Sadler and Miss Bashaba Lindly, now both of the county and state aforesaid.
"Witness, Joseph Oliver. clerk of the Coun- ty Commissioners' court of said county of Shel- by, and state aforesaid, this 17th day of Novem- ber. 1830. "JOS. OLIVER. Clerk. "Issued on oath of Jno. Whitley, Sr."
We append the following certificate, which is endorsed upon the back of the above license : "I do certify that on the eighteenth day of november I joined together in matrimony John Sadler and Bashaba Lindly, accorden to law this the 30 day of november 1830.
"JOSEPH BAKER. J. p."
It seems that in those early days no young man and woman could get a marriage license. without first having secured the consent of the parents of both the contracting parties. Nearly all of these licenses are accompanied by the
written consent of parents. We copy a few which are varied in construction of both words and sentences :
PARENTAL CONSENT.
"Mr. Robberds pleas giv james Homes licens to marry Melissia Reed
"JAMES B REED"
"This is to certify that I have given my consent to the Marriage of my Son william graham, and Caly (Sally) Sawyers as witness my hand this 7th of July, 1830.
"JONATHAN GRAHAM."
"AMOS VENTREES.
"JAMES GRAHAM L. D."
Accompanying the above is the following from the father of the happy young damsel be- forementioned :
"This is to certify that I have given my Conscent To the marriage of my Daughter Cala (Sally) Sawyer and Willani graham, sun of Jonathan graham, as witness my hand this 7 Day July, 1830. "CHARLES SAWYER."
"Test.
"DANIEL LINDEN.
"JOHN SAWYER."
The "licens," to the issuance of which the above "conscent" was given, was duly secured and it is to be hoped that the amorous twain enjoyed for many years the consequent conjugal felicity.
"To the Clerk of the County Commishern Court of Shelby County, this is to give you to no that you are at Liberty to give Lisence to Henery South and Sarah Hall to be joined as man and wife. "WM. HALL. Sen."
On the back of the license issued in re- sponse to the request of the above mentioned parties, appears this endorsement of the justice of the peace who performed the ceremony :
41
HISTORIC SKETCH.
"I do hereby Certify that I Solomonised the within on thursday, the 30 of oct. 1828.
"LEVI CASEY."
"To Mr. Joseph Oliver, Clarke of the County Comisinors cort.
"this is to certify that ! give you leave and am willing that you shold give or grant lissons to marry this frau under my hand this io of may 1830. "JOHN WAGONNER. "test
"JOHN WHITTLEY Sen."
It is a matter of conjecture as to whether one condition upon which the consent was granted was that the "frau" should be married under the outstretched hand of the parent: or that as he wrote he had his hand upon her head in parental blessing : or did he belong to that very numerous class of men to whom it is a matter of pride to have the women of the house- hold "under their thumb?" It is to be hoped it was not the latter.
Following, we have a copy of the license and certificate of marriage of a couple of Shel- by's popular young people in the "20's :"
"Know ye, that license and permission is hereby granted to any licensed minister of the gospel, judge, or justice of the peace, in the county of Shelby and state of Illinois, to join in marrage Mr. Jeremiah Dunn and Miss Nancy Tull, now both of the county of Shelby and state aforesaid.
"Witness, 13th of December. 1829. "JOSEPH OLIVER, Clerk.
Endorsement :
"William Siler enters himself as security for the Maid in the above license. "WILLIAM SILER.
"Issued on oath."
on the 16th Day of December. 1829. [ solemized the bonds of matrimony between
Jeremiah Dun and nancy tull given under my hand and seal this first th Day of march 1830.
"LEVI JORDAN J P"
In strong contrast to the certificates of mar- riage of the present day, which are truly beau- tiful productions of art. are the certificates to be found in the official records of by-gone dec- ades, a few of which we append. Still the blushing bride of the early part of the century prized just as highly and treasured just as jeal- ously the little scrap of parchment upon which was scrawled in uncouth words the record of her marriage to the man she loved, as now the bride of the present delights in the tastefully executed record of her own marriage.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES.
Certificate of the marriage of Mr. E. Woollen and Miss T. Hall :
"I do hereby certify the within was dueley executed on the 27 day of July 1831 by me S Alphin J p."
If the above is to be taken literally we wonder what was the crime of which this couple was guilty, that should lead to their "execution" upon their wedding day?
"State of Illinois, Shelby County January the 17 A. d. one thousand eight hundred and thirty too I solinized the wrights of Matrimony Between Robot (Robert) Tempelton and phebe horn.
"Giving under my hand and Scal this the 17 of Jan 1832. "G. BAKER, J. P." "State of Illinois. Shelby county.
"this is to certify that Mariage was cilli- brated betwixt Thomas duty and Sally Skean on the seventh of November 1827 by me
"SHELTON ALLPHIN Jp."
42
HISTORIC SKETCH.
Though the peculiarly worded lines, mis- spelled words and utter ignorance of punctua- tion, all crude in themselves, make the above extracts from the records seem ludicrous to the reader, still underneath it all runs the same old story of love and embarrassment, of doubts and fears and coquetry, of the wooing of the one who is to the wooer his heart's idol, which finds its counterpart in every modern courtship. These also prove that in those years the youths and maidens depended more largely upon the heart. rather than upon the intellect, for their mutual attraction and the recompense of their love.
Some one has said: "I would rather live in a hut that 1 had built with my own hands toil-hardened and labor-stained: and have a grassy path leading down to a spring, so that I could go down there and hear the water gurgle from the lips of earth, like a poem whispered to the white pebbles; and have some lattice " work at the window so the sunlight could fall in, checkered, on the babe in the cradle; and some hollyhocks and trees, with the birds sing- ing and swinging in their branches-1 would rather have these, and be with the woman 1 love than to reign in a palace with a queen, whose heart I did not possess."
We turn aside from the contemplation of that in which there is much sentiment. and at- tend to that which is of purely commercial na- ture. In the early days of the county. and, in- deed, for many years after its organization it was necessary for any one engaging in business pursuits to first pay license for the privilege of the same. We copy two receipts for moneys re- ceived for the privilege of retailing merchan- dise, and of running a show, respectively, which show us the amount of tax levied for such priv- ileges :
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.