Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 52

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126

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Luke P. Allphin. of Camden, one of the very few survivors of the Mormon war, gives an in-

teresting reminiscence of the campaign. Hle was a private in Capt. Wells' company, and says the mien went to Carthage armed with flint-lock rifles, butcher knives and clubs, and with the idea of waging a war of extermination against the Mor- mons. Camden Township was within the zone of operation of the thieves and pillagers, who claimed protection in the Mormon city. and this had created intense hatred against the new re- ligions sert.

Mr. Allphin's company was in Carthage when the Smiths delivered themselves up to the officers, and they remained there until mid-day on June 27th, when they were discharged from service and started on their return home. That night they went into camp about twelve miles from Carthage and the men were in high spirits, as they had secured about fifty pounds of fresh meat before leaving Carthage, and at camp a farmer's wife had baked for them a quantity of bread in skillets. These provisions were stored in Mr. Allphin's big covered wagon, drawn hy a span of oxen, and the men also had a quantity of liquor which they had deposited there.

During the night a messenger arrived from Carthage on a horse fiecked with foam and noti- fied the troops that the Smiths had been mur- dered. and that the Mormons were marching across the country murdering men, women and children as they came. While at Carthage the men had been regaled with stories from Hancock County volunteers of the wanton wickedness of the Mormons, and they were in a state of mind to believe the excited courier from the seat of war. Then followed a rout that Mr. Allphin says left only ten men at their encampment, and. he adds, that if it hadn't been for his yoke of oxen he would have taken to the timber himself. The most of men in the company had families at home, and their services to the State having terminated. they felt that their first duty was to protect their own firesides. The hasty departure of the volunteers left an overstocked commissary department, and Unele Luke smiles in pleasant recollection today as he thinks of that old eov- ered wagon, with its precious load of fresh meat. johnny-cakes and whisky.

The anticipated Mormon uprising failed to come about. but the hatred engendered between this religions body and the residents of Hancock County was such that hostilities were exported to break forth at any time. In the fall of 1541 an invitation was sent to prominent Schuyler County

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citizens lo join in a big wolf hunt, but it was generally known the movement was started situ- ply to collect a force to drive the Mormons and their sympathizers, known as "Jack Mormons." from Illinois. This intended raid soon became noised about. and Gov. Ford again left the State capital for Carthage in October of that year. This time he was accompanied by a Sangamon County militia company, known as the Spring- field Cadets. They passed through Rushville on their way to Carthage and encamped for one night in the court house yard in Rushville. Gov. Ford did not share the discomforts of camp with his sobliers, but instead stopped at Mrs. Jane Stephenson's tavern, located where the George Little grocery store now stands.

An incident occurred at this time which is well worth recording. While the troops were en- camped in the city Gov. Ford thought he would Indulge in pistol practice to perfeet himself in the art, and he set up his target in the rear of the tavern. It was in close proximity to the home of James Little, and he resented this infraction of the village laws and swore ont a complaint against the Governor for using firearms within the corporation limits. Gov. Ford immediately went before Jacob O. Jones, who was Police Mag- istrate, and paid his fine and then hastened with his troops to Carthage. But on the return trip the soldiers of his command had their revenge. They matched into Rushville at night and while the villagers slept they loaded their big brass howitzers and fired them on the public square and before the echo had died away they were again on the march beaded towards the Illinois River.

For the next two years there were frequent clashes between Mormons and anti-Mormons in Hancock County and Major Wm. B. Warren of Jacksonville commanded an armed force in the winter of 1845-46 to preserve order and protect property. During that winter a convention was held at Carthage. which was attended by dele- gates from surrounding counties. to discuss the situation, for it really amounted to a state of civil war ; but under the capable management of Major Warren a semblance of order was restored. In early. spring of 1846 the western emigration of Mormons began and, within a short time, the main body had left for the new home at Salt Lake and, with the wrecking of the Mormon tem- ple. the last hope of an abiding place in Illinois was at an end.

CHAPTER XXX.

CRIMINAL TRIALS AND EXECUTIONS.

DAVID MORGAN EXECUTED FOR MURDER ON JAN. 31, 14-THOMAS 1ORD. ALLERWARDS GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, HESI PROSECUTING ATTORNEY-CHAR- ACTER SKETCH OF THE MURDERER BY REV. JOHN SURIPPS-DAVID AND ELIAS M'TADDEN, OF M'DON- OUGH COUNTY, EXECUTED JULY G, 1835-THE EXECUTION A PUBLIC ONE-PRISONERS BORNE TO THE GALLOWS ON THEIR COFFINS ATTENDED BY A MILITARY GUARD-FIELDING FRAME, A SCHUYLER COUNTY MURDERER. EXECUTED AT CARTILAGE MAY 15. 1533.

In the eighty years that have elapsed since Schuyler county was organized and given a civil government, but three criminal executions have been witnessed within her bounds, and only one person executed for committing murder in this county. The last of these executions was held in 185 and. although there have been a number of murders committed since then, punishment has been latted to penitentiary sentences.

The first murder in Schuyler County was com- mitted in May, 1531, when David Morgan killed George Everett. in the woods at the top of Coal Creek hill, on the lower road from Frederick to Rushville. Morgan was brought to Rushville and lodged in the oldl log jail, which was guarded day and night by special deputies employed by the Sheriff. When court met ou October 5, 1831. Morgan was indirted for murder, and was brought before Judge Richard M. Young for trial. IIe had made no provision for attorneys and the court appointed Adolphus II. Hubbard and James Turney to conduct his defense. They asked for a change of venue to MeDonongh County and there Morgan was tried and convicted. The ver- diet of the jury was set aside by the court. and Morgan was returned to Schuyler County and a special torm of court was called to hear his case on January 2, 1832.

The brick court house was not completel at this time, and the County Commissioners ar- ranged for holding court in the brick school house. but on January 3. 192, this action was rescinded. doubt having arisen whether the fora er order

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of the Commissioners was legal in consequence of no notice having been given for hobling such special term. In spite of the fact that the court house was not finished inside, Judge Young con- vened court there and ordered a special venire of grand and petit jurymen. A second indictment was drawn by the grand jury and. on Wednesday. January 4. 1832, Thomas Ford, then State's .At- torney, and afterwards Governor of Illinois, called the case for trial. The day was spent in securing a jury which was made up as follows: Daniel Owens, foreman : James Blackburn. Wil- liam Cox, John Davis. Alexander Penny. David Jenkins, George Green. William Rose. John Durall, Samuel P. Dark. Daniel Louderback and Francis Albury.

After the jury was secured court adjourned for one day and, on request of Morgan's attorneys, attachments were issued for Polly Wallis. Widow Roberts, and James Miller, who were desired as witnesses. No time was lost in legal wrangling when court convened on Friday, and the evidence was heard, arguments made and a verdict of guilty was rendered before nightfall. Adolpbus II. Hubbard, one of Morgan's attorneys, entered a motion for arrest of judgment, which was heard by the court on Saturday morning and overruled. Morgan was then brought before the bar and asked if he had anything to say before sentence was passed, and he answered in the negative. Judge Young then pronounced sentence and placed the time of execution on Tuesday, January 31. 1832, between the hours of 10 o'clock in the morning and two o'clock in the afternoon, and directed Joel Pennington, Sheriff, to carry out the orders of the court.

The trial and execution of Morgan was a heavy drain upon the meager resources of the county and in the proceedings of the commissioner's court we find mimnerons bills presented by persons who guarded the jail and accompanied the pris- oner to and from Macomb. From these bills we find that Ebenezer Grist constructed the gallows and John Holderby was allowed $6 for a coffin furnished. Robert N. Chadsey was allowed $10,50 for irons, made to contine the prisoner in jail, while Joel Pennington, Sheriff, drew an of- der. for $32 for services at the trial and the ex- ecution of Morgan.

Rev. John Scripps, while editor of the Prairie Telegraph, wrote an account of the execution of David Morgan, and as he was brought into close association with the man as spiritual advisor, he

was in a position to know the facts and his story of the murderer is here given :

"David Morgan was an old man. a grandfather. and the most stupidly brutalized being we ever had anything to do with. There had existed an enmity between himself and a young man, whom he found one day chopping in the woods; some angry words passed between them, when Morgan shot him down. leaving him in his gore. He went home where it appears his wife and terrified fam- ily kept aloof from him, and yet within seeing distance. Here he deliberately reloaded his gun. and prostrating himself upon his back, he laid the gun on his body and applying its muzzle to his chin he sprang the trigger with his toe, in- tending self-destruction. The gun went off, but ranged too much upward for his purpose, the bul- let only somewhat shattering his jaw, took off his upper lip and the ends of his tongue and nose, and flow off into vacancy far above the seat of vitality, his brains, at which he aimed.

"Ile was brought to Rushville for commitment the next day in a sled. exhibiting at once the most disfigured and revolting features of a human we ever looked upon. His face, all blackened. crisped and blistered by the exploded powder. his mouth (all raw flesh) necessarily wide open. the half-crimsoned slimy saliva stringing down on each side, and hundreds of flies continually alighting on his wounds, with most persevering tenacity, wearying both himself and attendants in endeavoring to fray them away. Being com- mitted. he was confined in the upper room of the jail. where every attention was paid to his re- covery, which, in time, was effected, but he re- mained awfully disfigured.

"When enabled again to talk so as to be un- derstood. be charged both the murder and his own mutilation on his wife and son. and could never be indured to swerve for a moment from the ab- surd assertion even to the last moment.

"The Rev. Mr. Jenny, pastor of the Presby. terian church in this place at the time, who occu- pied an apartment in our house for his bedroom and study. felt much for him, and we united in our endeavors to prepare him for his change. We visited him frequently. He was passive and submed, and affected regard for us and to derive benefit from our efforts, But there was a mani- fest ill-concealed indifference to our overtures, a spirit of stupid aversion to everything savoring of religion, and a deop-rooted spirit of malevo- lence seated in his heart which accompanied him

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to the final scene, of which he exhibited many proofs.

"Two of his children attended his last hours. the ellest. a youth of some seventeen or eighteen who seemed to be as assiduous in kind attention to his father as he knew how to be, but was in every effort repulsed by him in peevish strains of reproofs for his awkwardness, inattention. carelessness, neglect or something else : in short, the old sinner would not be satisfied with his best endeavors. The other was a child of some eight or nine years whom he called his pet, and on whom what little affection he had was entirely centered.

"We were on the scaffold with him to his last moment and. after the halter was fitted and ev- erything ready. he requested us to lift up his pet from the ground where he stood and hold him to his face that he might kiss him before he was turned off. We complied and he kissed the childl. It was his last act. his last thought, for the next moment he was burled into eternity, and had it not been for the child, we should have thought him entirely incapable of the least emotion of tenderness or affection. An hour or two before. while putting on his shroud and dressing him for the occasion. he reflected on his wife with a spirit of vindictiveness, because she had not taken as much pains as she ought in doing up some little things which she bad sent for bis burial. We continued with him from the knocking off of his manacles to the end of the disgusting tragedy. and were shocked and siekened at the repeated man- ifestations of his malevolent feelings, particularly to his family."

EXECUTION OF THE MCFADDENS .- The second criminal execution in Schuyler County was a double one, and on July 6. 1535. Elias and David McFadden paid the penalty for murder on the gallows. They were residents of M.Donough County and were convicted of the murder of John Wilson, which occurred near Macomb on Novem- ber 6, 1892. When their case first came up for trial they secured a change of venue to Schuyler County and were tried separately. Judge Stephen T. Logan presided in the court that found them quifty and the Prosecuting Attorney was Wil- liam A. Richardson, who was assisted by Cyrus Walker, of Macomb, one of the foremost criminal lawyers in the State.

The crime for which the Mel'addens were hung was a most heinous one and had its origin in a dispute over payment for a suit of wedding

clothes. They lived a mile south of Macomb at this the, and the tailor who had made the wed- ding suit wanted his money. Failing to collect it by ordinary process, he took the case into court and secured judgment. In due course of time an execution was placed in the hands of the Sheriff and he went to the MeFadden farm and levied on a erib of corn. John Wilson. a farmer, who was to haul the corn away, accompanied him.

When the Sheriff appeared at the farm Elias MeFadden flew into a rage and ordered them to leave at once. The officer paid little heed to his incoherent threats and ordered Mr. Wilson to load up the corn. Suddenly there was a sharp report of a rifle, fired from the MeFadden log- cabin. a few rods away, and John Wilson, an in- nocent party to the transaction, fell mortally wounded. The officer lost no time in making his escape.

The shot that killed Wilson was fired by David Mel'adden. a son of Elias, but the old man was hold as an accessory to the act and one remark he made after the shooting sent him to the gallows. While the dying man lay unconscious in the yard where he had fallen, two neighbors passed and stopped to inquire as to the cause of his injuries. To their inquiries the elder MeFadden remarked : "Yes, he was a little too much powder burnt this morning."

In those early times all criminal executions were publie and, on the day set for the hanging of the MeFaddons, people came from a radius of fifty miles. Men, women and children were in- cluded in the throng that came to witness the ex- eention and. though the country was then sparsely settled. there were said to be 1,500 people in the crowd about the gallows.

Two military companies, one from Rushville and the other from Mt. Steriing. under command of Capt. Toneray, were on duty to preserve order and. in their bright colored uniforms and plumed hats, they made an imposing spectacle as they marched and counter-marched about the streets preliminary to starting for the place of execution. which was on the west bank of Crane Creek. where it is crossed by the lower road to Beards- town. Here the gallows had been erected, which consisted of a platform about twelve feet square with a large post in the center. Across the top of this post was a beam. and it was from the ox- tremities of this that the ropes were attached.

The prisoners had been closely guarded in the old log jail, which stood on the site of the present

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HISTORY OF SCHUYLER COUNTY.

city calaboose, and as the time for the execution drew near, the military companies formed in front of the building and. at command of Capt. Toneray, guns were loaded with powder and ball while the curious crowd looked on.

In an upper apartment of the jail stood the McFaddens, tall, spare looking men, who in their white shrouds and with ropes already tied around their necks, were waiting for the command to start to the gallows. In the street below was a wagon, with two rough coffins and, as the con- demmed men were brought from the jail, they took their seat on the coffins and, with the mili- tary company as a guard, and a martial band of tife and drum in the lead. the procession started.

Hillsides and trec-tops were crowded with people at the place of execution, and after the arrival of the two condemned men. Sheriff Haden permitted their friends and relatives to come forward and bid them farewell. Among the mun- ber who accepted this privilege were the wife and mother and her daughter, who then took their places in the crowd a few rods from the gallows to await, with breaking hearts, the execution of their loved ones.

Rev. Richard Haney, who was the Methodist minister at Rushville at that time, was asked to give spiritual counsel to the prisoners and. every day for a month, he visited them at their cells in the old log jail. Speaking of the occurrence to the writer when he last visited this city, Rev. Haney said the mon received him kindly and prayed fervently for forgiveness. On the scaffold he offered prayer and, as the white cap was drawn over the head of the elder MeFadden, he eried out in despair: "A moment more and 1 shall be in eternity! Oh! Lord, stand by me." At that moment William Ellis, a deputy of Sheriff Thomas Haden, sprang the traps and the murder of John Wilson was avenged.

Fielding Frame was the last man to be executed for murder committed in Schuyler County, and his trial and execution took place at Carthage in Hancock County. Frame was a deckhand on an Illinois River steamboat and landed at Erie. he- tween Frederick and Beardstown. in the winter of 1837-28. Ilis boat was held in port when ice closed navigation and Frame lounged about the tavern. One night a contented and good-natured German aroused his ire because he would not stop smoking when ordered to and, in the fight that ensued. Frame stabbed his victim to death.

He was taken into custody at once and con-

veved to Rushville, where he was placed in the new log and brick jail that had just been com- pleted. An indictment was found against him by the grand jury at the June terin of court in 1838 and the case was taken to Hancock County on a change of venne.

Judge Ralston presided at the trial of the ease in Carthage and Henry L. Bryant. of Fulton County, was Prosecuting Attorney. Frame was defended by Abraham Lincoln and T. Lyle Dickey. of Rushvide, afterwards a member of the Illinois Supreme Court. Mr. Lincoln moved an arrest of judgment for several eanses and the paper in his handwriting is now on file, among others in the case. at Carthage.

Frame was found guilty on the 24th of April. 1839, and received sentence on the day follow- ing. when Judge Ralston fixed the date of his execution on Saturday, May 18, between the hours of 12 noon and 2 o'clock in the afternoon. on a gallows to be erected within a mile of Car- thage, and it was done. The site selected was in or near the ravine running southeasterly from town and the execution, being a publie one, was witnessed by thousands of spectators from all the country around.

CHAPTER XXXI.

PHENOMENA -- CALAMITOUS EVENTS.

STORMS. FLOODS AND EPIDEMICS-THE DEEP SNOW or 1820-31-PEXTRAL AND NORTHERN ILLINOIS COVERED WITH FROZEN CRYSTALS TO A DEPTII OF TOUR FEET-HARDSHIPS ENDURED BY THE SET- TIERS AND DESTRUCTIVE EFFECTS ON DOMESTIC ANIMALS AND WILD GAME-A CONTEMPORANE- OU'S DESCRIPTION BY A JACKSONVILLE PAPER- THE SUDDEN FREEZE OF 153G-THE FLOOD OF 1844 -- VILLAGE OF ERIE WIPED OUT OF EXISTENCE- DISASTROUS TORNADOES OF 1556 AND 18SI -- OTHI- ER EARLIER AND LATER VISITATIONS-THIE FALL- ING STARS OF 1533, AND A MEMORABLE METEORIC SCENE OF ISTG -- CHOLERA EPIDEMICS er 1834 AND 1841-LIST OF VICTIMS OF EACH VISITATION.

An old Indian legend that told of a winter of

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unusual severity was current in Illinois when the tir-t settlers came, but it was of a time in the far distant past, and but little heed was given to it until 1830, when the settlers bad cause to remember the tradition, Up to this time the winters in Illinois had not been regarded as a season to be dreaded by the hardy pioneers who were accustomed to a rigorous life in all its phases. But the winter of 1830-31 was the ex- ception, and it is referred to in history as "the winter of the deep snow." for never since that time has the snowfall been so heavy.

Snow began falling on the night of December 20, 1830, and continued steadily for three days, and it was not until the middle of February that the skies cleared and the snows ceased. The whole of Central and Northern Illinois was cov- ered with snow to a depth of four feet on a level. and, in places, it was banked twenty and twenty- five feet high. To the isolated settlers, living in their rude cabins and with only seant shelter for their stock, the snow was a calamity that was disheartening. Many of them were newcomers in the country, and had barely provided a place of abode when winter set in, and no human tongue or pen can picture their trials and suf- fering during that memorable winter.

With the snow piled high around their little cabins, the men made desperate efforts to save their stock and tunnel-like paths were out to the stock shelters as soon as the storm had spent its fury. Those who had planted crops had their corn shocked in the, field, and it could only be renebed by cutting ont a path through the solidly packed snow, and as one shock was used the path was extended to another. The newcomers who had no reserve crop to draw upon were indeed in sore straits, and their losses were proportionately heavy. Within the home the closest economy was necessary. as it was weeks before trails were broken that would allow communication between the settlers. The abundance of wild game af- forded a welcome food supply. and had it not been for this, gaunt famine would have invaded the pioneer homes during that cheerless winter. and added horrors would have resulted. As it was the suffering was intense, but as the snow went off gradually with the coming of spring, the settlers took renewed hope and few abandoned their western home on account of the rigorous winter that has never since been equaled. Along with the snow came a season of extreme low tem- perature and the only known record of this event-

ful winter is preserved in the files of The Jack- sonville Patriot, where, under date of February 20. 1\31, we find the following interesting and authentic record:

"THE SEASON,-The weather has been mmisu- ally severe and invariably cold since December 20. the snow being so deep as to render traveling almost impossible. The castern mail by stige coach from Terre Haute, Ind., has not arrived for six weeks, and the northern mail from Ga- lena but once in six weeks, and the other mails are much retarded by the deep snow. During several winters past the weather has been very mild and agreeable: therefore, we trust the late immigrants to this country have too nich forti- tude and discretion to become intimidated at this bad winter and look upon it as a criterion to alarm them. Following has been the depth of the snow on a level in the woods :

December 29, 1830 -- 1 foot. 4 inches.

January 10, 1831-2 feet 10 inches.

January 31-3 feet 4 inches.

February 2-3 feet S inches.

Following is the record of temperature:

December 21-12 beow zero.

December 22 -- S below zero.

January 5-15 below zero.

February 6-19 below zero.

February 7 -- 23 below zero.

"It is supposed that more than five feet of snow foll. but it settled to about three feet. The records of Illinois do not record a like deep snow."

CLIMATIC .- The climate of Illinois is most crratie at all times, and, on January 28, 1573. the mercury fell to 40 degrees below zero, which is the record for low temperature. But the most remarkable freak of weather recalled by Schuyler pioneers occurred on December 20. 1436, when a sudden cold wave swooped down on Central Illinois and caught the settlers unaware. Al- though in mid-winter. it was seasonably warm that day and a drizzling rain had soaked the ground. It cleared up about noon and farmers were about their outdoor work. when about 2 o'clock, it began to grow dark and a strong wind sprang up from the northwest. It was a cold, bitter wind. and the temperature went down with a rush. Within a very short time everything was frozen solid and chi kens, pies and other small animals were frozen in the muddy ground before their sharp instinct prompted them to seek a place of shelter. Men who had driven to the

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Volume 2, Part 52

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1126

Author: Dyson, Howard F., 1870- History of Schuyler County. 4n
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1126