Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174

USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 20

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).

As the lawyers drove home they chatted gayly about the absurd fears of Rev. Mr. Akers. They expected to see a railway built to the moon be- fore any Civil war would devastate this country. But Lincoln, who was one of the party, was silent and thoughtful. At first his companions rallied him :

"What do you think about it, Abe?" they asked.

"Well," replied the thoughtful young attorney, "I have never before been so deeply impressed by human utterance. I have never thought we should have war over slavery or any other ques- tion. But those utterances today seemed to come from far beyond the preacher. They seemed to me as a real and awful prophecy. More astonishing than all, and you may laugh if you will, I seem to be thrilled in my very soul with the conviction that I, in some way, am to

have a tremendous responsibility in that on- coming and awful war."

Mr. Lincoln's companions ceased their levity and were silent during the remainder of the homeward journey.

A RELIC OF SLAVERY DAYS

The County Commissioner's Court record in this county in December, 1832, contains the record of one, Jane Buckner, a free woman of color, who produced in open court a transcript of the record of the County Court of Nicholas County, in the State of Kentucky, as evidence of her freedom "and also of her children," which was read and was ordered to be recorded, and is in the words and figures following, to-wit :

"State of Kentucky, ? stc. Nicholas County

April Court, 1814.

An instrument of writing from under the hand and seal of Samuel Buckner, emancipating and setting at liberty sundry negro slaves therein mentioned was produced in open court and acknowledged by the said Samuel Buckner and ordered to be recorded, to-wit:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Samuel Buckner, of the County of Nicholas and Commonwealth of Kentucky, for divers good causes me moving thereunto, do by these pres- ents and in pursuance of the act of the General Assembly in such cases made and provided, free and emancipate forever the following negro slaves, my proprety :- Jane. a negro woman about thirty years of age, George about eight years of age; Wills Ditto, about five years old; Thornton, about three years old; and Lewis, one year and six months old. All of which negroes, I, the said Samuel Buckner, do by these presents as aforesaid free and emancipate from my service and my heirs and all other persons whatsoever claiming said slaves through, by or under me, to take effect from the date of these presents, as witness, my hand and seal this 25th day of April, 1814.

SAMUEL BUCKNER, (L. S.)"

And thereupon the said Samuel Buckner came into court and entered into bond in the penalty of one thousand dollars, conditioned ac- cording to law which bond is ordered to be re- corded and is in the following words, to wit :

738

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

'Know all Men by these Presents, etc., etc., See bond filed marked A. Whereupon it is Or- dered that said negro slaves, named Jane, George, Wills, Thornton and Lewis, as aforesaid, be set free, and they are hereby declared emancipated according to law.'

"I, Andrew J. Hughes, Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing copies are true transcripts of the records of Said Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County at Ellisville, this 13th August, 1814. "ANDREW J. HUGHES,

"Clerk of Nicholas County Court."

And so Jane Buckner, "a free woman" of Ken- tucky, emigrating with her four children to the free State of Illinois, as evidence that she is free, was compelled to procure and bring with her the foregoing long testimonial and had it recorded among the archives of the County, lest the "heirs or other persons" claiming them, or the authorities under the "Black Laws" : should seize and remand them again to slavery.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

To most of the present-day people, those born after the Civil War-the term "Underground Railroad" is almost meaningless, but to those who lived before the war it stood for very much. Now that the institution of slavery is forever ended in this country what were once secrets may be published openly. This set of para- graphs is taken from a former history of Han- cock County, and were given to its author by men who had the distinction of being "conduc- tors," on this imaginary thoroughfare through the county. It was really a method by which colored persons, slaves from the South, were helped to run away by Abolitionists, and finally get into freedoni over in Canada. The persons who were secretly banded together through the free states to aid in such work, in violation of the "Fugitive Slave Law," were known as con- ductors, and the various highways and trails taken, usually at nighttime, were known as the "Underground Railroad." By this method many a hundred colored men and women were taken from bondage in the South to freedom in Can- ada, or to some State where the abolition senti- ment was strong enough not to care for the pro- visions of the Fugitive Slave Law. One of these conductors residing in the southeastern part of Hancock County stated :

"In the winter of 1843-4 I commenced my first experience in this country having previously acted as conductor in Northern Ohio for ten years. I met father I- in the winter of 1843-4 in town. He asked me to come up to his house after dinner which I did. Went to the barn and climbed up over the girt beam and found two colored men. I asked them if they were steering for Canada. They said 'Yes, Sah!' I told them that it was a cold desolate country. The oldest one replied that he knew it, as this . was his seventh trip from Missouri, there as pilot. This time he came back for his wife. He said 'I could not get her, so I have brought my youngest brother.'

"I was interested in his case at once and forwarded them to the next station. To show that he got through all right, I was in Detroit in November of 1848, and stepped into a barber shop to get shaved. I asked the barber if he knew anything about James and Benjamin Penney. He said 'No.' I saw by their looks that they did. So I said, 'Boys you needn't be afraid of me; I am an old stager; I helped those boys along on their trip.' The barber then told me that Benjamin, the eldest one, caught a severe cold while on that trip and died of consump- tion the next summer. The younger, James, was at school at Chatham, getting a good education. Hearing this, I felt fully paid for my trouble in helping them to escape from slavery.

"The next December I was awakened by a rap on the door, about two o'clock in the morning. I opened it and found three square-built black- men with a friend of mine from Adams County. I took them in and while my wife was prepar- ing breakfast, they showed me their passes to go where they chose from Christmas to New Year's. I asked the boys if they were not tak- ing a rather enlarged view of those passes. They thought perhaps they were. Before sun- rise they were guided on to the next station in safety. The next I heard of them they were in Farmington, Fulton County, at Deacon B-s. The Deacon took a copy of their passes in a memorandum book. Within a week three slave- hunters came along. They enquired of a dray- man if he had heard of any runaway slaves. He told them he had not seen any, but if any had been there, Deacon B- would doubtless know about them. They went over to the Deacon's and enquired of him. He told them: 'Yes there were three boys stayed here a few nights ago. By referring to his book, it was proven that

739

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

they were the owners of the runaways, their names being on the passes.

"This happened about dark and the Deacon kindly invited them to stay all night with him which two of them did, the other one returning to the hotel. During the evening, the three daughters of the Deacon entertained the strang- ers with songs and music on the melodeon. One of the girls was quite fleshy. The evening passed pleasantly and in the morning the strangers offered to pay for their lodging, which the Deacon refused, saying that the black boys stayed without paying and they were welcome to do the same, adding, that should they return that way, he would like to have them stop and tell him what luck they had. On their way to town they met the third gentleman, who had spent the night in town. They of course stopped to talk of how they had been entertained, not thinking they were overheard by the Deacon's hired man who happened to be behind the hedge. The two said to the one, 'If these are the kind of men that are helping our boys to escape, there is no use in hunting them anymore, and I feel rather ashamed of the business anyway. I be- lieve if I should meet Jerry on the street I should tell him to go ahead.' They all started back to Missouri.

"At that time there were slaves at every house in every kitchen, dining room and barn about home. These men, of course, often told of their hunting slaves in Illinois and were as often overheard until by their own story they described the country so well, even to the Dea- con's daughters that many of the blacks de- termined to undertake the trip themselves. Sometime after this, there came a rap on the Deacon's window one night, and on getting up he found several colored men and one of them asked 'Is dis de place where de fat gal plays on de 'lodeon?' He replied that it was and took them in, fed them and saw them to the next station. From Farmington it was considered quite safe to travel on by daylight.

"At another time I was going to Quincy with a load of cheese, probably in 1852. Between Bear Creek and Mendon, I met a covered car- riage with the curtains down. As it passed me I recognized the near horse as having stayed at my place but a short time before and suspected what might be inside. I said 'Hold on; I want to see what you have got.' The driver never saw me in the daytime but knew my voice and stopped. His passengers were badly scared. He

said he was steering for my house but now should go to Rev. K -. I told him K- had gone to Galesburg. So he struck for Round Prairie and stopped. Part of the load was a col- ored woman with a little boy, two years old. Before the next morning she gave birth to an- other boy. Physicians in that country were all pro-slavery ; but there were Mothers of Israel ' ready to minister to her wants. She remained there a few days and then moved on to Canada.

"These are but a few of the many instances in which we lent our aid to the Underground Rail- road, and which we never regretted."

DAYS OF MOURNING

Every American community has had its special days of mourning for our illustrious dead, and it will be the object of this article to show how such memorial days have been ob- served in this, especially at Carthage.

From the files of the Carthage Republican, the following facts have been gleaned. The file for April 20, 1865, stated that the intelligence of President Lincoln's funeral reached Carthage on Tuesday, and that the funeral of the deceased would take place in Washington, D. C., at a given day that week, later found to be on Wednesday, and that all the people of the nation were requested to observe the day with due re- spect for the eminent dead. Accordingly an im- promptu meeting of citizens was held in the Ferris & Corby banking house on Tuesday even- ing, and a program of arrangements perfected for observing the day with solemn ceremonies which was actually carried out on the following day. The procession was composed of the benevolent orders-Masons and Odd Fellows and citizens in general. It presented a very imposing scene. Religious services were held at the various churches, and a public meeting of citi- zens was held at the courthouse at three o'clock in the afternoon.

At the Baptist church, the Rev. H. H. North- rop preached an able sermon, so full of good thoughts that it was soon made the subject of a neatly printed booklet.

As an historic fact let it be stated that the news of the death of President Lincoln arrived here at about noon on Saturday after his having been shot at Ford's theatre on Friday evening. At first men doubted it, it was almost unbeliev- able to think that such a crime was possible on American soil. But the frequent receipt of ex-

740

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

tra newspapers seemed to confirm the first re- ports, and soon a gloom settled down over the city such as had never before been experienced. Flags draped in full mourning were suspended from flag-staffs, and throngs of men gathered in groups upon the streets discussing with down- cast countenances and indignant gestures over the terrible event. But little more business was transacted that day in Carthage. Many flocked in from the surrounding country as if by a com- mon impulse. While men were deeply impressed and indignant, no disorder occurred, and but sel- dom was bad language or loud talking heard. One person only was heard to express joy at the sad event, and he soon thought it a prudent thing to leave the place after the disloyal, wicked utterance he had made. The local press said the only other event tending to cause one to believe that the county had a person within its borders who approved of the dastardly crime was in the instance of whoever it was that cut the rope on the flag-staff on which was suspended at half-mast the American flag draped in mourning. Such was the feeling in Carthage on that long to-be-remembered day that had one tried to openly justify the act of the assassin that his life would soon been snuffed out by an outraged people whose sons and brothers were that very day in the South- land closing up their four year Civil War cam- paign against secession and slavery on this con- tinent.

Sixteen years after the citizens of this county had met in mourning over the assassination of President Lincoln, who stood next to Wash- ington in the hearts of his fellow-countrymen, came another sad blow, the striking down of James Abraham Garfield, who had been elected president in the autumn of 1880, and had only served as president about four months when he was assassinated, while walking arm in arm with Hon. James G. Blaine, in the waiting room of a depot at Washington, July 2, 1881 and from which wounds he died after great bodily suf- fering, September 19, 1881.

The public demonstration of grief over this awful event, in days of supposed peace and quiet, was such as had never before been re- corded in American history. A public meeting. was held at the Lutheran Church in Carthage. The building was draped in mourning. A black cloth was looped over the stand, and from one window to another around the entire church. American colors were draped and placed here

and there throughout the audience room. H. G. Ferris was called to the chair to preside. Rev. Prof. Bartholomew offered a feeling prayer after which a funeral dirge was sung by a select choir. Those who spoke included Mr. Ferris and Judge Sharp, who remarked that out of the twenty presidents we had had, one-tenth of them had been assassinated. He also brought out clearly the point that we as a political people are too bitter toward opposing candidates and that such attacks were doing the nation much damage.

Charles J. Scofield spoke effectively, and paid a fine compliment to the character and mental attainment of the deceased president, and echoed the sentiment of every heart in detestation and horror of the fiendish crime that had deprived the Nation of its honored head.

O. F. Berry spoke at length, giving a pano- ramic view of Garfield as a school boy, his col- lege days, his early struggles and his triumphs for the legislative halls, his seat in the presi- dent's chair, the infamous assault upon his life, his long wearisome and brave struggle with death. At this meeting the following was re- solved :

"That in view of the calamity which has befallen our country in the death of our Chief Magistrate, we the citizens of Carthage desire in common with all the people of the United States, to humbly and reverently express our great sorrow over the most mournful event in our Nation's history."

"Resolved-That for this dastardly and cowardly crime of assassinating our beloved president, we demand at once a lawful and speedy trial and that the sentence of the court may be speedily executed."

Union Memorial services were held at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Carthage, agreeable to a proclamation of the president of the United States, by the Governor of Illinois and the further request of J. C. Williams, president of the town council. The church was filled to an overflow. Each minister in the city spoke briefly, and between such remarks might have been heard appropriate music. Rev. Prof. Richards' remarks were especially well received. During these memorial services all of the busi- ness houses in the city were closed.

"Another mighty Chieftain hath fallen !" These words were seen as head-lines of the daily press throughout this Nation in the month of August, 1885, which was the day on which the mortal remains of General Grant, the greatest

741

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

of military chieftains and our own beloved ex- president, were laid at rest in his tomb. Carth- age united with cities and towns throughout the country in paying respects and honor to the dead hero. The signs of mourning might have been seen in the heavily draped public and private buildings. By noon the public square looked indeed sombre. The memorial exercises were held at Trinity Lutheran Church, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at the very hour in which General Grant's body was being lowered to its last resting place. The bells of the city tolled mournfully. Alexander Sympson Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and visiting comrades formed on the northwest corner of the square and were joined by the National Guard in uni- form, but all unarmed, aided by Lieutenant Risse, Robbins, and Prentice. Benjamin Wood was color bearer and the flag carried was a Civil War flag of a good history. The church was well decorated by the ladies Floral Guild. General Grant's portrait was placed at the rear of the pulpit. Flags were all half-mast. The funeral march was played by Miss Kate Griffith ; Commander Ad. C. Shultz read the G. A. R. burial ritual. The sermon was preached by Rev. S. H. Hyde from Acts 13:36, at the close of which the fine anthem "Lay Him Low" by the choir was given and the audience dismissed by Rev. C. Kuhl.

Twenty years had passed from the time the people of this County assembled in mourning and memorial services over the death of Presi- dent Garfield and that of meeting to pay tribute to the life and character of President William McKinley, who was shot by an assassin while attending the Pan-American Exposition at Buf- falo, in September, 1901, and from which wounds then inflicted he died September 14, that year.

According to proclamation issued by Presi- dent Roosevelt to hold Thursday as a day of mourning for the dead president, Mayor Berry of Carthage issued a proclamation requesting all citizens to join in a Union memorial service Thursday afternoon, September 25, 1901, at the Presbyterian Church. The building was well filled. The school children, Grand Army of the Republic Post and Masonic orders were out in a body. Mayor Berry read the president's proc- lamation and Dr. Sifferd offered a short invoca- tion and then was sung the hymn "Lead Kindly Light." President Sigmund of the College read the scripture lessons from the Lutheran liturgy.

Rev. Tower offered prayer, when the time had arrived for the Five Minutes Silence to be ob- served all over the United States. Miss David- son sang a solo "Forever With The Lord."

Charles H. Garnett then spoke of the dis- aster which had befallen the nation in the death of President McKinley. Next was the address of Hon. O. F. Berry, who gave a biography of Major Mckinley, closing with an eloquent trib- ute to the high character of the martyred dead.

"One Sweetly Solemn Thought" was rendered after which Judge Charles J. Scofield addressed the citizens and emphasized the thought that President Mckinley doubtless had more in mind than we thought, when he said in his last words, "It Is God's Way."

The pupils of the public schools held their memorial services in the morning hour of the above named day, and were addressed in the various rooms by Doctor Sifferd, Hon. O. F. Berry, Charles De Hart, Judge C. J. Scofield and Hon M. P. Berry.

Editorially, the Carthage Republican had this to say : "President Mckinley died unexpectedly early Saturday morning from blood poisoning, the bullet wound having failed to heal, causing gangrene.

"The Republican will indulge in no pane- gyrics, the dead president's private and official character is a lyric to which every American heart is atune.

"Unnecessary and as cruel as was his as- sassination, the American people will be guided by the lessons which, in some way, divine prov- idence will teach through his martyrdom-'It Is God's Way.'"

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

A total eclipse of the sun occurred on August 7, 1869, beginning about four o'clock in the `afternoon. This was not local to this county, but it, pertained to this county as well as to other places in the belt of totality. The hour of the day was favorable and the sky unclouded and the air balmy and delightful. The following account of the eclipse is from a note in his diary made by Dr. J. M. Shaffer of Fairfield, Iowa, published in the issue of the Carthage Republican dated July 31, 1907 :

"The day was perfectly clear, bright and cloudless. As the eclipse grew on, the shadow gradully deepened from mild twilight to a dark- ness when total, like a moonlight night, so that

742

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

perhaps ordinary print could not be read, but the appearance was very' unlike moonlight ; there were no shadows of objects, but remark- able tinting and coloring utterly beyond descrip- tion in its magnificence, and filling the mind with undefinable sensations. When the whole face of the sun was obscured, there appeared brilliant halos, or a 'glory,' around the moon surpassingly beautiful, and on the lower side a round body of the redness of blood. Five stars were distinctly visible. The appearance of the sky was impressive and awful. As the eclipse became total, the horizon to the north seemed clouded with one of those heavy nimbi which certainly betoken a severe storm, and as it left the sun's disc the same phenomenon was along the southern horizon, and as soon as the light first appeared, the threatening clouds in a sec- ond dissolved. No pen can describe the match- less beauty of the landscape. Trees, people, horses, roads, fields, all objects lay bathed in light of inconceivable splendor, and with dis- tinctness-there being no shadow-as if seen under a microscope of perfect construction. This spectacle filled the soul with the most rapturous pleasure and the grandeur of the eclipse itself was forgotten in the delights of that gorgeous panorama.

"The effect on the lower animals was amusing. Pigeons and martins and other of our birds fluttered about as if in great uneasiness, darted among the trees and ceased their songs for the time. Chickens, the old ones, went to roost, and the little ones seemed at a sad loss to know how to dispose of themselves, chirping and run- ning about as if in great distress. The pigs ran to their sties with curious gruntings, and were surprised that night came so soon and was so soon replaced by day. Time of beginning, 4 o'clock and 53 minutes, ending 4:56 (about) of totally. Beginning about 4 and ending about 6."

THE WOOD PROCESSION, A GRAND SUCCESS

On account of fuel shortage growing out of the great storm of the winter of 1863-4, a com- mittee was appointed at Carthage to secure the donation of wood for the wives and children of soldiers, and to the appeal of that committee there was a generous response. Present-day scarcity of fuel in Carthage finds a parallel in January, 1864. Doubtless, under similar cir- cumstances, the response now would be as lib- eral as it was then.

The following extracts are taken from The Carthage Republican of January 21, 1864.

"We had prognosticated a grand demonstra- tion on Saturday, but the realization exceeded our utmost hopes,-not that we doubted the patriotism and liberality of our people-but that in full view of such known liberality we had estimated thirty or forty loads of wood as the probable amount that would be donated. Such an amount would have been very liberal indeed, considering that available timber is from five to ten miles distant from Carthage, and scarce at that. But when the great worthiness of the object is considered, the necessities and even suffering of the wives and children of our sol- diers known, then surprise no longer greets the grand display inaugurated by warm hearts and open hands for their relief."

There were eighty-eight loads of wood con- tributed.

"As early as ten o'clock in the morning sled loads of wood began to congregate upon the pub- lic square. By noon the streets were full of peo- ple and vehicles, and at one o'clock the proces- sion was formed under the direction of Capt. T. C. Miller, chief marshal, and a number of as- sistants ; the team of our townsman, R. Jacoby, Esq., in the van and bearing the flag. The pro- cession when formed extended about a half a mile in length, and when moving through our principal streets presented a finer spectacle than ever did the most gorgeous array of Wide Awakes or Ever Readies. It presented a spec- tacle of practicability-of humanity and grat- itude-and the deep chant of the sled runners over the crisp snow as they bore their bountiful freights of warmth to impoverished firesides, was sweeter music far than the clash of bands or the triumphant cheers of a partisan host.

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.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 20

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n Publication date: 1921 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1174

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Currey, J. Seymour (Josiah Seymour), 1844-1928. 4n; Scofield, Charles J. (Charles Josiah), 1853- 4n
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1174