USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > Part 46
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PHOSPHATE-The Farm Bureau Office has ordered 521 tons of phosphate, some of which has not yet been delivered.
SEEDS ORDERED-A seed buying service is conducted for the members, the system being to secure orders for the various seeds and. then purchase the seed of high quality at the cheap- est price.
VARIETY TESTS-Tests of the yields of new varieties' of oats, wheat, and rye have been car- ried on in cooperation with the members.
SOYBEANS-A Soybean Growers' Associa- tion is expected to be promoted during the coming season. Hancock County farmers use several thousand bushels of soybeans each year for planting with corn, and we believe that this seed should be grown at home.
INSECT ENEMIES-Some work was done along the lines of the control of Hessian Fly, Grasshoppers, Chinchbugs, Army Worms, and other insects.
CARE OF FARM "ORCHARDS-The proper methods for pruning and spraying farm orchards were demonstrated on two farms.
PUREBRED BREEDERS' ORGANIZATIONS -Considerable time has been devoted to the work of the County Purebred Livestock Breed- ers' Association and the programs of the sub- sidiary organizations. The project which is re- quiring the most attention along this line at the present time is the Purebred Livestock Breeders' Directory, which the County Association expects to publish about the first of October.
DISEASE CONTROL-The most of the work with diseases has been in connection with the control of the outbreaks of hog cholera and other contagious diseases of swine.
FEEDING-Advice has been given in connec- tion with the proper feeding of cattle and hogs, and balanced rations figured for a few of the members.
SELECTION OF . BREEDING ANIMALS- Several members have been assisted in the selec- tion of breeding animals for their breeding herds, and two trips into neighboring counties have been made for this purpose.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
BOYS' CLUB WORK-The Farm Bureau has . bers, the total of which was fifty-nine. Conrad cooperated with the Dime Savings Bank and the Hancock County Duroc Breeders' Association in the promotion of the Duroc Pig Club. Thirty pigs were distributed to boys in various parts of the county, and will be sold at the Pig Club Sale which will be held during the latter part of October.
LIVESTOCK SURVEY-Through the coop- eration of a Farm Bureau member on each sec- tion of land in the county a livestock survey was taken.
FARM ACCOUNT SCHOOLS-Several Farm Account Schools were held in different places in the county last year, at which schools the farmers who attended were given instruction in the proper method of keeping the account book. ยท INCOME TAX SCHEDULES-Practically the entire time for almost three weeks in February was devoted to the income tax schedules.
DEMONSTRATION MEETINGS-Twenty- four meetings were held during the season, at- tended by 290 persons.
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES-Fifty-two news- paper articles were written for local papers of the county, the most of which were published.
All of the Bureau work is connected with and is a part of the cooperative extension program which includes the Illinois College of Agricul- ture, U. S. Department of Agriculture, and the Hancock County Farm Bureau.
LIVESTOCK BREEDERS' ASSOCIATION
Another important work accomplished by the Farm Bureau of this County was the organizing of a Stockbreeders' Association, April 24, 1919. After being introduced by County Agent Lloyd, Professors W. H. Smith of the University of Illinois and F. L. Platt of the United States Agricultural Department made addresses on Livestock Breeders Associations. First officers : president, Harry Eckhardt; vice president, P. W. Cutler ; secretary and treasurer, J. H. Lloyd ; horses, J. E. McWherter ; beef cattle, S. F. IJuston ; hogs, E. L. Traser ; sheep, A. E. Webb ; dairy cattle, B. Geissler ; poultry, N. M. Cochran. The annual dues for membership are $1.00 upon joining the association, and an annual fee of $1.00.
Perhaps no better way can be employed to show who were leading stockgrowers in Han- cock County in 1919 than to publish in this con- nection the names of the forty-two charter mem-
Eckhardt & Son, Dallas City; M. B. Reed, Car- thage; Q. M. Bradshaw, La Harpe; C. E. Prior, .Carthage; I. M. Graham, Carthage; A. H. Gra- ham, Carthage; Ray H. Griffits, Bowen ; Charles A. Schrader, Basco; C. H. Siegrist, Niota; Theodore Geissler, Carthage; C. L. Ewing, Car- thage; Amos Davis, Niota; D. R. Burr, La Harpe; John Poland, Elvaston; Everett L. Williams, Basco; R. S. Canfield, La Harpe; Fred E. Hamilton, Burnside; John W. Bustard, La Harpe; C. W. Himmonds, Blandinsville ; R. K. Crawford, West Point; Leonhard Wet- terich, Carthage; W. C. Ewing, Elvaston; W. C. Van Pappelendam, Warsaw; W. J. Carlin, Bowen; E. G. White, Bowen; L. F. Frazer, Sutter; Isaac Shaw, Colusa; Kent H. Slater, West Point ; F. H. Worrell, West Point; C. A. Wegehenkel & Son, Hamilton; Forrest Shaw, Colusa; William Gabal, West Point; S. D. Gnann, Nauvoo; Albert Ort, Nauvoo; Alvin R. McCallister, Carthage; S. A. McCallister & Son, Denver ; Mrs. R. E. Worrell, Bowen ; J. F. Ham- mon, Nauvoo; George W. Major, West Point; C. E. Sheets, La Harpe; E. L. Yetter & Sons, Carthage; J. G. Riel, Ferris; P. A. Fulton, Warsaw; J. F. Crear, Basco; J. I. Farnsworth, West Point.
REGISTERED FARM NAMES
The Illinois legislature, in 1915, passed an act by which farm owners within the State can have their farms named and recorded for a nom- inal sum, choosing any name not already taken within the county. The record book provided for such matters is one provided especially and is so ruled that the owner's name, description of land covered, date of filing, etc., may all be entered. The front of said record-book contains a separate index showing the page on which the farm is described. The record begins with 1915, and the first persons to register their land holdings were H. and M. F. Gerhardt, August 27, 1915, lands in section 20, township 7, range S, farm named, "Woodside Stock Farm."
"Spring Dale Farm"-E. H. Sellers, August 27, 1915, in section 12, township 6, range 6.
"Ferndale Farm"-Vilas E. Rice, August 28, 1915, in sections 14 and 23, township 7, range 6. "Prairie View Farm"-D. S. Lyon, August 28, 1915, in section 21, township 4, range 6.
"Willowbrook Farm"-R. E. Lyon, August 28, 1915, in section 22, township 4, range 6.
1
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
"Plain View Stock Farm"-Warren Kelly, August 30, 1915, in section 22 and 21, township 3, range 6.
"Rose Garden Farm"-Robert and Barbara Bentz, August 31, 1915, in section 20, Appanoose township.
"Hope Farm"-Geissler Brothers, September
1, 1915, in section 36, township 5, range 7.
"Maplehurst Farm"-T. A. Griffin, September 8, 1915, in sections 26 and 35, township 7, range 6.
"Fairview"-R. E. Worrell, September 23, 1915, in section 22, township 3, range 6.
"Marilynn Farm"-Malinda M. Smith, Septem- ber 28, 1915, in sections 16 and 17, township 3, range 6.
"Edgewood Stock Farm"-M. E. Randall, Sep- tember 29, 1915, in sections 7 and 18, township 3, range 5.
"Meadow Brook Farm"-Wm. E. Schenck, October 5, 1915, in section 3, township 6, range S.
"Idylwilde"-L. B. Clark, October 22, 1915, section 28, township 5, range 7.
"Oakland Farm"-F. M. Smith, October 9, 1915, in section 31, township 5, range 5.
"Pleasant Hill"-Fred Goldenstein, October 29, 1915, in section 36, township 5, range 7.
"Red Fox Stock Farm"-G. H. Damron, No- vember 18, 1915, in sections S, 9 and 16, town- ship 4, range 7.
"High View Farm"-Richard Bruner, Novem- ber 23, 1915, in section 3, township 3, range 5.
"Maple Lawn Farm"-Edward J. Hughes, December 3, 1915, sections 9 and 5, township 3, range 5. .
"Hawkeye View Farm"-Charles W. Cox, De- cember 6, 1915, in section 11, township 4, range 6.
"Cedar Lawn Farm"-John W. Bertschi, Jan- uary 25, 1916, in section 27, township 7, range 8. "Tall Pine Farm"-William Kraft, February 24, 1916, in section 33, township 7, range 8.
"Maple Grove Farm"-W. H. Sargent, March 3, 1916, in section 24, township 6, range 7.
"Lake View Farm"-Albert Bertschi, March 29, 1916, in section 17, township 7, range S.
"Ferndell Farm"-R. H. Wilson, March 30, 1916, in section 24, township 7, range 8.
"Pilot Grove Farm"-Ed Sears, April 15, 1916, in section 4, township 6, range 6.
"Walnut Grove Stock Farm"-J. S. Massie, May 19, 1916, in section 20, township 7, range 7.
"Fertile Acres"-D. H. Stevenson, June 21, 1916, in section 14, township 5, range 8.
"Grand View Farm"-Robert H. Irwin, June 24, 1916, in section 27, township 7, range 6.
"Ellerslea"-Robert Reed Wallace, June 30, 1916, in section 12, township 5, range 9.
"Harvest Home Farm"-Henry W. Shoup, No- vember 21, 1916, in section 10, township 4, range 6.
"Walnut Vale Stock Farm"-Arthur Ray Manifold, January 19, 1917, in sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, township 7, range 5.
"Prairie Dale Stock Farm"-G. W. Jones, February 21, 1917, in sections 3 and 4, township 6, range 7.
"Pine Grove Farm"-Dennis R. Burr, Febru- ary 21, 1917, in sections 22 and 23, township 7, range 6.
"Walnut Row Farm"-Hugh D. Markey, Feb- ruary 24, 1917, in sections 10 and 11, township 5, range 7.
"Clover Lane Stock Farm"-Sydnor C. Pow- ell, February 27, 1917, in sections 8 and 5, town- ship 4, range 5.
"Oak Grove Stock Farm"-J. H. Clark, March 6, 1917, in sections 4, 5, and 8, town- ship 7, range 7.
"Woodland Stock Farm"-Selwyn Wyles, March 19, 1917, in section 20, township 6, range 8.
"Plain View Farm"-George A. Wemhaner, May 2, 1917, in section 15, township 4, range 9. "Greenview"-John Wellner, May 10, 1917, in section 36, township 7, (Nauvoo township).
"Fair Acres"-Dennis R. Burr, September 1, 1917, in sections 26, and 27, township 7, range 6.
"Sunnyside"-M. L. Coleman, September 15, 1917, in section 32, township 5, range 5, and sec- tion 5, township 4, range 5.
"Imperial Stock Farm"-W. T. Hough, Janu- ary 9, 1918, in sections 15 and 16, township 3, range 6.
"Edgewood"-C. D. Streeter, February 16, 1918, in sections 31 and 32, township 4, range 5. "Hill Crest Stock Farm"-C. D. Rice, March 13, 1918, in section 1, township 7, range 6. .. "Highland Farm"-Peachey McVay, May 23, 1918, in section 33, township 5, range 6.
"Catalpa Lawn Farm"-Mrs. Minerva Adaline Hopkins, May 25, 1918, in section 15, township 6, range 6.
"Maple Tree Farm"-William N. McCormick,
MRS. JOHN T. DURANT
JOHN T. DURANT
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
May 25, 1918, in sections 3 and 9, township 5, range 7.
"Cedar Glen"-Emmet H. McAvoy, July 22, 1918, in section 3, township 5, range 5.
"Sunset Farm"-Albert Balmer, October 17, 1918, in section 21, township 6, range 8.
"Everwelcome Farm" -- Arthur Pilkington, October 17, 1918, in section 27, township 6, range 8.
"Just a Mere Farm"-John F. Schen, Octo- ber 17, 1918, in section 15, township 6, range 8. "Rock Creek Guernsey Farm"-Isaac M. Mar- tin, January 8, 1919, in sections 23 and 26, town- ship 6, range 5.
"Liberty Dell Durock Farms"-Samuel A. Mc- Callister, January 22, 1919, in sections 16 and 21, township 4, range 6.
"Halcyon Home"-W. N. Byler, April 21, 1919, in section 22, township 7, range 6.
"Shadow Farm Lawn"-Sterling P. Lemmon, April 26, 1919, in section 14, township 3, range 5.
"Rolling View Stock Farm"-Wm. Lee Shar- row, December 3, 1919, in section 2, township 3, range 7.
"Just a Mere Farm"-R. M. Martin, April 19, 1920, in section 1, township 4, range 8.
"Sunnyhill Farm"-J. W. White, August 19, 1920, in section 35, township 4, range 5.
"Hillandale Stock Farm"-Harvey Burton, September 1, 1920, in section 32, township 6, range 6.
"Woodlands"-Willis Guy Stockton, Septem- ber 2, 1920, in section 25, township 3, range 5.
"Overlook Farm"-C. T. Myers, September 2, 1920, in section 4, township 6, range 7.
CHAPTER XIII
EXTREME WEATHER PHENOMENA
SEASONS OF DEEP SNOW-THE STORM OF 1836- - TORNADO OF JUNE, 1838-THE BASCO TORNADO OF 1873-HIGH WATERS-WET AND DRY YEARS- HOT AND COLD SEASONS.
SEASONS OF DEEP SNOW
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There were not many people residing within Hancock County in the winter of 1830-31, but those who did live here then left a record with
their children and grandchildren of the "Great Snow Winter of 1830-31." To recount the suf- ferings caused by it would fill volumes. Those who were caught unprepared-as many always are, especially in a new country, were put to great extremes for the means of sustaining life till spring. Fire-wood, generally near at hand, could be reached by dint of hard labor, but the difficulty was in procuring provisions. Wild game and the product of the cornfields were the main dependence of the settlers. In most in- stances the corn had not been gathered. It was a hard matter to find it as it lay embedded in the snow and then to procure it, and when pro- cured how was it to be gotten to the mills and returned to the homes in the form of meal? Travel for the most of that winter was almost entirely suspended ; it was impossible to go more than a few rods in a day with the best of teams. A great deal of stock died, from suffering in the snow and from want of food. Game died in great numbers in the woods; or if alive, could not be found, and if occasionally found, was easily caught, but so poor as to frequently be unfit for food.
But the greatest suffering, possibly, was in those instances where people were away from home and caught out in the storm. Some of these instances of peril are quoted elsewhere. The snow began to fall on December 29, 1830, and continued almost incessantly for three days. The average depth was about four feet, with drifts in all the ravines and low places, some- times twenty and thirty feet deep. What few fences there were had been entirely covered ; roads, of which there were but few, were ob- literated. The New Year of 1831 was ushered in upon a canopy of universal whiteness. The snow remained on the ground until spring, and as the winter advanced and a crust began to form, the difficulties of travel increased.
SUDDEN FREEZE OF 1836
On December 20, 1836, there was in this county a most remarkable and sudden freeze. At the city of Carthage, probably at many other points in Hancock County, the weather was phenomenal. The night had been warm, and in the morning a soft rain was falliing, which continued until seven or eight o'clock. Then the weather began to grow colder. A slight wind began to blow from the west and after- ward from the northwest, every moment in-
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
creasing in violence. The rain ceased, but soon was succeeded by sleet, as hard as ice, and so cutting that it could not be faced. The soft ground was soon frozen hard, its uneven spaces filled with sleet, till it became as hard and al- most as smooth as glass, making travel very difficult. It continued all day and long into the night, the gale and sleet and cold unabated, and at times coming with intense violence. How low the mercury fell none living here now can tell, but within twenty-four hours not less than seventy degrees of temperature was had, upon an average in this county, such a change from high to low temperature as has never been ob- served here since that date.
In the papers of that day was given the fol- lowing account of the effect of this violent storm : "People who were unfortunate enough to be caught out in the storm suffered intensely. Frozen ears and frozen feet and hands were numerous, and numbers over the country were frozen to death. One man was frozen to death between Carthage and Commerce now Nauvoo while on his way with an ox team. His com- rade barely escaped with his life. The Illinois River froze over in an incredibly short time."
EARLY FLOODS
Among the years in which the Mississippi River rose to an unusual height were those of 1835, 1844, 1851, and 1853. In each of these flood seasons the river's waters covered the entire valley from bluff to bluff, with slight portions protruding here and there, all the way from Lake Pepin, the source, to St. Louis, mak- iing a broad expanse of water from two and three to seven miles in width. At Warsaw, and between that and Lima Lake, the whole of that rich and valuable bottom land, now attempted to be reclaimed, was overflowed to a depth of several feet; while on the other side it extended to the sand ridge five miles away, leaving Alexandria from four to eight feet under water.
As early as 1880 one local writer on this sub- ject remarked: "The annual overflows are known as the 'June rise,' because they occur in June on the Lower Mississippi; here they gen- erally reach the maximum by the middle of May, and are often on the decline before the beginning of June. But it will be observed that the 'Father of Waters' is, by slow degrees grad- ually diminishing in volume; these high stages
becoming less frequent, and its low stages in the autumn months more marked."
VIOLENT TORNADOES
While Illinois has never been noted for vio- lent and oft-occurring tornadoes, as have many of the western and southwestern states, yet there have been a number of such storms since the settlement of Hancock County, some of which will here be made mention of, for the benefit of present-day and future readers.
The tornado of June, 1838, was written up by a newspaper correspondent and later used in a former history of Hancock County, and from it we quite as follows:
"In the month of June, 1838, a terrible tor- nado passed over the north part of the county. The storm cloud commenced gathering west of the Mississippi, and by one o'clock had assumed a formidable, black and angry appearance. Crossing the river near Ft. Madison, it started in an easterly direction. Then the clouds as- sumed the appearance of large inverted funnels, three in number. Clearing the bluff timber, it struck the earth near the west line of 7-7, about midway of the township. Then it presented an appearance at once awful, and yet grand to behold. The weeds and grass of the prairie were literally torn up by the roots. Continuing east, with a noise like a thousand thunders, it struck the young settlement of Pilot Grove. Huge trees were uprooted and broken like pipe- stems, and log houses were blown down. In one of the houses an old lady named Sears was killed. A new frame-house that had just been built was taken from its foundation, carried several rods and set down again, without re- ceiving any material injury. Three persons were killed in the vicinity of Pilot Grove. Some cattle and horses were killed and missing.
"The tornado continued on through the timber east of Joseph Lionberger's Mill, com- pletely destroying every tree and bush in its path. It finally spent itself over in the bluffs of the Illinois river. For many years afterward, the track of this fearful tornado was visible, and the dire effects of its fury to be seen."
Carthage Republican, Jan. 7, 1864.
FROM THE QUINCY HERALD
"The Terrible Snow Storm-Train Blocked by the Snow.
"Thursday morning the Chicago and Toledo
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
trains started out on time from Quincy, after proceeding about eight miles, the accumulating snow on the track completely blocked up and checked the further progress of the trains. The terrible gale of wind and snow so completely filled up the track that the trains could neither go back nor forward. There we were without breakfast, without any thing to eat or drink. Luckily we had wood to keep up fires, with the mercury down to twenty degrees below zero, and the fearful storm increasing, rocking the cars like a cradle. The scene was anything but in- teresting, women and children, old and young, mostly strangers to one another composing the number of about forty persons in each train.
"Patience under adverse circumstances was the only antidote to our captivity. The con- ductor, Mr. Buckley, summoning up all his energy fixed up and put out to Quincy, lamp in hand, for reinforcements.
"Mr. Mead, the Superintendent, came out with two engines to our relief, but got blocked in and had to stay all night in the same gloomy condition of the passengers. The provisions in- tended for the head trains, not' arriving, the passengers began to make excursions out among the farmers, some half mile or more from the trains. Mr. Potter charged the full half dollar for meals and in proportion for lunches for the ladies on the trains. There was, however, ex- ceptions to this. Wm. Powell, Esq., opened his house, to which place many went, where we met with the old genuine hospitality. His sons and daughters doing what they could for the snow- bound travelers, at the most reasonable charges.
"A part of the company remaining on the cars through the night. It was fearfully cold and the wind raising made a memorable New Year's Eve which will not soon be forgotten by any of this snow-bound company.
"The morning came and we were relieved to know that no suffering had occurred. About one o'clock the whistle announced Capt. Mead and his relief to us with half a hundred strong, able bodied men, who with scoop shovels in hand probed into the snow banks with a de- termination, excavating the banks on the track some half mile or more, when with three loco- motives we were pulled out, and all glad to get back to where we started from, to await the opening of the roads.
"We learn by telegraph that the same diffi- culty had occurred in many places through the country, and perhaps it will be a week before
travel is fully resumed. No doubt many cases of suffering will be heard on account of this storm which for wind, cold and severity has hardly a precedent in the past thirty years.
"B. W."
Carthage Republican-Jan. 7, 1864.
"The Great Storm .- The greatest storm of snow and wind, and excessive cold that ever has visited this country since 1832, came upon us on Wednesday night, of last week, continu- ing with unbroken severity for a number of days. Since that date our people have been measurably cut off from all communication with the outside world. We have received no mails except from Quincy, and know as little of what is transpiring in the world as if we lived in the Sandwich Islands. The severity of the storm and its unprecedented continuance has occasioned much suffering among the poorer class of people in our vicinity, many of whom found themselves out of fuel and food at its commencement. We also hear of a number of persons having been frozen to death, but have gained no particulars. Communication by rail- road to Chicago had not been restored at our last advices. The river at Warsaw and Keokuk is bridged by a great thickness of ice, and be- tween those points the Mississippi river had become a popular and thronged thoroughfare."
Carthage Republican-Jan. 7, 1864.
"Narrow Escape .- On Monday evening last, Mr. Wm. Wilson, one of the proprietors of the livery stable here, while returning from a trip in the country, become so involved in snow drifts on the prairie that he lost his way. He, very sensibly, decided not to lose much time in searching for the road, but disengaging his horses from the sleigh, mounted one of them, . and giving them the whip and a loose rein, soon found himself in a place of safety. The sleigh was found the next day in a snow drift not far from the road."
From the Carthage Republican of Jan. 7, 1864.
"The Great Storm .- The greatest storm of snow and wind, and excessive cold that ever has visited this country since 1832, came upon us on Wednesday night, of last week, continuing with unbroken severity for a number of days. Since that date our people have been measurably cut off from all communication with the outside world. We have received no mails except from Quincy, and know as little of what is transpir- ing in the world as if we lived in the Sandwich
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
Islands. The severity of the storm and its un- precedented continuance has occasioned much suffering among the poorer class of people in our vicinity, many of whom found themselves out of fuel and food at its commencement. We also hear of a number of persons having been frozen to death, but have gained no particulars. Communication by railroad to Chicago had not been restored at our last advices. The river at Warsaw and Keokuk is bridged by a great thickness of ice, and between those points the Mississippi river has become a popular and thronged thoroughfare."
The Carthage Republican-May 9, 1867.
"Rain Storm-Damage by Floods .- The rain storm of Saturday last was the heaviest occur- ring in this county for many years; in fact, the 'oldest inhabitants' pretended to no recollection of any severer. Rain commenced falling about day-light, and continued at intervals until about 11 o'clock, when the clouds became broken and gave promise of breaking away. At about 12, noon, the sky again became overcast with clouds hanging very low, which shortly gave forth extraordinary volumes of water, and such a display of electrical pyrotechnics as has sel- dom been witnessed here. The greatest fall of water took place about 1 o'clock, continuing nearly an hour, and in such quantities as to flood and float almost everything out of doors, swelling the rivulets to extraordinary dimen- sions. The small creek running nearly centrally through the town, was several feet higher than has been known for many years. Two or three bridges spanning it are carried away, or so damaged as to be made unsafe for crossing with teams. The streets are also badly washed in some places.
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