USA > Illinois > Hancock County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II > 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 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157
Undoubtedly there are wolves in Hancock County at the present day, maintaining an in- secure existence in the rough and wooded por- tions of the county. Upon inquiry of Mr. W. E. Miller, our efficient county clerk, we have learned that wolf scalps are still a source of income to Hancock County citizens. The bounty
paid for the old wolf is now $10, and for the youngster $5. In 1918, Hancock County paid $165 for wolf scalps, and in 1919, $185. In April and May of 1920, the following amounts were paid out on this account :
To James Ritchie of West Point for five young wolves killed in Wilcox township, $25.
To J. R. McHone for one wolf killed in Chili township, $10.
To Ed Duncan for one wolf killed in Appa- noose township, $10.
To John Zern for five young wolves killed in Pontoosuc township, $25.
To Ed Duncan for eight young wolves killed in Appanoose township, $40.
The following account of an advertised wolf hunt is taken from The Carthage Republican of March 10, 1864.
GRAND WOLF HUNT
"Mr. John Bailey, one of a committee of citizens appointed for that purpose, requests us to announce a grand wolf hunt to take place on Saturday the 19th inst., commencing at 8 o'clock in the morning of that day. The circle to be formed is bordered as follows :
"Commencing at Dallas leads to Gidding's Mound, La Harpe, Fountain Green, Hobert's Mill, Carthage, Oak Wood, from thence up the river to Appanoose, Pontoosuc and Dallas. The centre will be made at or near where the Madi- son state road crosses the Summit in Rock Creek township.
"Those in each township who desire to aid in the hunt are requested to meet at their respective places of holding elections or other convenient place and elect a captain. On the morning of the 19th day they will form the line, on foot, at 8 o'clock, taking with them arms and dogs, and so govern their approach that the centre may be reached between 2 and 3 o'clock, P. M.
"At a hunt recently held in the same locality, a large number of wolves were seen, but, owing to a lack of proper organization and under- standing none were killed. It is hoped that as many citizens as can leave their business will turn out, as it is desirable to abate a common nuisance, and some rare sport may be expected.
"We shall have a reporter on the ground who will minute all matters of interest connected with the hunt."
654
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
FISH
Hancock County is bounded on the west by the Mississippi River, having a shore line of forty miles or more. Hence, this county has always had access to an abundance of Missis- sippi River fish, among which are the cat and buffalo. The creeks also have furnished fish in generous numbers for Hancock County inhabi- tants. This county has also furnished its due share of "fish" stories, some of which are stock stories such as are told in practically every otlier county as having occurred in that county. The historian may safely omit these stories, leaving the transmission of them to the pro- gressive embellishment of tradition.
HANCOCK COUNTY ROADS
Many of the roads of the county were estab- lished by user, and very little attention was paid in so doing to the cardinal points of the compass. The easiest route was taken by the driver of the first wagon, and those who fol- lowed ordinarily took the same general course until a well-defined road was established, which, after the lapse of twenty years, became a public highway under the Statute of Limitations of that day.
In passing over the prairies flat lands and duck ponds were avoided as far as possible and in going through the woods the easiest way in the depressions between the bluffs of the streams was selected so as to lead to a suitable place for fording the streams. Bridges were rare at that time, and the streams were forded when the water was low enough, and, when the water was too high for fording, the would-be travellers awaited the subsiding of the waters.
The drives through the cool, moist forest tracts on hut summer days, over roads winding around the shoulders of the hills to the creeks, and the splashing of the hoofs of the horses in the water when the streams were forded, and the ascent through the woods over the bluffs to the prairie lands on the other side are among the many delightful recollections of the persons who lived in those days and experienced those pleasures.
Under the constitutions of 1818 and 1848, which did not prohibit special legislation, many public highways were established, altered or vacated by act of the legislature. There existed also a general law under which new roads
could be established and useless roads vacated, such as the act which went into effect on March 1, 1827. Some of the special acts of the legis- lature as to Hancock County roads, or roads running into that county, are here given as illustrations of the special legislation of those days as to public highways.
In 1833 the legislature appointed John Wood and William Vineyard of Adams County and Cavil Archer of McDonough County commis- sioners to mark and locate a road from Quincy to Macomb on the nearest and best route, doing as little injury to private property as the public good would permit. The width of the road was to be four poles. (Recently, the writer heard a learned attorney making inquiry as to what the word perch meant, forgetting, doubtless, the old arithmetics which stated that 161/2 feet make a rod, perch or pole.)
This act was amended on Jan. 17, 1835, so as to require the road to run from Quincy to Fair- field in Adams County, and thence to Macomb in McDonough County. There seems to have been some delay in locating the said road from Quincy to Macomb, for, by act of the legislature in force Jan. 16, 1836, William G. Flood of Adams County, Daniel Cane of Hancock County and George Miller of McDonough County were appointed commissioners to locate the said road from Quincy through Fairfield to Macomb.
In 1833 John Young of Schuyler County and Christopher Yates of Hancock County were ap- pointed by the legislature commissioners to view, survey, mark and locate a road from Rushville in Schuyler County, to Brown's Settle- ment in said county, and thence to the county seat of Hancock County, varying as little as practicable from a direct line, having in view the most eligible route, its permanency, and a due regard to the public convenience. This road was declared to be a state road.
In 1833 John Kirkpatrick, Sr., of Adams County, and Joshua Owen of Hancock County were appointed by the legislature commissioners to view, survey and locate a road from the permanent seat of justice of Hancock County to intersect the above mentioned road from Quincy to Macomb. This road was required to run on the most direct route and best ground to the ford on Bear Creek "where the road now crosses that stream," and thence through the center of the west tier of sections in range eight west till it intersected the said road from Quincy to Macomb. This was declared to be
655
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
a state road. The same act of the legislature declared the road leading from John Wigle's in Adams County to Philip's Ferry in Pike County a state road.
By act of the legislature in force Feb. 3, 1835, the general law for the establishment and vacation of roads was revised, and former gen- eral laws on the subject were repealed. Juris- diction over roads was given, as theretofore, to the County Commissioners' Court.
By act of the legislature in force Feb. 9, 1835, Alexander Hollingsworth of Schuyler County, and James Miller of Hancock County, were appointed commissioners to view, mark and locate a road from Rushville in Schuyler County, on the nearest and best route, running into Hancock County at or near the southeast corner of township four north, range five west, thence to Carthage, the seat of justice of Han- cock County, and thence to the town of Com- merce on the Mississippi River, having in view its permanency and a due regard to the public convenience and private interest. This was declared to be a state road.
By act in force Jan. 15, 1836, John Green and John Ritchey of Schuyler County and Isaac Briggs of Hancock County were appointed com- missioners to locate the said road from Rush- ville, through Carthage, to Commerce.
By act of the legislature in force Jan. 15, 1836, Marvin Tryen of Hancock County, Daniel Babbit of Fulton County, and Thomas Phillips of Peoria County, were appointed commission- ers to view, mark and locate a road, by setting stakes in the prairie, sufficiently close to be easily followed, and marking the trees in the timber, from Commerce, in Hancock County, on the nearest and best route, to the town of Franklin in said county, thence to some eligible crossing on Spoon River, in a direction to Farmington, in Fulton County, and thence to Peoria, in Peoria County. The commissioners were required to meet at the town of Commerce, in Hancock County, on the first Monday in March, 1836, or as soon thereafter as prac- ticable, to take the oath and begin the discharge of their duties.
By act in force Jan. 16, 1836, the legislature appointed Capt. Daniel Matheny of Schuyler County, and William Abernathy of Hancock County to view, mark and locate a state road from Rushville, in Schuyler County, on the nearest and best route, to Warsaw, in Hancock County,
On July 20, 1837, George Briscow, Solomon Pendowis and David Atkins were appointed commissioners to review and relocate that part of the state road leading from Rushville, in Schuyler County, to Carthage, in Hancock Coun- ty, which lay between Roll's Mill and the Hancock County line.
On July 20, 1837, the legislature appointed John R. Atherton and Jalus A. Beebe of the County of Hancock, and Robert Alexander of the County of McDonough, to view, mark and locate a state road from Edward White's Ferry, in Hancock County, on the nearest and best route, to intersect the state road leading from Beardstown to Commerce, where said road crossed the "Drowning Fork" of Crooked Creek, in McDonough County. The commissioners were required to meet at "Apanooce," in Hancock County to take the oath and begin the discharge of their dudties. Sec. 4 of the act provided that all that part of the state road leading from Beardstown to Commerce, "as lies between the Drowning Fork of Crooked Creek," in McDon- ough County, and Commerce, in Hancock County, be vacated.
By act of Feb. 28, 1837, the legislature ap- pointed John L. Smith, Enoch Conyers and Ishmael Davy, of Adams County, commissioners to view, lay out and mark a state road, from a point on the Mississippi River, opposite the town of Tully, in the state of Missouri, by John McFadden's store, William Wakefield's farm, thence to the town of Woodville, to the nearest and most practicable point on the road leading from Quincy to "McComb," said road to be viewed and laid out on the most practicable ground from point to point. (Tully, mentioned above, was an old town on the Missouri side of the Mississippi River, about one or two miles north of the present town of Canton, Missouri.)
By act of Jan. 27, 1837, the legislature vacated so much of the state road leading from Rush- ville, in Schuyler County, to Commerce, in Han- 'cock County, as lay between Jarvis' Creek and the court-house in the town of Carthage and by the same act declared to be a state road, that County road which had been laid out under an order of the County Commission- ers' Court of Hancock County, at the Sept. term, 1836, commencing at the public square in the town of Carthage, running out at the east end of South Main street, and in a southeast direction, so as to intersect the said state road at Jarvis' Creek.
656
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
On Jan. 31, 1837, the legislature appointed Joel Huston, Jr., of Warren County, David Greenleaf, of Hancock County, and John Hardy- stee, of McDonough County, commissioners to view, survey, mark and locate a state road from Shokokon, in Warren County, on the near- est and best route to La Harpe, in Hancock County, and thence, on the nearest and best route, until it intersected the Rushville and Fountain Green state road, at or near Samuel Hants', in McDonough County. The commis- sioners were required to meet at Shokokon to take the oath, and to designate the route by setting stakes in the prairie and by marks on the trees in the timber. (David Greenleaf was one of the old citizens of Carthage, a quiet man, esteemed by his associates, who served at one time as postmaster, and was for many years police magistrate of the town, now city, of Carthage. He was in the drug business in an old frame building on the north side of the public square. He served as Probate Judge in Hancock County from 1843 to 1849. At the time mentioned in the above act of the legislature, what is now Henderson County was part of Warren County. Shokokon was a shipping point on the Mississippi River. Its glory has long since faded.)
On Feb. 4, 1837, John Montague, of Hancock County, Daniel Campbell of McDonough County, Amos Stevens of Peoria County, and William Walters of Fulton County, were appointed com- missioners by legislative act to view, survey, mark and locate a state road from Warsaw, in Hancock County, through Carthage, on the nearest and best route to "McComb," in Mc- Donough County, and thence to Canton, in Fulton County, and thence to Peoria, in Peoria County. The commissioners were to meet at Warsaw and take the oath before some Justice of the Peace of Hancock County.
On March 1, 1837, Levi Williams of Hancock County, James Willard of Adams County and Allen Persinger of Schuyler County, were ap- pointed commissioners to view, mark and locate a state road from "Meredocia," in Morgan County, to Warsaw, in Hancock County.
By act of the legislature, in effect on March 1, 1837, Marvin Tryen of Hancock County, David W. Barnes of Fulton County, and Elijah Bristow of McDonough County, were appointed commissioners to view, mark and locate a state road, by setting stakes in the prairies, suffi- ciently close to be easily followed, and marking
₱
the trees in the timber, from Commerce, in Hancock County, on the nearest and best route to "Lahart" (sic) in said county, and thence . to Farmington, in Fulton County. ("Lahart"' mentioned in the session laws, is undoubtedly intended for La Harpe.)
On March 2, 1839, the legislature passed a single act for the location of many roads. The act contains 95 sections. The first 90 sections relate to as many different roads. Two of these roads were in Hancock County. Sec. 43 ap- pointed Jolın M. King, Q. A. Cook and J. W. Bell to review, survey and relocate that part of the state road leading from Rushville, in Schuyler County, to Carthage, in Hancock Coun- ty, which lay between the town of Plymouth and the south line of section 31 in township four north, range four west. Sec. 60 appointed James Head and Nathan Ward of McDonough County and William Smith of Hancock County to view, survey and locate a state road from Appanoose to "Lahart," in Hancock County, thence to intersect a state road to be located from Macomb, in McDonough County, to the Mississippi River opposite Burlington.
By act of the legislature in force Feb. 22, 1839, Levi Williams and William Crawford of Hancock County, and E. P. Wade of Adams County, were appointed commissioners to view, mark and locate a state road from Warsaw, in Hancock County, to the town of Lima, in Adams County, on the nearest and best route. The act provided that the said road, when so laid out, and the road as theretofore laid out from the town of Lima by order of the County Commissioners' Court of Adams County, by way `of the bridge then being built on Bear Creek, to Quincy, should be a state road, and should be opened four poles wide. On Feb. 1, 1840, the legislature extended the time for locating the said road to Aug. 1, 1840.
A ferry is not technically a road but it is an important connecting link between public high- ways, and so it seems proper to mention in this connection the act of the legislature of Feb. 22, 1839, by which Amzi Doolittle was authorized and licensed, for the term of ten years, to "keep" a ferry across the Mississippi River at section two, in township seven north, in range eight west, in the County of Hancock, and was allowed the same rates of ferriage as were then allowed by the County Commissioners' Court of Hancock County to Edward White, for similar services at his ferry.
657
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
On Feb. 28, 1839, the legislature licensed Edward White to establish and keep a ferry for ten years across the Mississippi River at his landing on the northwest quarter of Sec. eleven, in township seven north, range eight west. He was to "receive such rates" as were then allowed him by the County Commissioners' Court.
By act of the legislature, in force March 1, 1839, B. Whitaker, Sevier Tadlock and S. B. Garnett of the County of Hancock were ap- pointed commissioners to relocate a part of the state road leading from Quincy to Macomb, commencing the work of relocation at or near the town of Plymouth, and relocating the road to the south line of Hancock County upon the most suitable ground, so as to intersect the said road again where it crossed the line be- tween Hancock and Adams Counties.
On March 1, 1839, the legislature vacated that part of the state road leading from Appanoose, in Hancock County, to the Drowning Fork of Crooked Creek, in McDonough County, which lay between Pilot Grove and the middle branch of Crooked Creek, and declared the road laid out in pursuance of the order of the Hancock County Commissioners' ACourt, at their last June term, connecting the two last mentioned points, to be a part of the said state road.
On Jan. 27, 1841, the legislature passed an act vacating that part of the Warsaw-Peoria road, which lay between Warsaw and Carthage. In the same act, in Sec. 2 thereof, it was provided that any citizen of Hancock County might, by voluntary enrollment, attach himself to the Nauvoo Legion, with all the privileges which appertained to that independent military body. The act itself was entitled, "An act in relation to a road therein named." Thus, there was introduced into an act relating to a road, this extraordinary provision concerning the Nauvoo Legion, which was wholly foreign to the subject of the act as stated in the title. Under the constitution of 1870, this could not have been done. Under any constitution, or under any circumstances, such method of legislation carried upon its face indisputable evidence of a fraud- ulent purpose. The effect of section two, as we have shown elsewhere in this volume, was to enable Mormons living in Hancock County out- side of and at a distance from Nauvoo, to attach themselves to the Nauvoo Legion, an independent military body, and so to free themselves from any obligation for military service except
through this independent military body, which was under absolute command of the Mormon authorities.
On Feb. 19, 1841, John Williams and John Day of Hancock County and Vandiver Banks of McDonough County, were appointed, by legis- lative act, to review and relocate a part of the state road from Hunt's Bridge, in McDonough County, to Appanoose, in Hancock County, viz. : to begin at a suitable point between James Dye's and Elijah Pope's, bearing south of where the state road runs, so as to leave the farms of the said James Dye, Elijah Pope and Moses Wallace, on the north; thence running in a suitable direction to intersect the state road near the town of Jo Durkin (Dunkin) ; the . commissioners to meet at James Dye's.
On Feb. 1, 1843, the legislature, by special act, appointed John Camron, James Dale and Abel Parker, commissioners to view, survey and locate a state road, commencing at the town of Carthage, thence running east in a di- rection to Macomb, crossing Crooked Creek at Owen's Mills, thence on the nearest and best route to intersect a road now laid out from Macomb to the county line betwixt Hancock and McDonough counties, at or near Thomas Dorothy's farm.
On Feb. 3, 1843, the legislature appointed Joel G. Williams, Joel Danah and John Biler, commissioners to view, mark and locate a state road from Quincy, in Adams County, via Hous- ton in said county, to Augusta, in Hancock County.
On March 1, 1845, the legislature, by act in force on that date, appointed Nathan Prentice, Thomas Park and Benjamin F. Johnson, com- missioners, to view and locate a state road, commencing at the "Worchester" post-office in McDonough County, thence west, and as near the township line between five and six as practi- cable, to the town of Macedonia, in Hancock County, thence to the center of section No. 31, in township six north of range five west of the Fourth principal meridian, thence on the near- est and best route to the town of Carthage, in Hancock County, and to commence at the said section 31 in said township, and thence on the nearest and best route to the city of Nauvoo.
On March 1, 1845, the legislature appointed Erastus Benton, Charles Poling and Amos F. Herrich, commissoners, to view, mark and locate a state road from Mendon, in Adams County,
658
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY
running to the forks of Panther Creek, and from thence to Carthage, in Hancock County.
On Feb. 13, 1847, the legislature appointed Hickerson Wright of the County of Hancock, Thomas A. Brooking and Henry A. J. Averill, of McDonough County, commissioners, to re- view and relocate so much of the state road as lay between Worcester post-office, in the County of McDonough, and the county line of Hancock County.
By this time the matter of establishment, alteration or vacation of public highways, under general law, through the County Commissioners' Court or other proper authorities, had become well established, and the practice relating there- to had become well understood, so that resort to special legislative enactments was gradually disused, and such special acts occurred rarely in the subsequent session laws.
The foregoing summary of legislative enact- ments as to roads from 1833, for a period of ten years or more, is given by way of illustra- tion, and for the further purpose of showing how roads were designated in that day by giving points of commencement and termination and describing the intermediate course by reference to farms and the owners thereof, and bridges, and natural objects, and by the use of stakes on the prairie and marks on the trees, in the woods, so that the reader may be able to con- trast this ancient method with the more exact method of the present day when all lands are fenced and when most roads have been straight- ened so as to run along section or quarter-sec- tion lines.
It is interesting also to consider the names of the commissioners who were appointed by these special acts, who were undoubtedly representa- tive men of their respective localities, and, in many instances, ancestors of representative citizens now living in Hancock County. The reader may find in one of these names his father or grandfather, or other relative, or a friend of himself or of some of his ancestors, and so may have one additional item of interest in the participation of such person in the early affairs of Hancock County.
It is not intended to suggest that all roads were laid out or authorized or required by the foregoing legislative acts, for some of these · roads may never have been laid out, or may have been vacated or abandoned afterwards and may not be public highways at all at the present day, especially along the original lines.
CHAPTER II
EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS-OCCUPATIONS AMUSE- MENTS-CONDITIONS YEARS AGO-PIONEER INCI- DENTS-FIRST SETTLERS-PROMINENT PIONEER SETTLERS-OTHER EARLY SETTLERS-OLD LAND- MARKS.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS
The first steamboat, the General Pike, as- cended the Mississippi River above St. Louis in 1817, bringing the first load of merchandise to the pioneers of the regions along the river. Prior to that event, which was naturally re- garded as a very important one, all the merchan- dise, aside from the products of the farm and loom, had to be brought across the mountains with teams from the Atlantic seaboard, or "cor- delled" up from New Orleans in keel-boats by muscular force. Salt could be obtained in very small quantities from Kanawha and Shawnee- town, but other articles, such as tea, coffee, sugar and spices, which we regard as necessities today, were luxuries to the pioneer, and ones he had but seldom. The men went about clad in buckskin moccasins and breeches, and rabbit and coon-skin caps, and the women folks and children wore garments manufactured from cloths woven from flax and wool by the skillful housewives. The log cabins were built of rudely cut timbers, put together without a single nail ; and the windows, when any were cut, were guilt- less of glass. The hinges were home manu- factured of wood, and the door fastenings were either wooden bars or pegs.
It is wonderful what courage those pioneers possessed in leaving comfortable homes in the east, for not only did they have to brave the hardships incident to frontier life, but the very present dangers from wild animals and the savage Indians. Yet these men and women, the majority animated by the sacred spirit of par- enthood, in order to secure better advantages for their children than were offered in the more congested regions along the Atlantic, set forth with all their worldly possessions in a covered wagon, drawn, sometimes by oxen, occasionally
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.