Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 52

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 52

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).

Dr. Hyde served the congregation for the extraordinary period of seventeen years. It would hardly be possible to give a record of the work of this noble man. He was a thorough Presbyterian, doctrinally as well as otherwise, but he was so conscientious that he did not allow his denominational views to interfere with close association in Christian work with min- isters of the other churches. His presence in the sick room was a benediction. His consecrated life is a precious memory to all who knew him.

During Rev. Mr. Tower's ministry the first of the three new Presbyterian churches was built, as was also the second after the first had been destroyed by fire.

The more recent ministers, Rev. Dr. Young, Rev. Mr. Boyd and Rev. Mr. Brown, were men of ability and unusual promise, and served the congregation faithfully and efficiently.

The present pastor, Rev. Mr. Burton, comes to the church with every promise of a success- ful pastorate.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT ELVASTON was organized November 10, 1858, by Rev. J. C. Mc- Knight. The charter members were as follows : James C. Stewart, Susanna Stewart, Sarah Stewart, Mary Jane Stewart, David McKnight, Harriet McKnight, John Wayte, F. Steele Wright, Nancy Wright, Mrs. Mary J. Stewart, W. W. Puntunney, Malachi Richardson, Mar- garet Richardson, Edward Law, Jeremiah Stew- art, Martha Wayte, Robert P. Stewart, Elizabeth Wallace, John Wallace and Janet Law. The present membership is about 197.

This church was organized in a schoolhouse one mile west of the village of Elvaston. The first church edifice was erected in the southwest part of the village in 1868. The present modern structure was erected in 1893. It has concrete basement, furnace heat and electric lights. Its seven-room manse was purchased in 1889.

The following pastors have served this church : Revs. W. H. Buchannan, eight years ; James R. Bell, fourteen years; H. C. Mullen, three years; F. P. Miller, three years; J. H. Rose, three years; J. M. Leonard, four years ; H. H. Maynard, one year; W. H. Clatworthy, four years; H. G. Dusenberry, two years ; J. L. Sawyer, one year; H. W. Stillman, six years ; J. W. Mckinney, one year ; H. L. Todd, one and two-thirds years; and then O. D. Slater. Edward Law served as church clerk of sessions seventeen years; Samuel P. McGaw served as clerk of sessions thirty-one years ; John H. Hor- ney, the present clerk has served over thirteen years.

UNION

LA HARPE UNION CHURCH was made up of the merging of the old Congregational and Protes- tant Methodist churches of La Harpe, which was effected August 8, 1915, by the membership of both churches voting so to unite in one or- ganization. The officers of the church at the date of its union were: Deacons-J. M. Lyon, Pliny A. Maynard, S. E. Bigs and C. H. Barnes. The present membership is about 194 resident

918

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

members and about sixty-eight non-residents. The Sunday school has an enrollment of about 258. Rev. J. Yemmas is the only pastor since the union of the two old churches above named.

The Union church, though an independent organization, does its benevolent and mission- ary work through the established boards of the Methodist Protestant and Congregational churches, making an equal division of the funds raised for such purposes. The Union church controls the property of the former churches composing the Union : one brick structure built by the Congregationalists, 1838 (or 1848), re- modeled 1894, during the pastorate of Rev. F. Bowen; a frame structure by the Methodist Protestants, 1852-54, which was deeded to the Union church by the North Illinois Conference of the Methodist Protestant church. The latter was taken down in 1917.

The charter members of the Congregational church which was organized in 1836 by Rev. Turner, of Quincy, Illinois, and Rev. A. P. Thorp, are as follows: Joseph Chickering, C. A. Dem- ing, Roswell P. Jerome, Benjamin Rice, L. C. Maynard, Joseph Johnson, Moses Dearborn, Mar- vin Tryon, Emeline Chickerinig, Ann Deming, Amanda Jerome, Sarah W. Nudd, Mrs. Barnetha, Harriet Johnson, Adeline Maynard, Catherine Tryon. The subjoined is an incomplete list of the Congregational pastors of the church which merged as mentioned above: Revs. A. P. Ap- thorp, M. Johnson, Atkinson, A. L. Penoyer, Darius Gore, 1869-73; William Wakefield, 1873- 80; J. Wolfe, 1880-82; A. J. Benknap, 1882-85; H. S. Widney, 1885-86; O. C. Dickerson, 1886- SS; D. A. Blose, 18SS-89; Malcom, 1889-90; F. Bowen, 1891-98; W. R. Stewart, 1899-01; G. W. Mylne, 1901-02; A. F. Marsh, 1903-05; A. E. Hartwell, 1905-08; H. McKoon, 1908-09; C. F. Sheldon, 1909-12; J. M. Finch, 1912-15.

The following is a partial list of the ministers who have served the Protestant Methodist Church : Rev. Jacob Fowler, organizer of the church, 1848; Revs. Shinn and Sutton and Wil- liam Jordon, 1857-8; J. P. Johnson, Robert Burns, P. J. Strong, J. M. Mayall, H. S. Widney, W. W. Lineberry, 1888-91; Richard Pacey, 1891- 94; L. Layman, 1894-95; J. S. Davis, 1895-96; J. D. Corbin, 1896-7; G. B. Deakin, 1897-98; R. E. Fox, 1898-1901; Ernest Evans, 1901-04; J. M. Lackey, 1904-07; C. L. Dark, 1907-11; F. W. Lineberry, 1911-12; C. J. Hoy, 1913; and J. Yenn, 1913-15. (See last chapter.)

CHAPTER XV

MILITARY

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION- OF THE WAR OF 1812-MUSTER ROLL OF CARTHAGE GRAYS-THE BLACK HAWK WAR, 1832-THE WAR WITH MEXICO, 1846-4S-THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-65-THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 1898-99-THE WORLD'S WAR, 1914-18.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS

It is much easier for the editor to give an account of the connection of this county with the World War, than it is to give specifications of the part taken by Hancock County citizens in earlier wars, such as the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, and particularly the Black Hawk War and the War with Mexico. Some account of what has been called the Mormon War will be found in the chapter which deals with the subject of Mormonism.

MUSTER ROLL OF THE CARTHAGE GRAYS (GREYS)

The Carthage Grays were at Carthage, on June 27, 1844, when the Mormon prophet was killed, and took part in greater or less degree in the Mormon War. Although not in chronolog- ical order, it is deemed proper to give the muster roll in this connection.

According to Munsell's History of McDonough County the following is the muster roll of the Carthage Grays in 1844: Captain, Robert F. Smith ; First-Lieutenant, Samuel O. Williams ; Second-Lieutenant, Franklin A. Worrell ; Third- Lieutenant, Thomas L. Morrison ; Ensign, Louis C. Stevenson ; Orderly-Sergeant, Eli H. Williams.

Non-Commissioned Officers and Privates : Crockett Wilson, Claibourn Wilson, John Wil- son, Moses Printy, Thomas I. Dale, William E. Baldwin, Edwin B. Baldwin, Frank Rhodes, Albert N. Thompson, Joseph W. Hawley, Alex- ander Moore, Thomas B. Griffitts, Ellis Hughes, Marvin M. Hamilton, William R. Hamilton, Ebenezer Rand, E. S. Rand, John Morrison, Alexander Sympson, Walter Bagby, Charles Bagby, Frederick Loring, Mike Barnes, Jr., James D. Barnes, William Conley, Jonas Hobert,

919

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

Levi Street, Harlow Street, James C. McQuary, John H. Lawton, Ezra Fay, Benjamin F. Easter- brook, - Symonds and James H. Carothers.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE WAR OF 1812

We quote from the Carthage Gazette of July 23, 1920, as follows :

"In the Pulaski cemetery located in the ex- treme southeastern part of Hancock County, are buried one soldier of the Revolutionary War, one of the War of 1812, two who served both in the Mexican War and the Civil War, and twen- ty-four who served in the Civil War."

We have not had opportunity to verify this statement, but we take it to be correct.

In the history of the Shadrach Bond Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, given elsewhere in this volume, will be found the names of the soldiers of the Revolutionary War known to be buried in this county.

These Revolutionary soldiers who rest in Hancock County graves did not enter the service as citizens of this county. At the time, this county was a wilderness, inhabited by Indians, with perhaps an occasional hunter or trapper or explorer as a temporary visitant. The same remarks are largely applicable to the soldiers of the War of 1812 who are buried within this county. Some of them may have gone into the service from the territory now composing this county, but that is hardly probable.

BLACK HAWK WAR, 1832

The record of service of Illinois soldiers in the Black Hawk War, 1831-32, prepared and pub- lished by authority of the Thirty-second Gen- eral Assembly gives the roster of Captain But- ler's Company of the Odd Battalion of Mounted Rangers called into the service of the United States on the requisition of General Atkinson, by the Governor's proclamation, dated May 20, 1832, and among the names given are Daniel Crenshaw of Hancock County, corporal, and Paschal Cra (e) nshaw, William Cash and James J. McGuffles, all of Hancock County, privates. William Cash was enrolled on June 29th, and there is a notation in connection with his name to the effect that he was detached on extra duty Sept. 1st. Daniel Cra (e) nshaw was en- rolled on June 29th and the other two on June

11th. There is no notation opposite the name of any of these men except William Cash.

Another company was Captain James White's Company of the Odd Battalion of Mounted Rangers called into the service of the United States, on a requisition of General Atkinson. The captain, James White, the first lieutenant, John Reynolds, the second lieutenant, James Miller, the first sergeant, A. S. Foot, the second sergeant, Amasah (Amzi) Doolittle, the third sergeant, William White, the fourth sergeant, John Vance, and the fifth sergeant, John Robin- son, all of Hancock County, were enrolled on April 30, 1832, except Sergeant Doolittle, who was enrolled on July 16th, and were mustered out of the service on Sept. 5th of the same year. John Reynolds was furloughed Sept. 2d for three da ys.

The residences of the corporals and privates of this company are not given. Some of these may have been from Hancock County, to which supposition certain of the names give color.

There was another company known as Captain Alexander White's Company of Mounted Vol- unteers, who were called into the service by the order of the Governor and served from May 26 to June 15, 1832. Among these appears the name of Amzi Doolittle, but the residences of the officers and privates of this company are not given. Inasmuch as names in that day were frequently spelled phonetically, and inasmuch as Amzi Doolittle of Captain White's Company served until June 15, 1832, and Sergeant Am- asah Doolittle of Captain James White's Com- pany enrolled on July 16th, it is highly probable that these two names represent the same man, who served first in Captain Alexander White's Company and afterwards enrolled for further service in Captain James White's Company.

In Gregg's History of Hancock County, the following is given concerning Amzi Doolittle :

"Mr. Doolittle was a thorough-going energetic man, yet kind-hearted and true. But he was a most inveterate, profane swearer. An incident is told about him that illustrates this habit. He was at Quincy attending to some business, and, as usual, was letting off a string of oaths at every breath. A man, who was in an ad- . joining room, hearing Mr. Doolittle going on, and the door being partly open, observed in Mr. Doolittle's hearing that he beat any person swearing he ever heard, except one man, and that was Amzi Doolittle of Appanoose. This, of course, was a poser to Mr. Doolittle, and on

920

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

his way home he reflected on the matter and decided to turn over a new leaf, which he did, and subsequently joined the Baptist church."

Another name which appears in the records relating to the companies of Captain James White and Captain Alexander White is that of Hezekiah Spillman. His place of residence is not indicated in either record. It is highly probable that he was from Hancock County, and that he is the Hezekiah Spillman of whom the following incident is related in Gregg's History of Hancock County :

"During the scare of the Black Hawk War, Mr. Hezekiah Spillman was authorized to build a fort or block-house, near his place, for the protection of the inhabitants. The house was built of large blocks, 20 by 25 feet long, knotched up solidly, and 10 or 15 feet high, and then with longer blocks projecting 2 or 3 feet over. The whole was covered with a heavy clapboard roof. All around, above and below, were port- holes, to open or close, as necessity required. This building was enclosed all around some 25 or 30 feet distant with a stockade of logs set in the ground."

From another page of Gregg's history (501), it would appear that Johnson C. Clark was the man appointed by the war department to build a block-house and that Hezekiah Spillman and Andrew Deboneyer assisted in the work. This block-house was erected at Spillman's Landing, now Pontoosuc. Gregg's account of Mr. Clark's life is so interesting that it may well be given here, although it is somewhat of a digression from our consideration of the Black Hawk War.

Mr. Gregg says that Johnson C. Clark was a native of Indiana and emigrated to this county in 1832. The historian proceeds as follows :

"During the Indian troubles he settled on sec- tion 10, 7 north, 7 west; was the husband of two wives (presumably consecutively), by each of whom he had eleven children. He was ap- pointed by the war department to build a block-house or small fort at Spillman's Landing, now Pontoosuc, and in the discharge of this duty he was assisted by Hezekiah Spillman and Andrew Deboneyer. Mr. Clark, who was a man . of courage, would mount the fort, swing his old white hat, cheer for General Jackson, and curse the red-skins; then down into the trench again, would work away with pick and shovel, throwing up breast-works; all the while telling the men that they must work or the red-skins would get their hair."

We do not undertake to give a history of the Black Hawk War, which was not fought in Hancock County and which belongs especially to the history of the state.

MEXICAN WAR, 1846-48

It is not easy to determine how many Han- cock County citizens enlisted and served in the Mexican War, for the reason that very few en- listments are credited to the county. Alton seems to have been the principal place of en- listment, and it is not improbable that Han- cock County men may have enlisted at Alton, or at other points, such as Quincy, and stand as credited to those cities. The records as pub- lished do not show the residences of the soldiers.

We give the names of Hancock County men whose places of enlistment are Hancock County cities.

Captain A. Dunlap's Company was mustered in at Alton on May 21, 1847. This company was organized by Captain Dunlap at Rushville. The company was discharged at Alton on Nov. 7, 1848. Names appearing in the roster as published are Mark Allen, Davidson M. Geiger, Charles W. Gillett, Clinton Stetson and Clark Winsor of Nauvoo, as to each of whom there is a notation under the head of "Remarks," that he joined, a recruit, in Mex., May 26, 1848; John F. Carnes, William B. Hanson, and Benj. P. Vancourt of Warsaw, as to each of whom there is a similar notation in the records; Wil- liam B. Weatherbee of Carthage, who is also recorded as having joined, a recruit, in Mex., May 26, 1848; Plinney P. Gillett of Warsaw, of whom it is recorded that he died at Alton, Aug. 31, 1848; and P. V. Whitcher of Warsaw, of whom it is recorded that he was discharged on expiration of service, Oct. 3d.

In the roster of Captain Wyatt B. Stapp's Company appears the name of John G. Fonda as "Second Second Lieut." as having enlisted at Jefferson Barracks, enrolled Aug. 17, 1847, and elected from sergeant June 13, 1848. This com- pany was organized at Monmouth in June, 1847, and mustered in at Quincy on Aug. 10, 1847, and was discharged at Alton on July 26, 1848.

There can be no doubt that this was the same John G. Fonda, who was for many years a resident of Hancock County, and prominently identified with its affairs.

There may have been other men, who were citizens of Hancock County at the time, who

921

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

enlisted at points without the county, and who are not credited to this county in the records. Undoubtedly there are soldiers of the Mexican War who have lived in this county and have been buried here, who were living elsewhere during the time of the Mexican War and are not to be considered as Hancock County citizens at that time.

THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-5

This war has been variously designated as the Rebellion, the War Between the States, the Civil War, etc., and was one of the most strenu- ous conflicts ever waged, and has resulted, as is now generally conceded by the people of all sections of the country, in welding the states into one great nationality, with the reservation of such powers of local self-government to the states as are not inconsistent with the para- mount question of a strong and efficient general government. It was decided by this conflict that the union of the states is permanent, and that no state, therefore, has the right to with- draw or secede from the union. Incidentally, slavery was destroyed. Great devastation of the southern states accompanied the war which was waged principally in those states, but after the lapse of fifty-five years the South has been redeemed from the ravages of war, and is now prosperous and progressive and worthy of its close association by an indissoluble union with the northern states. In fact, the terms north `and south are now used like the terms east and west, not as designating antagonistic parts of the United States, but as indicating territorial direction.

The editor was told some years ago by Wm. C. Hooker, a prominent lawyer of Carthage for many years, and a resident of Carthage at the time, that, when Mr. Douglas spoke at Carthage în 1858, he, Mr. Hooker, was sick, and was lying on a couch on the large porch of the Artois Hamilton Hotel. This hotel was from 500 to 600 feet in a straight line from the platform where Mr. Douglas stood while making his address. Mr. Hooker stated that, notwithstand- ing the distance, he heard the address from be- ginning to end, so distinct was the speaker's utterance and so great was the carrying power of his voice.

In 1858 Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas, candidates for the senate of the United States, spoke at Carthage, the former

Oct. 11, and he also spoke at Augusta, and a large concourse of citizens was present at each of these meetings. Mr. Lincoln spoke also at Augusta in the same year. The questions dis- cussed were not dissimilar to those involved in the presidential campaign of 1860. Neither of these great leaders spoke in Hancock County during the presidential campaign.

Douglas was chosen senator ; but it has been - generally conceded that the campaign of 1858, and especially debates between Lincoln and Douglas during that campaign, contributed largely to the election of Mr. Lincoln as presi- dent two years later.

The campaign of 1860 was a period of great excitement. There were four presidential tick- ets before the people, but the principal tickets were headed by Lincoln and Hamlin represent- ing the republican party and Douglas and John- son representing the northern democrats. The republican youth were formed into organiza- tions or clubs called Wide-awakes. They wore black capes and black caps, and carried torches in their evening parades. The democratic boys were organized as Hickory-buds. They wore hickory shirts and carried torches. Great meet- ings were held by both parties throughout the county at which there were parades and other demonstrations, and fiery speeches by enthusi- astic partisans. The feeling became so intense that war was considered as more than a pos- sibility as the result of the election. There were many southern men living in Hancock County, men who had come from Virginia, Ken- tucky, Tennessee, and other southern states, and some of these were more or less sympathetic with the southern attitude. On the other hand there were many people living in the county who had come from the states further east and who were strongly imbued with the anti-slavery and anti-southern principles which entered into the campaign. It followed that the election in this county was hotly contested and that con- siderable animosity was aroused between certain members of the opposing factions.

The secession of the southern states, one by one, until ten of them had attempted to with- draw from the union, during the winter of 1860- 61 and the spring of 1861, followed by the firing upon Fort Sumter after Mr. Lincoln's inauguration, aroused the people to an intensity of feeling which cannot be understood by those who were not living during that period. Prior to this first overt act of war, the sentiment

922

HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY

of Hancock County people was divided, but afterwards there was a general feeling that this act could not be suffered to pass unchallenged, and that war had become a necessity for the preservation of the union and the maintenance of the integrity of the stars and stripes.

This is not the place for a history of the Civil War, and hence there is no attempt here to present any such history, but only to give in outline the participation of the people of Hancock County in this deadly and lengthy conflict.

When volunteers were called for this county responded promptly and generously. A large number of soldiers was sent to the service, principally volunteers, stimulated, as a general rule, by intense patriotism. A much larger number of men entered the army from this county in the Civil War than the number called into the service, either by enlistment or by selective service system, during the recent World War.

The reports of the Adjutant General give the names and the particular service of each of these soldiers, and the lists following are taken from these records. There is a possibility of error in any record or proceeding, and it is possible that these records omit some names which should appear there, but, if such is the case, the editor has no means of ascertaining the fact. The lists above referred to are lengthy, but they show what Hancock County did for national preservation during the Civil War and are appropriately and permanently recorded in this volume.

It should be observed that names are frequent- ly repeated in these lists, as, where a private was promoted to be an officer, or an officer of lesser degree to be an officer of higher degree, so that the total number of persons in the service cannot be ascertained by the simple addition of the names appearing in the lists. Thus, the name John C. Fonda of Warsaw ap- pears as Lieut. Col. and again as Col. in the 118th Infantry, the name of Robert W. Mc- Claughry appears as Capt. of Co. B, and also as Maj. of the Field and Staff of the 118th, and the name of Alexander Sholl appears as 2d Lieut., also as 1st Lieut., also as Capt., of the 118th. The promotion of the soldiers is thus shown, but the total number of men en- gaged can only be ascertained by taking into account this duplication or repetition of names.

The Adjutant General's Report, Vol. 1, page

172, shows that the population of Hancock County in 1860 was 29,041. The quotas for this county are given in the Adjutant General's Report as follows: 814 in the year 1861; 557 in the year 1862; 1,000 under the call for 700,000 men on Feb. 1 and March 14, 1864; 824 on the call for 500,000 men on July 18, 1864; 311 net quota, subsequently ; making a total quota of 3,506. The same report shows total credits of 3,272, with deficit of 234. The editor gives the figures, without attempting explanations. They are presumably correct.

The same report, Vol. 1, page 207, shows that Hancock County and certain townships expended moneys and incurred liabilities in aid of the sup- pression of the Rebellion, as follows: Hancock County, $119,885.00; Pilot Grove, $10,144.96; Appanoose, $6,353.95 ; Durham, $10,135.00 ; War- saw (city), $13,507.98; Rock Creek, $6,238.00 ; Fountain Green, $8,044.45; making a total of $174,300.34.

In the Adjutant General's Report it is stated that Illinois, having sent six regiments to the Mexican War was accorded the courtesy of beginning with the number seven in numbering the regiments which took part in the war for the union.

The records give the names of those who were enlisted for the Three Months' Service in the 7th, Sth, 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th infantry regi- ments, but the records do not give the places of residence of these soldiers, but only the places of their enrollment. Doubtless there were many Hancock County men in the Three Months' Service, but their names could be as- certained only by inquiry as to every individual in the list, which is impracticable.

In all subsequent lists, the records show the places of residence. The names of these sol- diers are given in the lists following, beginning with the Sth Infantry and continuing to the end. There are no Hancock County soldiers recorded in the list of the 7th Infantry Regi- ment.

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 52

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