Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 6

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 6

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).

A. Norman Bennett

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by horses, and made the trip across the moun- tains and plains, uncomplainingly and fearlessly. Then, as now, the hardships fell heaviest upon the women and children, and many graves marked the trail of the emigrant. Some of these graves were of a length that told the story of a mother who laid down her life for the new opportunities for her children, but the majority (fortunately for the happiness and prosperity of the family, because when the mother died the father and children were bereft indeed, even more so than today), were of a size that pro- claimed them to be the last earthly resting- place of the little ones for whom the great change had been made. Now and then the father was taken away, and the little band was forced to go ahead without his guidance and protection.

With the ending of the trip, however, came new perplexities. While the timber afforded fuel and building material, and held plenty of water, there was a vast amount of work ahead to clear the land for crops, and owing to the necessity for having wood and water close at hand, and a misconception relative to the fer- tility of the prairies, settlements were always first made in the woods bordering the water- courses. The first work upon arrival, of course, was the erection of shelter for the family and stock, and until the cabin was built the wagon continued to be the home, and its near vicinity the gathering place for the domestic animals which had been brought along. Fortunately it did not take long to put up the little one-room cabins, with clapboard roof, dirt floor, and at one end a fireplace, which was made large so as to take in big logs and thus economize in wood- chopping. About this rude cabin, and the still rougher shelter made for the stock, the pioneer broke the soil for his first crop. When it was in he felt he could draw a long breath for he had then provided for the period when what foodstuffs had been brought along would be exhausted and new food become necessary. Every man in those days (and many of the women), was an expert shot, and meat was furnished entirely by the prowess of the hunter. Sweetening came from wild honey in large par!, and the housewives were experts in deciding upon the edibility of various vegetable growths, and all of the siniple medicinal remedies were brewed from herbs and roots in the fireplace.

OCCUPATIONS

The pioneers were tillers of the soil, coming here to secure cheap land, and their efforts were directed toward improving their farms. Their occupations, aside from farming. were those most nearly connected with their life work, such as blacksmithing, wagon making, cabinet making, carpentering and milling, their mills being both grist and saw mills. In time the services of the lawyer were required to set- tle local and land disputes and to defend those who were unfortunate enough to run counter to the law. At a very early day schools were opened, and the young men aiming to secure a professional training found in the school room an opportunity to provide for their living ex- penses while pursuing their own studies. Some of the girls, before marrying the men of their choice, put in a few months as "little school mistresses," and these early instructors are held in tender recollection by the old settlers who still survive. With the establishment of per- manent church organizations came members of the clergy, both Protestant and Catholic, the former oftentimes also engaging in farming or school-teaching. Ferries were established, tav- erns opened, and stores stocked with merchan- dise. The government in time established post offices, and men were appointed to attend to the mails. However, as said above, the prevailing occupation, and the one upon which everything else hinged, was farming.

AMUSEMENTS

To the rising generation the narratives of pioneer days seem singularly devoid of the lighter features, and they wonder how their fore- bears managed to exist without the thousand and one diversions of today. Yet no one should imagine for a moment that the pioneers were without amusements. They were just as eager to secure happiness as we are today, and took enjoyment as they went along, although in a somewhat different fashion. A wedding was an event that called for a celebration that usually lasted several days, and brought together the pioneers from a wide radius. They came in their rude wagons, on horseback and on foot, and all brought along something to add to the feast. Singing and spelling schools, apple bees, dances, where the music was furnished by some widely-famed fiddler, and corn huskings, all

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brought the people together and afforded a vent for their good spirits. As the communities grew the settlers made it a practice to gather when- ever a new building was to be put up, the men doing the work of building and the women cooking for the crowd.

The pioneers enjoyed their religious services in a whole-hearted manner, and whenever the traveling preacher arrived in the neighborhood he was sure of a warm welcome and an attend- ance upon his ministrations that would overflow whatever building was available, for none would stay away. They came to church in the morn- ing, adjourned for a brief recess during which they ate the lunches brought with them, and then gathered again for an afternoon service, and if the preacher was equal to an evening meeting a third service was held.

Contests in strength and manly prowess were held, and every community had a champion in wrestling, shooting, running and similar sports. The women also competed in housewifely con- tests, and many a family in Hancock County today has relics of those days in bedspreads and samplers wrought by the hands of their pioneer ancestors.

CONDITIONS YEARS AGO

More than two score years ago the following was written by pioneer B. Mendenhall, of Dallas City :

"The writer of this was a small boy in those days and he has sat at the log fires of the early settlers (the fire-place occupying nearly the en- tire end of the cabin) and listened to the stories of pioneers with eager delight as they gathered around the hearth on winter nights and re- counted'to one another the hardships, toils and dangers encountered in order to gain a foot-hold in western fields.

"Over the huge fireplace hung the trusty rifle, on the prongs of the sturdy buckhorn. The well- filled shot bag made of the skin of some wild animal generally the raccoon or fox hung by the rifle. In one corner was a meal sack accom- panied by the tin-grater. If the former failed resort was had to the latter which never failed. Overhead were long strings of golden colored pumpkins cut in rings hung up to dry. Gener- ally the pumpkin was interspersed with dried venison steaks. A barrel of honey was almost always found in the cabin of the settler. Fre- quently, as the meal sack would become low,

the anxious housewife would state the fact to the husband and a new supply would be looked after. But many times supplies could not be had as the mills were so few and far away. So to lengthen out the meal the housewife would steam the dried pumpkin and mixing it with meal in equal parts bake it into bread. It was palatable and kept hunger away. People en- joyed themselves in those days but those days have passed away and the early settler too. One by one at first and then by twos and threes they have passed away and are at rest. But few remain. Occasionally a white-haired sire re- mains a living monument of the hardy frontier settler waiting and watching with an eye of faith, until he too will be called on to join his companions in that home beyond the skies where all is joy and peace. The younger ones are pressing on, filling their places in the great drama of human life. But the eagerness to obtain wealth and position has effaced from these young ones many of the noble and gener- ous traits of character that were prominent in their fathers."

PIONEER INCIDENTS

In those good old pioneer times sheep were kept both for flesh and wool. The latter was carded into rolls and then spun into threads on one of those high spinning wheels made by Mr. Church. He used a turning lathe propelled by a treadle to turn the spokes and other parts. Every family had a wheel and loom and mother and daughters wove woolen blankets for the bed and linsey-woolsey for women's dress and jeans for men's clothing. Many a laddie wooed and won his lassie in homespun.

Father sowed, and reaped, and threshed with flail, hatcheled the flax, and mother used the small wheel to spin it into threads, and then wove it into linen cloth to be used for various domestic purposes, such as towels, tablecloths, etc. He was proud to wear tow breeches and a red wammus (wamus), and many a child was proud to imitate his father. Girls and boys fre- quently went barefooted during summer, but during winter wore heavy shoes which had been bouglit at Warsaw in exchange for pork and wheat. Shoes were made by a a local cobbler. He came to the home and took the measure, then manufactured shoes for all the members of the family. Primitive cooking was done in ovens and skillets. Geese, ducks and wild tur-

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keys were roasted to perfection before the wood fire on a crane that swung back and forth to adjust the game to the desired heat. The old fashioned fireplace with a back log five feet long and two feet in diameter with blazing faggots in front was a thing of beauty and a joy forever. It naturally inspired feelings of hospitality. It set pioneer tongues wagging, delineating wild adventure. For the time being the log cabin was converted into a temporary theater. Ghost stories were told that made children tremble with fear. It was before the days of the piano, but the fiddle took its place and passers-by could distinguish the tune, usually "The Arkansas Traveller."

When the log cabin fire ceased to furnish sufficient light they lighted a tallow dipped candle, or used instead an iron ladle with a nozzle to hold a wick which when filled with lard was lighted and stuck into the wall or side of the jam. Matches were unknown and fires were kindled by striking a flint with steel. The cross-cut and hand saw, the axe, the adz, and the frow were the main tools used in building a cabin. The floor was slabs smoothed with an adz and roof was covered with shingles rived with the frow. The latch string always hung on the outside.

Plowing and hauling were frequently done with oxen, and originally wooden mould board plows were the only plows in use. Wheat was sown broadcast by the hand and covered with a brush drag. Corn was dropped by hand and covered with hoes. Father marked off the ground, mother dropped the corn and the chil- dren, strung out in a row across the field, cov- ered it with hoes. There were no sawmills and gristmills, run by water power, were few and far between. It took three days to go to Elli- son and return with a load of wheat, drawn by oxen. You sometimes waited a long time for your turn, possibly all night. A large part of the grist was taken for toll. Sometimes when the meal sack was empty and the weather being bad, meal was ground at home on a gritter. It was then separated from the bran by means of a sieve and called Indian meal, and it made delicious bread or mush. The pioneer appetite was satisfied with corn pone and Johnny-cake supplemented with fresh butter and sweet milk. Wheat flour was usually reserved for Sunday biscuits, which cooked in a skillet, and served with fresh butter and honey, were good enough for a king. Pies and cakes adorned the table,

especially when there was a quilting bee and a husking contest. After the day's work was over, the fiddle was brought out and dancing com- menced, which frequently continued until the wee sma' hours of morning.

The pioneer's gun frequently supplied the table with gild game of various kinds: deer, turkey, geese, ducks, quail, and prairie chickens. Money was scarce but very little was needed. Every pioneer put up his bacon, pickled pork and corned beef. The minister was paid princi- pally in produce, and the school-teacher boarded around among his pupils. The log schoolhouse stood in the edge of the woods. Pupils sat on benches without backs. The window was simply a log left out of the side of the building. The surrounding glade and brush served as toilet and campus. Nothing was taught beyond "readin,' writin', and 'rithmetic." Grammars were unknown and the Kings English mur- dered ad libitum.

Any family that had the itch and harbored bedbugs was denied entry into good society. The ague and malarial fevers were not uncom- mon, and contagious diseases ran their course. Quinine was a panacea for all ills, supplemented with Pennyroyal and sheep tea. In some quar- ters a belief in ghosts, signs and witches pre- vailed. Signs still seem to dominate men of the present generation.

In early times farmers in the vicinity of La Harpe hauled their pork and grain to Warsaw, resting over night at the half-way house west of Carthage. Pork sold at $1.50 per hundred and wheat at about fifty cents per busliel. The proceeds were usually invested in groceries, shoes, seal-skin caps and jack-knives.

Milch cows grazed on the common and one, at least, was compelled to wear a bell. Calves and lambs were gathered into a corral, at night, near the house under the guardianship of a faithful dog which kept at bay lynx, wolves and catamounts.

In early times the public streets served as hog runs and cow pastures. Men used them in pitching horse shoes and boys in playing marbles. A horse race down main street was not an uncommon sight. The love and affection of the pioneer for his horse is probably the reason that he regarded a horse thief as worse than a murderer, and was ready to string him up to the nearest limb if cauglit. The pioneer val- ued his horse for joy riding perhaps more than his grandchildren do autos and aeroplanes.

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The first apple orchards were seedlings. The fruit was fairly good, and some of the trees survived for half a century. Wild fruits were in abundance, such as plums, blackberries and strawberries. Canning of fruits was unknown but the various wild fruits were preserved, either with cane sugar from New Orleans or homemade maple sugar and also dried. Pota- toes, turnips, beets and cabbages were usually buried below the frost line for use during the winter months. Sauerkraut was common, so was dried venison and jerked beef and sausage. Hard cider and buttermilk took the place of beer. Whiskey was cheap and in great abund- ance, especially on Muster-days when its evil effects were most visible. It inflamed personal feuds and caused disgraceful fights. Christmas night frequently became an occasion to do mis- chief and a wedding was sure to be disturbed by a wild and hilarious charivari.

FIRST SETTLER

The answer to the question as to the name of the first white man to take up permanent residence within the confines of Hancock County has never been satisfactorily given. It is not known whether, or not, when Illinois was admitted to the Union in 1818, there was a white resident of the territory that was later to be set aside as Hancock County, outside of the garrison at Fort Edwards. Until 1825 Hancock County territory was included in other counties, as Madison and Pike, and from 1825 until 1829 in Adams County. Hence the pioneers of these other counties may be fairly included in the records of the history of Hancock County.

The records of Quincy show that a French- man by the name of Bauvet had a trading post at the present site of Quincy in 1811. The In- dian village of the Sauk tribe at this point was destroyed in 1813 by two regiments of mounted rangers from Missouri, and from then until 1819 Quincy does not appear to have attracted settlements. In the latter year Wil- lard Keyes floated past the place and was so favorably impressed that he later returned and built the second house to be erected on the site.

PROMINENT PIONEER SETTLERS

Richard M. Young, judge of the Fifth Judicial circuit, while not an actual settler in Hancock County, had so much to do with the organiza-

tion of the new county that he properly belongs at the head of this list. George Y. Cutler was a storekeeper, one of the first judges of election and one of the first county commis- sioners. Henry Nichols, another of the first county commissioners, settled in Rocky Run Township and lived there for many years. James White was engaged in farming and keel boating on the Mississippi River for many years, and died in 1837. His son, Alexander White, was candidate for sheriff at the first election, but was defeated by Edson Whitney, who after serving his term as sheriff, became a farmer of Rocky Run Township, nine miles below Warsaw. He later served as sheriff of Hancock County for several terms, being elected on the Whig ticket, and he was very active in the campaign against the Mormons. Robert Wallace, the first coroner of the new county, left it many years ago. John Johnson, the first county surveyor, was appointed by the governor, and he served on the first jury. Later he located at Montebello, and was appointed its postmaster by President Jackson, which office he held until his death in 1836. Wesley Wil- liams, first clerk of the county commissioners court, and first circuit clerk, held other offices, and although an attorney he never engaged in active practice. His son, Wesley C. Williams is said to have been the first white child born at Carthage. Isaac R. Campbell, the first treasurer of the county, was appointed by the county com- missioners court.

OTHER EARLY SETTLERS

Daniel Crenshaw settled in Rocky Run Town- ship, and his estate was the third to be entered for probate, under date of October, 1831. Luther Whitney lived in Montebello Township and for some years served as a justice of the peace. Morrill Marston settled near the Calamus Spring in the vicinity of Fort Edwards, and was drowned in a shallow slough between the fort and his residence in the early part of 1831, his estate being the first to be probated. John Clark lived near Fort Edwards, and died during the early history of the county. Leonard L. Abney was an unsuccessful candidate for county commissioner in 1832, and in 1833 he was an acting justice of the peace. Philip Malette appears on the early records as being the first of the Hancock County settlers to divorce his wife. Soon after securing his decree

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he left the county. William Clark, a brother of John Clark, only lived in the county for a brief period. Thomas Payne, who lived near the Calamus Spring, left at an early date. John Harding was one of the settlers of the Bear Creek region, his place being not far from the present site of Chili. It is believed that he and his brothers were the very first settlers in the southern part of the county. He left this vicin- ity in 1835. William Vance, a son-in-law of Luther Whitney, lived near Montebello on the river. The first postmaster of Montebello was Hazen Bedell, who was also a justice of the peace, and died in 1835. John Waggoner, with- out doubt the first settler of Riverside, came there in 1824, died in 1839, and was buried in the old Montebello Cemetery near his residence, overlooking the Mississippi River. James Miller lived near the rapids, but left the county in 1832. Davidson Hibbard's farm is now included in the city of Nauvoo, but when he came here there was but one other white family within several miles. It is interesting to note that not only was he acquainted with the Indian chiefs Black Hawk and Keokuk, but was upon such friendly terms with them that they attended the weddings of his two daughters, one of whom was married to a son of Captain White, and the other to a Mr. Waggoner. He was one of the sufferers from the thefts of the Mormons, and naturally was active in the early campaigns against them. Not only was he a farmer, but an expert cabinetmaker. His residence was the first stone house at Nauvoo, and it stood for many years as a monument to the solidity of building in those early days. To Mr. Hib- bard belongs the honor of highest esteem. Samuel Gooch, who died about 1832, lived along the rapids, and later at Carthage. John Reed, who served twice on the jury in 1830, lived in what is now Appanoose Township. Edward White lived in Appanoose Township on the Mis- sissippi River, was engaged in operating a ferry boat near Fort Madison, and later, in 1836, laid out the town of Appanoose. Hugh Wilson came to Hancock County in 1827, settling near the head of the rapids, but in 1833 moved across the river.

Amzi Doolittle came to Appanoose in 1826. Amzi's father, Edward, came to Sangamon County at an early day, bringing Amzi with him, who was then seventeen years old. He left his son in Illinois and started back to New York

for his wife and the other members of the fam- ily, but died on the way. The son Amzi worked at farm labor in Sangamon County, receiving $9 per month for his work. He was thus em- ployed for thirteen months and during that time had saved $100, which he invested in a heifer, a yoke of steers and a sow. He then broke eight acres of wild land, which he planted to corn, and in this way he gained his start in life. At the end of two years, having raised quite an amount of stock, which he disposed of, he removed to Schuyler County, Ill., where he also broke eight acres of land, on which he lived until 1826, and then came to Appanoose and built the first house in the village, a double log cabin. Many Indians were still to be found in this section of the state, and Mr. Doolittle traded some stock to them for a tract of land. He also conducted the first ferry boat running from Appanoose to Fort Madison, Iowa. He was married in this state to Miss Phebe White and they took up their abode in Appanoose. Later in company with his wife and one child he started for his old home in the Empire state, traveling on a steamer up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, and it was not until he had reached his old home that he learned of his father's death, he having died twelve years previous while on his way to that state for his family. Mr. Doolittle after a time returned again to Ap- panoose, where he continued the operation of his ferryboat. He also built a large sawmill and in connection with two other men built one of the first houses in Burlington, Iowa."

Charles B. Doolittle, son of Amzi, was born here on May 25 1838. "His educational advan- tages were very limited for owing to the unset- tled condition of the country in his youth there . was not a good school system established and during the short time that he pursued his studies the sessions of school were held in private homes."

In the year 1831 William A. Smith came to Hancock County. He served as a soldier at the time of the Mormon War. John White came here about 1840.

James and Nancy Yeager came here in 1835. making their way by steamer from Kentucky down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river to Keokuk, from which they travelled overland to Ft. Green Township where he entered a quarter of land, paying $1.25 an acre, situated on sec- tion 8, all covered with timber at that time. He built a log house, in which he and his fam-

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ily lived for many years. The red men were still to be found here, while the Mormons were the principal white people who had located here. There were also many kinds of wild beasts roaming through the forests and over the prairies and wild game was to be had in abund- ance.

Norman Hobart came to Illinois in 1833. Soon afterwards he came to Hancock County. He bought the old grist-mill on Crooked Creek, which he rebuilt, making a steam flouring-mill of it.

Isaac N. Hobart was born in Fountain Green Township in 1834, and was educated partly in the school taught in the old brick church in Car- thage Township, near what now is Elm Tree postoffice. The school was taught by Squire R. Davis and was a subscription school.

John Harnest came to Hancock County in 1838. He found a pioneer district and at once began to clear the land and built a log cabin. Every evidence of frontier life was here to be seen, and he killed many deer, turkeys and wolves in those early days. The homes of the settlers were widely scattered and many of the now thriving towns and villages had not yet been founded. In the early days of the family's residence here the winters were very severe. There were many blizzards. Mr. Harnest set- tled in the timber for protection for stock and for firewood. The prairie land was broken with a large plow which would turn a 26-inch furrow, drawn by oxen. The whip lashes were made of buckskin and the stocks were of hick- ory or iron-wood. Clearing off the land was hard on clothes, and the mother made her sons buckskin trousers.

Frederick M. Walton and wife came to Han- cock County in 1835, and took up their abode in Augusta Township, section 3. His first home was a little log cabin, in which he lived until 1840, when he employed John Harper, who made mortar brick and was also a brick-layer, to build him a house. Mrs. Harnest (wife of S. E. Harnest) was the first child in the county born in a brick house.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Hancock County, Volume II, Part 6

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