Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II > Part 10

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

is one of the oldest ones in the county, and is well kept, and is well worth visiting by those in search of the old settlers of the southern part of the county.

THE BEAR CREEK CHURCH.

The first old log Bear Creek Church was among the oldest in the county and was erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians who lived in the vicinity. It was built first near the Jesse Johnson farm north of Donnellson, but later rebuilt about a mile northwest of Donnellson, near what is now commonly known as the Ayde- lott farm. There was a graveyard where the church was first built, and that too was aban- doned, and the burying transferred to the later place after the relocating of the church. In 1857 the church organization abandoned the log structure and built a small brick church ' in Donnellson. Later the brick church was abandoned and a frame church built in place of the brick one, more modern in style and capacious in size. The old cemetery near the Aydelott residence continues to be known as the Bear Creek Cemetery and contains the re- mains of many of the county's earliest settlers. The Paisleys, the McLains, and other pioneers in the old church as well as fathers and mothers of long lines of descent now in the county lie buried there, and the memories of the old church are frequent topics of conversation when these descendants meet together.

THE OLDEN TIME PREACHER.

A description of the present day minister would in no way fit the pioneer preacher of seventy-five years ago. He was no less de- voted to his calling and served his day and environments possibly as well as the aca- demically and theologically trained man of this day. He neither asked or received any salary. He claimed no literary ability in the prepara- tion of his sermons. The Bible and the hymn book were his traveling companions. The old leathern saddle bags, and a gentle "nag" which was usually borrowed, were his outfit. He preached the fear of "hell fire," and the promise of the Almighty to "the righteous" were the burdens of much of his preaching. He married those seeking connubial happiness, and accepted fruits or vegetables or other useful articles for his services. He baptized both adults and in-

fants, and was a sort of settlement umpire in the matter of what was orthodox and what he could permit the church member to indulge in. I have space for mention of only a few of these "servants of God." It has already been said in these pages that Rev. James Street preached the first sermon cver delivered in Montgomery County. It was preached in 1820 and at the home of David McCoy near where the Clear Springs Church was afterwards built. He was a Baptist, and like all the Baptists of the old school of his day, he assumed a monotonous, weird, sing song tone in his speaking, which was at once both awesome and dolorous and calculated to make an impression not easy to forget. We will mention one instance that will illustrate the influence these preachers had over the sinful. A man named Lockerman who lived not far from Mr. Street, was found out to be living with a woman to whom he was not mar- ried, and they were the parents of three chil- dren. Mf. Street managed to get Mr. Locker- man to come to his place and help him do some work in his corn field, and improving the oppor- tunity to talk with him privately, he pointed out the enormity of the wrong he was doing toward his Maker and his children so forcibly that Lockerman agreed to marry at once, and the woman was sent for and the marriage cere- mony performed in the corn field and the evil doers entered upon a new and more commendable alliance for life.

While James Street preached the first sermon in the county, it was Rev. Henry Sears who became the first pastor of a church in the county. The church was built on the Hurricane, and being largely the result of the labors of Mr. Sears, he became its regular supply, and there- fore the first preacher to have charge of church work in the county. One of the best known of the early preachers was Peter Cartwright, a Methodist, and one of the ablest among the early preachers, and yet a quaint and eccentric character, who was widely talked about on ac- count of the many peculiar incidents in his career. Many stories are told of his eccentrici- ties, that would make interesting reading had we the space to relate them. He perhaps dedi- cated more of the early Methodist churches than any other man in this part of the state.

Rev. Jesse Townsend, an eastern man with better college training than any other preacher of his day, was one of the first Presbyterian preachers, and his wife probably was the first

EDWARD A. WANLESS

MRS. EDWARD A. WANLESS

....

DAVID H. CLOTFELTER

MRS. DAVID H. CLOTFELTER

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

teacher in the county. Mr. Townsend organized the Presbyterian Church in Hillsboro, and did much for the Presbyterian faith in the county. Rev. Joel Knight founded several churches or aided in doing so, Rev. John Barber being an ally with him in the building up of the churches in East Fork, Donnellson and at Irving. Rev. Larkin Craig, Baptist, preached the gospel from the Baptist point of view for many years and over the larger part of this county and territory adjoining. Rev. William Hutchinson, the father of our fellow citizen James B. Hutchinson, and Rev. C. C. Aydelott, father of our late esteemed citizen, George R. Aydelott, were among the early preachers of the southern part of the county. Rev. Jesse Walker, and Rev. Joshua Barnes did valiant work in the vicinity of Butler from the Methodist view, while Rev. Thomas Spillman did a great amount of able preaching as a Presbyterian. Rev. Burnett Woods up in Zanesville Township, as a Baptist, left the marks of his work there, that are still to be seen. Rev. William Mitchell was an early pastor of Hillsboro Presbyterian Church and died while here. His brother, Rev. James Mitchell, a Methodist, we believe also preached for some years in the county. Rev. J. L. Creamer, located in the vicinity of Nokomis where the seeds of gospel truth were freely sown for many years. Rev. Bartman, Presbyterian, aided in building the church at Irving, and elsewhere in that vicinity. Rev. Lowrey came to Irving soon after Bartman, and was, we think, pastor of the Pres- byterian Church for a while. Rev. Aldridge preached in the vicinity of Witt and was helpful in organizing churches in the vicinity. Rev. Daniel Scherer founded the Hillsboro Lutheran Church and with his son, Rev. Jacob Scherer and sons-in-law, Rev. Lingle and Swartz, did more for the Lutheran cause than all other ministers of that denomination. Rev. Peter Long, a Baptist man of ability, a writer and hymn composer, preached over a great part of the county, as his home was just a little way south of where Reno now stands. Down in Fill- more Rev. Willis Dodson held up the gospel from the Baptist viewpoint. Rev. John Jordan in Walshville Township. Rev. Moses Lemon, also of that vicinity, Rev. Thomas Ray of East Fork and Rev. Ellis who preached the first sermon in Hillsboro from a Presbyterian pulpit, all did valiant work in the cause of the Master. Rev. Alfred Bliss, father of Hon. Charles W. Bliss of

Hillsboro, preached for many years over the county, as a Methodist and that denomination owes much to his labors. Many good things might be said of each of these tried and true exponents of their faith, and the high religious convictions of our people today may be traced back to the preaching of these conscientious serv- ants of God. Many others might be named, but space will not permit.

We attach here a short sketch of the Rev. Thomas W. Hynes, whose labors as a minister and educator in Hillsboro and other parts of Montgomery County made him truly a historic character worthy of remembrance.

THOMAS W. HYNES, D. D.

For some years Rev. T. W. Hynes was the pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Hillsboro in the early days of its career. As he was con- veniently located, and always felt an interest in its welfare, he often visited the church and preached therein when he was not its pastor. We mention his name among the men who have made Montgomery County, for the good work which he did, for the upbuilding of the county, and partly because the writer enjoyed a warm acquaintanceship with him, during the time that he was superintendent of schools of Bond County. It was from his hands that the first certificate to teach school was received by the writer, and the pleasant part of it was that he refused to examine me when requested to do so, saying that I had been sufficiently examined from reports made to him by John F. Wafer, and Nellie Wheeler.

Doctor Hynes was born in Kentucky in 1815. He received his collegiate training in Hanover College, Ind., and was for a while the professor of mathematics in that institution. He then took a theological course in the Albany Theological Seminary, and after receiving his diploma, en- tered upon regular pastoral duties. In 1855, he was elected superintendent of schools of Bond County, which position he held for about twenty years. At the same time he did a great amount of preaching and pastoral work. Having saved a little money from his years of incessant toil, he bought a farm in the western part of Bond County, where he made his home for many years before he died. He also maintained a home in Greenville during the last few years of his life. For considerably over fifty years the Doctor was

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

constantly engaged in religious and educational work, in Bond and adjacent counties, much of which was in this county. He did also at various times editorial work in the newspaper field. As we remember him, he was a dignified and scholarly man, and yet an affable one, and always friendly with all, maintaining a high Christian character, without being too austere or unapproachable. He died in 1905, at the age of over eighty-nine years. His record is without a blemish, and is seldom equalled in devotion to Christianity and education and never excelled. Mrs. Hynes, whose maiden name was Wafer, died a short time ago, full of years and rich in good deeds and happy memories.

THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SUNDAY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

In every county where the spirit of religious progress is felt and manifested, in connection with the establishment of churches there is shown the missionary impulse for the public welfare in ethical culture in the organization of Sunday or Bible schools, and that this work may be done intelligently, a county organization is maintained. Quite a number of years ago Albert Fish, Arthur Ware, and many others or- ganized a County Sunday School Association, and this organization has yearly conducted local conventions in the various townships, and a gen- eral convention in one of the prominent towns or cities of the county.

That this association has built up, and fos- tered the spirit of religious and Biblical study in the county is unquestioned, and we here mention it as one of the ethical forces that enters into the history of the county. The present officers of this association are: J. C. Wells, Nokomis, president ; C. T. Scherer, Raymond. vice presi- dent ; Mrs. F. O. Rogers. Waggoner, secretary ; Harold J. Henderson, Raymond, assistant sec- retary ; Mrs. H. H. Moore, superintendent ele- mentary division ; Rev. G. G. Parker, Irving, adult division ; Mrs. R. O. Brown, Butler, home division ; Forest H. Page, Hillsboro, temperance division ; Rev. G. E. Smock, Nokomis. teacher training division : Mrs. W. W. Rainey, Litchi- field. missionary division ; Mrs. G. A. Clotfelter, Hillsboro, assistant missionary division ; and W. A. Young. Nokomis, John Gerlack, Waggoner, W. L. Seymour. Raymond, John M. Lounsbury, Witt, James A. Busby, Butler, Mrs. P. G. Keese,

Litchfield, and Arthur Green, Hillsboro, district presidents.

CHAPTER V.

PIONEER INCIDENTS.

HOME LIFE-EARLY COFFINS-EARLY SHOEMAKERS -EARLY PRESENTS-COTTON RAISING - EARLY POWDER MAKING-EARLY VIOLINS-EARMARKS- OLD SCHOOL TREATS-OLD COURTING CUSTOMS- CHOLERA IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY-AN EARLY DAM-OLD TIME PRACTICES-GAME IN PIONEER DAYS-TRADING HOUSEWIVES-SOME EARLY MAR- RIAGES-HABITS, CUSTOMS AND MANNER OF LIV- ING - TURKEY HUNTING - HORSE TIIIEVES - COUNT LEHANOWSKY-A PECULIAR GIFT-OLD DISTILLERIES-OLD STAGE AND MAIL LINES-THE PUNISHMENT OF AVARICE-TAX LEVIES-AN OLD LAND SALE-COUNTY FINANCES-SLAVERY AND RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE-SLAVERY IN MONT- GOMERY COUNTY-PECULIAR EVENTS AND INCI- DENTS-WHOSE BABY-IMPEACHMENT OF JUDGE SMITH-THE WILLED BABY-A STORM AT SEA- THE BOND CASE-IS THE DEBT COLLECTABLE-LO- CATION OF STATE CAPITAL-AN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-A BUTLER GHOST-A NEW LINCOLN IN- CIDENT-A PECULIAR ENDOWMENT-TIIE ELLIS GLENN CASE-MILK SICKNESS-DUELS.

HOME LIFE.

Happiness is not restricted to those in opu- lence or affluence. Under all normal conditions, however poor may be the person, the silver of the cloud may be seen, and pleasure obtained. That some idea may be had of the pleasure and joys of life, as well as the different circum- stances under which the pioneers labored and en- dured, we give a few incidents and events illus- trating the home life of the pioneers. "Home sweet home," was as dear, and may we not say, as happy then as in the palatial residence of modern days. The anticipations of a home of one's own was then and ever will be, one of the most pleasant experiences of life, and is a most potent force in the accomplishment of life's

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

ambitions. The stories of experiences, priva- tions and hardships of our forefathers are fas- cinating to the younger generations whose knowl- edge of them is now merely traditional. Nearly every old man or woman in the county today can relate one or more interesting event of the olden time. either from personal recollec- . tion or from family experiences, and it is de- sirable that these be preserved in lasting form, not only because they are entertaining, but be- cause they are history, the history of our own county.

EARLY COFFINS.

It is related by one of the old settlers that when the first wife of pioneer James Card, was buried, her coffin was made of puncheons, or split logs. Sawed lumber was unobtainable and nails were almost as hard to get, so that the pioneers had to make just such coffins as circum- stances would permit. Hence coffins of puncheons or rived lumber were common, especially among the poorer people.

EARLY SHOEMAKERS.

Among the old settlers of the county, Jake Wilson, John Slater, James Card, Alexander Scott and others were shoemakers and menders of shoes. They frequently went from house to house, carrying their thread, wax, awis, shoe hammer and handmade pegs, and a supply of cowhide leather to make and mend the shoes of the family. One pair of cowhide shoes a year was the ordinary allowance for each men- ber of the family. During the summer every- one went barefooted with rare exceptions, even, going to "meeting house" either barefoot, or carrying their shoes over their backs until near the church when they stopped and put them on, taking them off as soon as they were out of sight of the church on the way back. The young man going courting usually carried his shoes until within a few rods of the home of his inamorata.

EARLY PRESENTS.

Of course people made presents then as they do today, but the character of the presents de- pended upon what they had to give. Mrs. Wilson Barry, who lived on the present site of Taylor

Springs, when she desired to make Judge Round- tree a present could think of nothing he would appreciate more within her ability to give, than a pot of corn lye hominy made with her own hands, and which was as acceptable to him as if it had been of tinsel and gold.

COTTON RAISING.

It is not generally known that the raising of cotton was one of the early industries of this county, but it is'true. Gin mills were operated in some parts of the county, one at the old Pepper Mill. The cotton plant was cultivated, the bowls picked by hand and ginned in the old style gin, carded by small hand cards, and spun on the old fashioned spinning wheel and woven on the handmade loom into jeans, lindseys or domestics. It is not mere supposition to say that cotton would be a paying crop to raise here now. We have done it in the past, and could do it now.

EARLY POWDER MAKING.

Powder was made in the county in the olden days when it could not be obtained by purchase, though not extensively. Near the old Pepper Mill there was at one time a place where powder was made and sold, as well as whiskey. The power to run wool and cotton carding and corn mills was water, and, as the Pepper Mill had the power, it followed that carding as well as grinding, and stilling, and powder making, were all in compliance with the needs or supposed needs of those days. This is taken up more extensively in the article on the Pepper Mill.

EARLY VIOLINS.

Henry Rowe, who lived down on East Fork, was quite a skilled mechanic in making violins and many of the "hoedowns" of that day were tripped to the strains of a Rowe fiddle, and the dancers enjoyed the frolic just as much as if they had been on marble floors and danced to a Stradivarius. With the fiddle in the hands of a good, old fashioned player, and a keg of hard cider convenient, the country dance was jubilantly hilarious. Even today the Snow Birds love to hear the old fiddle produce some of the old tunes as their minds revert to the past.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

VOTING.

It is perhaps known to only a few today, that prior to 1848, the manner of voting at elections in this county, was to walk up to the clerks and announce the vote in an audible voice, while the clerk tallied the vote, and it may be said that election contests were then unknown.

EARMARKS.

It is not infrequent today to hear it said that a person bears the earmarks of some person good or bad, who is a well known character. Or to say in speaking of the indications of cer- tain facts is to say that they bear the earmarks of a conspiracy. The younger generation per- haps does not appreciate what signification this term had in the early days when all classes of stock were allowed to run at large. If one expected to farm he usually fenced his land by means of a rail or worm fence. In recognition .

of the common right to use unfenced lands by all, common law made the marking of hogs, cattle and other stock, the legal means of iden- tification. That no false claims might be set up for stock found at large, certain marks on the ear of an animal, were required to be re- corded in the office of the clerk of the county commissioners. If any questions arose it was only necessary to ascertain whether the claimant to the stock had his registered earmark recorded, and whether the animals in question bore the earmarks so recorded for the claimant. His record was known as the earmark record, and during the first few years of the county's history, there were some 400 of the earmarks recorded. The use of these earmarks applied to horses, cattle, hogs and sheep, but were little used except on the hogs. As a reminiscence oť those days, we give the readers a few of the earliest marks recorded. James Isaac, a swallow fork in the right and a slit in the left ear; John Street, a slit and underslit in each ear; Luke L. Steel, a crop and slit in each ear; Daniel Mera- dith, a crop off each ear and a hole in the right; Jarvis Forehand, a swallow fork in each ear; John McPhail, a crop off the left and an under- bit on the right ear; Obediah Ware, a crop off the right, and a hole in the left ear; Thomas Phillips, a crop in the left and a swallow fork in the right ear, and inany other combinations that were common. Each resident usually knew the earmarks of his neighbors, and if a hog got

into his enclosure, it was taken up and the owner determined his right to it by the earmark identi- fication.

OLD SCHOOL TREATS.

Old settlers relate that it was the custom of the pioneer teacher to treat his pupils on the last day of school. Unfortunately this treat oftentimes took the form of whiskey, sometimes sweetened with molasses, and as the pupils were allowed to have all they wanted, the results were disastrous. As whiskey was then only thirty- five cents a gallon, this was the cheapest treat the teacher could provide, and as the remunera- tion of the early teachers was very small, money was scarce and nothing expensive could be provided.

OLD COURTING CUSTOMS.

The residences of the pioneers were usually one-room cabins, and when a young man went to see his sweetheart, he had to do his talking in the presence of the whole family. When relief came in the proposition of the old folks to re- tire, the young man had to step outside while the elders undressed for bed. When a young man took his best girl to church horseback, she sat behind him on the horse, and this was considered a splendid opportunity to do a little private talk- ing. The young men of those days generally went barefooted, but when he went to see his girl, he put on his shoes when he came in sight of her home, and also tidied himself up so as to be as acceptable as possible in her sight.

CHOLERA IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Few of the younger people know anything about the horrors of a cholera epidemic, but Montgomery County experienced one touch of the Asiatic plague. In 1854 the plague was rag- ing at St. Louis, Alton and other cities of the west. While Joseph Davis, who lived three miles west of Walshville, was engaged in thresh- ing with quite a number of hands employed, a man came there from Alton on some matter of business, and while there and talking with the men, he took sick. Unsuspicious of the nature of the complaint from which he was suffering, the men and women all became interested and did what they could to try and relieve him. In a few hours he was dead, displaying in his dying

Susan & Couleur

J Morgan Carlew

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

the symptoms of cholera. A general outbreak took place from that case, and about twenty persons of the community died from the dreaded plague, almost all being heads of families and men of mature years. In 1874 another outbreak of the cholera spread northward and reached Litchfield where about 100 victims were claimed by it in that city, and the surrounding district. -

AN EARLY DAM.

As is well known in the early days there were no bridges across the streams, so that they had to be crossed at shallow places called fords. One of the best known went by the name of Truitt Ford, from the fact that at the place of crossing Andrew Truitt had a saw and grist mill, on section 18 in Hillsboro Township. In order to obtain the power for running his mill, he dammed the stream. During 1853 there came a high flood, and seeing the water so high that the dam was entirely covered, the settlers were fearful that it would be swept away, but it was built of logs and so strong that it resisted the pressure, and soon the flood was over and the mill resumed its accustomed grinding.

OLD TIME PRACTICES.

The following is contributed by Thomas Chumley.

"Joseph Chumley, one of the pioneers owned land in Fillmore Township, and over the line into Fayette County as well as in other adjacent counties. His mother .'was Sarah (Jorden) Chumley, a daughter of James Jorden, another old settler from Tennessee who located in Fill- more Township. James Jorden was a peculiar man, as was also his brother-in-law, Tom Hicks, and, like many of the pioneers, both were proud of their ability in the old time sports. For in- stance, the climbing of trees and catching of squirrels by hand, and then throwing them down to one on the ground who caught the little ani- mals in his hands, something as a ball is caught today. In this form of sport, James Jorden and Tom Hicks would not admit that they had any superiors. Jorden was the climbing partner, and Hicks the catcher. When the squirrel was dis- covered in a tree, Jorden would climb after him. Possibly the squirrel would go into a hole, from which Jorden would finally pull him out, or he might go to the top of the tree, and must be followed and caught, or forced to jump, and

if Hicks failed to catch him with his naked hands, the joke would be on him, and he was fined or forced to treat. True these sportsmen were frequently bitten, but never flinched on account of the pain. Tom Hicks, although a typical olden time character, was nevertheless a man of good, inherent qualities. It is said that he was responsible for putting the town of Ramsey on the 'dry' list when its reputation was at its worst. His methods were unusual, but very effective. Having several stepsons whom he felt were being worsted by the saloons of Ramsey, he rode into the town and visited the saloons and leading citizens, announcing his intention and with all his determination and dogged fighting qualities, he carried out his campaign against the liquor interests, showing the injury they had been to him, as well as to others, and in a little over a year he had so in- terested the people that every saloon in Ramsey had been forced out of business. Though he claimed no ministerial rights, yet he was truly a 'preacher of righteousness.'" Among the early institutions of Fillmore, Mr. Chumley describes the old 'kill house' which was a log structure built for the purpose of drying the lumber for the community destined for use in making chairs, spinning wheels, tables, vehicles, coffins and other similar articles. This house was arranged for the reception of all kinds of lumber, and was a community affair, being located on the old Prater farm, near which Mrs. Sarah (Jorden) Chumley died.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 810

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897, ed. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913, ed. cn; Strange, Alexander T., ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 810