Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 45

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 45

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SUPERVISORS.

The following have served East Fork Town- ship as supervisors : 1873 and 1874, A. J. Willi- ford; 1875, John Fath; 1876, 1877, 1879 and 1885, G. F. Coffeen; 1878, W. H. Cook; 1880, 1SSS and 1889, J. S. McDavid; 1881, John W. Young; 1882, William A. Allen; 1883, H. S. Hanner; 1884, 1890-1891, and 1892, W. H. H. Blackburn; 1886, 1887 1893, 1894, 1905 and 1906, Joseph P. Price; 1890 and 1897, J. L. Traylor ; 1895 and 1896, Joseph H. Hanner; 1898, J. L. Booher; 1899 and 1900, J. C. Christian ; 1901 and 1902, E. Harris; 1903 and 1904, W. T. Ed- wards; 1907 and 1908, J. L. McDavid ; 1909 and 1910, C. L. Laws; 1911, 1912, 1913 and 1914, E. A. Traylor; and 1915 and 1916, C. J. Davis, J. S. McDavid was chairman one term.

TOWN CLERKS.

The following have served this township as town clerks: 1874, S. B. Williams; 1875, 1876 and 1887, James S. McDavid; 1877, 1878, 1879, 1880, 1882 and .1883, Samuel Gates; 1881, W. H. Cooper ; 1884, T. H. Wilson; 1885, Mack Brown; 1886, T. J. McDavid ; 1887, J. S. McDavid ; 18SS, T. L. Barkley; 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893 and 1894, J. D. Frakes; 1895, 1896, 1897 and 1898, A. A. Thacker; 1899, 1905, 1906, 1907, 190S, 1900 and 1910, B. F. Pierce; 1900, 1901 and 1902, A. D. Brooks; 1903 and 1904, W. E. Newsome;

1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1916, James Edwards.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The following have served East Fork pre- cinct and township as justices of the peace : John D. Williamson, 1857 ; John H. Barringer, 1857, 1861 and 1865; William C. McDavid, 1861 and 1865; Jacob B. Booher, 1863; Andrew Rich- mond, 1869; William McCann, 1869; Joseph S. Hanner, 1873; William C. McDavid, 1873, 1877, 1881, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1893 and 1897; Robert S. Allen, 1875; Harrison H. Hanner, 1877; Wil- liam C. Williams, 1881; Bartelo Leon, Jr., 18S5 ; McClintock Brown, 1889; Patrick N. Smith, . 1890; Otis M. Williamson, 1893; William A. Black, 1898, 1901, 1905 and 1911; Nathaniel J. Roberts, 1900; Joseph B. Meyers, 1902; John F. Green, 1903 and 1905; James E. Price, 1907; Thomas C. Edwards, 1909 and 1913; John A. Stevens, 1909; William M. Champ, 1915; and R. L. Smith, 1915.

CONSTABLES.

The following have served East Fork precinct and township as constables: Elisha Whitten, 1857 ; Harvey Camp, 1857; William M. Hays, 1861 and 1865; Robert S. Allen, 1861 and 1867; Joseph C. Hanner, 1861; John H. Knowles, 1864, 1865 and 1869; James M. Voorhees, 1868; John H. Hill, 1869; Thomas H. Card, 1870; M. W. Miller, 1872; James S. Jones, 1877; Thomas G. Laws, 1877; Wm. C. Williams, 1878; A. L. El- lington, 1881; Joseph C. Jones, 1881 and 1893; Thomas W. White, 1885; John F. Savage, 1886 ; John T. Graham, 1889; William T. White, 1889 ; Samuel H. Edwards, 1893, 1897, 1901 and 1909; Joseph N. Scott, 1897; E. A. Thompson, 1903 and 190S; Frank Cannon, 1901; Frank R. Gates, 1905; Charles N. Roberts, 1909; and W. R. Ed- wards, 1911.

CHAPTER XXV.

FILLMORE TOWNSHIP.

IN GENERAL-BOUNDARIES-EARLY SETTLERS-P10- NEER INCIDENTS-CLINGMAN RAID-CHURCHES- FILLMORE REMINISCENCES - FIRST SCHOOLS -

Richard. H. hail.

Lucy M Mail

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

FIRST CHURCH-FIRST ELECTION-HURRICANE- VAN BURENSBURG-FILLMORE-BUSINESS INTER- ESTS - CHURCHES - VILLAGE BOARD - MAGIS- TRATES-CHAPMAN-FIRST ELECTION IN HURRI- CANE - POLITICS - SUPERVISORS - JUSTICES OF THE PEACE- CONSTABLES.

IN GENERAL.

Fillmore Township is the oldest settled town- ship in the connty. It and its sister East Fork, are the largest two townships in the county, and for the one hundred years of onr county's history, they have nestled together in the sontli- eastern portion of our territory as sisters should, one in ancestry to a large extent and one in associations, political, and in other pub- lic beliefs, and one in character of development.

BOUNDARIES.

Fillmore Township was named from the pres- ident who bore that name, whom the pioneers first locating in this vicinity, greatly admired. Owing to the fact that it was originally heavy timbered, it was among the first sections to be settled. It is bounded on the north by Witt Township; on the east by Fayette Connty ; on the south by Bond County ; and on the west by East Fork Township. The East Fork of Shoal Creek, Hurricane Creek and Dry Fork are the principal water courses. The surface is nndu- lating and gently rolling in the northern part, becoming more broken further south, so that the scenery is very beantifnl. The soil is a rich, dark loam, mixed in some places with sand, and underlaid with clay, so that it is not only fer- tile, but easily drained. Both gravel and sand beds are found in this township, and local use is made of the stone. Originally the timber found here comprised walnut, maple, oak, hick- ory and other valuable timber in a heavy growth, which was cleared off withont a thonght of its valne. Today but little remains although more than in the majority of the townships. The timber of this township excelled any other section of the county, and had it been properly preserved, would have added materially to its value and beauty. The soil of this township is particularly adapted to wheat raising. althoughi corn, rye, oats, clover, hay, vegetables, fruits and all vegetation suitable to the climate, flourishes here.

EARLY SETTLERS.

The pioneers of what is now Fillmore Town- ship came here as early as 1817, they being banded together into a small colony. In 1816 this colony came from Kentucky to Illinois, and a year was spent by them in what is now Bond County, although at that time the state's divi- sion was.not made, Illinois being a territory. While living in Bond County the colony was tronbled by the Indians who were savage, and they built a fort, or blockhouse in which all took refuge. Not caring to remain in a section where they would be exposed to such dangers, they songht better surroundings, and some of the men coming back from a hunting expedition through what is now Fillmore Township, re- ported that a removal there would be desirable. Acting npon this report, the colony came to this township, and laid the foundations for the pres- ent superstructure of twentieth century enlight- enment. The location here of this colony marks the first settlement in Montgomery County of white men. Among those composing the colony were : Harris Revis, Henry Hill, Levi Casey, Aaron Casey, John Lee, and others. In order to protect their water supply, the settlers bnilt their houses near to a spring, from which all obtained the necessary water supply. Although the Indians were still around, they gave the settlers no trouble. Bears and wolves, however, infested the woods, and were dangerons and destructive, giving the men plenty of oppor- tunity to display their prowess as hunters in exterminating them, as well as in the killing of deer for family nse. Harris Revis entered land on Dry Fork Creek, near the southeastern corner of the township, and lived on his farm until 1840, when he died, but for many years his descendants have been found either in this township or other parts of Montgomery County. Henry Hill entered land adjoining Mr. Revis. and they continned friends as well as neighbors. A grandson of Mr. Hill, Samuel Hill inherited the original homestead. Levi Casey located on a farm later known as the Briggs farm, but in 1837. le sold and moved to Shelby County, tak- ing his family with him. and there he later died.

Aaron Casey, a son-in-law of Harris Revis. located on a part of the Samuel Hill farm and continued to live there for twenty-three years. and a portion of this property was improved by Jolin Lee, who bought it about one year after

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

its settlement by Mr. Revis. Joseph Wright bought land from the government that later passed into the possession of his son, Jarrett Wright. Henry Piatt did not belong to the orig- inal colony, but came to the township in 1818 and acquired a large amount of land and devel- oped into one of the leading men of the county. Another very prominent pioneer of Fillmore Township was Newton Coffee, who built a little cabin near the Bond County line in the fall of 1817. A little later he went further north and entered land where Hillsboro now stands, twenty acres of which he donated or sold for a county seat. His death occurred in 1849 at an advanced age.

Every township even at this day, manifests the characteristics of its early settlers. The trend of these pioneers in politics, in religion and in social life is impressed and shown in the lives of their descendants. The Hills, the Pra- ters, the Piatts, the Wrights, tlie Allens, and others still live. The seed dies that new growth may germinate. Mark Mason, and his bride, a Miss Wilson, came to Illinois from Tennessee in 1820, and was one of a Tennessee colony that settled in the timberskirts west and north of where Van Burensburg was afterwards built. He early entered land, not for speculation but for a home, and it truly became his home; for when the weight of four score years and ten pressed him back to mother earth, it was his first removal from his Fillmore home. Largely this was true of others named. Dr. Baxter Haines honored the blue grass state by being born in it December 20, 1827, only to leave the mother state, with his parents, for richer lands and better opportunities, but losing his father at the age of three, his prospects were blasted and the heritage of "doing for him- self" became his. After securing a common school education, he entered the Mexican War, and on his return, was married to Susan Bull and they together began life with only willing- ness to "dare and do." He studied medicine and both practiced and farmed, till 1862, when the "call to arms" of the Rebellion enticed him to enter the struggles for the Union. After that was over, he again studied medicine to fit himself for the more difficult requirements of modern practice, which he met, as everything else, with determination and native gumption. Baptist in religion, a Jefferson Democrat in pol- itics, a friend to every one and an enemy only to his opponent's views, not his person; and yet,

the ideal Fillmoreite. Why need we mention others? "Peas in a pod" fits Fillmore, and her people.

Other early settlers were Easton Whitten, Colbert Blair, Thomas Beck, Stephen White, James Card, T. J. Todd, John Alexander, M. Mason, and the Bosts.

The first corn raised in the county, as well as the first hogs, was in this township. Corn became, with venison and other wild meats, the staple foods of the early settler, as did also the skins from wild animals the staple article for certain portions of the clothing used by the male population. Before corn-mills were in use, the hand-grater was the only means of converting the grain into meal for mush or hominy.

EARLY MILLS.

An early authority has given an interesting description of one of the early hand mills, in the following :

"The top of a solid hickory stump was hol- lowed out to the depth of eight or ten inches. Over this was suspended a heavy iron wedge made fast to a pole after the manner of an old fashioned well sweep. By working this up and down with considerable force, the corn in the hollow could be crushed and a very good meal obtained."

However good the meal might have been, the labor was so heavy that in 1825 the settlers re- joiced when John Beck built a tread-inill which was operated by a yoke of oxen, and for a num- ber of years this primitive mill ground the grain for the neighborhood. Finally new machinery was supplied and the mill was kept in operation for twenty years. A horse-power mill was built by Benjamin Rose in 1838, and ten years later he sold it to a man named Austin. The latter operated the mill for a time, and was largely patronized. The first steam-mill was built by John Hill in 1840, and he sold it in 1842 to Har- ris Wright and James Kirk, who continued to conduct it until 1846. The first lumber was sawed by hand with a whip-saw, but in 1840 a saw-mill was built by John Fuller at Fuller's Grove. A steam saw-mill was built on Shoal Creek at the crossing of the Vandalia road a great many years ago, and operated for a short time. A number of portable mills for sawing lumber have been operated in various parts of the county, but are little used at this time.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

PIONEER INCIDENTS.

The first school was taught in Fillmore Town- ship by a man named Hatchett in 1825 in a house of Aaron Casey that he had used to live in while building a better. In 1826, Benjamin Robins taught in the same cabin. Other schools- were taught in cabins or in log churches till 1845, when a frame schoolhouse was built in Van Burensburg. This was the first frame schoolhouse in the township. The first grave- yard was the one near Van Burensburg, when in 1821 Stephen White died and a yard was staked off. The first birth in the township was in 1819, and was in the family of John Beck. The first to marry in the township was John Reavis and a daughter of Cleveland Coffey.

It may seem curious to the younger genera- tion that people could come into a wilderness where there were no conveniences without any- thing themselves and no opportunity of getting them and yet live in some degree of comfort, and be happy. Here the ingenuity and original- ity of the early pioneer was brought into activ- ity. Men with a mere smattering of some trade developed an adeptness that was really re- markable when it is considered that they had so little to begin with. Wood choppers became carpenters, masons developed ability, who had never handled a trowel, men who knew that oak bark would tan leather began the business of tanning, and succeeded. Those who only knew that whiskey was made with a copper worm operated distilleries successfully whether legal or otherwise, and so on down the line of pro- ducing necessitics. In 1824 after Holloway Pra- ter landed in the Hurricane settlement, he be- gan to make spinning wheels, flax wheels and reels, because they had to be made before the housewives of the settlers could convert their raw cotton and wool into jeans or woolseys or linseys, and to him the pioneers owed the oppor- tunity to wear woven clothes. Aaron Casey landed in the Hurricane at a time when coon- skin caps were the only available headwear, and seeing the necessity for something better or at least more presentable, began making hats of wool and not only aided his fellow pioneers, but made some money for himself, in so doing.

John Beck first came here when the grater was used to convert the corn into shape for hominy, and necessity directed him to build the first mill in the county and to operate it for his associates down in the southern part of the county. Henry Rowe, another settler of the

southern part of the county, made the first bureau ever made in the county, and at once his skill was called into requisition to make fanning mills and other pieces of delicate fur- niture, and his skill was shown at its best in making fiddles for the young swains of the community. These were well made and pos- sessed the sounding qualities so necessary for producing sweet music and Rowe fiddles were common in all parts of the county in an early day.

The practices of going barefoot or wearing roughly sewn moccasins made of untanned raw- hide, were overcome when several of the old men began to make shoes, and after learning to make them, the shoemaker would take his tools, pegs and awls and tanned leather and go from house to house to make and repair the footwear of the family. Powder was made at the Pep- per Mill and other places by men who had no knowledge of the chemical action of the ingredi- ents. Thus we might go on enumerating the many lines of trade that necessitated the early settler to adapt himself and his skill, of what- ever order, as best he could, and his results were appreciated by those who were his bene- ficiaries. "Necessity is indeed the mother of invention."

CLINGMAN RAID.

Fillmore Township has had its tragedies and unusual experiences as have all communities sooner or later. Its Clingman Raid, mentioned elsewhere, gave occasion for community talk for a decade. Many years ago a man was found dead, evidently murdered by an enemy, near Cockrell's store, which event supplied the com- munity with excitement for awhile. Later a man named Rutter was killed by a man in the community, but those who knew the murderer kept a watch over their lips, and no prosecu- tions were ever instituted. The most potent causes for these tragedies were partly political animosities, but chiefly old fashioned corn whis- key. Whiskey was as potent for evil in those days as in later days, although the quality doubtless was far better, and the inhabitants of those times were as liable to commit crime while under its influence as in these latter days.

CHURCHES.

The first church ever erected in the county was in this township under the direction and

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

aid of Rev. Henry Sears, one of the first min- isters in the county, a Baptist by faith, and the spirit of worship has been manitested by the people of the township from then on to the present. Several of the churches being purely rural in location and the character of attend- ants, made little advance and few can be found now, the cities and villages having absorbed them, yet their worship in primitive manner was no less sincere and uplifting than that of the more commodious housed and finer dressed congregations of today.

FILLMORE REMINISCENCES.

Ilenry Piatt, the father of the present super- visor of Fillmore Township, wrote a series of articles from his own memory and that of some of the older settlers, and had them published in the Hillboro Herald in about 1873, describ- ing the first settlers of that township, with occasional reference to other townships, from which we have culled the following, adding occasionally a few qualifying remarks. He be- gins by saying, "Not a single individual con- nected with the selection of the county seat now survives, though their descendants do. Newton and John Street, sons of James Street who was one of the commissioners, still live in the county. Joseph Wright, another one of the commissioners, left six children who still live near the old homestead in the township. The old Joseph Wright homestead was the farm now owned by Jarrett Wright. Melchoir Fogelman left three sons, John, Israel and Joel M., who all live in the county." We may say here, that at this time nearly or all of those above named have since 1873 passed to the beyond, though their descendants are numerous in the county. Continuing, Mr. Piatt says: "Melchoir Fogel- man was the first blacksmith in the west part of the county, his shop was on the Penter place, about a quarter of a mile north of where he lived on the east bank of Lake Fork. Here all the irons used in building the Pepper Mill were made. The Pepper Mill erected by Mr. Fogel- man was on the running branch just north of Shoal Creek and about three miles east of the Penter place where the shop was located. The old Pepper Mill was run by Mr. Fogelman for several years, then sold to Rev. Daniel Sherer, who after operating it some years sold it to John Kirkpatrick, son of Hugh Kirkpatrick, one of the first settlers and for several years sheriff

of the county. Mr. Kirkpatrick sold the mill to John Barry, who after running it awhile sold it to Walter Adkinson, and who in turn, sold it to William Wood, the founder of Woodsboro. Mr. Wood moved the best portion of the mill to Butler, though John Beal still has one of the first stone burrs used in the original corn-mill. Mr. Wood, who moved the mill to Butler after the coming of the railroad, also moved his store to that place from Woodsboro, and after mer- chandizing there for several years, went to where Witt was laid and helped make that town.

"Many remember the days, when we took the grist of corn on the back of the family horse, to the old Pepper Mill and, awaiting our turn, stayed till the slowly grinding mill converted the corn into meal. In those days all the young men and ladies, as well as children, went bare- footed, aud when a young lady went to church . she usually carried her shoes tied up in a hand- kerchief until near the church, when she would stop and put them on. A man with a large family, which the most of them had, would put the babies and the mother on the back of the gentle family horse, and the balance of the fam- ily would be loaded in a cart drawn by the yoke of oxen, and in this manner attend family worship. Among the first settlers of Fillmore Township may be named: James Card, Femba Renfro, and Sarah Hill, wife of Henry Hill. The first school taught in Fillmore township was taught by Absolem Hatchett. It was on Mr. Piatt's place, aud among the pupils were : Cleveland Coffey, Ben Card, Calvin Card, and Ewing Wright. This school was before the building of a schoolhouse, as the first school- house was built on the Aaron Casey farm on Piatts Creek, and Henry Hill taught the first school in the new house. The house was built of round logs with a puncheon floor and stick chimney with a whole log taken out of one side to admit of light. The first church in the town- ship was the old Hurricane Baptist Church. I have the old record of this church in my pos- session, and the first entry after the church was organized was March 19, 1820, when James Street and wife, John Norton and wife. Abel Fox, Rachel Carrandall, John Wright, Margaret Wright, Deborah Viles, and John Jourdan united with the church by letter. Just how long be- fore this it was when the church was organized we do not know. These same parties were dis- missed from the church by letter July 26, 1822, for the purpose of organizing the Clear Springs

Maggie Nantes

Henry Wantker

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Baptist Church. Joseph Wright was the first clerk of the Hurricane Church and George Ship- man was the first deacon, and James Street was the first pastor, though Henry Sears is given the credit of building the church, which was the first church structure in the county. Henry Sears was received into the church August 21,. 1823, and was ordained a bishop in the church. Among the ministers that preached in the church at an early day were: Thomas Ray, Mr. Badgeley, and John Jordan. Other settlers coming into Fillmore were: Newton Coffey, Col- bert Blair, Richard Freeman, John Beck, Simon Landers, John Landers, Hardy Hinton, Smith Scribner, William Virden, Ben Roberts and Levi Casey. The latter two were the two first jus- tices of the peace.

"The first land entered in the township was made by my father and Joseph Wright. Easten Whitten came from Kentucky in 1816. He set- tled and improved the farm known as the James Kirk place. Mr. Whitten represented the county in the legislature at Vandalia and also at Springfield. Joseph Wright also came from Kentucky and first settled the farm known as the Judge Lynn farm. It is on Gillam Creek, which received its name from a man named Gil- lam, who operated a tread-mill, which was a little earlier than the John Beck mill, though just over the line in Bond County. Henry Hill was another Kentuckian, settling on what was later known as the Jeremiah Ellis farm. Levi Casey, one of the first justices of the peace, came first to Bond County and a year later to Mont- gomery County. Holloway Prater was the first settler on the William Griffin farm across the line in Bond County. Mr. Prater was a wheel- wright, and made the first spinning wheels, flax wheels and reels, also made the chairs for the early settlers. Aaron Casey, known as Captain Casey, one of the first commissioners of the county, was a hatter by trade, making mnost of the hats worn in an early day. His associates as first commissioners were Robert Mann and Mr. Meisenheimer. While Captain Casey was a militia mustering officer, he was not the first, Elisha Freeman being entitled to that distinc- tion.

"The first election in Fillmore Township, was held in 1819, which was before the organization of the county. It was for the election of repre- sentatives, to the legislature and state senate.' There was no box in which to deposit the bal- lots, and Joseph Wright went to Perryville, then

the county seat of Bond County, to which this territory belonged, to get a ballot box, but failed to get it and coming home made one himself, and not having a lock, he nailed the box up, laying a hammer beside the box which was called the key. This election was held in the home of Joseph Wright who, with Aaron Casey acted as judges, with Joseph Whitten and John Woolen as clerks. Two of the candidates were Martin Jones and Mr. Crisp. As the township voted practically unanimously for the men of their choice, as they have done ever since, the election was contested, but the contest failed and the vote was allowed to stand, though more or less irregular. James Card, another of the earliest settlers, came from Kentucky in 1818, and settled tbe Sam Sellers farm. Later he im- proved the farm known as the Austin Whitten farm. The John Beck mill, said to have been the first mill in the county, was built in 1824. Grinding, before that day, was done at the Gil- lam mill or at Old Ripley. Newton Coffey came to the county in 1818 from Kentucky and settled what is known as the C. S. Coffey farm. As before stated he was one of the first justices of the peace and one of the first county commis- sioners, and also furnished the money with which the land for county seat was purchased."

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Montgomery County, Volume II, Part 45

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