Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 135

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > Morgan County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County > Part 135

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Paupers Sold .- From 1824 to 1835 paupers were sold in the county. In 1835 a poor house was built for their care and proper support. Liberal provision is now made for that class in the splendid home and farm located three mlles northwest of Jacksonville.

Counterfeiting .- The late Mr. J. W. Lathrop, an early and long resident of Morgan County, re- lates the following: In 1822, and previous to that time, a man named Holmes lived on what is known as the Claybourne Coker farm, a few mlles east of Jacksonville. Although he was an Industrious and hard-working man, yet he was looked upon with suspicion by many of his neighbors. It was at length thought by some that he was regularly making counterfeit Mex- ican dollars and he was closely watched. At length he became alarmed lest he should be detected and exposed. On the 3d of July, 1832, he went to Naples with his wife to spend the Fourth. Next day he disappeared and was never seen in this part of the country after- ward. In 1875 Mr. Atterbury, who then lived on the farm occupied by Holmes in 1822, was plowing in a field near the site of the old house, when his plow turned up an iron instrument. It proved to be a pair of iron molds for Mexican

dollars. The iron was rusted and eaten from long burial in the ground, but the inside of the molds was as bright as though new and stamps were perfect. Many old residents who knew Holmes well, and remember the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, are confirmed in the belief of his guilt by reason of the finding of the molds.

Burning Witches .- In 1834, near Middle Creek, now in Cass County, but at that time in Mor- gan, a religious society of fanatics was organ- ized, who not only believed in witchcraft, but actually made offerings of themselves, and were burned at the stake, to appease and propitiate, as they believed, their offended deity, and cast lots who of their members should be burned at the stake. Once the lot fell on an old lady, whom the others tied and bound to the stake. When she began to burn she screamed so loud and pitifully that a Mr. Elmore, who was hunt- ing near by, broke open the door with a fence rail, released the burning woman and broke up the meetings. The grand jury of Morgan County indicted many members and the reli- gious fanatics left the country.

Cholera Visitations .- In July and August, 1833, Jacksonville suffered greatly from an epidemic . of cholera. The first case was that of the wife of a mover who was traveling through the country by wagon. Stopping here his wife was taken sick. The citizens went to their assist- ance, and the woman's disease was pronounced a case of genuine Asiatic cholera. The sick woman and family were conveyed to a log cabin outside of town, located on the site of the home of Mr. George Mauzy, on North Sandy Street. The woman died and the people burned the clothing and bedding and furnished the man with money and sent him on. Jacksonville at that time contained about five hundred in- habitants, fully half of whom fled to the coun- try. Of those who remained about seventy-five were attacked with the epidemic and about fifty-five died. A number of those who fled to the country also died. Among those who died were the wife and children of Rev. John M. Ellis, during his absence from home while pros- ecuting his educational work in Indiana. The scourge lasted six weeks, and was the most ter- rible that ever visited Jacksonville. In 1851 the cholera again visited the southcast part of the county. The path of the scourge was a nar- row strip southward as far as to Belleville. A

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number died from the epidemic in Waverly and vicinity, among whom was Rev. Wilson S. Mc- Murray, pastor of the Methodist Church there, and his wife and two children. Mr. McMurray was an orator of most extraordinary gifts and power, and as such he has never been equaled by any one among all the ministers who have labored in Morgan County.

Great Financial Panic .- The financial crash of 1837 was the greatest money panic that has ever occurred in the State. The banks all sus- pended and until 1840 there was practically no money in the hands of the people. The State was literally bankrupt. The unprecedented financial catastrophe was precipitated by the wild schemes of internal improvement projected by the State Legislature during the same year.

Daniel Webster .- In June, 1837, Mr. Webster, his wife and a niece visited Jacksonville and were guests of Governor Joseph Duncan at his home at Duncan Park, now the residence of Hon. Edward P. Kirby. A public reception was given the distinguished visitor in the form of a "barbecue" in the grove in the northwest part of the city, a common function of that time in Illinois. The refreshments consisted largely of beef, pork and mutton, roasted whole over fires built in deep and long trenches. Mr. Webster made a wonderfully eloquent address, such as he alone in his day could, standing under a large elm tree exactly in the center of what is now West Lafayette and North Webster Ave- nues. That magnificent and memorable tree, recently removed, should have been protected and preserved by the city. The address of the peerless orator took the people as by a storm. Cheer after cheer echoed and re-echoed through the grove. At that time Rev. Truman M. Post, D. D., was a resident of Jacksonville, and was also a guest at the home of Governor Duncan. Many years afterward Dr. Post, in writing to Mrs. Julia Duncan Kirby, daughter of the Gov- ernor, said: "One evening of unique and mem- orable interest I distinctly recall, spent by my- self and my wife with your father and mother and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Webster and their niece, at your father's house. Mr. Webster had changed somewhat since I had seen him in Washington, in the pride of his strength in the great constitutional battle of the Titans, wrestling with Calhoun and those of his school. Time, with its work and wear and worriment, was telling on him, yet still his stalwart strength was on him, and perhaps his manhood,

as well as his ambition, was never greater. I shall never forget his conversation with me on the 'Book of Job' that evening by your father's fireside, and he will ever continue as one of the grand historic figures I met with in those years in your father's home of princely. hospi- talities."

Martin Van Buren .- In 1842 Mr. Van Buren made a tour through the Southern States, visit- ing Henry Clay at Ashland, Kentucky. A meet- ing was held in Jacksonville May 8th for the purpose of inviting him to visit Jacksonville. Mr. E. A. Mears was made chairman and Messrs. Augustus M. Hesiep and Ira C. Wilkin- son secretaries. Col. James Dunlap, Gen. Mur- ray McConnel and Mrs. Joseph Heslep were ap- pointed a committee on reception. Mr. Van Buren reached Springfield Friday, June 17, 1842, and remained there Saturday and Sun- day. Monday, June 20, he came to Jacksonville by carriage, arriving about 1 o'clock p. m. About 4:30 p. m. he left by cars for Meredosia, where he took steamboat for St. Louis, Mo.

Ulysses S. Grant .- One of the memorable inci- dents of the War of the Rebellion in this com- munity was the passage through Jacksonville, on the evening of the Fourth of July, 1861, of the Twenty-first Regiment Illinois Infantry, with Colonel Ulysses S. Grant in command. The regiment broke camp at Springfield the day be- fore and took up the line of march to Quincy, Illinois. Transportation by railroad had been offered, but Col. Grant said his men would soon have to learn to march, and the arts and sciences of camp and military life had also to be learned, and the sooner they were initiated the better for the boys. The regiment went into camp on the Fair Grounds, in the west part of Jacksonville, on the evening of the Fourth. The next day the regiment reached Naples, and this being Saturday, it remained in camp over Sun- day and resumed the march on Monday. When about five miles west of the Illinois River or- ders were received to return to Naples and take the railroad train to Quincy. They remained there till the evening of June 9th, when the regi- ment crossed the Mississippi River. On the 22d they went by rail to Mexico, Missouri, and re- mained there until the 6th of August, when Col. Grant was commissioned Brigadier Gen- eral.

The next visit of Gen. Grant to Jacksonville was in the fall of 1880, when on a trip from Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri, on a private

Green Sarah

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

train. After leaving Chicago a message was received by Mayor John R. Loar that the train could stop at Jacksonville a few hours, if de- sired by the people. Notice was immediately given and complete arrangements were made to receive the distinguished visitor. On his arrival he was driven through the principal streets and was then taken to a large platform stand in the Central Park. An appropriate ad- dress of welcome was delivered by Rev. Wil- liam D. Sanders, D. D., to which the General replied with his characteristic brevity and sim- plicity. A hand-shaking reception followed, when he returned to his train. On his way thereto he called at the home of Mrs. Catherine Yates on East State Street. After his two terms as President of the United States, he had re- cently returned from a trip around the world, having received all possible honor from all the great nations of the world, he now enters the humble home of the man who issued his com- mission as Colonel, to pay his manly obeisance to the widow of the man who started him on his illustrious career. He scarcely seemed greater at Appomattox in receiving the sword of Gen. Lee than he did in that simple but most fitting act. By request of Mayor Loar, Col. E. C. Kreider and Rev. W. F. Short, D. D., were honored with seats in Gen. Grant's car- riage.

Lorenzo Dow .- One of the most eccentric and widely known characters in the early part of the last century was Lorenzo Dow. He was born in Coventry, Connecticut, October 16, 1777. When a young man he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was soon found that, by reason of his peculiarities, he was not adapted to the pastoral work. He made two visits to Ireland and England in 1799 and 1805, and by his eccentric manners and at- tractive eloquence drew after him immense crowds, who sometimes indulged in a spirit of bitter persecution. He introduced camp-meet- ings into England, and the controversy about them resulted in the organization of the Primi- tive Methodists from the followers of John Wes- ley. His singularities of manner and of dress excited prejudice against him, causing him to be called "Crazy Dow," and counteracted the effect of his eloquence. Nevertheless, he is sald to have preached to more persons than any one of his time. He passed the years 1803 and 1804 In Alabama, delivering the first Protestant ser-

mon within the bounds of that state. In 1807 he extended his labors into Louisiana and fol- lowed the settlers to the extreine borders of civilization. In his large circuits, sometimes covering hundreds of miles, he would announce an appointment to preach at a certain place in the open air a year or more in advance of the time, never failing to be there at the appointed hour. That strange habit never failed to at- tract large audiences. He preached in Jackson- ville in 1830 on the ground on which the Pacific Hotel is situated. He was the author of a number of books. His wife, "Peggy," whom he married in 1804, accompanied him in all his travels. He died in Georgetown, D. C., Feb- ruary 2, 1834.

Cotton .- The raising, manufacture and mar- keting of cotton was one of the earliest indus- tries of Morgan County. This product was grown in considerable quantities, and it ma- tured well for a decade before the "Deep Snow" in 1830-31. The crop of 1821 was abundant. In that year a cotton-gin was built by Mr. Abra- ham Johnson on the farm subsequently owned by Mr. Cortez M. Dewey, three miles northwest of Jacksonville on the Meredosia road. To that gin the neighbors from far and near brought their raw cotton to have it ginned. Esquire Sears is reported to have raised one thousand pounds of cotton on four acres. The gin build- ing was destroyed by a cyclone in April, 1825. Messrs. Sinclair and March had a mill for the manufacture of spun cotton. Cotton and flax were spun and woven into cloth by the women, who used the spinning wheels and the old-fash- ioned wooden looms, brought with them when they moved from their former homes. The cotton, when woven with flax or hemp, made an excellent article of clothing. The first ar- ticle of export from Morgan County was cot- ton. Large canoes were built and the neigh- bors joining together, took their cotton down the Illinois River to St. Louis.

La Fayette's Carriage .- Gen. Marquis de La Fayette, the ally of the American people in the Revolutionary War, visited this country in the years of 1824 and 1825. He met with the mis- fortune of having his carriage overturned into the river, and its white silk linings were there- by very much damaged. Taking another, he proceeded on his journey, leaving orders to have his carriage sold. It was bought by Mr. Drury, an uncle of the late Charles J. Drury,

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of Morgan County, whose father, Lawson Drury, Jr., came to Illinois in the spring of 1831 and died at the age of thirty-three of cholera, at the farm now occupied by his grand- son, Mr. Frank Drury, near Orleans. Mr. Charles J. Drury, when a lad nine years old, in company with his uncle and his mother, rid- ing in the La Fayette carriage, first visited the farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He was born October 6, 1822. His father, Lawson Drury, Jr., was a native of New Hamp- shire, and his mother of Vermont, both being born in 1800. On the 21st of May, 1867, Mr. Drury was married to Miss Belle Paxson, daugh- ter of the renowned Sunday-school missionary, Stephen Paxson. Mr. Drury died February 17, 1901. A more worthy and upright Christian cit- izen Morgan County never possessed. Mrs. Drury, who survives him, is a remarkably gifted and cultured woman. She is the author of "A Fruitful Life," compiled from the life of her dis- tinguished father, of whom a brief sketch is given in this Supplemental History. (See arti- cle "La Fayette," Hist. Enc. of Ill., p. 325.)

Anti-Slavery History .-- Morgan County became conspicuous for anti-slavery sentiment and ac- tion at a very early date in the history of its long and fierce agitation in the nation, as well as for a prominent part finally taken in its san- guinary extirpation in the War of Rebellion in the 'sixties of the last century. From the begin- ning of the settlement of the Northwest Terri- tory, although in violation of the express pro- vision of the Ordinance of 1787 excluding slavery forever from the Territory, a deter- mined and persistent effort was made to estab- lish the institution within its bounds. In 1721, Philip F. Renault had brought with him to the Illinois country five hundred slaves, and located a few miles north of Fort Chartres, in the American Bottom, and sixteen miles northwest from Kaskaskia. Thus slavery had existed in the Territory sixty-six years at the time of the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787. Moreover, that ordinance contained the following clause: "saving, however, to the French and Canadian inhabitants and other settlers of the Kaskaskias, St. Vincent's, and the neighboring villages, who have heretofore professed themselves citizens of Virginia, their laws and customs now in force among them relative to the descent and convey- ance of property." The effect of these provisions was considered by the inhabitants, and con-

strued by Gov. St. Clair, to mean that, while the extension of slavery was prohibited, existing property relations, including slavery, were rec- ognized and upheld-that is, that the slaves in the Territory, and their descendants, should re- main in their previous condition, but no more slaves should be imported into the Territory. Others claimed that the children of all slaves born after 1787 became free by virtue of the Ordinance. Petitions to Congress to suspend the operation of the anti-slavery clause of the Ordi- nance were sent as early as 1794. Gen. Harrison in 1802 was induced to call a delegate conven- tion, which assembled at Vincennes, on account of the intense uneasiness of the slave-holders. The members from Illinois in that convention were Shadrach Bond, John Moredock, Jean F. Perry, Robert Morrison, Pierre Menard and Rob- ert Reynolds. The convention joined in a me- morial to Congress praying for the repeal or modification of the anti-slavery clause in the Ordinance of 1787. John Randolph, chairman of the committee to which the memorial had been referred, reported in March, 1803, ad- versely in the following language: "That the labor of slaves is not necessary to promote the growth and settlement of the colonies in that region. That this labor, demonstrably the dear- est of any, can only be employed to advantage in the cultivation of products more valuable than any known to that quarter of the United States; that the committee deem it highly dan- gerous and inexpedient to impair a provision wisely calculated to promote the happiness and prosperity of the northwestern country, and to give strength and security to that frontier. In the salutary operation of this sagacious and be- nevolent restraint, it is believed that the inhab- itants will, at no very distant day, find ample remuneration for a temporary privation of labor and immigration." That report was not acted upon by Congress. At the next session of Con- gress the memorial was referred to a new com- mittee, and a report was made recommending the granting of the request of the memorialists, and the suspension of the clause for ten years; but again no action was taken on the report. Again, in 1805 the matter was brought up in the Territorial Legislature, and another memorial was sent to Congress. That was also favorably reported on, but no action followed. In 1807 a large meeting of influential citizens was held in Clark County, Ind., when a remonstrance

albert, Crum

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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.

against the introduction and continuance of slavery was extensively signed and forwarded to Congress, which evidently had its effect, as the committee to which the subject had been referred reported adversely to the original me- morial, thus terminating the efforts, through Congress, to abrogate the article in the Ordi- nance of 1787. prohibiting slavery in the North- west Territory.

Failing to obtain favorable action on the sub- ject of slavery from Congress, the next appeal was to the State Legislature. The methods adopted to accomplish the aim of the slavery advocates were as disreputable as were ever at- tempted by any legislative body. The public in- terest and excitement were intense. Finally by questionable means the Legislature submitted the matter of a Constitutional Convention to act upon the subject of slavery to a vote of the peo- ple, to be taken August 2, 1824. At length ar- rived the eventful day which was to settle a question more momentous to the citizens of Illinois, and to their posterity, than any that had yet been submitted to the electors of the State. With the closing of the polls on the first Monday In August, 1824, terminated a struggle that for eighteen months had absorbingly en- grossed the mind of every citizen, and had awakened a partisan bitterness theretofore un- known. It was with a feeling of relief that both parties saw the sunset on the day, which was to conclude a controversy so wearisome through its very Intensity. The battle against slavery had been fought and won. The majority against a convention was overwhelming. The vote for convention was 4,972; against convention, 6,640. The vote in Morgan County in favor of a con- vention was 42; against a convention, 432.

In the meantime the number of slaves rapidly increased. In 1800, there were but 133 reported in the Territory of Indiana, which then included Illinois. Ten years later there were 168 in Illinois alone, and in 1820 the number had risen to 917. Slaves did not disappear from the census of the State until 1850.

The Morganian Society .- In 1823 a society was formed in Morgan County for the purpose of opposing the calling of a Constitutional Conven- . tion, which the Legislature had authorized, for the well known object of providing for the per- manent establishment of slavery in the State. That soclety numbered one hundred members. The list included the following names that are

worthy of historical record, and of grateful and everlasting remembrance and honor: Archibald Job, Moses Nash, Peter Conover, Thomas Arnett, Stephen W. Spencer, Elisha Kellogg, Elijalı Wiswall, Eli Redding, Moses Keelock, Page Blake, David C. Blair, Robert Henry, Israel Robertson, Abram Johnson, Peleg Sweet, Robert Sweet, Charles W. Horrell, David Beebe, An- drew Reed, William C. Verry, Joseph Sweet, David Shelby, Constant Claxton, William B. Burritt, Peter Smith, Alfred Mills, Elisha Henry, William S. Jordan, Andrew V. Patten, H. G. Taylor, Curtis Cadwell, John Weatherman, Joseph T. Leonard, Zachariah Cockburne, Ben- nett Smart, Robert Eckler, G. Cadwell, John Adams, Alford Carpenter, Samuel Bristow, Den- nis Rockwell, Roswell Parmalee, Lewis Allen, Thomas Blair, Timothy Harris, Alexander Blair, Nathan Eels, John Box, Martin Dyer, Simeon Herron, James Hills, Stephen Langworthy, James Arnett, William L. Morse, Daniel Lieb, James Gillham, Wiley Green, Samuel Bogart, Aaron Robertson, Charles Self, Orris McCartney, Obadiah Waddell, Nelson McDowell, Timothy Demars, Philip Mallett, Abraham S. Bergen, Rowland Shepherd, Ephraim Lisles, Henry Rob- ley, John P. Teftt, William Robertson, Forrest Fisher, Aquilla Clarkston, William Samples, Ho- ratio Eddy, Abram B. Dewitt, Jonathan C. Ber- gen, Jesse Bellamy, Noah Wiswall, Stephen Olmstead, Anthony Thomas, Levi Newman, James Jenkins, John Edwards, Isaac B. Reeve, Lazarus Reeve, David Casebar, Myron Bronson, Joel Reeve, Levi Conover, Guinn Porter, John Angelo, James Deaton, Sr., James Deaton, Jr., George Hackett, Samuel Shepherd, Isaac Dial, Alexander Robertson, Robert James, Joseph I. Basey, Stephen Nash, Baxter Broadwell, Patrick Lynch, Olney Ticknor, Seymour Kellogg, Charles Troy, Hiran Duff, Henry H. Snow, Joseph Stan- ley, Andrew Arnett, Joseph Carter, Thomas B. Arnett, Levi Deaton, Patrick Mullett, Thomas Kinnett, Benj. Selmitz, Nicholas Jones, Joseph Milstead, Henry Kettner, Robert Bowen, James Redmond, Andrew Bowen, Levi Scott, Samuel Matthews, Richard Matthews, Sr., Richard Mat- thews, Jr., Robert Morgan. George Bristow, John Rusk, Armsted Cox. (This list includes a num- ber of names of those who were citizens of por- tions of Morgan County which were afterwards set off as the counties of Scott and Cass.)

The aim and purpose of the society were set forth in the following extracts from the Consti-

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tution: "Under a free government, public opin- ion gives energy to the laws, happiness and se- curity of the community being the legitimate end. Every good citizen, therefore, has an in- terest in its support. Under its fostering wing his moral, his religious, and his political rights are maintained. Virtue and intelligence should be its bond of union. But, as man is naturally prone to abuse power, it is rendered necessary for the security of the whole, that this danger- ous propensity should be guarded against.

"Therefore, we, citizens of Morgan County, have thought it advisable to form a society for the purpose of concentrating public opinion, and by a frequent interchange thereof, to enlighten and direct each other. When entering into asso- ciation it becomes an indispensable duty to adopt a regular system of promoting order. It is the declared design and intention of this so- ciety to promote the public. good, by using all' honorable means to prevent the introduction of slavery into this State, by maintaining the pur- ity of elections; by cherishing political har- mony, and by restraining vice and immorality.

"The better to secure these objects, we, the undersigned, citizens of Morgan County, agree to the following constitution :

"Article 1. The style of this Society shall be The Morganian Society, for the dissemination of political knowledge and the inalienable rights of man.

"Art. 2. No person shall be admitted a mem- ber of this society unless he has attained the age of eighteen years, is averse to slavery, and is a citizen of this County.

"Art. 8. The standing committee shall indi- vidually and collectively promote the views of this Society, by procuring qualified subscribers to this constitution, by using efforts to dissemi- nate the principles of liberty, by striving to ex- pose the views of those who are hostile to the natural and political rights of man, and by using all lawful means to prevent the introduc- tion of slavery into this State.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Morgan County, Part 135

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn; Short, William F., 1829- 4n
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286