History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 45

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948

USA > Illinois > Union County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Pulaski County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Alexander County > History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois > Part 45

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).

that they were rough, uncultivated, unrefined, but still noble in a rugged way, and possess- ing the true qualities of heroism, courage and freedom. Such were the early settlers of Jonesboro Precinct, and the antecedents of those who now fill their places.

Surrounded by difficulties and dangers, the early settlers labored to improve the land and bring it into subjection. Step by step the hardy pioneer made his inroads upon the forests, and increased his flocks and herds, until he had a surplus beyond his immediate wants and those of his family. By dint of hard labor, and the denying of himself many of the actual necessaries of life, he at length became well to do and independent.

The pioneer improvements of this section of the county were few and rude. They comprised chiefly mills and distilleries. The first mills were run by horse-power, and were poor things at best, but they answered the purpose at that early day. To grind a little corn and wheat was the extent of their useful- ness and ability. One of the first water mills we have heard of in the precinct, was built and operated by Christian Flaugh, an early settler who lived about a mile and a half below Jonesboro. It was in operation as early as 1817, and was an important institution, and a great improvement upon the old horse- mills. Other mills were erected, as circum- stances demanded, and the community bas never lacked for these useful industries since the building of Flough's mill, nearly seventy years ago.

The attention of the people was early directed to roads and highways. As early as 1819, a road was laid out from Jonesboro to Vienna, and one from Elvira to Jackson, of which William Pyle was made Overseer. A road was laid out from Penrod's ferry to El- vira, and David Arnold was appointed Over- seer. Another road was laid out from Jones-

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

boro to Elvira, and of it William Pyle was made Overseer. Thus roads were opened and laid out wherever business required them. Streams were bridged, and the means of travel from one place to another promoted, and made more safe and easy than it had been through the thick forests and over the turbulent streams. At an early term of the Commissioners' Court, it was ordered that " a good substantial bridge " be built over Clear Creek, on Penrod's road, and another over Bradshaw's Creek, on the Elvira road. For the Bradshaw bridge, $50 was appropriated, and $150 for the Clear Creek bridge. As there were no railroads then, all travel was over these roads, and mostly on horseback. This caused the opening of many taverns along the public roads, with accommodations for " man and beast." All such had to take out a tavern license for the privilege of en- tertaining the wayfaring man. Among the pioneer tavern-keepers, William Shelton was licensed to keep a tavern at his house, on the road between Jonesboro and Elvira. An- other was Robert H. Lay, on Green's road, in which he was required to give a bond of $100 and pay a special tax of $2. Many other such were granted by the Commission- er's Courts, until one would almost be led to believe that nearly every householder in the county kept a tavern.

Early educational facilities were meager. and the children of the pioneers had few advantages in that direction. A few months in the log-cabin schoolhouse, with its punch- eon floor and big fire-place, were the ex- tent of the "larnin'" they received, and the advantages the precinct then afforded. For forty years or more after the first settlement, education was at a low ebb. Like the stag- nant water in the river bottom swamps, it was difficult to tell whether the current flowed backward or forward. The schoolhouses,

school books, school teachers, and the man- ner of instruction were of the most primitive character. An old man named Fullenwider was one of the first teachers not only in this precinct, but in the county. He is said to have been a very fair teacher for that day. The science has changed, and the mode of teaching has changed and improved, with everything else. The precinct has, at pres- ent, some half dozen schoolhouses outside of Jonesboro, and hence is well supplied with good schools.

The first preacher in "these parts " was old Father Wolf, the Dunkard preacher already alluded to. He preached to the pi- oneers for many years, not only in this pre- cinct, but throughout the county. The early religious history centers principally in Jones- boro and Anna, and is given in those chap- ters.

An important era, in both civil and social life here, as well as in all Southern. Illinois, was the building of the Central Railroad. Although it did not pass through this pre- cinct, or through Jonesboro, yet both were more or less affected by it. There were those in that day, even as there are still, who were opposed to railroads in every sense of the word. They believed they would ruin the country, and would be of no benefit to any- body. Their ignorance and prejudice pre- vented them from discovering any advantage to the people or country from railroads. The majority of the people, however, were far more liberal-minded, and took an active in- terest in this species of internal improve- ment. And the completion of the Illinois Central was hailed by them with as much delight almost, as if it had passed through their own town. The project of the St. Louis & Cairo Railroad, twenty years after, received their hearty support and approval. It brought " the war into Africa;" that is, it

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

gave them a railroad through their own town and Precinct, and, in a word, it was their own railroad. Then, too, opinions and views re- garding railroads and their beneficial results had undergone a great change. The old fos- sils and fogies had discovered that the country had not gone to the dogs, as they had sagely predicted, but had increased in wealth with the increase of railroad facilities, and hence, they were forced to the conclusion that rail- roads, after all, were a good thing in their way. Thus the narrow-gauge railroad did not lack for friends in this community. Its completion has wonderfully improved this side of the county. It has developed the re- sources, and brought the best markets of the country into close proximity with the people. Said an old farmer: "What do I want with railroads ? Will they make my plants bear more strawberries, or my orchards more ap- ples and peaches ?" Yes, old friend, they will, in that they bring active markets to your very door.

With the building of railroads, great changes came to the country. In nothing were these changes more apparent than in the system and mode of agriculture. The first settlers here knew nothing of railroads; they had never heard of a locomotive, nor dreamed of the improvements of to-day.

Steam threshers. sulky plows, mowers and reapers were alike unknown to them. The old wooden plows, drawn by a yoke of oxen, the scythe and cradle and the reap-hook were implements with which they were better acquainted. To chronicle the changes, and note the improvements and the progress of our common country, since the era of rail- roads, is not the least interesting part of the historian's work. In the traditions handed down, he sees "the wilderness rejoice and blossom as the rose; " the log cabin changed into comfortable homes, and the land teem- ing with peace and plenty.

Jonesboro Precinct is largely Democratic in politics. The old citizens were Jackson Democrats, and some of them would perhaps vote for him still, but for the fact that they believe the old hero is-dead. Upon all important occasions, the precinct rolls up large majorities for the Democratic standard- bearers. In the late war, it was loyal to the core, and sent a majority of its able-bodied men to fight the battles of the Union.

This comprises a brief sketch of Jonesboro Precinct, from its settlement to the present time. With this imperfect record of it, we will conclude the chapter, and in a new one take up the history of the town-the seat of justice of the county.

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

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CHAPTER XII .*

CITY OF JONESBORO-SELECTED AND SURVEYED AS THE COUNTY SEAT-ITS HEALTHY LOCATION -EARLY CITIZENS-SOME WHO REMAINED AND SOME WHO WENT AWAY-FIRST SALE

OF LOTS- GROWTH OF THE TOWN - MERCHANTS AND BUSINESS MEN - TOWN

INCORPORATED-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.

J ONESBORO is located near the center of

Union County, and on the dividing ridges separating the waters flowing into Cache; thence into the Ohio River, near Mound City, and the waters flowing in and forming Clear Creek, which enters the Mississippi five miles above Cape Girardeau. The town was located in and amongst innumerable hills, more on account of the many bold run- ning springs, than for any great advantage to be derived from beautiful location. It is situated amongst the hills, on the hills, under the hills and by the hills. In fact, we do not know but it has all the advantages of ancient Rome in the number of its hills. Its many pure springs and fine under-drainage, perhaps, caused those that had the matter in hand to select the spot they did, and now, after more than sixty years have passed, experience has shown the wisdom of its founders. We are fully war- ranted in saying, that few spots on earth are more healthy than the town of Jonesboro, and, in proof of the statement, we now have half a dozen persons living in the town who have resided here over sixty years. They are in excellent health, and have long since passed the allotted time of man.

The town, though an old one, compara- tively, does not contain a large population, perhaps not more than one thousand persons. Good schools, good health, and plenty of

church facilities are some of the strongest recommendations to the town. But that in- domitable spirit of pioneerism, inherited from ancestors who first settled the country, caused many of the young men to follow the advice of the sagacious editor of the New York Tribune and wend their way westward. Some went to Missouri, some to Arkansas, some to Texas and some were even led to pitch their tents beyond the Sierras. Among those whose names we can now call to mind are Abram Hargrave, Joseph P. Hargrave, Carroll Ury, George Wolf, Daniel Craver, James E. Mitchell, Joshua L. Meisenheimer, Robert Henly and William K. Lee, together with hundreds of others, who, with their families, have found homes in the far Western States and Territories. These were not dis- satisfied spirits, but were the cream of the pop- ulation, were good citizens here and are good citizens in the land of their adoption. They went West to better their condition, and their exodus has served the purpose to keep the population of Jonesboro, and in fact all the old towns in Southern Illinois, at about the same level as to numbers.

The site where Jonesboro now stands was selected in the spring of 1816, and so named for a Dr. Jones, a kind of representative man who lived in the neighborhood. Another site for a county seat was selected upon the farm of Thomas Sams about two miles southeast from Jonesboro, and quite a contest sprung

*By John Grear.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

up between the friends of John Grammer and Thomas Sams, owners of the respective farms named. But the Commissioners ap- pointed in the legislative act for the for- mation of the county selected the site upon the Grammer farm, and in 1818 Jacob Ren- dleman, Thomas Sams and Joseph Palmer were appointed trustees to lay out into lots the ten acres of land donated to the county of Union and now known in the description of town lots as "Grammer's donation." The first sale of lots was at public auction July 6, A. D. 1818. The first lot was purchased by Robert Crafton for $108. It was Lot No. 25, and is the one upon which now stands the Willard Block.

The Lots No. 33 and 34 were sold to Alfred Penrod for $299, and are the lots upon which the Dishon Block stands. Many of the out- lying lots were given away to blacksmiths, carpenters and other mechanics, with the nn- derstanding that they were to be improved with buildings and occupied by them at once. Among the most prominent of these pioneer tradesmen was Peter Jaccard, an enterprising German, who occupied Lot No. 60. He was a tanner by trade, and erected a tannery that did an excellent business for many years, and was a great convenience to the surround- ing country. Louis Jaccard, the founder of the great jewelry house of Eugene Jaccard & Co., of St. Louis, was a citizen of the new town, and had a shop near where the town spring is, for a short time previous to his set- tling in St. Louis. Henry Cruse and Peter Cruse, from the old State of North Carolina, were the sturdy blacksmiths, and made the plows and wagons needed by the farmers in all the country for miles around. George Grear, the father of the writer, was the millwright and carpenter, and plied his trade industriously from 1819 until 1840. James Hodges and Daniel Hileman were the hatters. Dr. B. W.

Brooks, Dr. Jones and Dr. Priestley were the physicians. A. P. Fields, Abner Fields and John Dougherty were the resident lawyers and politicians. They became famous through- out the State, and held many offices of im- portance, as noticed in another chapter of this work. James Edwards and Jeremiah Brown were the first Baptist ministers. Mr. Edwards also taught the first school. David McMichael, James Shelby and William R. Hazzard were among the early school teachers. They were all men of excellent education, and graduates of the best American colleges, except David McMichael, who graduated in " auld " Ireland. He not only left an im- pression of his substantial accomplishments upon the rising generation, but he also left many impressions upon the boys -- for like the most of the early teachers, he handled the birch with as much dexterity as he solved a problem in arithmetic. Many of our old citi- zens remember McMichael and his birch rod.

Nimrod Ferguson, Elijah Willard, Win- sted Davie and Charles Rixlaben were among the first merchants of Jonesboro. Nearly all of these, with many others, acquired great wealth, chiefly by selling goods and buying the products of the farmers, and " flat-boat- ing " them to New Orleans. The latter, to say the least, was hazardous in the extreme. But when attended with ordinary good luck, produced large and lucrative returns. The proceeds of the cargoes were then invested in sugar and coffee, and a few other necessaries, and brought back upon some of the few steam- boats that were then navigating the Western rivers. Dry goods were usually bought in Phil- adelphia on twelve months' time, and trans- ported overland on wagons to Pittsburgh, Penn., thence by river to Hamburg Landing, * on the Mississippi River, and hauled to town

* This was about five miles below Willard's Landing and our nearest point to the Mississippi River.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

upon large wagons, usually drawn by four to six strong horses, or as many yoke of oxen. A large portion of the goods procured in this way was again sold to other merchants and hauled away to the interior of Southern Illinois, to be sold to consumers.

Nearly all of the salt used by the people was procured at the Saline Salt Works, in what is now Saline County, Ill. For this was exchanged corn meal and other farm products-the mode being to load a wagon with such things as were consumed by the people at the salt works. strike out through what was then called the "wilderness," and proceed to the works. A trip generally oc- cupied about ten days, and sufficient salt to last a year was brought back to the settle- ment.

Mills .- In the matter of breadstuff, the peo- ple were nearly as badly off as in that of salt. Mills were exceedingly scarce and of the most primitive kind. Hand mills, located in the chimney corners, were not uncommon, and are well remembered by many people yet living. The horse mill was the next best thing. and many traces of them are yet to be

seen Water mills came next, but on ac- count of the streams drying up in summer and great floods in winter washing away dams, they were rendered more vexations than profitable. But about the year 1838, Willard & Co. erected the first steam flouring mill in Jonesboro, in fact in the county, after which meal and flour were more easily pro- cured. In fact, it was not long after the date above-named until flour began to be exported, which has continued until the present time, and which now forms one of the chief indus- tries of the town and county. Col. Bain- bridge erected the next steam flouring-mill in 1847. The next one was erected by Sam- uel Hargrave in 1858, which is yet standing and in operation. The two first named were

long since burned away. Melzer & Bruch. hauser, two enterprising Germans, erected the fourth mill in 1880. It was burned the same year it was built. The same firm, however, erected another mill upon the same site the following year. It was a much finer and better mill than the one burned, and is now doing an excellent business. E. A. Willard erected a large grain elevator in 1SS0, which is now owned and operated by Breedlove Smith, of St. Louis. The elevator is 112 feet high and 50x80 feet upon the ground, with fifteen bins. Altogether, it is of about 90,000 bushels capacity, and has all the improved machinery for handling grain of all kinds, Joading or unloading grain from or into cars. It stands immediately on the line of the Cairo & St. Louis Railroad.

Railroads .-- The first locomotive engine ever seen in Jonesboro "poked its nose" around the bend, just north of the public square, on Sun- day, February 14, 1875. amidst a large crowd of spectators from Jonesboro and Anna. The first passenger train went over the road March 2, 1875, and was the first train that ever passed over the entire length of the road from St. Lonis to Cairo. It left St. Louis March 1, but on account of delays at the tunnel did not arrive at Cairo until the morning of the 3d.

The first court house erected in Jonesboro was built by Thomas Cox, contractor. It was of round logs, floor loosely laid down, one door and one window, with clapboard roof, was twenty feet square and contained a "Judge's bench," the total cost of which was $40. Another room was added soon after, fif- teen feet square, for a jury room, and cost $15. " Men in those days were giants," and evil- doers could get a "send-off" to the peni- tentiary or the "rope's end " from a house like this just as easy and with just as much dignity as now-a-days from a court house

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

which costs half a million. The next court house was a frame building, erected in the center of the public square in 1820, and cost $600. This was superseded by one built of brick in 1838 on the same grounds, and which cost $5,000. It was really a fine house for that day, and ought to have lasted fifty years. But it was allowed to go to destruction from utter neglect of those hav- ing it in charge. The present court house was built in 1858, and cost about $12,000, and is a substantial brick building. The courts held in all of these buildings have been presided over with dignity by learned Judges, and many have been the forensic "set-tos" within these walls by the Fields, the Douglasses, the Semples, the Logans, the Allens, the Doughertys, and other legal lights of equal ability.

Jonesboro was first incorporated February 14, 1821, along with America, Covington, - Vienna and the village of Prairie du Rocher. The charter was amended in 1823, but no organization took place. The charter was again amended in 1857, and Willis Willard, Caleb Frick, John E. Naill, John Grear and William Green were appointed first Board of Trustees. They held their first meeting early in March, laid out the city into wards, and advertised an election to take place as speci- fied in the charter, that is, on the first Mon- day in April, 1857, and which resulted in the election of Dr. H. C. Hacker, Mayor; Paul Frick, Thomas J. Finley and O. P. Jones, Aldermen. They held their first meeting May 9, 1857, under this new organization. The city government has gone on to the pres- ent time, with very little change or interrup- tion. The following are the present city officers: John Grear, Mayor; B. M. Fullin- wider, O. P. Storm, B. H. Anderson, Ed Jones, W. D. Frick and Martin Carter, Alder- men.

Jonesboro contains about one thousand in- habitants, four churches, one large school- house, school six months in the year, with daily attendance of about 300 pupils, two mills and the usual number of shops and stores, one box factory, and six miles of good gravel roads and streets. The city is con- sidered a very healthy place. It has seen its period of prosperity, and its period of de- pression, but at no time has it met with any serious disaster, either by fire or epidemics. It has had small-pox in its limits but once, in 1852, which was its nearest approach to an epidemic. The town has produced many wealthy men, or at least men who became wealthy. Among them were Elijah Willard, William Willard, Willis Willard, Charles Rixlaben, John E. Naill, James Evans, Caleb Frick, Alexander Frick, John Dougherty, James L. Hodges and others, all of whom are now dead. But there is an equal number that are living, some of whom have retired from business on a competency, and others in the full tide of prosperity, and who might date the beginning of their prosperity to Jonesboro.

Our early citizens were not forgetful of the moral training necessary to the welfare of a new country, and to this end churches were built and religious societies organized in an early day in the town.

The Clear Creek Baptist Church was or- ganized in 1821, by Rev. James P. Edwards, Jeremiah Brown, John McIntosh and others. Worship was held at first in the dwelling houses of its members, but soon a house of hewn logs was erected upon lands given to the church by John McIntosh, where the Jonesboro Cemetery now is. It was a com- fortable, large building, and worship was regu- larly held here for many years, with varied suc- cess. There would be prosperous times, when the church would receive large accessions of

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

members, and at other times there would be trouble, and the church would be nearly de- pleted in numbers. But the good faith of those remaining would continue to hold meet- ings regularly once a month. During the sixty-two years of its existence, many excel- lent Christian men have figured in its history, notably among them were James P. Edwards, Jeremiah Brown, Francis Brown, D. L. Phil- ips. C. G. Flaugh, David Culp, D. S. News- baum and many others that cannot now be remembered. Dr. Sanders now presides over the church as pastor. The church is a large frame building near the public square, erected and dedicated in 1848. In its belfry was sounded, soon after its erection, perhaps the first church bell ever heard in Southern Illinois, outside of Kaskaskia or Shawnee- town. It was donated or given to the church by one of its enterprising members, Caleb Frick. After being placed in position on Saturday, it pealed forth its solemn notes on the following Sunday morning, calling the children to Sunday school, to the delight of all the people of the little town, and has con- tinned to do so from that time to the present.

The church contains about 200 members, who hold their regular business meetings once a month, but have worship every Sab- bath.

The Methodists were numerous in this county from its earliest settlement, but at first had no regular or settled place of wor- ship. They preached from house to house during the year, but about once a year held what was known as "camp-meetings." At these times great revivals would take place. Many able preachers from this and adjoining States would attend, and under their com- bined efforts great good would be accom- plished. Their first church house was erect- ed in Jonesboro in 1842, south of the public square, chiefly under the direction of the

Rev. Charles Adkins, circuit preacher, who was also a carpenter, and worked constantly at the building until it was completed. This building was taken down and another erect- ed near the court house in 1859, and is the one now occupied by the church. It is now presided over by the Rev. G. W. Waggoner. a very able and devout Christian.

There is also a German church, where regular worship is held, and also a Sabbath school, all in the German language.

There is also a church known as the Christian Church, where regular worship is held, making four churches in Jonesboro, which, with the six at Anna, or ten in all, within one mile of each other. This speaks well for the moral and religious training of the community.

The oldest lodge in Jonesboro is that of the Masons. It was first organized on the 22d day of June, A. D. 1822. Richard J. Hamilton was its first Master. Among the original members were James S. Smith, William M. Alexander, George Wolf, James Finney, Benjamin W. Brooks, Abner Field, Jeptha Sweet, Richard M. Young, Jacob Hunsaker, H. B. Jones, George Hunsaker, John C. Callins, Samuel Hunsaker and James F. Bond. It was known as · Union Lodge, No. 10, and continued to do business until about 1848-49, when its charter was surrendered and its membership merged into and became part of Lodge No. 111, organized early in 1851, since which time it has con- tinued to meet in a building of its own on the north side of the public square.

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History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part 45

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 948

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. ; O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 948