History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 10

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 10
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 10

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).

Mr. Davidson's family consisted of himself, wife, two sons and two daughters. Mrs. George Davidson was regarded as a most estimable woman, and an excellent nurse for the sick. One of the sons, Samuel Davidson, married Miss Violet Enloe, sister of James and Isaac Enloe, and died in 1820. He was taken to his father's house shortly before his death, that he might in his last days have his mother's care and sympathy. The widow of Samuel David- son married Thomas L. Waddle, County Treas- urer, in 1827. Vance L. Davidson. the other son, married Miss Purse, one of the daughters, Sally, was blind, and Caroline, the other daugh- ter, married William Blundell. Mrs. Blundell now resides in California ; letters have been received from her within the past three years, in which she speaks with happy recollection of her early home and friends at Greenville. Mr George Davidson laid off some of his land in Section 10, Town 5 north, Range 3 west, in 1819, into lots, but by some neglect the plat of

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

the town was not recorded, which occasioned much trouble to those who purchased lots in the first laid out town.

Some diversity of opinion exists as to how or by whom Greenville was named. The de- seendents of Mr. Thomas White (R. O. and Spragne White), affirm that when the town was first surveyed, the question of name for same came up, and the bystanders said "we will leave it to Mr. Thomas White for a name, as he is the oldest man present," and Mr. White re- sponded as he cast his eyes over the green woods and prairie around-" everything looks so nice and green, we will call it Greenville." Rev. Peter Long, who came to Greenville in 1821, and still lives to recount the incidents of early life in the county, heard Mr. John Ellis (who came here earlier than Mr. Long), say that his understanding of the name was, that Mr. Thomas White named it in honor of Green- ville in North Carolina, a State from which Mr. White had recently emigrated.

Mr. James Enloe, who came to Greenville in February, 1818, when he was over fourteen years old, and more than a year before the town was first laid out. says that Greenville was named in honor of Green P. Rice, a Cum- berland Presbyterian preacher, who resided here at an early day, and kept the first store ever kept in the place, and was Clerk of the Com- missioners' Court of Bond County from August 15, 1822, to March 3, 1823. For a number of | years afterward and died. He was, as has 1

years Mr. Rice lived on the old Stafford prop- erty, where Mr. William Morris now resides. Be the question or problem of the origin of the name as it may be. neither of the gentlemen to whom the honor is credited, could they see it to-day, would recognize the village then laid off in the wilderness. now sixty-three years ago.

west corner of Sixth and South streets : his health failed him, and he sold his stock of goods to Elisha Blanchard, and he sold to Thomas Long, brother of Rev. Peter Long. who kept the store for his brother until he sold to Drake & Durley.

George Davidson " moved up into town " as they termed it. from his residence, at or near the west end of Main street, to a lot just south of northwest corner of Sixth and Main streets. and kept what was then known as a tavern, in 1819-20. and until September, 1821, when Seth Blanchard became his successor. and kept and enlarged tavern for many years who wa- in turn succeeded by David Berry January 1. 1828, to March 1, 1829, when he moved. and Thomas Dakin took the place for many years. and was well known by traveling men, who made long and tedious journeys on horseback. crossing the State, and going to and from St. Louis. Mr. Berry removed to the lot just west of Birges store (No. 7), where he kept an excel- lent hotel. which was headquarters for the stage stand for a great many years. His table was well supplied with the best the county afforded.

Among the early settlers of Greenville and vicinity may be mentioned the Kirkpatricks. who came at least as early as 1817. Thomas Kirkpatrick lived about one and half miles southeast of Greenvile, in the hewed log house in which uncle Tommy Brown lived for many been stated before in this work, a member of the first County Court held in the county, at Hills Station June 2, 1817, and also a mem- ber of Constitutional Convention for Bond County in 18IS. John Kirkpatrick, a Method- ist preacher, lived northeast of Greenville. near where Madison Allen now resides, about half mile north of Almira College. He was one of the members of the first Commission- ers' Court held at Greenville April 16, 1821. His associate members of that court were

George Davidson is recognized as the pioneer settler of the land upon which Greenville has since been built. His son. Samnel Davidson, had the second store in Greenville. on the north- . Robert MeCord and William Russell.

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

Francis Kirkpatrick, brother of John and Thomas, above mentioned, lived about half mile northeast of John Kirkpatrick. The Kirk- patrick family were Methodists. Capt. Paul Beck whilst he held the office of Captain, and was duly qualified as such May. 12. 1817. also had a little band horse-mill situated some forty rods south of the old cemetery, and nearly west of the present cheese factory. His mill ground wheat and corn. The bolt for the flour was turned by hand, as was common for many years at the horse-mills in operation throughout the county. Asahel Enloe settled in 1818, on the highest point in what is now the old cemetery. west of Greenville. A short time afterward, Asahel Enloe and his son, Ezekiel, lived just southeast of the passenger depot at Greenville, about eighty rods therefrom-the first abont where the old Lansing House was situated, and the latter (Ezekiel) a few rods north of his father; whilst James Enloe's house was on the north side of southeast quarter of northeast quarter Section 15, Township 5 north, Range 3 west, about fifty rods southwest of his father's house. lle sold the land to Daniel Ferguson a few years afterward. Isaac Enloe, brother of James and Ezekiel, is at present a resident of the county. Ezekiel Enloe died about twenty years ago. Mr. A. Enloe and his sons cleared off a tract of land near the court house square, and planted the same in corn in the year 1819. Wyatt Stubblefield entered land east and ad- joining Greenville in 1817, and remained on same until the time of his death somewhere near 1851. lle had a horse-mill and a cotton- gin in operation many years near his residence. Mr. Stubblefield was very generously disposed toward those who came from a distance to his mills. He had three brothers, John, William and Jeremiah, who lived much of their time within a few miles of Fairview in Bond County.

Thomas White and his sons, John B., James. Hugh Alexander and Thomas White (tanner) came into the county about the year 1818,

Only one, James White, is still living. Sam- uel and Eleazur White, sons of John B. White, live on the old White homestead. R. O. and Sprague White, sons of James White (who is also alive), live in Bond County.

Of the early settlers near Greenville, none are more worthy of mention than Mr. George Donnell, who moved into the county. from North Carolina, abont 1819, and after living on Shoal Creek. near Bilyew's Mill (northwest quar- ter Section 23. Town 5. Range 4), a few years, settled on a farm about three miles north of Greenville, where he lived many years, until the burdens of farm work, the privations of church privileges and advanced age admonished him that he must retire from the farm. He sold his farm, came to Greenville, where he spent the last dozen years of his life. He died about 1874. Mr. Donnell was an active man, in not only the Presbyterian Church, to which he be- longed-an account of which is given in this history, under proper headings-but he was a co-worker in the cause of religion and temper- ance with all denominations. He was also the leader in the first Sunday school ever taught in the county, and scholars came often eight or ten miles to attend. The writer of this article heard Mr. L. D. Plant say that, in his lifetime. he was under lasting obligation to Mr. Donnell for the Sunday schools he organized and taught, as a large part of his education was received from those schools. Mr. Donnell dis- played more than ordinary wisdom in provid- ing homes and farms for his large family of sons. llis family consisted of Joseph M., John D .. William N., Mary J., James M., Thomas S .. George W., Henry C. and Emily R.

His sons worked well when young, and their father secured for himself a good farm of good proportions, and, as the sons reached that period when they would need a farm. he bent his energies, with the help of the sons at home, and the savings of the home farm soon secured the needed farm. Commeneing at an early

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

day. as he did, with the low price of land and his good judgment. he was enabled to locate his family around him with but little trouble. To those who did not want land, he gave money and his own notes, as a matter of bus- iness. He lived to see the largest part of his family settled around him, happy and con- tented.

Samuel G. Morse was also an early settler. He was one of the delegates from Bond County to Kaskaskia that made for Illinois the old Constitution, adopted August 26, 1818, as has been stated before. He was the first Sheriff of Bond County, in 1817 and 1818 ; was fond of music, and taught singing schools occasion- ally.

The following persons were in the county more than fifty years ago, and their faces were familiar in the streets of Greenville whilst they lived, or were in the county, viz .:

Daniel Converse, first County Clerk, and half owner of water-mill of Converse & Lee, where Brown's Mill now stands.

Samuel Houston, first Deputy Sheriff. and member County Court. August, 1826, to April 10, 1827.

James B. Rutherford, first hatter in Green- ville.

Samuel Whitcomb owned land in Davidson tract before county seat located.

James B. McCord, a cabinet-maker in Me- Cord settlement.

Andrew Finley, a good farmer and cooper in the northwest part of county ; kept a store in 1835-36 at his home.

James Wafer came to the county in 1818 ; was anti-slavery ; Presbyterian ; died February 8, 1873, aged more than eighty-seven years.

David White lived in the fort, near the cen- ter of Section 6. Town 4, Range 3. southwest of Mr. Patrick Byrne's residence, as early as 1816-and from David White took the name of " White Fort," sometimes called Hill's Sta- tion or Fort-and at this place the first two

County Courts were held, before the county seat was established at Perryville. And it was at this fort Tom Higgins was so terribly wounded, and William Burgess surprised and cut off from communications by the Indians, as they were ont for water. Mrs. Pursley, see- ing the danger which surrounded them, seized a gun and shot the Indian who was leader in the attack, and then succeeded in getting them into the fort alive. Tom Higgins lived to re- late the adventure and thank his deliverer, for more than fifty years, and died near Vandalia about 1872. Mr. Burgess lived more than forty years afterward, and died at his home. near Millersburg, in this county. Benjamin Henson was out of the fort on horseback at the time, but by good luck he escaped the Indian bullet. Mr. White had a little band horse-mill to grind for those stopping in the fort during the war. This was the first mill in the county. Mr. White was a Methodist.

John Powers, a Methodist preacher, and preached at Jones Station, near Andrew Green's, in February, 1816, and at White's Fort in March of the same year. These were his regular preaching places. The company who came with the Rev. Powers were his three sons, Thomas, Elijah and Samuel, all heads of families, Rev. William Hunter, son-in-law of John Powers, John Hunter and James Bolds.

William M. Crisp, first Constable in 1817, lived in Locust Fork Precinct.

Henry Rule, appointed Constable same time in " East Shoal," now Greenville Precinct.

Francis Travis, first Treasurer Bond County, July 5, 1819. No record of any Treasurer be- fore that date.

Martin Jones, one of first Judges of County Court, member of Legislature, owner of Perry- ville.

James Jones (brother of Martin) appointed County Clerk June 6 and October 5, 1820 : was Circuit Clerk same time.

John D. Alexander, Constable in 1821 ; Tax

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

Collector afterward ; now lives near Bethel, with his son.

Elezarum Ripley Wheelock, laid out Ripley; named same in honor of his uncle, Gen. Ripley.

John Powers, a Methodist preacher and one of the first County Judges of Bond County ; built water-mill, east of Millersburg, in 1818. Thomas Powers (son of above), built the water- mill near John A. Smith's old residence, in Section 25, Town 5, Range 4.

Francis Brown, member of the County Court in 1820.

Eleazur M. Townsend, member of the County Court in 1820; was an Eastern man; his sister married Dr. Perrine.

Green P. Rice, Cumberland Presbyterian preacher ; kept first store in Greenville.

Samuel Hill, near Ripley, was father of Anderson Hill.

Hezekiah Areher, had water grist-mill on Shoal Creek, near Brown's present mill.

John and Hubbard Short, intelligent men. John married Robert MeCord's daughter.

Evan Hinton, first wife, sister of Rev. Peter Long's mother ; second wife, mother of James Bradford.

David Smith lived about six miles southwest of Greenville, near Hill's Station.

Jonathan Berry, from Tennessee, lived in southwest quarter of Seetion 6, Town 6, Range 3.

Williamson Plant, Sr., from Tennessee in 1818 ; lived and died on his farm, one mile northwest of Pocahontas.

Charles Johnson, from Tennessee, settled on land now laid out as Pocahontas, in 1817. He was a member of the County Court at Perry- ville from July 5, 1819, to June 5, 1820.

Benjamin Johnson, son of the above, brought the first drove of cattle to the county ; was an energetic, thoughtful man ; was a member of the Illinois Legislature, and was generally con- sulted in the neighborhood where he lived for fifty years. He built Pocahontas Academy, and laid out Pocahontas ; his home adjoined

Pocahontas on the north ; he died April 6, 1862.

John Leeper, Presbyterian, was a member of County Court, July 5, 1819, to June 5, 1820. also from August 15, 1822, to September 2, 1823 ; he built a horse grist-mill about four miles south of Greenville, near James Mc- Adams' old farm.

Robert Gillespie, one of the Commissioners who located county seat, Bond County, at Per- ryville.

James and Andrew, sons of the above, lived ten miles west of Greenville ; James having trouble with his eyesight from infancy, became quite famous for his remarkable memory ; he had a clear head. and was often consulted on points of law.

John Laughlin, one of the Commissioners who located County seat Bond County, at Per- ryville.

John Whitley, Sr., one of the Commissioners who located county seat Bond County, at Perry- ville.

Hugh Kirkpatrick brought Titus, Jack, Bob and Haley, respectively ten, six, five and two years old, colored children, December 18, 1817, and had them registered, agreeable to the act of the Illinois Territory of September 17, 1807, to serve the said Kirkpatrick, the males until they are- years of age, and the girl until she is -. Mr. Kirkpatrick brought two colored women and had them indentured by " their consent " for a period of ninety-nine years-should they not consent to the inden- ture, Mr. Kirkpatrick had the privilege, under the law, to remove them to a Slave State at any time within sixty days.

William Vollentine, son of Hardy Vollentine, an energetic and successful farmer, living twelve miles northwest of Greenville ; he died about sixteen years ago ; on the 17th day of June, 1817, he had Silas, a colored boy, registered under the law of 1807 ; Silas was registered as five years old, but as he had the appearance

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

of being at least five or six years older, he probably served longer than otherwise would have served, had his age been certainly known ; Silas took the name of Register from the fact or his being registered, as before stated. The sons of William Vollentine, W. P., in his life- time, George and James M. Vollentine, have furnished many substantial comforts for old " uncle Si," as he has been called for the past thirty-five years ; Mr. James M. Vollentine, son of William, as before said, has cared for the wants of Silas almost as his own family. Silas was the last survivor of all the ten colored per- sons "registered " and " indentured " in the county so far as known. He was taken sick some two weeks before his death, which oc- curred on Thursday, June 22, 1882 ; he was about seventy-six years old at his death ; he was an exemplary Christian, had been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church more than forty years.

Hardy Vollentine (father of William), regis- tered a colored girl fourteen years old, on June 30, 1817, named Tisby.

Isaac Hill, of Okaw Township, indentured his colored man, named Peter, to serve him ten years.

John Hapton, Sr., was a farmer living six miles southwest of Greenville.

John Hapton, Jr., inherited a competency from his father, and kept it. He lived many ycars, before moving to Missouri, on the farm of W. Barker.

Wilson Brown was an early settler and good citizen, living near White Fort, the fort being a few rods south ; he acquired considerable prop- erty, which he left, by will, to his children.

Stringer Potts was neighbor to Hapton, Sr., and Wilson Brown.

Henry Williams, an intelligent farmer for many years two miles northwest of Pocahon- tas, and for several years before his death twelve miles southeast of Greenville ; was a member of the County Court August 15, 1822 to 1824;

he served in later years in the same ca- pacity.

A. C. MacKay was for considerable part of his life in some official capacity ; was Justice of the Peace, and was member of the Commis- sioners' Court in 1834 and 1835, and also in later years held same position.

James M. Davis, always characterized himself as " old settler ;" he was an active Whig ; mem- ber of County Court in 1834 and 1835 ; was engaged in merchandising in Greenville.

Thomas M. Davis, brother of above, now liv- ing seven miles north of Greenville, was a Cap- tain in the civil war, from Bond County ; resides on his farm.

Richard Bentley was a member of the County Conrt in 1835 and 1836 ; was also a member of the Legislature at a later period ; many anec- dotes were related bearing on his official posi- tion.

Samuel White and Thomas White (brothers). Samuel had the first tannery just west of Green- ville ; he sold the same to J. Harvey Black> who manufactured leather for many years ; he kept store in the brick building on the north- east corner of Main and Sixth streets, in 1829. Mr. White retired to his farm adjoining Green- ville on the east, more than forty years ago, where he amassed a handsome fortune, and died much respected about twelve years ago ; his sons were Edward B., John B. O., James W. Samuel G. and William C. White.

William and John Russell (brothers). William was a member of the County Court from April 16, 1821, to June 4, 1822 ; John was a mem- ber of the County Court from August 7. 1827 to 1833 ; John Russell was the surveyor who laid ont Greenville, June, 1821.

Rev. Peter Long, now living on his old farm on southeast quarter of northeast quarter of Section 35, Town 6, Range 4, some four miles northeast of Old Ripley. He and his brother, Thomas, came with their father, James Long, a Baptist minister, from Indiana; the family

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

were orginally from Virginia. Peter Long taught school soon after coming to the county, near the house of Bonham Harlan (father of Will- iam and Abner Harlan), he also clerked in his brother, Thomas Long's, store, who had bought the stock of goods of Blanchard, on the corner of Main and Sixth streets, Greenville. Mr. Long did not continue in the business but a few months when he sold his goods on hand to Dr. J. B. Drake and William Durley, who continned the business for a few years, when Dr. Drake purchased the interest of Durley and carried on the same for more than twenty-five years. Rev. Peter Long, now nearly fourseore years of age, has been a faithful and consistent Bap- tist minister of the Gospel for nearly sixty years ; continues to preach within the circuit of his near friends once each week, without compensation from his hearers ; he has never used tobacco in any manner.

Ransom Gaer, a member of the County Court, from August, 1824, to August, 1825.

Robert W. Denny. a member of the County Court from August, 1826, to August, 1832.

Cyrus Birge kept store on Lot 8, Davidson's Addition to Greenville, in 1819 to 1824.

Ansel Birge bought his brother's (Cyrus) stock of goods early in 1825, and kept same stand for at least eight years ; he removed afterward to his beautiful farm one and a quarter miles south of Greenville. He died over twenty years ago.

Williard Twiss, a brother-in-law of Ansel Birge, continued the sale of goods from same stand, having purchased the stock of Mr. A. Birge. Mr. Twiss was also clerk of the County Court in 1831. to March 9, 1836, when he re- signed.

William S. and Thomas W. Smith (brothers) had a store, for some years in name of W. S. Smith, in 1833, on the corner of Main and Sixth street, and after some twenty years of success as part- ners they removed to the corner of Main and Fourth street, northeast corner, and after en- larging to suit their trade carried on a heavy

business. Mr. W. S. Smith carried on the mer- cantile business after the death of his brother in 1862, to 1876 ; was County School Treasurer for a number of years, and served one term in the Legislature of Illinois ; he also was Presi- dent of the First National Bank of Greenville several years, at present holding the place of Director ; he is also one of the Directors in the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad Company. Thomas W. died about twenty years ago.

J. E. Rankin was appointed Clerk of the Coun- ty Court, in place of Isaac Murphy, who, by non- attendance, the court declared out of office, June 1, 1829. Mr. Rankin has filled several important trusts during his long residence in the county ; he is quietly living on his farm, at present, in Pleasant Prairie, at a ripe old age, much respected.

Space cannot be allowed to give further de- tailed history individually of " old settlers," but we will give a concise list of those whose names or faces are familiar to those who have lived in the county for the past forty years, with occasionally some repetition of previous mention :

Anderson, Ignatius, Beaver Creek.

Anderson, James, Beaver Creek.

Allen, Benjamin, large farmer, Beaver Creek.

Armstrong, Joseph, father of Wesley and Will- iam.

Armstrong, Wesley, died in lowa.

Armstrong, William, died in Bond County.

Armstrong, Robert, strong Democrat and Pres- byterian, died in Bond County.

Armstrong, Thomas, died in Missouri.

Armstrong, Joseph.

Armstrong, Mid. These four-Robert, Thomas,

Joseph and Mid., being sons of one man and cousins of Wesley and William.

Alexander, Josiah N.

Alexander, Jediab F., State Senator ; President Vandalia Railroad, Receiver St. L. & S. E. Railroad, etc., died in Greenville, in 1876.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

Alexander, E. J. C., State Representative and editor.

Alexander, J. H., farmer. These three-Jediah F., E. J. C. and J. H., were brothers. Allen, Albert, merchant, Greenville.

Adams, John and James I., brothers, Zion. Alexander, John, early settler in Bond County. Alexander, M. H., son of John.

Allen, Heetor.

Allen, William, Allery, J. M., A. J., Daniel, Jerry and George, sons of Heetor, and the first four Whigs.

Adney, William D., peddler.

Abbott, Thomas J., Hurricane, father of John B., Samuel W. and William H.

Abbott, John.

Abbott, Samuel W., died in the army, at St. Louis, during the war.

Abbott, William H., cabinet-maker and mer- chant, Fairview.

Abbott, John B., brother of Thomas J.

Andrews, John, Beaver Creek.

Austin, Josiah, Okaw.

Aldeman, Henry, pump-maker.

Aldeman, William P. and James W., broth- ers.

Austin, William M., Zion.

Alexander, H. B. and John, brothers, Green- ville ; the former a druggist, latter a earpen- ter.

Allen, W. A., physician, Greenville.

Abell, J. H., North Zion.

Brown, Tommy, model Christian, near Green- ville.

Berry, David, kept hotel at Greenville and died there.

Berry, James W., David P., George F. and Franklin, sons of David, Greenville, the first named dying at Greenville.

Beech, Rufus.

Bryant, Thomas, southwest of Pocahontas. Blizzard,

Blizzard, James and William, sons of above. Blizzard, J. J., son of James.

Blanchard, Samuel G., Elisha, Seth and Lemuel, the first three being merchants ; Seth, a hotel- keeper ; Lemuel, a farmer.

Brown, Wilson.

Brown, Calvin, Marion, Charles, Robert and Kerney, all sons of Wilson.

Bilyew, Joseph, who had a horse-mill south of Pocahontas.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 10

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin Number of Pages: 758

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 758