History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 12

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 12
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 12

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).

Perkins, John, north Fairview.

Perkins, Ephraim, Henry, William C. and Thomas, sons of John; Ephraim-Fair- view; William and Thomas, Town 5, Range 2.

Prater, Brice and Samuel, brothers, north Zion; Brice, Town 6, Range 2.

Prater, John W., son of Samuel.

Plant, John W. and Charles B., sons of John; John, Section 1, Town 5, Range 4; Charles, Section 33, Town 5, Range 4.

Page, William-Mulberry Grove.

Pigg, Elijah-Mulberry Grove.

Pollitt, John W., drowned in Shoal Creek, near Pocahontas.

Peterson, Alexander, northwest part of Old Ripley.

Plog, Charles F., died near Old Ripley.

Plog, John and Peter, sons of Charles F. Phelps, S. A., attorney, Greenville.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY

Paisley, William and Robert, brothers; for- mer died at Elm Point; latter died of hy- drophobia.

Paisley, Robert C. and William F., sons of William; Robert, southeast quarter of northeast quarter Section -, Town 6, Range 3; William, on old homestead.

Parr, Samuel, had a water grist-mill, east Shoal Creek.

Pruitt, Solomon, early settler.

Pursley, William.

Peter, W.

Pruitt, Fields, came to county in 1816.

Ridgeway, William, northwest Pocahontas.

Ridgeway, J. S. and George W., sons of William. Rosebrough, James.

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

Redfearn, James and Ira.

Ross, J. Milton, Andrew B., Thomas and William B., brothers.

Rea, Andrew.

Rhea, Henry D., County Commissioner and farmer.

Reavis, Isham, early settler.

Reavis, Hiram, Isham T. and Ewing, sons of Isham.

Redding, Andrew J .- Mulberry Grove.

Redding, William M. and James, sons of Andrew.

Robinson, James W. and Isaac, sons of Alex- ander.

Robinson, Alexander.

Rench, Joseph.

Rench, David, William, John and Peter, sons of Joseph.

Reeves, John, farmer, north Fairview.

Reeves, W. B., George W. and James, sons of John. Rushton, Gaius.

Riley, Barnabas, farmer, near Mulberry Grove.

Riley, James, John and William, sons of Barnabas; James, a farmer ; John, mem- ber of County Court.

Robinson, Gideon, married in Bond County, 1817.

Robinson, Lawson H., Sheriff in 1828-29. Rodgers, James, farmer.

Rodgers, William M. and F. M., sons of James.

Reams, William, farmer, Locust Fork, a great hunter.

Stout, Samuel and Thomas, brothers; the lat- ter a miller and hotel-keeper.

Stout, H. E., son of Thomas.

Senn, John, merchant, Pocahontas.

Stewart, Robert, Presbyterian minister, and W. M., brothers.

Stroube, Jacob, north Zion.

Snow, James and William, north Zion.

Seybert, Henry, west Greenville.

Seybert, Morgan, H. V., Jacob and W. B., sons of Henry; first two, west Greenville; Jacob, north Pocahontas.

Sugg, Aquila, Josiah, William and Lemuel, sons of Noah; the first a Methodist clergy- man, west Greenville; the second, a farmer near Pocahontas.

Sugg, Howell and Noah, sons of William.

Sugg, Noah A., Thomas W., W. Fletcher and Foushe T., sons of Aquila; Noah, a Methodist clergyman; Foushe, noted for a great memory.

Sugg, William T. and Josiah F., sons of Jo- siah; latter was Treasurer of Bond County 1853-56, and Sheriff 1856-58.

Sherrod, Joel.

Stoneburner, Samuel and William, brothers, near Dudleyville.

Stone, James.

Sellers, Benjamin E., Captain in Mexican war. Sellers, L. J., Sr .- Mulberry Grove. Spradling, James-Mulberry Grove.

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

Spradling, James H., son of James. Sturgis, Dr. D. B., laid out New Hamburg. Scott, John, south New Hamburg. Segraves, Bennett, south Mulberry Grove. Segraves, L. J., son of Bennett.

Stubblefield, Wyatt, William, Jeremiah and John, brothers and early settlers; Wyatt- east Greenville.

Stubblefield, John M., W. H. and A. H., sons of Wyatt; John, at Stubblefield Station; others, Greenville.

Skelton, John, early settler.

Scott, Moses, southeast Fairview.

Spratt, William.

Sargeant, James W .- Okaw.

Sturgenhofecker, G. L., peddler.

Snodgrass, Isaac, member of County Court. Stallard, Samuel D .- Pocahontas.

Stallard, Rawley E., son of Samuel D.

Shields, Thomas-Okaw.

Savage, Richard.

Scott, A. E., carpenter and cabinet-maker. Stephens, Cyrus H. and Alvan, brothers.

Smith, John and James, brothers; the former a nurseryman. Smith, J. J., son of James.

Smith, C. J., T. N. and James M., sons of J. J. Schneider, Theodore, member of County Court; south half Section 19, Town 5. Smith, Elisha, on Hurricane.

Smith, C. T., George M., Sowell and Merit, sons of Elisha. Sharp, Henry.

Sharp, Milton, Treasurer of Bond County 1877-80. Smith, Peter and Andrew. Stoker, Joseph. Sherwood, David. Tatum, Richard. Teasly, Jonathan. Teasly, William, son of Jonathan. Tedrick. Alvin-Hurricane. Tate, Charles F.

Taylor, John H.

Thompson, James W. and Williamson, broth- ers.

Thacker, Abner, Martin, W. H., Allen and Elijah.

Tabor, D. N., removed to Litchfield. Tabor, S. M., Captain in the late war. Travis, John E. Toler, Reuben.

Ulmer. Martin, father of George, Casper and Martin, Jr.

Vanlaningham, Zimri.

Van Grundy, John.

Vaughn, Newman, John, David C., William, Samuel, Sr., and Samuel, Jr., member County Court.

Vollentine, Hardy.

Vollentine, William, son of Hardy.

Vollentine, J. O., W. P., George W., Hardy, James M., Benjamin, John J. and C. C., sons of William; J. O., killed by falling of a house; W. P., deceased; George, in Christian County; Hardy, in Northern Ill- inois; remaining four Methodists.

Vest, James, Mulberry Grove.

Vest, Thomas L. and J. E., sons of James. Vawter, Presley G.

Watson, Matthew, carpenter and farmer.

Wood, Charles, large farmer, Town 7, Range 3. Wood, Eli, Ezra and John, sons of Charles, and farmers.

Webster, F. M., George, A. J. and Levi.

Willey, John F., Wilson W. and James W., brothers. Watson, Fielding. Widger, James D. Williams, Henry, member of County Court several years. Williams, Henry M. Walker, Andrew, north Zion. Wightman, Charles. Washburn, John A., Nevils, Lemuel, Martin and J. S.

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

White, Thomas, Commissioner to locate Greenville as county seat; they met at his house in 1821.

White, Hugh T., John B., James, Thomas (a tanner), and Alexander, sons of Thomas, and Presbyterians.

White, Robert G. and William, brothers; north Greenville; Presbyterians.

White, S. D., killed by falling of Shoal Creek bridge.

Wood, Frederick, shoemaker, Greenville.

Weathers, Wilson, west Zion.

Walker, Richard, north Zion. Wright, J. J., north Zion. Wollard, James B., Methodist minister.

White, J. C. Stephen and Ambrose B. Wilmarth, Joel, son of William. Watson, Isaac and Joab, brothers. White, Richard, a Methodist.

White, Wesley and Thomas M., sons of Rich- ard; former a farmer; latter a Methodist minister.

Williams, Henry, son of Henry. Wishon, Ralph,-Okaw. Williamson, William. Whitsides, John, Town 7, Range 4.

Wilson, Samuel, south Greenville.

West, Alexander, cabinet-maker.

Williford, James.

Williford, Robert, J. H. and Willis, sons of James; Robert, west Old Ripley; Willis, east Old Ripley.

Williford, James M. - Greenville.

White, Samuel, east Greenville.

White, Ed B., Samuel G., John B. O., James W. and W. C., sous of Samuel; E. B.,-Greenville; Samuel, -Beaver Creek; James died in the army; W. C., east Greenville.

White, Thomas, brother of Samuel.

White. John, -Beaver Creek, northwest quar- ter Section 36, Town 4, Range 3.

Wafer, William, Thomas, Sr., and James, brothers; latter came to the county in 1819. Wafer, Thomas, James E, and John F., sons of James; Thomas a miller and far- mer; James, a machinist; John, Sheriff of Bond County 1869-70, now Sheriff in Kansas.

Wait. Silas Lee and William S., brothers; latter a large farmer, died July 17, 1865. Wait, William S., Richard S., Henry W. and Foster F., brothers; William, -- Poca- hontas; Richard in California; Henry, east of Greenville; Foster, southwest Green- ville.

Watson, Hugh, had a horse-mill, Zion. Watson, A. W. and W. P., sons of Hugh.

Wait, Stephen, farmer.

White, Thomas D., north Greenville.

Wait, Lee, son of S. L.

Young, Tapley, a Methodist.

Young, William M., Methodist minister.

There may be omissions in the foregoing list, but it is as nearly correct as can now be given.

George Donnell,

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY of ILLINOIS

101

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

CHAPTER X .*

GREENVILLE-THE SALE OF LOTS-BUILDING A COURT HOUSE-PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF THE COUNTY-TAVERNS AND THEIR CHANGES-UNCLE JIMMY'S GROCERY-COUNTY OFFICERS - THE WATER SUPPLY-WAR HISTORY OF GREENVILLE AND BOND COUNTY --

THE DIFFERENT REGIMENTS IN WHICH THEY WERE REPRESENTED - THE HILLIARD RIFLES, ETC., ETC.

A S has been referred to heretofore, Green- ville was surveyed and platted by John Russell, in June, 1821. The court ordered June 5, 1821, "that thirty lots be sold in the town of Greenville on the first Monday in July, on a credit of six, twelve and eighteen months, payable in three equal installments, for the benefit of the county;" and it was further " ordered that the Clerk procure the insertion of the foregoing advertisement in the Edwardsville Spectator and the Iltinois Intelligencer, for three weeks successively." The proceeds of the sale of the lots to be ap- plied toward erecting public buildings for the county.

At a court held September 4, 1821. it was " ordered that the court house of Bond County be let to the lowest bidder on Wednesday, the 19th inst., and that the Clerk give due notice by advertisement of the same." The court met on the 19th of September, 1821. When the bids were opened, it was found that Robert G. White was the successful bid- der, for the sum of $2,135, and he imme- diately entered into bond for the fulfillment of the contract, with Andrew Moody, Samuel Houston and Elisha Blanchard his securities, payment of same to be notes of purchasers of town lots. At a court held December 3, 1821, the Commissioners delivered notes from sale of lots to R. G. White on his con-

tract to the amount of $1,338. The lots sold for average price of $44.60 per lot, provided the thirty lots were sold; if a less number sold, the average would be larger. Other lots were sold at various prices at private sale. By agreement between the court and the contractor, some change was made in the number of lights to be put in the windows; those below, twenty-four lights instead of twenty, and those above, twenty in place of sixteen, as per contract, and only to have two windows in each end to correspond with those on the sides in size. The glass in the win- dows were 8x10 inches, and to have but one chimney in place of two, as first designed, and that one in the end opposite the Judge's seat. At this time, and for several years after, there was not a stove in the county, the old- fashioned fire place, that which yet brings to our minds the comforts of other days, was in use in every house, many of them being from four to six feet in length, and when a good fire was made in the same, resembled the burning of a log heap, such as are made when clearing timber fields for the plow. This house, made of a poor quality of bricks, was badly damaged by storms, wind and rain be- fore it was completed. In fact, it can hardly be said to have ever been completed. Com- menced in 1821, it was so nearly completed on June 4, 1822, that the court paid to Rob- F

* By Williamson Plant.

102

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

ert G. White, the contractor, nearly the bal- ance due.

At this time the center of business of Green- ville was at the crossing of Main and Sixth streets, in the west end of the present town. And the bad boy, of which there is sufficient evidence, was fully represented in this new town, would, for pastime and comfort, only understood by himself, gravitate, when his convenience was suited, near that public in- stitution of justice, and, with his sling in hand, under cover of the surrounding bushes, would watch the falling stone drop on those coveted 8x10 lights. The building, only half built at first, greatly perplexed the court to get and keep it in repair for the few years that it stood. They made at least two orders appointing agents at different times, to prosecute those who broke the glass, smashed in the sash, and defaced the house generally. Nothing appears on the record to show that any guilty parties were brought to justice. In the building of the next court house, which was commenced in 1829, and not completed until about 1835 or 1836, the court had the benefit of the experience of the court who superintended the building of the first one. On consultation, they thought best to try a frame building this time. Instead of the letting of the whole contract to one man, they let it out in parts. Thomas Stout furnished most of the lumber, others hewed the timbers, some furnished the shingles. Hosea T. Camp engaged to haul a large part of the lumber from Stout's Mill, and James McGahey contracted to " lay the floor, parti- tion the upper story into four rooms, run up stairs, make · Judge's seat and bar agreeable to the draft, previously season the plank in a suitable manner, furnish and put in such joists as may be necessary, make suitable steps of hewn timber at the outside doors, and have the same completed on or before

the 1st day of September next (this was April 6, 1829), for which he is to be paid such sums of money as may be ascertained and fixed by three disinterested workmen, chosen by the County Commissioners, to be paid on or before the first Monday of Decem- ber next." The house was several years under contract before it was called com- pleted, as a sale of window sash, with glass, paints and oils, was made at public sale on the 25th day of June, 1836.

This building served the people until 1853, when a contract was made in April, 1853, with Mr. Daniel W. Norris, to build the present court house of brick, at a contract price of $10,000. Some improvements have been added, making the total cost about $12, - 000. Those who witnessed its erection can hardly realize that it is now more than a quar- ter of a century since it was completed. Could the court have fully comprehended the growth and prosperity of Bond County at that time, they would have built more with reference to fifty than twenty-seven years. The present building is 40x60 feet, two sto- ries high, with two jury rooms, which are used outside of court for the State's Attorney and Surveyor, two rooms for the use of the County Clerk, Circuit, Clerk's office, with vault for records, Sheriff's office, and one for the County Judge, and for the holding of County Courts.

Let us go back again in this history for a moment. Although the village of Greenville contained but few inhabitants, and the county was sparsely settled from the time of its or- ganization of the latter, until twenty years had rolled by, yet we find that the number of " taverns" licensed should have only been called for if the necessity for such could be admitted in a county containing many times the number of people in Bond County.

The tavern licenses were more designed for the sale of liquors than for the accommoda-

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CITY OF GREENVILLE.

tion of " man and beast;" but, with the grant- ing of such license, a lists of charges that the landlord may make were attached to each permit. We give the rates made by the County Court, March term, 1827. These rates varied slightly from year to year:

For breakfast, dinner or supper. 25 cents.

Bedding, per night. 124 cents.

Feed for horse. 12} cents.

Stable and forage, per night. 50 cents.

Whisky peach or apple brandy, per half pint. 12} cents.

Run, French brandy or wine, per half

pint. 25 cents.

Gin, per half pint. 18g cents.

Whilst but few can be found who can go back to the first days of the county, when we step forward fifteen or twenty years we find many who, if fifty-five years old or more, and here at that time, cannot forget the excite- ment generally that attended " court week," " election" and " muster" days. The men of muscle were the heroes of that day. Each militia company had one particular man who could whip any man in any other similar com- pany. Each neighborhood had within its borders a man who could and would, on any suitable occasion, whip any man in some other neighborhood; and last, though by no means least, one political party had each a particu- lar man who could and would, on any pretext, whip any other man or particular man be- longing to that other party.

The writer of this article, when a boy. say in 1835-36, so well understood these matters, that on public occasions referred to, or on Saturdays, he would station himself upon the fence across the street in good season opposite "Uncle Jimmy Clark's" "grocery," as such places were then called, about 1 or 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and await the milling fun that was sure to come, especially if Chap Clan- ton, Cob Coffee, Allery Allen, the Adamses, Washburnes, Will Coyle, Henry Harmon, the . they became better friends. Of all this long

Albertses, Batemans or Dowds, or many others that might be named, were patronizing Uncle Jimmy. When all got ripe, the first intima- tion of what was certain to follow would be first, a quick, rumbling sound, " like a small earthquake in close proximity," then out they would come, piling over each other as they came out of the door, with their coats flying thick and fast in the air, only likened by coming out of bees from their hives to swarm. As soon as a ring could be formed, they raised or lowered their names with their friends, as the tide of battle turned. If any " foul" was called, then the fight became general, and, under such circumstances, the high fence upon which the writer was perched as a wit- ness, would have to be abandoned in haste to some more distant place of safety. In later years, in 1844, in the high political excite- ment, when Clay and Polk were candidates, the Democrats thought they had a man, Mr. James Adams, who could whip any Whig in the county. Of course, the Whigs could not stand such a challenge, or, perhaps, the chal- lenge came from the Whigs to the Democrats. With many, this was the biggest issue in the campaign, when and where would it take place? The mere mention of the subject in any crowd was enough to start excitement. On a hot, sultry day, when a great gathering of people was in the city of Greenville, these two giants were in the crowd with their friends. They seemed slow to meet each other from the fact that both kept reasonably clear of that which both knew might put them out of condition; but suddenly they came to. gether, in the cross of Main and Second streets (between Justice's store and the south- east corner of the public square), they struck (as a bystander said), like " horses kicking." They were both powerful men. When the fight was over, the animosity was gone, and

104

HISTORY OF BOND COUNTY.

list of men whose names are mentioned, most of them were as honorable men as the com- munity afforded, and only acted in harmony with their surroundings of the times in which they lived. Those who have lived on to the present time find no satisfaction in allowing a stronger man than they to whip him, or for themselves to find some man not so powerful as themselves, and turn upon him and force him to cry "enough."

Liquor was common at almost every house, and a store without it would be as hard to find as the average retail store in Greenville at the present day without sugar and coffee. One thing may be said in its favor then, it was pure, and not the poisonous compound made at present under the name of liquor.

As we have said, Daniel Converse was the first County Clerk for Bond County in 1817- 18; Thomas Helms in 1819-20; James Jones, June 6, 1820; Jonathan H. Pugh, March 5, 1822; Green P. Rice, August 15, 1822; James M. Johnson, March 23, 1823; Asahel Enloe, March, 1825; Joseph M. Nelson, April 10, 1827; Isaac Murphy, March 2, 1829; James E. Rankin, June 1, 1829; James Durley, June 30, 1830; Willard Twiss, December 31, 1831; James Bradford, March 9, 1836; Enrico Gaskins, September 7, 1846; J. S. Denny, November, 1865; Robert L. Mudd, November, 1874, the present County Clerk.

James Jones was the first Circuit Clerk, in 1819. His successor was James M. John- son, March 2, 1821, Clerk at the first court hel lin Greenville, on that date; next. David Nowlin, September 19, 1825; Thomas Mor- gan, June, 1833: James Bradford, October, 1836; Alexander Kelsoe, 1848; John B. Reid. November, 1860; J. A. Cooper, No- vember, 1868; George S. Phelps, September, 1872; T. P. Morey, November, 1876, the present incumbent.

First Sheriff, Samuel G. Morse, 1817-18;

second, Samuel Houston, 1819 and 1824; Hosea T. Camp, 1824 to 1827; Lawson H. Robinson, 1828-29; Sloss McAdams, 1830 to 1846; W. K. Mastin, 1846, and part of 1848; S. H. Crocker, balance of 1848; Richard Bentley, 1848 and 1850; Samuel H. Crocker, 1850, and 1852; Jacob Koonce. 1852, and 1854; Williamson Plant, 1854, and 1856; Josiah F. Sugg, 1856, and 1858; Samuel H. Crocker, 1858, and 1860; William Watkins, 1860, and 1862; Williamson Plant, 1862, and 1864; James L. Buchanan, 1864, and 1866: John Fisher, 1866, and 1868; John F. Wafer, 1868, and 1870; Williamson Plant, 1870, and 1372; Andrew J. Gullick, 1872 to 1878; John M. McCasland, 1878, and 1880; Andrew J. Gullick, 1880, and 1882.

Mr. Francis Travis was first County Treas- urer, appointed June 5, 1819; next, James Galloway, June 6, 1820; James Durley, June 5, 1821; Felix Margrave, March 2, 1824; Leonard Goss, March 11, 1825; Thomas S. Waddle, April 10, 1827 ; John Gilmore, March 5, 1828; James Bradford, March 9, 1831; Peter Hubbard, March, 1836.

Peter Larrabe, Treasurer, 1845; John M. Smith, November, 1851; J. F. Sugg, Novem- ber, 1853 to 1854; J. F. Alexander, 1854 to 1856; J. K. McLean, 1856 to 1858, J. S. Denny, 1858 to 1864; Milton Mills, 1864 to 1866: Cyrus Birge, 1866 to 1870; R. L. Mndd, 1870 to 1876; M. J. Sharp, 1876 to 1880; J. M. McAdams, 1880 to 1882.

One of the first difficulties met by the peo- ple of Greenville was the supply of water needed. The first settlers, Mr. Samuel Dav- idson, Capt. Paul Beck. Asahel Enloe, with their families, settled near the spring on the west of the present town to obviate any trouble for water. But those settling up in the town carried all the water they used from the springs, except for washing clothes, and for that purpose went to Wash Lake, just

105

CITY OF GREENVILLE.

west of town: but they found it too much la- bor for so small return. About March. 1822, the subject of public wells was discussed. Some attempts had been made, and failed to find water within a reasonable depth. The depth necessary to find water was found to be from ninety to one hundred feet. Three wells were finally dug and eurbed with wood puncheon or plank, the part under water was mulberry, " charred by fire" before using, to add, as was supposed, to its lasting qualities. The first well was dug in the middle of the street, where Main and Sixth streets cross each other, in the west end of town. The next one was in the middle of the street, where Third and College streets cross, the other at the crossing of Second and Main streets. The mode of drawing water was with the old- fashioned windlass, a brake to hold on the same while the bucket was sent down. There was a frame around each well above the ground some three feet, which made it dan- gerous for the many boys of ten or twelve years that often had to draw from them. In 1836, whilst a son of Mr. Hildreth, some twelve or fourteen years old, was looking over the curb into the well, when his feet slipped out, and down he went head first. It was never known whether he ever drew breath after striking the bottom. An accident also occurred at the well in the middle of the street, near the southeast corner of the pub- lic square. A Mr. William Gray, an experi- enced well-digger, was employed to clean out the well. Two men were at the windlass. He was warned by some bystanders of their fears of the safety of the rope, but he fear- lessly stepped into the bucket, holding to the rope or chain above, and had only made a start when the upper part of the rope or chain broke, and he was precipitated to the bottom. a distance of over ninety feet. He received internal injuries, beside dislocation

of the ankle. He lived about twenty-four hours, and died in great pain. In time, these wells gave evidence of caving in, and were filled up to prevent accidents. A few months ago, the filling that had been put in this well more than twenty-five years before sunk, leaving a hole the size of the well, eight or ten feet deep.

Cisterns have since become plentiful, and the water is so much preferred to the limestone water contained in the former wells, that no complaint is made on the question of water, except in excessive dry seasons, or when by some cause the cistern is out of order. Some of the best natural springs immediately north and west of the town are found, and the day is not far distant when they will be utilized by water-works in furnishing the town with a bountiful supply of water.

The St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute Railroad is supplied with water from two of these strong springs. Nearly all trains take water at Greenville, the water giving the least tronble to their boilers of any other along the line of the road. The railroad company have made some very substantial engine houses, tanks and dams to secure the water.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 12

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