History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 27

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 27
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 27

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).

our girls are curious to know what sort of dress trimmings, what shape were the bonnets and hats, and if they wore paniers and bustles, sacks and overskirts, and whether they wore furs, muffs, cuffs, etc., etc., and when fully in- formed upon the subject no doubt their looks of incredulity would be refreshing. There are doubtless many now living in the county who can tell of the long linen shirts, home-made, that were the only summer garments worn by boys and children, and of the moccasins and buckskin clothing. There were many who never wore a pair of boots until they were men, and others who never even saw a pair until nearly grown." It is still a mystery how the people lived and prospered in those early days. The manner of cultivating the crops was so simple, the tools so different and rude, and the distance to market so great, and the prices so incredibly low, that we wonder how any one, even with the strictest economy, could prosper at all. The farmers of to-day, who have re- duced agriculture to a science, and cultivate their lands almost wholly with machinery, know little of what that same work required here fifty or sixty years ago. But times have changed, and the world, or the people have grown wiser as they have grown older.

Among the amusements of the early citizens of the community, was that of fishing in the classic waters of Shoal Creek. The numerous Shoal Creeks, East, West and Middle Forks. afforded ample " fishing grounds " for the pio- neer fathers. A rural bard thus sings of its glory, and of those who fished and swam in its tranquil waters " forty years ago." He says, or sings :

"How many times I wander back, In pensive mood, on mem'ry's track To thy green banks, thou dear old stream, Where in my youth, so like a.dream My days were passed, that toil and strife, No shadow cast upon my life.

"E'en now with memory's eye I see Thy waters gliding bright and free,

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HILLSBORO TOWNSHIP.

O'er shining sands and pebbly beds, Where bass, and perch, and knotty heads, Pursued the minnows, that essayed To steal the eggs that they had laid On pebbly heaps. With crooked pin, Tied on a thread, I've waded in, And coaxed, and coaxed, with all my might, Those finny ones to take a bite- One little bite of angling worm, That on my hook did twist and squirm.

" As dear as Jordan to the Jew, Or Ganges to the grave Hindoo, Has ever been thy name to me; And this my sole excuse must be, For pouring out this flood of rhymes, In mem'ry of those happy times I've spent, in angling on thy shores, Or 'mong thy hills in gathering stores Of nuts to crack in winter nights; An entertainment whose delights No boy or girl can e'er forget Till mem'ry's sun in death has set.

"How often 1 in mem'ry meet, And with a hearty welcome greet The friends of yore who roamed with me Along thy banks iu mirth and glee, % * * * *

"But, oh ! what changes time has brought ! What havoc has that monster wrought, Whose hungry jaws still cry for more, Devouring alike the rich and poor. Upon the brow of yonder bluff, With face so jagged and so rough, 1 see e'en now the resting place Of many, who began the race Of life with me, who fished and swam, From Wiley's ford to Lemon's dam ; And gained with me their stock of lore, lu log schoolhouses, where the floor Was naked earth, with weight-pole roof, That seldom proved quite water-proof ; With slabs for seats, with rough split-pegs, In two-inch auger-holes, for legs. I see with retrospection's eye, Upon yon hill so steep and high [Where J. M. Rutledge now resides], A cabin rude, where many a day I passed the tedious hours away, In picking up the little store That I possess of useful lore ; Exciting many times the ire Of poor auld Bobby McIntire ;

A native of the Emerald Sod, Whose scepter was the hazel rod. How often in Hibernian brogue, He called me 'spalpeen,' or a rogue ! And vowed when I some mischief did. That he would ' out me to the rid!'

At noon we often truant played, In thy cool flood to swim or wade, Forgetting how the moment's sped, Until the time for 'books ' had fled, And then crept back with some excuse, Though poor, intended to induce, The auld Hibernian to forgo The punishment we dreaded so. * * * * * *

"I sometimes meet those Nimrods" here, Who once pursued the wolf and deer Among thy hills, or traced the bee To where, in some old hollow tree, Its luscious stores were hoarded up, In many a little waxen cup. Of all those Nimrods, none remain, With gun in hand to scour the plain. The wolf and deer are seen no more Among the woods along the shore ; And where was heard the panther's scream, The farmer drives his patient team. Where once the Indian wigwam stood Upon the border of some wood The stately mansion now is seen Amid broad fields and pastures green.

"But I have neither space nor time To put the feelings into rhyme, That rise, while I, in mem'ry roam, O'er scenes about my childhood's home. Then, dear old stream, you'll pardon me, For thus apostrophizing thee, Aud grant me leave at any time, To talk to thee in rambling rhyme."

The foregoing lines, from the pen of J. N. Wilson, of Springfield, contaiu quite a little history in themselves, and will doubtless call up pleasant reminiscences in the minds of many of our readers. Shoal Creek was early utilized for mills, as well as for " fishing and swimming " purposes. These are mentioned more fully, however, in subsequent chapters. The " Pep- per " mill, as it was called, was an early insti- tution, and was southwest of Hillsboro some

*Yoakums, Cresses, Wilsons, Nussmans, etc.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

three or four miles. But it has long since gone . to decay, and few people in Hillsboro remem- ber anything about it.

The early roads were trails over the country, many originally made by the Indians, and afterward improved by the people and made into roads. One of the first in the township- and but very little of it was in the present township of Hillsboro-was the Hillsboro & Springfield road. Another was the Hillsboro & St. Louis road, which runs out by the Fair Grounds. When first laid out, there were no bridges where these roads cross the streams, and hence, in time of high water, travel was suspended. Now there are substantial bridges where all the principal roads cross the streams, so that high waters are no impediment now to travel.

The first school taught in the township was in Hillsboro, and will be more especially noticed under the head of the city. There are now six schoolhouses, all comfortable build- ings, in the township, outside of Hillsboro, which afford ample facilities to the people for the education of their children.

Hamilton, the first county seat, was in Hills- boro Township, some three miles sonthwest of Hillsboro. It was laid out as a town after being selected for the seat of justice. , Lots were sold, and a few houses built, though no court house or other public buildings were erected. John Tillson opened a store there, but as soon as Hillsboro was selected as the county seat, he moved to the new town. The changing of the location of the county seat, of course, was the death-kuell of Hamilton, and it soon became another "Goldsmith's Deserted Village." From its ruins, however, arose

eventually, the village of Woodsboro, which was laid out very near if not at the same place where Hamilton had formerly stood.

Woodsboro was laid out about 1848, by William Wood, a man of the most untiring energy and industry. He first settled six miles southwest of Hillsboro, where he opened a store, and about 1837 he commenced improve- ments on the " Woodsboro farm," and removed his store there. He succeeded, in 1848, in get- ting a post office, of which he was Postmaster. He laid out the town where the Springfield & Greenville road crossed the Hillsboro & St. Louis road, and, as we have said, it was some three miles southwest of Hillsboro. It was at one time a place of considerable business. Mr. Wood, in addition to his store, was instru- mental in having a wagon shop, blacksmith shop, cooper shop and tin shop opened in his town, and, in 1851, he built a steam saw and grist mill, which he ran for several years. So Woodsboro flourished until the completion of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, when most of the town went to Butler, Mr. Wood, himself, having moved to that place, and took an active part in building it up. Ile coutin- ued an active business man until his death, which occurred in 1873. A church of the Methodist denomination was built at Woods- boro, which is still in use, and comprises about all of the town there is left.

Some two miles south of Woodsboro stands the Presbyterian Church of Waveland, an off- shoot of the Presbyterian Church of Woodsboro. This and the Methodist Church at Hillsboro are the only churches, we believe, in the town- ship, outside of the city.

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CITY OF HILLSBORO.

CHAPTER VIII .*

CITY OF HILLSBORO-LAID OUT AS THE COUNTY SEAT-ITS LOCATION, ETC. - FIRST SALE OF LOTS-STREETS AND ADDITIONS-THE FIRST INHABITANT-JUDGE ROUNTREE-OTHER

PIONEERS-FIRST FRAME AND FIRST BRICK HOUSE-STORES, SHOPS, MILLS, ETC.

-AN INCIDENT-MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES - THE GRAIN TRADE

AND RAILROAD- COURT HOUSES AND JAILS- INCORPORATION OF THE CITY, ETC.

" Full sixty years have come and gone Since we commenced life's rugged way- Facing December's fleecy snows,

And plucking flowers that grew in May,"

T THE events which led to the birth of Hills- boro originated in the general dissatis- faction of the people of the first seat of jus- tice of Montgomery County, as noted in a preceding chapter. Hence, an act was passed by the Legislature, January 30, 1823, author- izing the relocation of the county seat, and appointing three Commissioners, viz .: New- ton Coffey, Maj. James Wilson and Harris Reavis, for that purpose. The site selected by them was that of the present city of Hills- boro, the land of which was at the time owned by Newton Coffey, one of the Commissioners. In conformity with the provisions of the act, he executed a deed for twenty acres of land, June 30, 1823, for the purpose of defraying the expense of erecting public buildings. Upon this twenty acres, the original town of Hillsboro1 was laid out, and the sale of lots took place August 12, 1823. In another twelve months, the city may celebrate its three score years.

Hillsboro is beautifully situated on high rolling ground, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country, and on the Indian- apolis & St. Louis Railroad, some sixty-five

miles nearly northeast of St. Louis, and about two hundred miles southwest of Chicago, the great commercial metropolis of Illinois and the Northwest. It is a city of about two thousand inhabitants, and is noted for its in- telligent and enterprising inhabitants, for its excellent schools and handsome and spacious churches. It is a healthy place-what might be termed by enterprising physicians "dis- tressingly healthy "-its high and dry loca- tion being a safeguard against the malarial fevers prevalent in early times in the lower lands.

The area embraced within the limits of the present city of Hillsboro is sufficient for a place of 20,000 inhabitants. To the stranger it would appear that the town was laid out without shape or design, and this, we learn, is to some extent true. Says Mr. Rountree: " The territory was of such shape, being filled up with hills and hollows, springs and run- ning streams, it was deemed almost impossi- ble that the streets could ever become har- monions by labor, the hollows filled up and the space economized, and, even if it could, there would never be no necessity for it, the ori- ginal town being only north of Col. Walters' hotel (now the American House) on each side of Main street, and ending south of the pub- lic schoolhouse. The distance east and west being from the section line to Hamilton

* By W. H. Perrin.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

street, and this embraced almost all the level land, and even then there was a deep hollow running southwardly from George Brown's house through the Eccles and Col. Walters' property; also, there was, and still is, in part, a series of hollows along Hamilton street. To avoid one hollow, John Tillson, in making his addition east and south of Col. Walters' hotel, made a jog (seemingly necessary then) to find good ground there for streets. Cress and Wright afterward laid out a few lots south and west of Solomon Harkey's prop- erty, running the lots far down the hill, while Hiram Rountree made an addition on the north, which was relaid out by Harry Wilton. The other additions were made many years later. "

The first settler upon the site of Hillsboro was a German, named John Nussman. The land was owned, or, rather, was entered for the purpose of laying out a town, by Newton Coffey, who had first settled in the southern part of the county. Previously, however, Nussman, who had emigrated from North Carolina, had settled upon it. His cabin stood upon the ground occupied by the resi- dence of the late A H. H. Rountree, and where Mrs. Rountree now lives. Mr. Nuss- man raised a large family of children, some of whom are, we believe, still citizens of the city and county. He was also one of Hills- boro's early mechanics, and carried on a wagon shop-the first, perhaps, in Montgom- ery County. Among other early settlers of the town of Hillsboro were the Wrights, Jo- seph Miller, John Tillson, Lloyd Martin, David B. Jackson, Hiram Rountree, James Rutledge, and others now forgotten. Jack- son built the first frame house in Hillsboro, which is now a portion of the old American House. He was quite an enterprising man in his day-an early merchant, a tavern- keeper, surveyor, saw-mill, etc., etc., and an

energetic business man generally. He has a son, William K. Jackson, still living in the town.

Judge Hiram Rountree was a ruling spirit in Hillsboro for many years, exerting a greater influence than any man, perhaps, that has ever lived in the place, and deserves more than a mere passing notice in these pages. He was a native of North Carolina, where he was born December 22, 1794, but his early life was spent mostly in Kentucky. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, under Gen. Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky, and who was a Revolutionary officer, and the hero of King's Mountain. He studied law in Bowling Green, Ky., and, in 1817, removed to Edwardsville. Ill., where he taught school for two years. He afterward removed to Fayette County. when the capital of the State was at Vanda- lia, and for several sessions was Enrolling Clerk of the House of Representatives. In 1821, he removed to Montgomery County, and, as Circuit Clerk, organized it. The re- mainder of his life was spent in the county, and there were few positions of importance but what he held at some time during his long and useful life. His official career has been so often alluded to in these pages that it is unnecessary to repeat it here. Suffice it, for forty-eight years in succession he served the county in an official capacity. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Church from the year 181S to the time of his death, March 5, 1873, and his Christian life is still familiar to many residents of the city and county.

Joel Wright was the first Sheriff of the county, and was from one of the Eastern States. He served as Sheriff from 1821 until 1826. James Wright was the son of a widow lady, known as "Granny" Wright, who lived in a cabin in Hillsboro, on the place recently occupied by Henry Haller. The following

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incident is related of "Granny " Wright, who is described as an "estimable woman, of strong, good sense and ardent friendships." She, it is said, always had corn to sell, and would demand a very high price for it. In measuring it, however, she always told them to " heap it up, to heap it up as long as it would lie on; that if the old boy ever got her, it should be for high prices, and not for scant measure." The manner of measure- ment, she intended, should bring the price down about fair.

John Tillson, prominently mentioned in connection with the church and school his- tory, was the first Treasurer of Montgomery County. He first settled on the Scherer place, some three miles southwest of Hills- boro, and was originally from Boston, Mass., but emigrated West while still a bachelor. He went back to Boston and married, brought his wife to his new settlement, where he re- sided till after Hillsboro was made the county seat, when he removed to the town and built the first brick house ever erected in Hillsboro. The house was a large, massive, two-story edifice, and was built under the supervision of John Nickerson and David Eddy. Nick- erson also made the brick, but they were not of a good quality, and hence the house was not thought to be a success. It stood for many years, however, anl was finally torn down, and the brick used in buildings erected down near the railroad.

Mr. Tillson was also the first Postmaster of Hillsboro, likewise the first merchant, and one of Hillsboro's most energetic and useful citizens. He engaged largely in land specu- lations in this as well as in other counties, and handled large sums of money. In the early struggles of the State to build railroads, which proved so disastrous to Illinois finan- ces, he was one of the Fund Commissioners, and prospered well until the great crash of

1837, from which he never fully recovered financially. By that he lost largely, and soon after disposed of his landed property here, and was no more identified with the county. He raised quite a large family of children, none of whom live here now. Gen. Tillson, of Quincy, who attained considerable distinction in the late civil war, was his son. Mr. Tillson died suddenly, of apoplexy, in Peoria.

James Rutledge came to Hillsboro about the year 1825, and settled on a lot recently occupied by George Paisley. He was one of the first, if not the first, tavern-keeper in the town. He raised a large family of children, among whom may be mentioned Thomas J. Rutledge, an attorney, and Dr. H. R. Rut- ledge, dentist, both now of Hillsboro.

Our space, however, will not admit of ex- tended sketches of the early settlers and bus- iness men of Hillsboro, but in the biograph- ical department of this volume, such sketches will be more fully given. We might fill many chapters with sketches and incidents of the pioneers of the town, but must confine our work to historical facts.

The village was now laid out and perman- ently established, as we might say. It was the county seat, and the commercial center of a rich area of country. This brought mer- chants, mechanics and tradesmen to the place. with the intention of entering into active business life. We have stated already that John Tillson opened the first store in Hills- boro, and that he was the first merchant in the county, having first opened a store at his residence before Hillsboro was laid out, and then removing it to the town.

The second store in Hillsboro is believed to have been opened by John Prentice, about the year 1825. He came from St. Clair County to Hillsboro and lived in the "Granny Wright cabin," as it was called.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

There were but few houses in the town at that time, and Mr. Prentice opened his store in a log cabin which stood near the present Rals- ton brick storehouse. The following is told of his settlement in Hillsboro. Before mov- ing here, he came on a prospecting tour, and for the purpose of consulting with the citi- zens as to the propriety of locating here. He asked them if they thought he could sell on an average $5 worth of goods a day, to which he received a most decided "No" in response. He then asked if he could sell an average of $4 worth a day. Upon this proposition, the testimony was divided, when he asked if he could sell an average of $3 a day. They be- lieved unanimously that he could. With this encouraging prospect ahead of him-the sell- ing of $3 worth of goods per day on an aver- age-he decided to locate in Hillsboro. His store was a general country store, and con- tained iron, nails. salt, sugar, molasses, whisky, dry goods, axes, common cutlery, dye stuffs, etc., etc. He brought on a few hun- dred dollars' worth of goods and opened out his store in full blast, but made no grand display, such as now attends the opening of a new mercantile establishment, such as flam- ing posters, newspaper puffs, fine show win- dows, etc. Mr. Prentice kept his goods on his shelves, behind and under his counters, and in front, but inside the building. He continued long in the business in Hillsboro, but his family all scattered off to other local- ities, and none now live even in this county.

Another of the early mercantile establish- ments of Hillsboro was that of Charles Holmes. He opened his first stock of goods in a log house where Union Block now stands. about 1832 or 1833. John S. Hayward, from Boston, became a partner. Mr. Tillson was also a silent partner for a time. About 1842, they dissolved, and Holmes and Tillson re- tired. Holmes went to St. Louis, amassed a

fortune and died there. Tillson had embar- rassed himself in his land speculations, and with him Mr. Hayward. The crash of 1837 had paralyzed all enterprises, and the hold- ing and paying taxes on land became burden- some. Hayward by some means released himself from his entanglements with Mr. Tillson, and, seeing his way clear, and, by years of residence in Illinois, became satis- fied that lands would eventually be valuable, he sold out his store and engaged in land agencies. He commenced the purchase of the lands held by Eastern land companies at very low figures, and, through his friends in the East, was enabled to hold them until the real prosperity returned, when he sold them at advanced prices, re-invested his funds and finally became very wealthy. He was a dis- creet man, public-spirited, and took an active part in securing the railroad to Hillsboro. Somewhat late in life, he married Miss Har- riet F. Comstock, a daughter of Deacon Com- stock, of whom Mr. Rountree, in his remin- iscences, relates the following incident:

Deacon Comstock had an exceptionally long nose, and, having the end of his nose skinned on one occasion, he applied a circu- lar piece of black court plaster to it. While officiating in church one day in that condi- tion, he saw on the floor what he thought was the court plaster, and, picking it up, moist- ened it and placed it upon his nose, quietly took his seat and engaged in pious meditation. But smiles and nudges, nods and winks all around him convinced him that his neighbors were otherwise engaged. All of his pious frowns and dignity could not reduce them to order. Merriment and fun had possessed them, even of his own large, well-trained family. He was horrified and shocked at their ill-timed levity. But his daughter pointed to the end of his nose, where he had placed what he took to be court plaster, but

J Bowers Lave

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY of ILLINOIS

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what was really the ticket of one of the "Coates' Spools," which, in beautiful gilt letters, was "warranted 200 yards," and which, being placed upon the end of a very long nose, seemed to the congregation to be peculiarly applicable. The good Deacon was never able to escape the joke as long as he lived.

Other merchants came to Hillsboro and opened stores, but to follow them in detail would be tedious. Other branches of busi- ness. in the meantime, were established in the town. Hotels were built and accommo- dations for "man and beast" offered to the wayfaring man who came along. We have already alluded to the taverns built by Jack- son and Rutledge. Mr. Rountree says of the latter: "His was the first old-fashioned tav- ern sign we ever saw, embodying, as it did, a large tiger on a white ground, surrounded by his name and occupation. His, as well as Mr. Jackson's, were houses of entertainment, and not houses for the sale of liquors, though they both came under the same law. Any one who kept a grocery for the sale of liquor was compelled to take out a tavern-keeper's license, ranging from $5 to $20, and were under bonds to keep sufficient room and bed- ding for the entertainment of at least two persons, with sufficient provender and sta- bling for their horses. It was optional with them whether they sold liquors, and, though they may have kept them for the use of their guests, we cannot remember ever to have heard of them selling otherwise than in a pri- vate way." Other taverns were opened by enterprising people in the new town.

Hillsboro flourished in a moderate, old-fogy way, growing slowly but somewhat surely. Merchants, mechanics, etc., came in and gave the town a healthy impetus. Among the ear- liest citizens were mechanics, who proved ex- cellent citizens. Nussman, the first inhabit-

ant, was a wagon-maker, and also established a distillery in an early day. The distillation of whisky then was not a disreputable busi- ness, as it is now; neither was the drinking of it so strongly condemned. Indeed, it was deemed essential in a new country like this was. His distillery was carried on for some time, when it gave place to a tan-yard, a business more honorable, if less profitable. Joseph Miller carried on a tan-yard also, as one of the very early industries of Hillsboro. Jacob Wilson was one of the earliest shoe- makers, and used to go from house to house, making up shoes for the entire family. John Slater was another of the pioneer shoemakers. So was Deacon Alexander Scott. The fol- lowing incident is related of the good Dea- con's wife. She survived him some years, and, when near her end, but still able to be around, she had a dream so vivid and life-like that she accepted it as an omen, and prepared herself accordingly. She dreamed that her husband came to her, not as he left her, an old man, but young and handsome as when he visited her as a lover, and told her he wanted them to be married early in October. This she accepted as an omen that she would then depart and be again united to him. She visited her friends for the last time, as she maintained, made all her perparations, and, when all was done, she sickened, and, early in October, she died, having steadily refused all remedies looking to her recovery. This ro- mance was so contrary to her natural dispo- sition that she firmly believed that the spirit of her husband had warned her of her ap- proaching dissolution.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 27

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