History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 39

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 39
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 39

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).

C. C. Root has a saw-mill in operation in the southern part of the township, which is doing a large and paying business. There have been several portable mills in the township at vari- ous times, but none of them did business on a very extensive scale. They have all been re- moved, and, at the present time, there are but the two mills already mentioned in operation in this section of the county.

The stock business, breeding, raising and shipping stock, receives considerable attention from the citizens of East Fork, and a number of large farms are to be seen where large herds of fine cattle and sheep are kept.

Prominent among those who make the stock business a specialty are J. B. McDavid, William H. Wilson and Thomas II. Wilson. McDavid owns one of the most extensive tracts of land in the county, there being in his farm over one thousand acres. Here can be seen some very fine cattle that have been bought and reared with no little expense.

The farm of W. II. Wilson contains nine

hundred and twenty acres of choice land, which is well stocked. Thomas H. Wilson owns some six hundred and forty acres of land in the best part of the township, and has some very fine breeds of cattle and sheep. The first stock-markets were reached by driving the cattle overland to St. Louis, but the presence of railroads in the county brings the market nearer home. The first roads through East Fork were probably better than the early roads in any other part of the county, as there are but few hills to cross and little woods to go through. The township is now well supplied with good roads passing through it or along its boundaries.

The oldest road through the township is the Vandalia and Hillsboro road, which connects those two places, and is one of the most im- portant highways in the county. It intersects the eastern boundary of the township at a point about one mile and a half southeast of Hillsboro, and passes through the township in a south- easterly direction. Its course varies but little till within a couple of miles from the line which separates the township from Fillmore, where it bears southward for a short distance. The Hills- boro and Fillmore road passes through the northern part of the township from east to west, and is one of the early roads of the county. It was laid out in the year 1823, and established in 1827. Among the first roads laid out in the township was the Irving road which runs through the western part from north to south. It intersects the Fillmore and Hillsboro road at right angles, about one-half mile from the Irving line and the Vandalia and Hillsboro road at McDavid's Point in the southern part of the township. The Hillsboro and Greenville road runs in a southerly direction from Hills- boro and forms part of the boundary between East Fork and Grisham Townships. These roads are all kept in good condition. and are among the best highways in the country. Many roads of minor importance traverse the

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township in different directions and intersect each other at various points, but they are known by no particular names.

The early pioneers of East Fork were a moral and religious people as is evidenced in the fact of a church being established as far back as the year 1830. The Bethel Regular Baptist Church dates its organization from this year, though there had been religious services held at ditferent places in the township several years previous to that time, The first sermon was preached by Elder James Street, in a pri- vate dwelling house. He was assisted in the services by Ekler Jordan, and together they organized the church already named some time afterward.

The first meetings of this church were held in private dwellings of the members in cold and inelement weather, and in the groves, "God's first temples," when the weather would admit of out-door services. Among the first mem- bers of this church were the following : Eleanore Freeman, Mary Goodwin, James Card, Mr. and Mrs. Colbert Blair, not one of whom is now living. James Street was the first pastor, in which capacity he acted for about twenty-five years. He was succeeded by Elder Larkin Craig, of Kentucky, who ministered unto the church for a period of about forty years. Craig was a fine pulpit orator and a man of more than ordinary vitality and energy. HIe would frequently travel twenty-five miles on Saturday, preach Saturday night, Sunday morning, afternoon and evening, and be at home in time to do the greater part of a day's work the following Monday. Elder Scars assisted Craig for several years, preaching in the latter's absence.

Willis Dodson had charge of the church for five years. He was succeeded by Elder Peter Long, who preached for the congregation a long time. The present pastor, A. J. Williford, has been preaching for the church during the last twenty years. The house in which the church

was organized belonged to Elisha Freeman, and stood in the southeast part of the town- ship. This was the principal place of worship for about ten years. The first church edifice was built of logs and stood one mile north of the place where the church was organized. It served as a place of worship about six years, when the organization was moved farther west and the meeting place changed to a little school- house on Shoal Creek. The congregation met at this place until the year 1855, at which time the building in which they now worship, was erected. This house stands on an acre of ground which was donated the church by Samuel Brockman. The house was remodeled in the year 1880, and is a very pleasant and comfortable house of worship. The church has decreased somewhat in membership through deaths and removals, having at present only about thirty names on the books. The Presbyterians organized a society in the year 1833, under the auspices of Revs. Joel Knight and John Barber. The original membership was about ten or twelve in number, mostly from other churches in the county. Their first building was of logs, and stood on Section 4, in the northern part of the township. For a number of years public services were conduct- ed at this place, but the organization was finally abandoned or moved to some other place. Nothing definite concerning this church could be learned.

The Methodists have an organization in the southern part of the township, where for years a faithful band of Christians have met to wor- ship. This church is no longer the stronghold that it used to be, many of the members hav- ing died and many moved to distant places.

The writer was unable to obtain any facts or data concerning this society, and much to his regret was obliged to pass it by with the fore- going brief notice.

The Presbyterians organized a society, known as the McDavid's Point Cumberland Presbyte- R

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rian Church, in the year 1857. The organiza- tion was brought about by the labors of Revs. Joel Knight and Joseph Bone.

The records of the church give the names of ten persons as constituting the original mem- bership, most of them being from the church at Donnellson. We give some of their names as follows : William Linxwiler and wife, J. B. Mc- David and wife, Mrs. Elizabeth McDavid. Many of the best citizens from time to time been mem- bers of this church. The first building used for a place of worship was the schoolhouse, where the congregation met for almost three years. As the church increased in numbers, a larger house was required, and their present com. modions structure was erected in the year 1860. This building is 30x40 feet frame, and will com- fortably seat three hundred and fifty persons. It cost the sum of $2,000 and is one of the most comfortable and substantial church edifices in the county. It was dedicated in the year 1861, by Rev. J. B. Logan. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained in connection with the church, and like the congregation, is in splendid working order. Rev. J. B. Logan was the first pastor of the church. He was succeeded by L. P. Dutheridge, who ministered in the congre- gation for several years, and was in turn suc- ceeded by Rev. T. W. McDavid.

Revs. Daniel Bell, E. R. Jones and E. R. Rogers have preached for the church at different times, though not as regular pastors. At pres- ent the congregation is without a pastor. The Walnut Grove Free Methodist Church is located in the southern part of the township, and was organized in the spring of 1880 by F. H. Ash- croft, with a membership of twenty-nine.

For six months after the organization, all the publie services of the society were held in the barn and private dwelling of William Neal. The house in which the congregation now wor- ships was built in the fall of 1880. This is a very tastefully arranged little building, and cost about $600. The first sermon was preached in

the new house by Rev. E. Outlander. The first pastor of the church was Rev. C. A. Flemming. Present membership, about thirty ; services are held every Sabbath ; prayer-meetings every Wednesday evening. It is impossible to esti- mate the great good done by these religious so- cieties, in the communities where they are to be found. They have had a tendency to elevate the morals and strengthen the nobler instincts of life. Many viees have been shunned through their influence, and the result is an abundant harvest of pure lives. May the churches con- tinue their well-begun work until

" All crimes shall cease, and ancient frauds shall fail Returning justice lift aloft her scale,

Peace o'er the world her olive wand extend,

And white-robed innocence from Heaven descend."

The early school history of the township is almost wholly lost in the shadows of the past, and many dates and interesting incidents relat- ing thereto, have been forgotten long since, hence, we cannot hope to give it with perfect correctness. The first schoolhouse, as near as can be learned, was built in the year 1828, on Section 8. This was a diminutive log cabin, of the most primitive kind, no vestige of which re- mains to show the exact spot where it stood. One of the first schools was taught by Lewis Cass, in the year 1829. The house in which Cass wielded the birch stood near McDavid's Branch, and was similar in many respects to most of the schoolhouses of that day, having neither floor nor chimney. A log removed from the side of the building left a considerable open- ing, over which greased paper was pasted, thus affording a very fair substitute for a window. Fires were built in one end of the room, the smoke finding its way out through a large open- ing in the roof the best way it could. The fur- niture was of the simplest kind, consisting of a few benches made of hewed logs, and a broad writing-desk, fastened to the wall by means of several long pins. These early schools were all supported by subscription, and were attended by

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the children of the settlers from miles around. The first public sehool was taught by A. J. Williford, in a little house which stood near the county line. This school was taught in 1839, and lasted but three months. Michael Walker was one of the early teachers of East Fork, hav- ing taught a school in the western part of the township in the year 1830.

The first frame schoolhouse was built in 1843, on MeDavid's Branch. There are now seven good schoolhouses in the township, five of them frame and two brick. The school board is composed of the following gentlemen, viz., John Fath, W. S. Barry, A. C. Williams, Trustees ; George Linxwiler, Treasurer.

The East Fork Post Office was established in the year 1873, with S. H. Smith as Postmaster. This office was kept in Smith's store, in the western part of the township. It was diseon- tinned several years since.

The first store in the township was kept by a Mr. Coekerel, whose stoek of merchandise con- sisted of groceries, boots, shoes, dry goods and whisky. His place of business was in the southern part of the township, and was the scene of many knockdowns and riots, occa- sioned by a too free use of the fire-water. One evening a man stopped here, on his way, as he said, to Kentucky. He drank heavily, and did not take his departure until a late hour in the night. The next morning his dead body was found a short distance below, on which were marks indieating the fact that he had been choked to death. The supposition was that he had been followed, robbed and murdered by some unknown parties who had been on his track for the purpose. No elew to the mystery was ever found. The body was buried near the spot where it was found, according to the law of that day.

A man by name of Rutter was killed near this place in the year 1838, by a certain Jack

Wood. It seems that the two had some diffi- culty, during which Rutter became very abus- ive, and wanted to fight Wood. The latter tried to get away, and begged to be let alone, as he wanted no trouble. Rutter, however, would not be pacified, but continued to follow Wood up, and finally struek him. Wood re- turned the blow, and struck Rutter on the neck just below the car. The blow was fatal. Rut- ter dropped and died instantly. Nothing was ever done with Wood for the killing.

A part of the village of Donnellson lies in East Fork. though none of the original plat of the town. There is one good store here kept by R. C. Clark, whose stoek of merchandise represents a capital of several thousand dollars. M. N. Allen keeps an agri- cultural store in connection with his blacksmith shop, and is doing a very fair business.

Over Clark's storeroom is a nice, commodious Hall, where Lodge No. 255, A., F. & A. M., holds its meetings. This lodge was established Octo- ber 8, 1858, by Most Worshipful Master Harri- son Dill, with a membership of seven. Their names are as follows : William Gordon, M. S. Davenport, J. C. Hanner, P. S. Davenport, Casba Hawkins, Tipton Cox and James II. Moss. The first officers were : William Gordon, W. M .; M. S. Davenport, S. W .; J. C. Hanner, J. W. The hall was built in the year 1861. Present officers of the Lodge are : M. N. Allen, W. M .; R. C. Clark, S. W .; F. W. Kummell, J. W .; J. D. Casy, S. D .; H. S. Hanner, J. D .; B. F. McLain, Sec .; William Williams, Treas .; Henry Walkerline, Tiler. Present membership, 35. At one time, this was one of the strongest lodges in the county, but of late years the membership has decreased to a considerable ex- tent.

Several granges and farmers' clubs have been organized throughout the township, but at present there are none in existence,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIX*

FILLMORE TOWNSHIP-BOUNDARIES-FIRST GROWTH-PIONEERS-MILLS -- SCHOOLS- CHURCHES, ETC.

" To the West, to the West. there is wealth to be ' its source in Section 10, and flows in a south- won ;

The prairie to break is the work to be done-

We'll try it, we'll do it, and never despair

While there's light in the sunshine and breath in the air ;

The bold independence that labor shall buy, Shall strengthen our hands and forbid us to sigh. Away, far away, let us hope for the best, And build up new homes in the land of the West." -Mackay.

TI THE great rapidity with which certain portions of the Western States have been explored, mapped out and settled, and the numerous changes that have been made by bringing the vast fertile prairies, but a few years ago the roving grounds of savage In- dians and vast herds of deer and buffalo, into cultivation, furnishing happy homes for hun- dreds of the restless population of the South and East, have excited the wonder and admi- ration of the entire country. Especially is this true of that portion of Montgomery County to which this chapter is devoted; al- though settled in a very early day, it is, com- paratively speaking. a new country. Fill- more is situated in the southeastern part of the county, and extends from Witt Township on the north to Bond County on the south, a distance of ten miles. Shelby and Fayette Counties form its eastern, while East Fork Township forais its western boundary. It is drained chiefly by the East Fork of Shoal Creek, a stream of some size, flowing in a southerly direction, near the western part.

A stream of considerable importance has

easterly direction, draining that part of the township. Hurricane Creek and Dry Fork are the principal water-courses in the south- ern portion, and along which the first settle- ments of the county were made. The surface is undulating and gently rolling in the north- ern half, while along the course of Shoal Creek the land is more broken, being consid- erably hilly in some localities. The soil like that of the greater part of the county, is a rich, dark loam, sand mixed in certain places near the streams, and very fertile. Clay un- derlies a great deal of the surface, making it easily drained. Gravel beds and sand banks of considerable extent are found in the vicin- ity of Shoal Creek and other water-courses, sufficient for building roads and all other practical purposes. The southern part was at one time covered with a dense growth of deciduous timber, among which was a very large proportion of walnut, maple, oak, hick- ory and other valuable varieties. Much of this was used for rails, and destroyed by the early settlers in clearing their lands, as they then had no adequate idea of its value. Some years since, many thousand feet of black wal- nut were exported annually, besides immense quantities of oak, maple and sycamore lum- ber. There is still a good supply left, which, by judicious management, will supply all de- mands for lumber for many years to come.

The forest productions in Fillmore are not excelled in quantity or quality by any other township in Montgomery County.

* By G. A. For v.

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FILLMORE TOWNSHIP.

The principal crops to which the farmer looks for his maintenance are wheat, to which the soil seems peculiarly adapted; corn, rye, oats, hay, vegetables, fruits-in short, all the productions common to Southern Illinois.

The first settlements in what is now known as Fillmore Township were made by a small band of pioneers from the State of Kentucky, as early as the year 1817. The previous year had been spent by them within the present limits of Bond County, although at that time there were no civil divisions, Illinois being a Territory.

Being considerably harassed by Indians, they were compelled to fortify, which they did by building a block-house, where the en- tire company took refuge. Several attacks were made at different times on this fort, but so obstinately was it defended by the brave little garrison that the savages, finding they could accomplish nothing by their hostility, finally withdrew, and gave the settlers no fur- ther trouble. Parties from this little settle- ment passed through the southern part of the present township of Fillmore in one of their hunting excursions, and, being favorably im- pressed with the appearance of a tract of land on Hurricane Creek, induced the company to locate there, which they did in the spring of 1817. This was the first settlement by white men in Montgomery County. Among this little band of pioneers were Harris Revis, Henry Hill. Levi Casey, Aaron Casey, John Lee, and a number of others whose names have faded from memory. Their little cabins were built in a group around a large spring, from which each family obtained its supply of water. The Indians at that time had un- disputed sway, but caused the settlers no an- noyance after they located in this locality. Bears and wolves infested the woods in great numbers, proving very destructive to the live stock, which had to be closely watched to in-

sure safety. It required will, nerve and a determined resolution to successfully grapple with the many serious obstacles presented; yet, despite all the hardships and trials through which they were called to pass, the pioneers flourished and were happy. As time passed, the different members of the little community selected the lands destined for their future homes.

Revis located his claim on Dry Fork Creek, near the southeast corner of the township. where he lived until the year 1840, at which time he died. Several grandchildren are liv- ing in Fillmore and adjoining townships. Henry Hill entered a piece of land adjoining that on which Revis settled.

Both of these places are now owned by Samuel Hill, a grandson of Henry Hill, and one of the well-to-do citizens of Fillmore.

John Hill improved a farm in the vicinity, which is still in the possession of his descend- ants.

Levi Casey settled on the place since known as the Briggs farm. He sold the place in 1837, and, with his family, moved to Shelby County, where he afterward died.

Aaron Casey, a son-in-law of Revis, settled on a part of the Samuel Hill farm, which was his home for twenty-three years. A por- tion of this place was improved by John Lee, also, who purchased it about one year after its settlement by Revis. Joseph Wright was one of the little community. The place which was selected for his home is now owned by his son, Jarrett Wright, a prominent citizen of the township. A part of the Wright farm was improved by Henry Piatt, who came to the State in the year 1818. He was an up- right, honorable man, and one of the leading citizens in the community. He became the possessor of a considerable tract of land, and a number of his grandchildren are now liv. ing in the county. One of the most promi-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

nent pioneers of Fillmore, and one who did as much, if not more, than any other man to advance its material interests, was Newton Coffee, father of Cleveland S. Coffee. Iden- tified with the early history of the county, his life demands more than a mere passing no- tice. He was born among the hills of Ken- tucky, where were passed his youth and early manhood in those rugged out-door pursuits which so well fitted him for a pioneer. When he came to Illinois, the terrritoy now embraced in Montgomery County was a wilderness, into which but few white men had penetrated. The one small settlement already referred to was the only spot within its borders cheered by the presence of civilization, and of this little community he had no knowledge until nearly one year passed away. He built a little cabin in the timber near the Bond County line, and lived there for several years, with no neighbors nearer than eight miles. This was in the fall of 1817. After locating his place here, he went farther north and en- tered the land where Hillsboro now stands, twenty acres of which he afterward donated for the county seat. He died in the year 1849, at a good old age. The place where he settled lies in Section 18, South Fillmore, and is at present owned by his son, Cleveland S. Coffee. A number of early settlers locat- ed in the vicinity of the Coffee farm in 1819 and 1820, among whom were Easton Whitten, Colbert Blair, Thomas Beck and Stephen White. They were all Kentuckians. Whit- ten bought a tract of land on Dry Fork, which he improved the year after coming to the State. The place is now in possession of his son, Thomas Whitten. Beck settled an eighty-acre lot lying just north of Coffee's farm. This comprises the early settlement of the southern part of the township, as far as we have been able to learn its history. Other early settlers there probably were whose

names properly belong to the foregoing list, but in our research we have been unable to obtain any particulars concerning them. The northern part of the township was settled by emigrants from Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, but it was a number of years after the settlements already referred to were made. Among the first to locate and improve farms in North Fillmore were James Card, T. J. Todd, John Alexander and M. Mason.

The oldest settler now living in the county is Cleveland S. Coffey. He was fifteen years of age when his father came to this part of the State, and for sixty-five years has been a res- ident of Fillmore Township. Ile is still a vigorous man for his years, and in possession of all his mental faculties. The writer will always remember the pleasant hours passed under the hospitable roof of this stanch old pioneer while gleaning the facts of history contained in these pages.

For many years during the early history of this section of the country, the lives of the pioneers were not enviable ones. Their trials were numerous, and the hardships they were called upon to encounter would discourage the bravest-hearted of the present day. Hard as was the life in the wilderness, it had its seasons of recreation, when the pioneers would meet, recount various incidents, talk over old times, and thus relieve the monotony of their iso- lated situation. Light hearts, good health and clear consciences made the toilsome hours pass pleasantly, and old men now living whose youth was passed amid the stirring scenes of those times look back with pleasure to the old days as the most enjoyable period of their existence. The nearest market where grocer- ies could be obtained was St. Louis, then but a mere village, fifty-five miles distant. Flour and meal were obtained at Pad's Mill, about ten miles nearer. Many of the early families manufactured their own meal. Cleveland Cof-

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 39

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