USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 45
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 45
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These visits were discontinued about the year 1830, and since that period no Indians have been seen in the northern part of Mont- gomery County. We have no data from which to give an exact statement, as to either the time the first settlement of the township was made or the individuals who made it. It is known, however, that a man by the name of Robert Palmer settled near the site of the present village of Zanesville, where he kept a hotel as early as the year 1824. His place was a stopping-point for travelers, on the road leading from Springfield to Vandalia, being one of the first public houses in the county. Palmer proved to be a notorious gambler, blackleg and a very bad character generally. His house was a rendezvous of a gang of thieves and rowdies as bad as himself, and the place became noted throughout the country as a dangerous locality. Several daring rob- beries having been committed in the neigh- boring towns and settlements, and the evi- dence being very plain against Palmer as the perpetrator, he left the country rather uncere- moniously and fled for parts unknown. It was afterward ascertained that he went to Iowa, where he was arrested for complicity in a brutal murder, convicted and hanged. So much for the first pioneer of Zanesville. Several transient settlers located in the vi- cinity of Palmer's tavern shortly after it was erected, but none of them appear to have taken up land or in any way improve the country. The next actual settler of whom we could learn anything definite was one George Brewer, who entered the land where Zanesville Village now stands, which he laid off into town lots about the year 1828. Through his efforts, a post office was estab- lished, which, together with the town, was
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
called Leesburg. after Robert E. Lee, a wholesale merchant of St. Louis, in whose name the land was entered. Brewer appears to have been a man of considerable public spirit, and, seeing an opportunity, as he sup- posed, of making a fortune in the town which could not help but grow, expended quite an amount of money in various improvements, among which was a good-sized store building. This building was stocked with a miscella- neous assortment of merchandise, purchased at the house of Lee in St. Louis, from which place it was transported in wagons, a distance of about seventy-five miles. Soon other par- ties, attracted by the promising opening which the village presented, or by the fertile lands in the vicinity, came in, and, by the year 1830, there was a thrifty and enterprising community on the high road to prosperity. The town grew apace; lots were sold rapidly at good round sums; shops of various kinds were established; a school was organized, other storerooms erected, and business of all kinds increased to such an extent that the village at one time was considered the second place of importance in the county. In the year 1829, a settlement was made in the south- west corner of the township by immigrants from the South, among whom can be named Isaac Bailey, James Crawford, Thomas Will- iams and Zebedee Williams. These were all men of consequence in the early settlement of the township, and left the impress of their characters on their descendants, many of whom still reside in the community which their ancestors founded.
A prominent settler in the same locality was Robert Allen, who came in a little later, and who, for a number of years, appears to have been a leading and respected citizen of the township. Between the years 1835 and 1840, Beatty Burke, George Burroughs. Dores D. Shumway and a man by the name
of Chastine entered and improved lands near the village of Zanesville. Those early pio- neers are all dead or have moved to other lo- calities, as the writer was unable to learn any facts concerning them in his canvass for in- formation among the old settlers of the town- ship. From 1840 to 1848, a settlement was made around the head of Shoal Creek and a number of farms improved. The principal men connected with this settlement were Wal- ker Williams, Elgin Smith, Jeff Parrott and Moses Martin, all of whom had formerly re- sided in the South. Among other prominent settlers were Joseph Vignos, a Frenchman, who located near the central part of the town- ship: Dr. Caldwell, one of the earliest phy- sicians of Zanesville, and S. Smitherman, a noted farmer and stock-raiser, who purchased land near the village, all three of whom are still living. The northeastern portion of the township has been settled more recently, yet in point of progress and improvements it is behind no other locality, and, in many re- spects, is far superior to some. Since the year 1848, the settlements in different parts of the township have been so simultaneous that a mention of names of early settlers en- titled to a notice in these pages would trans- cend the limits of our space. Suffice it to say, however, that they are justly entitled to all the honors accorded them as founders of a community which occupies a prominent place in the galaxy of townships forming Montgomery County. There was a regularly laid out road through Zanesville Township as early as the year 1830, known as the Jack- sonville & Vandalia road, as it connected those two places. It is still traveled, and its direction, though slightly devious, is on the whole pretty direct, the general course being northwest and southeast, and differing but little from the original route. Another early road which was pretty generally traveled was
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ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
the one leading from Carlinville to Taylor- barrassed on account of various speculations, sold the mill to S. Smitherman and Clark Sin- clair, in the year 1873, and since that time from some cause unknown to the writer, the machinery has stood idle, much to the regret of the farmers of the surrounding country. ville. Its course through this township was from northeast to southwest, though its di- rection has been greatly changed of late years, and it is no longer the important thor- oughfare that it was during the early days of the county. Among other early established The first election in the township, of which we have any reliable record, was held in the year 1835, when George Brewer and James Crawford were chosen Justices of the Peace, offices which they held uninterruptedly for several consecutive years. Stephen Craw- ford. son of James Crawford, was the first white child born in Zanesville, the date of his birth being the 13th of No- vember, 1831, the same night of the great meteoric display known as the falling stars. The early educational history of the township is somewhat vague and disjointed, although sufficient information has been gleaned " to warrant the assumption that schools were not established until several years had elapsed from the date of the first settlements. We highways were the St. Louis road, which passed through the township in a northwest- erly direction ; the Girard road, which crossed through the western part of the township, from north to south, and the Zanesville & Litchfield road, connecting these two points an ! running in a southeasterly direction from the former place. There are many other roads traversing the township and intersect- ing each other at different points, but, like other roads of the county, are deserving of no particular description. Among the pioneer industries of Zanesville was the little horse-mill erected by Edward Crawford, in the western part, about the year 1838. This primitive mill was the only one aside from the present mill at the town of Zanesville , of the present day with our pleasantly lo- ever erected in the township. and. for a num- ber of years, was operated almost constantly in order to supply the demands of the neigh- bors for flour and meal. It was torn down several years ago, and at present there re- mains no vestige to mark the spot it formerly occupied. The Zanesville Mill was built in the year 1869, by Messrs. Sharpe. Johnson & Berry, at a cost of $16,000. It is operated by steam, has three run of buhrs, and, when kept running all the time, can grind about 100 barrels of flour per day. From 1869 to 1872, it did an enormous amount of custom and merchant work, and returned to the pro- prietors a large per cent on the capital in- vested. Johnson sold his interest to Samuel Caldwell in 1872, who in turn, disposed of the same to Sharpe & Berry the same year. The latter parties becoming financially em- cated common schools, normal institutes and colleges, can scarce realize the vast difference, when even scenes depicted in that popular and much-perused work, "The Hoosier Schoolmaster," would have been looked upon as a wonderful advancement toward what might now be termed the extra vagances of a higher education. For several years after the advance guard of the early pioneers who made Zanesville what it is to-day, first came into this part of the country, schools and in- tellectual training were thought of only as adjuncts of that civilization which they had left behind-things to be desired but hardly to be hoped for. It was for some time simply a question of keeping body and soul to- gether by laborions toil, and the hardships endured in procuring the bare necessities of life, precluded the possibility of looking far
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
for intellectual improvement. But as the farm lands broadened, the little settlements grew more numerous, and the labors of the inhabitants had, by the favor of a kind Provi- dence, placed them beyond immediate want, they bethought themselves of their duty to their little ones, and schools were established. The names of the early teachers cannot be given with that accuracy which we term re- liable, although it is generally conceded that the first pedagogne was Henry Mayer, who taught in the southern part of the township about the year 1833.
This school was attended by about fifteen children, and, like all early schools, was sup- ported by subscription, the teacher being compelled to collect the tuition fees. The first schoolhouse was built by Edward Craw- ford and others in the southwest corner of the township. The land on which the build- ing stood was afterward entered and the house lost before it was occupied as desig- nated. Another house was built of logs the same year, on Section 26, in which the school already mentioned was taught. The second term was taught near the village of Zanes- ville by a teacher whose name was not learned. In educational matters at present, Zanesville is not behind her sister townships of the county, as is proved by the presence of six neat frame schoolhouses, furnished with all the modern improvements. Teachers skilled in their profession are the only ones em- ployed by the efficient School Board. The term lasts eight months of the year, and gen- erally begins the first Monday in October.
Among the early pioneers of Zanesville were many persons in whom the fear of God was a predominant element and their relig- ious duties were at no time neglected. The first public services were conducted by the veteran pioneer preacher, Elder James Street, at the residence of Jacob Baker, about the
year 1830. The first church was a society of the United Baptists, which was organized at the head of Shoal Creek, where the organiza- tion is still maintained. They have a sub- stantial temple of worship, a progressive mem- bership and are doing much good in the com- innnity where the church is located. The disciples or Christians organized a church a number of years ago, which is still a promi- nent society, numbering among its members some of the leading and substantial citizens of the country. A very handsome and com- modious house, situated in the southeastern part of the township, serves the congregation as a place of worship. The Methodists main- tained a flourishing organization at the vil- lage of Zanesville for a number of years, but the society was finally merged into churches at other points, and at present there is no class at that place. The village of Zanes- ville, to which we have already referred in the opening of this chapter, is situated in the northwest corner of the township, about two and a half miles.east of the county line, and is but a mere shadow of its former self. During the early years of the county. it was a prominent business point, a reputation it sustained uutil the year 1869, at which time there were four large stores, all doing a good business, one grocery, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, two hotels, cooper shop and two plague spots in the shape of whisky sa- loons. Among the merchants who did busi- ness here at different times were the follow- ing: Harvey Madison. Joseph Vignos, - Sharpe, William Street, Joseph Booth, James Little, John McNiel, John Hamilton & Son and Emert & Son. The earliest physicians in the place were George Mayfield, J. W. Wheeler and G. W. Caldwell, the last named being still in the village. Strong efforts were made by the citizens of the village and surrounding country to induce the Wabash
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ZANESVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Railway Company to run their road through the town, but without avail. The road was built two and a half miles west, and, together with the growing town of Litchfield, proved a death blow to the business interest of Zanes- ville, as it began to wane from that tinie. The merchants moved their stores to more eligible places, shops were closed, mechanics sought more remunerative fields of labor and a general decay fastened itself upon the once prosperous village. The post office was taken away in the year 1881. George Hamilton was the last Postmaster.
The business of the place at present is represented by one small grocery store and a blacksmith shop. What few buildings re- main are old, time-worn and present a very dejected appearance, and the time is not far in the future when the village is destined to disappear entirely. Several incidents of tragic nature have transpired at this town at different times during its history, two of which are worthy of mention. In the year 1853, Andrew Nash and a man by the name of Lockerman had an altercation brought on by the too free use of whisky, during which the former stabbed the latter in a very brutal manner. Lockerman died immediately, and Nash, becoming alarmed, fled the country. Detectives were placed on his track, and suc- ceeded, after several weeks' diligent search, in finding him in Arkansas, where he was ar- rested, brought back to Carlinville, tried and sentenced to be hanged. A petition was put in circulation by his friends, praying the Governor to commute the sentence to impris- onment for life, which was accordingly done,
but before the prisoner was made aware of this step in his behalf, a mob, or rather the appear- ance of a mob, gathered about the jail one night, which so frightened the poor fellow, that, rather than fall in to their hands, he hanged himself with a sheet, which had been twisted into a rope and made fast to a beam overhead.
Dr. Mayfield and a man by the name of Hardy had been enemies for a number of years, and the former took occasion to insult the latter whenever they chanced to be thrown together. They met one day in the highroad, and, as usual, Mayfield threw out some of his taunts, which provoked several spirited re- plies from Hardy, whereupon the former alighted from his buggy and gave Hardy a sound horse-whipping. A few days after- ward, while the latter was passing the hotel. Mayfield came out of the house and com- manded him to halt: he was told to mind his own business, which answer so exasperated the Doctor that he drew a revolver and fired. some say directly at Hardy, while others con- tend that the shot was only for the purpose of frightening him. Hardy stepped around a corner of the building, drew out an old-fash- ioned horse pistol, with which he had armed himself, came back and fired directly at his enemy, the shot taking effect in his side. Mayfield returned the fire with two shots, neither of which took effect, and then fell. He was carried into the hotel, where he ex- pired within a very short time. Hardy was arrested, tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense. This occurred in the year 1854.
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXIV .*
WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP-TERRITORY EMBRACED-SOIL AND TIMBER-CROPS-FIRST SETTLE- MENTS-SCHOOLS-ELECTIONS-FIRST MARRIAGE-RELIGION, ETC.
"The verdant fields are covered o'er with growing grain,
And white men till the soil, the soil
Where once the red man used to reign."
W ALSHVILLE is situated in the richest and best portion of Montgomery County, and was one of the first townships settled by white men.
Its territory was formerly embraced by Bond County, from which it was separated when the division was made in 18 -. It is bounded on the north by South Litchfield Township, on the east by Grisham Township and a part of Bond County, on the south by Bond County and Silver Creek Township of Madison Conn- ty, and on the west by Staunton Township of Macoupin County. Its length and breadth are each about six miles, and it contains thirty-six square miles of territory, or 23,040 acres. Its principal system of drainage is through one of the forks of Shoal Creek, which flows along its eastern boundary and into which many streams of minor importance, having their sources within the township, empty.
The configuration is good, being, in the greater part, a beautiful prairie land, sufficient- ly undulating to present a very pleasing ap- pearance. Numerous groves are to be seen at intervals, which relieve the monotony of the prairie to such an extent that many persons, on seeing it for the first time, do not hesitate in pronouncing Walshville the most beautiful part of the entire county. The soil is rich, deep and fertile, and in places where it has been cultivated for at least sixty years, is still very
productive. When first seen by the white man, the surface was clothed with a luxurious growth of tall, waving prairie grass, which af- forded rich pasturage for numerous herds of deer, buffalo and antelope. There were, also, thick growths of timber in certain localities, consisting principally of cottonwood, hickory, elm. walnut, maple, oak, and other varieties in- digenous to the southern part of Illinois.
Among the timber was a luxuriant growth of underbrush and vines of various kinds that rendered traveling through the wooded por- tions extremely difficult. The majority of the first settlers located in the timber skirting the various water-courses, and in time the greater part of the woodland disappeared before the pioneer's ax. The dense undergrowth has also been cleared away, and the woods that now re- main present a striking contrast to the forests of long ago, as the space among the trees is beautifully sodded over in many places with a thick covering of blue grass. The best wooded districts are in the eastern and southern parts. Stretching away from Shoal Creek westward, is a broad expanse of prairie, dotted here and there with artificial groves of more recent growth.
These groves, owing to the genial atmosphere and rich soil, grow very rapidly, and within a few years after setting out, the trees are suffi- ciently large to be sawn into timber or used for fuel.
The leading occupation of this section is agriculture, although considerable attention is given by certain parties to stock raising, and in the near future this industry promises to be
*By G. N. Berry.
William Matson
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY of ILLINOIS
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WALSHVILLE TOWNSHIP.
quite extensive, as certain localities seem peculiarly adapted to it, there being plenty of rieh pasturage and stock water in abundance.
At present, however, it is to the different crops that the majority of the people look for their chief support. The soil appears to be particularly adapted to corn and wheat, al- though all the other cereals, common to this latitude, are here raised in abundance. Fruit, many varieties and excellent flavor, are to be found growing in almost every orchard. The pioneer's attention was early called to fruit culture, and many old orchards, that have been bearing for years, are to be seen in various parts of the township.
The first line of settlements in the southern part of the county extended from the western limits of Walshville, eastward through Gris- ham to the central part of East Fork, all of which were made about the same time, or with a few years intervening.
Single families at first came, then in groups of three or four, locating at different places in the same locality, until soon the prairie was thickly dotted with pioneer dwellings. Soon school- houses were built, churches organized, mills erected, in fact the foundation of that civiliza- tion which makes this part of the State noted abroad was laid. This remarkable develop- ment has been brought about within a com- paratively short time, for looking back through the vista of sixty years, these broad, fertile prairies and productive fields were the grazing- places of numerous herds of the wild denizens of the plains and the camping-ground of the hostile savage. Now the rich soil is every- where broken, woods have fallen, pleasant drives, well-tilled fields, beautiful orchards and delightful homes cheeker the view, speak- ing volumes for the enterprise and energy which characterizes the citizens of this town- ship. The first white inhabitants of Walsh- ville were Nicholas Voiles and family. Voiles moved here from his home in North Carolina
in the year 1818, and built his log cabin on the farm now owned by George Webster, about one and a half miles northeast of the village of Walshville. He improved this place and made it his home until the year 1826, when he sold it and moved to Schuyler Connty.
About the same time, Melcher Fogleman, a strong-handed, warm-hearted German, made his appearance and entered the piece of land adjoining that on which Voiles settled. His house was erected close to a large spring among the hills skirting Shoal Creek. This spring was the nucleus around which several other families clustered, and for a number of years was the only water supply for the little community.
Fogleman was a blacksmith, and it was here that the first shop in the township was erected. A son was born while the family resided in this locality. This was the first birth in the township and one of the first in the county. This son is still living, near Litchfield, and is one of the highly respected citizens of the community in which he resides. The next family of which we have any knowledge was that of William Stevens, a son-in-law of Voiles. He came from North Carolina, also, but did not purchase or enter land in the township, being but a temporary resident for about two years, when he moved to Shelby County. Elias Baker took a claim in Section 25 in the fall of 1819. His son, James, came with him and assisted in opening the farm for cultiva- tion.
In about one year the old gentleman became dissatisfied with the new country, and went back to the hills of his native Georgia, where he died two years later.
James resided on the place his father settled for a number of years, an honored and re- spected eitizen. The place is at present owned by John Kirkland, who has made it one of the best farms in the township. Austin Grisham came to the State when it was a territory, and
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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.
settled in what is now Bond County in 1816. Four years later, he moved farther north and entered a piece of land where his son, James Grisham, now lives, in Walshville Township. This place is in Section 24, near the southern part. Here his family lived for a number of years, with no neighbors nearer than four miles. The country surrounding their little home was a wilderness infested by wolves, which proved very destructive to their stock.
Different members of the family took their turns in watching the pig-pens at night, but despite all their precautions, many a fat porker was killed, and several calves more or less in- jured by these gaunt scourges of the prairie. The Pottawatomie Indians had a camping-place in what is now known as Kirkland's Grove, near Grisham's residence, which they visited every year for the purpose of hunting. These Indians were not troublesome, although they would carry off a pig occasionally, when a favorable opportunity presented itself. They discontinued their incursions into this part of the county a few years after the first settle- ments were made, and save a few scattered bands, none have been seen since 1825. Gris- ham died in 1852 at the advanced age of eighty- two years. His son, James, of whom a biogra- phy appears elsewhere in this work, is the oldest settler living in the township.
Prominent among the early settlers of Walsh- ville who came prior to the year 1821 was James Jordan, a Baptist preacher. He moved here from Indiana in 1820, and entered a tract of land in Section 28, which he at once began to improve. He was one of the first preachers of the county, and a most exemplary man. It was at his residence that the first religious serv- ices in the township were held, shortly after he came into the little settlement. He sold his land to Jonathan Voiles, in 1825, and moved in- to what is now Grisham Township. The place is now owned by Jacob Lindley. Several rep- resentatives of the Jordan family reside in
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