History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 51

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 51
USA > Illinois > Bond County > History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois > Part 51

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).

413

PITMAN TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER XXX .*

PITMAN TOWNSHIP-POSITION AND BOUNDARIES-PHYSICAL FEATURES-PRODUCTIONS-SETTLE- MENT OF THE WHITES-EARLY MILLS-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- SECRET SOCIETIES-ROBBERY, ETC.

PITMAN was originally included in the territory of Harvel Township, from which it was separated and formed into a distinet division in the year 18 . Lying in the north- western part of Montgomery, it is surrounded on the east, north and south by the townships of Harvel, Bois D'Arc and Zanesville respect- ively, while Macoupin County forms its west- ern boundary. It was named in honor of J. HI. Pitman, a prominent citizen and one of the chief movers in its organization. Viewed from a topographical, geological or agricultural standpoint, it is so very similar to other town- ships already described as to render it unneces- sary to enter into minute details. The surface in the main consists of fine prairie land, snf- ficiently undulating to present a very pleasing prospect to the observer, while the soil is of the black loamy nature, common to this part of the State, and noted for its richness, depth and fer- tility.

The tributaries of Maconpin Creek, a stream which flows along the western boundary in the adjoining county, are the only water-courses in the township. But little native timber is left standing, although at one time there were several strips of woodland in the southern and southwestern parts.

Realizing the necessity of timber, the set- tlers, as soon as their farms were broken, turned their attention to its cultivation, and in many places throughout the township are now to be seen artificial groves of considerable extent and beauty. The varieties of timber most com-

monly found growing in these groves, are the different species of maple, ash, walnut, hickory and cottonwood, all of which grow rapidly, and attain to considerable size in a few years after planting. The agricultural productions of Pitman, like those in all parts of Mont- gomery County, comprise the cereals usually grown in this latitude-corn, flax, vegetables of all kinds and varieties, while the cultivation of fruits receives great attention and has acquired considerable importance as an industry. The early history of Pitman is similar to that of many other townships of the county, and its experience has been the experience of all early settlements, with all the exciting scenes and deprivations of pioneer life, and the gradual unfolding and development of a community complete in its organization, and rich in the high elements of domestic, social and religious life.

The pioneer moves into the new country with his few household goods around him, and rises a king and conqueror. Here he erects his altar, builds his house, breaks the prairie or levels the forest; calls down the sunlight to thrill with life the sleeping soil and adorn its surface with the bloom of vegetable life, while Nature in her loveliness matures and yields to him her ripening fruit, the richest treasures of her bosom. Here is laid the key- stone in the arch of a new social structure, above which are to cluster and unfold all the elements of a high civilization. Hence we see the importance of collecting in successive order all the scenes and events of a communi-

* By G. N. Berry.

414

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ty's growth, from its earliest settlement-its first germ-to its full organization, and its most recent form, together with the influences, local characteristics, and other combinations that may have modified or directed its de- velopment. Thus we are enabled to grasp the science that underlies and governs its life-a science that should be perpetuated in imperish- able records to our children and our children's children.

The earliest settler in Pitman of whom we have any record was a man by the name of Denton, who made the first entry of land in the year 1822, on the farm now owned and occupied by John Husband. He lived in this place until the year 1830, at which time he died, his death being the first that occurred in the township. John Haines came here about the same time that Denton made his appear- ance, and entered land in the western part of the township, near the Macoupin County line. The above are the only settlers of Pitman of whom any account could be obtained prior to the year 1829, although there are vestiges of several old buildings to be seen which afforded shelter and temporary homes for a number of squatters who moved farther west as the coun- try became more thickly populated. John L. Rogers was one of the first permanent settlers of Pittman, having come to this part of the State about the year 1829, and entered a tract of land in the western part of the township, in Section 30. His enterprise was here aus- picious, not only in fitting land for cultiva- tion, but also in erecting a small grist-inill on his place near the county line, thus becoming a pioneer in mill building as well as in farm- ing. Rogers died in the year 1852, having reached the good old age of seventy-two years. He had three sons and two daughters, all of whom are living in the State. The old Rogers farm is at present owned by Theodore Rogers, a son of the preceding, and a prominent Meth- odist preacher of Central Illinois.

Davis Bagby was a resident of Pitman as early as the year 1832, having come here in company with his father-in-law, Miller Woods, both of whom located in the south- west corner of the township. The place where Woods first settled is now owned by William Hackney. Bagby subsequently purchased a piece of land in Section 19, where he lived until the year 1865, when he died, lamented by all who knew him. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, having served his country faithfully throughout that memorable struggle. Another prominent pioneer was D. G. Whitehorn, at present the oldest living settler in Pitman Township. The date of his arrival in this part of the State was the year 1831. He lo- cated a farm in Section 18, where for fifty-one years he has lived a prominent and upright citizen. In the year 1834, he was married to Catharine Bagby, daughter of Davis Bagby, being the first marriage that took place in the township.

George Wagoner was prominently connected with the early history of the Township, and can be named among its pioneer settlers. He moved here from Kentucky about the year 18-, and secured a piece of land in Section 29, which is still in the possession of his fami- ly. Ilis death occurred in the year 1864. Frederick Hamilton was an early settler also, having entered land in the western part of the township about the year 1833. Ilis death, which occurred two years later, is the second event of that kind that transpired in Pitman.

Subsequently there appear the names of Za- dok Leach, William King, Tazewell Brown, Flower Ilusband, William Hamilton and L. C. Richardson, all of whom came from States farther south and settled in the territory of Pitman between the years 1837 and 1840. The place where Leach settled is at present in possession of the Wagoner heirs. King sold his farm to a man by the name of Young, and moved to Christian County, where he died

415

PITMAN TOWNSHIP.

several years ago. Brown entered land lying in the west-central part of the township, where his widow still lives. L. C. Richardson, who, next to Whitehorn, is the oldest resident of Pitman, selected as his home a piece of land lying in Section 30, on which he still re- sides, surrounded by the comforts and con- veniences which he has accumulated by a life of industry and economy.

There are other names connected with the early history of the township aside from those already enumerated, which we were unable to learn. In the old burying ground at Sulphur Springs, where the hardy and energetic pio- neers are sleeping in their last resting-place, can be seen many of the names mentioned in these pages, while others, who were as promi- nently identified with the township's history, lie in graves unmarked by the simplest epi- taph. Those carly pioneers were men of sterling integrity, high moral worth, and emi- nent in all those virtues which make men great. Though their bodies have moldered back to Mother Earth, they are not dead. The body may die ; a good example will live for- ever. They have gone to

"Join the choir invisible, of those immortal dead who five again

In minds made better by their presence; five

In pulses stirred to generosity;

In deeds of daring rectitude; in scorn

Of miserable ains that end with seif;

In thoughts that pierce the night fike stars,

And with their mild persistence urge men's minds To better issues."

The inconveniences of the first settlers, though probably not comparable with those experienced by pioneers in older sections of the country, were still of such magnitude that we of the present can form but an approxi- mate idea of their realities. A very great inconvenience felt among them was the want of a mill to grind their corn and grain. the nearest being in Butler Grove and Hillsboro Townships. During the winter season, when

the deep snows precluded the possibility of traveling over the trackless prairies, the set- tlers manufactured their own meal by grinding or rather cracking corn in common coffee mills. Other contrivances were improvised : One method very much in vogue was to make a rude mortar by hollowing out the top of a stump. Sometimes this was done by boring or chiseling, but it was frequently burned out and the cavity scraped with a knife or other instrument until all the charred spots were re- moved. In this cavity the corn was placed and pounded with a heavy, rude pestle at- tached to a swing-pole overhead. The bruised corn was known by the name of " samp," and when pounded was made into "johnny cake," the coarser part being boiled into " mush." The first mill in the township was erected by J. L. Rogers for his individual use. It was a very primitive affair, operated by horse-power, and ground very slowly, but made a fair article of meal. It was much used in after years by the settlers in grinding corn for horse feed. A second mill was built by Flower Husband on his farm about one-half a mile south of the Rogers place, in the year 1840. This mill was operated by horse-power also, and it seems to have done a very good busi- ness, as it was kept running quite extensively for ten years. David Plane built and operated a little mill just across the line in Macoupin County about the year 1850, and for several years supplied breadstuff's to the people of the adjoining townships.

A number of the first settlers had been men of influence and education in their old homes, and did not neglect the intellectual culture of their children after locating in the new country, and schools were at onee established. The first schools were kept across the line in the little settlement in Macoupin County, and were attended by the youth of this township for sev- eral years. The first school in Pitman was taught by William McIver in a little frame

416

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

building erected for the purpose and known as the Friendship Schoolhouse. The date of this school was about the year 1854. The second school was taught by Bluford Pillsbury the fol- lowing year. William King, Edwin Rogers and a Miss Harris were among the early teach- ers of the township. The first house in which a public school was taught is situated in the west-central part of the township, and is still used for educational purposes. The first pub- lic school was taught by a Mr. Ware about the year 1858, as near as could be ascertained. Generally speaking, the progress of the public schools here as elsewhere throughout the coun- try has been of a most remarkable and satis- factory character. The primitive, ill-ventilated and unhealthy log shanties have given place to neat and commodious frame structures, while the former teachers, of whom many were pos- sessed of but indifferent scholastic attainments, and would now be considered far from compe- tent, have been supplanted through the means of the normal institutes and model schools, which the liberal-mindedness of our law-makers has given us with those who are a credit to the present system and the State which supports it.

John L. Rogers was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Pitman, an office he filled with ability for two years. He was elected in the year 1840 ; John Snow was chosen Constable at the same election. The Justices of the Peace, at present, are William Woods and Richards. The first birth mentioned as having occurred in the township was that of Mary Rogers, daughter of John L. Rogers, who was horn in the year 1832. The first cemetery was laid out near the Providence M. E. Church in the year 1862, and the first person interred therein was a man by the name of Newell, who died the same year. The early pioneers of Pitman found ample time amid their other dnties to discharge those higher and holier ob- ligations which they owed their Creator, the majority of them being devoted church mem-

bers and sincere Christians. The Methodists had a flourishing church at a place called Sul- phur Springs in Macoupin County, as early as the year 1840, which was attended by the resi- dents of western Pitman for a number of years. The organization was moved into this township in the year 1851, and the name changed to the Providence M. E. Church. The Friendship Schoolhouse was nsed as a place of worship by the congregation until the year 1864, when the present church edifice was built. This building cost the sum of $1,500, is of frame, and will comfortably seat 275 persons. At the time the organization was moved from Maconpin County, it was presided over by Rev. James Hutchinson, and numbered fifty members. Since then, the number has de- creased somewhat, there being at present but forty names on the church records. Among the pastors of this society can be named the following : -- Sample, David Bardrick, George Craig, llenry Wilson, Adam Wagoner, L. L. Harlan, -- Prettyman, O. H. P. Ash, James West, A. T. Orr and - Sloan. The present incumbent is the Rev. A. D. Beckhart. Their Sunday school, which is in good condition and well attended, is under the superintendeney of S. R. Rice. This church is one of the points in the Millwood Circuit.

The Missionary Baptists have a strong organi- zation near the central part of the township on Section 28, known as the Prairie Grove Church. though at what time it was organized was not learned. Their building, which is the finest church edifice in the township was erected in the year 1880 at a cost of about $2,500. The present membership of this church is about fifty.

The Prairie Chapel M. E. Church is situated near the northeast corner of the township in Section 12, and was organized in the year 1879. Their house of worship, a neat frame building, was erected the same year, and cost in the neighborhood of $2,200. There are now on the church books the names of about fifty members,

417

PITMAN TOWNSHIP.

and the congregation is reported in a flourish- ing condition. It is a point in the Raymond Circuit, and is at present ministered to by Rev. A. D. Beckhart.

At one time there were several granges of the Patrons of Husbandry in successful operation in this township, only one of which is in exist- ence at present. Washington Grange, No. 970, was instituted in the spring of 1874, with a membership of twenty-seven. The present membership is about seventy, among whom are many of the foremost farmers of the township. Their meetings are held in the East Union Schoolhouse, situated in Section 19. The offi- cers of this lodge at present are R. N. Long, W. M. ; S. R. Rice, W. O .; William Howland Steward ; Edwin Grimes, Gate-Keeper ; H. G. Wagoner, Treasurer ; Jasper Street, Secretary; Mollie Howland, Ceres ; Mollie Bowman, As- sistant Steward ; Miss Street, Flora. We will conclude this brief sketch of Pitman with the following account of a very daring robbery, which took place in the year 1881, at the resi-

dence of Enoch Perrine, who lives in the north- western part of the township. Perrine is a prominent stock-dealer, and is known to have carried large sums of money on his person. Shortly after making a heavy sale of stock, his house was visited one night by a party of three masked men, who forced an entrance into the same, and, after tying and gagging the differ- ent members of the family, searched the prem- ises, and carried away about $7,000, which Perrine had that day received. The members of the family were left tied, and in this help- less condition they remained till nearly morn- ing, when one of them succeeded in freeing himself. The rest were soon liberated, an alarm given and soon detectives were on the tracks of the robbers, one of whom was over- hauled in St. Louis, and the other two were captured shortly afterward in Chicago. They were brought to Hillsboro, tricd, convicted and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment in the penitentiary.

418

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXI .*

AUDUBON TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION-PHYSICAL FEATURES-WATER-COURSES -EARLY SETTLEMENT-FIRST BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE-THE LITTLES-EARLY CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS -THE OLD TOWN OF AUDUBON, ETC.

THE township of Audubon lies in the north- east corner of Montgomery County, and consists of two parts commonly known as North and South Audubon. North Audubon is made up of thirty-six sections, while the portion known as South Audubon is a fractional town- ship, containing only eighteen sections. It is bounded by Christian County on the north, by Shelby County on the east, by Fayette County on the south, and on the west by the townships of Witt and Nokomis. Most of the surface is level prairie land, though along the streams it is somewhat rough and broken. Originally, about one-fifth of the township was covered with timber, consisting of oak. ash, walnut, clin, hickory, etc. Much of this original tim- ber has, however, been cleared away. Through- out the township are numerous small water- courses, among the most important of which is Ramsey Creek, rising in the northeast corner of county, and, flowing in a southerly direction, unites with Elliott Creek, in the northwest corner of Section 14, in South Audubon. Car- ter's Branch has its source in a small lake in the southern part of Section 1, in South Audu- bon, and, flowing almost due south, unite with Otter Branch, and together, empty into Elliott Creek. Hooker's Branch rises in the north- west corner of Section 5, in South Audubon, and winds its tortnous course, first in a south- easterly direction, and then almost directly east, until after it has beeome a stream of consider- able size. It is given the name of Elliott Creek, and leaves the township at the southwest corner of Section 14. Caesar Creek flows

through the western part of South Audubon. The soil is of average futility, producing good crops of corn, wheat, oats, rye, etc. Consider- able fruit is also raised in this section.

Among the first white people who ventured to settle in this portion of Montgomery County was Thomas Hill. He came in about the year 1832 and located in the eastern part of the township. About the same time, Basil Hill and Joseph Davis came in and located a little west of Thomas IIill, near the central part of the township. James Card came in about 1833 and settled in the central part. In 1834, the most important settlement was made by a colony of emigrants who came from the State of Massachusetts. They laid off the town of Audubon a short time after their arrival. Prominent among these were Isaac Hinkley, Robert Little, Otis Little and William Pike, who entered large tracts of land. and for some time farmed very extensively. They all have descendants living here at present, and Robert Little is now the largest land-owner in Audu- bon Township. The first settler in what is known as North Audubon, was Thomas Price, who came in in 1831 and located on Section 36. The first white child born in North Audu- bon was John Henry Price, son of Thomas 'Price, who was born in 1832, and Amanda Price, daughter of Thomas Price, who died about this time (1832), was the first death. The first Justice of the Peace in North Audu- bon was M. S. Cushman, who was elected in 1836, and about the same time William H. Russell was elected Constable. Radford Vir- den came in 1832, and settled in the south-

>>By T. J. Riley.

419

AUDUBON TOWNSHIP.

eastern corner of the township. George Cot- tingham, another early settler, came about 1835, and located in the southwestern corner. He was soon after, in 1836, followed by Bailey Osborn, William Craig and William Cotting- ham, who located in the same neighborhood. Shipton Estes settled in the northeastern corner of South Audubon in 1843, and during the same year. William Orear, James Smith and William T. Slater located near him. At quite an early date, a number of wealthy set- tlers came in from Massachusetts, and entered large tracts of land. They built magnificent residences and farmed extensively, but after remaining a short time grew discouraged and sold out, disposing of their land at a price ranging from 30 to 60 cents an acre. The fine houses built by them, partially re- main, and though they have gone very much to decay, they still bear signs of their former grandenr. A part of one of these farms is that known at present as the " Old Blue Farm."

In 1846, William T. Slater was elected the first Justice of the Peace in South Audubon, and Elias Pearce the first Constable. The first two marriages occurred in 1845; John Slater to Miss Julia Coy, and Miss Isabel Slater prom- ised to " love, honor and obey " Dr. A. S. Van- deveer. The first birth was that of Sarah J., daughter of William and Elizabeth Orear, in 1843, and the first death was a daughter of Shipton and Margaret Estes.

Of the early schools of this township, but little can be said. They were of the usual primitive character, and the buildings were the ordinary log structures so common at an early day. The first house for school purposes was erected on Section 12 in South Audubon, in 1849, and was a log building, with a large fire- place and a stick chimney. The first teacher was Charles Turner, and his school was taught on the subscription plan.

The first church erected in this township was by the Unitarian denomination. The church was organized by the Rev. Mr. Huntington. and a house of worship was built in the spring of 1839. The second church in South Andu- bon was of the Baptist denomination. It was organized by Elder Samuel Rogers, a Baptist preacher, and the first church edifice was built in 1850.

The only village in this township is that of Audubon. As stated, it was laid out by a col- ony of emigrants from Massachusetts, in 1834. For some years after its settlement, it gave promise of becoming a town of considerable importance, and, at one time, competed with Hillsboro for the county seat. Hiram Holmes built and kept the first hotel. He also built the first mill, which at that time was considered a very extensive affair. M. S. Cushman and Samuel Patch were the first merchants, Isaac Hinkley was the first land agent and also the first Postmaster. Not long after the settle- ment of Audubon, a party of Eastern capital- ists came in and built a magnificent hotel. They were compelled to haul all of the mate- rial from St. Louis, and their poor facilities made it a very expensive undertaking. It was operated without success for several years, and was finally torn down and a farm house made of it. A court house was also erected here in an early day, but Hillsboro being chosen as the county seat, it was very little used and was finally sold to the Methodist denomination for a church, and is at present used as such. After a few short years of prosperity, the town grad- ually began to die. Merchants moved their business to other places, and the extensive town plat was slowly changed into farming land, until at present only three or four houses, a few ruins and numerous old wells remain to mark the place where the town onee stood.

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

PART II.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GREENVILLE CITY AND PRECINCT.

DR. WILLIAM A. ALLEN, one of the ' ville, was born in Dayton, Montgomery Co., most prominent physicians of Greenville, was | Ohio, in 1831, son of John and Mary (Bacon) born in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Ill., son of William and Mary (Killingsworth) Allen ; he a farmer, born at Knoxville, Tenn., in 1799. and dying in Hillsboro, Ill., in 1862; she also a native of Knoxville, born in 1824, and still living ; they were the parents of eleven children. Our subject, Dr. Allen, after his primary education was completed com- menced the study of medicine, finishing the same at the St. Louis Medical College, from which institution he graduated, when he be- gan the practice of his profession at Green- ville, in 1855, where he has continued in active and successful practice. He has filled the positions of member of City Council of Green- ville and member of the Board of Health, and served two years during the late war for the Union, as Assistant Surgeon of the Ninth Illi- nois Infantry. In 1860, he married Miss Millicent N. Blanchard, born in Greenville, daughter of Mr. L. Blanchard, of Stoughton, Mass., who came West about 1822; three children have been born to them-Victoria. Jessie and Ethel. He is a Congregationalist, a Mason, an A. O. U. W. and a Democrat.

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History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 51

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