USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 22
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Game, as in other parts of the county, was very plenty. It seems buffalo and elk once had their habitation herc, as many of their bones and horns were seen by the early set- tlers, strewn over the prairies and through the forests. Wolves were very numerous, though seldom doing violence to human beings; yet no one cared to risk himself at night among them without some sort of protection. There is but one instance in the county where a man was attacked by them, and that was Daniel Troy of Bethel, who returning late with a quarter of beef, was forced to give it up and to beat a hasty retreat to protect himself.
Thomas Boycourt was one of the most dis- tinguished hunters in the precinct while re- siding on Section 34. His eagle eye allowed no deer or wild turkey to escape when once his trusty rifle was leveled upon it.
The early amusement of the young people
was principally dancing. An old settler tells us, notwithstanding the dancers had a rough puncheon floor and no better beverage to en- liven their spirits than home-made whisky, sweetened with maple sugar, yet it is doubt- ful if the anniversary of American Indepen- dence was ever celebrated in the State by more joyful and harmonious gatherings than those who danced the scamper down, double- shuffle, Western swing and half-moon, in the frontier-cabins of our carly settlers, here in the county.
Newmansville was laid out in 1858, by Mr. WV. Newman, who built a blacksmith shop and rented it to Thomas Joyce ; he after- wards sold it to Alexander Robinson, who has been in active business ever since. A wagon shop is also connected with the blacksmith shop, where considerable repairing is done in that line.
Thomas P. Way built the first and present store building, and did a good business for three years, when he sold out to Pilcher and Murphy, who continued the business for seven or eight years, when they sold out and moved to Chandlerville. The store then changed hands very frequently for several years, or till 1881, when the present occupant, J. S. Struble, purchased the stock, and has since been doing a fair business for an inland country trade. There are six residences in the village.
The post office is generally kept by the party in business. The office was first known as Higley, and since changed to Newmansville.
The first doctors in Newmansville were Kilburn Hathwell and James Galloway. As the country began to settle, Dr. Logan came in 1857, and has continued in active practice till within a few years; his health failing him, he was compelled to give up the greater por- tion of his ride. A young physician, Charles Matthew, has been practicing for the past four years with very good results.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
The M. E. Church, known as the Oregon Chapel, was first organized in 1848, by the following persons, holding class and prayer meetings at the residence of John S. Boy- court, Joseph Allison, R. Robinson, Amos R. Garner, John and Joseph Allison, Jr., James Wyatt, and James R. Garner. These men were the first movers in the Christian cause which has developed into the strength and prosperity of the present church. The Soci- ety for a time held its meetings at the resi- dences of the different members. In 1S55 the Oregon school-house was built, and after that the Society held their meetings there, Brother I. Groves being the first minister, who preached two years. The Society continued to hold their regular Sabbath services at the school-house for fifteen years. During this time the church was aroused, and the community, awakened by some soul-stirring revivals, Brother Geo. Wolfe in one winter drew about thirty converts to the church by his zealous preaching. Brother Warfield several years after brought the community to a sense of Christian duty by pointing out the wicked- ness and careless neglect of the world. Many were brought to Christ and drawn into the safe confines of the church. Many other re- vivals, says Brother Allison, have been held, though not so enthusiastic and full of interest, yet great good has been done.
In 1869 or 1870 Joseph Allison gave to the society a lot for a church, upon which the present edifice was built at an expense of $1,500. The building committee were J. M. Wyatt, H. Monroe, Wm. Watkins, and Wm. Garner. The first trustees were: John M. Wyatt, Charles Deadorf, Samuel Hitchey, Wm. Garner, Hooker Monroe. Rev. P. Lyons was the first pastor after the church was com- pleted. The present pastor is Rev. George Fower. Present Trustees, Joseph Allison, Wm. Garner, M. Arthurbury, Win. Watkins and Mary Wyatt.
A Sunday school has always been kept up in connection with the church. The first superintendent was John S. Boycourt ; he began with twenty-five scholars, and now the school has more than double the original number. W. S. Garner, John M. Wyatt and Samuel Hinchey, have had charge of the Sab- bath school as superintendents most of the time since the time of J. S. Boycourt.
The church has never been without a regular pastor since it was built. The mem- bers are earnest in the work, and can boast of sixty-seven active members.
Newmansville M. E. Church society was first organized at the residence of Bartlet Conyers, a resident of Menard County, living just across the line. In the spring of 1829, Rev. David Carter preached at his cabin, which was the first meeting and preaching in that community ; the following families were present : David Williams and wife, Joseph Regsdell and wife, and Mr. Conyers and wife. That constituted the nucleus around which the early religious interest clustered. Rev. Mr. Carter resided in the county and visited the neighborhood often on his pious mission. The first circuit ministers were Revs. McKane and Benson.
In 1840, the Church Society united with the community in general, built a school house with the understanding that it should be used for church purposes as well as school. In 1855, the society built their present church, where they have held regular Sabbath services ever since.
Peter Cartwright was the first presiding el- der. The church is progressive, and has a mem- bership of sixty, with a flourishing Sabbath school of nearly the same number.
The school house known as the Quebec school, was built about the year 1840, by Messrs. Mathews, Garner, Carver and Wood. Previous to the building of this school house, the children of the community were much
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
neglected, as they were compelled to walk from three to five miles, a distance that would exhaust both mind and body, and a pupil could do but little in applying the mind after such a distance had been traveled. Some of the first scholars were William, Martha and David Crews, Nancy Carver, Charles Carver, Henry, Jerry, and Katie Sherrer. Wm. Pal- lett and Miss D. Major, were among the first teachers. The school has been in active operation ever since, employing the best teachers, and a high grade of studies are usually taught.
The Oregon school house was built in 1855. This was a good work, from which much edu- cational fruit has been realized. The first teacher was Jefferson Boycourt, and some of the first scholars were Ellen and James Rob- inson, Amos Wilson, Martha Wyatt, Mary Boycourt. This school is among the most progressive of the precinet
Let knowledge grow from more to morc. But more of reverence in us dwell, That mind and soul, according well, May make one music as before, But vaster. TENNYSON.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER XX .*
HICKORY PRECINCT - PHYSICAL FEATURES - FIRST SETTLEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT GROWTH-PROGRESS OF INDUSTRIES AND IMPROVEMENTS -- CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
"THIS precinct in almost every respect is su- perior to any other in the county. Its fertile soil, valuable timber, winding streams and beautiful lakes, cannot fail to be appre- ciated by the most indifferent or sluggish mind. Its garden-landscape, spreading out from the river till its undulating folds lap over the feet of the hills, which stand like martial sentinels guarding the plumed fields that di- versify the bosom of that extended scope, is a scene of which the eye can never tire. San- gamon river, that deep, swift stream, winding along its northern border; Clear Lake and various gorges or chasms which are eut deep- - ly into the soil, disclosing perpendicular em- bankments, furnish abundant material upon which the hand of art in future years may labor. Each lake, cach stream, each hill and vale, will be in time associated with some . event around which the fairy fingers of hal- lowed recollections will entwine the sweet flowers of other years. Even at this carly day local names spring up from surrounding events, names that will live when those per- sons associated with them, have long since passed into oblivion. Other names will come, as time sweeps onward, and for the pleasure and satisfaction of those who live in the future, these, and the circumstances which gave them birth, must be carefully recorded.
" The sweet remembrance of the just, Like a green root revives and bears A train of blessings for his heirs When dying nature sleeps in dust."
A greater portion of Hickory Precinet is made up of bottom land, the Sangamon River forming its northern boundary, and from which on each side a broad strip of deep, rich and sandy soil extends. This is the best and most productive farm land in the county; all kinds of grain and all manner of fruit that the climate of Illinois will permit to grow, flourish here in rich and luxuriant abundance; ex- treme seasons, whether wet or dry, do not seem to affect the yield of grain or the abun- dance of fruit; it is land that never fails, or, at least, never has failed, to produce a grain crop since the first settler touched his plow to its virgin soil. " It is a land that flows with milk and honey."
The early settlers feared these bottoms; many, looking for land and homes, passed by and settled on farms that by years of cult- ure, and with thousands of dollars worth of improvements, to-day is not worth one-half as much per acre as the bottom land without fences and unimproved, which they could have purchased for less money. They feared the ague floods, and fevers, and would not ex- pose themselves and families to such supposed dangers. The land which they could have purchased for $1.25 per acre, now sells readi- ly for $100 per acre.
The upland, of which the Southern portion of the precinet is composed, is very hilly and broken. It is largely used for pasture lands, as there is comparatively but little that can be conveniently cultivated. There is con- siderable timber over this broken territory.
*By J. L. Nichols.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
It formerly was found only along the streams and ravines that wind around among the hills, but of later years it has been gradually creep- ing up the sides of those miniature mountains, until their bald heads have become completely covered with a young and rapid growth of of timber. There is also some good timber found in the northwestern corner of the pre- cinet, on the banks of the Sangamon.
Many small ravines have furrowed broad and deep channels through the soil in their course to the river. There are no streams, however, that continue to flow the year round except in very extraordinary wet seasons.
Job's Creek, passing through the North- eastern corner of the precinct, is, in some seasons of the year, a very extraordinary stream. It empties into a small chain of lakes which in places are never less than sev- eral fathoms in depth. In high water this miniature river almost becomes a Niagara, roaring, rushing and sweeping everything be- fore it.
The first settlers that dare risk life and health on the sickly bottoms of the Sangamon, of which there was so much dread, were John Baker, Amos Hager, John Carr with his sons Elish, Peter, William, Benjamin, Jeremiah and Divid, and John Wagner, a son-in-law of Mr. Carr's; of these, John Baker was the first, and probably came as early as 1823. Mr. Hager and Mr. Carr and family came sometime during the year of 1824. Mr. Baker settled on the land now owned by Thomas Knapp, and Mr. Carr and family on the site of what is now called the Brick Cor- ners. S. Richardson, Solomon Penny and I. Revis came about 1827, Mr. Richardson oc- cupying the land now known as the Frederick Bower farm, and Mr. Penny settling on the land now owned by Richard Tink. Of all of these there is but one living, Mr. James Carr, who resides in Fulton County. There are
but two grandsons of John Carr remaining in the precinct, David and Dallas Carr. These are the sons of David Carr, Sen., who married Miss Julia A. Wells, who is still living, as al- most the only representative of the early set- tlers of Hickory Precinct. She at present resides in Chandlerville, and to her we are in- debted for much of the early history that is connected with the first settlement of the precinct.
In 1828 and 1829 the following families were added to the scattering community: Daniel Wells, Robert Ivers, Widow Stuart and Benjamin Horrom. Mr. Wells came with nine sons and one daughter, and settled three miles West of Hickory.
The first settlers were compelled to go to Jacksonville for their mail, groceries, etc., till Thomas Pogne and Augustus Knapp started a small store at Beardstown. When Mr. Daniel Wells came to Beardstown, in 1828, Thomas Beard was keeping a hotel in a small log cabin. Mr. Wells came up the Illinois river in the steamer known as the Dewitt Clin- ton the first trip she ever made. The settlers that were on the bottoms during the deep snow were John Baker, Amos Hager, I. Revis, Solomon Penny, S. Richardson, Daniel Wells, John Carr, John Wagner, Jeremiah Bowen, William Scott, Michael Pearson and a Mr. Anderson.
During the autumn of 1830, previous to the big snow, wild fruit was very abundant; plums, berries, and grapes have never seemed so plenty since. Wild bees were numerous and honey very plenty; bees seemed to flour- ish in a wild state better than they have later years. The bottoms were then, during the summer months, but a vast and unbroken ocean of beautiful flowers, whose sweetness were ample to the wants of the buzzing mil- lions which fed upon them.
There was much suffering during the win- ter of the big snow; it was impossible to
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reach mills, towns, or any place where provis- ions and clothing could be procured. Many families had no greater luxuries for months than eracked and boiled corn, with now and then a little venison. Deer during that winter became very poor, and so reduced by hunger that they entered the yards of the settlers in search of hay and scattering husks. At this time there was no nearer mill than Salem; people found it very difficult and tedious to to travel that distance, and a Mr. Street, tak- ing in the situation, put up a horse mill about half way between Hickory and the present site of Virginia, and did an immense business, running night and day year after year. Farm- ers, in order to secure their turn in time to re- turn the same day, often would start at mid- night, or even before, and remain nearly all day at the mill before they could secure their grist.
In the fall of 1834, the first subscription school was organized, and taught by B. F. Nelson in a vacated log cabin on the premises of David Carr, Sen. Early in the autumn Mr. Nelson made his appearance in the settle- ment, and solicited the privilege of getting up a school. Mr. Carr gladly gave him the use of the cabin above mentioned, and fur- thermore, agreed to board him while engaged in the mission of teaching. He was a man of prepossessing appearance, a scholar and a gentleman, but after getting nicely initiated into the work, he was found to be a man decidely wanting in energy and industry, and at times beastly intemperate, and in no way fitted to stimulate the morals and minds of his pupils. But as no other teacher could be secured, he was tolerated, with a fair at- tendance of scholars, till sometime in the last of February or the first of March, when, by gross negleet, he left the fire in such condi- tion when leaving the building that it caught fire and burned up, thus bringing the school very suddenly to a close.
The cabin was located within a few rods of the present residence of Jacob Houke. Some of the scholars that attended this were: John Wells, Harvey, Elizabeth and Nancy Carr, Eliza Ann Turner, Philora Willis, John Hager, Jacob Monroe, David Wagner, Peter Wag- ner, and the boys of Win. Cole. The second school that was taught in the preeinet, was on the premises of Wm. Cole, who built a small cabin, especially for that purpose, and freely donated its use to any one qualified and willing to teach. Qualification then and now were deeidely two different things. At that day any one that had the mechanical skill to cut out and trim up a quill pen, and read and figure interest, was considered well qualified if he had the musele necessary for applying the rod or ruler. The first teacher that availed himself of Mr. Cole's generous offer was Carlatan Logan, who, in the winter of 1836, taught a very good and satisfactory school. Some of the scholars that attended this school were C. Bowen, Ruth and Mar- garet Bowen, Jacob Pearson, Sallie and Austin Seott, William and Naomi Revis, Mary Jane Briar, children of W. Cole, and Carrie and Oliver Carr. The school was well attended, and many others attended, whose names cannot be recalled.
About 1840, a log school-house was ereeted at Hickory, David Carr, Sen., giving the land upon which it was built. A Mr. James Grant was among the first teachers. He, taking his bitters a little too frequently, which often got the better of him, was the greatest objection that the community had against him.
In 1857, a wooden frame building was raised near the site of the old log house, where school was continued till the present neat and convenient brick building was com- pleted. It is nicely finished, seated and painted, and is said to be one of the nicest country school-buildings in the county. It was begun and completed in 1881, and cost
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
81,200. The committee that had the plan- ning and building in charge was made up of David Carr, Jr., William Taylor and Andrew Schaad; they being the directors elect, were considered competent without official instruc- tion to design and complete the work.
Previous to the building of the present brick, L. U. Revis taught some five years in succession. He was considered among the best and most active teachers that ever taught in the district. He is a man now well known over the entire United States, as the author and able advocate of moving the national capital to St. Louis, and those who have read his speeches and pamphlets on. that subject cannot but be impressed with the weighty and forcible logic of his arguments.
The district was formerly much larger than at the present time. In 1860 or 1861, the voters began to talk about replacing the old build- ing with a new one, but the northern portion of the district objected unless the new build- ing was so placed that it divided more evenly the distance between the northern and south- ern portions of the district ; this was refused, and the northern part of the original district seceded and built a school-house for them- selves, where they have been very progres- sive and earnest in keeping up a lively inter- est in their school. This school is known as the Secession school, a term synonymous with its origin. There is one other school in the precinct, which is known as the Cotton Wood school. This is situated in the west- ern part of the precinct, on section 11, and is among one of the progressive schools of the county. Hickory school pays the largest salary to teachers. The directors there pay from $40 to $60 per month. The people are fast realizing that a few dollars per month in a teacher's salary is not at all to be considered or compared to a poor school in the hands of a cheap teacher.
There are a few facts of more than ordinary
interest connected with the history of the precinet, facts that will stand associated with the names of the great actors that gave them birth, when the marble and bronze upon which their epitaphs are lettered and their names engraved, have crumbled and been de- faced.
Stephen A. Douglas, the great American orator and statesman, made his first publie speech in Hickory Precinct, under a walnut tree, long since dead and removed. The little American giant and the giant of the forest alike have yielded to the withering touch of time and decay, and passed away. Several years ago the old walnut died, and Gen. Lippincott in his deep veneration for the the name of the great American champion, purchased the tree, had it made into furniture and canes. The latter he presented to bis friends, and they are now carried in almost every State of the Union, and will be treas- ured by father and son for generations to come as relics of priceless value. Gen. John J. Harding, who was killed in the Mexican War, lost his eye on the Sangamon Bottoms, in Hickory Precinct, while pursuing a deer. Col. E. D. Baker, who lead the Union forces across the Potomac at Ball's Bluff, and died so nobly in defending the flag of his country, the man who, if he had lived, would have risen to have smothered treason in the very birth-place of liberty, often hunted on the bottoms of the precinet, coming annually for years to pursue the chase, and rest from the fatiguing and confining labors of his extensive law practice. But he is gone, and died the death of a patriot.
"To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late, And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods.'
In the broad bottom of the Sangamon river,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
the solitary settlers in the early days of their pioneer struggles, rejoiced to hear the early messengers of God proclaim the glad tidings of great joy, or wept at the story of Pilate, the crown of thorns and the agonies of Gol- gotha and Calvary. It is a fact highly com- mendable to the early settlers of Hickory Precinct, that with all their trials incident to settlement in a new and undeveloped country, nought but hardships and poorly compensated labor to weary and burden the mind, they did not forget nor forsake their God, the source of all life, light and happiness.
On the fifth Sabbath of July, 1848, we find a few Christian families assembled about five rods east of the present residence of Robert Taylor, under a temperary shelter made by setting a few posts into the ground and hast- ily covered with brush. The services were conducted by Rev. Daniel Bell, who was then residing in Mason County, at Bath or there- abouts, and being aspecial and intimate friend of Mr. Morgan, then a renter on the premises where the meetings were held, and having a vacation about that time, he was induced by him to come and preach to a few families un- der the circumstances above mentioned. After continuing the meetings about one week, and finding so much religious interest manifested, it was thought advisable to continue the meet- ings and secure additional clerical assistance. Revs. James White, then residing on a farm at Clary's Grove, and Nathan Downing, of Virginia, were then sent for, and in the mean- time the place of meeting was moved to or near the present site of the Cumberland Pres- byterian Church building, in a grove (since cut away). A stand was prepared between two native cherry trees, for the ministers, and rude seats arranged under the cooling canopy of leaves, for the audience. These meetings continued about three weeks in this beautiful grove, people gathering from far and near to hear God's glorious truth proclaimed amid the
hymns of praise that in the open air were wafted heavenward in a loud chorus of re- joicing voices.
"The groves were God's first temples." These meetings were, no doubt, the most interesting ever held along the Sangamon bottoms; about sixty souls were converted and added to the believing followers of Christ.
In August, 1848, a session was convened for the purpose of completing the organiza- tion of the church, consisting of Revs. Down- ing and White, and Lachlin McNeil, Elder of Mount Pleasant church, and opportunity being given to join the Cumberland Presby- terian Church, the following members came foward and gave a relation of their experi- mental acquaintance with the religion of Jesus Christ, which was considered satisfac- tory, and they were received as members of the church, viz : Thomas Wilson, George, William, Charles, Elizabeth and Ellen Briar, Susan, Mary Jane and Cyrus Horrom, Win. Cook, Thomas Montgomery, James Fairon, Thomas and Ann Cooper, Emeline Anderson, Elizabeth Richardson, Hannah Capper, Su- sannah Harrington, Mary Carr, Sarah Horn, Angeline Torry, Manelis More, an 1 J. Cook. These after being duly enrolled, were soon af. terward baptized by the Rev. N. H. Dow- ning. The church also received the following by experience: John Horrom, James Briar, Mary Briar, Joseph Cook, Sidney Ann B iar, Mary Briar, Janet Taylor, Eliza Canby and Wright Gill, all of whom had been previously baptized.
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