USA > Illinois > Cass County > History of Cass county, Illinois > Part 8
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1868 .- March 4th, river open ; Schuyler first boat up. March 5, City of Pekin up. March 9, Beardstown up. March 10, Illinois up. July 7, Low water began; Schuyler's last trip down. July 13, Illinois' last trip down. November 15, river in good stage; Illinois began regular trips. December 4, snow six inches; thermometer 33º above. Belle Pike burst a cylinder; one life lost, one wounded. December 9, 4º below; river closed. Illinois last boat up. December 12, Mercury 10° below. The second week in this month was the coldest week ever experienced in this State, the mercury 26° below, Fahren- heit.
1869 .- January 1, weather warm. January
-
A:W ..
Charles Chandler
THE
NEV :OCK PUBLIC LE ARY Aster, Lanny and Ti den Foundations. 1909
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
6, river opened; Pekin up. April 2, river moderately high, and ferry-boat ran to Fred- eriek. River continued gradually to rise until August 3, when it reached its highest, being on State street, in Beardstown, within one foot of the level of Main street. The rainiest season ever known. River open to navigation until January 7, 1870.
1871 .- November 11, river closed, and re- mained closed all winter.
1873 .- January 28, coldest night ever known in this State. Early in the morning the thermometer stood 40° degrees below zero, Fahrenheit. Mercury congealed. Snow 16 inches deep.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER VI.
AGRICULTURE OF CASS COUNTY-FARMING IN THIE PRIMITIVE TIMES-IMPROVED FARM IMPLEMENTS-AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND ASSOCIATIONS-LISTS OF OFFICERS- CASS COUNTY PARK ASSOCIATION-ITS ORGANIZATION, ETC .- FINE STOCK OF THE COUNTY-SHORT HORN HERDS, ETC .- THE RAILROADS, ETC.
CASS County has the reputation of being a fine agricultural region, and indeed the larger portion of the county is as choice land as may be found in the State. Its claims to superiority are well founded. While some counties may show more of rich soil, and while other counties may be better adapted to some specialty, yet it is safe to say that there are few counties that can lay claim to all the advantages in climate, soil, water, timber and general health- fulness that are possessed in a great degree by this. While in some sections a certain specialty, may, with propriety, be claimed as peculiar, we believe that no county combines so many natural advantages. In some of the more northern counties we find perhaps larger crops of corn, and in some of the more south- ern, a greater amount of fruit; but these specialties, even in the localities named, are not a certain crop. The farmer's safest course is a diversity of products, and Cass County furnishes an example of soil and climate which makes it in an eminent degree fitted for such pursuits. For a number of years, the natural advantages of this region were scarcely appreciated, as the farming was car- ried on in such a manner as to obtain results far below those now realized. Better farm machinery, better methods of planting and cultivation, and the adoption of crops better suited to the soil, have wrought great changes. . In an especial manner is this true in regard
to methods of planting, cultivating, harvest- ing and taking care of products.
The way our fathers performed their farm- ing operations, is so little known to the present generation who depend mostly upon farm machinery, requiring the horses to do all the work which men, women and children formerly did, that a description of the olden way, gathered from conversations with some of the oldest farmers still living, can not prove otherwise than interesting to some of our young farmers of the present time. Just banish from the farm all such modern innova- tions as reapers, mowers, corn-planters, hay- rakes, threshing-machines, sulky-plows, riding corn-cultivators, and a slight conception can be formed of primitive farming facilities. To prepare the ground for planting corn it was plowed over with a wooden-mold board plow, which had to be cleaned every few rods with a paddle which hung to one of the handles ; it was then scratched over with a wooden-toothed harrow, after which it was "laid-off" both ways with the one-horse shovel-plow. It was then ready for planting. This was done by the boys, the women, children and men ; the smallest of the children dropping the grains of corn in the " crosses," where it was covered with hoes by the men and larger boys and women. After the planting, and when the corn had come up, then came the hoeing, now superseded by the improved cultivators. Plowing corn with the single-
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
shovel-plow, was common until a few years ago, but it has liad to take its place with the old spinning-wheel and loom, and they are now counted as relies of a past age. Cutting wheat, rye, oats and grass was formerly a laborious process. Even within the recollec- tion of comparatively young men of the county, the scythe and cradle were con- sidered as improved implements of husband- ry ; but the reaper and mower now in use not only do a much better job but transfers the hardest of the labor to the horses.
The old methods in vogue three thousand years ago, treading out wheat with oxen or knocking it out with flails, were scarcely im- proved upon until within a comparatively recent date. In the early history of this county these ancient methods prevailed. By- and-by, came the old thresher-the ground- hog, as it was called-that merely knocked the grains from the chaff, leaving the same to be separated by some other process. One of these marvelous old machines has not been seen in Cass County for many a year ; but in its place we now have the steam thresher, which not only separates the grain from the chaff and straw, ready for the mill, but sacks and counts the number of bushels, and the next improvement will doubtless be to grind it and bake it into bread.
It is difficult to comprehend how, with corn at from six to ten cents per bushel, oats but little more, wheat at from thirty to fifty, and other products in proportion, with the market at Alton, Chicago and St. Louis, a farmer succeeded in obtaining enough for his products to pay for saving them. It is not so difficult to understand why so much of the county lay for so many years without an occupant. Of course, the farmers in those days did not ride in carriages, pay heavy taxes, wear fine clothes or indulge in many luxuries ; but they rode to meeting on horseback or in the farm- wagon, wearing their every-day clothes done
up clean for Sunday, and paid the preacher with a bag of corn or potatoes, or not at all, as they felt able. Yet, to say that they did not live comfortably and independently, would be a great mistake. The rifle supplied, from the timber, vension and other game, an I the actual needs of life were all satisfied, though it would seem a great hardship to go back to what some are pleased to call the " good old times."
Cass County has kept up with the improve- ments, not only in farm machinery, but in the new methods of farming, and no section of the State, perhaps, can boast of a finer state of agriculture than this county. Agricultural fairs and associations have been organized for the general improvement of stock, farm machinery and agriculture.
The Cass County Agricultural Society, was organized in the court house, at Beardstown, January 5, 1856. A preliminary meeting had been held previously, at which a committee on constitution and by-laws had been appointed. The committee made a report at this meeting which was accepted, and at a meeting held in Virginia, June 15, the Constitution, as report- ed by the committee, was adopted. Ten acres of ground were purchased of Robert Hall, ad- joining the town of Virginia, at a cost of $400, for Fair Grounds. A Fair Ground Association was formed, which leased to the Cass County Agricultural Society, the grounds. The Fair Ground Association was incorporat- ed by special act of the Legislature, approved February 18, 1857. The Association and the Agricultural Society were composed mostly of the same individuals (but were two distinct corporations), and frequently the same set of officers were elected in both.
The first officers of the Agricultural Society elected, were as follows : Francis Arenz, Pres- ident; Ezra J. Dutch, Treasurer; John W. Sweeney, Secretary; and John W. Seaman, James Hickey, Milton Stribling, John Prunty,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
and Ebenezer Fish, Directors. At the next meeting, March 6, 1858, the election resulted as follows: William Stevenson, President; Henry S. Savage, Secretary; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer; and William Stevenson, David Epler, Thomas Plasters, John W. Seaman, Z. W. Gatton, E. W. Turner, and John Prunty, Directors. March 5, 1859, the old officers were re-elected, and William Stevenson, J. M. Hill, William Petefish, John Prunty, I. M. Stribling, Z. W. Gatton, and John W. Seaman, Directors. At the election March 3, 1860, J. M. Hill was elected President; John W. Sea- man, Vice-President; Z. W. Gatton, Treas- urer; H. S. Savage, Secretary; and J. M. Hill, N. Seaman, D. J. Cole, J. M. Epler, A. G. Angier, John Prunty and Z. W. Gatton, Di- rectors. No officers were elected in 1861; but on the 2d day of March, the following Di- rectors were elected: John Prunty, William Stevenson, E. W. Turner, J. M. Hill, D. J. Cole, I. M. Stribling and II. H. Hall. March 1, 1862, John M. Epler was elected President; I. M. Stribling, Vice-President ; Z. W. Gat- ton, Treasurer ; H. S. Savage, Secretary ; and Folin M. Epler, I. M. Stribling, H. S. Savage, Z. W. Gatton, H. H. Hall and A. G. Angier, Directors. March 7, 1863, Isaac M. Stribling was elected President ; D. J. Cole, Vice- President ; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer ; H. H. IFall, Secretary; and I. M. Stribling, D. J. Cole, II. II. Hall, Z. W. Gatton, J. M. Epler, S. H. Petefish, A. G. Angier and John Prunty, Direc- tors. The next fair was to be held on the 1st and 2d days of the following September.
At the election held March 5, 1864, I). J. Cole was elected President ; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer ; H. H. Hall, Secretary ; and Wm. Petefish, A. G. Angier, John Prunty, John W. Seaman, S. II. Petefish and H. S. Savage, Directors.
April 1, 1865, John Prunty was elected President ; 1. M. Stribling. Vice-President ; Z. W. Gatton, Tre isurer ; H. H. Hall, Seere-
tary; and John Prunty, I. M. Stribling, Z. W. Gatton, William Stevenson, John W. Seaman, J. Dunnaway, James L. Beggs and Samuel Petefish, Direetors.
March 2, 1866, John Prunty was re-elected President ; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer ; Rufus Rabourn, Secretary ; and John Prunty, I. M. Stribling, J. H. Bates, A. G. Angier, J. Dun- naway, H. H. Hall and W. Petefish, Directors. An order was passed to sell the grounds, but there is no further record in regard to such sale.
March 2, 1877, J. W. Seaman was elected President ; A. G. Angier, Vice-President ; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; Z. W. Gatton, Treas- urer; and I. M. Stribling, William Stevenson, J. H. Bates, J. A. Petefish and H. H. Hall, Directors. There is no record of an election of officers in 1868.
March 6, 1869, J. W. Seaman was elected President; A. G. Angier, Vice-President ; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary ; E. T. Oliver, Treas- urer ; and Z. W. Gatton, I. M. Stribling, S. H. Petefish, Robert Hall and D. J. Cole, Direc- tors.
March 5, 1870, old officers re-elected, and Joseph Black, John Prunty, J. A. Petefish, William Stevenson and Robert Hall, Direc- tors.
March 4, 1871, old officers re-elected, and John Prunty, William Stevenson, I. M. Strib- ling, Robert Hall, and J. A. Petefish, directors.
March 2, 1872, I. M. Stribling was elected President; J. A. Petefish, Vice-president; E. T. Oliver, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Sec- retary, and John Prunty, A. G. Angier, Rob- ert Stevenson, Robert Hall, and William Stevenson, Directors.
March 1, 1823, Robert Stevenson was elect- ed President; J. M. Epler, Vice-president; Z. W. Gatton, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; and Robert Hall, John Prunty, I. M. Stribling, A. G. Angier, and J. W. Sea- man, Directors.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
March 7, 1874, J. M. Epler was elected President; P. A. Baker, Vice-president; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; J. A. Epler, Treasurer; and T. J. Crum, Robert Hall, T. J. Stribling, and Robert Stevenson, Directors. The time set for the next fair was the 1st, 2d, 3d and 4th of September following.
March 6, 1875, J. M. Epler was elected President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president; J. A. Epler, Treasurer, R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; and John Prunty, T. J. Stribling, Robert Hall, Morrison Graves, and Robert Stevenson, Directors.
March 4, 1876, J. W. Seaman was elected President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president; Mor- rison Graves, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary, and the old directory was re- elected.
March 3, 1877, Morrison Graves was elected President; Robert Hall, Vice-president; R. W. Rabouru, Secretary; S. H. Petefish, Treasurer, and John Prunty, J. B. Stevenson, Oswell Skiles, Robert Hall, C. M. Savage, T. J. Stribling, and M. Graves, Directors.
March 2, 1878, Morrison Graves was elect- ed President; T. J. Crum, Vice-president; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary; S. H. Petefish, Treasurer, and M. Graves, O. Skiles, John Prunty, T. J. Crum, C. E. Lippincott, Robert Stevenson, and W. S. Vance, Directors.
March 1, 1879, J. M. Epler was elected President; P. A. Buraker, Vice-president; O. Skiles, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Secre- tary, and J. M. Epler, C. W. Savage, Henry Campbell, P. A. Buraker, I. M. Stribling, W. H. Thompson, and Robert Hall, Directors.
March 13, 1880, J. M. Epler was elected President; O. Skiles, Treasurer; R. W. Ra- bourn, Secretary, and G. A. Beard, T. J. Stribling, C. W. Savage, A. G. Eplar, Robert Hall, Henry Campbell, and John W. McCul- lough, Directors. The time for holding the next fair was set for the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th of August following.
March 3, 1881, Oswell Skiles was elected President; W. C. Barkley, Vice-president; George Conover, Treasurer; R. W. Rabourn, Secretary, and Oswell Skiles, W. S. Vance, T. J. Stribling, W. C. Barkley, G. W. Rawlings, George Conover, and Morrison Graves, Direct- ors.
The officers for the present year (1882) are as follows: J. M. Epler, President; John A. Jones, Vice-president; G. L. Warlow, Secre- tary; George Conover, Treasurer, and J. M. Epler, J. A. Jones, M. Graves, R. W. Ra- bourn, W. S. Vance, J. B. Stevenson, and F. E. Downing, Directors. The next fair will be held September 12, 13, 14 and 15, follow- ing. The superintendents of departments, at the next meeting, are as follows: Fine Art Hall-F. E. Downing, and Assistant-Mrs. F. E. Downing; Fruit and Vegetables-Tho- mas Dunnaway; Preserves, Jellies, etc .- C. W. Black and Alice Dwelle; Agricultural Hall-J. F. Black; Poultry-J. N. Gridley; Sheep and Swine-Robert Stevenson; Horses and Mules-A. G. Epler; Cattle-Watson Sinclair. From preparations already being made the coming meeting will be an interest- ing one.
The Cass County Park Association was or- ganized a few years ago. This association purchased and now owns the grounds, and leases them out for fairs, races, and for other purposes, as may seem legitimate to the Board of Directors.
The fine stock interest is taking high rank in Cass County, and has grown to large pro- portions, particularly that of fine cattle. The writer has seen all the fine herds of Short- horn cattle in the famous blue grass region of Kentucky, and in his capacity as historian has visited many of the stock farms of that world-renowned section, but he has seen some cattle in this county that are unsurpassed by Kentucky, or any other state. The herd, for instance, of William Stevenson is, probably,
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
without a superior in quality in any country. ITis Short-horn bull, Duke, was purchased of Ilutchcraft, one of the most extensive herd- ers of Bourbon County, Kentucky, for $1,000, when a yearling, and is one of the finest ani- mals of his kind, while Mattie Belle, 2d, calved June 30, 1877, is the finest cow we have seen in the State. But to do justice to Mr. Stevenson's herd would be to particular- ize every one. He makes a specialty of rear- ing Short-horns, and like the larger breeders of Kentucky, has his annual sales of all those aside from his regular breeders.
C. E. Lippincott took an active interest a few years ago, in breeding Short-horns, but did not remain long in the business. Mr. J. M. Epler, also, has a small herd of very fine animals, and devotes considerable attention to breeding; also, Watson Sinclair, doing something in the same line, and has several fine animals. The time, doubtless, is near at hand, when Cass County will become famous as a fine stock region, and noted for the rearing of Short-horn cattle. The start made has proven its adaptability to the in- dustry, and shown the value of the business.
A writer on Kentucky Short-horns has the following on the genuine breed: "Short- horns of a true type and good shape, that is to say, level backed, wide crops, wide hips, swelling sides, fine bone, fine tail, neat blood- like appearance, straight lines across the hips, straight from the point of the hock to point of hip near the tail, straight along the belly from the brisket to the end of the flank, smooth shoulders, not sinking at the girt, soft elastic skin, good handlers, placid, calm eye, short in the legs, short tapering horns, waxy horns well set on, quiet disposition, good milkers, clean, clear muzzle, solid colors, either red or roan, these have long been sought after, bred for and purchased when attainable, and breeders with pride in their stock have endeavored to produce them from
the earliest known period in Short-horn his- tory, and it is not surprising that breeders have in the main owned many that were never defeated in the show ring. And as such stock has been the result of much trou- ble and experiment, so it has and ever will deservedly command high prices. Requiring several generations of judicious crossing, weeding out defects, meting out to the breeders many blanks with the prizes, it is a fascinating pursuit, and is increasing daily the number of its votaries."
It is worth while to notice, in passing, the change in the colors of Short-horns. Most every one, who has paid attention to the mat- ter, can remember that there was a time with- in their memory that Short-horn cattle were uniformly white and roan, with here and there a red. Take, for example, one of the leading herds of the country in 1851, 1852 and 1853, of fifteen head recorded in Volume II, A. H. B. Eight were roans and seven whites. The same breeder would not allow a white animal to be used on his herd for a bonus of $3,000 a year. Who knows but the style and fashion may change back again into its former chan- nel? It is well to observe that the scarcer and more rare Short-horns of peculiar quali- ties become, the higher prices they are held at in some quarters. While on the other hand, it is with satisfaction that we observe many new beginners whose names appear at the annual sales, from New York to Califor- nia, and from Minnesota to Texas, indicating that the people, as a mass, are beginning to appreciate the value of an infusion of thorough- bred blood into scrub herds, and to at last acknowledge that a two-year old thorough bred, or even high grade, is equal to a three- year-old of common, or mongrel stock.
There is an increasing attention yearly to the improving of other stock in Cass County. as well as to cattle. Many thoroughbred horses from Kentucky are being introduced.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
among which we have noticed some members of the Mambrino family, one of the finest reared in Kentucky. The original Mambrino Patchen, sold for $25,000, and Mambrino King, sold at Lexington, Ky., a few weeks ago, for $15,000. Fine sheep and hogs, also, are being greatly improved, and many of the farmers are devoting special attention to rear- ing the best breeds of these animals. It is then, not saying too much, to predict for Cass County a brilliant future as a stock-raising region. The start is made, and perseverance will accomplish the rest.
The railroads of the County will be written up in other chapters of this volume. Rail-
roads are the great features that make a country powerful and add to its material wealth and prosperity. The railroads inter- secting Cass County, are the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville; the Springfield division of Ohio and Mississippi; the St. Louis division of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy; and the Western division of the Chicago and Alton. Thus it will be seen the County is well supplied with these useful internal im- provements.
The press of the county, and the war his- tory also, will be found in other and appro- priate chapters, together with other subjects of local and general interest.
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
CHAPTER VII.
VIRGINIA PRECINCT-DESCRIPTION, BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY-WESTERN PIONEER LIFE-SETTLEMENT OF THE PRECINCT BY WHITE PEOPLE-CHARACTER OF THE PIONEERS-THEIR TRIALS, TROUBLES AND HARDSHIPS-EARLY IMPROVE- MENTS AND INDUSTRIES-ROADS, BRIDGES, ETC .- SCHOOLS-THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSES-EARLY TEACHERS-PRESENT EDU- CATIONAL FACILITIES-CHURCHES AND PREACHERS-
OLD SHILOH CHURCH-MISCELLANEOUS, ETC.
TT was a beautiful sentiment of Goethe when he compared our little round of being to a summer watering place: " When we first arrive, we form friendships with those who have already spent some time there, and must soon be gone. Their loss is painful, but we content ourselves with the second generation of visitors, with whom we spend some time, and daily become more intimate; but these also depart, and we are left alone with a third set, who arrive just as we are prepared for our departure." This is not inapplicable to the settlement of this section of the country. It is a sad realization of the inscrutable de- erec that, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," when we come to collect the history of a county or people. Here, in Vir- ginia Precinct, we look around us for the pioneers, and find most of them sleeping in the quiet graveyard. The first generation of visitors to the " summer watering-place " are mostly gone, and the second and third, and even the fourth generations are crowding on to fill their places. Those of the " first set " who still linger, are bent with age, and a few more rolling years will take them from our sight for ever. Wonderful are the changes wrought since they first beheld this beautiful land, onee the home of the lordly savage, and the hunting ground of his kindred. The pioneers, who braved the dangers of " flood and field," to open these broad and product-
ive plains and valleys, have melted away like mists before the morning sun, and are now gathered to the land of dreams. From the few still left, we have gleaned a few faets pertaining to the early settlement of this section, and to pioneer life, which form the subject-matter of this chapter.
Virginia Precinet is rather large, and con- tains portions of townships 17 and 18, in ranges 9 and 10, west of the 3d principal me- ridian. It is generally level or undulating, resembling somewhat the swell of the ocean after a storm, and originally comprised both timber land and prairie. On the north it is bounded by Husted Precinct, or Hickory, as now called, and Chandlerville Precinct, on the east by Oregon and Princeton Precinets, on the South by Princeton Precinct and Morgan County, and on the west by Monroe Precinct. It is drained and watered by Clear Creek, Prairie Creek, Little Indian, Job's, Little Panther and Lost Creeks, all tributaries of the Illinois River. The Peoria, Pekin and Jack- sonville railroad (now a part of the Wabash system), and the Springfield division of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad, interseet it, crossing at the City of Virginia, the capital of the County, and afford ample accommoda- tions in shipping and transportation.
The settlement of Virginia Precinct dates back to the year 1821, when the first whites came in and commenced the improvement
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HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY.
of the lands. Pioneer life, in all time, has been characterized by incidents peculiar either to the locality or the make-up of the pioneers themselves. Western pioneer life has been subjected to conditions common to the experi- ence of all early settlers. The primary ele- ments in the composition of those who have taken their lives in their own hands and battled successfully with the privations and hardships incident to settlements in the wilderness, with- out companions, save their " household gods," away from the echoes of civilization, depend- ing for subsistence upon their own good right arms, were will-power, physical vigor and energy. Thus endowed, the brave pioneer boldly cuts loose from the moorings of civili- zation, turns his face toward the wild, un- known West, and after days and weeks, per- haps months, of weary journeying over trackless prairies, tangled woodland. rocky steeps and through rushing torrents, at last determines the spot where his future home shall be, at once makes a start by erecting a little cabin, breaking a small patch of ground and planting a little corn. Soon he is joined by others, and the feeble settlement becomes the foundation of one of those prosperous communities which are to-day the pride and boast of our western country. But we are digressing from the more specific part of our subject.
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