USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 10
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
Win. A. Welch, n native of Tennessee, settled on South Fork Dec. 25th, 1849. The late Win. S Berry settled four miles south of Taylorville in 1849, and died in 1874 or '5. He was one of the
most successful deer-hunters of whom Christian county can boast, having killed over four hundred during the twenty-five years of his life in the county.
Jacob Overholt, largely known throughout the county, a native of Pennsylvania, born Dec. 9th, 1807, came to this county in 1851.
It is not, perhaps, possible to name all who were early settlers in the county, but we have aimed to mention all the earliest and most prominent in its history and development. Many who came re- mained but a short time, when they went back to their old homes, or moved away to a newer country, as the settlements began to fill up. Thus the settlers may naturally be grouped into two classes, the pioneers and the permanent settlers. As stated in the begin- ning of this chapter, the pioneer is not to be despised, for he is a man with a mission. But pressing closely on his footsteps, came the other class, scarcely less inured to hardships and fatigue, or fitted to combat the dangers and difficultics on the frontier, but animated by different hopes, and pursuing a nobler ambition. These left the abodes of civilized life, not from love of adventure or dislike of society; they came where land was cheap and soil rich, in search of a permanent home. They brought with them a love of church, and an appreciation of the blessings of civilized life, and the "wilderness and solitary place were glad for them, and the desert rejoiced and blossomed as the rosc." In the town- ship histories and the biographical department may be found more fully recorded the characters, trials and struggles of the earlier settlers. The chapter on the "Civil History" treats fully of the birth of the county, and contains all records pertaining to its origin.
PIONEER MARRIAGES.
The following marriages were celebrated within the bounds of the territory now embraced within the county of Christian. The first one recorded in the county clerk's office, in Springfield, is as follows :
State of Illinois, On the 13th day of Sept., 1823, I soleinn-
Sangamon county, Fannie Cooper.
ized the marriage of George Dickson and
RIVAS CORMACK, M G., of the M. E. Church.
Recorded the above this 24th day of Nov., 1823.
CHARLES R. MATHENEY,
Clerk of Sangamon county.
These parties lived on the North Fork. George Dickson after- wards was favorably known to many of the citizens of the county. Ilc was a member of the county court for many years; and was elected to other offices of honor. His wife was a sister of the pio- neer, Ephraim Cooper, the oldest settler in the north part of the county, in 1820. It shows that they were married and given in marriage in those primitive times. Another was in the words fol- lowing : "I certify that on the 21st day of September, I joined in wedlock, Eli Matthews and Miss Susanna Hanon."
WM. ROBERTS, M. G.
This was the first pioneer wedding in South Fork township. The parties came to the county in 1818, about the time of the ad- vent of Martin Hanfon, the first settler of the county. Here fol- low four others :-
Married Sept. 24th, 1824, by Job Fletcher, J. P., Moses Archer of the North Fork, to Mira Moffitt.
July 15th, 1827, by John Kirkpatrick, M. G. Martin of North Fork to Patsey Baghey.
Nov. 9th, 1827, Gabriel Mckenzie, of Flat Branch country, to Miss Elizabeth Gray. Gabriel, was always held in the liveliest remembrance by the youngsters for his violin entertainments on festive occasions.
39
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Sept. 14th, 1828, James R. Lucas, to Miss Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Esquire Isaac Harris, who lived on his farm four miles east of Taylorville. This couple were among the first families to settle in Taylorville, after its location.
The following were among the pioncer ministers who preached to the early settlers and married parties at the dates appended to their names :
Gilbert Dodd, Sept. 25th, 1823, Rev. James Simms, Dec. 18th, 1823, John M. Berry, July 17th, 1824, Simon Lindley, Oet. 31st, 1824, Peter Cartwright, April 26th, 1825, John Alkire, July 16th, 1826, Hiram Bowman, May 6th, 1827, Aaron Vandeveer, April 15th, 1 30.
After the organization of Christian county the first marriage license was issued July 10th, 1839, to Josephus Durbin and Miss Elizabeth Simpson, a daughter of Esquire Richard Simpson, of Bear creek township. They were united in wedloek by Joseph P. Dur- bin, J. P.
The third license was issued to Edward Bugg and Miss Nancy Walker, Sept, 18th, 1839, who were married by the Rev. Peter R. Ketcham.
The twenty-fifth was issued to Simon Brents and Miss Mary Blalock, Nov. 19th, 1840, by Eli Mathews, J. P. This was the first marriage in Taylorville.
The twenty -sixth wedding was that of John Gilbert to Miss Clarissa Ann Young, daughter of Esquire E. S. Young, then county clerk, January 1st, 1841, by Aaron Vandeveer, M. G. This was the second wedding, and the bride, the first death in Taylorville.
VOTING.
At the organization of the county the people voted viva voce. This plan, by many, was considered as the most independent one ; others viewed it in a different light. If the system had no other merit, it certainly gave a controlling influence to intriguing politi- cians. With the adoption of the ballot system, their power was dwarfed. In this county, at that early day, there were two large family connections, by the name of Durbin's and Young's. They composed a large portion of the voting population. It was not an uncommnon remark that as these two sections voted - so went the election. Politically they were in sympathy with each other and with the "Whig " party.
Gavin Ralston, an old line Whig, and a candidate for the office of county commissioner, being interrogated as to his prospects for an election, replied : " Very good, as both the Durbin and Young wing are with me in a solid column." It is scarcely necessary to say he was elected. Daniel Goode and William C. Brents, both old settlers and political leaders, exercised great influence over the parties. The constitution of 1848, substituted the ballot for the viva voce system. This worked well, and the people have been enabled to vote their honest convictions, without being branded as a "turn-coat." The old parties were well disciplined and very powerful. If a member of either broke ranks he was soon hounded down !
COURT ANECDOTES.
In the trials before the justices of the peace in the county, many amusing ineidents and anecdotes have occurred.
About forty years ago, in the region of Bolivar, in the north- western part of this county, lived one John S. Thompson, a justice of the peace. He was a large, stout, big-fisted Kentuckian. Sam Smith was brought before him on a charge of assault and battery. Sam soon became boisterous, and began to abuse the justice. Es- quire admonished him to keep quiet; but all to no purpose. Sam grew worse and worse until the burly Esquire's patience was ex-
hausted. "Sam," said the Esquire, "I know but little about the power the law confers in keeping order in court, but I know very well the power the Almighty has given me, and so shall you." Suiting the action to his words, the Esquire seized a chair and sent Sam whirling to the floor, and then at the end of his boots, relieved the office of his presence. Smith then went before another justice, filed an affidavit of assault and battery, and had Esquire Thompson arrested. The defense set up a plea that the justice was a relative to the prosecutor, which point was adjudged well taken, and the justice entered a judgment of acquittal. Not satisfied with the de- cision, Smith filed another affidavit before Esquire C --- Thompson was again arrested and arraigned before the justice. He employed counsel, who moved for his acquittal on the ground that he " could not be put in jeopardy twice for the same offence," under the constitution. The Esquire, after consulting various evidences, sustained the plea, and Esquire Thompson was again triumphantly acquitted. From that time forward there was as good order in the office of Esquire Thompson as in the supreme court-room of the State of Illinois.
In another case, about thirty-five years ago, in the western part of the county, a suit was instituted before Esquire John R * * * , against John W-, then residing within three miles of Hills- boro, in Montgomery county. Summons issued to constable Wil- liam Torrance, with iustruetions to serve the same; which he ac- cordingly executed, and judgment was entered up, by the Esquire, for forty dollars and costs of suit. The execution was issued in due time and constable Torrance, who again entered Montgomery county, made a levy, took a delivery bond, and in time made the debt, and returned the execution satisfied ; neither party knowing the force of the county lines between theni.
A Pathetic Speech Spoiled .- In the case of M-, arraigned for larceny, his lawyer, from Springfield, a bombastic speaker, in- formed his client that the case was desperate, and that he must be governed strictly by his directions. Said he, " My speech will be divided into four parts: first, historical ; second argumentative ; third, the reply ; fourth, the pathetic. You and your wife and children must sit quiet till I come to the fourth, or pathetic part ; and then I want you all to burst out aloud and cry, groan and take on as I proceed to the close. The moment I stop, rise and throw your arms around your wife's neck, and kiss the baby." The trial was opened ; the jury empannelled and evidence heard. The pro· secuting attorney opened the case with a speech of great power. Lawyer Bombast rose with all eyes centered on him, and began as follows : "If the court please, gentlemen of the jury, look at my client ; look at his poor wife and little babe; look at the afflicted parents, weighed down with sorrow and gricf, sinking as it were to their graves! Oh, gentlemen of the jury, can you find it in your hearts to send him to the Penitentiary ?"
As he uttered these last words the prisoner set up a loud howl, threw his arms around his wife's neck, and kissed the babe, while the rest of the family joined in the chorus. The lawyer was dumb- founded; the court looked in astonishment, the jurors looked at each other and wondered what it all meant, but the bombast took in the situation at a glance, and explained : "Nothing, only a mis- take of my client, your honor and gentlemen of the jury. He nris- took the 'historical' for the 'pathetic' part of my speech." The blunderer lost his case.
A number of very interesting and humorous stories are told of William M. Thomas, J. P .; two or three of which we will relate. In a trial before him a man by the name of Gunn, was a witness. The man hesitated not a little and seemed unwilling, after much persistent questioning, to tell what he really knew ; when the
40
HISTORY OF. CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Esquire became impatient and said-" Come, Mr. Gunn, don't hang fire !" After the examination closed the bystanders were couvulsed with laughter by the old Esquire adding-"Mr. Gunn, you can go off, you're discharged !"
The Esquire is also credited with the following decision :- " The fact is, Peter Smith, the jail is an old rickety affair, as cold as an iron wedge. You applied to this court for release on bail, giving it as your opinion, that you would freeze to death there. It is the desire of this court to be humane; and as the weather has not moderated, and to keep you from freezing, I will direct the sheriff to hang you at 4 o'clock this afternoon."
In another case before Thomas,-James Funderburk vs. Sam Brents,-In trial of Right of Property. It was a jury case, com- posed of old Dieky Simpson and others. Capt. H-, suggested to the plaintiff, to take a jug of good old bourbon and treat the court and jury. Funderburk acted on the suggestion, and it proved to be a happy thought. The court drank ; the jury drank, and all felt good. The Esquire gave an inkling of his decision in advance. He said, " There's no use going into trial in this case, for the Right of Property is not in Sam Brents, aud he is subject to the execution by G-d, sir."
The jury nodded assent; as they were in a nodding mood. The constable retained possession of the property, and the plaintiff, Funderburk, got his money.
Another case before Esquire Thompson, in which Benjamin Williams was defendant. The trial did not result to the satisfaction of said defendant, and he charged that the Esquire did not do him justice. His insulting remarks were overheard by the esquire, and ou his coming out of the court-house, he gathered hold of a hoop- pole, exclaiming, "By G-d sir, I'll give you a more substantial justice ! " and lampooned him most unmercifully.
Le Roy Hill, of Sangamon, was a defendant in a suit instituted before Thompson. He asked for a change of venue, giving as a reason that " he didn't like to be tried by steam ; " over which the Esquire became wrathy, and " by the eternal," swore a perfect streak ! However the change was grauted and the case taken before another justice.
THE "BULL PEN," OR PUGILISTIC TIMES.
No sooner had the county seat been located than it became a rallying point for all the belligerent spirits of the county. Ben W- and William W- had a fight a few minutes after the "locating peg" had been driven by the Commissioners. This was the inauguration of affrays which continued for several years at the county seat, greatly to its discredit. Persons harboring ill-feelings or any grievances against a neighbor, would, on meet- ing him, throw out a challenge to meet ou "muster day," or some other public occasion and settle the matter. Time did not seem to abate their hostility ; the hate once engendered, still rankled in their bosoms, and public opinion deferred to this mode of settling okl grudges, and it required no little moral courage to withstand it. The combatants at the appointed time, would, with their friends, be ou hand ; draw their coats, gird their loins and enter the "bull pen,"-which at that time consisted of the public square, in the absence of a "stray pen." It was not uncommon for a half-dozen such cases to be adjusted in one day. On such occasions, large crowds often assembled, and there was usually on hand a bountiful supply of " sod corn."
Capt. H-, was sure to be present with his two-wheeled cart, containing a cask of " tangle-foot," and his stentorian voice could be heard far and near to repeat-" ' ho all ye thirsty come and drink.' It is warranted to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the
winter. Indians say there are " fifty fights in every barrel of ' fire water.' "
There were times when some of the most prominent men in the county would be engaged in these mclees. It was on one of these memorable occasions, when Gabriel and others were engaged, that Thomas -, county collector, supposing himself clothed with the necessary authority, mounted the court-house steps and in tones of thunder " commanded the peace " His admonitions not being heeded, he threw off his coat, waded in, exclaiming that he would " be d-d if he didn't have peace !" and made for Gabriel, when he suddenly " right about faced " and left on " double quick," with his long ringlets streaming in the air, as the excited crowd and the captain's commissary closed in the rear ! These sovereigns would suffer no interference on these warlike occasions. It was looked upon as cowardly to use knives and pistols, and it was very seldom that such was the case.
THIE MILITIA SYSTEM.
In the carlier history of the county the military spirit ran high, and many aspirants for position used it as a "stepping-stone " to power. Previous to the formation of the county, the people had to travel fifteen or twenty miles to Rochester to do military duty. This was a great inconvenience, aud at length the county was laid off into military districts. Elections were ordered in each of the company districts for one captain, one first lieutenant and one en- sign. Soon after the organization of the county, the following order was issued :-
", MILITIA IN DANE, NOTICE.
Lient. Col. White's Regiment, including all the county of Dane, will parade for Review and Inspection at Taylorville, on Friday, June 27, 1839.
By order, A. G. HENRY, Brigade Major."
Springfield, Ill.
By this order, the captains were required to be in the field with their respective commands, "armed and equipped as the law directs." The great and memorable day came. The parade ground was early filled with waving plumes and crowds of anxious citizens. The ground where Taylorville had been located a month pre- vious, was dotted over with white tents. Soon the adjutant on a splendid grey charger came galloping into the field with orders : " Officers to your places, marshal your men into companies, separa- ting the barefooted from those who have shoes. Placing those who have guns, sticks and corn-stalks in separate platoons, and then form the line ready to receive your superior officers." Thomas P. Bond had been elected colonel of the regiment. The order was executed Col. Bond was seen coming in the distance accompanied by the old Lieut. Colonel, with his aids. The lines were wheeled into a column and made to perform some fine military evolutions, and were eventually brought into position for review by the colonel and his staff.
The grand column then moved with the colonel at its head, to a field half a mile west of town, with its bayonets, sticks and corn- stalks glittering in the sunshine.
After exhibiting a fine military display, they were formed into line of battle, under the command of the gallant colonel, and a sham battle, with corn-stalks was fought, with great fury, much to the delight of the by-standers.
Sim Brents was placed under arms by his commanding officer for disobedience of orders, in not poising his corn-stalk at an angle of forty-five degrees, in accordance with military usage. A guard was placed over him, who was compelled to hold an umbrella over his head to protect him from the intolerable heat of the sun, then 96' F. in the shade.
41
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
" THE DEEP SNOW."
The deep snow occurred in the winter of 1830-31. At that period the territory now embraced in Christian county was sparsely settled. The roads were merely trails or byc-paths; and the houses of the settlers were log-cabins, and of a rude style of architecture, and the larder was not well supplied with sufficient provisions to carry the settler and his family through the winter. This being the case, much suffering occurred. The " deep snow " is one of the land-marks of the early settler. It is the mile-stone, so to speak, from which he counts in dating events. He sometimes relies upon it in recounting the date of his coming, his marriage, and the birth of his children. The deep snow was an important and very extra- ordinary phenomenon. Nothing has equalled it in this latitude for the last century-if the Indians' traditions are correct as to what occurred before the advent of the white man. The Indians had a tradition that about seventy-five years before, a snow fell which swept away the immense herds of buffalo and elk that then roamed over these prairies. This tradition was verified by the vast quan- tity of buffalo and elk bones found on the prairies in different localities when first visited by white men.
The snow began falling early in autumn, and continued at inter- vals, throughout the entire winter. The snow falls would be suc- eeeded by heavy slcet, forming crusts of ice between the layers of snow, strong enough in many places to bear up the deer and hunter. Frequently for weeks the sun was not visible, and the cold was so intense that not a particle of snow would melt on the sides of the cabins facing the south. For weeks people were blockaded or housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of food. Great suffering, hunger and untold hardships were endured by the people. Game, such as deer, prairie chickens, quails, rabbits, &c., before that time had been abundant, but for years afterwards was very scarce, having perished in the snow. As the snow would thaw, deer were often caught and killed without the aid of fire arms, being unable to get through the snow or walk on top. Later in winter, when the mass of snow or ice had become compact, fenees that were staked and ridered were driven over with heavily loaded vehicles, and, in fact the old settlers say in places could not be scen. The snow in many places, where not drifted, was three to five feet deep. In the spring, when this immense amount of snow melted, the river streams and marshes became flooded.
THE " SUDDEN FREEZE."
The writer, in conversing with a lady, an old settler, clicited from her the following facts and recollection; relative to this won- derful and extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon, which occurred a little after noon one day in January, 1836. The lady says, she and her family had finished the noon-day meal, and were sitting around and in front of the old-fashioned large open fire-place, enjoying its generous warmth, chatting and discussing the state of the weather, as during the morning it had been snowing and raining a little :- presently the lady in looking from the window in her cabin, notieed a heavy black cloud lying off to the west, which seemed to be rapidly approaching. Needing some water she took a bucket and went to the well, at a distance of about a 100 yards, lowering the bucket with a long "sweep " then used in drawing the water, filled it, and starte.l for the house. Before reaching the house the wind and rain struck her ; blew and upset a portion of the water on her clothing ; the cold air seemed to cut like a knife, and before she reached the house, her dress and apron were frozen stiff in a solid sheet of ice. Ponds which a moment before were free from the ice, were frozen in a solid mass in a few minutes. Many persons were frozen to death who happened to be caught
away from home; and many others, before they could get to a place of shelter, had their faces, cars, hands and feet frozen. Immc- diately preceding the storm the ground had been slightly covered with snow, which from rain falling in the morning had become " slushy." Cattle, that were in the fields, were held fast by the " slush " freezing about their feet ; and it became necessary to cut away the ice to liberate them. Ducks and geese were imprisoned in the same way. It was scarcely ten minutes after the cold wave swept over the place, that the water and melting snow was hard enough to bear up a man on horseback.
Thus have we briefly sketched a few of the incidents that occur- red in the carly history of the county.
CHAPTER IV. CUSTOMS OF EARLY DAYS.
HABITS AND MODES OF LIVING OF THE PIONEERS AND FIRST SETTLERS.
T is a trite but true proverb that "Times change, and we change with them ;" and it is well illustrated by the changes in dress, condition and life, that have taken place in this county in less than half a cen- tury. We doubt not that these changes, as a whole, are for the better.
To the old man, indeed, whose life-work is accomplished, and whose thoughts dwell mainly on the past, where his treasures are, there are no days like the old days, and no song awakens so responsive an ceho in his heart as " Auld Lang Syne."
The very skies that arch above his gray head seem less blue to his dimmed eye than they did when, in the adoration of his young heart, he directed to them his gaze; the woods appear less green and inviting than when in the gaiety of boyhood he courted their cool deaths; and the songs of their feathered inhabitants fall less melodiously upon his ear. He marks the changes that are everywhere visible, and feels like crying out in the language of the poet:
" Backward, turn back ward, oh, Time, in thy flight !"
It is natural for the aged to sigh for a return of the past, nor would we attempt the hopeless task of convincing them that with the changes of the years there have come also an increase in happiness, an improvement in social life, a progress in education, an advancement in morality, and a tendency upward in all that relates to the welfare of mankind.
We may learn useful lessons, however, from a study of that land over which the pardonable and fond imagination of the old settler has thrown the "light that never was on sea or land," if, withdrawing ourselves from the dizzy activities of the present day, we let the old settler take us by the hand and lead us back into the regions of his youth, that we may observe the life of those who founded a grand empire in a great wilderness. Let us leave the prow of the rushing ship, from which may be discerned a mighty future rich in promises and bright with hope, and take our place upon the stern and gaze backward, into the beautiful land of the past.
No doubt we shall be led to regret the absence among us of some of the virtues of dwellers in those early days. Gone is that free-hearted hospitality which made of every settler's cabin an inn where the belated and weary traveler found entertainment with- out money and without price. Gone is that community of senti- ment which made neighbors indeed neighbors ; that era of kind- ly feeling which was marked by the almost entire absence of liti- gation.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.