USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 43
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THOMAS N. LAKIN.
THOMAS N. LAKIN was, born at Freeport, Harrison county, Ohio, on the thirteenth of August, 1843. His father, T. N. Lakin, was also a native of Ohio. His mother, Mary A. Pepper, was born in Ohio, and was the daughter of Henry Pepper, who was of German descent, and moved from Virginia to Ohio, and was one of the ear- liest settlers of Harrison county in that State ; he moved from Harrison to Tuscarawas county, where he died. Mr. Lakin's mother died when he was only a few days old, and he was there- upon taken to raise by his uncle, Joshua Pepper, now one of the
old and respected citizens of Rosemond township. In the year 1854 Mr. Pepper removed from Tuscarawas county, Ohio, to Illinois. He settled in the fall of the same year on section thirty-one of Locust township, and occupied a frame house which had been built in the fall of 1853, and which was the second frame house ever erected on the Buckeye prairie. Mr. Lakin was about eleven years of age when he accompanied Mr. Pepper's family to Christian county. He had attended school in Ohio from the age of five years, and after coming to Christian county went to the Buckeye school, which was principally under the instruction of H. L. Mull. In the fall of 1862, at the age of nineteen, he entered the State Normal University at Normal, Illinois, which institution he attended till the summer of 1863. Ou the ninth of August, 1863, he married Rebecca Hunter, daughter of William Hunter. Mrs. Lakin is a native of Tuscarawas county, Ohio. In the fall of 1863 Mr. Lakin took charge of a school in Locust township, and with the exception of a couple of years, has been engaged in teaching in Locust and Rosemond townships, from that time to the present. During part of the years 1865 and 1866, he was in the mercantile business at Princeton, and in 1867 and 1868 at Rosemond. He has also been engaged in farming. In his political principles he has always been a member of the republican party. His first vote for President was cast for Lincoln, in 1864. In 1868 he served as assessor of Rosemond township. He has six children, three girls and three boys.
His uncle, Joshua Pepper, to whom Mr. Lakiu in his early life was indebted for a home, is now one of the oldest settlers on the Buckeye prairie. He is now living on section five of Rosemond township, at the age of seveuty-six.
SOUTH FORK TOWNSHIP.
S OUTH FORK Township lies due west of Taylorville, the county seat. It is bounded on the east by the South Fork of the Sangamon, south hy Bear Creek and King townships, west and north by Sangamon county, and the South Fork of the Sangamon. The soil is rich, fertile and productive, the larger portion of which was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber. Considerable timber is yet found along the margin of the streams. The township is drained by Clear creck and the south fork of the Sangamon and its tributaries, all of which streams run in a northern and north-west direction, and finally lose their waters in the Sangamon river. This township, as organized, embraced all that portion of the county lying west of the South Fork of the Sangamon river, including a part of the four townships, 13 and 14, and ranges 3 and 4 west. It contains an area of about eight miles square ; it has been known and called the "South Fork Precinct," since the organization of the county.
FIRST SETTLERS.
It was in this township that the first settlement in the county was made. Martin Hanon, and others following him, "squatted "
here and made the first settlement, in the year 1818. Mr. Hanon improved the tract of land now better known as the Esquire Council farm. He built a cabin, plowed a little patch of ground, with an old barshear plow, between two hazel thickets, for a " truck patch," where his widowed mother, who ac- companied him to his new home, set out some "shillotts," a species of onion, tansey, " old man," and other "yearbs," brought along. Alexander Matthews, who came with Martin Hanon, built a cabin the following season, and, in course of time, put a " housekeeper " in it. The following comprises the names of some of the families who first settled in this portion of the county. John S. Sinnet, Clai- born Matthews, and his sons, Eli and Alexander, and Kinchen eame soon after Hanon in 1818. In 1819 came Jake Gragg. Samuel Miller, the father of Daniel and Martin Miller, settled in this lo- cality in 1823. Solomon and John Meads in 1824. In 1825 came John Johnson ; he first settled what has since been better known as the old Ralston homestead. Jacob Wydick, Mr. Chapman, George Vandeveer, Charles Vandeveer, Robert Richardson, William Rich- ardson, Sr., John Finley, Andrew Finley, Isaac Leacham, George and Samuel Cockelreesc, John Durbin, John Z. Durbin, Jacob Ca-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
gle, Samuel Hart and Aquilla Council came previous to the " deep snow," in 1830.
The Richardson connection was quite numerous, and this eireum- stance gave the name " Richardson settlement," by which that see- tion of the county was known for years. These families settled on the prairie in 1828. They were zealous members of the Methodist Church, and at an early day organized a society. Robert Richard- son, Sr., Wm. Richardson, Sr., and John S. Sinnet were leading members. The first meetings were held in private houses, and after a time Robert Richardson, Sr., set about building a church. Amos and Jesse Richardson, his sons, aided him in cutting and hauling logs to Elgan's Mill, and then, at night-time, were granted the privilege of running the mill, free of charge, in sawing necessary lumber for the church. This good old father in the church worked faithfully, and without remuneration, in building the little old " meeting-house," which stood so many years as an antiquated landmark. In time it gave place to the present Bethany Church. In a dilapidated form it was moved away, having served well its purpose as a house of worship. It was the first church built in the county, and around it clustered many memories of olden times. The new Bethany M. E. Church, ten miles west of Taylorville, was erected in the summer of 1867; it is a commodious building, and has a seating capacity of 500. Its cost was $4,000.
First Wedding celebrated in this township was that of Eli Mat- thews to Miss Susan Hanon, on the 21st of April, 1823. They were married by Rev. William Roberts; the license was issued by C. R. Matheney, County Clerk, at Springfield. This was the first organized township (T. 14, R. 3) for school purposes, and the elec- tion of school officers in the county.
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The first school-house was located a few rods south of Esquire Council's place. It was made of rough logs, and noted for its large fire-place, taking up the whole end of the build- ing, the chimney being made inside. The first school taught in this building was by Silas Alexander. Subsequently John H. Davis, Sr., and John M. Taylor taught here. Some years after its erection the house burned down, and a neat frame school-house was built a short distance from where the old one stood, which was the pride of the neighborhood ; it was noted for its literary exhibitions. In it were delivered frequent lectures, and under its hospitable roof flourished a debating society. Some of the participants of these exercises, outside the township, were HI. M. Vandeveer, Daniel Miller, William S. Moore, Dr. C. Goudy, and others. In it were taught, during the long winter evenings, "Singing Geography " and singing schools. But this house, with all its pleasant associa- tions, has been numbered with the things that were, and another more commodious and elegant has taken its place. Judge H. M. Vandeveer was one of the log cabin teachers in this township in early days.
This township had its sensations. It is related that two of its citizens traded wives. Two aged people, " Grandfather Chapman " and wife, noted for their longevity, each being over one hundred years old, were residents of this township. They lived above Esquire Council's; their two sons, Hiram and Lintz, also resided in this township.
Abram Hart was one of the pioneer settlers of South Fork, and was especially noted as a great bee hunter. The " Timber Field, ' of traditionary fame, is located in this township. It is situ- ated in the bottom timber, a short distance below Ralston's bridge, on the east side of the stream. The old clearing has been noticed by the passing traveler for many years. In early times there was
a small improvement with the log cabin and rude surroundings made by the old pioneer, John Waddle, in 1824, a relative of Esquire Shad. Campbell. He disposed of his claim to John Baker, who lived on it several years ; Mr. D. Baker, the aged father, lived with his son. Tradition has it that he was an old soldier of the Revolutionary war, and that his remains now repose in that se- questered, lonely old field, with no stone to mark the spot of this brave defender of his country in her hour of trial. Its occupants have all long since passed away, and a rank undergrowth covers the place ; the tall, overhanging trees around alone singing their requiem. Several families, at a later date, settled in that vicinity. But they live in continual dread of the annual floods. In the memorable great rise of the Sangamon, in the summer of 1875, it nearly sub- merged the cabin of James Chandler, causing him to beat a hasty retreat before the rising, surging flood, with his family and effects. John Burris' house was filled with water several feet above the floor, and a large tree forced open the door. It was with extreme difficulty that he rescued his family from the roof, and ferried them to a place of safety. The water at Ralston's Bridge and bottom was twenty-five feet above low water mark, and Mr. Ralston said it was five feet nine inches higher than ever before known to the oldest inhabitants.
Stone Quarries .- One of the finest stone quarries in the county is located near the Ralston Bridge. The stone for the foundation of the present court-house was taken from it. In earlier years most of the lime used in the county was burned at this quarry. The ledge of rocks had quite a notoriety in the pioneer days for its den of rattle- snakes.
Mills .- In carly times there were three water inills in this town- ship. Elgan's Mill was the first and most notable of these, situated on the South Fork of the Sangamon, some ten miles north-west of Taylorville. It was a saw and grist mill, built in the year 1833, by William Wallace and Dabney Knuekols. After operating it a year or two, they disposed of it to Martin Hanon and Eli Matthews, and they in turu sold it to Jesse Elgan, in 1833. He ran it for several years, and disposed of it to Alexander Humphreys. It next passed into the hands of Capt. Gordon, in 1857, who subsequently converted it into a steam mill, locating it about one hundred yards further down the river. Since then it has been sold and removed, and now no vestige of this once noted water-mill remains. Capt. Gordon also carried on the first store in this township. This Capt. Gordon was convicted of piraey and kidnapping slaves during the war of the rebellion, and was hung in New York City.
A few miles further up the river, and about six iniles west of Taylorville, was a saw and grist mill owned by Levi Hinkle, an old pioneer settler. The third was Whitecraft's saw and grist-mill located on West Clear Creek. Its erection was undertaken by Rathbone and his son-in-law, Geo. Maddox, but completed by Whitecraft. This mill was a great convenience to the early in- habitants.
Schools .- The county court at its December term, 1839, appointed Robert Richardson, Sr., Benjamin Robertson, and William Harvey trustees of schools in township fourteen, north, range three, west. It was the first organized township for school purposes. Esquire Conneil for many years was its treasurer. This township with others suffered with having depreciated state bank paper on hand. The legislature passed an act March 4, 1843, authorizing the school commissioner of Christian county to loan on the best terms in his power, any note or notes of the state bank of Illinois received for debts due ou school fund in any township, but in no event for a less amount than fifty cents ou the dollar.
The store of J. C. Bulpit was robbed June 15, 1864. He fled to
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the house for safety, barring his door against the thieves. The robbers were disguised with blackened faces. This store is located on the S. E. quarter, Sec. 4, T. 13 R. 3 W., about one mile south west from Ralston's. John H. Davis, Sr., formerly a resident of this township, and at one time a school teacher, died in Taylorville, Jan 20, 1866, aged 79 years. A. B. Humphreys, at one time owner of the " Elgan Mills," died at his residence in the western part of the township, Oct. 8, 1865, aged 60 years.
First Officers .- The first precinet officers were elected Aug. 5, 1839. It then included all of the Bear Creek country, and polled about ninety votes. Aquilla Council and Presley Peek were elected the first justice of the peace; Amos Richardson and John L. Cagle were elected constables; the latter resigned and Jackson Wilson was elected to fill the vacancy in Ang. 1841. Amos Richardson re- signed, being elected sheriff in 1842, and Eleven Elgan was elected May 2, 1842, to fill the vacancy. According to the census of 1870, South Fork contained a population of 1279. The number of votes polled in 1876 at the presidential election was 315 The lands in this township were originally surveyed and certified July 12, 1821.
The first lands entered in this township, as taken from the county records, were made by the following parties : T. 13-3, Jan. 25, 1830, Jeremialı Simpkin, N. W. ¿ Sec. 1, 155 3-100 acres ; May 20, 1830, Jesse Langley, E. & N. W. } Sec. 12, 80 acres ; May 20, 1830, John Young, N. E. } Sec. 1, 158 76-100 acres; T. 14-3, June 24, 1829, Thomas Wilson, E. ¿ , N. E. + Sec. 29, 80 acres; T. 14-4, April 14, 1830, Horatio M. Vandeveer, W. ¿ , N. E. 1, Sec. 25, 80 acres; April 28, 1832, Eli C. Blankensop, S. E. { Sec. 24, 160 acres; June 13, 1833, Nathaniel N. Ware, E. ¿ , N. E. } Sec. 36, 80 acres ; T. 13-4, Oct. 2, 1848, Eli C. Darwin, S. W. } Sec. 2, 160 acres ; Oct. 30, 1848, Robert E. Sanders, W. ¿ S. W. + Sec. 3, 80 acres ; Oct. 30, 1848, John H. Sanders, W. ¿ N. W. } Sec. 10, 80.
BLACKBURN.
A post-office and village is located near the center of T. 13-3, and is a great convenience to the inhabitants of South Fork as a local trading point and for mails. Here resides Dr. J. H. Dicker- son, one of the leading physicians of Christian county. He is also postmaster, and engaged in merchandizing at this point.
We subjoin a list of township officers :
Supervisors .- Gavin Ralston, elected 1866; H. Richardson, 1867 ; re-elected 1868; John M. Coleman, 1869; Charles Humphreys, 1870, re-elected 1871; L. Adams, 1872; J. H. Dickerson, 1873;
J. M. Coleman, 1874; 1. A. Taylor, 1875; L. Adams, 1876; John White, 1877 ; C. C. George, 1878; Mathew Cavanaugh, 1879; W. Armstrong, 1880.
Assessors .- Isaac Hoover, 1876, re-elected 1877 ; S. S. Whitmer, 1878 ; Samuel Peck, 1879, re-elected 1880.
Collectors .- Josiah A. Hill, elected 1866; Levi Whitmer, 1867; Wm. M. Peek, 1868; Wm. G. George, 1869; Isaac Hoover, 1871 ; S. S. Whitmer, 1872, and each year up to 1877 ; J. W. Coady, 1877, re-elected 1878 ; R. A. Shaw, 1879 ; J. H. Daily, 1880.
Town Clerks .- Charles Bell, 1876, re-elected 1877; W. N. Gal- loway, 1878; John McCoy, 1879; Lawrence Curtin, 1880.
Commissioners of Highways .- John Taff, 1876; J. H. Dickerson, 1877; Orin Conway, 1878; John Jersey, 1879; A. M. Council, 1880.
Constables .- Nicholas Padget and G. A. Call, elected in 1873; W. H. Tweedy, 1874; Wm. N. Calloway, 1876; Nicholas Padget, re-elected 1877 ; Sandford Sharp, elected 1877.
Justice of the Peace .- Otho W. Greer, elected in 1866, resigned Nov. 19; John H. Caldwell, 1866; G. W. Hoover, to fill vacancy. G. W. Hoover and G. W. Mason, 1870; James Craig, 1873; W. J. Rouse, 1874; James Craig and A. A. Taylor, 1877; Orin Gifford, 1878.
Among the old settlers of Christian county, now residing in South Fork, we mention the following, and the time they came to the county : W. F. Gore, a Kentuckian by birth, settled here in 1830. Robert Preston Langley, Sr., also a native of Kentucky, came here in 1829. His wife, Minerva A. Pittman, was born in Clark county, Ind., and came to Christian county with her parents in 1826. A. Ralston became a resident of South Fork in 1834. He was born in Washington county, Indiana Leason Adams, another old settler, a North Carolinian by birth, located here in 1833. His wife, Amelia Ralston, a native of Indiana, became a resident here in 1834. The Whitecraft family were also among the early settlers. J. C. Whitecraft, a Kentuckian, came here in 1835, and Joseph A. Whitecraft moved from Sangamon county here in 1856.
Improvements .- In South Fork may be found some of the best farms and farm improvements in the county. We call the attention of the reader to the illustrations of farm scenery belonging to this township; also to the biographical sketches of several of the old settlers and prominent men who have done so much toward the de- velopment and improvement of this part of the country.
21
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
H.M.SNYDER*
JOSEPH A. WHITECRAFT.
THE Whiteeraft family have been the pioneers of three states, viz. : Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois. Their ancestors came to America from England at a period anterior to the revolutionary war. They settled in Pennsylvania. John Whitecraft, the grand- father of the present family, was born in Lancaster county. Hc was a hatter by trade. Being of an adventurous disposition he concluded to forsake the comforts of his home and try the life of a frontiersman. Accordingly about the close of the revolutionary war, he emigrated to Tennessee. A short time afterward he removed to Bath county, then known as Montgomery county, Kentucky. Here he remained until his death. He married JJane Kincaid. By this union there were six children, two sons and four daughters.
John Whitecraft, his son, and father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Tennessee. He was in his eighth year when the family removed to Bath county, Kentucky. John grew to manhood and married Rachel Arnett, who was a native of Clark county, Ken- tucky. The Arnetts were of Scotch-Irish descent, the ancestors of whom settled in the Carolinas at a very carly period in the history of that section of the country. By this marriage there were six sons and one daughter, four of whom are still living.
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John Whitecraft was a man who loved freedom of thought and action, and hated that which partook of the nature of oppression. He therefore at an early age imbibed sentiments hostile to the insti- tution of slavery, as it then existed in the Southern States. In order to escape its baneful influences, and that he might raise and educate his children in a manner corresponding to his ideas of right, he concluded wisely to leave the South, and come to the free North.
Strong and sincere in his resolution, in 1834 he came to Spring- field, Illinois, and from that point, in company with Alexander Humphreys, traveled over Sangamon county, carefully examining the quality and nature of the soil, and looking out for a desirable location. When he came to the north part of what is now known as South Fork township, he was so favorably impressed with that part of the country, that he purchased a quarter section upon which there was a small elap-board house, a view of which can be seen on another page. In September, 1835, he moved his family from Ken- tucky to a place two miles south-cast of Springfield, Illinois, where they remained until April, 1836, when they removed to their new and what has proved to be their home to the present time. Mr.
het
THE RESIDENCE AND SCENES ON THE STOCK FARM OF J. A. WHITECRAFT; SEC. 25, T. 14, R. 4, W. (SOUTH FORK TP.) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
the Library of the University of Illinois
163
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Whitecraft, soon after the purchase of the first quarter, entered the north half of seection thirty-six. He afterward became the owner of other tracts, and when he died was possessed of considerable land. He was a man of enlarged views and good business qualities. He belonged to the rigid faith of the old Scotch Presbyterians, and was devout and full of that stern courage that made men martyrs to principle.
Like all his class he was honest and exact, doing unto others as he would have others do unto him. In his domestic life none were kinder or exhibited more parental affection. He died July 25th, 1847. His wife, and the mother of the present family, survived him many years. She died September 22d, 1876, in the eightieth year of her age. Joseph A. is the eldest of the family. He was born in Bath county, Kentucky, January 11th, 1819. The other mem- bers of the family are John C., who is a farmer and resident of South Fork township ; Silas M. and George W., residents of Spring- field, and Jane M., only sister, widow of John Williams. She has two children, both boys, named Chester G. and Oscar Williams.
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Joseph A. had but few advantages in his youth for receiving an education. He attended the common schools of his native state, and received such learning as they could give. It must be remem- bered that the school system of that day was not up to the high standard that it is at present. The country was sparsely settled, and school-houses were few and far between. Then too, the youth of the land had to become producers, and help to provide for them- selves and members of the family. They matured early, and be- came stalwart yeomanry at a time when they are about ready to enter upon their education.
The subject of this sketch has by close observation, in a measure, remedied the lack of opportunities in his youth. That together with his love of reading, and desire for information, has rendered him a well-informed man upon the current events of the day. Hc is a man of good business habits and methodical, and being pos- sessed naturally of a large share of good sound common sense, which he has applied to his business relations in life, he has, per consequence, been more than ordinarily successful in the accumula- tion of property.
His father, as intimated above, was an anti-slavery man, and fought the system that made men chattels on every occasion. His repugnance and dislike to that peculiar institution was transmitted to his children. They at an early age ranged themselves ou the side of freedom and human rights, and lived to see that hated curse go down amidst the thunders and horrors of war. Joseph A., in his early manhood, gave his support to the old line whig party, as more nearly representing his views. His first presidential vote was cast for William Henry Harrison in 1840. When the whig party went down and the young republican giant sprang into existence, he was among its first advocates and adherents. He has always re- mained firm and true to its principles. He belongs to the party and votes the ticket for the principles that underlie and support the organization, and not from any desire to share in the spoils of office that fall to the party in power. The Whitecrafts do not belong to that class. They vote from a sense of duty. They prefer to enjoy broad acres, well tilled, fine stock and beautiful homes, to the un- certainties and perplexities of politics and politicians.
Mr. Whitecraft may be regarded as one of the pioneers of Chris- tian county. When he came here he was young and in the full flush of young manhood. Nearly a half century has fled by on the wings of relentless time. Then the broad expanse of uncultivated land was overgrown with rank grass, and filled with miasınatic swamps. Then were seen droves of deer that gazed upon man with open-eyed
wonder. The only sound that broke the stillness was the wild turkey calling to its mate, or the dismal cry of the wolf as he prowled near the few scattering farm-houses. Now the landscape is dotted over with thrifty villages and dwellings. Where the grass was then, now waves the golden grain ; above the fever-producing swamps hangs the rich bloom of the tasseled corn, and on all sides is heard the busy hum of husbandry. What a wonderful change, and all with- in the memory and the time that Joseph A. Whitecraft came into the county.
Forty-four years ago he came here and made this his home, and lived among this people, and in all those years, so even has been the tenor of his way, that it is doubtful if he has made one down- right enemy. In his intercourse with men he is a kind-hearted man, -one whose home is open to you, and whose acquaintance it is a genuine pleasure to make.
He belongs to that school of old Kentucky gentlemen who have always been noted for their open hospitality and the kindly wel- come they extend to all.
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