USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 59
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WAS born in Queens county, Ireland, within thirty miles of Dub- lin, July 14th, 1814. The family emigrated from Ireland to
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Canada in 1824. His father was taken sick on shipboard, and died in Quebec three weeks after their arrival. The rest of the family lived in Upper Canada, near Niagara Falls, till 1828, and then moved to Monroe (now Noble) county, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was married in 1840, to Ellen Guiler, who died in 1849. His second marriage occurred in December, 1850, to Maria Large. In 1856 he came to Christian county. When he settled on the Buckeye prairie few improvements had been made in that portion of the county, and between his residence and Pana, twelve miles, there was not a single house. Mr. Large is now one of the old residents of that part of the county. He was first a whig in politics, and has been a republican since the organization of the party. For forty-six years he has been one of the members of the Methodist denomination, and was one of the founders of the Buck- eye Church. He has nine children, all living in this county. He is a man who has made his way in the world by his own energy ; he began life by working for six dollars a month, and with the first ten dollars saved from his earnings he secured the right to enter a forty acre tract of land in Ohio, and from this small start has become one of the most substantial and thrifty farmers of this county.
ENOCH FLEMING.
WAS born in Fayette county, of this state, on the 18th of December, 1847. His father, Willis Fleming, was born in Tennessee, came to Illinois about 1825, settled near Vandalia, married Naomi Van Winkle, and in 1852, removed to Sangamon county, three miles south-east of Springfield. In November, 1856, the family settled in Johnson township of this county. Enoch Fleming was the fifth of a family of fifteen children. He was nine years old on coming to this county. He was married on the 25th of December, 1873, to Martha E. Messenger, who was born at Alton, and was living in Montgomery county at the time of her marriage. She was the daughter of William Messenger. Mr. Fleming has taken an active interest in the affairs of Johnson township, and has been a warm democrat. He was elected constable in 1869, and resigned the position two years afterwards. In 1873 he was chosen assessor. He was appointed town clerk to fill a vacancy in the early part of 1875, and the spring of the same year was elected to the position, and re-elected in 1876. While town clerk he also held the office of township trustee. He was elected commissioner of highways in the spring of 1878, and since the fall of 1878 has been treasurer of Johnson township. The number of positions to which he has been elected shows the estimation in which he is held in Johnson township.
BEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
LL that portion of territory lying in the south-west-
ern portion of the county, in its earlier history was called Bear Creek. Since that time, with the increase from cmigration, it has been divided into pre- cinets and townships for the public convenience. A strcam called Bear Creek, a tributary of the Sangamon, traverses it, and from it that portion of the county received its name. Tradition has it that in early times bears abounded in this region, and that in a grand bear hunt one of the bruin tribe was killed on this water course, and that this circumstance gave rise to the name of the stream. This portion of the territory, before the organization of the county, belonged to and formed a part of Montgomery county. Some of its officers, as Justices of the Peace, and Constables, were elected whilst under the jurisdiction of Montgomery county. Joseph P. Durbin and Richard Simpson were the two acting justices of the precinct, before whose courts inany a young couple were made happy at the Hymeucal altar ; whilst others, offenders of justice, were made to feel the stern rigors of a violated law. Bear Creek, as organ- ized, constitutes congressional township 12 N., Range 3 W.
KARLY SETTLERS.
The first settlers of Bear Creek were Joseph P. Durbin, James M. Logsdon, his brother-in-law, Nathan Painter, and old Grandfather Durbin, the father of Joseph P. Durbin, who, with their families, came in 1829. The year following came Sylvester Durbin, Nathan Durbin, and Philip Durbin. The " well-digger," old William Durbin and Thomas Durbin with their families. These pioneers found the county in its wild native state. The
grass and rank weeds grew higher than a man's head ; in the fall, when dry and on fire, presented at night a grand and magnificent sight. The fires were often destructive, sweeping in their path fences, houses, barns, and stacks of grain and hay. The deer and other wild animals could be seen fleeing before the lurid flames. In the earlier years grapes, plums, and other wild fruits were in great. abundance. Bee-trees afforded a bountiful supply of honey; it. scemed truly that they had reached the "land flowing with milk and honey." But it had its disadvantages; there were no schools, no churches, no milling facilities, no trading establishments, no blacksmith shops. To secure many of these necessarics and com- forts the settler had to travel many miles. These pioneers, who settled along Bear Creek, cleared small farms in the edge of the timber. At that period they did not realize the fact that the prai- ries could be successfully cultivated. But after a few years resi- dence this delusion was removed, and some of the more resolute pushed out on the prairies. Among them was Thomas Durbin, who first settled the Robert McCollin place. During the deep snow he would go into the timber and cut down large elm trecs for his stoek to browse upon, the stumps of which were six or seven feet high, and which were visible for years afterward, and served as old land-marks of the depth of the snow on that memorable occa- sion. The deer were driven in from sheer hunger, and often fed with the cattle. Nathan Durbin and old William Durbin subse- quently settled on the prairie, on the east side of Bear Creek, a short distance above Bond's Point. There were other settlers on the west side of the creek. Of these may be mentioned Joseph P. Durbin, James Logsdon, Christopher Durbin and Nathan Painter.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The latter planted a row of peach trees on the west side, near E. T. Leigh's present residence, nearly fifty years ago. Other early settlers were Walter Clark and John Baker, who came in 1831; later Col. Thos. B. Bond, Gabriel R. Jernigan, Alfred Currie, Robert McCollum, Lewis H. Jernigan, William Currie, whose wife was the mother of the Jernigans ; William S. Ricks, Solomon Meads, and Hiram Glass, and Lewis Elliott in 1835-6. Thomas Anderson settled on Sec. 15, in March, 1837. The Anderson Log Church and old grave-yard were on this tract. A little below it, in the ravine, was started the first distillery on Bear Creek. Wm. C & R. O. Warren came in 1838. This was an encouraging occa- sion to the new settlement. Bright as were their prospects the women folks were discontented and lonesome in their new homes, and were desirous to return to the older settlements. Their hus- bands promised to accede to their wishes when they could sell their land for three dollars and fifty cents an acre. In this they felt secure ; the want of postal and other conveniences for news, added not a little to their discontent. If they wanted to hear from their Kentucky or Tennessee friends, or mail a letter to them, they had only to ride down to the Alton post-office, about fifty miles. There were no greenbacks and less hard money in those days.
Hiram Glass was a house-carpenter-a very necessary adjunct in a new settlement. He married Miss Nancy Currie, and survived the union but a few years, dying in 1842-his widow subsequently married James Phillips. These parties owned a farm a little dis- tance north-west of the present site of Palmer. Robert McCollum's wife was formerly a Miss Margaret Jernigan. He died about three years after emigrating to the county. His consort was afterward twice married, and is still living, and is known as the widow Mills. William Currie settled on John Baker's improvement some three miles north-west of the present village of Pahner. His son, Alfred Currie, improved a farm about a mile and a half north-west of Clarksdale. Subsequently Henry Elgan lived on the place. Col. Bond settled at a point of timber on Sec. 23; the place is now owned by James M. Simpson The farm was familiarly called Bond's Point. At an early period the first post-office established on Bear Creek, was known by that name. It was a noted place for the weary traveler to lodge ; and its popular proprietor was equally noted for his generous hospitality. He too buried two wives in the old Bear Creek cemetery. His third wife was formerly a Miss Nuckols of Sugar creek, Sangamon county ; but when he mar- ried her she was the widow Graham. He moved to Sangamon county and settled at Auburn, and in December, 1879, he was killed by an accident on the Chicago and Alton railroad, near Ber- dan in Greene county, Illinois. William S. Ricks, another pioneer, lived on Sec. 34, near the head of the Bear Creek timber. His " latch string " was always out, and his home a notable stopping- place, and his hospitality unbounded. The farm is now owned by John Hawk, an old Virginian. Wmn. H. Graham, the former husband of the widow of the late Col. Bond, an early settler, was drowned in the South Fork, near " Half Acre," on the 4th of July, 1844. The first child born on Bear ' Creek (outside of the Durbin connection) was Mary Currie, daughter of Alfred Currie. She became the wife of Edward Leigh. She was born in Walter Clark's cabin, on Christmas eve, 1835, when the families were all huddled in one room.
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The first male child born was William A. McCollum, on the 1st of April, 1838. A good anecdote is related of two of these pioneer women. Mrs. Myra J. Bond, wife of the late Col. B., when she arrived in her new home, had but little conception of the responsi- bilities of housekeeping. She had been rcared in a slave state ; knew nothing about cooking, had never prepared a meal's victuals in
her life. To be thrown thus on the wilds of the prairie, to cook and provide for her family, was a trying situation And her neigh- bor, Mrs. Margaret McCollum, was not much more skilled in culinary matters. Neither of them had ever seen a squash, much less cooked one, before coming to Illinois The neighbors all bore testi- mony to the good qualities of this prairie vegetable ; they procured one from the fields and without any instruction or preparation, went bravely to work to cook it. They knew it had to be baked, so they covered it up with hot ashes in the huge fire-place ; seeds and all in it, as it had grown. It was a new and novel plan in cooking squashes, but savored a little too much of the seeds and other trimmings.
Apropos to Mrs. Mills' story of cooking is the anecdote related of several families of the Smith connection ; who moved at an carly day from " Ingianny." and settled on the head-waters of Brush creek. Their principal occupation for the first year or two, was eating watermelons and shaking with the ague. They had never been accustomed to luxuries, and some of them had never seen, much less tasted coffee, and these women did not know how to make use of it. A peddler came along and sold Mrs. L. some coffee ; intent on a nice surprise to her husband, with this new dainty for his dinner, she put the whole purchase in the pot and boiled it with the beef !
July 14th, 1832, Jesse Agee entered the first land in this town- ship, on S. E. \ N. E. } of section 9, 40 acres November 20th, 1835, Mathew Newkirk entered several hun lred acres on different sections in the township. Thomas P. Bond entered S. W. } of section 34, 160 acres, December 9th, 1835.
MILLS AND MILLING.
The first settlers were greatly inconvenienced for the want of milling facilities ; they had to go thirty or forty miles to mill ; during the " deep snow " they were cut off, and hemmed in on all sides. The improvised wooden mortar by which they crushed the corn, answered the purpose only temporarily ; corn meal was the main staff of life. In this extremity, Esquire Joseph P. Durbin secured and dressed a pair of mill-stones, from two " lost rocks" found on the prairie, supposed to have been hurled from some un- known planet. He then rigged up a horse-mill that did good service. It was one of the wonders of Bear Creek. The patrons of the mill had to furnish their own motive power by hitching on their own teams.
R. O. and W. C. Warriner erected a saw mill on Bear Creek in 1838. It was located due west from Palmer, and was propelled by water-power. During the years 1838-'9, a large amount of lumber was sawed, and carted to Springfield, where a ready market was found. The mill was sold to Le Roy Hill, of Sangamon county, and by him to others. In 1840, the dam was destroyed and never after repaired.
The Warriners were the first merchants in the south-west part of the county. They first sold goods in part of Col. Bond's new house ; afterwards built a small store-room on the banks of Bear Creek, where they sold goods while operating the mill. It was subsequently occupied by Joel Traylor as a dwelling.
The first distillery in the county was established on Bear Creek, by John Baker in 1835. Hc disposed of it to James Logsdon in 1837, and Logsdon traded it to Esquire Joseph P. Durbin. It was first located in the ravine, on the east side of the creek, close by the old log-church and grave-yard. But when it became the property of Esquire Durbin, he moved it across the creek, near to his own residence. Its chief attractions were drinking, horsc- racing, shooting matches and general carousing.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Early Preaching and Churches .- As early as 1836, Rev. Richard Bird, of the Methodist denomination, Rev. Joel Knight and Rev. J. W. Bone, of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, preached to the Bear Creek settlers. Revs. Isaac Haines, Henry F. Luckett, A. M. Wilson and Joseph Barlow, also preached at an early date. The first Protestant sermon preached in Bear Creek, was in the sum- mer of 1836, by Rev. Richard Bird, in a grove on Alfred Currie's farm, lately owned by Henry Elgan.
Rev. Joel Knight was the first Cumberland Presbyterian preacher in this settlement, in 1837. The services were held in Col. Bond's cabin. Rev. A. M. Wilson and Rev. - Trauber, of this faith, also preached in Col. Bond's cabin, in 1837-'8.
Rev. Richard Bird organized the first Methodist society in 1836, which was the first church organized in Bear Creek.
Rev. Joel Knight effected a temporary organization of a C. P. Society in March, 1841, composed of six members, with James H. Boyd as ruling elder, but it was not officially organized by the Pres- bytery until 1844.
There was a log-church built on the east side of the creek, about 1838 or '39. In this church, in 1842, the first Sunday-school in the county was organized. James H. Boyd was the superintendent, and Thomas P. Bond, secretary and librarian.
Harper's Ferry was the name of a little town or trading-post, located on the cast side of Bear Creek, near the Jernigan bridge, on the old Edwardsville road. It was the first town on the creek, and was a point of some importance. It had a post-office, stores and saloons. (. M. Leberman, of Morrisonville, was the principal merchant. He kept a general stock of dry-goods and groceries. They all flourished and were well patronized, but as the new towns along the railroads sprang up the merchants abandoned it, and sought better locations.
These are the important incidents in its earlier history. But with the tide of emigration this section of the county has rapidly filled up. New interests have been developed and lands have greatly advanced.
The precincts of " Lower " and " Upper " Bear Creek have been superseded by township organization, and with the new order of arrangements, Bear Creek, Rieks and King townships cover the old territory with their business population. With the opening of the Wabash railway, the flourishing towns of Clarksdale, Palmer, Morrisonville and Harvel, have become towns of no little importance.
Improved Stock .- Among those who introduced the first improved cattle and hogs in this township, were J. C. Dodson and George Armitage. The breed was Short-horn cattle and Berkshire hogs. The first thoroughbred horses and graded slicep were brought in by J. M. Simpson. Bear Creek has many well improved farms, among which may be mentioned those of J. C. Dodson, Fletcher Haines, J. M. Simpson, E. T. Leigh, George E. Maxon, George Morgan, George Armitage, and Wm. Kline.
In the illustrated department of this work, the reader may see several fine views of farms in Bear Creek. As this is one of the carly settled localities of the county, much of its early history ap- pears in the chapter on pioneers and carly settlers.
The following is a list of officers since township organization :
Supervisors .- James H. Hill, elected 1866, re-elected 1867, '68 and '69 ; A. L. Clark, 1870, re-elected 1871; E. T. Leigh, 1872; A. L. Clark, 1873; Henry Mundhenke, 1874 ; and has held the office by re-election up to the present time.
A88089078 .- A. L. Clark, 1876, re-elected 1877 ; Jas. H. Sisna, 1878 ; N. D. Hill, 1879, re-elected 1880.
Collectors .- Addison L. Clark, elected 1866, re-elected 1867, '68 and '69; James L. Clark, 1870, re-elected 1871; A. S. Clark,
1872; H. Mundhenke, 1873; A. E. Boyd, 1874; M. E. Johnson, 1875, re-elected 1876; J. C. Dodson, 1877; James B. McGinnis, 1878 ; M. E. Johnson, 1879; James W. Leigh, 1880.
Town Clerk .- Benford Stanley, 1876; John A. Weeks, 1877, re- elected 1878 ; L. D. Potter, 1879, re-elected 1880.
Commissioner of Highways .- V. E. Davis, 1876; R. E. Hill, 1877 ; James Conover, 1878; R. E. Hill, and S. W. Hawkins, 1879 ; B. F. Parish, 1880.
Constables .- T. P. Dunning and John T. Allen, elected in 1873 ; Miles E. Johnson, 1874; John T. Allen, re-elected 1877; H. W. Johnson, clected 1877.
Justice of the Peace .- Henry Mundhenke, elected in 1866; Henry Mundhenke, re-elected '70; William Logsdon, '70; J. B. Sullivan and Jessie Elgan, '73; E. K. Brock and Charles A. Clark, '74; R. E. O'Neil and M. D. Hill, '77 ; Robert E. O'Neil and Joel P. Speer, '79.
CLARKSDALE
Is situated on seetion thirteen of this township, on the line of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railroad, about five miles south- west of Taylorville. It was named in honor of Y. B. Clark, one of the original proprietors. It was laid out by Y. B. Clark, and platted by Richard Powel, in 1871. It has about one hundred and fifty population.
The post-office was established in 1870. The post-masters have been L. Park, E. K. Brock, G. Walton, C. A. Clark, and W. M. Gladish.
A flouring mill known as the "Clarksdale Mill," was erected in 1872, by Y. B. Clark, with a run of three burr. It was burned by an incendiary in May, 1876.
The school-house is a one story frame building, erected in 1871, by direction of Y. B. Clark, E. K. Broek, and S. W. Hawkins. Below is a list of the present business houses.
Elevator owned and operated by S. S. Sprague & Co., has a ca- pacity of 20,000 bushels small grain.
General Stores .- Wm. M. Gladish, Parrish & Park.
Drug Store .- Dr. Geo. Walton.
Physicians .- Geo. Walton, E. K. Fletcher.
Blacksmith and Wagon Making .- G. Parrish & Bro.
Blacksmith .- P. Ring.
Hotel .- Charles Morey.
PALMER.
This is the largest town between Morrisonville and the county scat. It is located on section 27, of Bear Creek township. The Wabash, St. L. & P. Railway passes through the south-east part of the town.
It was laid out in the spring of 1869, by J. H. Boyd and J. M. Simpson, proprietors, and was surveyed and platted by Richard M. Powel. The first store-house was erected by Boyd & Simpson, and Starke & Hailey put in a stock of general goods. The first house erected was a hotel by J. H. Boyd, whose residence was also inside the town limits, when laid ont. James McCauley built, and opened the second store, with a general stock of goods. During this year, 1869, the town was built up rapidly, and has grown but little since. It has about four hundred inhabitants.
The school-house was built in 1870. It is a neat and well fur- nished two story building, with two rooms. The school is a graded one, employing two teachers. The post-office was established in 1870, and G. E. Starke was the first post-master. Since then, the following men have had the office: J. W. McCauley, V. E. Davis, W. P. Crockett, A. E. Boyd, G. H. Vanarsdale.
The Christian Church was the first erected, which was in 1870,
The Library of the University of illinois
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PASTURE LANDS
RESIDENCE FROM SOUTH WEST.
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"MAPLE GROVE" THE STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF J. C. DODSON,
SEC. 8, T. 12, R. 3, ( BEAR CREEK TP.,) CHRISTIAN CO., ILL.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
at a cost of $1400. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built in 1874, and cost $1900.
The following is a list of the present business houses in the town. ELEVATOR.
J. H. Boyd's elevator was erected in 1877. It is constructed for handling all kinds of grain, and has a capacity of 4500 bushels.
Palmer mill and elevator was built by J. H. Boyd, in 1871, with one burr-run. The property was purchased, and the mill re-mod- eled, and two burrs added, in 1876, by W. A. Crowder & Co., the present owners. The elevator has a capacity of 15,000 bushels.
Physicians .- J. J. Conner, J. W. Petrie.
Groceries and Hardware-T. J. Hailey, J. C. Dodson, R. O. Suiter.
Restaurant .--- L D. Potter.
Restaurant and Barber Shop .- T. J. Lautz.
Dry Goods and Clothing .- W. L. Long, D. T. Price.
Drug Store .- G. H. Vanarsdale, I. N. Tice.
Lumber Yard .- J. H. Boyd.
Harness Shop .- J. M. Potter.
Shoe Shop .- C. N. Peterson.
Millinery Shop .- Mrs. S. J. Higgins.
Buteher Shops .- Benj. Pearch, Win. Bock.
Blacksmith Shops .- J. R. Fitch, W. M. Stam, Fred. Wucherp- fennig.
Wagon Shops .- J. R. Fitch, J. M. Barnes.
Coffin Shop .-- J. B. McGinnis.
Saloons .- Phillip Stadler, P. J. Cunningham.
HOTELS.
Bowlsby House, J. H. Bowlsby, proprietor. Palmer House, D. A. Kauerauf, proprietor.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
E. T. LEIGH
Is one of the old and prominent settlers of Christian county. The Leigh family were originally from Virginia He is a native of Prince Edward county, and was born July 27, 1816. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and held a major's commission. He met with severe losses in the destruction of his property by fire, which had the effect of reducing him in a financial point of view. He married Martha Thomerson, a native also of Virginia. He came west in 1822, and located in Madison county, where he re- mained eleven years, then moved to Macoupin county, where he stayed until 1839, when he came to Christian county, and settled in Bear Creek township, where E. T. Leigh now resides. He purchased 120 acres, and his sons entered more. Here he remained until his
death. There were eleven children in the family. The subject of this sketch is the only survivor of the family. His education in his youth was very imperfect and insufficient, as compared with that which is given the youth of to-day, but with all these disadvantages he acquired a knowledge of the rudimentary principles, and being of an observant mind, and very fond of reading and books, he soon grew to be a man of considerable information, and now we find him well posted on current events and well informed upon all questions of a public nature. In the fall of 1839 he entered forty acres of land, which he still owns. To this original forty acres he has added until he has a fine large farm, and is regarded as one of the wealthy land owners of Christian county. His home farm is one of the best improved in the township. He has given to his children consider- able land, but still possesses enough to rank him among the large farmers of his township and county.
On the 15th of February, 1841, he married Mary Ann Hill. She is a native of Kentucky, and came to Illinois with her father's family in 1837. She was a resident of the neighborhood at the time of her marriage. There have been ten children born to them, all of whom are living, and all have reached maturity. Five of them are married ; the balance are yet beneath the parental roof. All are living in the neighborhood within a short distance from their home and birth-place.
In politics, Mr. Leigh was originally a Henry Clay whig, and was in favor of the emancipation of the slaves. He fought the system of slavery, yet he was not in the strict sense of the word an abolitionist. He believed with Clay in the gradual emancipation scheme and policy. After the abandonment of the whig party, he joined the young republican organization, and from that time to the present he has been a stalwart, uncompromising and active member of that political party. He is an enthusiastic worker, and takes a prominent part in all the local, county and state contests. His long residence in the county, knowledge of men and their wants, together with his extensive information upon political matters, all conspire to make him a man whose advice and counsel is almost invaluable, and his support a necessity. He had the honor of representing his township in the Board of Supervisors, and while a member was very useful and industrious in looking after the county's interests. He took strong grounds against the payment of high salaries to county officers, and through his exertions and personal efforts they were reduced, thereby saving a considerable amount to the county each year. In all needed reforms he took an active part. He was always found voting on the side of the people, and legislating in the interests of the many, and not in the interests of the few. His busi- ness in life has been that of a farmer and stock raiser. In swine breeding, raising and shipping, he perhaps has been the most exten- sive in the county. It is not necessary for us to say that he has been successful. He possesses the evidences of that around him. He started in life poor, and what he has is the accumulation of in- dustry, cconomical habits, good management and the exercise of sound common sense. He has suffered a great deal from sickness. In 1868, he was stricken with paralysis. He spent large sums of money, and visited several places seeking medical relief, and finally regained his health. This in brief is a biographical sketch of "Uncle T. Leigh," as he is familiarly called among his old acquaintances. He is a man of generous impulses and warm-hearted, full of anecdote and a good talker. In short, he is a pleasant man to meet, hospitable and kind, honest and honorable in his dealings, and a square man in all his businesss relations in life.
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