USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 8
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Mary Sinnet, daughter of John S. Sinnet, was the first white child born in this county. Her birth occurred early in 1820.
On the 8th of March, 1840, he moved from Christian to Tazewell county, where he resided until his death, January 13, 1872, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.
Sinnet was twice married ; the second time to a Miss Elizabeth Perdue. He had ten children by his first wife, and three by the last one. He was a great hunter. Mr. Sinnet was a member of the Methodist Church for over fifty years, and died in that faith. Ile was a member of the pioneer M. E. church of this county, which held its meetings at John Brents' and Father Young's.
Of the early history of Jacob Gragg, better known as " Jake" Gragg, and the " tall man," there is but little known. He was a ranger in the war of 1812. At one time during the war he with oth rs were taken prisoners by the Indians. Some they instantly killed, and others were reserved for more severe torture. Gragg used to tell that he successfully run the gauntlet from one end to
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the other without receiving serious injuries. This secured his safety, and he subsequently eseaped.
When Gragg first came to Illinois, in 1803, he settled near Troy, in Madison county. He first squatted on the place, afterwards owned by Martin Hanon, on Horse-shoe prairie, Christian eounty. He, too, was a celebrated hunter, and, with Martin Hanon and John S. Sinnet, hunted the deer and the honey of the wild bee in the forest.
Alexander Matthews is a native of Tennessee. He is the son of Claiborn Matthews, one of the first settlers in the county. His mother's maiden name was Moore. Both his father and mother were natives of North Carolina. They were married in that state, and emigrated to Tennessee; thence to Illinois in 1817. First Joeated in the southern part of the state. Alexander was about five years of age when his parents settled in this eounty the following year. They settled in what is now South Fork township, near the stream known by that name. He is the only surviving member of the family, and has always continued to live near where they first settled. Is now past sixty-six years of age, having lived over sixty-one years in the county. Has been twiee married, and has raised a family of four children. IIe is justiee of the peaee in Buekhart township.
The Brents were an old pioneer family in this county ; settled here in 1820. William C. Brents was born in Livingston county, Ky., in 1814, and came to this eounty with his widowed mother and family when about six years of age. They settled and in- proved a farm about five miles north-west of Taylorville, now owned by Joel Potts. The place where their rude cabin home stood, on the cast side of the old orchard, supposed to have been made by them, is still visible. In 1824 the family removed to the farm half a mile south of Taylorville, where William C. breathed his last, February 3d, 1861, aged forty-seven years. Many of the older settlers remem- ber the old Brents' cabin anh its hospitable inmates, all of whom have passed away.
William C. Brents was held in high esteem, and was the recipient of several offices of trust. Ile was several times elected as consta- ble, and served as sheriff in 1854-5. He was generous to a fault ; the latch-string of his house was always out, and many a one he aided and succored in time of need. His brothers, Simeon and John, came here at the same time. The latter owned and made the first improvements on the Hall farm two miles east of Taylorville, before the "deep snow," in 1830. He sold it, in 1834, to Jesse Langley, and returned to Kentucky. In 1831 the first Methodist meeting in Taylorville township was hehl at his house.
Simeon Brents was in the Black Hawk war. He was married November 19, 1830, to Miss Mary W. Blalock, at the residence of Morgan Goode, J. P. This was the first marriage in Taylorville.
The land on which Taylorville is located was entered by Daniel (. Goode in 1835. Goode was a Kentuckian by birth. He settled in Horse-shoe prairie, this county, in 1821 ; was a resident of San- gamon county as early as 1819. Daniel C. Goode was a true type of the pioneer. In person he was portly and creet ; his bearing noble and commanding ; his forchead high and broad ; his features regular, expressive, strong and masculine. He was possessed of many marked traits of character. Firm, decided and uncompro- mi ing in his own views, he quailed at no danger ; a warm friend, Int bitter enemy. He was what might be termed a pioncer states- man. His judgment of men and things was good. In politics he was a democrat, and maintained the doctrines of the party without fear, and exercised a great influence at elections. Ile was also a great hunter, and fond of sport. He assisted in raising the first log hon e in Springfield. It was often his custom to wear a buck- kin hunting shirt and br cches. He died March 28, 1845, and
was buried at the root of a tree on his farm that he had selected as his last resting place.
Miss Hannah Hanon, a sister of Martin Hanon, married Samuel Miller in Kentucky. They emigrated to this state in the fall of 1823, and settled in South Fork township, on a farm near " Elgan's Mill." Miller died in 1833.
Samuel Wydiek, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated and settled on the Flat Braneh, in Prairieton township, in 1824. He was about the first white man in that section, coming one year before his nearest neighbor, Peter R. Ketcham, who settled about six miles below him. Game was then so plentiful in that section that he often stood in his eabin door and shot deer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk war.
At seeing the soldiers mustered for the contest of the late civil war his heart was fired with all the patriotie spirit of old; he joined Capt. Long's company in August, 1861, and marehed to Decatur. The " boys in blue" had great respeet for the aged vete- ran. So robust and active was he that he passed muster casily, giving his age at forty-one-though eighty-one years old-at Camp Pugh, Deeatur. His company formed a part of Col. Pugh's regi- ment, which marched to St. Louis the same week. A correspondent says of him : " He endured the hardships incident to the tented field with as much bravery and spirit as did his more youthful com- panions in arms." He died in his country's service, in St. Louis, April 22d, 1862, at the ripe age of eighty-two years.
The first eog-mill built in this seetion of country was by Thomas Dawson, on the William B. Hall farm. Dawson was a pioncer settler.
Daniel Miller was a man familiarly known to the carly settlers, and is well remembered by many of the citizens of the county at this date. He, like many of our pioneers, was a self-made man, and rose to considerable prominenee in the county. He was born in Kentucky, in 1818, and at the age of five years came with his father's family to this county, settling in South Fork township in 1823. His early years were spent on his father's farm, devoting his leisure hours to reading and study. He attended school about four months in all ; was a pupil of Elijah Hanon, who taught the first school in Christian county in 1827, in a log-cabin, two miles north- cast of Taylorville. After this he built a small cabin on the Reese farm, in South Fork, below old Esquire Couneil's homestead, where, in 1828, he mastered arithmetic, and made progress in other studies. At the early age of seventeen he taught school. Ile took an active part in the formation of the county. Under the nom de plume of " East Sangamon" he wrote and published in the Springfield Republican several able articles advocating the division of Sangamon county. In August, 1843, he was elected constable of South Fork precinct, and served for a time as treasurer of the school fund. Soon after tlie location of Taylorville, he made it his residenec. He was a candidate for county clerk in 1840, and was defeated by only a few votes ; was elected county school commissioner August 4th, 1845, without opposition. At one time he was a deputy sheriff. He was admitted to the bar in this county, and as a practicing attorney received a liberal share of the cases in court. In August, 1847, he was elected county clerk for a term of four years, but died the fol- lowing year, November 9, 18 18.
Gabriel Mckenzie settled in the county at an carly date. IIe was a great fiddler, and played for all the dances and frolics in this part of the country. Was born in 1797, and died in Taylorville, October 22, 1862.
R. Preston Langley, now a resident of the Horse-shoe prairie, came to this county in 1831. He is a brother of Jesse, Josiah, and Thomas Langley ; he is the only survivor of the brothers.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Another old pioneer was Jesse Murphy, who came here in 1829, and sojourned for a short time in Horse-shoe prairie. He taught school here in 1831, about two miles west of Taylorville. We will here give a passing notice of a few of the very early settlers who lived in close proximity to Horse shoe. Among the number was John B. Pittman, father of Mrs. R. P. Langley. He was born in Ireland in 1776, came to America, and settled in Christian county in 1830, and died in 1834. His wife's name was Elizabeth Langley. They lived and died on Clear creek, one mile north of Horse-shoe. Thomas Jones and family lived one mile west of Pittman's, in 1829. They moved to Missouri in 1840. Joseph Denton, father of Isaac Denton, lived on Clear creek before the "deep snow," and not far distant from Horse-shoc prairie.
In 1824 Solomon Meads and his brother Joseph came, and first located below " Elgan's Mill," in South Fork township, where they lived a few years, then moved to Bear creek. Solomon died December 12th, 1871, at the age of ninety years, six months and nineteen days, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery on Bear creek.
The Young family cmigrated from Kentucky to Christian county in 1825. " Old Johnny Young," his sons, William, father of Peter Cartwright Young, Ezekiel, commonly called " Black Zeke," and Jarret, all came together. The father, Jolin Young, settled and improved the John S. Fraley farm, four miles cast of Taylorville, where he died in 1834. IIis son Thomas, familiarly known as " Big Tommy Young," did not arrive till 1829. IIe purchased a small improved claim, and settled on it, which was a short distance south of the present R. P. Langley place on Horse-shoc prairie. Hc was celebrated for breeding fine hogs, and always keeping the best stock in the country. Jarret Young was only fourteen years old when he came with his parents to this county.
" Old Field Jarvis" is well remembered by many of the older settlers ; he came also in 1825. IIc was very tall in stature, and often had to stoop to pass into many of the cabins; and, when within, not unfrequently his head would be above the loft. On one occasion when thus situated, he asked, " Who lives here ?" The lady of the cabin replied, " Come down and see."
Peter and Christopher Ketcham were natives of Alabama. Peter Kctcham was born about 1805, and at the age of twenty came to this county and settled on Flat Branch, about eighteen miles north- east of Taylorville, in 1825. He was one of the carly settlers in that part of the county. Was a Methodist minister, and is said to have organized the first M. E church in the county, in 1828, at his own residence, where meetings were held for a number of years. He was elected justice of the peace for Buckhart precinct (Sanga- mon county) in 1835, and re-elected in 1839, after the organization of Christian. He administered the oath to the commissioners at Allenton, before they located Taylorville as the county seat. Was elected a member of the county commissioners' court, August 4th, 1845. His son, Green B. Ketcham, was elected coroner of the county in 1844. Before the Rebellion the family moved to Texas, where most of them were killed by Indians. His brother, Chris- topher, who came to the county with him, improved a farm ad- joining, where he resided until his death.
Martin Miller, a native of Kentucky, born October 6th, 1820, cmigrated when only five years old, with his father to the territory now embraced within this county. He was one of the pupils of the first school taught in the county by Elijah Hanon, in a log-house, two miles east of Taylorville.
William Wallis, a native of North Carolina, emigrated with his wife to Sangamon county in 1819, from which place he moved to this county in the fall of 1825, and opened a small farm one mile east
of Taylorville. Mr. Wallis died on his farm, December 6th, 1844.
A hardy old pioneer was John Durbin, better known as "Stumpy John." He, with his sons, John Z., Josephus, and Leonard, emigrated from Kentucky in 1828, and pitched their tent in the " Richardson Settlement," lower South Fork precinct. He died in 1831, and was buried on Bear creek. The year they came, 1828, was the exciting Presidential contest between General Jackson and John Quincy Adams, and John Z. Durbin walked all the way to Springfield, and cast his first vote for the old hero of New Orleans. He raised fine crops of flax and cotton in 1829. It is said that Jolm Z. was the first person married in Christian county. IIe was quite a hunter in his younger years. Many wolves and deer have been brought to grief by his trusty rifle. He was at one time proprietor of the " Durbin Owaneco" business house on the county road from Pana to Taylorville.
Jesse Langley was born in Kentucky, April 18th, 1796; emi- grated to this county in 1828; purchased and settled on a small improvement made by a Mr. Armstrong, on the south side of " Horse-shoc," about six miles west of Taylorville. In 1834 he moved to and improved the place formerly occupied by John Brents, one and a half miles east of Taylorville, where he settled permanently. Here he erected a horse-mill, and built a distillery in 1837. He often wore the garb so common with pioneers-a wolf-skin cap, buckskin hunting shirt and breeches. He died March 4th, 1847, aged fifty-one years.
In 1827, William George, a native of Virginia, cmigrated to this county, and settled in Buckhart township, a few miles north of Edinburg. He died soon after he located there, in the same ycar, aged ninety-four years. He had a family of six children, three boys and three girls. His son, John George, was eight years of age when he came to this county with his father, and has con- tinued to reside in the county ever since. During most of this time he lived on his farm in Buckhart. In 1874 he moved to - Taylorville, and subsequently purchased an interest in a flouring- mill in Pana, which burned down in 1875. In connection with W. F. Minnis, he rebuilt, and went into operation in February, 1876.
James Barker, a Kentuckian by birth, came here in 1828, and settled in Mt. Auburn township. He built a water mill on the north fork of the Sangamon river, familiarly known as " Barker's Mill." Was a constable and justice of the peace for many years. He also took a great interest in all agricultural movements, and introduced some of the first thorough-bred stock in the county. He was an industrious farmer, good citizen, and a kind neighbor. Died at the advanced age of eighty-two years on the 4th of February, 1869. His wife died three years later at the same age; eighty-two years.
The first settlement of the Bear creek region of the county began in 1829. Three families, viz., Esquire Joseph P. Durbin, a native of Kentucky ; Nathaniel Painter, and old Grandfather Durbin, all came together in one wagon, drawn by a yokc of oxen, and settled near cach other on Bear creek. They suffered many hardships incident to the pioncer. They were compelled to go thirty or forty miles to mill, and to do their trading. Esquire Durbin dressed a pair of mill-stones, and constructed a rude horse-mill, which did good service during the "deep snow." At one time he owned a distillery ; was justice of the peace for many years; first elected in August, 1835, whilst under the jurisdiction of Montgomery county. In 1850 he moved to Locust township, and settled one mile south of Owaneco, where he continued to live until his death, October 5th, 1875. At one time there was a large connection of the Durbin
5
34
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
family living in this county. They were all adherents of the Roman Catholic religion, and they looked up to the Esquire as a kind of spiritual father and adviser in the absence of a priest.
The Richardsons all came from Christian county, Ky., and formed what has been known as the " Richardson Settlement," in 1829. Isaac Richardson, Jr., came with his parents to this county ; lost his arm by accident in a threshing machine. Was a member of the firm of Amos Richardson & Bro. in the dry-goods business in Taylorville at the time of his death, January 19, 1851. He was a bachelor. William Richardson, brother of Robert Richardson, was a native of North Carolina ; emigrated to Kentucky, and from thence, with his brother, to this county in 1829, and settled ou the east side of the prairie. His wife's name was Jemima Richardson. They had nine children born to them. Isaac Richardson, Sr., died January 18, 1872 ; Harvey Richardson died May 10, 1878. These two brothers lived about a mile north-west of "Ralston's Bridge," and both lie buried in the Finley grave-yard.
Robert Richardson, a native of North Carolina, born July 3d, 1785. Married a Miss Elizabeth West in 1805. Emigrated to Kentucky in 1809, and from thence to Illinois in 1829, settling on a farm ten miles west of Taylorville, where he lived until his death, November 17, 1855. His farm was on the west side of the prairie, and his brother William's on the east. They both had large fami- lies, and many of their descendants are still living in the county. Robert was a great friend and supporter of religion, and through his energies a Methodist society was organized at an early date. Services were held in the school-house near by till the erection of a new house of worship. It is now known as the Bethany M. E. church. When he arrived in the county, South Fork had but few inhabitants. He put up a double log-house, with an entry between. It was late in the fall, and he did not get time to make doors, but hung up quilts instead, which afforded poor protection against the cold winds and dritting snow.
Amos Richardson was born in Kentucky, November 6, 1811; was married in Sangamon county, and had a large family born to lim. He held several offices in the county. Elected constable Au- gust 5th, 1839. Was the first deputy sheriff in 1839. Was elected sheriff August 1, 1842, and a member of the county court Novem- ber 6, 1849. Was an active member of the Methodist church, a good citizen, and highly esteemed for his moral worth. Died in Taylorville, November 1, 1852.
Jesse Richardson lived ou a farm near his father's for many years, but subsequently moved to Taylorville. He came with his parents to the county in 1829. He never married. Was elected county treasurer in 1849. Died September 23, 1855.
James Minnis came to this county also in 1829, and settled and improved a farm on " Horseshoe prairie," six miles north-west of Taylorville, where he died in 1860. His wife survived him until 1873. They had ten children, most of whom are yet living.
An old veteran of the war of 1812, and a soldier in the Black Hawk war, was Shadrack JJ. Campbell, born in East Tennessee. lle emigrated carly in the fall of 1829, with his family, to this county, and settled on Section 3, T. 14-3 west. The South Fork timber projected out into the prairie at his place, and it took the name of " Campbell's Point," by which it was familiarly known for years. Soon after his settlement he was elected a justice of the peace-probably in 1831. He held that office until his death in 1836. He was a candidate for the legislature, which then held its 4 sions in Vandalia, and was deflate I by only one vote. His wife, a noble, & It verificing, kind, and hospitable woman, survived him over thirty three years
Col Thomas S., Marcus 1 and John Young, natives of Keu-
tucky, all came to this county in 1829, and settled on Flat Branch, south of Taylorville.
John Finley, his wife, and son Andy, natives of Kentucky, emi- grated to this county the same year. Andy was a great deer hunter
Jesse Murphy, who figured quite prominently in the organization of the county, was a native of Tennessee, born February 6, 1792, and came to this county in 1829. He settled and improved a farm about two miles west of Taylorville. He raised a large family, several of whom still reside in the county. He was appointed, April 16th, 1839, the first collector. In 1843 he was elected assessor aud treasurer for the county, and re-elected in August, 1847. In 1856 was elected to the office of coroner for a term of two years. He died in Taylorville, November 3d, 1865, aged seventy-three years.
John Gore, Sr., known as the " twenty-five cent man," settled on a farm four miles west of the county seat in 1830. He was called the "twenty-five cent man" from the fact, that in selling his surplus corn crop, he would never take less than twenty-five cents per bushel ; nor would he ever charge more, even if the market price was fifty cents per bushel. He was a zealous member of the M. E. church, and his house was a noted stopping-place for the preachers of that denomination.
The second school in the county was taught by Wm. Mccullough, in 1831, in an old log-house, about two miles east of Taylorville, above the Hall's wood pasture, on the Flat Branch road, John Brents then owned this farm, and the school-house was on his land. Mccullough is said to have been a good teacher, but at times a little intemperate, and on such occasions many amusing things would happen in his school.
The first settler on cast Bear creek was Walter Clark, born in Virginia, April 12th, 1788. Married a Miss Young, daughter of Peter Young, in Ohio, by whom he had six children. His son, Dennis Clark, was judge of Knox county, Ill., for a number of years. Mr. Clark came with his family to Illinois in 1821, and after several removals to different parts of the state, he settled on Bear creek, iu this county, March 26th, 1831. He located on the east side of the creek timber, not far from Palmer. They came from Sangamon county on foot, not able to own a team, bringing with them a yearling heifer, a gun, axe, and hocs. They soon built a log-cabin, 16 by 18 feet in size, with a large fire-place and punchcon floor. That spring they elcared five acres in the edge of the timber, and, with their hoes, dug places in the ground, dropped the corn, and attended it the whole season with nothing but the hoe, and raised a fair crop. The following winter was a trying one on the family; with no team to go to mill, they beat their corn in a mortar, and used a piece of punctured buckskin, drawn over a hoop, for a sieve. At this date deer and all kinds of game were plentiful in this section, and they did not want for meats. In 1832, John Baker, who settled about three miles north, was his nearest neigh- bor. Christopher Durbin was also living in the neighborhood. There were three hundred and fifty Indians encamped over Sunday on Bear creek. They were very religious, and held services ou the Sabbath. An Indian preached. The Durbins had Clark arrested for killing an Indian who was very troublesome in the neighborhood, but he was acquitted on trial, and those causing his arrest were eager to seeure again the friend- ship of Walter Clark. He moved to Alton ju 1836, and died in St Louis, April 12th, 1846.
John Davis settled on the Sangamon, in Mt. Auburu township, in 1831. His son, Henry Davis, was an early merchant in the town of Mt. Auburn.
35
HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Esquire Wm. M. Thompson was a Kentuckian, and emigrated to this county in 1832. His first wife died in 1846. Their daughter was the wife of Samuel Brents. December 6th, 1847, Thompson married, again, Mrs. Polly Wallis. They are now both dead. The Esquire was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, to whom he was devotedly attached. He was elected justice of the peace on the organization of the county in 1839, and held the office successively for over fifteen years, till his death. A great many amusing stories are told about Thompson, that occurred during his official life; he was greatly respected.
In 1833 came Thomas Young, Sr., a native of South Carolina. He settled about one mile south-west of the county seat. Five of his sons came to this county-Col. Thomas S. in 1829, and James in 1830, spoken of above; and the other three, Frederick, Ezekiel S., and John W., came with their father in 1833. Old Father Young died on his farm, March 24th, 1845; his wife followed him a year or two afterwards.
Gavin Ralston, Sr., was a native of Scotland. Married a Miss Cynthia Vandeveer in Indiana. Emigrated and settled in South Fork township, on the banks of the Sangamon, in 1834. The bridge over the stream has taken his name. Ralston was a member of the first county court ; he died in 1846.
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