USA > Illinois > Christian County > History of Christian County, Illinois > Part 9
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J. M. Wilkinson, a Kentuckian, and James Harris, from Ten- nessee, were among others who settled the same year.
Gabriel R. Jernigan, born in North Carolina, May 9, 1802, came with his family to this county carly in 1835, settling on Bear Creek. They lived with Walter Clark until a cabin was built on his place. He was an active Democratic partisan, and took a prominent part in the formation of the county. On its organization he was ap- pointed, by the county court, the first county treasurer. In 1840 he was elected to the same office for a term of two years. Was also elected sheriff of the county; and in November, 1849, he was elected one of the associate justices of the county court for a term of four years. He was also honored with an election as state senator in November, 1852. He held the office of police magistrate of Taylorville in 1858, and other minor offices. Died August 3d, 1866.
Jesse Elgan, nativity Maryland, came in 1835, and located tel miles north-west of Taylorville, near " Elgan's Mill," which he owned for a time. He was one of the contractors in building the first court-house. Was twice elected a member of the county court.
BEE-HUNTING.
The destiny of the Indian, is to recede before the approach of the white man ; it is the province of the honey-bee to act on the reverse, and precede the advance of civilization. The approach of the honey-bee was always a sad harbinger to the Indians; for they knew the pale faces were not far behind. At an early period bees were very numerous in Illinois, in the groves and along the skirts of timber; hence the product of the hive became a desirable com- modity in trade and commerce; and when the farmer wished a little " land office " money, this was about the only article that would readily command it. They would take their beeswax, deer- skins and peltries to the leading water-courses, and descend in their canoes or improvised boats, constructed for the purpose, to the St. Louis market.
Bee-hunting excursions were of annual occurrence. In the spring of 1822, says an old settler (Samuel Williams), bees were very plenty in the timber in the northern and north-eastern part of Christian county. " Father and I concluded to go on a bce-hunting excursion. With covered wagon, and necessary outfit, we started eastward from Campbell's Point. The first night we camped in
Buckhart Grove; the next night on Mosquito creek, near the blue mounds in the prairie. Not far from this point, we pitched our tent, and remained three or four weeks. In the timber along these streams, we found thirty bee trees. On one favorable day found ten, the greatest number we ever found in one day ; the common average on good days being from two to seven. We secured this trip forty-five gallons of honey and sixty pounds of beeswax. Soon after our return home I went to Springfield, then just laid out, to sell our wax. This was my first visit to the town, then containing less than a dozen houses, the destined capital of a great state. Elijah Isles was then the only merchant in the little town. He kept his store in a log-house, about one block west of the ‘Alton Depot.' I found him at leisure; he was affable and quite social, and we soon made a trade, he giving me 25 cents per pound for my wax, but chiefly in goods. In the fall of 1822, my father and I went out the second time to hunt bees, camping at the same locali- tics as in the spring. Hunted along the North Fork timber. We found about forty bee-trees this time. During the first afternoon of our encampment, a Pennsylvania Dutchman came into our camp on horseback in a drenching rain. IIe was on his way to the Military Tract to examine some land. He passed the night with us, but seemed quite discouraged. Looking down the high bluff, at the North Fork, he inquired its name. On being informed, he seemed much dejected, and exclaimed in his Dutch accent: 'If dat ish the Sangamon river, of which I heard so much, I ish badly deceived.' IIe was on the point of turning back for home, when he was encouraged and persuaded to prosecute his journey. During all our travels in these two hunting excursions, we saw no white man save the traveling Dutchman !"
"On the 4th of March, 1823, my father and myself started east on our third bee-hunt. The third day being warm, I found three trees on Mosquito creek. From this point we moved off to the right of the North Fork, and found seventy on the first branches of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river. We cut forty, and left the rest till fall. In August of this year, my father died, and in the fall one of my brothers accompanied me to cut the bee trees left on our last trip. In the spring and fall of 1824, I was employed by
Elias Thompson to hunt becs. He was the only man I ever hunted with, who could equal me in finding bec-trces. At the close of the season, we came out about even, finding 150 cach. If Maj. Isles has his old mercantile books, they will show that Mr. Thompson and myself dealt with him on a liberal scale in beeswax for two individuals about the dates specified. In all our hunting for miles up and down the different branches of the various streams, and in all our travels back and forth, we found no place where one white man had either settled or commenced an improvement. Thus ends our bee-hunting excursions in an uninhabited country-a country literally 'flowing with milk and honey'-in central Illinois, during the years 1822-24."
John C. Whitecraft, a native of Tennessee, was born in Novem- ber, 1784. His father cmigrated and settled in Kentucky when he was a boy, where he lived to manhood. He was married in Ken- tucky in 1816 to Miss Rachel Arnett. Being attracted with the glowing accounts of the great " Prairie State," he cmigrated with his family in the fall of 1835, and settled in Christian county, on Clear creek, about twelve miles west of Taylorville. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land of a Mr. Rathbone, which he improved as his homestead. He completed and run the mill, which was partly built on his place, for a number of years. In time his children grew up, and most of them settled around him. They are among the prominent aud respected citizens of the county. From numbers and position the location has been known as the " White-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
craft Settlement." The old gentleman was gathered to his fathers on the 25th of July, 1847, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow was accidentally killed by being thrown from a wagon, with a run away team, in Springfield, Ill., Sept. 23, 1875 .*
Elder A. D. Northcutt is a native of Montgomery county, Ky. IIe was born Sept. 11th, 1813, was married on the 25th of August, 1835, to Miss Salena Masterson, and emigrated to this county in 1836. He first located and lived for many years on a farm in Mosquito township. At that early day there were but few settlers living in that seetion ; probably not over eight or ten families. He relates many of the hardships and inconveniences of the early set- tlers. They had no milk, no stores, no markets for their surplus produce. St. Louis, Beardstown and Springfield were the nearest trading points. Elder Northeutt attended the first religious meet- ings in the county, and was among the first to preach the truths of the gospel in this section of the country. He was several times honored with official position by his fellow citizens. He was an active justice of the peace in Sangamon before the formation of this county, and was one of the first justices of the peace after its orga- nization in 1839, which office he continued to fill for eight years; was a member of the first board of supervisors in 1866, and served in that capacity for a term of four years. He has been a life-long · whig and republican. In 1854 he changed his residence to Prai- rieton township, settling on the Esquire Hammer farm, on Flat Brauch, where he still resides. For more than thirty five years he has been an officiating minister of the gospel in the Christian church.
Here it is proper to make mention of the name of a man who is unquestionably the most distinguished citizen of the county-a man who came here in the pioneer era, and began life a poor boy, but who, with a commendable energy and industry, has risen to influence and wealth. That man is Judge H. M. Vandeveer; a name that has become a household word in the county of his adop- tion. He is a native of Indiana, born in Washington county, March 1, 1816. His father, Aaron Vandeveer, removed to San- gamon county, Illinois, in the autumn of 1829, and improved a farm on Horse creek. Here the judge lived until the age of twenty- one years, with his father, and most of the time toiled on the farm. He attended a pioneer, log-eabin school about three months. Most of his education was acquired by poring over his books at noon, while the jaded plow-horse fed, and at night while the sluggard slept, and the thoughtless dissipated their time in ille amusements. He very early acquired a taste for the reading and study of books. Whilst thus engaged, he attracted the attention of the Hon. Jno. T. Stuart, of Springfield, who tendered him the use of his valuable library, by means of which he acquired some knowledge of the law. In 1836, he taught school in a log-cabin on Andy Finley's farm, about twelve miles west of Taylorville. In time he was admitted to the practice of law, and soon became prominent in the profession. Hle participated in the organization of the county, and at the first election, held on the 1st of April, 1839, he was elected county recorder. A few days later he was appointed by the county court as school commissioner, which caused his removal to the county- seat June 1-t, of the same year, he was appointed by Judge Treat, clerk of the Circuit Court, which office he held for many years. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in 1842 over Martin White, the former representative, and Henry T. Lnekett, both popular men.
On his return home, at the close of the session in 1843, he was reappointed clerk of the circuit court. The same year he was
elected a justice of the peace; he was subsequently appointed post- master of Taylorville. In 1846 he answered to the first call of his country, and raised a company of soldiers for the Mexican war, and was elected its captain ; but the company was rejected by the Governor, as the eall of the Government had been filled. He was short'y afterwards appointed by President Polk as Assistant Quartermaster in the United States Army, with the rank of Cap- tain, and served in that position in the Mexican war. On his return home, at the close of the war, his name was prominently mentioned as a candidate for Congress, but he withdrew his name in the convention. He had been twice elected as Judge of the county. In 1860 he was again returned to the Legislature, and two years later he was elected to the State Senate. In June, 1870, he was elected Judge of the Teuth Judicial Cireuit, and re-elected in 1873. The Judge has been a successful practical practitioner for a quarter of a century. In polities he is a staneh Democrat.
Thomas Simpson migrated from Kentucky in 1835, and settled near Mechaniesburg, Sangamon county. In 1846 he moved to Christian county, and purchased Col. Thomas P. Bond's farm on Bear creek, where he continued to reside until his death, December 6th, 1856. He had seven sons, the most prominent of whom is Judge Andrew Simpson ; he is the eldest son, and came with his parents to this county when a boy. He was born October 22d, 1830, on the banks of Licking river, Ky. IIe is a man possessed of a strong, vigorous mind, and early turned his attention to the study of law, and now takes rank among the best lawyers of the county. On the breaking out of the late rebellion he volunteered his services, and raised the first company from this county, and was elected its captain. The company became a part of the Fourteenth Regiment. He was severely wounded in the hand at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, which unfitted him for actual duty ; was honor- ably discharged. In November, 1865, he was elected county Judge. It was during his administration that township organization was effected. He was a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket in 1874; the district being largely Democratic, he was defeated.
James Funderburk, a pioneer of Sangamon county, was born in Tennessee, in the year 1810. His father, Henry Funderburk, was one of the early pioncer emigrants to Illinois; he came from Ten- nessee in 1815, and settled first for two years on " Turkey Hill," in St. Clair county. From here he moved to what is now Sangamon county, in the spring of 1817; squatted on a piece of land on Horse Creek ; built a eabin, and raised a crop that year with the assistance of William Nelson. It is related that he was the first settler, and that this was the first erop raised in Sangamon county.
James Funderburk married a Miss - Nelson. He came to Christian county in the spring of 1836, and settled two miles nearly west of Taylorville, on Section 32.
James R. Lueas, boru in Tennessee, October 7th, 1807, emigrated with his father, Edward Lucas, to Sangamon county, Ill., when twenty years of age, and settled on Horse Creek in 1827. IIe was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Harris, daughter of Isaac Harris, September 14th, 1828. He came to this county September 7th, 1836, and first located on the west side of Flat Branch timber, where he lived about five years, when he moved to Taylorville, in April, 18-40). He was the first landlord of the "Taylor Hotel, ' since known as the " City Hotel." Mr. Lucas was elected the first constable in Taylorville precinet, after the organization of the county. He died JJune 24, 1862.
Frederick Hammer was also a prominent settler in 1836; he lived to an advanced age, and died November 21st, 1866.
James Waddle, an oll settler, squatted and improved a farmi
. . . Butbhi Isseth for further information pertaining to this family.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
now adjacent to Taylorville; he died on this place, and the farm passed into the hands of James Young.
Lewis H. Jernigan was born in Tennessce in 1808. Emigrated to this county, and settled on Bear creek in the year 1836. Mar- ried, in Tennessec, Miss Sally Currie. They came in wagons drawn by oxen.
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Isaac Harris, a native of Nashville, Tenn. ; born in 1780. Was married to Miss Rhoda Parker, of Virginia, in 1802, and cmigrated to Sangamon county, Ill., in December, 1820. He moved to Christian county in the fall of 1836; located and improved a farm four miles cast of Taylorville, where he spent the remainder of his years.
Among others who came during the year 1836, were Ellington Adams, a native of Kentucky, who emigrated with his family, and settled, and made a farm on the ridge, five miles above Stonington. Hiram Walker, a native of Virginia, purchased and located on a farm six miles north-east of Taylorville, bordering on the skirts of the Flat Branch timber. Rev. Isaac Haines, a native of Virginia, born in 1809; emigrated to this state, and preached for two years, 1836-37, on the Buckhart circuit ; he was highly esteemed for his many Christian virtues. He died in September, 1838. Many of his descendants are now residing in this county. Henry Dickerson came also in the spring of this year. He served as constable and justice of the peace in Taylorville precinct for many years, and «lied in Johnson township.
Judge William S. Frink, who figures prominently in the early history of this county, was born in Connecticut, in December, 1790; moved with his father to Stonington, Conn., where he lived until he was forty-one years old. In 1831 he went to New York city, where he engaged in business for three years. In May, 1837, he, with his family, emigrated to this state, and settled at Allenton, in this county, where he resided until January, 1853, when he moved to Taylorville. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was elected probate judge, August 7th, 1843, for a terni of four years. On court days the judge could be seen entering town with the archives of the office in a basket on his arm. He is still re- siding in Taylorville, respected and esteemed by all for his sterling virtues and purity of character.
Wm. L. Hammer was born in Kentucky, November 2d, 1817, and at the age of ten years emigrated with his father to Sangamon county, Ill., in 1827, where he lived till the spring of 1837. At this date he removed with his father and family, and settled on the Flat Branch, in Prairieton township. At the first general election held after the organization of the county, in August, 1839, he was elected constable of Stonington precinct, and as such officer he guarded, at the first term of court, the Grand Jury, as it held its session in open air, where the present brick jail now stands. He acted as deputy sheriff in 1844. In 1846 was elected sheriff. He was politically a " Whig," and was very popular and influential in that party. October 11, 1853, he was married, in Taylorville, to Miss Isabella East. In December, 1854, he moved to Decatur, Ill., where he continues to reside.
In 1837, Thos. P. Chapman came to this county, and joined the Stonington Colony, at Okl Stonington, where he continued to live till his death, January 16th, 1867, at the ripe age of seventy-five. He was born in Stonington, Conn., September 12th, 1791. He served his country in the war of 1812, in the capacity of a drummer-boy. In early days he was a strong Democrat. Upon meeting a new ac- quaintance his first question is said to have been, "Be you a Whig or a Democrat?" His strong patriotic feelings led him, during the late rebellion, to be a "war Democrat," which culminated in his becoming a Republican, and voting for Abraham Lincoln for
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President in 1864. On the formation of the county in 1839, he was chosen one of the first members of the court, which station he filled with honor to himself and credit to his constituency. To his indus- try and perseverance the citizens of Stonington settlement were much indebted for the establishment of a post-office in their midst; he was its first postmaster, and carried the mails weekly to and from Taylorville on horseback. He held several offices of trust, and was extensively known throughout the county, and highly esteemed for his many social virtues. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at his death was buried with Masonic honors.
Nicholas Sanders, a native of Rhode Island, born April 7th, 1805, emigrated to Christian county in the spring of 1837. and im- proved a farm on Flat Branch. He opened a store of general goods at this point in March, 1852, and remained in business for sixteen years. His store formed the nucleus of a town called Sandersville, in Section 35, of Stonington township.
Among others who came to the county this year were Elijah B. Ilymen, a native of Virginia; Presley Pcek, born in Kentucky; Rev. Paris Pray, nativity Connecticut ; John Hill, Sr., from Ken- tucky, with his sons, James H., Terry, and Gabriel; and Thomas S. Leachman, also from Kentucky.
Joseph A. Haley, a native of Kentucky ; S. B. Sheldon, native . of Massachusetts ; Frank Haines, a native of Virginia ; and James Ferguson, of Virginia, were among those who came in 1838.
During 1839, the year the county was organized, there was a large influx of population. Prominent among those who arrived at this date were Morgan Goode, born in 1808, at one time county treasurer ; William Hargiss, a Kentuckian; Joel Traylor, a native of South Carolina ; and Levi W. Goodan.
David Rutledge, the " Deer Slayer" and "Nimrod" of the Flat Branch, was a native of Tennessee, born in Dickinson county in 1813. He emigrated to Christian county in 1840. Was married to Miss Anna Harris, a daughter of Silas Harris, in 1844. He was a resident of May township. He was very fond of the chase, and devoted much time to hunting. It is said that he killed, in one winter, forty-eight deer, besides a large amount of smaller game.
John W. Wheat was born in New York, September 25, 1819, and came to this county in 1840. In that year he taught the first school in Taylorville. He was by profession a lawyer ; was elected the second school commissioner of the county in August, 1831, for the term of two years.
Daniel De Camp settled in the county in June, 1843. He was born in Virginia, August 31, 1824. For several years he was con- nected with Allen's Great Eastern Stage Line, which ran through this county. He married, October 7th, 1847, Miss Pernecy Lang- ley, a daughter of Jesse Langley. He purchased the " Blue Point" farm and "Stage Stand" in February, 1851, and moved there the March following. His farm embraced over two hundred acres of choice land, on which the town of Edinburg is now located. Mr. De Camp was fond of hunting in his younger days. Has been justice of the peacc, and held other offices of trust in his town and township. IIe served as Captain of Company D, of the 130th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in the late rebellion.
In recording the names of those men who have been connected with the history and development of Christian county, that of the late Major D. D. Shumway must not be forgotten. Though he did not become a resident until 1843, he made an honorable record; but, like many others, did not live long afterwards to enjoy it. He was born in Massachusetts, September 28, 1813, where he lived until he reached the years of manhood. In 1834 he came west and settled, first in Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained till 1837, when he
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
came to Montgomery county, Ill. He was elected and served a term as one of the county commissioners' court of Montgomery county ; was also appointed Major of the State militia. June 3d, 1841, he was married to Miss Emily R. Roundtree, daughter of the late Hon. Hiram Roundtree, of Hillsboro, Ill. In the spring of 1843 he removed to Christian county, first settling on wild prairie land, about four miles east of Taylorville, where he improved a farm of several hundred acres. In 1851 he became a resident of Taylorville, where he engaged in merchandizing, his occupation in former years, which he continued with success until 1858. He then retired from active business life, having accumulated considerable wealth. He was a member of the legal profession, and for many years held the office of Master in Chancery of the county.
The Major was a gentleman of culture and taste, possessing a noble, generous disposition, and was highly esteemed among his fellow-citizens. In politics he was a democrat. During his resi- dence in the county he was elected, in 1845, a member of the legis- lature from the counties of Christian and Shelby; and at the fol- lowing session was elected clerk of the State Senate. In 1848 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and took an active part in its deliberations; was elected county judge in No- vember, 1857, for a term of four years. He was also connected with both the county and state agricultural societies, and one of the incorporators and directors of the Springfield and South-eastern railroad, and discharged the duties of many minor offices. Much credit is due him, while in the legislature, for the location of the Terre Haute and St. Louis R. R. through the southern part of this county, where have sprung into existence the flourishing towns of Pana and Rosemond. He was also a prominent Mason.
Dr. Calvin Goudy was a native of Ohio, born June 2d, 1814, emigrated with his parents to Indiana in 1826, from thence to Illinois in 1832, locating at Vandalia. He graduated at the St. Louis Medical College in the spring of 1844. Soon thereafter, in May, 1844, he located in Taylorville, where he acquired a lucrative practice, and continued to reside until his death. (A biographical sketch may be seen on another page.)
Dr. J. H. Clark, a Kentuckian, emigrated and settled first in Johnson township, this county, in the spring of 1844. The doctor was a member of the county court when the present court-house was built.
Joseph Edwards, a native of Ireland, settled on Coal creek in this county March 26, 1845. He was one of the noted eighteen voters of "Stone Coal Precinct." Hc was a man known for his candor and integrity, and exercised a commanding influence in that section of the county.
Another carly and prominent settler in "Stone Coal," now Pana, was Win. Pryce, born in England, Feb. 28th, 1817; came to this county in 1845; taught the first school in that part of the county, was deputy tax collector in 1845, and held other offices of trust.
Joseph Edwards, an Irishman by birth, settled in Pana township March 26th, 1845. His house was a voting place for the precinet for a number of years. He was a justice of the peace and a gen- tleman highly respected for his moral worth. He died in October, 1855, aged sixty-eight years.
Elijah Duncan, nativity North Carolina, settled in this county on the west side of Bear Creek in 1847, where he died Dec. 14th, 1861, aged about sixty-four years. He was a man firm and decided in his convictions of right. He had sixteen chikiren, some of whom nre still residing in the county.
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