USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 14
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 14
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In 1817, Thomas Young, William Barbee and Nathan Mars, came to this country to prospect for a home. The other two men had married sisters of Barbec, and in the fol- lowing year they all returned with their
families, Barbee settling on section 25, Mars and Young on section 11. On their return in 1818, from their native State of Kentucky, they were accompanied by the family of John Wright, who was also a brother-in-law of Barbee. Jesse Page, a native of Kentucky, came here in 1817, entered land on the fractional quarter on the southeast of section 9, and in the following spring brought his family to a farm, whence he moved to Clark County in 1824. Harrison Gregg came here in the same spring, a young married man with wife and two children, but left this country for Texas some years later. Joshua Barbee, a brother of William, came in the spring of 1818 from Kentucky, but left for the Lost River country a few years later. William Everman came about the same time from the same State, and located on section 13. Arm- stead and Steven Bennett came from Ken- tucky in 1818, and located on section 13. This family were in comfortable financial cir- cumstances, and improved a good farm, but subsequently left for Texas, selling out to Guy Smith. William Mitchel was a young unmarried man, a new emigrant from Eng- land. He entered land as early as 1817, and perhaps was the first actual settler in Robin- son township. After maintaining bachelor's hall for a number of years, he married Sarah Newlin, and lived on his place until the day of his death. Enoch Wilhoit was an immi- grant of 1820, coming from Kentucky, and settling on section 12.
The "entry book" indicates an interval of a number of years between the coming of Wilhoit and the next entry, and it is probable that there were few permanent accessions to the community planted here before 1830. Under the peculiar condition of affairs in a new country it was frequently the case, that people in search of a new home would come to this section, build a cabin, raise one crop and then move to some locality which prom-
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ised better results. This was true to some extent in this township, and later comers found no difficulty in securing a cabin fitted at least for a temporary abode. Of this later accession John Nichols was an early settler. He came from Virginia about 1830, settling upon property which still remains in posses- sion of the family. John Gwin a son-in-law of Nichols, was another incomer of this time, and located about a mile and a half north of town. John Cable came here about this time and purchased considerable land about the site of the village. His cabin was erected on what is now known as the Dunham place. He was a man of good education for the time and had formerly engaged in teaching. An active, intelligent farmer, the prospect of im- proving a large farm and securing a fine com- petency seemed bright before him, when the death of his wife, leaving four little children to his care, dashed his hopes in this direction. He at once sold his property, and moving in- to Indiana engaged in mercantile pursuits, subsequently acquiring considerable wealth, and rearing his children without the aid of a second wife.
His old cabin still does duty as a stable for Samuel Maginnis. In 1832 F. M. Brown came to the east side of the village and en- tered 160 acres of land. He was a native of Virginia, from whence he had gone to Gar- rard County, Kentucky, thence to Indiana, and finally to Illinois. Nicholas Smith, a family connection of Brown's, had settled here, and it was through the representations of the former that Brown came here. The journey was made in a big schooner wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. In this was be- stowed the household effects, the wife, and so many of the eight children as could not make part of the way on foot. Two cows and a mare and colt completed his whole worldly posses- sion, aside from the entry price of his land. On arriving bere, the family found shelter in
a deserted cabin built by William Patton, on the site of the old brick-yard. Brown's land lay just beyond the limits of the present village, to the northeast, and when the ques- tion of erecting a cabin on this property came, there was a division of opinion. The head of the family had chosen as the pro- posed site, a pleasant grove situated on a little knoll just east of the village, but Mrs. Brown, always accustomed to wooded coun- try, feared such an exposed situation, and de- sired the cabin built on lower ground in the edge of the timber. It was finally left to a vote of the children, who, sharing the preju- dices of their mother, decided in favor of the low land and timber. In 1833 John Blank- enship came to the central part of this town- ship. He was an old soldier of the war of 1812, as Brown had been, and the two had campaigned together. It was through the influence of Brown that he came here. He built a cabin where Aldrich Waters now lives, the first residence on what is now the village of Robinson. He made no entry or purchase of land here, and subsequently moved elsewhere.
Succeeding the accessions of this period another interval of some eighteen years occurred in which there were few or no addi- tions to the settlement in this township. The removal of the county seat, and the laying out of Robinson village, however, changed this apathy into a vigorous activity, though the immediate effect was more apparent in the history of the village than in the surround- ing country, where the last of the public lands were not taken up until about 1851 or later.
There was much to remind the first settlers that this was a frontier country. Following close upon the cessation of Indian hostilities, they found the natives in undisturbed pos- session of the hunting grounds they had fre- quented from time out of mind; to the north for miles there was but here and there an
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
isolated eabin, while the nearest village was thirty miles to the southeast. A well traveled trail led up from Vincennes, through Pales- tine to Vandalia, and later a mail route was marked by a bridle path from Palestine through the central part of Robinson. The whole country, however, was open to travel. There was but little to obstruct the way, or even the view. Deer could be seen as far as the eye would reach, and travelers found it necessary only to avoid the low prairie land which throughout the summer was so wet as to allow a horse to mire to the hock-joint. These lands have since proven the best farm- ing property in the country, but were orig- inally so wet as to be entered only as a last resort. The settler once here, the neighbor- hood which extended for miles about, was summoned and a cabin raised. Here there was no dearth of assistance, but in the lower part of the county, early settlers were oeea- sionally obliged to build a three-sided shelter until enough men came in to build a cabin. The difficult method of transportation pre- vented the bringing of any great amount of furniture. Beside the family, the wagon load consisted of provisions, bedding, a few hand tools, and perhaps a chair or two. The New- lins brought in three chairs strapped on the feed-box, and the first care of Thomas was to go to Vincennes where he purchased a barrel of salt for eighteen dollars, some blacksmith tools and a cow and calf.
The home onee secured, attention was then turned to the preparation of a crop for the next season's support. "Clearing " did not form an onerous part in the first work of the farm. The principal growth was brush, which necessitated a good deal of pains-taking "grubbing," and then the firm sod was turned by the plow. The first of these inn- plements in use here, was the Cary plow with a mold board, part wood and part iron, hewed out of beech or maple, which necessitated a
stop once in about twenty rods, to clean with a wooden paddle carried for that purpose. These were succeeded by the Diamond plow, manufactured principally at the country blacksmith's. Their construction involved an oblong piece of steel, 12 by 16 inches, which was cut into a rude diamond shape, bent to serve as a plowshare and point, and welded to an iron beam. This was a considerable improvement upon its predecessor, and the two forms sufficed for years. The first crop of corn was very often planted in gashes made in the sod by an ax. From such rude hus- bandry an abundant harvest was received, amply sufficient at least for the support of the family and such stock as needed feeding grain. Thomas Newlin was a blacksmith by trade, and set up his forge very soon after his arrival. This shop was a valuable acquisition to this community, and was the only one for miles about. Here almost everything a farmer needed of iron was made: plows made and sharpened, hand tools and kitchen utensils.
An important resource of the early com- munity, and one, in fact, without which the settlement of this country must have been greatly hindered, was the game that found food and shelter here. Deer were found in almost countless numbers, and in some sea- sons of the year as many as fifty or seventy- five have been counted in a single herd. The settlers who came here were not born hunters, and most of them bad to learn to shoot deer, though fair marksmen at other game. One of the noted hunters of this re- gion said he missed at least one hundred of these animals before he ever hit one. Hun- dreds of them were killed, and so unequal was the supply and demand of venison that it was years before a deer with the hide would bring fifty cents. When the village growth of the county became such that they could be disposed of at this price considerable numbers were brought in, and the money thus
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
acquired saved for taxes. It is related on one occasion a settler shot a fine deer, dressed it, and took the two hind quarters to Palestine to dispose of. He met a man newly arrived in the village and when asked the price of them, the hunter put a big price upon them, charging fifty cents apiece, but to his utter astonishment the stranger took both quarters and paid down the cash without a question. Much as he needed the money, the settler has never been quite sure to this day that the stranger was compos mentis, or that he did not overreach his immature experience. Oc- casionally a deer would turn upon his antag- onist and give the sport a zest which did not lessen the attraction to the frontiersman. One of the Newlins out in quest of deer, got a shot at a fine buck and dropped him to the ground. Supposing he had killed the animal instantly, he approached without observing the precaution of loading his rifle. He had his ax in hand, and just before reaching the animal, the buck, which he had only " creased," sprang to its feet and made a desperate charge upon the hunter. Seizing his ax in his right hand, he warded off the horns with his left and aimed a blow with his weapon, but only succeeded in avoiding the antlers of the infuriated animal to be knocked down by its shoulder. A second charge followed which resulted only in Newlin giving the animal a wound but being again knocked down. A third charge resulted in both fall- ing together, the animal on top, but stimu- lated by the exigencies of the circumstances, the hunter got to his feet first and by a well directed blow of the ax swung in both hands, crushed in the forehead of the animal as it got to its feet. The favorite way of shooting these animals was, in the early years, by "still hunt." The hunter taking a seat on a log near a deer trail, and shooting such animals as came within his reach. Others watched a "lick " and shot the dcer as it came to drink.
Later, as the deer grew scarce they were pur- sued with dogs, most farmers keeping one or two and sometimes a dozen.
Bears were sometimes found, though but few are known to have been killed in this township. One with two cubs passed near a new cabin that had been raised. The settler succeeded in catching one of the cubs, but the mother, contrary to her traditional love for her offspring, lost no time in getting into the timber. On another occasion a party of hunters started out from this settlement with several dogs in pursuit of a bear whose tracks they found in the snow. After following the trail to McCall's prairie they were met by a sudden snow-squall which filled the tracks and blinded the hunters, but the dogs exhib- iting a desire to rush on, were set loose and soon had bruin at bay. The men pushed on and found the animal had taken to a tree, but at the approach of the hunters it came down and was soon at war with the dogs. It was impossible to shoot because the dogs surrounded the victim, so one of the hunters rushed up with an ax and struck it a fatal blow while it held a dog in its teeth.
" Painters," wild cats and wolves were nu- merous and considerably feared, though no mishap ever happened to the early settlers here from their attack. There have been a good many narrow escapes from what seemed imminent danger, which served to emphasize the fear generally entertained, but these hardly reached the dignity of an incident. It is related that a hunter following a wounded deer, after he had expended all his bullets was seriously menaced by eight wolves, which the trace of fresh blood from the deer had attracted, and that they came so close that he prudently climbed a tree. He was not besieged long as the trail of the deer promised better game, and the wolves passed on depriving the hunter of his game. But while these wolves were not very trouble-
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
some to persons, their attacks upon stoek proved a source of annoyance to the pioneer farmer. There was but little stock in the country. Most of the new comers brought in a cow and team of borses or oxen, and these were generally free from attacks. The young stock, however, were often victimized. Calves, heifers, and occasionally cows were killed, while young pigs and sheep escaped the voracious jaws of these animals only through the utmost care. A drove of sheep was early brought to Palestine, and many of the farmers bought enough to supply wool for their family needs. For years these small flocks had to be carefully watched during the day and folded at night, the younger members of the family acting as shepherds. The farmers' dogs soon learned to keep the wolves off, though it generally needed the presence of some one of the family to give them the necessary courage to attack.
Bees were found here in great numbers, and honey and bees-wax became an article of commerce. Many made honey an object of search and became expert in hunting this kind of game. The plan was to burn some of the comb to attract the bees to a bait of honey or a decoction of anise seed, and when loaded up to watch their course. In this way hundreds of trees were found stored with the sweet results of the busy labor of these insects that would have probably escaped the sharp- est serutiny. Some were found containing fifteen gallons of honey, and the past year is the first, since his residence here, Matthew Newlin relates, that he has not discovered one of these trees.
In such a land, literally flowing with milk and honey, it was natural to expect the Indian to linger till the last possible moment. The treaty with some of the natives of this region provided for the payment of a certain sum of money in four or five annual install- ments at Vincennes. This served to keep
these loiterers here, who in the meantime visited their old time haunts for game. There was on the whole the utmost good feeling entertained by both parties. There were several cases of hostility with fatal results in other parts of the county, some of which threatened to involve the whole country here in a serious confliet, but the matter was ar- ranged and the peaccable relations existing between the two people were not disturbed. While the Indians generally respected the rights of property holders, and are not gen- erally charged with stealing the settlers' stock, etc., they did not hesitate to take any- thing they could eat whenever within their reach. Those who were fortunate enough to have a spring near their cabins constructed a rude spring house where the milk was kept. This was free plunder to the natives, and they did not scruple to come in day light and drain the last drop before the indignant eyes of the housewife. Others were in the habit of coming to certain cabins just about break- fast time, when they had learned to expect a large corn-pone fresh from the bake-kettle. The settlers soon learned to prepare for these visits and so save their own meal. One morning fourteen of the Indians came to a cabin early, seeking something to eat. A huge pone was just cooked and removing the lid of the old-fashioned oven the head of the family pointed to the dish. The Indians un- derstood the gesture and one of their num. ber thrusting his knife into the steaming bread took it from the fire, laid it on the table, and dividing into fifteen pieces, took a double share and left, munching the food with grunts of satisfaction. The rest each took a share, leaving the family without an important part of their breakfast. Such in- eidents were accepted with philosophie com- posure by the majority of the early white in- habitants, who had a little more to complain of in regrad to the natives. There were
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IHISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
others, however, who were ready to charge upon the Indians the loss of sundry hogs and eattle, though it is generally believed that such charges were made to account for the hatred they cherished against them. One or two characters are mentioned who, for some depredations committed by the savages in Kentucky, took occasion to here avenge themseves upon innocent members of the same race.
The natives were chiefly of the Kickapoo and Delaware tribes, and spent several winters here. They were provided with a canvass wigwam, the top being open to allow the smoke to escape, and, contrary to the gene- ral custom of the tribes, tilled no corn field, evidently preferring to depend upon the bounty of the whites and the results of a little petty exchange which grew up between the two races. Furs, dressed buekskin, and game were exchanged for eorn, bread, and pork on very good terms for the whites. They gradually became very good company with the athletes of the settlement, and took their defeats with the best of good nature. In shooting at a mark, jumping, wrestling and running they were frequently out-done by the whites, but in feats of long endurance, shooting game and wooderaft, they sustained the reputation which history has generally given them.
The whites, separated from even the crude advantages of a frontier society, were at first wholly dependent upon their own ingenuity for the commonest necessaries of life. Most of the early families came from communities where flour was not considered a luxury, mills were within an easy journey, mechanics were abundant and the best implements of the time within their reach. But in coming to this country all these were left behind. Few had money to expend upon anything save the price of their land, and the absence of stores was not at first felt to be so much of a priva-
tion, but when their first stock of provision was expended, and this with their clothing was to be replaced, the only resort was to Vincennes, some thirty miles away. Here another difficulty presented itself. The farm- er had a surplus of corn and but little more. This was neither legal tender nor good for ex- change very often, and later, when it became marketable, the exchange for a wagon load would not burden a child. Under such cir- cumstanees every piece of coin was husband- ed with miserly care to meet land payments and taxes, and often did not suffice for that. At one time a large proportion of the taxes, which for the whole county did not amount to more than sixty dollars, was paid in wolf- sealps and coon-skins. There was absolutely no money to be had. There was but little wheat sown, as it was believed it would not grow, and even where the seed was found to thrive the slight demand for it discouraged its culture. Corn was the great staple, and va- rious means were resorted to, to make it an- swer the various demands of the farm and family. The nearest mill was at first in Sha- kerville, and subsequently on the Embarras River in what is now Lawrence County. But these mills were twenty miles away and many an emergency arose when there was no meal in the cabin, and lack of time, stress of weather or other obstacle hindered the tedi- ous journey and delay of going to mill. Hom- iny mortars were found at many of the cabins, which were generally used. These were simply formed out of a convenient stump or large block into which a large excavation was made by fire and tools. Over this a "sweep " was erected to which was attached a heavy wooden pestle faced with a piece of iron. In such a mill the corn was beaten to various grades of fineness, the finest separated by a sieve made of perforated buckskin, was re- served for dodgers, while the coarsest made the traditional dish of hominy. Jesse Page
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
refined upon this construction and made a rude handmill which was kept in pretty constant use by himself and neighbors. An ordinary stone properly dressed was set in an excavated stump, and another was cut in circular form und fitted ou top of it. An iron set in the lower stone protruded through a hole in the center of the upper stone, which, provided with a wooden handle near its outer edge, completed the machine. The corn placed be- tween these stones was converted into very fair meal with not much exertion or expend- iture of time. Later, William Barbee con- structed a single-geared horse-mill near the central part of what is now Robinson town- ship. This mill consisted of a small run of stone with a hopper attachment run by a gear- ing propelled by horses. The mill proper was in a log cabin provided for the purpose. Outside, a perpendicular shaft carried at its up- per end a large wheel fifteen to twenty feet in diameter, on the circumference of which was provided cogs to fit in the shaft-gearing which turned the mill. In the lower part of the up- right shaft, arms were fitted, to which two or four horses were attached and the whole cov- ered with a shed, constituted a horse-mill of the olden time. This proved a great conve- nience, the farmers using their own teams and paying a good toll for the use of the ma- chinery.
The absence of any considerable streams in the township prevented the construction of many of those aids to pioneer communities thac do much to mitigate the discomforts of a frontier experience. The horse-mill, while not the best the country, afforded in this line, was much better than going twenty miles for better grinding, though at a later period, when wheat became common, it was found necessary to go to Hallenbeck's mill in York township, or to the Shaker mill. But at these mills the wheat was not screened nor the flour bolted, and the bread made from the
pro luce of these mills would hardly satisfy the fastidious taste of the modern house- keeper. Barbee afterward sunk vats and did some tanning, which was a great addition to the advantages of this community. But all were not dependent upon this for their supply of leather. Brown & Nichols made a tanner's ooze for themselves, and tanned hides in a trough for years. It was not until about 1849 that the first saw-mill was erected north of the village, by Barbee & Jolley. One of the Barbees had a small distillery here, about the same time, but it was in operation but a short time when it was discontinued.
The clothing of the family depended largely upon the handiwork and ingenuity of the women. The flax was grown and the sheep were sheared, but with this the work of the men generally ceased. To transform these materials into fabrics and thence into clothing, called for accomplishments of no trivial order, but the women of that day were equal to their duties. Work and play were intimately associated, spinning and quilting bees lightened the labor and brought the neighborhood together for a pleasant inter- change of gossip and frolic in the evening. Linsey-woolsey, a combination of linen and wool was the general wear of the women, en- livened by the rare luxury of a calico dress for special occasions. The men wore jeans, the pants generally faced in front with buck- skin, a style generally called "foxed," and in which the women displayed no little origi- nality in their effort to make the addition take on an ornamental as well as useful character. Social gatherings were marked by the play- ing of games rather than dancing. The latter was a favorite form of amusement, but there was a large element of " old school Bap- tists" among the carly settlers that did not favor this form of amusement, which led to the employment of other forms of entertain- ment. Whisky was less in general use here
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