USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 23
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 23
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180
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
since. At the present time the lodge is in a flourishing condition and numbers thirty-five members.
The Gospel was introduced into this town- ship by the pioneers themselves, and long be- fore churches were built religious services were held in their cabins, and when the weather permitted, in groves. When no min- ister was present at these meetings, some one accustomed to "praying in public " would read a chapter in the holy book, offer a prayer to the Most Iligh, after which the exercises were of a more general nature, consisting of singing, praying and " telling experiences," in which all who felt religiously inclined were at liberty to participate. As their numbers and wealth increased societies were organized, church buildings erected in different sections of the country, and ministers employed. Just when or where the first church edifice was erected in Oblong is not known, unless it was the old Mount Comfort church, which stood near the southern boundary of the township. A society of the Methodist church was organized in that vicinity a number of years ago, with a large membership. Meet- ings were held at private residences and school-honses until about the year 1860, when steps were taken to erect a house of worship. Ralph Johnson donated ground for the pur- pose, and citizens of the neighborhood took an active part by contributing both work and money toward the enterprise. The building was a hewed log structure, very comfortably finished, and was used as a meeting place about twenty years. The society, at one time
in such flourishing condition, gradually di- minished in numbers, until it was found im- possible to maintain an organization. The class was finally disbanded and the building allowed to fall into decay. Among the early pastors of this church were William St. Clair, C. C. English, ----- - Noll, John Leeper, J.
P. Rutherford, and - Wallace. The
Oblong class was organized in the year 1856 at the house of Owen Jarrett, with the follow- ing members: Isaac Dulaney and wife, Owen Jarrett and wife, and Lydia Leech. The first accessions after the organization were David Caudman and wife, who joined the society at the second meeting. The organi- zation was effected by the labors of Rev. William St. Clair, at that time on the Rob- inson circuit, who preached for the congrega- tion two years. He was succeeded by John Leeper who bad charge of the circuit one year. Then came in regular succession John Taylor, Noll, Williamson, Woolard, Butler, Bonner, Hennessee and English. The pres- ent pastor is Rev. S. A. Seeds, who is assist- ed by John Cullom. The residences of Owen Jarrett and David Caudman were used as places of worship until the Oblong school- house was built, when the organization was transferred to the village. Services were held in the school-house about ten years, when the Baptists erected their house of wor- ship which has served as a meeting place for both denominations ever since. The society was attached to the Oblong circuit about ten years ago, and at the present time has upon its records the names of forty members.
The Prairie Methodist Church is located in the northern part of the township, and dates its history from the year 1857, at which time their first house of worship was erected. It was a neat frame building, about forty by fifty feet, and cost the sum $1,500. The society was organized by Rev. John Leeper, a master of the Gospel, well known in Craw- ford County, and a man of considerable abil- ity and untiring industry. Under his labors, about sixty members were gathered into the church shortly after the organization, but as the original records could not be obtained none of their names were learned. Their building was used as a place of worship until the year 1879, when it was abandoned. At that time
181
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
the membership was scattered over such an extent of country that it was found expedi- ent to divide the society into two distinct or- ganizations, which was done the same year by mutual consent of all parties interested. The members living in the vicinity of the old church met for worship at the prairie school- honse, while those living west formed them- selves into what is known as the Dogwood class, and held religious services in a school- house of the same name. In the year 1881 the two societies divided the old church prop- erty, and erected houses of worship, which are known as the Dogwood and Prairie churches. They are both fine frame build- ings 38x42 feet, and cost about $1,100 each. The Prairie church numbers fifty-six com- municants at the present time, while the records of the Dogwood chapel contain the names of sixty-seven members in good stand- ing. Both churches maintain good Sunday schools, which are well attended. The fol- lowing pastors have preached for the churches since the reorganization in 1879: Revs. Leeper, Taylor, Hardaker, Sapington, St. Clair, Woolard, English, Glatz, Lopas, Grant, Carson, Waller, Reeder, Rutherford, Harrington, King, Bartley, Stanfer, Dee, Jackson, Seeds and Cullom. The last two be- ing pastors in charge at the present time.
The Wirt Chapel Christian Church was or- ganized by Elder G. W. Ingersoll, at the Wirt school-house in the year 1862. The school-house served the congregation for a meeting place until 1875, when their present temple of worship was erected. Their build- ing is frame, 26x36 feet, cost $900, and stands in the western part of the township, two and three-quarter miles southwest of Ob- long, on land donated by Mrs. Deborah Og- den. Elder Ingersoll had pastoral charge of the church until the year 1873, at which time he resigned. The second pastor was Elder Daniel Conner, the exact length of whose
pastorate was not ascertained. Elder Daniel Gray succeeded Conner, and preached very acceptably for a couple of years. The pres- ent membership is about thirty-six, it having started with ten. A good Sunday school is maintained in connection with the church, which at the present time is under the effi- cient management of Jacob Wirt, superin- tendent. Among the early preachers of the township were Daniel Doly, Richard New- port, Daniel Parker and Thomas Canady, Baptist ministers, who held services at Oh- long Village at intervals for a number of years. A few members of that denomination resided in the village and vicinity, and organized themselves into a society November 2, 1872 The organization was brought about princi- pally by the efforts of William H. Smith and D. W. Odell, and the following names record- ed as constitutional members: John B. Smith, Nancy Smith, Eliza Ellis, Blanche Gill, Samuel R. Mock, Amelia Mock, Chris- tina Eoff, Margaret Eaton, D. W. Odell and Margaret Odell. William H. Smith has been pastor of the church since its organization. There are eighteen members belonging at the present time. The house of worship where the society meets, was erected a short time prior to the organization, on ground donated by D. W. Odell. It is a neat frame structure, stands in the eastern part of the village, and represents a value of about $600. The pres- ent trustees are John B. Smith, D. W. Odell and Samuel R. Mock. The Universalist Church of Oblong was organized in the spring of 1873, by Rev. Harris, with a membership of about twenty persons. Efforts were im- mediately put on foot to erect a house of worship, and a building committee, con- sisting of D. Z. Condrey, E. Ubank, T. J. Price, J. H. Watts and John King appointed. This committee purchased ground of William Wurtzburger in the western part of the vil- lage, and work at once began on the building.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
The house, which is a frame edifice 26x36 feet, was completed in the summer of 1873, at a cost of 8:00. Rev. Harris, the first pas- tor, preached two years and was succeeded by Rev. C. C. Neff, who remained with the church three years. Then came Rev. M. L. Pope, who ministered to the congregation about two years, and was in turn followed by Rev. S. S. Gibb, the present pastor. The present membership is about forty.
In educational matters the citizens of this township have always taken a lively interest, and schools were established shortly after the first settlers made their appearance. The first school-house, as near as could be ascertained, stood on the west side of Oblong Prairie near the North Fork, and was built some time prior to 1836. Among the first teachers who wielded the birch in this rude domicile was one James Smith; the names of other early teachers who dignified this frontier college with their presence have unfor- tunately been forgotten. The second school- house was a hewed log building and a decided improvement on the one described. It was erected about the year 1837 and stood near the Oblong grave-yard. It was first used by a man by name of Fithian who taught a three months' term in the winter of 1837 and 1838 with an attendance of about fifteen pupils. Among the early teachers who taught in the same place are remembered Samuel Crump- ton, John M. Johnston, Levi James, J. H. Price, and Peter Long. The house was in use until the year 1863 when it was aban- doned as being no longer fit for school pur- poses. The first frame school-house stood on Jesse Barlow's farm in the northeast corner of the township and was erected about the year 1850. It was in use for twenty-six years. The school lands were sold in the year 1851 and realized to the township the sum of $1,100. Seven per cent of this amount to- gether with $70 which the township drew the
same year formed the basis of the present splendid school fund. There are at the pres- ent time ten good buildings in which schools are taught about seven months in the year, thus bringing the advantages of a good edu- cation within the easy reach of all. Nine of these buildings are frame, and one, the Ob- long school-house, is brick. The latter was erected in 1881 at a cost of $3,000. It is two stories high, contains three large, well fur- nished rooms, and covers a space of ground forty-three feet long by twenty feet wide. The Mount Comfort Grange No. 1006 P. of H. was organized in 1873 with a membership of thirteen. First officers were Harrison Seers, Master; D. M. Bales, Overseer; and A. Walters, Sect. The present officers are Will- iam Cortourly, M .; Edward Johnson, O .; Joseph Kirk, S .; Albert Skaggs, Sect .; Wm. Johnson, Treas .; Chas. Johnson, Chap .; Thom- as Keifer, Lecturer; J. E. Skaggs, Gate Keeper; Anna Cortourly, P .; Lucinda John- son, A. S .; Rachel Kirk, F .; Catherine Keifer, C.
Dog Wood Grange No. 1007 was organized January 29, 1874, at the Dog Wood school- house with thirty charter members. First offi- cers were the following: Preston Condrey, M .; Matthew Wilkin, O .; Scott Thornburg, L .; William E. McKnight, S .; Absalom Wilkin, A. S .; J. H. Wilkin, Chaplain; Hiram Lara- bee, Treas .; R. S. Comley, Sect .; Wilson Brooks, G. K .; Emily Wilkin, Ceres; Eliza- beth Condrey, Pomona; Carrie Snider, Flora; Rosilla Larabee, L. A. S. The present offi- cers are A. Reed, M .; C. Stifle, O .; R. S. Comley, L .; S. Wilkin, S .; J. A. Wilson, A. S .; G. W. Crogan, Chap .; A. Weir, Treas .; M. Wilkin, Sect .; J. J. Waterworth. G. K .; Mrs. E. E. Wilkin, Pomona; Miss E. Reed, Flora; Mrs. Mary Wilkin, Ceres; Mrs. C. Wilson, L. A. S. The lodge is in flourishing condition at the present time and numbers forty-two members.
CHAPTER XVI .*
MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP-PHYSICAL FEATURES, BOUNDARIES, ETC .- EARLY SETTLERS AND WHERE THEY CAME FROM-THE HURRICANE-FRONTIER INDUSTRIES- A RACE FOR THE BOTTLE AND ITS RESULTS-THE POISONING OF REED-VILLAGES-RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.
" What is the tale that I would tell? Not one Of strange adventure, but a common tale."
PIONEER hardships and privations on the frontier are a "common tale" to the writer of western annals. Those who have heard the old settlers tell of their hunting frolies,log-rollings, house-raisings, wolf-chases, etc., etc., were sometimes led to believe that pioneer life was made up of fun and frolic, amusement and enjoyment, but it is a woeful mistake. While there was more or less of pleasure and happiness among the frontiers- men, with their rude, wild life, "wild as the wild bird and untaught, with spur and bridle undehled," there was much more danger, toil, privation, self-denial, a lack of all the com- forts of life, and many of its necessaries. Indeed, these were the main constituents that compose the grandeur of frontier life and rast a glamour over its dangers and hardships. To the early settlers of this division of the county we will now devote our attention, and transcribe some of their deeds and adven- tures.
Montgomery Township is the southeastern division of Crawford County, and borders on the Wabash River. It is an excellent agri- cultural region and contains some very fine farms. Like all the Wabash bottoms, the lowlands along the river are frequently in- undated, sometimes subjecting the people to
serious loss of property. The center line of the township forms the divide, from which the water flows both ways-to the east into the Wabash River by Doe Run and Buck's Creek, and to the west into the Embarras by Brushy Fork which runs in a south-southwest direction. The east part of the township, a distance of two miles from the river, was known as the "Rich Woods," and was very rich, heavy-timbered land, and is yet as rich land as there is in the county. But the largest portion of Montgomery was called " Barrens," on account of its barren appear- ance, being almost entirely destitute of timber, except a few scattering, scrubby oaks and shelbark hickories. The barrens were caused by the great fires which annually swept over the prairie districts. After the prairie grass burned, the fire died out, the barrens disappeared and the heavy timber be- gan. It was usually black, red, water, white and burr oaks, hickory, sassafras, persimmon, with soft wood trees along the streams. The Rich Woods produced several kinds of oak, walnut, beech, sugar tree, elm, poplar, linn, hackberry, sycamore, honey locust, coffeenut, pawpaw, etc. Only the northwest corner of the township was prairie, and was called Beckwith Prairie, and was but a few hundred acres in extent. Montgomery Township lies south of Lamotte Township, west of the Wabash River, north of Lawrence County, east of Honey Creek Township, and by the
* By W. H. Perrin.
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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
census of 1880 had a total population of 1,959 inhabitants.
The first settlement of Montgomery Town- ship was made seventy years or more ago. There is a prevailing tradition that James Beard settled here as early as 1810, but it is hardly probable that it was much before the close of the war of 1812. Beard was from Kentucky, and had been brought up among the stirring scenes of the dark and bloody ground in the days of Indian warfare. He had a nephew named Eli Adams, who came to this county with him and lived with him here. Their cabin stood in the southeast cor- ner of the township. Beard was killed by the Indians, as detailed in a preceding chapter. But it is not known what ever be- came of Adams.
Thomas Kennedy, who figures prominently in this work, both as an early county officer and as a pioneer Baptist preacher was an early settler in this township. He was from southern Kentucky, and first squatted on the place where John S. Woodworth originally settled, the improvement of which he sold to Wood- worth. He then settled in this township, on what is known as the Gov. French farm, and at present owned by Mr. Fife. Kennedy lost several members of his family by the milk-sick, and sold out and moved to Beek- with Prairie, where he died at a green old age. He was a good, honest man, somewhat illiterate, but endowed with sound common sense. As stated, he was a Hardshell Bap- tist preacher, but much more liberal in his religious convictions than many of that stern and zealous creed. He used to often cross swords with Daniel Parker upon church gov- ernment and relations, and the church once tried to turn him out for what it termed his heresies, but failed in the attempt. Old " Daddy " Kennedy was a man who possessed the confidence of the people among whom he lived, and enjoyed a reputation for honor and
integrity, that remained unstained during a long and active life.
Another early settler was John Cobb. He came to Montgomery Township in 1820 and opened a farm. Ile had six children, some of whom grew up and made prominent men. One of these, Amasa Cobb, studied law in St. Louis, and at the breaking out of the Mexican war, entered the army, taking part in that un- pleasantness. He afterward located in Wis- consin ; was sent to the Legislature and to Con- gress from the Badger State, and was in Con- gress when the war clouds rose on the south- ern horizon in 1861. He at once offered his services to the government, was commis- sioned colonel of a regiment, and distinguished himself in the field. At this time, he is serv- ing his second term as judge of the Supreme Court of Nebraska. Another son is living in this township, and is a prominent farmer.
The following incident is intimately con- nected with the early settlement of this sec- tion. About the year 1811-12, a hurricane swept over the country, passing from the southwest to the northeast, through the north- western part of Montgomery and the south- eastern part of Lamotte Township. Marks of its destructive course may yet be seen in many places. It was about half a mile in width, and the timber was felled before it, as grain before the reaper. A family named Higgins had just moved in, and had not yet had time to build a cabin and had constructed a rude hut to shelter their heads until better accommodations could be provided. The hut stood directly in the path of the hurricane, and after the storm was over the people gath- ered together, and knowing the location of Higgins' hut, supposed the family all killed, and that nothing remained to them, but to make their way into the fallen timber, get out the unfortunates and bury them. Upon work- ing their way to them, they were found to be wholly uninjured, not a single tree having
IS5
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
fallen upon the hut, or touched it, but the huge monarchs of the forest were piled pro- miscuously all around them, rendering their escape as remarkable as that of Tam ('Shan- ter's Mare. It was the only spot in the whole traek of the hurricane for miles that was not covered over with fallen timber. The inci- dent is still remembered by many who have received it as a family tradition.
Among the settlers of Montgomery, addi- tional to those already mentioned were, Joseph Pearson, Ithra Brashears, James Shaw, John Waldrop, Gabriel Funk, Sr., Andrew Mont- gomery and others whose names are now for- gotten. Pearson came from Indiana, and set- led here, but not much was learned of him. Brashears was in Fort Lamotte, and when peace was established received from the Government 100 acres of land for some ser- vice against the Indians, but just what the service was is not remembered. He was from Kentucky, and like all those old pioneers from that region, was a trained Indian fighter. He had one of the early inills of the county. His children are all dead except one daughter. James Shaw settled what is now known as the Winn place. He has descendants still living. John Waldrop was from Kentucky, and set- tled very early. Gabriel Funk, Sr., came here in 1815, and was a great hunter. He had a son named Gabriel, who followed in his fath- er's footsteps in regard to hunting. Andrew Montgomery came from Ireland and settled here very early. He raised a large family of children. Mr. Montgomery was a prominent man, and the township bears his name, an honor that is not unmerited. Many others might be named in connection with the early settlement, but after this long lapse of time, their names are forgotten. Others will be mentioned in the biographical department of this work.
For many years after the whites came here, they had hard work to live. Even up to
1845-50, times were hard and produce low, commanding the most insignificant prices. Particularly from 1840 to 1845 were farm pro- ducts low. Corn sold at 6} cents per bushel, after being hauled to the stage-stand at Ver- non in the north part of the township. Wheat was 373 to 40 cents per bushel in trade for salt, after being hauled to Evansville, Ind. Pork, from $1.50 to $2.00 per hundred pounds; cattle, three and four years old sold for $6 and 87 a piece. Clothing was coarse and cheap. Many wore buckskin, and all wore home-made clothes. A family who came here from Vir- ginia made clothing of cotton and the fur of rabbits mixed, the latter being sheared from the backs of the rabbits like wool from sheep. This is a pioneer story, and like many of their stories, is somewhat huge in proportion, when we consider how many rabbits it would take to furnish wool enough to clothe an army. But it is told that Mr. James Landreth wore clothing composed of the material above de- scribed.
Mills were among the early pioneer indus- tries of Montgomery. James Allison had a mill very early in the south part of the town- ship. Jesse Higgins built an early mill where Morea now stands. Ithra Brashears also built a mill in an early day, and James Brockman had a mill near the Wabash river, in the southeast part of the township. He was killed by his step-son, Bill Shaw.
Distilleries were also a prominent industry among the pioneers. Veach had a distillery a half mile east of Flat Rock, while Shaw owned one in the east part of the township. Adams had one of the first in the country Another distillery was built in the southeast portion of the town, and afterward a tannery established at the same place. Hatfield was the first blacksmith, and Wm. Edgington was a pioneer blacksmith and run a sort of gun factory in the township for sixty years.
Roads .- The Vincennes State road was one
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IIISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.
of the first public highways through Mont- gomery. It was surveyed in 1835. It was usually called the State Road, but its proper name was Vincennes and Chicago road. The " Purgatory Road " as it was called, was laid out in 1836. It was so called on account of a large swamp through which it passed. It run from Vincennes to Palestine, and is the real State road. While the Vincennes road, is merely an improved Indian trail, probably several hundred years old. The township is supplied with roads of as good quality as any portion of the county, and in many places good bridges span the streams.
An incident occurred in this township some years ago, which shocked the moral sensibility of all the better class of people. Leonard Reed was a well-to-do citizen, and a man who stood fair among his neighbors. He lived five miles southeast of Palestine, and was poisoned by his wife that she might secure his property all to herself. She dosed him with arsenic, putting it in his victuals in small quantities, with the design of killing him by inches and thus escaping suspicion. The drug gave out and she was compelled to procure a second supply. One morning the hired girl saw her put something in her husband's coffee from a paper, and his violent pains a few moments afterward aroused the girl's suspicions. It seems the woman had given her husband a larger dose than usual, infuriated perhaps at his tenacious hold on life, and from the effects of it he died. The hired girl then told some of the neighbors what she had herself seen, and a medical examination was the result, which revealed the presence of arsenic in the stomach. The woman was arrested and lodged in the jail at Palestine. Before her trial came on she attempted to escape by burning a hole in the jail wall, which was of wood. She would burn a little at a time, and then extinguish the fire in order not to excite suspicion. One night she let the fire get the
inastery of her, and when seeing that both she and the jail must burn together, she screamed for help. Sam Garrard, still a citi- zen of Palestine, was the first to reach the scene and succeeded in rescuing her from the flames. She was afterward transferred to Lawrence county on a change of venue, tried for the murder of her husband, condemned, and finally hung in Lawrenceville.
Another tragedy occurred in this township, which, though accidental, was none the less deplorable, inasmuch as it resulted from a barbarous custom. A young man named Green Baker, who lived in the southeast part of Montgomery, in " racing for the bottle " at a wedding was thrown against a tree and in- stantly killed. It was a custom in those ear. ly times at a wedding for two or three young men to be selected to go to the house of the bride for the usual bottle of spirits that graced the occasion. At the proper time they started on horseback at break-neck speed, as one would ride a hurdle-race, turning aside for no object or impediment. The one who gained the race by first reaching the bride's residence and getting possession of the bottle was the hero of the day, a kind of champion knight among the fair ladies. In obedience to this rude custom Baker and one or two others started on the race for the bottle. They were running their horses at full speed, and at a turn in the road by which stood a tree somewhat bent, Baker swayed his body to the side he supposed the horse would go, but contrary to his expectations it went on the other side. His head struck the tree and death was instantaneous. Thus, by observing a rude and barbarous custom, an occasion of gayety was turned into the deepest mourning.
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