History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826

USA > Illinois > Clark County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 25
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 25

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Higgins encouraged the dogs for the purpose, he said, of "seeing some fun," but was very soon sorry for what he did, when he saw two of his favorites bite the dust. At this june- ture he thought it was time for him to act, so he took deliberate aim at the beast and fired. Instead of the shot taking effect on the pan- ther, it killed one of his dogs, as they were running around and barking at a fearful rate. another and another shot were fired, which only wounded the wild animal, and a fourth discharge laid out another of the dogs. Fi- nally, after discharging seventeen shots and killing three dogs, he succeeded in bringing the ferocious animal to the ground. Higgins was a resident of the township until the year 1863, at which time he sold his possessions to Garrett Wilson and moved to Terre Haute, Indiana. Thomas was a Kentuckian, and made his first improvements in section 34. But little can be said of him-at least in his favor, as he was not what one would call å valuable acquisition to a community. Among the more prominent settlers of the township is remembered Thomas R. Boyd, who moved here from Palestine about the year 1836 and located a short distance from Hardinsville. He was one of the early pionpers of the county, having moved from Kentucky to Palestine when the latter place was a mere hamlet of two or three houses. He was a prominent farmer, and one of the first stock- dealers in the township, at which business he accumulated considerable wealth. His death occurred in the year 1877. His widow and two daughters are residing in Martin at the present time. Samuel R. Boyd, a brother of the preceding, came out on a visit from his native State about the year 1837, and being pleased with the country, he determined to locate here and make it his home, which decision was strengthened by the earnest so- licitation of his brother's family. IJe married. soon after his arrival, a young lady by name

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

of Haskins, and immediately went to work and soon had a fine farm under successful cultivation. He sold his farm to a man by name of Baker, in the year 1850, and moved to Fort Jackson in the adjoining township of Iloney Creek. Other settlers came in from time to time, among whom were John Gar- rard, Alfred Griswold, Benjamin Boyd, John Thomas and Robert Boyd. Garrard improved a farm in section 23, on land which he ob- tained from the government in the year 1838. He was, like the majority of pioneers in this section of the county, a native of Kentucky, and raised the largest family in the township. He was the father of seventeen children, the majority of whom grew up to manhood and womanhood. Griswold entered a large tract of land in section 15, but did not improve it. Thomas was a son-in-law of Daniel Martin, and a man of but little consequence in the community. His distinguishing character- istie was a dislike for anything known as work, and his laz ness became proverbial throughout his entire neighborhood. Benja- min and Thomas Boyd were brothers of the Boyds already alluded to, and like them were men of enterprise and character. Benjamin and Ezekiel Bogart, two brothers, came to the township in an early day and located at the Dark Bend near the central part of the township. They made but few improve- ments; and if all reports concerning them are true, many acts of lawlessness were traced to their doors. A short time after their arrival William Wilkinson, Jackson Inlow, David Inlow, Jerry Wilkinson, Ephraim Wilkinson, and Thomas Inlow, made their appearance and settled in the same locality. They were all men of doubtful character, and their neigh- borhood became widely noted as a place of bad repute. 'T'is said, upon good authority, that the Bend was noted for years as the ren- dezvous of a gang of horse-thieves and out- laws who chose it as a secure refuge from the

minions of the law. Many crimes of a much darker shade than stealing are said to have been committed among the somber recesses of the thick woods, and persons having occa- sion to pass through that locality always went well armed. The following fatal termination of a deadly feud which existed between two brothers, Jack and Thomas Inlow, is related : It appears that both brothers became enam- ored of the same woman, a widow of unsa- vory reputation by name of May. A bitter jealousy soon sprang up, which was aug- mented by the woman, who encouraged the visits of both, and so bitter did this feeling become that threats of violence were openly made by the two desperate men. They both happened to meet at the "siren's " house one day and a terrible quarrel ensued, during which weapons were drawn and freely used. In the fight which followed, Thomas was fa- tally shot, and died soon afterward. David was arrested and lodged in the Palestine jail. He was tried for murder, but was cleared on the ground of self-defense. The woman mar- ried again soon afterward, but was never heard to express a regret for the sad occurrence of which she was the eausc.

The following persons additional to the set- tlers already enumerated, made entries of land in the township prior to the year 1840: Bethel Martin, in section 22; William B. Martin, section 22; Robert Goss, in section 25; Benjamin Myers, in section 30; and Fos- ter Donald, in section 22. The last named is the oldest settler in the township at the present time, having been identified with the country's growth and development since the year 1839. (See biography.) Mrs. Donald relates that during the first summer of their residence in the township, her husband was absent the greater part of the time making brick at Palestine. In his absence she was left alone, and in addition to her domestic duties, she was compelled to look after the.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

interests of the place, and many lonely nights were passed in the little cabin while the wolves chased around the house and scratched upon the door trying to get in. Probably in no other part of the county were the wolves as troublesome as in this township, and for a number of years the settlers found it very difficult to raise any stock on account of them. Their attacks were not always confined to cat- tle and sheep, as the following will go to prove: A Mr. Waldrop shot a deer upon one occa- sion, and dressed it in the woods; while in the act of hanging the meat on a limb, he was set upon by a pack of wolves and com- pelled to flee for his life. After devouring the part of the deer left on the ground the wolves followed up the trail of Waldrop, and soon overtook him. He shot two of his pursuers, but soon found himself in a death struggle with his fierce assailants. His cloth- ing was almost stripped from his body and a number of ugly wounds inflicted, when he gained a tree near by, which he ascended. He passed the long, cold night in his lofty perch listening to the wild howls of his gaunt enemies, and was not relieved until the fol- lowing morning. Many devices were resorted to by the settlers to rid the county of the wolves, the most popular of which was the Sunday hunts, when all the citizens for miles around would start at a given signal, and close in on a circle. This would bring the wolves close together when they could be easily shot. Another serious hindrance to the pioneer farmer was the numerous flocks of crows which infested the country. These birds destroyed almost entire fields of corn, and premiums were offered for their destruc- tion. Grain-fields had to be carefully watched, and when the field was very large, dogs were tied in different places to scare the birds away, while the man with his gun watched the other parts.

The settlers obtained their flour and meal

from the early mills at Palestine and Law- renceville, and in later years the little mill belonging to Joseph Wood in Oblong Town- ship was patronized. The first mill in Martin was built by a Mr. York as early as the year 1840 and stood on the Embarras in the south- west part of the township. It was a water- mill with two run of buhrs, and for several years did a very good business. A saw was afterward attached, which proved a very pay- ing venture. York operated the mill a short time when he sold to Alexander Stewart who run it very successfully for about twenty years. A inan by name of Williams then pur- chased it, and in turn sold to John Baker, who operated it but few years. It ceased opera- tions a number of years ago, when the dam washed out. The old building is still stand- ing a monument of days gone by. A steam flouring mill was erected at the little village of Freeport about the year 1848, but by whom was not learned. It was a good mill with two run of buhrs, and for a number of years was extensively patronized. The last owners were McNeiss and Sons. An early industry of the township was the Ruby distillery, which stood about two and a half miles east of the village of Hardinsville. It was erected in the year 1858 and ceased operations about the year 1862, the proprietor being unable to pay the large revenue demanded by the gov- ernment. It had a capacity of about one hundred gallons of whisky per day, and dur- ing the years it was run before the war, did a very good business. But little can be said of the early churches of Martin, as the first set- tlers were not all religiously inclined. Sun- day was their gala day, and was generally spent in hunting, horse racing, or in athletic sports, such as jumping, wrestling, etc., favor- ite amusements during pioncer times.

The first religious exercises were conducted by Elder Stephen Canady, a Baptist minister, at Daniel Martin's barn. This meeting had

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

been announced several days previous, and when the hour for services arrived, the barn was partially filled with women and children. The men accompanied their families, but did not go into the sanctuary; at the close of the service, each sturdy pioneer shouldered his gun which he always carried with him, and spent the remainder of the day in the woods, much to the minister's disgust. Jesse York, a Methodist preacher, living in Oblong Town- ship, organized a small class at the residence of Jacob Garrard about the year 1846. The original members of this class as far as known were Jacob Garrard and wife, Polly Garrard, Margaret Higgins, Caroline Donald, Lillis Peacock and wife, Samuel R. Boyd and wife, and John Haskins and wife. York preached several years and was a man of great zeal and piety. Dr. Hally, of Hebron, was an early preacher and did much towards building up the congregation. Garrard's residence was used as a meeting place until a school-house was erected in the neighborhood. Services were held in the school-house at stated inter- vals until the year 1881, when in conjunction with the United Brethren, the church erected a very commodious temple of worship about two miles north of Hardinsville on ground donated by Foster Donald. The building is a frame structure with a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty, and cost the sum of $300.

The Hardinsville Christian church was organized about the year 1850 with a substan- tial membership. Services were conducted at the Hardinsville school-house until the year 1858, when their present house of worship was erected. It was built principally by donation of work by the citizens of the vicinity and re- presents a capital of about $600. It is a frame house 30x40 feet and will comfortably seat two hundred persons. Among the pas- tors, and stated supplies of the church were Elder Morgan, Allan G. McNees, to whose

efforts the society is indebted for much of its success. F. M. Shirk, - Beard, -Lock- hart, P. C. Cauble, John Crawford and Sala- thiel Lamb, the last named being pastor in charge at the present time. The present membership is about forty. A Methodist class was organized at Hardinsville a number of years ago, with a membership of about thirty; meetings were held in the school-house for some years, and efforts were made at one time to erect a house of worship. The house was never built, however, and the class was finally disbanded. A second class was organized at the same place in the year 1882 by Rev. Dee. About twenty mem- bers belonged to this class and worship was regularly held at the school-house for one year. The old school-house was sold in the fall of 1881, and a new one erected, in which religious services were not allowed to be held. Since then there have been no reg- ular meetings of the society. At the present time efforts are being made to build a meeting house. The United Brethren have a good society which meets for worship in the new church north of Hardinsville, to which we have already alluded. The society is in a flourishing condition and numbers among its members some of the best citizens of the country.

The Missionary Baptists have a society in the eastern part of the township, which is large and well attended. They have no house of worship but use a school-house for church purposes.

The first school in the township was taught about the year 1842, in a little hewed log house which stood a short distance south of Hardinsville. The name of the first teach- er and particulars concerning his school could not be learned. The house was moved to the village a short time afterward and was used for school and church purposes a great many years. The second school-house

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

was built about four years later and stood on the Bethel Martin farm north of Hardinsville. It was a hewed log structure also, and was first used by William Cunningham in the winter of 1846 and 1847. Cunningham's school was attended by about twenty pupils, and he is remembered as a very competent in- struetor. Samuel Blakely and Miss Dee were early teachers at this place also. A third house was erected about two miles west of Hardinsville in the year 1850. It was built of plank, and was in constant use until 1882, when it was torn down and replaced by a more commodious frame structure. Another early school-house stood east of the village on land which belonged to a Mr. Dewcomer. It was built about the year 1856 and was in use until 1880. At the present time there are ten good frame houses in the township, all of which are well furnished with all the modern educational appliances. The schools are well supported and last from four to seven months in the year.

The village of Hardinsville is situated in the southwestern part of the township in section 34, and dates history from September, 1847. It was laid out by Daniel Martin, purely as a speculation venture, but the growth of the town never came up to his expectations. While the village plat was being surveyed Martin was interrogated by a by-stander as to what his intentions were in locating a town in such an out-of-the way place. The old man replied in his characteristic humor, "Why, by the gods, twenty years from this time will see a second St. Louis right on this spot or I am no true prophet." Will- iam Shipman erected a store building and engaged in the mercantile business about the time the village was laid out. He sold both house and goods to Charles Inman two years later who increased the stock and did a very good business for about three years when he closed out and moved from the place.

Among the first business men of the village was one Daniel Miller, a rough char- acter, who kept a small grocery and whisky shop which was the resort of all the desper- adoes of the country. This place became such an eyesore to the community that efforts were made to induce Miller to quit the whisky business and turn his attention to other pursuits. To all these efforts, however, he turned a deaf ear, and instead of the "dive " becoming more civil it became worse and worse. At last the patience of the better elass of citizens became exhausted, and as a dernier resort a keg of powder was placed under the building, after the carousers had left, the charge was exploded, and the last seen of the saloon it was flying skyward in minute fragments. This had the desired effect, and no saloon was started in the town again for many years. A man by name of Rhodes was an early merchant and sold goods i : a little building which stood on the corner where Hieks' store now stands. John llig- gins was an early merehant also; he occupied the building in which Inman's store was kept and continued in the business about two years. The Preston brothers came in about the year 1855, and erected a large business house on the corner of Market and Main streets, which they stocked with goods to the amount of $10,000. At one time they did as much, if not more business than any other firm in the county, and accumulated consid erable wealth during their stay in the village. "Jack " Hasket succeeded them in the year 1861, and continued the business until 1870, when he sold out to Miller & Parker. The firm was afterward changed to Parker & Kidwell and the store moved to the village of Oblong. At the present time there is but one store in the place. It is kept by G. B. Hicks in a large frame building which was erected by William F. Bottoms in the year 1872.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

The Hardinsville Lodge No. : 56 A. F. & A. M. was organized October, 1878, with the following charter members: William Dyar, Green B. Hicks, Robert E. Haskins, .John Mulvean, John M. Donnell, John E. Cullom, Fay K. Wallar, James Shipman, Mills Hughes, Joseph C. Hughes and Thomas H. Haskins. The first officers were William Dyar, W. M; G. B. Hicks, S. W .; and Robert E. Haskins, J. W. The officers in charge at the present time are, John Mulvean, W. M .; John M. Donnell, S. W .; James Shipman, J. W .; G. B. Hieks, S. D .; Mills Hughes, Treas .; C. J. Price, Seet .; C. P. Carlton, J. D. Present

membership about twelve. Meetings are held in hall over G. B. Ilicks' store.

In the year 1855 a small village was laid out in the western part of the township by Andrew Nichols, and named Freeport. For several years it was considered a very good trading point and supported two good stores, one mill and a blacksmith shop. These in time disappeared, and a general decay fast- ened itself upon the once promising town. At the present time nothing remains of the village save a few dismantled and dilapidated dwellings.

CHAPTER XVIII .*

HONEY CREEK TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY-ADVENT OF THE PALE- FACES, AND THEIR EARLY STRUGGLES-PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS-RELIG- IOUS HISTORY-AN INCIDENT-SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES- VILLAGES-PARTING WORDS, ETC., ETC.

" The rank thistle nodded in the wind, and the wild fox dug his hole unscared."-Sprague.

H ONEY CREEK Township, though an early-settled portion of the county, has advanced very little in some directions and its citizens of to-day stand where their fathers stood fifty years or more ago, clinging with a wonderful tenacity to the relics of a by-gone period. Here we still find the primitive log cabin, together with many of those pioneer customs and habits, which the few old grandfathers and grandmothers yet living delight to dwell upon.

Much of the land in Honey Creek Town- ship is of a rather inferior quality, as com- pared to other of the county. It is mostly timbered land and a good deal of it seems to be a kind of oak flat with a light, thin soil. There is, however, some very good land in the township, but that of a poorer quality largely predominates. The original timber growth consisted of several kinds of oak, hickory, elm, gum, maple, walnut, etc., with a few other trees and shrubs indigenous to this section. The Embarras River just barely touches the southwest corner of the township, Honey Creek flows through the northwest corner, and Brush and Sugar Creeks through the southeast portion. These, with a few other smaller and nameless streams, constitute its system of natural drainage. Honey Creek

is bounded on the north by Robinson Town- ship, on the east by Montgomery Township, on the south by Lawrence County, and on the west by Martin and Southwest Townships. The Wabash railroad passes along the town- ship line, and has improved the country to some extent. Several villages have sprung up since the construction of the road, which have added their mite to the growth and prosperity of the surrounding country, but there still remains vast room for improvement and enterprise.

Before the war-whoop of the savage had died away, the pale-faced pioneers were com- ing into this portion of the county. The first white inen who located here were John and Samuel Parker, in 1816. They were genuine pioneers, and of that character of men who were fully able to cope with privation, and with danger in any form. Jolin and George Parker, now living in this township, are de- scendants of these hardy old frontiersman. John and George Parker came to the town- ship in 1820, from Kentucky, and settled on the "range road," near the present village of Flat Rock. They are of the true pioneer stock, like their progenitors, and are scarcely alive to and up with the age of improvement in which they live.

About the time John and George Parker came the settlement was further augmented by the arrival of the following families: The Seaney family, Seth and Levi Lee, Jesse and James Higgins, John Hart and Wm. Carter.

* By W. H. Perrin.

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HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY.

These settlements were made about the time the land office was established' at Palestine. After this there was quite a cessation in the arrival of emigrants, and several years elapsed before we hear of any more new- comers to this immediate vicinity.

Aaron Jones settled here about 1832. Hc was originally from Virginia, but settled in Butler County, Ohio, and a few years later came to this county. He died in 1861, and his wife soon after followed him to the land of rest. Mr. Jones made his trip from Butler County, Ohio, with wagons and teams. The country was then very wild, and much of the distance was along Indian trails, and paths beaten down by hunters and emigrants, who had preceded him. Indianapolis was a straggling village of a few rude cabins, and the country for miles and miles was without a single habitation. Robinson had not yet arisen from the hazel thickets and prairie grass, and the phase of the country generally was not inviting by any manner of means.

The first land entered west of the range road- a road running from Mt. Carmel to Chi- cago, was entered by Asa Jones, a brother of Mr. J. M. Jones. About the time he made his entry, one Jacob Blaythe wanted to enter a piece of land, and being unable to distinguish the corner, cut the num- ber of the land from a tree, and carried the block to the land-office at Palestine. Rich- ard Highsmith now living in Honey Creek assisted to build the fort at Russelville, and was one of the first who slept in it after its completion.

Another early settler was Leonard Simons. He came from Tennessee, and located first at Palestine, in the days when the people found it conducive to longevity to live in forts. Af- terward he settled in this township. He died in the county about 1875, at an ad- vanced age. Samuel Bussard came originally from Maryland, but stopped for a time in

Ohio, and came from the Buckeye State to this county, and settled where his son now lives. He raised a large family of children, and died some twenty-five years ago. Peter Kendall, from Kentucky, settled where John Parker now lives. He moved away some years ago. Robert Terrill, also from Ken- tucky, settled in 1842, and lives now in Flat Rock. There were many other pioneers who deserve a place in these pages, perhaps, but we failed to obtain their names.

Wolves, panthers, wild cats, deer, etc., etc., were here in the most plentiful profusion when the first settlements were made. The rifle of the pioncer supplied his larder with meat, but bread was not so easily obtained. Wolves and other ravenuous beasts rendered the rearing of hogs and sheep a very uncer- tain business for a number of years-in fact, until the country was somewhat rid of the troublesome animals. Milling is usually a serious task to the early settler in a wild country, and in the settlement of Honey Creek, the people went to Palestine and other places until they had mills built in their own neighborhood. The first roads were merely trails through the forest. These were cut out and improved as population increased and demanded more and better highways.

Silas Tyler, of this township, is the oldest freemason in the county, or perhaps in the State. He was initiated in the ancient and honorable fraternity in 1818, in the State of New York, being at the time 22 years of age. He afterward served as master of the lodge in which he took his degrees. Mr. Tyler, though not as early a settler of the township as some others, is certainly as early a mason. He was in his masonic prime at the time of the Morgan excitement, and remembers something of that stormy period to the fra- ternity.

Of the first school-house in Honey Creek township, and the first teacher, but little was

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 826

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 826