History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 59

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 59
USA > Illinois > Crawford County > History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois > Part 59

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).

a very passionate man, that he declared he would kill Ashmore unless the suit was with- drawn before court convened, and sent the latter word to that effect. To this threat Ashmore paid no attention, but, on the con- trary, made every preparation to prosecute the case against his enemy. While in the act of sadd ing his horse, preparatory to starting to Robinson, the morning court was to meet, Ashmore was shot from behind with a heavy load of slugs and almost instantly killed. Forsythe was at once arrested for the crime, and his guilt clearly established in the trial that followed. The verdict of the jury was murder in the first degree and he was senteneed to be hanged. The sentence was afterward commuted by the Governor, to imprisonment for life. While in the peni- tentiary he became afflicted with a very loathsome cancer which ate away the greater part of his face, and his condition became so pitiable, that a petition was afterward circu- lated in his behalf. This had the desired ef- fect, and the wretched man was released, after an incarceration of eight years, only to die the same year he obtained his liberty. The murder and trial occurred about the year 1853. Samuel Galbraith was a native of Tennessee. He settled in the southeastern part of the township and was one of the sub- stantial citizens of his community. Elisha Hurst immigrated to Illinois from Kentucky and settled in the southern part of Edgar County a couple of miles north of the Doug- las line. From the latter place he moved to this township in the spring of 1832, and located in the eastern part, where he pur- chased forty-eight acres of land at sheriff's sale. He lived on this place for four years when he sold the farm and moved into Dolson Township where he died a number of years ago. Nicholas Hurst, sou of the foregoing, came with his father to the township and entered land in section 13 a few years

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

later. He was a resident of Douglas until 1856 when he moved to Auburn Township, in the formation of which he was the chief actor. He has been a prominent politician and has served the people of the county in several positions of trust. He is at present known by the high sounding title of "Emperor of Mount Auburn " an honor he wears with be- coming dignity. William Lycan unmigrated from Kentucky and located near the central part of the township where he improved a farm and built a steam mill which he operated for a number of years. This mili was one of the earliest steam mills in the northern part of the county, and was extensively patronized during the time it was in operation. It

burned down a number of years ago and has never been rebuilt. In the year 1833 Eli Kitchen entered land near the central part of the township. He was a local preacher of the Methodist church, and did much to in- troduce Christianity into the new community. He died about thirty years ago. The land on which he settled is at the present time owned and occupied by William Thompson. A brother-in-law of Kitchen by name of Gibbons came to the township the same year and settled in the same locality. After 1832 the settlers came in more rapidly, and by 183: the township was quite well popu- lated. Among those who came in between these two years, and obtained the patents of their land from the Government, were the following: Lyman Squires, J. H. Walters, James Elledge, Robert Craig, Stephen Lee, Merrick Porter, George Hamilton, Richard Grace, Joseph Burnett, Thomas Davis, Rich- ard Wood, John Lycan, Joseph Clapp, Silas Dunham, George Clapp, Nicholas Hundly, John Travis, Samuel Handly, Richard Morris, Margaret Davis, Samuel Wheeler and Joseph Grisham. The names of many other early settlers have, unfortunately, been forgotten. From the year 1838 until 1845 the tide of

immigration into the township was very great, the settlers during that period being largely Germans. These settlers located chiefly in the southwestern part of the township, and by their industry soon transformed the " bar- rens" of that section from a quagmire into one of the most fertile farming districts in that region of the country.

The rapid settlement of the township be- tween the years mentioned led to the imme- diate erection of mills and other mechanical industries. Samuel Hanna built a mill on Big Creek near the Edgar County line in the year 1831. It was a water mill, and rather a rude affair, but was the outgrowth of the home demand. Notwithstanding the presence of other mills in the neighboring townships, the demand for one in this vicinity resulted in its erection. The mill produced a very fair article of flour and meal and was suffi- ciently well patronized to warrant its continu- ance for many years.

It passed into the hands of different parties, and was afterward improved and operated by Thomas Dixon and a man by name of Ramney who were the last owners. It fell into disuse a number of years ago and in time disap- peared altogether. Another mill was erected on the Barn Fork of Big Creek a few years later by the Porter brothers. This was a combination mill, and received the power by which it was operated from the creek. It was extensively patronized, and for many years did a good business, both in sawing lum- ber and grinding. It disappeared many years ago, and at the present time no vestige remains to mark the spot where it formerly stood. A man by name of Francis settled in the north- eastern part of the township in the year 1832 and soon afterward commenced the erection of a still house on the East Fork of Big Creek. The building was irame, about twenty by thirty feet and a story and a half in height. This enterprise proved a great

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

benefit to the settlers in the vicinity by bringing a market for their grain into their mi ist. As corn at that day was very cheap, many of the farmers exchanged their grain for whisky which could be sold at any time for eighteen and twenty-five cents per gallon.

John Lycan subsequently purchased the still and operated it successfully for a num- ber of years. He afterward built a mill which he run in connection with the distillery until about the year 1847, at which time both enterprises were abandoned.

One of the earliest mills in the northern part of the county stood on the West Fork of B'g Creek, and was erected by James Kid- well, an early settler who came into the county in the summer of 1831. It was first started as a saw-mill and commenced operating in the year 1832. A set of buhrs was attached the latter part of the same year, which proved a successful venture. The mill did a very good business and was the source of consid- erable revenue to the proprietor during the time it was in operation. The mill was bought, about the year 1835, by Messrs. Row- ley and Davidson, of Marshall, who run it for a short time, when they tore away the build- ing and erected in its place an extensive dis- tillery. This was a frame building two sto- ries high and covered a space of ground about thirty by forty feet. The enterprise proved a success and was operated by Rowley and Davidson until the year 1848, when it fell into disuse, and was abandoned about one year later. A part of the old building is still standing and serves the purpose of a stable. A certain aspect of respectability was con . ceded the distiller in early years. Whisky was a very common beverage, and was to be seen on every sideboard, and the custom of dram drinking was universal. The distil- leries mentioned bad a large custom trade, though it is not remembered whether their products were shipped away or not. The old

settlers speak in high terms of this whisky, and say "it was no such stuff as we get now- adays." They also state that drunkenness was not so prevalent then as it is at the pres- ent day, although at log-rollings, raisings and other gatherings immense quantities of liquor were consumed. A man by name of Smith settled near the Davidson distillery about one year after its erection and built a blacksmith shop. This was the first shop in the township, and was operated for about eight years.

The early settlers of Douglass experienced great difficulties in traveling from place to place owing to the absence of roads. The first legally established highway was surveyed through the eastern part of the township some time prior to 184 , and was known as the Marshall and Paris road. It passes through the township from north to south, and is still extensively traveled. The Chicago road passes through the township near the eastern boundary. It was laid out as early as 1845, and at the present time is the principal thor- oughfare in the township. The Grandview road was established in an early day, and was at one time the leading highway in the north- ern part of the county. In the meantime the settlers cut roads in all directions to facilitate travel, and in the course of fifteen years the township was well supplied with highways. The roads of the township at the present time, while not so good as those in some other parts of the county, are well improved and kept in fair traveling condition during the greater part of the year.

The carly educational history of Douglass is involved in considerable obscurity, and it is not definitely known when or by whom the first term was taught. It is believed by many that James Miller was the first pedagogue, and that he taught school in a little log house that stood on the Kitchen farm as early as the year 1836. This school was attended by about twenty pupils, several of whom only

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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.

reached the school-house by a walk of over three miles. A second building for school purposes was erected a few years later and stood on the farm of Samuel McClure. It was known as the McClure school-house and was in use for many years. One of the first schools in the township was taught in a little log dwelling which belonged to David Rey- nolds. The name of the first teacher in this house and the date of the first term have un- fortunately been forgotten. Among the carly teachers were Lyman C. Squires and Samuel MeClure, both of wliom were considered effi- cient instructors at that time, but would hardly come up to the standard required of the pro- fession at the present day. School-houses were erected in various parts of the township as the convenience of the growing population demanded, and at the present time the ad- vantages of a liberal education are within the easy reach of all. The schools are well sup- ported, and teachers receive fair salaries. During the school year of 1881 and 1882 there was paid for tuition in this township the sum of $1,035.

The religious history of Douglass dates from the year of the township's first settlement. Many of the pioneers had been active mem- bers of different churches in the States from whence they came and did not neglect their religious duties upon their arrival in the new country. Meetings were at first held at pri- vate houses and groves, and were generally conducted by traveling preachers of the Meth- odist church. Among these early pioneers

of the cross was Rev. James McCord, a man widely known among the settlements through- out the northern and eastern parts of the county. He was a great revivalist and, though a very illiterate man, did much for the cause of Christianity among the sparsely settled neighborhoods of Douglass. Eli Kitchen, to whom reference has already been made, was among the first preachers of the township, and conducted religious services at his residence for several years. At the present time there are two churches in the township, the Bap- tists near the village of Castle Finn and the Methodists in the northern part. Both or- ganizations have good houses of worship and are well attended. A Union meeting house free for all denominations was erected a few years since north of Castle Finn. It is a frame building and represents a value of about $1,200.

The little hamlet of Castle Finn, the only village in the township is situated on the northwest quarter of the northwest quar- ter of seetion 27. It was surveyed by James Lawrence, for Robert Wilson, proprietor, on the 17th and 18th days of May, 1848, when the lots were at once put upon the market. The name of the village was given it by the proprietor in honor of a small town in Ire- land near the birth-place of Mr. Wilson. The absence of any inducements prevented busi- ness men from locating in the village and as a consequence its growth has been rather slow. At the present time it can boast of a store, shoe shop and a blacksmith shop.

PART III.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, CLARK COUNTY.

PART III.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. CLARK COUNTY.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

JOSEPH L. ALLISON, Pension Agent, ; began life, as before mentioned. as a farmer, in Marshall, is a native of Hancock County, Ky .. Coles County about 1844, which he continued umtil 1855, when he removed to Marshall, in Clark County, and is still a resident of the place. The first three years of his residence here he was not actively engaged, owing to physical disability. In 1858. he was appointed City Marshal. Mr. Allison refers, with some degree of pride, to the fact that he carried a hod in the construction of Mr. Dulaney's dwelling house. In 1862, he formed a partner- ship with Uriah Manley in the Claim Agency business, which, in connection with a real estate agency, he continues still. He was admitted to practice law March 25, 1863. Politics, Republican. They have six children living : Anna E., born March 18, 1850 ; Joseph L., born October 7, 1851 ; Sarah M., born May 12, 1833 ; Charles E., born June 12, 1859; Edgar L., born April 15, 1862 ; Laura M., born August 8, 1867. Family residence on corner of Hudson and Handy streets. born October 7, 1823. The parents of Mr. Allison, William L. and Eliza B. (Lewis) Alli- son, were natives of Kentucky. His father was born November 23, 1794, and died in Coles County, Ill., August 21, 1854. His mother, Eliza B. Lewis, was born in Hancock County, Ky., Feburary 24. 1795. His parents removed to Washington County. Ind .. in 1825, where his mother died November 26, 1831. ITis father was in early life a minister in the Meth- odist Episcopal Conference, but subsequently began the practice of medicine, which he con- tinued until his death. In the spring of 1833, they removed to Illinois, and settled in Coles County, near where Mattoon now stands. Here our subject grew to manhood and received the elements of an English education in schools of his county. These were what were known as subscription schools, and were limited to three months each year. For some years previous to his marriage, he was engaged in farming and dealing in stock. Ile was married in Clark County, March 1, 1847, to Miss Harriet A. Easton, daughter of Charles and Sarah (Swear- enger) Easton. Mrs. Allison was born in Lex- ington, Ky., March 23, 1828. Mr. Allison

BURNS ARCHER, Connty Treasurer, Mar- shall, is a native of Clark County, TH., born in York Township, three miles south from Dar- win. Ile is a son of Stephen and Nancy (Shaw) Archer, who settled in this county in 1817. Subsequently, was educated in the town of

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Marshall, his parents having moved here when he was eight years old. He was born July 25, 1829. Began business first as a clerk in the dry goods house of Booth & Greenough, for whom he worked about two years. Then employed himself for awhile in teaching public schools. Afterward worked for Lynn & Reed for six years, and bought them out in 1861, conduct- ing the business for one year, when he closed out. Subject was married in Marshall, Nov- ember 6, 1851, to Miss Maria Drake, daughter of Rivers and Elizabeth Drake. She was born in Virginia September 20, 1827; died in Marshall, July 27, 1855. By that union there were three children, only one of whom is now living : Edgar and Emma were born February 18, 1853 ; Cora was born June 8, 1855. Edgar and Cora Archer died in infancy. Emma is married to Augustus Markel,of Marshall, Decem- ber 1, 1875. Mr. Archer was again married in Marshall, November 3, 1859, to Mrs. Elea- nora Emmerson, of Ohio. She was born in Can- ton, Ohio. Subject was for fifteen months employed as Cashier for Quartermaster Manly, and settled his Governmental affairs at his death, which occurred in the fall, 1864. Ilas served as Revenue Assessor, enumerating officer of the census of Clark County, 1870. In January, 1873, at special election, he was elected Treasurer of Clark County, which posi- tion he has held for nine years. His official record is too well known to need further men- tion in these lines. Ile is a Republican, and a member of the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pythias.

JOHN M. ARCHER, carpenter, Marshall, is a native of Clark County, Ill. He is the fourth of a family of eight children of Jesse and Jane Archer. His father was born in Warren County, Ohio, July 2, 1799, and came with his brother to Illinois in 1816. They came by the way of the Ohio and Wabash Rivers on keel boats, and made a settlement in Darwin Township. The entire family of Zach-

ariah and Jane Archer came to this county perhaps in 1817, though the exact date is a matter of dispute. Here in the wilds the boys grew to manhood. Jesse married in Indiana to Miss Jane McDonald. She descends from a Scotch family, and was born in Knox County, Ind., 1802. Mr. Archer brought his bride from her father's home in Indiana to the Western wilds on horseback. Jesse Archer took part in the Black Hawk war in which his brother, William B., obtained the title of Colonel. Jesse Archer raised a family of eight children. John M. Archer was born on Wal- nut Prairie, in York Township, on the 7th day of February, 1834. When he was six years old, his parents moved to what is known as the "grand turn," where he grew to manhood, and did not enjoy the benefits of a free school. When nineteen years old, he began the trade of carpenter, which he used as a means to obtain money with which to educate himself. He spent several years in traveling in differ- ent parts of the United States, but returned to Marshall in 1865, and on the 8th day of August of that year married Miss Maria Smith, of Ohio. She was born November 14, 1836. Their family consists of three children, all born in Marshall. Cora L. was born August 23, 1869; Grace G. was horn October 6, 1871; Ernest Archer was born October 4, 1872; Jesse Archer, father of John M., died at the old homestead August 6, 1862. The mother died in Marshall on the 12th of March, 1868. John M. Archer still follows the business of contractor and builder, and has built many of the modern buildings of the city of Marshall. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. Family residence, corner of Michigan and North street.

IVAN G. BARLOW, teacher, Marshall. The subject of these lines, Ivan G. Barlow, is a son of the late J. Milton Barlow, M. D., who was for many years a resident of Craw- ford County. His father was educated for a physician at the Rush Medical College of

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP.

Chicago, and began practice at Bell Air, in Jasper County. He afterward located at Redmond, in Edgar County, where he prac- ticed for about fourteen years. That he might have the better facility for educating his children, he removed his family to West- field, Ill., in 1874. From here he removed to Eaton, Crawford County, where he fol- lowed his chosen profession until compelled by ill health to abandon practice, which he did, retiring to his farm near Martinsville, Ill., where he died October 12, 1880. Susan R. (Rubottom) Barlow, mother of I. G. Bar- low, is a native of Indiana. She is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth Rubottom, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Indiana. Mrs. Barlow is still living in the old homestead near Martins- ville. Subject was born in Jasper County, Ill., February 23, 1858; educated principally at Westfield, where he was qualified for the position of teacher, which he has acceptably filled for the past eight years, principally in Clark County. He is now in his third year in reading law. He was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in Marshall, April 5, 1SS1, a position held by his grandfather in this place many years ago. He was married in Marshall, December 6, 1879, to Miss Hattie Knowlton, daughter of Benjamin Knowlton, of Massachusetts. She was born in Terre Haute, Ind., in June, 1859.

WALTER BARTLETT, collector, Marshall, is a son of William and Sarah Bartlett. IIis father is a son of John Bartlett, who settled on the Walnut Prairie in the year 1817. Hle was one of the first inen of the town of Marshall. William Bartlett was born in Clark County, Ill., in 1828, and in early life was engaged in farming ; later, in the milling business, and afterward as a produce merchant. He was married in Marshall, in the year 1854, to Miss Sarah MeKeen, daughter of William and Nancy

McKeen, and a native of the county. She was born in the year 1832. They raised a family of four children, of whom Walter is the oldest. Ile was born in Marshall April 10, 1855. The second of the family is Frank Bartlett ; the third, Mary E. Bartlett, married Charles Ewalt; and fourth, Sallie Bartlett. Mrs. Sarah Bart- lett, mother of the subject, died in Marshall on the 11th of May, 1863, and the father died in same place on the 26th of February, 1869. The Bartlett family is among the oldest of Clark County, and several of its honored mem- bers are still residents of the county. Walter is engaged in an abstract office, and does a general collection business. He is a member of Masonic fraternity.

HENRY C. BELL, lawyer, Marshall, is a native of Clark County, Ill. He was born in York Township January 5, 1849. He is a son of Wiley O. and Sarah E. Bell. His father is a native of North Carolina, and was born on the 16th of March, 1816. Reason Bell, father of Wiley O. Bell, came to Clark County, Il1. in the year 1819, and settled near the present site of York, where Wiley O. grew to manhood and where I1. C. Bell was born. His mother was a native of Crawford County, Ill. She is a daugh- ter of Henry and Jemima Buckner. She was. born July 25, 1832, and was married to W. O. Bell on the 1st day of February, 1848. Henry C. Bell received the elements of an English education in the common schools, and when in his sixteenth year, on October, 1864, became a member of Company K, of Twenty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He participated in Hood's campaign under Gen. Thomas, and was mustered out October 29, 1865, at Mari- etta, Ga. Returning, he gave his attention to study, and after two terms' work in the com- mon schools of the county, he became a pupil in the Westfield College, where he remained for four years. Ile afterward attended the Normal Institute at Carbondale, Ill. The intervals between school terms were employed in teach-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

ing, and after finishing his studies, was for several years a teacher, during which time he improved his opportunities to read law. IIe read with the firm of Scholfield & Wilkin, but as a consequence of the election of Scholfield to the Supreme Judgeship, he entered the office of Dulaney & Goklen. He was admitted to practice June 15, 1875. In July of that year, he was appointed to the office of County Super- intendent of Schools of Clark County, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of P. A. MeKane. He entered on the practice of his profession in 1875, and has since been a mem- ber of the bar of this county. He is at this time City Attorney for Marshall, an office to which he was elected in April, 1882. Hle is a member of the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Honor. Mr. Bell was married in Hudson- ville, Crawford County, July 22, 1875, to Miss Stella Wilhite, daughter of James and Nancy C. (Cox) Wilhite. She is a native of Crawford Connty, Ill., and born August 18, 1855. Mrs. Bell is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hutsonville. Their family consists of two children, both of whom were born in Marshall. Their names are as follows : Edna Bell, born November 25, 1877 ; Roscoe Bell, born May 2, 1881.

HUBERT BENEDICT, retired, Marshall. It is a pleasure to chronicle the history of a man who, by native energy and honest industry, has stemmed the tide of poverty and adverse fortune, and come to old age with an unsullied character and a competence for his declining years. Such a man is the subject of these lines, Hubert Benedict, born in Chenango County, N. Y., on the 28th of November, 1816. He remained in New York with his parents, Eliakim and Nancy Benedict, until he was six- teen years old. At this time he and an elder brother, in company with some emigrants, came to Huron County, Ohio. When they arrived there, their earthly store consisted of the clothes they wore and 95 cents,

which was the cash account of Hubert. Armed with their willing hands and possessed of de- termined spirits, they sought work in the county. Work was soon obtained by Hubert, and he gave the bank account to his older brother, who sought employment elsewhere. After two years' service on the farm, he began driving a stage team, a work which he followed in Ohio for several years. He was married in Lancas- ter, Ohio, on the 24th of April, 1837, to Miss Nancy Kelley, daughter of Felix and Christina Kelley. She was born in Ireland, April 25, 1816, and came to the United States with her parents when she was fifteen years old. In 1839, they came with ox team to Terre Haute, Ind., and drove stage from that place to Mar- tinsville, Ill. In 1842, they made their first residence in Marshall, where they remained two years, at which time, being made an agent for the stage line from Terre Haute to Spring- field, Ill., he moved to Charleston, Ill., but returned to Marshall in June of 1846. Since that time, he has been a resident of the place. In that year, he embarked in the grocery busi- ness, which he followed very successfully for several years. In 1856, his entire property, consisting of dwelling and two business houses, was destroyed by fire, causing him a loss of about $5,000. In 1858, he built the present brick block on the old site, having previously erected a large dwelling house. He now owns two farms, besides his extensive city property. They have a family of nine children, of whom six are now living. The eldest, Lyman Bene- diet, was born March 11, 1839, and died August 6, 1841; Margaret Benedict, born November 12, 1840, and died October 1, 1841 ; Nancy Benedict, born November 2, 1842, and married to N. Robinson ; Mary J. Benedict, born Sep- tember 31, 1844, now the wife of T. J. Golden; William Benedict, born January 18, 1846, mar- ried to Mary Montgomery ; Maggie Benedict, born August 5, 1848, married to Chester Little- field ; Josephine Benedict, born April 13, 1850,

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History of Crawford and Clark counties, Illinois, Part 59

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