USA > Illinois > Douglas County > History of Douglas county, Illinois > Part 5
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Acres in the township cultivated 33,296
Acres in the township not cultivated. 668
Town lots. oto
Total acres 34,604
54
HISTORY OF
CAMARGO TOWNSHIP.
"Antiqua Virtute et Fide."
Camargo Township enjoys the honor of being the oldest settled portion of Douglas county, the first comers of whom we have any account having arrived in 1829. The township derives its name from the city of Camargo in Mexico, and was suggested by Col. McCown. The first house built in Douglas county is yet standing on section 33, 16, 9, on the Iles' land, west of the railroad bridge at Camargo and north of the track. It was raised in 1829 by John A. Richman, the father of John Richman of our day, and well and familiarly known as "Uncle Jack." John A. Richman lived to be over So, and even at that age would hardly deign to ride a horse, but would gird himself with knife and tomahawk and with gun on shoulder, would "step over" to the Okaw timber, twelve or fifteen miles and back, as coolly as a man of the present day would walk a mile. Mr. Richman came from West Virginia, in the year mentioned-some say, however, 1827 -and John Richman, then a lad, made a hand at the raising. This house was for a long time the headquarters for elections and military musters.
There was a small tribe of Indians camped a Bridgeport, now Hugo P. O., section 12, 15, 9, which was a trading point with them and a store or trading post was kept by Godfrey Vessar, a French- man, or perhaps Vessar & Bulbory.
Mr. John Hammet and his sons, Wm. S. and Jas. R., arrived in November, 1830. The family lived in a tent the first winter and were visited by large numbers of Indians who would call and sit around the fire. Their general conduct was such as to leave the impression that they were honest, and although the family of the Hammet's was at their mercy: nothing was stolen, and they had no fears for their per-
55
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
sonal safety. However one or two battles with Indians from the upper Embarras are spoken of as having occurred, 1815-ISIS; one with Government Surveyors, near the creek in Coles county. John Hammet and Harrison Gill, of Kentucky, were the first land owners in the area of the county, after the Government, having entered land on the same day. Mr. H. took several hundred acres north of Camargo village, and Mr. Gill entering 240 aeres in section 35, east of Camargo. The Patents for these first entered lands were signed by Andrew Jackson, in March, 1830. Mr. Gill is still living in Bath county, Kentucky. Samuel Ashmore entered part of section 36, 15, Io, in 1830, also. Mr. Gill came from Kentucky on horse-back and in company with his Uncle Robert visited the Indians at Hugo. His
Uncle told the "boss" Indian that Gill, being about to enter land, wanted a wife. Upon hearing the news the "ladies" at once gathered around the candidate for matrimonial honors as if they meant business. All of them wanted a white man, "if he could hunt." Mr. Gill only got out of the difficulty by informing them that, much to his regret, he was a "poor hunter," and so would make but a sorry husband. The two winters immediately succeeding the arrival of these early settlers, were the hardest known in the history of the State, that of IS31-2 being known as the winter of the great snow. The milling of the neighborhood was done principally at Eugene, Ind., a distance of forty miles.
Jas. R. Hammet was active in the intesests of the new county of Douglas and also in those of the east and west railroad, of which he was one of the incorporators and a director for fourteen years. G. W. Henson, Charles Brewer, John Brown, Martin Rice, John D. Murdock, Alexander Bragg and the Watson's were also of the first arrivals. C. Brewer came in 1855. John Brown, who arrived in IS3S, was elected Associate Justice of the county of Douglas in 1865. Mr. Rice has been a resident of the State since 1849, and of what is now Douglas county since 1853. He actively assisted in the movement of the new county, and was a member of the first political convention held in it. In the second year after township organization-1869-he was elected Supervisor of Camargo Township, re-elected in IS73 and every year since, being a member of the present Board. John D. Murdock was elected Associate Justice of Douglas county, as a mem- ber of the first County Board in IS59, and re-elected in 1861. Cole- man Bright, a native of Virginia, came from Indiana to Camargo in August, 1850. He has been a merchant about ever since, and is now
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HISTORY OF
senior member of the firm of Bright & Jones, in Tuscola. Alexan- der Bragg came to the State in 1835, and served in the Mexican War, IS46. W. D. Watson, of this township, was in the State Senate at the time of forming the county. Geo. W. Henson arrived in 1844. H. L. Thornsbrue, of this township, is probably the oldest living per- son born within the area of the county-1830.
The original part of the village of Camargo was laid off in November, IS36, by Isaac Moss, Jos. Fowler, Surveyor, and was called New Salem. When Moss' addition was made it was called New Albany, after which it received its present name. It is the most ancient village in the county, and in the long years pending the advent of the I. & I. C. Railway was considered "finished." The completion of this road, however, has given it an impetus that may end in distinction, it having been the place of residence of many of the most successful business men of the county. The first County Court of Douglas county was held here "under dispensation," pending the selection of a county seat. The town proper composes an area of about So acres, lying on the left bank of the Embarras river and upon the line of the I., D. & S. Railway.
The Methodists and Christians have each a church, the former being a fine brick building costing $5,000, and another brick block is the store of Carraway & Elfes.
Camargo Lodge No. 440, A. F. and A. M., was instituted Octo- ber IS, 1865. The charter members were: Jas. T. Orr, A. Salisbury, R. E, Carmack, A. K. P. Townsend. Geo, C. Gill, Martin Rice, W. C. Campbell, R. C. Patterson, J. T. Helm, J. R. Henderson, H. G. Russell. The first officers were: Jas. T. Orr, W. M .; Geo. C. Gill, Secretary; R. E. Carmack, Treasurer. A commodious lodge room was dedicated October 2, 1875; R. A. Chapter was instituted U. D. November 9, the same year. The present membership is 66.
The township took stock in the I., D. & S. Railway to the amount of $15,000, payable in fourteen years, with ten per cent inter- est. The taxes paid by the road materially reduce the interest.
The Danville, Tuscola & Western is a proposed railroad, graded and partly bridged. It crosses the west and north part of the township in a northeasterly direction. The line was established in 1872.
The area of the township is fifty-six sections of land or about equal to 6012 square miles, some of the sections having over 1,000 aeres. The township contains 38,769 acres.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY.
The notable high-handed and desperate robbery of Mr. Wm. S Hammet and his household occurred on the night of June S, 1870. The family had retired. Mr. H. was aroused by a knock at the door, and upon opening it was instantly seized by two armed and masked men, who demanded silence and money. Mr. H. being not only unarmed and partly unclothed, taken by surprise, with a loaded pistol pointing directly at and close to his heart, which might at any instant have been discharged by the trembling hand of his guard, after care- fully weighing the chances concluded to surrender, a prudence that is commended by men who have been in the army. He was held strictly under guard until the villains had obtained watches and jew- elry to the amount of $250 and a little money. They had taken care to fasten the door of a room occupied by some work hands, and, hav- ing accomplished their purpose with dispatch, released Mr. Hammet and disappeared with great haste in the darkness.
The town of New Boston was laid out by McDowell on section 35, 16, 9, in November, 1837, and vacated February, 1845.
Patterson's spring, a fine fountain of living water, is situated upon the farm of R. Patterson in setion 33, 16, 9, on the Embarras and near Camargo. It has been for many years a favorite place for camp meet- ings and so forth.
The township, in the public service of the county, has contributed liberally of her citizens. John D. Murdock, Associate Justice in 1859, re-elected in 1861. John Brown in the same position in 1865. Wm. H. Lamb, formerly a merchant in Camargo, was the commissioner to transfer from the records of Coles county those belonging to the county of Douglas, and was elected County Clerk in the fall of 1865. Parmenas Watson was made Sheriff in November, 1860, and S. S. Irwin was Superintendent of Schools from the fall of 1861, serving two years. Dr. John C. Parcel was elected County Clerk in Novem- ber, 1869, serving one term of four years.
The Supervisors of the township have been: Geo. W. Henson, the first in 1868; F. Hesler, 1870; J. W. Mckinney, 1871-72; Martin Rice in 1869-73-74-75-76, being the present Supervisor. The popula- tion of the township, per 9th Census, 1870, was I, SoS.
Acres in the township cultivated 36,670
Acres in the township not cultivated 2,019
Town lots in Camargo about. So
Total acres in the township. 38,769
58
HISTORY OF
GARRETT TOWNSHIP.
" Finis Coronat Opus."
Garrett Township is situated in the northwest part of the county : has forty-eight sections of land, equal to 49 square miles, or about 31,344 acres. It receives its name from the Garretts, Isom and his sons, Caleb and Nathan. Isom Garrett is living and able to attend to business at the advanced age of Si years. Caleb Garrett represented the county of Vigo in the Legislature of Indiana in 1842, at the age of 26 years, and was re-elected. He settled in Douglas county in 1847, and served on the first Grand Jury of the county : was Justice of the peace for some years and the first Supervisor of the township. He is the fit representative of a family of giants, being six feet in height and weighing considerably over 300 pounds.
Harvey Otter, Thomas Goodson, James Drew, Jacob Mosbarger, Dr. Meeker, William Howe and William Ellars were of the early settlers. Mr. Howe arrived in 1838; went to California in 1850, returning in 1853. He is the present Supervisor, having been elected in 1876. Wm. Ellars' family came from Ohio, settled on the Okaw timber near the north county line in 1849, at which time there was not a settler on the prairie to the west. He was the second Supervisor of the township, a position he held by re-election for four years.
Joseph Moore, or to put it more exactly, "Old" Joc Moore, arrived in Douglas, formerly Coles, county in 1832. He is the repos- itory, as well as the authority, for all the jokes, good, bad and indiffer- ent, illustrative of the manners and customs of the early days. He still lives at a hearty old age, and who, in the west end, knows him not, argues himself unknown.
59
.
DOUGLAS COUNTY.
In the early days a principal part of the living was venison. Thomas Goodson once killed two deer with a single ball, on what is now the large farm of William Brian. He also assisted in extermina- ting the last family of wild cats in the Okaw timber. He relates hay- ing cut a large tree for rail timber in the exact spot where he had cut a similar one thirty-six years before, as if the timber is holding its own notwithstanding the large quantities used for fuel and improve- ment. It is a notable fact, in this connection, that in those days the timber belonging to actúa! settlers remained in good condition much longer than that on Government or non-resident lands. Non-resi- dent's lands were called "speculator's lands." Whether the timber on such lands should be respected was considered a "moot case."
John Lester and his sons, Samuel and Sigler H., were of the most notable of the earlier settlers in this part of the county. The sons entered large bodies of land, leaving large estates which are now enjoyed, for the most part, by their numerous descendants. They were men of great natural force and decision of character, and anec- dotes of them are not few. As illustrative of the times: John hav- ing cut a large bee tree converted it into a "gum," put a slab over it and left it for a more convenient time. Goodson, as it happened, had just killed three deer, and finding the "gum," not seeing the honey, he filled it up with tallow, this to preserve it from the ravens, for at that time ravens were plenty-larger than the common crow-since extinct in this region. Lester returned first and finding the tallow could not understand how anybody could rob him of his honey and leave tallow in exchange, the latter being much more valuable.
Another event of the times-one of our "causes celebres"-has been so often repeated to the detriment of the character of Sigler H. Lester, that it is desirable to give the facts of the case, even were the incident not a part of the history of the county. This was the well known assault with intent to kill, said to have been committed by Lester upon Samuel Johnson.
The facts seem to be that the trouble arose from a systematic plan of annoyance adopted, in pure mischief, by the "boys," they knowing Lester to be of a very excitable temperament. They robbed his hen roosts and wood piles, disturbed work he had laid out, hid his gearing, emptied his water jug, generally pursuing a plan of petty mischief, taxing their invention to the utmost, and then purposely threw them selves in his way to hear him express himself.
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HISTORY OF
Upon the last occassion-for there was a last occasion-when the "boys" had played a trick of surpassing aggravation, they unadvisedly took occasion to be at hand. Mr. Lester, having by this time, a pretty good idea as to the identity of his persecutors, was so decidedly expressive that Sam. Johnson "lit" off his horse to fight, or at least to make a show of fight, for they thought there would be no fight. Each gathered a club, met and broke both, and "clinched." Lester had a knife in his hand with which he had been at work, and aggra- vated beyond endurance, not only at the persistent previous annoy- ances, but by the now almost certain knowledge that these were his tormentors, and moreover that this was a "set up" job, he, in what he really thought was self defence, reached around Sam. and nearly cut him in two.
Mr. Lester was tried, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary, but, upon a proper representation of the facts, was promptly pardoned by the Governor. He was defended by Abraham Lincoln. No one regretted the affair more than Mr. Lester, and in a subsequent resi- dence of many years, up to the time of his death in 1864, he established and maintained a character for uprightness and honor second to none. His brother Samuel died in September, 1860, and both left large estates.
The trial of Samuel Evans, for the murder of his wife, occurred int 1853-4. He was a farmer near the present location of the Hoots school house on the Okaw, section 1, 15, 7. It was charged that he killed her by beating, and, being tried in Clark county on a change from Coles county, he was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for eight years. After serving somewhat more than one year he was pardoned by Governor Matteson. Usher & Ficklin for the accused ; Linder for the State. Drs. J. H. Apperson and J. W. Mckinney having held a post mortem in the case, their evidence in the trial was important. This trial and the attendant circumstances caused the expression of much difference of opinion in the neighborhood, lead- ing, in some cases, to enmity which time finally cured.
Francis C. Mullen arrived and entered land in section 28, 16, 7, in 1850. He was the second County Judge of Douglas, 1861. He came from Delaware.
About this time he was traveling towards his home from Van- . dalia, where he had been entering land, and upon reaching Sullivan, in Moultrie county, his traveling companion was urgent that they should repair at once to the hotel saloon and take a drink. Mullen
.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY.
preferred to first take care of the horses, and order dinner, and pre- vailed, which made some delay, and as they afterwards went toward the tavern and saloon they met a man who told them there had been trouble there; that William Campbell had been robbed of one hun- dred and fifty dollars in gold; that every man in the saloon, of whom there were many, had been searched, and the money not found. It is interesting to speculate as to what might have been the consequences to Mullen on this occasion had he not been fortunately delayed a little while, for he had just arrived in the country, was a perfect stranger to everybody, and had upon his person just exactly "one hundred and fifty dollars in gold."
The timber which lies along the Okaw and its confluence occu- pies a large part of the area of the township.
The I., D. & S. Railway, traverses it front east to west, and the township aided in its construction with a voted subscription of $13,000. The bridge of this road, across the Okaw, was maliciously burned on the night of July 3, 1873. The fellow who committed the crime has, by withholding his name, lost the distinction of . being Douglas county's greatest scoundrel.
The town of Atwood was laid out by the railroad company in IS73, on the lands of Harvey Otter and Geo. Nolind, in Douglas county, and on the lands of the Ritchie's in Piatt county. It is a thriving village with good surroundings and will eventually secure the trade of a wealthy neighborhood, which has hitherto been divided between Tuscola and Bement.
Mackville, in Piatt county, on Lake Fork, a branch of the Okaw, is a mile northwest of Atwood, and exercised some control over the trade of this region until the advent of the railroad, which passed half a mile south and made Atwood. The pet name of this village is "Lickskillet."
Goodson station, section 34, 16, 7, and Bowen's, in section 36, in the timber, are recognized as stopping places by the railroad.
Garrett is the fourth township in the county, with regard to pop- ulation per 9th Census, 1870, the number of inhabitants being put down at 1,599. It contains an area of 49 square miles in 48 sections of land, several of the sections having considerably over 1,000 acres. Sulphur Spring, on the farm of Thomas Brian, on the Okaw, section 14, 16, 7, is a fine fountain of living water and a favorite resort for open air meetings.
Garrett has been represented at the county seat by F. C. Mullen, County Judge November, 1861; Isaac L. Jordan, an old resident, was
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HISTORY OF
elected Sheriff in the fall of 1864; Caleb Garrett, the first Supervisor, 186S, succeeded by Wm. Ellars, 1869, who was re-elected in 1870-1-2. He was followed by J. W. Hackett in 1873; Thomas Owen, 1874; Josiah Hoots, 1875, and Wm. Howe, 1876, the present Supervisor. All of these were old settlers at the time of the institution of the new county in 1859 and were active in its business and politics.
Acres in the township cultivated. 30,666
Acres in the township not cultivated 608
Town lots in Atwood. 70
Total acres 31,344
A PRIMITIVE SCHOOL HOUSE.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY.
BOURBON TOWNSHIP.
" Animo et Fide."
Bourbon Township consists of forty-two sections of land in the southwest part of the county, equal to about the same number of square miles, and 27,175 acres. Amongst the first settlers were Geo. Dehart and his sons, Samuel and Lucas. He was road-master in Coles county and his district extended from Sadorus' Grove, on the north county line, to a point six miles south of the Springfield road. Allen and William Campbell were also of the first. Mr. Allen Campbell was, at the time of his death in 1875, with one exception, the largest land owner in the county. Isaac Gruelle, Malden Jones, Israel Chandler and his sons, were amongst the earliest comers. Of these, Dr. Apperson is living in the township, a large land owner and has an extensive medical practice. He is a nephew of Dr. John Apperson, who was the first physician in Coles county. Malden Jones, who came in 1840, was Sheriff of Coles county when Douglas county was parted from it. He was elected in 1858, and was elected to the State Legis- lature in 1864 and again in 1866. Lemuel Chandler was the first Supervisor of the township and served four consecutive terms. The Dehart sons are yet well known active business men. Curtis G. and Campbell McComb, at present citizens of the county, were old resi- dents of Coles at the institution of the new county. Thomas Moore entered west half northeast quarter section 23, 15, 7, in 1831.
John Campbell, called "Uncle Jack," was a brother of Allen and William Campbell, and was probably the last representative or type of the genuine old-fashioned pioneer, scout and hunter, and wonder- ful stories were told of his endurance and his ability to follow a trail.
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HISTORY OF
He was widely known in the early days, passing the greater part of his time in hunting. He was found dead in the woods. His son Hiram, who died in 1864, had the reputation of being one of the best hunters of the time.
Jacob Moore, sr., was one of the earliest settlers in the township and became an extensive cattle dealer and large land holder. He was also a noted hunter of great endurance. His first land was entered in section 1, 14, 7, in April, 1835. He died July 15, 1860, leaving a large estate to numerous descendants.
Isaac Gruelle, of this township, was County Commissioner of Coles county, being elected in 1843, with H. J. Ashmore. The Con- stitution of 1848 provided for a County Judge and two associates, and John M. Logan was one of the first two Associate Justices. Gruelle and Logan have long since passed away, both leaving large estates.
German speaking people occupy a large area of the north part of the township, the locality being widely known as the "German Set- tlement." Their farms, compared with western farms generally, arc small but exceedingly well cultivated, and the proverbial industry and thrift of this class of citizens is here fully exemplified. The greater part of them having arrived with little or no means, and now with hardly an exception have acquired good and well improved farms. The pioneer of this community is Wessel Blaase, who arrived in 1852. There are several ancient artificial mounds on his place in one of which human bones were found in excavating for a building.
In the sonthwest part settled the Amish of some twenty-five fam- ilies, who were preceded here by M. Yoter, Miller and others in 1864. They much resemble the society of Friends in plainness of attire, integ- rity and almost total exemption from pauperism. The name is derived from that of the founder of the society who, in the German States of Europe, saw fit to secede from the Menonites, of whom much has been heard lately, with regard to the emigration of large numbers of them from Russia to the West. The proposed marriages are publicly announced, and a marriage outside of the Society is "tolerable and not to be endured." They dress plainly, partly to avoid the frivolitics of fashion, and partly that there may be no notable distinction between the rich and the poor. They have no churches or meeting houses but meet at each others dwellings, as the spirit moves them. The cloth- ing of the men is often confined with hooks and eyes, but the notion that they wear no buttons is erroneous. The heads of the women are laways covered with a neat white cap and over the neck and shoulders
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DOUGLAS COUNTY.
decorously spread a plain white handkerchief; this in observance of the hint from the Apostle Paul.
Adults only are baptized and that by pouring. Infants are not entitled to this sacrament, they preferring to teach first, for every descendent has a birth-right in the church. Of German extraction and long settled in western Pennsylvania, their speech amongst them- selves is an odd mixture of German and English, the "American" part of which can be readily detected by an intelligent observer, and the language is popularly known as "Pennsylvania Dutch." They all speak "American" as well as their neighbors, so that, trusting to the hearing alone, few would suspect the presence of a German speaking person. Almost painfully neat in their housekeeping, forehanded in everything pertaining to the comfort of the inner man, with great hospitality, all educated with industry, integrity and economy, they are a valuable addition to the population and wealth of Douglas county.
The original village of Bourbon, section 14, 15, 7, was laid out by Malden Jones, in October, 1853, and is the third town in priority, hav- ing been preceded by both Camargo and Fillmore. An addition was made in the following January by Benjamin Ellars. At the institution of the county this was a thriving village of some dozen business houses and the most important trading point in the county. L. C. Rust, Dr. J. D. Gardiner, Jos. Foster, Wm. Chandler, Benjamin Ellars, G. W. Flynn and others flourished here at the time. The location of the Illinois Central Railroad some four miles to the east, giving rise to Tuscola and Arcola, interfered with the future prospects of the place to the extent that the merchants, for the most part, not only removed to the new towns on the railroad but took their build- ings with them. One of these, a two-story frame, was put upon run- ners made of large sticks of timber, and with some fifteen yoke of steers, under the conduct of Uncle Daniel Roderick, was hauled in nearly a straight line over the snow to Arcola. "Uncle Daniel" still lives on his farm in section 1, 15, 7. He entered this land on March 13, 1838. Samuel Sharp, of Bourbon, took Rust's store to Arcola in a similar manner.
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