USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 10
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It is said that one direct, and, which ought to be fatal, evil flowing out of this township law as it has heretofore worked, has been this: Whenever a man was elected Supervisor, he at
once became a candidate for some county office, and commenced to form his ring in the board to help him carry out his purpose. If this was ever done, that instant the man and his asso- ciates in the infamy were full blown scoundrels; and it is using mild terms to call him a scoun- drel.
If the Legislature would only pass a law that no Supervisor could for at least two years after going out of office, be elected to a county office, it would not harm the people; it would not deprive them of theonly chance they might have of getting good, competent and honest men.
All democratic governments are menaced by things that are equally dangerous, and equally certain to be an indiginous and spon- taneons production, to wit, demagogues and over-legislation.
The fool in his heart has said that much vot- ing is much liberty and greatness. The cun- ning demagogue has educated bis long-eared constituents into the knowledge that many laws make much freedom.
And when the school convention meets it has never yet whispered a word of war upon this wide-spread and criminal ignorance upon which the public is fattening and battening from year to year.
Nay, nay, dear simple Simon, we are born to war upon men's pockets, not their ignorance.
The legislative acts of the county and its self-government are no more thecreation of the public idea that prevails as to what is a good Government, than are the schools the founders and progenitors of the enlightment and civili- zation we have.
The public officials, the good or bad we have evolved from our self-government are the reflex picture, as are the schools, public morals, and about everything else we have, the result of that public that breathes the breath of life into them all. They are all the effects of causes, of which they have had no lot or par- cel in forming or directing.
74
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
Agricultural Societies .- Following naturally upon the official life of the county, comes the acts and official doings of the different and suc- cessive agricultural societies, that had their rise in Ewington May 5, 1865, in a public meeting of the leading men of the county, called together for the purpose of organizing a county agricult- ural society. The book is thus formally dedi- cated on the title page.
" This book is to contain the constitution and by-laws of this society; the names of mem- bers belonging thereto, also a true and faithful record of all the official business and proceed- ings of the same."
Then follows a constitution and by-laws elaborate and ponderons enough for the ship of State to ride upon in safety. This constitu- tion and by-laws are better explained by the very full minutes of a meeting that is given in full on the next page, " held by the citizens of Effingham County, at Ewington, on 5th day of May, 1856." Meeting organized by electing Dr. J. H. Robinson, Chairman, and Greenbury Wright, Secretary. Constitution and by-laws read and unanimously adopted on motion of P. Funkhouser.
J. H. Robinson was elected President of the Agricultural Society, Presley Funkhauser, Vice President, Greenbury Wright, Secretary, and J. M. Long. Treasurer.
On motion, P. Funkhauser, the Secretary, was "ordered to furnish each officer of the society with a certificate of his election, accom- panied by a synopsis of his duty."
I. L. Leith moved that the " Treasurer pur- chase a book for each officer to record all the business of the society."
George Wright, S. F. Hankins and J. J. Funkhouser were elected Executive Committee in Town 8, Range 5 ; Elijah Henry, I. L. Leith and Morgan Wright, Town 6, Range 5; J. B. Carpenter, J. W. Parkhurst and A. H. Wood, Town 7, Range 5 ; John F. Waschfort, Town 8, Range 6; John Billingsly, Town 7, Range
4; A. W. Callard and C. B. Kitchel, Town 9, Range 5 ; G. W. Merry, Town 6, Range 7 ; J. S. Wilson, Town 6, Range 6 ; John Marble and Robert Phillipps, Town 8, Range 7.
At the next meeting in July following, John F. Kroger and H. H. Huels, John Hipsher, James Woodruff, Addison Webb, George W. Barkley, L. J. Field, M. K. Robinson, A. Mc- Cullough, - Newbanks, Luke R. McMurry, Thomas Patterson, E. Howard, T. D. Tennery, G. W. Holmes, S. D. Lorton, Jackson Gillmore, Isaac Mahon, G. W. Nelson, H. Cronk, R. Mc- Cann, M. B. Reed, J. F. Meyer, A. Johnston and R. Dust were added to the Executive Com- mittee.
On the 21st of October, 1857, the Effingham County Agricultural Society met again at Ewingtou, where Isaac L. Leith was elected President, Daniel Rinehart, Vice President, John S. Kelly, Secretary, Presley Funkhouser, Treasurer.
A full list of awarding committees were appointed at this meeting.
It was resolved that each member desiring to continue his membership should pay 50 cents to the Treasurer. Fifty-seven names were then enrolled as the membership of the society.
At the county fair, October, 1857, premiums were offered to the amount of $40. Including best stallion, $3; best bulls, $2.50 ; best yoke of oxen, $2 ; best span of mules, $1.50 ; best brood mare, $2; best butter, 25 cents ; best cheese, $1.
The next meeting was in June, 1859, when it was resolved to hold the fair in October next.
The new Executive Committee elected was David Leith, W. H. Blakely, Hamilton Boggs, John W. Parkhurst, I. B. Humes, G. C. Van Allen, J. B. Carpenter, John Frazey, Robert McCann, D. Rinehart, A. B. Kagay and John J. Funkhouser. This meeting, by motion, ordered its proceedings published in the Effing- ham Pioneer.
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
Dr. William Mathews then delivered an address to the meeting (supposed to have been on the subject of agriculture). On the 21st and 22d of October, 1859, the second county fair was held at Ewington. The society had enlarged and feneed its grounds, and from the long list of premiums awarded and paid it is evident this meeting was a great suceess in every respect. Ninety-three dollars and fifty cents were paid in premiums, including $2 paid Miss Elizabeth Fleming, best lady equestrian, and $1 paid Mary Fleming, 2d best ditto.
In October, 1860, the Secretary records a new list of the members, and this shows the membership had increased to fifty-eight.
Another successful meeting of the county fair occurred October 18 and 19, 1860.
In March, 1861, new officers of the society were elected as follows : R. H. McCann, Presi- dent ; D. Rinehart, Vice President ; Sam Mof- litt, Secretary ; J. J. Funkhouser, Treasurer.
Nine persons were elected as Executive Com- mittee as follows : William Gillmore, W. D. Moore, A. Tipsword, Lorenza Turner, J. B. Carpenter, W. H. Blakely, M. K. Robinson, A. J. Parks, John H. Kroger, G. II. Scoles and Dan Merry. A levy of 50 cents on each member and a new list enrolled shows only twenty-eight names now remained as members.
At the annual fair, 10th, 11th and 12th of October, 1861, $84 were distributed in pre- miums. March, 1862, new officers were elected as follows : W. H. Blakely, President ; R. H. McCann, Vice President ; Sam Moffitt, Seere- tary, and D. Rinehart, Treasurer.
In 1862, a new list of members is recorded, and it gives 115 names. This was the largest list the society had ever obtained, and, one would think it betokened prosperity and long life. But, in fact, it was the vigor of dying spasms. The energy and judgment of the men at the head of the movement had been com- mendably seconded by the people, and some most encouraging fairs had been hekel, but, in
1862, Ewington began the song of the dying swan; and the roar of the battle throughout the land, and the " smell of the draft " from afar put other thoughts in the heads of the war-like men of the county than that of the peaceful pumpkin. The admirable Secretary, Sam Mof- fitt, wrote out the new list of membership, folded the records and put up his pen to rust, when, with about every other able-bodied yonng man on the list, he went to the front, where bayonets, not pens, were writing in blood the country's history. It was well for the mild-eyed, fair-faced society of agriculture to hide away and sleep in peace, while war and his wrinkled front hekdl sway. In fact, the first Ethingham County Agricultural Society ceased to exist after its annual fair in 1861.
After the lapse of eleven years. and on the 24th day of August, 1872, there was a meeting in the city of Effingham for the purpose of organizing the Effingham County Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Society.
This starts out with regular articles of asso- ciation, preamble and constitution and by-laws. and is incorporated under the general incorpo- ration laws of the State, and J. J. Worman, Circuit Clerk, certifies the instrument was filed and recorded in his office on the 28th day of August, 1872.
These articles of association are signed by 102 names, including nearly every leading farmer and business man in the county, each subscriber taking shares of stock, and paying in cash a certain proportion thereof at the time of subscribing.
The organization was completed by the election of William Gillmore, President ; T. L. Sexton, Vice President ; E. H. Bishop, Secre- tary, and the following Board of Directors : M. V. Parks. Eli Kelly, William C. Wright, I. L. Leith and W. H. Blakely.
The society purchased the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 29, Town- ship 8, Range 6 east. This corners with the
76
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
southeast corner of the city corporation of the city of Effingham.
Lumber was purchased, the grounds elegant- ly inclosed, an amphitheater and numerous halls, sheds, and stock pens put up and the preparations for a great county fair rapidly pushed forward.
December 10, 1872, in order to comply with the act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, the name of the society was changed to the " Effingham County Agricultural Board."
A fair was ordered to be held commencing September 30 and October 1, 2 and 3, 1873, and Thomas II. Dobbs was put in charge of the fair grounds.
June 18th, an assessment of an additional twenty per cent was ordered on all stock. John H. Duffy was appointed Marshal.
The Secretary's books only incidentally men- tion the fact that any fair was held at all. It appears there was one in 1872 and in 1873, and the following entries tell better what suc- cess attended each than anything we can say :
Received for the fair 1872. $1,110 15.
For the horse fair 25 00.
State appropriation. 100 00.
Received for the fair 1873 1,384 05.
The books show that the land cost $2,160. Including this item, the society paid out for the two years of 1872 and 1873, the sum of $6,379.20, leaving a balance unpaid of $2,- 262.23.
For the year 1873, $1,000 were paid for premiums and assistance on the grounds for the Secretary.
In 1873, the officers were S. Hardin, Presi- dent; Eli Kelly, Jake Rhodes, E. Avery and Samuel Campbell, Directors. A fair was ordered to be held October 6, 7, 8 and 9, 1874.
The records now show a determination to draw or " bust," as there is a recorded resolu- tion authorizing the President to close the bargain for a walking exhibition by E. P. Weston (he didn't walk), but the fair must have
been quite a fair success as the following ac- counts indicate.
Stall rent. $ 32 50.
Permits during fair 419 25.
Tiekets. first day 23 05.
Tickets, second day. 165 30.
Tickets, third day. 551 25.
Tickets, fourth day. 309 75.
Tickets, fifth day. 3 00.
Season tickets 71 00.
Rent amphitheater
5 00.
Discount on orders. 116 00.
Entree fees, speed ring. 88 00.
Total $1,699 26.
The association paid out this year altogether $4,916.28, leaving a balance unpaid of $2,875.76.
November 17, 1874, there was a meeting for the purpose of electing officers, with following result.
J. L. Gillmore, President.
Samuel Campbell, Vice President.
Henry G. Habing, Treasurer.
James C. Brady, Secretary.
Directors, M. O'Donnell, Frank Kreke, John G. James, Thomas H. Dobbs and I. B. Humes.
This was the heyday and acme of the glory of our county fairs. It began to decline after 1874, and although most energetic efforts were made by the officers-all good and competent men, too, yet there was and has been to date a continuous diminution of interest in the county fairs. The new board of 1874 ap- pointed Albert Gravenhorst Superintendent of Grounds.
In 1875, a fair was held on the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th of October. This board commenced the struggle to pay off the debts of the society, and by this time the whole country was suffering from the general stagnation and depression of the panic of 1873-78.
Total receipts 1875, including $100 received from State, $779.90. Paid out for this year $577.60. Balance in treasury 8202.30. This was deposited in Habing's bank, and when the bank suspended this was all lost.
77
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
The association had purchased the ground and given a mortgage upon the same for the balance due thereon. This mortgage was fore- closed in 1874, and the ground sold to pay the the debt, and this was the final act in the second failure to have an agricultural society in Ettingham.
-
It slept the sleep of the just for another term of years.
Finally in 1880, another meeting of the citi- zens resulted in a new County Agricultural society. They leased the ground the society had once owned, for five years, at a rental of $60 per year. And a fair was held that season, E. HI. Bishop, President; G. M. Lecrone, Secre- tary, J. J. Funkhouser, Superintendent and A. Gravenhorst, Treasurer; T. H. Dobbs, Marshal. About $500 was the receipts for this year's ex-
hibition, including the $100 from the State. There had been about $500 subscribed by citi- zens, and this was expended in repairs upon the grounds and new accommodations for stock. In 1881, another fair, and a moderate success attended it. This year (1882) much effort and elaborate preparations were made, and 81,000 were expended, and $916 receipts were taken in at the gate and for other privileges. The attendance was very flattering-there being over $500 received as gate money. This year W. C. Wright was President.
The friends of this county institution now feel assured that it is placed permanently upon its feet and that it may continue with us for many years to benefit and improve the county as it will do if properly carried on, is the prayer and wish of all our people.
CHAPTER VI.
POPULATION, FARM PRODUCTS AND OTHER STATISTICS - FOREIGNERS-OUR OWN PEOPLE AND THEIR POLITICS-HUSH MONEY-IIOW KEPT AND HOW INVESTED-REMOVAL OF COUNTY-SEAT-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-RICH MINES - "GOLD, YEA, MUCH FINE GOLD"-THE "WAY-BILL," AND WHERE IT LED- SALT CREEK SILVER-TIIE DESERTED CABIN, ETC.
"De omnibus rebus et quibusdam alüs."
"N the order of States when Effingham County T was brought into existence, Illinois ranked as the twentieth State in the Union, with a population of 157,445. In 1840, the State was number fourteen, with a population of 476,183. In 1850, it numbered eleven, with a population of 851,470. In 1860, it ranked as fourth, popu- lation 1,711,951. In 1870, it was still the fourth State, with 2,539.819 of people. In the census of 1880, it was still the fourth State, but pressed so closely upon Ohio that it was not until every precinct was counted that it could be told whether Illinois or Ohio was going to be the third State in the Union. Ohio won by
a few thousand only in the matter of popula tion. While in many things Illinois is the first State in the Union. In farm products, cattle and wheat she stands pre-eminent and alone ; in producing regularly the largest wheat erops of any State in the Union; in the matter of miles of railroad she is without a rival, and the past year more miles of new railroad, and more `roads have been projected and in the process of building than any other State.
The population of Effingham County in 1840 had grown to be 1,675. In 1850, 3,799. In 1860, to 7,816. In 1870, to 15,653. In 1840, with only 1,675 people in the county, it was a dreary desert waste yet, and but few who looked
78
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
over the wide prairies ever supposed they would become inhabitable for man or brought under the control of the farmer and to the pres- ent progressive state of improvement.
In 1850, the number here was 3,799, and in 1860 it had more than doubled, and was 7,816, and, in 1870, 15,653, and in 1880 it was 18,- 858, an increase of only 3,205 in the last ten years to 1880. This eensus shows the curious fact that there was a decrease in population in three townships, to wit : Mason, 70; Watson, 54; Teutopolis, 91.
This decrease of the numbers in these town- ships may and probably is fully accounted for by the fact that, in 1870, the work was being rapidly pushed to completion on the " Van " Railroad.
In 1870, the chief productions of the county were-wheat, 195,793 bushels ; rye, 19,759 ; corn, 620,247 ; oats, 386,073 ; potatoes, 54,671; hay, 11,361 tons ; butter, 210,155 pounds ; wool, 35,650. There were 4,907 horses, 4,316 milch eows, and other cattle 5,833; sheep, 13,- 228; swine, 17,259 ; flour-mills, S; saw-mills, 12, and five manufactories of saddlery, and two of woolen goods.
In 1880, Joseph Rhodes, of Mound Township, is reported one hundred years old. Richard and Elizabeth Geotke, of Bishop, are reported the oldest married couple in the county-aged eighty-seven years. Cyntha Rentfro is reported ninety-three years old. David Davis and Aug. Grobenheiser same age, and Dedriek Stumbach and Adam Hany each eighty-nine years old.
In 1882, by official reports, the county pos- sessed horses, 5,039; cattle, 9,435; mules, 810; sheep, 6,580; hogs, 10,325; steam engines, 38; fire and burglar safes, 38; billiard and bagatelle tables, 18; carriages and wagons, 2,625; watches and clocks, 2,496; sewing-machines, 1,403; pianos, 75; melodeons and organs, 147; patent rights, 1; household and office furniture, $51,- 965; merchandise on hand, $66,913; manu- factured articles, $2,140 ; agricultural imple-
ments, $32,747. A total personal property, $499,638. Total property assessed, $2,401,395. Total improved land, 191,710 acres; unim- proved, 90,479. Acreage of wheat, 38,699 ; of corn, 43,525 ; oats, 27,438; meadow, 24,785 ; pastures, 33,686; orehards, 2,185; wood land, 53,482 acres.
The vote in 1880 was-
Hancock (Democrat.). 2,452
Garfield (Republican). .1,355
Weaver (Greenback). 100
Total .3,907
In 1860, there were in the county 982 foreign born inhabitants; in 1870, there were 2,795. There were comparatively few foreigners in the county except Germans, and the majority of these came here between 1840 and 1860.
The nativity in the county in 1870 is re- ported as follows: Born in the State, 7,323; in Ohio, 1,783 ; New York, 455 ; Pennsylvania, 376; Indiana, 1,377; Kentucky, 391; British America, 77; England and Wales, 117; Ire- land, 228; Scotland, 21; Germany, 2,121; France, 58; Sweden and Norway, 63; Switzerland, 46; Bohemia, 1; Hollaud, 4; Denmark, 23. The Tennesseans are not reported. Thisis to be regretted, because all the first settlers here were from that State, and for a long time there were here comparatively none except Tennes- seans and Ohioans. And, as singular as it may now seem, at first the people of these two States were much inclined to hold aloof from each other. The truth was, the Ohioans brought here about the first Whig votes that were ever cast to disturb the peace and quiet of the solid Hickory Democrats, and sometimes on general election days there were mutterings, and a few fist fights flowed out of this ripple in the political affairs of the county. One or two of the remaining remnants of those early day Whigs ean yet tell you how they shouldered their gun and marched up to the polls and voted their viva voce vote against Geu. Jaek- son, and how they had to march up between a
79
HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
row of "by the eternals " that were strung out on either side and looking black thunder at them all the way up to the ballot box. Butno attack was ever made upon a voter as he ap- proached the polls or returned. It was only after the brave Whig had triumphantly voted and returned to the convenient doggery to treat his victory, that a row or a fight ever was precipitated. But these Ohioans were young, stout, fearless fellows, and their pluck and hard fists soon conquered a truce, a peace and amity, and so much was this so, indeed, that scarcely any of them, that lived to survive the dissolu- tion of the Whig party, but that in the end be- came as strong Democrats as ever had been the originals.
The two things that were marked eras in the history of the county were the constructing of the Cumberland Road and the Central Road. The work on the Cumberland practically brought the first settlers here, and it left here some of the most marked characters that the early county ever had.
The work was commenced in 1829 in this county, and the cutting out of the timber on the line of road was completed in the winter of 1830-31. The work was pushed to practical completion a short distance west of Ewington. and then with scattering work at the streams as far west as Vandalia, such as a levee across the Okaw Bottom, and three bridges at that place, had exhausted the appropriations of Congress, and the people of Illinois, becoming crazed over the foolish State policy, were divided in senti- ment to the extent (some wanted it to go to Alton and others to St. Louis) that no further appropriations were procured, and the great work was stopped. To this county it was a most important public work. It gave the people access to the outside world, where before they had been pent up by almost impossible obsta- cles. People could go to Terre Haute and St. Louis, and thus reach markets and sell the little portable stuff they had, and buy such things as
their necessities demanded and haul them home. But the growth of county improvements was slow indeed. The county, like the people gen- erally, was poor, and while they made com- mendable efforts, yet often the money was wasted through being expended by inexperi- enced or ignorant men.
Hush Money .- February 17, 1837, the State had gone daft on the subject of internal im- provements, and it had passed a law that it supposed would fill up the State with railroads and canals, and in order to " infloonce " the vote of counties that were not provided for with any such improvement, it voted a fund of $200,000 to be given pro rata to such counties as a bonus. Thus, all were made happy. " Take a railroad, a canal or the money," and go thy way rejoic- ing.
This county got neither a road nor canal, and hence at the November (1837) term of the County Commissioners' Court the following pro- ceedings were had:
Whereas, On February 17, 1837, the State of Il- linois appropriated $200,000 of the first money that shall be obtained under this act, to be drawn by the several counties in a ratable proportion to the cen- sus last made through which no railroad or "Can- nell" is provided, to be made at the expense and cost of the State of Illinois, which said money shall be expended in the improvement of roads, construct- ing bridges and other public works; and,
Whereas. The county of Effingham has none of the aforementioned railroads or "Cannells," and thereby is entitled to its proportionate share of the aforesaid appropriation for the better securing of the county in its equitable rights.
John Funkhouser was appointed a Special County Commissioner to proceed at once and secure, " by all lawful means," the money, and deliver the same to the county.
Funkhouser did the best he could, but failed to get the money. In about a year afterward, Loy was appointed in Funkhouser's place, and got from the State 82,637.50 as Etlingham's share of the public money.
The Commissioners' Court, consisting of Gil-
80
IHISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
lenwaters, Funkhouser and Parkhurst, together with the County Treasurer, were in the greatest distress over having the money which they had struggled so hard to get. Where could they put it? Would it be stolen? The County Treasurer declared he could not sit up all the time to guard it, and to go to sleep threatened a total loss. A council was called, when one of the Judges, after an oath of secrecy from the others, took it in charge, carried it home, and while all the world slept, he took down his wife's big reticule, made to hold bean seed, and hung by a string from a cross-beam above the bed, and took ont the old lady's treasure and put that of the county's in its place, and re- turned it, and there it hung, looking as inno- cent as any old woman's seed-bag in the county. There was much talk and excitement among all the people when this large amount of money came to the county. Some would have liked to have seen it, but most were content to hear, from morn till night, the story of its really be- ing here, and spread their eyes at the marvel- ous rehearsal.
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