USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 23
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
the people had to go elsewhere for their mill- ing. A number of good saw-mills and several steam saw-mills have flourished at different periods.
The first road laid out through Summit Township was from Ewington to the county line in the direction of Witherspoon's Mill, in Shelby County. The next was a road run- ning from Fairfield to Shelbyvillo, via Ewington. The old Cumberland or National road passed through the township, and was a great thoroughfare in its time. A full his- tory of it is given elsewhere in this volume. The first bridge was built over the Little Wabash when this road crossed it. It was a poor affair, and was soon washed away. Another bridge was built abont 1838-40 and was a toll-bridge. That is, all living outside of the county had to pay toll for crossing on it. In 1847, it was made freo by act of the Legislature, to take effect ten years later. This bridge was washed away about the year 1872-73, and has never been rebuilt. A good bridge spans tho Wabash some two miles north of where this one was washed away, and is used extensivoly during high water. The first mail which came to the citizens of Summit was a weekly mail over the National road from Terre Haute to St. Louis. Another mail was soon established from Fairfield to Shelbyville, which passed through Ewington.
The name of "Summit " was bestowed ou the township at the time of township organi- zation, on account of the elevated nature of the larger portion of the land within its limits, and because in rerum natura, every- thing must have a name, and " Summit " ap- peared to the " Committee on Internal Rela- tions " as well adapted to this township as any name in their vocabulary.
[The settlers of Summit Township gave their attention early to education. The first school
was taught by Dr. John Gillenwaters. He came to the country a full-fledged phy- sician, for the purpose of practicing his pro- fession, but there was nobody for him to ex- periment on, owing to the sparsely settled country. so he taught the few children within reach. He was a good scholar, and Judge Gillenwaters told him to go ahead and teach, and he would see that he was paid for his services. The schools were all supported by subscription until 1838, when we find on the township records the following edict:
The residents of this township shall each pay the sum of two dollars per quarter for each scholar they send to school. and non residents shall pay the sum of two dollars and fifty cents per quarter for each scholar they may send.
T. J. Gillenwaters, President of the Board of Trustees. August 17, 1838.
Thus oducation in the township in a small way commenced, and has grown gradually to its present excellent and high standard.
Dr. Gillenwaters taught until his medical practice justified him in devoting his whole time to it. Samuel Whito was the next teacher after him. Mr. White taught two terms in a part of Judge Gillenwater's house, before the neighborhood had become sufficiently strong and ablo to build a schoolhouse. As tho set- tlements increased in population and the township in wealth and prosperity, educa- tional facilities expandod to suit the wants of the times, until at the present day we find a number of good comfortable schoolhouses dotting the township at intervals, and of ca- pacity to satisfy the wants of the youth of tho respective neighborhoods. The houses and districts support excellent schools by com- petent teachers for the usual period each year.
Church history, like the educational his- tory of tho township, dates back prior to the building of churches. The first preacher in tho settlement was an old wheel-horse of the Methodist Church, whose name is forgotten
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
He was succeeded by a rather young man named Chamberlain, who worked zealously in his Master's cause and preached " in sea- son and out of season " for the purpose of building up the cause of religion in the wil- derness. His appointment to this frontier field came about in this wise: The old preacher first mentioned left the circuit be- fore his year was out, and some time after a man stopped at Gillenwaters' tavern who bore a kind of ministerial appearance, but, like many of his kind, was somewhat reti- cent in his manner. Gillenwaters finally asked him if he was not a preacher. on his way to conference. and after a moment of hesitation the man acknowledged that he was the Presiding Elder of the district. Gillen- waters then asked him to send them a preach- er, for they needed one badly. He promised to do all he could for them. The result was that Chamberlain was sent. His circuit ex- tended as far north as Paris and to Shelby- ville, and east to Greenup, and equally as far in other directions. The first society was organized by Rev. Chamberlain at the resi- dence of Judge Gillenwaters. His house was used as a preaching place for four or five years, when the society moved to the court house in Ewington. Afterward a camp ground was occupied for a number of years north of the present city of Effingham. After Chamberlain, an old-time Methodist preacher named Blondell was on the circuit for a time, but he has been dead for years.
The first church edifice built in the town- ship, perhaps, was a log structure in the north part, on Section 2, and was free to all denominations; likewise was used for school purposes. It was a log building and erected in 1852. It was long used for school and church purposes, then sold and moved away and converted into a barn. In the mean- time, Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church
had been organized, and after the old log church had been sold and moved away, they set about the erection of a new church. This was accomplished in 1869, at a cost of $644 in money, and donations in material and la- bor sufficient to increase the cost to about $1,000. The membership is about sixty, and the present pastor is Rev. H. K. Jones. An interesting Sunday school is maintained.
Good Hope Methodist Episcopal Church was built in the fall of 1868, and cost some $600. The church grew out of a Sunday school which was organized the previous spring by Mrs. Capt. Hyden under an apple tree at her home. The Sunday school was held there for a few times, and then moved to a schoolhouse near by, where it thrived so well that it was resolved to build a church. This resolution led to the organization of a church society and the building of Good Hope Church. It was a frame building and was burned about the year 1871. The next year another house was built upon the same spot, also a frame, and costing about $600. It, too, was burned in 1875 or 1876. Both it and its predecessor were supposed to have been fired by an incendiary. When the last one was burned the society had about ceased to exist. No regular preaching was had and no Sunday school. . A man was going to move into it, and thus convert it into a resi- dence. The night before this sacrilege was to be committed, the church burned down and to this time it has not been rebuilt.
Blue Point Baptist Church was built in 1872. The land on which it stands was deeded to the Trustees by P. C. and S. F. Hankins for church purposes. The church was organized several years before the house was built, in a schoolhouse which stood about a quarter of a mile from the church. It is a frame building, and cost, in money and work, perhaps $1,200. Elder T. M. Griffith is the
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
present pastor of the church, and the mem- bership is about seventy-five or eighty, many having died and others moved away. The Sunday school is kept up all the year.
Dowell Methodist Episcopal Church South was built about 1874-75, and is a frame structure. A. B. Dowell was instrumental in its organization and erection, and hence it has always been known as the "Dowell Church." The land upon which it stands was deeded to the church by William Blakely for that purpose. The cost of the building was about $600 in money, while nearly as much more was contributed in work. There are now no regular church services or Sunday school. The Rev. Mr. Jones preaches occa- sionally to the congregation.
Villages .- More than one village has been . laid out in Summit Township since its settle- ment by white people, but all, except one, havo disappeared, leaving little trace to show us where or when or how they went. Upon their ruins the word " Ichabod " is written, and tells to the passing traveler their story in brief.
Ewington, the original county seat of Effingham County, was situated on Section 35 of this township, and was laid out on the land donated to the county by Joseph and James Duncan for public buildings. It was surveyed and platted September 5, 1835, by William J. Hankins, County Surveyor, and was named for Gen. W. L. D. Ewing, one of the first lawyers who practiced in this county.
The first house erected in Ewington was a little like Bradsby's first birth in the county: it was several-log cabins or shanties-which had been put up by the hands engaged in building the National road. This cluster of cabins, perhaps, led tothe town being located upon that particular spot. A store was opened as soon as the town was laid out, by William H. Blakely, and who, it is contended
by some, had the first store in the county. He had opened a store a little farther west, noar the present village of Funkhouser, and when Ewington was laid out and become the seat of justice of the county, he moved his store to the new town. He carried on busi- noss here for a number of years. The next stores were kept by Judge Parks and Jadge Gillenwaters. After them came Lynn, who opened the largest stock of goods yet brought to the town. He did not live in Ewington himself, the store being operated by Mr. Whitfield. Other stores followed as they were needed, and Ewington became quite a business town.
A tavern was opened by Eli Cook. the first in the village, and was really kept as such before the town was laid out. The next was kept, perhaps. by Samuel Fleming, well known as a pioneer tavern-keeper of the county, and whose widow now owns the Fleming Honse of Effingham. One of the popular hotels of Ewington was kept by Charles Kinzey, but he came upon the seene at a later date.
Kinzey, who was a remarkable character, deserves more than a casual mention in the history of Ewington. He came to the county some time before work was commenced on the Illinois Central Railroad. in 1852. He was from the city, was city born and city bred, and brought with him all the airs of city life. He was arrayed in "purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day," or, in other words, wore good elothes, a plug hat, patent leather boots and had the appearance gener- ally of having just dropped out of a band- box. He was of medium height, had a com- manding form, drove fast horses and the finest "rigs " hitherto seen in tho county. and prided himself upon all these good things and enjoying them as only one can do who has been brought up with them. He
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
opened a hotel in Ewington when it was in the zenith of its glory. It was marvelous in its metropolitan character, and it was as ele- gant and sumptuous as Kinzey was in his dress and habits. His first wife was an ele- gant and handsome English woman, and, ac- cording to all reports and traditions, some- what of a shrew. When Charley, as he was familiarly called, took his lordly sprees, she would follow him and beard the lion in his den, and in the saloon, gambling room, or wherever she happened to light upon him, she collared him and trotted him home, as a mother would do a truant child caught in some petty mischief. Sometimes she stepped in on him unceremoniously, with a long car. riage whip in her hand, an instrument she could handle with great dexterity, as he knew to his cost, and with this she would larrup him all the way home, or, after getting him home, would lock him in a room, strip him to his shirt, then give him what Paddy did the drum, the devil, until he cried for quarter, or buried himself in the bed clothes.
He was passionately fond of horse-racing. and, indeed, of all kinds of gambling. Often he would get a few sports and kindred spirits in a room of his tavern, and play " draw " as long as he was successful. But no sooner did luck turn against him than by some in- tuition his wife stepped in. and, with the long carriage whip, sent him howling from the room like a whipped cur. Such incidents led to the insinuation that his wife had a ." peeping place," and as long as "Charley " scooped in the ducats, she suffered the game to go on; but no sooner did fortune frown upon him than she summarily blocked the game as above described, and sent him smart- ing to bed.
Kinzey, as we have said, was smart, well- bred, naturally a "city man," and nothing was more incongruous than his appearance
here, in what was then the most intense back- woods community to be found. The people could not understand him, and he looked down upon them with the most unbounded contempt. He was extremely fond of prac- tical joking, and in this it was a game of " give and take." The following is an illus- tration: A man with whom he was at bitter enmity called him up once at midnight on a very cold night, and made a long apology for asking his enemy for a favor, but was com- pelled to do so, assuring him that he was a man of too much sense not to understand the needs of the case. Kinzey eagerly inquired what he wanted, and when the fellow could no longer delay, he answered: "I'm a candi- date for Constable; have to have it; it's a ground-hog case, and now if you will only agree to vote against me it will elect me cer- tain sure." Kinzey enjoyed this joke im- mensely, and good-naturedly asked the fel- low who sent him and who made up the joke for him. So cunningly and skillfully did he work upon him that the fellow confessed the boys of the village had concocted the joke, and he had only carried out instructions.
The young folks of Ewington one day took advantage of the first snow to have a sleigh ride, and numberless sleighs of all kinds were out enjoying the sport. Kinzey was full as a tick, as the saying goes, and hitched up his splendid trotters, putting every bell. cow-bell, dinner-bell, etc., he could raise on them, until he had a dozen or two of differ- ent sizes and tones. He then hitched his team to an old dry cow-skin, with the hairy side down. On this he squatted, Indian fashion, and dashed into the streets under whip. In five minutes he had run off every horse and sleigh that was out; some of the horses were so frightened that they tore everything to pieces tumbling the young folks out into the snow drifts. Here and there and everywhere
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IHISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
went Kinzey, sometimes sitting flat on the ! cow skin, sometimes dragging on the ground, then bouncing back on the skin and whoop- ing and yelling, pell-mell through the town, until the " storm was spent through the force of its own fury."
His hotel was finally burned, and, having a great many enemies, the fact of its de- struction gave rise to stories rather detri- mental to his honor and credit in the com- munity, but what grounds there were for the reports is not known.
In company with Sam Winters, Kinzey took a company of about 400 men to the army. He went to St. Louis with them, where he made strong efforts to get them into different Missouri regiments. After many failures and disappointments, he left St. Louis, and under promises of Illinois Colonels, went to Springfield, where he was ar- rested and kept in prison for months. He was finally released at St. Louis, where he fell into the hands of Frank Blair, with whom he went to Washington City. Blair had him appointed Lieutenant in the regu- lar army, secured his back pay, amounting to some $5,000, together with an order for him to go and take his men wherever he might find t'em, and fill up his regiment, if he could, for the regular service. Here we will leave him, and retornous a nos moutons, or, as we might say in English. return to other mutton heads of Ewington.
The first "grocery"-what we call in this en- lightenod day, "saloon, " "gin-mill," "whisky shop," "groggery," etc., was kept by one Charles Gilkey. It is told of him that in order to make a barrel of whisky last as long as pos sible, he would keep filling it up with water and putting in a little, tobacco to color it. This plan might be followed now, not only with success, but with beneficial results, as tobacco is said to be an antidote for some of the strongest poison.
A post office was established about the year 1835, and William J. Hankins was ap- pointed Postmaster. Hankins at one time held all the offices in the county, and, like Alexander the Great, he wept that there were no more offices for him to hold. He was a Justice of the Peace, Surveyor, Postmaster, Clerk of the Court, and held a number of other offices " too tedious to mention." Judge Gillenwaters says he was a great hunter, and when meat run short in the neighborhood, Hankins would mount his old "sway-backed" sorrel horse, take his old flint-lock rifle on his shoulder, and, starting out at daylight, would usually return in a few hours with two or three deer, or as many turkeys as his old horse could carry.
The first school in Ewington has already been described under the schools of the town- ship. It was taught in a room of a private residence. Some years later, a schoolhouse was built in connection with the Masonic fraternity, the upper story being used by the Masons as a lodge room, and the lower story as a schoolhouse. The Masonic Lodge was organized in 1854. mainly through the in- strumentality of Dr. James M. Long, who was the first master. It was organized as Ewington Lodge, U. D., but was chartered as Ewington Lodge, No. 149. After the re- moval of the county seat, together with most of the town, the lodge was also moved to Effingham, where it still flourishes and is more fully mentioned.
The history of Ewington's manufacturing interests is brief and soon told. They con- sisted of a horse-mill and a carding-machine. the latter run by Anthony Rhodes. These, with a few blacksmith, wagon and other shops constituted, outside of its mercantile trade, its entire business industries. As a flourishing trade center, though, equal, per- haps, to a majority of towns of its size at that day, it amounted to but little.
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
Ewington was incorporated as a village under the law, and, on the 10th of April, 1855, the first Board of Trustees was elected as follows: D. S. Mitchell, H. H. Wright, A. G. Hughes, W. T. N. Fisher and Josephus Scoles. The following iron-clad oath was administered to the Trustees by Thomas Loy, Clerk of the Court, before they were allowed to take upon themselves the dignity of the "city fathers." "I" (here follows the names of each) " do hereby solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States and of this State, and that I will discharge the duties of trustees of incorporation of the town of Ewington to the best of my ability, and further swear, that I have not fought a duel, nor sent a challenge to fight a duel, the probable result of which might have been the death of either party, nor in any manner aid- ed or assisted in such duel, nor have been knowingly the bearer of such challenge or assistance since the adoption of the constitu- tion, and that I will not so engage or concern myself directly or indirectly in or about any such duel during my continuance in office. So help me God." This good wholesome docu- ment was subscribed and sworn to by the Trustees before Loy, the Clerk. The board organized by electing D. S. Mitchell, Presi- dent, and B. F. Kagay, Clerk. At the first meeting of the board, W. T. Myers was elected Assessor: Thomas M. Loy, Treasurer, and J. H. I. Lacy, Constable.
The Trustees met quite regularly for most of the first year, but after that appeared to become rather lukewarm and met less punct- ually, and finally met at rare.intervals. On the 7th of February, 1857. some three years before the removal of the county seat, they met for the last time. The principal busi- ness transacted at this last meeting was the imposing of a fine of $1 on Mr. Cooper, President, for non-attendance upon the mect-
ings of the board. The last Board of Trust- ees were William B. Cooper, President; A. G. Hughes, W. J. Sparks and Samnel Moffitt. They still remain in office. Cooper to this day holds the office of President of the board, an office which Brad says he discharges with marked ability.
Ewington, although the capital of the county from the time of its organization np to the removal of the county seat in 1859, more than a quarter of a century, yet it at no time had over two hundred inhabitants, according to the United States census, dur- ing its existence as a town, and, upon the removal of the scat of justice to Effingham, it began rapidly to decline, From this pe- riod dates its waning prosperity. The popu- lation followed the capital to its new location. and the spot that knew the old town now knows it no more. Like ancient Rome, the " spider weaves its web in her palaces, the owl sings his watch-song in her towers." Troja fuit! The old court house was still re- tained in the service of the county, and con- verted into a poor-house, in which capacity it served until the county purchased a poor- farm a year or two ago. The establishment was then moved to the new purchase, and the old temple of justice, with a few dilapidated buildings, marks the spot where once stood the town. Its fate is described by Bryant:
"Foundations of old cities and long streets Where never fall of human foot is heard Upon the desolate pavement."
The village of Granville is claimed by some to have been in Summit Township, while others locate it in Jackson. From re- cent investigation the latter is probably more correct, but as it has wholly disappeared, even from the maps, it is no easy matter to point out its site, and doubtless the precise spot is of but little interest to our readers. In Jackson Township we will allude further to its history.
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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.
The village of Funkhonser was surveyed and laid out September 20, 1869, by C. A. Van Allen for John J. and William L. Funkhous- er, on a part of the southeast quarter of Sec- tion 34 of Summit Township. Wilson Funk- houser had a store here, and at one time bought grain extensively. He kept the post office, which had been established, or
moved from some other place. John Funkhouser handled grain here for sev- eral years, and built a grain warehouse. But lately, the business has been moved to other points along the railroad, and at present there are but some half a dozen houses remaining to point out the place.
CHAPTER. XV .*
MOUND TOWNSIHP -INTRODUCTION, DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY -SETTLEMENT OF TIIE TOWNSHIP-PIONEER LIFE-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-BLUE MOUND-THE VILLAGE OF ALTAMONT -ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT -GRAIN BUSINESS AND MANUFACTORIES-SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC., ETC.
"From the weather-worn house on the brow of the hill
We are dwelling afar, in our manhood to-day; But we see the old gables and hollyhocks still,
As they looked when we left thein to wander away. But the dear ones we loved in the sweet long ago, In the old village churchyard sleep under the snow." -Eugene Hall.
.
"THE past, with all its momentous changes. has ever been regarded as important and richly deserving of record. Long before let- ters were invented, legendary tales and tra- ditions were employed to perpetuato impor- tant events and transmit the same to succeed- ing generations. Hieroglyphics were after- ward used for the same purpose. But all these forms of memorial have long since given place to the pen and the type among civilized nations. The introduction of modern alpha- bets made writing less difficult, and the in- vention of the art of printing afforded facili- ties for publishing books before unknown. The thirst for knowledge produced by the press and Reformation, and, the growing tasto for history created by the latter brought out a host of historians, rendered their works voluminous, and scattered theni broadcast over
the world. Many of them, read in the light of civilization, have all the fascinations of a ro- mance, which increases in interest as time rolls on. The papyrus roll of ancient Egypt, con- taining mysterious records of the Dark Ages, and the ponderous folios of Confucius, that antedate tradition itself, were not more val- uable to the sages and philosophers of old than the printed page of the nineteenth cent- ury is to the scholarly and enlightened in- dividual of the present. And of all histor- ical records there are none more interesting and valuable than local' annals. Upon the pages of this volume we shall endeavor to preserve some of the reminiscences of early days in this section, and in this chapter re- cord the history of this division of the county.
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