History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650

USA > Illinois > Effingham County > History of Effingham county, Illinois > Part 25

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* By W. H. Perrin.

John Braom

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

gar maple, sycamore, hackberry, soft maple, elm, etc., with a thick growth of hazel in many parts of the township. The water- courses are the Wabash and its numerous tributaries. The Little Wabash just touches the northeast corner as it trends southeast- wardly. Fulfer Creek enters the township through Section 7, from West Township, re- ceiving on its way, in Mason, Limestone Creek and several smaller streams, and finally emptying into the Wabash in Section 1; Willow Branch in the south part, the North Fork of which heads near Mason Village, and, flowing southward, unites with the main stream in Section 34, when it passes out through Section 35 into Clay County; Coon Creck has its source in Section 14, and pass- es into Union Township, where it empties in- to the Wabash. Jackson Township lies on the north, Union Township on the east, Clay County on the south and West Township on the west. The Chicago Branch of the Illi- nois Central Railroad passes diagonally through Mason, and the Springfield Division of the Ohio & Mississippi passes through the southwest corner, crossing the Illinois Cen- tral at Edgewood. These roads furnish the township and its inhabitants communication with all parts of the country, and bring the best markets to their very doors.

The settlement of Mason Township dates back more than half a century. The first white people who came here were from the South-mostly from Tennessee. The first settlements of which we have any account were made in 1829. Jonathan Parkhurst was one of the first, and camo originally from New Jersey, but had lived some years in Tennessee before emigrating to Illinois. When he came to the State, he settled in White County, then an almost unbroken wil- derness, and, a few years later, came here and located in Mason Township, afterward mov-

ing over into Jackson. John McCoy, Alex- ander Stewart and some of the Lillys also came in 1829. McCoy moved to Indiana, remained awhile, and then came back here, where he lived until his death. The Lillys were either from Kentucky or Tennessee. William settled on the Bailie place, and af- terward moved to the southern part of the State. Andrew, a son of William, married MeCoy's daughter, moved with him to In- diana, came back with him, and afterward moved down near Cairo, where he died. Stewart moved back to Tennessee, remained awhile, then came back to Illinois, and, some years later, moved to Missouri.

Johu Broom came also in 1829. He is a native of Tennessee, and he and his father- in-law, Benjamin Allen, with their families, came to Illinois, arriving in this township in the early part of November, 1829. He set- tled on Limestone Creek, some three miles west of Mason. He was penniless when he arrived, and in debt, besides, to his father-in- law; but, nothing daunted, he went to work with a stout heart and willing hands. For the first years of his wilderness life, he subsist- ed on the products of his rifle, deer, bear, turkeys and other game being quite abun- dant. The first land he owned was an eighty- acre tract, which he paid for with money earned in blasting rock in the quarries, for the National road, when it was in conise of construction, and for which he received the liberal sum of 373 cents per day. By per- severing industry, he has accumulated con- siderable property, and now as he is pass- ing down the shady side of life, he is enjoy- ing the fruits of a well-spent life. For sev- eral years he has been a resident of Mason Village, his health preventing him from ac- tive life on the farm. He has held many offices-Constable, Justice of the Peace, As- sociate County Judge, etc. In his youth, K

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

poverty prevented him from receiving an ed- ucation, and thus, realizing the need of it, he has always been a zealous friend of schools, and an earnest supporter of all meas- ures for the benefit of learning. His father- in-law, Benjamin Allen, was a good farmer and a respected citizen. He died on the place where he settled, and the bones of himself and wife molder together in the dust upon the old homestead, the place now owned by Mr. Devore. Mrs. Charlotte Kepley was a daugh- ter of Allen, and a widow. Afterward, she married John Allen, who, although of the same name of her father, was not related to him.

The first wheat sowed in Effingham Coun- ty was by Judge Broom and Mr. Allen. They went all the way to Shelby County, and, with their horses, assisted Andrew Wakefield to tramp out wheat in the old- fashioned way, by laying the wheat on the ground and driving horses over it-receiving for themselves and their horses a bushel and a half of wheat per day. They worked long enough to obtain four bushels of wheat. This they brought home with them on horseback, and prepared a piece of ground, in which it was sown.

Additional settlers in Mason Township were John and Josiah Stewart, Andrew Mar- tin, John Trapp, a man named Frost and an- other named Winkler, Micajah Davidson, Wesley Robinson, Vincent McGuire, Gideon Louder, etc., etc. John and Josiah Stewart were brothers to Alexander Stewart, and both finally moved back to Tennessee and re- mained there. Martin was from Kentucky, and, a few years after settling here, moved into Jackson Township, where he died. John Trapp lived on the Horton farm, and is elsewhere mentioned. Frost was one of the first settlers in the township, and moved some years later to the Sangamon country.

Winkler moved into Jackson Township, and died. Davidson first settled in Jackson, then moved into Mason. He had a horse-mill in Jackson, and, after moving here, built one in this township. He was a great mechan ical genius, and could make almost anything he tried to make. Robinson came from In- diana in 1830-31 and was unmarried. He followed hauling salt from the works and selling it to the settlers. He married and settled down to business on the place now occupied by his son Jonathan. McGuire

was an Irishman, and had a son named John, who was killed while at work on the old Na- tional road, by a bank caving in on him. The old man was a miser, and a great lover of the " crayther." Both he and his wife, it is said, used to get gloriously drunk. Judge Broom and Uncle Jimmy Turner often cra- dled wheat for him. He finally left the town- ship and moved to the south part of the State, where he died many years ago. Lou- der was from Tennessee, and came to Illi- nois, first settling in Clay County, and after- ward in this county in Jackson Township, making his home at Ben Campbell's, whose wife was Louder's aunt. He finally moved over into Mason and settled in the southeast corner of the township, where he died, and where his widow still lives. This brings the settlement down to a period where emigrants were coming in rapidly and the country was fast settling up.

Among the later settlers we mention a few whose names have become prominent in the history of the township and the county. At the head of the list stands the name of Hon. Isaac L. Leith. He came from Ohio and set- tled here in 1840, and since that time has been closely identified with the interests of the county, holding a number of important positions of honor and trust. He was one of the Commissioners for laying out the county

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

into townships, and devised a plan of organ- ization, which was accepted. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention. and on the Building and Finance Commit- tees for building the present court house of Effingham. Although the "frosts of many winters " rest upon his head, he is still hale and hearty, and good for many years of life. James, David and Wilkinson Leith are his brothers, and came to Illinois in the same year (1840), and are all now dead.

Stephen Hardin, Dr. Matthews, Martin Robinson, Robert Rankin, David Turner, Eli- jah Henry, Morgan Wright, Jacob Goddard, A. W. Henry, and a number of others, past and present, were early settlers, or at least came in from 1840 to 1850. They have borne a prominent part in the history of the county, and in the development of that por- tion in which their lots have been cast. In the biographical part of this work they are more fully noticed.

In the pioneer days, the people had their sports, which were perhaps as enjoyable to them as our more refined amusements are to us in this fast age. Log-rollings, house- raisings, corn-huskings, usually accompa- nied with the old-fashioned quilting parties, were common occurrences. These gather- ings were heartily enjoyed by all. The mus- ter and election days, and Fourth of July celebrations were important events. Dr. Matthews, in his pioneer sketches of Mason, thus describes a " Glorious Fourth," which is worthy of reproduction in these pages: " On the Fourth of July, 1832, a grand bar- becne was instituted by Judge Broom and a few of the Vandalia boys, at Ewington. Bear meat and vonison smoked upon the spits, whisky toasts were drunk freely in tin cups and gourds, red-hot speeches were made, and the American Eagle flopped his wings and crew with patriotic pride above the hills

of the Wabash. Judge Broom was selected to road the Declaration of Independence, and he did so, standing on an old cottonwood log just north of the bridge. He says ho couldn't spell half the words of the sacred document, and to this day is in total igno- rance as to how he blundered through it. But nobody was competent to criticise him, and nobody laughed. The Judge pronounces that the happiest day of his life. Of that jolly band of celebrators, he is the sole surviv- or in Effingham County. They all have dropped away, weary of the march, long ago." The above was no doubt the first Fourth of July celebration ever held in the county.

Education was not neglected by the pio- neers, and schools were established very early. The first school taught in Mason Township, and perhaps the first in the county, was taught by Col. Sam Houston. Judge Broom signed one scholar, for which he was to pay the sum of $2.50. To obtain the money nec- essary to liquidate this liability, Mr. Broom " pulled fodder " for old Vincent McGuire, at 16g cents a day. He received the money in half-dollars (Hull's, perhaps), without holes in them, and paid his tuition on the day the school was out. As the country prospered and the population-in the way of children-increased, schoolhouses were built and schools established. Every neighborhood now has a good, comfortable schoolhouse, and maintains a flourishing school.

Among the first preachers who proclaimed the Word in this neighborhood were Revs. Whitely and Surrells. They were Regular Baptists, and preached in people's houses in many parts of the county, long before any churches were built. The Wabash Church (Missionary Baptists) was organized as early as 1845. The first building was a log struct- ure, put up for both church and school pur- poses, and was used until the prosent frame

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

church was built, about the year 1860. It is a comfortable church building with a large membership, but no regular pastor at prosent. The Sunday school is kept up. This church has been the mother of churches, as a num- ber of those in the surrounding country have been started with members from this church.

An incident occurred in the township in September, 1857, little to its credit as a com- munity-the murder of Martin S. Hammond. Although he was a desperado, whose taking- off may have proved advantageous to the country, yet the manner in which it was done was cowardly beyond all question. He was riding along one day with a Mrs. Lang- ford, when a shot was fired from ambush, by whom has to this day remained a mystery. But one shot was fired, and it was a load of buckshot. Two shots took effect in Hammond -one in his arm and one in his back-from which he died some fourteen days after. Mrs. Langford received a shot in the left shoul- der, which was supposed at first to be fatal, but from which she finally recovered. John T. Martin and L. Mulinix were arrested as suspected parties, tried and acquitted. Ham . mond, at the time he was assassinated was under arrest and bond for counterfeiting, and it was believed that he was shot by those interested in his eternal silence.

As an illustration of the hard times en- dured by the pioneers, Judge Broom says that, for the first two or three years after he came here, he took his plows on horseback, and sometimes on foot, four or five miles north of Shelbyville, to a blacksmith, named Thomas Jackson, who was a Methodist preacher, and knew him (Broom) in Tennes- see, before they moved to Illinois, and would sharpen his plows on a credit. He could not, in summer time, travel with horses during the day, on account of the " green-head " flies, which were such torments the horses became

almost unmanageable from their annoyance. Judge Broom also relates, by way of illus- trating the pioneer period, how, when he came here, he had nothing, and was in debt besides. He went to Vandalia and stated his circumstances to a merchant there, who sold him on credit a few plates, knives and forks, and a pot or two for cooking. The next spring, he took beeswax, deerskins and venison hams enough to him to pay for the - things.

Villages .- The village of Mason is situat- ed in the midst of a beautiful rolling prai- rie, on the Illinois Central Railroad, about twelve miles south of Effingham. The orig- inal plat comprised the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter, a part of the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter, and a part of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, of Mason Township. It was surveyed and platted February 26, 1853, by George Wright, surveyor, for Aaron W. Henry, Josiah W. Robinson and Robert M. Rankiu, proprietors of the land.

A number of additions have been made to the town since it was originally laid out, some of which are as follows: An addition was made by Stephen Hardin, embracing a portion of the northwest quarter of the north- east quarter of Section 22, and the plat re- corded August 9, 1859. An addition was made by H. E. Wolcott, of a part of north- east quarter of southwest quarter of Section 22, and the plat dated September 22, 1859. An addition was made by J. J. W. Billings- ley of a part of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, and platted January 10, 1860. An addition was made by A. Kimbourt of a part of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 22, and submitted to record June 29, 1860. An addition was made by S. H. Bailey, of what was known as "Bailey's Addition," and

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IIISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

the plat recorded May 1, 1863. And on the 29th of June, 1868, an addition was made by A. J. Starr, of a part of the north half of the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 22, all of Mason Township. These numerous additions give Mason plenty of el- bow room, and plenty of space for spreading out her wings. There need be no more ad- ditions made until it becomes a city of 5,000 inhabitants.

There is a prologue to the history of Ma- son, in what was once known as the village of Bristol, and in order to get back to the commencement of Mason, it will be necessary to say a few words of Bristol. It was laid out by A. W. Henry and his father, Elijah Hen- ry. It was situated about one mile south- east of Mason, on the place now owned by David Turner.

A. W. Henry opened a small store about the time the place was laid out. A post office was established, of which Henry was Postmaster. Elijah Henry had a blacksmith shop, and, although not much of a workman, he used to hire a blacksmith to carry on his shop. This comprised about the sum total of Bristol.

When Mason was laid out, Bristol took it into its head to move over and start the new town. This little feat is thus described by Dr. Matthews in the Effingham Republican : " On a lovely morning in the spring of 1852, tradition informs us that the town of Bristol, Effingham County, was ruthlessly torn from its foundations, loaded upon an ox wagon and quietly hauled away. Its departure from the venerable forests that had so long pro- · tected it from the howling tempests was her- alded only by the rumble of the vehicle that bore it away. There was no weeping, no sighing, no tender ties broken as the moving town passed over the hills and was lost to sight, for be it known that the citizens of

Bristol, one and all, trudged along in the rear of their departing metropolis, like in- fatuated school-boys after a brass band, re- solved to share alike in its prosperity or downfall. It was almost sunset when Bristol reached its destination. The spot was an enchanting one, on a beautiful elevation, just over the border of a fertile and rolling prai- rie. And there, as twilight darkened upon the scene, our pioneer fathers, with little re- gard to ceremony, unloaded their much-loved town." Such was the existence of Bristol. The building of the railroad gave birth to Mason, and the laying-out of Mason was the death of Bristol. It was, after all, but a change of base. Mr. Henry was the proprie- tor of Bristol, and, when the railroad went through, leaving his town out in the cold, he, together with Rankin and'Robinson, laid out Mason on the railroad, and moved his town over as a starter. His store was raised and put on " skid-poles," six yoke of cattle hitched to it, and hauled over to the new town, as described in the extract above made. The little storehouse thus moved across the prairie is still standing, and is used by Dr. P. G. Paugh as an office.

A. W. Henry was the first merchant of Mason, as well as of Bristol. He opened his store door in Mason as soon as his store ar- rived and was unloaded. He continued in business until 1857-58, when he retired, and is still living, some three miles from the vil- lage. He was the first Postmaster of Bristol and of Mason, the post office having been moved hither with his store, and its name afterward changed to Mason, to correspond with the name of the village. Henry Clay Henry, a nephew of Aaron Henry, is the pres- ent Postmaster. Mr. Henry was a man of en- terprise and of considerable business energy. He sold gocds to the people, and, in return, bought their surplus products, thus keeping

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

trade going and business prospering. The next store was kept by Stephen Hardin, still a respected citizen of the village, and a man who has served not only the people of his town, but of the county. He has long since retired from the mercantile business, and now devotes his attention to other pursuits. He moved his store from Georgetown, in Clay County, to this place in 1856, and, in part- nership with William McCracken, followed merchandising for several years. Other stores were opened as the increase of popu- lation demanded. Shops were established and all kinds of business inangurated as the town grew in importance.

The first residence was built by Mr. Ran- kin, one of the proprietors of the town, and opened by him as a hotel. He afterward sold to Michael Sprinkle. It finally became the property of Jacob Goddard, who kept it as a hotel. It was owned by him and occu- pied as a hotel until Goddard built the pres- ent brick hotel, now kept by his widow. The next honse built after that by Rankin was erected by Greenberry Wright. It was long known as the Winteringer property, and stood on the east side of the main street. But after the completion of these buildings, there was a cessation in improvements for a few years, and not until 1855-56 did a new spirit of industry in this line strike the peo- ple. Then buildings sprang up on every hand, and the town grew rapidly.

In this connection, another extract from Dr. Matthews' correspondence comes appro- priately in place: " To such an extent were business enterprises advancing that a lack of shipping facilities became apparent, and, about the year 1856, Messrs. I. L. Leith and Stephen Hardin opened negotiations with the officers of the railroad company, and obtained the privilege of laying a side-track. In sev- en days from the time ground was first brok-

en, the grading was completed, the ties all hewed and hauled, and everything was in readiness for the laying of the iron, which was done by the request and at the expense of the people." Immediately upon the lay- ing of a side track, the shipping of stock and grain, and particularly the latter, be- came an extensive business. A grain ware- house was put up by J. J. Billingsley, which is still standing, and was the first erected for that purpose in the town. There are now four grain warehouses, which are operated by Gibson, and Wade, and William Donnelson, and Thistlewood. A large amount of grain is annually shipped from this point-some- times as much as six and eight carloads in a single day.

Mason has never made any pretensions to manufactories. A few shops, an occasional kiln of brick, a few saw-mills and the pres- ent flouring-mill cover its manufacturing industries. The flouring-mill was built in 1863 by Luther & Sisson. The latter gen- tleman still owns it, and has considerably improved it since it was first built. It is a substantial frame building, with three run of buhrs, worth some $6,000 or $8,000, and has all the modern improvements.

The first school in Mason was taught in 1853, by Whiting Avery. It was on the sub- scription plan, and, owing to the sparsely set- tled community and the slimly populated village, it was hard work to get enough pu- pils to form a school. In 1860, the hand- some two-story brick schoolhouse was built. The building was put up by the School Board and the Masonic fraternity together-the lower story for the school and the upper story for the Masons. The school, however, grew so rapidly and increased in numbers that the board finally bought out the Masons, and since then the entire building has been used for the school, of which the usual at.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

tendance is from eighty to one hundred pu- pils. Three teachers are employed most of the time, Mr. Duncan being the Principal of the school.

There are two church buildings in Mason -Methodist and Baptist. The Methodist Church was built in the fall of 1853, and used until the building of the present one, in 1868-70. The membership is nearly one hun- dred, and the pastor (1882) Rev. Mr. Harper. The building is a frame, and cost perhaps $1,000. A good Sunday school is kept up throughout the year. The old church, the first one built by the Methodists, was taken, when abandoned as a clurch, for a pork house. It was occupied as such a year or two, and then it became a saw-mill, later a stave factory, and is now standing idle, after a long and useful life.

The Baptist Church grew out of the old Wabash Baptist Church, one of the old church organizations of the township. The building was erected about 1858, and, a few years ago, repaired and much improved in appearance. It is now an excellent church edifice, barring a little paint which is lack- ing, and which would be of cousiderable benefit to it. A goodly number of members belong here, but they are without a regular pastor. A Sunday school is maintained, un- der the superintendence of Mr. Holbrook.

A Presbyterian Church was organized here and kept up for several years. They occu- pied the lower story of the Masonic Hall, but, after a brief existence, it finally died a natural death.

The Masons first met in Goddard's Tavern, and afterward in the upper story of Hardin's store. After they sold their interest in the brick building to the School Board, they built a new hall, which they how own. The lower story is rented out for any purpose, such as meetings, dances, etc., and the upper story

for a lodge room. The Presbyterians rented the lower story and "seated" it, but, after the church became extinct, the Masons bought the seats and took charge of the room. There is a lodge and chapter as follows:

Mason Lodge, No. 217, A., F. & A. M., was organized as a lodge with the following charter members: John S. Wilson, J. H. Robinson, Morgan Wright, Isham Mahon, Owen Wright and Greenberry Wright. The last-named was the first Master; John S. Wilson, first Senior Warden; and J. H. Rob- inson, first Junior Warden. There are now fifty members, officered as follows: H. N Ruffner, Worshipful Master; T. J. Bowling, Senior Warden; J. C. Leith, Junior Warden; L. Smith, Treasurer; Isaac S. Reed, Secre- tary: C. R. Hanson, Senior Deacon; A. Bai- lie, Junior Deacon; and S. H. Bailie, Tiler.

Mason Chapter, No. 76, R ... A ... M. .. , was or- ganized March 21, 1865, and the charter members were C. B. Kitchell, Isaac H. Elkin, Jacob Goddard, J. D. Moody, B. H. Bod- well, Thomas H. Heeley, William H. Wal- lace, William McNeile and William B. Cooper. The first officers elected were: James Claypool, High Priest; I. L. Leith, King; and Jacob Goddard, Scribe. There are now thirty-five members, and the follow- ing are the officers: H. N. Ruffner, High Priest; H. B. Turner, King; Stephen Har- din, Scribe; T. J. Bowling, Captain of the Host; C. R. Hanson, Principal Sojourner; J. C. Leith, Royal Arch Captain; John Mc- Cloy. W. F. Scott and J. L. Furneaux, Grand Masters of the Veils; Laurence Smith, Treasurer; J. L. Goddard, Secretary; and Henry M. Drewry, Tiler.

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 25

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 650

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, O. L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 650