History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 27

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 27

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

which occurred about the year 1847, as hav- ing entailed a great amountof suffering upon the community. It happened so late in the season that replanting was out of the ques- tion, and the corn for family use had to be purchased at the exorbitant price of $1.25 per bushel, equivalent to about three times that amount at the present day. The wheat used was purchased from the older settlements further south and east, and formed but an in- significant part of their diet, white bread, cakes, pies, etc., being luxuries enjoyed only at rare intervals. Wild game of all kinds was numerous, deer being so plenty that they would come into the stable yards, and feed with the domestic stock; during the cold win- ters, wild turkeys were more common than chickens are now. An incident is related of a family that kept a pile of corn in one room of the house, and were compelled to keep the door tightly closed in order to save it from a drove of these birds that flocked on the porch. Wolves were everywhere to be seen, and proved such a trouble to the farmers' live stock that systematic hunts had to be planned for the purpose of ridding the country of them.

The first improvement to which the pioneer looks after having procured a habitation for himself and family, is a mill, a piece of ma- chinery that always accompanies civilization. Meal was first obtained by crushing the corn when dry in a kind of rude mortar made by chiseling out a hollow in the top of a round oak stump. The pestle was an iron block made fast to a sweep, and with this simple contrivance a coarse article of meal could be manufactured. A still simpler means was often resorted to before the corn had become hard enough to shell, namely, the common tin grater. The first mill patronized by the early residents of Watson stood on the Little Wabash in the northern part of what is now Union

Township, and was operated by Frederick Brockett, one of the earliest pioneers of Effingham County. It served as a source of supplies for a number of years, until a small horse-mill was erected in the southwest part of the township, near the village of Watson. The name of the person who built and oper- ated this mill is unknown, and the time it was in operation could not be ascertained. Each person who brought a grist was obliged to furnish his own team, wait his turn and do his own grinding. On one occasion, when there was quite a crowd at the mill waiting their respective turns, two men got into an angry discussion with the proprietor about their time, and several sharp epithets were bandied back and forth. The crowd inter- fered and prevented a fight, but the two bel- ligerent farmers swore that they would be even with the " d-d miller, and that right early." On going to start the mill the fol- lowing morning, the miller found no buhrs, they having disappeared during the night. A number of persons had by this time arrived at the mill with their grists, and among others the two parties that figured in the quarrel with the miller the previous day. After searching the place for some time and not finding the buhrs, a strong two-fisted giant of a farmer got upon a stump, and said he knew who took them, and added with a sig- nificant look in the direction of the two sus- pected parties, that if " them air stones ain't brung back before another day, I'll kick the everlasting stuffin' out of the fellers that carried 'em off." These words had the de- sired effect, for on the following morning the mill was in readiness for running. Thomas Loy built a horse-mill in the northern part of the township about 1851, and operated it for several years, and did a very good business. Aside from these two there were no mills built in the township until the year 1867,

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

when a combination mill was put in operation at the village of Watson.

The subject of education has from an early date received a good deal of attention in this township. Long before the law authorizing a system of public schools was in force, the pioneers of Watson took steps toward the education of the youth in the primary branches of learning. Comparatively few of the first settlers were men of letters, most of them having been children when the matter of book learning in the States where they were brought up was yet considered a matter of minor importance. And yet these people seemed to fully realize the losses they had sustained in the neglect of their own school- ing, and were therefore anxious to do the next best thing, by making amends in the case of their own children. The first school was kept in a little pole building that stood near the northwestern part of the township about the year 1846. The second school- house was built a few years later, and stood about one hundred yards west of the place occupied by the one alluded to, The teacher who conducted the first school in this build- ing was a man named James Leavitt, but we are unable to state from whence he came or whither he went. No certificates of qualifi- cation were at that time granted, so we are unable to enlighten our readers as to Prof. Leavitt's scholastic attainments. One of the early schoolhouses was built near where Hen- ry Loy now lives, in the northern part of the township. It was erected by the neighbors for a young man who had come into the com . munity a short time previous for the purpose of securing a school. After he had canvassed the neighborhood and gotten the names of nearly all the settlers on his subscription list, a very bad report concerning him was circulated. It was stated that he was a gam- bler, pickpocket, blackleg, and had run away

from his wife, who was at that time living in Ohio. He denied the report and branded it as a villainous lie, but many of the people gave it credit, and swore he should not teach the schools, while those who did not believe it, were as determined that the school should go on. The feeling of the neighborhood waxed hot over the affair, but the opposition carried the day, for a party of men met one night, proceeded to the schoolhouse and tore it to the ground. Among those who gloried in the part they took in the transaction were James Loy, Robert and William McCannon. The teacher left, and it was afterward ascer- tained that the reports concerning him were tinged considerably with the truth. The first frame schoolhouse was built in the sum- mer of 1859, and is known as the Boggs Schoolhouse. It was in this building that the first public school of the township was taught the winter following its erection. The present schoolhouses are in the main good and well furnished. The schools are ably conducted by competent teachers, and the advantages of a liberal education are within the easy reach of all.

Among the early pioneers of Watson were many pious men and women, and its religious history dates from the period of its settle- ment. The first preachers were Methodist, and came as one crying in the wilderness, and wherever they could collect a few of the pioneers together, they proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation "without money and without price." The first religious services held within the present limits of the township were conducted at the residence of John Loy shortly after he came to the country. A class was organized at the place which after- ward grew into a flourishing church known as " Loy Chapel," where services are still held. John Loy was the first Class Leader, and Revs. Allen and Williamson among the

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

earliest pastors. Among the original mem- hers can be named Elizabeth Funk, Catharine Bryant, Mahala Loy. Thomas Loy and wife and John Loy and wife. Loy's residence served as a preaching place about two years, when meetings were held at a neighboring schoolhouse. Their present neat church edi- fice was erected in the year 1874, and is a very comfortable and substantial house of worship: it is frame and cost the sum of $1, - 100. The membership has fallen off consid- erably of late years, there being only about thirty-five members now belonging, under the pastorate of Rev. J. Harper. Connected with the church is a flourishing Sunday school. under the superintendency of a very worthy gentleman.

A Lutheran Church was established sev- eral years ago, which is at this time a flour- ishing organization. They have a neat tem- ple of worship in the northern part of the township, where services are regularly held. Few facts or statistics, however, relative to this church were obtained.

The Village of Watson .- This thriving little town is situated near the southeast cor- nor of the township, and dates its history proper from the 26th day of October, 1857, at which time it was surveyed into lots by the Deputy County Surveyor for John L. Bar- nard, proprietor of the land. The necessity of the town was created by the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad, which had been completed through the country a short time previous, and it is to the suggestion of one of the offi- cials that the town was laid out. The first building erected was a small storeroom, in which a general stock was kept by David Trexler, who, after one year, sold ont to Martin LeCrone. The latter increased the stock, built up an extensive trade, and for about one year did a very flourishing busi- ness. The building was burned about the

year 1560. entailing quite a heavy loss on the proprietor, as the greater amount of the goods was destroyed. A second store was started in the year 1850. in a building erect- ed for the purpose by C. T. Burroughs, who did a good business with a general assort- ment of goods for about six years. Kire Bradley started the third store some time during the year 1860, and continued in busi- ness four years, when he was succeeded by Moore & Greenleaf. who in turn disposed of the stock to J. F. Bartley. Some time later, Barkley & Abraham opened a store and erect- ed a substantial building, a short time after- ward, and sold goods as partners for about eight years, when the entire stock was pur- chased by the latter, who still runs the busi- ness. The large frame storehouse near the central part of the village was built in the year 1864 by Humes & Howe. who stocked it with a line of goods representing a capital of $6,000 or $7.000, and for five years contin- ued the business together. when the firm was changed to Humes & Cooper. Cooper bought Humes' interest one year later, and conducted a very flourishing trade for two years, when he closed out the entire stock, and for some time the building stood idle. It is at present owned by W. M. Anderson, and occupied by the Schooley Bros. as a furniture store. H. A. Vance opened a hardware store in the year 1867, but closed out his business after run- ning it for two years. The room in which he kept his stock was afterward occupied by F. Lloyd & Co.'s general store. The last named was succeeded by W. T. Jaycox. who pur- chased their goods, although he occupies another building at this time.

A steam saw-mill was built in the year 1867 by A. J. Vance, to which a set of buhrs was afterward added. It has been in opera- tion ever since, and is at present run by W. M. Anderson, the proprietor. Dr. G. S. 1.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

The following parties represent the present business interests of Watson: W. T. Jaycox and W. M. Abraham keep general stores; Sehooley Bros. handle all kinds of furniture; J. A. Spinkle has a neat drug store; Flem- ing & Selby, wagon and carriage makers; C. C. Smith, boot and shoe maker; J. V. Bail. blacksmith. The railroad business is man-

aged by Mr. Claar, while Miss Lidy deftly manipulates the telegraph keys. The first post office was established about the year IS56, and John Irwin was appointed Postmaster. It was known as Salt Creek Post Office until the year 1868, when the name was changed to Watson upon petition of the citizens. W. M. Abraham is the present Postmaster.

CHAPTER XVIII .*

JACKSON TOWNSHIP-INTRODUCTION AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION-TOPOGRAPHY, ETC .- SETTLE- MENT OF WHITE PEOPLE-PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS AND BUSINESS INDUSTRIES-SOME EARLY INCIDENTS-BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES-MILLS, ROADS, ETC. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-VILLAGES, ETC., ETC.

" Build yet, the end is not; build on, Build for the ages unafraid;

The past is but a base whereon These ashlars, well hewn, may be laid,

Lo, I declare I deem him blest Whose foot, here pausing, findeth rest."

"THE world in its onward rush is now taking time to look back, and the story of the pioneer is becoming one of absorbing inter- est. Illinois was for years considered " out west," and its people, scarcely out of the brush, took little interest in those traditions relating to a condition of society but little removed from their own. But the grand march of civilization has pressed back the Western frontier, until, instead of bordering the Mississippi River, it rests upon the shore of the Pacific, and has made the once North- western Territory the central link in the brill- iant chain of States. This awakening to the true value of the early history of this coun- try comes, in many respects, too late. Most of the pioneers have been gathered to their fathers within the last decade, and one by one the old landmarks have decayed and passed away with those who reared them, while that period is fast rolling on when

none ean truly say, "I remember them or their works." Thus while we may, we will rescue from oblivion the facts and reminis- cences, so far as attainable, of this section.

Jackson Township is largely taken up with the Wabash bottoms, and hence has much broken and hilly timbered land, with a very little level prairie in the western part. It is southwest from Effingham, and is bounded on the north by Summit Township, on the east by Watson, on the south by Ma- son, on the west by Mound and the Congres- sional survey lies in Township 7 north, and Range 5 east, of the Third Principal Meridian. Its principal drainage is through the Little Wabash and its numerous tribu- taries. The Wabash flows in a southerly di- rection through the eastern part of the town- ship, receiving the waters of Big Creek, Second Creek and Funkhouser Creek ; Brockett and Coon Creeks are tributaries of Big Creek. These numerous streams form an excellent system of natural drainage, af- ford an ample supply of stock water, and if properly utilized would furnish power to numberless mills and other machinery. The

* By W. H. Perrin.

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

original timber was similar to that described in Summit and other townships of the coun- ty, and in the bottoms consisted of walnut, papaw, cottonwood, sycamore, sugar maple, buckeye, soft maple, ete., etc., and upon the plains and ridges, the different oaks, hickory, and other hardy growths. The township comprises considerablo good land, and along the river bluffs and hills there may be found some that possesses littlo value, except for the timber.

The early settlers, the men who first flocked to the hills and plains of Jackson Township; the men whose voices rang first through its heavy forests while yet the footprints of the red man lingered in the sands; the men whose bullets first pierced the bounding deer that played and hid among the trees, are those around whom linger the most thrilling interest. The most of them are gone to that country where there are no pioneer trials and hardships. Some of the first settlers in the county located in this township; here dwelt and figured some of the most distin- guished characters the county has known, and here was the familiar " stamping ground" of Ben Campbell, to whom Mr. Bradsby has paid a fine tribute in a preceding chap- ter. To these pioneers and early settlers we will now devote a few pages.

The first settlement in what now forms Jackson Township was made by Isaac Fan- cher in 1825, and is one of the earliest settle- ments made in the county. His brother, Byron Fancher, settled a year or two later. They were from Tennessee, and Isaac settled on the place where Judgo Grillenwaters after- terward lived. Byron was in the Black Hawk war, and was a good and upright man. He afterward sold out and moved to Texas. Isaac died in the township many years ago. Ben Campbell-the David Crockett, tho Daniel Boone of the back woods-was the next

sottler in this township. He came about the year 1826-27, and for many years took an activo part in opening up the country and paving the way for the tide of immigration sweeping over the country from the East to the West. He is so fully written up, how- ever, elsewhere, that we can add nothing without repetition. Jesse and Jack Fulfer came also in 1826. They were from the South, but it is not known from what State. They were not very pushing or energetic, but lived mostly by "days' works." They are dead and have no descendants now living in the county. Thomas I. Brockett came in 1828, and was the next addition to the sot. tlement, Two brothers, Fred and William, were also early settlers in the county. They were all from Tennesseo. Fred lived on the road to Blue Point, and William lived near the line, but probably in Union Township. Fred had a grist mill and saw mill on the Little Wabash, in Union Township. Thom- as was instrumental in having the first school taught in the township. They are all dead and gone years ago.

Among the arrivals of 1829 were Samuel Bratton, Andrew Lilly, Henry Tucker, Will- iam Stephens, Jacob Nelson and his sons. Bratton came from some one of the Southern States. He settled in Jackson, but afterward moved into Douglas. He has no descend- ants in the county. Lilly was also from the South, and is long since dead. He used to "shove the queer," it is said, and was a great " chum " of Hull, who was finally sent to the penitentiary for making and passing counterfeit money. Tucker was from Ten- nessee, and settled down in the river bottom, where he died. He has two sons, John and James, still living in the township, both of whom were in the Mexican war. Mr. Tucker was an honest and honorable man, and high- ly respected in the community. William

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HISTORY OF EFFINGHAM COUNTY.

Stephens settled in this township, then moved into Watson, and later moved away from the State. Nelson came from Tennessee and settled in White County, Ill., in 1828, and the next year came here. He first settled on Limestone Creek, and then in this township, on the place where Calvin Mitchell now lives. He "cut the first stick" on that place, im- proved it and afterward entered it. He had a son named Peter and another named Wash. All of them are dead-Peter probably ex- cepted. He moved up north, came back, and finally moved away again, and was living the last known of him.

The year 1830 brought a few more set- tlers to the township, among whom were Jesse White, Alfred Warren, Henry P. Bailey, George and Enoch Neaville, Micajah Davidson and James Turner. White was from Tennessee, and was a single man when he came. He married soon after, however, and settled down on the river, but afterward moved out on the prairie. Bailey was also from Tennessee, and was the first Sheriff of the county He still has quite a number of descendants in this and the surrounding townships. Neaville was a Frenchman, and came from Alabama George, who was the father of Enoch, moved to Missouri, and finally died on the Gasconade River. Enoch moved into Watson Township, and died there. Davidson first settled here and built a little mill, then sold out and moved over into Mason. Warren settled on the place where Ben Campbell died. He then moved across the Wabash onto the place where Tom Aus- tin now lives, and there died.

James Turner, one of the last members of the old guard, and with Judge Broom, Judge Gillenwaters, and Mr. John Scott, the oldest settlers now living in the county, is a native of Virginia. He emigrated to Tennessee in 1823, and in the fall of 1830, came to Illi-

nois, locating in Jackson Township. He still lives on the place where he originally settled, and can tell many stories, and relate many interesting incidents of frontier life; of how the pioneer left the civilization of the older States behind him, located in this wild region, far removed from the influence of the schoolhouse and the church, drove back the savages, and paved the way for the blessings of to-day. "Uncle Jimmy," or " Grand- pap," as his intimate friends call him, will tell you how for years he tanned his own leather in troughs, and made the shoes for his own family and children. And a large family he had -- nine sons and two danghters. The sons all grew to manhood, and six of them are still living; one of the daughters lives in the township, and the other in Cali- fornia. Mr. Turner is the only one of the early settlers of this township, except Mr. Scott, now living. His memory is excellent, and his descriptions of pioneer life vivid and interesting. To him we are indebted for much valuable information, not only of this township, but of other portions of the county.

The Gallants settled in the township in 1831, but of them few facts were obtained. John O. Scott came here in 1832. He was a single man, but a few years later he mar- ried, as all true men should, thus carrying out the divine injunction to "multiply and replenish the earth." He and his good wife, who was Martha Parkhurst. are both living, honored citizens of the city of Effingham. Their recollection of early times and hard- ships is clear, and has been the means of preserving many historical facts from obliv- ion. Mrs. Scott's father, Jonathan Park- hurst, was a native of New Jersey, but had ived some years in Tennessee, some years before moving to this State. He first settled in White County, Ill., where he remained

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some years. then came to this county, and settled in Mason Township; a few years later, he moved into Jackson. Thus, slowly the settlers came in, until all the available land was taken up and occupied.

While the pioneers had many sources of pleasure and pastime, their early years here were years of toil. They had no mills near by, no agricultural implements. except a few of a very ernde character, and, indeed none of the luxuries and but few of the comforts of life. Their clothing was made at home, of cotton and flax, grown by themselves, and of the skins of wild animals, moccasins in- cased their feet, and their food. if not "lo- custs and wild honey," the latter at least was included in the bill of fare as one of the main staples of food, and was plenty in the forest. Wild beasts were plenty, and some- times dangerous to cope with, if ravenously hungry; add to this the insects and reptiles, which were as thick as the leaves upon the trees, and the reader will conclude that pioneer life was not all sunshine. But with the increase of settlements, and the advance of civilization, improvements were made in the way of living from time to time, better implements and tools were brought in, and life became more endurable and enjoyable.

The incidents that gave zest to frontier life were frontier weddings-these were times of general rejoicings, and all with- in a large circle was invited and attended as punctually as when the occasion was a house-raising or a corn-husking. Sev- eral weddings occurred in Jackson Town- ship while it was yet in the pioneer period of its existence. Of these were Enoch Neaville and Laura Pugh, Mike Robinson and Delilah Pugh. Jesse White and Kate Neaville and John Scott and Martha Parkhurst. We cannot, like the modern Jenkins, give a full description of

these fair brides, their trousseaus and wed. ding traps generally, but have no doubt it corresponded with the happy events celebrat- ed. Ever since that wonderful triumph of millinery art long ago, of manufacturing an entiro feminine wardrobe from fig leaves, female ingenuity has been equal to any oc- casion when a display of brilliant costumes was required, and it would be superfinons to say that her resources did not fail upon these occasions.

An incident to the point, and illustrative of the times, is related by Judge Gillenwa- ters: Fred. Brockett's wife died, and some years . afterward he made up his mind to marry again. and began to cast about him for a suitable helpmeet. He went into the mat- ter much as he would have embarked in any other business enterprise. He mounted his horse and traveled from neighborhood to neighborhood, and everywhere his inquiries were for some " good looking, middle- aged widow 'oman, who wanted to marry," that he was "ont on the hunt of a wife. and would like to find such a 'owan." Some distance south of here he made his usual inquiries, and was informed that about twenty miles back was the very woman who would fill the bill; that she was sensible, practical, and had plenty of the world's goods. He turned and retraced his steps, and went to see the wo- man. Afterward, when asked why he did not marry her, he said " she wouldn't do at all," that he " didn't want any such a little, crooked, dried-up 'oman as that." But we are told that " time, patience and persever- ance will accomplish all things," so he finally succeeded in finding a woman to suit his tastes in all respects.

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History of Effingham county, Illinois, Part 27

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