USA > Illinois > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Illinois > Part 13
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THE WESTERN SOUVENIR,
Published for a short time during the years 1839 and 40, by Judge James Hall, was a literary monthly. It consisted of a collection of original tales and poetry, written principally by Mr. Hall. Its editorials and publice- tions were of a character that evinced a very high order of talent, and genuine merit as a scholar on the part of the writer. The people of this. western country at that early day were not prepared to appreciate a journal of this kind. Consequently the enterprise was not successful, and Judge Hall relinquished the publication, and removed to Cincinnati, Ohio.
ILLINOIS SENTINEL.
This paper was established in the year 1844. John McDonald was editor and publisher.
In politics the Sentinel was of the strict Democratic school. The journal was creditably edited-but failing to secure the patronage of the public ne- cessary to its support its existence was of short duration, and the publication was discontinued after a period of two or three years.
FAYETTE YEOMAN,
Established in 1850, by James Kennaday, who formerly published the " Vandalia Free Press."
It was an advocate of the doctrines promulgated by the Whig party. The fortunes of this party were at that time on the decline; and the future pros- pects were not of a character to inspire its organs with longevity, consequently the " Yeoman," like many of its contemporaries of that political faith. soon passed away.
THE AGE OF STEAM
Was the next in the line of succession ; this was also established by Mr- Keunaday.
It disclaimed being a political paper, but its tendencies were decidedly " Whig."
It soon passed into the hands of H. P. H. Bromwell, who at once, declared, and continued it & neutral paper in politics. Mr. Bromwell finally styled the paper the " Age of Steam and Fire."
The Journal was ably edited: its editorials were extensively copied by the leading journals of the State; and it was everywhere recognized as the true exponent of that spirit of progress that its name indicated.
Judge Bromwell discontinued the publication, after a few years, and re- moved " West."
He is now a resident of Denver, Colorado.
FAYETTE OBSERVER.
This journal was established in the year 1855, by Tevis Greathouse, Esq. In politics the Observer, under Mr. Greathouse's administration, was Democratic. The paper was conducted by him in a very creditable manner for a number of years. He was a man of marked ability, well informed in literature and politics, and was an eminent jurist. The editorials of the " Observer " attracted the attention of the leading men of the State. After a lapse of a few years, Mr. Greathouse sold the Observer to a Mr. Davis, who published it for a short time, when Mr. Greathouse again became the publisher, having purchased it back from Mr. Davis.
Mr. Greathouse continued to publish it until 1859, when he conveyed it to Messrs. Sturgers & Hickman. These gentlemen continued to publish it as a Democratic sheet until the nomination of Mr. Lincoln, in 1860, when it became a Republican paper.
The publication was continued by these gentlemen until June, 1861, when both of them entered the army of the United States, in the war of the Rebellion.
In February, 1862, the office, with all its fixtures, was burned.
FAYETTE DEMOCRAT.
In the fall of 1859, a few of the leading Democrats of the County, among whom were B. W. Henry, George H. Dieckman, John Shirley, and Daniel Gregory, founded the " Fayette Democrat." It was placed under the man- agement of Messrs. Casman & Flynn.
Ita publications were very irregular, until it came into the hands of the present publisher, Obas. G. Smith.
Under Mr. Smith's management the Democrat has been very creditably edited. Mr. Smith is a practical printer and publisher. Prior to his conneo- tion with the " Democrat," he published the " Elisabethtown Intelligencer" in Kentucky; and the " Glasco Free Press," also in Kentucky. The size of the Democrat when it came into the hands of Mr. Smith, was a six column, 24 by 82 inch sheet. Its present sise is 26 by 42 folio.
Mr. Smith has had an experience of twenty-five years as a journalist, and is a man of marked ability.
The " Democrat" has, since its establishment, been a strict Democratic paper.
VANDALIA UNION,
Established in 1864, by Mr. H. S. Humphrey, who formerly published the " Kendall County Free Press," a Republican journal in Kendall County, Illinois. The size of the " Union," upon its first appearance, was a six column, folio, 24 by 36. Its present size is a six column quarto.
In politics the " Union " has always been Republican. It is very credita- bly edited at the present, by Mesers. Humphrey & Richards.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
BT. ELMO NEWS.
This is a spicy little sheet, devoted to the interests of the village of St. Elmo, and Fayette County.
It was established in the fall of 1875, by Messrs. Johnson & Ranney. It afterwards passed into the hands of Mr. C. T. King, who is the present pub- lisher.
In politics, the " News" is neutral.
FARINA NEWS.
This journal is published by Mr. Ed. Freeman, who is also editor of the Kinmundy Independent.
It was established in 1877. It is a very creditable sheet for a village of the size of Farina.
FAYETTE COUNTY NEWS.
This paper was first issued on the 14th day of February, 1878. H. R. Miller, Editor and Publisher.
The News is a seven column quarto. In politics, the News is Republican.
Mr. Miller was formerly editor of the Clay County Tribune. He is a practical printer uf ten years' experience.
CHAPTER XVIII.
GEOGRAPHY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
FAYETTE County, belongs to the group of the Kaskaskis. It is bounded on the north by Montgomery and Shelby Counties, on the east by Effingham and Clay, on the south by Marion and Clinton, and on the west by Bond and Montgomery. Its terri- tory extends from 38° 42' to 39º 10' north latitude, and is classed as one of the south-central counties. The meridian of 12º west longi- tude from Washington passes through almost the centre of the county. Its area is 720 square miles, or about 460,800 acres.
Form. In form, with the exception of a projection at the south-east and south-west corners, the county would be an oblong square.
Population. The population of the county, according to the census of 1870, is 19,693, and is composed of persons of English, Irish and German extraction.
Land Surface. The land surface is divided between timber and prairie, the greater part being prairie. The surface is rather undulating, there being no hilly or mountainous country.
WATERS.
It is watered by the Kaskaskia River and its tributaries, which consist of creeks, branches, etc. The Kaskaskia flows through the central portion of the county, and is skirted on either side by the " bottom," which has a very fertile soil, and is covered with a forest of excellent timber. The surface of the bottom lands, as a rule, is too low and wet for cultivation; but with a good system of drainage could be made very productive. The " Hurricane " Creek, which flows through the western part of the county, is the next stream in importance. Like the Kaskaskia, it lies in the midst of a valley of fertile bottom lands. This bottom is not so wide in extent, nor so wet 88 the Kaskaskia "bottom." Ramsey is a very turbulent little " creek," which often rises very rapidly, and does much damage by overflows in the rainy season.
Climate. The climate is of about an average temperature of the State. Minerals. Coal is the chief mineral product, and it as yet has not been developed. Stone of different varieties, among which is an excellent variety of building stone exists in the country.
ANIMALS.
Domestic .- Horses, sheep, cattle, hogs, mules, goats, constitute the principal domestic animals.
Wild .- Deer, foxes, raccoons, mink, otter, wolves, opossum, squirrels and rabbits, are the wild animals.
VEGETATION.
Cultivated Crops .- Indian corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, potatoes, tobacco and flax are the chief products.
Wild .- The most common forest trees are the elm, ash, hickory, the various species of the oak, the black and white walnut, and the different species of the maple-from one of which maple sugar is made.
TOWNSHIPS.
The county is under township organization. It is divided into seventeen townships, or towns, viz. :
Loudon, Avena, Wheatland, Lone Grove, La Clede, Wilberton, Otego,
Sefton, Bowling Green, Ramsey, Hurricane, Sharon, Vandalia, Bear Grove, Seminary and Pope. Each township has its board of local officers, consist- ing of a supervisor, town clerk, assessor, collector and three commissioners of highways, all of which, except the commissioners of highways, are elected annually. Their tenure of office is for three years-one going out of office in the spring of each year.
Loudon is a township in the extreme north-eastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east by Effingham, on the south by Avena and Sefton Townships, on the west by Sefton and Bowling Green, the Kaskaskia River forming the boundary between it and Bowling Green.
The surface is broken. The soil is good in some parts, while in others it is not so productive. Principal productions are wheat, corn, rye and_po- tatoes. The villages are Greenland, Loudon and part of Holliday. This township is intersected by the Springfield and South-eastern Railroad. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture and stock raising.
Avena is south of Loudon, and is bounded on the east by Effingham County, on the south by Wheatland, and on the west by Sefton.
The surface is undulating, and consists chiefly of prairie land, with some timber in the northern part of the township. The character of the soil is a rich black mold, and very productive. Productions are wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, hay, potatoes and fruits.
Towns and Villages. St. Elmo, on the Vandalia, St. Louis and Terre Haute Railroad, is a flourishing village of about 900 inhabitants. Merchan- dizing is carried on to a considerable extent. Large quantities of grain are shipped from this place. The village is well provided with chu ches and schools.
Avena, on the same railroad, is quite a prosperous little village. Con- siderable business is transacted here. Church and school facilities are fair. Agriculture and stock raising constitute the principal occupation of the in- habitants of Avena township.
Wheatland is south of Avena, with Effingham on the east, Lone Grove on the south, and Otego on the west for its boundaries.
Surface level in most places-broken in south-west part of the Township. Soil much the same as Avena. Productions same,-together with tobacco, the cultivation of which receives some attention.
Loogootes is a nice little village in this township, where a great deal of . business is transacted.
The facilities for schools and churches are good in the village, as they are also in the township.
Lone Grove lies directly south of Wheatland, and is bounded on the east by La Clede. on the south by Marion County, and on the west by Wilberton. Surface slightly undulating-principally prairie land.
Soil, rich black loam. Productions, same as Wheatland.
Schools and churches .- The inhabitants of this township are favored with good school and church accommodations.
La Clede has Effingham County on the north, Clay County on the east, Marion County on the south, and Lone Grove Township on the west.
Surface, same as Lone Grove. Soil of a rich black mold. Products, same as adjoining township-and in addition, large quantities of fruit, including, peaches, apples, strawberries, etc., are produced here.
The township has excellent church and educational facilities.
Villages. La Clede, on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Rail- road, is situated in the north-eastern part of the township. It is a thriving little village, and a great deal of business is transacted here.
Farina, in the south-western part of the Township, situated on the line of the same railroad, is a flourishing village of about 400 inhabitants. Large quantities of grain and fruit are shipped from this station. A large milling business is done here.
Church and educational matters, receive the attention of the citizens.
Wilberton is bounded on the north by O:ego, and on the east by Lone Grove, on the south by Marion County, and on the west by Kaskas- kia Township. Surface, undulating prairie with some timber in the north. Products, same as adjoining townships. Perhaps more wheat is produced in Wilberton than in any other township in the county.
Otego is bounded on the north by Sefton, on the east by Wheatland, on the south by Wilberton, and on the west by Vandalia. Surface broken. Soil, sandy loam. Products, same as other adjoining townships.
Educational and church facilities good.
Brownstown, a beautiful little village on the line of the Vandalia, St. Louis and Terre Haute Railroad, is the centre of trade for a large scope of fertile country on either side. Hay and live stock are shipped from this station in large quantities.
The village is well provided with church and school buildings.
Sefton is bounded by Loudon and Bowling Green on the north, by Avena on the east, Otego and Vandalia on the south, and the Kaskaskia River on the west. Surface, level in most parts-broken in the north and north- western part of the township. Soil, rich black mold. Products same as Otego.
School and church facilities good.
Bowling Green is bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east by Loudon, on the south and south-east by Sefton, and on the west by Ramsey. Surface broken. Soil, light sandy loam-except in southern part which is of a rich black mold. Productions same as adjoining townships.
Church and school facilities fair.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Ramsey. The boundaries of Ramsey Township are, on the north Shelby County, on the east Bowling Green, on the south Sharon, on the west Hurri- cane. Surface, broken-timber land, principally.
Soil, light sandy loam. Products same as adjoining townships. School and church accommodations good.
Ramsey Village is a prosperous little place of about seven hundred inhabi- tants, situated on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. A large busi- ness is done at this station in shipping railroad ties, wood, live stock, etc. The village is well supplied with schools and church privileges.
Hurricane is bounded on the north by Montgomery County, on the east by Ramsey, on the south by Sharon, and on the west by Montgomery.
Surface, undulating in the north -broken in the south. Soil, rich black mold in the north, light sandy loam in the south. Products same as the adjoining townships.
Church and school facilities fair.
Sharon has the following boundaries : Hurricane and Ramsey on the north, Kaskaskia River on the east, Vandalia and Bear Grove on the south, and Montgomery County on the west.
Surface, level ; soil, black sandy loam. Products same as other adjoining townships. Church and school facilities good.
Vera, on the Illinois Central Railroad, is a prosperous little village, where great quantities of railroad ties, wood, flour, etc., are shipped.
The church and school buildings in Vera are good.
Vandalia is bounded on the north by Sharon and Sefton, on the east by Otego, on the south by Kaskaskia Township and Seminary, on the west by Bear Grove.
Surface, broken. Soil, light thin mold, except in Kaskaskia bottom, where it is a rich black mold. Products same as adjoining townships. Church and school facilities excellent.
City of Vandalia, at the crossing of the Illinois Central and the Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroads, is a flourishing city of 2,500 inhabitants-it was for about twenty years the Capital of the State. Mercantile and manu- facturing business is carried on extensively in the city.
It is excelled by no city in Southern Illinois in its church and school facilities .*
Bear Grove is bounded on the north by Sharon, on the east by Vandalia, on the south by Seminary, and on the west by Bond County.
Surface, level in the eastern and northern part, broken in the western and southern part. Soil, rich sandy loam. Productions same as adjoining townships.
School and church accommodations good.
Hagerstown on the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad, is an enterprising little village. A great deal of grain, live stock, etc., is shipped from here.
Seminary is bounded on the north by Bear Grove and Vandalia, on the east, south-east, and south by the Kaskaskia River, on the west by Clinton and Bond Counties. Surface, broken-principally timber lands. Soil, light Bandy loam. Products same as adjoining townships.
Educational and church facilities fair.
Kaskaskia is bounded on the north by Vandalia township, on the east by Wilberton on the south by Marion County and Pope, on the west by the Kaskaskia River. Surface, in the eastern part level, in the south and west bruken. Soil, in the east rich black mold, in the west and south light sandy loam, Products same as adjoining townships.
Church and school facilities good.
Shobonier is a thriving little village on the Illinois Central Railroad. A good business is done here in shipping live stock, hay, etc.
Church and school accommodations in the village good.
Pope is bounded on the north and east by Kaskaskia and Marion County, on the south by Clinton County, and on the west by the Kaskaskia River. Surface, broken. Soil, light sandy loam. Products same as other town- ships adjoining it.
School and church improvements fair.
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CHAPTER XIX.
GROLOGY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
OR the following article we are indebted to the State Geological Report, to G. C. Broadhead its editor, and to Dr. Geo. W. Bas- sett of Vandalia. We have selected such portions of the matter treated as we deem of most interest to our readers.
STRATIGRAPHICAL GEOLOGY.
In this county the formations consist of the quaternary and the coal measures.
Alluvium .- The wide flat bottoms of the Kaskaskia embrace an extensive area of Alluvium.
Prairie Formation .- The prairie near Dismal Creek has a grayish soil, con-
taining a few small concretions of oxide of iron. Nine miles east of Van- dalia on the national road the prairie soil contains a good deal of iron ore. On Flat prairie. ten miles south-west of Vandalia, the roadside washings ex- pose : 1 Dark soil . . 1 ft. 2. Dark brown clay with dark stains exposed 2 ft.
On the north side of Big Creek, there is exposed six feet of dark and bluff clays, containing small nodules, probably loess.
Drift .- This formation is well developed in this county. A weil near Ramsey was dug 100 feet deep through clay and gravel to solid rock. The mound west of Vandalia is about 100 feet above the general surface of the surrounding country ; and 55 feet of drift are exposed on the bank of the river at the National Road Bridge; this would make the total drift in this county not less than 150 feet ; probably a little more, but not over 200 feet.
On the bank of the Kaskaskia river, at the National Road Bridge, 15 to 20 feet consists of red clay with coarse sand, and gravel below, with 30 to 35 feet of blue clay at the bottom. The blue clay is very compact, and contains numerous small round pebbles. One mile south-west of the railroad cut ex- hibits red clay, sand and pebbles at the top; below, gray and brown bed-, with alternations of beds of sand and pebbles, the latter sometimes partially cemented together.
The mound west of Vandalia has ash-colored clay on the top, and darker colored clay and pebbles below ; then brown sand clay pebbles and boulders. Two-thirds up the hill-side there is a fine spring of clear water issuing out of the sand. One mile and a half south-west of Vandalia, the river bluffs are formed of steep, broken dust hills, with blue clay and boulders at the bottom, overlaid by brown sand. Towards the upper part there is a two foot stratum of ferruginous sandstone passing into a hard iron ore. Its firm, hard appear- ance might induce one to think it belonged to an older age than the drift, but it lies at about the same horizontal level along the hill-side, and is also found cropping out at other ravines at the same elevation, with drift sand below. The blue clay at this place is quite hard, and the water passing over it forms a tufaceous deposit on the surface. In the ravines there are many fine springs of water issuing from the base of sand beds.
On Buck Creek, near the Kaskaskia bottoms, there is a dark clay and sand conglomerate, which when struck emits a dull hollow sound. A good spring of water flows from just over it, and a tufaceous deposit is there formed. Twelve miles south-east of Vandalia masses of ferruginous conglomerate were observed similar to that formed near Vandalia. A well here shows eight feet of sand at the top, and eighteen feet of sand and pebbles below. On the north road of Greenland is exhibited
1. Bluff clay and gray sandstone, 5 feet
2. Ferruginous sandstone, 4
3. Bluff clay and pebbles,
4. Bluff clay and pebbles in sight, 6 «
In Sec. 3, T. 6 N. R. 2 E., on the land of George Phifer. a broken strat- um of coal 1} inches thick occurs in the drift, with blue clay and pebbles both above and below.
A similar place was exhumed on Bear Creek, five miles east of Vanda- lia. The hill is here 27 feet high, and near the middle there is a thin strat- um of black sand. Beneath this are streaks and fragments of coal en veloped by red sand and small boulders ; and near the base of the hill there is a mass of coal measure fire clay. . There are also masses of sandstone and limestone not much worn ; all evidently drifted but a short distance. Other boulders found here are of granite, sienite and quartzite. At the mill on Beck's Creek in Sec. 10, T. 8, N. R. 2 E. coal measure limestone is seen apparently resting on a bed of drift.
Among the drift boulders found in this county are sienite, granite, horn- blende rock, greenstone, quartzite, saudstone, limestone and clay from the coal measures.
Coal Measures .- On account of the non-appearance of certain intermedi- ate beds necessary in the construction, we can only approximate the thick- ness of the coal measures in this county ; but there is sufficient data to assume that the total thickness may reach 350 feet, ranging from No. 1 to 46; . .
. coal, 15 or Shelby coal is only found near the head
of Hickory Creek, 2} miles from the east county line, and northwardly near the county line in Rock Creek and Wolf Creek.
At James P. Odell's, in Section 34 T. 6, N. R. 3 E. a slaty coal has been taken out, but as yet is not much used. .
On the land of Joel Blakeley, near Rock Creek, an 18 inch seam has been worked, the upper and lower, two inches pyritiferous, and 14 inches of good coal. At Blakeley's bank part of the coal bifurcates, and insinuates thin veins into the overlaying sandstone. The neighboring hills are low, and the coal can be easily reached. Mre. Mary Grant and Mrs. Phifer also have coal banks in the same vicinity. This coal crops out one foot thick at the edge of the water of Wolf Creek, in Sec. 12, T. 8, N. R 3 E. Coal also crops out on the Kaskaskis River, at William Thomas', in Sec. 2, T. 9, N. R. 3 E., 14 inches thick ; at James Brown's, near the north county line, on the waters of Beck's Creek, in Sec. 21 T. 9, R. 1, E., 16 to 22 inches thick ; a half mile north of Howard's Point, 10 inches ; on the south fork of the Hickory, in Sec. 10, T. 5, N. R. 2 E. it is 10 inches; at Col. Foreman's, 18 to 20 inches. Only at Brown's and Col. Foreman's bas there been much mining. A. Brown's drift, 2! feet high, has been run into the hill. . . On the bank of a branch the coal appears very well, extending nearly hori- zontally along the stream for about fifty feet, and 20 inches thick, with 4
* See history of Vandalia in another part of the work.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
feet of fire-clay beneath. At one place the coal measures 2 feet in thickness. A trace of this coal appears in the road at Slabtown.
Banks have been opened at two places on Little Hickory Creek, at Wm. Hamilton's, in T. 6, R 2 E., and at Wm. Richardson's, in the same Tp. . . The thickness of the seam is reported to be from 16 inches to 2 feet,
and the coal of good quality. These places can be worked without much cost.
On Beck's Creek, about a mile above the Shelbyville road, a good deal of coal has been taken from the creek. This is known as the Gooden Coal Bank.
A bed of coal is reported to be at the bottom of the Kaskaskis River, in the south-east corner of T. 9 N. R. 2 E, but the water is generally at least 6 feet over it.
Iron Ore .- Thin beds and concretions of carbonate of iron ore are common in the coal measurers' shales, but were not found sufficiently abundant to work in this county. Broadhead says, on the National road, nine miles east of Vandalia, he noticed a deposit of very dark-colored oxide of iron in prairie clay soil. It crops out about 4 inches thick, in a rough, massive stratum, around the margin of a washed place, about 50 feet square. . .
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