USA > Illinois > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Illinois > Part 9
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His parents were poor, and as facilities for learning under the best of circumstances were limited at that time, Thomas could not boast a very brilliant education. Indeed his tastes and talents ran in a different chan- nel. But if there was any fun or mischievous amusement to be had, he would be in it no matter how great the risk or danger incurred in procu- ring it. but like most brave men there was nothing cruel or savage in his disposition. He was a strong, muscular man, of medium height, compactly and powerfully built, noted for his great strength and activity. Previous to the adventure we are about to narrate, he was actively engaged on the frontiers in defending the settlements during the war of 1812.
On the 20th of August, 1814, signs of Indians were discovered near Hill's Fort, and at daybreak the next morning Lieut. Journey was mounted, and a corps of eleven men, including Higgins, while reconnoitering around and but a little way from the fort, fell into an ambuscade of a large party of Indians. The warriors fired on them, and Journey, and three of his men were instantly killed. William Burges and John Boucher were wounded, the latter but slightly.
The horse which Thomas Higgins rode was shot in the neck, and fell to the ground, but soon rose again. Higgins remained a moment "to get a
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
pull at them," as he said, and leveling his gun, he took deliberate aim at one of the red skins and shot him dead.
He remounted and was about to return to the fort when a familiar voice hailed him from the grass, saying, "Tom, you won't leave me." Higgins shouted out to him to "come on." " I can't come, my leg is smashed to pieces," answered Burges. Higgins, who was ever ready to help a friend in distress, could not desert an old comrade, though the Indians he knew were thickly surrounding them, but leaping from his horse attempted to lift the wounded man upon the animal; the horse, however, becoming frightened at the yelling and firing, dashed away, leaving the two men to make their es- cape in the best way they could. Higgins not at all discomfited advised his friend to "limp off on three legs," and he would protect him. Burges suc- ceeded in crawling off through the grass and saving himself, while Higgins was left to fight the bloody and terrible battle alone, with three Indians prepar- ing to attack him, and others in the immediate vicinity. His case was indeed desperate, but his tact, activity, strength, and undaunted courage served him in the time of need. He had loaded his gun immediately after having killed the Indian before mentioned, and was therefore prepared to receive their charge. The dusky warriors were close upon him. He ran to a small ravine close by in order that he could the better defend himself against numbers, and perceived for the first time that his leg failed him-he was wounded at the commencement of the fray, but did notice it at the time.
One of the three Indians was a big, powerfully built savage, alone & match for any ordinary man, the other two somewhat smal er -- and perhaps less courageous. Higgins used to say afterwards that "the larger Iudian was as brave as a lion ; he could not daunt or intimidate him, but the smaller savages quailed beneath his ferocious look." The lesser men dare hardly look him in the face, " but the muscular savage could look the devil in the face."
Higgins being satisfied he must receive the fire of the large Indian he attempted to dodge it, but the bullet lodged in his thigh, and he fell, but sprang to his feet again instantly. By this time the other two had also fired at him, both balls taking effect. Again he fell, this time badly wounded, but soon was on his feet again, with his loaded gun in his hand.
The Indians wishing to make short work of it, threw down their guns, as they had not time to load them again, and whooping and yelling rushed on Higgins with their spears, tomahawks, and knives. By presenting his gun at them he kept them at bay for a few minutes.
The bolder Indian not thinking Higgins' gun loaded, rushed in upon him. A quick aim and loud report, and the savage bounded in the air and fell dead at his feet. The loss of their leader had the effect of making the other two still more desperately savage. They raised the war-whoop the louder, and rushed with greater vigor upon poor, wounded Higgins, upon whom the des- perate encounter was beginning to tell. With four Indian bullets in his body, the loss of blood was weakening and exhausting him. His gun was empty and no other weapon at hand, while his opponents were unscathed and well armed. Now the fighting on both sides became desperate in the extreme. One of the Indians threw a tomahawk at him and cut his ear nearly off, laying at the same time the bone of his head and side of his neck entirely bare. Again our hero fell, and when they rushed upon him with their spears he had to defend himself with his feet, kicking them off as well as bis exhausted strength would permit him. Stretched upon the ground with an Indian spear at his breast, the excited spectators at the fort thought the ยท fatal moment to poor Higgins had arrived, but the bold fellow grasped the spear, and in the struggle the savage dragged him to his feet once more. Then it was he clutched his gun and literally dashed the brains out of one of the Indians, but the thickness of the dusky devil's skull also shattered the gun to pieces, and bent the barrel beyond further utility.
This terrific encounter being within sight of the fort, many would have gone to his assistance, but feared they would be cut to pieces by other In- dians lying in ambush, but the excitement became too intense for one Mrs. Pursley, who said, " she could not stand and see so brave a man as Hig- gins killed by the Indians," sprang on the back of her husband's horse and dashed to the rescue. The men in the fort could not see a woman go alone, followed her.
As soon as Higgins' remaining dusky foe saw the Rangers coming he fled; and they found their comrade prostrated upon the ground nearly dead -cut and mangled, and almost torn to pieces-his shirt and body were slashed almost beyond recognition. When they reached Higgins he had fainted, his excitement probably having subsided when he saw his friends hastening to the rescue. He barely escaped death from his many wounds and never entirely recovered from the effects of them, although he lived for many years afterwards. In addition to receiving a pension from the gov- ernment, he was appointed door-keeper to one of the houses of the General Assembly of Illinois. He was a farmer during the later years of his life, and brought up a large family of children. He eventually died, where for many years he resided, near Vandalia, in Fayette County, A. D. 1829. Some old settlers, who remember him well, speak of him as being a gene- rous, open-hearted man.
In the foregoing chapters on the pioneers and early settlers of the county, there probably are several who belong to the class of " Old Settlers " whose names have been omitted in this article, but who will receive proper men- tion in the respective township histories where they resided, as will also incidents and events receive proper mention, which may have taken place in the different townships of the county.
CHAPTER XIV.
EARLY CUSTOMS, AND MODE OF LIVING .- DUEL .- ELECTIVE FRANCHISES .- NAVIGA- TION OF THE KASKASKIA.
D URING the pioneer era in the county, when the country was sparsely settled, and manner of living very primitive, so much so that the poorest classes of to-day would shrink from the homely fare, and total absence of many things which we now term the necessaries of life, few persons probably had any con- ceptions of the rapid change that the country would undergo. In those days the customary diet was such as the hardy woodsman could secure with the aid of his trusty rifle, together with a very healthy article of food made of corn coarsely mashed, into meal. Their bill of fare, however, possessed many things which the epicures of to-day delight in. Venison, turkey, prairie chicken, and game of all sorts was in abundance, and the busy little bee, with true philanthropy, furnished them with plenty of wild boney. Their houses were constructed in the most simple manner, and were built of roughly-hewn logs, with the apertures filled with clay, floors of puncheons, or beaten earth. Glass or iron never entered into the construction of them. Every man had an interest in his neighbor's domicile; they always assisted each other in the building of them; their hospitality was proverbial, and they always obeyed that divine injunction, " Do unto others as you would be done by."
DUEL.
*" It is said that one, or possibly two challenges for duels were sent in Fayette County, but they ended in talk. However, Thomas Higgins, of Fayette County-the same person who had such a terrible battle with the Indians in 1814, and another champion, fell out and agreed to fight a duel with rocks. That took place in the mining districts at Galena. The same size and number of rocks were selected by their seconds, and the parties placed at their posta ten yards apart. The combatants were to throw the rocks at each other at the time mentioned by their seconds. The rocks were placed in a pile, so that the parties could use them as they pleased. Higgins was so strong, courageous and expert in throwing rocks, that his opponent was forced to flee to save his life. This was a kind of medium duel, between the mur- derous pistol and the brutal pugilation, but still highly condemnable by refined civilization and Christianity." Many of the "old settlers" of Van- dalia and Fayette County remember the frequent exploits of Higgins, in the early pioneer era of the county's history. He was the champion at all their corn-shuckings, log-rollings, horse-races, political meetings, etc .; and to use a term of that period-would fight at the drop of the hat; and so remarkable was his strength and courage, that he was always the victor. At a meet- ing of a few of the "old settlers," a circumstance was related, that he had frequently stalked into the bar-rooms in Vandalia-and after swallowing his dram of whiskey-would literally chew up the glass tumblers. He was pro- bably the strongest man who ever lived in the county, and many amusing incidents are related of him by the older citizens of Fayette.
"BULL-PEN."
The " Bull-pen," as it was called, was a favorite place of resort for the pioneer Vandalians, where they would go to settle their disputes; it was, more properly speaking, the Public pound, situated a little north of Capps' old store. The municipal law of the town forhad fighting, but by a kind of common consent, parties could resort to the "Bull-pen," and take their satis- faction out on one another in a free fight, to the no small satisfaction and amusement of the gaping, lazy, and fun-loving crowd. The fight ended, the victor generally resorted to an adjacent saloon, treated all parties, and shook hands with bis late antagonist over the " bloody chasm."" Such was life in the olden time.
THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE,
And the primitive ideas of the early pioneers in regard to it. In the year 1836, a resident of Vandalia, (Col. Foreman), having business in the South- ern part of the State, made a trip down to a place known as Caledonia ; during his stay there an election occurred for President. Gen. Jackson was one of the candidates. At this time the Colonel was a young man of very prepossessing appearance, and his apparel would seem to indicate, that lie was a gentleman of wealth. This was sufficient to condemn him in the eyes of these people, whose ideas of true democracy were associated with Buckskin breeches and Hickory shirts, and they naturally supposed that the Colonel was one of the blarsted Whigs.
Whiggery was at a discount in that precinct ; they believing that " no good could come out of Nazareth," they immediately took steps to prevent their liberties being put in jeopardy, by the casting a Whig vote. Noticing the Colonel standing aside, gracefully twirling his mustache and swinging his cane, delegated one of their number to carefully approach him, and sound him. The following conversation ensued: " W'all stranger, we h'eve bin de'batin your case, and h'ev concluded you h'ed better make yourself scarce 'round these here parts." " Why ?" says the Col. in some surprise "Its our notion to send up a c'l'ar docket for Ginneral Jackson, wich 'kant be did with any of you d-d Whigs 'round."
* Reynolds' Life and Times.
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The Col. laughing heartily, replied: "My dear sir, you're mistaken ; I too am a Jackson man.'
"W-b-a-t!" drolled the champion of Democracy, in his turn surprised. The Colonel repeated he was there to cast his vote for General Jackson. With a whoop that would have put to shame a band of Comanche Indians, he seized the Colonel, and after inquiring his name, yelled with stentorian roice, "Cl'ar' the track ; Ginneral Jackson and Ferris Forman forever." And the Colonel was led to the polls in triumph. It is needless to say, they sent up a clean docket.
NAVIGATION OF THE KASKASKIA.
Prior to the present excellent system of railroads, the commerce and travel of the country was principally carried on by water. Rivers in the early times were great adjuncts to the development of the west; and fortunate were the towns situated along the banks of a stream. During the winter of 1840 and '41, Wm. H. Lee built two flat-boats on the Kaskaskia, and loaded them with a cargo of produce, and when the water rose in the spring, he started on the long, tedious, and perilous trip for New Orleans. Seven men accompanied the expedition. Mr. Lee was captain of one boat, and Alfred Mathias of the other. They arrived at their destination in safety, and traded his cargo for cotton, molasses, coffee, etc., and sent them to St. Louis by steamboat. This was the first experiment in boating from Vanda- lia, realizing a profit from the venture, Mr. L. built two boats in the winter of 1841-42, and in the spring of the latter year started for New Orleans. This time the cargo comprised pork, beef, corn and hoop poles. The prices paid at Vandalia were for corn : 20 cents per bushel, pork $1.50 to $2 per cwt., beef $1.50 per cwt. Wheat sold that year for 31 cents per bushel. The venture was a profitable one to Mr. Lee.
The third trip was made in March, 1846. Arrived in New Orleans June 4th following. That fleet comprised three boats ; two of the boats contained a cargo belonging to Ebenezer Capps consisting of 5,000 bushels of grain ; 15 bogshead of tobacco ; the balance of the load was made up of pork, Yankee beans and beef. We give the names of a few of the persons who accompanied the latter expedition. Capt. James Linton was the pilot. Capt. Lee in charge of the fleet. Those accompanying as assistants were Judge Joshua W. Ross, (then a lad), James Albert, Daniel McConnell, Duncan Linn, Joseph Linn, Thaddeus Smith, John Jones, and Bryant Whit- ford, Jr. During their journey they encountered a severe storm; and the hawser of the small boat broke, and parted from the main fleet, with two men on board. The other boats proceeded on their way to New Orleans. Arriving at the latter place, Capt. Lee went back on a steamer to ascer- tain what became of the small boat. He found the boat and the two men at the landing at Baton Rouge. He found that the boat was unfit for longer service. Capt. Lee was now in a peculiar plight: not wanting to lose his boat and contents, he concluded if possible to effect a sale, and with that shrewdness characteristic of the old settlers, be went up in the town to find a purchaser, with instructions to the boys to pump out the water as fast as they could; and should they see him coming with a purchaser, then to cease pumping and stand idly by. The arrangement worked like a charm. Capt. Lee's plan, as will be seen, was not to let the verdant Louisianian know of the condition of the boat. He found & purchaser, and sold out the entire outfit for four hundred and sixty dollars in cash ; and with his men took a steamer standing by for New Orleans. In two hours after he took paseage, the flat-boat and cargo sank, which was quite unfortunate for the purchaser. In 1846 produce was worth in Vandalia the following prices: Dressed-pork, 82 to $2.50 per cwt., and these prices were seldom paid unless taken out in trade. Wheat sold at from 37} to 50 cents; Corn, 15 to 18 cents; Oats, 10 to 12} ; Rye, 25 to 37} ; Potatoes, 20 to 25 cents.
CHAPTER XV. COMMON SCHOOLS.
BY B. F. SHIPLEY.
EDUCATION .- FIRST SCHOOLS .- HOW FORMED .- HOW SUPPORTED .- CHARACTER OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS, FURNITURE, ETC. - MANNER OF CONDUCTING SCHOOL. - BRANCHES TAUGHT .- TEXT-BOOKS USED .- THE PIONEER TEACHER .- HIS QUALI- FICATIONS .- HIS SALARY .- " BOARDING OUT," ETC .- PIONEER SCHOOL OFFICERS .- THE " COMMITTEEMAN."-HIS DUTIES .- INCIDENT OF SCHOOL HISTORY .- ADVO- CATES OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS .- " ILLINOIS INTELLIGENCER."'-PERSONAL, MEN- TION OF PIONEER TEACHERS .- CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE BEEN TEACHERS IN THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY-SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. - THEIR DUTIES. - SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT8 .-. THEIR DUTIES .- TEACHERS WHO WERE IN THE SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION .- TEACHERS' INSTITUTES .- STATISTICS, 1860-1870-1877. - SCHOOL BUILDINGS OF THE PRESENT. - SCHOOL GROUNDS, FURNITURE, ETC .- CHARACTER OF SCHOOLS .- BRANCHES TAUGHT .- TEXT-BOOKS USED .- QUALIFICATIONS OF TEACHERS .- MODE OF TEACHING .- TEACH- ERS' SALARIES .- SCHOOL OFFICERS OF THE PRESENT .- THEIR DUTIES .- PRESENT SCHOOL TREASURERS OF COUNTY .- GRADED SCHOOLS .- VANDALIA .- RAMSEY .- ST. ELMO .- FARINA .- LA CLEDE .- CONCLUSION.
ROM the earliest period of the world's history, the people of every civilized nation have realized the importance of education. Education, in its fullest sense, comprehends the development and cultivation of the various physical, moral and mental faculties of man. Hence it is that the standard of a people's morals, civilization and progrees, is indicated by the degree of interest mani-
fested in developing and cultivating the moral, social and intellectual facul- ties of its masses. Society, in every age, and of every nation upon which the refining hand of civilization has been laid, has been ever ready to realize and accept the truth of this proposition. Thus, in Time's epochs, from the "twilight of antiquity" to the present, we find associated with other beneficent institutions for the elevation and advancement of mankind, the institution of schools; embracing every grade of instruction, from the elementary school, where the rudiments of an education are taught. to the University and College, where art, science and literature are disseminated.
The annals of the world sustain the proposition that no nation ever occu- pied an exalted or enviable position that evinced no interest in the education of its people. In republican governments, in which a'l power emanates from the people, and belongs to the people, it is essential to the perpetuation of the people's institutions that the masses should have the mental and moral training that is necessary to qualify them for a high appreciation of the blessings of personal liberty and freedom of conscience. The people of the United States have ever realized this ; and in all its history, from the land- ing of the Pilgrims to the settlement of the far West, one of the first things to engage their attention was the establishment of schools. The history of the schools of Fayette County finds its duplicate in the school history of many counties in the Western States.
The pioneers would, as soon as they had each prepared himself with a habitation for his family and enclosed a " patch " of land on which to raise the necessaries of life, begin preparations for the erection of a school-house.
Some enterprising individual among them would take the initiatory step of notifying the settlers within a radius of three or more miles, that, on a certain time, at a designated place, they would meet for the purpose of erecting a school-bouse. Punctual at the time and place, armed with their " working tools," would the settlers assemble; and in a short time, considering the disad- vantages under which they labored, their work would be consummated. The structure might not compare with the specimens of workmanship and architecture of the present, but it afforded them an accommodation for their. primitive school for which their rural hearts were thankful.
CHARACTER OF THE EARLY SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Buildings constructed in the manner above described could be but rude and primitive in their character. The walls were made of rough logs from the forest, the chimney of earth and sticks : clapboards from the adja- cent oaks furnished them with a shelter from the chilling blasts of winter and the sultry rays of the summer's sun ; slabs split from trees, the rough edges of which had been smoothed with an axe, constituted the floor. Win- dows were not known, except in very rare instances when some community more favored than the common lot of "settlements," were able to secure & few panes of glass for their school-rooms.
SCHOOL FURNITURE.
The furniture of the pioneer school-room consisted of "benches " made from large "puncheons," which were made from the same material and in the same manner that the slabs for the floor were prepared. "Desks" or writing-tables were formed by placing against the wall at an angle of about 22} degrees boards or " puncheons."" Could the pupil of the early school have entered the spacious and elegantly furnished school-rooms of to-day,- could he have sat in the easy patent-seat,-could he have gazed upon the modern school apparatus, and have listened to the sound of the "school- going bell," he would doubtless have imagined that he had been magically transported to another sphere.
HOW SCHOOLS WERE ORGANIZED.
After the school-house had been completed and furnished, (?) a school was the next part of the programme. There were no donations from the govern- ment or State, nor any taxes collected for the support of schools. Some one of the settlers would canvass the neighborhood and determine how many pupils would attend the school at a stated sum per capita.
THE TEACHER
Was the next requisite to the school. His qualifications were tested by the best posted man in the community, who was appointed "committee- man," or director.
The qualifications required were that he should possess the physical ability to govern the school, and be sufficient scholar to teach " reading, writing and ciphering," especially the latter, as far as the "double rule of three." His jurisdiction was regarded as paramount to that of the parents. He was not only authorized to command the obedience of his pupils while at school, but, by common consent, exercised supervisory jurisdiction over their conduct while they were on the road to and from school, and even on some occasions held his pupils to an accountability for their actions during the intermis- sion from Friday evening to Monday morning.
MODE OF TEACHING.
No regular programme of exercises was found in the school-room ; in fact there were none, the order of exercises being regulated by the arrival of the pupils in the morning, it being understood that as soon as a pupil entered the school-room his day's work began, and that the first to arrive was the
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first to recite, etc. The manner of conducting recitations was of the truly primitive type, the teachers of those days being fully committed to the " pouring-in " process, believing that the true theory of teaching is to stock the mind with facts and generalities rather than to develop the reasoning faculties. Instead of requiring his pupils to analyze a proposition from the premises to the conclusion, he would occupy his seat, ask questions, and receive answers.
BRANCHES TAUGHT.
The branches taught in the common schools of those days were few in number-reading, spelling, penmanship and arithmetic. In addition to these, in some very rare instances, English grammar, geography and history received some attention.
Text-books Used. The text-books used were almost universally the follow- ing: Smiley's and Smith's arithmetics; the old English Reader and New Testament, for reading; " Webster's Elementary Speller;" in schools where English grammar was taught, " Kirkham " was the standard ; and for his- tory, The Life of Washington or Marion was the book used,-these works being found very often to constitute the libraries of the settlers. The early settlers seemed to regard a man who was moderately acquainted with the subjects of arithmetic, reading and spelling, as a prodigy in the matter of scholastic attainments.
Boarding Around .- It was the custom for the teacher to receive, in addi- tion to his per capita subscription price, free board ; that is, he would board with one of his pupils one week, the next with another, and so on.
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