USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 27
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In 1822 occurred the most remarkable election of which we have any record in this region. It was the first election for senator and repre- sentative in the General Assembly since the organization of the county. This senatorial district then consisted of Greene and Pike Counties, the latter then including " all the military district lying between the Illinois River and the Mississippi, from the mouth of the former to the north line of the State. Thomas Carlin and Rev. Isaac N. Piggott were the opposing candidates. The late Judge D. M. Woodson, in his Centennial address, said of them : "Carlin was a man of great nerve and energy and undaunted courage. His personal popularity was great, for he had been reared amongst the pioneers of Illinois, had served as a Ranger and shared with them their hardships and perils. Piggott was at that time a Meth- odist preacher .. He possessed strong native talent, was a forcible speaker, also personally popular and a formidable opponent." Mr. Piggott's house was south of the Macoupin, a short distance west of Kane. The canvass was prosecuted with the utmost vigor, for each candidate was aware that he was contesting with a foeman worthy of his steel. Each was aspiring and ambitious, and neither was at all oblivious of the honor of being elected the first legislator from the district. The candidates and
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
their friends labored diligently with all the arts then known to politics. Mr. Piggott made frequent speeches to the citizens of the district and both traveled all over the region, shook hands with every one and made as much use as possible of the influence of their friends. The result of the election was so much in doubt that each claimed to be the successful candidate, and in some way each of them secured a certificate. With these they presented themselves at the senate and claimed seats. That body promptly decided that there had been no election, and sent the contestants back to fight their battle over again. Excitement was now at a fever heat, and probably a more heated, earnest canvass in so thinly populated a district was never before known. The result was a clear victory for Mr. Carlin, and from the Legislature he stepped, some years later, into the governor's mansion. Mr. Piggott died in 1874, eighty-two years of age.
From that time Greene County has been represented in the senate by John Allen, Thomas Rattan, James Turney, Franklin Witt, Manoah Bostick, Alfred W. Cavarly, Linus E. Worcester, and Charles D. Hodges, all residents of Greene, besides by others who resided in adjacent coun- ties. The several representatives from the county have been Thomas Rattan, John Allen, Franklin Witt, Samuel C. Pierce, William Goode, Charles Gregory, Lewis W. Link, Dr. Cyrus A. Davis, William Lane, alias William Mitchell, Calvin Tunnell, Revelle W. English, David M. Woodson, Alfred W. Cavarly, Joshua C. Winters, Alfred Hinton, Josiah Caswell, William P. Witt, Charles D. Hodges, Alexander Witt, Alex- ander King, Benjamin Baldwin, Giles H. Turner, James H. Pursley, Nathaniel M. Perry, Henry C. Withers, Thomas H. Boyd, Jerome B. Nulton, Lucien King, and Frank M. Bridges.
The earliest settlers found on the banks of the Macoupin a large tribe of Indians, who remained for some time, taking advantage of the immense quantity of game which abounded in this region. They were friendly to the whites, and were frequently to be seen at their cabins to the terror of the feminine portion of the families. Indians in greater or less numbers were frequent visitors of the county for several years, but were never in any way hostile to the settlers. Many of the pioneers, however, retained their feeling of hate for the savages, aroused during the war, and the determination to kill the first one of them who was met alone, was often expressed.
The Indians were not, however, on the best terms with each other, but they usually refrained from any outbreak of personal violence. If a white man passed near one of them in the woods, the Indian often seemed desirous of avoiding a meeting, but if the parties happened to be proceeding in such directions as to render such a meeting inevitable, the red man would walk briskly up. to the white man and, taking his hand in both of his own, shake it cordially, calling him " Good man, good man ;" " Me Pottawatomie Indian " (or Kickapoo, as the case might be), " Me good Indian ; Kickapoo no good Indian, Kickapoo steal white man's hogs." In fact both the tribes annoyed the settlers by killing their hogs. About this time a band of Indians camped on the Macoupin, in the east part of the county. They had with them their squaws, and came for the purpose of securing some of the game with which that region abounded. They had not been long in camp before some of their
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
enemies near Carrollton determined that they should be driven away. The dwellers in the country had no objection to the presence of the red men, but as others were determined to eject them, they concluded to accompany the expedition. Gen. Fry led the company, and among those from the country were John W. Huitt, the two Taylors, and Messrs. Alexander and Foster.
Arrived at the Indian camp they found it entirely deserted by the braves, who were all absent in pursuit of deer or turkey or other game. The wigwams, the fire, and the squaws, with their pappooses, were alone to be found. In order to call in the busy hunters, and, at the same time, to occupy the time the party set up a mark and began firing at it with their rifles. The quick, repeated reports produced the desired effect, for the terrified savages soon came rushing in, panting and covered with pers- piration and expecting to find their wives and children brutally massacred. They were much delighted to discover that they were unduly frightened, and, awaiting the arrival of the chief, entered into a friendly contest in markmanship with the pale-faces. The keen eye and steady nerve of the Indians gave them the victory and they did not hesitate to manifest their satisfaction at such result by loud and boisterous rejoicing. At last the chief arrived and to him the white men kindly but firmly communi- cated their desire that he and his people should quit the county. They asked the privilege of remaining until the sun should pass over their heads three times which being granted, they promised to go, and in the course of two or three days had disappeared. This was about the last appearance of Indians in this county, though an occasional wanderer was seen even down to a quite recent period. On the way home from this expedition the party came upon a dressed deer and a number of skins belonging to the savages, and a few proposed that they appropriate them ; but the sense of honor of the majority ruled and the flesh and pelts were left undisturbed. Soon night overtook the party ; those from town were anxious to push on, but Mr. Huitt and his friends concluded to camp till morning. They passed a very comfortable night and reached home during the next morning, feeling fresh and well, while those who had pushed on walked until nearly daybreak before reaching their own roofs.
Possibly some reader may be surprised to know that negro slaves were owned in this county during the first years after its organization, yet such is the fact. Early in the history of the county a man named Pullam came to Illinois from Kentucky. He settled on the Barr place, a short distance west of the property now owned by David Wright ; he brought with him about twenty negroes. After remaining here some time and learning that the laws of the State did not permit the owning of slaves, he sold out. Baynam White bought his improvements and he sold to one Pepperdine. Mr. Pullam took all his negroes south with him except one, " Old Strap," and he remained here for several years. During the latter part of his life he was an expense to the county, and this explains the following entry in the records of the Commissioners' Court which has been a puzzle to many : " Ordered, that Robert B. Scott be allowed four dollars for keeping 'Old Strap.'" Thomas Rattan also brought negroes to this county with him. On arriving upon free soil he set them at liberty, but he was so kind a master that they preferred to remain with him. Mr. Rattan was emphatically a man of business and
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
always carried on a great deal of work. He hence had a large number of negroes in his family nearly all the time. They ate at the same table with himself, his family, and his guests, the colored part of the house being placed on one side of the table and the white folks on the other side. The last evidence that we have of the possession of slaves is found in the records of the deeds in the office of the recorder. In them we find mention of the following deeds : one dated December 7, 1835, by which James H. Cravens and wife deed to James G. Berry, John H. Marmon, and John C. Berry, in consideration of the sum of $300, the following property : " A negro boy slave called and known by the name of Jonathan, about fifteen years of age, of a light complexion, about five feet four inches high ; also a negro woman, Tener, about eighteen years of age, of a dark complexion ; also Tener's child, named Margaret, about two years old, of a light complexion, and all other inerease which said negro woman Tener may have from and after this date ; said negroes are at this time in the State of Kentucky in the possession of Lewis Grimes." On September 18, 1848, we find recorded a bill of sale, where- by, for the sum of $1,100, Larkin Rattan conveys to Thomas Rattan " one equal and undivided half of all my right, title, and interest in the following slaves, to-wit : Charlotte, aged forty-three years ; Bill, aged fourteen years; Mary, aged twelve years; George, aged about eleven years ; Louisiana, aged about eight years ; Gunn Iowa, aged about five years, and another slave boy, name unknown, aged about two years."
In this connection it may be interesting to notice how the name " Nigger Lick " happened to be applied to a stream in the eastern part of the county. It is said that a company of negro slaves fleeing from their masters camped on the bank of this stream. They were followed and tracked to their hiding place. At their camp the pursuers found a negro woman lying by the fire whose smoke had guided them to her. By means of threats they prevailed upon her to point out the location where the rest of the runaways could be found. Proceeding in the direction she indicated they soon came upon the negroes near a bold, gushing spring that came up through a fissure in a solid sandstone just large enough to admit a man's hand. A basin holding some ten gallons had been excavated from the top of the rock either by the water or by arti- ficial means. The water rises in the center of this basin, and running over the sides, flows off in a brisk current. Close by the stream was a salt deposit, where the deer often resorted, drawn by the saline taste. This fact, with the incident above related, gave to the stream the name of "Nigger Lick," which it has since borne.
During the early history of the county there stood in the Court House park three whipping posts, and we hear of these being used as an instrument of punishment several times. Two of these posts were sit- uated near the northeast corner of the yard and one in the southwest corner. Among the culprits who received corporal punishment while closely embracing one of these posts was Thomas Anderson, who had been convicted of stealing a horse. As he was brought out upon the square a crowd of men and boys gathered around, and a large company of ladies assembled on the second story piazza of a house situated very near where Mrs. Keach's residence now stands. Sheriff Young Wood had charge of the prisoner, assisted by his deputy, Jacob Fry. The con-
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
vict was commanded to remove his shirt, and then his hands were drawn up as high as possible and fastened to the top of the post and his feet to the bottom. Then as he buried his face between his upstretched arms the Sheriff coolly grasped a heavy rawhide with his distorted hand and com- menced slowly to lay the heavy blows upon the bare shoulders of the sufferer. The deputy mentioned stood by and called out as each blow was given, " one," " two," "three," etc., until fifty long heavy welts were traced upon the culprit's back, horizontally and vertically, checking his flesh into squares like those of a chess board. After the punishment was over the victim declared to the bystanders that his keenest suffering arose from his knowledge of the fact that ladies' eyes witnessed his dis- grace.
In January, 1823, Morgan County was organized, thus cutting off the northern portion of the territory attached to Greene County. At the time of its organization, Morgan County included Scott and Cass Coun- ties, but these were soon cut off.
In 1829 the territory now constituting Macoupin County was sep- arated from Greene County, and by act of General Assembly erected into a separate organization.
The attention of the Commissioners' Court was mainly taken up in those days in the care of the poor, the laying out of roads and in other county improvements. The first court house was not finished until 1824, and March 27, 1830, the contract for the erection of the present edifice was let. The proceedings of the commissioners give in full the bond entered into by Thomas Rattan for the erection of the building for the sum of $7,000, to be paid in yearly installments of $1,000 eaclı. The edifice was to be forty-four feet wide by forty-six feet long, and to be built of durable materials. The contract did not provide for dressing the stone used in the foundation and the citizens of Carrollton raised the neces- sary amount by voluntary contributions. It was furnished with five outside doors, three on the east and one each on the north and south sides. These doors were double and the windows were all supplied with blinds. The interior arrangement of the edifice was far different from that which now prevails. The first floor contained one large court room and two small offices. The court room was entered by the middle east door, or by either the north or the south door. The floor was of brick except that of the bar, which was of wood and considerably elevated. This impor- tant part of the court room was situated in the western part of the room and towering above it was the judge's bench. Opening out of the court room and also communicating with the outside by doors on the east, in the northeast and southeast corners of the building, were the offices of the circuit and the county clerk. Although small, these rooms were ample for the purpose and were sometimes found large enough to contain the bed of the clerk, who made the department at once his office and bed chamber. Up stairs there was one long room used by the grand jury and as a public hall for all kinds of traveling shows, lectures, " the-ay-ters," " wax figgers," etc. There were also two rooms above for the accommo- dation of the petit juries. The arrangement of the building was at once convenient and economical. The edifice, when finished in 1832, was the pride of the county and it was universally admitted at the time, to be the finest court house in the State. But of late it has become a disgrace
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
to the county, and is still suffered to remain, although it may at any time fall in upon the heads of those who inhabit it.
Thomas Rattan, the builder of the court house, was one of the most active, energetic men of business ever in the county. He was constantly active and pushing forward some enterprise. He is believed to have con- tributed more to the material improvement of the county than any of his cotemporaries. He first lived north of Apple Creek. When the county was established he removed to Carrollton and kept the first hotel in the town. He was soon found on his farm again, north of Apple Creek, where he erected an ox mill, which was a great convenience to many. During this time he was elected a member of the legislature. He re- turned to Carrollton and was repeatedly sent to the General Assembly of the State. Beside the court house he built the bridge across the Macoupin Creek, erected the mill afterwards known as Turpin's mill, constructed a fine brick dwelling on the premises, and talked of spending the remainder of his days there, but he had soon sold the mill and was again in Carrollton, keeping the brick tavern on the southeast corner of the Square. He afterward built the mill now known as Erisman's mill, and finally removed to Texas. He died in the Lone Star State, Novem- ber 11, 1854.
From the following order, passed June 9, 1824, an idea may be formed of the amount of taxes compared with the revenue of the present day : " Ordered that Jacob Linder, treasurer of this county, be allowed sixty- eight dollars for sessing the tax for the present year."
The first statement of the financial condition of the county was made in December, 1825, by Young Wood, sheriff. It deals with figures ridic- ulously small, when compared with those of the present day. The fol- lowing is the report, in full, as it stands upon the records :
Amount of County tax for 1824
Amount of delinquent tax for 1824
$561 4312 16 50
Tax collected for the year $544 9312
Tax for 1825
555 25
Fines assessed by the Circuit Court during the year 1825.
290 00
Fines assessed and paid in by Justices of the Peace for 1825 9 00
Amount of Sheriff's debits $1,399 1812
Orders paid. $787 59 Sheriff's commissions on the tax of 1824 and 1825, at 712
per cent.
82 5114
Total credit 870 1014
Due the county
$529 08 14 Amount of orders on treasury up to the first day of this term, estimat- ing specie claims at double their amount in State paper. 619 3914
The entire revenue of the county (including the tax on real estate which had been entered five years) for the year 1830, was $1,846.47; in 1840, it was $8,641.58; in 1850, $15,034.78; in 1860, $48,299.62; in 1870, $98,410.94.
During the carly history of the county the Illinois River was of im- mense value as a means of communication with the outside world.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Farmers built flat boats and floated their produce and stock to St. Louis, or sometimes to a more southerly market. Canoes and keel boats coming up the river brought many of the conveniences and luxuries which could not be procured in other ways. In 1826, the first steamboat passed up the river, and then the stream became still more valuable to the county. The population had, in the mean time, been increasing, and large quanti- ties of merchandise from the markets were demanded. These nearly all were brought up by river and distributed by wagons over the county. At one time the construction of a plank or stone road from the river to Carrollton, was much talked of, and later, a railroad from Greenfield to the Illinois was proposed, but neither plan has yet been carried out.
In 1826, the first settlements were made in the region in the eastern part of the county, known as String Prairie, or the vicinity of the Rubi- con. The Rubicon is quite a small stream, rising near the Macoupin County line, flowing to the southwest and emptying into Taylor's Creek. It is so small a stream that until quite recently it had been nameless, when during a very wet season its volume was so much increased, that some enthusiastic dweller on its banks gave it the classic name it bears.
String Prairie is separated from the Rubicon by a narrow strip of wood- ed land, and stretches thence for miles away to the north and west. The first recorded settlers in this region, were Isaac Wood, Alfred Wood. David Miller, Wm. Finley, and Thomas Finley. Their nearest neighbors were then at Kinkaid's Point. The next year Jeremiah Hand came among them, but for some time afterward few accessions to their number arrived. The timber along the stream was not heavy, and on this account many thought that the region could never support more than a very sparse population. In 1829, however, several new inhabitants arrived, among whom may be mentioned Jacob Young, Ichabod Valentine, How- ard Finley, and James Cannedy. The last mentioned made his home north- east of where Greenfield now stands, the others settled southeast of the Rubicon. On the opposite side of the stream, near its mouth, during the same year, James H. Weisner, Wiley Wylder, Joel Grizzle and Herod Grizzle made improvements. In 1830, the settlement was still further increased in number by the arrival of William Askins at the head of the Rubicon, and between that stream and Taylor's Creek, William Handlin and Elisha Shelton. At the same time John Cannedy, Stephen Coonrod, Thomas Coonrod, Lewis Shearman and two Starlins, came on to String Prairie. Eri, David, and Joel Edwards settled in the same neighborhood about the same time. The descendants of these men still live in this vicinity, and are among the most substantial citizens of the county. From this time the settlement of that portion of the county was very rapid. Two or three years later Greenfield was laid out by George W. Allen, Esq., and, surrounded as it was by some of the finest farming lands in the State, it had a healthy and rapid growth.
Further west on the prairie, in 1828, Wm. Grimes and Alexander and Benoni Banning erected their cabins. The next year Ellis and John Davidson, Henry Norris, and George Wright, made improvements. Henry Norris settled on the place now known as the " Brushy Tavern," some three or four miles north of Greenfield's present location, and Mr. Wright at White Oak Spring.
The first settler at " Nigger Lick Spring " was Thomas Sharp, who E
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
came there about 1827. The property on which he settled has changed hands very frequently, and was at one time owned by John Waller. Dr. Throcmorton made improvements about the same time on property after- ward owned by John Parks. During the first year of the county's history the polls for that precinct were established at the house of John Parks. Hiram Drake, William Smith, Thomas Vandaveer, B. T. Scott, Absalom Fair, Moses Chenny, Howard Finley, and Fayette Brown, settled between Nigger Lick and Bear Creek near this time. Edward Prather also came about this time, buying out a man named Carroll, who had been living in the region for many years. Davidson James, who settled on the Hinton farm east of Carrollton some years before, and afterward at Kin- kaid's Point, now became one of the early settlers in this region as were, also, Silas Drum and Eli Butcher.
THE DEEP SNOW AND OTHER EVENTS.
In the latter part of November, 1830, snow commenced to fall and continued with short intervals until January, 1831. As one snow fell upon another, and was driven before the cold wind, it soon accumulated in many places to a depth of from seven to twelve feet, and whole fields were covered with a white mantle five or six feet thick. Fences and small buildings were entirely hidden, windows were darkened, and great distress was caused to the inhabitants, as well as to stock and game. In the heavy timber where there were no drifts the snow was said to average three feet in depth. The sun would occasionally melt the top of the snow, and then a cold night would freeze it into an almost impenetrable crust. For years before, the weather had been very mild until after Christmas, sometimes continuing all winter so warm that the cattle would browse and feed with but very little care from man. Many farmers had not gathered their corn, and were compelled to go to the field and dig down beneath four or five feet of snow to secure the grain to preserve the lives of their families or cattle. Being unable to go to mill, a great deal of corn was broken in a wooden mortar, so that it could be eaten. Many suffered from lack of clothing, and from the airy construction of their cabins, as this was to the most their first intimation that they were living in a region where extreme cold weather was possible. The deer and other game suffered very severely. Prairie chickens and rabbits were very easily caught, and the deer in running over the snow would often cut through the crust and be unable to extricate themselves. They were then an easy prey to mankind, or the wolves. This " deep snow " is one of the events most vividly impressed upon the memory of the "old set- tler," and it is used as a base line from which to calculate time in both directions. Only those who came to the county " before the deep snow " are deemed genuine " old settlers," although this rule is not very rigidly
enforced. Many interesting incidents of this year are related. Mr. Tunnell states that in October, 1830, Elisha Cheney and his wife lay sick at a house near Mr. George Wright's residence at " White Oak Springs," east of Carrollton. Mr. Wright and Mr. Norris sat up with them in turns every night until February, when Mrs. Cheney died. The snow
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