USA > Illinois > Greene County > History of Greene county, Illinois: its past and present > Part 33
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It is also related of the Willis Cheek spoken of in this extract that he once went to Mr. Skidmore and asked to be trusted for a small quan- tity of powder and shot which he wished to purchase. This accommo- dation the merchant refused, and Willis went away quite angry. As he passed out, however, he managed to purloin a coon skin lying behind the door. After several hours he returned and asked Mr. Skidmore if he would buy a coon skin. An affirmative answer was quickly given, and the impecunious hunter received his ammunition. As he made his exit he turned and tauntingly shouted at the merchant, " Refuse to trust me again, will you ? I just got that skin from behind your door."
The residence of Samuel Lee spoken of by Mr. Tunnell, became in after years a very famous house. It was used for dwelling, drug store, harness shop, and for other purposes, and was altered and repaired times without number. In 1877, it was torn down to make room for the Rus- sell building, on which occasion the Carrollton Patriot contained the following in relation to it :
" The old building, which this week has been demolished to make room for the erection of the Sol. Russell block, was one of the most ancient in the city, and was in many respects historical. It, or portions of it, have been standing considerably over half a century. John Dee, Esq., came to this country in 1821. He spent the first winter under the bluffs, and in 1822 came to this place. Isham Linder, Sr., and John Huitt were also here at that time. When Mr. Dee arrived here, to the best of his recollection, part of the old building was up, and occupied by John W. Skidmore. Skidmore was the first merchant who ever sold goods
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in Carrollton. His store was a little building on Sharon's corner. With Skidmore was boarding Samuel Lee, who afterward married Skidmore's sister-in-law, and occupied the same house. Mr. Lee built an addition to the house, which is probably the main part of that destroyed this week ; this was built in 1825, or 1826. 'Squire Lee, as he was called, was a very important personage. He was the first Recorder, Circuit Clerk, and County Clerk the county ever had. He filled these offices, and perhaps others, at one and the same time. He began the building of the struct- ure which is now Judge Hodges' elegant mansion. He died in 1829. Soon after the house was occupied by Climpson (or possibly Clements). He had the contract for carrying the mail from St. Louis to this place, and ran a stage coach. His wife died in 1832, of cholera. She was the first victim, in this region, of that scourge, which ravaged with dreadful effect the next Summer. Some time after this, the house was occupied by Wm. E. Ryan, who kept a boarding house. The building for a long time had a very sinister reputation, and was known as the haunted house. Mysterious voices, unearthly quakings and portentous appearances, seemed to the citizens of that day to make it certain beyond a doubt that unhappy spirits reigned supreme within its walls. Family after family moved bravely into the house, only to depart very suddenly, and not at all bravely, soon after. At one time Hiram Keach, Ike Warmoth (father of the ex-Governor of Louisiana), and Josephus Huitt, three of the pluckiest young men in the settlement, undertook to defy the ghostly visitants. They entered the building, and boldly called upon the spirits to show themselves, but were soon ignominously put to flight by the supernatural rumblings and quakings which followed. The fact that a large tree whose branches rested on the roof, grew beside the house, is believed to explain the phenomena." The following relation from Dr. John Headrick, of Winfield, Kansas, will be read with a great deal of interest. Dr. Headrick is very familiar with the early history of this city :
THE HAUNTED HOUSE.
"Cities, once proud and populous, have now disappeared, and with them the haunted house, which was, in many respects, historical. J. W. Skidmore was the first merchant who ever sold goods in Carrollton. His store was a little building on Sharon's corner. With Skidmore was boarding Samuel Lee, who afterward married Miss Faust, Skidmore's sister-in-law. She, after Lee's death, married General Edward Baker, who was killed at the battle of Ball's Bluff during the rebellion. Skid- more built the haunted house on the north side of the Square. Lee afterward lived in it, and built an addition to it. The original building contained two rooms - one occupied by the family, and the other used as a kitchen. Lee's addition was built in 1825, or 1826. It was placed in front of the old part, and contained a parlor and bedroom, with a door leading from the bedroom through the middle room into the kitchen.
" Lee was an important personage. He was the first Recorder, Cir- cuit Clerk, County Clerk, and Justice of the Peace the county ever had. He began the building of the structure which is now the residence of Judge Hodges ; Moses Stevens was the architect who finished it in 1830 or 1832. Mr. Clements was the first occupant of the haunted house, after Mrs. Lee removed to her new home. His wife died of cholera in
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the Fall of 1832, and was the first vietim of the scourge that ravaged the county the next Summer. The house was never occupied by Ryan for a boarding-house. General James Turney lived in the house for some time, and he and his brave family withstood the mysterious voices and unearthly quakings without finding out whence they came. Mrs. Clorinda Rattan, the daughter of Thomas Rattan, was one of the watchers for the night at the death of the General's child. The corpse was laid in the bedroom. During the night the watchers heard a noise. Fearing a cat, they hastened to the corpse, and were astonished to see the appari- tion of a child flit across the room and apparently escape through a pane of glass. Standing in the door of the bedroom, the supernatural rum- blings could be heard, first in the distance, but always settling down and terminating in the northeast corner of the bedroom. It is very difficult to describe a noise with pen or peneil. The following will, however, give some idea of these mysterious sounds : sit yourself on a chair upon a carpeted floor; take off your boot; raise your foot and let it fall lightly, your heel striking the floor. Repeat, making a little more noise, and again, with still more violence. Wait five or ten seconds, and repeat again. Three knocks, or thumps (using the phrase of Dr. Cowden), constituted the noise universally heard when standing in the door of the bedroom. The first appearance ever witnessed was a small child, which was seen to make its exit through an auger hole in the kitchen door. Dr. Cowden was a horse trader. He was a brave man; he feared neither ghosts, man, nor that which passed into the swine which ran down the mountain. While he occupied the house, his wife one night awakened him and said she could not sleep for the noise. He cried out, 'Let the d-d thing thump!' Instantly a light as bright as the noonday sun shone out over them, and illumined a square of the ceiling as large as the bed. The room beyond was black as night. He never cursed it again. The fact that many and large trees, whose branches rested on the house, stood near, does not explain the phenomena. General James Turney, Captain Noah Fry, Lindsay H. English, with others, cut away all the branches near the house, removed the hog pen, and nailed fast all the loose boards; but without effect on the noises. Hiram Keach, Ike Warmoth, Joseph Huitt and many others, who were noted men in their day, watched for years to find a cause. There are but few men who now live that know the cause to which these strange phenomena were attributed. Perhaps none except myself. If so, it will never be known. That unhappy spirits reigned within the walls of the haunted house is beyond a doubt. J. HEADRICK.
" We give the above from the pen of a gentleman well known in this County, on the authority of its writer. It is an interesting narrative."
In 1826 Judge Wm. Thomas came through this region on his way from Kentucky to Jacksonville. Ile afterward published in the Jackson- ville Journal the following account of that part of his trip which lay through this County :
"From Alton I came to Carrollton, taking breakfast at John Williams'. From Carrollton I came to Jacksonville, taking dinner at Judge Mark's, now Manchester, then called 'Burnt Haystacks.' I reached Jacksonville on the 12th of October, about cight o'clock at night.
ANGELINA UNDERWOOD CARROLLTON.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
I put up at David Tefft's, who occupied a double frame one story building as a tavern on the east side of the Square, where I remained about a week, when, through the influence of Dr. Ero Chandler, I obtained boarding with Mr. Henry Robley, a farmer and blacksmith, over a mile east of the court house, and entirely out of town. From Carrollton to Edwardsville via Belleville, the country was beautiful, the land apparently rich, but thinly settled, with but few good houses or improved farms. From Edwardsville to Alton the road passed over a wooded and broken country, thin land, and but few farms. From Alton to Carrollton after passing Piasa Creek, and getting on the prairie, the country was level, though sufficiently undulating for agricultural purposes. To Macoupin Creek and from there to Carrollton the road passes over a timbered and poor country, with but two or three small farms and one small brick house. Between Carrollton and Apple Creek the timber, undergrowth, and vegetation indicated deep, rich soil, equal to any that I had ever seen. At Carrollton I put up at a tavern kept by Mr. Harrison, south of the Square, in a small story and a half building. I went to a grocery store to purchase some cigars, when I found twenty or thirty men, (whom, I was told, were called Macoupinites,) drinking, carousing, cursing, swear- ing, singing obscene songs, and telling stories on each other. They were enjoying themselves to the fullest. One of them, who appeared to be sober and quiet, after asking me where I was from and where I was going, said, 'you are too smart-looking to be in this crowd, and I advise you to leave before the boys notice you ; they are a wild set.' I thanked him for his advice and returned to the tavern.
" This sober man I met some twenty years afterward at Springfield as a member of the Legislature, suffering under a violent attack of con gestive fever, of which he died. I sent after and procured a doctor fo him and wrote his will.
" A few days before I reached Carrollton, there had been a general or regimental muster, at which all the militia of the county were required to attend for purposes of drill or training, and this had brought together the Macoupinites and others of like character. Many of them remained in Carrollton during the night after the muster, and not being able or willing to procure quarters in houses, spent the night in drinking, carous- ing, singing, fighting, and in mischief. They caught one man (Mike Dodd,) cut off a part of one of his ears, and nailed it on the door of the blacksmith shop, where it still remained. They shaved the mane and tail of Mr. Carroll's fine saddle horse, one of the best and finest-looking horses that I ever saw ; they changed signs from house to house, removed gates, pulled down fences, and removed buckets from wells."
Three years later, Pres. J. M. Sturtevant, of Illinois College, passed through the town, and says of it that it was a cluster of log houses.
The first church erected in Carrollton was used by the Baptist denomination. It stood a little out of town at that day, to the south- east. The pastor of this church for several years was one Aaron Smith, mentioned elsewhere, a Revolutionary pensioner. He was shot at Eutaw Springs, crawled into a clump of bushes, lay three days in a helpless condition, and was found by means of the flies that hovered around him. He resided a mile and a half southwest from Carrollton for a few years, and afterward moved north of Apple Creek. After some time,
H
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
with his aged wife who had been blind for several years, he went to Arkansas, where they both died at a good old age.
While the materials for the building of the Court House in Carroll- ton were lying scattered around, and just before the building was erected, the celebrated Lorenzo Dow visited the place, and preached to the people two or three nights. Soon it became noised abroad that he was preaching in town, and on one dark, drizzling day the people came pouring in from the country, on foot, on horseback, and in wagons to hear him, as it was understood he had an appointment for that day, which, however, proved to be incorrect. But, unwilling to be disappointed in their expectation of hearing him, they besieged him with such pressing importunities that he consented to preach if they would procure a house for the occasion. The brick house on the north side of the public square, at the west cor- ner, was then erected and roofed, the carpenters were engaged in finish- ing the inside work, when a committee waited upon them, and prevailed on them to move their work-benches and tools, clear up the shavings, and put the house in order for the occasion. It was, however, insufficient to afford room for as many as wished to hear the preacher.
One who was present thus describes the scene: "Dow, who had stopped at a tavern some distance south of the east side of the Square, started to walk to the place designated, accompanied by some thirty or forty persons, men, women, boys and girls. His form was bent, and he walked with a staff, his long hair, parted at the top of the head, hung down his back to the waist, his long beard hung down his bosom ; his step was slow and somewhat feeble, and his countenance grave and mys- terious. On arriving at the south side of the Square a slight sprinkle of rain began to fall, and fears were probably entertained that seats would be difficult to obtain at the house where the sermon was to be delivered, and thé men and boys of the little company ran to the house to obtain seats, in advance of the crowd, leaving the good old man almost deserted, to find his way the best he could. He moved slowly along, as if uncon- scious of the rain, and the movements of those whose curiosity had in- duced them to accompany him, but to desert him, until arriving at the point near the middle of the Square, where the materials for the Court House were collected. Then mounting 'a shingle block,' with the re- mark, 'It is written, the first shall be last, and the last first,' he com- menced preaching. Those who had reached the house were not able, at first, to account for the strange turn matters had taken, and when, at length, they began to understand that Dow was actually engaged in his sermon, they ran out of the house, and made such a rush for the Court House yard as could be equaled only by a drove of wild cattle; some were swearing, but the majority laughing, and making demonstrations of merriment. The discourse continued about an hour. It was exceedingly concise and pointed ; in grammatical construction it was singularly pure, and admitted of no misconstruction. Utterly devoid of any attempt at ornament, it was yet strong and forcible, and seemed to flow as smoothly and easily as the ideas passed through the brain, without the least effort of the organs of speech. It was simply thinking aloud, and in a manner so simple, and chaste, and beautiful, as to reach the understanding of the meanest capacity. What the subject was I have entirely forgotten. I was captivated by the artless beauty of his language, which, if my judg-
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ment was then correct, contrasted very favorably with his written produc- tions which I have since read. But, being at that day very young, it is probable that I appreciated those things too highly. But first impressions effect much in biasing the judgment in after years. and it is difficult for me, after a lapse of more than thirty years, to think of Lorenzo Dow's discourse on that day at Carrollton as being anything less than the most beautiful I ever heard."
The history of Carrollton is for several years almost identical with that of the county, and will be found in the county history proper.
In 1832, the new town was very seriously afflicted with cholera. A stage line was running to St. Louis at that time, and there was also frequent communication with the city by means of the boats on the Illinois River. By these means the gerins of the disease were imported into the town, and although it contained but 300 inhabitants, more than 30 died from the scourge. Nearly every adult in the village was either ill or fully occupied in the care of the sick. Business was neglected. Those who lived in the country were in constant fear lest they might be stricken down with the plague, and hardly dared venture outside of ther doors. Grass grew in the streets of Carrollton, and the town wore a funereal aspect. It was in this year that Hon. D. M. Woodson arrived in the town. He says that there were then residing in the place four lawyers, General James Turney, afterward Attorney General of the State, the father of Mrs. Col. Fry, Judge Alfred W. Cavarly, Edward D. Baker, who subsequently became General Baker, the hero of Ball's Bluff, and Charles D. Hodges, afterward Circuit Judge, State Senator, etc., and still living and practicing his profession in the town. Judge Cavarly then ranked with General Turney as one of the ablest lawyers in the State. He was for some time a member of the State Legislature, and was one of the leading men of that body. Of physicians there were Dr. James B. Samuel, who lived a spotless life, respected by all, and died only a few years ago. Dr. O. B. Heaton, a man of considerable worth, and Dr. B. C. Wood, who many years ago retired from practice to enter the sacred desk, and who still remains waiting for the summons to enter into his rest. Rev. Thos. Lippincott was one of the early Presbyterian ministers. He was a very able man, and the father of General Charles Lippincott, ex- Auditor of the State. In 1842 the town contained sufficient business to warrant the publication of a paper, which was begun that year. A copy of one of the earliest issues of this sheet, the People's Advocate, is still preserved, and from it we can learn something as to the business of the town. The paper contains almost nothing in the way of news, gossip or comment of a local application, but in its advertising columns is found the following names: S. R. Perry and William Perry were blacksmiths, John Headrick kept a general store and advertised quite freely, Dr. J. French Simpson kept a drug store, A. W. Cavarly and D. M. Woodson were attorneys, Hiram Reach was a harness maker, R. Pecare owned a drug and grocery store, and John Evans advertised his steam mill.
Mr. Evans' mill was situated south of the village near the site of the old wooden mill. Immediately south of it was one other grist mill, but both have since been destroyed, as has also the woolen factory, which afterward took their places. Ten years later, and there is evidence of a very marked improvement. During 1852, Dr. John Headrick built a
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
capacious brick hotel on the west side of the Square, the building now owned by J. T. Cameron. George Wright, Esq., erected a substantial two- story brick building on the north side of the Square. Carrollton contained four hotels. C. D. Hodges (afterward Judge) had become partner of D. M. Woodson, R. L. Doyle was a practicing attorney, C. M. Smith sold dry goods ; Reno, Dodge & Simpson were druggists, Mrs. A. J. James, milliner; George W. Williams, blacksmith; David Hartwell, contractor and builder, and John Wright, tailor. James Reno, who during this year was a partner of Dr. J. F. Simpson was the father of Lieutenant Marcus Reno, who was so prominently before the public in connection with the engagement with the Indians in which General Custer lost his life.
The next year, John Fitch, of Vermont, began the publication of a paper, The Greene County Banner, in the town. It was Democratic in politics, and. quite successful for a few years, but it eventually died. During this year Carrollton first received the benefits of the telegraph. A wire was put up about this time between Alton and Jacksonville. Mr. Fitch was an operator, and the citizens of the town subscribed the money necessary to purchase instruments, etc., to make a connection with the line. A few years after, Mr. Fitch went away and took with him the instruments. Subsequently the wire was broken or taken down, and the town was not magnetically connected with the world until after the opening of the C. & A. Railroad.
In the issue of the Carrollton Gazette for October 18, 1851, we find the following statement of the condition of the town at that time :
" Carrollton has not over eight hundred inhabitants, and there are four churches, and besides these, there are five ministers living in the town, and men of no ordinary abilities. Each of these denominations has regular meetings every Sabbath. So much for the moral character of Carrollton. In regard to her literary character, we can boast of three excellent schools, all in successful operation, and a large academy now in progress of building, soon to be completed. We have also two printing offices, both doing a smashing business ; also, a telegraph office, doing a fine business. We have eight dry goods stores, two drug and fancy stores, one family grocery, one bakery, three taverns, and one private boarding house ; one tin and stove store, three boot and shoe makers, six blacksmith and wagon shops, two gunsmiths, two jewelers, two house and sign painters, two saddle and harness makers, two lumber yards, and twelve carpenters ; one hat store ; two carding machines, one propelled by steam, with saw attached; one cooper shop, four tailor shops, and one clothing store ; a large number of stone and brick masons, brick makers and plasterers, four lawyers and the district judge; two cabinet shops, eight doctors. one dentist (and a good one at that) ; a Masonic lodge building owned by the fraternity; a Sons of Temperance hall, a fine brick building, owned by the Order, and one hundred and fifty Sons of Temperance, and the Grand Scribe, a section of the Cadets of Tem- perance, numbering between forty and fifty, and no groggeries ; a first- class brass band, and a regular set of amateurs."
Before a grist mill was built within the limits of the town, the inhabitants went to Beman's mill, on Apple Creek, or to what is now Erisman's mill, near the Macoupin, for their flour. Probably the first mill built in Carrollton was Smith's mill, which stood south of the
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location of the woolen mills. Soon after, John Evans built another steam mill very near. Both were burned. Mr. Evans' mill was destroyed in 1847, when the loss was estimated at $20,000, with an insurance of $10,000. In 1853, Germaine & Wright erected the capacious mill now owned by David Pierson, Esq.
In 1854, an open market house stood in the Court House Park, just south of the Court House, and was a great convenience to the town.
A census taken in 1855 showed that the town contained 549 males, 540 females-total, 1,089. The value of manufactured articles is given at $60,000. The city now contains about 3,000 inhabitants, and its size is constantly increasing.
In 1830, P. N. Rampey was post master, and the office was kept in the Court House. He was followed by Charles Lancaster, who afterward was sent to the penitentiary. The next incumbent was James Reno, who, as druggist, landlord, post master, etc., occupied a very prominent position in the town for many years. Next came Alfred Hinton, who served for several years, and after him Robert F. Clark received the ap- pointment. Mr. Clark did not care to fill the position and resigned with- in a week. This was in April, 1852. Richard B. Hill was appointed, and fulfilled the duties of the office until July, 1853, when he was suc- ceeded by Ralph W. Kay. In December, 1854, Marshall Dulaney received the appointment, and held the office for seven years. His successors have been T. D. Price, S. P. Ohr, James Cox, F. B. Roberts, George W. Wil- liams, who was post master for 13 years, until February, 1879, when he was succeeded by Charles Lynn, the present incumbent.
Carrollton was incorporated as a town at an early date, which I have not succeeded in ascertaining. Early in 1847, this charter was repealed and the town re-incorporated in 1849. In 1848, the officers of the Board were, Chester Gaylord, President, and Giles H. Turner, Clerk. July 6, 1849, an election was held, which resulted in the choice of the following officers : President, C. A. Davis ; Trustees, Jordan Howard, A. W. Lynn, C. P. Heaton. Alfred Hinton, and J. E. Walker, each received 29 votes, and therefore neither was chosen. A new election was ordered, at which Alfred Hinton received a clear majority, and was declared the fifth Trustee, F. P. Vedder was made Clerk, Z. A. Morrow, Constable, Chester Gaylord, David Pierson and V. F. Williams, Assessors, and John Hardtner, Supervisor. The officers for succeeding years were as fol- lows :
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