USA > Illinois > Hancock County > History of Hancock County, Illinois, together with an outline history of the State, and a digest of State laws > Part 70
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
750
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
had been smoldering in the breasts of the people, and the result was a sudden outburst of indignation from members of both political parties. The Mormons were also terribly excited. The Signal followed up its assaults on the politicians and the Mormons, until the matter appeared to be ripe for action, when, on its own hook, it called a convention to nominate an Anti-Mormon ticket. The first attempt was a failure, owing to the notice being too short, but the few who met adjourned to a subsequent day, when a full con- vention assembled and a ticket for county officers was nominated. Some of the Democrats got up an opposition, but the Anti-Mor- mons carried the election by a good majority. By the next year the Mormons had increased to such an extent that they and their friends carried the county, as they did at all subsequent elections during their stay. The Signal continued, however, to pour hot shot into the Mormons until its suspension.
On Sept. 6, 1842, Mr. S. was married to Mrs. Hannah G. Wil- cox, widow of John R. Wilcox, one of the original proprietors of Warsaw, and lived with her until her death, which occurred at Carthage, Oct. 3, 1879. She was a lady highly esteemed and re- spected by all who knew her. She was the mother of 6 children, one by her first husband, still living, and 5 by her last, 3 of whom survive her.
After the suspension of the Warsaw Signal, Mr. S. employed himself in clearing land, intending to engage in farming, but after about eighteen months' experience, concluded that nature did not intend him for a tiller of the soil, and made an arrangement for re- suscitating the Warsaw Signal, which was effected in Feb. 1844, succeeding the Warsaw Message, conducted by Mr. Gregg. As the organ of the old settlers or Anti-Mormons of Hancock county, the Signal, after its resuscitation, became famous through- out the whole country. Upon the head of its editor, whose slash- ing articles made the fur fly, the wrath of the Mormons was poured with concentrated venom. He was the subject of their vitu- peration and ridicule, and was more dreaded and hated by the whole Mormon tribe than any other Anti-Mormon in the county. The editorials of the Signal were extensively copied into other papers throughout the country, and from their pugnacious and violent character, people at a distance were led to believe that " Old Tom Sharp" (as the Mormons were accustomed to call the young man who wrote them), was a perfect walking arsenal, his person bristling with bowie knives and pistols, who would rather fight than eat, instead of the mild-mannered, good-natured and rather conservative individual that he has always appeared to his most intimate acquaintances.
At the time of the resuscitation of the Signal excitement in the county ran high on the Mormon question, and the advent of such a hot-blooded, slashing writer as Mr. S. at the head of the Anti- Mormon newspaper, was not calculated to allay it. While the Signal was lashing into fury the blood of the Gentiles, outside of
751
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Nanvoo, internal dissensions sprang up within the city, caused by the secret propagation of Jo Smith's famous revelation, sanction- ing polygamy and enjoining its practice on the Saints, and the secret practice of polygamy under the name of spiritual-wifeism, by many of the leaders. Against this doctrine and the practice under it, several of the most influential and wealthy of the Mor- mon brethren rebelled. Great excitement ensued, and finally the protesting brethren bought a printing office and commenced the publication of the Nanvoo Expositor. The first number ap- peared filled with proofs of the existence of the revelation, which the leaders had not dared to publish, and of attempts made by sundry Mormon leaders to seduce virtuous females, under the guise of "Thus saith the Lord." The crisis had become immi- nent; it would not do for such literature to be circulated in the Holy City, and therefore the city council was convened, an order passed declaring the Expositor a nuisance, and the Marshal was ordered to suppress it, which he proceeded to do by breaking up the press and furniture, and scattering the type through the streets. The dissenting Mormons fled the city, seeking refuge with the Gentiles in the various towns, and the story of their treatment, added to the fiery appeals of the Warsaw Signal, lashed the Anti-Mormons into a perfect foam of excitement. Writs were issued for Jo and Hyrum Smith, an officer sent to Nauvoo to arrest them, but they refused to obey. The Governor was appealed to, the mil- itia of neighboring counties ordered out, and soon Gov. Ford in person appeared in Carthage. In the meantime Jo Smith had declared martial law, and converted the city of Nanvoo into a camp, allowing neither [ingress nor egress without a pass. Writs were now issued against Jo Smith and others for treason, and officers sent to Nauvoo to make the arrests; but their mission was futile. Governor Ford then commenced negotiations with Jo Smith and the Mormon leaders, and by promises induced them to surrender. To the Anti-Mormons, who understood the situation, the whole affair had now assumed the form of a broad farce. Jo Smith controlled a large majority of the votes in the county, he elected whom he pleased for county officers, these officers selected the jurors; and what fear need Jo and his fellow prisoners have of a conviction when they could, through their minions in office, select the jurors that were to try them? Jo Smith did not fear, and had no need to fear the law, no matter what outrage he might commit on life or property. The only thing he feared was the mob. When Mr. S. who was in Carthage heard of the determina- tion to disband the troops, knowing that the Warsaw force was already in motion to Nauvoo under previous orders issued by the Governor, he borrowed a horse and rapidly rode toward Warsaw to stop the further progress until official orders could reach them. IIe met the advance at Prentice's shanty, a halt was called, the men formed in line by Mayor Aldrich, who was in command, and the announcement made that orders had been countermanded, and
752
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
that they would halt where they were until official orders were re- ceived. The men called on Aldrich for a speech, but he declining, Sharp was called for and he addressed them in his usual fiery style, but declined to recommend any course of procedure. He then mounted his horse and returned to Carthage, meeting the Gover- nor's messengers a mile or two away. After he had left, volunteers were called for to go to Carthage, and the result was, that a part of this force marched to Carthage, and killed Jo and Hyrum Smith. This occurred on the 27th day of June, 1844. The death of their leaders broke the power of the Mormons in Hancock, and the riddance of the county of the whole tribe became only a question of time. The indignation against the Anti-Mormons, on account of the killing of the Smiths, was intense outside of the county, and the Signal was kept hot in its efforts to vindicate them.
In September, 1844, occurred the famous "Wolf Hunt War." Handbills were issued announcing a wolf hunt on a certain day, and giving the programme in the usual style. The getters up of the handbills designed nothing more than a bona fide wolf hunt, and had not the most distant idea of any interference with the Mor- mons; but, after the bills were out, the Saints began to suspect that maybe they were the wolves which were to be hunted, and expressed their suspicions to some Anti-Mormons. The wags took the hint, and soon stuffed the Mormons with the most enormous stories of the thousands and tens of thousands that were coming from Mis- souri and the surrounding counties to take part in this wonderful hunt. The Saints, who had grown timid since the death of Jo Smith, became seriously alarmed, and sent deputations to the Gov- ernor asking for protection. The Governor allowed himself to be humbugged, and called out the uniformed companies of Springfield, Jacksonville and Quincy, and ordered them to proceed to Hancock to disperse the expected mob. Col. E. D. Baker (afterward killed at Ball's Bluff) was put in command of this force. The army came, accompanied by the Governor, but when Hancock was reached, and the truth became known in the camp, the position of the Governor became highly ridiculous. He was simply furious, and to redeem himself, concluded he would accomplish at least the arrest of some of the Anti-Mormon leaders, whom rumor pointed to as being con- cerned in the killing of Jo Smith. Writs were therefore issued in Nauvoo for Sharp and Williams. A constable named Rose wentto Warsaw and arrested Sharp, but was told by him that unless the citizens of Warsaw so advised, he would not go to Nauvoo. The citizens objected, and Rose left town. Ford's army was then ap- proaching, and Sharp and Williams skipped across to Alexandria to await developments. The Governor and his soldiers finally en- tered Warsaw to find that the birds had flown. The whole perform- ance had become exceedingly ridiculous, and Ford seemed anxious to get out of his scrape, by accomplishing at least something by the expedition, which was highly expensive to the State. He therefore sent Col. Baker to Alexandria authorizing him to negotiate with
John Purytan
WILCOX Tp.
755
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Sharp and Williams for their surrender, on terms; that is, they should give bail and be allowed to go free. The treaty was signed. Col. Baker pledged himself that it should be observed to the letter, or he would send Sharp and Williams back into Missouri. Sharp and Williams then went to the Governor's camp in Warsaw; the Sheriff read his writ to them, and turned his prisoners over to Col. Baker, who accompanied them to Quincy, where Judge Thomas was holding Court. No effort was made to confine the prisoners, and they went where they pleased. The matter coming up before Judge Thomas, his Honor refused to observe the terms of the treaty, which required that the Attorney-General, who was present, should admit that the crime charged against the prisoners was not evident, or the presumption great, so that they .could be admitted to bail; but consented that if the prisoners would waive an exami- nation, he would hold them to bail in a small amount. This was agreed to under protest of innocence; bail given, and the farcical character of the whole proceeding made more apparent than ever. It was on this occasion that Judge Douglas, entering a crowd which was making merry at the Governor's ridiculous position, ex- claimed: "Gentlemen, this matter has passed beyond ridicule; it is time for sympathy."
At the October Term of Court following, indictments were found against five leading Anti-Mormons and four others, who were said to be concerned in the killing of the Smiths. These indict- ments were procured by the perjured testimony of Mormon wit- nesses. Mr. Sharp was one of the persons indicted. After the adjournment of Court no effort was made to arrest the defendants until some time in the winter, and this was so handsomely frus- trated, that it was not repeated. At the March term of the Circuit Court, the five principal men indicted appeared, Judge Young pre- siding. By consent of Josiah Lamborn, who had been sent by the Governor to Hancock to prosecute the defendants, and who, by the by, was the strongest prosecutor in the State, the defendants were recognized to appear from day to day during the trial, and were held under no restraint. The trial occupied - days, and was conducted throughout with as much decorum as any trial ever conducted in Hancock county, the slanderous statements of John Hay in the Atlantic Monthly to the contrary, notwithstanding. Everybody respected Judge Young, and not the slightest indignity was offered to him. Mr. Lamborn made no complaint of unfair treatment, but on the other hand expressed himself as having great leniency accorded to him, the Court, by consent of the defendants, adjourning over at an early hour in order to give Mr. L. time to send for a witness to try and corroborate one of his impeached wit- nesses. The prosecution made out their case by three Mormon witnesses, and the defendants so completely and overwhelmingly impeached them by contradictory evidence and the contradictions they made of themselves on cross-examination, that when Mr. Lamborn arose to address the jury, he said he would not ask the
44
1
756
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
jury to believe them ; that in the course of his practice he had never known witnesses as effectually broken down. In reference to Mr. Sharp it was not pretended that he went with the crowd that did the killing to the jail; all he was accused of was stirring up the boys in that little speech he made at Prentice's shanty. The sub- stance of that speech was proved by willing witnesses to the jury, and there was nothing in it but what made up the burden of Anti- Mormon speeches of that day. The jury was out but a short time, and brought in a verdict of "Not guilty," and as had been pre- viously arranged, there was no demonstration of applause in the audience. Throughout the whole trial there was no " armed mob in the court-house," which " stamped applause or hissed defiance, according as they approved or disapproved the proceedings." This charge, made by John Hay, in his Atlantic Monthly article, and copied into Davidson & Stuve's " History of Illinois," is a lie made out of whole cloth. Nor is it true that the whole people knew the defendants were guilty, for it was a matter that Anti-Mor- mons were very close-mouthed about ; and who were concerned in the affairs and who were not, was known only to the people gener- ally by uncertain rumor.
Mr. Sharp continued at the head of the Warsaw Signal until the Mormons had evacuated Nauvoo in the fall of 1846. In the final war Mr. S. acted as an aid to General Singleton who first had command, and after his retirement he occupied the same position on General Brockman's staff; was in the battle at Nauvoo and was sent with the Lima Company to make a feint on the Mormon bat- , tery on our right, while the General at the head of the main force made a flank movement on the left. This feint executed, Mr. S. with his command joined the main force, conveyed the orders that brought the 1st Regiment into the fight, and in person led the 2nd Regiment up to the support of the exposed artillery; during which movement several of the men were wounded.
After the Mormons had left the country, Mr. S. turned the Sig- nal over to Thomas Gregg, and engaged in various out-door busi- nesses. his long confinement to the office and the excitement of the Mormon struggle having worn on his health, so as to make the change necessary.
In the spring of 1847, Mr. S. was elected a member of the Con- stitutional Convention with four others from Hancock county, and assisted, as a member of said Convention, in drafting the constitu- tion, which was adopted by the people in 1848.
In the winter of 1851, having been elected Justice of the Peace, at a time when there was a vast deal of business in that line in Warsaw, he returned to the office work. In 1853 he was elected first Mayor of Warsaw, and kept the office for three successive yearly terms; was again elected in 1858 and 1859. In 1854 he started the Warsaw Express, neutral in politics, and mainly de- 'voted to the railroad projects then warmly discussed in the county. He tired of this in about fifteen months, and sold out to G. G.
757
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Galloway. During the Mormon war, Mr. S. ceased to be a parti- san Democrat, but acted with the party in the main, until the in- troduction of the Nebraska bill, in 1854, by Mr. Douglas, when he joined the anti-Nebraska opposition, and drifted with it into the Republican party, with which he has been strongly and zealously identified ever since.
In the summer of 1856, he was nominated by the Republicans of the then 5th Congressional District, as a candidate for Congress to succeed Colonel Richardson, who had resigned to be a candidate for Governor. The district was overwhelmingly Democratic, and the nomination was but an empty honor, but Mr. S. canvassed the district, making speeches in every county.
In 1864, being called on by the Union League of Hancock coun- ty, to take charge of a Union paper, he started the Warsaw New Eru, which he conducted successfully for one year, and after that, it seeming to be the general wish, outside of Warsaw, that the paper be removed to Carthage, as more central, he sold out to Alex. Sympson, in June, 1865, and the material was taken to Car- thage, placed in the hands of -F. E. Fowler, and the Carthage Ga- zette started by him June 29, 1865. In the fall of 1865, Mr. S. was nominated by the Republicans for County Judge, and being elected, he assumed the duties of the office, and removed his family to Carthage. This office he held four years, was nominated unani- mously for re-election, but the Democrats having regained their ascendancy in the county, temporarily lost at the close of the war; the whole Republican ticket was defeated. At the close of his offi- cial career as County Judge, he formed a partnership with H. W. Draper, and with him practiced law three years. In December. 1869, at the urgent solicitation of Mr. Fowler, who had received a Government appointment, Mr. S. assumed editorial control of the Carthage Gazette, expecting it to be but temporary; but his old passion for the journalistic profession being revived by edito- rial work. he, in June, 1870, bought the office, and with the excep- tion of about thirteen months, when the office was in the hands of C. M. Shultz, has continued the management ever since. During this time he has continued in the practice of the law, now being the head of the law firm of Sharp & Berry Bros. Mr. Sharp's por- trait is given on page 387.
Will O. Sharp, photographer, was born in this county in 1854: is the son of Judge Thos. Sharp of this city. He served eight years in the printing office, and opened his present place of busi- ness in 1878, where he enjoys a fair trade. He was married in April, 1878, to Miss Georgiana Cannon, a native of this tp. They have one child, named Ethel K. Mr. S. is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a respected citizen.
J. Mack Sholl, hardware merchant, firm Sholl Brothers. The subject of this sketch is a native of Preble Co., O., and was born in 1851. His parents were Jacob and Mariah (Mack) Sholl, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in 1852, and is a resident of this city. He established himself in the mercantile trade in
758
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
1866, and was succeeded by our subject and his brother Aleck, at this time Cashier of the Illinois State Penitentiary. Mr. S. was mar- ried in Sept., 1879, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Geo. T. Wilson, a native of Warsaw. The firm of Sholl Brothers is one of the oldest in the city and carries a stock of $4,000, with a good trade. Mr. S. is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is a Republican.
A. C. Shultz, firm Foutch & Shultz, merchants. This firm was established in 1878. The house carries a stock of $1,600 and has a good trade.
The subject of this sketch was born in Rockbridge county, E. Va., in 1843, son of Jackson and Elizabeth (Spliter) Shultz, who emigrated to this county in 1854, and is now an established mer- chant of this city.
A. C. lived on the homestead until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. H, 118th. I. V. I., and served until the close of the war. He participated in battles of Arkansas Post, Thompson's Hill, Mission - ary Ridge, Raymond, Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Jackson, Miss., where he was taken sick and put on detached service, and filled his honorable career in the Union cause, and was honorably discharged. He returned home and entered the mercantile trade in partnership with O. P. Carlton. Two years afterward he sold and engaged in the cigar trade one year, when he moved to Adrian, Ill., and represented himself in the business circle of that place in the dry-goods trade, where he remained two years and returned to this city. He was married in 1878 to Miss Amanda E., daughter of John L. Fontch. They have 2 children, John L. and Grace. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and of the Baptist Churchi. Politically he is a Republican.
Charles E. Smales, market, Carthage, is a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1848. His parents, Matthias and Melinda (West) Smales, are residents of that State. He enlisted in 1862 in Co. H, 50th Vol. Inf., and served nearly three years. He was assigned principally to detail service, and was honorably discharged at the close of his service. In 1865 he came to this State and located in McLean county, where he was married in 1869, to Miss Lucy F., daughter of John Benson, an early settler of that county, where he died in March, 1877. The wife and mother survive. To this union 3 children have been born, all of whom are living: Clyde, Clara and Dixie. Mr. Smales was engaged in his present occupation at Lexington, McLean county, and moved to Carthage in 1870. He opened his present place of business in 1873, and en- joys a lucrative trade. He is a member of the Masonic order and A. O. U.W., and one of the active business young men of this city. Politically, is Republican.
William T. Smith, druggist, established in present location in 1876. Carries a stock of $2,500, and has a good patronage. He was born in Adams county, Ill., in 1851; is son of John K. and Susan (Curry) Smith, who emigrated to the West in 1832, and set- tled in Adams county, near Columbus; subsequently he moved to
759
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
Clayton, where he resided until his death, which occurred in Feb., 1880. His wife is still living in this city. Mr. S. was married in 1880 to Miss Lillian Fielding, daughter of Mrs. R. H. Hardy. He is a member of the A. O. U. W. and of the Episcopal Church of this city, and is one of the active business men of Carthage. In poli- tics, is Republican.
William M. Spangler, retired farmer, was born in Cumberland county, Pa., in 1822; is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Trego) Spangler, natives of that State, who emigrated to this county in 1838, and settled in Fountain Green tp., where he engaged in farm-' ing, and resided until his death. Wm. M. was married in 1844 to Miss Emily Renshaw, a native of Sangamon county, Ill. They have had 8 children, 7 of whom are living-Matilda, Evaline, Vir- ginia, Josephine, Mary, Nellie and James R. Mr. Spangler is one of the oldest living pioneers of Hancock county. He moved to this city and settled on his present home in 1866, where he is liv- ing upon the fruits of his industry. His advantages for education were limited, and only such as were accorded to the pioneer youths of Illinois. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he was, until the Rebellion, a Democrat, but now endorses Republican principles.
Adam Spitler, retired physician, is a native of Augusta county, Va., where he was born in 1816. He received his early education in his native county and entered the university at Louisville, Ky., at which institution he graduated in March, 1850. The following year he began the practice of his profession in Upshur county, Va., where he resided 11 or 12 years. In 1857 he settled in this city and followed his professional calling until the spring of 1880. He then retired from the active duties of life, and is living upon the fruits of his well-earned industry. He was married in 1851 to Miss Carrie A., daughter of James Janney, a native of Virginia. He is a member of the American National Medical Association, President of the Hancock Medical Society, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1833. Until 10 years of age he lived in Augusta with his parents, Daniel and Eleanor (Emory) Spitler, both natives of Virgina, who moved from Rockbridge to this county in 1854, and settled in St. Mary's tp .; subsequently he moved to Carthage, where he died in 1861. She died in 1875. The family number among the early settlers and are highly respected in this community.
John D. Stevens, retired, was born in Greene county, Ill., in 1826; is a son of Joseph and Elmira, deceased, natives of New York city and Vermont, and among the early pioneers of that county, where they were married. Joseph was a hatter by trade and traveled extensively through the Western country, trading in furs among the Indians. In 1828 he moved to Hazel Green, Wisconsin, and became engaged in the lead mines at that place. In the fall of the same year he sent his wife and 2 children down the Mississippi river, on a keel-boat, and landed on the east bank
760
HISTORY OF HANCOCK COUNTY.
of the river, where Little Cincinnati now is, and made his settlement in what is now Louisiana, Pike county, Mo. Here he established a trading post and engaged in the fur trade. Large bands of Indians sought his post to trade, and he was widely known among the tribes of the West. From that point he came to this county in 1833, and settled in what is now Chili tp., where he entered 2} sections of land, upon which he made improvements and engaged in farming. He was at one time Mail-carrier and Contractor, and kept the first hotel in his growing settlement. He was widely known throughout the county and was among the early pioneers of the State and county. He died on the homestead in 1846. The widow and mother sur- vived him until 1863, when her spirit took its flight to its better home.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.