USA > Illinois > Jackson County > History of Jackson County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 10
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Col. Gill had two children by his first wife, Janette : Geo. W. Gill, born in 1811, now a resident of the State of Arkansas, and Eliza E. Gill. Mr. Gill died in 1814. Col. Gill was married to lissecoud wife, Sarah Laughlin, in 1816. She was the widow of Henry Laughlin, by whom she had three children. Several children were the fruit of this uniou. Napoleon Gill, the only son, a worthy man and a good citizen, is yet living in Perry County, Missouri. Col. Gill died in 1827, aged 46 years, much to the regret of all who knew him. Sarah, his wife, died in 1862, at the ripe age of 73 years.
William Gaston settled on the river above the Oven, and, about the year 1814, was married to a daughter of Allen Hanson. He was a man of energy and thrift, opened a large farm and succeeded well. The old settlers still cherish vivid recollections of the marvellous richness and strength of his voice. They remember him as one of uncommon gifts of song. They say "no one can sing as could William Gaston." Parker Grosvenor, Sr., a hard-working, frugal and honest man, settled under the bluff in 1806, also, near William Boon's farm. His son, John Grosvenor, was born here in 1810, and died in 1847. Parker Grosvenor, grandson of Parker Grosvenor, Sr., is now a resident of this county, living on the place settled iu 1806. In the same year came from the State of Tennessee and settled on the banks of the Mississippi, where the town of Grand Tower now stands, Benjamin Wal- ker, Sr. Mr. Walker was a man of integrity and industry, and proved to be a very useful citizen. He worked energetically to subdue the soil, and soon found himself the possessor of an excellent farm. After some years, he sold out to Judge Samuel Cochran, and located on Big Muddy, where he lived for many years. In his old age he again moved to the hills, where he died. He had a large family, yet has but few descendants. Nathan Walker, his oldest son, when John Reynolds, Governor of Illinois, called for men at the outbreak of the Black Hawk War, promptly volunteered and did good ser- vice. The year 1806 witnessed the settlement of several more families, and prominent among them was the Brooks family. They chose as their home a place in the bottom, a short distance below the mouth of Degognia Creek. The Brockses were warm friends of William Boon." They had been ac- quainted with him for many years, having first known him in Missouri, where Mr. Boon and Mr. Brooks worked in the lead mines side by side.
33
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
At this time, also came David Bilderback, to cast in his lot with that of the sparse, infant settlement, and, during the same year, feeling that it was not good for man to be alone, took unto himself a wife. Three children were born to them. Mrs. Bilderback sickened and died in 1810. 'David was married in 1817, to Hannah his second wife, by whom he had five children. His son Daniel died in 1833. Mr. B. was a very industrious man and opened a fine farm. He was a good citizen and kind neighbor, and left an honorable name to his descendants. He finally sold his farm to Dr. W. W. Higgins.
As early as 1806, old Mr. Morrow and his sons, Thomas and John, settled on the n. w. qr. sec. 18 to 10 r. 3. This family came from Big Creek and Grand Pierre Creek on the Ohio River, John, the older of the two boys, had, while living on the Grand Pierre, been united in bonds of wedlock to a young woman named Meaky Johnson, and had several children by her, be- fore he settled in Jackson County : Thomas, after his arrival most probably, married a daughter of Peter Hammon. The brothers divided the farm be- tween them, which is mentioned above. In 1817, John disposed of his in- terest to William McRoberts, and not very long after this was taken sick and died. Thomas made a good farm. His first wife dying he married again. He was a prosperous and happy man. In his later years he devoted much time to religious subjects, and exerted a most beneficial influence upon those with whom he was associated. He died in 1829, at peace with God and all men. Two of his sons, John and Thomas, incited by the love of adventure, and, perhaps, animated by the hope of military distinction, volunteered in the war against Mexico. They were both under age and unable to endure the exposure and fatigue incident to the life of a soldier, and, during Col. Dawson's overland march across arid plains to the arena of war, they were both attacked by the dreadful camp disease, and died.
Old Peter Hammon, father-in-law of Thomas Morrow, established himself where J. P. East now lives. He built a hand-mill-the first that was erected at Big Hill. He had a family, and had the reputation of being unstable and immoral. He was naturally wild and rough. "Not a very bad man," his neighbours used to say, "and yet not a very good one." Not much is known of his latter history.
As early as 1806, Jacob Lonzadder, with his large family, settled upon the place now occupied by Henry B. Whitson. He was a very active and energetic man, economical and industrious, who attended strictly to his own business, and permitted other people to attend to theirs. He cleared away the forest, erected necessary buildings, and in a few years was the owner of as neat and good a farm as any to be found in the county. He, as indeed did all the families previously spoken of, set out an orchard of apple, peach, and cherry trees. These fruits were superior, in those days, to those now produced. The blight was then unknown which now so often proves de- structive. Mr. Louzadder's oldest daughter was married to Jacob Thompson. Several children were born to them, when the death of Mr. Thompson occur- red. He was buried by his mother-in-law, on the Lonzadder farm. A Mr. Reed Redfield married Polly, another daughter, and in 1829 they moved to northern Illinois. Another daughter became the wife of Ezekiel Tucker, and still another was married to a Mr. Miller. They all moved to the north ward. George Lonzadder, who was born near 1807, died in the year 1829, at the homestead. He was a young man of good morals and correct habits, and was a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
About this time, also, viz., 1806, settled under the bluff a family named Brillhart. Jacob, a son, was for some time in the employ of William Boon, at Sand Ridge. When the war of 1812 broke out between Great Britain and the youthful republic of the United States, and William Boon recruited his company of rangers for the protection of the feeble and exposed settle- ments, this young man joined his company and did his duty as a good soldier and brave man. After the termination of the war and the disbanding of the rangers, this bold soldier boy wooed and won a daughter of Nathan Davis, then and for many years a prominent and valuable citizen of the county. When Mr. Davis moved to the south-west the son-in-law and family accom- panied him.
Mr. George Saddler was in the employ of Mr. Boon during the years 1806 and 1807. He cleared land and erected a house for Mr. Boon, on Sand Ridge, with the assistance of a married son.
It is probable that Wm. McRoberts immigrated to this county as early as 1806, although the exact date of his arrival is not known. Certain it is that he settled under the bluff at an early time, some years prior to 1810. He was a younger brother of James McRoberts, father of Samuel McRoberts. He was crippled in one leg, was a miller, and at one time had charge of
Gen. Edgar's mill, near Kaskaskia. He was a man of fine mind and excel- lent memory, stored with'a host of recollections of other days, which he loved to pour forth to the great delight of his listeners. There are those living who knew this jolly miller, not less light-hearted than the famous " Miller of the Dee," and they possess vivid memories of his stories, relating to stirring scenes which he had witnessed on the upper waters of the Ohio during the Indian wars; stories of "Mad Anthony Wayne," and his drilling of his troops at Pittsburg before his memorable and successful campaign against the hitherto victorious confederated tribes of savages. Though iu many respects a good citizen, he was yet an intemperate man. In 1817 he bought a farm at the Big Hill, of John Morrow, as before stated, moved to it, and greatly improved his purchase. He was a thrifty farmer, an honest man, and maintained his family in good style for those days. He died in 1836, having exceeded man's allotted time, at the good old age of seventy-four years.
In 1804 Jonas Vancil had moved from Kentucky to Illinois, and settled where the town of Jonesboro', the county-seat of Union County, now stands. Not being satisfied there, he moved in 1806 to this county, and opened the farm now owned by Mrs. Zimmerman, in Makanda Township. He joined the church of the " Latter-day Saints," and afterwards became a minister of the Mormon faith. He divided his time between hunting and preaching, and died at the great age of one hundred and two years, in 1856.
Isaac Vancil came with his father in 1806. He opened, in early man- hood, the farm in Makanda Township, now owned by Col. B. L. Wiley. He was a mighty hunter and possessed universal vigor of mind. His biography appears in the historical sketch of Makanda Township (q. v.)
Between 1805 and 1812 came the following persons, and settled at Dutch Ridge, in Ridge Township, viz. : Benjamin F. Conners, whose descendants are among our most worthy citizens, Samuel Pyatt, Daniel Wood, Robert Fryatt, Leonard Lipe, Alles House, Isaac Wilson, John Zimmerman, and Zachariah Lyrely. Most of these had served with credit in the war of the Revolution, and had received an honorable discharge.
CHAPTER VI.
THE WAR OF 1812.
MOUNTED RANGERS ON FRONTIER-INDIAN DEPREDATIONS-FORTS ERECTED.
ERY few families came into the county between the outbreak of the war and 1816. The reasons are not hard to adduce. Ill- dians, from being peaceable, became hostile, and prowled around the feeble settlements, watching an opportunity to strike them a destructive blow. It was unsafe to traverse the wide reaches of forests that lay between the settlements along the Mississippi and those of the Wabash and Ohio. A very few families immigrated to Jackson, mostly from the country northward.
Early in April, 1812, Congress passed an act laying an embargo, for ninety days, on all vessels within the jurisdiction of the United States. On the 4th of June, following, a bill declaring war against Great Britain passed the House of Representatives, and on the 17th the Senate; and on the 19th the President issued a proclamation of war.
Exertions were at once made to enlist 25,000 men, to raise 50,000 volun- teers, and to call out 100,000 militia for the defence of the sea coast and frontiers. Henry Dearborn, of Massachusetts, an officer of the Revolution, was appointed Major-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Army. The army of the West was under command of William Henry Harrison. Con- gress had, as early as in 1811, passed an act for the organization of ten com- panies of mounted rangers to protect the frontiers of the West.
These companies composed the 17th United States Regiment, and Col. William Russell, an old Indian fighter, of Kentucky, was assigned to its command. Each ranger had to furnish his own horse, provisions, and equipments all complete, and their recompense from the Government was one dollar per day. They appointed their own company officers, and were enlisted for one year. Four companies were allotted to the defence of Illi- nois. Independent cavalry companies were also organized for the protection of the remote settlements in the lower Wabash. William ,Boon was com- mander of the company raised for the protection of the settlements in Jack.
34
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
son County, or what is now known as Jackson, and adjoining country from about Mary's River to Big Muddy, the hostile tribes being in the north and northeast, and an extensive region of prairie between. History says that these companies performed most efficient service in protecting the settlements from the savage and wily foe. The rangers and mounted militia, in time of danger, constantly scoured the country a considerable distance in advance of the settlers' homes; yet, nevertheless, many murders and outrages were committed in Illinois by the Indians.
On one occasion, a hostile band evaded the scouts that were continually on the watch to give warning of danger, made their way into the outer edge of the settlement, and murdered a family named Lively, in what is now Washington County. Capt. Boon hastily assembled a portion of his com- pany, and with that promptness characteristic of the frontiersman trained to Indian warfare, set out in pursuit. They relied for their ability to follow the hated foe mainly upon the almost incredible skill of one'of their com- pany, named Deza or Dozan, a French hunter, celebrated for his knowledge of woodcraft and his keenness as a trailer. The broken twig, the misplaced stone or pebble of the brook, the dewless grass of the morning, were signs that to his practical eye told of the path of his enemy. Under his guidance they proceeded to the house of the unfortunate family, where they of course struck the trail of the fleeing band. It was determined by Deza that there were six or seven Indians composing the party. The savages knowing that they would be pursued, brought into use every stratagcm and wile to deceive their pursuers and throw them off their trail. When they came to a stream they would walk in the , water single file, those in the rear stepping exactly in the track of the one in the lead. After pursuing their journey in this way for a time, they would separate, some going up the stream and some down. All their arts were used in vaiL, however, to deceive the trained eye of the skillful hunter. He, by observing the depth of the depression made by the moccasin, was cuabled to determine whether one or more Indians had passed. When he came to where they had divided, he simply followed the trail of the one that led in the general direc- tion the band seemed to be traveling, when it would be found, as lie well knew, that the others would join him
The pursuit continued till, when nearly east of the place whicre Springfield now is, they unexpectedly came upon a camp of 150 warriors. The pursuit was without ceremony converted into a retreat. The little band of rangers, believing they had been seen, determined to sell their lives as dearly as pos- sible. They divided their squad into rear-guard, flank-guards and front, and rode for life towards the settlements. They endured great sufferings from hunger, having no provisions. One night they hcard the gobble of a turkey, and Orza endeavored to get a shot at it, but failed. They rode for three days without a mouthful of food. At length, when on the brink of utter despair, buzzards were seen wheeling their lieavy flight above and among the tops of the trees. They took courage, and riding in the direc- tion indicated, found the picked bones of a dcer. These they broke open, and of them made a very palatable soup. But their hasty retreat was un- necessary, as the Indians, usually so alert, had failed to see them ; they were not pursued, and at length, almost fainting from hunger and fatigue, reached the friendly settlements.
Just here, it may be well for the truth of history and the vindication of the character of the pioneer soldiery of Illinois from the imputation of bru- tality, to correct the account of an incident of this war, furnished by John Reynolds in his history of Illinois. His account virtually is, that "during the expedition under Gov. Edwards against the Kickapoos and Potawatto- mies on the Illinois river, Gov. Reynolds relates, that early in the morning the army took up its line of march for the Indian village. A dense fog pre- vailed, and Capt. Judy, with his corps of spies, was in advance. On the route they came up with a mounted Indian and squaw. The Indian wanted to surrender, but Capt. Judy, observing that "he did not leave homc to take prisoners," instantly shot him. With the blood streaming from his mouth and nostrils, and in his agony 'singing his death-song,' the dying Indian raised his gun, shot and mortally wounded in the groin a Mr. Wright, and in a few minutes expired." This is tragic enough ; but the recol- lection of Gov. Reynolds was not accurate, for the account is not true, and does grievous wrong to the memory of Capt. Judy, who was a brave man and a good officer. The first part of the story is correct. An Indian and his squaw, both mounted, were overtaken in the tall grass, in the gray of the morning. The Indian and squaw were made prisoners of war, and were placed in line with soldiers in front and rear. Some of the younger soldiers, recking little that a battle would soon be opened and,in which they would participate, in
a spirit of mischief, began to play pranks upon their male captive, stepping upon his heels, and poking him in the back with the ramrods of their rifles. Now it is to be remembered that, when among Indians, a prisoner is so used, it is a sign that he is doomed to death. This Indian undoubtedly so inter- preted the actions of these men, and determined to make an effort to escape. He made a sudden spring forward upon the soldier immediately in front, wrested the gun from him, fired at his enemies, and ran for life, springing from side to side to prevent aim being taken by the soldiers. Before lic could gain the timber, a bullet from a rifle pierced his body and he expired. Such is a true account of this occurrence.
During four years, or from 1811 to 1815, the settlers were oppressed with a feeling of insecurity. In 1814, there were three block houses in Jackson County. " The simplest form of block-house forts," I borrow the follow- ing good description from Davidson and Stuve's "History of Illinois," a very excellent work, the best yet published," consisted of a single house built of logs, compactly laid up a story and a half or two stories high, with the corners closely trimmed, to prevent scaling. The walls of the lower story were provided with port holes ; the door was made of thick puncheons, and was strongly barred on the inside. The upper story projected over the lower three or four feet, with port holes through the floor of the projecting part, which commanded the walls against any Indiau attempts to force an entrance. They afforded entire security against the rude arts of savage war, but were only single family forts. A stockade fort consisted of four block- houses, as described above or larger, placed one at each corner of a square piece of ground, of dimensions ample enough to accommodate the number of people seeking shelter therein. The intervening spacc was filled up with timbers, palisaides, or logs firmly set on end, and projecting upwards twelve or fiftcen feet. This was the stockade, into whose sides port-holes were cut, high enough to be above the head, and to which platforms were raised, from which to fire upon the enemy. There were also port holes in the projecting walls of the corner block-houses, which thus commanded the whole of the stockade walls on the outside. Within the stockade, cabins were built for the families to live in. Wells were dug for water, or possibly, the site was selected over a spring. There were usually two heavy entrance gates in the stockade walls, securely barred on the inside, and large enough to admit teams. In times of great peril, horses, and sometimes other valuable domestic animals, were taken into the stockadc over night for safety. If the fort was not built out on the prairie the forest was cleared back some distance, so as to afford no place of concealment to the stealthy enemy. It was often hazardous to first open the gates of a morning. Milking parties, upon their errauds, were often attackcd."
After the law was passed to which allusion has been made, authorizing the raising of ten companies, nearly all of the young inen and many of the older joined the service, as rangers. Prior to the close of the war of 1812, money was almost unknown among the settlers. The pelts of the raccoon and deer, for which there was always a ready sale, werc a sort of standard of exchange, and in a measure took the place of money. The rangers were paid off, in the year 1815, in silver rix dollars, and money for a time was abundant. They would divide the coin, if they needed to make change, as no denominations smaller than a dollar were in circulation. These frag- ments were finally bought up by the government, and thus the country was rid of them. War is a curse to the world. It brings with it a train of vices eager to fasten on their victims. Hitherto the inhabitants of our soil had been temperate and frugal, but now the terrible scourge of intemperance was felt in the land. Every man had money in his pocket, and whiskey was to be bad for it. Some of the citizens bought it by the keg at Kaskaskia, and brought it on horses to their homes. It is sad to know that many of the hitherto, brave, staid, exemplary men of the country became drunkards and died such.
The land office soon absorbed all the money that had been put in circula- tion upon the disbanding of the gallant rangers, and for some years the times were very stringent.
From 1812 to 1816, a few immigrants arrived and were warmly welcomed. In 1813, Peter Hagler, now a resident of Du Quoin, Perry county, and his brother Philip, settled at the Ridge. Old Solomon Snyder, with his numer- ous family, was an inhabitant of the county as early as 1813.
William Eakin, Benjamin Ripley, two of the Pyles, old Mr. Wells, old Mr. Flash and their large families, settled on Nine-mile prairie.
Taylor McMullens, West Griffeths, Jesse Griggs, and Nogles Davis, erected a fort at Barkrouf Place, in 1814. This fort was built by order of Thomas Taylor.
35
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The Indians, before the building of this protection, had camped south, on a hill, and on the next day, murdered a family in Phelps' prairie-possibly the young bloods. A Mr. Hayes, Mr. Carr, and Mr. Ross, were in the county at this time.
In 1814, on the first day of January, Jefferson Holliday and family reached the bank of Big Muddy river, three miles east of the site of Mur- physboro'. His sons are now citizens of the county, and highly respected. The native state of Mr. and Mrs. Holliday, was Virginia. They were born near Richmond. They were married in 1804. In 1808 they moved to Nashville, Tenn., where they remained till .1813, when they decided to come to Illinois. Mr. Holliday brought his wife and five children on pack horses, took his rifle in hand, and, with a pack of dogs trained in hunting bear, set out on his great journey through the wilderness. The war with Great Britain was in progress, and the Indians were excited and restless, but happily they reached their future home in safety. With Mr. Holliday were James Hall, William Gill, William Doty, Benjamin Henderson, George and Edward Schwartz and David Holliday.
William Gill, who came with Mr. Holliday, was from Halifax county, Virginia. He settled about four miles from where Murphysboro' now stands. His descendants are numerous, and worthy citizens. His son, John Gill, Sr., is yet living, full of years, and crowned with that honor which is the reward of a well-spent life in De Sota. He was born in Halifax county, Virginia, in 1804. When but two years old, his father, William, moved to the State of Teun., and in 1813 started for the territory of Illinois. (Hon. John Gill, at present, Mayor of Murphysboro', is son of John Gill, Sr.)
They left the Ohio at the present town of Golconda, and so sparsely was the county settled, that they only saw two houses between the Ohio and Big Muddy rivers. John Phelps had settled in what is known as Phelps, prairie, close to the site of Marion, and John Griffin in what is now called "Eight Mile Prairie." While in camp at night, on this prairie, Mr. Gill had four of his five horses stolen, most probably by Indians. Fortunately he was within fifteen miles of his destiuatiou, which he managed to reach with- out any great difficulty. Robin Marshall, at this time, was living near the preseut town of De Sota, having for his neighbor, Henry Noble, who has before been mentioned. The brothers, Thomas and William Taylor, with their families, were added to the Bluff' colony, in 1813 or '14. They after- wards moved to the settlement " upon Muddy." Beujamin Henderson was a resident as early as 1814. During the war, a fort was erected at Barcroft Place, for fear of Indian depredations.
John Aaron, who is distinguished as the man who taught the first school within the limits of the county, with his wife-they had uo children-lived uorth of Green's Creek. Mr. Aaron was a farmer and also a school-teacher. In the years 1814 aud 1815, he taught a nine months' terin of school on Sand Ridge. He was a mau of correct morals and steady habits, and pos- sessed in a marked degree, the esteem and respect of his neighbors. It is per- haps not unjust to the Arnold Winklereid of education in this county, to say of Mr. Aaron's mental attainments, that, if he were now living, they would be found insufficient to procure him a certificate of the first grade. Never- theless, he is worthy of grateful remembrance by all, but more especially by those more cultured persons, who, in elegant buildings, provided with costly furniture and ample philosophical and illustrative apparatus, now, and shall hereafter pursue the noble calling of the teacher.
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