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 32
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Colonel Gill had the first cooking-stove ever brought into the county. It was an object of great surprise and curiosity to the settlers, and many were the excuses made to visit Colonel Gill's house that they might get a sight of this wonderful thing.
Benjamin Walker, a native of Tennessee, an industrious and useful man, with his large family, settled at the lower end of the Back-bone. He sold out to Judge Samuel Cochran. Nathan Walker, his son, was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war.
These are among the oldest settlers of the township. There are hundreds of acres of very rich bottom land, which produces Indian corn in immense quantities.
In this township are the great iron industries of Jackson County, which, though now in greatly depressed condition, are destined in the near future to far surpass the past.
Thomas Jenkins, a native of South Carolina, moved from Big Hill Town- ship to the present site of Grand Tower, in the year 1826, and for twelve years kept a large wood-yard on the bank of the Mississippi.
These important facts, gathered from American State papers, records, &c., surveys and notes of the location and subdivision of Government lands, afford the earliest authentic and most important historical data of this locality; and a brief reference to the system of land surveys adopted and prescribed by the American Congress, is deemed important to a correct perception of the facts and dates which follow in this connection.
The initial point of a line known as the third principal meridian is lo- cated on the north bank of the Ohio, at or near the mouth of Cache River, and thence produced on the true meridian northward across the state. From this meridian at a point now four miles south of Centralia, a line was pro- duced at right angles extending east to the Wabash, and west to the Missis- sippi, which is known as the base line. From this intersection townships were extended, and numbered successively south and north, which were
divided by parallels of longitude called range lines, and numbered succes- sively east and west. The first townships were designated respectively : Townships 1 south, range 1 west; 1 south, 1 east ; 1 north, 1 west ; 1 north, 1 east. Thus Grand Tower is township 10 south of the base line, range 4 west of the third principal meridian. The eastern boundaries of townships seven and eight, range one west, were run south by William Rector in March, A. D., 1806, and section and half section corners established and perpetuated by cutting figures and letters on the nearest trees, noting the kind of timber, diameter of the tree, with the course and distance from the corners. The eastern boundaries of townships nine and ten south, range one west, were run south in Dec., 1806, by William Conner, and corners es- tablished at each half mile, as above stated, along the east line of Jackson County. These several points thus established determine the location of the third principal meridian in Jackson County. However straight this meri- dian was originally run, the surveyor who now produces lines from station to station where the marked trees can be found, will find many deviations from the tangent. All the township and range lines in the county, except those hereinafter stated, were established in 1806, by William and Elias Rector. William Rector was Deputy United States Surveyor, and had a contract with the Surveyor General for work in territory now embraced in this and several adjoining counties. At that date the United States Govern- ment owned the land, and exercised authority only to the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, and the purchase of the Louisiana Territory not having been made until 1808, that portion of range line below three and four in town eleven south, on Island No. 18, was not surveyed until after the cession, and is included with subdivisions of said Island in book 1723 of Missouri Surveys.
The several townships in this county were sub-divided into sections as follows :
Towns 7 and 8, Range 1 West, June, 1807, by Wm. Conner.
9
1
May, 1807,
1(
1 "
March, 1807,
7, 8 and 9,
2 “
Nov., . 1809, by Arthur Henriecs.
10
2
3
3
3
10
16
3
3
4
"
Jan.,
1810,
Nelson Rector
9,10 and 11,
"
4 .
1810,
Jno. M. Moore,
"
7
5 €
1810, Elias Bancroft.
8 9
5 "
Dec., Feb., Jan., Jan.,
1810, 1810, Jno. M. Moore.
The town of Grand Tower was surveyed and platted by M. F. Swortz- cope for Thomas W. Jenkins on part of section 25, town 10 south, range 4 west, May 10th, in the year 1867.
It seems proper here to mention the Grand Tower Mining, Manufacturing and Transportation Company, the wealthiest and most influential corpora- tion that has ever operated in the county. The coal operations of this Com- pany will be found treated of in the chapter on " Mineral Products." The capital invested in coal and iron works, including the whole stock of the
93
=
7
8
«
9
Oct., June,, Feb., Jan., Nov., May,
1809,
1810, by John M. Moore. 66
1810, 1810, 1810, John M. Moore.
11
1810, William Rector.
:7 and 8,
5 "
94
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Company, railroad and other sorts, is about $5,000,000. Since 1868 this Company has supplied all the coal used by the Carondelet furnaces in their smelting. The coal operations extend back to 1866. Two blast furnaces, known as the two upper furnaces in Grand Tower, belong to this Company, and were built in the year 1868, having been since then the scene of much successful working with the cheapest and most useful of metals. At the Centennial World's Fair, at Philadelphia, in 1876, specimens of pig iron from these furnaces were awarded the first premium, and the Superintendent, Mr. T. M. Williamson, at Grand Tower, holds the medal so awarded. Most of the iron ore used by these furnaces, as well as by the lower furnace, built in 1870 by Sheikle, Harris & Co., of St. Louis, and afterward sold to Wm. J. Lewis, of St. Louis, comes from Iron Mountain, Missouri. It is brought down from St. Louis in barges, towed by steamers owned by the afore-mentioned G. T. M. M. & T. Co.
Grand Tower is the western terminus of the Grand Tower and Carbondale Railroad, which extends to Carbondale on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. This road is 25 miles long, and the cost of equipment averages 87,636 per mile, making a total cost of equipment of $190,900. More than 700 men are in the employ of this company at its various points of opera- tion ; and in the thirteen years of its operation only one monthly pay-day has passed without bringing with it a prompt settlement of wages with employees.
The lower furnace referred to above has a capital of about $500,000, and employs laborers in sufficient numbers for the proper working of a large blast-furnace.
Grand Tower was formerly known by the river-men as Evans' Landing, where the boats stopped on the way up or down, and took on wood or an occasional passenger now and then. The name Evans' Landing was applied from its being the home of old Mr. Evans, father of Marshall A. Evans, yet a resident of the town.
The schools in Grand Tower are above the average for small towns. A colored school has been established, and employs two teachers. The first ward school is presided over by Mr. A. C. Courtney, and that of the second ward by Mr. Samuel E. Harwood, both gentlemen of acknowledged ability, and standing high in their profession.
Formerly the population of Grand Tower exceeded 2,000; but at present it will scarcely reach 1,200, by reason of the decline in the iron industries attendant upon the great panic.
A newspaper is published in the town by J. P. Stockton, edited by Judge M. F. Swortzcope, formerly County Judge and Mayor of Murphysboro'. It is a four-page 24-column journal, called the "Grand Tower Item," and re- ceives a liberal support from the people, if we may judge from the appear- ance of its advertising columns. The Post-office is kept by John Dillinger, in connection with his store, on Front Street. John Devine, the County Coroner, lives at Grand Tower, and from thence attends to all who need his assistance.
The town is plentifully furnished with all the stores and business-houses necessary for the comfort and convenience of her people. The commercial importance of Grand Tower is great, being the place where all the inland freight for Jackson County from the East and South, by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, is landed, to be carried by the G. T. & C. R. R. to the towns farther in; also much of the freight from St. Louis, until the river is closed in winter, comes this way. This town is destined to become at no far-distant day one of the important business centres of Southern Illinois. Its facilities are great, consisting of the G. T. & C. R. R. and the Mississippi River; the abundance of the finest sandstone and limestone, and great quantities of timber suitable for building purposes, together with the agricul- tural resources of the country surrounding, and the great coal supply at Mt. Carbon, almost within a stone's-throw: these combined, will draw thither business of all sorts, as it has drawn the workers of iron. Only a short time since Grand Tower was selected by the Commissioners as a site for the pro- posed Southern Illinois Penitentiary ; but owing to some objections by the Governor, the location was changed to Chester, in Randolphi. County.
The river at this point is three-fourths of a mile wide, and near the Mis- souri shore is located the Grand Tower Rock, from which the town takes its name. As the water rushes past this monster pillar of stone, a most dan- gerous whirlpool is formed on the lower sides, wherein it is said niany lives have been lost, not knowing of the danger until it was too late. The land- ing-place at Grand Tower is greatly exposed at times to the breaking-up of the ice in the spring, and this tower-rock forms a giant protector for the boats anchored here in the winter, as they are obliged to tie up wherever they are caught by the ice.
Father Marquette, in his first passage down the great river, marked the grandeur of the stone tower in the middle of the river. About the year 1680 Robert De La Salle noted the stately grandeur of the "Grand Tower," which has for centuries withstood the angry torrents, and still holds its place.
Ore
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JUDGE MICHAEL F. SWORTZCOPE
Is a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania ; was born April 3d, 1820. He is the eighth and youngest child of Joseph and Catherine (A. Broix- dame) Swortzcope. Joseph Swortzcope was a native of Bohemia, his wife, of Cologne, where they were married and resided, and where five of their children were born. In 1814, they undertook the then perilous and uncomfortable voyage to the New World, in a sailing vessel, and where they arrived in safety, after a protracted journey of five months, land- ing at Annapolis, Maryland, in March, 1815. Some years subsequently, they moved to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, where they lived only a short time, removing from thence to Bedford County, Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1835. In that year, they determined upon coming west, which they did, arriving some time after, at St. Louis, when, after a short stay they again took up their line of march, this time locating at a place in St. Charles County, Missouri, where Cottleville now stands. Here they resided peacefully and quietly, until they took that last and great journey to the mysterious world. Michael, like most boys raised in the west in those days, had to rely greatly upon himself and his native ability, in acquiring the ground-work of an education. As for schools, there were few or none in the
country districts. Notwithstanding these disadvantages, Judge Swortzcope, by diligent and persistent effort, acquired the rudiments of a thorough Eng- lish education, early developing a strong predilection for mathematics, in which he acquired a considerable degree of proficiency. He commenced life on his own responsibility as a cooper, learning and working at it first in Marine, Madison County, Illinois, and subsequently in Ohio, Indiana and Missouri. In December, 1842, Judge Swortzcope married Miss Zerelda Harmon, of Chester, Randolph County, Illinois. They had six children, four of whom are now living, their eldest daughter, Susan E., wife of A. J. Riseling, now residing at Grand Tower. Albert R. married and settled at Campbell Hill. Emma D., wife of Gilbert J. Burr, editor Era, Murphys- boro', Illinois. Mr. Swortzcope appreciating the advantages of early train- ing, gave his children the benefit of such as Jackson County afforded. Mrs. Swortzcope died at her house in Murphysboro', Oct. 1853.
Politically, Judge Swortzcope was known as a Democrat, and early in life became identified with its interests in southern Illinois. In the fall of 1853, he was elected Associate Justice of the County, which office he held until 1857, when he was elected County Surveyor, and was re-elected in 1859.
At the breaking out of the rebellion, he was an anti war Democrat, but shortly realizing that nothing but a vigorous and successful prosecution of
95
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the war, would settle at once and for ever, the questions that were distracting the country, he enlisted August, 1861, in John A. Logan's regiment, 31st Illinois infantry, as (he happily terms it) a high private in the front rank, being 6 feet 57/2 inches high. He was mustered in the following September, at Cairo. The regiment immediately commenced active operations in the field, participating in the battle of Fort Donaldson, where Mr. Swortzcope was, for meritorious services, promoted 1st Lieutenant and quartermaster of said regiment. He was with the regiment in a number of engagements, and was one of that gallant army that marched with "Sherman to the sea." He was mustered out of the service at Goldsboro', North Carolina, April 8th, 1865, receiving an honorable discharge. In the following November, he was elected County Judge, having, in the mean time, changed his political opin- ions, becoming an adherent of the Republican party. Since the expiration of his term of office he has resided in Grand Tower.
His duties as an officer of the public, he always discharged with signal ability, honor and integrity.
His religious convictions ere guided more by the light of science and phi- losophy, than by the teaching of the clergy.
Judge Swortzcope is a man of striking physique, and had he in youth, the opportunities that the humblest child now enjoys, he would have been a giant intellectually as well as physically. But as it is, his acquirements are of no mean order. He is a large-headed and large-hearted gentleman, one whom men rejoice to know and call friend. To the biographer and historian of this work, the Judge has rendered valuable assistance, with his thorough knowledge of the incidents and facts connected with the early growth and development of Jackson County.
In conclusion, let us add, that while Judge Swortzcope possesses all of the qualities and attributes that make a man distinguished, it is, we think, owing as much to his remarkable powers of delineation and story-telling, that he attracts the attention and gains the affection of all.
FRANK BARONOWSKY.
ENGLAND is always termed the Mother Country, and perhaps rightly, and it is a relationship, notwithstanding the tyranny of the mother to the child, of which all Americans may be proud. And while we are proud of our noble lineage, we should be additionally proud of the strong bond of friendship that exists between Germany and our country. German brains and muscle, German manhood and virtue, have been a power, second to none, in devel- oping and building up this grand structure of American Liberty, conse- quently a history or biography, compiled in any part of the country, would be incomplete without prominent mention of our cousins German.
Frank Earonowsky is a native of Westphalia, Germany, where he was born May 5th, 1837. He is the youngest of a family of six children, three boys and three girls, of Frederick and Theresa Baronowsky. Young Frank received his early training and education in the schools of Westphalia, ac- quiring a good general education. When twenty years of age, a strong de- sire to see and examine for himself the famed and wondrous land which, from report, acknowledged no sovereign but the will of the people, culminated in a determination to embark for America, arriving in New York in 1857. From there he went to Minersville, Schuylkill Co., Penna., where he re- mained about eighteen months, at the expiration of which time he left and came to Kaskaskia, Ill. From Kaskaskia he went to Prairie Du Rocher, where he became clerk in a store, and attended to other business connected with the same. From this place he went to St. Louis, which was his home for a number of years. In 1861, seeing the troubles then agitating the country were about.to terminate in war, he determined to lend all of his aid to the protection of his adopted country. He enlisted shortly after in the 3d Reg't. Missouri Vols., under the command of Gen. Siegel. The regiment immediately proceeded to active duty, and was engaged in the battles of Car- thage and Wilson's Creek. Mr. Baronowsky, at this time, was Orderly Ser- geant of Comp'y K-a company formed partially by enlistment and men taken from Comp'y C, of the same regiment." After the battle of Wilson's Creek they took up their march and joined the Union forces near Pea Ridge Ark., going from there to Helena, and having occasional skirmishes by the way. In consequence of the malarious condition of the climate, he contracted an illness which speedily threatened to prove serious, when he received a fur- lough and returned to St. Louis. On the recommendation of Dr. Hodges as to his unfitness for further active service, he received an honorable dis- charge. After recuperating his health, he was engaged for a time as clerk
and pilot on a tow-boat, which he continued until 1868, when he became a resident of Grand Tower, and where he now is proprietor of the Tremont House, one of the best conducted hoteis in Southern Illinois. He was mar- ried Sept. 28th, 1869, to Miss Mary Miller, of Quincy, Ill., who was born in St. Louis One son, Freddie, was born unto them, who died in infancy.
Mr. Baronowsky is a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 67, A. F. & A. M. of Grand Tower and Royal Arch Chapter No. 75, of Carbondale. In poli- tics he has always been identified with the Republican party, and has suc- cessively held the positions of Trustee, Councilman, and Mayor of Grand Tower, which later position he now occupies. In the fall of 1877, he was the Republican nominee for County Commissioner. Mr. Baronowsky is not one of the oldest settlers, but he has by his energy and integrity, secured a pro- minent and influential place in the councils of his party. Another example what man can do by his own unaided efforts to secure a competency and the respect of his fellow-citizens.
LIEUTENANT GEORGE WOLF.
AMONG the most successful farmers in the vicinity of Grand Tower, may be named Lieutenant George Wolf. He is naturally social and generous. He is respected by those who know him, because he lives an honorable life. His paternal ancestry were German; his father emigrating from Baden, Germany, to Pennsylvania, when quite small, where the subject of our sketch was born (Wayne County), and grew to manhood. In the year 1867 he turned his face westward, and stopping at Mount Carbon, he was engaged in the service of the Grand Tower Mining, Manufacturing and Transportation Company. After his engagement with this Company terminated, he began the life of a farmer, in this County, and has since followed that occupation. He was married Jan. 15, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Crowther, the daughter of J. T. and Mary Crowther. She was also a native of Wayne County, Penn- sylvania. They have had born to them four children (three boys and one girl), Miss Nellie G., the eldest, Charles G., Horace C., and George. Mr. Wolf enlisted in the late war, Aug., 1862, in Company L, 13th Penna. Cav- alry, under Col. Michael Kerwen and Capt. O'Shea. He participated in many hard-fought battles. Among the most notable engagements, we will mention Fisher's Hill, Winchester, Culpepper, Sulphur Springs, Bristoe Sta- tion, Spottsylvania, Parris Church (or, Haws' Shop), Bottom Ridge, Gaines' Mills, Travilion Station, White-house Landing, St. Mary's Church, Deep Bottom, Black Water (or, Lee's Mills), Malvern Hill, Vaughn Road, Stony Creek, Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run, Siege of Petersburg, Fort Fisher, and capture of Rola, and surrender of Gen. Johnson. Our subject bears the marks of two wounds he received in the defense of his country. In a cavalry charge at the battle of Fisher's Hill, in a hand-to-hand contest, he received a sabre cut in the head. At Hatcher's Run he was shot through the thigh. These were dark days. The terrible burden of the war bore heavily upon us. There were many absent in the strife. Many anxious hearts were left beating. Some wore the weeds of mourning for those who would never return. But afterward came the joy of victory and peace. Mr. Wolf enlisted as a private, but was afterward promoted to Lieutenant of his company, and held that position until he was discharged, at the close of the war in Rola, North Carolina, July 15, 1865. He was mustered out of ser- vice at Philadelphia, July 28, of the same year. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Church. In politics he was always a Republican, but has sought no political preferment, choosing rather to devote his time, talents and energy, to the practical business of farming, for which he considers himself better qualified than participating in the feverish unhealthfulness of official strife. Mr. Wolf has recently become the purchaser of a fine farm close to the vicinity of Grand Tower, and some little distance from his present resi- dence, overlooking the town and beautiful river-scenery surrounding it. It is the intention of Mr. Wolf, at no distant day, to build a substantial resi- dence upon his new purchase.
LIEUTENANT WASHINGTON L. HARRIS
WAS born in Overton County, Tennessee, August 10th, 1844. He was the youngest of a family of six children, of J. W. and Lucy Harris, both of whom died during the childhood of their son Washington.
In this day of good schools of every class and grade, it is hard to realize that thirty or forty years ago it was almost an impossibility to gain even the
96
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
rudiments of an education, but such was the case. Young Harris, in addi- tion to the misfortune of being thus situated, sustained the incalculable loss of his parents at an early age, and was thrown completely on his resources.
J. W. Harris was County Clerk of Overton County, Kentucky, for a period of fourteen years, and was also engaged in merchandizing. Lieuten- ant Harris came to Illinois at the early age of thirteen years, and at first made his home at Springfield. At the commencement of the war he enlisted in company A, 8th Illinois Infantry, under Col. Richard J. Oglesby, and was mustered in at Camp Butler. The regiment was immediately ordered to Cairo, and was the first to occupy that city, and the first Illinois regiment to enter into active duty. Company A was in a short time ordered to the Big Muddy Bridge, this County, and remained there ten days guarding the bridge against the turbulent and insurrectionary elements of Williamson County, after which they rejoined the regiment and remained during three months, when they were mustered out. Mr. Harris then returned to his home and remained during a period of ten months; but his life appeared to him inac- tive and useless, when compared with that of the brave men who were fight- ing for the preservation of their country. He re-enlisted and helped to raise the 116th Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and was elected 2d Lieutenant of company A, under Col. N. W. Tupper. He participated in the campaign of Chickasaw Bayou, and Vicksburg, where the Union army under Gen. Sher- man was defeated. From Vicksburg they were ordered to Arkansas Post,
and after a severe engagement defeated the enemy under Gen. Churchill, and captured 11,000 prisoners. They then proceeded to Young's Point opposite Vicksburg, and commenced work on what is now well-known as Grant's ca- nal, continuing the work until the U. S. gun-boats effected a passage and got below the rebel batteries. They then succeeded in crossing the river at Hard Times Landing, preparatory to the siege and capture of Vicksburg. Owing to the miasmatic condition of the climate, and constant exposure thereto, Lieutenant Harris contracted ill-health and was compelled to resign, receiv- ing an honorable discharge.
After a sojourn of three months at home, he took a trip to California via New York and the Isthmus ; was on board the Golden Rule when wrecked, May 22d, 1865, at Ranhardse Key, West Indies. The passengers were re- lieved by the U. S. Gun-boat Georgia and Propeller Huntsville, after a stay of fourteen days of terrible suffering on the Island. On his return home he was married, May 12th, 1868, to Mrs. Frances C. Henson, of Jackson Coun- ty, Illinois ; Lieutenant Harris having settled here the previous year. They bave been blessed with one child, Laura. Since residing in the County he has been engaged in farming, and has now one of the best farms in the Coun- ty, a view of which may be seen in another part of this work. Mrs. Harris died April 15th, 1876. She was a member of the M. E. Church.
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