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 34
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Geologically this township presents more points of interest in an economic point of view than any township in the County, excepting the township of Murphysboro'.
Makanda Township forms a part of a beautiful plateau on the eastern spire of the Ozark Mountains, having its southern boundary near the great divide, and slopes gradually to the northward. The highest point of eleva- tion is in section 32, near the residence of Mrs. M. C. Zimmerman, being 765 feet above the ocean level. The Illinois Central Rail Road bed at the Ma- kanda station is 122 feet below the water of Lake Michigan and 7 feet below St. Louis. The average heights of the ridges are 290 feet above St. Louis, 178} feet above Lake Michigan, and 138 feet above Lake Superior.
Our great altitude render us almost free from heavy frosts late ih the spring season of the year ; an insurmountable obstacle in the way of success- ful fruit growing in the surrounding districts. The same rule holds good, also, in the fall season of the year, thus giving wheat an excellent growth before winter sets in.
DRAINAGE.
Drurie Creek, which has its source in the divide in the extreme northern part of Union County, enters the township at the southern side, and flows through sections 33, 27, 21, 16, 9 and 3, passing out at the northern side, thus dividing the entire township north and south, and flowing in the direc- tion of Big Muddy River. The Indian and the Sycamore from the east, and Spring Creek from the west, form its tributaries, and drains this township,
99
100
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
except a small portion along the west boundary which is drained by the Big Lick.
EARLY DAYS.
Many implements of the chase in pre-historic times still abound, and from the many stories that have reached us from the Shawnee and Delaware Indians, and early white settlers, it is certain that prior to the dawn of civilization, this country was occupied by wild animals to an extent that is almost wholly incredible at the present day. To see a herd of two hundred buffalo, a hundred deer or twenty-five to fifty elk, was regarded as being nothing uncommon, and a good hunter could kill a bear in a few hours, at almost any time. In the absence of railroads, large farms and magnificent markets, hunting furnished profitable employment for our fathers.
There were some bear in 1830. In 1835 the last elk was seen in the town- ship, but up to 1840, deer was plenty. J. A. Prickett, killed two deer in the north-east part of the township in 1874. With the settling up of the County the game has been killed out, and made to seek more sparsely populated dis- tricts, until at present nothing remains of the former age except the raccoon, opossum, squirrel, rabbit, mink, ground-hog, &c.
In the year 1780 the first white man put foot on the soil in the township, passed through on an exploring expedition. In about the year 1790 another party of four white men passed through the township, going in the direction of the Mississippi River. In the year 1800 a party of four white men, and their wives camped at Stone Fort about a week and passed on. After the lapse of three years, one of the last named party, Daniel T. Coleman, returned and built a small cabin, and made a small improvement in Sec. 33, and re- mained until his death in about the year 1814. He followed hunting chiefly as a means of subsistence. What became of his wife and family subsequently is not known.
We mention further Jonas Vancil and Isaac his son. These came in 1806. These were natives of North Carolina who came to Illinois in 1804, and set- tled in the exact spot where Jonesboro', Union County, now stands. Jonas was a confidential friend of George Owl, and George Hunter, chiefs of the tribes of the Shawnee and Delaware Indians. . Mr. Vancil with his family, opened the farm where Mrs. Zimmerman now lives in this township. He afterwards joined the church of the Latter-Day Saints, and was ordained a Mormon minister. He died in Sept. 1856 at the great age of 102 years. His wife, Mary died November, 1867, aged 92 years. Isaac, like his father, was a great hunter. Born [in 1800 in Muhlenburg County, Kentucky-this is the man whom the author of a history of Williamson County says, was the first white inan born in that county-at the age of eighteen he settled the place now owned by Col. Ben. L. Wylie. Afterwards he opened the farm now owned by J. S. Hartman.
WILLIAM THEDFORD
is one of the oldest citizens of the county, he is now in his 97th year and enjoys good health. He came to this township in 1816. He has made a fortune, and enjoys the consolation of reflecting upon a well spent life.
WILLIAM GENTRY.
This aged citizen was born in the state of Tennessee, in Sept. 1808. His parents moved to Alabama when he was eight years old. He was married in 1826, and became father of nine children, four of whom survive. He came to this county and township in the year 1832.
JACOB SCHWARTZ
Came to Jackson County in 1817. He was born in Somerset County, Penn- sylvania, in 1804. In 1839 he was married to Margaret Edwards of Ohio. He became blind in 1855. He is father of seven children, all living.
PUBLIC ROADS.
The township is divided into three road districts, and the public high ways are seven in number-six of which centre in the town of Makanda, and one, the Jonesboro' and Carbondale, west of the centre, traverses the entire length of the township north and south. These highways are kept in the very best condition to meet the demands of the fruit-growers for good roads over which to haul their perishable fruit.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
This township is divided into nine school districts, all of which have good school buildings, except district nine. The districts are almost all entirely out of debt, and pay good wages and employ only the best teachers.
The schools were never in a more prosperous condition. In 1876 there were 900 children of school-going age.
Average salary paid teachers for the same year $43 per month.
FRUITS.
The light soils of the sandstone ridges are especially suited to the growth of the wood and fruit of all kinds. Advantage was early taken of these con- ditions, when the Illinois Central Railroad opened facilities for market to embark in fruit-growing on a large scale.
The most marked years of success and profit, although the operators were fewer than at present, were between the years of 1860 and 1867, when for- tunes were made in the business. The peach, up to this time, had seldom failed. The heavily timbered hills afford protection, and insect enemies were few.
Under the stimulus of good prices and other favorable conditions, fruit- growing reached its highest degree of success in 1867. Ninety-five car loads were shipped from Makanda Station during the month of August of this year.
The shipments of grapes were larger than ever afterward, averaging three cars per day during the season of their prime. These grapes were sent in car lots to New York, Boston, and other eastern cities at good profit to the growers.
The average daily shipments of fruit from the above period to 1877 during the season was from two to six car loads. . The largest daily shipment in 1871 was five cars; in 1872, three cars; in 1874, six cars. In 1869 the largest shipment of strawberries was three car loads ; in 1877, two car loads. During the off-years of fruit, compensations in various ways have accrued. They stimulated the planting of greater varieties and a more diversified farnı culture.
Now every fruit and vegetable of the temperate zone is propagated with success, and finds early sale in the great centre of population. Altitude has much to do with these results. Below a certain and well-defined level the tender fruits do not flourish. This has been termed the "frost line," and is 665 feet above sea level, and about 100 feet above the road-bed of the Central at the Station. A large area of elevated table-land rises above this line, where the peach and apricot find a congenial home. The average height of these ridges and plateau above Lake Michigan is 178} feet ; above Lake Superior, 138 feet : and above St. Louis, 290 feet. These figures, care- fully collated from the survey field-notes of the civil engineers of the Illinois Central, have dissipated the long-entertained opinion of Northern and Eastern people that Egypt is a low, continuous, and swampy level.
MISSIONARY BAPTIST.
Stone Fort Baptist Church was organized February 7th, A. D., 1863, chiefly through the labors of Deacon John Hunter, who moving to Makanda in 1856, found the county on the east side of the railroad almost destitute of preaching. Securing the services of Elders H. H. Richardson, David Butler, M. B. Kelley, Asa Parker, and other missionaries, a station was occupied at the Randleman School-house, which culminated in the organization of a church on the date above stated, with nine meinbers, viz., John and Rhoda Hunter, R. S. and Amelia Baldwin, Francis H. and Nancy J. Kelley, B. F. Kelley, Mary H. Kelley, and Sarah Markham. Elder David Butler was chosen pastor, B. S. Baldwin, clerk. Since which time one hundred and six- ty-nine members have been received, one hundred and eleven by baptism. The pastors have been as follows: Elder David Butler, John D. Lamer, Alonzo Durham, D. J. Hutton, John A. Williams, John D. Lamer, D. R. Sanders, John A. Williams, F. M. Agnew, and John A. Rodman.
The church erected the present building at Makanda, in connection with Makanda Lodge, No. 434, A. F. and A. M., in 1868. The present status of the church is, Pastor, John A. Rodman ; Clerk, C. B. Foster ; Deacons, John Hunter, John Rendlemen, William Gentry, and S. P. Bingham ; Trustees, John Rendlemen, Wm. Rendlemen, Wm. Gentry. One ordained minister, T. M. Agnew, one licentiate, A. M. Lee, with a membership of seventy names.
FREE. WILL BAPTIST.
In 1865, Rev. D. L. Piney, of Johnson County, organized the General Free-will Baptist Church, at the residence of Dr. Hill, in the town of Makan- da. As then constituted, the church contained but five members, viz .: Dr. E. E. Hill and wife, Mrs. Eliza and her son James Prickett, and Mrs. Brock. The church continued to prosper until it numbered 45 members. The church owns no property, and Dr. Hill's residence continued to be the only regular place of meeting up to the year 1874, when the place of meeting was changed to the District School-house, where it has since continued.
101
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Carbondale Circuit was organized in the year 1860. We have been wholly unable to ascertain through whose efforts the organization was effected.
September 15th, 1877, the membership in the township numbered 140, with a "probationary membership of 33, distributed among the several churches, as follows :
Members.
Probationers.
Oak Grove
60
20
Zion .
45
12
Makanda.
25
0
Mount Moriah
10
1
140
33
Its era has been one of prosperity. Under the leadership of the many able ministers that have been called upon to preside over it from time to time, it has enjoyed many revivals, all laden with rich results for the church.
PHYSICIANS.
The first practice of medicine in this township was by Dr. Wills. His residence was at Old Brownsville, and his practice extended to Jonesboro'. When he visited a patient he always took with him his trusty gun and hounds-the latter numbered about twenty, generally ; and when he stopped to see a patient he always insisted that his dogs should be fed. The resident physicians have been-Dr. Joel Grammar, 1845 to 1859, died in Nevada Territory in 1862; Dr. Geo. W. Wallace, 1845 to 1860 ; Dr. Lacy, 1861 to 1862; Dr. Stewart, undergraduate of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, 1861, was here 1861 to 1862; L. K. Parks, M. D., Medical Depart- ment, University of Missouri, St. Louis, 1858 to 1860; E. E. Hill, 1863 to present ; F. M. Agnew, M. D., Medical College of Ohio, 1862, Ad eundem Miami Medical College, 1866, 1864 to present ; T. C. Hussy, M. D., St. Louis Medical College, 1868, 1865 to 1869 ; - Wilkins, M. D., Rush Medical Col- lege, 1864, 1867 to 1868 ; Dr. D. L. Bushnell, 1867 to 1868; G. Callen, M. D., 1868 to present ; Dr. G. W. Crecelius, 1871 to 1874; Dr. Geo. N. Gher, 1871 to 1875; Dr. Bane, 1873 to 1874; Dr. C. L. Miller, under- graduate, Medical College, Ohio, 1875, 1875 to present.
WHEAT.
Wheat-growing dates from the settlement of the township. It became known at an early date that the soil was suited to the production of wheat, that in quality would compare favorably with that produced in any part of the world. To prove that this prediction has been fully verified, we need only refer to the fact that wheat grown in this township was awarded the prize at the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, in the year 1876, when it came in competition with wheat from all countries.
In the year 1877 there were 1,800 acres wheat grown in the township, the total yield footing up nearly 36,000 bushels. The acreage for 1878 is in excess of any. former year. It is not too much to say that the full capacity of the soil has not yet been developed. Forty bushels have been grown to the acre, and it is confidently believed that in a few years fifty will be reached.
The leading varieties propagated at present are, in the order of their im- portance, as follows : Fultz, Bull Wheat, Tappahannock, and Red Shuck.
NURSERIES.
There is not, perhaps, in the whole country, another point where the nursery business is carried to a higher degree of perfection than in this town- ship. Here are propagated all of the various fruits grown in this latitude. Also, all kinds and varieties of yard and lawn shrubbery and forest trees.
The Makanda Nurseries, in section 33, together with their branches and auxiliaries, have a capacity of one million trees per annum. The Excelsior Nurseries, in section 17, are very extensive, and cover an area of about ten acres.
ARCHEOLOGY.
This vicinity abounds in many very interesting remaius. The most notable among them pertaiu to that race known as the Mouud Builders, whose em- pire extended from Lake Ontario to the Gulf. Implements of the chase un- known and unused by the succeeding savages, are abundant. Among these are the beautiful whirling arrows, and points for shooting in circles. Places of worship are still extant. These are complete circles of upright stones, and always fouud on the extreme summits of the hills. They were doubtless de- voted to sun-worship, the very earliest form of human devotion. Statuary and pottery have beeu exhumed from the mounds and burial-places of great beauty of form and workmauship. The largest collection of these in the United States is in the hands of that devoted scholar, Col. Perrine, of our sister town of Anna. Among innumerable relics of great interest, this gen- tleman has a statuette in gypsum or crystalized limestone, found by himself in a mound, representing a man in a sitting posture. The features are heavy, but mild and beniguant. A fine statuette in copper or bronze, found iu a once-worked mine of red pigment, is in the possession of A. Robinson, of this place, Editor Daily Danville Times. But most notable among all re- mains in this vicinity, and which defies all attempt at explanation, is a well- preserved fortification of stone, built on a projecting promontory of sandstone, with walls a hundred feet high, within a half mile of Makanda. This is of very ancient origin, judging by the rough and moss-covered masonry. It was doubtless a place of defence against the fierce hordes which finally drove out the original population. But its history must forever remain unwritten, and the praise of its heroes unsung. It is widely known as the " Old Stone Fort," and is a popular place of resort by pleasure-seekers and public ga- therings.
THE TOWN OF MAKANDA
Is situated forty-nine miles north of Cairo, on the Illinois Central Rail Road, in the midst of romantic scenery. In either direction-east or west-the bluff rises to the height of 350 feet in regular amphitheatrical form. Drurie Creek flows through the centre of the valley, and is crossed by a beautiful bridge, on west Main St.
The town of Makanda was laid out and platted iu the year 1863, by Miss Minerva Zimmerman (deceased Sept. 30th, 1877). Additions have been made by Theo. W. Thompson, Evans, and Prof. W. D. F. Lummis. The merchants have been: Daniel McConnell, Bone Davis, Zimmermau & Gallop, Daniel Davie, Calvin Dishon, E. Cover, Jones, Geo. W. Owens, Geo. W. Smith, O. S. Butler, Patterson & Bailey, Reed Bros., Bailey &. Hau- ford, Patterson & Krysher, George Krysher, G. W. Patterson, and Ren- dleman & Thompson.
Although the town is composed principally of wooden buildings, it has been remarkably free from destructive fires. In 1874 a small building, in the south-west corner of the town, was destroyed by fire. Loss, about $250 to $300. In the early part of the year 1877, a large double frame, two-story building, belonging to Mrs. A. M. Moore, in the west part of town, was also destroyed by fire. Loss, about $1,000.
Present Status : Four dry good stores, one drug store, one millinery store, one show shop, two cooper shops, two wagon shops, one grist mill, and com- bined saw mill and box factory, three blacksmith shope, three hotels, two churches, and one public school.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COL. BENJAMIN L. WILEY
Is most emphatically one of Jacksou County's representative men. He was boru in Smithfield, Jefferson County, Ohio, March 25th, 1821. He was the son of Abel and Rebecca (nee Richardson) Wiley, who were natives of Maryland, and old-fashioned Quakers. Col. Wiley still holds to the faith, he believing that to be as near right as any religion, especially as practised by the members.
All the cducation he ever received was obtained in the common schools of his native county, he attending them about thirteen months. Afterwards, teaching and studying at the same time, he acquired a good education, suffi- cient, at least, to do business and to fill any ordinary position in life.
While living at home with his father, he learned the carpenter's trade from him, and worked at it until he moved to Illinois, in 1845. He landed at Metropolis June 13th of that year, walked from there to Vienna, in John- son County, Illinois, and commenced life in earnest for himself. He at once engaged himself to teach a country school, where he taught and started some · of the best men in life that southern Illinois now affords.
In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican army, under Gen. Sterling Price, in the 5th Illinois, commanded by E. W. B. Newby, serviug in New Mexico until the close. He was mustered out in October, 1848, and returned to Johnson County, and from there to Jonesboro', Union County, in 1849, and worked at carpentering for about a year, then went to clerking in a store for Winsted Davie, the oldest merchant in southern Illinois. He remained with him until 1853. In the meantime he helped to start and edited the Jonesboro' Gazette, one of the most successful papers in the State. In 1853 he went to St. Louis and engaged as traveling salesman for Eddy, Jamieson & Co., selling for them in Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky, until 1853, when he returned to Jonesboro', and engaged in the hardware business, and con- tinued in that for several years. In 1856 he was the Republican candidate for Congress in his district, and received 4,000 votes in Egypt, where it was unsafe to 'be a Republican, Fremont only getting 825 votes. In 1857 he opened a real estate office in Anna, Illinois, in connection with D. L. Phil- lips and Col. L. W. Ashley ; continued in that business until 1860, when he moved to the farm near Makanda, where he now lives.
September 9, 1860, he was mustered into the army as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Illinois Cavalry, and served in Missouri and Arkansas with Gen- erals Steele and Curtis. Four months of the time he had command of the 1st Brigade of Cavalry.
May 29th, 1863, he was ordered to Vicksburg, and reported at Chickasaw Bayou, on the 31st, and was immediately placed in command of all the cav- alry on the right wing of General Grant's army. On the termination of the Siege of Vicksburg, being disabled by rheumatism, he resigned and came home; was soon after appointed the enrolling commissioner at Cairo, and served in that capacity until May 5th, 1865, when he was mustered out of the service. April, 1869, he was appointed by Gov. Palmer one of the Com- missioners to locate the Southern Illinois Insane Asylum now at Anna, and served as Secretary of the Board until it was re-organized in May, 1871. In 1869 he was candidate for County Judge, and defeated with the balance of the ticket ; in 1872 was candidate for State Senate, and defeated in a dis- trict that gives a Democratic majority of 1200, by 275 votes; in 1873 was a member of the Board of County Supervisors from Makanda Township; and in 1876 was a candidate for Congress in the 18th district, and was defeated by a majority of 20; the vote stood-Wm. Hartsell, Democrat, 14,691 ; Wiley, Republicau, 14,671. Wiley carried six counties and Hartsell four.
Col Wiley was married December 5th, 1850, to Miss Emily Davie, oldest daughter of his employer. They have raised a family of nine children, all of whom are living at home, viz. : William W., John A., Ann R , Benj. L., Jr., Daniel D., Charles H., Mary E., Henry K., and James W .; their parents furnishing them with all the facilities possible for obtaining a good
education ; buying all the standard books and papers of the day. Mr. aud Mrs. Wiley now own 1800 acres of land, about 600 of which is iu a high state of cultivation, with an orchard of 4000 trees on it, from which he gets a good regular income; in fact, he is one of the most successful farmers in the country, always raising good crops aud keeping the best of stock. In poli- tics he was an old line Whig, until the organization of the Republicau party, when he joined that, and has been a zealous advocate of its principles ever since. Mr. Wiley attributes much of his success in life to the following closely of the advice of an old Quaker friend, given him wheu a boy. He said : " We Quakers hardly ever attend theatre, but when we do, we buy a box ticket ;" in other words, always buy the best, and associate with the best people.
THOMAS J. PRICKETT,
ONE of the representative farmers of Makanda Township, is the son of Abra- ham and Martha (Harris) Prickett. Was born May 4th, 1822, at Edwards- ville, Madison County, Illinois.
When about one year old, his mother died, and from this time until the age of fourteen, he lived with his grandfather on a farm, after which he lived in Edwardsville with his uncle, Isaac Prickett.
In 1842 he went to St. Louis, Missouri, and served an apprenticeship at brick-making, and in 1847, eulisted in company E, of Second Illinois Regi- ment, and fought in the Mexican War. Soon after his return from the war, he went in 1850 to California, and engaged in mining one year, returning in 1851 to St. Louis.
He married Mrs. Louisa J. Cake, by whom he has three children, John A., Josephine and Blanche. In 1853 he returned to Edwardsville, and with his brother John A., engaged in merchandizing. He moved in 1862 to Jack - son County, Illinois, and opened a fruit farm, where he continues to reside.
Mr. Prickett is a zealous member of the Masonic Fraternity, and has for many years been Grand Lecturer in Lodge, Chapter, aud Council. He was appointed in 1865, by the Grand Lodge, Grand Overseer of the work, which position he held until 1876, when he declined further service. It is said by many good judges, that he is the best Ritualist in the State.
JAS. BARROW.
ANOTHER of Jackson County's oldest settlers is Jas. Barrow. He was born in Wayne County, Ky., Oct. 11th, 1814. His father and mother, John and Emma Lee Barrow, were born in North Carolina. They moved to Keu- tucky iu 1796. In 1812 his father served in the army, under Gen. Jackson, as 2d Lieut., taking part in the battle at New Orleans, where he distinguished himself by his bravery. He moved to Illinois in 1818, in an old-fashioned keel boat, landing at Kaskaskia (then about the oldest and most important town in Illinois) stopping near there about three years; he then moved to Jackson County, where he died in 1859.
James Barrow, the subject of our sketch, was the third child, and the only one now living, of John and Emma Barrow. He was married Novem- ber 27th, 1834, to Catharine Crider, by whom he had twelve children, eight of whom are still living. Mrs. Barrow dying February 19th, 1865, he was again married July 16th, of the same year, to Sabray Musgrave, who is the inother of four children, and all at home. Mr. Barrow has a vivid recollection of the Indians, having often seen four or five hundred of them pass his father's house at one time. They were hardly ever troublesome, however. They getting their living by hunting and fishing, with but little trouble; there was no necessity for committing any depredations. Politically, Mr. Barrow was an old Jackson Democrat, until the breaking out of the Rebellion, then,
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