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 39
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A. J. GRIZZEL
WAS the son of Solomon and Nancy Grizzel. His father was a native of Virginia. He settled in Kentucky when a young man, and followed the life of a farmer. The subject of our sketch was born in Kenton County, Ken- tucky, July 30th, 1815. During his minority he was brought up on a farm, and educated to farm life. He attended the subscription schools, such as the country afforded, although his father was a very weakly man, and the farm work mostly devolved on him, consequently, his early education was very much neglected. He was the third child of a family of eight children. At the age of twenty-two, he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Stephens, Aug. 3d, 1837. She was also a nativeof Kentou County, Kentucky. To this union they have had born to them, a family of twelve children, nine living in the spring of 1861. He emigrated from Kentucky to Jackson County, and settled where he now lives, in Ora township. Mr. Grizzel settled on 160 acres of land that was entered by his father-in-law, said land covered with heavy timber and brush, and no improvements, with the exception of a squatter's cabin and a half acre improved or enclosed. He now has about one hundred acres of good, tillable land.
Politically, he is a Democrat. His father was a Democrat before liim, and named his son after the celebrated Andrew Jackson, and he lias ever walked in the Democratic ranks.
Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. He bas endeavored to bring his family up under the tenets of that church, but not restricting them to any particular creed. Such is a brief sketch of one of the prominent farmers of Ora township. Truthful, honest and industrious, he is a fair sample of the western farmer, who have done much towards transforming this country from a wilderness of brush to fine farms bearing rich fields of grain.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HOLLIDAY
Is the oldest resident that was born within the limits of Jackson County. His birth dates May 8th, 1816. David Holliday, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Virginia, but after his marriage he moved to Tennessee, where he resided some few years ; he then emigrated to the then territory of Illinois, and settled on the Big Muddy River, in the year 1814. He brought to this country his wife, five children and all his worldly effects on three pack horses. The country was then in the condition in which it came from the Creator. Not a mill or factory, or any public improvements. It was covered with a dense forest in which game of various kinds abounded, and was hunted not for amusement, but in many parts as means of support. The pelts of wild animals constituted a vast commerce, and was the currency of the country. But David Holliday was just the kind of a man which is needed in all new countries. He was a thinker as well as a worker, and all his thoughts, and acts were in the direction of improvement and progression. He was a man of many trades. He could turn his haud to most anything. His place was a rendezvous for the early settlers for many miles around. As he had a mill, the second mill in the country, it was what was termed a cog mill, considered quite an improvement in those days to what was termed a tug mill. He also had a cotton-gin attached to the horse mill. He did quite a business with his gin as it was the only one in the country, and all the pioneer settlers raised cotton for their own immediate use. He also ran a blacksmith shop, and a tan-yard, two establishments which were almost ab- solutely necessary in those days, and last though not least, he opened a dis- tillery where he made the pure corn whiskey, a beverage then considered by the early pioneers indispensable, to keep them free of the then very prevalent disease, chills and fever. He also improved a farm. He died in the year 1849, and was buried on the place he improved. It is now known as Holli- day's Cemetery. The subject of this sketch gave his time to clearing away
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
the forests, and making a home in the then new country. The Indians then possessed nearly all this western country, and some of them frequently came into his father's cabin, and tarried with them over night; they were quite peaceable, and their presence was not offensive. The greatest trouble ex- perienced with the Indians in those times, was to keep them out of the roasting ear patches, and from petty stealing generally. Mr. Holliday's education was sadly neglected. The school-house that he attended, was built out of round poles and covered with brush to keep the sun out, and when it rained, school bad to be dismissed until it " cleared up." Like unto a wise man he knew that it was not good to be alone, and consequently he made choice of one of the daughters of Eve, in the person of Miss Joanna Whipkey, a native of Somerset County, Penn., in 1842. Nine children are the fruits of
this marriage, seven living. He gave his oldest son up to the defense of his country during the late Civil War. He fell in the battle of Belmont, Missouri, the first engagement fought under General Grant of this war. Mr. Holliday has improved a farm in Ora Township, where he has re- sided for the past twenty four years. Politically, he is a Republican. Such is a brief sketch of one of the early pioneers of Jackson County. He has grown with the growth of the country. Sixty years has wrought a wonderful change in the civilization of the west. Then a wilderness with Indians, trees and grasses indigenous to the soil overspreading the entire state. Now we have railroads, cities, villages and fruitful fields, with the promise of a future that is destined to startle the world with its wonder- ful progress.
ELK TOWNSHIP.
LK Township, as will be seen by a reference to the map, lies in the northeast corner of the County. It is bounded on the north by Williamson, and on the east by Franklin Counties, on the south by De Soto and on the west by Vergennes. It em- braces within its limits one of the few prairies of County-Elk prairie. This was called Elk prairie from the fact that a great many years ago large num- bers of clk frequented the prairie, attracted thither by the salt-licks. On the adoption of township organization in 1872, the descriptive part of the prairie's name was given to the township.
FIRST SETTLERS.
There were probably some settlers in the portion of country now comprised in this township as early as 1815, but just who were here first cannot now be determincd. Most of the early settlers seemed first to have sojourned for a time in the earlier-settled parts of the County which lie along the Muddy, and from there to have emigrated to the more beautiful lands in or near Elk prairie. In the north part of the prairie, at an early but uncertain period, settled the following persons : Louis Campbell, Joseph Williams, James Davis and his son William. Singleton Kimmel, who published for a time a paper at Shawneetown before becoming a citizen of this County, Jacob Aukney and Samuel Cheathan were the first settlers in the southern part. The previous history of most of these is unknown.
James and William Davis were from North Carolina; Kimmel and Aukney were from Pennsylvania.
Edward Schwartz moved to the prairie in the spring of 1827, while in the following fall came Peter Gill. John Robinson became a member of the prairie settlement in the year 1830. It is very much to be regretted that so little information survives of the early days of the settlement. Over it rests the twilight of the years, and in it are but faintly discerned a few out of the many facts that would be of great interest to the present generation.
The first birth was that of John Davis, son of William, who first opened his eyes upon the light in 1819. The first death in the settlement also oc- curred in this family. This was the death of William's son Jacob, who was but 18 months old. The date of his death is not known.
The first marriage is that of Joseph Crews to Sarah Robinson, on Novem- ber 12, 1832. On December 6, of the same year, Banister Crews was wedded to Frances Robinson.
The first school of the township was taught in 1836 by John Byars. An old cheese building was moved to a spot a short distance west of Elkville, and served as the school-house.
The school began with only one side of the roof on. Mr. Byars taught for one week and then dismissed school, promising to return and teach a year when the house should be completely roofed.
Log cabins served as school-houses as late as the year 1848, when an ad- vance was made by the erection of a frame house for school and church pur- poses. This was built in a grove near the old Schwartz place.
In 1870 and 1871 a new and spacious school building was erected in the southern part of Elkville, and, in the absence of any church house at that place, has been used as a meeting-house as well. This place has been favored with good teachers, and consequently has been blessed with good schools that have done a good work for the cause of education. The Elkvillè school is now under the charge of Mr. Andrew Caldwell, who gave such good satis- faction during the first year of his superintendence that the directors em- ployed him for the second.
The first sermon was preached by Braxton Parrish in 1829 on the occasion of the sad death of Samuel Cheatham, who was burned to death. Mr. Par- rish died in 1875 at Benton, Franklin County.
MILLS.
Probably as early as 1841 Abel Roach built a horse mill in the western part of Elk prairie. Prior to this the people took their grain to the Dil- linger Mill on Beaucoup Creek, or to the Snider Mill, in Six Mile, in Frank- lin County. At that day the boys did most of the milling for the settlers. They went with their grain on horseback and were frequently obliged to re- main over night waiting for their turn.
Mr. Snider was a man of mirth and jollity, and entertained the boys by various amusing games. He would wager the buttons of his clothing against those of the boys ; when he lost the game he would take out his knife and cut off a button, and when the other side lost they would do the same. Sometimes in playing "Fox and Geese," when he saw the boys were in a fair way to beat, he would rub out and begin anew.
It is both entertaining and amusing to hear those who are advanced in age relate their experience at the old horse mills in the days of their boy- hood.
In 1867, Phillip Kimmel and William Schwartz built a steam flouring mill at Elkville, to which, in the course of a year or two, they attached a saw-mill. Both are now operated by Whitney Gilbreath of this place.
Elkville was surveyed and platted by Clayborn Burrow, County Sur- veyor, who certified to the fact on the 31st of March, 1857. The little vil- lage contains about 100 inhabitants. It is situated on the Illinois Central Railroad, in the midst of a fertile country, six miles north of De Soto. It is no doubt destined in the future to be a place of considerable im- portance.
Elk township is under good cultivation, and many good farmers have made their homes in this part of the County. Among these we mention the Schwartzs and Kimmels. The people are industrious, prosperous and contented. A religious society of the. Christian faith has lately been or- ganized at Elkville through the instrumentality of Rev. Wm. Trickett, an evangelist, of extended reputation. The several districts of the township are provided with comfortable buildings for the children who gather in them to be instructed in those things which are to fit them for usefulness in after life.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WILLIAMS FAMILY.
NATHANIEL and Celia Williams were born in Columbia County, Georgia. They raised a family of eight children, four of whom are living in Elkville township, Jackson County, Illinois, viz : Nathaniel, Reuben Reed, Jerry Burkhalter and J. T. Williams. Special attention is called to them as follows :
Nathaniel was born in Columbia County, Georgia, in 1815. He worked on a farm until he was married. At 28 years of age, he married Clarrissa, they raising a family of two children, Amanda and Nathaniel, who are living near home. Nathaniel lived with his first owner, Mr. Short, until he was about 35 years old, when he was sold to a man named Steed, and afterwards to Stanford ; always working on a farm, until the last ten years of his ser- vitude, when he went to work at the carpenter's trade, until Sherman and his boys in blue marched through Georgia, when he took French leave of slavery and its influences.
Reuben was born in 1817, in Wilkes County, Georgia, and was married in 1875, to Mrs. King, in Jackson County, Illinois.
He was owned first, by Mr. Short and afterwards by Mr. Burkhalter always working as a farm hand and miller. He was industrious and reliable.
Jerry Burkhalter, was born in 1821, in Wilkes County, Georgia, and was married January 20th, 1850, to Ellen Dukes. They have had born to them eleven children. Eight are still living at and near home; they are named as follows : Charlotte, Jerry R., Nathaniel S., Martha, Mary M., Reuben and Florence, the others dying when young.
Mr. Burkhalter was first owned by Mr. Short. He was afterwards transferrd several times, until finally, he went to live with Mr. Dukes, when he married settled down and lived until the rebellion. At the age of 27, he learned Blacksmithing, and continued to work at the trade as long as he lived in the South, and was considered a good workman. He says he was at one time in the hands of a speculator about fourteen months, and could not be disposed of, on account of the peculiar form in which he made his horseshoes, they being of a pattern not commonly seen in that country, and not very useful,
John T. Williams, was born in 1823 or '24, in Wilkes County, Georgia, and was married in June, 1856, to Rachel. They have a family of eight children living, as follows : Marietta, Peter, Emma, Alice, Wilbor Warren. John H. and Amanda, all living at home with their parents.
He was first owned by Mr. Short, and worked on his farm until he was 18 or 20 years of age, when he was apprenticed to a blacksmith, to learn that trade, and his owner finding him a good, competent workman, kept him con- stantly at bis trade until 1865, when he became a free man ; however, he still remained there, and worked until he had made money enough to move his family to Mississippi, in January, 1867, where he lived nearly a year, then moved to Illinois.
The four families mentioned above, and so closely united by family ties, after trying to live South for two years after the close of the war, and be- coming satisfied that the feeling there, was such, against their race, that they could not live there and educate their children in peace, determined to come north and commence life over again. Consequently, in 1867, they bid farewell to their old homes, and the influences of that accursed institution of slavery, that had kept 10,000,000 of people ground down to the earth for nearly a century, and that had made our boasted free institutions an object of scorn and contempt to the whole civilized world.
They all now own nice farms in Jackson County, in a good state of culti- vation, where they hope they are settled for life.
What a striking example to all of their race as well as our own, of what energy and industry will do for us all. Here is the poor, despised slave of a few years ago, without a dollar in the world : not even owning the clothes on his back, now happy, honored and respected ; with enough of this world's goods to make him easy during life.
In politics, they are all good, consistent Republicans ; indeed, they could be nothing else after their experience in life. Like all others in their station, they had no educational advantages, although they managed to acquire enough to read, write and do business. They are all giving their children a good education, so as to enable them to fill any position they may be called on to occupy.
JAMES JACKSON.
ONE of the citizens of Jackson County who deserves notice at our hands is James Jackson, of Elkville Township. He was born near Florence, in Northern Alabama, in the year 1826, on Christmas-day, and was married in 1861 to Lucinda Ghio. They have five children, all living at home .. Mr. Jackson was a slave of Geo. Jackson until the breaking out of the war, and he staid with his old master, until the emancipation proclamation made him a ' free man ; until that time arrived that he had watched and prayed for through thirty-five long, weary years of bondage: he was at last a free man. Mr. Jackson was a good and faithful servant, feeling that his services, as well as his flesh and blood, belonged to his master under the law. His master though a southern man, was kind and indulgent, and for a wonder, loyal. On being freed, he joined the army as teamster, served some time in that ca- pacity, was discharged on account of sickness, and sent to Cairo, remaining there four years. He then moved to Jackson County, where he went to work making a home for his family, and has succeeded in buying and pay- ing for a nice little farm in Elk Township. He tells me he is building on it a new house and barn, that will be a credit to him. Although he has no education himself, he is giving his children all the advantages within his reach, so as to enable them to meet the trials of life, and take an honorable position in society. God speed him.
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BIG HILL TOWNSHIP.
BY JOHN R. EASTERLY.
100 HIS is situated in the south-western part of the County. It was laid off by William Rector in 1806, at the time of the formation of all Townships in Jackson County, and was sectionized by Elias Barcroft, deputy under Rector, and John Messinger, in 1810. It is bounded on the north by Sand Ridge, on the south by Grand Tower, the Mississippi River, Island Number 18, and the County of Union, on the west by Grand Tower, and on the east by Ridge Township. " Big Hill " gave its name to the Township, and has attracted wide-spread attention from geol- ogists on account of its formation. Its great size merits more than a passing notice at our hands. Its length is about 7, and its average width is about 2 miles. The north and west ends lie respectively in Sand Ridge and Foun- tain Bluff Townships. The north end of this remarkable formation consists of a solid wall of rock, varying from 150 to 250 feet in height, and is one and a half miles in length. The G. T. and C. R. R. runs for a portion of its way along its foot, and the view never fails to call forth exclamations of surprise and admiration from the passenger who gazes upon its grandeur for the first time. The south face of Big Hill also is a wall of rock, rather less abrupt than the north, and is from 150 to 200 feet in height, and is robed in a beau- tiful garb of evergreens. This hill is an outlying spur of the "Grand chain," which, under various names, wends from west to east, and links together the Rocky and Appalachian systems of mountains.
It is entirely unsettled, except in two places, viz. : on a rolling ridge, and the bottom land of a small creek. The hill affords a fine quality of sand- stone, and also an excellent grade of limestone. It is covered with timber of good quality. It is the opinion of geologists that the great river once poured its mighty volume of waters along a channel east of the Big Hill. Many are the evidences of the correctness of this theory. The situation of the lakes north of the hill, their relation to each other and to the river, the growth of the timber, the kind of soils in the swamps, are cited in support of this sup- position. Further evidence is afforded : when a well is dug to a certain dis- tance river sand is struck. In one well a piece of timber was found at a depth of 40 feet.
On the east side of the hill is found as fine a quality of farming land as exists in the entire valley of the Mississippi. About 1500 acres are in cul- tivation, which yield in corn from 50 to 75 bushels per acre, or, if in wheat, from 15 to 30. Oats and potatoes produce abundantly, and all other cereals and products of our latitude.
Big Hill Township is justly celebrated as a very fine grazing country. The grazing section is about 3 miles long by 2 wide. This is a swampy region, and produces luxuriantly the best of wild grass for stock. Animals only need to be fed for a short time during the year. The swamp-lands lie south- ward from the lakes, and northward from the farms which lie along the north face of the Big Hill. Of the wild grass, much hay is made.
East of Big Muddy River, on high and rolling land, rather thin and poor in quality, is found a soil admirably adapted for fruits, which are much cul- tivated, though some wheat and corn are produced.
The kinds of timber are oak, white, red, black, and chinkapin, and over- cup, hickory, walnut, box-elder, sugar maple, sycamore, etc.
Among the first permanent settlers were Jacob Lonzadder and family, who settled in 1805 or 1806, on what is now known as the "Berry Whitson place." He built the first mill, which was driven by water power, furnished by two fine springs. This mill was on the S. E. } of section 6. Mr. Lon- zadder was of Portuguese extraction, and was an energetic man, a good citi- zen and farmer.
Joseph French came shortly after and settled just below Bald Rock, on the east side of Big Muddy River. He was a native of Kentucky, and owned the first slave in the Township.
In 1807 or 1808 came Thomas and John Morrow, with their father, and located on what is now known as the Henson place, in Section 18. John 118
sold his share to William McRoberts in 1817, and Thomas in 1823 or '24 disposed of 20 acres of his to Marble Henson.
Allen Henson came in 1808, and settled on the place now belonging to the heirs of William B. Jenkins. Mr. Henson emigrated from North Caro- lina to Tennessee, and from thence to Illinois. He was about 60 years of age at the time of his arrival. His family was large. The oldest daughter became the wife of William Gaston, the next was married to Robert R. Gor- don, while his son, Marble, took to wife Patsey Davis. Mr. Henson brought with him from Tennessee a negro man slave.
In 1810, in the north east corner of the Township, in sec. 6, on what is known as the Worthen place, settled a man named Flemmings.
The next settler, Jacob Thompson, came the same year. He was a single man, but thinking it " not good to be alone," he proposed to a daughter of Jacob Lonzadder and was made happy by her acceptance. He then opened a farm, now owned by the heirs of Aaron Easterly.
Then came Reuben Redfield in 1820, who also married a daughter of Mr. Lonzadder,-who seems to have been a benefactor of his race in furnishing so many girls as wives for the settlers,-and located on the Berry Whitson place.
It should have been stated that Aaron Davis and family caine in 1816 or '17, from Kentucky, and located on the Thomas Jenkins place. He was a skillful hunter, and also was a farmer ; raised a family who settled around him. He bought his place of Capt. Boon, and lived on it till his death in 1826.
The place passed into the possession of Thomas Jenkins in 1844, who re- sided on it till his death in '73 at the great age of 91 years. Mr. Jenkins be- came a citizen of Jackson County in 1824. In 1826 he moved to the site of Grand Tower, and kept an extensive wood-yard for 12 or 13 years. Mr. Jenkins was a native of South Carolina, where he was born in 1781. When he attained his majority he emigrated to Georgia, where he married. He served under General Jackson during the war of 1812, and fought gallantly at the battle of New Orleans.
The distinguished Capt. William Boon, who was one of the earliest settlers of the County, and whose son, Benningsen Boon, was for many years so prominent in the County, and who yet survives, settled at Big Hill in 1826, whither he moved from Sand Ridge. He was a man of note, of worth, and. very popular. He represented Jackson in the halls of legislation ably and well, and was their protector and shield in the hour of danger.
He rented his farm in this township to Milton Ladd, and removed to the Duncan place, on what is now known as the " Duncan Hill Slough," where he remained but one year, when he again moved, this time to the Mississippi River, where he kept a wood-yard until his death in 1833, aged 56 years.
His son, Benningsen, was born in this County in 1807, and when between 21 and 22 years of age was united in wedlock to Elizabeth Will, a daughter of Dr. Conrad Will, who was so distinguished in the early. history of the County. Mr. B. Boon is a man of fine natural talent; and though educa- tional facilities in his youth were vastly inferior to those of this day, he managed to make himself a well-informed and very useful man. He has been a member of the County Commissioners' Court; in 1833, Agent of the County for the sale of the Saline lands ; was for many years a successful practitioner of medicine. He was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1836, and held the office for sixteen years. He served against Black-Hawk in the war of 1832. He was under Capt. A. M. Jenkins in a cavalry company. Nicholas D. Henson was a comrade in the same company. In 1855 he was appointed Postmaster for Big Hill by President Pierce. He was a School Officer for many years. In all offices he has conducted himself in such a manner as to merit a reputation for capability and honesty of which any one may be proud. In another part of this work will be found a more com- plete biography of this upright, useful man.
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