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 40
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MRS. SARAH EASTERLY (DECD)
(DECD)
THE EASTERLY HOMESTEAD
NOW THE RESIDENCE OF GEORGE.A. JOSEPH B. B.AND EDWARD E. EASTERLY, SEC. 6 TP 10 R. 3 JACKSON CO. ILLINOIS.
THE FARM RESIDENCE OF W. L. HARRIS SEC.31. T.10 R. 3 JACKSON CO. ILL.
LENGTH OF BRIDGE ON TOP. 100 FT LENGTH BETWEEN ABUTMENTS, 76 FT WIDTH OF BRIDGE, 9 FT.
NATURAL BRIDGE, JACKSON CO. ILL.
HEIGHT OF BRIDGE, HEIGHT OF ABUTMENTS, AVERAGE THICKNESS,
30 Fr. 72 FT.
9 FT.
119
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
William W., B. F., and Jessie C. Henson served in the Black Hawk war. Giles Henson settled on what was denominated the "O'Hara Land" in about 1820, and his eldest daughter wedded Joseph Goodbread.
William McRoberts, previously mentioned, was near 60 years of age when, in 1817, he bought out John Morrow. His family was a large one, viz. : Charles, Polly, Charlotte, Samuel, Lucretia, and James. Some of the children lived to raise families, and the entire family were respectable.
The place now owned by the Worthen heirs was first entered by St. Clair Manson on or about 1814. In 1818 he sold out to Matthew Duncan, brother to the Duncan who represented Jackson County in the State Senate at Vandalia, and was afterwards Governor of Illinois.
Mr. Duncan came from Kaskaskia to this county, where he had held the office of State Printer. He first settled in Fountain Bluff township. He had a mill, which he managed till the arrival of his brother, Joseph Duncan, in 1818-19. Matthew Duncan built the first distillery in Big Hill. He had negroes that he had brought from Kentucky to the then Territory of Illi- nois. He mortgaged his farm to the First State Bank of Illinois. The mortgage was foreclosed and the place sold, Thomas Whitson becoming the purchaser.
The portion of Big Hill lying east of Big Muddy River began to be settled
up when James Harreld and others built a saw and grist-mill near 1838. Mr. Harreld run the mill till his death in 1844, memorable as the year of the " Great Flood."
David Cripps, in 1835 or '36, settled in the eastern past of the township on Pine Hill. He sold at liis house dry-goods for the convenience of the people. He was our first merchant.
Big Hill township is divided into two school districts, and has a popula- tion of about 400 inhabitants. The first school was taught by Lee D. Wood in 1826.
The first sermon was preached by Rev. Richard Lee, a Methodist divine, in 1814 or '15. Lee lived for some time in this township. The first school- house was on the McRoberts' place, and served also as a church-house.
The first white child born was George Lonzadder, son of Jacob.
The first marriage was that of William Gaston to Nellie Henson in 1812-13.
The first death was that of James Davis, who was killed by the falling of a tree blown down by the wind. He was the son of Aaron Davis. The water is impregnated with lime from the limestone formatiou.
The northern portion of Big Hill township, owing to the great amount of moisture, is less healthful than other parts, and malarial disease abounds.
Gro
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
BENNINGSEN BOON.
THIS man so honorably connected with the history of this County was born iu Jackson County, in 1807, and consequently is seventy years old. He has however always been a man of correct habits and pure and temperate life, and he consequently appears younger than he is. He is the son of Capt. William Boon, one of the earliest and most popular and influential of our early citizens.
He grew to manhood amid the stirring scenes of frontier life. When be- tween twenty-one aud twenty-two years of age he was united in wedlock to Elizabeth Will, daughter of Dr. Conrad Will.
Although deprived in great measure of the advantages of an education in early life, by self-culture and a course of judicious reading he prepared himself to serve well, in various and honorable positions the people of his native County. He is a man of ability, and has been always a useful and prominent man in his neighborhood and County. After his marriage to Elizabeth Will, he settled on a farm given to him by his father and raised a family. He was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war, and was in the com- pany of cavalry commanded by Capt. A. M. Jenkins.
Mr. Boon was a member of the County Commissioners' Court from 1833- '6. Iu 1845 he was appointed by act of Legislature, agent for the sale of
lands, for the benefit of the County, known as Muddy Saline Reservation. He has been a successful practitioner of medicine, aud those that know his skill in the healing art, sometimes require his services yet.
In 1836 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held that position, so great was the satisfaction of the people at his efficiency and probity, contin- uously for sixteen years.
He has always taken a deep interest in the cause of education, and for many years was a school officer. In 1855 he was appointed Post-master of Big Hill post-office.
There is perhaps no man in the County whose recollections of the past of this County are so valuable and vivid as his. His conversational powers are fine, and his fund of anecdote and keen observation make him an unusually interesting and pleasant companion. He is courteous and dignified in de- meanor, and impresses all with whom he associates as a man of great person- al purity and genuine goodness of heart. He is justly regarded as one of the most honored of our citizens, whether we consider his intelligence, his uprightness or his services to the County.
The lessons taught by such a character are indeed valuable. His unself- ishness, his zeal for the right and his strict integrity are worthy of emula. tion and all respect. May he be spared many years to the people for whom he has " done good and not evil " all the days of his life.
VERGENNES TOWNSHIP.
BY F. M. TUTHILL.
T will not be considered beneath the dignity of history to give the origin of the name " Vergennes." Daniel B. Tuthill was, if not the first, one of the first settlers, and cherished for his wife an almost knightly affection. When a post office was finally estab- lished, he had it named Vergennes, in honor of his wife, whose native place was Vergennes, in the Green Mountain State. Upon the adoption of a town- ship organization by the people of Jackson County, in the year 18 , the name of the post office was given to the newly organized township.
The first settlers of this portion of the County,-which was not inhabited for many years after smoke had curled up from cabins along the Muddy, the Mississippi, and other parts of our County,-were from the eastern section of the United States ; from the States of Vermont and New York. William Doty made a claim in Vergennes in 1831. Immigrants arrived in 1833, and consisted of the Tuthill's and Rosses'. Their settlement was known far and wide as the " Yankee Settlement." The majority of the inhabitants of Jack- son, at that time, were from the South, and the queer customs and peculiar speech of the down-easters excited their astonishment, and even their derision. Many refused to neighbor with them, and some, it is said, moved to other parts of the country to rid themselves of the presence of this strange people, against whom their education had implanted strong prejudices. There was one cause more than any other which excited astonishment. The Yankees did not drink whiskey, and this was ground, in their estimation, for suspicion. It exhibited a lack of taste which was considered deplorable, and which was considered as evidence that the early education of these folks had been sadly neglected. In those days the idea of total abstinence was entirely new to the people of the West. Another cause of the unpopularity of the Yankees was, that they seemed to possess high notions of living. They, as soon as possible after their arrival, built frame houses and barns, an innovation that excited great comment. These feelings, it is but fair to say, were only har- bored until better acquaintance showed that the new comers possessed many worthy traits of character, were upright and honorable, thrifty and obliging. The first settlers were but few, but were followed by many more, whose hearts were stirred by the accounts received at their homes from those who had set- tled in the western world; accounts of the fertile wilderness, with its magni- ficent forests and beautiful prairies, of the many kinds of game that abounded. All came in wagons, drawn by good teams. They set energetically to work felling trees and opening farms, and one of the fairest portions of the County to-day, is the township of Vergennes. There are two small prairies in the township : "Cox's Prairie," which lies near the centre, and "Tuthill's Prai- rie," which is north of this. There is a belt of land running through it, from east to west, which is heavily timbered, and not very thickly settled at this time. The south-western portion is divided from the rest by Beaucoup Creek, which is the only stream of importance within its borders, unless we except Glenn's Creek, a tributary of Beaucoup. There is some rich bottom land in the western part. The north part is broken, though not so much as to ren- der it incapable of cultivation; in fact nearly all of the Township consists of arable land.
The forests contain several varieties of the oak : The post oak, white oak, black oak, &c .; the hickory, walnut (black), sweet gum, and elm. The cherry, plum, sassafras, dog-wood, black haw, and persimmon also abound. The whole township is underlaid with a good quality of coal, which was first discovered while digging a well. There are quarries of sandstone in the western part, which furnish an excellent quality of building stone.
True to the New England ideas, a school was soon established for the edu- cation of the youth, in a log-house reared for the purpose. The first school was a subscription-school, and was taught by Daniel B. Tuthill, Sr., who was
the first settler in the township. The second was taught in the same place; by Miss Wells. The pupils made good progress, and in a few years there- after many of them engaged themselves in the noble occupation of teaching, and it is said that Vergennes furnished more teachers than any other in the County. Mr. Purdy, now a resident of Du Quoin, Perry Co., but whose sons are residents of this township, with the Rosses', came in 1834.
The first religious association in this township was Methodist. Rev. Mr. Barnes preached the first sermon in the township, at Mr. Purdy's house. Rev. Mr. Phelps was the first Presiding Elder after the settlements. The most of the trading of this colony was done in St. Louis, to which point they usually made two trips a year. Sometimes, when pressed for time, they went only to Chester, in Randolph County. Most of the original settlers have gone. Daniel Tuthill, son of John Tuthill, who was a brother of Daniel Tuthill, Sr., mentioned above, is a resident of Tuthill's Prairie.
When the township was first settled, dcer were plentiful and wolves were more than plentiful. The citizens were forced in order to save their pigs, to pen them at night at the end of the house. Mares who were permitted to foal in the woods, not unfrequently cast their offspring which were devoured by wolves. Turkeys were thick, and many persons could imitate the cali to perfection, and hence were highly successful in hunting them.
We have said, that nearly all of the soil of Vergennes is susceptible of cultivation. You have but to " tickle it with a hoe, and it will laugh with a harvest." But as yet, not nearly all is enclosed nor cultivated. Five times her population may draw sustenance from her breast. There is no need for young men to journey towards the setting sun in quest of homes. Let them look around them in our own county, which is a fair land, and they may find good homesteads which can be purchased at cheap rates, and which need only resolute purpose and strong muscle to convert them into fields of yellow grain.
The township of Vergennes is bounded on the north by Perry County, on the east by Elk Township, on the south by Somerset and on the west by Ora. The chief industry of her people is agricultural. John Tuthill, Sr., and son D. B. Tuthill, Jr., had at one time a manufactory of measures, half bushel, peck, four quart, two quart and quart. They marketed their pro- ducts at St. Louis. They owned also a saw-mill, and sawed the lumber for their factory with it. Connected with this, was a grist-mill, which did cus- tom work two days in a week.
Thomas and Moses Ross, operated for many years a chair manufactory. Joseph Holt owned a window sash manufactory, and supplied the market of all this section of Illinois with sash. He was the first to manufacture sash in Jackson County.
The first township officers were voted for, at what is known as the " Old White school-house on Cox's Prairie." The following officers were elected Township Commissioners : Jackson Grubb, Alfred Cox, and Chris. Hack. Phillip R. Davis was at one time a Commissioner from this township. John McNerney was chosen Assessor, and G. S. Holt, Collector. Richard Lidaky was chosen town Clerk, and Hardy Crews, Justice of the Peace, while Ste- phen Grubb was elected Constable.
There are six school districts within the limits of Vergennes, each having a comfortable school-house, and some of the buildings are more than re- spectable. When so many teachers have taught since the system of public free-schools went into operation, it may be invidious to mention any by name. Two, however, have served the people so well that we, without de- siring to reflect upon the others, give their names. They are Mr. A. C. Spencer and J. B. Wisely.
Allyn Grove Church,-so named in honor of Robt. Allyn, D.D., LL. D.,
120
121
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
President of the Southern Illinois Normal University,-a Methodist Society -is located in the central portion. Rev. Mr. Farmer, organized the society and got the work of erecting a building under way, before he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Dowing, who was pastor in charge at the time the church was built. The structure is of brick, very substantial, and well furnished. It is thirty-two by fifty feet in size, and one story in height. There is a Presbyterian Society in the north part of the township, of which Rev. Mr. Templeton is pastor. Preaching services are held once a month in the school- house, for as yet they have no church building. The United Brethren have an organization in Cox's prairie, and have occasional services. Rev. Mr. Brock preaches for them.
The citizens as above stated are mostly engaged in farming. Messrs. Hack and Morgan have a saw and grist-mill. They grind only corn. Mr. Holt is a good farmer, and farms on an extended scale, as a'so does Mr.
Tuthill. Chris. Hack, William Hill and John Snyder, who has not been many years in the township, are also thrifty and enterprising men, and good farmers, as are also Messrs. Cline and Zaler. The citizens of this township will compare favorably, in integrity, morality, education and religion, with those of any other section of the County Vice and gross immorality, are almost unknown. They believe in schools ; they have churches in their midst, to which they resort to hear of that other country to which all mer are hastening.
A bright future is before her. Her population is increasing, and shall more increase. Not many years will elapse before the song of the sower will be heard, as he scatters the golden grain over furrowed acres that, un- reclaimed, now are covered with the same forest, under whose shade the poor Indian laid him down to rest.
YO
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JOHN B. ROSSON, M.D.
WAS the son of Osburn and Rebecca Rosson. Osburn Rosson was a native of North Carolina. His wife was a cousin of Gen. Forrest, and was raised and educated in the same neighborhood, Marshall County, Tennessee. The subject of our sketch was born in Marshall County, Tennessee, Nov. 30th, 1847. He was brought up on a farm, and attended the common schools till the age of seventeen, when he entered the Troy Academy, of Tennessee. After about four months, the professor was taken to Rock Island by the Federal forces and made prisoner. That broke up the academy for the time. He then came north and entered the Centralia Academy, where he remained for about eight months. He then returned to the Troy Academy, and resumed his studies. After about a year, he returned north to Jackson County and taught school and studied medicine for about five years. He then entered the Medical College of Ohio, and graduated March 1st, 1872. He then commenced the practice of medicine in Jackson County, where he has practised since. He is a member of the Southern Illinois Medical Asso- ciation, and was a delegate to the State Medical Association in the year 1877. While attending the Troy Academy, of Tennessee, he studied, under Professor Charles Wright, phonography, or short-hand writing, and suc- ceeded in qualifying himself for a verbatim reporter, having reported speeches, word for word, as they were spoken, in Jackson County, and also clinical lectures, in the Cincinnati and Good Samaritan Hospitals, at Cincinnati. March 26th, 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Louie Perry, a resident of this County. They have one child. Politically he is a Democrat. Dr. Rosson is yet young, but is destined to make his mark in his chosen profes- sion, if we do not greatly mistake our guess. He has energy, ability and all the elements of success.
JACKSON GRUBB
WAS the son of William and Mary Grubb. William Grubb was a native of Tennessee. His father moved to Kentucky when he was a boy. When grown he married and emigrated to what is now Jackson County, in the year 1816. He raised a family of five children. He was in the war of 1812. He died in the year 1854. The subject of our sketch was born in Jackson County, October 29th, 1823. Being now among the few natives that were born within the limits of the county prior to 1825, he now lives within half a mile of the place where he was born. He resided at home during his mi- nority, working on the farm and attending school. March 3d, 1845, he was joined in marriage to Miss Delila House, a native of North Carolina. To this union they have had a family of nine children born to them, seven living, viz. John W., Elizabeth B., William H., Hawkins P., George R., Harlan S. and Willard Marcus. John W. and William H. are married and live in Perry County. Elizabeth B. is now the wife of George Yearian, and also lives in Perry County. The remaining four children are living at home. Mr. Grubb lost his oldest son, Stephen S. in the late war. He died in a Southern prison, at Florence, South Carolina. He was captured at the battle of Gun- town, Tennessee. Politically he is a Democrat; he has-never aspired for any political favors, believing he could make his mark by improving a model farm. He is firm but not stubborn, social yet reserved ; liberal in his views and benevolent, truthful and fair-dealing in his business and social life. Such is an outline record of one of the most faithful and successful farmers in Vergennes Township.
DE SOTO TOWNSHIP.
E SOTO is one of the Eastern tier of townships, being bounded on the north by Elk, on the east by Williamson County, on the south by Carbondale, and on the west by Somerset. It is for the most part level, well watered, and timbered. The Muddy River enters from the east, and pursues its course, with many meanderings, towards the west. The Little Muddy brings its tribute of waters from the north, and joins the larger current of Big Muddy at a point a little east of the exact centre of the township. Crab Orchard Creek enters from the south, after receiving near its junction with the Big Muddy the waters of the Little Crab Orchard.
The entire township is underlaid with rich veins of coal. Only one shaft exists worthy of mention, although borings have been made and the presence of veins demonstrated by different parties. The Illinois Central Railroad passes through from north to south. Over the Muddy the company have erected a fine iron bridge. The County has constructed over the river, at a point just below the railroad bridge above named, a very superior bridge, the approaches of which are wood, but the central span is iron. De Soto town- ship was originally heavily timbered. It still contains great forests of woods common to this section, and produces annually large quantities of the best kinds of lumber. It is well provided with grist-mills and saw-mills.
De Soto township is almost exclusively agricultural. Many excellent farmers till the fertile soil in this section. Where so many are deserving of mention, it would seem invidious to give the names of only a few, and space forbids notice of all.
The people of De Soto township are well provided with school-houses and houses of worship, and are law-abiding, industrious, and thrifty.
John Gill, Sr., who came to Jackson County in the winter of 1813-14, lives bere respected by all. Peter Keifer is a resident of De Soto.
Here lives Jas. H. Bradley, one of the old citizens of the County. Henry Kimmel, distantly related to old Peter Kimmel, settled south of the town of De Soto on Muddy in 1840. He afterwards moved to Elk township. Josiah Cully came to Illinois in 1836 ; settled first in Bradley precinct, then known as the Bradley neighborhood. He was from Posey County, Indiana. He was father of Joseph H. Cully of this township, ex-Sheriff, and of R. J. Cully, now wife of Judge Bradley, of De Soto.
Peter Keifer came into the township in 1855. He had been a resident of the County since 1833.
Robert Beasley, President of the Board of County Commissioners, and who has made an efficient and faithful servant, has his home here.
TOWN OF DE SOTO.
This pleasant town lies near the centre of the township of the same name, and is situated mainly on the west side of the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was laid out and surveyed by Claiborn Barrow, lately de- ceased, County Surveyor, uuder direction of the owner of the land, David A. Neal. of Salem, Mass., and certified to by him, October 18th, 1854. The plat was certified to by Mr. Barrow on the 27th day of November, 1854, and recorded at the County seat on January 16th, 1855. The site is a beautiful one for a town. To the south, at a distance of nearly two miles, is seen the dense line of timber that marks the course of the yellow sluggish stream, Big Muddy. The town is built on land considerably higher than is found to the north and south for some distance. It is surrounded by good land, the major part of which is under excellent cultivation. The population is not far from 1,000.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND BUSINESS FIRMS.
The town contains three church buildings and four religious organizations.
One of the churches was built jointly by the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Baptist. It is of brick, and was erected at a cost of $2,500. The Lutheran and Christian denominations have erected good houses of worship.
The school-house is a very substantial two-story structure. The school is graded into two departments, the higher of which is taught by W. E. Young, Principal, and the lower by Miss Sarah Saul, Assistant.
There is a very excellent three-story frame hotel edifice, in charge of " mine host," J. V. Brown. De Soto has two mills. The first in importance is the large flouring-mill of R. A. Beasley & Co., situated in the north part of the town to the east of the railroad. This is one of the largest and best inills in the county, and its brands of flour command good prices in market.
J. West & Co. have a custom-mill and saw-mill, who do a good business. Drugs and general merchandise are sold by the two firms of Davis Brothers and Redd & Swofford. H. Jacobs, J. F. & A. T. Bridges, and S. F. Walker are dealers in dry-goods.
An excellent blacksmith establishment is kept by Mostaller & Morgan. There are two cooper shops, and an extensive stave and heading factory, con- ducted by Jacobs & Dickey.
BIG LAKE TOWNSHIP.
N the County map this is erroneously laid down as Fountain Bluff Township. Fountain Bluff is in the southern part of this divi- sion, and here the G. T. & C. Railroad has a station. Among the early settlers were S. and W. Mansker. Captain William Brown lived at one time in this township, near what is called " Duncan Mill Slough."
Matthew Duncan came from Kaskaskia, where he had held the position of territorial printer, and settled in 1815. He was brother of Joseph Duncan, who came to the township in 1818. Dr. Duncan, died and was buried there. The family was large and intelligent. There was a mill here, which Joseph Duncan improved and operated for some years, doing a good business. He built a house which was superior to those of the section, and which was known as long as it stood, as the " White House."
GAME.
Big Lake is the hunter's paradise. As regularly as the seasons pass, in bright procession, come from far off York State, and Pennsylvania, from Ohio and Indiana, from Missouri and Kentucky, and from the northern part of our own beautiful State, ardent and skillful hunters, to enjoy the unsur- passed shooting, furnished in this part of the County. If an elegant hotel were erected at Fountain Bluff, there is scarcely a doubt, but that the un- equalled scenery and fine shooting of the region, would, after a short time, cause a tide of humanity, bent on sight-seeing and pleasure, to set towards the place.
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