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 7
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In 1817 also came Lewis E. Harreld, and George Butcher to settle in Ora Township.
This same year, also came Jacob Schwartz, a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania. His seven children are all living. Mr. Schwartz lost his sight in 1855. His home is in Makauda Township.
James Davis and Joseph French, as has ouce been stated, settled in 1808, where now Murphysboro is. In about 1817 Mr. Davis, his son, William and their families moved up to Elk Prairie.
We are indebted to Mr. Hiram Schwartz of Elk Township, for the follow- ing reminiseences of William Davis, the son of James Davis, who was one of the first settlers in the northeast part of the county.
Mr. Davis lived to a good old age, reared a large family and amassed a considerable fortune by the raising of corn and hogs. In those days when the soil was fresh, corn could be produced in abundance, and such a thing as hog cholera was unknown.
In addition to these pursuits, "Unele Billy " as he was familiarly called was, like Nimrod of old, " a mighty hunter before the Lord," killing·in one season as many as 120 deer. The advantages of an education were denied him in his youth, and heuce probably his opposition to the free school sys- tem, which taxed the hard earnings of those who had been denied educa- tional advantages in their youth.
So when the tax collector came around, and added about $100 to Unele Billy's tax for the use of free schools, he thought it injustice.
In the early days thieves were scarcely known, and no extra eare was ne- cessary to protect money, but as the country advanced stealing became inore common, and money sought new and peculiar hiding places. Uncle Billy, accordingly conceived the brilliant idea of secreting a box of gold in a corn- crib covered over with fodder. Herc he laid up his treasure where " moth and rust might corrupt " but " where he fondly thought thieves would not break through and steal," little suspecting that the pesky rat, that follows the course of empire towards the setting sun, would encroach upon the casket of gold. But so it did. And corn and coin were thoroughly inter- mixed, and in this condition were throwu to the hogs. Numerous were the broad gold pieces that were found by the roadside where the swine were fed, and for some time it was a mystery how they came there. Finally the mys- tery was solved by the discovery that rats had invaded the box. This cir- cumstance gave rise to much good-humored comment, and in business trans- actions, when coin was offered that was defaced or worn, it was a common observation that it was some that Uncle Billy Davis had fed to his hogs.
The Bysleys, James Hughes, Mark Bradley, and John Barrow, and W. Eaken settled in Levan between 1816 and 1820. Benjamin Ripley, Hugh McMullin, Stephen Eakens, John Bowers-whose daughter is now a resident
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VIEW OF CARBONDALE ILL. FROM THE TOP OF NORMAL BUILDING
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5
4
MAKANDA
MAKANDA ONE OF THE LARGEST FRUIT SHIPPING POINTS IN ILLINOIS ON THE J. C. R. R. JACKSON CO. I N. J. POWERS RESIDENCE 2 BAPTIST CHURCH
3 T. W. THOMPSON'S RESIDENCE
4 B. F. PARKER'S WAGON SHOP
5 BAILEY & HANDFORDS STORE AND WAREHOUSE
6 G.W. PATTERSON GENERAL MERCHANT
7 N. J . POWERS DRUG STORE
8 RENDLEMAN & THOMPSON GENERAL MERCHANTS
9 M. M. THOMPSON'S HOTEL
10 J. C. RENDLEMAN'S RESIDENCE II RAIL ROAD, IRON BRIDGE 12 SOUTH BRICK TANK 13 DEPOT
14 NORTH BRICK TANK
15 PURDEY & HEGLER COOPERS 16 J. HOERNER BLACK SMITH & WAGON SHOP
17 J.T SMITH'S RESIDENCE
18 WM. GOODWINS RESIDENCE
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of the county-Matthew Reynolds and David Sorrels, were early settlers of the county.
In 1820, Reuben Redfield, who took to wife one of Mr. Longadder's daughters, cast in his lot with the rapidly growing settlements. Some of the Haglers, and Lipes, David Arnold and Robert Casey were here probably a year previously. Daniel, Michael, and Henry Dillinger came in 1820, also, and settled in Ora township. So, also, did Nelson McDowel, William Car- penter, Abraham Crow and Robert Carden, on the Big Rattlesnake, Gracy Williamson and several others whose names have escaped memory. Mr. Williamson's descendants still live in that township and are highly honored and respected.
In an early day came John Luney, William B. Pike, Jr., James Isom, and William Duncan. Also, Enoch Lively, who was a noted hunter and unerring marksman.
Jacob Ankney and Samuel Cheatham, Lewis Campbell and Joseph Wil- liams, deserve mention, as among the first to settle in the northeast part of the county, probably as early as 1820.
Old Peter Woolrich is said to have settled in Kinkaid township in 1820- 21. He had a large family. He lost his life a short time afterwards by the falling of a tree. His family consisted of five children.
In 1822, Capt. W. E. Talbott, a well-known citizen of this county, became a resident. Before this, Joel Manning, who for many years was continued by the people in office, had arrived. He was a brother-in-law of Gov. A. M. Jenkins.
Robert Henderson and Ortem were here as early as 1821.
In 1824, James Noling was a citizen and teacher in the county. In 1825 James McMurray began his career as a pedagogue. He was of Irish extrac- tion, and was a man of considerable importance in the county. He would teach through the autumn and winter, and take produce for liis services. In the spring he would build a flat-boat and take his produce to New Orleans, and barter for such groceries as the settlers were in need of, which he would bring back and sell at a good profit. He was so unfortunate on one of his trips, as to get, in turning a boat on the Mississippi, his thigh broken. Ever after one leg was three inches shorter than the other. He was familiarly known all over the county as " Old Hopping John." He was a teacher from 1825 to 1828. He died somewhere on the great river in 1829-1830.
In 1823 there emigrated from his native land an Irishman, Dr. John Lo- gan, and settled where Murphysboro' now is. Dr. Logan married a sister of Gov. A. M. Jenkins. He was blessed with a large family of children. His son, John A. Logan, who has so greatly distinguished himself in peace and war, has made the name Logan ring throughout the length and breadth of our land. A complete biography of this celebrated man, who has often been tried and never found wanting, will be found in the biographical department of this volume, and hence there is no need of further mention here. Suffice it to say that the citizens of this county may well be proud of his great son, whose abilities and services have reflected such luster upon his native county.
Dr. Logan was a man of public spirit and enterprise, and all of his de- scendants possess strong lines of character. The biographical department will be found to contain sketches of the career of other members of this family.
Josiah Patterson demands, as the first preacher in the county after its organization, a more extended notice. He was a man of great energy and zeal. His circuit extended from Washington county to Cairo, and it required a month's time for him to get around it. He traveled on foot or horseback, owing to circumstances. There were no bridges over the streams, and he often would have to swim his horse across, for he let no ordinary obstacle prevent the meeting of his appointments. Often he has been known to stand out in the open air and preach, with clothes dripping wet. He never com- plained of hardships, but bore all with a fortitude becoming a good soldier of Christ. He preached in the houses of the settlers, as there were no churches. In. 1824 or '25, came John Traskington, a Methodist minister, to aid Mr. Patterson. It was determined to hold a.camp meeting. A commit- tee was appointed consisting of David Holliday, Dr. John Logan and Col. George Creath, to superintend work on camp-ground. The site selected lies immediately north of Murphysboro, just where the brick-yard now is Two meetings were held on the grounds in the years of 1825 and 126 respectively. Rev. Peter Cartwright, celebrated for his natural powers and great eccen- tricity of manner and speech, preached the opening sermon on Sunday fore- noon. Rising upon the rude platform, he began his address as follows : " Brothers and sisters, I have one charge to give you this morning, that is look well to your baskets of provisions in camp, for I see a great many
breachy dogs on this ground, and we shall want some dinner after a while." After the burst of merriment occasioned by this queer opening had subsided, he announced. his text from Hebrews 3d chapter and 8th verse, “ Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation in the day of temptation in the wilder- ness." His discourse was able and impressive, causing many tears to roll down the cheeks of weather-beaten pioneers. There were many added to the church at these camp-meetings.
Capt. W. E. Talbott, a man well and favorably known, has been a citizen since 1822. Willis Crane, also well known, came in 1827, as also did the widow Asbury. Stephen Holliday, of Murphysboro', and George W. his brother, of Ora, have lived here all their lives. So, also, have the brothers, Whitson, of Big Hill. Peter Keefer, of De Soto, a native of Germany, remarkable for his fund of humor and store of ancdotes, came to the country in 1833, first locating at old Brownsville, which even then had passed its splendor, and was entering upon its decline. Col. D. H. Brush, was Circuit Clerk and Recorder, at the time of the fire which destroyed the court-house, and had been a citizen for some time previously. The Robinsons take rank amongst our oldest and best families. Judge Wm. N. Robinson, has spent his useful life in this county. The Tuthills, the Rosses, the M'Clures, the Schwartzes, the Kimmels, the Ethertons, the Gills, are among the sub- stantial old families, also the Worthens and Jenkins. Mrs. Henson, a daughter of William Boon, yet lives in the enjoyment of excellent health, in Big Hill. Mr. Bemingsen Boon is the oldest male citizen of the county. The Bradleys are all of the same stock, and are useful and worthy. J. H. Bradley was born in this county 56 years ago. Dr. Johnson, an unusually able physician, has been but a short time dead. His sonsare known through- out the country as capable and upright. Dr. James Robarts, a man of un- doubted skill in his profession, is also an old citizen of the county, as is Judge Swartzcope, the Coxs and Wilsons. But we forbear.
The chapter on the old settlers has been extended as far as space will per- mit. The township sketches will be found to supplement this chapter quite fully, and in the biographical department will be found in extenso, the lives of very many of the leading citizens of the county.
The information given in this chapter, has been gathered at much pains from many sources. That it does not contain all that would be of interest, we well know; that much has been rescued from decay we believe, and also think it will be found worthy of perusal.
May the lessons taught here, of the cost of the blessings bequeathed to us from former generations, not go unheeded, and may their influences make us worthy of the grand inheritance of liberty, of law, of religion and education, which we now enjoy, is the prayer of the author.
CHAPTER IV.
CUSTOMS OF EARLY DAYS.
HABITS, MODES OF LIVING OF THE PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS. RILEY'S MILL- OLDEST DEEDS-FIRST MARRIAGE RECORDS.
T is a trite, but true proverb, that " Times change and we change with them," which is well illustrated by the changes in dress, condition and life, that have taken place in our county in less than three-quarters of a century. We cannot doubt that these changes, as a whole, are for the better. To the old man, indeed, whose life- work is accomplished, and whose thoughts dwell mainly on the past, where his treasures are, there are no days like the old days ; no song awakens so responsive an echo in his heart as that of " Auld Lang Syne." The very skies that arch above his gray head, seem less blue to his dimmed eye than they did when in the adoration of his young heart he directed to them his gaze ; the woods appear less green and inviting than when, in the gaiety of boyhood, he courted their cool depths ; the songs of their feathered inhabi- tants, that flit like shuttles between the boughs, strike less melodiously upon his ear. He marks the many changes that are everywhere visible, regrets them, and feels like crying out, in the language of the poet,
" Backward ! turn backward ! oh time in thy flight !"
It.is natural for the aged to sigh for a return of the past, nor would we attempt the hopeless task of convincing them that with the changes of the years there have come also an increase in happiness, an improvement in social
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
life, a progress in education, an advancement in morality, and a tendency upward in all that relates to the welfare of mankind.
We may learn useful lessons, however, from a study of that land over which the pardonable, and fond imagination of the old settler has cast the " light that never was on sea or land," if we for a time withdraw our atten- tion from the dizzy activities of the days in which we live, to let the old resident take us by the hand and lead us back into the region of his youth, and observe the life of those who founded a grand empire in a great wilderness : if we for a time leave, as it were, the prow of the rushing ship, from which can be discerned a mighty future looming up before us, rich in promise and bright with hope, to take our place upon the stern and gaze backward into the " beautiful land of the past." And, too, we shall find cause for great thankfulness that the great Ruler of the universe has ap- pointed us the place He has in the " eternal chain of events." No doubt we shall be led to regret the absence among us of some of the virtues of dwellers in those early days. Gone is that free-hearted hospitality which made of every settler's cabin an inn, where the belated and weary traveller found entertainment " without money and without price." Gone, too, is the era of good feeling which made neighbors indeed neighbors, and which was marked by almost the entire absence of litigation.
A lesson may further be learned from a contemplation of the simple, strong, upright honesty and integrity of the first inhabitants of the county and state.
So rapid has been the progress in machinery, in the arts and their appli- cation to the needs of man, that a study of the manner in which people lived and worked only a half century back, seems like the study of a very re- mote age.
The whole county, now dotted with farm-houses and smiling villages, tra- versed by railroads and telegraphs, was at the time of the first settlement all unbroken wilderness, consisting for the most part of dense forests. The few insignificant prairies were barely sufficient to vary the monotony. Elk Prairie, so called because of the great numbers of Elk that resorted to its salt licks, was covered with grass, tall as a horse's back. This was the largest. Others were called Cox's Prairie, Manning's Prairie, Tuthill's Prairie, and Holliday's Prairie. The soil was richi, covered with many varieties of timber, and much of this was of large size. Several kinds of oak, the black and white walnut, the sugar maple, the becch, elm, &c. The inhabitants, invari- ably, at first made their homes on the water courses. Some came in carts, the children packed like sardines in a box, some in wagons, and many on horseback, with pack horses. It will be remembered that it was shortly after the revolution, and the whole country was poor, and in a sadly-miserable and crippled condition.
The settler brought with him the kecn axe, which was indispensable, and the equally necessary rifle ; the first, his weapon of offence against the pri- meval forests, the second, that of defence from attacks of his foe, the cunning child of the forest. His first labor was to fell trees to get a site on which to erect his unpretentious cabin, and a patch in which to plant cotton. His house was rudely constructed of logs, and in raising it he had the cheerful aid of his neighbors. It was usually from fourteen to sixteen feet square, and never larger than twenty feet, and was built entirely without glass, nails, hinges or locks.
The manner of building was as follows : First, large logs were laid in po- sition, as sills ; on these were placed strong sleepers, and on the sleepers were laid the rude hewed puncheons, which were to serve as floors. The logs were then built up till the proper height for the eaves was reached, then on the ends of the building were placed poles, longer than the other end logs, which projected some eighteen or more inches over the sides, and were called " Butting pole sleepers ;" on the projecting ends of these was placed the " Butting pole," which served to give the linc to the first row of clapboards. These were as a matter of course split, and as the gates of the cabin were built up, were laid on so as to lap about one-third of their length. They were often kept in place by the weight of a heavy pole, which was laid across the roof parallel to the ridgepole. The house was then chinked, and daubed with a coarse mortar. The house when completed was Indian proof, being provided with a heavy door which could be strongly barred at night and in times of danger. Port-holes were constructed through which defence could be maintained, and through which observation might be made in the morn- ing, by some member of the family, before the unbarring of the door. A huge fire place was built in at one end of the house, in which fire was kindled for cooking purposes-for the settlers generally had no stoves-and to furnish the needed warmth in winter. The utmost sociability and friend-
liness towards one another, growing out of their mutual dependence, pre- vailed amongst the settlers. They would go miles to a house raising, log- rolling or corn husking. The furniture of the house comported admirably with the house itself. The tables had four legs and were rudely made from a puncheon. Their seats were stools having three or four legs. The bed- stead was in keeping with the rest of the furniture, and-was often so built as to permit it to be drawn up against the wall during the day, thus afford- ing more room to the family. The entire furniture was simple, and framed with no tools but an auger and ax. Each settler had to be his own car- penter, and many displayed considerable ingenuity in the construction of implements for the farming utensils and furniture for the house. Knives and forks they sometimes had, and sometimes not. The common table knife was the jack-knife or butcher knife. The dishes were few and usually of peuter.
Horse collars were made of the plaited husk of the maize sewed together. They were easy on the horse's neck, scarcely ever chafing it, and, if the traces were tugs, would last for several years. Some used trace chains but most tugs made from raw hide. It was no unusual sight to see two horses attached to a breaking plow by tug traces, the single and double trees coupled with tugs, and fastened to the plow with tugs.
To illustrate the ready ingenuity of the early settlers, developed by their poverty, and remoteness from places where necessaries could be purchased, we borrow an anecdote, from " Ford's History of Illinois," related of James Lemon, a well-known pioneer of Monroe County, and an old style Baptist preacher. A farmer by occupation, " He manufactured harness as they were required. Being one day employed in plowing a piece of stubble ground, on turning out for dinner, as was his wont, he left the harness on the beam of the plow. His son, not differing from the proverbial minister's boy, perhaps, who had assisted him by removing the clogging straw from the plow with a pitchfork, remained behind long enough to conceal one of the collars, that he might have a playing spell while his father was occupied in making another. But his plot failed ; on returning after dinner and missing the collar, his father reflecting a few minutes, promptly divested himself of his leather breeches, stuffed the legs with stubble, straddled them across the neck of the horse for a collar, and plowed the remainder of the day bare- legged, requiring the assistance of his truantly inclined boy all of the time." At this day, to provide for such a mishap, half a day would have been spent in going to town after another collar, and the boy would proba- bly have gained his point.
The carts and wagons in use during territorial times were made often by the self-reliant settler, and it is said that their woful creakings,-for they had no tar,-could be heard for a great distance.
The women corresponded well with a description of the virtuous woman in the last chapter of Proverbs, for they " sought wool and flax and worked willingly with their hands." They did not, it is true, make for themselves " coverings of tapestry," nor could it be said of them that their " clothing was silk and purple," but they rose " while it was yet night and gave meat to their household," and they " girded their loins with strength and strengthen- ed their arms." They " looked well to the ways of their household and ate not the bread of idleness." They laid " their hands to the spindle and to the distaff," and "strength and honor were in their clothing." They raised their own cotton, which was picked and usually put up in the loft to dry. When they went visiting, instead of occupying their time as ladies now do with ele- gant embroidery or fancy needlework of some kind, they took a sack or poke of cotton along to pick. Often the good wife would want to have some help with her cotton, or in other words to have a cotton-picking, as it was called. She was not inferior in skill and finesse in managing her liege lord to the good wife of more modern times. Strategy was sometimes necessary in order to gain his consent. So she would say, " Husband you should call on the neighbors and have a barn-raising. It is too bad the poor horse has to stand out in the storms. You must get him a shelter." The heart of the sturdy settler would glow with pride as he reflected what a thoughtful wife he pos- sessed, and how considerate she was. So he would decide to have a barn- raising. Before he rode off to tell his neighbors and invite them to help him, his wife would carelessly say, " Husband, would you not as well invite the women also? I have some eotton I want picked, and now will be a good time to have it done." The man, all unsuspicious of the pardonable trick played upon him, and that what seemed to be an afterthought of his wife, was the principal in her mind, would cheerfully consent. The few neighbors that lived within a radius of eight or ten miles would be invited, to come on a specified day to a barn-raising, while an invitation would be extended to the
27
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
women to a cotton-picking. The good woman would be busily engaged for a day or more in preparations for the coming guests. Great quantities of provisions were to be prepared, for dyspepsia was unknown in that day and good appetites were the rule and not the exception.
It was customary to provide liquor for the men on such times, but no ex- cesses were indulged in. After the war of 1812 this could not be truthfully said. While inviting the company there was one important personage that was never forgotten, namely, the fiddler, usually a French darkey. After the day's work had been accomplished, out doors and in, by men and women, the floor was cleaned, and the merry dance began. The handsome, stalwart young men, whose fine forms were the result of their manly out-door life, clad in fringed buckskin breeches, and gaudily colored hunting-shirts, led forth the bright-eyed, buxom damsels, attired in neatly fitting linsey-wool- sey garments, to the dance, their cheeks glowing with health, and eyes speak- ing of enjoyment and perhaps of a still tenderer emotion.
After the cotton was picked, it was washed clean, balled and sunned, when it was ready to be carded into rolls. Then it was spun, on little or big wheels, into two kinds of thread, one of which was called the " chain," the other the " filling." The more experienced only spun the chain, the young- er, the filling. This was woven into cloth on what was known as " side looms," which were very simple, indeed, in construction. The frame work of it consisted of two pieces of scantling, running obliquely from the floor to the wall.
Later, Frame looms, which were a great improvement over the kind first noticed, came into general use. The fabric when woven was designated as " Home-made," and was yet to be dyed. The different colors were blue, cop- peras, turkey-red, light blue, &c. The fabric is usually plaid or striped, and the differing colors were blended according to the fancy of the fair maker. The women were very proud of their skill in manufacturing cloth, and vied with each other in the efforts to excel. Kaskaskia was at the time now under consideration, the great emporium of trade, and this was separated from the settlements by many a weary mile of hill and forest, so that even for their coloring matter they were forced to rely upon their own exertions. Indigo for the blue was cultivated in the garden, and copperas was obtained from the out-cropping coal mines.
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