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 9
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The wheel is an over-shot, and no more water is allowed to 'escape from the pond than is necessary to drive the machinery.
Such is a history of this ancient mill. All that now remains of the original structure is the northeast corner. This part of the building has stood through all the changes of its eventful existence, and its permanence would indicate that it may defy the corrosive attrition of another century.
A short distance in front of the mill stands a beautiful little mound, called " Mound Isabella," named in honor of Mrs. Edgar. Some fruit trees, planted by her and " Aunt Dice," are still growing upon this mound. This
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
negro woman was the house servant of Mrs. Edgar. she died three years ago, having lived one hundred years.
A spring of pure cold water gushes out of the side of the bluff, close to the place where Mr. Riley's store-house is now located, whose clear stream has slaked the thirst of those who brought the gerin of civilization to the Western world. A former age may claim it, and the associations of an- tiquity may cluster around it, but its waters are as fresh and pure to-day as when the first white man drank from its pebbly urn.
Mr. Riley established a store a few years ago close to his mill, and he has brought around him a very brisk and remunerative trade. In 1855, finding the capacity of the old mill inadequate to the demands of an increased popu- lation, and the increased growth of wheat, he commenced the erection of a steam-mill which has since gone into operation. Both mills may be kept running most of the year, by the water of the pond above described.
In 1818 the population increased but slowly, and but few immigrants came. In the previous year the first representative was elected from the new county. In 1818 Illinois aspired to a place amongst the sisterhood of sovereign states. In January of that year the legislature assembled at Kas- kaskia, prepared and forwarded to our delegate in Congress, Nathaniel Pope, a petition praying for admission into the Union. The petition was promptly presented, and the committee on territories to whom it was re- ferred, reported a bill for the admission of Illinois into the Union with a population of 40,000. The bill became a law April 18th, 1818. In pur- suance thereof, a convention was called to draft the first Constitution of the State of Illinois. This assembled in Kaskaskia in July, 1818, and com- pleted its labors on the 26th of the ensuing August. Jackson county was represented in this convention by her two most prominent and able citizens, Conrad Will and James Hall, Jr. A remarkable fact connected with Il- linois history is. that this constitution was never submitted to the people for their approval or rejection. At the time of the admission of Illinois into the sisterhood of states, it contained but fifteen counties as follows-we give them in the order of their organization-St. Clair, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson, Edwards, White, Monroe, Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington, Franklin; Jesse B. Thomas of St. Clair was chosen president, and William C. Greenup, Secretary of the Convention.
The first election under the new Constitution was held on the third Thurs- day, and two succceding days in September, 1818. The voters of Jackson County, elected Wm. Boon, as Senator for the term of four years, and Con- rad Will as representative for two.
It cannot be definitely ascertained what the population of our county was at the time Illinois was welcomed into the Union. In 1820 it was 1,542, in- cluding 39 slaves. It is probable that in 1818 it was not far from 1,200. " Of the fifteen counties organized at the adoption of the Constitution, the farthest north was Bond. Only about one fourth of the territory of the state was embraced in these counties. The settled portions of the state were all on a line drawn from Alton, via., Carlyle to Palestinc on the Wabash ; but within this area were large tracts of wilderness country of several day's journey in extent ; the settlements being mostly scattered along the borders of the great rivers. All the vast prairies north of this line, comprising the most fertile lands in the state, (?) and nearly every acrc of which was sus- ceptible of cultivation, ready cleared, and prepared as it werc for the hand of the husbandman, was a howling wilderness, uninhabited savc by the red savage and the prairie wolf.
There seems to have risen, before the early citizens of the State, no pro- phetic vision of the grand future of the infant Commonwealth ; their ears beard not the affluent tramp of the coming millions, that were to draw sup- port from her rich breast. Could they have discerned the mighty curve which the youthful State would sweep, how would their hearts have throbbed with pleasure, and their voices broken out into songs of joy.
THE OLDEST DEEDS.
We give below some old deeds transcribed from the records for this work. The oldest is given first, and is the earliest one on our records. All of the persons mentioned were men of prominence.
In 1784, John Edgar, who was an officer in the British navy, during the Revolution, fought against the colonies in their struggles for liberty. He had wooed and won an American lady whose sympathies were warm and deep for · the cause of the colonies. Mrs. Edgar was a woman of unusual talent and projected many plans by which British soldiers, who were tired of fighting against the cause of freedom, made their escape and joined the
Americans. Edgar was her confidant, and on one occasion, during his wife's absence, furnished three deserting soldiers with outfits prepared for them by her. The soldiers were apprehended and made to reveal the names of those who had assisted them, and . Edgar had to flee for his life. He remained awhite in the American army, formiug an intimacy with the youthful and chivalric La Fayette, but deeming the west a safer place for him, emigrated to Kaskaska. He had been wealthy, but his property .. was confiscated. His wife, however, saved from the wreck of their fortune, about $12,000, which she brought with her, two years later, to her western home. General Edgar was an Irishman by birth, and his separation from the service of Britain caused him no regret. He did much to stimulate the commerce of Illinois territory, by his enterprise, energy and sagacity. He traded extensively ili lands, and left large tracts at his death, in several counties, among them, Jackson, known to this day as the " Edgar lands." He filled many impor- tent offices with distinguished ability, and for many years was Major General of the Illinois militia.
John Rice Jones, one of the persons also mentioned in the deed, was the first lawyer in Illinois, who practiced at the bar. He began practice at Kas- kaskia in 1790, the year of his location there. He was a Welshman, born in 1750. He was an accomplished linguist, classically educated, and possessed a thorough knowledge of the law. He would have been conspicuous at any bar, and was a host in himself. He was a man of wonderful industry, and unlike most pioneers, was never idle. “ As a speaker, he was remarkable for his fearful power of invention." He moved from Illinois to Vincennes in 1803, and in the same year, was appointed a United States Judge of the Indian territory. He moved to St. Louis, and from there to Washington county, Missouri, and became one of the most prominent men in the State. He was a candidate, in opposition to Col. Tom. Benton, for the United States Senate, but was defeated by " Old Bullion." The Legislature soothed him by electing him one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of Missouri, which position he held until his death, in 1824.
William Morrison, was a wealthy and influential citizen of Kaskaska, and was the first of the name in the State. He was the father of Col. J. L. D. Morrison, uow of St. Louis.
The following indenture was made three years before the organization of the county.
This indenture, made the second day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and thirteen, between John Edgar, of the town of Kaskaskia in the County of Randolph, and Illinois Territory, of the one part, and John Rice Jones, of the County of St. Genevieve, in the Missouri Territory, of the other part,
Witnesseth : That the said John Edgar, for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar lawful money of the United States to him in hand paid by the said William Morrison and John Rice Jones, at or before the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained, and sold and, by these doth grant, bargain.and sell unto the said William Morrisou and John Rice Jones, their executors, * * * administrators and assigns, all that * tract or parcel of land, containing four hundred acres, situate at the Marrais Apacquois, and containing four hundred acres, which by the Commissioners of the Dis- trict of Kaskaskia was confirmed to the heirs of Joseph Davis, who con- veyed to the said John Edgar *
* To have and to * hold the said messuage, house, lots, lands and tenements, the said undivided moiety or half part or share of the said other tracts of land and premises above bargained and sold and each and every of them, with their and each and every of their appurtenances to the said William Morrison and John Rice Jones, their executors, administrators and assigns, from the day next before the day of the date of these presents, until the full end term of oue whole year from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended, yielding and paying therefor at the end of the said term unto the said John Edgar, his heirs and assigns, the rent of one pepper corn if demauded;
To the intent that by virue of these presents and by force of statute made for transferring of uses into possession, that these the said William Morrison and Jolin Rice Jones, may be in the actual possession of all and singular the said premises above bargained and sold and every part thereof, with the ap- partenances, and may thereby be enabled to accept and take a grant and release of the same, and of the reversion and inheritance to them and to the survivor and the heirs of such survivor to and for and upon such uses and trust interest and purpose as in and by the said grant and release shall be thereof directed and declared.
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
In witness whereof the said parties have to these presents set their hands and seals the day and year before written. J. EDGAR. [8.]
In presence of JOSEPH CONWAY, WILLIAM ARUNDEL.
Illinois Territory, \ 88. Randolph County.
Before me, the subscriber, one of the Justices of the Peace for said County, in his proper person came the within-named John Edgar, who acknowledged that the foregoing-instrument of writing from him to William Morrison and Jobn Rice Jones, dated the second day of May, in the year One Thousand eight Hundred and thirteen, to be his voluntary act and deed, so as the same may be recorded as such.
Given under my hand and seal, at Kaskaskia, this 30th day of March, 1814. WILLIAM ARUNDEL. [s.]
I, M. F. Swartzcope, do hereby certify that the foregoing deed is correctly transcribed from book "M," Pp. 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184 and 185, R. C. Illinois, Sept. 24th, 1866-
M. F, SWARTZCOPE.
We also give the first deed recorded after the organization of the County, and recorded by order of the Board of Investigation, June, 1843, by D. H. Brush, Secretary of Board.
The deed was originally recorded at Brownsville, the County-seat, in Book A, page 154 to 155, June 23rd, 1817.
County Commissioners to James Harreld :
DEED.
This indenture, made the 20th day of July, in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, between Jesse Griggs, Nathan Davis, and James Hall, Judges of the County Court of Jackson County, in the Illinois Territory, of the one part, and James Harreld, of the same county and territory, of the other part: Witnesseth that the said Jesse Griggs, Nathan Davis, and James Hall, as judges aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of sixty dollars, lawful money of the United States, to them in hand paid by the said James Harreld, to and for the use and benefit of the said county of Jackson, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, aliened, released, and confirmed, and by these pre- sents do grant, bargain, sell, alien, release, and confirm unto the said James Harreld, his heirs and assigns, all their estate, right, title. interest, property, claim, and demand whatsoever as judges as aforesaid of, in, and to all those two, several lots, or pieces of ground, described as follows, to wit : situate and being in the town of Brownsville, the seat of justice for the said county of Jackson, being numbered 14 and 15, and forming part of twenty acres of land conveyed to said Jesse Griggs, Nathan Davis, and James Hall, as judges as aforesaid, to and for the use and benefit of the said county of Jack- son, by Conrad Will, of said county, and Susanna, his wife, by deed bearing date the eleventh day of June last, filed in the office of the Clerk of the County Court of the said county of Jackson, and recorded in the Recorder's Office of the said county, and in the said deed thus described, to wit : "Situate on the north side of Big Muddy River, in the said county of Jack- son and contained within the following boundaries, to wit : Beginning at a post in the southeast of Section No. 2, in township No. 9, south range No. 3, west of the third principal meridian, and running north 40° E., eighty perches to a stake, thence N. 50° W., forty perches to a stake, thence south 50° E. to the beginning from which said post or beginning corner, a white oak, 18 inches in diameter, bears north 56° W., 31 links to a point, on the northerly bank of Big Muddy River, where the line between sections No. 2 and No. 11 strikes said river, forty poles easterly of the quarter-section cor- ner, bears S. 16° W. forty poles, containing twenty acres, and which piece or parcel of ground forms part or parcel of land containing 160 acres, being the southeast quarter of section No. 2 in township No. 9, south range No. 3, W., which said tract or parcel of land was entered by James Gilbreath with the Register of the Land Office for the district of Kaskaskia, in conformity to a law of the United States, providing for the location of confirmed unlocated claims as will more fully and at large appear, by a reference to the said entry on record in the office of the said Register of the Land Office for said district, and for which he, the said James Gilbreath, tendered in payment to the Receiver of Public Moneys for the said district of Kaskaskia, one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, being part of the confirmed unlocated donation claim of widow Marie Racine, of four hundred acres, and confirmed to
William Morrisson, as per the said Register's certificate of confirmation, No. 158 claim, No. 430, and which said part, to wit: One hundred and sixty acres was conveyed to the said James Gilbreath by the said William Morris- son and Eliza, his wife, by deed, bearing date the 26th day of October, one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, as will more fully appear by a refer- ence to said deed, on file in the said Receiver's office. Together with all and singular the rights, members, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the reversions and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof. To have and to hold the said hereby granted two, several lots or pieces of ground, with the appurtenances, unto the said James Har- reld, his heirs and assigns, to the only proper use and behoof of the said James Harreld, his heirs and assigns for ever. And the said Jesse Griggs,, Nathan Davis, and James Hall, as judges as aforesaid, the said hereby granted premises unto the said James Harreld, his heirs and assigns, against themselves as judges aforesaid, and their successors in office, and against all and every other persons and person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim, by, from or under them, or otherwise, shall and will warrant and for- ever defend by these presents.
In testimony whereof the said parties have to these presents set their - hands, and affixed their seals, the day and year above written.
J. GRIGGS, J. J. C. C. [Seal.]
NATHAN DAVIS, J. J. C. C. [Seal.]
JAMES HALL, J. J. C. C. [Seal.]
Sealed and delivered in presence of ( George Creath and James Harreld. S
Received the day and year within written of the within named James Harreld the sum of sixty dollars, being the full consideration money within mentioned, to be by him paid to us.
J. GRIGGS, J. J. C. C. NATHAN DAVIS, J. J. C. C. JAMES HALL, J. J. C. C.
Wittnesses present : George Creath. ) James Harreld. S
Charles Garner to James Harreld of the original filed in my office.
S. BOND.
The oldest marriage license is as follows :
" Jan. 14th, 1843. Issued marriage license to George M. Brown and Anna Cross. [Signed] DAN'L. H. BRUSH, Clk. Co. Com. Court."
We give two more :
" December 27, 1849. Issued marriage license to John Brown and Ade- laide Upperdale.
JOHN A. LOGAN, CIK."
" December 2nd, 1850.
Thomas Whitson to Susan Dillo.
C. THOMAS, Deputy Clerk."
CHAPTER V.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT-FIRST DEATH-FIRST VOLUNTEERS.
HE settlement of Jackson county began almost with the century. Prior to this period, the whole country was occupied by different tribes of Indians, many of them hostile to the white, and warring against one another. The tribe known as Kaskaskias, only a remnant of their former greatness, were dispossessed of their ancient inheri- tance, and driven southward by a stronger and more war-like band of red men,-and some few others were friendly to the whites, and craved and received protection of them, from implacable enemies of their own race. The white settlers were chiefly Canadian French, who had emigrated to the great valley of the Mississippi in the days of French rule, before the decisive con- flict on the Heights of Abraham and capture of the " Gibraltar of America," Quebec, and American English, from the east, who set their faces westward after that great historical event. There were settlements at Kaskaskia, six
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HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
miles from the mouth of the river of that name in Randolph county, at Prairie Du Rocher, at St. Geneviet Missouri, Cahokia and at St. Louis, now the me- tropolis of the Mississippi valley, thus forming a narrow strip along the great river, in what has long been known as the American Bottom. The first white person who visited the soil of Jackson, so far as known, were those from the northern settlements, who crossed the stream now known as Degog- nia Creek, for the purpose of making sugar from the maple tree. Undoubt- edly a good deal of sugar was made east of said creek, for years, before any permanent settlement was made in the county. The Indians, usually jealous, and quick to resent any intrusion of the hated pale-face, upon their hunting grounds, we are told, interposed no obstacles in the way of the sugar makers, but gave them plainly to understand they were welcome. At this time, an unbroken wilderness, filled with savage beasts and still more savage men, stretched itself south and eastward as far as the Ohio river, without a white settler. Dense, almost impenetrable thickets of cane, grew abundantly along bluffs east of Degognia creek, and in the bottoms rushes grew in the greatest abundance.
In the year 1802, the first permanent settlement was made in the county east of Degognia creek, by a man named Reed aud family, and another with his family, named Emsley Jones. Which came first is not now known. Mr. Reed, destined to a death of violence, chose as his future home, a fertile spot under the bluffs, near a creek which has been called after him, " Rced's creek ; " Jones settled iu the bottom, near a pond, afterwards knowu as " Joues' pond. These families came from the old settlement of Kaskaskia, in Randolph county ; further than this, but little is kuown of their former history. Reed, who is said to have been an industrious, iuoffensive and good man, went energetically to work, and soon had opcued, a small farm. No doubt be looked forward to the time when plenty should surround him as the reward of industry and frugality, and the hope of a better day dawning upon the lonely settlement, in the primeval forests, steeled his heart aud uerved his arm against the dangers which clustered around him. But far different was his fate. His neighbor, Emsley Joues, conceived a violent passiou against hin, and shot at, and killed him. This was the first murder committed with- in the limits of our county. After Jones had taken the life of his neighbor, he fled to a place known as Walker Hill. Here he was apprehended, taken from thence to the seat of justice, Kaskaskia, given a fair trial before a jury of his own countrymen, found guilty of murder, and expiated his great crime upon the gallows. As his was the first murder, so was he the first white per- son hung, whose murderous deed was done within the present limits of Jack - son county. The after fate of both families, that of the murderer and of his victim, is shrouded in mystery.
As early as 1780, a white explorer passed through Jackson county fromn the eastward to the river. His steps were followed ten years later, by a party of four who passed through the southeast portion of the county.
In the year 1800, a party of four pioneers and their wives camped for a week at Stone Fort, under the powerful protection of some Indian chiefs re- siding there, and passed on. In 1803, one of this party, Daniel F. Cole- man, returned and settled in what is known as section 33, and remained there until his death, which occured in 1814. His chief reliance for sup- port was hunting. What afterwards became of his wife and family is un- known. This settlement was in Makanda Township.
John Reynolds in his " Pioncer History of Illinois," a work most valua- ble to those who would know thoroughly the carly history of this mighty state, says that " Henry Noble and Jesse Griggs, settled on Big Muddy River, in 1804. Reynolds knew them both, and most probably got his in- formation directly from them. Some are yet living in our midst who well remember them both. Henry Noble was an old man, at the time. Jesse Griggs was probably thirty years old in 1804, and was married to a daughter of Mr. Noble. They were farmers and stock rearers. Mr. Noble and wife lived and died on the place first selected as their home. Jesse Griggs was long a useful and prominent citizen, and held important offices in the county. He was a member of the first county court, with Nathan Davis, and James Hall, Jr., as associates. It was made the duty of this court to locate the county seat, which was called Brownsville. After the location of the county's capital, Jesse Griggs moved with his family to it. It may be well to state here that the county seat had a name before a location, for the act of the territorial legislature, contained the specification that when a site for the county seat had been selected it should be called Brownsville. The sit- tings of the Legislature at this time were in Kaskaskia, then the seat of government.
Near these located John Phillips, a tailor, who, we may be sure, for some
years had but little work to do at his trade, John Bittle and Hugh McMil- len, with some few others. In 1805 or 1806, Wm. Boon, a native of North Carolina, related to the celebrated Daniel Boone, the first settler of Kentucky, who prompted by a spirit of adventure had left his father's house at the early age of eighteen, and traveled through Tennessee to Missouri, came to Jackson county and commenced an improvement under the bluff, east of Degognia. He built a house and opened a farm, and in the fall of 1806, or early in the spring of 1807, moved his family to their new home. He had been living since 1802, on the east bank of the Okaw or Kaskaskia River, a short distance below the town of that name, which at the period referred to, was the seat of fashion, refinement, wealth, and power in Illinois. He was a courageous man, and commanded a company of rangers for the protection of the settlements, during the war of 1812. His descendants are still living in the county. He was the father of Beuningsen Boon, who was born in Jackson County in the year 1807, at the old place mentioned above, where his father settled.
Further mention will be made of the descendants of William Boon in another part of the work. The biography of Benningsen Boon, who is con- nected most honorably with the annals of this county, will be found in this history. The year 1806 brought with it quite a number of immigrants. The study of the history of our county, developed the somewhat remarkable fact that immigration came in waves. Sometimes for several years there would be scarcely oue new settler to be welcomed, aud then, again, twenty or thirty families in one year would come to cast in their fortunes with those who had preceded them. One of these waves struck Jackson County in the year 1806. Prominent among those who settled this year was Col. James Gill, a man of education and moral worth. Col. Gill was born iu South Carolina in 1781. He left his native state in the days of his youth, and after some wanderings, settled on Mary's river, in the county of Randolph. In 1805 he was married to Janette, daughter of Alexander Gaston, Sr. He was colonel of a militia regiment during the war of 1812; was a man of great activity, aud possessed to a high degree the esteem of his neighbors, Soon after his marriage, he with his wife and his brother-in-law, William Gaston, settled at the Devil's Bake Oven. Here he opened a good farm and built a ferry-boat to ply be- tween the Illinois and Missouri shores of the Mississippi. He possessed some property and great energy, and soon had erected a double log cabin of the better class.
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