USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 45
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To particularize each settlement in the county and tell just where each family set. tled as they came in is not a task easily ac- complished. A list of the early settlers of the county has been given in different chap- ters, but it has been impossible to locate them all. Among the pioneers of Webber Township we may mention the following: Jacob Norton, Isaac Casey, Daniel Scott, Word Webber, H. Wade, William Dale, Peter Bruce, James Archie, Alexander Moore, James Bridges, W. Willett, William Green, David and Elijah Davis, Joseph Childers, James Hunt, Joseph Brown, etc., etc. Jacob Norton was a brother-in-law to Gov. Casey, and settled here about 1822. He remained but a few years and then went back to Ten- nessee and died there. Isaac Casey, one of the early settlers of the county, and who first located in Mount Vernon Township, came in- to this about 1538, and lived here a few years. But after the death of his wife in 1846, he broke up housekeeping and went to live with his children. Daniel Scott set- tled in the township in 1838. Webber came in 1840 and settled on the Fairfield road, but about the time of the war moved into Pendleton Township and located near Lynchburg. He was quite a prominent
man, and has the honor of giving his name to the township. Wade settled in the south part of the township, and was a plain, hard- working farmer. Dale came in early and carried on a tan yard-the first in the town- ship. The farm on which he settled is now owned by Levi Harris. Peter Bruce was originally from Virginia, came to Illinois and settled in this township in 1840. He made what was called the " Ridge road," a prominent thoroughfare in early times, but of which there is now no trace. It extended from the old Joseph Brown place to East Long Prairie, and was much traveled by the pioneers. James Archie was a " squatter," and "squatted" on the Ridge road. He stayed quite awhile, but left a short time before the war. Alexander Moore lived in the southeast corner of the township, and was a large stock-raiser for the time. Bridges settled on the place now owned by Leonard W. Bruce. Willett settled where Mrs. Carter now lives and opened a small farm. Green was among the first settlers in the township: the place on which he located is now owned by Mrs. Lancaster Green. It belonged awhile to Dr. Wood, a practicing physician here. He took the flux and died, and his wife went back to Indiana. The Davises were from North Carolina and came here about 1839-40. David settled where he now lives, near the Black Oak Ridge School- house; Elijah died on the place where he settled. Joseph Childers settled in the same neighborhood. He kept a large pack of hounds and was quite a hunter. Hunt set- tled on Two Mile Creek near its source. Joseph Brown was a very early settler on what is known as Spring Hill farm, so named from a fine spring that breaks from the side of a hill on the farm. Doubtless there were others entitled to mention as early settlers of the township, but we failed to learn their names.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
A great change has taken place in this sec- tion in the last half a century. Where the first pioneers crossed the border there are now no deer to pay the sportsman for trudg- ing through the forests and over the hills. Could the old hunters who used to enjoy their broiled venison and roasted coon around the evening camp fire come back here and see the wonderful changes that have taken place, they would doubtless turn away in supreme disgust at the signs of civiliza- tion that would everywhere meet their gaze. Aye, could they revisit these scenes of their youth, and behold their degenerate success- ors with no hunting grounds, no moccasins, no leather breeches, no flint-lock guns, broiled venison nor roasted coons. they would no doubt gather their mantles about them (their buckskin hunting-shirts) and lie down and die. Would not their big hearts burst asunder upon seeing the men of this day in plug hats and store clothes, riding in carriages and sleeping cars and chasing no other game than the metaphorical tiger up stairs behind closed blinds and nnder bright gas lights! Wonderful, wonderful the change the years have wrought!
Among the pioneer improvements were mills, roads, bridges, tan yards, etc., etc. Willett & Fagan built a mill about 1848. It was of very poor mechanical construction, but did good service for a number of years. James Hunt erected a mill on Two Mile Creek, which received its power from that stream. It was short-lived, however (the mill, not the stream, for it is there yet), and soon passed away. W. B. and Lewis Logan built a saw mill about the year 1867, the first ever in the township. William Dale had a tannery as early as 1841-42. All the shoes then that were worn at all were made at home. aud not bought at the store as now, and hence a tan yard was an important pio-
neer industry -- next, perhaps. to the mill. A free-stone quarry in the township was operated in an early day, from which mate- rial was obtained for building chimneys throughout the neighborhood.
The first road through the township was the road leading from Mount Vernon to Fair- field, and was known as the "Fairfield road." The Black Oak Ridge road was also an old road, and was made by Peter Bruce. Mr. Marlow, who settled here just after the Mex- ican war, was instrumental in getting a road entitled the " East Long Prairie road," di- verging from the Fairfield road at the seven mile bridge and running to Long Prairie. The township is now well supplied with roads, and where the more important roads cross the streams they are spanned by sub- stantial bridges.
Previous to the township system coming into vogue, the county was divided into election precincts, but in 1869 the county adopted township organization, when the whole system of government was changed and each township became a separate and distinct municipality. It may be a matter of some interest to some of our readers to give the township officers, the first of whom were elected in 1870. They are as follows:
Supervisors. - S. V. Bruce. 1870-71; J. Harlow, 1872-73; A. Marlow, 1874 to 1876; J. H. Newton, 1877-78; John Hopp er, 1879; W. B Esman, ISSO; D. S. Etlington, 1881; B. D. Esman, 1882; T. F. Moore, 1883.
Township Clerk .- G. T. Bruce, 1872; H. M. Maxey, 1873; J. H. Dulaney, 1874; J. H. Newton, 1875-76; B. Bruce, 1877-78: H. Benton, 1879; H. J. Benton, 1880; G. M. Davis, 1881-82; G. M. Davis, 1883.
Assessor .- W. H. Morris, Jr., 1872-73; J. H. Newton, 1874; J. B. Young, 1875; G. L. Bruce, 1876-77; B. D. Esman, 1878; W. B. Dulaney, 1879; W. S. Maxey, 1880;
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
William Dulaney, 1881; R. Yonng, 1882; R. S. Young, 1883.
Collector .- T. F. Moore, 1872; G. M. Watts, 1873; R. J. Scott, 1874; J. T. How- ell, 1875; B. D. Esman, 1876: B. G. Ward, 1877; J. T. Howell, 1878-79; R. C. Wood, 1880-81; E. W. Wallace, 1882; G. W. Ros- enberger, 1883.
School Treasurers. - J. W. Gregory, 1872- 73; Wiley Green, 1874; J. H. Dulaney, 1875 to 1878; J. C. Maxey, 1879; L. Harris, 1880; E. M. Green, 1881; T. D. Fry, 1882; L. R. Laird, 1883.
Highway Commissioners. - W. H. Morris, Sr., H. M. Richards, C. Gowler, E. Gentle, J. W. Gregory, E. Gentle, R. A. Allsbrook, L. W. Bruce, C. Gowler, L. W. Bruce, Will- iam Stone, W. F. Adams, A. Cook, T. Green, and W. T. Adams.
Justices of the Peace .- W. S. Davis and R. S. Young, 1870-73; O. J. Byard and R. S. Young. 1874 to 1876; Wiley Green aud A. Marlow, 1877; B. G. Wood and A. Mar- low, 1878; Wiley Green and A. Marlow, 1879-80; W. S. Dodds and B. G. Wood, 1881; W. A. Watson and B. G. Wood, 1882-83.
Constables .- J. M. Bruce, 1874 to 1876; O. J. Byard, 1877; J. T. Feltz, 1878-79; O. J. Byard, 1880; J. T. Feltz, 1881; and G. Keele, 1883.
Some years ago, during Squire Marlow's term as Justice of the Peace, a suit was being tried before him, to which M. Waters and Fayette Osborne were the parties, and the nature of which was " squatterism," or the right to a certain improvement. While the trial was going on a large rat caught a chicken in the midst of the court room, when some one with great gravity made a motion that the rat be fined for contempt of court. Fact!
A post office was established in 1875 in
the north part of the township called Pigeon Post Office, of which Mr. Partridge was Postmaster. It received its name from the great flocks of pigeons that used to roost in the low trees in the vicinity. It is said that millions of these birds might be seen there at one time. The early settlers used to kill great numbers of them.
Schools were taught in the township as soon as there were children to support them and money to pay teachers. One of the first schoolhouses was a log cabin erected on Sec- tion 28, on Black Oak Ridge. Among the early wielders of the birch within this primi- tive temple of learning, were Jehu Hodges, Joel Hawkins, John Vick, Brown and Davis. Another schoolhouse was built in the north part of the township, which was known as the Young Schoolhouse. Before this house was built, a school was taught in the old Council Bluff Church. The Barren School- house was, perhaps, the next one built. It received the name on account of the barren country around it. About the year 1850, the precinct was divided into four school dis- tricts. The township now contains six dis. tricts, in all of which are good, comfortable schoolhouses. The first School Trustees in the township (prior to township organiza- tion) were D. B. Davis and C. M. Casey.
The pioneers of Webber Township looked early to their spiritual welfare as well as their temporal. Meetings were held at private houses. Congregations assembled regularly in the old Ridge Schoolhouse, and preaching was held whenever a preacher came along. The first, religious society formed in the town- ship, perhaps, was the old Council Bluff Church. Among the early members were the Caseys, Maxeys and Johnsons, and Thomas Casey, A. Maxey and Simeon Walker were among the preachers.
The Black Oak Ridge Methodist Church
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
was organized about 1855. Among the orig- inal members were John Fagan and fam- ily, D. B. Davis and family, and Abraham Marlow and wife; the first class-leader was D. B. Davis. A flourishing Sunday school with about thirty pupils is maintained.
Hickory Hill United Baptist Church was organized in 1868, and the Dales and Davises were among the first members. Elder C. Richardson is the present pastor.
The Universalists and Adventists hold meetings occasionally. The Adventists have an organization, but no church building.
The Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad, commonly called the " Air Line," passes through Webber Township from east to west. There are two stations in Webber, viz., Marlow and Bluford. The latter was laid out about the time the road was opened for travel, and consists of but a few houses. It is located on the land of Evans and Crews,
citizens of Mount Vernon. The place con- tains two stores-Thomas Moore & Co. and B. D. Esman-a grocery and saloon, a saw mill, a shop or two and a few residences.
Marlow Station is situated on Section 30, on John Scott's land. Like Bluford, it is a small place and has sprung up since the building of the railroad. W. & H. Morris carry on a general store. A grain house was put up by Mr. Marlow, with wagon scales attached; he also owns a dwelling house here. A saw mill was started here and run one year by Dallas & Burk. It was portable, and hence has left the town. A post office was established in 1882, and Mr. Marlow appointed Postmaster. He resigned in April, 1883, and Mr. Morris was appointed in his stead. Drs. Newton and Hillard are the practicing physicians of the township, and care for the physical ailments of the people.
CHAPTER XIII .*
ELK PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-COMING OF THE PALE FACES -INCIDENTS OF THEIR SETTLEMENT-HARD TIMES, ETC .- ROADS, MILLS AND BRIDGES- SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES-CHURCHES, ETC .- TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS-VILLAGES, ETC.
" Should you ask me whence these stories, Whence these legends and traditions With the odors of the forest- I repeat them as I heard them." -Song of Hiawatha.
10 illustrate the life the people lived in r T the pioneer days of Southern Illinois, we give an extract from the diary of an early citizen of this portion of the State, and which was written in 1824. It is true of the times in which it occurred, and is as follows: "I well recollect the first time I ever saw a tea- cup and saucer, and tasted coffee. My moth-
er died when I was six years old. My father then sent me to Maryland, to school. At Bedford, everything was changed. The tav- ern at which I stopped was a stone house, and, to make the change still more complete, it was plastered on the inside, both as to the walls and ceiling. On going into the dining- room, I was struck with astonishment at the appearance of the house. I had no idea there was a house in the world not built of logs; but here I looked around the house and could see no logs, and above I could see no joists. Whether such a thing had been made so by
* By W. H. Perrin.
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
the hands of man, or had grown so of itself I could not conjecture. I had not the cour- age to inquire anything about it. I watched attentively to see what the big folks would do with their little cups and spoons. I im- itated them, and found the taste of the coffee nauseous beyond anything I had ever tasted in my life. I continued to drink, as the rest of the company did, with tears streaming from my eyes; but when it was to end, I was at a loss to know, as the little cups were filled immediately after being emptied. This circumstance distressed me very much, and I durst not say I had enough. Looking atten- tively at the grand persons I saw one person turn his eup bottom upward and put his lit. tle spoon across it. I observed after this his eup was not filled again. I followed his ex- ample, and to my great satisfaction the re. sult, as to my cup, was the same." This is the experience of a rough, backwoods boy. who had been raised in Southern Illinois when the country was but a wilderness. There are, however, many old people to be found who can give episodes in their own lives of equally as rude a character.
Elk Prairie Township lies in the south tier of townships in Jefferson County, and con- tains considerable fine farming lands, though it is rather rough and broken along the streams. The township is bounded on the north by MeClellan Township, on the east by Spring Garden, on the south by Franklin County, on the west by Bald Hill Township, and by Government Survey is Township No. 4, south of the base line, and is in Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. Big Muddy Creek flows south nearly through the middle of the township, receiving numerous small streams in its course. Casey's Fork touches the east portion, flowing in a south- erly direction between this township and Spring Garden. Along these streams was
originally heavy timber, and there is still considerable of it left, principally oak, hick- ory and walnut. The land is rather hilly and rough along the streams, but baek from them some distance it becomes of a more even surface, and has some small prairies. Elk Prairie, from which the township derives its name, is an excellent body of land, though of rather small extent. It takes its name from the number of bones and horns of elk found here by the early settlers. Some very excel- lent farms may be seen in this township.
Of the early experiences of Elk Prairie, there is little to be said. There was nothing out of the usual, every-day pioneer life to in- dividualize the community. It settled up much as other portions of the county did, and as other settlements were made. As to the name of the first settler in this division of the county, where he came from and the spot whereon he settled, we can say little, for we failed to learn anything definitely. Among the early settlers we can mention the Stephensons, William King, the Whitmans, Ezra Lanier, James and Martin Teeters, John D. M. Cockram, Willis Holder, the Pieketts and some ef the Wilbankses, and others whose names are not now remembered. The Stephensons-John, Edward and Isham -came from Tennessee, and settled here in an early day. William King first settled in Gun Prairie, but afterward came here. He was not very strict in his moral characteris- tics, and followed Solomon's lead in a plu- rality of wives. He finally sold out to Uriah Compton, took his brother-in-law's wife, leav - ing two or three of his own behind, and left the country. Cockram first settled here, but afterward moved into Spring Garden and set- tled near the village of that name. Teeters first settled in Moore's Prairie. Martin Teeters was James' father, and they came form Alabama originally. The old man did
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
not come here until some fifteen years after James Teeters had settled here. But we can not follow the settlement of the township further. So much has already been sai i in preceding chapters of this work, of the com- ing, the settlement and life of the pioneers, that anything further can be little else than repetition.
The experiences of the people here were similar to other pioneer settlements, as we have said. They lived in log cabins, wore home-made clothing, subsisted upon game and the products of the soil, and indulged in the recreations common to the rest of the county. With all the growth and activity, which assumes larger proportions in the re- cital than in actual experience, the commun- ity which gathered in what is now Elk Prai- rie Township, was essentially on the frontier at that time, and the people experienced all the hardships and discomforts incident to frontier settlements. For the first few years, supplies were brought from a distance; mills were built rather early, but owing to a lack of power or adequate machinery, most of the meal and flour were obtained only by going long distances and enduring tedious delays. The general settlement was of slow growth, but sure; here and there the smoke curled upward in the air from the scattered log cab- ins, as the busy pioneer protracted the clear- ing-up of his farm long into the night.
Deer were shot in large numbers, while wolves and panthers, "Congress hogs," a few bears and the whole class of small game found in this section, and afforded wholesome meals or rare hunting sport. The distance from any market was long felt among the farming community, and did much to retard growth and prosperity. But these inconveniences were lived over,aud as civilization increased, comforts and luxuries increased also.
Elk Prairie Township suffered from the
same inconveniences in the lack of roads and mill facilities. The first settlers used the mortar and pestle to pound their corn, the finest of which was used for meal and the coarser for hominy. A few years later, horse mills were built. These were a great im- provement on the mortar and hand mills, but we of to-day would think it a poor way to obtain bread. Some of the pioneers, doubt- less, still remember the bustle and prepara- tion for "going to mill." The shelling of the corn the day before, the rising long be- fore day in order to make the trip in one day if possible, the careful wrapping up in cold weather, the cautions about the creek or branch crossings, and the anxiety felt at home if " the boys " were gone much longer than was expected. But as settlements became more numerous, mills were built at shorter intervals, and the inconveniences in this re- spect passed away. The first roads were only trails through the township from one neighbor's to another's, or to the horse mill. But these also were improved and increased with the demand for them, and the settle- ments were soon well supplied with good roads. Bridges of substantial build now span the streams where all the important highways cross them, thus rendering travel comparatively safe and pleasant.
The early educational history of Elk Prai- rie Township is involved in considerable ob- scurity, and it is not definitely known now when or by whom the first school was taught, nor where the first pioneer schoolhouse was erected. At the present day the township de- votes as much attention to e lucational inter- ests as any portion of Jefferson County. There are eight good, comfortable school- houses, all well and commodiously furnished in the most approved style. These school- honses are located respectively on Sections 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 20, 27 and 32, and in them
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
good schools are annually taught for the us- ual terms by competent teachers.
Christianity in the township dates back to its first settlement by white people. Many of the pioneers had been active members of different churches in the States from whence they came, and this soon led to the organi- zation of religious societies here. Meetings were held in private houses, and in the sum- mer time in the groves until the building of schoolhouses, when they were utilized for religious worship as well as for school pur- poses. Thus churches were organized by these simple pioneers in an early day. There are now two church buildings in the town- ship. A Methodist Church near Mr. Dare's, which is a neat and substantial frame edifice. East of it is a Campbellite or Christian Church. The building was originally put up for a schoolhouse, but a few years ago the township built a new schoolhouse in the district, and sold the old one to the Chris- tians. They repaired it, and have made quite as neat and tasty church building of it. It has a good membership for a country church.
This township was originally Elk Prairie Election Precinct. In 1869. the county adopted township organization, when this became what it is now-Elk Prairie Town- ship. Since then. the following is a com- plete list of township officials:
Supervisors. - G. W. Evans, 1870-72; J. R. Knowles, 1873-74; G. W. Evans. 1875; J. H. Crosno, 1876; G. W. Evans, 1877; J. R. Knowles, 1878-80; L. M. Cole, 1881-82; S. H. Dolby, 1883, the present incum- bent.
Township Clerks-J. G. Gee, 1872-74; William P. Hamilton, 1875; B. S. Bowen- master, 1876-77; J. H. Wheeler, 1878; L. B. Kelso, 1879; T. R. Fox, 1SS0; J. B. Bos. well, 1881-83, now holding the position.
Assessors-Lewis M. Cole, 1872; G. G. Dolby, 1973; L. M. Cole, 1874-75; H. H. Hartly, 1876: William Dodds, 1877-78; L. M. Cole, 1879; William Dodds, 1880; H. H. Hartly, 1881; J. D. Dodds, 1882; S. Kirk, 1883, now in office.
Collectors-J. R. Knowles, 1870-72; A. J. Sweaton, 1873; C. C. Brown, 1874; Will- iam Graham, 1875; J. R. Knowles, 1876-77; G. G. Dolby, 1878-79; J. Stansberry, 1880; J. D. Dodds, 1881; S. P. Sheaton, 1882; J. B. Dougherty, 1883, the present incumbent. School Treasurers-Eli Gilbert, 1874; S. A. Block, 1875-77; Isaas Ward, 1878; J. W. Wells, 1879; S. A. Block, 1880-81; H. Wells, 1882; J. Loman, 1883, now in office.
Justices of the Peace-A. J. Sweaton, Eli Gilbert, W. Hampton, A. J. Sweaton, Eli Gilbert, H. R. Dare, A. J. Kelly, L. T. Coff- man. H. R. Dare.
Constables -W. T. Dare, L. T. Coffman, S. P. Shelton, J. Sulcer, J. H. Hestley, D. G. Peterson.
Highway Commissioners-J. J. Fitzger- rell, John Dodds, J. Wilbanks, J. G. Gee, John Doyle, J. Wilbanks, J. G. Gee, S. P. Shelton, S. H. Dolby, S. Hirons, J. Rowe, W. T. Peterson.
The village of Winfield was laid out by A. MI. Grant for J. J. Fitzgerrell, the owner of the land. It is situated in Horse Prairie, in the northwest quarter of the northwest quar- ter of Section 32 of Elk Prairie Township, and the plat is dated March 26, 1860. The original survey (which is all there is of the town) consisted of four blocks of four lots each. The first store in the village was opened by Isaac Boswell. Some years later the Wards opened a store. A Mr. Graham also opened a store. A mill was built by Isaac Clampet. It afterward passed into the possession of John Knowles, who operated it several years, and finally it became the prop-
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HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
erty of the Wards. They greatly improved it, and made it an excellent mill. Dr. Gee came to the place in 1867, and afterward married Mr. Fitzgerrell's daughter. Dr. White was also a citizen for some years, and then moved to his farm. A good school- house with a hall above was built some years ago. Also a church building has been erect- ed. The town is not as large as Chicago- perhaps it never will be-perhaps it has al-
ready attained its full growth. It is in the midst of a good farming region, however, and ought to be quite a prosperous place.
This comprises a brief history of Elk Prairie Township, from its settlement by the pale-faced pioneers to the present time. It is one of the fine agricultural townships of the county, and its citizens are an intelli- gent, industrious and prosperous class of farmers. No more need be said of them.
CHAPTER XIV .*
FARRINGTON TOWNSHIP-GENERAL TOPOGRAPHY, BOUNDARIES, ETC .- SETTLEMENT OF WHITE PEOPLE-EARLY INDUSTRIES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-VILLAGES-STOCK-RAISING, ETC.
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