USA > Illinois > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Illinois > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
* By W. H. Perrin.
397
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
side of the township. Adam's Fork has its source in the northeast part and flows west- wardly. These, with a few other small brooks, constitute the natural drainage.
Field Township has no railroads or mann- factories, but is thoroughly an agricultural region, and many prosperous farmers, whose well-kept farms are proof of their enterprise, are found here.
The settlement of Field Township is of much more modern date than some other portions of the county. Among the early set- tlers were the Fields, for whom the township was named. Jeremiah Field, the patriarch of the family, came to Marion County in 1826, but never lived in this township. Sev- eral of his sons, however, came here, among them Nathan, James and Henry Field. Thomas MeCrary settlel the farm now owned by John Osborne, in Section 17, and was from Alabama. He died about 1877-78, and left several children.
Thomas Jordan settled here very early, and lived near the line, in the prairie which bears his name, and which lies in this and Rome Township. He kept a tavern on the old Goshen road, and had a large family of children. The Jordans were among the ear- liest settlers in this portion of the State, but they first located in Franklin County, where they lived for some years and built a block. house. They afterward scattered out, and several of the name became settlers in differ- ent portions of Jefferson County, Thomas lo- cating in this township, as above. James Foster was an early settler, and improved the place where John McConnell now lives. Mr. Maxwell and David Garrison settled ear- ly; W. J. Garrison. a descendant, has always lived here. D. Easley settled the place now ocenpied by Alfred Finn. John and Benja- min Hawkins came in about 1840, and settled in Section 8. They were good farmers, and
came originally from Indiana. Thomas Mi- nor settled in the southeast part of the town- ship prior to 1840, and still lives there. W. D. Claybourn came about 1840, from Tennes- see, and is still here. Thus the township settled np, and the land was all entered and improved within a comparatively short time from the first settlements.
Field Township, as we have said, was of more modern occupation than some of the contiguous portions of the county. and hence the first settlers did not experience as great trials as some of the first pioneers did. Mills had already sprung up in many localities, and life was becoming quite easy to what it was when the first whites settled in the coun- ty. It was not all flowers and sunshine here, however, for a number of years. The people had their hardships and dangers, and enough of them, too, but they managed to outlive them and to see peace and plenty around them.
The old Goshen road was one of the first highways through Field Township, but so much has already been said of it that we will but make this reference to it here. As the township settled up. other roads were opened to accommodate the increasing population, and substantial bridges were built where they were needed. There are now some three or four good bridges in the township.
An amusing incident is related of the ear- ly history of Field Township, which is somewhat as follows: Thomas McCrary, who is mentioned as an early settler, was what was termed in those days an Abolitionist. He used to burn charcoal for a blacksmith named Storman, and the pit where he burned it was on big Muddy Creek. He burnt all the coal Storman used for several years. Blacksmiths then used charcoal entirely in their shops. Being an Abolitionist, MeCrary, of course, kept a station on the underground railroad,
398
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
a line that trafficked between the Slave States and Canada, and was more or less ob- noxious to his neighbors, according to their political sentiments. 'A man named Harmon living just over in Rome Township, had boasted that if any negroes came about him they would be roughly treated, etc. One day Andrew and William MeCray, two of Tom MeCrary's boys, blacked their faces at the charcoal pit and went to Harmon's. The women were washing at the spring, and when they saw the " niggers," they ran to the house for protection, very much frightened. The boys disappeared into the woods, and at the first branch washed the black from their faces and then joined the immense crowd that had turned out to hunt the " niggers," whom, we may add. they did not succeed in finding. The joke was too good to keep, and the MeCrary boys finally told it. This led to a regular " Donnybrook fight " on the next election day, between the friends of Harmon and the McCrarys.
The first schoolhouse in Field Township was built on Big Muddy on the Mccrary farm. It was a log cabin about sixteen feet square, and of the usual pioneer pattern, with its slab seats, puncheon floor and old- time fire-place. _ There are now in the town- ship six good, commodious schoolhouses, well furnished and well patronized during the school terms.
Field Township is well supplied with churches, and if its citizens are not religions it is for no lack of church facilities. Oak Grove Baptist Church, on Section 28, is a neat and tasty frame building. New Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, on or near the line of Section 25, is a handsome frame edifice. Panther Fork Baptist Church, on Section 11, is an excellent frame building. The Campbellites, or Christians, have a new frame church on Section IS, near the line of
Rome Township. Thus, as we have said, the people do not lack for church facilities.
As a matter of some interest to our read- ers, we append the following list of township officials since the adoption of township or- ganization in 1869:
Supervisors-John McConnell, 1870; John McConnell, 1871; John Sprowle, 1873; W. J Garrison, 1874; W. J. Garrison, 1875; W. F. McConnell, 1876; W. F. McConnell, 1877; John Hawkins, 1878; W. F. McCon- nell, 1879. W. J. Garrison, 1880; W. J. Garrison, 1881; W. J. Garrison, 1882; W. J. Garrison, 1883, the present incumbent.
Township Clerks-Thomas Rollinson, 1872; Thomas Rollinson, 1873; B. R. Car- penter, 1874: Thomas Rollinson, 1875; Thomas Rollinson, 1876; L. Frazier, 1877; H. Hawkins, 1878; Thomas Rollinson, 1879; E. McMeens, 1880; W. F. Simmons, 1881; W. F. Simmons, 1882; W. D. Deane, 1883, now holding the office.
Assessors-J. V. Garrison, 1872; James Brown, 1873; T. B. Cady, 1874; J. M. Ben- nett, 1875; B . J. Hawkins, 1876; B. J. Haw- kins, 1877; E. H. Howard, 1878; E. H. Howard, 1879; R. Raynor, 1880; R. Raynor, 1881; C. F. Hawkins, 1882; R. Raynor, 1883. now in office.
Collectors-B. F. Wimberly, 1872; B. R. Carpenter, 1878; T. Rollinson, 1874; J. F. Satterfield, 1875; J. F. Satterfield, 1876; J. G. Howard, 1877; J. G. Howard. 1878: D. Thompson, 1879; James Brown, 1880; T. H. Wimberly, 1881: James Brown, 1882; J. D. Simmons, 1883, now holding the position.
School Treasurers .- Elias Howard, James Brown. T. H. Wimberly, J. A. Donahoo, M. M. Howard, D. Price, W. F. McConnell, J. Sechrest, D. Price.
Highway Commissioners-John Hawkins, C. D. Frost, S. W. Maxey, John Hawkins, W. J. Garrison. R. Smith, J. J. Williams,
399
IIISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
W. J. Hawkins, R. Padget, J. J. Williams, J. J. Connoway, R. Pagdet, etc.
Justices of the Peace-John Sprowle, Jos- eph Hawkins, J. T. Hutchinson, Joseph Hawkins, J. G. Darnell, Joseph Hawkins, C. M. Whitsen, J. G. Darnell, C. M. Whitsen, etc.
Constables-William Myers, F. C. Quick, T. H. Wimberley, J. J. Hawkins, H. P. Field, M. Bradford, J. E. Gibson.
Field Township contains little to write about, except the mere fact of its settlement,
as it is without towns, without railroads and without manufactories. Its population is de- voted chiefly to farming and stock-raising, and are an industrious and prosperous peo- ple. One of the largest stock-raisers in the township is John McConnell, who devotes his attention to horses, cattle and Cotswold sheep, of which he has some fine animals. Others, also, devote more or less time and attention to stock, and every year stock-rais- ing, as a business, is increasing in inter- est.
CHAPTER XVIII .*
CASNER TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLEMENT-ROUGH FARE OF THE PIONEERS-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-POLI-
TICS, ETC .- ROACHVILLE VILLAGE, THE CHICAGO OF THE COUNTY, ETC., ETC.
" Ha! how the woods give way before the step Of these new comers! What a sickening smell Clings round my cabin, wafted from their town Ten miles away." -- Boone.
"THERE are few now living who were here when Jefferson County was formed. Conld you, who have only seen the country as it now is, borrow their eyes, and through them look back over the long past, what an amazing sight it would be to you! The won- der of Rip Van Winkle was not greater when he woke from his long nap in the Catskill Mountains, and discovered himself no longer the loyal subject of George III, but the free and sovereign citizen of the greatest country upon which the sun shines, than would be yours could you look back and take in at a glance the then state of the country in all its primitive glory. What illusions it would dispel, what a change it would produce in your conclusions regarding your county, and
the pioneers who settled it and wronght the wonderful changes that have taken place. Men are great and good in this world accord- ing to the lives they have lived, and the work they have performed. The true story of the early settlers of Southern Illinois has never been told. It should be; and when it is, they will receive their just meed of praise. Then it will be seen that they are true heroes and heroines. They were not seeking fortunes, nor fame; they were intent only upon making a home for their children, and they loved freedom to that extent that they took their lives in their hands and faced death in all its forms, and laid the foundations of all this splendid structure of civilization we see around us, that brings us all our pleasures, our wealth and our joys. Compared to the battles and victories of the celebrated war- riors of the world, the work of these unpre- tentions, unassuming, unambitious men should tower above the warriors and states-
* By W. H. Perrin.
400
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
men in the annals of the great, as does the mountain above the mole-hill. Better men and women never lived than these noble- hearted pioneers, and it is simply shocking- almost criminal-that their descendants are so utterly ignorant of the true story of their great lives. They had no churches, no schools, no courts, no officers of the law. Their law was the imperial court of an hon- est, healthy public sentiment, and if in the course of their lives they found a dishonest man, they punished him to that extent, and so swift and unerring were their judgments and convictions that they either drove the wrong doer from the settlement or cured him completely and made an honest man of him. This was the way they lived out their great lives, doing good and building wise in their day and generation. They are gone now, and we shall nevermore behold the like of them; we can only put upon record their lives and their acts, and thus preserve them from be- ing utterly lost to their descendants.
Casner Township, to which this chapter is devoted, is situated west of Mount Vernon, and contains some as fine farming land as there is in the county. The surface is gen- erally level, with gentle, undulating swells, resembling the ocean after a storm. The western part of it, along the Washington County line, is fine prairie land, while the remainder was originally covered with tim- ber, among which were to be seen the varie- ties of oak, walnut, wild cherry, hickory, ash, locust, a good deal of hazel, sumac, etc. The township is bounded on the north by Grand Prairie Township, east by Shiloh. south by Blissville, west by Washington County, and forms Congressional Township No. 2 south, and Range 1 east. The princi- pal stream is Rayse Creek, a branch of Big Maddy, and which flows nearly through the center of the township; a few unimportant
branches flow into this stream, but 'they are without names on the maps.
The history of the settlement of this town- ship by white people is but that of the set- tlement of the entire county. The name of the very first settler of Casner Township is somewhat indefinite; but among the first set- tlers was George Casner, for whom the town- ship was named. He settled on Section 19 or 20 about the year 1824, and was from Vir- ginia. He had quite a large family of chil- dren, and was twice married. He died only a few years ago, and his widow is still living on the old homestead. Mr. Casner is de- scribed as a most estimable man, somewhat quick and loud spoken, but kind and affec- tionate in his family. He accumulated quite a little fortune, but through misfortune lost much of it, and died comparatively poor. About the time Casner came to the township, there came a man named Howell, and shortly after him Alva Clark. The latter settled near Casner and died in 1847. William Burris also settled near by. He died, leav- ing a large family of children -- among them a son who died in the late war. Solomon Patterson came here from Monroe County, and settled in Section 31, about the year 1837. He lived here awhile, and then moved into Moore's Prairie, where he, later, died. Harvey Creel also settled here in 1837. He came from Clinton County, had a large fam- ily, but all or most of them have moved away. A. M. Daniels settled on Section 6, and died in 1845. T. B. Lacy came from St. Clair County with his father, in 1834, to " move" a man named John Holt, whose father, Robert Holt, lived in Shiloh Town- ship. A man named Johnson was then living on the place where Mr. Lacy now lives. Johnson has moved away from the township. The place was originally settled by Walter Bean, who was a regular Daniel Boone for
401
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
hunting. He was also very fond of bees, and spent much time in hunting "bee-trees" and gathering wild honey. Mr. Lacy first settled in Blissville Township, but afterward in this. William Champ was among the ear- ly settlers in the eastern part of the town- ship. Other families came in, and the land was rapidly settled.
In illustration of pioneer life, we make the following extract from a sketch by Mr. John- son. " Coffee was not much used, as it cost 50 cents a pound, and had to be brought from Shawneetown or Kaskaskia at that. Meat was plenty. but bread was scarce. Meal had, at first, to be brought from the Wabash River. William and Isaac Casey constructed a little hand mill that would grind a bushel or two in the course of a day, and they did well. But many of the first settlers had to beat their meal in a mortar. One family had a big kettle, which they used for a mortar; but generally the mortar was a stump with a basin burnt in the top of it. Over this was suspended, by a sweep, a huge billet of wood. This billet of wood was brought down upon the grain in the mortar, the sweep raised it, and so thump. thump, the pounding went on till the grain was broken small enough to make bread. Another style of mortar was a huge block, and the pestle was a maul with an iron wedge in the end of it. This was used in bad weather, as it could be brought within doors. The meal was sifted and bread made of the finest. while the coarser was made into hominy. In early au- tumn, meal was grated and bread made of this meal was baked on a board or in the ashes, and was very delicious." What would the young people of the present day think of such fare? But even this was relished and enjoyed by the people then. However, we would think ourselves on the eve of starva- tion were we forced to live on it now, in this fast age of the country.
As population increased, mills were built, and the mortar and pestle were " laid on the shelf." Severs had a mill near Muddy Creek, and a Mr. Carroll started a tannery about 1849-50, in the western part of the township. He was finally killed in a saw mill. One of the first roads through the township was the road from Shawneetown to St. Louis, pass- ing through Mount Vernon and this town- ship. Several good, substantial bridges span the streams, thus rendering local travel safe and pleasant. George Casner was a black- smith, and started the first shop of the kind in the township.
Since the adoption of township organiza- tion in 1869, the following is the complete list of township officers:
Supervisors-E. B. Harvey, 1870; W. H. Brooks, 1871; E. B. Harvey, 1872; William R. Champ, 1873; William Goaker, 1874; T. B. Lacy, 1875-76; J. P. Morgan, 1877; T. W. Harvey, 1878; J. H. Watkins, 1879; W. B. Pickett, 1880; W. P. Champ, 1881-82; W. J. Bledsoe, 1883, the present incum- bent.
Township Clerks-W. R. Champ, 1872; Thomas Kelly, 1873; J. H. Spillers, 1874; W. J. Bledsoe, 1875-76; J. Fairchild, 1877; William J. Bledsoe, 1878; C. P. Schmidt, 1879; C. P. Schmidt, 1880; William J. Bledsoe, 1881; C. P. Schmidt, 1882; J. W. Fuller, 1883, now in office.
Assessors-James Wood, 1872; J. H. Wat- kins, 1873-74; F. M. Wright, 1875-76; M. A. Bond, 1877-78; T. P. Champ, 1879; F. M. Wright, 1880; T. W. Harvey, 1881; M. A. Bond, 1882-83, now holding the posi- tion.
Collectors -Hiram Casey, 1872; A. J. Bal- dridge, 1873; W. R. Champ, 1874; W. R. Champ, 1875; F. Champ, 1876; R. J. Burch, 1877; R. J. Burch, 1878; M. M. Clark, 1879; M. M. Clark, 1880; R. J. Burch, 1881;
102
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
William Cobb, 1882; W. R. Champ, 1883, the present incumbent.
School Treasurers-William Gray, Hugh Flanagan, A. Carroll, Thompson Lacy, J. M. Severs, Thompson Lacy, A. Hogshead, W. R. Champ, now in office.
Highway Commissioners -- Henry Williams, A. W. Downs, T. J. Gaskins, S. P. Creel, M. C. Knowlton, S. White, W. H. Edwards, H. M. Smith, H. H. Matthis, J. Watkins, J. C. Carson, H. Williams.
Justices of the Peace-W. B. Pickett, Jos- eph Turney, W. B. Pickett, H. Wood, W. J. Bledsoe, T. Kelly, present incumbent.
Constables-Joseph Harvey, J. B. Moore, W. H. Gardner, John Severs, James P. Car- roll, J. P. Morgan, William Rogers, J. H. Hicks, J. M. Severs, Byron Moore.
The voting place of the township is at Roachville, and the sturdy yeomanry poll a large majority at all important elections for the Democratic party. Indeed, it is said that many still vote for Thomas Jefferson and Gen. Jackson, and as for Stephen A. Doug- las, he could be elected to any office in Cas- ner, from Constable to l'resident of the Unit- ed States, by an overwhelming majority.
The schools of the township are scarcely up to the standard. The log schoolhouse may still be seen here, though there are several neat frame schoolhouses. There are in the township six, all told, and in these schools are maintained for the usual terms each year.
The first religious meetings were held in a grove near Casner's. Preaching used to be had at Mr. Patterson's before there were any churches built. Reynolds Chapel, a Meth- odist Church, was organized in 1876. It is
a frame building, and has but a small mem- bership. Samuel Reynolds made a profes- sion of religion on his death-bed, and in honor of him the church was organized and given his name. Elijah Lacy was among the early ministers. Religious meetings were also held by the Methodists at the house of Mr. Bean, on the farm where T. B. Lacy now lives. Rev. Mr. Striblin was also an early preacher in this section. A flourishing Sun- day school is held in the schoolhouse at Roachville.
Roachville, on the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, about ten miles west of Mount Vernon, is somewhat larger -- smaller, we mean- than Chicago. It was laid out !April 6, 1870, by John D. Williams, for David Roach, the owner of the land upon which it is located. The place comprised four blocks and forty lots. A storehouse was built by Roach, in which Frank Pease, from Ashley, opened a store. He was followed by Mr. Woods. Benjamin Cole opened a blacksmith shop. A Mr. Quackenbush built a mill and sold it to Abram Severs; the latter afterward sold it to Mr. Fairchild. This, with a few dwelling-houses, comprises all that has ever been of Roachville. It probably never will be much greater, though it is surrounded by an excellent country, particularly on the west.
Casner Township ought to be one of the finest farming regions in the county. It has considerable good land, that is well adapted to grain and fruit. Stock-raising, too, might be made profitable. Energy and enterprise alone is needed to make Casner one of the leading townships of the county.
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
405
CHAPTER XIX .*
DODDS TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTION AND TOPOGRAPHY-COMING OF THE WHITES-EARLY FACTS AND INCIDENTS-THE MAIN SETTLEMENT-ROADS, FIRST MILLS, ETC .- EARLY SCHOOLS-MODE OF PAYING THIE TEACHERS -- FIRST PREACHERS
AND CHURCHES-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, ETC., ETC.
" Go, till the soil," said God to man, Subdue the earth, it shall be thine;
How grand, how glorious was the plan ! How wise the law divine:
And none of Adam's race can draw A title, save beneath this law, To hold the world in trust;
Earth is the Lord's and He hath sworn
That ere Old Time has reached his bourn. It shall reward the just."-Mrs. Hale.
R ECORDS of the olden time are inter- esting, and they are not without lessons of instruction. We follow in the footprints of the adventurous and enterprising pioneer, and see him, as it were, and his labors and struggles in the wilderness as he converts it into a fruitful field. We sit by his cabin fire and listen to the accounts which he gives of frontier life, and the hardships, trials, dangers and sufferings of himself and family in their efforts to make for themselves a home in regions remote from civilization. and unexplored hitherto by the Anglo Saxon. Through these pioneer recitals we make our way to the present, and from small begin- nings we come to the mighty achievements of industry. Following on in the path of improvement. we see the once waste places rejoicing under the care of the husband man; arable farms are spread out before us; schools have been established, churches built and a Chrsitian ministry sustained. All this and more, but space will not allow elaborate reflections.
ยท By J. M Runk.
The division of the county to which the reader's attention is now directed is the out- growth of later development. As the inhab- itants of other States flock in and make set. tlements, precincts are formed, which are afterward divided and subdivided, and iu 1869 the present township of Dodds was or- ganized. Jefferson County, for many years prior to its division into townships, com- prised a number of precinets, and the terri- tory that now constitutes Dodds Township was known as Jackson's Precinct. The township thus designated inchides thirty-six sections, and is known as Township 3 sonth and Range 3 east. It is bounded on the north by Mount Vernon, on the east by Peu- dleton, on the south by Spring Garden and on the west by McClellen Township. The original character of the country included within these limits was part " barrens " and part true prairie. Moore's Prairie includes a portion of the sontheast sections of the township. Another, named " Cub " Prairie, from the amount of cubs seen and caught there by the early inhabitants, is of consid erable importance. The soil of the woodland is a light yellow clay, which is partienlarly adapted to wheat-growing. The prairie soil is rich and productive of wheat, corn, rye. oats, and almost all kinds of vegetables. The natural drainage is toward the southwest. The Casey Fork, one of the prominent attlu- ents of " Big Muddy Creek," enters near the center of the northern boundary and takes a
18
406
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY.
diagonal and zizgag course to the southwest corner. Seven-mile Creek is a stream of some importance and empties into Casey's Fork. On the high grounds and along the streams are to be found considerable timber, such as white, jack and black oak, hickory, sycamore and various kinds of shrubs. But little attention has ever been paid to stock- raising. but the farmers have engaged in a kind of mixed husbandry. Within the last few years, they have conceived the idea that stock-raising could 'be made remunerative, and they are adding to and improving their flocks and herds as fast as their means will
allow. Samuel Gibson is the principal dealer in cattle in the township. He bas lately purchased a few short-horn and Dur- ham cattle and some fine Cotswold sheep. In the early days, there was an abundance of game, as was found everywhere in the coun- ty. Deer and small game abounded and con- tributed to the early settlers' larder as well as to their sport. Wolves infested these wooded slopes and made havoc with the young stock; but the bustle and hostility of the new-comers soon 'drove them out of the country.
A generally accepted tradition is that the first settlement made and the first cabin raised in what is now Dodds Township was by James Dodds, whose advent into this new territory was prior to the year 1818. After him the township was named, and it is not too much to say that his namesake has done him justice. It to-day ranks among the most valuable districts of the county. Dodds' first important business was the same as that of all other adventurers upon their arrival in a new territory-that of building a house. Until this was done, himself and family had to camp on the ground or live in their wag- ons-perhaps the only shelter they had known for weeks. So the object of building a
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.