USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 16
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OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
The first church erected in Otter Creek Township was a one-story frame building, one-half a mile south of the stone schoolhouse, by the
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Methodist denomination, and called Wesley chapel. In 1858, this de- nomination built a new brick church one-half a mile east of the stone schoolhouse, which was used for many years before it went into decay. This congregation are now worshipping in a frame house known as the "Cumberland Presbyterian Church" in the center of Otterville. The Baptists in Otter Creek Township originally worshipped in the second story of the old stone schoolhouse. Some years after the close of the Civil War, they erected a brick church on the Hamilton Primary School lot, near the old stone schoolhouse, which very comfortable structure they still occupy.
GRAFTON
In the carly forties, the Methodists at Grafton built a small frame church on the top of the hill back of the Keyes residence. In 1857 the present brick church was built and it has been in use from that time until the present, and is still a very comfortable place of worship. The denomination own a building east of the church, which is used as a parsonage.
HARTFORD
The Methodists erected a frame church at Hartford, which is about six miles west of Grafton, near the Illinois River. They erected another church at Rosedale.
JERSEYVILLE
The Baptists, after their organization, worshipped for a time in the courthouse, and then erected the large building opposite the northeast corner of the courthouse square, now owned by Judge George W. Hard- man. Later a new church was built on the southwest corner of Pearl and Washington streets, and completed about 1856. This church later was remodeled at a great expense, and in 1916 it was demolished, and the present commodious and modern church was erected and dedicated in 1917. It is very complete and modern in all its appointments and arrangements. Rev. Joseph Jenkins was pastor during its erection, and is still in charge of it.
The pastors of the Baptist Church at Jerseyville since its organiza- tion were as follows: Elijah Dodson, 1841 to 1845; Elihu J. Palmer, 1845 to 1846; Joel Terry, 1846 to 1847; William F. Boyakin, 1847 to 1848; Justus Bulkley, 1849 to 1853; David P. French, 1853 to 1861; L. C. Carr, 1861 to 1864: J. N. Hill, 1865 to 1871; P. P. Perry, 1872 to 1874; C. R. Lathrop, 1875 to 1876; C. E. Taylor, 1876 to 1881; D.
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Heagle, 1882 to 1884; C. H. Moscrip, 1884 to 1886; W. H. H. Avery, 1887 to 1891; J. J. Porter, 1892 to 1899; J. A. Ford, 1900 to 1904; W. W. Hicks, 1904 to 1912; Rev. Reynolds from 1913 to 1915; and Joseph Jenkins, 1915 to the present time.
The First Presbyterian Church of Jerseyville was a small frame structure, erected at the corner of State and Carpenter streets. It was used to hold the session of the circuit court in the spring of 1840. This church has had additions made to it at different times. A belfry was erected and a church bell installed therein in 1882, and was used until the present commodious and elegant church building was erected of Grafton stone. The original members of this church were as follows : James Lumsden, Reuben Page, Mrs. Elizabeth Page, Joseph Gerrish, Mrs. Elizabeth Gerrish, Mrs. Miriam Tunene, Dr. Alexander Buritt, Mrs. Nancy Buritt, N. M. Bosworth and wife, John Anderson and wife, Matilda McGill and Mrs. Sophronia Adams.
The pastors of this church have been as follows: Revs. Amos P. Brown, from October, 1835 to 1840; Joseph Fawler, 1840 to 1843; Lute Lyons, 1846 to 1850; George C. Wood, 1850 to 1855; Lemuel Grosvenor, 1855 to 1858; C. H. Foote, 1867 to 1873: James W. Stark, 1883 to 1896; Ira C. Tyson, 1897 to 1900; William H. Kearns, 1901 to 1904; J. G. Klene, 1905 to 1906: Thomas F. Marshall, 1906 to 1908; W. H. Jordan, 1909 to 1913; W. S. Neely, 1913 to the present time. The last names of the pastors serving from 1858 to 1867, and from 1873 to 1883, have not been found on record.
The pastors of the Jerseyville Methodist Church since it was made a station have been as follows: Revs. S. H. Culver, 1852 to 1853; A. L. Risley, 1853 to 1854; J. W. Caldwell, 1854 to 1855; C. H. Houts, 1855 to 1857 ; H. B. Taylor, 1857 to 1859 ; J. B. Carrington, 1859 to 1861; Joseph Earp, 1861 to 1862; John W. Van Cleve, 1862 to 1864; William Cliffe, 1864 to 1866; J. W. Caldwell, 1867 to 1869; W. H. Reed, 1869 to 1871; John W. Phillips, 1871 to 1873; Fred L. Thompson, 1873 to 1876; D. W. Phillips, 1876 to 1879; J. R. Van Cleve, Jr., 1879 to 1880; Eugene May, 1881 to 1882; C. E. Cline, 1882 to 1883; Francis M. Van Tresse, 1883 to 1885; Jonathan A. Scarritt, 1886 to 1887; John Leeper, 1888 to 1890 ; Joseph Earp, 1891 to 1892; Nathaniel Crow, 1893 to 1895; Calloway Nash, 1896 to 1897; George W. Shephard, 1897 to 1898; Calloway Nash, 1898 to 1899; C. B. Besse, 1900 to 1902: J. O. Dee, 1902 to 1906; Rev. Shouse, 1906 to 1907: J. W. Jones, 1907 to 1910; O. L. Markman, 1910 to 1912; E. T. Carroll, 1912 to 1916; and F. O. Wilson, 1916 to the present time.
J. J. Grimes
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
The first Catholic service ever held in Jerseyville, and perhaps in the county, was at the home of William Shephard in the fall of 1841, Rev. Father Hamilton officiating. Previous to 1839 Thomas Carroll, Mrs. Mary Cummings, and the Carroll family, who resided at Otter Creek, were the only Catholic families in this county. The number was increased that year by the arrival of William Shephard, James Flan- nigan and William Kelly, the latter being the first man ever married by a priest in Jersey County, which ceremony occurred in 1839, Father Hamilton officiating.
After Father Hamilton, Father Carroll of Alton occasionally visited Jerseyville and held services in the private homes and in the court- house. In 1848-49, William Shephard, Fred Bertman and William Kelley purchased from J. A. and C. J. C. Barr a lot of ground on which to build a church; but it was not until 1857 that the erection of a small frame church was commenced, and in the latter part of July, 1858, was dedicated by the Right Rev. H. D. Juncker, bishop of Alton. Father Mangan was the first priest permanently located in Jerseyville, which was in August, 1858, and he remained there until April, 1860, when he was succeeded by Father Morrill, who remained until Feb- ruary, 1861. His successor was Father Laurent. During the five-year ministry of Father Laurent he had a comfortable and commodious parsonage built, and bought ground for a cemetery. He remained until February, 1865, when he was succeeded by Father Hovius, who was succeeded by Father Sullivan. During the ministry of Father Sul- livan the foundations of the new church were commenced, as the old frame church which had been used for the past ten years was found too small, and removed to another part of the city, where it is used by the society for church purposes and for a day school.
The cornerstone of the present splendid edifice was laid in May, 1868, with appropriate ceremonies by Bishop Juncker of the Alton diocese. This building was dedicated July 4, 1861. The main building of the church is 55x110 feet, and is built in the early English style. The height of the tower from the pavement is 140 feet. It has the most imposing location in the city, and seems to be standing in the middle of the four principal thoroughfares coming into the city from the four points of the compass. The church has a seating capacity of 800 on the main floor, and 250 in the gallery, making a total seating capacity of 1,050 persons. The structure was planned by William
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Embly of Jerseyville, and erected in the best of workmanship manner, at the cost of $25,000.00.
On December 1, 1868, Rev. Father Harty succeeded Father Sul- livan, and remained in charge of St. Francis Xavier's congregation for thirty-two years, or until his death, which occurred July 19, 1899. Rev. Father Fallon succceded Father Harty, taking charge on August 1, 1899, and he remained until December 1, 1903, and he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Bernard W. Lce, on January 1, 1904. Father Lee accomplished a great deal of work during his priestly life in Jersey- ville. To him is due the credit of crecting the new parochial school and parish house. Father Lee remained in charge until July 1, 1907, when he was succeeded by Rev. J. J. Driscoll, and he in turn was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. John J. Clancy, on October 1, 1914.
Father Clancy was born in Ireland on June 24, 1866. He made his preparatory studies in Ireland, and in September, 1889, came with a relative to America and entered the seminary of Our Lady of Angels, Niagara Falls, N. Y. He was ordained priest by Rt. Rev. James Ryan, D. D., bishop of the diocese of Alton, in the cathedral at Alton on August 15, 1891. After his ordination, he was sent by Bishop Ryan to the Catholic University at Washington, D. C., and remained there until he was appointed pastor of the Sacred Heart Church at Dalton ('ity, Ill., being its first resident pastor, and remained there until Feb- ruary 1, 1894, when he was sent to take charge of St. Catherine's Church at Virden, Ill. He remained at Virden, Ill., until September 1, 1899, when he took charge of St. James Church at Riverton, Ill. On October 1, 1914, he arrived at Jerseyville to assume the task of paying off a big debt. With the co-operation of a loyal and generous people, he is meeting with much success at the present time.
It is interesting to note that the right reverend bishops and clergy accomplished much for the Catholics in and about Jersey County. On July 4, 1871, a new St. Francis Xavier's Church edifice was dedicated by Rt. Rev. P. J. Baltes, Bishop of Alton, in the presence of a large congre- gation, and the following clergymen who assisted on the occasion were : Very Rev. J. J. Jansseu, V. G. ; Rev. P. Brady, Springfield, Ill. ; Rev. T. Hickey, Virden, Ill .; Rev. P. Machen, Carrollton, Ill .; Rev. Clement, Kaskaskey, Ill .: Rev. John Moher, Alton, Ill .; Rev. David Phcalan, St. Louis, Ill. : Rev. Michael Clifford, Bunker Hill, Ill .; Rev. L. Omster, Westwoods, Ill .; Rev. J. O'Sullivan, Springfield, Ill .; and the pastor, Rev. James Harty. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Rev. David Phealan of St. Louis, Mo.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
CHURCH OF THE HOLY GHOST
In 1883, a part of the German members of St. Francis Xavier, under the leadership of Henry Scheffer and Charles Schneider, purchased the Second Presbyterian Church, corner of Washington and Spruce streets, for $2,150.00, and on Thanksgiving Day, Bishop P. J. Baltes dedicated the Church of the Holy Ghost and installed Father F. A. Marks as pastor, where he remained for more than twenty-five years, he having charge of St. Mary's Church and school in English Township, as well.
The Church of the Holy Ghost was burned September 19, 1884, and the following year the present beautiful brick church was crected on the former site, at a cost of $6,500.00. This church also has a parsonage and parish school. Father Eckhard is the present pastor of both the Holy Ghost and St. Mary parishes.
ST. PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH
St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Grafton was established in 1871, with Father B. N. Bourke as pastor during its first year, he being suc- cceded by Father Edward McGowan, who remained until 1875. During the succeeding year, Father Thomas Cusack was the priest-in-charge, and then in 1876 Father D. J. Ryan assumed the duties of the parish, dis- charging them until 1878. The next pastor was Father Winterhalter, who remained a year, when he was succeeded by Father Rosmeller, the latter remaining until 1884, when Father Marks was placed in charge, and he remained until July, 1885. Father Thomas Masterson was priest of this parish from 1885 to 1892, when he was succeeded by Father Ter- rance O'Brian, who remained until the fall of 1894. Father Joseph Finnegan had charge until 1898, when he was succeeded by Father C. S. Bell, and in 1903 Father Bell was succeeded by Father C. E. Snyder. In 1912 Father August C. Van Rie became the pastor, and in the spring of 1913 Father D. J. Doyle came to the church, remaining until the fall of that year, when the present pastor, Father Charles F. Fanning. took charge.
From the Carroll family, as first settlers in Elsah Township in 1820. and William Shephard as sole representative in Jerseyville in 1839, have sprung the present five Catholic churches in Jersey County, with a greater membership and a larger amount of money invested than any other religious denomination in the county. One evidence of their activ- ity is shown in the organization of the Knights of Columbus lodge at
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Jerseyville with a membership of 260 members, who are all men over twenty-one years of age.
DESCENDANTS OF PROMINENT CATHOLICS
Frederick J. Bertman, and his sister Mrs. Nellie B. Porter, son and daughter of the Frederick Bertmam who, with William Shephard and William Kelley, purchased the site and erected the first frame Catholic church, and several grandchildren and other relatives, still reside at Jerseyville, as do also five daughters and one son of William Shephard, beside several grandchildren. Henry A. Shephard, son of William Shep- hard, is one of the members of the General Assembly, from this district, which he has represented for several terms, and he was a candidate for this office in November, 1918. His son, William F. Shephard, is the present mayor of Jerseyville, and is the owner and operator of the largest and most complete automobile sale, storage and repair garage in this part of Illinois.
These are all honored and respected citizens. William Shephard, Frederick Bertman and William Kelley, represented respectively the English, German and Irish Catholics, and as emigrants of that faith, settling in this county, were mainly of these nationalities, they naturally assumed their church relations, under the leadership of these men.
SUMMARY
In brief, the following is a summary of the churches of Jersey County :
Jerseyville has two Baptist Churches, one for white persons, and one for colored ones; a Methodist Episcopal Church ; a Presbyterian Church ; an Episcopalian Church; an Evangelical Church; the Holiness Church of God; a Christian Science Society; and two Catholic Churches, St. Francis Xavier and the Church of the Holy Ghost.
Fidelity has one Baptist Church and one Methodist Episcopal Church. Paradise has one Baptist Church.
Kemper, in Ruyle Township, has a Baptist Church, a Congregational Church and a Bethel-Baptist Church.
Delhi, in Piasa Township, has a Baptist Church.
Newbern, in Mississippi Township, has one Cumberland Presbyterian Church; and Dow, in the same township, has one Christian Holiness Church. East Newbern has a Bethel, Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Elsah has one Methodist Episcopal Church, and St. Michael's Cath- olic Church.
Grafton, in Quarry Township, has one Baptist Church, one Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and the Hartford- Methodist Church.
Rosedale has one Methodist Episcopal Church. Meadow Branch, in Rosedale Township, has one Methodist Episcopal Church; and Nutwood, in the same township, has a Union Church.
Fieldon, in Richwoods Township, has one Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and one Evangelical Church.
English Township has the Bethany Baptist Church, and St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Otterville, in Otter Creek Township, has one Baptist Church, one Methodist Episcopal Church, one Shiloh Methodist Church, and one Salem Methodist Church.
The Methodist churches at Elsah, Salem, Otterville and East Newbern are connected with the Elsah circuit of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Grafton, Hartford, Rosedale, Meadow Branch and Shiloh Methodist churches are attached to the Grafton circuit of that denomination. The Methodist churches at Fidelity and Paradise are connected with the Medora circuit of that denomination. The pastor of the Evangelical Church at Jerseyville also has charge of the Fieldon church of that denomination. The other churches, outside of the cities and villages named above, in the majority of cases have no regular pastors.
The total number of Protestant churches in Jersey County is thirty- three, and the total number of the Catholic Churches in the county is five. The total value of the Protestant church property is $185,000.00. There are thirty-four Sunday schools in Jersey County. Enrolled in these Sunday schools are 3,674 pupils, with an average attendance of 1,492. Every township in Jersey County is organized by the Sunday School Association.
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CHAPTER XVIII
CEMETERIES
CHANGE IN CONDITIONS-OAK GROVE CEMETERY-FIRST PERSONS BURIED ADDITION TO OAK GROVE-OLD CEMETERY-CATHOLIC CEMETERY-OTHER CEMETERIES-RECORD ON OLD TOMBSTONE-OLDEST BUILDING IN COUNTY.
A CHANGE IN CONDITIONS
After the reference by Dr. Grosvenor in his Thanksgiving address to the cemetery Jerseyville was then without, the city of Jerseyville purchased twenty acres of land in the eastern part of the city for cemetery purposes, and gave it the name of Oak Grove Cemetery, in which are buried many former citizens, and monuments of marble and granite that would be a credit to any city of much larger population. There is a Soldiers' Monument in the center of the plot. A large mau- soleum has been built of brick and concrete, and supplied with all of the latest improvements connected with such structures.
OAK GROVE CEMETERY
Oak Grove Cemetery was purchased in January, 1856. It is located in the eastern part of Jerseyville. The first sexton was Thomas Ford. who acted as such until the latter part of 1860. The second one was Joshua Walpole, who acted until May, 1867, and he was then succeeded by Casper Sabo, who held the position until his death. The present sexton is Strother Kennedy. The cemetery is very well kept, and is a beautiful resting place for the dead.
FIRST PERSONS BURIED
The first person buried in Oak Grove Cemetery was Clavera Stelle. a daughter of L. and R. Stelle, the date of her interment being August 6, 1856. The second burial was that of Elizabeth Ford, who was in- terred in September, 1856.
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ADDITION TO OAK GROVE
An additional twenty aeres was purchased of Eugene Eberhard on January 19, 1898, and platted by A. W. Newton, county surveyor. There are 792 lots in the original cemetery, ineluding fifty lots laid off for the potter's field, and 690 in the new part, making a total of 1,482 lots, which, as a whole, makes one of the most beautiful ceme- teries in this part of the state.
OLD CEMETERY
There are a number of graves in the old cemetery in Jerseyville, that should have long since been removed, either to Oak Grove Cemetery, or elsewhere. This burial ground is an unsightly and unsanitary nuisance, and should not be allowed to so remain, in the center of a eity with the claims to enlightenment, eivilization and prosperity constantly ad- vanced in favor of our beautiful municipality. It is to be hoped that this matter will have early and prompt attention from the authorities, and others interested, which its importance demands, and that the stigma of this inexcusable nuisance will ere long be abated.
CATHOLIC CEMETERY
The Catholies have a cemetery a half mile north of Oak Grove Ceme- tery. It has been surveyed, laid out with walks and monuments, and is a very beautiful burial place.
OTHER CEMETERIES
There are a number of other cemeteries in Jersey County, and it may be said that there has been more eare taken in the platting arrange- ment and adornment of these eemeteries in later years than there was when the county was new. Among the cemeteries of the county may be named the following: the Noble Cemetery at Otterville; the New- bern at Newbern; the Salem Cemetery; the Odd Fellows' Cemetery north of Grafton; the Elsah Cemetery; the Rosedale Cemetery; the Fieldon Cemetery ; the Hartford Cemetery; the Meadow Braneh Ceme- tery ; the Shiloh Cemetery ; the Fidelity Cemetery ; the Delphi Cemetery ; the Kemper Cemetery; the Laeko Cemetery, in English Township, and several others in various neighborhoods. In addition to the one at
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Jerseyville, the Catholics have cemeteries at St. Mary's west of Jersey- ville; and at Belltrees in Elsah Township.
RECORD ON OLD TOMBSTONE
The writer on July 31, 1918, visited Newbern Cemetery, where he found a tombstone, upon which was this simple inscription :
"John McDow, Born Dec. 29, 1770, Died Oct. 20, 1834."
This John McDow was married to Margaret Gillham, a daughter of William Gillham, a Revolutionary soldier, and a sister of Mrs. John G. Lofton, and John D. and Ezekiel Gillham. John McDow and his wife were the parents of Charles, Thomas, Robert, William and John McDow, and Margaret (McDow) Lurton, wife of Jacob Lurton. John McDow, Jr., died in California. On the day of the writer's visit to this cemetery, John J. Hardin McDow, aged seventy years, ten months and twenty-two days, was buried there, the funeral being attended by a large concourse of relatives and friends. He was a grandson of John and Margaret McDow, and died in the same room of the same house in which he was born, and upon the same land upon which his grandparents originally settled a century ago.
OLDEST BUILDING IN THE COUNTY
On that same day, July 31, 1918, the writer in company with Joseph M. Page, his wife, and A. F. Pitt, president of the local draft board, through the courtesy of Charles C. Gillham, visited the original brick house erected by John D. Gillham ninety years ago from mud bricks, made and burned upon the ground, with timber there grown, and fin- ished with native woods. The building is two stories above the base- ment, and there is not a crack in the walls from the bottom of the base- ment to the roof, the bricks are in a perfect state of preservation, and the house from all appearance may stand for another century.
The view from the eastern front across Round Prairie, which in- cludes the original Gillham Camp Ground, the East Newbern Methodist Church, the original home of Moses Cockrell, Robert Gardner, and many of the early settlers, the present finely improved farms, and extends to the "Piasa" and Madison County, is truly beautiful, and well worth a visit to this, the oldest building now standing in Jersey County. Charles
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
C. Gillham, now residing in this old house, is a great-grandson of John D. Gillham its builder, and he is a member of the county board as supervisor from Mississippi Township, as was also his father, Richard C. Gillham before him. Charles C. Gillham now owns the property originally owned by his ancestors. A century of the history of that part of Lofton's Prairie is contained in the foregoing observations.
CHAPTER XIX
FIRST FREE SCHOOL IN ILLINOIS
OCCASION OF DELIVERY OF SPEECH-DR. SILAS HAMILTON-SLAVE PLANTA- TION IN MISSISSIPPI-COLORED BOY PURCHASED FOR ONE HUNDRED DOL- LARS-DR. HAMILTON GOES TO ILLINOIS-DR. HAMILTON BUYS LAND IN JERSEY COUNTY-GEORGE WASHINGTON BROUGHT TO ILLINOIS-FUND FOR FIRST FREE SCHOOL FIRST FREE SCHOOL IN 1835-IIAMILTON PRIMARY SCHOOL INCORPORATED IN 1839-GEORGE ATTENDED HAMILTON SCHOOL- GEORGE ACCUMULATES PROPERTY-FUND FOR EDUCATION OF COLORED PER- SONS-THE GEORGE WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL FUND-BLACK GEORGE- HELPED THE POOR-VICE PRESIDENT OF DEBATING SOCIETY-GEORGE AS- SAULTED IN GRAFTON-PUT IN JAIL IN CALHOUN COUNTY-GEORGE'S JUDGMENT ON BUSINESS MATTERS-MONUMENT FOR FORMER MASTER- EARLY SCHOOLS OF ILLINOIS-SUMMARY OF CHARACTER.
OCCASION OF DELIVERY OF SPEECH
The contents of this chapter were embodied in a speech delivered by Oscar B. Hamilton in 1910, at Otterville, and were first published in the October number of The Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society, during 1910. In July, 1911, it was re-published by permission of the author and the editor of the Journal, Mrs. Jessie Palmer.
DR. SILAS HAMILTON OF VERMONT
About the year 1820, Dr. Silas Hamilton, a resident of the state of Vermont, and who, being very much opposed to the system of slavery as then existing in the southern states, formed a plan for ameliorating the condition of the slaves, by himself going into the "Black Belt" of the south, and there opening and conducting a slave plantation, in an intelligent and humane way, with the idea that his neighbor planters. observing his success, might be induced thereby, to abandon the cruel aud inhuman treatment of their slaves.
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SLAVE PLANTATION IN MISSISSIPPI
In pursuance of this idea he purchased a plantation in Adams County, in the state of Mississippi, and proceeded to stock it with slaves, that he employed in raising cotton and other crops usually grown in that locality. He made occasional trips back to his old home in Vermont and, as there were then no railroads or other convenient modes of public con- veyance, he made these trips on horseback; sometimes bringing back with him those of his friends that desired to change their location to the south.
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