USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 27
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
Charles Barton died at Lake Providence, La., March 10, 1863. William Gaston died at Vicksburg, Miss., September 27, 1864. Thorton Hughes died at Memphis, Tenn., July 14, 1863. J. C. Motherly died at Laclede, Mo., September 15, 1863. Nelson Phillips died of wounds, July 28, 1863.
R. C. Vance was killed at Vicksburg, Miss., June 26, 1863. Christian Boedy was killed at Alton, Ill., March 27, 1865. William Sunderland died at Plainview, Ill., January 22, 1865. Almarion Green died at Alton, Ill., July 14, 1865. Thomas S. Nicholas died at Alton, Ill., January 12, 1865. John E. Vinson died at Fieldon, Ill., December 2, 1864. James Gibbs died at Alton, Ill., February 1, 1865.
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
As to the Spanish-American War, there was no military organiza- tion in Jersey County, and there is no data by which the soldiers in that war can be traced correctly. There were a number of persons volun- teered for that service, but there is no record of their military or naval history.
THE WORLD WAR
The United States of America is now engaged in the greatest war the world has ever known, ranging itself on the side of the Allies, against the Central Powers. In this struggle for the rights of mankind, our country has called upon every section to supply the necessary man power, and financial aid, as well as support in the conservation work, and as usual Jersey County is not behind in patri-
295
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
otism. Its men have proven themselves loyal beyond any doubt, the younger contingent now serving in the different branches of the army and navy; the older ones giving the government an effective support in every possible way. Not only have many of the women entered the service as nurses, but they are also taking the places of the men in different callings; working strenuously in behalf of the Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., and the Liberty Loans and other drives. All are united in an earnest effort to bring about as speedy a termination of the war as is consistent with an honorable and decisive peace.
JERSEY COUNTY'S SERVICE FLAG
Up to and including July 18, 1918, the following men and women of Jersey County are serving their country during the World War:
A
Amburg, Fred M., Grafton; Anderson, Charles R., Andrews, J. E .; Angel, James McDow; Arter, Henry J .; Arter Thomas; Ashford, Ray- mond R .; Atchison, John G .; Ayers, Lee R., Fieldon; Ayers, E. L .; Aylward, John R .; Aylward, James.
B
Baird, Benjamin; Bailey, Thomas E. (Watt) ; Baptist, Beatrice, nurse ; Baum, August, Fieldon; Bayer, Clarence; Bell, James K .; Bell, Leslie, McClusky; Beatty, Lester; Beatty, J. Fred; Beatty, W. J .; Bell, Orville A., Alton; Beiderman, William August; Birkenmayer, R. C., Fidelity; Bland, Robert, Dow; Blay, Earl E .; Boynton, Will ; Bray, Fred ; Bray, Edward; Breitweiser, Orville; Bridges, Col. Charles ; Bridges, Walter H .; Bridges, Leslie E .; Bridges, William A .; Bring- hurst, Harry, Fidelity ; Brockman, Fred H .; Brockman, Cornelias E .; Brockman, Roy; Brown, Harry O .; Brown, H. A., Vermont, Ill .; Brower, Bernard, Grafton; Bunse, Joseph, Godfrey; Burch, Estelle, nurse; Burmeister, Gustave, Dow; Burns, Maurice; Burns, Leo; Bushka, William, Grafton; Butler, T. W., Jr .; Butler, John; Butt, Henry John, Grafton.
C
Callahan, Jessie (Silver star) Grafton; Campbell, O. J., Grafton ; Campbell, Virgil; Cary, Henry, Grafton; Casten, Leslie, Grafton ; Chap-
296
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
pell, La Verne; Chapman, Theodore, Chicago; Christen, William; Chris- ten, F. M., Fieldon; Clark, Glenn; Clark, Harvey; Colean, Russel ; Cole- man, Eugene, Cambridge; Coleman, Michael H .; Coleman, James D .; Coleman, Matthew F .; Compton, F. L., Grafton; Coonrod, William, Delhi; Conkin, Ted; Cope, Alvest, Grafton; Cope, Daniel, Alton; Cope, Clinton, Grafton; Cornelius, W. H., Dow; Cory, Leslie R., Grafton ; Cox, Roy ; Cox, Henry E .; Craig, Archibold, Fidelity ; Cray, Leslie (Gold star) ; Crawford, Joseph G .; Coulthard, Will; Crone, Ernest D .; Cronin, John M., Elsah; Cummings, Justin F.
D
Dabbs, Henry E., Dow; Daly, Delia; Daly, David; Daly, Charles ; Daniel, Louis W .; Darby, William; Davis, Lester R .; Davis, Farmers- ville; Day, Elis; DeFoshia, Leroy; Deichler, William H .; Dempsey, Edward J., Grafton ; Derby, Henry Rufus; Dickerson, Claude O .; Doty, Fay C., Brighton ; Dowdall, Fred, Grafton; Downs, E. F., Delhi ; Dough- erty, Leslie; Drainer, Victor C .; Dunham, Lester, Fieldon; Dunlope, F. O., Grafton ; Dunlope, Harry, Grafton; Dunlope, J. H., Grafton ; Dunsing, William C .; Dunsing, J. F., Otterville; Dunsing, Charles I.
E
Ebbler, Fred W., Dow ; Edwards, W. L., Delhi; Egelhoff, August W .; Elliott, Monroe, Kemper; Ely, Richard H .; Emmons, John T., Delhi; Erwin, Morris; Evans, Glenn; Ewin, Charles, Piasa; Ewing, J. A., Medora.
F
Farmer, George; Feldhaus, Lawrence; Feldhaus, John M .; Fergu- son, Clifford, Dow; Feyerabend, Bert; Finkes, Joseph, Dow; Fisher, Arthur ; Fitzgerald, John, Fidelity ; Flamm, Thomas J .; Flautt, James, Otterville; Flautt, Harold, Otterville; Fleming, Thomas J .; Florida, Gilbert G., St. Louis, Mo .; Flory, Arthur W .; Flynn, Robert E .; Forbes, Louis, Grafton ; Forbes, William B., Grafton ; Fraley, Mark H .; Frazier, C. H. McClusky; Fredenburg, C. M., Otterville; Freeman, Roy; Frei- man, R. J., Grafton; Freiman, Mark L., Grafton; Fraiman, Curtis, Grafton (Silver star) ; Freis, Leo F .; Frost, George M.
G
Gaither, Earl; Garber, Will; Geers, Herman; Gowin, George, Fiel- don; Gibbons, Joseph F., Delhi; Gibbons, John; Giberson, John F.,
297
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Alton; Gibson, Fred; Giers, Harold L .; Giers, Carl (Earl) ; Goodrich, E. R., Grafton; Grantham, A. S .; Greeling, J. E., Dow; Green, Herbert M., Grafton; Green, Clyde, Grafton; Green, Allen, Grafton; Griffith, Clyde; Griswold, Lloyd R., Medora; Griswold, Warren.
H
Hagen, John; Hageman, H. H., Otterville; Hamilton, Best; Hanley, William; Hanley, Chester ; Hamlin, Everett; Hand, Harold; Harding, Lieut. Alba E .; Harmon Truman; Hart, Clayton A., Grafton; Hart, John, Grafton; Hardy, William; Hayes, Lloyd D .; Heffron, Mabel, nurse; Heiderscheid, C. M., Fieldon; Heinzerling, Robert, Grafton; Hembrow, William R .; Hembrow, Charles ; Hemphill, Munroe, Virden ; Heneghan, George; Heneghan, Leo; Hensler, E. H., Fieldon; Herold, Hugo; Herold, Fred; Herzberger, Carl; Hewitt, Paul F .; Hewitt, Jesse ; Hewitt, John F .; Hetzel, John; Hetzel, Levi Leslie; Highfill, A. T., Grafton ; Highfill, H. B., Grafton; Hill, Robert R., Grafton ; Hills, Guy R .; Hoelker, Joe; Holland, Harold; Holtsworth, F., Fieldon; Hoots, Roy; Hoots, Curtis; Hoots, Harry; House, Oliver; Houze, Fred W .; Howarton, Elmer, Alton, Ill .; Huber, Frank H., Brighton; Huber, Anthony, Brighton; Huff, William Henry; Hughes, Walter S .; Hunt, Lieut. A. S .; Hunt, Charles W .; Hunter, J. B.
Ingham, Roland B.
I J
Jennings, Frank; Johnson, Albert E .; Johnson, Clifford, Grafton ; Johnson, James, Grafton; Jokers, Walter, Dow; Jokers, Charles R., Dow; Jones, Thomas J .; Jones, Philip, Godfrey ; Junette, Earl, Delhi; Junette, John, Delhi.
K
Kallal, John F .; Kappell, Hugh E .; Kaslick, Dan, Grafton; Keeh- ner, Archibold; Kennedy, Cecil; Keown, Thomas E., Kane; Kirchner, J. V., Otterville; Koffman, P. B., Grafton; Kramer, Joe Page; Krueger, Walter, Fieldon ; Kruse, Charles F .; Kyte, Robert A., Kane.
L
Langley, James S .; Lanham, J. H .; Lahey, Philip, Fidelity ; Lahey, Robert L .; Laubscher, Del., McClusky; Laurent, Ludovic; Lawrence,
298
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Walter; Leeson, James J .; Legate, Wesley; Leigh, Harry, Los Angeles, Cal .; Lenz, Charles W .; Lewis, Lieut. C. F .; Lewis, C. E., Grafton; Lewis, Claude, Grafton; Libscomb, Melvin; Liter, Lloyd H .; Leollke, Frank; Loellke, James, Loellke, William F .; Long, J. W., Brighton ; Long, Orval; Loy, James E., Kane; Luker, F. P., Brighton; Lynn, Marion (Gold star) ; Lynn, H. M., Otterville.
M
Madden, J. H., Kemper; Maguire, John; Mains, Lloyd, Medora ; Major, Lawrence E .; March, Harrison, Dow; Marshall, Ashland, Graf- ton; Mason, Elmer H .; Matthews, Mark, Fieldon; Matthews, Floyd ; Martin, F. E .; Medford, Charlwa W .; Meier, Marvy G., Grafton; Mer- rill, Russell; Merrill, Kenneth; Meuth, John T .; Meyer, Henry ; Meyer, Fred; Meysenburg, R. L., Grafton; Middleton, William R .; Middle- dorf, William F .; Miles, William, Fieldon; Miller, Ed. J., Grafton (Gold star) ; Miller, C. Stanley ; Miller, Joseph Frank; Miller, Allen R .; Mitzel, Francis; Modlin, Harry; Monk, Lester C .; Moran, H. E., James ; McCollister, Isaac F .; McDow, Clyde H., Dow ; McDow, Byron K., Fidelity ; Moore, Alvah H., Moore, Verne; Moses, Leroy; McCauley, Dow; McFain, Charles August; McFain, William H .; McGrew, Clay- ton; McKabney, Leon S .; McLean, O. C.
N
Navosal, Mike, Elsah; Nelson, Orlan; Nevlin, Claude L., Fieldon ; Newton, Kieth; Nitschke, Charles Frank; Norton, John, Brighton; No- votny, Frank.
0
O'Donnell, J. T .; Osborn, Paul, Grafton; Oscar, John. P
Page, Capt. T. H., Peoria, Ill .; Palmer, Cleon C., Dow; Palmer, Edgar C., Dow; Patton, Samuel, Grafton; Pennington, George; Per- rings, Lieut. Fred .; Perrings, Leslie; Perry, Charles; Pickett, Ralph R .; Pierre, Rainer G .; Pittman, Prentiss; Powers, Edward; Powers, Francis J .; Powel, Charles A .; Powel, Harold; Powel, Wilson; Price, Clifford M .; Price, John H .; Pritchett, Gilbert; Proffer, John W., Grafton.
Quirk, William F.
Stella m. mains.
James F. Mains.
299
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
R
Ralston, Ralph, Grafton; Rands, W. E., Rockbridge; Reddish, Jacob ; Redlich, Roy A .; Reeder, Raymond W .; Reister, Albert, Dow; Render, James O., Grafton; Reno, Charles ; Reno, Otis ; Reynolds, Lloyd, Graf- ton; Rice, Harvey; Rich, Major H. W .; Ridenour, Elmer, Otterville ; Rivard, Joseph, Grafton; Rintoul, Robert, Dow; Rippley, John M., Grafton; Rippley, George, Grafton; Roach, Marcus M .; Robb, Francis ; Roberts, Lester; Robinson, George H .; Rodell, Winifred J., Fidelity ; Rogers, Ralph H .; Rohacek, Harry ; Rose, Charles H .; Rosenthal, L. F., Fieldon ; Rosenthal, Amiel, Fieldon; Ross, Herbert Lee (Gold star) ; Ross, Harry E .; Rowling, Walter C .; Ryan, Everett J., Medora.
S
Sanger, Louis, Delhi; Schafer, William E .; Schattgen, Harry; Schlansker, J. B., Grafton; Schmeider, Carl J .; Schmidt, Clarence ; Schreiber, Julius; Seago, Allen ; Sears, James Roberts ; Sears, Raymond ; Seehausen, William H., Fieldon; Seik, Edward, Grafton; Shackel- ford, Will; Shafer, Will; Shafer, Ross; Shaw, Catlie, Grafton; Shea, Dennis; Shephard, J. E., Medora ; Sherman, John, Grafton; Shortal, George; Shortal, Harold; Shortal, Joseph; Sikes, Joseph, Grafton ; Slaten, Miss E., nurse; Slaten, Morton, Grafton; Slaten, Edward E .; Slaten, Byron, Grafton; Smith, Harry F., Fidelity; Smith, Clifford R., Fidelity ; Smith, Estell ; Smith, Henry ; Smith, Edward J .; Snow, L. E .; Sougianis, John; Spangle, Walter J .; Spencer, Roy; Spencer, Reuben L., Fieldon ; Spriggs, H. L .; Spriggs, E. L .; Springman, C. C .; Fiel- don ; Springman, J. W., Otterville; Springman, Victor H .; Stanley, Charles E .; Stout, Major Oscar P .; Summers, William H .; Summers, Fergus (Silver star) ; Sunderland, James W .; Sunderland, Wayland ; Sunderland, Wilbur W .; Sweet, Milo.
T
Taylor, John; Terry, Miles, Dow; Tendick, Floyd William; Threl- keld, Lieut. H. F .; Thurm, Louis, Fieldon ; Tober, Clifford, Kemper ; Tonkinson, Theodore ; Tonsor, Henry A .; Tonsor, Joseph ; Tracy, Francis B .; Tracy, Leo; Tschambers, W. J., St. Louis, Mo .; Tucker, H. B., Delhi; Tunehorst, Earl G .; Tuohy, John A.
V
Valentine, John C .; Vahle, George.
300
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
W
Waggoner, R. F., Grafton; Wagner, William; Wagner, Fred; Wahl, Normon, Grafton; Walsh, Matthew J .; Warnick, Edward H., Grafton ; Watts, James S .; Watts, John W .; Watson, Lieut. Joseph E .; Watson, Elmer E., Fidelity ; Wayne, Richard, Grafton; Webb, Harry ; Wedding, James, Jr .; Wedding, R. S., Fieldon; Weigle, Albert, Delhi; Welch, John J., Godfrey; Welch, R. M., Fort Madison; Welsh, Lawrence; Weule, Russel; Whalen, Thomas M., Grafton; Wheaton, August, Fiel- don; Whitlock, Dee F .; Whitlow, Earl; Whitley, Homer E .; Winters, Charles E .; Wiseman, Charles E., Elsah (Silver star) ; Wiseman, Har- old; Wock, Edward W .; Wock, Louis; Wood, Scott; Wood, Glenn; Wood, Max; Wood, Mark; Woods, Lloyd L .; Worthy, Fred; Worthy, Harold; Worthy, Lester; Worthy, Newell J.
Y
Yost, John; Yost, John F., Brighton.
Z
Zeller, Frank.
NEWLY REGISTERED MEN
Under date of July 18, 1918, the following appeared in a Jerseyville paper .:
"The following is the order in which the newly registered men have been drawn by the war department for service. The list is not official as it was compiled from a list furnished by the metropolitan papers. For example there were two 59's and two 43's. The majority of the numbers will stand as they appear, but the entire list is subject to some change when the official list is received by the local exemption board. The first number is the order in which the men registered and the second is the order in which they were drawn and will be taken for service. 10-1 Harry W. Eastham, Jerseyville; 29-2 Oscar W. Frazier, Jerseyville; 17-3 George H. Van Horne, Jr., Jerseyville; 74-4 Robert M. Wylder, Jerseyville; 57-5 Henry E. LaMarsh, Grafton; 76-6 Clar- ence William Godfrey, Delhi; 78-7 Elmer L. Hanold, Brighton; 4-8 Ralph N. Monk, Jerseyville; 70-9 John Elston Flamm, Jerseyville; 28-10 Frederick Shaw, Grafton; 65-11 Loren E. Stanley, Jerseyville; 45-12 Charles Desherlia, Grafton; 72-13 Andrew L. Kitzmiller, Jer- seyville; 61-14 James Edwards, Jerseyville; 51-15 Edward Westfall,
301
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Fieldon; 63-16 Harry A. Schattgen, Jerseyville; 41-17 Charles E. Lock, Jr., Dow; 32-18 Walter R. Ryan, Medora; 66-19 Floyd L. Steinkuehler, Jerseyville; 16-20 John Wahle, Otterville; 82-21 Olin Long, Jerseyville; 59-22 William Stanley Miller, Jerseyville; 33-23 John Ferenback, Jerseyville; 56-24 Robert Goodrich, Grafton; 48-25 William B. Whalen, Grafton; 13-26 Clarence Brocken, Jerseyville ; 3-27 Roy Spencer, Fieldon; 64-28 Frank X. Fleming, Jerseyville ; 11-29 Patrick L. Coleman, Jerseyville; 69-30 Russel Powell, Jersey- ville ; 35 -- 31 Robert E. Breitweiser, Jr., Dow; 62-32 Charles W. Brad- ley, Fieldon ; 18-33 Frank Orban, Jr., Delhi ; 54-34 Carl Emil Meyer, Jerseyville; 81-35 William K. Kallal, Jerseyville; 39-36 Charles Hagen, Dow; 30-37 Preston Bligh, Jerseyville; 49-38 Lee R. Young, Kane; 25-39 Hugh A. Roberts, Jerseyville; 58-40 John B. O'Donnell, Jerseyville ; 12-41 Fred Widman, Dow; 34-42 Frank D. Brown, El- dred; 2-43 Clarence Keehner, Jerseyville; 77-44 James P. Jennings, Delhi; 43-45 Theodore J. Boehler, Delhi; 8-46 Amil A. Darr, Jer- seyville; 67-47 George W. Barnett, Delhi; 40-48 Clarence N. John- son, Dow ; 38-49 Lawrence F. Finkes, Dow ; 7-50 Isaac F. McCollister, Jerseyville; 27-51 Robert Frazier, McClusky; 1-52 Walter G. Krue- ger, Fieldon ; 52-53 Thomas E. Tuohy, Jerseyville; 6-54 Lloyd Col- lenberger, Jerseyville; 24-55 William E. Miller, Fieldon ; 14-56 Perry E. Sunderland, Jerseyville; 71-57 Charles W. Day, Jerseyville ; 19-58 Charles Rothe, Delhi; 59-59 D. H. McDow, Grafton; 37-60 Len H. Schoeberle, Brighton; 36-61 Charles Boushka, Kane; 68-62 Everett Parsell, Jerseyville; 44-63 Walter Dependahl, Delhi; 79-64 Theo- dore L. Groppel, Jerseyville; 15-65 Paul L. Feyerabend, Jerseyville ; 26-66 William J. Ritchey, Kane; 31-67 Truman Liles, Jerseyville ; 53-68 George Albert Hardy, Jerseyville; 46-69 Leslie C. Carpunky, Grafton; 80-70 Chester Darr, Jerseyville; 23-71 James G. Wilton, Kemper; 22-72 Louis T. Walters, Rockbridge; 21-73 Louis K. Erb, Dow; 75-74 Ralph V. Large, Brighton; 50-75 Joseph R. Lillis, Me- dora; 47-76 Herbert F. Watson, Jerseyville; 60-77 William Earl Hughes, Jerseyville ; 73-78 Fred E. Bridges, Jerseyville; 9-79 Pearl I. Jones, Jerseyville ; 20-80 Raymond E. Cory, Grafton; 5-81 Hugh Ware Cross, Jerseyville; 42-82 Willie Rister, Elsah."
OTHERS IN SERVICE
Under date of August 1, 1918, the following lists were published in a Jerseyville paper :
302
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
The following men went to Camp Taylor on August 1, 1918: Ernest L. Ferenbach, Frank F. Loy, Thomas E. Lanham, Louis H. Vahle, Roy B. Piggott, Louis Lee Davis, Bernard J. Kallal, Henry Lee Massey, Edward Hagen, Andrew A. Hetzel, Blaine Thompson, John H. Feyer- bend, Charles Henry Beach, Harry Oberlin, John J. Welsh, Wesley G. Jones, Harry W. Nickens, Henry Bechtold, Charles Seehausen, John R. Lock, Clyde L. Felter, Charles W. Boehler, William Steckel, Tony Vahle and Dr. Lorens Enos, first lieutenant. There were five limited service men who left at the same time as the Camp Taylor contingent bound for Syracuse, N. Y., to do guard and fire duty at ports of em- barkation, as follows: John Seimer of Grafton; Russell Matthews, Ralph Giers and Charles Anderson of Jerseyville; and John E. Greeling of Dow. On August 3, 1918, two colored men, Amos Fairfax and Ed- ward Brown left Jerseyville for Fort Dodge, Iowa, for general duty.
SIGNING OF ARMISTICE
By the surrender of the German empire through the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, by the German envoys, the last and mightiest champion of autocracy has been vanquished, and a new birth of freedom has been vouchsafed to the people of the old as well as the new world. With the signing of peace, it will be made possible for all nations to organize governments of the people, by the people, and for their people, without fear of interference therewith, or the destruction thereof, by kings, potentates, or any other autocratic power, nor by armies led by them. A new era of freedom, and an uplift, by the grace of God, has been vouchsafed to the children of men, and a new epoch in history, has been established for Him, which includes prosperity, happiness, and a just and lasting peace. Therefore, all nations, and all people of the earth, may appropriately join in the angelic chorus, sung at the birth of the Prince of Peace, upon the plains of Bethlehem :
"Glory to God in the highest.
Peace on earth ; good will to men."
CHAPTER XXVII
CONDITIONS IN JERSEY COUNTY DURING 1863-1866
GENERAL OUTLOOK-UNUSUAL CONDITIONS-THE CARLIN RAID-DEPOSITION OF J. O. SMITH-CORONER'S INQUEST-NOLLE PROSSED INDICTMENTS- POSSE OF SUBSTANTIAL CITIZENS-AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT-HISTORY OF IN- DISTMENT OF MOSS-ANOTHER DESPERATE AFFAIR-JERSEYVILLE SELF- PROTECTING SOCIETY-JERSEY COUNTY HORSE THIEF DETECTING SOCIETY.
GENERAL OUTLOOK
From the issuing of the preliminary proclamation by President Lin- coln in September, 1862, warning the states in rebellion that unless they laid down their arms and returned to their allegiance to the Union, on or before January 1, 1863, a proclamation would be issued by him as commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States, that all slaves in the territory occupied by them would be forever free, there were many people whose sympathies were with those of their former homes in the southern states then in rebellion. Others, from political motives, opposed the President's policy; and there was another class of lawless, vicious, idle persons, some of whom had deserted from one or other of the armies. Some others were officers who had resigned their commissions and returned home.
Jersey County, being separated from Missouri by the Mississippi River only, the lawless and vicious class had but to cross that river to be beyond the reach of the law, the effect of which was to develop the lust of the desperado for any form of crime, especially for larceny, robbery, horse stealing, gambling, murder, etc.
UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
The intemperate conversation and acts of many of our best citizens, although perhaps not intended to be taken exactly as they were, gave the lawless class encouragement in their vicious conduct. In some locali-
303
1
304
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
ties the tension and friction between them and the law abiding people were very great. Persons were arrested and confined in jail, to be re- leased in a day or so. It seemed almost impossible to enforce the law ยท through the instrumentality of the courts. As demonstrating the eor- reetness of these statements, an indietment was found by the grand jury against John Barnes, who was county jailor under Sheriff T. J. Selby, for permitting persons to eseape, to which indietment he pleaded guilty, and was senteneed to two years in the penitentiary.
THE CARLIN RAID
In August, 1864, quite a number of these lawless and vicious des- peradoes, under the leadership of John Carlin, son of ex-governor Thomas Carlin, made their way from Montgomery County into the northeastern part of Jersey County, and in conflict with armed eitizens, the leader, John Carlin, was shot and mortally wounded, after which his forees gradually dispersed. The exeitement throughout the county, growing out of this raid, was intense, and towns and neighborhoods organized for protection, among them being Otterville. Guards were placed on all roads leading through the community. What happened, except in so far as the statements attributed to Osear B. Hamilton (which are un- true) are sufficiently eorreet as given by J. O. Smith in his postmortem statement, contained in the "Democratic Union" of Jerseyville, Ill., pub- lished Saturday, August 27, 1864, as follows :
"DEPOSITION OF J. O. SMITH, AUGUST 19, 1864
"J. O. Smith, being duly sworn, says: 'I went to William Cummings on Monday night; Tuesday started for liome about three o'eloek; was stopped by a lot of armed men at Caleb's corner, taken to the stone schoolhouse, threatened to be mobbed. Osear Hamilton said that they had got me and they would finish me. They stripped me of my pocket- book and contents. I wanted to send to Jerseyville for Esquire Hurd. Shephard and one or two others. They said it was useless, for they were no better characters than I was.
" 'Henry Dougherty brought down Parker, a lieutenant or eaptain, and five or six soldiers. They took me up in the chamber of the stone schoolhouse; then went to work, put up a eurtain to the windows, ex- amined the seuttle hole, put a round stick across it, and ordered me to sit down at the table. Asked me who I went with to the guerilla eamp.
305
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
I answered, I have never been to their camp. Parker, the provost mar- shal, said I was a '- liar'; asked me what I said to the men I had followed to the burying ground the other night. I said I had not followed or been with them at all.
" 'Inspector-General Stratton said, "I had as soon kill him now as at any other time, and would rather do so than take him to Alton. I will kill you before tomorrow night." He then took me under the trapdoor and put a rope around my neck; he hung me up, but I caught the rope with my hands. He then let me down and tied my hands behind me; then said : "Do you belong to the Washington Club ?" I answered, I did. That was after I came to. He then said, "I have a list of all of them."
" 'He then asked me if I could convict William Cummings; he said that if I could convict Bill, I need not convict myself. I said that I did not know that Bill had done anything wrong. He then hung me up again and I lost all consciousness. I came almost to, and tried to rise and someone kicked me and said, "Get up you bushwacker." He then showed me some letters concerning pistols, and I admitted and did not deny that I bought them; they were charged in William Cummings' name, and I sold them to citizens. They took one away from me that morning.
" 'They then started with me on a big bay horse to Kane, a horse that had fallen so that it had skinned its knees, throwing the soldier about ten feet that rode him; he rose my horse. Went to Col. Frey's and stayed all night near there. I was satisfied they wanted me to try to get away. I overheard them say they wanted to get rid of me before tomorrow night; they started with my horse's halter tied to ring of the saddle of a soldier ; when he came to a brushy place he would untie the halter. We ran around in the brush and came out near Col. Frey's in the road. We came across about 100 men in the vicinity of Carroll- ton ; they used a great deal of language about killing me; said they did not like bushwhackers.
" 'We started towards Green's, five or six of the boys from Gullem (Otterville) in the rear. The inspector-general rode back and ordered these boys to ride on ahead of us, leaving no citizen, but only the soldiers behind me; my halter strap was then tied to the soldier's saddle; the soldier then untied my halter and held it in his hand, and then started my horse in a gallop. We then passed on until we got 300 yards by Green's, horse on a lope: while trying to hold in the horse, to keep him from stumbling, I was shot in the arm. I turned my face and said,
20
306
HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
"For God's sake, don't shoot me!" The next shot struck me in the side and I fell to the ground. The captain said, "Why do you shoot a man when he is down?" A soldier then said, "I wanted to kill the
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.