USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 29
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Casey, E. A., born Kent, R. I., 1811; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Colean, Edwin, born Greene Co., Illinois, 1830; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Carroll, Selenda, born New York.
Cowan, Mrs. Martha.
Cummings, Josiah, born Greene Co., Ill., 1825; came to Illinois, 1825; came to Jersey County, 1825.
Duncan, Delilah, born St. Charles Co., Mo .; came to Illinois, 1820; came to Jersey County, 1820.
DeLong, John, born Wheeling, Va., 1814; came to Illinois, 1832; came to Jersey County, 1832.
Davis, Abijah.
Davis, John, born Rowan Co., N. C., 1819 ; came to Illinois, 1835.
Darlington, Sarah.
English, J. N., born Henry Co., Ky., 1810; came to Illinois, 1820; came to Jersey County, 1824.
Erwin, A. D., born Franklin Co., Tenn., 1827; came to Illinois, 1827; came to Jersey County, 1828.
Erwin, Melinda, born Greene Co., Ill., 1833; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1833.
Erwin, Samuel, born Wilson Co., Tenn., 1811; came to Illinois, 1828; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Fisher, C. B., born Somerset Co., N. J., 1809; came to Jersey Co., 1838. Falkner, James, born Tioga Co., Pa., 1814; came to Illinois, 1820; came to Jersey County, 1820.
Falkner, William, born Madison Co., Ill., 1822; came to Illinois, 1822; came to Jersey County, 1824.
Fields, Sarah.
Ford, Thomas, born Monmouth, N. J., 1811 ; came to Illinois, 1834; came ·to Jersey County, 1835.
Gunterman, John.
Greene, Addison, born Jefferson Co., N. Y., 1810; came to Illinois, 1837 ; came to Jersey County, 1845.
Gillham, Marcus, born Madison Co., Ill., 1810; came to Illinois, 1819; came to Jersey County, 1819.
Grimes, J. T., born Greene Co., Ill., 1820; came to Illinois, 1820; came to Jersey County, 1820.
Gowan, Nathan, born Rockingham Co., Va., 1793; came to Illinois, 1828.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Gardner, Robert, born Columbia Co., Pa., 1817; came to Illinois, 1835; came to Jersey County, 1835. .
Hackney, William, born Schenectady, N. Y., 1789; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Hayes, Harley E., born Addison Co., Vt., 1813; came to Illinois, 1837; came to Jersey County, 1840.
Hurd, J. M., born Madison Co., N. Y., 1809; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Hamilton, Joseph O., born Monroe Co., Ill., 1824 ; came to Illinois, 1824; came to Jersey County, 1831.
Hawley, William S.
Hartwick, James, born Middlesex Co., N. J., 1811 ; came to Illinois, 1838; came to Jersey County, 1838.
Hamilton, N., born Washington Co., Ohio, 1814; came to Illinois, 1818 ; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Howell, U. D., born Somerset Co., N. J., 1815; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Jackson, Elizabeth, born St. Charles Co., Mo .; came to Illinois, 1829; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Jackson, George H., born Philadelphia, Pa., 1813; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1833.
Jackson, John, born 1817; came to Illinois, 1834; came to Jersey County, 1834.
Jarboe, W. P., born Clark Co., Ohio, 1818; came to Illinois, 1827; came to Jersey County, 1844.
Kellar, William, born Rowan Co., N. C., 1801.
Knapp, Charles H., born Delaware Co., N. Y., 1811; came to Illinois, 1839; came to Jersey County, 1841.
Kelly, William, born Ireland, 1801; came to Illinois, 1832; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Kirby, William, born Monmouth Co., N. J .; came to Illinois, 1838; came to Jersey County, 1838.
Keith, William, born Fleming Co., Ky., 1812; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1847.
Keith, Sarah L., born Rose Co., Ohio, 1819; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1847.
Knowland, Martha.
Karr, Joseph.
Kirchner, George C., born Prussia, 1816; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1836.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Levi, William P., born Tennessee ; came to Illinois, 1827; came to Jersey County, 1877.
Levi, Alafair, born Tennessee; came to Illinois, 1827; came to Jersey County, 1877.
Lucas, N. B., born Scioto Co., Ohio, 1807; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1833.
Lowder, George W., born Harlan Co., Ky., 1804; came to Jersey County, 1827.
Lurton, Jacob, born Jefferson Co., Ky., 1805; came to Illinois, 1817; came to Jersey County, 1817.
Latham, R., born Rowan Co., N. C., 1793; came to Illinois 1820; came to Jersey County, 1825.
Lurton, N. M., born Greene Co., Ill., 1830; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Lewis, Allen, born Ulster Co., N. Y .; came to Illinois, 1825; came to Jersey County, 1837.
Lurton, J. C., born Greene Co., Ill., 1831; came to Illinois, 1831; came to Jersey County, 1831.
Little, Irvin, born Rowan Co., N. C., 1803; came to Illinois, 1831; came to Jersey County, 1831.
McDow, William, born Madison Co., Ill., 1808; came to Illinois, 1808; came to Jersey County, 1824.
Marshaw, William, born Greene Co., Ill., 1827; came to Illinois, 1827 ; came to Jersey County, 1827.
McFain, D., born Columbia Co., Pa., 1815; came to Illinois, 1837; came to Jersey County, 1837.
McFain, Mary E., born Henry Co., Ky., 1823; came to Jersey County, 1835.
Miner, Nathaniel, born New York, 1801; came to Illinois, 1832; came to Jersey County, 1832.
Miner, Martin B., born Addison Co., Vt., 1805; came to Illinois, 1837 ; came to Jerseyville, 1840.
McDow, Thomas, born South Carolina, 1795; came to Jersey County, 1823.
Martin, George, born St. Louis, Mo., 1818 ; came to Illinois, 1824; came to Jersey County, 1837.
Massey, John, born Franklin Co., Mo., 1818 ; came to Illinois, 1824; came to Jersey County, 1837.
McCollister, Isaac, born Lewis Co., N. Y., 1817.
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McReynolds, A. A., born Tennessee, 1819; came to Illinois, 1835 ; came to Jersey County, 1835.
McReynolds, Thomas J .; came to Illinois, 1835.
Nevius, Wiliam B., born Somerset Co., N. J., 1813; came to Illinois, 1837; came to Jersey County, 1837.
Newberry, Henry, born Hartford, Conn., 1806; came to Illinois, 1838; came to Jersey County, 1838.
Potts, George W., born Iredell Co., N. C., 1818; came to Illinois, 1834 ; came to Jersey County, 1834.
Pruitt, Mrs. Mary.
Piggott, N. Isaac, born St. Clair Co., Ill. (then Northwest Territory), 1793 ; came to Illinois, 1821; came to Jersey County, 1821.
Piggott, James A., born St. Louis Co., Mo., 1814; came to Illinois, 1819; came to Jersey County, 1827.
Pritchett, D. P., born Montgomery Co., Ky., 1816; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1838.
Plowman, Jonathan, born Somerset Co., Pa., 1818 ; came to Illinois, 1839 ; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Post, James T., born Vermont.
Rhoads, Jolın C.
Randle, James.
Reddish, Zaddock.
Rue, George S., born Monmouth Co., N. H., 1804; came to Illinois, 1840 ; came to Jersey County, 1840.
Richey, William P., born Pendleton Co., Ky., 1817; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Rue, Alfred, born Monmouth Co., N. J., 1813; came to Illinois, 1835; came to Jersey County, 1835.
Rusk, James, born South Carolina, 1811; came to Illinois, 1831; came to Jersey County, 1831.
Rusk, Emily, born Jersey Co., Ill., 1825; came to Illinois, 1825; came to Jersey County, 1825.
Randolph, Lewis, born Somerset Co., N. J., 1808 ; came to Illinois, 1827. Ross, James, born Somerset Co., N. J., 1803; came to Illinois, 1839 ; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Ross, Alletta, born Somerset Co., N. J., 1803; came to Illinois, 1839; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Sidway, G. D., born Orange Co., N. Y., 1804; came to Illinois, 1831; came to Jersey County, 1831.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Smith, John M., born Monmouth Co., N. J., 1811; came to Illinois, 1835; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Scott, Joseph C., born Somerset Co., N. J., 1809 ; came to Illinois, 1835 ; came to Jersey County, 1835.
Slaten, Benjamin F., born St. Clair Co., Ill., 1820; came to Illinois, 1820; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Simmons, J. H. H., born Montgomery Co., Md., 1814; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Shepherd, William, born Yorkshire, England, 1816; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Simmons, R. J., born Montgomery Co., Md., 1808 ; came to Illinois, 1830; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Slaten, W. D. F., born Jackson Co., Ga., 1808; came to Illinois, 1822; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Short, Glover, born Pittsylvania Co., Va., 1800; came to Illinois, 1826; came to Jersey County, 1842.
Silloway, P., born Sullivan Co., N. H., 1812; came to Illinois, 1837; came to Jersey County, 1837.
Smith, J. F., born Spartansburg, S. C., 1811; came to Illinois, 1829; came to Jersey County, 1847.
Simmons, S. C., born Montgomery Co., Md., 1807 ; came to Illinois, 1830 ; came to Jersey County, 1830.
Stryker, William C., born Somerset Co., N. J., 1808; came to Illinois, 1840; came to Jersey County, 1840.
Stout, John P., born 1819 ; came to Illinois, 1839 ; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Stafford, Brook, born New Jersey, 1808; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Sinclair, Mrs. Isaac, born Tennessee ; came to Illinois, 1806.
Sisson, John W.
Spangle, Andrew.
Slaten, John W., born Jackson Co., Ga., 1810; came to Illinois, 1818; came to Jersey County, 1829.
Terry, J. M., born Hardin Co., Ky., 1811; came to Jersey Co., 1828. Tolman, Cyrus, born Bridgewater, Mass., 1793; came to Illinois, 1818; came to Jersey County, 1821.
Terrell, John L., born Caroline Co., Va., 1800; came to Illinois, 1836; came to Jersey County, 1836.
Utt, John, born Scioto Co., Ohio, 1790; came to Illinois, 1835; came to Jersey County, 1835.
Antoinette V. Porel
Josiph . Pourl.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Utt, Jacob, born Northampton Co., Pa., 1809; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1833.
Van Liew, Jeremiah, born Somerset Co., N. J., 1792; came to Illinois, 1839; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Van Horn, James E., born Scoharie Co., N. Y., 1812; came to Illinois, 1833; came to Jersey County, 1833.
Wedding, Thomas, born District of Columbia, 1808; came to Jersey Co., 1835.
Waddle, William C., born South Carolina; came to Jersey County, 1808. Wyckoff, Ambrose S., born Schoharie Co., Ohio, 1806; came to Illinois, 1832; came to Jersey County, 1832.
Whitlock, John C., born Russell Co., Va., 1809; came to Illinois, 1825; came to Jersey County, 1826.
Walker, P. C., born London Co., Va., 1811; came to Illinois, 1835; came to Jersey County, 1838.
West, John C., born Warren Co., Ky., 1812; came to Illinois, 1818 ; came to Jersey County, 1839.
Woolsey, J. B., born Onondaga Co., N. Y., 1809 ; came to Jersey Co., 1835. Williams, L., born Greene Co., Ill., 1822; came to Illinois, 1822; came to Jersey County, 1822.
Williams, Sol., born Greene Co., Ill., 1824; came to Illinois, 1824; came to Jersey County, 1824.
Whitehead, Margaret, born Somerset Co., N. J., 1810; came to Illinois, 1837; came to Jersey County, 1837.
Whitlock, Daniel, born Madison Co., Ky., 1799; came to Illinois, 1831; came to Jersey County, 1831.
Warren, George E., born Franklin Co., Ohio, 1817; came to Illinois, 1835 ; came to Jersey County, 1837.
In addition we subjoin, from a list compiled by Capt. J. E. Cooper, the names of some old residents of Jersey County, who do not appear on the records of the Old Settlers' Society. These persons, in 1870, had resided for at least forty years in the state of Illinois, were at that time fifty years of age or over, and residents of Jersey County. Where Greene County is mentioned as the place of settlement on coming to Illinois, it refers in many instances to what in 1839 became Jersey County.
Allen, Mrs. Wm. H., born in Illinois; settled in Madison Co., 1820. Allen, Mrs. Joshua, born in North Carolina ; settled in Union Co., 1819. Beeman, John, born in Illinois; settled in Madison Co., 1817.
Brown, John, born in South Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1820.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Beeman, Mrs. Orman, born in North Carolina; settled in Wayne Co., 1818. Bell, Mrs. Jeremiah, born in Kentucky; settled in St. Clair Co., 1812. Bridges, Mrs. Hiram, born in Tennessee; settled in Gallatin Co., 1814. Bradshaw, Mrs. Jonas, born in South Carolina; settled in Wayne Co., 1818.
Brock, Mrs. Tarlton F., born in Georgia; settled in St. Clair Co., 1817. Brown, Mrs. Joseph, born in South Carolina; settled in Wayne Co., 1818. Belt, Mrs. H. N., born in Virginia; settled in St. Clair Co., 1817. Cope, Joseph, born in North Carolina; settled in Union Co., 1819. Cope, George, born in North Carolina; settled in Union Co., 1819. Cope, James, born in North Carolina ; settled in Union Co., 1819. Chance, Ezehiel, born in North Carolina; settled in Madison Co., 1828. Collins, Mrs. Job, born in New York; settled in Greene Co., 1820. Cartwright, Mrs. John, born in Ohio; settled in Pike County, 1826. Calhoun, Mrs. J. W., born in New York; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Corey, Mrs. Joel, born in New Jersey ; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Chance, Mrs. Ezekiel, born in Tennessee ; settled in Madison Co., 1816. Cooper, Mrs. J. E., born in New Hampshire ; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Campbell, William, born in North Carolina; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Carrico, Jolin C., born in Missouri; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Cowan, Mathew, born in Virginia ; settled in Madison Co., 1812. Cope, Lewis, born in Illinois; settled in Union Co., 1831. Cartwright, John, born in Pennsylvania ; settled in Madison Co., 1812. Cummings, Mrs. Thomas, born in New Jersey ; settled in Greene County, 1820.
Carroll, Mrs. Thomas, born in New York; settled in Madison Co., 1820. Davis, Mrs. Samuel, born in North Carolina; settled in Greene Co., 1826. D'Arcy, Mrs. E. A., born in New Jersey ; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Davis, Samuel, born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1826. Dodson, Aaron, born in Missouri; settled in Greene Co., 1824. Davis, Jolın, born in Kentucky; settled in Greene Co., 1825. Farley, Mrs. R. D., born Vermont ; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Gilworth, John, born in Virginia ; settled in Greene Co., 1820. Gibbs, John, born in Illinois ; settled in Madison Co., 1818. Gunterman, Mrs. John, born in Virginia; settled in Madison Co., 1817. Grimes, Mrs. Jarrett T., born in Missouri; settled in Greene Co., 1826. Hull, John M., born in Illinois; settled in Monroe Co., 1823. Hart, John, born in Tennessee ; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Henson, Mrs. Samuel, born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1820.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Henderson, Mrs. Richmond, born in Vermont ; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Henson, Mrs. James, born in Virginia; settled in Greene Co., 1823. James, Mrs. Joseph, born in Ireland; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Johnisee, N. P., born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1827. Jackson, Mrs. Geo. H., born in Missouri; settled in Greene Co., 1820. Kellar, Mrs. William, born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1825. Lurton, Mrs. N. R., born in Tennessee ; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Lofton, Mrs. Katherine, born in Ohio; settled in Greene Co., 1818. Lurton, Mrs. Jacob, born in Illinois; settled in Madison Co., 1810. Legg, John, born in Maryland; settled in Greene Co., 1828. Marshall, Thomas, born in Delaware; settled in Madison Co., 1830. Mckinney, Mrs. James, Sr., born in Tennessee ; settled in St. Clair Co., 1811.
McDow, Mrs. William, born in Virginia ; settled in Greene Co., 1828. Myers, Mrs. Emeline, born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1817. McGill, Mrs. T. L., born in Massachusetts ; settled in Greene Co., 1817. Neely, Joshua, born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Nail, Daniel, born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Nail, Mrs. Daniel, born in North Carolina; settled in Greene Co., 1830. Osborn, Francis, born in Ohio; settled in Sangamon Co., 1826. Palmer, William, born in Vermont; settled in Greene Co., 1829. Pruitt, Mrs. James, born in Kentucky ; settled in Madison Co., 1811. Pote, Mrs. Jane, Alabama ; settled in Jefferson Co., 1823. Reddish, John H., born in Kentucky. settled in Greene Co., 1828. Reddish, Stephen, born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1828. Rowden, James S., born Illinois ; settled in Madison Co., 1818. Rice, Solomon, born in Tennessee; settled in Greene Co., 1829. Ryan, Richardson, born in Ohio; settled in St. Clair Co., 1819. Rice, Henry, born in Tennessee ; settled in Greene Co., 1829. Randle, Mrs. J. G., born in Illinois ; settled in Madison Co., 1809. Rowden, Mrs. James S., born in Illinois ; settled in Madison Co., 1818. Reddish, Mrs. Zaddock, born in Illinois ; settled in Madison Co., 1818. Richard, Guy C., born in New York; settled in Morgan Co., 1823. Rhoads, Richard, born in Kentucky; settled in Greene Co., 1828. Sinclair, Isaac, born in Tennessee : settled in Greene Co., 1820. Seago, Thomas, born in Tennessee ; settled in Greene Co., 1828. Swan, James G., born in Illinois; settled in St. Clair Co., 1814. Smith, Mrs. John F., born in Tennessee ; settled in Marion Co., 1829. Thurston, Lewis Co., born in Ohio; settled in Pike Co., 1824. Terry, Isaac, born in Kentucky : settled in Greene Co., 1830.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Vaughn, Mrs. John, born in Tennessee; settled in St. Clair Co., 1811. Ward, Moses, born in Indiana ; settled in Greene Co., 1821. Watson, Sebastian, Illinois; settled in Greene Co., 1817. West, William L., born in Kentucky ; settled in St. Clair Co., 1818. White, Mrs. Jesse, born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1824. White, Mrs. Josiah, born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1824. Whitlock, Mrs. J. C., born in Illinois ; settled in St. Clair Co., 1817.
The following, also taken from Captain Cooper's list, comprises per- sons residents of Jersey County, who in 1870 had resided thirty-five years in the state.
Bradshaw, James, born in Kentucky; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Bray, Isaac, born in North Carolina ; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Brown, Dennis, born in Illinois; settled in Greene Co., 1823. Dougherty, John G., Mississippi ; settled in Greene Co., 1833. Farley, R. D., born in Vermont ; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Hamilton, John, born in New Jersey ; settled in Madison Co., 1836. Henderson, Richmond, born in New Hampshire ; settled in Greene Co., 1832. James, Joseph, born in Ireland; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Jones, George; born in Kentucky ; settled in Greene Co., 1832. Lyons, Thomas, born in Ireland ; settled in Greene Co., 1835. Landon, Norman E., born in Vermont ; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Landon, William D., born in Vermont; settled in Greene Co., 1834. McQuire, James, born in Pennsylvania ; settled in Greene Co., 1832. McCann, George, born in Illinois; settled in St. Clair Co., 1827. Noble, Caleb, born in Mississippi ; settled in Greene Co., 1833. Noble, Sidney, born in Mississippi; settled in Greene Co., 1833. Post, James T., born in Vermont; settled in Greene Co., 1832. Spaulding, Richard, born in Ohio; settled in Greene Co., 1833. Snell, Asa, born in Vermont; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Stillwell, Jeremiah, born in North Carolina; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Thompson, George, born in North Carolina; settled in Greene Co., 1831. Wedding, Benjamin, born in Ohio; settled in Greene Co., 1834. Worthey, Absalom, born in Georgia ; settled in Jefferson Co., 1835.
At the various meetings held by the Old Settlers' Society, delightful reminiscences were exchanged by the members, and from some of them are culled the following brief statements regarding some of the manners and customs of those early days now so far in the past. These reminis- cences are worthy of preservation for they give a picture of times now
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
historical and permit the descendants of the pioneers to contrast those days with the present, and to realize the debt this generation owes to the one now gone.
CHARACTER AND CUSTOMS OF THE EARLY SETTLERS
The early settlers of Jersey County, in common with the pioneers of the western country, were a free-hearted, generous and hospitable people. Each man was willing to render every assistance possible to his neighbor without hope or expectation of pecuniary reward. It was not an unusual circumstance to go fifteen miles to help raise the log house of a newcomer. Friendship was something more than a name, and manifested itself by kindly acts which bound whole settlements to- gether in close and neighborly relations.
PIONEER APPLIANCES
The teams were mostly oxen. The modern wagon was a thing almost unknown in the early pioneer days. Ox carts were used instead. Very little wheat was raised, and the small quantity which was produced was cut with the sickle or the cradle, tramped out on the ground with horses, in a yard prepared for that purpose, and winnowed by means of a sheet, held by a man at each end, while another poured out the wheat from a vessel held at some distance overhead in order to give it a suf- ficient fall. There were few, if any, fan-mills in the county at that time. The plows used were called the barshare, with a wooden mold- board, and sometimes a single shovel plow was used. There were but poor implements as compared with the plows and cultivators of the present day. With the present farming tools one man can cultivate three times the quantity of land that it was possible to cultivate then, with the crude agricultural implements, and this one man can do it better too.
HOME INDUSTRIES
The people in those days were all on an equality, and were proverb- ially honest. They manufactured cloth from cotton, flax and wool, and the clothing for men, women and children was made up by hand. The women attended to the making of the cloth and the clothing, and the men to the farming, the tanning of leather, and the making of shoes. They had hogs and cattle for home use, but there was no cash market for the overplus of product. The country abounded in wild game, such as
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
deer, turkeys, prairie chicken, quail and rabbits, which were suitable for food; and panthers, catamounts, wild cats, the fox, coon, opossum, groundhog, and numerous wolves. The otter, beaver and muskrat were also found. Swarms of wild bees made honey plentiful.
PRIMITIVE SCHOOLHOUSES
The early settlers of Jersey County were mostly from southern states, and the majority of them favored education. The schools were held in log houses. On one side of the building a log was usually left out, and this space was pasted over with greased paper, thus making the only window of which the schoolhouse could boast. Inside the building, under this window, a large puncheon board was placed entirely across the room, and this served as a writing desk for the entire school. The floor was composed, even in the most pretentious of these schoolhouses, of hewed puncheon boards, and the only door was made of long clap- boards got out for that purpose.
The room was heated by means of a large, wooden fireplace at one end of the room. The teacher frequently had a hard time of it to judge from the accounts handed down from early times. It was the usual custom for the "scholars" to turn the teacher out at Christmas, and thus compel him to give a vacation through the holidays. The schools were, of course, subscription, or pay, schools; free schools were the out- growth of a later period. Dilworth's speller was the most common book used; though some had Webster's; and the New Testament was used as a reading book. The teachers themselves commonly made no very great pretentions to having any thorough education. A great many knew nothing of the correct sounds of the vowels, and in going through the reading lesson each word was given a long, short, sharp or flat sound, just as it happened, mixing things up not a little, and thus the teachers' instructions proved of no great value in the way of giving the pupils an idea of correct pronunciation.
LACK OF MILLS
The need most seriously felt in the community was for mills. Up to 1829, the people in the southern part of the county were accustomed to go to Woodriver, in Madison County, where there was a mill, the motive power of which was an incline wheel trod by oxen. At this mill there was no means of bolting, and the flour was very coarse and dark. The
Gerald G. Reardon.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
old settlers say that the meal was so coarse that it could be heard to rattle in the sack, but even flour such as this could not always be ob- tained, and the settlers would do without bread for weeks, except what was made from flour or meal grated on a grater, made of an old piece of tin bucket or a pan, with holes punched in it, fastened on a board. There was also what is known as a stump mortar, which, on a pinch, could be used to crack corn, but only corn. This was formed by balanc- ing a heavy log or beam on a stump, and the up and down motions of this log caused it to fall like a crude pestle on the corn, placed in a hole scooped in another underneath stump.
PIONEER AMUSEMENTS
The people in those days seemed to enjoy life. House raisings, quiltings and corn pickings were of frequent occurrence. These gath- erings were invariably succeeded in the evenings by what were called "frolics," in which the young people would heartily engage. The dances consisted of a "French four," an eight-handed reel or jig. They knew nothing of waltzing, the cotillion, quadrille or lancers, or the modern innovations. What is now known as a saloon or coffee house was then called a "doggery." Lamps were unheard of. A teacup partly filled with cornmeal dough, in which was stuck a stick, around which a rag was wrapped, was filled with coon or opossum oil, or hog lard, and this lighted gave a tolerably good light, but would undoubtedly be considered very unsatisfactory in these days of gas and electric lights. In the fall season, a scooped out turnip was used instead of the teacup, as being more economical, many families possessing so few teacups that one could scarcely be spared from the table.
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