USA > Illinois > Knox County > History of Knox county, Illinois > Part 44
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Curtis .K. Harvey, a prominent lawyer of Galesburg, and a very promising young man every way, was the only son of Hon. C. K. Harvey, born in Knoxville, educated at Knox College, graduated with honor, and commenced the study of law with Hon. A. M. Craig, his brother-in-law, with whom he formed a co-partnership immediately after he was admitted to the bar, in 1869. He afterwards was a part . ner of Judge Leander Douglass, of Galesburg. Mr. Harvey was a man of superior ability, fine education, a thorough knowledge of the prin- ciples of law, retentive and ready memory, and quick perception. He reasoned from principles with accuracy, was clear and logical in pre- senting his case to the jury, and his legal argument was also charac- terized by force and clearness.
He died March 2, 1878, in the prime of life, his age being only 30 years; and now side by side father and son lie buried in the cemetery at Knoxville.
460
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
The following carefully compiled list of county officials will be val- uable for reference. We give a short biographical sketch of each of the Commissioners and the first of other officials.
PRESENT BAR OF KNOX COUNTY :
Geo. C. Aldin.
Zelotes Cooley. A. C. Mason.
Wm. Andrews.
WILLIAM DAVIS .*
J. A. MCKENZIE .*
B. F. ARNOLD .*
Chas. Diland.
C. H. Nelson.
J. B. BOGGS .*
R. Dallard.
John Nelson.
A. M. Brown.
LEANDER DOUGLASS .* O. F. PRICE .*
S. H. BUTLER .*
W. H. Fuson.
S. H. Ritchey.
L. K. Byers.
Homer Gaines.
P. H. SANFORD .*
W. C. CALKINS .*
R. L. HANNAMAN .*
F. C. SMITH .*
DENNIS CLARK .*
R. C. HUNT .*
GEO. W. THOMPSON .*
M. M. Clark.
A. L. Humphrey.
J. J. TUNNICLIFF .*
W. H. CLARK .*
W. N. Keightlv.
E. W. WELCH .*
D. C. Chipman.
GEO. A. LAWRENCE .*
E. P. WILLIAMS .*
F. F. Cooke.
G. C. Lanphere.
J. L. Willis.
F. A. Willoughby.
M. D. COOKE .*
F. S. MURPHY .*
*See biographical sketch.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
Riggs Pennington, one of the pioneers of Central Illinois and a member of the first County Commissioners' Court, was a sharp, shrewd, calculating man of medium size, dark complexion, a keen black eye and full, intellectual forehead, and a general make-up that gave him the air of a thorough-going, wide-awake business man that he was. Mr. Pennington was the first man to settle in McDonough coun- ty, Ill., coming originally from North Carolina. He remained, how- ever, but a short time in McDonough county, when he removed to Knox county, arriving simultaneously with the Robertsons. Being a shrewd financier, he accumulated a large property and was considered one of the wealthiest men in Central Illinois, at one time, and leaving here in 1837 for Texas he took with him $13,000. Mr. Pennington returned to Knox county in the spring of 1840 on business, where he was received by his former co-workers here with a hearty welcome; returning again to Texas, he remained there until his death in 1869.
Dr. Charles Hansford, one of the first three County Commissioners of Knox county, came here in 1829, and was the first practitioner who located in the county. He located first in Henderson Grove, from whence he removed to Knoxville, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1854. Dr. Hausford was a man of fair education and marked native ability. Served one term in the Legis- lature, and was at one time one of the most popular men in the coun- ty. Though of small stature and slight physical form, he possessed great powers of endurance. His practice was very large, employing
O. P. COOLEY .*
E. H. LEACH .* 4
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
three teams and two drivers, the doctor riding day and night success - ively for many days at a time.
Philip Hash was a member of the first Commissioners' Court. He remained in the county but three years, when he went to Missouri, where he died.
Alexander Frakes, a native of Kentucky, was one of the earliest settlers of Knox county, and one of the County Commissioners for a number of years. Mr. Frakes was a fair type of that moving, restless frontier men who find more pleasure in the subjugation of a country than the occupation of it after it has been settled. He came to Knox county in the fall of 1828, at the age of 36 years, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 9, Henderson township. While he had a strong attachment for his friends, his inordinate love of money was the ruling element of his nature. Mr. Frakes evidently had a strong aversion to being crowded, and wished to go to a country less popu- lous. He left here for Oregon in 1853, saying he wanted more elbow room, and wished to live far enough removed so as not to hear his neighbor's pigs squeal. He died several years ago in his adopted State of Oregon.
Thomas Maxwell, who very early served as a Commissioner, being elected in 1831, emigrated from Knox county in 1836, going to Texas, where the remainder of his life was passed.
Humphrey Finch left the county at a very early day. Whatbe- came of lini we are unable to learn.
John G. Rountree, a valuable member of this Court, elected in 1833, was killed by the kick of a horse.
James Ferguson came from Kentucky to this county in 1830, and settled in Henderson township; in 1832 moved into Orange town- ship, where his children are still living. He was Major of the Rangers from this county during the Black Hawk war. He died in 1841.
Alfred Brown was first elected in 1833, and subsequently, under the County Court rule, Mr. Brown served as Associate Justice. He was a man of fine abilities, a Whig in politics and a farmer by occupation. He died in this county on the farm where he first located.
Joseph Rowe, another member of the Commissioners' Court of 1835, died in Cameron, Warren county, at the age of about 80. .
Jonathan Rice came to the county in the fall of 1831, died in April, 1855, on the place where he first settled. He served as Com- missioner from 1834 to 1839.
John H. Wentworth removed from this county about 1842 and has since died. He was elected Commissioner in 1839.
Asa Haynes, still living in Orange township.
26
462
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Eldert Runkle, farmer, lived two miles east of Knoxville many years.
John Jackson was an old man when he served as Commissioner. He died at Knoxville many years ago.
Samuel B. Anderson died on his farm south of Knoxville.
Amos Ward was one of the leading men of the county in his day, and served with distinction as a member of this Court from 1842 till it was abolished in 1849. Although temporarily absent, Mr. Ward is still a resident of this county.
Daniel Meek, one of the best known and most popular citizens of the county, a Kentuckian, and for many years one of the most ex- tensive farmers of the county. He was for many years Supervisor of Indian Point township.
Martin B. Mason, a member of the Commissioners' Court, resides near Yates City. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1806; came to this county in 1837, and before this Court was abolished in 1849, had served with distinction as a member. Since the township organiza- tion law was adopted, he has served several years as a member of the Board of Supervisors.
Manyweather Brown went to Oregon from this county.
This closes the list of the members of the County Commissioners' Court during its existence in this county. The time-honored custom of conducting the public affairs of counties was abolished by the con- stitution of 1849, and the County Court substituted, which continued until 1853, when it was replaced by the Board of Supervisors.
TREASURERS.
John B. Gum.
1830-33
Wlliam McGowan. 1855-59
Charles Hansford.
1834-35
George Davis ..
1859-61
George Newman.
18 5-37
T. A. E. Holcomb.
1861-63
John Eads. .
1837-43
John A. West. .
1863-65
Henry Arms.
1843-46
Thomas Harrison
1865-67
Zelotes Cooley.
1846-47
Homer Gaines.
1867-69
David Edgerton.
1847-49
Edwin T. Ellett.
1869-71
Charles Rogers
1849-51
Francis M. Sykes.
1871-73
David Edgerton
1851-53
Edwin T. Ellett.
1873-75
W. H. Whitton
1853-55 James L. Burkhalter.
1875-79
John B. Gum, the first Treasurer, was a fair type of the men who subdued the wilds of the great Northwest. He was a native of Kentucky, with a closely knit, well developed, muscular form, of medium stature, sandy complexion, with a contour of features indi- cative of firm determination and strong will power, but tempered with those greatest of Christian virtues, benevolence and charity. Mr. Gum came to Sangamon county, this State, as early as 1826, removed soon after to Job's settlement, McDonough county, where he plante
463
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
a crop of corn and potatoes; and while thus engaged he met a man who told him of the beautiful land lying in the vicinity of Henderson Grove, Knox Co., to which place he soon removed, arriving there during the year 1828. Mr. Gum took an active part in the organiza- tion of this county, his own liome being selected in which to transact the official business of the county, and there in that primitive log cabin was held the first Circuit Court, and there assembled the first County Commissioners' Court, and also rested the temporary seat of justice, of the infant county of Knox. Jolin B. Gum had the honor of receiving the first appointment of County Clerk, but declining, was appointed first County Treasurer, and all through the early years of this county was found among its wisest councils. He was quite modest, as illustrated by the following incident: He was elected Justice of the Peace, even against his inclination, and one day was called upon to marry a couple, which he timidly did, but immediately thereafter resigned the office, lest he would again be called to perform a like ceremony. He remained here until April 22, 1861, when he removed to California, where he died, in 1864, at the advanced age of 70. His widow still lives there, at the ripe old age of 75 or 76 years.
COUNTY CLERKS.
John G. Sanburn.
1830-37
John. S. Winter.
1857-65
Henry J. Runkle.
1837-47
James J. Egan.
1865-69
Zelotes Cooley
1847-57
John S. Winter.
1869-78
CIRCUIT CLERKS.
John G. Sanburn.
1830-45
Cephas Arms.
1857-60
Achilles Shannon.
1845-46
John H. Lewis.
1861-65
Alexander Sanders
1846-47
John Aberdein ..
1865-67
T. Judson Hale.
1847-52
James W. Temple.
1868-73
H. T. Morey
1852-56
George L. Hannaman
1873-78
John G. Sanburn, the first Clerk of the county, who also held almost all county offices, bothi elective and appointive, for many years, was born in Canandaigua, New York, May 13, 1797, and died in the city of Knoxville, this county, April 14, 1865, greatly mourned by all who knew him, which included almost every resident of the county.
His parents were among the earliest pioneers of New York. At the age of 20 he came west to Ohio, and one year thereafter went to Missouri, returning to his native State in 1819, making the journey on foot. Shortly afterwards he came to Vandalia, then the capital of this State. He came through this county in 1829, selecting Hender- son as a liome, believing it would be the county-seat of the county, which there was some talk of organizing. He proceeded to St. Louis, purchased a stock of general merchandise, and had them towed up the Mississippi on a flat-boat as far as Oquawka. Unfortunately they
464
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
were injured by the water, many of them being destroyed. So the first stock of goods brought to Knox county and sold to the few set- tlers were damaged goods. On the county of Knox being organized, he was selected to fill the more important offices, and the early records attest the ability and fidelity with which the duties of these offices were performed. In compiling this history, we closely read the rec- ords penned by him, and for clearness, exactness and fine appearance they compare favorably with those subsequently made. He was mar- ried to Miss Alethea Owen, in November, 1832, who survives him and resides in Knoxville. She was the daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Owen, who came to the county in 1829.
Mr. Sanburn was generous, of noble principles, and although not as social as some, yet his popularity was great. An old pioneer, almost his cotemporary, sums up his character in a few words, thus: " Any person who could appreciate genuine goodness, would like him." Could a higher eulogy be passed upon any man ?
SHERIFFS.
Stephen Osborn.
1830-35
Andrew Thompson. 1859-60
Henry D. Bell.
1835-38
Elijah C. Brott.
1861-62
Peter Frans.
1838-47
J. Calvin Cover.
1863-65
Henry Arms.
1847-51
James Soles. .
1865-66
Samuel W. Brown
1851-52
D. W. Bradshaw
1367
John Eads. .
1852-54
Wilkins Seacord.
1868-70
Cornelius Runkle.
1855-56
Samuel F. Patton.
1871-72
George M. Enke.
1857-58
A. W. Berggren.
1873-78
COUNTY JUDGES.
· George C. Lanphere
1849-53
R. L. Hannaman.
1862-55
H. G. Reynolds.
1854-57
Dennis Clark.
1866-78
L. Douglass.
1858-61
COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
William H. Whitton.
1849-53
J. H. Knapp.
1862-69
J. H. Noteware. .
1854-55
Frederick Christianer
1870-73
P. H. Sanford.
1856-61
Mary Allen West. 1874-78
CORONERS.
Joseph Henderson.
1851-52
Giles Cook 1863-64
J. W. Brewer.
1853-54
Levi Massie.
1867-70
Joseph Henderson.
1855-56
Jessie W. Kimball.
1871-72
Wm. Hamilton
1857-58
Albert S. Slater. ..
1873-76
Alvin H. Potter.
1859-60
D. W. Aldrich.
1877-78
Reuben Bailey.
1861-62
SURVEYORS.
Arthur A. Denny
1850-51
R. Voris. 1862-69
E. T. Byram. .
1852-53
David Wilts.
1870-71
R. Deatlierage.
1854-55
Wm. H. Robinson
1872-73
E. T. Byram. ..
1856-57
E. T. Byram. ..
1874-75
Alexander Knapp.
1858-59
Henry J. Vaughn 1876-78
E. T. Byram. .
1860-61
465
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
CHAPTER XIX.
TEMPERANCE.
The general use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage by all classes and the direful consequences of its use prevailed throughout the county. There was nothing, however, in the custom of drinking peculiar to this county. In the absence of positive knowledge, we rather incline to the belief that for a long time it was less prevalent here than in other places, yet the " ardent " was freely used.
Although the evils of intemperance are still deplorable, a material change in the custom of drinking has been effected. Good men and bad men indulged in it then. The whiskey-jug was thought an indispensable help in the harvest-field or at house-raisings, log-rollings and corn-huskings; nor was the decanter, with its exhilarating con- tents, generally wanting at social gatherings.
A man meeting a friend near a tavern invited him to the bar to " take something," and any one was wanting in hospitality if he did not " treat " liis visitors.
Liquor bought by the gallon, and even by the barrel, was kept in families for daily use. Before partaking of breakfast, the glass was passed around, to give an appetite. When bittered with some herb or drug, it was used as a sovereign remedy for most of the ailments flesh is lieir to, and often as a preventive. Liquor being kept in the early country stores, some merchants were wont to treat their cus- tomers, especially when making large bills, and often beforehand, to sharpen their appetite for trading. Happily, these habits have become obsolete among the better classes of society, and it is hoped will never be revived.
While intemperance largely exists, it is evident it has, within the last 30 years, greatly decreased. We do believe that according to the population there are less than one-fourth as many drunkards in the connty as there were at an early day. This leads us further to declare that we do not believe the efforts put forth by temperance people have been a failure in times past.
That organizations have lived and flourislied for a while and then gone down, prove nothing. All these organizations are but human 1 instrumentalities, and are brought forthi by the necessities of the hour.
-
466
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
Their design is to accomplish a certain purpose apparent at the time. It is not to be expected that they will be as enduring as the hills, or, like the church, so strong that " the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." If they accomplisli a good work, for the time being, well and good. If it is found that there is a radical defect in their organizations necessitating a change, let it be made, and let us not imagine, because they are defective and have not accomplished all the good their most sanguine supporters anticipated, that nothing has been done. All over the country can be found sober, lionest and good men, who, but for the efforts put forth by the members of some temperance organization that has ceased to exist, would now fill a drunkard's grave. Then we would bid God-speed to every effort of temperance men and women, knowing that as temperance increases our country will become more and more prosperous. .
Many of the early settlers of this county would have their " bitters," and thought nothing of the liarm it did. Indeed, the first license ever granted by the Commissioners' Court was for keeping a saloon. They charged only two dollars for the license, when a few days afterward a man paid ten dollars for a license to sell general merchandise. This would indicate that they considered the saloon a greater public benefit than the dry-goods and grocery store.
The only signs these fellows ever needed were for the taverns. They were gotten up in a crude way, but none could mistake the reading thereon, which generally was " Whiskey and Oats," or "Entertain- ment." Suclı signs would often be seen hanging from little log cabins.
The " Horse Horspital," blazoned with red paint on the sides of a cabin in the rural districts, will be remembered by many an old citizen.
Whiskey was generally sold for cash; all other goods on credit. Of course it was not expensive then, as we find for a long time it was sold for 122 cents a pint, this price being established by the County Commissioners. When some of the fellows wanted to get on a tear, and had no money, they would manage some way to get the whiskey.
A man living in Knoxville, by the name of Lafferty, played a novel scheme to get whiskey. He, with five or six of his friends, wanted to go on a spree, and had no cash to buy whiskey with, but genius pro- vided. Lafferty got a jug that had contained whiskey, but was now empty. He put some water in it from the public well, and then went to a grocery and called for a quart of whiskey, telling that the boys wanted to go on a tear, but didn't have quite enough whiskey. The whiskey was drawn, and Lafferty picked up the jng and started off without saying a word about paying for it. The proprietor told
467
HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
him to come back, as whiskey was cash. Lafferty said he had no money. "Well, you can't have the whiskey, then," was the reply. Lafferty appeared mad and stepped back, telling him to take his d-d old quart of whiskey. This was done, when immediately L. visited the publie well, again putting in more water, then went to another place and called for a quart, had it drawn and again emptied back. Again he went to the well for more water. By this time he had his jug half full of pretty fair whiskey, but not strong enough; so he went into a third place and called for a half gallon, stating that he had some, but not enough. The whiskey was drawn, and again L. started for the door, without paying for it. As he expected, they made him come back, and took from his jug a half gallon. He again appeared mad, but it was just what he wanted to be done, and when he left the third store he had a half gallon of as good whiskey as the merchant had · poured back into the barrel from the jug. This was a first-class article, and the boys were thus afforded a rare chance for a good drunk, after the most approved style.
Old Dr. Bowman, who was one of that kind of physicians who carried large saddle-bags, filled with tin cups, weeds and calomel, thrown over his horse, partook freely of this half gallon of watered whiskey, and got rather top-heavy. His old liorse stood hitched on the square. The boys (there were boys in those days, and mischievous ones, too), tied the tail of the doctor's horse to the rack. The doctor finally went up to his faithful animal and got on, without noticing the condition of its tail. He got well. seated in the saddle and then started off. The horse turning rather suddenly, the doctor fell to the ground, pulling his immense saddle-bags off on to him. When these fell upon him the old fellow yelled out, " Murder! murder! enough! enough!" He supposed some one had jumped upon him and was pounding him. These and similar stories are told by the pioneers.
Robert Hendricks built the first water-mill in the county, on Court creek, six miles from Knoxville .. This was a great place for many a year. He afterward turned the mill into a distillery. and when he made the first barrel of whiskey, lie came to Knoxville to get some of the boys to go down and liave a spree. Six of them went, to have a big time, but after drinking the barrel of spirits they were still not drunk. The disgust pictured on the countenances of these men when they came back and gave their opinion of Hendricks' whiskey, was very amusing.
At the first 4th-of-July celebration held in Knoxville, when all were gathered around the sumptuously spread table and the blessings pronounced, glasses or gourds were filled and in hand ready to be
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
drank at any toast that might be offered. Calling upon a minister who was present, he arose and offered the following: "The Temper- ance Cause: may it, like the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, roll on and on until it shall envelope the whole earth." Who could drink after such a toast? Profound silence reigned for a moment when, in a stentorian voice from the other end of the table, came: " A rolling stone gatliers no moss." Up went the gourds, and down the contents. One lady cried out, " Fill me up a second, on that."
At a meeting of the citizens of Knox county, held at the court- house Wednesday, March 29, 1854, in pursuance to a call of Parker Earle, agent of the " Main Law Alliance of Illinois." The meeting was called to order by W. H. Holcomb, President of the " Knoxville Temperance Society."
On motion, it was voted unanimously, "That it is expedient that this meeting do now proceed to organize a County Main Law Alliance." . Accordingly the society was organized, a constitution framed and adopted, and the following officers elected: W. H. Holcomb, President; Vice Presidents-A. C. Wiley, Galesburg, Stephen S. Buf- fum, Salem; William Maxwell, Abingdon; David H. Frisbie, Hen- derson; John Becker, Victoria; and E. A. Ellsworth, Elba; Secretary, John G. Sanburn; Treasurer, George A. Charles.
As early as 1849 strong feelings on the temperance question were manifested. The direful effects of the use of intoxicating liquors were no less heart-rending than at the present time. The society of " Sons of Temperance " was doing a glorious work in the reformation of inebriates, about this period. The people of Henderson were awake to the destruction going on in their midst by this hydra of intemperance. Accordingly, during the summer of 1849, a series of meetings were held to devise means for the suppression of the traffic. Many strong resolutions were passed in opposition to the sale and use of ardent spirits. As these were the first we have any record of, we quote a portion of the resolutions adopted at a general meeting:
Resolved, 1st. That we consider the use of ardent spirits as a beverage to be a more biting, bitter curse than war, pestilence or famine.
2nd. That every law-abiding citizen, every individual, who has the least spark of kindly feeling or philanthropy in ltis composition, is in duty bound to exert his influence to the utmost extent that it can be legally carried, to put a stop to the sale and use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage in this community.
3d. That with the knowledge of the character and effect of intoxi-
.
Stilson
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HISTORY OF KNOX COUNTY.
cating liquors, the traffic in them as a beverage is an outrage upon community.
4th. That we conscientiously deem the man who can be so dead to the interests of his fellow-man as by the sale of ardent spirits to scat- ter crime of the darkest dye, disease of the worst class, and death in its most dreaded forms upon community, broadcast, to be no less mor- ally criminal in the sight of God, and to be no less so in the sight of man, than he who hires his neighbor to steal for his benefit, or who scatters contagion that he may reap a harvest tlerefrom, or murders for hire.
5th. That we deem it inexpedient for any friend of morality and good order to visit " Buck Lick" [the most noted groggery in town], except for moral or benevolent purposes.
6th. As it is publicly known that certain office-seekers in this pre- cinct and elsewhere are in the habit of furnishing ardent spirits as a treat for the purpose of securing their votes,
Resolved, That we treat them as their conduct demands.
At the first temperance meeting a committee was appointed to cir- culate a paper in order to ascertain how many were opposed to the traffic and the number in favor of it. The committee reported that out of those called upon, which included all over 13 years of age, 110 were opposed to the sale, one in favor, and fifteen refused to sign at all. These papers were then placed in the hands of a committee of ten, appointed to call on the liquor-sellers, and request them to desist with the traffic. All the satisfaction obtained from the dealers, of which there were two, was, that they would sell none in less quan- tities than by the quart, and that they would not suffer the liquor to be drank upon their premises. As it always has been in every other place, it took a long, hard struggle to free Henderson from these groggeries.
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