USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 66
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Walter Little
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R
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temporal standpoint. Tying to a tree blindfolded and administering a flogging by others also blindfolded, saved afterclaps in courts of law and had a practical effect on the man at the tree. But such extreme resorts were rare.
Later emigrants of prominence may be mentioned in biographical sketches in the following pages. Having named so many of the pio- neers, it will relieve the narrative and illustrate the times to present here a few
INCIDENTS.
Taverns were rather plenty on the Chicago and Dixon road, near Paw Paw Grove, but one of them could not accommodate many guests. Jacob Wirick kept tavern in this vicinity in early times. An old codger stopped here two days, and in making up his bed the women folks noticed a buckskin sack or purse filled with money, which, of course, was not disturbed, but taken from there by the guest on leav- ing. He was afterward committed to prison for horse-stealing. Being sick, he sent for his wife, and told her he had buried a sack of gold near Paw Paw Grove, beside a fence, and marked the spot by a notched stake. His wife searched but did not find it. The facts somehow getting out cansed the women at the hotel to recall what they saw, and to look for the hidden treasure, but in vain. By accident, afterward, Harris Breese noticed a notched stake near a fence and broke it off; meeting Mr. Hampton, a neighbor, he said : " I have found where that money was buried, go and help me dig it up"; but he did not believe there was any there. The two went to the spot, and, still incredulous, put in their spades and at once turned up about $900 in gold doub- loons. It was equally divided, and it is said that Hampton invested his so opportunely in the purchase of land, then especially cheap, that it was the means of making him wealthy.
In one part of the grove lived a man who was so favored by cir- cumstances and situation that his neighbors said if he had only been honest he would have been rich. He did own much land, and had great chances for trade. But his peculiar dealing had caused him to be nicknamed " Bogus." He affirmed afterward that he had never made or passed counterfeit money, but some of the " stuff" was found near his residence. In his vicinity there was played the " box " game. Sup- posing money could be bought at a liberal discount, an applicant would come for it ; a sample box of the "stuff," which was simply good coin in layers of sand, would be shown, with the remark that the negotia- tion could be arranged and price paid, but delivery of the base coin would only be made by its being at the foot of a certain tree at ten o'clock at night; but when the buyer came to the rendezvous in the
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darkness, confederates of the other party would cry out : "Here he is ; now we'll fix him !" and discharges of firearms and other alarms would cause the one who came to flee in terror, without getting what he bar- gained for. It was unfortunate for the good name of " Bogus" that two horse-thieves, with property in possession, had taken shelter on his premises when caught.
In the early days 'Squire David A. Town sent a prisoner to Syca- more in the custody of Charles Morgan, Dick Allen, and William Jenkins. One of these trio relates the incident. Recent rains ren- dered traveling slow and tedious, and draughts on the whisky jug frequent and heavy. Coming to an impassable slough they found it necessary to encamp for the night; but to their dismay they found the jug already emptied. A new supply could only be obtained by making a circuitous trip around the slough. They felt they could not pass the night without it, and as the guards were all unwilling to go, they threatened the prisoner with severe treatment if he should fail to come back, and sent him alone for the liquor. He returned before morning, having traveled the tedious ten miles.
Mrs. Roxanna Town, now eighty-two years of age, says : " I have carded the wool, spun, wove and made all kinds of cloth, linen, cotton and wool. These old hands have done a great amount of hard work." Oxen were often the only team, and "it was nothing unusual to go five or six miles to church with an ox team, or to get up in the night, hitch the oxen, and pull the stage out of a slough." For want of a wagon, James Goble tells us that he placed an inverted table on a pair of wheels, packed in his family, and treated them to a ride after a team of oxen. Hosea Town, July 4, soon after he came, drove over to his father's with a sled and pair of steers, giving his wife the pleasure of riding in such a rig. David Smith boasts that his brother had a pair of fast steers that were trotted to a blacksmith's, twenty miles away, for a plow to be sharpened, and then trotted back the same day. Of the small returns received for labor a few instances may be given. Says Hon. O. W. Bryant: "We hauled corn eighty miles to market in early days, and then sold it for 14 cents a bushel; while for oats we received 10 cents, and for wheat 40 cents a bushel. We could not pay any hotel bills out of that money. Provision for man and team was carried from home, and poor shelter gratefully accepted." Said another farmer : "One year I raised 500 bushels of wheat, doing all the work, except exchanging labor for a reaper, with the help of my wife. She had been tenderly reared in a Massachusetts home, but went into the field and bound the grain. When the crop was sold we had left, clear of expenses, only $10 to pay for our toil." It was hard, in such cases, to make the payments to the government when the land
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came into market, but it was usually done; and to the children was thus secured this "goodly heritage."
Deer were formerly numerous here, though they have long since disappeared. Prairie wolves are still found. A grand hunt was made for the latter February 9, 1848. A circuit of about twenty-five miles was enclosed by the sportsmen, but it is reported that only one wolf was killed, and that by Chief Shabbona. But it is said there were frequent occasions, for a year or two, a little earlier than this time, when honest settlers turned out to hunt worse pests, with good success, and that was when they pursued horse-thieves. Raids by the latter caused good people to become minute-men for such emergencies. In small parties, or even singly, they followed the stolen animal so soon as the loss was known. The chase was exciting, sometimes dangerous, whether long or short. The result depended on the courage, promptness and sagacity of the hunters. At Four-Mile Grove, a farmer, rising early one morning, found a door had been broken through, and a basket taken containing corn. Calling his son, he said: "It was a horse-thief who did this, else he would have asked for what he knew would have been given in welcome, and have waited to feed." The two men instantly started in pursuit, before the track could be oblit- erated, and overhauled the rogue at Princeton. He was held in con- finement, though the only charge that could be sustained was the taking of the basket. But soon proofs came of his real occupation, and showed that he was just what his captors had suspected.
The " August flood," familiar to all old settlers, began on August 19, 1851. Says John Buchanan : "It rained incessantly three days and nights, and the sky was in a perfect blaze; many thought the last day at hand. We did not leave the shanty during the time. Families could not get provisions. John Brittain's invitation to all was, 'Come to my potato patch and help yourselves.' New-comers had to subsist entirely on this article of food." The destruction to grain was im- mense ; not half a dozen stacks but were a total loss. D. M. Harris swam his horse three times in reaching Harding, where he found the creek a quarter of a mile wide.
There are four public burial-places in the township. Willard Hast- ings gave the ground for the first, which is situated near James Fonda's. Near Lester Harding's is one; another, called the Baptist, where a church of that denomination once stood, is situated at Sonth Paw Paw, and there is the Cottage IIill cemetery, owned by the Presbyterians. Fully a tenth of the grave-stones in these encampments of the dead are down, and a large percentage of those standing are in a crazy attitude. If prostrate humanity is the better typified by fallen marble, then bad workmanship and careless neglect should for once have credit.
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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.
PATRIOTISM.
Wyoming freely gave its best blood to fight the battles of the country in the war of the rebellion. Some of the citizens advanced money to pay bounties, and to reimburse them. In 1865 the township authorized a special tax of $5,566 to be levied for that purpose. Since it was so generous, spontaneous, the people have every reason to be proud of their loyalty.
COMPANY K, 75TH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS.
The only full command recruited in this township during the re- bellion was Co. K, 75th reg. Ill. Vols .; but many of the members were from neighboring townships. Dr. George Ryon began raising the com- pany, but the enrollment was principally done by James H. Thompson and Berkley G. Barratt in the months of July and August 1862. The company went into camp at Dixon, where the regiment was organized, and was mustered into the United States service September 2. Dr. Ryon was the first captain, but being elected colonel of the 75th he was succeeded by David M. Roberts. William H. Thompson was first lieutenant and Isaac L. Hunt second. Following is the roll of enlisted men :
Berkley G. Barratt, William Nettleton, Walter V. Simons, John A. Shoudy, Jonathan N. Hyde, James H. Thompson, Joshua C. Wills, Merritt Miller, Orlando B. Jones, William M. Atherton, J. De Witt Abrams, Oscar M. Town, Frederick P. Mason, Joseph W. Agler, John E. Taylor, Ira W. Baker, George H. Baisley, George Beemer, Charles Carmer, William A. Conant, John M. Ditts, Frederick Dormoy, Lewis M. Fairchilds, Edward E. Hallenbeck, James C. Howlett, Joseph N. Keen, Benjamin Kidney, James Miller, William Miller, J. William Miller, Sidney B. Radley, John S. Ryon, Lucas B. Schuyler, Orrin Sisco, James E. Taylor, Jacob Turk, John W. Unger, John Woodman, Zora Atherton (killed in battle at Perryville), George A. Brittain (ditto), Sidney Merriman (killed at Stone River), Francis Mills (killed in battle), William D. Baisley, William G. Dean, George Dormoy, Jacob D. Fuller, Benjamin S. Kipp, Joseph Miller, Silas Pringle, Fletcher Vickery, Menzo Coffin, James Hall, Franklin Harkins, J. Pondexter. Frank Atherton, John A. Hunt, Edward J. Rice, Stephen A. Farr, Eben Backus, Lawson Bell, John L. Baisley, Charles Blakes- ley, William H. Christie, Francis M. Case, Hiram E. Fuller, Orin J. Finlay, Hiram Henry, Nathan Hallock, Moses Hannon, Chauncey Miller, Simon K. McErn, Henry Merwine, Edward Prentice, Benja- min Radley, Charles Sutton, Theodore Spencer, Jacob Smuck, John Agler, John A. Barratt, Andrew E. Fuller, Samuel T. Foresman, Charles H. Golding, Jacob Gruse, George W. Hall, Philip Hackett,
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Christopher C. Hodges, Charles H. Kelly, William McIntyre, Harvey A. Morris, Edgar A. Madison, Avery Merriman, Daniel Reams, Ed- ward A. Steele, Thomas P. Steele, Seymour Warren.
In this list all from William D. Baisley to Fletcher Vickery, inclusive, died in the service .. From Frank Atherton to Jacob Smuck, all were discharged. From John Agler to Seymour Warren, all were transferred on the muster-out of the regiment, most of them being recruits whose terms had not expired. The first reunion of these vet- erans was held at South Paw Paw, September 27, 1881, and a perma- nent organization was formed having for its objects the renewal of acquaintances, by having an annual banquet and social gathering, and the cherishing of fraternal respect by attending in a body the funeral of any member. In a notice of this gathering the Paw Paw " Herald " said : This gallant company of volunteers was mustered into the service and left Paw Paw with eighty-six men, joining the 75th regi- ment at Dixon. Their first engagement, in which they were placed foremost in the ranks, was the dreadful battle of Perryville. Here thirty-three of their number were killed, wounded and made prisoners. This conflict annihilated fifty per cent of their number, and cut them fearfully. Their last battle was at Nashville, after which only twenty- seven of the brave eighty-six answered to roll-call and were honorably discharged. They took active part in a great many of the leading battles of the bloody rebellion, doing valiant honor in the cause. We would like to give a full account of their long and wearisome " tramp" through the wilderness, supporting the tattered flag which they yet preserve in memory of the blood sacrificed and their dead comrades whose graves are by the wayside, but space forbids.
TRAGEDIES.
On March 12, 1879, William E. Rosette, living at East Paw Paw, being incited by jealousy, made a murderous assault upon his wife. For several years he cherished purely imaginary suspicions against her fidelity, until this black distrust developed in his bosom a viper that poisoned his whole life. He no doubt became a monomaniac; his conduct toward his wife was for a long time violent, and indicated his disposition, as he had declared it to be his intention, to murder her. They had ceased to share the same couch, and her fears had become so marked that on retiring at night she never failed to bolt her door and stand the axe at her bedside. At the time described he attacked her with a potato-fork, striking her upon the head and inflicting bloody wounds. Her screams brought the daughter, who interfered and pre- vented further blows. His victim's sinking to the floor impressed him
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with the belief that he had accomplished his work, and dashing out of doors, across a field to a well, he ended his own life by drowning.
In 1863 the city marshal of Mendota, accompanied by Daniel Mizenbaugh, William Mizenbaugh, and another man, called upon John Brittain in the night, and asked for assistance from him and his two sons, John and William, to arrest two horse-thieves named Horton and Raymond, who were making for Paw Paw in a buggy with three stolen horses tied behind. The Brittains joined the pursuing party with some reluctance, but having consented, and started upon the track, they did good service from that moment in trying to bring the rascals to justice. These passed Brittain's place driving rapidly, and were followed by the officer and his posse, who passed them near Hosea Town's. The marshal, Mizenbaugh, and the senior Brittain jumped from their carriage and faced the fugitives, and the officer commanded them to halt. At that instant Horton drew a weapon and shot at Brittain, the ball passing through his hat. Several shots were exchanged in quick succession, and the firing continued until Fonda's place was reached, when the outlaws passed and their route was lost at the four corners. Surmising that they had gone in the di- rection of Paw Paw, the road leading to the town was taken and the team was overhauled at the bridge near the creamery, where it had run astride a sapling. Horton was found in a dying condition. Raymond had fled and has never more been seen in these parts. Horton was heard to cry out at the beginning of the encounter, and it is supposed that it was at that time he received the fatal missile in his body. The elder Brittain and his son William delivered themselves up to the law, re- ceived an examination before 'Squire Connell, of Paw Paw, and were discharged.
Some time after the homicide a woman named Hames, from Wis- consin, appeared and claimed the horses. In the fall the father pre- sented himself to the grand jury at Dixon, with complaint against himself, but no bill was found. He was taken ill at the house of a friend and died suddenly.
In the autumn of 1866 an affray, attended with fatal result, occurred on the Renssalaer Baker farm between William A. Conant and his father, Elihn C. Conant, on one side, and William Barber and his wife, principals, assisted by Christopher Srygley and Roderick Kavanaugh, on the other. Barber and his wife were from Canada, and about the time of harvest had come into the neighborhood. E. C. Conant had purchased the Barker farm the spring before, and sold the south half to his son William, and rented him the other, on which the buildings were located. Not long before the occurrence which we are about to relate took place, the senior Conant rented the house to the
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widow Kavanaugh without the consent and against the remonstrance of his son, who had sole right to the premises. The father was a quick-tempered, excitable man, and had fallen into a passion when William mentioned the subject ; and to keep peace with him the lat- ter made no further protest, except to the widow, who was too anxious to occupy the premises to give heed to his objections when supported by his father's pretentions. Barber wanted to rent the eighty to which the buildings belonged, and the old man Conant promised the land to him in ease he should not sell it. Meanwhile Barber and his wife obtained board with Mrs. Kavanaugh, and William Conant, as had been some time contemplated, bought the premises. But Barber, who was a self-willed, violent, desperate fellow, formed a resolution to occupy and retain the farm, though he had not completed a bargain and could not get lawful possession. It should be said that term's had been agreed on, and E. C. Conant went to 'Squire O. W. Bryant to have the lease drawn according to arrangement with Barber, but the latter failed to meet him there, and then the farm was sold. Barber, without a shadow of right, began fall plowing, and William Conant having now bargained for the land, sought to forbid his continuing the work ; but Barber seemed to avoid him, and before much was done the plowing was interrupted. Conant put two teams to work, and Barber came to the field and ordered him to take them away, which was not heeded, and then the Conants went to Paw Paw and the conveyance was executed. This was on the 13th of November. Next day old man Conant served a notice on the widow to vacate, and the following day his son gave a similar notice. Barber and his wife were not there, and so on the morning of the 19th he called with the same paper, tak- ing along his hired man, Gordon Sanford, for a witness. Barber was away at work, but his wife was at the house, and she improved the occasion to let fall upon Conant a shower of hot words with threats of violence. By previous agreement he and his father were to go together to the woods that day, and as the latter had not yet come along he thought to use the time while waitng in removing collections from around the stable to make ready for tearing it down. While thus em- ployed Mrs. Barber came and ordered him off, and after some angry conversation made an effort to take the pitchfork from him ; but failing in this pushed him several times, then stood in his way as often as he ehanged places, and at last kicked him. Unable to accomplish any- thing, she started off threatening to bring those who could drive him away, and went directly for her husband. Convinced by report and observation that he was a reckless, lawless man, and believing that if he came he would be armed and would attempt to frighten him from the premises, Conant thought that if he himself were not found at a
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disadvantage, but remained firm and collected, that the matter would end by his holding his ground ; so he went across the road to his house and got his revolver, one which he had carried in the army, still not expecting that Barber would come. His two men, Gordon Sanford and Frank Adams, were plowing not far from the stable, and he directed them to leave their teams and join him, in case anybody should come, to hear all that might be said, but not to take part in a fracas if there should be one. He discharged the revolver once to be sure it was in good order and fit for use providing it should be neces- sary to employ it in self-defense.
In a little while Mrs. Barber and Srygley came in sight, and Conant then sent his men to their work, saying that Barber was not with them and there would be no trouble. Srygley was having dealings with Barber, and had accommodated him with a team to do plowing both on the Baker place and a piece of ground he had rented from old man Conant on the old homestead. The elder Conant now arrived, and the son sent him across to his house with the double purpose of waiting till he should haul off the lumber which he had taken from the stable, and to get him away from the scene of the excitement. William Conant drove into the yard where the lumber was piled, and at that moment Barber, and Roderick Kavanaugh, the widow's son, came, running their horses. The latter dismounted and hitched, but Barber commenced an onslaught of vile and insulting language, order- ing Conant's hands, who were now on the spot, to depart the premises, and at the same time attempted to ride over Conant. The latter seized the horse by the bridle, and displayed his revolver. The senior Conant, Mrs. Barber, and Srygley, all made their appearance on the scene at this juncture. The former was very much excited and de- manded profanely to know what they were all doing there, and telling them that they had no business on the place. The woman had a club in her hands which she brandished at old man Conant, declaring herself "enough for him." They bandied abnse a moment, when she struck him on the head and arms with the cudgel, crying she would kill him. He shouted to the men to take her off, as he did not want to receive or return blows. Srygley dragged her away a few steps, and Barber ordered her to go to the house. The old man following them and talking excitedly, was turned upon by Barber, who grasped him by the collar, pressed his head against a wagon wheel and drew back his right hand to strike, when the son instantly cocked his revolver and com- manded Barber to let his father go, and he did so. Barber now directed his attention to the latter, and a talk and quarrel of some length ensued, when Mrs. Barber stole up and struck his hand, hoping to knock the
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revolver from it, and almost succeeded in that design. With the agility and ferocity of a tiger Barber at the same instant sprang upon his back, reached forward and grasped his wrists, hissing with demoniacal rage that now he would riddle him. The struggle was now for life and was fought with the desperation of despair. Barber cried out to Kavanaugh, " I've got him, Rod ; you get the pistol !" The latter, greatly excited, shouted, " Kill him ! kill him !" Conant held onto the weapon with both hands, and bending forward with the intention of raising Barber clear of the ground, whirl and throw him, was that instant jumped upon by Srygley, who threw himself on the struggling man's head and shoulders, and reached for the revolver. This was kept out of the way of both assailants. The old man cried out to William to give it to him. Srygley said, "Give it to me or the old man ; give it to me and I'll see you aint hurt." The old man tried to get it. Kavanaugh got hold of it, pulled, and fired. The hammer had not been let down since Conant raised it and ordered Barber to release his father. Upon the discharge Kavanaugh, frightened, exclaimed with an oath, "Kill the cuss !" Barber returned, "Stick to him, Rod; get the pistol and shoot the devil !" Conant having made the mistake of bringing it on the ground even with the intention only of being on equal terms with Barber, whom he supposed would be armed if he should come, had no recourse now in the anger and excitement of the moment but to keep it at all cost in his own hands. In the unequal contest his strength was giving out, and he called to Gordon Sanford for assistance, but the latter only stood and looked on. Then the old man Conant called him several times, but he did not respond with help. Believing that the critical issue was at hand the father exclaimed, " Shoot them, Bill ; if you don't they'll kill you. If you are afraid to do it give me the pistol and I'll do it." At this point the defendant was thrown upon his hands and knees, and then for the first time he freed his wrists from Barber's vice-like grip. His father tried again to get the revolver, but was pushed away by Kavanaugh, who also repeated the same attempt. Conant managed to get up with both Barber and Srygley on him. The three men now increased their exertions and all began tugging at the revolver. In pulling his hands apart they cocked it; Conant saw what was done, and knowing it was only a question of time when he should be overpowered and murdered on the spot, the instincts of self-preservation asserted themselves for the first time at this stage in his secret thought, and he decided to save his own life. Just then the woman struck at his head with a club, but dodging, the blow was received on his own and Srygley's shoulders. The old man began pulling at the latter who held on to the defendant, and when at last
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