History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 17

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 17

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gratify himself. After the chase they would remove the best part of the carcass, and, building a fire in an excavation in the ground, would suspend the meat over the fire after it had burned to coals. Here it could slowly cook, and would in this manner become ex- cellent eating. It would also keep for many days, which was the Indian's primary object in the proceeding. Sometimes they would become tired of the venison, and would go to the settlers' houses to exchange it for " hog.ee meat," as they called it. As they cared more for the quality than for the quantity, they would often get only a small piece of " hog-ee meat" in exchange for a large piece of venison. On one occasion several of them came on this er- rand to one of the settlers. One of them brought with him hie gun, a large smooth bore rifle. While at the house the white man showed the Indian, who appeared to be the chief, his gun, a small rifle, and by signs indicated to him he would like to exchange. The Indian, after carefully looking it over, raised it to his shoulder, and, sighting it, gave an ejaculatory " tush," throwing his head to one side. He then picked up his own gun, sighted it, and giving another " tush," inclined his head toward the earth. The pioneer knew the first movement indicated that the hunter supposed that if the deer was hit by a ball from such a small rifle it would only shake its head in disdain; but if struck by a ball from his gun, it would fall dead to the earth.

After the Black Hawk war, the most of the Indians went to their reservations west of the Mississippi, while the remainder gradually left the country on the approach and settlement of the white man.

In speaking of the Indians, Mr. C. C. Ewing, now a resident of Lawndale, and an early settler, says: "They were of the Kicka- poo tribe about our place. The Government permitted them to remain and hunt, after having treated with them for their lands." He further says: " These savages were a fearful sight to us boys, they being the first we had ever seen. Some were painted differ- ent colors; others had heavy rings in their ears, or had notches cut in them. Their camp was close to our place, and we visited them frequently. They were quite friendly, and we could easily learn their peculiarities. They would spread their deer hides around their wigwams and cut the venison in small slices, and place these on the hides to dry in the sun. Their dogs, which were numerous, had first choice in these pieces, and were generally undisturbed. When a deer would come in sight, the entire squad of braves would rush

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for their ponies and ride pell-mell after it, shooting from the backs of their ponies. As soon as the deer fell it would be slung across the back of a pony trained to the purpose and brought to camp. On Sundays all was quiet in the village; no hunting was allowed on that day. When their dinner was prepared of venison and soup, the warriors arraigned themselves around the pot in a circle, spoon or ladel in hand. The chief placed himself in a prominent position, and, amid deep silence, pronounced a harangue in the Indian tongue, which," says Mr. Ewing, " we supposed was say- ing grace. The moment he concluded, each Indian rushed for the pot as if on a race for life, and rapidly began to devour its con- tents." Their habits were disgustingly dirty and filthy. The favorable opinion of the early settlers concerning these natives was very much changed when the Black Hawk war broke ont, and they committed some startling atrocities. These were not, how ever, within the confines of this county, but generally further north.

The third settlement in this county was made on Salt Creek, so named from its saline springs, after Mr. Chapman's location and selling to Mr. Birks in 1822. The next settler here was probably Samuel McClure. He located on Salt Creek in 1823. William McGraw was another pioneer; also William Long. In 1825 Philip Suiter settled in what is now Broadwell Township. Sol- omon Wood located near the Rocky Ford; Nicholas Moore, at Hurricane Point in 1830. He afterward went to Iowa and died there. East of the mouth of Lake Fork, on Salt Creek, Abram Vandeventer settled in 1828. In 1826 or '27 Charles Council and Montgomery Warrick came. Samuel Musick located in 1823 or '24 near the present village of Middletown. In 1826 John Barnes came with his family from Kentucky. He lived two years in one of Richard Latham's cabins and then re- moved to Salt Creek, settling in what is now Corwin Town- ship. James Latham had by this date removed to Peoria, having been appointed Indian Agent by President Adams in 1824. He lived here but two years when death occurred. Between the years 1824 and 1827 or '28 John, Robert and James Downing, David Lowry and James Morrow settled. Harry Crocker came from the south part of the State, married and died here. Henry De ment settled about 1829. Moses Moore, a nephew of Nicholas, lo- cated about the same time. Stephen Moore settled here, but afterward moved to Postville, where he was among the first county

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officers. He again moved, this time going to Iowa. J. D. and William Dement were from Kentucky, and are now dead. Joseph Bowles purchased a farm of a Mr. Dotson, an early settler, about 1830. Mr. Bowles went to Sangamon County, but returned to Lo- gan in 1840 or '41, where he died. Brooks Randolph came from Virginia about the time of the "deep snow." He remained during bis lifetime. James Randolph was a native of the same place. Willoughby Randolph also came from Virginia. He removed to Iowa. John Vandeventer was from the Old Dominion, and lived on Salt Creek until his death. Alfred and Edmond Sams were natives of Tennessee, and are both in their graves. Preston Pen- dleton and wife came from Kentucky in 1829, and settled on what is now the John Martin farm. After various removals they lo- cated at the Big Grove on the Kickapoo, where Mr. Pendleton died in 1871. His widow still lives. Peter Bashaw settled near the Rocky Ford about 1827. About ten years after he went to Missouri. John Critz is yet living on the old homestead. His father went to De Witt County, where he died. Samuel Evans set- tled about 1827 or '28. He afterward moved to the place known as the Boren farm. He next established a ferry at the Lincoln cemetery. This he changed to & toll-bridge, which he in after years sold to the county. He then removed to his farm, where he died about 1849. Berryman Vaughn was from Ohio, and settled here on James Chapman's farm, which he purchased. He died on his homestead. Peter J. Cowarden also died on his homestead. Thomas Briggs settled early; he died here.

The remaining settlers, before the " deep snow," located on Kick- apoo Creek. The first settler here did not arrive until 1826. Prettyman Marvel arrived near the eastern limits of the county, in the timber skirting this stream, in February, 1826. He and his wife scraped away the snow from beside a big log, kindled a fire, wrapped themselves in their blankets and slept during the night. They came from Gibson County, Ind. They moved near Waynes- ville, De Witt County, where Mr. Marvel died in 1842. Mrs. Mar- vel is yet living. One week after their arrival John Barr and wife came from the same place and located near them. They came in an ox-cart, and camped out while on the way. Felix Jones settled near the present Atkinson place, and is now dead. Dr. Throgmor- ton brought his family here from Indiana. He removed to Mason County, where he died. Channcy Spears and Matthew Robb are both in their graves. Thomas Robert, James and Samuel Mc-

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Clure settled near the junction of Salt Creek and Kickapoo about 1823. John and Reuben Ewing, Hiram Chapin, Benjamin Shipley and Abraham Hamilton are all dead, and were all early residents. Timothy Hoblit located about 1829. He was from Ohio. William Hutchinson came from Indiana. Andrew Brock and Hiram Bow- man, from Ohio. The first two are dead. Mr. Bowman was one of the first teachers here. He was a Baptist minister, and in after years went to Missouri. Joseph Rodgers removed to Spoon River, and there died. Samuel Hoblit came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 1827. He removed to the Big Grove in the spring of 1829, where he resided until his death. The Hoblit family are now very na- merons, and are among the best citizens of the county. Samuel Hoblit was for many years the only mechanic in this part of the county, and performed all repairs on the farming implements used at that time. John Scott owned a small corn mill built by Zion Sugars in 1828, on the Kickapoo. It was run by water, and had one set of stones. It was the first mill in this part of the county. Wheat was ground on it, and bolted by hand. It was afterward changed to a saw-mill. Thomas Lucas, from Ohio, died here. Charles Council moved to Iowa, Thomas Davis to Missouri, James Ennis, from Tennessee, to the same State. Joseph Clifton settled on a hill near Jerry Bently's. Adam Stephens and wife came from Ohio. They are yet living. Matthew Martin came from Indiana, and afterward settled in DeWitt County, where he died. Ezra Knapp is dead. Gabriel Watt probably came from Indiana. He, William Lee and a Mr. Overstreet were among the first Methodist preachers here. George Clark moved to Delavan Prairie. Levi Johnston is dead. James Barr, lately deceased, was an early set- tler here, and a prominent man.

The first postoffice and trading point for these settlers was Spring- field. The next were Bloomington, Pekin and Waynesville. This small town in DeWitt County was laid out by George Isham. Here the settlers first attended church. Many of them went to Peoria for trade. It was then better known as Fort Clark. In ad- dition to the early settlers mentioned, several names will be found in the history of Atlanta. They are those who located in its vicin- ity. The habits of life of these pioneers were the same as those previously narrated. Their early life was as full of interest as any. John Barr had one clevis when he came. He and others used hickory withes in fastening implements together where any strength was required. They broke ground with three or four

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yoke of oxen, and when one gave 'out, would go out, drive in a wild steer, compel him to enter the yoke, and go on.

Between the various streams on which were the settlements, already described, no person located until later years. The country remained unbroken in many places until the advent of the railroad in 1853. When J. T. Chesnut settled in what is now Prairie Creek Township there were bnt three honses in that part of the county. Delavan was his trading point. Thomas Fletcher was the first settler here. Before closing this it will be very interesting to read the experiences of some of these pioneers as narrated by them in letters and at the gatherings of the old settlers. In a letter written to the secretary of the Old Settlers' Association, Mr. C. C. Ewing, in narrating the early experiences of his father's family, says: " I emigrated with my parents from Tazewell County about the 30th of May, 1829. We settled upon the border of Kickapoo, about one mile west of where the present village of Lawndale now stands. My father brought with him 160 head of cattle, besides other stock. We had to settle on raw land, there being but little cultivated. We broke sod and planted sod- corn until about the 25th of June, on which to winter our stock. The fall was very favorable, and the corn matured well. There was any quantity of blue-stem prairie grass. Of this we availed ourselves abundantly. Yet we had to buy corn and haul it four miles. that being the winter of the deep snow. We hitched two or three yoke of oxen to a sled and drove after the corn in the morning, and would frequently find our trail completely covered on our return. The snow was two or three feet deep. Sun-dogs frequently followed the sun all day, and the weather was often bitterly cold. We got through the winter with a lot of very poor stock, but the grass being abundant the following spring, we soon forgot the hard winter."

Wild game was remarkably plenty, and all settlers had an abun- dance of meat. The county seat of Tazewell County was then at Fremont, about thirty miles distant. To neither it nor Springfield was there a road. Each one on making a journey to either of these towns followed an Indian trail. As Pekin was rather a poor market, the settlers determined to try Chicago. The journey there would occupy about four weeks. Wheat could be sold there at from 75 to 90 cents per bushel, while in Pekin it would bring but 50 or 60 cents. Salt, sugar, coffee and other articles needed in the settlement would be brought back. Purchases could be made

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cheaper in Chicago than Pekin, and on the return of the party could always be sold in the settlement. Mr. Ewing further says: "The item of milling was the most to be dreaded. Cooking stoves were very rarely seen, while a match was not thought of. In our long drives to Chicago we had to keep a supply of flints, steel, tow and punk. With these we made our fires in camp. My father made what he called a mortar, in which to make meal, by hollow- ing out a solid block of wood and making a pestle to fill the cavity. He fastened an iron wedge in the end of the pestle, which was at- tached to a sweep, with a round through it at the proper height for the hand. At this grinder, thus roughly made, the boys would have to put in their idle time. Another mode for making meal was to make a grater out of tin. We often preferred these rude mills to going thirty or forty miles to a horse-mill, and wait for those ahead of us. The journey would often require three or four days' time. Flour was a rarity here, and when obtained was of a dirty, sandy color. This was caused by threshing the wheat on a ground floor by driving horses over it. When it was cleaned it was ground in one of those venerable horse-mills, then so few. Yet this was all we could afford. Biscuit was eaten once a week- on Sunday."

At this date there was a small store at Bloomington and one at Joliet, where the settlers on their way to and from Chicago stopped. They often came here to trade. The comfort of the set- tlers was somewhat advanced by the erection of Orendorff's grist- mill. It was built on Sugar Creek, and was since known as Mor- gan's mill. The burrs were made out of the " lost rocks," as they are called, which were found scattered about over the prairies. They were undoubtedly brought here by the action of water ages ago. They are very hard and durable, and are commonly known as " nigger-heads." This mill was a great convenience to the Sugar Creek and Kickapoo settlers, and had an extensive patron- age. A water-mill was erected on Salt Creek about the same time, but was useful only in high-water time, and was then not consid- ered very safe. The first water-mill in Logan County was built by John Glenn, before the deep snow. The Orendorff mill would grind wheat, but the flour was of an inferior quality.

As soon as settlers began to go to Chicago for supplies, Pekin, profitting by the admonition, began to improve. Men in mer- cantile pursuits knew it was profitable to go to that market for supplies, it was profitable for them to meet the demand, and they

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acted accordingly. Until the railroad came, this town was the chief market, and grew rapidly.

THE DEEP SNOW AND SUDDEN CHANGE.

These two important events mark an era in the early life of the pioneers of Logan County. Those living in the county now who passed through them, refer to them as times never since repeated. The snow began falling about Wednesday, between Christmas of 1830 and Jannary, 1831, and continued falling until it attained a depth of nearly three feet on the level. There was a tradition among the Indians that a similar snow fell about thirty years be- fore. Reference is made to it in the history of the Northwest, in this volume. So completely did the snow cover everything, that wild game perished in great numbers. Over the snow a crust formed, and, the temperature remaining low, everyone walked over the country on this. If a track was broken, the snow would fall. and ere long it would be filled. The people were often put to great straits to preserve life and property. Mr. Power, in his his- tory of the old settlers of Sangamon County, tells of a man named Stout, living alone on Sugar Creek, who, to preserve his life, felled a large tree near his cabin, cut off a log and hollowed out a cav- ity large enough to contain his body. He made his bed on shav- ings, as he had done before, placed the trough along side of it, and, lying down, would pull it over him. The warmth of his body soon filled the cavity, and he was preserved from freezing. When the weather was extremely cold, he would remove his fire just before retiring, scraping the coals and ashes carefully away, and make his bed where the fire had been. Mr. Ewing relates that deer, wild cats, catamounts, foxes, ground or hedge hogs, badgers, rac- coons, foxes, opossums, and prairie wolves were abundant during the autumn. The deer were fat and abounded in great numbers. So plenty were they that people did not care to hunt them. The crust overspreading the snow would allow all animals as well as man to pass over it in safety. The deer runs by a succession of leaps, and the faster the run the greater the force with which their feet strike the ground. Their feet being small and hard, when pursued the deer would break through this crust, and fall an easy prey to the wolves and other animals in its pursuit. The wolves would generally seize the deer by the throat, and suck its blood. The hunter, following and finding the carcass, would find it un- touched, and he had only to take the choice parts for the venison.

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Mr. Ewing says: " My brothers and myself concluded we would catch some deer and tame them. Accordingly we captured a few choice ones, but found they could not be easily tamed, or made to eat, and we were soon compelled to release them."

Not a few persons became lost during this winter, and perished. Their bodies were not found until in the spring, when the snow passed off with a great freshet.

The sudden change occurred on the afternoon of Dec. 20, 1836. It was one of the most remarkable phenomena ever recorded. Rev. John England says: " I moved down near Athens, and was getting out puncheons for the floor of my cabin when the big snow fell. It was all I could do during the day to keep wood enough cut to last all night, and walk a mile and a half to get corn to feed my hog and horses." Mr. Power says concerning this sudden change: " Mr. Washington Crowder remembers that on the morn- ing of Dec. 20, 1836, he started from a point on Sugar Creek about eight miles south of Springfield to the latter place, for the purpose of obtaining a license for the marriage of himself and Miss Isabel Laughlin. There were several inches of snow on the ground; the rain was then falling slowly, and had been long enough to turn the snow to slush. Every time the horse put his foot down it went through the slush, splashing it out on all sides. Mr. Crowder was carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the rain, and wore an overcoat reaching nearly to his feet. When he had traveled some- thing like half the distance, and had reached a point about four miles south of Springfield, he had a fair view of the landscape, ten or twelve miles west and north. He saw a very dark cloud a little north of west. It appeared to be approaching him very rapidly, accompanied by a terrific, deep, bellowing sound. He thought it prudent to close his umbrella, else the wind might snatch it from his hands, and dropped the bridle rein on the neck of bis horse for that purpose. Having closed the umbrella and put it under his arm, he was in the act of taking hold of the bridle rein when the cold wave came over him. At that instant water was dripping from everything about him; when he drew the reins taut, ice rattled from them. The water and slush were almost instantly turned to ice. Mr. Crowder says that in fifteen minutes from the time the cold wave reached him, his horse walked on the frozen snow. Arriv- ing in Springfield, he attempted to dismount at a store on Fifth street, but was unable, his coat holding him as firmly as if it had been made of sheet iron. He then called for help, and two men

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came, who tried to lift him off, but his clothes were frozen to the saddle, which they ungirthed and carried man and saddle to the fire, and then thawed them apart." Mr. Crowder obtained his li- cense, returned the same day, and was married the next. This event fixes the date in his mind beyond question.

Two brothers in Douglas County were overtaken by the wave, while cutting a bee-tree, and froze to death before reaching their house. Their bodies were found about ten days after. Andrew Herideth, a former merchant in Cincinnati, collected a drove of from 1,000 to 1,500 hogs and started with them for St. Louis. The country was so thinly settled he found it expedient to take three or four wagons loaded with corn to feed on the way. When a load was fed ont, there was generally a sufficient number of hogs exhausted to fill the wagon. Mr. Herideth had reached a point on the prairie about eight miles south of Scottville, Macoupin County, when the cold wave overtook him. Finding that men and animals were likely to perish, he called the men together, upset all the wagons but one, in order to leave the corn and hogs together, righted the wagons, and with the men in them drove to the nearest house. Before they could reach it, all were more or less frozen, but none lost their lives. The hogs thus abandoned piled on each other. Those on the inside smothered, and those on the outside froze. A pyramid of about 500 hogs was thus built. The others wandered about and were reduced to skeletons by their sufferings from the cold, the whole proving a total loss. The blow was too much for Mr. Herideth, who was making superhuman efforts to retrieve his lost fortune, and he not long after died.

The most remarkable case of suffering recorded concerning this change happened to James Harvey Hildreth, of Logan County, and a young man named Frame. Mr. Hildreth could never after be induced to speak of it except with great pain. Frame died at the time. Mr. Hildreth was then about twenty-four years old, and a very stout, rugged young man. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, about the year 1812. He came to Illinois in 1833 or 1834, and settled near Georgetown, Vermillion County, and en- gaged in cattle trading. He lett home on the 19th of December, 1836, in company with Mr. Frame, both intending to go to Chicago on horseback. On the second day out, December 20, they entered a large prairie, the next timber being many miles distant, on Hick- ory Creek, a tributary of the Iroquois River, and now in Iroquois County. It rained all the forenoon, and the earth was covered

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with water. They encountered a slough containing so much water they did not like to cross it, and turned toward the northeast, riding several miles. Coming to a narrow place in the slough they crossed it, and turned northwest to regain their course. This was about the middle of the afternoon. It suddenly ceased raining, and the cold wave came in all its fury, striking them squarely in the face. They were then out of sight of any human habitation. Their horses becoming unmanageable, drifted with the wind, or across it, until night closed in upon them. How long they discussed what was best to do is not known, but they finally agreed to kill each other's horse. They dismounted, and Hildreth killed Frame's horse. They took out the entrails and crawled into the cavity, and lay there, as near as Mr. Hildreth could judge, until about midnight. By this time the animal heat from the carcass became exhausted. They crawled out, and just then the one bav- ing the knife by some means dropped it. It being dark, they could not find it, and being foiled in their purpose, they huddled about the living horse until about four o'clock in the morning. By this time Frame became overcome by the cold, and sank into a sleep from which his companion could not arouse him. He never wakened. Says Mr. Power: "The feelings of Hildreth at this juncture can only be imagined. He managed by jumping about to keep from freezing until daylight, when he mounted his horse and started in search of shelter. In mounting he lost his hat, and was afraid to get off for it, for fear he could never mount again. Bare-headed he wandered about some time, until he reached the bank of a stream, supposed to be the Vermillion River. Seeing a house on the opposite bank, he hallooed as loud as he could, until he attracted the attention of the man, who, after learning what he wanted, said he could not assist him. A canoe was near the man, but he said he was afraid of the running ice. Mr. Hildreth then offered him a large price if he would cut a tree and fell it over the stream so he could cross. The man still refused, and directed Hil- dreth to a grove, which he said was a mile distant, where be would find a house. He went, but it proved to be five miles, and the house to be a deserted cabin. He returned to the river bank, called again for help, and was again refused. He then dismounted, crawled to the water's edge, and found that the ice had closed and was strong enough to bear him, and he crawled over. Arriving at the fence, the brutal owner of the place refused to aid him, when he tumbled over it, and crawling into the house, lay down by the

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 17

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989