USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan county, Illinois : its past and present.. > Part 25
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
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 one thousand to fifteen hundred 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 out, there were 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 Scotville, 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 five hundred 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 engaged in cattle trading. He left 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, Dec. 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 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 habi- tation. 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 having the knife by some means drop- ped 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
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
never wakened. Says Mr. Powers, from whose book these items are obtained : " The feelings of Hildreth at this juncture can only be im- agined. He managed by jumping about to keep from freezing until day- light, 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 halloed 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 Hildreth to a grove, which he said was a mile distant, where he 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 fire. Here he begged for assistance, and when the man would have relented and done something for him, his wife prevented him. The man's name was Benjamin Russ, that of the wife is not known, nor do any care to remember either, save in ignominy. Mr. Hild- reth lay before this fire, until four o'clock in the afternoon, when some hog drovers coming, took him to another house, where he was properly cared for." The inhuman wretches who refused him aid were compelled to flee to escape the righteous indignation of their neighbors. Mr. Hildreth always expressed his opinion that they imagined he had a large sum of money, and they could secure it in case of his death. Such conduct was very rare among the early settlers, who were always noted for their hospitality to travelers.
Mr. Hildreth met with a heavy loss by his failure to get to Chicago. He was conveyed to his brothers in Vermillion County, where all the toes were taken from his feet, and the bones of all his fingers, except one joint on the thumb of his right hand, which enabled him to hold a pen, or a driver's whip. He moved to De Witt County, there married, and after- ward came to near Mt. Pulaski, where his death occurred from disease of the lungs, contracted at the time narrated, and from having a leg am- putated, the stump of which never entirely healed. Mr. Ewing, of Lawn- dale, speaking of this change, says it occurred about two o'clock in the afternoon, and it became so dark that many chickens went to roost. They were nearly all frozen. Persons out on the prairies with teams had to hurry home, and in nearly all cases had to cut the harness from their horses. Many cases of death resulted from the exposure at this time, and during the winter and spring much sickness followed. What few doctors there were had all and more than they could do.
Abe Larison's father had a narrow escape from death at the time, his clothes being frozen on him, and he frozen to the saddle, when he arrived at his house.
The velocity of the wave, and its extent, is not well known. It
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
reached Lebanon, Ohio, about nine o'clock that evening, and froze some wagons fast in the mud while their owners were bargaining for lodging. The velocity was probably about forty miles an hour. Some, however, think it greater. The incidents narrated show its terrible force, and its equally terrible effects. It will always remain vividly impressed on the minds of those living then, and to them marks an era in the settlement of the country.
After the year 1840, the settlement of the county was gradual and constant until the completion of the railroads, in 1853, when it became very rapid, and continued so until the war. By this time the country further west demanded the attention of emigrants, and the increase of population has principally been that of the natural growth of the county.
Its people are now chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The railroads furnish excellent facilities for the transportation of its resources, and its trade. The people are intelligent and industrious, and if they go on improving the county as their fathers have done, before the present generation passes away, it will equal any commonwealth in the Union.
The history of Logan County would be incomplete without that of Postville, the old county seat. As it was an important place at one time, and contained the first county buildings, it is inserted here, instead of under the head of the "City of Lincoln," a part of which it now is.
THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT
was laid out by Russell Post, from whom it received its name, in the year 1835. He discovered here a beautiful site for a town, and, being something of a speculator in Western town sites, at once entered the land, and laid out a village.
John Sutton soon after erected a small hotel, where the travelers from Springfield would often stop for refreshment, when on their way to and from the state capital. The first store, a primitive structure, was built by Ackman & Rankin, on a lot of land near that now occupied by John Melton.
They were soon followed by James Prim and S. M. Tinsley, in a similar enterprise. Mr. Prim's store stood near where Mr. John Boy now lives. Mr. Prim was the first postmaster in the town. He was suc- ceeded in the office, about 1848, by Mr. Solomon Kahn, who retained the office until the union of Lincoln and Postville, and the removal of the post-office to the latter place. Ackman & Rankin's store was the first house built on the town plat. It was erected during the spring and sum- mer of 1836. Mr. Hiram Edwards had the contract for its construction, and received $70, in hard money, for the work. Mr. John Edwards hewed the logs for its construction. These were hewn to a thickness of six inches, and as wide as the log would make. The whole was roofed with clapboards. After its erection, the proprietors divided it into two rooms, using the rear room as a storeroom.
Mr. Sutton's house being too small for the entertainment of travelers, a more commodious structure was built, on the corner of the square, by William McGraw. Another was afterward added by Dr. John Duskins. It fronted the court-house. It is now occupied by the family of Mrs. Margaret Sams. .
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
As Postville was on the direct road from St. Louis to Chicago, it became a regular stopping place for stages. A large amount of mer- chandise was taken from St. Louis, by this route, to Springfield, Bloom- ington and Chicago. Chicago was yet a village, with scarce a hope of future greatness.
The erection of the county, and the location of the county seat at Postville, aided much in its prosperity. The commissioners appointed, in the act of incorporation, to locate the seat of justice for the new county, selected Postville, it being near the center of the county, and donating a square of land, and four or five lots in addition. A court-house and jail were at once ordered erected, and work upon them commenced. The court-house was built in the center of the square, faced the south, and was two stories high. Its entire cost was not likely more than two hundred dollars.
The jail was built mainly by Elisha Parks. It was constructed of hewed or sawed logs, each one foot square, notched at the ends, so that when laid in the wall they fitted closely together. Mr. John Edwards remembers hewing some of these logs, and it is probable all were prepared by the broadax, as saw mills were then few. This jail was.about twelve feet square, and that many feet in height to the first story. The upper floor was made of logs of the same dimensions as those composing the sides, securely fastened to the upper tier of logs. The lower floor was composed of logs hewed about twelve by sixteen inches in thickness, the greater thickness placed upward. These were laid closely together, and, as well as the walls and upper floor, were covered with heavy oak | lank, two inches in thickness, thoroughly nailed on, within and without. In the center of the upper floor, a small trap door was made, sufficiently large to admit a man's body. In order to secure light and ventilation, this door was composed of a crosswork of iron bars, firmly fastende together, and secured with a good padlock several inches from the door. Two windows, of similar material, were also made. Over all a good, heavy roof was placed, and in the end of the upper story a door was made of heavy plank, which in turn could be securely bolted. When a prisoner was confined within this citadel, he was, in most cases, safe. He would be taken in at the upper door, the trap-door of the inner cell raised, a ladder let down, and he was compelled to descend into the prison. The ladder would then be withdrawn, the trap-door and outer door bolted, and he was safe. It is confidently affirmed that criminals could more easily escape from the jails of to-day, than from this one.
Strong as this jail was made, it could not always be depended on, as the following incident will show : Not many years after it was built a man named Bartlett was arrested and confined in the jail for shooting at the stage driver. He was an exceptional villain, shrewd, cunning and brave, and was noted for his adroitness in escaping. In order to be doubly sure of his keeping, a strong guard was stationed about the prison day and night. One day, on taking him his food, he was discov- ered to have made an attempt at liberty by tearing loose one of the inside planks, his only instrument being a case-knife and his boot heel. Manacles were then brought and placed on his wrists; but these being large and his hands small, he would quickly slip the irons off and hand them to the astonished jailor, with the quiet remark, "I do not wear
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
iron jewelry." Manacles were then brought and fastened to his feet. No sooner was he left to himself than he commenced a constant rubbing together of these irons until the friction would wear away some weak spot between his feet, and he would remove these to hand them to the jailer, with the same dry remark. Sometimes he would keep up this incessant rubbing for days in order to accomplish his purpose. One day, during his confinement, he managed to attract the attention of Mr. J. P. Evans, then a lad some fourteen years of age, to whom he offered a "fortune" if he would bring him a watch, no matter what kind, or whether it was of any value. The boy, though tempted by the " for- tune " offered, consulted his father, one of the guards, before acquiesc- ing'in the wish of the prisoner. Mr. Evans told him that Bartlett only wanted it, in all probability, to make some kind of tool out of the main- spring with which to effect his release. The watch was accordingly not obtained. Baffled on all hands, Bartlett now determined on his escape, let the difficulties be what they would. The distance between the lower and upper floors was fully twelve feet in height, more than twice the height of the prisoner. By a little practice, and being naturally very athletic, he became able to spring up and catch in the bars of the trap door above. Clinging to one of these bars with .one hand, he drove a part of the window sash under the door, which would not quite close, until he wrenched the staple, through which the padlock was inserted, from its place. His strength was prodigious; he would often spring up to the door, swing by one arm and talk to any one who desired to converse with him. Raising the door, he went to the outer door, by some means opened it, and observed the guards were not on the watch, having left their guns in their part of the jail, and retired to the court-house square to the shade, and for conversation.
Bartlett quickly and quietly descended, and leisurely made his way southward toward a drove of horses in the prairie, observing them slowly, as though designing to purchase. While there one of the guards noticed him and remarked to his comrades, " That looks like Bartlett." " It can't be," said another; "he could not get out of jail." One of them ran to the jail and immediately calling to them, confirmed their suspicions. Not seeing the guns at first, it was thought the escaped convict had them and would defend himself. He had secreted them under the bed used by the guards. Just at this moment, however, he was seen to leave the horses, having worked his way toward the timber, and to run for it with all the fleetness he possessed. A pursuit was at once started, which traced him to Salt Creek and there lost him. After diligent search, he was however found secreted in the water, underneath a tree which had fallen nearly across the stream. This the pursuers had unintentionally surrounded, to deliberate on what was the best method to adopt to effect his capture. While standing there, one of them hap- pened to look closely at this tree and saw in the water the form of the fugitive with his face just out of the water. He was at once taken into custody and remanded to jail, where he was securely ironed and hardly ever after left unseen. His trial occurred soon, when he was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment in the penitentiary, where it is believed he died. While there he narrated his manner of escape from the Logan County jail, and also told his listeners that at one time his pursuers were
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
so close upon him he could have seized one of them; Evans, and pulled him into the water. He said that when captured he was " nearly froze," and would have been compelled to leave the water soon.
This old jail stood some distance northeast of the court-house square and was used until 1847, when the county seat was removed to Mt. Pulaski. The court-house and square were sold to Mr. Solomon Kahn for three hundred dollars ; the same gentleman purchased five additional lots belonging to the county, in Postville. The jail was also sold, and the logs comprising its strong floor and sides were used for ties on the railroad. For several years after the settlement, a large pond of water near by afforded water for stock, and during the winter a 'skating place for the youth of the village. It was in this pond that a man named Willis lost his life, and whose death remained so long a time a mystery. About the year 1838 or '39, Willis was employed to look after and feed the stock of a Mr. Wheeler, who desired to make a visit to his old home in Kentucky. One night, Willis went to town carrying with him his ax, a very pecu- liarly shaped one, the blade being so made that it would with ordinary blows sink deep into the hardest wood. While in town, Willis imbibed too much whisky, and late in the evening started for home. He was never afterward seen alive. In the course of a day or two, his absence being noticed, search was made for him, but to no avail; persons on horses would ride into this pond, the water coming up on the side of the saddle, but could find no trace of Willis. At last he was given up for lost, vari- ous opinions being hazarded as to the probability of his whereabouts. After seven years had passed away, the pond one dry summer dried up, leaving a bare piece of ground nearits center. One evening, as a woman from the vil- lage was seeking her cows, she chanced to cross this bare spot, when to her great astonishment she discovered the skeleton of a man. Hastening to town, she narrated her discovery to several, who at once went to the spot. The skeleton was there, and in removing it the ax was found. From its construction it was at once recognized by the older ones as Wil- lis' ax. The mystery of his mysterious disappearance was now solved. He had wandered into the pond and perished, For further proof, it was recollected that one of Willis' legs had been broken, and an examination of the right thigh corroborated the fact that the remains were those of the unfortunate man. They were at once removed and given a respectful burial.
There were several of these ponds about the old town of Postville,. . which have long since been filled, and are now cultivated or enclosed as yards. Where the city of Lincoln now stands was a large marshy piece of ground, and at one time when Colby Knapp was passing over the site on some journey, he aroused a herd of nearly forty deer. At that time these were plenty, and one could travel from this latter place to Springfield without encountering a fence, or having to follow the wandering of any. road. The road, like the line, was direct. On the removal of the seat of justice to Mt. Pulaski, property in Potsville declined considerably in value, and trade and population alike felt the result. The old court house lost its prestige and became a dwelling, and the town no longer was enlivened at stated intervals by presence of lawyers and clients on court days. It was in this old court-room that the illustrious martyred
I7
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
president conducted several cases, and by his known honesty won the hearts of the people. As an illustration of this latter, the following inci- dent is given : · Mr. Lincoln had been employed by a Mr. Brown to con- duct a case for him, and which was to be heard in the Logan County court. Thinking he could better advance his own interests, and sup- posing he could escape detection, Brown gave Mr. Lincoln a very false version of his case. This was developed in the trial, when Mr. Lincoln, vexed at the falsity of the man, and caring nothing only for the truth, turned to him in open court, exclaiming, with considerable earnestness, " Brown, what made you lie to me so ? If I had known the truth in your case, I would have advised you not to bring suit." This unflinching regard for principle gave " Honest Abe " a standing among Logan County peo- ple which in after years was never lost.
The old court-house was also used by the religious element of the people for a house of worship, the noted pioneer preacher, Rev. Peter Cartwright, occasionally conducting divine services therein. No house of worship was ever erected in the town, the school-house and court-house being used in its stead. The first schools of this settlement were, like those in all parts of the county, subscription schools. It was not until after 1840 that a house was erected for no other purpose, rented rooms prior to this time supplying the deficiency.
The town of Postville never recovered from the effects of the removal of the seat of justice, and when it was united to Lincoln in 1865, the town contained scarcely two hundred inhabitants.
The removal of the county seat to Mt. Pulaski arose from that speculative fever passing over the state when so many counties were organized, and county seats created on a speculative basis. The inhab- itants of the north and eastern portions of Logan County, together with many residents in McLean and De Witt Counties adjoining, desired to create a new county of the portions of these counties mentioned, and to locate a county seat at Waynesville, a small village in Waynesville town- ship in De Witt County. Those about Mt. Pulaski were in favor of the seat of justice being located there, and at an election to decide the matter, owing to these two chief influences, the removal was decided by a strong majority. Those residing about Mt. Pulaski hoped to see a new county created from Logan, Sangamon and Macon Counties. These plans were, however, all frustrated by the passage of the new state constitution, which prohibited the organization of new counties until a certain number of inhabitants were within the prescribed limits, and also defined the area a county must have before being created. This put an end to further agitation on the subject, and ere long the inconvenience of the seat of justice began to be felt. Mt. Pulaski is within six miles of Sangamon County and eight miles of Macon, while it is over twenty miles to the north line of the county, and over fifteen to the western limits. The people living in these parts complained of the long distance to attend to all county business, and a more central location was agitated. The survey of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad being completed, it was urged that instead of re-locating it in the village of Postville, a move most earnestly desired by its citizens, it would be better to locate it on this railroad. Mr. Colby Knapp was then in the legislature, and was mainly instrumental in getting the bill changing the seat of justice passed. Col.
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
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R. B. Latham, John D. Gillett, and Virgil Hickox, the original proprietors of Lincoln, gave to the county four squares of land, two of which have been made into parks, one is used for the court-house, and on the other the jail and jailer's residence are located.
LINCOLN.
A city of about seven thousand inhabitants, and the seat of justice for the county, is situated nearly in its center. Three railroads pass through it, viz. : The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, completed in 1853 ; the Indian- apolis, Bloomington & Western, in January, 1873 ; and the Pekin, Lin- coln & Decatur, in October, 1871. These roads give the city direct con- nection with all important points, and furnish excellent avenues for · its trade.
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