USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876 > Part 16
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ILLINOIS MIDLAND R. R.
This is a consolidation of the Peoria, Atlanta & Decatur and Paris & Decatur Railroads. The road was constructed in 1872. Its line extends from Terre Haute, Ind., to Peoria, Ill.
Entire length 176 miles. 168 miles.
Entire length in Illinois
INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR AND SPRINGFIELD R. R.
This road was chartered in 1850 as the Indiana & Illinois Cen- tral R. R., but was not constructed until 1872, and then finished only to Montezuma, on the Wabash. It is thought that it will shortly be constructed through to Indianapolis, and when done will be one of our most important roads. The name was changed in 1876.
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
211
AGRICULTURE.
- -
This is the oldest branch of industry. It needs no words of com- . mendation. Those who engage in tilling the soil form a large and very important element in society-a necessary element, and one just as dignified, when duly appreciated, as any of the others. In character, influence and relative position the agricultural class is what its members make it. It is high or low, as its masses are en- ergetic, educated and skilled. In some localities the sun seems to be always shining. The farmers are busy the year round. Their farms are neat and well fenced. Their barns and outhouses are painted and in perfect repair. They have reapers, mowers, corn planters and all the modern improvements in the art. The dwel- lings are neat and comfortable, and their occupants seem always cheerful, and are intelligent, refined, social, industrious, and are always glad to have you come and see them. This is what people call "a good neighborhood to live in," "a good farming commu- nity," etc., etc.
There is another community, sometimes but a few miles distant, occupying a position at the other extreme. There seems to be always a cloud over it. It is hedged in and about with ennui and lassitude and laziness of the most reckless sort. The fields are haggard and torn and lacerated, and seem to have been cultivated in a haphazard sort of a way without reference to the points of the compass. The fences are racked and partially down, and where standing seem to cling to the shrubs and trees for support. The plows, reapers and mowers stand in the field, as they were left when last used. The farm house is in the last stages of decay, and ready to tumble down upon the slightest provocation. Its doors are old and weatherbeaten and fasten with a latch and string. The windows are dilapidated and pretty well filled up with hats of ancient date or pillows sable and dusky hued. The inmates are living specimens of inertia, dejected and downhearted, whose whole travel seems to have been over stony roads. They have a corduroy
212
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
look about them, as though they had spent many weary nights in pondering over Mark Twain's Roughing It. The head of the household trudges about with one boot and one shoe and a single suspender, as though he was continually weighing in his mind the question whether he ought or ought not to. His "old woman" -that is his wife-poor soul, does as well as she can, endures all, works hard and dies young, an object of pity and neglect. The children, a half dozen or more, grow up in rags and penury, half starved, half clothed, half educated and sore-eyed, and are contin- ually knocked and buffeted about in the world, and pricked and stung by the ragged edges of poverty. The barn is a cross be- tween a rail pen and a "straw-stack," and is "fearfully and wonder- fully made." The team of "critters" is a bona-fide spectacle piti- ful to look at, lame and often blind. The yellow dogs that lie in the front door yard have scarcely sufficient energy to recognize a stranger or bark a good square bark. They look as though they wanted something and did not know where to get it.
Such are pictures of the two classes of farmers, The latter class is becoming rare in this age of steam and progress. They have been rooted out and gone off " where it aint so thickly set- tled."
There is a most perfect harmony existing between the agricul- turalist and the manufacturer, the mechanic and professional man. There is no agency at work, when their relations are properly under- stood, that tears the one down to build the other up. They each have a work to perform and a sphere to fill. Our whole industrial system is like a perfect machine. Some parts may be more powerful and exert a greater influence than others, yet all the parts are of equal utility. The farmer is not independent, nor is the mechanic, the laborer, the lawyer, the doctor, nor any one who labors with mus- cle or brain.
We do not deem it material to devote space to notice the differ- ent agricultural and horticultural products of the county. They are substantially the same throughout Central Illinois. Corn is now, and no doubt will remain our staple product. As our prairies were being opened up for cultivation, and when the soil was very rich, a very large acreage of wheat was sown. But of late years the wheat crop has been on the decline so that now it is fequently the case that we do not raise enough of this cereal for home con-
213
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
sumption .* This is owing to several reasons; the decline in price since the war, the destruction of late years by chinch-bugs, rust, severe winters, etc., the labor required to produce it, as compared with corn, and other products. If the amount of labor that is be- stowed upon wheat culture in St. Clair and other wheat-growing counties, was expended here, our wheat crops would double their present yield. The timber soil of this county is better adapted to wheat raising than that of the prairie; which, no doubt, is owing to the protection the wheat receives from the snow lying upon the ground more evenly upon timber fields, and also owing to the fact of there being more clay in the timber soil, which seems to be bet- ter adapted to prevent the injury arising from constant freezing and thawing. The soil is more compact, and seems to protect the roots better.
But little spring wheat is sowed, and very little rye and barley- though good crops are raised of both the latter. Of late years a great deal more attention is being given to pasturage. Formerly but a small proportion of our farms was devoted to meadows, but now many of our farmers devote more space to grass than to grain. Our soil and climate are admirably adapted to the culture of timo- thy and clover, and the labor required for the preservation of these crops is insignificant when compared to that required for. corn and wheat. Oats are raised in sufficient amount for home use, but not largely for foreign market.
A great deal of attention is now being given to the raising of hogs and cattle. No doubt much more attention will be given to this as our country grows older, than to the raising of grain for the market. The stock of hogs now in the county is far superior to that which we had in our early history; while our beef cattle have improved equally as much. One of our oldest butchers states that our cattle now upon the market for home consumption will average at least one-third better than they did twenty years ago. The "scrubs" and " hazle-splitters" of the last quarter of a cen- tury are growing scarcer day by day. It costs no more to raise a good cow or a good hog than a poor one, ifindeed as much. Better stock- thanks to our Pickrells, Taylors, Barbers, and a host of other names we might mention-is upon exhibition now at our county fairs than
* It is estimated that three-fourths of the wheat consumed by our mills in 1875 and 1876, is foreign wheat.
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
could be found at our State fairs a few years since. As a breeder of stock, especially short-horns, James H. Pickrell of Harristown, is known among stock men throughout North America and Great Britain. He holds the position of President of the North Ameri- can Short-horn Association. In the fall of 1875 he visited England and Scotland, and collected a herd of cattle perhaps not excelled in the United States or Canada.
There are now but few sheep in the county-11,349 in 1870, and 6,538 in 1876.
We close this chapter with the following brief table, compiled from the assessor's books for the years 1860, 1870, 1875 and 1876, though the valuations affixed, of course, are much below the real value :
1860.
ARTICLES.
NO.
VALUE.
Horses
5,079
$213,300
Neat Cattle.
11,601
125,737
Mules and Asses
482
23,265
Sheep
3,783
4,007
Hogs.
13,728
35,109
Improved lands (acres)
305,558
2,315,909
Improvements on land
698,792
Acres in corn
49,410
Acres in wheat .
16,322
Acres other field products
7,61 1
...
1870.
Horses.
10,888
295,765
Neat Cattle
15,623
160,754
Mules and Asses
1,480
45,684
Sheep
11,549
5,453
Hogs.
30, 102
58,862
Improved lands (acres).
305,558
2,315,909
Improvements on land
648,792
Acres in corn .
91,929
Acres in wheat.
30,145
Acres other field products
25,085
. .
1875.
Horses
12,568
659,603
Cattle
19,617
404,128
Mules and Asses
2,287
161,014
Hogs.
45,750
195,242
Improved lands (acres)
344,621
8,881,791
215
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
IS75.
ARTICLES.
NO.
VALUE.
Unimproved lands
23,32 I
$390,679
Acres in corn
1 56,673
Acres in wheat.
13,718
Acres in oats
24,163
Acres in meadow
18, 171
Acres other field products
9,279
Acres in pasture
47,209
. .
IS76.
Horses.
1 2,607
608, 11 I
Cattle
18,931
360,569
Mules and Asses
2,438
1 56,748
Sheep
6,538
11,737
Hogs.
38,886
179,00I
Improved lands (acres)
340,218
8,718,936
Unimproved lands
21 ,021
412,953
Acres in corn
146,244
Acres in wheat
6,733
Acres in oats.
24,817
Acres in meadow
20,385
Acres other field products
5,905
Acres in pasture.
49,986
216
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
OUR CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
THE CITY OF DECATUR.
The history of a county and that of its county seat are so inti- mately connected that it is difficult to speak of them separately; . their interests are the same; that which advances one advances the other; that which retards the one retards alike the other. But we deem it necessary to devote a short space to the history of the city proper. We sometimes observe the town advance more rapidly
*NOTE .- STEPHEN DECATUR-This city was named after that gallant com- mander Stephen Decatur, of whom it is proper in this connection to give a short sketch of his brilliant history, successes, triumphs and the unfortunate ter- mination of his earthly career. This "Bayard of the seas" was born in Worces- ter county, Maryland, Jan. 5, 1779. At the age of nine years young Stephen made a sea voyage with his father, from which, no doubt, he received the im- pressions that determined his course of life. His early education was received in Philadelphia, where he returned soon after the evacuation of that city by the British. He was a leader in all the amusements at school, and was called "Capt. Dick." He next was sent to Pennsylvania University, where he remained but a short time.
We next find him assisting in the construction of the frigate "United States," which he afterwards commanded, and which became famous in our country's naval history. He went with Commodore Barry on board the United States on a cruise through the west Indies, to suppress the depredations of the French privateers. On this voyage several successful encounters were had with French vessels in the vicinity of Martinique, in all of which Decatur, then but twenty years of age, manifested the bold, daring disposition of his future life, and ren-
217
HISTORY OF MACON CONNTY.
than the surrounding country, and vice versa; but that has not been the case with Macon county and the city of Decatur. They have kept step by step in their advancement in wealth, improve- ments, population and general prosperity. Political demagogues are sometimes, for their own selfish purposes, disposed to array the city against the country or the country against the city, as the case may be; but to the true observer their interests are one and in- separable, as a moment's reflection will demonstrate. The man that takes no interest in his county town and its advancement is an
dered signal services for which he was made lieutenant. He was next engaged in cruising along the coast from Georgia to Cape Cod, protecting our commer- cial interests. He then made two voyages across the ocean, after which a treaty of peace was declared between the United States and France, which put an end to the naval prospects of Decatur for the time being.
The United States soon after sent a squadron to the Mediterranean to stop the depredations of the Tripolines and Algerines upon our commerce. Deca- tur was commissioned first lieutenant under Capt. Bainbridge, on board the Essex, which was stationed to guard the coasts and port of Tripoli, where he remained until 1802, when the Essex was relieved by the Chesapeake, under Com. Morris, when he returned home. After spending a few weeks at home his restless spirit induced him to join the New York, under Capt. James Bar- row, with whom he again set sail for the Mediterranean in Sept., 1802. Here- mained but a short time and returned home, where he was put in charge of the Argus, on which he sailed to Gibraltar, where he assumed command of the schooner Enterprise, with which, on the 23d of October, 1803, he captured the Tripoline craft Mostico, with 70 prisoners. In the early part of 1804, Captain Bainbridge, being a prisoner in the City of Tripoli, and the gallant old ship Philadelphia having been captured, which, with its forty guns, well manned, effectually guarded the harbor of Tripoli, it was determined that this ship should be burned, but who was to undertake the hazardous experi- ment? Decatur volunteered his services. With his little schooner Intrepid, with but a few guns, assisted by the Siren, he set sail for Tripoli, where he ar- rived July 4, 1804. They cautiously approached the harbor where the Philadel- phia lay anchored, and on a dark night the Intrepid, with Decatur at the helm, came up to within a few yards of their coveted prize before being discovered. They lashed the Intrepid to the towering form of the Philadelphia and Deca- tur and his brave men jumped on deck of the latter, drew their swords and rushed upon the panic stricken crew, and in five minutes killed and drove them pell-mell into the water. The cables of the Philadelphia were cut and she was set on fire, floating at the mercy of the winds. "As the streaming flame cir- cled around mast and boom, flinging its lurid glare over the waste of water, the old vessel floated along until her final explosion. The exultant shouts of her captors penetrated the prison walls of Tripoli and proclaimed speedy liber- ation."
-28
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
enemy of his county; and the resident of the town that likewise disregards the interests of the surrounding county, has studied but little of the relative demands of each, and fails to see their mutual interests, or his own interest even.
The land on which the original Town of Decatur was located was entered by Parmenius Smallwood, Easton Whitton and Chas. Prentice, for which, at the time of the location of the town, they had received no patent from the government. On the 20th day of June, 1829, they entered into bond with the then county commis-
A short time afterwards he commanded a division of gunboats at the bom- bardment of Tripoli, in which he was engaged in several hand-to-hand encoun- ters and was wounded with a pike in the hands of the captain, who had assas- sinated his brother but a few minutes before. Decatur was now made post-cap- tain, and received a sword for his gallantry displayed. At 25 he was in com- mand of the Constitution, one of the finest vessels in the service. With this he proceeded to Malta, and in a short time peace was declared and Decatur re- turned home, where he was met with demonstrations of honor and esteem.
Soon after the close of the Tripoline war, England and France. began their system of spoliation on our commerce, and Decatur was placed in command of a squadron on the Chesapeake. When the American embargo was declared, Decatur was placed in command of the frigate Chesapeake. More elaborate prep- arations were authorized by Congress. Among the vessels then put in prepara- tion was the United States, the vessel he had assisted in constructing, and on which he started in his naval career. He was transferred to the squadron of Com. Rogers on June 21, 1811, and started on a cruise with a view of attacking a British fleet bound for Jamaica. The fleet captured six vessels and returned to Boston. On the 25th, he met, near the Island of Madeira, the English ship Macedonian, commanded by the experienced and highly accomplished Capt. Corden. After a hard engagement, the latter surrendered, with 104 killed and wounded and the whole crew prisoners. Decatur lost 12 killed and wounded. He then returned home. Great applause heralded his arrival. Resolutions and medals from Congress and state legislatures were voted, and he was every- where proclaimed the champion of the American navy.
The Macedonian and Hornet were now added to Decatur's command, and he placed his squadron in Long Island Sound. In 1814 he was again placed in command of the President. In January, 1815, he fell in with the British squad- ron, about fifty miles east of Long Island, and after a bloody engagement was, for the first time in his career, compelled to surrender. He was sent to Ber- muda, and thence home. In the meantime peace was declared.
He was not content with peace, however. The piratical Algerines had been creating havoc with our commerce, and Decatur was soon in command of a squadron en-route for Gibraltar, on arriving at which place the whereabouts of the Algerine fleet was ascertained, and he immediately started in pursuit and
219
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
sioners, that after they should receive a patent they would convey to the commissioners a deed of gift for 20 acres of land, on which the town had been located on the 10th day of April, previous.
On the 1st day of June, 1829, at a meeting of the county com- missioners' court an order was made as follows :
" Ordered, That Benj. R. Austin, county surveyor for the county of Macon, be and he is hereby required to lay off the town of De- catur, in said county, after the form of Shelbyville, and make and return to one of the commissioners of this court a complete plat of the same, on or before the first day of July next."
Under this order the survey was made and acknowledged on the 7th day of July following. At the same term of court the follow- ing order was also made by the commissioners :
soon overtook and captured a part of the squadron. He pushed on to Algiers and dictated peace to the frightened inhabitants, which closed forever the Al- gerine war and Algerine piratical thefts.
Notwithstanding the treaty made with the Tripolitans, ensuing the war with that power above referred to, they continued to harrass our commerce in con- nection with the pirates of Tunis. Decatur left Algiers without authority from his government, and proceeded to Tunis and forced an indemnity. Thence he proceeded to Tripoli, and the Bashaw, not willing again to meet the gallant Decatur, likewise agreed upon terms.
Decatur then returned home, where he met the same enthusiastic reception as before. He was appointed Commissioner of the Navy, which post he filled with credit, which concluded his brilliant naval career, which will be honored and respected as long as our flag floats over the seas.
The gallant commander's life was now shortly to close. We would gladly drop the pen at this period in this wonderful man's career. Unfortunately, at that pe- riod, the "code of honor," that relic of barbarisin was still tolerated. On the 22d of March, 1820, he fell, mortally wounded in a duel with Com. Barrow, at Bladensburg. He fell saying: "I am mortally wounded, and I wish that I had fallen in defense of my country." He sank rapidly, beseeching his friends to look after his wife, whom he tenderly loved, and not to him.
The following notice heralded to the world the unfortunate occurrence: " A hero has fallen. Com. Decatur, one of the first officers of our navy, the pride of his country ; the gallant, noble-hearted gentleman is no more. Mourn Co- lumbia, for one of thy brightest stars is set-a son without fear, without re- proach, in the fullness of his fame, in the prime of his usefulness, has descend- ed to his tomb." His remains repose on a beautiful site overlooking Washing- ton and the potomac.
A worthy name for a rising young city of the west to assume.
220
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
" Ordered, That a sale of lotstake place in the town of Decatur, in this county, on the 10th day of July next, on the following terms, to-wit: a credit of twelve months will be given, and note with approved security will be required, and that the clerk of this court is required to advertise the sale in the paper printed in Van- dalia until the day of the sale."
At the next term of court we find that D. McCall was allowed $500 "for money paid to R. Blackwell, for warrants and advertis- ing the sale of lots in the town of Decatur."
At the sale on the toth day of July, the first lot sold was lot No. 2, in block 3, where Priest's Hotel now stands, which being a " corner lot," was bid in by John Manly, for $53.50. The second lot sold was lot 6, in block 1, where Armstrong's drug store now is, which was bid in for $12.00.
" The first house erected in town was by James Renshaw-"Uncle Jimmy Renshaw," he was called-on lot 3, block 3, just north of Priest's Hotel. The second house erected was by Philip D. Wil- liams, on lot 4, block 1, where the store of Close & Griswold now stands. "Philip" kept a livery stable in those early days-or rather a place for the "entertainment of beasts." There was a very large log lying in north Water street, nearly opposite the entrance to the présent court room. Upon this log boxes had been nailed or trenches cut in which the horses were fed. There was also a log lying in front of Renshaw's house, which we omitted to mention was a tavern- the first in Decatur-upon this log, in early days, card playing was carried on. It was the card table, and rather conspicuous, we should say. Whether any fortunes were lost and won, we are unable to say ; but, judging from the court records, and the number of en- tries of "indictments for gaming," entered thereon, it appears that gaming was a very common pass-time, and the number of "convic- tions" would indicate that there was also playing " for money," and the names of the parties charged, would further indicate that the " heads of town" were accessories, if not principals, in the en- chanting games.
The officers of the town, and afterwards city of Decatur, since its organization, are as follows;
221
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
1836 .- Richard Oglesby, President. Trustees: Wm. T. Crissey, G. R. White, *Wm. Webb, Thomas Cowan, +H. M. Gorin, Henry Butler, Landy Harrall. +Andrew Love, Clerk; James Carter and Wm. Webb, Constables.
1838 .- tJoseph Williams, Henry Snyder, Presidents. Trustees: James Renshaw, James F. Montgomery, George R. White, Henry Prather. Edmund McClellan, Clerk; Richard Oglesby, J. P. Hickcok, Treasurer; John S. Adamson, Assessor; William Rad- cliff and Thomas Cowan, Supervisors; J. H. Elliott, Constable.
1839 .- Trustees: William T. Crissey, S. B. Dewees, J. M. For- dice, ¿James F. Montgomery.
1839 .- Kirby Benedict, President. Trustees: John S. Adam- son, Thomas Cowan, Samuel B. Dewees, Jesse H. Elliott, William T. Crissey, Thomas H. Read. H. M. Gorin, Clerk; George R. White, Treasurer; H. Prather, Assessor and Collector; G. W. Gilbrath, Zebulon Cantrall and William Webb, Constables.
1840 .- Joseph King, President. Trustees: Henry Goodman, William Cantrill, B. F. Oglesby, David Wright, John G. Speer, David E. Ralls. H. M. Gorin, Clerk; G. R. White, Treasurer; I. C. Pugh, Collector; William Webb, Constable.
|| 1841 .- Thomas P. Rodgers, President. Trustees: J. H. Elliott, D. E. Ralls, G. R. White, Henry Goodman, Benjamin R. Austin, J. D. Tait. J. S. Post, Clerk; J. H. Read, Treasurer; Joseph Ste- vens, Assessor and Collector; Wm. Webb, Constable.
1846 .- David Crone, President. Trustees: Elijah Krone, Jo- seph Kauffman, Michael Elson, Thomas H. Read. E. B. Hale, Clerk; G. A. Smith, Constable.
1847 .- D. Crone, President. Trustees; J. H. Read, M. Elson, Joseph Kauffman. Nathan P. West, Clerk; E. McClellan, Con- stable; B. H. Cassell, Assessor.
* Died. + Resigned. # It does not appear from the record that these last named trustees ever met, but that there was an election held on the 6th day of May, 1839, under a special act incorporating the town of Decatur, at which election another board was chosen.
| This was the last meeting of the Trustees of the town of Decatur for five years.
-
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY.
1848 .- J. H. Elliott, President. Trustees: H. Prather, H. Arm- strong, E. O. Smith, Jos. King. N. P. West, Clerk; E. McClel- lan, Constable; B. H. Cassell, Assessor and Treasurer.
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