USA > Illinois > Macon County > History of Macon County, Illinois : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 11
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ILLINOIS CENTRAL,
Which was completed in 1854. By an act of Congress in 1850, a grant of public lands was made to the State of Illinois to aid the construction of a railroad, north and south, through the eentral part of the State. In 1851, the Legislature of Illinois incorporated the Illinois Central Railroad Company, to which the lands, held in trust by the State, were, under certain restrictions of the eharter, transferred. This donation consisted of every alternate section of land for a distance of six miles on each side of the proposed road, and the company in consideration of the gift and of forever being exempt from taxation in the counties through which the road passed, bound itself to pay into the State treasury perpetually 7 per cent. of its annual gross earnings. This plaecd the company at once upon a sound financial basis which, by judicious management, it has always maintained. The Central either owns or controls the following lines :
43
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Main line from Cairo to Dunleitlı, 456 miles.
Chicago branch from Centralia to Chicago, 252 66
Iowa Division from Dubuque to Sioux City, 327 66
Southern Division from Cairo to New Orleans, 548
Gillian, Illinois, to Springfield, (Ill.), 112
Minnesota branch from Waterloo to Mono, 80
Making the total number of miles 1775
of which 788 arc in Illinois. The tracks of these various lines arc mostly stcel-rail, the road-beds, especially in this State, are ballasted with rock, the rolling-stock is excellent, and thic road throughout is, in all respects, first-class. The main line passes through the richest portion of the State-as does also the Chicago branch-and is the great thoroughfare of travel and traffic between the North and the South. The Central passes almost directly north and south through the central part of Macon county, crossing the townships of Maroa, Hickory Point, Decatur, South Wheatland, and Sonth Macon, making, in all, about thirty miles of track in the county. Being the second railroad built through the county, it has been to the county in point of transportation facilities north and south what the Wabash and Pacific has been east and west-the great through route-and, like the latter, has contributed very largely to the development of the county's re- sources. Remarkably free from accidents of all kinds, the Central justly merits the reputation it has, of being one of the best man- aged railroads in the United States.
PEORIA, DECATUR AND EVANSVILLE R. R.
This road is a consolidation of the Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur and the Decatur, Sullivan and Mattoon railroads. The former of these two roads was chartered in 1861, and the charter was amended in 1865. The road was constructed in 1871, from Decatur to Pekin, 67 miles, and was leased by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific. In October, 1871, the county issued to this road (P. L. and D.) $100,100 in 8 per cent. bonds. The latter (D S. and M.) was chartered the same year (1861), and in 1872, was completed from Decatur to Mattoon, a distance of 43 miles. In 1872, Mt. Zion township voted to this road $20,000 in bonds and, at the same time, the township of Decatur issued to the road $25,000 in 8 per cent. bonds. Subsequently these two roads, as before stated, were consolidated, and now form the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville R. R. which secures to the county a north-western and south-eastern line of transportation, the northern terminus being Peoria, and the present southern, Parkersburg, making the road, as extended, 192 miles in length. In this county, it runs through the townships of Illini, Hickory Point, Decatur, South Wheatland, and Mt. Zion, affording to each excellent railroad fa- cilities.
THE INDIANAPOLIS, DECATUR and SPRINGFIELD R, R.
Was chartered in 1850 as the Indiana and Illinois Central R. R., but for various reasons, its construction was delayed till 1872, when it was finished only from Decatur to Montezuma on the Wabash River, 85 miles from the former place. It has since been completed to Indianapolis, distant from Decatur 152 miles, this being the entire length of the road, with Decatur as its western and Indianapolis as its eastern terminus. The road-bed is well constructed and ballasted, the rolling-stock of excellent quality, and the general management of the road very commendable. It runs in a south-easterly direction from Decatur, crossing diagonally Long Creek township and affording rapid transit to Indianapolis, Cincinnati and other important points south-east. In 1872, Maroa township, Macon county, issued $75,000 in bonds to the
ILLINOIS MIDLAND R. R.
which is a consolidation of the Peoria, Atlanta and Decatur, and the Paris and Decatur Railroads. It was constructed in the same year (1872) from Peoria via Decatur to Terre Haute, Indiana, Peoria and Terre Haute being the termini, and the entire length of road 176 miles, of which 168 are in Illinois.
The total railroad bonded indebtedness of the county is, at present, $187,000 bearing 6 per cent. interest. In addition to this, there is a township railroad indebtedness of $145, 000, distributed as follows :
Decatur, $50,000
Maroa, 75,000 Mt. Zion, 20,000
To Messrs. A. T. Elder, Cashier of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific R. R., and HI. S Gray, Passenger Conductor on the same road, we are indebted for valuable information respecting the railroads mentioned in this article.
CHAPTER VI.
GEOLOGY .*
BY J. PIKE, M.A.
100 HERE is little of scientific interest in the geological features of this county. Few older formations than the Drift have been discovered, and even in the Drift the similarity of the deposits is so great that the geolo- gist finds no incentive to extended investigation. Tlie sur- face of the county is mostly composed of black prairie soil, from three to ten feet deep.
Underlying this is a subsoil of clay, gravel and sand. Still deeper, occur alternate beds of clay, quick-sand and gravel, inter- mixed with various shales, slate, limestone, sandstone and several thin strata of coal. As may be seen in another part of this article, ten strata of coal, varying in thickness front a few inches to three and a half feet, have been found, at different depths, in a bore of 875 feet.
FORMATION OF PRAIRIES.
This is a subject that has provoked much scientific discussion in the last half century ; but, after long and careful investigation, a majority of the most eminent scientists, including Profs. A. H. Worthen, State Geologist of Illinois, and Lesquereaux, who has pub- lished a most excellent paper on this subject in the first volume of the Illinois Geological Reports, have reached the conclusion that the vast treeless plains, or prairies, of the West, with their peculiar surface soil, owe their origin to the same causes that are at present operating to form prairies, though on a less extensive scale. The black, rich soil, so characteristic of prairies, is doubtless due, as has already been stated in the chapter on Geography, to the growth and decay of successive crops of vegetation, which in the geological ages of the past, under a far higher temperature and more favorable atmospheric conditions than now exist, grew to an extent unknown since the appearance of man upon the earth. These prodigious crops of plants and grasses were from year to year submerged, and becoming decomposed, contributed their annual accumulations to the surface of the country. By the continuation of this process for untold centuries and by the subsequent recession of the waters that once covered the entire Mississippi valley, a black, mucky soil, was
* For some of the facts contained in this chapter we are under obligations to the State Geological Reports of Illinois.
44
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
formed, and the whole region emerged as vast swamps, or swales, interspersed with hills and valleys, mountains and table-lands.
The peaty soil, or muck, thus produced was by the gradual dis- appearance of the water from the low and level portions of the land, converted into the rich vegetable mold of the prairies, which in course of time, became adapted to the wants of men and animals. The soil in such a formative state as has just been described, would be unfavorable to the growth of trees, a practical demonstration of which may be seen nowadays in the treeless swamps and sloughs found in timbered regions.
Alluvium .- This term is applied to the recent deposits and formations made by rivers, creeks, &c. Alluvial matter is usually composed of earth, sand and gravel that originally belonged to the great Drift Period. The banks of the Sangamon river are from eight to nine feet high, and composed of dark clay, vegetable mold, with sand intermixed. On the gravelly shoals numerous small shells are found, belonging to the genera Puludina, Melania, Cyclas, and Unio. In portions of the river-bed where the current is less rapid, Anodontas are common .. In the marshy traets on the flat prairies the remains of old shells have been found, belonging to the genera Planorbis and Lymnea. By the recent tile-draining of these ponds and marshes, their beds have been rendered arable, and the calcareous matter of these shells doubtless adds much to the productiveness of the soil.
Drift .- Geologieally this name is applied to the vast collections of loose earth, rocks, boulders, etc., that are widely distributed over the surface of the land, and that were transported from the north by the agency of glaciers, ancient seas and ocean currents. At Decatur there are from six to ten feet of mostly yellowish-brown clay ; then similar clay with boulders and pebbles extending down- wards several feet, and this in turn succeeded by blue and brown clay and pebbles. "On Big Creek, sec. 4, T. 15 N., R 3 E. the drift appears as follows :
"(1). Thirty feet of drift clays, with loose pebbles, sand and clay ; at lower part comminuted sand and clay. On the lower slope of this is an abundant growth of Equisetum, or scouring rush, associated with Gentiana alba and Pedicularis lanceolata.
"(2). Eight feet. The upper part dark brownish-black ; lower part black, and apparently of vegetable origin ; no pebbles seen ; when struck, a hollow sound is produced. Debris from above fall- ing over unites with this, and forms a marshy talus, on which were growing Lobelia syphilitiea, Sagittaria variabilis and several other marsh plants."-Ill. Geol. Rep.
Large boulders, composed of quartz, feldspar, mica, and horn- blende, and pebbles of granite, quartzite, sandstone, porphyry, limestone, chert, spar, &c., are found in great quantities along the streams and scattered far and wide over the prairies. Several large rounded masses of granite and other azoic rocks have been observed lying here and there over the country south and east of Decatur, showing conclusively the agency of glaciers in transport- ing these huge boulders to their present positions.
Three miles north of Oakley lies a boulder of gray granite, ir- regular in shape and measuring eight feet across in two directions, and extending four feet above the ground. It is surrounded with rich prairie soil, and is entirely isolated, no other boulders appear- ing in the vicinity.
Wells .- On the flat prairie lands south of Decatur living wells are reached at a deptli of from twelve to fifteen fect. In the east part of the county water is found at a depth of from twelve to sixty feet, but it fails in dry seasons. Beneath the blue clay, in beds of sand, from twenty-seven to forty fect deep, abundance of pure cold water is obtained. In the north-east portion of the county water is
found at from ten to twenty feet below the surface ; near Forsythe, from sixteen to thirty feet. On the high prairies, in the western part of the county, water is reached at various depths. The region of Harristown appears to be the continuation of a low drift ridge, where a well, dug through ten feet of yellow clay and seventy feet of blue clay, failed to yield any but surface water. Two miles north-west of that place, also in an elevated region, water was struck at thirty feet, and an abundant supply remains throughout the year. There are some excellent springs in the county which have been mentioned in another chapter.
Gas- Wells .- In 1871 Wm. A. Wilson, Esq., living ten miles south of Decatur, struck gas in a well on his farm at a depth of forty-five fcet. It issued from a formation just below the hard pan, and was discovered at several different localities on the place. By means of pipes he conducted the gas to his dwelling, and used it for both light and fuel. The bed of quicksand, out of which the gas flows, has been penetrated to a depth of fifteen feet without reaching the bot- tom. The gas continued to flow uninterruptedly for several years, and the supply was apparently inexhaustible ; but latterly the vein became weaker, and at the present time the gas has almost ceased to flow. Another boring was made a quarter of a mile east of this well, and at a depth of fifty fcet, passed through a bed of black peaty soil five feet thick, but without striking gas. A second gas well was struck on the north-east side of Decatur, at a depth of forty fect, and flowed copiously for six months, when the well, for sonic reason, was filled up. Forty rods south of this second well, and at the same depth, another vein of gas was found, but after flowing violently for some time, the supply failed, and the well was closed up. The gas from these wells is a light carburetted hydrogen, usually called "marsh gas," and burns with a bluish flame, emitting intense heat. It is highly inflammable, and, when pure, is perfectly odorless and usually free from sulphur. It has been found in great abun- dance at several places in the State, but of its origin little is yet definitely known. The fact that it is generally found in beds of peat and decayed vegetable matter, indicates that it is of vegetable origin. Numerous wells, affording the same quality of gas, have been dug to a depth of from sixty to seventy feet, near Champaign, Illinois, and the gas, at that depth, being apparently inexhaustible, has been utilized for illuminating and heating purposes. Doubtless this gas, as well as petroleum, when it comes to be better under- stood, will be found to exist regularly in certain geological fornia- tions belonging to the Carboniferous Age, and to owe its origin to the same cause or causes that produced the immense coal fields of the world.
ECONOMICAL GEOLOGY.
Coal .- In 1875, a boring was made for coal at Decatur with a diamond drill, by the Western Coal Mining Company. The work was abandoned at a depth of 507 feet, 1 inch, and probably at from eighty-five to one hundred feet above the level of the Springfield and Howlett coal. The record of this bore is as follows :
Ft.
In-
Surface soil, clay, gravel, &c., (drift). 118
Coarse micaceous sandstone.
4
Arenaccous clay shale 34
Grayish limestone.
4
Dark clay shale.
6
G
Light clay shale .. 12
Micaceous sandstonc. 18
Clay shale ..
24
Dark slaty clay with fossils
2
Light slaty clay. 3
Red shale. 10
Brown and red shale with shells. 11
2
45
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Hard conglomerate ....
3
Shale and sandstone, ..
20
Coal, with red clay and gravel ..
1
4
Gray slate or shale,.
5
Fire-clay.
3
6
Bituminous shale,
3
Arenaccous clay shalc ...
7
1
Coal (at depth of 608 fcet),
3
6
Hard lime conglomerate ..
Fire-clay,
*2
Bluish elay shale
Sandstone, ..
48
6
Soft micaceous sandstone.
Bituminous shale,
4
Dark gray shale, with ironstone.
Coal (at depth of 663 fcet),
2
Clay and quicksands.
Fire-clay,.
Blue limestone.
Sandy shale and slate,
52
Gray sandy shale, with fossils.
22
1
Coal (at depth of 723 fect),
1
Gray limestone.
Micaeeous sandstone,.
21
Black and gray shale.
Coal (at depth of 745 fcet),
1
Mud vein (fire-clay)
2
Micaceous sandstone,
Blue limestone
11
9
Bituminous shale,.
9
Hard conglomerate.
2
1
Coal (at depth of 787 fect),
2
Blue shale and rock
13
8
Sandstone,.
11
Hard gray, sandy, and micaceous shale.
44 6
Bituminous shalc,.
7
Black shale
2
Coal, hard and bright.
1
2
Sandstone, ....
21
6
Fire-clay
9
9
Bluish, sandy, clay shale.
8
4
2
1
17
4
Hard conglomerate rock.
1
4
Dark shale with fossils ....
4
8
Sulphur balls ..
6
Lime conglomerate
5
Red, sandy clay shale ..
29
Bluish clay shale with shells.
8
3
507 1
The eleven feet, nine inch, blue limestone, found in this bore, at the depth of 345 fcet, is supposed to be the same as that forming the Carlinville and Shoal Creek bed, which is usually from 210 to 240 feet above the coal beds at Springfield. Since the foregoing facts appeared in the State Geological Report another boring has been made at Decatur, and, at a depth of 608 feet, a stratum of coal, three and a-lalf fcet thick, believed to be the Springfield vein, has been found.
In 1875-6 this second and deeper boring was made for coal just north of the Rolling Mill, on the east side of Decatur, by Mr. J. Edward Bering, of the manufacturing establishment of Chambers Bering and Quinlan, and to his kindness we are indebted for the following record of the bore :
Ft.
In.
Clay,. 40
1
Sand and water (at depth of 40 feet).
Hard pan and sand, ..
35
Sand and water, ..
4
Hard pan,. 24
Sand and water,
7
Rock (at depth of 110 feet),.
Argillaceous shale,
52
Bituminous shale, .
3
Argillaceous, bituminous and sandy shale,. 125
Coal 6 in. thick (at depth of 290 feet),.
Argillaceous shale, . 33
Hard limestone,
9
Argillaceous shale,. 16
Hard limestone, .. 8
Argillaceous and sandy shale,. 66
6
Coal (at depth of 422} ft.), .. 1 Nodular limestone and shale,. 43
6
Very hard limestone, .. 8
Argillaceous and variegated shale,. 71
Limestone, coal (8 in.), and shale, 18
Argillaceous shale, .. 16
Salt water (at depth of 580 fcet),
6
Bituminons shale, .
9
Coal (at depth of 840 ft.),
1
6
Gray shale,.
3
6
Limestone (in which boring stopped),.
2
6
Total depth .. 857 6
A shaft 7 by 14 feet is now being sunk near the place where this boring was made. A depth of 130 feet has already been reached, and it is intended to prosecute the work to the stratum of coal 3} feet thick (shown above at the depth of 608 feet) whichi, in connec- tion with the adjacent fire-clay beds, it is thought, will pay for mining. The ten distinct strata of coal found in the bore recorded above, with the thick beds of shale, clay, slate, etc., intervening, show that the lands in this region, during the formation of these coal beds, must have undergone a similar number of successive elevations and depressions. Vegetation grew and accumulated during the elevation of the lands above the water, and the vegetable matter thus accumulated was converted into coal during the sub- mergence of the lands. The beds of shales, slates, etc., were also formed under water, by sedimentary deposits. It is estimated that thirty feet of vegetable matter would be required to form one foot of coal. If so, some idea may be gained of the vast growth of vegetation there was upon the earth during the Carboniferous, or Coal-growing, Age, to form the coal beds of the world, some of which are forty and even fifty feet in thickness. The stratum of coal shown above as being 32 feet thick, must according to this estimate have required a layer of vegetable matter one hundred feet deep. That coal is of vegetable origin is shown by the fact that it is mainly carbon, which element forms from one-fourth to one half of all the vegetation on the globe. Also thin slices of coal placed under the microscope show distinctly the vegetable structure which may sometimes also be seen with the naked eye. Our com- mon peat-bogs, as has been well said, are excellent examples of "incipient coal beds." In conclusion we may say that in economi- cal geology Macon County is rather unfortunate in having neither a coal mine nor a stone quarry. However, there is an abundance of excellent brick and tile clay and beds of fire-clay, deep in the earth, as shown by the preceding records. As we are closing this article, we are informed by Capt. J. S. Post, of Decatur, that a huge molar of a mastodon was some time ago found in the bed of the Sangamon a little below the Wabash and Pacific bridge : also, that the tusks of a gigantic animal of olden times were exhumed from a bed of quicksand thirteen miles west of Decatur. These tusks are said to measure seven feet in length. They are now in the State Museum.
6
1
6
11
6
3
4
21
9
3
7
Coal (at depth of 807 feet),
2
Mud vein (fire-clay).
Dark, slaty clay, with fossils.
46
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
CHAPTER VII. FAUNAA.
J. PIKE.
T may be remarked iu the outset, that this article is not designed to be an elaborate or seientifie treatise on Natural History, as relating to animal life, or a learned essay upon the branches, classes, orders, ete., into which scientists have classified the animal kingdom. The dis- cussion of such subjects, however interesting, belongs to the beauti- ful seience of zoology, and transcends the scope of a miscellaneous eounty history. Our object, rather, is to present, with some of their leading characteristics, a list of the principal animals found here at the time of, and subsequent to, the advent of civilized man. In doing so we shall omit the ordinary domestic animals, and also the inseets, no complete classification of the latter having ever been made for this locality, and the time for the compilation of this work being necessarily too bricf to allow such classification to be prepared, The most important Order of animals, indigenous to this region, is the
UNGULATA, OR HOOFED.
Of the hoofed animals, one of the most prominent is the American Bison (Bison, or Bos Americanus,) which disappeared from the prairies of Illinois before the arrival of the white man, leaving, as the only evidence of its former presence, a few " buffalo wallows " in certain parts of the State. The Bison is a large animal, with thick, heavy body, short, stout legs, short black horns, and black, or brown, shaggy hair. Large herds of these animals, at present, roam over the plains at the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. Like the Mastodon, and other ancient animals, the Bison is destined, at no distant day, to become extinct. The American Elk ( Cervus Americanus,) next to the Moosc, is the largest deer of America. It is remarkable for the size of its antlers, which sometimes grow to the height of six feet, and weigh from forty to eighty pounds. The animal itself is about as tall as au ordinary horse, is very fleet, and has wonderful powers of enduranec. It long ago left the prairies of Illinois, and is now found iu the northern parts of the United States aud iu British America. The deer family (Cervida) has had, so far as is known, only one representative in this region, viz : the common American deer, ( Cervus Virginianus) which disappeared from its prairie haunts several years ago, aud is now found in the mountainous regions of Missouri, and the unsettled parts of other States. Its flesh is very sweet and palatable, and is highly prized in the finest markets, where it commands a ready sale at the highest price.
CARNIVORA, OR FLESII-EATERS.
The most ferocious animal of the carnivorous Order, common to this country, is the wolf, which belongs to the dog family ( Canidc). There were formerly two species of this animal in Macon county, viz : the prairie wolf (Cunis latrans), and the common American, or Gray Wolf ( Canis occidentalis). The former is small with long body, elongated, sharp muzzle, smoothi tongue, and, like all the dog family, had five-toed fore feet, and four-toed hind ones. It formerly inhabited, in large numbers, the wild prairie regions, but latterly has disappeared from this part of the State. The latter is large, with long slim body, long, sharp muzzle, smooth tongue, and straight, bushy tail. In years gone by, the howling of these wolves was the evening serenade of the pioneer settlers, and forchoded havoc among the flocks of those times. A few of this species are still found iu dense woodlands and unfrequented thiekets on the prairies. Two species of fox (Vulpes) are found here, the common or Gray Fox
(Vulpes vulgaris), and the Red Fox ( Vulpes fulvus). The former are still numerous in this region ; the latter, rare. Both species are noted for their extreme cunning, and their predatory habits. Foxes are readily distinguished by their slender, pointed muzzle, long, bushy tail, and the elliptical pupil of the eye. Of the cat family (Fclidc) the only two indigenbus representatives are the American Wild Cat (Lynx rufus), and the Canadian Lynx (Lynx canadensis). The former was very common during the early history of this coun- try. It was about thirty inches long, of a pale, rufous color dap- pled with gray, ears black on the outside, tail short with black patch above at the end. It was very destructive to lambs, kids, poultry, &c. It has, within the last few years, almost disappeared. The Lynx was never common in Illinois, though it was occasionally seen thirty years ago, and even later. It is about forty inches long, of a grayish color, streaked with black ; ears tipped with a bunch of black hairs, and tail very short. It is further distinguished by having one molar less than the true cat, iu each side of the upper jaw. It is extremely doubtful whether the panther (Felis pardus), ever inhabited these regions. A few individual members of this genus may have been seen here during their migrations from one place to another; but that this animal ever had any permanent habitat in this prairie country, is highly improbable. The com- mon Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is one of the most familiar wild ani- mals in these parts. It inhabits the timbered regions, generally near some stream or body of water, to which it resorts for food, in the shape of craw-fish, frogs, mussels, &c. It also feeds upon roots, berries, young corn, "roasting-ears," birds and other small ani- mals. This animal, from the end of its nosc to the tip of the tail, is about two feet long, and has a pointed muzzle, five toes on each foot, and a ringed tail. It is nocturnal in its habits, and in eold climates passes the winter in a partially torpid state. Its fur is valuable. The raccoon belongs to the family of Procyonidc, of which it is probably the only representative in this region. There is no evidence at hand that the Bear family ( Ursidc) ever had any representatives in the county.
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