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 46
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Dr. Clark came to Illinois in 1856, and at first made his home at Springfield with his uncle, Oramel Clark, one of the pioneer settlers of Sangamon county. He began the study of medicine at Dawson, Sangamon county, in 1857, and in the fall of 1858 entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, from which he subsequently graduated in 1865. He began practice at Niantic in 1859. On the 8th of April, 1851, he was married to Susan Curtis, of De Peyster, a sister of Gen. N. M. Curtis, of Ogdensburg, N. Y. She died of consumption on the 5th of September, 1854. On the 11th of June, 1866, he married Sarah Pierce, of Canton, St. Lawrence county, .N. Y., whose death happened on the 6th of April, 1876. His pre- sent wife, formerly Charlotte F. Watson, he married on the 31st of May, 1877. She is a native of Camargo, Douglas county, this state. 176
Dr. Clark has been engaged in the practice of medicine at Niantic since 1859, and is now the oldest physician in the western part of Macon county, and has enjoyed an excellent reputation as a physi- cian. Iu politics he has always been a democrat. Before the war he belonged to the Douglas branch of the democratic party. He has been connected with the Masonic fraternity since 1857, and is now a member of Iliopolis Lodge. By his first marriage he had one child, Susan Amelia, who died in 1859 at the age of seven. Two children by his second marriage died in infancy, and one, Bertha P., is living. By his last marriage he has had two children, Horace F. and Mary J. W. Dr. Clark has been elected to several public positions in Niantic township, but for the most part has pre- ferred to devote his attention eutirely to his medical practice, in which he has achieved a deserved success.
THOMAS A. PRITCHETT.
AMONG the gentlemen who have been most prominently identified with the interests of the western part of the county, is Thomas A. Pritchett, of Niantic. He is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Bourbon county, in the heart of the celebrated blue grass region, seven miles from Paris and nine from Lexington, on May 23d, 1830. The Pritchett family were early settlers of the state of Kentucky. Esquire Pritchett's father, Wm. Pritchett, was born in one of the southern countics, and married Lydia Wilson, a native of Fayette county, of the same state.
The Wilsons were among the pioneer settlers of the state. They were originally from Maryland, and at an early day located near Bryant's Station-the scene of many a bloody conflict between the white pioneers and the hostile savages.
Thomas A. Pritchett was the seventh of a family of nine child- ren. Of these, one died in infancy ; the others grew to be men and women. He now has one brother and two sisters living. His father was a farmer in good circumstances, and owned about three hundred acres of choice land. When he was about twelve or fourteen his father died. The part of Kentucky in which he lived was well settled, and for that day had good schools. He lived at home until he was about twenty-one, during which time he acquired the substantial elements of an education. On the twenty-first of June, 1851, he married Mary E. Ingles, daughter of Wn. Ingles, who was born and raised in Bourbon county. He learned the trade of a saddle and harness maker, and from 1853 to 1856 carried on a harness and saddle shop at Paris, the county-seat of Bourbon county. He concluded to remove to Illinois, and in May 1856 arrived at Springfield, where he remained about a year. In the spring of 1857 he purchased Sec. 28 T. 17, R. 1 W., from the Illinois Central railroad company, and at once began the work of bringing it under cultivation.
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THE LEADING BUSINESS HOUSES OF NIANTIC, MACON CO. ILLINOIS .
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HORSE SHOEING
177
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
At that time there were few settlements on the prairie in Niantic township. Improvements had been made along the timber, but the prairie lay open and uncultivated. The Wabash railway had recently been put in operation through the western part of the county, and the town of Niantic had just begun its growth.
In 1864 he entered into the mercantile business, which he has carried on ever since. He first started in the business of selling dry goods, with which he has since been more or less connected. He has been in business as long a time, consecutively, as any other business man now in Niantic.
He has had nine children, of whom five are now living. The oldest daughter, Clara B., is the wife of James H. Chamberlain. The others now living are-James H., Mamie, Nettie C., and Ada S. The remaining four died in infancy.
Esquire Pritchett is a man whom the citizens of his part of the county have entrusted with several publie positions. He was elected justice of the peace in 1860, and has filled that office from that time to the present with the exception of a few months, during which time he laid down the office voluntarily. He has made an acceptable magistrate. He possesses a thorough knowledge of the legal points usually arising in the jurisdiction of a justice of the peace, and has enough ability and fairness to apply the law in jus- tice to all parties.
For the last eight years he has also acted as notary public. After the adoption of township organization, he was elected the second member of the board of supervisors from Niantic township, filling the position during 1862. He has filled several other offices in the township.
In his political opinions, like most Kentuckians, he was originally a member of the Whig party. After the Whig party went to pieces, he became a democrat, voted for Douglas in 1860, the first vote for President he cast in this state, and has been a democrat ever since. He is not, however, so strongly devoted to party that he can see no excellence in men of opposing views, and in local elections has generally cast his vote for the candidate whom he eon. sidered best qualified for the position. He is a man whose private character, and reputation for honesty and integrity have been above reproach. He has been connected with the Christian church for a number of years, and has served the church of that denomination at Niantie in the capacity of elder. He is now among the old residents of Niantic township, and with its business affairs has probably been as closely connected as any man in that part of the county. He is now carrying on a hardware and agricultural store at Niantic, a view of which appears among our illustrations of Niantic on another page.
JOHN P. FARIS ..
JOHN P. FARIS, one of the representative business men of Niantic, is a native of Highland county, Ohio, and was born on the seventh of April, 1840. The family from which he is descended was of Welsh 23
origin. His great-grandfather, whose name was James Faris, cmi- grated from Wales and settled in Pennsylvania. He served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and was killed by the Indians during the progress of that struggle. His grandfather was named John Faris. His father Dr. E. S. Faris, was born in Brooke county, Virginia, in the year 1807. The family moved from Vir- ginia to Highland county, Ohio, in the year 1815. This was just after the close of the war with Great Britain, and they were among the pioneer settlers of Highland county. Mr. Faris' mother's name before marriage was Lucinda Pulliam. She was a native of the state of Kentucky.
In the year 1854, the family moved from Ohio to this state. They resided in Pike county till 1857, when they came to Niantic Mr. Faris was 14 years old when he became a resident of Illinois. He attended the public schools in Ohio, and after he came to l'ike county acquiring the clements of a substantial business education. He began life on his own account by becoming a clerk in a store in Pike county, and has been more or less identified with the mer- cantile business since. For two years and a half after coming to Niantic he was clerking in a store at that place. In the year 1861, then twenty-one years old, he embarked in business on his own ac- count, and began buying grain at Lanesville in Sangamon county. He commenced operations with only a small capital, but in a short time was able to enlarge his business. In 1864, in partnership with Thos. A. Pritchett, he opened a dry goods store at Niantic. He sold goods with Esquire Pritchett as a partner for three years, and for two years afterward was a partner of A. W. Pritchett. When he entered into the mercantile business he also began the buying of grain which he has since followed.
His marriage occurred on the fourth of May, 1865, to Miss Fan- nie Ruby of Lafayette, Indiana. By this marriage he has had three children. The oldest child, Edith, died at the age of five years. The second, Charles, was nearly two years old at the time of his death. The youngest, John B., is living, and is five years old. In his political opinions, Mr. Faris may be called a democrat with a big "D." He is a sincere believer in the principles of the demo- cratic party, and considers that they are best fitted to carry out the ideas on which our forefathers founded this republic. He cast his first vote for President for a democratic candidate, and voted the democratie ticket ever since. He has served as town clerk of Niantie, and has filled other positions. He has been engaged in ac- tive business enterprises in Niantic longer than almost any other resident of the town. He is now engaged in the business of dealing in grain. He has also been employed in making collections in that part of the county. He is a gentleman of unquestioned personal standing, and of excellent business capacity. His business training is the result of practical experience. He began life without any capital, except his own energy and natural business qualifications. He is an Odd Fellow, and also a member of the Masonic lodge at Illiopolis.
LONG CREEK TOWNSHIP.
ONG CREEK, so named in honor of the creek which drains the greater portion of its territory, is situated south-west from Decatur, and is bounded on the north by Decatur and Oakley townships, east by Piatt county, south by Moultrie county and Mt. Zion township, west by Decatur and South Wheatland townships. Its area is thirty-eight and one half square miles, or twenty-four thousand six hundred and forty acres. Long Creek is composed of portions of Congressional town- ship 16, Ranges 3 and 4.
Drainage .- The Sangamon river drains the north-western corner. The principal stream in the more central portion is Long creek and its tributaries. This creek enters the township on the north- east corner of section 7, and meanders in a south-westerly course through the township until it reaches section 36, when its course is almost due west for about four miles, until it reaches about the centre of section 31, where its course changes to a northern and westerly direction, leaving the township on the south-west corner of section 30. Big creek drains quite an area in the western part of the township.
Timber .- In the early times this portion of the county was well supplied with timber, affording building material and fuel in abundance for the pioneer, and even at this writing about one-fifth of the area is timber land, the balance a rich and fertile prairie. Beautiful groves of the several kinds of oak, elm, sycamore, sugar- tree, soft-maple, hickory, walnut, ash and other forest trees, skirt the banks of the Sangamon and the several streams which run through the township, adding beauty to the landscape, besides giving an ample supply of fuel, fencing and building material for the farmer.
Early Settlements. - To William Bakes and David Davis, who with their families came here in the fall of 1828, and located and built cabins on seetion 20 (township 16, range 4), belongs the honor of being the first permanent settlers. They were natives of Lincoln county, North Carolina, and subsequently moved to Rutherford county, Tennessee, and from there, by means of pack-horses, brought their families and household goods to this county, and founded the settlement above mentioned. At that time (1828) their nearest neighbor on the south, was four miles, and on the north-east, twenty-eight miles.
" David Davis was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, May 2, 1798. At the age of seventeen he emigrated to Rutherford county, Tennessee. In 1828 he came to Illinois and settled in this county. At the age of twenty-three he had the misfortune to be- come paralyzed in his lower extremities, and throughout his long life he walked with great difficulty. Notwithstanding this he was ever energetic, and gathered a handsome competence for himself, and provided liberal means for beneficent charities. He died August
19, 1875. He was once county treasurer and one of the judges of the first election held in Maeon county. He was married to Mary Martin, September 28, 1825, who was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, November 15, 1806. Of their children-
" Isabella C. was born August 17, 1826 ; was married to Michael C. Rozzell, Nov. 4, 1845. William M. was born January 14, 1831 ; was married to S. J. Nicholson March 23, 1854. Sylvester C. was born June 8, 1834; married to Mary C. Baker, September 3, 1857. Milton Z. was born August 29, 1835; married to Emma Eichinger, September 3, 1865. Mary P. was born January 11, 1838; married to Hiramı G. Wheeler, October 11, 1855. Elizabeth E. was born September 6, 1841 ; married to John Rucker, Decem- ber 28, 1858 ; died January 24, 1862. John L. was born December 22, 1842 ; died April 26, 1865. Traughber L. was born March 2, 1845; was married to Mendosia Houseman, September 25, 1873. Marilla A. was born January 2, 1847 ; was married to Thomas J. Odor, September 28, 1869."
In the early days there was an abundance of game here, princi- pally deer, wolves, foxcs, coons, etc .; wild-turkeys, pheasants, grouse and myriads of geese and ducks. The streams abounded with fish; and wild-honey was to be found upon the table of the pioneer ; hospitality and good-feeling prevailed. Among the few scattered settlements the " latch-string " of every cabin hung on the outside, and the weary traveler was always welcome to the best the larder afforded-thrice welcome was he, because he brought the news of the outer world. The settler and his family, at that early day in this township, lived a simple and quiet life ; content was he if his little patch of corn and small garden yielded, with what meats and fish he could get with his gun and rod, a support for his little family. His taxes and such " store-goods " as were used were procured and paid for by the then " legal tender," skins of foxes, wolves, coons and other wild animals.
In the fall of 1828 a band of the Kickapoo tribe of Indians encamped for several weeks on Long Creek, and were engaged in trapping, hunting and fishing. After a time they began to wander to other portions of the county where there were settle- ments, and not being satisfied with the game they could capture, began killing a few hogs and stealing poultry from the settlers. Finally a party of men from the "Ward " settlement came over and ordered them away. They soon after broke eamp, and left without doing further damage. After 1830 settlers began to come into what is now Long Creek quite rapidly. In that year John Florey, a Virginian by birth, loeated with his family on seetion 26 (township 16, range 3), where he ereeted a cabin and made other improvements. The same year (1830) came Newton N. Baker, who settled on section 29 in the above township. Mr. Baker was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, February 28, 1803, and when cleven years old removed with his father's family to Rutherford
178
179
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
county, Tennessee. He was married in 1853 to Tabitha J. Hodge, and died May 27, 1872. Mr. Baker's wife was born in Orange county, North Carolina, in 1814, and removed with her parents to Illinois in 1829, first locating in Sangamon county, and the next year moved to Macon county. Several of their descendants are yet residents of this county.
In 1830 came John Rucker, who settled on a tract of land on section 15, township 16-3, where he built a cabin, and began an improvement. Mr. R. was a native of South Carolina, and was born in the year 1800, and when quite young removed with his parents to McMinn county, Tenn., where he resided until his re- moval to this county. He was one of the county commissioners of Macon county for fourteen years. This will attest the high appre- ciation in which he was held by the citizens of the county. Many of the most beneficial acts of the commissioners in the early days of the county, are due in a large measure to his sagacity, good judg- ment and integrity. In his private as well as public affairs he was successful, and succeeded in amassing for that period considerable wealth. He died in the year 1872 honored and respected by all. After his death his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Rucker, ınade her home with her son-in-law, E. R. Eldridge, in Decatur. The Travis family were also among the pioneers of this township, and Allen Travis settled on section 27, township 16-3. In "Smith's History," we find the following in reference to this family :
" John Travis was born in South Carolina in 1768, where he married Rebecca Travis, born in South Carolina in 1777. He died in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1824, and Mrs. T., in Macon county, in 1850. Their children were Allen, Thomas, Finis and Harvey, mentioned below. Allen Travis was born May 18th, 1789, in York District, South Carolina. In 1805 his father removed with the' family to Livingston county, Ky., where Allen was married, October 5th, 1820, to Margaret Campbell, who was born March 5th, 1801. They removed to Wayne county, Illinois, perhaps in the spring of 1821, and to Macon county in March, 1829, in com- pany with his brothers Finis and Thomas, James D. Campbell, Andrew and John Davidson. Mrs. Travis died some five or six years ago. Of their children John B. was born January 9th, 1823, in Wayne county, Illinois. James D. C. was born March 7th, 1825, in Wayne county, Illinois. Presly A. was born April 24th, 1827, in Wayne county, Illinois. Rebecca was born Febru- ary 24th, 1829, in Sangamnon county, Ill. Wm. H. was born March 30th, 1831, in Macon county, Ill. Elizabeth J. was born May 23d, 1834, in Macon county, Ill. ; died January 5th, 1863. Samuel H. was born September 14th, 1836, in Macon county, Ill. ; died Janu- ary 9th, 1863. Ulysses D. was born March 5th, 1839, in Macon county, Ill .; died April 27th, 1863. Margaret Z. was born Feb- ruary 3d, 1841, in Macon county, Illinois. Thomas C. was born March 23d, 1844, in Macon county, Ill. Thomas Travis was born in South Carolina, and was married before removing to Illinois, to Sarah Davidson, and settled one and a half miles north-west of Mt. Zion. Finis Travis was born in Kentucky, in 1810, in what is now Crittenden county, and was married in 1840 to Nancy J. Foster, who was then the widow of Wm. Foster, maiden name Bell. She died, and he was married a second time to Nancy Mahollen. Both are now dead. Harvey Travis was born in Wayne county, Illinois, in 1823, and removed with the family to Macon county in 1830. In 1851 he married Elizabeth Cox, who died in 1862, and he was married a second time to Harriet M. F. Campbell ; now residing Decatur."
James Wheeler settled on section 16, in township 16-3, in the year 1830. He was a South Carolinian by birth. Removed to Tennessee when a boy with his parents, and from the latter state
to this county. Joe Davis, a Kentuckian, settled on section 27, in the same Congressional township, in the year 1831.
Andrew Haddick, a native of Rutherford county, Tennessee, located on section 28, a mile west of Davis' place, in the year 1832.
The summer of 1832 was remarkable for the heavy frosts, and the great injury done to corn, potatoes and other crops. Corn was so badly damaged that none was found fit for seed, and when ground into meal came from the hopper in rolls. Many of the settlers the following winter largely subsisted on parched corn and rye hominy. There was in some localities almost as much suffer- ing during that winter, as there was during the period of the " deep snow " and " sudden frecze," both of which at this distant day are regarded as wonderful phenomena.
Land Entries .- The first land entered was by Jacob Myers, September 26th, 1828, eighty acres in section No. 36. David Davis entered October 20th, 1829, eighty acres in section 20, township No. 16 N. R. 3 east of the 3d P. M. The following lands entered in same precinct, but in township No. 16 N. R. 4 east. Jacob Myers entered November 14th, 1836, eighty acres in section No. 31. Asbury Smalley entered June 8th, 1843, forty acres in same section.
The first marriage ceremony solemnized in this township, was that between Bailey Myers and Jane Black. Wm. M. Davis was the first child born, which event occurred January 14th, 1831. He was the son of David Davis. Mrs. Birch, the wife of one of the early settlers, was the first white person who died in the township. In 1834 a school-house was built on section 16, township 16-3. It was of rough unhewn logs, mud and stick chimney, puncheon floor and benches, and the spaces between the logs were chinked with mud. The room was lighted by means of one sinall window, and the wide fire or chimney-place. It was in this structure that Daniel Stichel taught the first school. This building served for many years for school and church purposes. To Rev. Mr. Lapham belongs the honor of having preached the first sermon, at the house of one of the pioneers. Among the early preachers we find the names of Revs. Lapham, Knox, Lewis and Bird, of the M. E. Church ; and David Foster and James Wilson Cumberland, Pres- byterian. Occasionally, David Bunn, of the Universalist Church, held services.
The first church organized was the Methodist, in the year 1835, and the first building was erected in 1842. The first Sabbath- school was established in 1839, and was attended by the children of all denominations. At this writing, the citizens of Long Creek are well supplied with church and school facilties.
Early Mills .- The first mill built was by Joseph McGuinis. It was what is known as a horse or band mill, and was propelled by horse- power. A blacksmith shop was established on section 28, by John Bell, an " old settler," in the latter part of the year 1830, and was used to keep his own farm implements, and those of his neighbors in repair. A post-office named Hopewell, was established at the residence of Allen Travis on section 27 in 1852.
Imported Stock .- Allen Travis introduced the first blooded cattle. They were of the Durham breed. Among the best stock of horses brought to the township, was a stallion of the Copper-bottom breed, in the year 1845, by Thomas B. Warfield; these horses were noted for their beauty, speed and endurance.
Among the early justices of the peace, we find the name of Joseph Davis, who was the first, and John Rucker, the second. Dr. Cooper was the first resident'physician ; he located in the town- ship in 1840, and in 1851 was followed by Dr. George Young.
180
HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Township Organization .- On the adoption of township organiza- tion, the territory now embraced within the boundaries of Long Creek was formed into an election precinct, and the supervisors elected from the several precincts became the governing power of the county. We append the following list of supervisors and the date of their election, and time of service.
SUPERVISORS.
John Rucker, elected in 1860. J. C. Rucker, 1861. J. C. Rucker, re-elected in 1862. John S. Kizer, elected in 1863. John W. Tyler, 1864. John W. Tyler, (chairman), re-elected in 1865. John W. Tyler, re-elected in 1866. J. S. Kizer, re-elected in 1867. Joseph Spangler, elected in 1868. Samuel Gillispie, 1869. J. Ben- son Myers, 1870. J. B. Myers, re-elected in 1871. A. T. Davis, elected in 1872. A. T. Davis, re-elected in 1873. Samuel Gil. lispie, re-elected in 1874. Samuel Gillispie, re-elected in 1875. H. W. Davis, elected in 1876. A. T. Davis, re-elected in 1877. A. T. Davis, re-elected 1878. H. W. Davis, re-elected in 1879. S. C. Davis, elected in 1880.
Transportation Facilities .- Long Creek is well supplied with good wagon roads, and the streams are spanned with convenient and durable bridges. The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield R. R. crosses the township in a western and north-westerly direction, cul- ters it on section 33, Tp. 16-4, about the middle of the section, and its line is due west for nearly three miles, when it assumes a north- westerly direction, and crosses the Sangamon on section 19, Tp. 16-3. There are three stations, Long creek, Antioch-flag-station, and C'asner, the latter of which is the most important. This road affords excellent facilities for the shipment of the various products of the township; since the building of the road, many farms have been opened up, the lands have advanced in value, and population in- creased.
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