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 8
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The next year Edmund McDaniel, a young man, came with his family to east his lot with the feeble settlement. A native of Georgia, he emigrated first to Tennessee, and then to Illinois, settling first near Vandalia. He came to Macon county in 1826. He was married in Kentucky to Margaret Widiek, daughter of John Widick and was a member of the first grand jury. He reared a large fan- ily, and was a good citizen. Wm. W. McDaniel, a good farmer in South Wheatland township, and one of the oldest and most respect- ed residents, came to the county in 1825.
John Widick was born in Virginia, and settled here in 1826. The maiden name of his wife was Cohorine Traughber ; she died most probably in 1832. Their union was blessed with cleven children.
Emanuel Widick settled here the same year. Ile was born in Tennessee in 1806. He married Sarah A. Cox. They both died in 1863; Mr. Widiek in March, and Mrs. Widick in December of that year. Their children numbered nine.
In October, 1826, Jolin McMennamy, a native of Tennessee and a brother-in-law of James Ward, arrived. In 1839 he removed to Texas, where he died.
The year 1827 witnessed a greater immigration than any previous one; and from this time on the tide of immigration was to set in more strongly. Prominent amongst the arrivals was Benjamin Wilson, who was one of the first board of county commissioners, and assisted in the organization of the county. He held the office for many years. His native State was North Carolina, from which he emigrated to Tennessee, where he was married to Jane Warnick, a sister of " Uncle Billy," the first sheriff of Macon county. From thence he removed to Illinois with his family, which eventually grew to be a large one ; and many of the name are yet in the county. The same year saw the arrival of John Hanks, the friend of Lineoln, and a native of Kentucky, born in 1802. Before leaving Kentucky he married Susan Wilson, whose age was about the same as his own. He settled on Stevens' creek. Two of their children, William and Lewis, were born in Kentucky. Five more were born after their settlement on Stevens' creek.
This year came also Eldridge H. McDaniel, a young man of twenty years, who, notwithstanding his youth, had for a whole year rejoiced in the possession of a wife. His wife's maiden name was Mary Pope. They continued to reside here until their death. Mr. M. died in 1859, and his wife in 1871. They reared a large family.
Dempsey Pope, a native of North Carolina, settled on Mosquito ereck in 1827. On leaving his native State he settled first in Ten- nessec. Before leaving Carolina he was united in marriage to Sarah Edwards. Eleven children were born to them. Mr. Pope died in 1853-4 and Mrs. P. in 1874.
James and Jones Edwards came to this county with Mr. Pope. They were natives of the same State, and like Mr. Pope, first emi- grated to Tennessee, where they remaincd only a few months. They reached this section in the fall, and at that time there were but sixteen acres of land entered upon the south side of the river. James worked the first year for John Ward, whom he assisted in driving away a band of Kickapoos that had made threats against the Wards. He, in the winter of 1830-31, took Naney L. Hill to wife. She was a native of Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1829. They had ten children born to them. Joncs Edwards, after a resi- denee of twelve or fifteen years in this county, removed to Iowa, where he died.
This year also eame Thomas Nelms, from Logan county, Ken- tucky, and settled here. He died from the effects of a tree falling upon him in 1830. The old settlers relate: "that after this tree was cut down, and before being split, there was one continuous tingling sound heard, similar to that from the splinters when a tough stiek of wood is being split. This continued long after the logs were made into rails and laid up in a fence. The attention of travellers was attracted by the peculiar noise, while they were pass- ing along the road by the side of the fence."
It seems most probable that Michael Myers and Louisa his wife, nee Atteberry, came the same year. Mr. M. was a native of North Carolina, while his wife was born in Kentucky. They raiscd a family of seven children.
The next year, 1828, the settlements were further strengthened by an increased immigration. And first we mention Capt. David L. Allen, a native of Virginia, who, in the fall of this year, settled on what is now north Water street, Decatur. He was an energetic citizen, and in 1831-2 built the second water mill in the county, which he sold to Robert Moffett. Mr. Allen entered a body of land of which north Water street was the western line, and on this about one-fourth of the city of Dceatur is located. Mr. A. made the first
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
linie ever burnt in this county, and owing to its superior quality, it was greatly in demand, nich of it going to Springfield to be used for finishing purposes. He was a prominent and useful man.
Samuel Braden was born in Ireland, in 1769, and came to this country shortly after the close of the revolutionary war. After a short stay in Philadelphia he removed to South Carolina, where he married Nancy Young, a native of that state. They moved from thienec to Kentucky, thence to Tennessee, and in September, 1828 or '29, came to Macon county. They had three children, and their descendants arc numerous. John Y. Braden, of Hickory Point township, is a native of Tennessee, and came to this county in 1829.
Win. D. Baker, a North Carolinian, a young man of 28, who had married Marilla Martin, in Tennessee, arrived in the autumn of this year, and settled in Long Creek township. He was an upright man, and all men spoke well of him. He was a member of the first grand jury of the county. IIe had five children, two of whom are ministers.
David Davis was born in North Carolina, in 1798. When 17, he moved to Tennessee, and in 1828, he came to this county. When 23 he became paralyzed in his lower limbs, and thercafter walked with difficulty. In 1825, he was married to Mary Martin, a native of Tennessec. He had one child at the period of his arrival, and seven more were born to him. Notwithstanding his bodily affliction, by his energy and business capacity he became wealthy. He was one of the judges of the first election, and his name will be found among the county treasurers. He was noted for publie spirit, and provided liberal means for beneficent charities.
James Myers became a resident of the county in this year. Born in Kentucky and married to a Kentucky girl, he came at the age of 24, and settled the Henry Davis nursery farm, in Long Creek township.
Ephraim Cox probably arrived here this year. His son, George M., was born April 6, 1830, in Macon county, and married Ellen Downs, who was born in Ohio, March 15, 1832. They had a family of ten children born to them.
Elder Dolliston Hefton was among the early settlers of the county, but the exact date of his arrival cannot now be fixed. He was a " forty gallon Baptist " preacher, and those who once heard his see-saw, sing-song tones while in the pulpit will never forget them. He was the equal in singularity of delivery of the Rev. Mr. Bosang, as pictured by Edward Eggleston. He kept store for a time at Mt. Gillead, and had family household goods and merchan- dize all in one room. His stock consisted of a barrel of pale whis- key, that must have been well watered, for it would freeze up in winter ; some tin-ware and a few dollars' worth of sugar and coffee. His ideas of business corresponded to his stock, for it is said that on one occasion he refused to sell all of his tinware to a customer, saying that it would break his stock.
William Wheeler, Sr., was a native of Virginia, and was mar- ried to Elizabeth Hays, also a Virginian. Mr. Whecler and fami- ly removed to Illinois, and to Macon county, in 1828. He had ninc children, one of whom, William, Jr., was destined to become prominently connected with the civil history of Macon county. A man of great popularity he has been repeatedly elected sheriff, assessor and collector. His daughter Elizabeth became the wife of William Ward, the father of Franklin and Hiram Ward.
Robert Smith, Sr., a native of North Carolina, came to Illinois in 1828, and settled first in Sangamon county. The spring was not far advanced of this year, when he removed to Macon county, and settled six miles south-west of the county seat. He came of good fighting stock, his father having been a soldier in the
revolutionary war, and he fought under Jackson, at New Orleans. He was twice married ; the first time to Eleanor Wilson, who died in 1824, and who bore him all his children, five in nunher, and the second time to Jane Allen. Mr. Smith died in 1855.
In 1828 came two brothers, William C. and Andrew W. Smith, not related to the Smith ahove mentioned. Andrew was the older of the brothers, and attained prominence in the carly annals of the county. He was a member for several years of the old county court, and was a volunteer in the Black Hawk war, serving in the company of rangers that went out from Macon county. Was twice married, and some of his children are now residents of the county. He died in 1875. William C. and his brother were na- tives of Tennessee, but on first coming to Illinois settled in Sanga- mon county. His children are well-known residents of the county.
In this year, J. A. Draper, a highly respceted citizen of Mount Zion township, living ou section 21, was born herc. He had lived herc all his life. He married Sarah W. Jones, an Ohio girl, who came here in 1839.
Until 1829, Jan. 19, the portion of Illinois now composing Ma- con county, formed a part of Shelby Before the mnecting of the legislature Benj. R. Austin, Andrew W. Smith, and John Ward had been selected to go to Vandalia, the capital, and procure, if possible, the passage of an act dividing Shelby and creating the county of Macon. These men were successful in their mission, and the act establishing the new county may be found in full in the chapter on the civil history.
Jan. 19, 1829, closed one era of the county's history. The set- tlenient had gained strength slowly but surely. The hard trials incident to pioneer life were not yet over, but the worst was passed. With the increase in population came improvement in condition, and henceforth they were not to be without the ministrations of religion, or the blessings of education (rude though it might be) for their children. As the wilderness became subdued it was to grow more healthful. It is no longer possible to speak at length of the immigrants ; they began to pour in more and more rapidly. The year of the county's formation saw the arrival of a compara- tively large number. Then came the Dickeys, a large and influcn- tial family, of southern descent. William Dickey, a native of Kentucky, came the preceding year, but David, Alexander C., and John, came in 1829. Then, too, came Gen. Isaac C. Pugh, a man distinguished in the history of Macon county ; a member of the second county commissioner's court and several succeeding ; the twelfth treasurer of the county, and the first master in chancery, and a captain in the Black Hawk War. Ever foremost in his country's service he served as captain in the Mexican war, and in the war for the Union he was colonel of the 41st Illinois, and was promoted Brigadier General for meritorious services. He was held in high esteem, and was honored by the people with many positions of honor and trust. He was married to Elvira E. Gorin, and by her had eleven children.
In 1829 also came Alexander Bell, Josiah Abrams, Alfred Lay- mons, Christopher Miller, and James and David Miller. Then, too, came John Scott, Sr., and Francis D., his son. This year also came James Sanders, who was quite a character among the early settlers, and was renowned throughout the settlements for his pro- digious strength and endurance. He used to relate with pride that he threw, in a wrestle, Abraham Lincoln, who had thrown the bully of the county. At Uncle Joe Stevens' wedding feats of strength were indulged in, and "Unele Jimmy" took a picce of lead in each hand weighing seventy-five pounds, and raised them to a level with his shoulders and then passed them around till they touched in front. He was Mr. Lincoln's most intimate friend, and they
5
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
were often together at barn and house-raisings, fox-chases and wolf- hunts. He was a native of South Carolina. When he arrived in Illinois he had a wife, five children, four horses and 6} cents. This year also saw the arrival of the Travis family, who came in March from Wayne county, Ill. There were three brothers, Allen and Thomas Travis, natives of South Carolina, and Finis, who was born in Kentucky. With them came James D. Campbell and Andrew and John Davidson ; Samuel Davidson did not arrive until the next year. In the year of the county's creation also came Henry Traughber, a Kentuckian, who, after his arrival here wooed and wed Nancy Smith; and Parmenas Smallwood and family. Mr. Smallwood was a useful and honored eitizcn, and reared a large family of children, some of whom are now living in the county.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN. -
On the first of March, 1830, Thomas Lincoln, the father of Abra- ham, sold out his squatter's claims in Indiana, and in company with his family, the sons-in-law and two daughters of his wife, start- ed for central Illinois. Abraham had just completed his twenty- first year. The journey was long and tedious, as through the thick mud, only found in the rich soil of the west, their ox-teanis dragged the wagons loaded with the personal effects of the emigrants. One of these teams was driven by young Lincoln. After a journey of two hundred miles, which they made in fifteen days, they reached Macon county, and the elder Lincoln selected a spot for his house on the north side of the Sangamon river in section 28, Town 16 N., Range 1 E., in what is now Harristown township. Here at the junction of the timber land and prairic, Abraham assisted his father in erecting a log cabin and in getting the family comfortably settled. The cabin was made of hewed timber, and near it was built a smoke-house and stable. A common ax, a broad ax, a hand saw and a " drawer knife " were all the tools they had to work with. The doors and floor consisted of puncheons, and the gable ends of the building were boarded up with plank "rived " by Abraham's hand out of oak timber. The few nails that were used were brought
from their old home in Indiana. The cabin stood where it had been erected until 1876, when it was carefully taken apart and shipped to Philadelphia, where it was again put together on the centennial grounds, and remained there during the great exposition, being viewed with interest by thousands of liberty-loving people of the world. When the cabin and out buildings were completed, Abra- ham helped to split rails enough to fence in a lot of ten acres, and built the fence. This done, he broke the ground with ox-teams, and assisted in planting it with corn, after which he turned over the new home to his father, and expressed his intention to make his own fortune. However, he did not leave the region immediately, but worked among the farmers, picking up enough to elothe himself. . It is stated that he broke up fifty acres of prairie with four yoke of oxen, and that he spent most of the winter following in splitting rails and chopping wood.
No one seems to remember for whom Mr. Lincoln worked during this first summer. " A little incident in the pastoral labors of Rev. A. Hale, of Springfield, Illinois, will perhaps indicate his employer. In May, 1861, he went out about seven miles from home to visit a siek lady, and found there a Mrs. Brown who had come in as a neigh- bor. Mr. Lincoln's name having been mentioned, Mrs. Brown said : 'Well, I remember Mr. Linken. He worked with my old man thirty-four years ago and made a crap. We lived on the same farın where we live now, and he worked all the season, and made a crap of corn, and-the next winter they hauled the crap all the way to Galena, and sold it for two dollars and a-half a bushel. At that time there was no publie houses, and travellers were obliged to stay at any house along the road that could take them in. One evening a right smart-looking man rode up to the fence and asked my old man if he could get to stay over night. ' Well,' said Mr. Brown, ' we can feed your eritter, and give you something to eat, but we can't lodge you unless you can sleep on the same bed with the hired man.' The man hesitated and asked, ' Where is he?' 'Well,' said Mr. Brown, 'you can come and see him.' So the man got down from his eritter, and Mr. Brown took him around to where, in the shade of the house, Mr. Lincoln lay at full length on the ground, with an open book before him. "There,' said Mr. Brown, pointing at him, ' he is.' The stranger looked at hin a minute, and said, ' Well, I think he'll do,' and he staid and slept with the future President of the United States."
Mr. Lincoln's father only remained here about one year, on ac- count of sickness in his family, when he moved to Coles county, where he lived to sce his son one of the leading inen in Illinois, and to receive from him many testimonials of filial affection, and to complete his seventy-third year. He died January 17, 1851.
The census of 1830 showed that the county contained 1122 souls. The emigration continued, but it was not large, while many who had come to settle permanently, disgusted with hardships and chills, which were very common and severe, moved back to the older States, from whence they came, to spread unfavorable reports of the country.
In this year came James M. Baker. Robert Law, who served in Capt. Warnick's company of rangers in the Black Hawk war, came the same year, and with him his brothers, James and John, and his sister Rose Ann ; Andrew Hamilton and family, Samuel Rea, who has been honored by his fellow-citizens with positions of responsibil- ity, and who was the soul of integrity ; and William Muirhead, who eanie from Virginia with his family, and settled four miles west of Decatur. William F. Muirhead, who now lives on seetion thirty- three in Blue Mound township, a successful farmer and stock raiser, and a native of Virginia also, came this year. He afterwards mar- ried Margaret J. Hill, who was born in this county. Samuel
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HISTORY OF MACON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Hornbaek and family arrived in September, 1830. Jeremiah Frcc- man, a public-spirited citizen of Harristown township, was born in this year.
The memorable " decp snow," from which the old settler dates events, occurred in the winter of 1830-31. It was an extraordinary event. Nothing like it has been seen since, and if Indian tradition may be trusted, nothing had been seen like it for more than half a century prior to the advent of the whites in this section. The snow began to fall early in the winter, and continued at intervals through- out the season. The snow falls would be followed by slects, thus forming crusts of ice between the layers. For weeks at a time the sun hid his face, and the cold was intense, and the suffering among the settlers was great. The snow, compact as it was, reached a depth of three feet on the level, and a much greater depth where it had drifted. Vehicles passed over the tops of staked and ridered fences. So far as known no one starved or was frozen, but great hardships were endured, and in many instances only the greatest exertions kept starvation from tlic door. Much of the game was almost destroyed, and deer, prairic chickens and quails were scarce for ycars afterward. Mr. Lincoln lived in Macon county during that terrible winter. Another memorable winter in the early annals of the county was that of 1836, when the " sudden freeze " occurred. The suffering from cold was most intense, and attended with loss of life to man and beast. The sudden freezc occurred in January, and it was scarcely fifteen minutes from the time the cold wave struck, " before the water and melting snow were hard enough to bear up a horse."* The slush froze about the feet of the cattle, and it was necessary to cut them out. Geese and ducks were imprisoned in the same way.
In 1831 came Robert Johnson, a farmer and stock-grower, now living in Hickory Point township, a native of Kentucky, who served in the war with Black Hawk ; Jesse Austin and Dr. B. W. Gorin, who in two years removed to Missouri; Rebecca Robinson, who became the wife of John Drake; James Howell and family. Mr. Howell had four brothers, William, Daniel, Joseph and Isaac, who came about the same time. Sarah Myers became a resident this year. So, too, did William Turpin, a native of Kentucky, who, with his younger brother, Mattison, made a settlement on Big Creek.
James Querry, of Friends Creek township, a native of the Old Dominion, came also in 1831. In 1832 came S. C. Allen, Henry M. Gorin, and Rev. Joseph Hostettler, the latter a native of Ken- tucky, who began preaching in 1815. He came hither from Orange county, Indiana. Further information regarding him may be found in the sketch of the Christian Church. In this year also came Joshua Perdue, who married Margaret Ward, and Willis Stallings, whosc wife was Janc Law. He was a Tennesseean by birth, and reared a family of three children. Thomas H. Read, who died in Decatur in 1874, arrived this year.
The next year added J. R. Gorin, whose record will be found in the chapter on the " Bench and Bar," and William Cantrell, who has been called to positions of trust by his fellow-citizens ; John Rucker, a very industrious man, who is worthy of mention as having held the office of county commissioner for fourteen years, longer than any other man. And David Barnwell, a native of South Carolina, who with his family settled first in Long Creek township.
Mr. O. L. Stuart, the well-known farmer of Whitmore township, was born in Decatur this year. W. T. Howell, a native of Sanga- non county, and a farmer and stock raiser in Oakley township, came in 1834. James Miller, now living on section thirteen, a most excellent farmer, settled here in 1833.
* Smith's Ilistory.
The same year, 1834, saw the arrival of M. M. Burke, Charles Emmerson, (of whom a complete biography will be found in the Bench and Bar) Rev. William S. Crisscy, the veteran Methodist minister now residing in Decatur, James Harrel, John Lowry and John G. Jimison, the latter a Scotchman, now a resident of Friends Creek township. David Smick came from Kentucky with his family the same year. The same year saw the immigration of Samn- ucl Mckinley. The next year arrived the following : Richard H. Brett and family, consisting of wife and fourteen children, Jacob Hostettler and wife, William F. Montgomery, Joseph and Barbara, Spangler, from Pennsylvania, whose children are yet residents of Macon county, D. K. Wilson, H. W. Davis, now living in Long Creek township, was born in Macon county in this year. - Edmiston McClellan, the present efficient circuit clerk, came here from Penn- sylvania, the State of his nativity, this 'ycar. Hc has often been called by the citizens of the county to serve them in various capaci- ties. Another accession to the population, was James Geddis now living in Decatur township. Mr. G. is a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania.
The next year came Kirby Benedict, (sec Bench and Bar) R. J. Oglesby, (ibid.) and Ninian Peddccord, a native of Maryland, who, on his arrival in '36, engaged as a clerk for Adamson and Prather, and afterward formed a co-partnership with Joseph Stickel. In 1836 the Prathers arrived. Z. R. Prather, a resident of Long Creek township, was born here in that year. William Prather, the sixth county judge, and fourth circuit clerk, and a native of Mary- land, throughout life was in feeble health. He died in 1870. Ac- cording to some authorities, Henry Prather did not arrive here from Macoupin county, where he settled first, until 1837. He was a man of ability and great public spirit. In 1852 he was chosen to repre- sent his district in the legislature. His memory is yet treasured by all who knew him. In 1836 Ulysses Huston, a good farmer of Hickory Point township, came to find a home.
In 1837 Rev. M. Baker, of Decatur township, was born in this county, and Willis Johnson, a well-known farmer of the same town- ship, came here from Madison county, Kentucky. Daniel Traugh- ber became a resident this year, and Samuel Powers, a native of New York, arrived. David J. Freeland, the farmer and stock- grower, is a native of North Carolina, and came to Macon county this year.
Col. E. D. Carter was born in Logan county, Kentucky. He came to Illinois in 1833 and to Decatur in 1838. He married Christina Smick, also a native of Kentucky. This year also came Jasper J. Peddecord, who was born in Maryland in 1818. He has been in the business of banking since 1852, when he formed a co- partnership with Lowber Burrows, and has engaged largely in man- ufacturing.
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