History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 66

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440

USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 66

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First Mill .- The first settlers experienced great difficulty in getting their milling done. Those of this township went to John Irvin's mill, south of Carrollton, in Greene county, and afterwards to Tegard's mill, east of Car-

* For many facts pertaining to the early settlers we are indebted to the venerable James Raffurty.

linville. The first and only grist mill in Polk was erected by Stephen Mar- shall, in the year 1850; it was situated on the Macoupin creek, in section 28, and was run by water power.

Land Entries .- The following are the names of the parties who made the first three land entries in the town of 9, range 8. James Mason entered 82.40 acres in section 6, November 9th, 1831; Robert Holliday entered 40 acres in section 20, February 28th, 1834; the same day and year Peter Wagoner entered 160 acres in section 33.

Old Settlerx .- The settlers who had located in the township previous to this time resided on lands owned by the Government. Among the older residents and farmers of Polk may be mentioned :- James Raffurty, who resides on section 6, came to the county with his parents in 1833; Daniel Elliott came in 1831; Elias M. Dorman in 1834; George W. Rhodes in 1833; S. F. Rhodes and Daniel Hayward in 1838; S. A. Pepperdine in 1830; Mathew S. Gillespie in 1834; D. R. Johnston in 1836; and between the years 1842 and 1857 the following farmers located here: Edward G. Duckels, E. B. Eldred, A. H. Eldred, Isaiah Rhoads, Edmund Rhoads, John Hounsley, Cant Candler, and John M. Yowell. After the completion of the C. and A. R. R. in 1852 settlers began to locate in the township quite rapidly. The farm improvements in Polk will compare favorably with other portions of the county. Among the leading fine stock raisers are A. H. and Moses S. Eldred and James Raffurty ; they are engaged in breeding short horn and Jersey cattle.

Railroad Store and Post-office .- The south-eastern part of Polk is crossed by the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad; it enters the township in the north-east corner of section 12, and leaves it at the south-west quarter of section 34. Macoupin station is situated in the northern part of section 23; here is also located a store and post-office.

The following statistics from the the assessors' books of 1879 will be of interest : Acres improved lands, 16,218, value 892,080; acres unimproved lands, 6,826, value 815,266; total value of lands, $107,346. Of horses there are 582, value 89,716; cattle 1,036, value 88,273; mules 53, value 8946; sheep 839, value $768; hogs 7,634, value 81,659; carriages and wagons 194, value $1,910; 137 watches and clocks, 62 sewing machines, 1 piano, 10 organs. Total value of personal property, 833,778.

Below we give a list of the township officers since township organization. Supervisora .- Moses S. Eldred elected in 1871 ; Moses S. Eldred re-elected in 1872, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1877 ; Henry Brayford elected in 1878; John M. Yowell elected in 1879 * * * * not represented in 1875.

Town Clerks .- Wm. C. Bullard elected in 1871; E. G. Duckels elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873; W. E. Sanders elected in 1874, and re-elected in 1875, also in 1876, 1877, 1878 and 1879.

Assessora .- L. B. Corbin elected in 1871; E. B. Eldred elected in 1872; R. Bohannan elected in 1873, and re-elected in 1874 and 1875; E. B. Eldred elceted in 1876, and re-elected in 1877; J. Raffurty elected in 1878 ; W. A. Towse elected in 1879.

Collectors .- J. Tunnell elected in 1871 ; W. A. Towse elected in 1872; J. Tunnell elected in 1873; W. A. Towse elected in 1874; A. N. Daniel elected in 1875; W. D. Goodell elected in 1876, and re-elected in 1877; A. N. Daniel elected in 1878, and re-elected in 1879.

The following are the Justices of the Peace since township organization : Wm. C. Brewer and Wm. Haycraft elected in 1871; W. W. Dorman, W. C. Brewer and W. H. Haycraft elected in 1873; J. Raffurty elected in 1874; J. Raffurty, E. Wilson, W. C. Bullard elected in 1877; W. A. Towse elected in 1878.

Constables .- Sam'l H. Rhodes and Jerome B. Hardcastle elected in 1871 ; J. Rhodes elected in 1872; N. E. Barnes and J. Falkerson elected in 1875; W. J. Anderson and J. Armstrong elected in 1877; G. W. Brooks.

Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, C. Perrings, E. Keel, S. F. Rhodes ; 1872, Enoch Keel ; 1873, Samuel F. Rhodes; 1874, W. C. Brewer, John Doyle; 1875, E. M. Dorman; 1876, S. W. Snell; 1877, William C. Brewer ; 1878, George W. Rhoads ; 1879, Silas W. Snell.

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JAMES RAFFURTY.

JAMES RAFFERTY is a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and is the fifth of a family of eleven children of James Raffurty and his wife, Nancy Booth. He was born on the 24th of December, 1823. Mr. Raffurty's grandfather, James Raffurty, was of Scotch-Irish stock, and was a native of the north of Ireland ; while a young man he emigrated to America, and settled in Virginia, at a date some years prior to the Revolutionary war. At the breaking out of the contest between the colonies and Great Britain, he was one of the first to enlist in the patriotic army under Washington, and served with fortitude and bravery in the Continental army until the war was over, peace declared, and the independence of the colonies achieved. He then returned to his farm in the Shenandoah valley, near Harper's Ferry, and engaged in the culture of tobacco. He shipped his tobacco to London, England, to pay for the passage to America of the lady who sub- sequently became his wife. He married her about the year 1786 or 1787, and raised a large family of children. He subsequently sold his farm in Vir- ginia, and emigrated to Montgomery county, Kentucky, where he resided for a number of years, and then moved to Daviess county, Kentucky, and settled on a farm about seven miles south-west of Owensboro, near a place now called " Buzzard's Roost." He continued to reside there till his death, about the year 1835 or 1836, at a ripe old age. His wife died about the same time.

The name of Mr. Raffurty's father was also James Raffurty. He was a native of the " Old Dominion," and was born in the year 1788 within three miles of Harper's Ferry, one of the most romantic and historic places in Virginia. His early boyhood days were spent in assisting his father to carry on the farm in Virginia, and afterwards in Kentucky. On the breaking out of the war of 1812 he enlisted for service in Col. James Johnson's regiment, which formed part of the detachment of the army under Gen. Harrison. He took part in the campaign under Harrison and was in the battle of the Thames, in which the celebrated Indian chieftain, Tecumseh, was killed. His marriage to Nancy Booth had occurred prior to the war of 1812. He resided in Kentucky till 1834, and in March of that year moved to Illinois and settled on the farm in Polk township, where his son now resides. He died in the month of June, 1854. His widow survived him about ten years. He and his wife were both members of the Christian church. In politics he was a democrat.

James Raffurty, now one of the leading farmers of Polk township, received his education in the schools of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and after his removal to this state in the district schools of Macoupin county. He was in his eleventh year when the family moved to Illinois. He resided at home with his parents till his marriage, which occurred on the 28th of July, 1842, to Mariah Rusher, daughter of Henry and Catherine Rusher, who were natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Raffurty was born in that state July 10th, 1821. By this marriage there have been born four sons and six daughters, of whom three sons and four daughters are now living, all residing in Macoupin county. After his marriage Mr. Raffurty started out to begin life for him- self with scarcely any capital. He bought a forty acre tract in section nine Polk township, which he improved, and after living on it for a few years sold it, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres in section seven, which he im- proved and lived upon till his father's death, when he purchased the old homestead, where he has since lived. On the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted in Co. C. 6th regiment Illinois volunteers, commanded by

Col. Collins. He served until the expiration of the war, when he returned home and was mustered out at Alton, in August, 1847. Fuller particulars of the history of the regiment may be found in the chapter on Patriotism, in the History of the county. He has always been identified with the democratic party, of which he has been an active member, and in whose ranks he has wielded considerable influence. He and his wife have been members of the Baptist church for more than thirty years. In taking a retrospective view of his life and career we find a man who commenced with but little means. The most he possessed was a strong will, a determination to succeed in life, and excellent natural business qualifications. Assisted by his estimable wife he has been able to carve out for himself a comfortable competence. He is one of the substantial and leading agriculturalists of the county, and a man whose probity of character and purity of conduct have won him many friends.

I. B. CORBIN,

FORMERLY treasurer of Macoupin county, was born in Greene county, in this state, November 13, 1842. He belongs to a family of English descent. His grandfather, Luther Corbin, was a native of Connecticut, and about the year 1805 removed to Madison county, in Central New York. His father, Calvin L. Corbin, was born and raised in Madison county, New York, and emigrated when a young man to Illinois. This was the year 1839; and he settled near Carrollton, in Greene county, and in 1840 married Mrs. Clarissa Eldred. Her maiden name was Brace; she was born in Herkimer county, New York, and came to Greene county, in this state, in 1827. The only child by this marriage was L. B. Corbin. His father purchased the farm in Polk township, where Mr. Corbin now resides, in the fall of 1850; moved on it in 1851, and resided there till his death, in 1865.

The subject of this biography was in his ninth year when he came to Macou- pin county. His education he obtained partly at home (his father was a school teacher, and for thirteen years taught school in New York and Illinois partly at a district school in Polk township, and in a private school, taught by the Rev. W. R. Adams, at Carlinville, which he attended in the winter of 1860-61. During the war of the Rebellion in 1862, then not twenty years of age, he enlisted in the 122d Illinois regiment, commanded by Col. Rinaker. He was with the regiment in its campaigns in Tennessee and Mississippi, and in the fall of 1863, was placed on detached duty as quartermaster's sergeant of the pioneer corps of the 4th Division of the 15th Army Corps. He was with Sherman on his celebrated march from " Atlanta to the Sea," and subsequently rejoined his regiment. He returned home in August, 1865, and the following October his father died. He was married December 25th, 1866, to Miss Sarah J. Cooley, a native of Massachusetts, who died in 1872. His present wife, whom he married in May, 1874, was Annie E. Leaton, daughter, of the Rev. James Leaton, D. D., a Methodist minister, well known in this state. Mrs. Corbin's native place is Quincy.

Mr. Corbin has two children by his second marriage. He is a republican in politics. He has been assessor of the township, and in 1875, without solicitation on his part, was made the republican and independent candi- date for county treasurer, and was elected. His farm in Polk township comprises 380 acres.

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THE FARM RESIDENCE OF JAMES RAFFERTY, SEC. 6, POLK TP. MACOUPIN CO., ILL

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NORTH PALMYRA TOWNSHIP.

HIS township is situated in the extreme northern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Morgan county, on the east by North Otter, on the south by South Palmyra, and on the west by Scottville township. It is geographically known as township 12, range 8, west, and contains 23,040 acres. It was surveyed about the year 1824. It has belts of timber varying from a quarter to one mile in width on the north-west, south-west, and south-east. The remaining portion of the township is a fertile prairie, under a high state of cultivation. Apple creek drains the township on the north ; on the east side it is drained by Massey creek; the centre and southern portions are drained by Solo- mon's creek, and on the western side by Joe's creek.

The banks of the creeks are covered with timber, and in an early day wolves, deer, panthers, and bears found a home beneath the branches un- molested, except by the Indians; but civilization, with its progress, has caused them to disappear; however, the prairie wolf is occasionally met with.

The first settlement was made by John Cummings and family August, 1824; Jonas Thompson and family in 1824; Mrs. Woodring and family in 1825, and Elijah Wills and family in the fall of 1826. Then came Judge Lewis Solomon, Sr., who settled here on the 27th of March, 1827, with his family, on what was afterward known as Eagle's Point, on section 20, situated at the head of the timber on the north branch of Solomon's creek. That creek was named in honor of Judge Solomon, Sr. Mr. Solomon had pre- viously lived in Morgan county.

The circumstance by which Eagle's Point received its name is about as follows. When Judge Solomon came to this county to select a location, he burned off several patches of prairie, and as the fire neared the timber, a large number of spotted eagles came flying around. No doubt they were attracted by the mice and other small animals that were endeavoring to escape the fire. That species of eagles are only found in new and unsettled countries. Here Judge Solomon erected his cabin, assisted 'by his sons James and Lewis. It was a very rude dwelling, without windows ; the only light was from the door and chimney. Judge Solomon was a native of Muhlenburgh county, Kentucky. He was prominently connected with the earliest official history of this county, further mention of which is made in the chapter on Civil History.

In the fall of 1828 William Norvill and family moved here from their home in Sumner county, Tennessee, and settled on section 23.

The first settlers were in limited circumstances. They settled in the edge of the timber; built rude cabins, in which they lived, and made some clear- ings in the timber, as they were unable to break the tough sod of the prairie with their primitive implements; and it may well be said of them, as of most all early settlers, that they were very enterprising, honest, industrious, liberal, and hospitable.

The first entry of land made in this township was by Jonathan Thompson, February 17th, 1827; it was the east eighty of the south-east quarter of section 4. The second entry was made by Ezekiel Springer, November 12th, 1827, on the north-west quarter of section 3. The third entry was made by E. C. Vancil, January 19th, 1828, it being 80 acres of the south-east quarter of section 4.

Settlers now began to come in quite rapidly, among whom we find John Nivens, Sr., of Madison county of this state, but formerly of Kentucky; he

came to this county in 1827, and bought the improvements of Elijah Wills. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. During the same year John Nivens, Jr., and John Scott, with their families, came and settled on section 7; they were also Kentuckians. Shortly after them, William Nivens, the father of John and father-in-law of Mr. Scott, came and settled on the same section ; he was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Jacob Nifong (father of James F. Nifong) and family came in the fall of 1828, and bought the improvements of John Nivens, Jr., on section 7; he came from Missouri, but was formerly from Virginia. James Howard came in 1828; he had previously lived in Morgan county, Illinois, where he married the daughter of Judge Solomon, Sr. ; he was the first school-teacher in the township. Alexander Carsop, of Muhlenburgh county, Kentucky, came and settled where Jasper Rice lives, on section 28, in the spring of 1828. During the same fall Wm. Norvill settled on section 23; he had a family, and was from Tennessee. E. C. Vancil came up from Union county, Illinois, and settled where he resides, on section 4, in the year 1828; he is a Kentuckian by birth, and is hale and hearty at the advanced age of eighty years. He is the father of I. B. Vancil, a prominent farmer of the township. The same year Spencer Nor- vill came from Tennessee, and settled on section 23.

The next settlement was made by Larkin Richardson, a son-in-law of John Cummings, about 1829 ; he was from Gallatin county, Illinois. The same year, but about two months later, Aaron Turner settled on section 7; he had a family, and was from Alabama. John Cherry came about 1830, and settled on section 18; he was from Tennessee. In 1830 the township re- ceived four families all at one time, namely, Russell, William, Henry, and John Taber. The three former were brothers. They all settled a little north of where the town of Palmyra now stands. They were from Tennes- see. In the progress of civilization they moved to Missouri, and subse- quently moved and settled along the White river, in Arkansas. They ap- peared to be rovers, and could not bear the influence of civilization.

Robert Ross and family came in 1829 or'30,from the Cross Roads, in Sumner county, Tennessee, and settled on section 27; the farm is now owned by S. J. Thompson. He subsequently moved to South Palmyra township. Joseph King and family settled on section 28, at the point of timber north of where the town of Palmyra now stands, in the year 1829 ; his brother David came and joined him in 1835. They were Kentuckians. The place now owned by the widow Pinkerton, a little west of Palmyra, was settled by James Pocklington and family. He was an Englishman, and came in August, 1830. Isham Gibson, the father of J. W. Gibson, came in an early day. James Young and family, Newton Berry, Stephen Jones and Stephen Robertson, came about 1831. Robertson bought out Russell Taber's improvement, on section 33. Henry Davidson came about the same year. George Sims and family came in 1829, and he is still living at the advanced age of ninety- two years. His brother, William Sims, came in 1831 and settled on section 7. He also had a family. William Rice came in 1830 from Kentucky and settled with his family on section 33. The farm is now owned by the late S. J. Steidley. The same year William Hodges settled on section 34. John B. Clevenger came to the county with his father in 1830. He now lives on section 35. Daniel Chapman, son of John Chapman of North Otter, was in the county in 1831, and now resides on section 24 in North Palmyra. Garrett Davis came in 1830. James Bryant and family settled on section 2, about

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HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

1830. They were Kentuckians. Claibourne Gooch, who had a large family, came from Kentucky and settled on section 29, in 1833. Jasper Rice, also from Kentucky, settled on section 28, in 1832. Jonathan Landreth a Virginian, came here in 1833; his son, A. P. Landreth, now a farmer on section 20, came with his parents. John Coots, from Kentucky, settled on section 22, in 1835; he married a Miss Wise after he came to the township. Thomas Steward came the same year. D. A. Pulliam, formerly from Morgan county but a native of Kentucky, came here in 1835. He had a family. The same year Jesse Berry settled on section 34. Lewis O'Neal came in 1836. Joseph Liston, Sr., and family came in 1836. They were Kentuckians.

The first sermon was preached by Auston Sims at the house of Lewis Solo- mon, Sr., in the year 1827. He was a Baptist minister. The first preachers were Lewis Solomon, Sr., and William Hodges, both Baptist. They were afterward followed by Jacob Nifong, who belonged to the Christian church.

The first church edifice was built by the Methodists, about the year 1840. It was named Bethel, and was situated about one and a half miles north of the village of Palmyra. It was built of hewed logs, roughly put together. It was subsequently used as a school-house. At present it is used for a wood house by school district number one. The present school-house is a good building in modern style, and is frequently used by the Methodists as a house of worship. There are two churches now in the township, a Christian and Dunkard.

The first school-house was situated in the north-west part of the township, on section 18, a short distance south-west of where J. F. Nifong now resides. The house was built of round poles with the bark peeled off; it was covered with boards riven out with a frow ; the floor was of rough puncheons; a log was cut out on one side, and the opening served as a window; the writing desk was made by boring slanting holes into the side of the house and driv- ing wooden pins into the holes and laying puncheons on the pins. When it rained the children had to move to the side opposite that from which the wind blew in order to keep dry. It was a three months' subscription school, the parents agreeing to pay one dollar and fifty cents for each scholar. The building was erected in 1829, and school taught by James Howard, as mention- ed above.

The first marriage was Andrew Thompson to Sarah Woodring, by Lewis Solomon, Sr.

The first child born was a son of Elijah and Drusilla Wills, in the sum- mer of 1827. He died while yet an infant.

HABITS AND CUSTOMS.

The settlers raised cotton, picked, spun, and wove it into cloth, and cut it in a rude manner to make clothing for the ladies.

The men frequently wore dressed deer skin pants and coon skin caps. The coats were made so as to resemble a hunting shirt. The men occupied a portion of their time in hunting and trapping.

The nearest mill was Stephen Hardcastle's or Tegard's mill, situated at a place now known as Rock-bridge. The manner of going to mill was in carts, sleds or truck wagons. The cart and wagon wheels were sawed from logs, usually sycamore, and were from four to six inches broad and about two feet high, with holes bored in the centre for the hub. Horses were scarce, and ox teams invariably were used for hauling. These carts and wagons were used for hauling wood and rails, going to mill, and sometimes even to take the family to church.

About the first of June, in the early times, the green headed flies were very troublesome on the prairie. Plowing was done with ox teams, very early in the morning, or late in the evening, in order to avoid the flies, and the crops worked with a single horse. The plows were what is known as the bar-share plow; they had wooden mould-boards. The harness consisted of a shuck collar, and trace chains fastened to a crooked stick for harness, and a rude leather back-band. Some of the settlers dispensed with the harness, and used the shaft plow. The method of driving when two horses were used, was to ride one and lead the other. When only one horse was driven, they used a single line. The horses were taught to turn at the words " Gee " and " Haw ;" check lines were unknown. This method of driving is still followed by the farmers of Kentucky. The food consisted of wild game, pork and corn-meal; wheat-bread was very seldom seen.

The deep snow was during the winter of 1830 and '31. About the twentieth of December it commenced raining and sleeting, but it soon changed to snow, and continued at intervals, until in January. The snow

was three feet deep on the level; it was drifted to the top of the fences; the ravines were full, and almost level with the surrounding land. The snow continued on the ground until about the first of March, cutting off com- munication between the settlers, and making it impossible for people to get to mill; they had to pound corn to get meal for bread, and this with hominy, was about all they could get to subsist on. After the snow disap- peared there was a friendly greeting between the settlers.

The game consisted of bears, panthers, wolves, wildcats, deer, turkey, beaver, mink, raccoon, opossum, prairie chickens and quail, and con- tinued abundant up to the time of the big snow, after which but few survived, except the wolves and deer, which continued in great number until about 1849 or 50. The bear and panther did but little damage to the settler, but the wolves were very destructive. Sheep and pigs had to be closely guarded. They killed in day time, pigs that would weigh thirty or forty pounds, and in one instance they took pigs at night out of the pen adjoining the house of Lewis Solomon.

Visited by Indians .- A hunting party of Indians came in the summer of 1827; they camped on the north side of the timber in the south-east part of the township. One of them visited Elijah Wills' cabin ; he was a large man about six feet high ; he was dressed in buckskin, and rode an Indian pony with a deer skin hung to his saddle. He was armed with a short rifle, and had some silver money with which he bought some meal. He was very friendly and belonged to the Sioux tribe.

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History of Macoupin County, Illinois, Part 66

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co. Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Number of Pages: 440

Author: Brink, McDonough & Co.
Publication date: 1879
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 440