USA > Illinois > Macoupin County > History of Macoupin County, Illinois > Part 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88
WILLIAM B. ROBERTS,
THE present collector of Hilyard township, is a native of Kentucky, and was born in Hardin county, in that state, February 7th, 1837. His grand- father, David Rittenhouse Roberts, was in the war of 1812. His father, William C. Roberts, was born at Norristown, Pennsylvania, and when a young man came to Kentucky, and married Mary Gilmore, daughter of David Gilmore, one of the early settlers of Hardin county. David Gilmore built a mill at the mouth of Gilmore's branch, which was the earliest mill constructed in all that part of Kentucky. Mr. Roberts' father lived on Otter creek, the boundary line between Hardin and Meade counties, and Mr. Roberts was raised in both counties. He was married February 14th, 1861, to Kitty Ann Allen, daughter of William Allen, born and raised in Hardin county. In April, 1864, he moved to this state, and went to farm- ing in Hilyard township. In politics he has been a democrat, though his father was first a whig and afterward became a strong republican. Since 1873 he has been constable, and in 1879 was elected collector. His five children are Mary Frances, Julia Florence, Lillie May, Allen Bathurst and Hardin Alexander. He is a man who stands well in the community in which he lives.
Digitized by Google
CAHOKIA TOWNSHIP.
AHOKIA township constitutes what is known as town 7, range 6 west, and is bounded on the north by Honey Point town- ship, on the west by Gillespie township, on the south by Staunton township, and on the east by Montgomery county. Some of the surface is rolling prairie land, which is well drained by the Cahokia creek and its tributaries. Nearly two-thirds of the township is timber land. The soil is rich on the prairies, and where cultivated yields good crops of corn, wheat, oats, hay and vegetables.
Early Settlerx .- Ephraim Powers settled near the south-east corner of the township about the year 1828, and in 1830 Thomas Kinder with his family settled on section 11, where he made an improvement. The first permanent settler was soon followed by others, among whom were Peter B. Karnes and family, who came in 1831; John Kinder and family, Amos Snook and family, B. L. Dorsey, John Blevins, Tolton Blevins, Lodwick Jones, Nathan Duncan, and others who aided very materially in the development of this township. The first settlers experienced great inconveniences and hardships. For many years they were forced to go to Edwardsville, a distance of thirty miles, to mill.
The first birth was William S. Karnes, son of Peter B. and Sarah Ann Karnes, May 30th, 1832.
The first death was that of Mrs. Kinder, in May, 1832.
The first marriage took place between Christopher Kinder and Miss Mary Ann Cook, in the spring of 1832.
The first preacher was William Burg, a United Baptist, who came here about 1834, and held the first meeting at the residence of James Caulk. Mr. Burg was not an educated man, but was a faithful and devoted worker, and was loved and revered by all. Larkin Craig was also an early preacher here.
The first church was built by the United Baptists, about 1840, on land owned by Thomas Kinder, in section 2. It was built of hewn logs, and was subsequently used for a school-house, and finally caught fire and was de- stroyed. A gentleman by the name of Arnold, was the first teacher, and taught in this house.
The first school-house was built of hewn logs, on section 10, about 1835. The first teachers were Evan Hazzard and John Wilton.
John Blevins built a blacksmith shop, one-half mile south-west of the town of Clyde, about 1833, where he carried on blacksmithing, and was the first in the township.
Mills .- A grist, horse power mill, built by Eaton and English, was the first in the township.
The first land entries were by John Blevins, April 22d, 1831, eighty acres in section 10; Peter Kinder, May 9, 1831, eighty acres in section 10; George A. Kinder, May 9th, 1831, eighty acres in section 10; John Kinder, May 9th, 1831, eighty acres in section 10; Jacob and William Kinder, May 9th, 1831, eighty acres in section 14.
Prominent among the older settlers of the county, now residing in this township, are Peter B. Karnes, Nancy Snook, Larkin Craig, Nancy Keel, George Bayless, Benj. L. Dorsey, Jacob Kinder, Hugh Rice, William An- derson, Wm. Eickmeyer, E. S. Holme, and J. M. Rhoads. L. W. Link, a farmer living on section 3, is the present Supervisor.
The following statistics will be of interest to the reader, showing the re- sources of the township :- Number of acres improved lands, 14,913, value, $114,600; acres unimproved lands, 7,926, value, $17,095; total value of lands, $131,695 ; value of lots, $1,715. Horses, 491, value, $8,970; cattle, 965, value, $7,605; mules, 87, value, $1,665; sheep, 511, hoge 1,424, value, 254
$1,034; carriages and wagons, 171, value, 81,465; 120 watches and clocks, 51 sewing machines, 2 pianos, 4 organs. Total value of personal property, $26,288.
TOWNSHIP OFFICERS SINCE TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
Supervisors .- Edward S. Holme, elected in 1871, '72, and '73; Allen Bay- less, elected in 1874; William M. Baldwin, elected in 1875; L. W. Link, elected in 1876, '77, '78, and '79, the present incumbent and chairman of the board.
Town Clerks .- T. T. Yates, elected in 1871, and '72; A. S. Carter, elected in 1873, '74, and '75; G. W. Jones, elected in 1876, and '77 ; L. F. Holden, elected in 1878; A. Aikman, elected in 1879.
Assessor .- H. B. Blevins, elected in 1871, and re-elected each succeeding year up to 1879.
Collectors .- A. J. Cook, elected in 1871, and '72; A. Tate, elected in 1873; A. J. Cook, elected in 1874, '75, and '76; G. W. Duncan, elected in 1877; J. M. Rhoads, elected in 1878 ; G. W. Duncan, elected in 1879.
Justices of the Peace .- L. F. Holden, and F. A. Richards, elected in 1871; A. J. Cook, and L. F. Holden, elected in 1873; Z. Harris, and A. Bayless, elected in 1877; H. Daniel, elected in 1878.
Constables .- S. Bayless, and A. S. Carter, elected in 1871; F. Keel, and J. F. Sturges, elected in 1873; A. Bayless, elected in 1874; Theo. Hutton, and Sam Snook, elected in 1877.
Commissioners of Highways .- 1871, G. F. Boosinger, George Bayless, Daniel Stanton ; 1872, John Alexander; 1873, G. F. Boosinger; 1874, G. B. Bayless; 1875, G. F. Boosinger, Geo. Bayless, J. Alexander ; 1875, G. F. Boosinger, Geo. Bayless, G. W. Duncan; 1877, Geo. P. Bay- less ; 1878, Thomas C. Blevins: 1879, Alexander Robson.
VILLAGE OF CLYDE.
The village of Clyde, is situated in the north-east part of section 3, and is on the Indianapolis and St. Louis rail road. It was laid out by Robert J. Hornsby, proprietor, and surveyed and platted by F. H. Chapman, in the year 1854. The town is located on an elevated prairie, and has an excellent site ; and at the time the railroad was built, the company desired to locate their shops at this point, but the five acres of land demanded as a consider- ation by the company, were refused by the proprietor, Mr. Hornsby, and the shops were located elsewhere. The town has about 100 inhabitants. There are two frame churches; Baptist, and Methodist Episcopal denomination ; there is also a frame school-house, neatly furnished.
The Clyde mill is a steam power custom mill, built by B. F. Clark, and is the first and only one in the township It has two run of stones, and is now owned and operated by Frank Holden.
The following is a list of the business houses in Clyde : Physician-Dr. J. B. Ellis. General Stores .- Hutton and Doran, and Stanley Carter, also post- master. Blacksmith Shops .- Joseph Dillon, Peter B. Karnes. Confection- ery-Joseph Patton. Shoe Shop-Joseph Whitmore. Carpenter Shop-L. F. Holden.
The Post Office at Clyde is known as " Hornsby," being named in honor of the founder of the town, Dr. R. J. Hornsby, who now resides at Bunker Hill.
We are under obligations to Peter B. Karnes, and Benj. L. Dorsey, for the data furnished us, for the history of this township.
Digitized-by-
NORTH WEST VIEW.
.S. Carte et
D 1670
is ard Akce
SCENES ON THE STOCK FARM OF HUGH RICE, SEC. 17, CAHOKIA TP., MACOUPIN CO., ILL.
SOUTH EAST VIEW.
Digitized by Google
1
-
Digitized by
255
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
LEWIS W. LINK.
L. W. LINK was born in Greene county, Illinois, December 25, 1835. His grandfather, Christian Link, was of German descent, and was born in Mary- land about the close of the revolutionary war; on growing up he emigrated to Kentucky, and at Lexington marrried Eliza Bell, a native of Tennessee. In the year 1817 he removed to Illinois and settled in Madison county. In 1818 he moved into Greene county and settled three miles south-west of Carrollton, at the head of what is still known as Link's branch. He was one of the pioneers of Greene county, and only a few families had previously located in that part of the state. He was a blacksmith by trade, and when Carrollton was laid out he sold his farm and moved into the town, where he established the first blacksmith shop in Carrollton. Mr. Link's father, John Beil Link, was a boy when he came to Illinois. He married Cascinda . Pruitt, a native of Kentucky, and whose family were among the pioneer settlers of Greene county. He died in 1837, when the subject of this sketch was about two years of age. Lewis W. Link was the next to the youngest of a family of seven children. After his father's death he lived among relatives at Carrollton till fourteen, and then, till 1851, lived with an uncle near Whitehall. He came with his mother and brother to the vicinity of Scott- ville, in Macoupin county, in 1851, and the next year to Plainview. In 1856 the family moved to the neighborhood of Gillespie. February 3, 1856, he
married Elizabeth Davis, who was born and raised near Woodburn. He was farming near Gillespie till 1865, and then bought a farm in Honey Point township. He moved to Gillespie in the fall of 1866 and engaged in the milling business, in partnership with George Francis. They purchased a mill for $10,000 and made $5,000 additional improvements. February 11, 1870, the mill burned to the ground, proving nearly a total loss. He con- tinued in the business of buying hay, at Gillespie, till 1874, and then went to farming in Cahokia township.
His first wife died in August, 1866. September 10, 1868, he married Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter of Elisha Mitchell, one of the first settlers of Honey Point township. She died in the summer of 1870. His present wife, whom he married in August, 1872, was formerly Miss Christiana James. She was born in Kentucky, married a gentleman named Martin, and moved to Missouri, where her first husband died during the war. Mr. Link has five sons.
He is politically a democrat. In the spring of 1876 he was elected super- visor from Cahokia township, and has been re-elected to that office each year subsequently. In the spring of 1878 he was made chairman of the board, and has since discharged the important duties of that position in a creditable and efficient manner.
SHAW'S POINT TOWNSHIP.
S HAW'S Point township, is situated on the east side of the county, and comprises township 10 north, range 6 west. It is bounded on the north by Nilwood, on the west by Carlinville, and on the south by Honey Point townships, and on the east by Mont- gomery county. The surface is a gently rolling prairie of rich alluvial soil, and is very productive. Fine belts of timber border along the creeks, and furnish an ample amount for those who prefer to use it as fuel, and for building purposes.
It is well drained by the Macoupin creek and its affluents, which flows south-westerly through the north-west part of the township. Cottonwood creek, and Shaw's Point Branch, are its principal tributaries.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlement in the township was made by a man by the name of Shaw, who settled on section 35, in 1825, and from whom the township re- ceived its name-" Shaw's Point." Mr. Shaw built a small log-cabin, and improved a few acres of land, which he abandoned before any more settle- ments were made in the township.
Mr. John Lewis was probably the next who settled in the township. He, with his family came here in 1827. Soon after followed Job Sperry, C. K. Hutton, the Powells, Coops and Geo. W. Barnett, and others. The Yowells
came about 1829, and a Mr. Fullerton settled in 1833. The Davis family settled here in the spring of 1834. Mr. Geo. W. Barnett, sen., came in 1837. He was elected Justice of the Peace when only twenty-four years of age, and held the office for fifteen years. Among the old and prominent settlers in the county who now reside in this township, are :- John J. Wo- mack, a Kentuckian by birth, came to the county in the year 1835; W. C. Anderson, a native of Macoupin county, was born in 1830. In 1829 came James W. Yowell, a native of Kentucky, and Strawder Yowell from the same state, came the same year. E. L. Owen and L. W. Dugger, Tennessee- ans ; the former came in 1835, and the latter in 1834. In 1830 R. B. Clark became a resident of the county ; L. N. English in 1837 and Hardin T. Richardson in 1839.
Capt. Samuel Cummings, came with his parents and settled first in North Palmyra township near a place now known as Vancil's Point, in the year 1825. His father afterwards sold out the improvement. On the breaking out of the Black-Hawk war, Capt. Cummings, then a young man, en- listed as a private. He also bore an honorable part in the war of the late Rebellion. He has for many years been a resident of this township.
These old settlers, like all pioneers, were sober, industrious, honest and hos- pitable men. They raised nearly every article of food and manufactured most of their clothing. In those days game was plenty, and many were fond
Digitized by Google
-
256
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of hunting the deer, turkey and prairie-chicken, which were abundant. The pioneer usually settled on the edge of the timber, for the reasons that the land adjoining timber is generally more fertile, and that the settler's home can be built with less labor from handling the heavy logs of which they are constructed, and the forest protects them from wind and storm.
The first preucher was B. F. Chastaine, and next came R. G. Allen. They both belonged to the Christian church, and preached in the only house of worship, the " Hickory Wall " church, on section 23, near the site of Bethel Chapel. There are now four churches, viz. : the Rural and Bethel, Metho- dist, and one Christian, and a Baptist church. The value of church prop- erty is about $10,000.
School« .- There seems to be a difference of opinion as to who taught the first school in the township; some contend that Silas Haris was the first, while others claim the honor belongs to F. McClernand. They were, how- ever, both early teachers, as was also James Johnson, familiarly known as "Jimmy Johnson ;" all three of whom taught in the " Hickory Wall " church and school-house. At the present there are four district schools. The first teachers received $2 50 per quarter for each scholar; now they receive about 840 per month, and teach on an average eight months in a year.
Mills .- In 1840 William Nichols built a grist-mill on Macoupin creek, which was propelled by water power ; he subsequently sold it, and it was changed to a steam-mill. There was prior to this a small horse-mill, built by a Mr. Powell, near the present residence of Wm. Anderson. Two others of the same kind were also built, respectively by Peter Akes and David Plain. At present there is no grist-mill, and only one saw-mill in the town- ship, which is owned by J. Morgan, and is situated near the centre of the north part of the township.
A store was at one time kept by Mr. G. W. Barnett, and was undoubt- edly the first in the township.
The first land entries, as shown on the records, were : David Coop, May 4th, 1829, 80 acres in section 9; Wm. G. Coop, May 4th, 1829, 40 acres in section 17; John Yowell, July 25th, 1830, 80 acres in section 3.
We copy the following statistics from the assessor's book for 1879 :
Number of acres of improved lands 15,312, value $104,745; acres unim-
proved lands 5,631, value $16,832 ; total value of lands $121,577. Horses 650, value $9,695; cattle 994, value $6,811; mules, 137, value $2,490; sheep 1,317, value 8771 ; hogs 1,955, value $1,177; carriages and wagons 229, value $2,132 ; 179 watches and clocks, 88 sewing machines, 2 pianos, 18 organs. Total value of personal property, $35,904.
OFFICERS SINCE THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.
Supervisors .- John Lewis, elected in 1871 and '72 ; G. W. Barnett, elected in 1873 and '74 ; E. W. Johnson, elected in 1876; David Gooch, elected in 1877; J. J. Womack, elected in 1878 and '79 .*
Toun Clerks .- W. H. Snelling, elected in 1871; J. W. Giberson, elected in 1872 and '73; A. K. Gates, elected in 1874; J. W. Giberson, elected in 1875 and '76; A. H. McAllister, elected in 1877 ; W. H. March, elected in 1878 and '79.
Assessors .- J. Davis, elected in 1871 and '72; N. C. Carpenter, elected in 1873; J. Lewis, elected in 1874 and '75; C. Harrington, elected in 1876; J. M. Cole, elected in 1877 ; D. N. Buffington, elected in 1878; S. McMa- han, elected in 1879.
Collectors .- E. W. Johnson, elected in 1871 and '72; J. J. Giberson, elected in 1873; W. O. Trout, elected in 1874 and '75; C. Konneker, elected in 1876; G. Stubblefield, elected in 1877; W. Kirkland, elected in 1878; I. Giberson, elected in 1879.
Justices of the Peace .- W. H. Snelling and A. Travis, elected in 1871; James Davis, elected in 1872; J. J. Womack and C. Carpenter, elected in 1873; J. J. Womack and W. O. Trout, elected in 1877.
Constablex .- C. E. Lewis and E. W. Johnson, elected in 1871; W. A. Barber, elected in 1872; W. Wildens and J. Crabtree, elected in 1873; C.J. Hemphill, elected in 1875; J. F. Groves and W. A. Barker, elected in 1877; J. Padget and R. B. Bowsher, elected in 1878.
Commissioners of Highwayx .- 1871, J. D. Walker, C. T. Richardson, John Davis; 1872, Benson Boring; 1873, William Barnett ; 1874, J. D. Walker; 1875, Benson Boring; 1876, L. N. English ; 1877, R. A. Fuller; 1878, John Whitfield; 1879, B. R. Bowsher.
* Not represented in 1875.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
CAPTAIN SAMUEL CUMMINGS.
AMONG the old soldiers and prominent residents of Macoupin county, none deserve better mention than Captain Samuel Cummings. He was born on the 21st of December, 1813, in Scott county, Kentucky. John Cum- mings, the father of the subject of our sketch, was a native of Virginia ; he was born in the year 1763. He resided there for many years, but being fond of adventures he and a few others emigrated to Kentucky, where he met the noted Daniel Boone, and joined him as a scout, a business which he continued for three years. These scouts were employed by Boone and Tan- ner to keep watch of the movements of the Indians, who were very trouble- some at that time. They had to be men very fleet of foot, as well as discreet. On the 15th of January, 1792, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Elliotte, and then settled in Bourbon county, Kentucky, giving his attention to farming, but when necessary he led a party of scouts. Subsequently he moved to Scott county, Kentucky, where he lived for a few years; from there he emigrated to Indiana, where he lived for a time. But being favorably impressed with the reports of Illinois, he concluded to emigrate in 1821, and settled in what is now Saline county. After living there a short time, he sold out, and in the early part of October, 1822, he moved to Sangamon county and bought the improvements of a squatter, and soon entered the land. In 1825 he moved for the last time, and settled in Macoupin county, north-west section 4; township 12; range 8. His wife died November 3d, 1838, and six years later, while on a visit to his daughter, he died Novem- ber 3d, 1844.
The family consisted of ten children, of whom there were eight boys and two girls; only two are now living-Samuel and his sister, Elizabeth Potts,
who resides in Johnson county, Missouri, and is now at the advanced age of eighty-six years. Captain Cummings was next to the youngest child. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war the Captain responded to the call; after peace was restored he returned to his father's farm. On the 29th of June, 1836, he was married to Miss Mary B. McCulley, daughter of John McCulley. They have had born unto them seven children, whose names we give in the order of their birth : Louisa Jane, deceased 1877; Wm. Jack- son ; John Thomas; Calvin M. ; Richard Dallis, deceased 1874; Marinda Caroline, deceased 1869; Edith A.
The Captain commenced to farm his own land October, 1837, in town 12, range 8, where he remained for five years. He then bought a farm on sec- tion 12, which he improved and sold at a fair advance. He owned several different farms from 1844 to 1857, and therefore changed his location a num- ber of times. In 1858 he bought 200 acres in Shaw's Point township, and rented a farm at three dollars per acre of Dr. J. W. Grifham, east of Carlin- ville. The financial crisis of the country at that time, together with a com- plete failure of crops, proved disastrous to Captain Cummings. To satisfy the demand he sacrificed all his property, except 40 acres of mostly unim- proved lands, where he now lives, and which he has improved by constant and hard labor to be a pleasant home. In 1861, at the outbreak of the most gigantic rebellion of ancient or modern times, the tap of the martial drum, the call " to arms!" resounded all over the land, and the oppressions of a century was at stake; the gauge of battle was flung at the feet of the North, and thonsands of the gallant and patriotic men took it up; among those who were first to respond to the call was Captain Cummings. He enlisted in Company " I" of the 32d Illinois regiment, and was commis-
Digitized by Google
257
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
21.5. 5.
sioned Captain at Camp Butler by Gov. Richard Yates. At the battle of Shiloh he endured exposure which resulted in typhoid fever. After be- ing home for a time on furlough with a hope of regaining his strength, he returned to the regiment, but his health was bad, and as there was no pros- pect that it would improve, he was compelled to resign his commission. He was scarcely able to reach his home; for a long time he was not able to do anything, but he has recovered almost beyond expectation'; although not strong. but a very ambitious man, he has done considerable work, more, per- haps, than he was really able to do. In reviewing the Captain's life we see he has had his trials, but he has kept up hope, and assisted by his most esti- mable wife, together with industry and perseverance, he is very comfortably fixed in his old days. He is warm-hearted and generous to a fault. While not able to leave a large fortune to his children, he will leave to them what is better-the reputation of being a loyal and honest citizen.
DAVID RUSK
FIRST settled in Greene county, Illinois, in 1830, and remained there until 1855, when he moved to Shaw's Point, where he has improved a fine farm. He was born in 1809, in Pendleton county, South Carolina. His father came from county Antrim, Ireland, to America, in 1803. He had a family of eight children, of whom only three are now living, David being the oldest. March 5, 1837, David married Miss Elizabeth Barr. From this union they had two children. Their son James married Miss S. J. Smithson, and is now farming the place for his father. Mary Parcilla is married to Ben- jamin Plain, who resides on a farm near by. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Rusk responded to his country's call ; he was then young and strong, and could endure more, perhaps, than most young men. At the last battle his second lieutenant was shot dead by a wounded Indian, who lay concealed in the grass. The officer was the second man to Mr. Rusk's right. Mr. Rusk says of him, that he was as fine a man as ever lived. After peace was restored he returned to his home and assisted in farming until he was married. He started out in life with no capital save his own energy and self-reliance, and his success has been gained by his own efforts. He has now reached a position among the substantial farmers and respected citizens of the county. He and his wife are now well advanced in years; both are quite active, and we hope they may live a long time to enjoy the fruit of their labors, which have been for many years in one of the richest counties of the state of Illinois.
JOHN H. BLOOME
WAS born March 24th, 1831, in Brunswick, Germany. His father, Chris- topher Bloome, was also born in Germany, and followed the occupation of a farmer. He and his family emigrated to America in the fall of 1852, arriving at St. Louis, where he remained two months. In the spring of 1853 he moved on a place belonging to T. G. Lofton, on section 32, Shaw's Point township, where he lived until his death, which occurred the next fall, at the age of sixty years. His family consisted of nine children, of whom only five are now living.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.