History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 100

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

USA > Illinois > Madison County > History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches > Part 100

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).

In February, 1862, he was married to Sarah J., daughter of Rev. Isaac D. Newell, one of the most eminent early Baptist ministers of Illinois, of whom a sketch appears in the history of the Baptist church in this county. She was then the widow of Mr. Joseph S. Flanagin, a young mer- chant of Bunker Hill. Five children were born of this marriage, viz: Cora V., Grace, IIermon, Newell, and Na- than. His death left his widow with the important and difficult trust of the sole guardianship of the persons and property of their five children, a trust for which she is eminently qualified by natural endowments and education, and in the discharge of which her course has been a con- tinued and complete success. November 26, 1879, she was married to Prof. John C. C. Clarke of Shurtleff' College, and still resides at her home in Upper Alton.

The following extraet from the records of the Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis, Mo., shows the esteem in which Mr. Cole was held by his brother merchants, and presents a very just view of some elements of his character.

ST. LOUIS, October 24, 1874. Mr. George P. Plant offered the following preamble and resolutions :

On the morning of October 20, 1874, Hermon B. Cole, a member of the Union Merchants' exchange of St. Louis, departed this life at the family residence in Upper Alton at the ripe age of sixty-two, after an illness of about ten days.

Mr. Cole has long been identified with the business in- terests of St. Louis, and of the country adjacent, especially

414

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

in southern Illinois, and attained to eminence in all the re- lations of life.

He needed no public proclamation, no elevation to office, to determine his standing. His high rank was admitted hy common consent, and his innate modesty forbade any other announcement. His business example was regarded a safe call to financial investments. His business habits were an unremitting challenge to young men hoping for success. His integrity and honor did not involve a question. His enterprise and energy were the eagle and lion united, high in purpose and strong to execute. Success was the certain crown of such a life. As a manufacturer his establishments became a market for the produce of a large surrounding country, and as a merchant he made a market for his manu- facture, and reflected a good name upon all associated with him.

In social life he was humble, genial, mirthful; a man whom children loved, and the poor approached as a com- panion and benefactor, who had trod their paths and knew by experience their joys and sorrows.

Educational and religious institutions had substantial evi- dence of his sympathy, and the benedictions of friends and the smiles of an approving Providence surrounded, entered, and blessed his home.

In a life thus well spent he had the best preparation for the better, eternal life upon which we believe he has entered.

To acknowledge unobtrusive worth and to perpetuate the memory of true greatness so beautifully exemplified in the life and character of our departed friend we are called toge- ther to day, therefore,

Resolved, That the Union Merchants' Exchange of St. Louis in the death of Hermon C. Cole has lost a member of rare business capacity and attainments, of sterling integrity, of unsullied honor, enterprising, energetic, wise and prudeut, whose good example we commend with confidence to the young men of the west, as a model for their emulation.

Resolved, That we regarded him in civil life as a true gentleman, modest, affectionate, genial, considerate of the rights and feelings of others, and tender towards those whom misfortune had humbled. Although dead he yet speaks to us of noble manhood and a good life in the midst of per- plexing cares.

Resolved, That we tender to the family, the brother and the sorrowing friends of the deceased, our sincere sympathy, assuring them that his loss will be deeply mourned in the business community as well as in the home circle.

Resolved, That this preamble and these resolutions be placed upon the records of this Exchange, and that a copy thereof be furnished to the afflicted family.

The resolutions were seconded by Gov. Stanard, who spoke of the esteem in which the departed was held by his brother millers, and then unanimously adopted.

WOOD RIVER.

OWNSHIP 5, Range 9, known as Wood River, lies in the northwes- tern part of the county, and borders on the Mississippi. It is bounded on the north by Fosterburg, on the east by Fort Russell, on the south by Chouteau, and on the west by the Mississippi river and Alton. The Mis- sissippi river crosses the southwest corner, and includes within its waters about five sections. No finer or more productive body of land is probably contained within the western half of the county. The sur- face is sufficiently undulating to insure excellent surface drainage Originally it was mainly covered with good tim. ber, but has long since yielded to the woodman's axe, and beautiful farms now greet the eye of the passing traveler. Patches of timber are interspersed here and there, sufficient

at least for the purpose of fuel, building material, etc. The soil is mainly composed of a gray loam, and especially adapted to the culture of wheat. Rattan's Prairie, which lies in the north and east part of the township, is composed of a darker quality of soil, and has very much the appear- ance of the prairie land in the central part of the State. It is credited with being somewhat richer than the soil of the timber. But a small portion of the township contains the rich alluvium of the American Bottom. A peculiar forma- tion known as Sand Ridge, lies in the southeast. It is a large sand bar, four or five miles in length, and about one and a half in breadth, which by some convulsion of nature has been deposited here.

The principal water course is Wood River, from which the township received its name, flowing in a southerly direc- tion, discharging its waters into the Mississippi, in section 28. This stream has two branches, known as East and West

415

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Forks. The former enters the township in the northeast, and flows in a southwesterly direction, and unites with the latter in section 16. The West Fork enters in the extreme northwest, and meanders in a southerly direction, and unites with the other branch, as aforementioned. The rail- roads are numerous, reaching off like arms from a common center, in sections 16 and 17. One branch of the Indianapo- lis and St. Louis railroad enters from the northeast, in sec- tion 1, describes a crescent in its course through the township, and passes out in section 34. The other branch of the road enters in section 5, connecting with the main line in section 16. The C. and A. road leading from Alton crosses the Wood River line in sec. 18, forms an elbow near the Indianapolis and St. Louis, and extends with it on a parallel line through the township The old Madison | County railway crosses the southern boundary, extending

east and west, and forms a junction with the former roads in section 34.

THE EARLY HISTORY

of Wood River dates back nearly eighty years, and has recorded in its career more stirring events than the most of its sister townships. It was here within the forks of Wood River that occurred the brutal Indian massacre in the summer of 1814, a full account of which may be had in the pioneer chapter. This sad affair, which threw the little band of pioneers and their families into such a consterna- tion, transpired on Sunday, the 10th day of July, 1814. The place where this ghastly tragedy was enacted, is situated in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 4, on the premises now owned by John Brown and sister. Il- stead of a place covered with timber, as it was at the time of the massacre, it is now part of a cultivated field .*

WOOD RIVER FORT, 1812-1814.

Susan Paddock, of Fort Russell, kindly furnished us with the above correct sketch of the old Wood River Fort as it was when the families of this vicinity fled to it on the night of the massacre. It was situated on a little rise of ground near the barn now owned by William Gill, who resides in section 10.

Another sensational affair of Wood River occurred in 1823, at the house of Abel Moore. It was the killing of William Wright by Eliphalet Green. Some dispute arose, when Green grasped a gun and deliberately shot his oppo- nent. Green was tried, convicted, and executed. Judge Reynolds, afterward governor of the state, was then on the

bench. The time fixed for execution was just four weeks from the day of conviction. This was the first case tried for a capital offense in Madison county, and the second in the state.

The first white man to settle in the wilds of Wood River was Thomas Rattan. He came from Ohio in 1804, and lo- cated in section 13. This was prairie land, and composed of black soil, richer in appearance than the surrounding timber land. The prairie afterwards received his name, which it bears to this time. He reared a large family, and

* For a full account of this tragedy see page St.

416

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

soon after the war of 1812 removed to Green county, where all traces of the family are lost. Martin Preuitt and family came about the same time, and settled on Sand Ridge, the history of whom will be found in the chapter on Fort Rus- sell.

Toliver Wright, a native of Virginia, settled near the mouth of Wood River in the Spring of 1806. He bought out the improvement right of Shadrach Williams. At his coming he had a wife and several children. Mrs. Wright's maiden name was Elizabeth Ray. The family lived in this place two years, when they moved to section 10, and occu- pied the place now owned by William Gill. In the war of 1812, Mr. Wright joined the Rangers. He was detailed as captain of a company of spies, and in the fall of 1812, while on the way to Peoria, he was shot by an Indian and mor- tally wounded. He was taken back to the Wood River Fort, where he died in about six weeks after being wounded. Mrs. J. P. Owens, of Fort Russell, is a grand-daughter of Mr. Wright.

Abel Moore, one of the pioneers, was a native of North Carolina, and migrated to Kentucky in 1804, and thence to Illinois in 1808. He located in section 4, now Wood River township. His family then consisted of his wife Mary, nee Bates, and two children, William and Joel, then respec- tively ten and eight years of age, both of whom were among the victims of the Wood River massacre. Eight other chil- dren were born at the old homestead in section 4, as follows : John, Nancy, Sarah, Joshua, Rachel, Lydia, Anna and Franklin. Only three of this large family are now living ; Nancy, who resides in California ; Lydia, widow of Madison Williams, who lives near Bethalto, in section 2; and Major Franklin Moore, of Upper Alton. The latter has a history as eventful as his father before him, having served with dis- tinction through the entire late war. Indeed, he has the h mor of holding the first commission in the state under the " Three-hundred-thousand call." Such were the services he rendered his country on the battle-field, that he received the soubriquet of " Fighting Frank." Abel Moore died in 1846, at the age of 63 years. Mrs. Moore died the day before her husband, aged 61. They lie side by side on the very spot of ground where their pioneer cabin was constructed. In the sale of the old homestead the children reserved this sa- ered spot as a lasting tribute to their departed parents. The old farm is now owned and occupied by George Cartwright. George and William Moore, brothers of Abel, came with the latter and their father as far as Ford's Ferry, on the Ohio river, where they separated from Abel, and went to Boon's Lick, Missouri, where the father died. The following year the brothers and their families came to Illinois, and settled, near their brother Abel in section 10. William's family consisted of his wife and two sons, John and George, both of whom were also victims at the Wood River massacre. Two children were afterward born to the family. They all moved to Pike county, Illinois, in 1830. George had no children when he came, but two were born while residing here, Margaret and Walter. The family migrated to Inde- pendence, Mo., in 1837. Mr. William Gill now occupies and owns his farm. Both William and George were gun-

makers, and followed their trade in the township. The lat- ter also manufactured powder.

Reason Reagan and family came about the same time as the Moores, but we have been unable to glean any satisfactory history of their nativity, etc. A lone apple-tree now stands near where their cabin was located, at the time of the.deatlı of Mrs. Reagan and her children at the hands of the In- dians. Another pioneer was William Montgomery, who was born in Kentucky, and came from his native state a single man in 1809, and first stopped in St. Louis, having but one dollar in his possession. In the year 1814, he came over to Illinois, and located on Indian Creek in Fort Russell. The same year he married Sarah Rattan. He remained here about three years, when he moved into Wood River, and settled in section 13. He reared a large family, consisting of twelve children, Nelson, John, William N., Nancy R, Thomas J., James, Paris, Matilda, Amanda F., Hampton, Ann, and Eliza Jane. Mr. Montgomery became a very prominent and prosperous farmer, owning at his death,-

which occurred in the fall of 1849,-2,000 acres of land. Mrs. Montgomery died two years before her husband. Three sons and four daughters are yet living, Eliza, wife of T. W. L. Belk, Wood River; Nelson and Nancy R., wife of Thomas Barnsback, Edwardsville ; John, who resides in Macoupin county ; Ann, in Colorado ; Amanda, wife of Z. B. Job, of Alton, and Hampton, who occupies the old homestead in section 13. These children are all well-to-do in the world, and are among the most respected citizens in their various localities. Two brothers, George and Thomas Davidson, came from South Carolina about 1306, and settled in section 36. Both were men of families. The former established a tannery on his premises in 1810, where he conducted the business until 1818, when he sold out to a man by the name of Smith, and moved to Bond county. Thomas improved a good farm, and was a prominent man in his neighborhood, having served many years in the capacity of justice of the peace. He died long ago, and none of the family are now residents of the county. Prominent among the early settlers was the Collet family, consisting of Mrs. Anna Collet and her three sons, John W., Robert, and Mark. They came from Philadelphia to Illinois in 1817, and located at the now extinct town of Milton, situated on Wood River. Mark lived but two years, and Robert moved to Galena in 1819. Mrs. Collet, the mother, subsequently moved to St. Louis, where she died about 1830. John W. was married to Miss Mary Ground in 1829. From this union two chil- dren were born, Daniel W., and John W., jr. Mr. Collet lived until 1846, and his wife died about two years ago, 1880. Daniel and John, jr., both reside at Upper Alton, and are much respected citizens. It is said that from the seed of some poppies sown by Mrs. Anna Collet in 1817, grew plants which are yet alive, and which bloom every year.

Another early settler of Milton was Thomas Lippincott, who was born at Salem, New Jersey, in 1791. At the age of twenty-five, he married Patty Swift. In the fall of 1817, he started westward, and landed in St. Louis in Feb., 1818. In the fall of the same year he brought a small stock of

FARM RESIDENCE OF C. H. FLICK SEC. II. T. 5. R. 9. (WOOD RIVER TP) MADISON COUNTY, ILL.

HOTEL AND BUSINESS BLOCK . OF C. H. FLICK

BETHALTO, ILL.

417

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

goods to Milton, and commenced business under the firm name of Lippincott & Co. Rufus Easton, of St. Louis, fur- nished the capital, and Mr. Lippincott conducted the busi- ness. He landed his goods from a keel-boat at what is now the city of Alton. Mr. L., in his memoirs, says that Alton was then in a state of nature. His first dwelling at Milton was a log-cabin 16x18 feet. His business affairs at Milton were not a success. The town was a very sickly place on account of the stagnant water caused by the mill-dam thrown across the river at this point. The following year his wife died. In 1820 he married again, but only a few months had passed when he was called upon to bury his second wife. He soon afterward moved to Edwardsville, and from that time fortune seemed to turn in his favor. He again married and reared a large family. General Charles E. Lippincott, of Chandlerville, Ill., is a son of the third wife. His life was a busy and useful one. He died at Pana, Ill., in 1869.

James Huston was a native of Virginia. and moved to Kentucky when a boy. He married Judith Fountain in 1808, and in 1819 came to Illinois and settled in Upper Alton. The family at that time consisted of his wife and five children, only one of whom is now living in Madison county,-Sarah Wood, wife of Joshua Wood. There are several others who settled here in an early day, but at this late date it is impossible to get even a synopsis of their his- tory, they having moved away or died, leaving none of their descendants in the county. Among this class are John Vickery, who settled in section twelve, on the farm now owned by Z. B. Job and Wm. Ogle, who settled in the same sections on the property now owned by Robert Kennedy. Then there were the Starkeys, the Odells, the Seeleys, the Wallaces and others. Those of a later date and now living are the Lowes of Upper Alton, Capt. J. A. Miller, and Esq. W. L. Pigott, of Bethalto; E. B. Randle, of the same place, an old resident of the county ; William R. Wright, of Upper Alton ; Col. Andrew F. Rodgers, in section three, this town- ship ; Amos Squires, in section twenty-two; William Gill, section ten ; Susan W. Cooper, of Upper Alton; Sarah Ann Badley, section nine; I). W. Stockel, in section ten, and others too numerous to mention.

Only three militia claims are laid in this township. Those claims were founded on an act of congress granting one hun- dred acres of land to each militiaman enrolled and doing duty in Illinois on the first day of August, 1790, within the district of Kaskaskia. They are as follows: " Claim 1855, Baptiste Lionais, Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres ; affirmed, situ- ated opposite the mouth of the Missouri." This claim was laid in section 32, and has long since been in the Mississippi river. The landing of the Madison County Coal Company was formerly situated on this claim. "Claim 2603, George Biggs, John Whiteside, 100 acres, located on Wood river, including a mill." This claim was laid in section 17, and was situated in the old town of Milton. " Claim 756, John Sullivan, Larkin Rutherford and - Harrison, 440 arpents." This land lay mostly in sections 8 and 9, and embraced the' farm of the Hon. Cyrus Edwards, and was the only claim in the vicinity.

The following were the first land entrics : August 23d, 1814, Abel Moore, in section 4, entered several acres. On the same day, George Moore entered the northwest quarter of section ten, 160 acres. August 24th, 1824, Charles Kitchens entered the southeast and the southwest quarters of section three, 320 acres. John Walker entered on the 26th of August, 1814, the southeast fraction of section 19. Absalom Woolum entered 328 acres in section 3, September 13. 1814.

The trials, vicissitudes and hardships of these carly settlers sound more like a romance than actual facts to one of this age, where every opportunity of education, culture and pleasure is within his grasp. The facilities of rapid transit from state to state, and city to city, has almost wiped out the idea of distance, and all the wants of man are virtually landed at his very door. What a transition is this from the " good old days of our fathers!" What would the young men of to-day think of loading a flatboat at the mouth of Wood river with the simple produce of those early times, and then being obliged to pilot the rude craft down the Mis- sissippi to the New Orleans market ? And yet the trip down the river was not the hardest part of going to market,-for, after the produce was sold, they were obliged to trudge back on foot to their homes. This may seem over-drawn, but several of the old men now living assured us that they have often heard their fathers give an account of their trips to market at New Orleans as above described. It also seems a little strange that guns and gospel were so closely mingled in those days. The inside of their places of wor- ship bristled with their rifles. Instead of a gilt-edged Bible or hymn-book in their hand, it was their gun they carried ; for at any time they might need it to protect themselves and families from the prowling Indians. Indeed, they were obliged to be so much on the alert for this savage foe, that serious results sometimes accrued therefrom. One case of this kind happened to the Starkey family. They were then living in the timber close to Rattan's Ravine. In the year 1814, Jesse Starkey and his son had gone out to hunt their horses, which had wandered off some distance from the set- tler's cabin. As was the custom then, each one bore his rifle. It was a foggy morning, and they had separated to make a more thorough search. It must be remembered that many of the early settlers wore buckskins, and in many other particulars their dress resembled somewhat that of the Indian's. The father and son, in their tramping through the timber, had unconsciously strayed near each other. A thicket of brush separated them, so that nothing but vague glimpses of either could be obtained. Both came to the same conclusion, that is, that the party gliding behind the brush was an Indian. Then commenced a hurried prepara- tion to see who should get the first shot. The father was the first to shoot; but what must his feelings have been when he found that he had shot his own son ? Fortunately, the wound was not mortal, and the boy finally recovered. Little forts or block houses were situated at every few miles, for the convenience of resort in case of any hostile demonstra- tions on the part of the savages. Beside the Wood River fort, there was another in this township, situated in seetion

418

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

21, and known as Benen's fort. It was constructed in 1811, and was located on the land now owned by A. E. Benbowe, about a mile south of the old site of Milton. Jacob Preuitt, son of Solomon Preuitt, was born in this fort. This birth and that of Isaac Cox, who was born in 1812, were among the first in the township. Tradition says the latter was the first born in Wood River. But there are grave doubts as to the correctness of this traditional statement. It must be remembered that Thomas Rattan had then been residing here eight years, and a few others nearly as long.

The first place of interment is situated in section 24, and is known as " Vaughan's Graveyard." It is now overgrown with timber, but it is said once to have been a cleared spot of ground. In this cemetery the bodies of the killed at the Wood River massacre are buried. On a small sand-stone we deciphered the following inscription : " William and Joel Moore were k lled by the Indians, July 10th, 1814." The letters are nearly obliterated by age. There are also the names of Ogle, members of the family of William Ogle. John Rattan's name also appears. It is engraven on a saud- stone-a broken piece-and reads: " Deceased Oct. 11th, 1821, age 74." Several are so old aud dim, they cannot be deciphered. The oldest, which is legible, bears the following name and date : "James Odell, died September 11th, 1809." Thus it is evident that this place of interment antedates 1809. Upon this same ground was built the first church- house, about the year of the above inscription. The house was a small log-cabiu, and was constructed by the Baptist denomination. A frame building was afterward built in its place, but it too passed away more than a quarter of a cen- tury ago. Rev. William Jones was the early pastor. And, apropos of this, we will relate a little anecdote, as handed us by one of the old settlers. It is traditional, however, and we give it for what it is worth. It is said the circumstance occurred in the days of the first house, the log cabin, ser- vices then being conducted at the house of " Uncle" Johnny Rattan. The Rev. David Badgley, from St. Clair county, was over in this part of the moral vineyard aiding the Rev. Mr. Jones in conducting a series of meetings. At this par- ticular time the Rev. Badgley was engaged in making the exhortation, and Brother Jones was sitting by his side. Now in those times, not even the minister of the gospel, made any great pretensions to dressing in æsthetic style. Suspend- ers were unknown among them, and the pantaloons were supported at the hips by what was called a draw-string. Brother Badgley had become very much warmed up with his subject,-so much so, in fact, that he was not aware that the draw-string of his pants had by some unexplainable cause become untied. Iu short, he was the only one present that was ignorant of the fact. From all appearances there was soon likely to be a very embarrassing catastrophe. Bro. Jones took in the situation, and nudged his brother, and at the same time gave an ominous glance and nod at Badgley's unmentionables. But the Rev. B. was equal to the occa- sion. He stopped, quietly secured a knot in the string, and proceeded with his discourse as though nothing had hap- pened.

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.

History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 100

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698