History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 108

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 108

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).

ELIAS HAUSKINS,

WAS born in section ten, in Pin Oak township, Madison county, Illinois, March 15, 1832. He is the son of Alvas Hauskins, who was born in Rutherford county, Tennesee, March 16, 1807, and who came with his father to Illinois in 1819, and settled in Pin Oak township in this connty on the place where he still resides. On the 18th of December, 1828, he married Sarah Lawrence She died in 1860. On Feb- ruary 15, 1863, he married Mrs. Lydia W. Rathburn nee Smith. She died in 1874. By the first marriage there were twelve children, eleven of whom survived the mother. Three of the sons were soldiers in the late war. Thomas en- listed in company I, 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and veteranized with his regiment, and was mustered out and honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was twice wounded, and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing was taken prisoner. James Hauskins enlisted in 1862, and went through the war. Edward, another brother, enlisted during the last year of the war. It will be seen that the family are of patriotic stock. In 1832.Mr. Hauskins entered one hundred and sixty acres of land; it is the same on which the subject of this article now resides. Elias is to the manor born. He was raised upon the farm, and attended

the subscription schools in the winter months. He remain- ed home until he was of age, then he visited the land on which he now lives, and continued to lease and farm it un- til 1870, when he bought it and has made his home there to the present time.

On the 25th of February, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cornelia Stevenson, who was born in Howard county, Missouri. She was the daughter of Augustus Ste- vensou. She died, February 16, 1865. On the 4th of Feb- ruary, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Sally Bart- lett, daughter of Jesse Bartlett, one of the oldest settlers of Madison county. She was born in Pin Oak township, in this county. By the first marriage there were three chil- dren, whose names are Sally, Charles, and Fanny Hau- skins. By the latter marriage there are four children living. Their names are Jesse Alvas, (Belle died in her eighth year), Mary, Katie, and Jacob Hauskins. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

Politically Mr. Hauskins is a Republican. He was op- posed to slavery and early espoused the cause of human freedom, and in 1856 when the party was formed which was opposed to that institution he joined its ranks, and cast his vote for John C. Fremont. From that time to the pre- sent, he has been an active and consistent member of that political organization. He has been frequently honored by his fellow citizens, with offices of local trust, and at present represents his township in the Board of Supervisors.

The Hauskins family is an old one in this county. They are of English and Irish ancestry. They came to America prior to the Revolution and the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch took part in that memorable struggle. They are also an old family in this county. They came here while it was yet a frontier State, helped to subdue the wilderness and make this country a fit habitation for the people of the present. In the early Indian wars they took part. Lucien the uncle of Elias was a soldier in the Black Hawk war of 1831-32. It is with pleasure that we record these brief remarks, and give an outline sketch of the Hauskins' family.

ALSEY S. SMART.

THE Smart family are of English ancestry. Peter Smart, the great-grandfather of the subject of the sketch. was a nativ e of the Carolinas, and was born February 7, 1730. He had two sons, named Laban and Amos Smart, both of whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and were with Gen. Morgan at the memorable battle of the Cowpens. The present Smart family are the descendants of Laban Smart, who was born November 9, 1758. He married Susanah Simmons in North Carolina, by whom he had ten children, one of whom was Henry B., the father of Alsey S. He was born in Chatham county, N. C., August 25, 1800, and came with his parents to Kentucky in 1806, where they remained until 1816, then moved to the territory of Illinois, and settled in Madison county, in what is now known as Jarvis township, where the father of Alsey afterward

RESIDENCE ON THE PROPERTY OF WM. MAY

RESIDENCE STOCK AND 'GRAIN FARM OF WM. MAY SEC. 24, T. 4, R.7, (PIN OAK TP) MADISON COUNTY, ILL.

453

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

entered land, improved a farm and made his home until his death, which took place January 22, 1882. He professed religion, joined the regular Baptist church, and lived in full communion with that Christian organization during life, and died in the belief and full faith, that he would meet his Redeemer in the world beyond. He was one of the pio- neers of the State, and the prairie known as " Smart's I'rairie" took its name from the family, as they were the first actual settlers in that section of the county. He married Sally Thompson on November 9, 1826. She was the daughter of Henry and Mary (Ray) Thompson, who were natives of Kentucky. The Rays were among the pioneers of Ken- tucky, and were companions of Daniel Boone. Mrs. Smart's parents died while she was yet in her infancy, and she was brought to Illinois by her uncle, Elder Thomas Ray, in 1818, and was living in this township when married to Mr. Smart. She died in 1879. There were eight children, the offspring of that union. Their names are, Alsey S., Maria, wife of John H. Smith, Martha E., the widow of Samuel White- side, Henry A, Itha J., wife of B. P. Harris, of Chetopa, Kansas. Lucy married Alexander Taylor, died and left five children. Alsey S., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the family. He was born in " Smart's Prairie, " Madison county, Illinois, September 23, 1827. In his youth he was in delicate health, and was weak physically, and in conse- quence it was thought he would be unable to perform manu- al labor, and was therefore sent to school, and therein gain- ed a better education than usually fell to the lot of boys in his days. When the gold excitement broke out in Califor-

nia in 1849, he in company with a number of others made the trip across the plains and mountains in ox carts to the land of gold. Mr. Smart remained in California for two years mining gold That change of life and roughing it had the effect of hardening up his constitution, and he re- gained his health and robust form. In 1851 he returned home by the Isthmus of Panama ; here he re-engaged in farming on the place where he now lives, and there has made his home, quietly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and stock raising until the present.

On the 7th of December 1854, he married Miss Rhoda Giger, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (McAdams) Giger. She died July 25, 1862, leaving two children named, ,Jerusha, wife of George Anderson, and Sally Smart. On the 20th of October, 1864, he married Miss Mary Joslyn, a native of Greene county, Illinois. She died August 10, 1874, leaving one child, named, Henry W. Smart.

In matters of religious belief Mr. Smart is inclined to be liberal. He is a respected member of the Masonic fraterni- ty, and belongs to Troy lodge, No. 588. Politically he has always voted the Democratic ticket upon State or national occasions. He has represented the township in the Board " of Supervisors. In 1877 he was elected one of the Justices of the Peace, was re-elected, and is now serving his third term. Mr. Smart is one of the old settlers of the county, and like them he is a plain, unassuming, honest man, striving to do his duty to his fellow men, and live a life that will be marked by no act that would condemn him in the estima- tion of his fellow citizens.

COLLINSVILLE.

HE history of the early settlement and subsequent progress and development of the township and city of Collinsville, present many features that are interest- ing. It is one of the southern tier of townships, bounded on the North by Edwardsville, East by Jarvis, South by St. Clair county, and West by Nameoki. The surface is divided between uplands and bottom, the former being about two- thirds, to one-third of the latter. The bluffs, which form a chain running almost due north and south, across the western part of the township, are very irregular in size and shape. In many places they are very rugged, and in others, gracefully sloping into the bottom lands. Su-

gar Loaf Mound is the most prominent point on the bluffs in this township. It is cone-shaped, rising to a considerable height, and is supposed to be the work of the mound builders. The territory is well drained by Cantine and Cahokia creeks and their numerous tributaries. These streams also furnish an abundance of water for stock and manufacturing purposes. Originally much of the surface of this township was covered with a heavy growth of timber, most of which has been cleared and replaced with finely improved farms, yet there remains enough along the various streams for all local demands. The fertility of the celebrated American Bottom, is so widely known, that it is needless to mention it here. The soil on the upland is of a lighter character, though as rich and productive as any in the county.

454

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Ephraim Conner, was the first American settler in Madi- son county, and Collinsville has the honor of having had this individual locate within her borders. This settlement was made early in the year 1800, and was twenty miles in advance of other settlements. Conner was a squatter, and one year later, in 1801, Samuel Judy purchased his im- provements and settled on the place. This is known as elaim number 338, made by Mr. Judy. It lies partly in T. 3, R. S, and partly in T. 4, R. 8, the residence being in section 5 of T. 3, R. 8 or Collinsville. Samuel Judy, born Aug. 19th, 1773, was a son of Jacob Judy a native of Switzerland, who settled in Kaska kia in 1788. The elder Judy, was a gunsmith by trade. He resided at Kaskaskia four years' and then moved to the New Design settlement in Monroe county. He had a very early mill, which was patronized by settlers even from a great distance. He died at his mill seat in 1807. Samuel Judy, then a lad of fifteen years, came with his father to Illinois, and became a hardy, resolute pioneer and a conspicuous, honorable and enterprising citizen. In his youth he was ever ready to enter into any campaign against the Indians, and in many of those desperate conflicts Gov. Reynolds says he proved himself to be the " bravest of the brave. " In the frontier troubles during the war of 1812 he was always actively employed in the service. He was in command of a company of spies in the campaign un- der Gov. Edwards, in 1812, against the Indians, also in the year following he was Captain of a company in the army under Gen. Howard. In all of his military services he was active and efficient, and at the same time prudent and. call- tious. In the fall of 1812 he was elected to the legislative council of the Illinois territory. This being the first legisla- ture that convened under the Territorial Government, was necessarily an important assembly. This position he held for four years, and was an excellent member. Ile was elected to the office of County Commissioner for many years. Col. Judy was a very energetic man, and improved a large plantation and became wealthy. He manufactured the first brick, and erected the first brick house in Madison county. This was built in 1808, and is located just within the limits of Collinsville township, on the line dividing sections 5 and 6. It is a two story house, and can still be seen in good eon- dition. He was married to Miss Margaret Whiteside, sister of General Samuel Whiteside, and reared a large family. Their children were as follows : Jacob, who married a daugh- ter of Wm. B. Whiteside, May 16th, 1797, was Register of the Land Offiee at Edwardsville, and died May 15, 1850, in Weston, Mo., of which place he had long been a resident. Sarah Judy was born August 21st, 1800, and married Ambrose Nix ; she died January 14th, 1852. Samuel Judy, Jr., was born September, 1801, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Stephen Whiteside; they settled in Green county, Ills, and he died there about 1870. Thomas Judy was born December 19th, 1804. Naney was first married to Moses Whiteside, son of Wm. B. Whiteside; she next married John Owens ; her third husband was Thomas Grant; she is yet living, and enjoying the evening of her days among her children and many friends. Katherine died at

the age of seventeen or eighteen years, just entering woman- hood. Margaret was first married to John MeGanghey and next to Moses Barber ; she is now dead. After a long and very useful life, Col. Samuel Judy died January 12th, 1838. Further mention of this family is made in the chapters on Pioneer and Civil History in this work.

In 1802, there were several additional settlements made, including the Whitesides, Robert, Samuel and Cyrus Sey- bold, Grotts and others. The heads of these families were all brave, hardy pioneers, who had already been in the country for many years and who were accustomed to a fron- tier life. Robert Seybold and Grotts were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The country was then exposed to Indians, not entirely friendly to the whites, and it required the most fearless men and women to brave the dangers and hardships of the frontier. The Dennis and Van Meter murder had recently occurred in this neighborhood and the settlers were distrustful of the Indians. In the winter of 1802, " Turkey Foot, an evil-disposed and eruel chief of a band of Pottawatomie Indians, while returning home from Cahokia to their towns toward Chicago, met Alexander Den- nis and John Van Meter, at the foot of the Mississippi bluff, about five miles southwest of the present town of Edwards- ville. The country contained, at that day, very few inhab- itants above Cahokia ; and Turkey Foot, seeing the Ameri- cans extending their settlement towards his country, caught fire at the spectaele, and killed those two men." As above stated, this depredation must have occurred in the north- west corner of this township.

In 1803 Samuel and Joel Whiteside settled and made a elaim in the northeastern portion of the township. The Whitesides were a firm and intrepid family, and were among the most noted men engaged in Indian warfare iu Illinois. For many years the name Whiteside struck terror among the red skins. Their progenitors were of Irish descent, reared on the frontiers of North Carolina. The old patri- archs, William and John, were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and aetcd well their part in that struggle. These two brothers came to Illinois in 1793 and settled at New Design. They reared large families and many of their descendants are living in the West. Samuel and Joel Whiteside made the first improvements on the uplands in this township. Samuel Whiteside rose to considerable distinction in the frontier wars, and was promoted to Brigadier General. The Whitesides are mentioned more fully in other portions of this work.

We give below the numbers and names of a few claims made in this township. The original claimant of claim 602, was Peter Casterliue. It lies mostly in section 32 just west of Collinsville. Casterline settled here soon after 1800, and re- sided here for some time. Claim 1061 was made by John Whiteside, consisting of 100 acres, mostly in sections 1 and 2. Claim 600 was made by Levi Piggot, and contained 100 aeres. This lies mostly in section 29. Piggot was an old resi- dent of St. Clair county. Francis Louval made elaim number 331, consisting of 10) aeres. This claim includes the military elaim of William Young Whiteside, 330, and is located in the northwestern part of the township. Henry Cook settled it Claim 338 was made by Samuel Judy, 100 acres. There

455

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

were four claims located here together, apparently about 1800. Claim 1653 was made by Isaac West. This was surveyed about 1802, and is in section 19. West was an actual settler and had considerable improvements in 1802, and continued to reside on this place until 1812, when he sold out to William Rabb.

The south boundary of the township was surveyed in December 1807, by John Messenger, the cast boundary in January 1808, and in May 1810, the township was surveyed and sub-divided into sections.

A Frenchman by the name of Da Lorm, from Cahokia, settled in the southwestern part of the township, not far from Cantine creeek in 1804. The Indians having become less hostile, several new settlements were made before 1812, when they again became troublesome, which somewhat re- tarded immigration, and caused some of the French settlers to remove to their villages.

The first land in this township was entered August 22d, 1814, by John Turner. It consisted of 160 acres, in section 25. September 15th, 1814, William Gillham entered 253 acres in section 8. September 23d, 1814, David Gaskill enter- cd 161 acres in section 13. Robert McMahan entered 159 acres in section 13, August 221, 1814. September 5th, 1814, Micajah Cox entered 80 acres in section 5. Sept. 28th, 1814, Michael Healy entered W. J, S. E. + of section 11, 80 acres. Seetion 16, reserved as school land, was sold in 1837.

In 1813, Abner Kelly, Josiah, William, Andrew and John Wallace with their families, settled under the bluffs. The Wallaces soon removed to the Marine settlement, and subsequently went to Boonville, Missouri. Kelly located in the northern part of section 20, near the Sugar Loaf Mound, where he remained for a short time, and removed to the eastern side of the township. He reared a family of seven children. Mrs. Elizabeth Muirheid, residing with her son, William Terry, in Collinsville, is the only one now living. She is sixty-nine years of age.

Michael Squiers settled on section 28, on the Stephen Johnson place, as early as 1814. He had three sons, Amos, Joseph and Wates, but none of the descendants of this family are now living in the neighborhood. Michael Squiers was the first person buried in the Connellsville Cemetery.

John Hadley was born in Maryland in 1776, of English parents, and when a young man went to Kentucky, where he married a lady by the name of Guthrie. This family came from Virginia, and settled in Madison county at a very early date. In 1817, Mr. Hadley removed with his family to Illinois, and settled on Pleasant Ridge, in this township, June 20th of that year. He was a volunteer in the ranging service of 1812. He reared a family of children, who grew up and settled around him. Of his sons, James, Dempsey, and William, only one, William, is now living. Dempsey died here, and James died in Missouri, whence he moved a few years ago. William Hadley was born in Kentucky in 1806, and is well known to many of the citizens of the county. He is a Methodist minister, and was among the early preachers in Madison. At present he is living at Carbon- dale in this State, while members of his family are still residents of the county .

John Williamson, a native of Virginia, came here from Tennessee with his wife and three children, one son and two daughters, in 1819. He purchased of Michael Squiers 100 acres of land in the S. E. } of section 28, where he resided till his death in October 1828. Mrs. Stephen Johnson, who is a step-daughter of Mr. Williamson, is the only one of this family living. She is in her seventieth year, still hale and hearty. David Morgan settled where William Combs now lives, about 1817. A Mr. Bennett, Abraham Clapole, Mathews, Moffatt and Richard Muirheid, settled under the bluff's west of Collinsville, before 1820. Muirhei ! died there. Stephen Johnson arrived in Madison county in 1818. He was present at the treaty made by the Com- missioners of the United States, with the Kickapoo Indians, at Edwardsville, August 6.h, 1819. Mr. Johnson was a carpenter by trade. He located in Collinsville about 1829, where he married the step-daughter of John William- son, above mentioned.

After the close of the war of 1812, and treatics of peace had been made with the Indians, the county began rapidly to fill up with emigrants from many of the southern States, and Collinsville received her share of these settlers. In a short time the rattle of the saw and grist mills was heard ; the rude log and pole cabins of the pioneers were replaced with larger and more comfortable frame buildings ; schools and churches were established, and a country that a few years before was a vast wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and the fiercer red man, was changed to a civilized and highly improved region.

The following named parties were also among the older settlers: William Hall, Philip Teter, Robert Rundle, Syl- vanus Gaskill, John Conoway, Richard Long, George Arm- strong Luther Drury, Mr. Revis, Lewis Scandlin, Hampton Mckinney, Benjamin Johnson, William Wagner, James Hutchinson, Jacob Swigart and some of the Lemens. Guy Morrison was also an early settler, and a very large land- owner at one time in this township. John A. Cook was prominent among the later settlers. He was a native of Virginia, and came to this state about 1833 or 1834. He was married to Mrs. Lucinda Bowman, a daughter of Rev. James Lemen, of St. Clair county, April 18, 1836. She was the widow of Samuel Bowman, of Green county, a cap- tain in the Black Hawk war, who was shot through the body by the Indians, on the 21 of August, 1832, in the final bloody contest with that savage chieftain, in this state. In April, 1836, Mr. Cook purchased of Ezra Post the northeast quarter of section 22, and in August of the same year he sold the same to John L. Clark, and bought of Andrew Waddle the northeast quarter of section 1, where he re- sided until his death, July 15, 1869, in the sixtieth year of his age. His wife, Lnein.la, died August 25, 1867, in the fifty-third year of her age. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom but four survive. John L. Clark was also an early settler The late John Ander- son, born in New Jersey in 1793, and a patriot of the war of 1812, came west and located in the Marine settle- ment, Madison county, in 1820. He subsequently became a resident of this township, where he died April 11,

456

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

1875. J. J. Renfro, residing in section 24, was boru in Madison county in 1830. His wife, Nancy E. Gas- kill, was born in this county in 1839. Fielding Wool- ridge, a native of Kentucky, settled in the county in 1830. Hon. D. D. Collins, a native of Portland, Maine, a retired farmer, residing on section 27, came to the county in 1843. His wife, whose maiden name is Anderson, was born in Madison county in 1826. Mr. Collins was an associate judge of the county for several years, and is among the pro- minent and respected citizens of Collinsville. John Ander- son, late husband of Mrs. M. L. Anderson, residing on section 23, was a native of New Jersey, and settled in the county in 1822. The above named parties are among the oldest settlers now living in the township.

EARLY MILLS.

The first settlers in Collinsville experienced much incon- venience in milling; they were frequently compelled to travel many miles with ox-teams or on horseback, to have their grists ground, aud then often waited several days for their turn. One of the nearest mills was that of Judy's, in Monroe county. The earliest mills were very rude affairs, propelled by ox or horse power, a full description of which can be seen in the Pioneer chapter. About the first mill in this region was that of Talbott's, on Cantine creek, just south of Collinsville. It was first propelled by horse- power, and subsequently by water. Col. Samuel Judy, and others also, had horse-mills.

About 1812 Isaac West sold his claim to William Rabb, who in the spring of 1813 erected a large four-story frame water mill, with a run of three or four burrs. It was pro- pelled by the water of Cahokia creek, on the banks of which it was located, about a quarter of a mile west of where School creek empties. It was a merchant mill, quite exten- sive for those days. The flour is said to have been of an excellent quality, and found a good market in St. Louis, New Orleans and other southerireities. Mr. Rabb also had a store, with a complete stock of general goods. He was a German, and a man of considerable ability and prominence. He was elected in 1814 to represent Madison county in the third Territorial Legislature, and held other important positions. In 1820 Mr. Rabb sold his property and business interests to Josepb Hertzogg, who added to it a distillery. Hertzogg continued the business for several years, until his death. Many of the older citizens remember Hertzogg's mill.

Dempsey Guthrie, who settled about two miles northeast of Collinsville, operated a horse-mill that was in existence in 1818. A Mr. Pickern erected a saw and grist mill in 1825, on Cantine creek, south of Collinsville, which after operating several years, he sold to Luther Drury, and it subsequently passed through several hands.

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 108

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