History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 117

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

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1841 he returned to Germany, and in 1843 came back to Ame_ rica and bought a tract of land in sections 32 and 33 of T. 3 N. R. 6 W. To that tract he has added, until now he has a large body of as fine tillable land as can be found in the county. On the 27th of Miy, 1843, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Catharine Kauffmann, a native, also, of Ger- many. By this union there have been ten children, nine of

whom are living. Their names, in the order of their birth are, Minnie Rosa, Julia, wife of Alexander Richardson, Caroline Louisa, wife of Charles Valier ; Charles, Louis, Amelia, who is the wife of Preston Fahnestock ; Bertie, wife of Louis Kolb; Jacob and Anna Spies. The last two are yet at home. In polities Mr. Spies was originally a Demo- crat. In 1854, during the excitement attending the Kan - sas-Nebraska difficulties, when it was sought to introduce slavery into the territories, he left the party and joined the Republicans, and from that date to the present has been a warm supporter of the latter organization. Mr. Spies has been and is yet a very industrious and energetic man, and much of his success in life is due to those characteristics. He has been a resident of Madison county for nearly forty years, and has a well-earned reputation for honesty and up- rightness of character. In short, few men in the county are more respected than Jacob Spies.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

RUDOLPH BRUNNER

WAS born in the Canton of Argo, Switzerland, December 20th, 1834. His father, Henry, died there in 1851. He married Mary Burkhart, by whom he had seven children, four of whom are yet living. In 1854 Rudolph left his na- tive country and came to America. He stopped one year in Scioto county, Ohio. In the fall of 1857, he came to Il- linois, and in 1859 he rented land where he now lives, and continued a renter until 1872. when he purchased eighty acres and improved it, and is yet a resident upon it. He has lived upon those eighty acres as renter and owner since 1859, except three years, when he lived near Greencastle. On the 7th of May, 1859, he married Miss Mary Bircher, who was born in the Canton of Argo, Switzerland, September 14, 1837. She came to America in 1851, with her father, Lonis Bircher. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Brunner, two of whom are living, whose names are Emily and Julia. Gustave died at the age of ten years from an accident Both Mr. and Mrs. Brunner are members of the Lutheran church. He has been a Republican since 1864. when he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He has held several offices in his township, and at present is road commissioner. He has been one of the school directors of the township for the past ten years. Mr. Brunner has been a successful far- mer, is a good citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of the entire community.

A. W. JEFFRESS.

THE Jeffress family is of English ancestry. John Jeffress, the grandfather of the present family, was a native of Lunen- burgh county, Virginia. His son, Jordan W., father of A. W. Jeffress, was a native of the same place, and was born October 31st, 1797. He removed to Tipton county, Ten- nessee, and remained there a short time, then came to Illi- nois in 1835, and settled in Marine township. He, in com-

pany with two others, surveyed and laid out the town of Marine. He soon after formed a partnership with George M. Welsh, and engaged in the mercantile business. In 1836 he sold his interest in the business to his partner and re- moved to Washington county, Missouri, and remained there seven years, then returned to Marine, and in connection with his son -in-law, Thomas Farquharson, again engaged in mer- chandising. Two years later he sold out, and purchased land in section 6, T. 4, R. 6, and removed there November 5, 1848, and engaged in farming and stock raising, which he followed until his death, the date of which was May 3d, 1866. He was a man of superior education, of a liberal and generous disposition, and pleasant and agreeable man- ners. In religious faith he was a member of the Christian church, and took an active interest in promoting the welfare ofthat religious organization. On the 14th of October, 1819, he married Mary C. Eggleston, who was born in Lunenburgh county, October 4, 1798. She died April 10, 1846. On the 5th of November, 1848. he married Mary A. Brilt, a native of Brewster county, Virginia. She died without issue March 17, 1872. By the first marriage is Alexander W., the subject of this sketch. He was born in Lunenburgh couuty, Virginia, December 13, 1830, and was in his fifth year when the fami- ly came to Illinois. He received his education in the schools of Madison county, and here grew to manhood. His life has been spent upon the farm. From choice and inclination he delights in agricultural pursuits. He has a beautiful farm, handsomely situated, with a large and commodious farm house, elegantly furnished, surrounded by beautiful lawns; there he lives in comparative ease, and enjoys life in its truest sense. Politically he was originally an old line Whig. Upon the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, and has remained identified with that political organization to the present. In 1881 he was elected to represent his township in the board of supervisors, and in 1882 was re- elected. He is a member of the Christian church. He is a courteous and hospitable gentleman, and in his home makes it pleasant to all who come beneath bis roof.

NAMEOKI.

HE word Nameoki is of Indian origin, and signifies smoky. It was first given to a station on the Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad by A. A. Talmadge, while a conductor on that road, and afterward to the township, which is in the south- western part of the county. In shape it is a regular square of thirty-six sections, or, more accurately, 22,600 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Chouteau township, east by Collinsville, south by St. Clair county, and west by Venice township Geographically it is township 3 N. R. 9 W. It lies almost wholly within the Great American Bottom, and hence is low and level. Its soil is sandy, and of marvelous fertility, and needs only proper drainage to become the gar- den spot of Madison county. Horse Shoe lake occupies nearly 2000 acres in sections 31, 32, 29, 28, 21, 16, 15, 14, 22, 23, 27 and 26. It abounds in fish, and is skirted here and there with timber. This lake was known to former geographers as Marais Mensoui. Long lake crosses this township diagonally, entering on section 12, and leaving on section 3, having here a length of nearly five miles. Several other small lakes or marshes are within its borders. Passing across the southeastern part is Cahokia creek, which receives the waters of Cantine creek from the east ou section 36. A levee has been thrown up extending almost the whole distance across the township from northeast to south- west, as a protection to farming-lands to the northwest.

In the southern part, on sections 34 and 35 are several mounds, thought by many to have been of artificial origin. The most prominent of these is the Monk's mound, so named from having been the abiding place of the monks of La Trappe. The following description of the American Bot- tom and Monks' mound is taken from the Chicago Daily American, Aug. 9, 1839. Notes by the editor, William Stewart. "About ten miles this side of St. Louis the traveler comes upon the famed American Bottom, which extends from Alton, on the Mississippi, to the mouth of the Kaskaskia, a distance of about one hundred miles, and expanding from three to five miles in width. A lot- tery, chartered by the State, is now in successful operation for the purpose of raising funds to drain this land and im- proving its health. It is a highly laudable enterprise, and deserves the co-operation of the public. The rich tract of land, when drained and cultivated, is capable alone of sup- porting the whole western country. A few miles from this point (on road near St. Louis), on the right side of the 500

road, towers to the view a beautiful elevation of land called Monk's Hill, from its being inhabited by a monk about the year 1809. A romantic cottage peeps out from a thick grove, which ornaments the top of the hill, and which we understood was occupied by some Jesuits about the year 1809." In 1807 the monks of La Trappe located on and around the mound, whose name perpetuates the fact. From Hair's Gazetteer the following interesting facts relative to these religious enthusiasts are gleaned : "The monastery of this order was anciently situated in the province of Perche, in France, in one of the most solitary spots that could be chosen. It was founded A. D. 1140, under the patronage of the Cistercian Monks. Their monastery had fallen into decay, aud their rigid discipline relaxed, when the order was reformed by the Abbe Rance A. D. 1664. Rance was a gay man of the world, but meeting with a sudden misfor- tune-some authors say the infidelity of his wife, others the death of Madame Moutbazon, whose favorite lover he had been-he renounced the world, entered this monastery, and took the lead in a system of the most severe austerity. Perpetual silence was the vow of the inmates. Every com- fort of life was rejected, a stone was their pillow, bread and water their only food, and every day each removed a hand- ful of earth from his grave. The furious storm of the French Revolution scattered them abroad. A branch of the order came to the United States in 1804, first establish- ing themselves near Conewago, Pennsylvania, then in Kentucky ; next at Florissant, near St. Louis, Missouri, where they remained but eighteen months, and came to the Mounds in 1807, accepting the lands as a gift from Colonel Nicholas Jarrot, of Cahokia. They numbered eighty in all, and expected an accession of two hundred others from France upon their settlement ; but the climate and situation were not congenial to the austerities practiced by the order. During the summer months fevers prevailed among them to an alarming extent. Few escaped, and many died. They cultivated a garden, repaired watches, and traded with the inhabitants. Connected with the monastery was a seminary for boys. To them is attributed the first discovery of coal here. Their blacksmiths complained of a want of proper fuel, and on their being informed that the earth, at the root of a tree which was struck by lightning, was burn- ing, they went to the spot, and on digging a little below the surface, discovered a vein of coal. In 1816 they re- conveyed their property to Jarrot, the donor, and left for France. Among their self-imposed conditions of life were : No one was allowed to speak to another, or to a stranger,

CARP POND.

FAMILY GRAVE.

FRONT VIEW

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FARM RESIDENCE OF A. W. JEFFRESS SEC. 6 T. 4 R. 6 (MARINE TP.) MADISON CO. ILLINOIS.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

except in cases of absolute necessity ; neither could he ad- dress the superior, without first asking his permission, by a sign, and receiving his assent. They were not allowed to receive any letters or news from the world, and were com- pelled to obey the least sign made even by the lowest lay brother in the community, although by doing so they might spoil whatever they were engaged in. Their dress consisted entirely of woolen cloth; they eat no flesh, and had but two meals a day ; their dinner was soup of turnips, carrots, and other vegetables, with no seasoning but salt, and their sup- per was two ounces of bread with water. They slept in their clothing upon boards, with blocks of wood for pillows, but in winter they were allowed any quantity of clothing they desired. When a stranger visited them he was re- ceived with the utmost kindness by their guest-master, his wants attended to, and everything freely shown and ex- plained to him; and whenever he passed one of the monks the latter bowed humbly to him, but without looking at him. They labored all day in the fields or in their work- shops in the most profound silence, the injunction of which was removed only from the one appointed to receive visitors and those engaged in imparting instruction. When one of them was taken ill the rigor of their discipline was entirely relaxed, and every attention and comfort bestowed upon him. And if he was about to die, when in the last agonies he was placed on a board, on which the superior had made the sign of a cross with ashes, the rest gathered about to console and pray for him. The dead were wrapt in their ordinary habit, and buried withont a coffin in the field ad- joining their residence. As soon as one was buried, a new grave was opened by his side to be ready for the next who might need it."

The first sturdy pioneers to blaze the way of civilization across the sandy prairies of this township were Patrick Hanniberry and Wiggins, in 1801, who settled on what is now section 16, near the present Six Mile House, which is in section 15. The settlement, from its incipiency, became known as Six Mile from the fact that it was made at a point six miles distant from St Louis in Upper Louisiana. Wig- gins was a married and Hanniberry a single man. No de- seendants now live in Madison county to impart any intelli- gence as to whence they came or whither they went. The spot can only be designated and the date fixed of their early lo- cation. To the southeast across Horse Shoe Lake (known to the French as Marais Mensoui) on sections 35 and 36, or as entered claim 133 made by Jean Baptiste Gonville, alias Rappellay, and affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, was Quentine or Cantine village, established by Deloom and others from Praire du Pont, in 1804. This became a straggling village following the meanderings of Cantine and Cahokia creeks for several miles At one time it was a handsome village and the centre of considerable trade. Abont the same time, (1804) came Nathan Carpenter, an enterprising, thorough- going man. He erected a horse mill near Wiggins' on section 16, which was patronized by parties far and near. It was the first effort at milling in this township, and had little com- petition throughout all Madison county. Carpenter was possessed of an indomitable will and great energy, and suc- 67

ceeded in subjecting rude nature around him until a fine farm rewarded his efforts. In 1804 or 1805 came to this township, locating on section 17, Thomas Cummings. He reared a large and intelligent family, and was himself an honest, energetic pioneer. His sons were declared by many old settlers to have been the largest boys ever raised in Madison county. In 1817 he and his family moved to Jersey county. Isaac Gillham, a South Carolinian, came here at the same time with Cummings. Most of his children were born in South Carolina. Their names were Thomas, Wil- liam, John, James, Isaac Jr., Margaret, Susan, and Jane. Thomas was elected a Justice of the Peace, and subsequently held the office of County Commissioner. The Gillhams were a large and influential family throughout Madison county. Four sons and Isaac himself all died during the winter of 1844-5. Isaac had been a Revolutionary soldier. One of his daughters married Robert Whiteside, of the popular family of that name. Amos Squire located where his son Samuel yet lives in 1808. He came to Illinois from Maryland, a few years prior to this, in company with Gov. Bond and others, and stopped first at Kaskaskia. In 1805 he married Temperance Worley, at Fort Chartres Here two sons, Samuel and Joseph, were born, so that he brought to his new home a family of fonr. He chose a pleasant place which had been improved many years ago. A pear orchard had been set out presumably by the French, simultaneously with their occupancy of Grand Isle (now Chouteau Island) ; a small clearing had been made, so that ready and willing hands found the way to prosperity already planned for them. Here members of the family have constantly resided since. Amos Squire was the first Justice of the Peace in the township. He held the position, after his first appointment by Gov. Edwards, for twenty consecutive years. He was a captain in the war of 1812, and was stationed for a time in Fort Russell. He died August 12th, 1825, and was buried in the family burial ground. This was the first interment there. His son, Samuel Squire, lives in the quiet enjoyment of life's evening on the old place, respected and honored of all who know him. His recollection of the past is vivid. The first school was taught in 1812 by Joshua Atwater ; the sec- ond, as Samnel Squire has a good reason to believe, was by an Irishman named MeLanghlin. While his father was absent engaged in the war of 1812, when Samuel was yet a lad of six years, MeLaughin gave him a terrible flogging. The incensed father upon his return from war, took the Irish teacher to task for his lack of of good sense.

Among other early settlers were Henry Hayes, Isaac Braden, John Clark, Henry Stallings, and Dr. Smith. John Clark and Henry Stallings were both honorable, and for pioneer times thorough-going farmers. Dr. Smith was the first physician to practice his profession in the Bottom. He remained but a short time, and in 1815 was drowned in Kas- kaskia river. Henry Hayes, a native of Pennsylvania, hear- ing of Illinois' attractions came thither in 1811, and located on section 9, where he remained for thirty years. His per- severance was remarkable. Amidst a deep forest, he plan- ned and developed a fine farm. For pastime and amuse- ment, he loved to hunt the wild bee and from his sweet

502

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

store-house gather his rich earnings. He raised a large fam- , Pichette, confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot. The most of this claim lies in section 31.

ily. John G. Lofton, too was an early settler and an active leader among his associates. He represented Madison county in the territorial legislature at Kaskaskia, in 1816. Isaac Braden came later in 1817. He was from Washing- ton county, Pennsylvania, came in company with Valentine Kinder, who brought quite a colony with him. The party came by flat boat from Wheeling, Virginia, to Shawneetown. From this point their stock was driven across the country via the New Design settlement to this country, and they came from Shawneetown by keel boat to St. Louis, thence along the Six mile route to their chosen home. The Hawks came with them. Both the Bradens and Kinders are repre- sented in the township. Thomas Kinder, Sr., one of this party amassed a competence for his family. He was a man of sterling worth, and died universally beloved. Robert McDow, a Kentuckian, who settled near the present Kinder station, had a horse mill in operation at an early day. Those faithful servants of God, Revs. Chance and Jones, Baptist mis ionaries, were the pioneer preachers in this township. As early as 1813 they were declaring from house to house the blessings of Christianity. Rev. Lemen followed soon after.

The first land entries, after the surveys made by John Messinger, Moore and Frazer, which were completed in 1814, were as follows: Jacob Linder, Sept. 15, 1814, N. E. ¿ sect. 4. 17016% acres ; John Hawks, Sept. 14, 1814, E. part S. W. ¿ sect. 5, 135 acres ; Hardy Willbanks, August 13, 1814, N. ¿ sect. 5, 261} acres ; John Atkins, Sept. 14, 1814, several acres in sect. 6; Henry Hayes, Sept, 14, 1814, 480 acres in sect. 9; Matthew Kerr, Sept. 27, 1814, several acres in sect. 10. Antedating these land entries were several claims, confirmed by the Board of Commissioners, formed for the purpose of adjusting the same ; which board reported, December 31, 1809, as follows: Claim 561, Clem- ent Drury, confirmed to heirs of Samuel Worley, 400 acres, described as being below the Narrows, adjoining patented militia rights of Samuel Worley and James McNabb, these rights having been located in the improvement. This is mostly in section 6, and includes the farm of Samuel Squire, which is among the earliest improvements in the county. Pear trees, two in number, are now standing there, a hun- dred and forty years old, as shown by the rings actually counted of those destroyed. Claim 1,844, Jacque Germain, confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres, at l'Abbe, thirteen miles above Cahokia. This is in section 32, on the borders of Horse Shoe Lake, and not far east from Venice Claim 133, already referred to as being occupied by French set- tlers, who founded Cantine or Quentine village in 1804. This claim includes "l'Abbe" itself, the monastery of the monks of La Trappe. It lies mostly in sections 35 and 36. Claim 1,883, Joseph Hanson, confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, situated at Marais Mensoui. This lies mostly in section 26, on Horse Shoe Lake. Claim 902, Isaac Levy, confirmed to Isaac Darnielle, 400 acres ; described originally as being on the river l'Abbe (Cahokia), above Cahokia about twelve miles, near where the French church stood. Part of this claim lies in sections 34 and 35. Claim 1,838, Michel

The first brick house was that erected by Robert White- side, on section 21, in 1820. The first farm opened was that of Thomas Cummings, section 17, in 1805. The first ceme- tery was that on section 17, on land belonging to Cummings. The first interred there was a member of that family, about 1810. The first married couple were united by Amos Squire, Esq., previous to 1812 Antoine Thomas and Cyn- thia Scott were the happy parties. To the war of 1812, went from here John Atkins and his two sons, William and John, Jr., Amos Squire, Isaac Hoadley, Phineas Kitchell, John Thompson, who was killed at Rock Island, and Henry Hayes, certainly a large contribution from among the pio- neers of Nameoki. Being low and level, this township suffered great destruction during the high waters of 1844. Fully five-sixths of the entire surface was under water at that time. Steamboats from St. Louis, sent to the aid of the inhabitants, landed on section 6, at the site of an old Baptist church, where citizens had sought refuge. They were taken to St. Louis or to Alton, if they preferred to remain until the subsidence of the waters. In places, the rich alluvial soil deposited from the high waters is fully ten feet in depth. The first meeting-house erected was the old Six Mile church, built on section 17, by the Methodists, in 1832. The Bap- tists built Ebenezer church, on section 6, in 1842. The building afterward passed into the hands of the Methodists.

VILLAGE OF NAMEOKI,

Consequent upon the building of the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad, in 1858, a station was located on the boun- dary line between sections 5 and 6, for the accommodation of shippers to which was given the above name by A. A. Talmadge, a conductor on that road. It is a small village, having the following business industries :

Hotel .- B. F. Squires.

Blacksmith Shop .- Henry Pretzel.

Drug Store .- Dr. T. J. Irish.

Physicians .- Drs. T. J. and E. T. Irish.

Postmaster .- Dr. T. J. Irish, who was first appointed upon the establishment of the office iu 1876.

About a mile south of Nameoki is a German Lutheran church, erected in 1881. A fine cemetery adjoins the church grounds.

The Sons of Hermon have here a neat, substantial two- story building, erected at a cost of $4,400, which they occupy for lodge purposes. The name, Sons of Hermon, was be- stowed in honor of the fact that Hermon freed Germany from Roman Catholic rule. Moltke Lodge, No. 15, was organized September 6, 1872, by Robert Krueger. The name was bestowed upon the lodge by Krueger, as a compliment to General Moltke, under whose command he had been a soldier. The lodge numbers seventy-four members. It is exclusively German. Its objects are benevolent in character.

Six Mile Lodge No. 87 I. O. O. F. was instituted January 2, 1851, and the charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Illinois I. O. O. F., signed by the Grand Master, H. L.

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

503

Rucker, and attested by the Grand Secretary, S. A. Corman, to E. P. Pettingill, T. J. Irish, James S. Smith, Amos At- kins and Joseph Squires, charter members and first officers. There are now left only T. J. Irish, P. G. W., and Amos At- kins, l'. G., of the original five whose names and energy in sustaining the Lodge ought never to be forgotten. Six Mile Lodge at present owns her own beautiful cemetery, her own Hall, and about sixty-three acres of land, well-improved, and carries in her treasury from $1000 to $1,500, shielded only by Friendship, Love and Truth, and always extending

her charity when needed to the widow, the orphan and the helpless, especially when bereavement is at hand.

Nameoki, since the inauguration of township organization, has been represented as follows :

1876-7, Philip Braden ; 1877-8, T. J. Irish; 1878-9, T. J. Irish ; 1879-80, W. H. Wilson ; 1881-2, Philip Braden ; 1882-3, Philip Braden.

The population of the township, census of 1880, was 1,466 inhabitants. Extensive gardening is carried on here for the St. Louis market. The township is well supplied with schools.

BIOGRAPHY.

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 117

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