History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 84

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 84

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In 1852 a number of families from North France for the most part converted from Roman Catholicism to the Baptist church arrived at Highland, settling in its vicinity. They first participated in worship with the French Evangelical Church, but their views on communion led them also to hold separate meetings. Thus originated the Bethania Baptist Church, organized near Sebastopol, by Rev. Foulon. The church building, dedicated in 1860, stands to this day on the N. W. corner of the N. E. quarter of section 24, in Ilel- vetia township.

ALLGEMEINE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE, HIGH- LAND.

FROM DATA FURNISHED BY REV. G. RENTSCHLER.

The origin of this congregation dates back to the very foundation of the town. The inhabitants, some of them Catholics, others Protestants of various persuasions were not numerous enough to justify the organization of separate congregations. A most admirable spirit of tolerance per- vaded the colony, and the little meeting-house of 1840 was open to all. It is not uncommon to hear it said that the Germans as a rule are indifferent to religion and even great skeptics. There are of course a number of them inclined that way, but by no means a proportionably greater number than among other nations. In fact, it may be said, that a certain deep religious feeling pervades that nationality, not met with elsewhere. True, they are not loud and noisy in their professions, nor inclined to punish their flesh in the adoration of Ilim on Iligh. Their poet's rapturous excla- mation : "O wunderschoen ist Gotte's Erde, und werth dar- anf vergnnegt zu sein." O beautiful is God's wide earth, well worthy to enjoy life's pleasures thereon ! is appreciated, thoroughly understood and universally practiced by that people. The popular songs of the German, his " Volks-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

licder," breathe the very spirit of chaste aud beautiful religion and worship, for instance :

Wer hat dich du schoener Wald aufgebaut So hoch da droben ? Wohl den Meister will ich loben, so lang Noch mein Stimm erschallt!

(Who has built up the beautiful forest on yonder height ? O, Jet me praise the Master as long as voice is left in me !)

These " Volkslieder" might in many instances be called hymns, which in fact they are. But to return to the subject. The historical sketch of the Catholic churches gives the names of the priests, who conducted the religions services in the colony. Among the Protestant clergymen adminis- tering to the religious wants there, we mention first Rev. Rieger, a Lutheran Missionary, who visited the colony from time to time in 1840, 1841 and 1842. He was a devout Christian and a good man. His memory is cherished by the few survivors of that period to this day. Rev. Ciolina officiated in 1843 and 1844, Villmer in 1845. Rev. Douy, of Belleville, in 1847, Rev. Reineke, stationed at Marine, in 1848, Rev. Meier of St. Louis, in 1849 and 1850. The name of " Allgemeine Christliche Kirche " (a church for Chris-

tians of all denominations) was adopted in 1850, when a per- manent organization was effected. The following clergymen have conducted the religious services there, to wit : Rev. Krauss, 1850, Rev. Lepique, 1851, Rev. Mueller 1852 and 1853, Rev. Rettig, 1854 and 1855, Rev. Lepique, a second term, from 1856 to 1860, Rev. Lnchsinger from 1860 to 1862, Rev. Schuepbach from 1862 to 1867, Rev. Mettel- mann from 1867 to 1879. The congregation erected a beautiful church edifice in 1878. Rev. G. Rentschler suc- ceeded Rev. Mettelmann, May 1, 1879. The interior of the building was finished during the year, an excellent organ procured and three church bells purchased. Rev. Rentseh- ler organized a church choir, composed of ladies and gen- tlemen, and placed it under the directions of C. II. Seybt, who by zealous and untiring efforts, backed by talent and skill, has succeeded in making his choir peer to any in the country. The church membership is constantly increasing, and embraces now one hundred and forty families.

A Ladies' Association, counting over one hundred mem- bers, whose object it is to be charitable to the needy, to take care of the sick and to be good and kind to all, was called into existence by the persistent efforts of Rev. G. Rentschler, the present pastor of this most tolerant and highly interest- ing church organization.

EDWARDSVILLE.

HOMAS KIRKPATRICK, a South Carolinian, in the year 1805 made the first settlement on the site of Edwards- ville. The piece of land on which he built his cabin was a militia claim of one hundred acres, on Cahokia Creek, ori- ginally granted to Pierre Lejoy. This claim covered the northwest part of the present town. When the Indian troubles which preceded the war of 1812-14, be- gan, a block-house was built for the protection of the several families which, by that time, had settled in the vicinity. This structure was known as Thomas Kirkpatrick's fort, and was an important link in the chain of military stations which guarded the Illinois frontier from the attacks of the savages. It stood to the north of the old court-house about three hundred yards from the banks of Cahokia Creek. It is said to have been built by a military company of which John G. Lofton was captain, William Jones, first lieutenant and Daniel G. Moore, second lieutenant.

The county of Madison having been organized in 1812, Kirkpatrick's farm was selected as the best location for the seat of justice. At the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick, on the fifth day of April, 1813, the court of common pleas for Madison county held its first session. At this term of court Kirpatrick obtained license to keep a public house. The first merchant in the town was Abraham Prickett, and the second Benjamin Stephenson. Their stores were opened in 1815 or 1816. Johu T. Lusk was proprietor of the first hotel. In 1816 a town was surveyed by Kirkpatrick, and called Edwardsville, in honor of Ninian Edwards, then the territorial governor of Illinois. The growth of the new town was rapid. In a few years it attained a population of several hundred, and numbered among its citizens many in- fluential and distinguished men. Governor Edwards made it his residence, a bank was established, it became the seat of the United States land office and to the town flocked en- terprising and talented men who deemed it the best point in the state from which to push their schemes for gaining wealth or' securing political advancement.

The first mention of a government for the town is in 1819, on the twenty-third of February of which year an aet was passed by the state legislature, appointing Benjamin Ste- phenson, Joseph Bowers, Robert Latham, John Todd, Jo- seph Conway, Abraham Prickett and Theophilus W. Smith a board of trustees. On the third of the following May, an election was held at which Abraham Prickett, James Watts,

John Todd, Robert Pogue, William Holland, Palemon H. Winchester and William L. May were chosen Trustees. At this election Josias Randle, Abraham Prickett and Paris Mason acted as judges, and John Y. Sawyer and Stephen Dewey as clerks. The trustees elected in 1820, were Ed- ward Coles, John Y. Sawyer, David Swett, Josias Randle, John T. Lusk, Joshua Atwater and Paris Mason.

In 1819, Benjamin Stephenson, Ninian Edwards, Theophi- lus W. Smith, John Todd and others petitioned the board of tru-tees that a tract of land owned by them adjoining the town and which they had laid off into lots, should be an- nexed to and made a part of the town of Edwardsville.

In the "Sketches of the Western Country," published by E. Dana, in 1819, Edwardsville is described as " a flourishing town, containing sixty or seventy houses, a court-house, jail, public bank, printing office, which issues a weekly paper, and a United States land office of which Col. Stephenson is re- ceiver." " As this county embraces all the lands above, east of the Mississippi river, and all the bounty lands in Illinois,'' the writer goes to state, " soldiers' patents and grants of Illinois bounty lands are recorded here. In the vicinity of the town is a society of Methodists. There is an extensive tract of land around this spot of an excellent quality on which many plantations have been opened. But, unfor- tunately for settlers, the most valuable tracts have been mo- nopolized by speculating men who are non-residents."

EARLY CITIZENS OF EDWARDSVILLE.

The names given above of persons connected with the early government of Edwardsville, furnish a fair list of the leading men in the town about the year 1820. Benjamin Stephenson was a Virginian by birth. He came to this state from Kentucky in 1809. He served as sheriff of Randolph county, and was colonel in the military service in two cam- paigns of the war of 1812-14. He was elected delegate to congress from the territory of Illinois in 1814, and when the land office was established at Edwardsville was made the first receiver. He was an ardent Democrat in politics, an admirer of Andrew Jackson, and his sentiments were strongly pro-slavery. He was quiet, unpretentious and agreeable in his manners, and attended to his duties as re- ceiver of the land office with much faithfulness. He died at Edwardsville, about 1824.

Dr. Joseph Bowers was one of the early physicians of Edwardsville. With his profession he united the occupation of a farmer. He removed to Carlinville, and represented Macoupin county in the state legislature. Dr. John Todd

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

was a prominent representative of the medical profession Ile came from Lexington, Kentucky, and was the brother of Robert Todd, who was the father of the wives of Abraham Lineoln and Ninian Edwards. He was a Whig in politics. He resided in Edwardsville, on Main street, where Judge Joseph Gillespie now lives. A log house was here first erceted by Dr. Bowers to which Dr. Todd made a frame ad- dition. IIe subsequently became a citizen of Springfield, where he practiced medicine some years and died.

Joseph Conway came to Illinois from Maysville, Ken- tucky, and settled at Kaskaskia in 1812, and there engaged in the practice of law. During the war of 1812-14 he was in the contractor's department on the frontier. From Kaskaskia be came to Edwardsville. For some years he filled the office of circuit clerk ; he was elected a member of the state senate in 1824, and represented Madison county as senator till 1833. He removed to the northern part of the state, and was killed by a fall from the upper to the lower deck of a steamboat ou the Mississippi river, near Rock Island.

James, Paris and Hail Mason were natives of New Hamp- shire. James Mason purchased Kirkpatrick's interest in the original town ; he removed from Edwardsville in 1833. He was the founder of the town of Grafton, on the Mississippi, in Jersey county. Paris Mason carried on the milling busi- ness. Hail Mason was one of the early justices of the peace ; he removed to Scarritt's prairie, in Godfrey town_ ship

Abraham Prickett, the pioneer merchant in Edwardsville, was born near Lexington, Kentucky, and first came to Madison county in 1808. He was employed for some time in the drug business in St. Louis, and then opened a store in Edwardsville. The first county court of Madison county, held in 1813, granted him a license to retail merchandise. About the year 1825 he removed to Adams county, and made an addition to the present city of Quincy. While a resident of that part of the state he was engaged in trade with the Indians. While at work on a contract to clear a portion of the Red river from snags and other obstructions to its navigation, he died, at Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1836. He was the postmaster at Edwards- ville for a number of years; he was a delegate from Madi- son county to the convention which assembled at Kaskaskia in July, 18IS, and framed the first constitution of the state of Illinois, and was a member of the first legislature which met after the admission of the state into the Union. IIis son. George W. Prickett, now a resident of Chicago, is said to have been the first white child born in Edwardsville.

Isaac Prickett, who in 1815, had settled in St. Louis, came to Edwardsville in 1818, and engaged in the mercan- tile business in partnership with his brother Abraham. He afterward established a store on his own account, which he carried on for many years, in the brick building on Main street, in which Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt now lives. He was postmaster, public administrator, quartermaster- general of the militia and inspector of the Illinois peni- tentiary. From 1838 to 1842 he filled the office of receiver

of public moncys for the land office at Edwardsville. IIe died in 1844.

Palemon H. Winchester was born either in Virginia or Tennessee, in 1794. On the evening of Saturday, January 29, 1824, he killed Daniel D. Smith, recorder of Pike county, and his trial, on the charge of murder, was one of the most interesting in the records of the early Illinois courts. He was acquitted. He removed to Mac ,upin county, opened the first law office in Carlinville, served there for several years as judge of probate, and died in 1860.

Theophilus W. Smith was a lawyer and politician. In 1822 he was elected a member of the state senate. Io 1825 he was made one of the judges of the supreme court, and was on the bench till 1842. He possessed fine judicial ability, but could never entirely abstain from dabbling in politics. He was strongly pro-slavery in his sympathies, and was one of the leaders of the "Convention party " in 1824. He established the Illinois Republican, at Edwards- ville, in the interest of the slavery movement.

John T. Lusk was born in South Carolina, November 7, 1784. In 1791, his father, James Lusk. removed to Ken- tucky, and established a ferry across the Ohio river, opposite the present town of Golconda. This was widely known as Lusk's ferry, and a creek which empties into the Ohio in the vicinity bears to this day the name of Lusk creek. In 1805 John T. Lnsk came to Madison county, and settled in the neighborhood of where the town of Edwardsville is now built. In 1809 he married Lucretia. daughter of Charles Gillham. She was the only one of his eight children who remained in Madison county. He was in the ranging service during the war of 1812-14. While the men were absent, the women songht refuge in the fort. or block- house, and Mr. Lusk's wife was appointed their captain. She was an excellent rifle shot, and had plenty of spirit and bravery. When Edwardsville began its growth, he moved into the town and erected a building of heavy hewn logs, a story and a half in height, with three rooms on the ground floor, in which he opened the first hotel in Ed- wardsville ; he kept this hotel for some years. He served as deputy circuit clerk under Hail Mason, and afterward filled the office of county clerk ; he was also recorder and postmaster. He died December 22, 1857.

Joshua Atwater was one of the earliest school-teachers in Edwardsville. He emigrated from Westfield, Massachu- setts, to St. Clair county, in 1801, and tanght school in Illinois as early as the year 1807. He became a citizen of Madi- son county in 1817. He was a man of New England edn- cation and habits. He was the founder of, perhaps, the first charitable institution organized in the Territory of Illinois. This society, which was formed March 1st, 1809, was called the "Charitable Society," and its members bound them- selves to make quarterly contributions to a fund which was to be emplo; ed for the relief of the oppressed and atHicted of all ranks and colors, without discrimination or preju- dice." The constitution is drawn up in the handwriting of Mr. Atwater, and his name, although he was then a poor man, appears at the head of the list for the highest amoun

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

subscribed .* He began the mercantile business in Edwards- ville in 1820, which he carried on till 1837.

Que of the most remarkable men who ever lived in Ed- wardsvile was James D. Henry. He worked in the town as an ordinary shoemaker, occasionally showing evidence of a brutal and passionate nature, but subsequently achieved dis- tinction in the Black Hawk war and became the nominee of the "People's party," for the position of governor of the state. He was born in Pennsylvania. At Delaware, Ohio, in 1816, he had a fight in the shop in which he was working, and whipped three or four of his brother shoemakers, and then left the town in haste. He journeyed down the Ohio and up the Mississippi river in a keel boat, landing at the mouth of Wood river. He came to Edwardsville in 1822. His education was deficient, and he attended a night school taught by William Barrett, where he gained his first know- ledge of arithmetie. His passions were revengeful and un- controllable when aroused, and his physical strength and readiness to fight, gave him the reputation of a dangerous antagonist.

HIe fancied that a negro named Jarret, who belonged to Joseph Conway, had insulted him, and he inflicted on the black man a terrible revenge. The negro had taken refuge in the stable of Rowland P. Allen, whence Henry dragged him forth. Stripping him of all his clothing, except his trousers, he fastened him to the end of the horse rack in the public street. He had procured five hickory withes as the instru- ments of punishment, and laying a sword aud pistol on a block within three feet of his victim, with a dagger in one hand and whip in the other, he began to lash the poor negro unmercifully. When the negro drew back on the rope and begged for merey Henry would draw the keen edge of his bowie knife over the negro's naked abdomen and threaten him with instant death unless he submitted quietly to the punishment. Court was in session, and a hundred men were in town, present and looking on, including the sheriff and other officers of the law, but none dared to in- terfere. When he had used up his second, or third whip, the wife of Rowland P. Allen heard the negro's cries and ran to his rescue. Appealing to the men present in vain, she went back to her kitchen, and procuring a formidable carving knife, rapidly approached and cut the rope by which the negro was bound. Henry stood still with aston- ishment, suspending his blow in the air, and as the woman led the negro away said threateningly that a woman might tie his hands but it would not have been well for any man to have done to oppose him.

This is the dark side of Henry's character. He was am- bitions, and possessed an intense longing for military fame. He was fond of hearing of the exploits of Caesar and Na- poleon, and the other great generals of the world, and Judge Joseph Gillespie, then a boy, was accustomed to spend hours in his shop, reading to Henry, while he worked, of the achievements and campaigns of celebrated warriors. Ile left his trade to engage in the mercantile business. In 1826

he moved to Springfield. He was elected sheriff of Sanga- mon county, and filled the office with satisfaction. The Black Hawk war gave him at last the opportunity for which he longed. His genius for military affairs soon gained him distinction, and he came to be recognized as the ablest and most successful general of the war.

In his person he was six feet in height and well formed. In his disposition he was exceedingly modest and retiring, and sometimes gloomy and melancholy. At long inter- vals he indulged in spells of intoxication, and then, if his anger was excited, he was reckless and desperate. The fear of danger never entered his breast. The unfortunate eir- cumstances of his birth made him sensitive and diffident, and he avoided the society of ladies. At the close of the Black IIawk war the citizens of Springfield gave a splen- did entertainment in honor of his military services, and it is said that during the evening he never onee appeared in the apartment where the ladies presided. He died among strangers at New Orleans, on the fourth of March, 1834, and such was the peculiarity of his disposition that he never in- formed his attendants at the hotel of his identity as General James D. Henry of the Black Hawk war.

Erastus Wheeler became a citizen of Edwardsville in 1819. He was born in Otsego county, New York, in 1797. He was a soldier in the war of 1812-'14, and was present and participated at the battle of Lundy's Lane, and the siege of Fort Erie. He enlisted in the Black Hawk war in 1831, and in the campaign of the following year was captain of a company under Gen. Samuel Whiteside. He was a cap- tain in Col. Bissell's regiment in the Mexican war.

Josias Randle, the first county clerk aud an early promi- nent citizen, is mentioned fully in a biography.

Five persons, who filled the office of governor of the State, were for various periods residents of Edwardsville in early days. These were Ninian Edwards, Edward Coles, Joseph Dunean, John Reynolds, and Thomas Ford Among other distinguished men who made the place their home, were Jesse B Thomas, sr., United States Senator from 1818 to 1829; Daniel P'. Cook, the first representative in Con- gress after the admission of the State into the Union; Emanuel J. West, Judge Jesse B. Thomas, jr. ; Judge Samuel D. Lockwood ; George Forquer, John D. Reeves, afterward editor of the Congressional Globe'; Chester Ashley, subsequently United States Senator from Arkansas; Benja- min J. Seward, brother to William H. Seward, governor of New York ; Judge James Semple; Benjamin Mills, and Henry Starr.

It was not unusual for Wiggins' hotel, the popular hos- telry of Early Edwardsville, to have twenty-five regular boarders. Edward Coles boarded at this hotel for years. Many of these guests were young professional men, doctors and lawyers, who according to a lady, whose memory reaches back to that olden time, "were well dressed, fashionable, and handsomer than any that can be seen now- a-days."

An election was held by the voters of the township of Goshen on the third of May, 1819, for seven Trustees of the town of Edwardsville. The poll list, still preserved, shows

* Among the signers are Jesse Walker, William Scott, Ten. M. Pia't, John Everett, David Everett, William Barto., 'Thomas Kirk- patrick, Robert McMahan and Giles Maddux.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

that fifty three votes were cast, among which were those of the following persons : John Y. Sawyer, John T. Lusk, Paris Mason, Joseph Conway, Theophilus W. Smith, Robert Latham, John Ringold, John H. Randle, Robert Pogue, Jacques Metta, Benjamin Stephenson, Don Alonzo Spauld ing, Hail Mason, John Wilson, William L. May, John Todd, Simon Ray, Abraham Prickett, Joseph Remington, Isaac Priekett, James Watts, Isaac Scarritt, James Mason, Palemon H. Winchester, Jacob Prickett, Joshua Atwater, Thomas Tindall, Charles Jackson, Willam Holland, John L. Whaling, and Asa Morse.

To Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt now belongs the honor of being the oldest resident of Edwardsville. She was born in Ken- tucky. In 1813 her brothers, Jephthah and George Lampkin came to Illinois. The former settled at Edwardsville, and for five or six years carried on a potter's shop, which stood on Main street, just above the residence of Judge Gillespie. He removed to Quiney in 1819, where a few years after- ward he died. George Lampkin settled on a farm south- east of Edwardsville. On the return of Jephthah Lampkin from a visit to Kentucky in 1818, he brought back with him his sister, Naney, then a young girl. She has lived in Edwardsville ever since. In 1822 she became the wife of Isaac Prickett. Her first husband died in 1844. But two other persons are now living who were in Edwardsville when she came; Rev. Richard Randle, now of Taylorville, and his sister, Mrs. Martha Ripley, of Staunton, Illinois.

ITEMS OF HISTORY .- 1820-24.

In the files of the early newspapers of Edwardsville may be found many items of interest in reference to the town. The physicians had formed a medical association, and there is a notice signed by John Todd, president, that the First District Medical Society of the State of Illinois would con- vene at Edwardsville on the second Monday of May, 1820. Another notice shows that Samuel G. J. De Camp was the secretary of this society. The mechanics of the place had also formed an organization, known as the Elwardsville Mechanics' Society, which during the year 1820, held monthly meetings at the house of Messrs. Bruner and Stuckey. Wesley Allwine advertises, under date of June, 1820, that he has continually on hand all kinds of Windsor chairs, and that he neatly executes house and sign painting.

James Wright, tailor, informs the public that he is pre- pared to execute any kind of work in his line of business in the neatest and most fashionable manner and on the shortest notice. Officers' uniforms made in the most elegant style. He advertises for an apprentice, between fourteen and eighteen years of age, and adds that members of the artillery company can have their uniforms made in an elegant and cheap manner. S. T. & J. A. MeKenney, next door to the post-office on Main street, call attention to the fact that they have the exclusive right to make and vend spring- saddles in Illinois, on Bryan's old spring cantle plan, and on his new and highly improved style. Their other goods *** Bridles, martingales, valises, portmanteaus, horseman's caps, holsters and other military accoutrements," they war- rant equal, if not superior, to any made in the western part

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 84

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