History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 91

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

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370

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Na M.e. Springer.

WILLIAM M. T. SPRINGER, (deceased,) the second son of John and Elizabeth Springer, was born on section thirty, town five, range eighty, in Madison county, Illinois, August 31, 1828. He was reared upon the farm and attended the public schools of his neighborhood, and was therein fitted for entrance in McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, which he attended during 1848 and a part of 1849, when his health becoming impaired he returned to the farm. In the spring of 1850 he in company with some of his neigh- bors fitted out teams aud went overland to California, where he remained mining until the summer of 1851, when he re- turned home and resumed the occupation of farming.

are still living except Lizzie T., who died in infancy. Politically Mr. Springer was originally an old line Whig, but on the organization of the Republican party he joined its ranks and continued until his death, an active member of that organization. Both he and his estimable wife were active members of the M. E. Church of Salem. He was Superintendent of and an active worker in the Sabbath- school at that place.

Mr. Springer was a man of generous impulses, strict in- tegrity, and pure moral character, a kind and loving hus- band and father. In all official positions to which he was called, either civil or religious, he performed his duties with honor to himself and satisfaction to the community in which he resided. He was a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., R. A. M., and also member of the Knights of Honor.

In the spring of 1852 in connection with his brothers, Thomas O. and L. C. Springer, he erected a saw mill on section 30, town 5, range 8, in Madison county, Illinois, of which he took the principal management until about the year 1875, In the latter years of his life he was affected with asthma- tic or bronchial troubles, and in the autumn of 1881, started Lawrence, Kansas, he stopped to visit a sister, where he was taken ill and died October 9, 1881. His remains were brought to Edwardsville, and interred in Woodland ceme- tery. His demise was generally felt in the business and social circles of Edwardsville, and his memory is held in great es- teem by hosts of friends who knew him as an upright Christian man. when he sold his farm and removed to Edwardsville. Here he engaged in the business of hardware, farm machinery, , on a trip to Colorado, for the benefit of his health. At etc. In 1855 he was elected School Treasurer of town 5, range 8, and served continuously as such until April, 1876. He was married to Margaret J. Barber, daugh- ter of Rev. John Barber, formerly of Madison county, Illinois, January 7, 1857. By this union there were born six children to wit : Lizzie T., Thomas W., Jennie E., Mary E., Josie L., and William B., all of whom

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

371

Dark Brown

JAMES R., was the son of James and Ann Brown, and was born in Bedford, England, January 24, 1836. At the age of fifteen he left his native country and emigrated to America. He went direct to St. Louis, and in 1853 came to Edwardsville, Illinois, and here made his home until his death, which occurred after a long and painful illness, April 30, 1882. He learned the printer's trade, and June 1856 started a weekly newspaper in Edwardsville, called the Madison Enquirer. Disposing of the paper by sale he worked at the case until Aug. 11, 1858, and then in counection with Theodore Terry issued the first number of The Madison Presx. He soon afterward sold his interest to his partner. In October 1862 he started and issued the first number of the Edwardsville Intelligencer, of which paper he was sole editor and proprietor until his death. As a newspaper man Mr. Brown was eminently successful. He had learned every

detail of a country printing office, and was not only a good artistic printer, but combined with it good executive ability and management. He was a good writer, and excelled as a paragraphist. He belonged to the positive order of men, and therefore never hesitated to condemn that which he deemed to be wrong. This trait of character sometimes led him to be unusually severe. When his friendship and con- fidence were once given he remained constant and truc. He was twice married, first to Mrs. Sophia W. Cox, a daughter

of Major Purcell of this county. The marriage occurred Aug. 24, 1858; she died May 9, 1871. On the 28th of May, 1874, in the city of Philadelphia, he married Miss Matilda Wolf, daughter of Frederick A. and Caroline Wolf, of Edwardsville. By this union one child, a son, named James, Jr., was born. He died July 15, 1879, while yet in infancy.

372

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

ALITTLE

William auch.

THE present efficient Circuit clerk of Madison county is a native of Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, born July 6, 1836. His parents were Adam and Charlotte (Frankenstein) Daech. His father's family consisted of five children, only two of whom are now living, William and Frank, in Edwardsville. In 1844, Adam Daech emigrated to America, locating in St. Louis, and subsequently sent for his family, who arrived about 1858. He died in Missouri, in 1860, and his wife, the mother of William Daech, died in Edwardsville, in 1863.

William Daech received his education in the common and high schools of his native province. At the age of six- teen he left his home and emigrated to the West Indies, where he became overseer of a large sugar plantation. While there he was united in marriage to Ann Elizabeth Wright, a lady of English birth. He remained in charge of the plantation until 1861, when he came to the United States, landing in New York city on the 4th day of July, in that year. From thence he came to Kirkwood, Missouri, where his mother was then residing. After a few months' stay in Missouri, he moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, Janu- ary 1, 1862, and accepted a clerkship in the distillery of

Ritter & Hunicke, which position he held until the failure of the firm. He was also clerk in Phillip's mill, and for a time engaged in teaming between Alton, Edwardsville and St. Louis. Upon the election of H. Kuhlenbeck, in 1868, to the office of Circuit clerk, Mr. Daech was made a deputy in his office. From December of that year, with the excep- tion of three years as office deputy of sheriff Cooper, he continued as clerk or deputy in the circuit clerk's office until August 1879, at which time he received the nomination of County Treasurer, and was defeated by a small majority. In 1880, he was elected to the Circuit clerkship, which posi- tion he at present occupies. Politically, Mr. Daech is a staunch Republican He is a member of the Lutheran church, and was the first clerk of that society in Edwardsville. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church. He is also a member of the United Ancient order of Druids and the United order of Foresters.

Mr. Daech has reared a family of six children- Minnie, deceased wife of Herman E. Wolf, died November 11, 1880 ; William A., Frank J., Edward, Frederick and John H., residing at home.

G.J.STARMER MARBLE WORKS

[GRANITE

MADISON COUNTY MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS G. J.STARMER PROP. EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.

FRANK STENZELS RESTAURANT

STENZEL'S RESTAURANT.

OYSTER

RESTAURANT AND PROPERTY OF FRANK STENZEL, EDWARDSVILLE, ILL.

373

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

MAJOR THOS. J. NEWSHIAM.

THE subject of the following biographical sketch is a native of Preston, Lancashire, England. He was born Nov. 1st, 1832. He is the eldest son of James and Ann Parkiu- son Newsham. His parents emigrated to America in the fall of 1840. James Newsham had, however, made a trip to America as early as 1817, and remained here until 1821, when he returned to England, and brought his family here at the time above mentioned. They landed at New Orleans. and came up the river to Harrisonville, in Monroe county, Illinois, and soon after Mr. Newsham purchased land in Prairie Da Long, and engaged in farming, in which he con- tinued until his death, the date of which was October, 1845. His wife, the mother of Thomas, died in 1844. After the death of his father, young Newsham went to St. Louis, and apprenticed himself to John F. Mitchell to learn the car- penter trade. After serving two years he worked under instructions for another year. Four months later his indus- try and desire to excel earned for him the position of fore- man of the shop At the age of eighteen years he com- menced business for himself. One of his first contracts was the ercetion of the Convent market-house. He remained in St Louis until 1850, then came to Edwardsville. Here he worked for a short time at his trade, under the direction of other parties, but som commenced business for himself, in which he continued until the breaking out of the war, at which time he and Capt. J. G. Robinson, under the call for 75.000 troops, organized a company of one hundred and sixteen men, and tendered their services to the government. On the 22d of April, 1861, they were taken to Springfield, where they were organized into a company of eighty-four men, which was known as Co. I, of the 9th Regiment of Illinois Infantry. Mr. Newsham was elected Ist Lieut., and commissioned April 25th, 1861. The 9th regiment was or- ganized at Camp Yates, and soon after received orders to proceed to St. Louis to guard the Arsenal, but before the con. summation of that order, were ordered to Cairo, Illinois, to protect it against a threatened attack by the rebel forces gathered at Columbus, Kentucky. Company I was sent up the river to protect a battery which had command of the river above Cairo.

Ou the 25th of May, 1861, Lieut. Newsham was appointed and commissioned Adjutant of the regiment. Company I remained in support of the battery until the expiration of their term of service, and were mustered out, July 24th, 1861, and mustered into the three years' service, July 26th, two days later. Lieut. Newsham was mustered in as Adju- tant of the regiment, and remained with it until Sept. 4th, 1861, when he was detached, and appointed Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the Expeditionary forces that captured Paducah, Ky., Sept. 5th following. On the 9th of Sept 1861, he was appointed Acting Assist. Adjutant General on the staff of Major-General C F. Smith, and on the 5th of October following was commissioned by the President as Assist. Adj't General of Volunteers, with the rank of Cap- tain, and ordered to report to Gen. Smith for duty. He remained upon the staff of Gen Smith until after the battle

and capture of Fort Donelson, and battle of Shiloh or Pitts- burg Landing, Tenn. On the 14th of April, 1862, he resigned his position on account of ill health. His resignation was ac- cepted by Gen. Grant, and approved conditionally-those conditions were promotion. He returned home, sick, and remained at home until he had in a measure regained his health. In the summer of 1862, under the call for 600,000 additional troops, he assisted in raising the 117th regiment, and upon organization was elected and e immissioned Major, the date of which was Sept. 19th, 1862. He remained with the regiment until Dec. 20th, 1862, when he was detached and took command of the Detachments at Fort Pickering, Tenn. The many honorable positions and commands he held during the late war, are best told in the following which is copied from the records on file in the War Depart- ment at Washington, and to which is attached the highly complimentary letter of Gen. Sherman, General of the Army :

" With Regiment at Cairo, Ilinois and Paducah, Ky, 7th Sept. 1861. Asst. Adj. Gen. on Staff of Gen. C. F. Smith, to April 11th, 1862. Out of service until Sept. 19th, 1862. With Regiment in the Army of Tennessee, to Dec. 20th, 1862. Comman ling Detachments at Fort Pickering, Tenn., to January 13th, 1863. Act. Asst. Inspector Gen. at Columbus, Ky., to Ang. 19th, 1863. Gen. Picket officer, 5th Div., 16th Army Corps, to Oct. 20th, 1863. Commanding Provisionat Encampment at Fort Pickering, Tenn., to April 13th, 1861, when he resigned."

Signed, THOMAS M. VINCENT, Asst. Adjt. Gen.

To Gen. Sherman, Gen. of the Army.

The following is the letter to Major Newsham :-

" HEADQUARTERS OF ARMY. Washington, D. C., July 19th, 1876.

The above most honorable record is official, and I take great plea- sure, in adding that I remember Major Newsham well, when he was on the Staff of Major Gen. C. F. Smith, and hereby certify that he was held in high esteem.

W. T. SHERMAN, Gonral."

Major Newsham retains as mementoes and souvenirs of the war, many letters and orders, which in a measure serve to keep alive the memories of the past, and call vividly to the mind the many incidents and perils connected with the years of the war, which were the most eventful of his life. It may he said of him that he was the trusted and confidential aid and comrade of men who then and since have grown great, and who have added a page to the world's history. He was selected by Gen. Grant as bearer of des- patches from Headquarters to Washington. In every posi- tion which he was called upon to fill, he did his whole duty, and earned the commendation of his superior officers. His health failing him again, he was compelled to re- sign, and seek rest at home. His resignation bears date April 13th, 1864. He was afterward commissioned Colonel of the Ist Regiment Florida Cavalry, but owing to his con- tinued ill-health, was compelled to decline that flattering mark of honor and confidence. This closed the record of That he was a brave and Maj. Newsham's military service.

371

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

gallant soldier, the records and many commendatory letters of his superior officers amply testify. After his return home, and as soon as his health would permit, he re-engaged in contracting and building, and has followed that business to the present.

On the 7th of Nov. 1$58, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane, daughter of Judge H. K. Eaton, now de- ceased. She was born in Edwardsville, Sept. 28th, 1838. Four children have been born to them. One son and three daughters. The son died in infancy. The names of the daughters are: Caroline A, who is the wife of John W. Sanner, a prominent farmer of Shelby county, Ill .; Matilda Alice and Mary Elizabeth are yet beneath the parental roof. Mrs. Newsham is a member of the M. E. Church. Major

Newsham is a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and was made a mason in England in 1854, in the Lodge pre- sided over by the Earl of Zetland, and now by the Prince of Wales.

Politically he was originally a member of the Whig party. In 1860, he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time to the present, has been a Republican. In his habits he is temperate, and an advocate of prohibition. He has been identified with every temperance movement started in Ed- wardsville since 1850. In his manners he is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, and in the community where he has long resided, is regarded as an honorable man and a good citizen.

THE CITY OF ALTON.

HE first settlement on the site of the present eity of Alton, seems to have been made about the year 1783, by a Frenchman named Jean Baptiste Car- diual. The evidence of this rests on the report made in 1813, by the Board of Commissioners appointed to examine the elaims for land within the district of Kaskaskia. The Commissioners state that about thirty years previous Cardi- nal lived at Piasa, five or six leagues above Cahokia, that he there built a house and resided with his family, but was taken prisoner by the Indians, when his family were obliged to abandon their frontier location and retire to the village of Cahokia. There was no proof before the Commissioners that he had placed any land under cultivation. Cardinal appears to have conveyed his claim in the year 1795 to John Edgar, then a prominent and wealthy citizen of Kaskaskia, who was largely interested in the land speculations of the time. The deed was witnessed by La Violette in September, 1795, and acknowledged before William Morrison five months afterward. Cardinal affixed his mark to the deed, but Edgar, to show the fairness of the transaction, produced a letter from Cardinal, dated July, 1795, offering Edgar the land, which letter was signed by Cardinal himself in a very good hand. These facts made the Commissioners suspicious of the transfer, and they recommended that, should the claim ( for a tract of land four arpents in front by forty in

depth) be confirmed by congress, "the confirmation be to the said Cardinal, or his legal representatives, as the title papers of the said John Edgar appear not to be regular." It is altogether probable that the Piasa where Jean Baptiste Cardinal made this settlement in 1783 was on ground now covered by the city of Alton. While five or six leagues fall short of the real distance from Cahokia, a matter of not so much importance when we consider the inaccurate way in which distances were computed at that time, still there could scareely have been any other Piasa than at the locality where was depicted upon the rocks the famous Piasa bird, an object of great interest to the French from their first ex- ploration of the country, and the story of which was one of the most familiar of the Indian legends .*

*The figures of the Piasa bird were painted on the face of the rocky bluff, just above the city. They are first referred to by Mai quette, who descended the Mississippi in the summer of 1673. He says : " As we coasted along rocks frightful for their height and length, we saw two monsters painted on one of the rocks, which startled us at first, and upon which the boldest Indian dare not gaze long. . They are as large as a calf, with horns on the head like a deer, a frightful look, red eyes, bearded like a tiger. the face somewhat like a man's, the body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice makes the turn of the body, passing over the head and down between the legs, ending at last in a fish's tail. Green, red and black are the colors employed. On the whole these two monsters are so well painted that we could not believe any Indian to have been the designer, as good painters in France would find it hard to do as well. Besides this they are painted so high upon the rock that it is hard to get conveniently at them to paint them." Traces of these figures were visible till some

375

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

In the year 1807 there was one small stone building to mark the site of the present city. It was near where the

time after 1840. The face of the bluff on which they were depicted, has now been quarried away.

The tradition connected with this roek existed among all the abori- ginal inhabitants of the West. No Indian passed np or down the river withont discharging his arrow at the painting, and after the Indians became accustomed to fire-arms bullets were substituted for arrows. The marks of ten thousand bullets were on the cliff. Sometimes the Indians left their canoes and proceeded to the bluffs where they held a solemn war council, concluding the whole with a splendid war dance, manifesting all the while the most exuberant joy in the recollection of their deliverance from this great mon-ter.

The legend of the Piasa is told as follows : " Many thousand moons before the arrival of the pale faces, when the great megalonyx and mastodon whose bones are now dug up were still in this land of green prairies, the numerous and powerful nation called the Illinois, inhabi- ted the state which now bears their name, over the greater portion of which their hunting grounds extended. For many years they con- tinned to increase in numbers and prosperity, and were deemed the bravest and most warlike of all the tribes of the great valley. At length in their most populous districts near the residence of their greatest chief, there appeared an enormous animal, part beast, and part bird, which took up its abode on the rock and banqueted daily upon numbers of the people, whom it bore off in its immense talons. It was covered with seales of every possible color, and had a huge tail, with a blow of which it could shake the earth. From its head which was like the head of a fox, with the beak of an eagle, projected im- mense horns, and its four feet were armed with powerful claws, in each of which it could carry a buffalo, The flapping of its enormous wings was like the roar of thunder, and when it dived into the river it threw the waves far up on the land. To this animal they gave the name of the bird of the Piasa, or bird of the evil spirit (according to some, " the bird which devours men). In vain did the Medicine men use all their power to ilrive away this fearful visitor. He would be satisfied with nothing but human flesh, and day by day the tribe diminished to feed his insatiable appetite. Whole villages were desolated, and con- sternation spread through all the tribes of the Illinois.

At length Owatoga, a chief whose fame as a warrior extended even beyond the great lakes, separating himself from the rest of his tribe, fasted in solitude for the space of a whole moon, and prayed to the Great Spirit, the Master of Life, that he would protect his children from the Piasa. On the last night of his fast the Great Spirit ap- peared to him in a dream, and directed him to select twenty of his warriors, each armed with a bow and pointed arrows, and conceal them in a designated spot. Near the place of their concealment another warrior was to stand in open view as a victim for the Piasa, which they must shoot the instant he pounced on his prey. When the chief awaked in the morning he thanked the Great Spirit, returned to his tribe, and told his dream. The warriors were quickly selected and placed in ambush. Owatoga offered himself as the victim, willing to die for his tribe; and placing himself in open view of the bluff; he soon saw the Piasa perched on the cliff eyeing his prey. Owatoga drew up his manly form to its utmost height; and, placing his feet firmly upon the earth, began to chant the death-song of a warrior. 1 moment after, the Piasa rose in the air, and swift as a thunderbolt, darted down upon the chief. Scarcely had he reached his victim when every bow was sprung, and every arrow sped to the feather into his body. The Piasa uttered a wild, fearful scream, that resounded far over the opposite side of the river, and expired, t)watoga was safe. Not an arrow, not even the talons of the bird had touched him ; for the Master of Life, in admiration of his noble deed, had held over him an invisible shield. The tribe now gave way to the wildest joy, and held a great feast in honor of the event, anıl to commemorate it, painted the figure of the bird on the side of the rock on whose sum- mit the chieftain stood."

railway depot now stands, and was itsed by the French as a place for trading with the Indians. It was constructed of loose rock, without mortar, and its roof was a covering of elm bark. The early American settlers could not tell how long it had been standing, and it is possible that here may have been the original location of Jean Baptiste Cardinal.

FOUNDATION OF THE TOWN BY COL. RUFUS EASTON.

The first to recognize the advantages of the site of Alton as the place for a flourishing town seems to have been Col. Rufus Easton, of the neighboring territory of Missouri. He was born at Litchfield, Connecticut, ou the fourth of May, 1774 ; studied law in Connectient, and after practicing his profession a couple of years in Oneida county, New York, came to St. Lonis in the year 1804. He enjoyed the friendship of Gideon Granger, Aaron Burr, and other influ- ential men of that day, and through their influence was commissioned by President Jefferson, Judge for the terri- tory of Louisiana. In the year 1808 the first post office was established in St. Louis, and Rufus Easton was appoint- eil postmaster. From 1814 to 1818 he was delegate in Congress from Missouri territory. On the organization of the state government of Missouri in 1821, he was appointed attorney general for the State, and held that office till 1826. He died at St. Charles, Missouri, on the fifth of July, 1834. He had fine executive and administrative ability. His son, Alton Rufus Easton, whose Christian name was given to Alton, commanded a regiment, known as the St. Louis Le- gion, in the Mexican war, and is still a resident of St. Louis.

Col. Easton obtained possession of land in the vicinity, and early in the year 1817 laid out a town which, in Honor of his son, Alfon R. Easton, he called Alton. It is also said that Langdon, George and Alby streets were named after some of his children. The town was laid out on fractional seetions eleven andl fourteen, of township five north, range ten west .* The old town plat, or Easton's

# The following is a list of the lands included in the limits of Alton, showing when and by whom each quarter and fractional section was entered, together with the number of acres in cach. 'These lands are comprised in sections eleven and twelve, and frac- tional sections ten, thirteen and fourteen, all in township live north and range ten west of the third principal meridian :

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 91

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