History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens > Part 10

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RELIGION.

The religious element in the life of the pioneer was such as to attract the atten- tion of those living in more favored places. The pioneer was no hypocrite. If he believed in horse-racing, whisky- drinking, card-playing, or anything of like character, he practiced them openly and above board. If he was of a relig- ious turn of mind he was not afraid to own it. He could truthfully sing,

"I'm not ashamed to own my Lord, Or blush to speak His name."

But the pioneer clung to the faith of his father, for a time, at least. If he was a Presbyterian he was not ashamed of it, but rather prided himself on be- ing one of the elect. He prayed long and loud if the spirit moved him, and cared nothing for the empty form of re- ligion.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

CHAPTER V. .

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

To the reader of local history, this chapter is of general interest, but to the pioneer himself it is more. Here he has himself, and friends, and neighbors, as in days past they first sought out the western wilds and fought for existence in the wilderness. See him, as he takes the book in hand slowly, critically pore- ing over every word, recalling in his mind the pictures of a vanished past at the mention of some well-known name, or smiling as recollection brings back some ludicrous adventure in the early days of his settlement. His old associa- tions, the trials and tribulations incident to a new country, the battles against hun- ger and cold, while settlers were scat- tered thinly over a large expanse of coun- try. All these rise up before him as he reads. Even now, in memory, he hears the wind moan round the humble cot- tage that first sheltered him, and hears the wolves howl as they did in days of yore. The picture of the past rises up vividly before him, and he once more rejoices in the pride of youth. Now the thought comes over him, that by and through his efforts, he has helped to make this wilderness blossom as the rose, and emerge from a state of nature into a well developed and thrifty land, and views with satisfaction the growing towns and villages and fertile farms that

dot the landscape over. But perhaps the brow will cloud and the eye dim as memory's mystic voice recalls the dark and painful side of those early exper- iences. The loved wife of his bosom fad- ing slowly away before the breath of the cold destroyer, or some laughing, prat- tling babe, the joy of the household, laid away under the sod, in solemn silence, by the hands of rough-appearing, but sympathizing neighbors. Time has healed those wounds, but to-day, as memory is fast unlocking the chambers of the mind, the silent tear will well itself to the surface and drop as a tribute to the loved and the lost of that by-gone time.

Notwithstanding the cares and adver- sities that clustered round the cabin door of the pioneer, these hardy Argonauts led a happy life. Here all were free and equal, and the absence of the re- straining presence of wealth and posi- tion, was to him a source of comfort and satisfaction. The rough hospitality, the hearty feeling of brotherhood, among these vanguards of civilization, were the spontaneous overflow of hearts full of regard for humanity, and was practiced more as the natural prompting of their nature, than from any teaching of a christian duty. They were men in the highest acceptance of the word.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

EARLY SETTLERS.

For a few years preceding the advent of actual, permanent settlers, in nearly all counties, cabins, temporary in char- acter, have been raised by a class of peo- ple, the forerunners of civilization, that are not to be regarded as settlers at all. They are, generally, hunters and trap- pers, who do not break the sod or till the ground, but live, almost exclusively, by the chase, and are but little removed from the red man, the original occupant of the land. That McDonough county had its usual allotment of this class of people, there is abundant proof in the traditions that are rife in many of the families of the old settlers, that when they came here, on such and such a sec- tion, there was an old cabin that had been erected six, eight or ten years be- fore. Who they were, where they came from, or where they went to is, at this late day, impossible to conjecture. Their names, even, are buried under the ashes of oblivion, and history has no lens powerful enough to discern them.

The first actual settler, that is,one who made any improvements and tilled the land, of whom there is any account, is Richard Dunn, who settled in what is now Hire township, in 1825, and culti- vated about four acres of land. He had a cabin, and for about three weeks, in the spring of 1826, entertained the family of William Job, while the latter was building a log cabin for himself and his family. Mr. Dunn left this locality within a year or two afterwards and passed out of the knowledge of the few settlers that knew him. His cabin was situated upon section 9, and on the ar- rival of Hugh Wilson, the latter took up

his quarters in it, the owner having vacated it previously.

In regard to who was the next of make a settlement within the limits of Mc- Donough county, there is great difficulty to determine with the accuracy obligatory upon history, but the weight of testi- mony, which has been carefully sifted, seems to give the honor to William Job. That old pioneer, in the fall of 1825, leaving his family in Morgan county, came to this county, and lived in the vicinity of the present site .of Bland- insville that fall, and picked out the land upon which he wanted to make a settlement. In the early winter he re- turned to where his family were and there remained until the following spring. Hardly had the snow gone off, than he and his family, in company with his brothers-in-law, William South- ward and Ephraim Perkins, with their families came back to the land of prom- ise and settled. Mr. Job took up a claim on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 33, where he erected a cabin, the others locating south of him. A full account of his settlement is given in the history of Blandinsville township, to which the reader is most respectfully referred.

Riggs Pennington made a settlement on the northeast quarter of section 24, in what is now Industry township, in the spring of 1826. He located in the tim- ber, totally ignoring the rich prairie that lay so near his door, as did nearly all the pioneers of that day. Mr. Penning- ton lived here for a few years when he removed to Knox county, Illinois. In 1837, he emigrated to Texas, where he died.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

William Carter in the summer of the same year located upon the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 26, in what is now Industry town- ship. The settlement that sprung up around him was known for many years afterwards by the name of Carter's set- tlement. Here, on this section, the set- tlers erected, in the year 1827, a block house, or log fort, near the residence of William Carter, on section 26. This. was a two-story affair, the upper story projecting about four feet over the lower one on all sides. It was built in this way because it would afford more ample pro- tection against being set on fire by the Indians. Where the upper story pro- jected holes were made, through which an Indian could be gently tapped on the head should he come for incendiary pur- poses. The building was eighteen by twenty feet, with numerous port holes for the guns of the inmates. Luckily they had no occasion to use the building for the purpose for which it was erected. The soldiers that passed through this country in 1831-2 to the seat of the Black Hawk war made considerale sport of this building, and of the idea of erecting one two hundred miles from the Indian country. But it should be remembered that the Indians were all around them every spring and fall, and like those of the present day, were a treacherous people. Carter, after some years, removed to Missouri.

Stephen Osborne, in 1826, also made a settlement in the neighborhood of Mr. Carter, where he remained but a short time when he went to Knox county, and passed out of the knowledge of those left here.

In the spring of 1826, John Vance, came to this county and locating at what was long known as Job's settlement, put up a cabin, and breaking up the virgin soil, put in a crop. All that summer he toiled to get his farm in shape, and in - the fall he returned for his family which he had left behind him, and bringing them with him landed them in his cabin, in what is now Blandinsville township, December 24th, 1826. Mr. Vance re- moved from here to Iowa, in 1854, and died while in that state in 1866.

William Dykeson made a settlement in the same locality about the year 1826, but resided there but a short time.

Hugh Wilson in 1827, made a settle- ment on section 9, Hire township. He started from Schuyler county to go to some place on the Mississippi, near the Des Moines rapids, and when they arrived near the present village of Web- ster, Hancock county, he was met by William Job, William Southward, and Ephraim Perkins, all brothers-in-law, who had settled in that vicinity a short time previous. Through the solicitude of Mr. Job, Mr. Wilson changed his course and went to the northwest part of this county, and settled as above stated. Here he erected a "half-faced camp," being nothing more than a shed with three sides and an open front. Preparing his ground, he planted it, and raised a crop. When his harvest was over he built himself a more substantial house, into which he moved, but only lived therein about two weeks, when a friendly Indian came to his cabin and gave the alarm by stating that a band of hostile Indians was coming that way, and he had better leave. This advice he fol-

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

lowed, going to the Des Moines rapids. He afterwards returned to Hancock county, near the . McDonough county line, as is detailed in the history of the township, further on.

William Stephens, located on a farm on section 24, in Industry township, in the fall of 1827. It was in his cabin that Rev. John Logan held the first religious services in the county in the spring of 1828.

The next to make a settlement in the county was Benjamin Mathews, a native of Tennessee; but came to this county from Cass county, Illinois. He located in what is now Bethel township during , the year 1827, and lived there until his death in 1878.

Frank Redden, a native of Kentucky was the next to settle at the Job's settle- ment in 1827. He did not stay very long, but moved on further west, and eventually to Iowa.

On the first day of January, 1828, William Pennington, a native of Vir- ginia, settled in New Salem township, at what is now known as Pennington's Point, which was named in his honor. He was the first settler in that section of the county. He and his wife have passed away to their reward, but several of their descendants are still residents in the county. Mr. Pennington lived in this county until 1881, when he died.

John Logan made a settlement on first coming to the county in 1828, in Indus- try township. He lived for a short time in the old fort, but afterwards removed to the house just vacated by Stephen Osborne. The next year he moved to Schuyler county, but in 1830, returned to this county, locating at Rock creek.

John Wilson, a son of Hugh Wilson, set out for himself and came to McDon- ough county,in 1828,although he had been here with his father's family a year be- fore, and located upon a farm in Indus- try township. He was married October 30, 1828, to Mattie Vance, which event was the first of the kind in the county. Mr. Wilson is still a resident of the township and county.

Elias McFadden made a settlement in what is now Chalmers township, about one mile south of Macomb, on section 12, in 1827 or '1828. He was accom- panied by his son David, and a nephew, Wylie McFadden, afterwards his son-in- law. They lived here until November, 1834, when the two first named were arrested for the crime of murdering their neighbor, John Wilson, tried, con- victed and hung in Schuyler county. A full account of the crime and its punish- ment is given in chapter XIII. It was at the house of Elias McFadden that the first election in McDonough county was held.

William Moore made a settlement in what is now Eldorado township, in 1828, on the place west of the Comber farm. The following year he went crazy, and was taken back to Georgia .by his family.

William Osborne is believed to have been the first to make a settlement in what is now known as Scotland town- ship, he camping out all the summer of 1828, on the banks of the water-course since known as Camp creek, from this circumstance. This Osborne was not what may be truly termed a settler, but rather in the light of a temporary inhab- itant.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

Elijah Bristow made a settlement in Blandinsville township, on section 21, during the year 1828 or 9. He, in 1845, sold out and removed to Oregon.

About the same time, John Woodside settled on section 16, in the same sub- division of the county, where he lived for ten years, when he, too, left the county, going westward.

Isaac Fowler settled in the Carter set- tlement, on section 25, in 1828, where he remained several years. His present whereabouts is unknown.

John Baker, in the summer of 1830, came to McDonough county, and erected a cabin on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 31, in township 6 north, and 2 west, on the site of the present city of Macomb. He was, or had been a min- ister of the Regular Baptist church, but was little given to following his calling, being too busy in the every day affairs of life. He was the first clerk, pro tem. of the county, and is noted at length in that connection. He was the first resi- dent of the city of Macomb.

With him came Oliver C. Rice, who helped put up the cabin and who lived in part of it. He was to run a black- smith shop, and John Baker a tavern, but for some reason. Rice, in the follow- ing spring, removed west of town and ran a mill. Pascal and Hess Smith assisted in the building of the double cabin.

Lewis Walters made a settlement upon the northeast quarter of section 3, in Hire township, in the spring of 1829, where he resided until the fall of 1830, when he left the county.

David Troxwell, in the spring of 1829, entered land on the northwest quarter of

section 21, Chalmers township. He re- mained but a short time, for in Novem- ber of that year he left for parts un- known.

James Edmonston, made a settlement in 1829, in the southern portion of the. present Chalmers township. He shortly afterwards removed into Bethel town- ship, but after some years residence there migrated back to Chalmers township, locating on section 32. He afterwards removed to Schuyler county, where he died.

William O'Neal, a native of North Carolina, made a settlement on section 24, Chalmers township in 1829, where he remained a few years, when he removed to Iowa.

William Edmonston, settled in Mc- Donough county in 1829, locating upon the southwest quarter of section' 26, in Chalmers township. He is quite noted in the official life of the county and is spoken of in that connection. He was a member of the legislature of three dif- ferent states in his time, Indiana, Illi- nois and Missouri. He left this county about 1842 or 3.

Most likely the next family to locate in this county, was that of John Bridges He arrived in what is now Indus- try township in November, 1829. He at once set to work to open up a farm, and resided here until the day of his death in 1844. He was a North Carolinian by birth, but was for many years a resident of Tennessee. He came here from Mor- gan county, Illinois.

Daniel Campbell, came to McDon- ough county in December, 1829, and in the following spring located upon a farm on section 10, in Tennessee township.

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

He died in Greene county, Illinois, while on a journey through that place. His son, Daniel W., came with his parents, and is still a resident of the county.

A party by the name of Smitherton, squatted upon the northeast quarter of section 19, now within the limits of Col- chester township in the fall of 1829 or spring of 1830, and remained there until the summer of 1831, when he left for Morgan county.

John Massingall, settled in Chalmers township, on the southwest quarter of section 33, in 1829 or 30. He paid but little attention to farming, but gained his living by hunting. He died while a resident of the county. A good, kind man, but carried the knife as the ugliest man in the state.

John Bagby, a native of Virginia, located on the same section with John Woodside, probably about the year 1830. He removed to Hancock county after- wards, but feeling dissatisfied there, re- turned to this county, and again took up his residence. He dropped dead, one day, while engaged in some household duties.

Stewart Pennington with his family settled upon the northwest quarter of section 30, in what is now New Salem township, in 1830. He was a nephew of the famous Kentuckian, Daniel Boone, and was himself born on the " Dark and bloody ground " in 1783. A history in detail is given of him in the history of the township, further on, in this vol- ume.

Michael Stinson came to McDonough county in 1830, and made a settlement southwest of Macomb. He was ap- pointed the first clerk of the commis-

sioner's court pro tem., but held the of- fice but a short time when he left and went westward.

T. J. Pennington, a son of Stewart

Pennington, came to Pennington's Point, New Salem township, in 1830. Here he remained a short time, when he removed to Industry township, south- east of the village. He died in the township in 1875.

Richard Pennington, another son, al- though but a lad of sixteen at the time, came with the family and is worthy of mention in this list of the old settlers of the county. He was born January 24, 1814, in Monroe county, Kentucky. He was married January 30, 1834, to Delilah Shannon. They settled, on their marriage, on section 30, and the old homestead is still the residence of Mr. Pennington.

John Rogers settled in what is now Industry township, in the summer of 1830. He erected a cabin on the prai- rie but in the fall moved it to the timber, but being caught by the falling snow before it was rebuilt, enclosed it in a tent and managed to exist in it all win- ter on hominy without salt. In the spring he left, disgusted with the coun- try. He afterwards came back to Han- cock county.

Resin Naylor came to McDonough county during the year 1830, and made a temporary settlement near Macomb. In 1835, he removed to Macomb and en- tered upon his business of harness mak- ing. He was, in early days, quite a character, and is familiarly spoken of as "Boss Naylor." He held several offi- cial positions and is noted at length in

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

the chapter entitled, national, state and county representation.

Dr. John Hardesty with his wife and children settled upon section 8, of Blan- dinsville township, during the early spring of 1830. A sketch- in detail of this eminent gentleman is given in the chapter devoted to the history of the medical profession of the county. Doctor Hardesty died in the month of August, 1875.

The same spring of 1830, William Duncan came to the above township and made a settlement, but the follow- ing winter drove him away. He after- ward removed to Iowa where he died.

Enoch Cyrus also settled in the same locality, at the same time. He farmed sometimes and taught school, being the first teacher in the township now known as Blandinsville. After a few years he sold out and went to Missouri and from there to California, when he died. Noble Owsley came with him and settled near him but only remained a year or so, go- ing westward.

David Clarke, made a settlement in the immediate vicinity of Macomb dur- ing the year 1830, and shortly after the laying out of the city, moved there, and was a resident until the day of his death, in March, 1884.

Nathaniel Herron, in the spring of 1830, took up land on the northwest quarter of section 3, in Hire township. He improved a farm, and lived on the place until 1855, when, being seized with the spirit of emigration, he went to Nodaway county, Missouri, where he has since been called upon to pay the debt of nature.

Charles Shannon, made his settlement in McDonough county in 1830. He lo- cated where the town of Industry is now laid out. He was a native of Greenbriar county, Virginia, but early in life re- moved to Knox county, Tennessee. In 1819, he removed to Gallatin county, Ill- inois, where he lived until coming to this county. Mr. Shannon, like many others of the old pioneers, has passed to his reward, dying about the year 1858.

John Huston, arrived in McDonough county on the 14th of March, 1830, and settled upon the northwest quarter of section 3, Blandinsville township. He was very prominent in county matters in an early day; was elected and served as a member of the general assembly of the state, in which connection is given a sketch in full detail. He died July 8, 1854. His son, William M., now a prac- ticing physician in the town of Blandins- ville, then but a small child, came with his father and mother.

Charles Hill and David Fees, in the spring of 1830, settled on the northeast quarter of section 12, in what is now. Lamoine township, being the pioneers of that sub-division. Mr. Hills is still a resident of the county, having survived the trials and hardships of pioneer life, and although over seventy years of age, is still quite active.

At the same time, or very shortly after, John Hills settled upon section 12 of the same township, where he still resides.

George Dowell, came to this county in 1829 or 30, and built a cabin in what is now Eldorado township. This place was occupied by Abraham Davis.

Anson Mathews, in about 1830, settled at what was afterwards called Foster's

HISTORY OF MCDONOUGH COUNTY.

point, and sold out to Arthur J. Foster during the year 1831.

Abraham David, with his family, set- tled in what is now Eldorado township during the summer of 1830. He settled on a farm and resided there until 1863, when he died. He had come into the county in the spring and temporarily stopped in the Carter settlement, but moved here as above.

John D. Barber, made a settlement in August, 1830, on the northwest quarter of section 20 of Colchester township, where he lived two years. He then moved to section 19, where he died in 1874.

Roswell Tyrrell, in the fall of 1830, came over from Fulton county, where he had settled in 1823, and put up a cabin on section 29, in Tennessee town- ship. He then went back to bring his family; but did not return until 1830, in the spring of which year he made a per- manent settlement. He died there in April,1872. A sketch in full detail is given further on in the history of Tennessee township.

In the fall of 1830, Joel Duncan, father of Russell and Charles, came to McDonough county. He made his home temporarily with his son Russell, and commenced the erection of a cabin, but before he had it finished, the great snow of that winter came on, so thirteen peo- ple were compelled to live all winter in that little cabin not over eighteen feet square. In the spring Joel removed south of his sons and opened a farm, where he afterwards died.

Robert Seybold, in the fall of 1830, made a settlement in Hire township. A sketch of this pioneer and his family is

given in the chapter devoted to that township.

A party by the name of Jesse Bart- lett, a native of Tennessee, located on section 34, Walnut Grove township, in the fall of 1830. A sketch of him is given in its proper place in the chapter devoted to the history of that township.

Truman Bowen, in October, 1830, located on section 3, in Chalmers town- ship. He commenced to open up a farm but the year following his settlement he died. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but came here from Ohio, where he was reared.

During the fall of 1830, Redmon Grigsby and others of that family came to the infant settlement in Blandinsville and settled. Many of the descendents of the name are still residents in that quarter of the county, influential and prosperous.

James Clarke, one of the first com- missioners of McDonough county, and quite a prominent man in the history of this section, made a settlement upon section 12, in Chalmers township, in 1830. He did not remain there long, but the following year moved to Macomb, where he lived until the day of his death in June, 1876. A sketch of Mr. Clarke will be found in chapter XII, under the head of county judge, he being the first to fill that honorable position.

Russell Duncan, was also a settler of 1830. He erected a cabin in which he installed his family on section 3, of Blandinsville. It was his intention to place it on section 4, but got it the wrong side of the line. He lived here until- the spring of 1840, when he died very suddenly. With him came his brother

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History of McDonough County, Illinois, together with sketches of the towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent individuals, and biographies of the representative citizens, Part 10

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Continental Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 1150