USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 4
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
with the outside foundation wall, same depth in the ground, and only to come to the sur- face of the earth, eighteen inches thick, laid in lime and sand mortar ; walls made of first rate brick and other suitable materials, forty feet square, lower story eighteen inches thick and fourteen feet high, upper story to be thirteen inch walls and twelve feet high; the small rooms, inside walls, to be thirteen inch walls ; on the outside an oval and round cornice of brick ; one circular top door frame four feet by eight and a half feet in the clear, with pannel work, and glass on each side and above, placed in the north, south and west centers of the walls of the house ; a window placed six feet above the Judge's seat, and thirty-six window frames, sixteen of which in the lower story and twenty in the upper, each to contain twelve panes of glass twelve by eighteen inches, at equal distances, to be proportionate, and to have above each a double arel (thirteen inches) finished off smooth. The frame of the cupola to be run up through the center of the house-top : in the corners of the house, on the lower floor, will be a fire place of conven- ient size, and above. in the jury rooms, in the northwest and southwest corners, a small fire place, and in the northeast corner, above the gallery, will be left a space and flue for a stove pipe ; chimneys to be run out five feet above each corner of said building : the short joist will be three by ten inches ; the long joist four by ten inches ; making a round foundation for a circular cupola ten feet in diameter, three feet above the roof, and closed in so as to make a roof to keep out the rain : a square roof, with an eave all around, sheet- ing jointed, and laid close, and with good and sufficient and suitable jointed shingles. eighteen inches long, and to show six inches ; all of which work shall be done in work- like manner ; and the timber of said building shall be of the most suitable kind : the sills of the windows and doors are to be of black walnut, three inches thick, and of suffi- cient width : the walls to be jointed and penciled ; which shall be advertised by the Clerk in the Jacksonville paper (Patriot) three insertions : to be let to the lowest bidder on the first Monday of June next : which building is to be completed according to the contract on or before the first day of November, 1834.
An advance of one-fourth of the bid will be made to the undertaker so soon as com- menced, in order to carry on the building, one-fourth to be paid when the contract is half done, one-fourth when the contract is completed and received, and one-fourth at the ex- piration of nine months from the time the contract and work is received by the County Commissioners' Court. Bond, with approved security or securities, will be required to be given in a penalty of double the amount of the undertaker's bid, which penalty will be required as a forfeiture in case the contract is not complied with in every respeet.
James Clarke, Moses Henton and Benjamin T. Naylor were ap- pointed by the court as a committee to superintend the erection of the building. George Miller and John T. Bishop were awarded the contract for the stone and brick work for the sum of two thou- sand four hundred and ninety-eight dollars. They immediately entered upon the work, and in due time completed their under- taking to the satisfaction of the court.
In the month of September, 1835, a further contract was made by the county with Morris Roberts and David F. Martin to com- plete the inclosure of the building for the sum of one thousand three hundred and thirty-four dollars. This part of the work was finished and accepted in the spring of 1836. A further contraet was made with Benjamin T. Naylor and Robert A. Brazleton for
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
the completion of the wood work, painting, etc., for one thousand dollars. Their part of the work gave satisfaction, was accepted by the court, and MeDonough county had a Court House in which her citizens felt a just pride. It was built at a total cost of four thousand eight hundred and thirty-two dollars.
By permission of the contractors, Circuit Court was held in the building in the fall of 1836, and all other courts immediately thereafter. It was used for all county purposes thenceforward until the year 1869, a period of thirty-three years, save during the years between 1860 and 1866. In the former year, while Hon. C. L. Higbee was making a political speech in the court room, the walls of the building began to crack, and there was a general stampede of the crowd. In a moment's time the Judge had naught but empty benches to address. Campbell's Hall was then secured for court purposes, and was so used until the spring of 1866, when the walls of the Court House were patched up, and the building again used. It was never regarded safe, however, and the crowds assembled there were always in fear the walls would give way and destruction would be their doom. In consequence of this state of affairs the Sheriff and his bailiff's could never keep order, and the patience of the Judge was sorely tried. On the least noise being heard, the timid would precipitately retire from the room. The Judge could stand it no longer, so, in 1868, he publicly declared that MeDonough county must have a new and better Court House. The Board of Supervisors immediately acted upon the suggestion of the court, and, as a result, we have the present magnificent building.
The expenses of the county up to this time were very small in- deed, nearly all being incidental to its organization. The county was organized July 3, 1830, and for the six months remaining in that year, paid out $78 25 ; for the year 1831, thesum of $436 423; and in 1832 was paid $510 013. From this it appears that our publie officers were as economical as are those of the present day. A little seeming extravagance may be manifest (at least it would so seem to the present generation) in this account allowed James M. Campbell for clothing, opium and tobacco furnished certain paupers. The two latter articles are now hardly considered among the necessaries of life, however they may have been regarded then. Other equally strange matters arc upon record, as for instance. in 1831, the rate for tavern license was $6 50 per year, and for mer-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
cantile license $5. In 1833 tavern license was reduced to $3, and mercantile raised to $15, which was again, in 1835, raised to $25, while tavern license remained about the same. Would not saloon keepers of the present day be happy if they could obtain license for the small sum of $3 per year, and by it enjoy the protection of the law ?
At the April term (1834) of the County Commissioners' Court, Wilham Willis was appointed County Treasurer, his bond being fixed at $2,500. He only retained the office one month, when Resin Naylor was again reappointed.
In June, 1832, a battalion of men was raised in this and Warren counties, under call of the Governor, for service in the Black Hawk war. The organization was effected at Macomb, the War- ren county men coming to this place for that purpose. Samuel Bogart, of MeDonough, was chosen Major ; Peter Butler, of War- ren, Captain ; - McAllen, of Warren, First Lieutenant ; John Wilson, of MeDonough, Second Lieutenant. They marched to the town of Oquawka, and they were there stationed for the pur- pose of guarding the frontier. They were out eighty-six days, but performed no special service. They drew their rations regu- larly, ate heartily, played euchre, and visited the friendly Indian camps on the opposite side of the river. At the expiration of their term, they all returned to Macomb, and received their discharge.
The following were among the number serving in this war : Major Samuel Bogart, Lieutenant John Wilson, David Clarke, James M. Campbell, Abraham Dover, J. L. Russell, Larkin Osborne, Jefferson Pennington, Mr. Shannon, William Tetherow, Asa Cook, Mr. Langley, Solomon Osborne, Orsamus Farrington, David Tetherow, Iraby Job, Andrew Calhoun, Berry Jones, Uriah Cook, Daniel Campbell, Shadrack Goens, John McFadden, George Teth- erow, William Southward, Lacy Jones, Samuel P. Lewis, James Tetherow, Lewis F. Temple, James C. Head, Isaac Morris, Nicholas Campbell.
This battalion was mounted, each man furnishing his own horse, and, as remarked, were out eighty-six days, and received therefor the remunerative sum of eighty-six cents per day for self and horse. Afterward the general government was kind enough to give to each participant a bounty of eighty acres of land.
A number of instances are related of the sudden change in the temperature of the weather from comparative warmth to extreme
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
cold. On the sixteenth day of March, 1832, David Clarke and William Carter were returning from Frederick to Macomb, each with a wagon load of goods. On the morning of this day they left the residence of a man living near Doddsville, and proceeded about one mile when it became so cold they could go no further. Unhitching their oxen from the wagons, they broke for the near- est house, barely reaching it alive. On this same day two men left Blandinsville for Fort Madison, the weather at starting being comparatively pleasant. They had gone but a short distance when they discovered they were freezing. One of the party hur- ried off for help, which was obtained, and, on going back, the other party was found but a short distance from where he was left frozen to death. Again on the morning of the same day, a man left Macomb for his home near Blandinsville, or Job's settlement, and had reached the prairie on the north when the change in the weather occurred. Unhitching his oxen, he started them toward the timber, at the same time catching hold and holding on to their tails. The oxen brought up at a house not very far distant, and the man endeavored to loosen his hands, but was unable to do so. and the inmates of the cabin were compelled to pull him loose, the entire skin of his hands coming off in doing so.
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IHISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY,
CHAPTER IV.
THE LOST CHILD.
The incidents related in the following story will readily be re- called to mind by every old settler of the county. This story was first published in the Macomb Journal, January, 1874, and was written by Miss Imogene Updegraff, daughter of Joseph P. Updegraff, of Macomb, the facts being furnished by the latter. The article was read with the greatest interest, and a demand made that we give it permanent form in this history :
One Sunday afternoon, in August, 1834, two of the older sons of Ephraim Palmer, living near the line separating Walnut Grove from Macomb township, with several of the younger children, went out to obtain some melons, growing a short distance from the house. After obtaining all they desired, they returned, and as they neared the house, the mother came out to meet them, and anxiously inquired :
" Jonathan, where is Willie ? Didn't he go with you ?"
" Couldn't say, mother ; there's always so many of the small fry at my heels that I don't stop to count them."
" Jonathan, my son, you shouldn't speak so. What if Willie should be lost ?"
"No danger, mother; he'll turn up soon enough."
But the heart of the mother was not to be comforted in such a way. She was in constant dread of some of her little ones wander- ing away and being lost, and possibly being devoured by wolves, which infested the country at the time.
After looking around for some time, Mrs. Palmer again ex- pressed her anxiety by saying :
" Jonathan, I am sure Willie did go to the patch with you. I have looked everywhere, and cannot find him."
The father, just aroused from a nap, said :
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
" Come, boys, let's return to the patch. I have no fears the lit- tle one is lost, but it will relieve the anxiety of your mother."
Back to the patch they went, but no traces of the child could be found, and they returned to the house, trusting to find him there. But not so. The family were now fully aroused and feared the worst. They searched in the corn, on the prairie near the field, and through the timber, but still no trace of the lost one.
Night coming on, the mother's anxiety knew no bounds, and as the hours passed, she would cry out again and again :
"O my child ! My precious Willie! Where is he? Have the wolves torn him to pieces ? Has my little boy been drowned ? Go look for him again ! My God, I shall go wild !"
Palmer and his sons continued looking for the child until morning, but becoming convinced it was useless to pursue the search alone, the boys started with all speed to the nearest settle- ment for help. Levi Hamilton was the nearest neighbor, and he lived three miles away. Quite a number volunteered in the search from Macomb, among whom were Col. William Bailey, J. M. Campbell, James Clarke, David Clarke, J. L. Russell, J. W. Westfall, Thompson Chandler, Charles Chandler, J. L. Anderson, J. P. Updegraff, and it may be others. Some went from Joh's settlement, Carter's settlement, and other points. Col. William Bailey was selected as leader, and search was begun in a very thorough and systematic manner. A critical survey of the field was made; not a corn row or fence corner escaped unnoticed. Not even a track was found to keep alive the fast fading hope that had been so bright a little while before. The prairie south of the field was next traversed, and then the timber, and at night the party returned with no tidings of the lost child.
Tuesday morning dawned bright and beautiful. Ere this the tidings of a "lost child" had reached the most distant settlements, and many came to assist in the search, even from Schuyler and Fulton counties. The sad tidings were carried from cabin to cabin, until the whole community was aroused.
On the second day, there being a greater number of men, longer lines were formed, and they were thus enabled to traverse a larger scope of country than on the day previous.
The interest taken in the search was unparalleled. The dis- appearance of the child was so mysterious, and apparently beyond solution, that great interest was awakened. On this day the prai-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
rie was scoured as far south as Wolf Grove, and also a large body of timber following the course of Crooked Creek.
As the day wore on, many became discouraged and gave up the search, and when darkness surrounded them the entire party was nearly hopeless. Again they were compelled to report no tidings of the loved and lost.
Only one section of the country now remained to be searched, and those who still cherished a faint hope determined to come again on the morrow and spend one more day in quest of the child.
Another long night of suspense, and then -- who could tell what the day would bring forth ?
Wednesday morning found the disappearance of the child still an unsolved mystery. Three nights of ceaseless restlessness, and days of suspense and hopeless agony, left the mother in a danger- ous condition. Completely exhausted, both in mind and body, she lay unconscious of everything, save the loss of her child. Hours of weeping and prayer had prostrated the over-taxed nerv- ous system, and the only sign of consciousness was her frequent moanings. The other members of the family were worn out. Their aching limbs refused to longer carry their tired bodies, and they were denied even the poor relief of action.
All day Wednesday the search was renewed. Night came on, and yet the mystery of the little one seemed no nearer a solution than when the day's work began. The faithful friends now de- spaired of finding the child alive. A few men agreed to come the next day and help those who were still sanguine of success to ex- plore the country farther down the creek.
Thursday, the fourth and last day of the search, was a beautiful one indeed. With the morning came the friends who were to make one last desperate effort to obtain some elue to the child's fate.
Palmer and his sons had taken some rest, and early in the morn- ing were on their feet ready to resume the search.
The company organized in two parties, one going south to strike Crooked Creek at Wolf Grove and work up stream, the other commenced among the head waters, where darkness had compelled them to stop the night before.
Before night they hoped to search the entire length of the stream, searching all the branches and country on either side, un-
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
less it be rendered unnecessary by finding some traces of the lost one. In this way they worked all forenoon withont finding any- thing to reward their labor, and some were ready to give up; but when word was brought to them that the mother's life seemed to depend entirely on the return of her child, they were touched with her utter helplessness, and feared to abandon the search lest de- spair should snap the frail link that held her soul to earth. So they worked on, some still eager to be the lucky one to discover the boy.
About the middle of the afternoon, when the two parties had advanced to within a mile of each other, Crosby Bowman, one of the men, working down stream, espied something in the mud that looked like the print of a little bare foot; but it was so nearly ob- literated by the washing of the water that he could not be at all certain. He looked farther up the bank in hope of finding tracks that the water had not reached, but not the slightest impression was to be seen.
Passing the word along the line-"look closely along the banks, a track has been seen"-they advanced in the direction in- dicated by the foot mark. Some yards from the first impression another was seen, and presently another, until the men were half wild with joy and excitement. They followed the trail backward until convinced that there could be no mistake; then turned back to where it led directly into the stream. The water was waded ont to the middle of the creck and measured. The depth turned their joy to sadness, for it would reach the boy's chin ; and now they felt sure that he had been drowned in attempting to cross. A runner was sent to the other party, and all began the sad task of dragging the creek for the body of the brave boy.
The poor father and sons could work no longer. Now that hope was dead, their strength forsook them and they could only wait for their friends to recover the body.
"Hold !" cried one. As they worked near the opposite bank other foot-prints were seen. Could it be that the child crossed the deep water in safety ? Yes, it was a trail. Filled with joy and surprise, they left the water and turned to the land. Father and brothers were strong once more and led the way. The trail fol- lowed the creek for some distance, then struck out into the bushes. North of the creek, some two or three miles from Walnut Grove, was a blackberry region, and the trail led through the thickest places. It was wonderful to think a little child could make his
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
way through the dense thickets without being sadly torn by the briers. The path of the little bare feet was very crooked, going this way and that, in and out, back and forth, after every ripe berry the hungry little fellow had espied. The berries were all gone along the trail, and it was very evident the venturesome rogue had been having a blackberry excursion on his own hook. But as they left the bushes the trail grew indistinct and then stopped. They pressed forward with all possible speed, at the same time proceeding cautiously for fear of frightening the child. Some who had been through all the four days were still eager to be first in catching a glimpse of the boy. They worked on until about a half mile from the creek, when Henry Russell, one of the party, peering through the bushes, spied something in the dis- tance dodging about from bush to bush. He looked again and this time got a full view of the long-sought-for child, standing up by a bush eating berries. Word went along the line:
" Silence, the boy has been seen."
They crept up noiselessly, but when quite near, the boy saw them and started to run.
George Miller advanced toward the child and held out a biscuit. IIe evidently regarded them at first sight as something frightful, and showed signs of having forgotten his past life, and of having become a child of the woods. Miller advanced slowly, saying :
" Willie, don't you want a biscuit? Don't Willie want to go home and see mamma ?"
The child eyed him curiously as if trying to tell what he meant, but seeing the biscuit, came slowly forward, as if afraid, and when near enough snatched the bread, ran back a little way, stopped and ate it as if half starved. They let him finish the biscuit, then coaxed him nearer, and finally one of them lifted him up to Mil- ler, who had mounted his horse. The little fellow did not like that, however. As he had got to be quite a pedestrian he seemed to prefer walking. He kicked and screamed, and seemed for the first time to remember that he could talk a little. They had hard work to pacify him, but finally he gave up, and they started homeward.
The father and boys were not in the line when the boy was found, but had gone back to the creek to follow up the trail onee more.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
Word was sent to them, and when they came up with the re- turning party, the child knew them, and they were so overjoyed that they laughed and cried by turns.
As they returned home, they all concluded that when the other children left the watermelon patch, Willie had either lagged behind, or went back after another melon, and, missing his way, started out in the direction of the prairie instead of the cabin, wandered out across the prairie toward the northeast, crossed the creek, and tarried among the blackberries.
They found where he had slept in an old stump, with sprouts grown up all around it, forming a kind of shelter.
From the way the grass was tramped, they were led to believe that he had slept there several times and used it for a place of re- treat.
He did not seem to have worried about being away from home, but apparently had been having a general good time, eating berries and sleeping in an old tree.
Several had gone on ahead to prepare the mother for the com- ing of her child. Among them was the Rev. William J. Frazier, and to him fell the delicate task of breaking the news to the al- most lifeless woman. He entered the cabin and approached the bed on which the poor woman lay. He spoke to her, asking if she felt better. A moan was her only answer.
" My good woman," said the minister, " you ought not to grieve in this way. Wouldn't you feel better to sit up a little?"
" No, no," came feebly from her lips.
" My dear friend," said he, "God is good-"
At that she started up with glaring eyes, and cried :
" What do you mean, man, by telling me that God is good, when he has taken my Willie away."
" My good woman calm yourself; God is good to those-"
" Hush," she cried, springing from the bed, " I don't believe it, or he would have answered my prayers and brought my darling back."
" What if he should bring Willie back, would your prayers be answered then ?" said the good man.
She sank back on the bed sobbing.
" Then they have found him dead. My Willie dead ?"
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
" Dear friend, what if the good Lord should bring him back alive ?"
She started to her feet, seized hold of the minister, and said hoarsely :
" Speak out, man. What do you mean ? Don't torture me longer. Tell me, tell me! have they found him ?"
" Yes," said the minister, " they have found him safe and well." She sank at the man's feet in a swoon. They soon restored her to consciousness, and the party came in with the child. She caught him in her arms, sobbing :
" Oh, Willie, my darling boy ! Safe, safe atlast ! Don't Willie know mamma?" smiling through her tears.
" Yes, I know mamma," lisped the child. And the poor woman exhausted herself with joy as she had done with grief. Father, brothers and friends stood around laughing and erying for joy. It was almost night, and the rescuers returned to their homes with a thousand thanks from the happy family, and what was still better -with the consciousness of having done their whole duty.
The young men who then took part in the search, are now old or have passed from earth. Forty years rolls around and scarcely any of those so full of life and the love of adventure are left to tell the tale. Then they were full of hope and promise ; now only one here and there is left to tell us of pioneer life in times long gone by.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
MURDER OF JOHN WILSON.
Previous to November, 1834, there was no event in the history of McDonough county calculated to arouse any particular excite- ment among her citizens, save the incident of the lost child, an ac -. count of which we publish in a previous chapter. The settlers of that day pursued the even tenor of their way, endeavoring to make for themselves and families a home in this unbroken wildness. Their little troubles were settled by a fair fight, and a friendly drink afterward, and no hard feelings were entertained.
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