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 7
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The settlers at the Point, like those in other parts of the county, were poor in material wealth, but rich in faith, and each went to work with a will for the improvement of their respective homesteads. The result of their toils is now manifest, the farms in this neighborhood being among the best in the county. The
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settlers now living in the vicinity are all in good circumstances and as happy as kings.
Camp Creek derived its name from the fact that William Os- borne camped on its banks the entire summer of the year 1829. At that time the timber near the Creek was large, and the land farther out on either side was covered with hazel brush, crab ap- ples, plum trees, etc. At the present time, none of this is to be found. The fine timber on a part of Richard Pennington's farm is a second growth, the ground once having been cleared, and crops of corn, wheat and other grain raised thereon.
Macomb .- Elias McFadden was the first settler in the vicinity of the present city of Macomb, and came to the place in the fall of 1828, or spring of 1829. IIe was followed soon after by John Baker, who is elsewhere spoken of in this work. After Mr. Baker, James Clarke, David Clarke, Resin Naylor, Samuel Rus- sell, Wm. Pringle, Samual Bogart, -Anderson, and others, forming a very respectable neighborhood. Like other settlers of the county, this community hugged the timber, consequently we now find that all the oldest farms are timbered ones. The set- tlers were nearly all from Kentucky. In the year 1831, the origi- nal number was increased by the coming of James M. Campbell, Moses Hinton, S. II. Robinson and others. Several stores were opened, the tavern sign hung out, and entertainment was provided for man and beast. As we speak elsewhere of this place at con- siderable length it is needless to say more in this connection.
Hillsgrove .- In the fall of 1830 Roswell Tyrrell, then a citizen of Fulton county, came to MeDonough and built a cabin on sec. 26, 5 n., 4w., now Tennessee township, after which he returned to Fulton for his family, but the big snow of that winter falling, he did not return until the following spring. Here he remained until the year 1832, not having a neighbor within several miles. At this time James Fulkerson and family came and settled on a farm adjoining his quarter. The first day of their arrival, while preparing their noon-day meal, their dogs began to bark, and looking ont they discovered a large black bear, at which they were somewhat alarmed. Their dogs took after it, and soon were joined by those of Mr. Tyrrell, the bear fighting and tearing several of them in a terrible manner. Mr. Fulkerson followed and succeeded in getting in a good shot, killed it, returning to the camp with his prize. It was dressed and weighed, bringing the
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beam down at two hundred pounds. This was the first, and so far as we know, the only animal of the kind ever killed in the county. When the dogs of Mr. Tyrrell returned he discovered they were badly torn, and, being ignorant of what had occurred, and supposing it had been done by the dogs of his new neighbor, he was somewhat offended, but on receiving a huge slice of the bear's meat, and learning the particulars of the killing, he was satisfied.
Following Mr. Fulkerson, other families settled in the neigh- borhood within two or three years, forming quite a settlement. Among the number being - Hill, for whom the postoffice and settlement was called ; Isaac Holton, Colonel Charles Wesley Wad- dill, Charles Waddill, David Kepple, Rev. James King, Charles G. Gilchrist.
Isaac Holton was a graduate of Brown University, one of the best educational institutions in the East, and when he settled in the neighborhood he conceived the idea of establishing a similar insti- tution in this county at Hill's Grove, believing an institution located in the country would be better than one in a city, as the young educated therein would not be subject to the temptations inci- dental to city life. Accordingly, about the year 1835, he opened a High School in an old log house in the neighborhood, continu- ing the same for some fifteen years. In this school were educated some of the best men in this section of the country, among whom we may mention Dr. J. HI. Bacon, now of Fort Madison, Iowa; H. W. Ferris, President of Carthage National Bank ; John M. Ferris, attorney at law; Dr. Thompson Ferris, Carthage; Samuel Hunt, Bushnell ; C. W. Fulkerson, Rev. Sampson Talbot, Rev. William Owen, Thomas Fulkerson, and Larkin Bacon. In the year 1837 he secured a charter from the Legislature of the State for the " Ilill's Grove Academy," which he hoped would be the basis for a future college or university. We believe he never or- ganized under this charter, but continued his school as a private institution until called to his final home.
The country about the Grove for many years was infested by rattlesnakes and other reptiles, and a little southwest was a hollow that bears to this day the name of " Snake Den Hollow." In this hollow, in the crevices of the rocks, the snakes would form their " den " for the winter, and as the warm days of spring approached they would crawl out in great numbers. As soon as this fact be-
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came known, the neighbors began to make a raid upon them, or- ganizing parties for this purpose, taking turns in watching the holes from out of which the reptiles crawled, and killing them as they appeared. The snakes as they came forth from their dens would be in a torpid condition, and therefore were easily destroyed. The first year the manner in which the war was carried on was as follows : Stationing himself by the hole from which the snakes would crawl, a man would stand with a sharp pointed stick, and when the snake would show its head, he would thrust the stick through it, pulling it out, and then mashing its head. The second or third year a kind of trap was placed over the hole, into which the snakes would crawl, and at certain intervals some one would take and destroy them. This latter plan was preferable, as it re- quired but little time. As many as nine hundred snakes were killed in one season, principally of the rattle and black snake species, these two dwelling together harmoniously. Great care had to be taken to avoid being bitten by these dangerous reptiles. Many a poor farmer lost his entire means of subsistence by having his horses or cattle bitten by them. Abraham Fulkerson, a brother of James, affected to care but little for the reptiles, stating there was no danger from them, but, alas, there was danger to him. One summer day, in order to cool and rest himself atter the heat and burden of the day, he laid down on the floor of his cabin and fell asleep. On waking, he threw his hand over on one side, when he felt a sharp pain in one of his fingers. and raising his hand he observed a large rattlesnake with its fangs imbedded in his finger, and was compelled to give his hand a shake before it loosened its hold. His family was called, and the simple remedies known to the common people were tried, but without avail. The patient grew worse ; a doctor was called, and his skill brought into requi- sition, and the life of the man was temporarily saved. Eye wit- nesses say never did they see a man suffer as he did, and they have no desire ever to witness another such scene. Although, as stated, the life of the man was saved for a time, the poison was not eradi- cated from his system, and in about one year after death came to his relief.
Hillsgrove settlement has not only the honor of killing the first and only black bear, and having the largest number of snakes in its midst, but two panthers were killed in that neighborhood at an early day. Elijah Tyrrell, a cousin of Roswell Tyrrell, while out hunting, discovered an animal in a tree as he thought in the
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act of springing upon him, and although at best a poor marksman, he hastily took aim and succeeded in shooting it through the heart. While in the act of skinning it, a little dog that was with him began to bark, and looking up he observed another animal eyeing him, and taking aim, succeeded in killing it also. Not knowing to what species of animal his game belonged, he report- ed at the house that he had " killed the devil !" This same man was again out in the woods when the wolves got after him, and he ran in the direction of his house, followed by a considerable pack of the animals. Finding that he could not reach his house, he took to a tree, and as he ascended the wolves jumped up and succeeded in tearing off a goodly portion of his jacket. His cries brought assistance, and he was rescued without receiving any injury.
In the spring of 1832 seed corn was hard to obtain and brought a good price, and a number of the farmers could not obtain sufficient for their use. During this year several companies of soldiers passed through the county going to the Black Hawk war; and having with them a supply of corn brought from the south, the people endeavored to exchange what they had for the corn of the soldiers, and where they had none to exchange, and no money to buy, raked up the grains left by the horses where they were fed, saving them to plant.
The trouble in obtaining flour and meal by the early settlers cannot be realized by any at the present day. Charles W. Fulk- erson gave the following as his experience on one occasion :- Being out of flour, he was sent by his parents with three or four bushels of wheat to mill, going first to Bacon's mill, near Crooked Creek, where, on account of low water, he could not get it ground. He then went on to Marietta, in Fulton county, and, falling in with David Kepple, the two continued on together. At Marietta they again failed to have their grain ground, and went on to an- other mill on Spoon river, near where it empties into the Illinois. This mill was owned by an old Scotchman and his sons. Arriv- ing here late on Saturday night, they explained to the sons of the old man their situation, and secured a promise from them to grind it on Monday morning. The old man was absent at the time, but the next morning he came into the mill yard where they had driven and ordered them to leave. Said he, "Get right out of my yard and home with you ; I will not grind you a single grain. All you want with it is for speculating purposes, and I will have
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nothing to do with you !" Mr. Fulkerson and Mr. Kepple both tried to reason with him, assuring him it was not for speculating purposes, and that they had not a morsel of meal or flour at home ; but he would not listen to them, and they were compelled to hitch up their teams and depart. Leaving this mill they went to Vermont, where a mill had lately been erected, but here they met with no better success, and had to return home without hav- ing their grain ground at all; but Mr. Kepple, before leaving, hunted around the mill and succeeded in finding about a half bushel of " shorts," which he said he would call flour, and took it home with him, but what success his people had in making bread out of it he never reported. When such a state of affairs occurred the only alternative the people had for making bread was to pound their corn with a pestle in a huge mortar made for that purpose, or, in lieu of that, to eat hominy.
Hillsgrove is frequently called "the old Methodist stamping ground," as here this body of people early secured a foothold and had many adherents. Many of the old pioneer preachers of this denomination held forth in the cabins of the early settlers. Thomas Fulkerson yet has a cabin standing on his place, where Peter Cartwright, the old Methodist apostle, preached to the hardy men and women of the neighborhood the unsearchable riches of Christ. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Valen- tine Wilson, a Methodist preacher, in 1833, at the house of James Fulkerson.
Edward MeDonough, for a number of years past a dealer in flour, etc., at Macomb, was the first child born in the township, which event occurred in April, 1832. His father was Hugh Mc- Donough, Sr., one of the pioneers of the county, and who died in 1849.
The country in and around the old Hillsgrove settlement is ex- cellent, and the early settlers made a wise choice in their selec- tion. At present writing (March, 1877) many wealthy men inhabit this part of the county-men who obtained their wealth by hard labor in the early times.
Middletown .- This place was laid out in the spring of 1837, by Major John Patrick and James Edmonston, Esq. The first house erected was by Major Patrick. The first settlers were James Edmonston and John Gibson, and Andrew Cox started the first store. It was called Middletown from the fact of its being the
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central point or middle town between Beardstown on the Illinois river and Burlington on the Mississippi river. It was also the crossing of the Beardstown and Burlington and the l'eoria and Quincy public roads.
The first public sale of town lots occurred in April, 1837, lots realizing from $15 to $30 each. Very few have at any time commanded a higher price than this. Although the town never grew to any considerable size or importance, it was at one time a busy and prosperous village, as will be seen by the following artiele taken trom the MeDonough Independent of October 31, 1853 :
"Middletown .- A few days since we paid a flying visit to this beautiful village in the western part of this county. We were much pleased with the evidences of prosperity which the town presents. It contains ahout 180 inhabitants, three dry goods stores, three taverns, several blacksmith shops, and a splendid steam saw mill which does a fine business.
"Col. Patrick, who is engaged in the mercantile business, has just received an extensive stock in store, which were shown us by Capt. Lipe, his gentlemanly clerk."
The country in the vicinity of Middletown is thickly settled by a good class of farmers, and is generally level prairie land, well drained and fertile.
There was no portion of the county that labored harder to se- eure the line of the Northern Cross Railway than Middletown, which was to be on the main line of the contemplated road. Atan election held August 20, 1853, for the purpose of voting for or against the county subscribing $75,000 to this railroad, Middle- town precinct cast 198 votes for and but 2 against the proposed enterprise. The road, however, when built, failed to be a benefit to the town; it was on the other hand, the means of taking her established trade from her, and causing many of her more prom- inent and enterprising citizens to seek other locations. The rea- son was, that instead of the road running through the town it ran five miles north, where new towns sprang up, which with the advantages of the railroad commanded the patronage and inter- ests of the people in the surrounding country. It is due the citi- zens of Middletown at the time the Railroad was projected to record that the failure of the road to pass through their town, was not a want of interest in the enterprise, or lack of earnest
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labor on their part to secure the road, for as before mentioned, none worked harder to secure it than they, but it was on account of the condition of the country through which the road would necessarily have to be constructed.
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CHAPTER IX.
THE MORMONS.
From 1835 to 1845, the County nearly doubled its population, having in the former year, according to the census reports, 2862 souls, and six negroes; while, in the latter, it had 5355 souls and three negroes. Whether the negroes were regarded as having souls or not we cannot say, but presume not from the way the report reads. But little was done in the way of public improve- ment during those years, because of the exceeding dullness of the times.
In the years 1839-40, several families of that yery peculiar people, the Mormons, settled in MeDonough County. They came as refugees from Missouri, being driven from that State by the infuriated people whom they had persistently robbed and despoiled. Claiming that they were persecuted on account of their religion, they appealed to the sympathies of the people, and were received with favor. It is a well known fact that humanity will sympathize with those who are persecuted, be they right or wrong. It is related of Martin Van Buren that upon a certain occasion, going home he found his wife in tears, weeping bitterly over an article she had just read in a newspaper, in which her husband had been shamefully traduced. Learning the cause of her distress, he remarked : "O never mind that, wife, I paid the editor $50 to insert it." He knew the value of sympathy. Presuming that. many of our readers have never read a description of the Mormons, we offer no apology for the following extract from Ford's History, pp 157-158:
"The people called the Mormons, but who called themselves " The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,' began to figure in the politics of the State in 1840. They were a religious sect, followers of a man familiarly called 'Joe Smith,' who was claimed by them to be a prophet.
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"This man was born at Sharon, Winsdor county, Vermont, on the twenty-third day of December, 1805. His parents were in humble circumstances, and gave their son but an indifferent edu- cation. When he first began to act the prophet he was ignorant. of almost everything which belonged to science, but he made up in natural cunning and in power of invention and constructive- ness for many deficiencies of education.
"When he was ten years old his parents removed to Palmyra, Wayne county, New York. Here his extreme youth was spent in idle, vagabond life, roaming the woods, dreaming of buried treasures, and exerting himself to learn the art of finding them by the twisting of a forked stick in his hands, or by looking through enchanted stones. He, and his father before him, were what are called 'water witches,' always ready to point out the ground where wells might be dug and water found, and many are the anecdotes of his early life, giving bright promise of future profli- gacy. Such was Joe Smith when he was found by Sidney Rig- don, who was a man of considerable talent and information.
"Rigdon had become possessed of a religious romance written by a Presbyterian clergyman in Ohio, then dead, which suggested to him the idea of starting a new religion. It was agreed that Joe Smith should be put forward as a prophet ; and the two devised a story that golden plates had been found buried in the earth in the neighborhood of Palmyra containing a record inscribed on them in unknown characters, which, when deciphered by the powers of inspiration, gave the history of the ten lost tribes of Israel in their wanderings through Asia into America, where they had settled and flourished, and where, in due time, Christ came and preached his gospel to them, appointed his twelve apostles, and was cruci- fied here nearly in the same manner in which he was crucified in Jerusalem.
"The second then pretended to give the history of the American Christians for a few hundred years, until the great wickedness of the people called down the judgment of God upon them, which resulted in their extermination. Several nations of people, from the Isthmus of Darien to the extremities of North America, were arrayed against each other in war. At last the great battle of Cumorah was fought in Palmyra, New York, between the Lamanites, who were the heathens of this continent, and the Nephites, who were the Christians, in which battle there was a
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prodigious slaughter-hundreds of thousands being killed on each side. The nation of the Nephites was destroyed, except a few who had deserted, and a few who had escaped into the south country. Among this number was Mormon and his son Moroni, who were righteous men, and who, as it was said, were directed by the Almighty to make a record of all these solemn and import- ant events on plates of gold, and bury them in the earth, to be discovered in a fature age, fourteen centuries afterwards. It is needless to add that the pretended translations of the hieroglyph- ies said to be inscribed on these pretended plates, were no more nor less than the religious romance already spoken of, but which now appeared as the book of Mormon.
"The prophet in after life pretended that at an early age he became much concerned about the salvation of his soul. He went to the religious meetings of many sects to seek information of the way to heaven, and was afterwards told, 'this is the way, walk ye in it.' He reflected upon the multitude of doctrines and seets, and it occurred to him that God could be the author of but one doctrine, and own but one church; he looked among all the sects to see which was this one true church of Christ, but he could not decide; and until he became satisfied, he could not be contented. His anxious desires led him diligently to search the scriptures, and he perused the sacred pages, believing the things that he read. He now saw that the true way was to enquire of God, and then there was a certainty of success. He therefore retired to a secret place in a grove near his father's house, and kneeling down began to call upon the Lord : darkness gave way, and he prayed with fervency of spirit. Whilst he continued praying the light appeared to be gradually descending towards him; and as it drew nearer it increased in brightness and magnitude, so that by the time it reached the tops of the trees, the whole wilderness for quite a distance around was illuminated in a glorious and brilliant manner. He expected the leaves of the trees to be consumed, but seeing no such effect of the light, he was encouraged with the hope to endure its presence. It descended slowly until he was enveloped in the midst of it. Immediately he was caught away in a heavenly vision, and saw two glorious personages, alike in their features, and he was now informed that his sins were forgiven. Here he learned that none of the churches then in being was the church of God, and received a promise at some future time of the fullness of the Gospel, and a knowledge of the
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true doctrine. After this, being still young, he was entangled in the vanities of the world, of which he sincerely and truly repented.
"On the twenty-third of September, 1823, God again heard his prayers. His mind had been drawn out in fervent prayer for his acceptance with God; and for a knowledge of the doctrines of Christ according to promise in the former vision. While he was thus pouring out his desires, on a sudden a light burst out into the room like the light of day, but purer and more glorious in appearance and brightness, the sight of it was, as though the house had been filled with consuming fire; this occasioned a shock felt to the extremities of his body, and then was followed by calmness of mind and overwhelming rapture of joy, when in a moment a personage stood before him, who, notwithstanding the light, seemed to be surrounded by an additional glory, which shown with increased brilliancy. This personage was above the ordinary size of man, his raiment was perfectly white and had the appearance to be without seam. This glorious being declared himself to be an angel sent to announce the forgiveness of his sins, and to answer his prayers by bringing the glad tidings that the covenant of God with ancient Israel concerning posterity, was at last about to be fulfilled ; that preparation for the second coming of Christ was speedily to commence; that the fulness of the Gospel was about to be preached in peace unto all nations, that the people might be prepared for the millenium of universal peace and joy.
"At the same time he had been informed that he had been called and chosen as an instrument in the hands of God to bring about some of his marvellous purposes in this glorious dispensation.
"It was made known to him that the American Indians were a remnant of Israel; that when they first came here they were an enlightened people, having a knowledge of the true God; that the prophets and inspired writers amongst them had been re- quired to keep a true record of their history, which had been handed down for many generations, until the people fell into wickedness; when nearly all of them were destroyed, and the records by command of God were safely deposited to preserve them from the hands of the wicked who sought to destroy them. If faithtul he was to be the highly favored instrument in bringing these records to light.
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HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
"The angel now disappeared, leaving him in a state of perfect peace, but visited him several times afterwards, instructing him concerning the great work of God about to commence on earth. He was instructed where these records were deposited, and re- quired to go immediately to view them. They were found on the side of a hill slightly buried in the earth, secured in a stone box, on the road from Palmyra to Canandagua, in New York, about three miles from the village of Manchester. The records were said to be engraved on gold plates in Egyptian characters ; the plates were of the thickness of tin, bound together like a book, fastened on one side by three rings which run through the whole and formed a volume of about six inches in thickness. And in the same box with them were found two stones, transparent and clear as crystal, the Urim and Thummim used by seers in ancient times, the instruments of revelations of things distant, past, or future.
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