USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer County : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., gathered from mattter furnished by the Mercer County Historical Society, interviews with old settlers, county, township and other records, and extracts from files of papers, pamphlets, and such other sources as have been available : containing also a short history of Henderson County > Part 20
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before they began to erect school-houses and churches, the same building being used for both purposes. Owing to their proximity to their neighbors on the Mississippi, they endured less privations and hardships than did the colonists who came over in the Mayflower ; but. they were men and women who possessed no less courage and earnest- ness for the principles which had been taught them under the paternal roof. IIad it been theirs to exercise that stubborness to the edicts of kings and priests in defense of human rights, as it was that of the pilgrim fathers, they would have proved equally indomitable and immovable. It has been remarked that men die, are buried, and even their graves are lost ; but their influence, like the stains of human gore, cannot be removed from the coummunity where they resided. This, we must admit, is true of Millersburg township ; its. society is pushing along in the direction laid out by its first settlers.
The township is divided into two geographical divisions by the Edwards river. Between the early settlers of each there was but little communication, because of there being no bridges across this stream. Settlements were made in the township both north and south of the river about the same time in the fall of 1834. The first families to locate south of the river were Harrison Riggs, Ebenezer Creswell and Edward Willitts. The first located on section 30, and erected the . first cabin in the township ; his wife, Mrs. Julette Riggs, still resides. upon the same farm where she and her husband first located, and where she is patiently waiting the summons that shall call her to a. world with less privations and cares. The second, Ebenezer Creswell, located on section 21, where he built a saw-mill in 1834 or 1835. This. was on Camp creek and was the first mill in the township. The Willitts family located on the same section . as did Creswell. Among others who came shortly after were : Thomas Riggs in 1836, on sec- tion 25 ; Rice Peckingbaugh, on section 21, in 1840 ; Charles Griffith, on section 16, in 1839, where he yet resides ; Isaac Burson, on section 20, in 1837 ; W. Hubbard, on section 32, in 1836 ; Edward Brady, Sr., in 1842 ; John T. McGinnis, in 1846 ; Richard and John S. Kidoo came in 1845 ; William Kidoo and his father came in 1847 ; John and Edward Brady came in 1842; Peter Spangler, Thomas Jackson and others came about 1840, and located south of the Edwards. Thus was civilized society planted in Millersburg on the south of the river. North of the Edwards the first settler located was Benijah Lloyd, on section 5, in 1834. Two years later the town of Millersburg was laid out by the Miller brothers, who had previously settled in another township, about 1834. Among those who located in and around the new town were: H. W. Thornton, in 1836; James Thompson, in
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1838 ; Esq. Routzong, in 1838 ; Erastus, William and Joseph Deni- son came prior to 1840; Judge Gilmore came about 1838, and after- ward moved south of the river opposite where the Peniel church now stands. All of these located either in the village of Millersburg or near by. I. M. Gilmore located east of the village about 1840 : L. B. Howe, Thomas Brighton, Elbridge Howe, W. A. Bridgford and his son, O. A. Bridgford, came about 1840. These and a few others were the pioneers who located in the north part of the township during the period of its early settlement. William Cline was an early settler and great hunter ; his brother, Christian Cline, located in Millersburg.
From 1840 to 1855 the township settled rapidly, and but little land was left unoccupied. . For the names and history of many of those families, reference may be had to the biographical department of this township. Millersburg township was one of the first to be settled away from the Mississippi river. It now seems a short journey to the river, but it must be remembered that half a century ago there were no laid out roads across the country and the streams were without bridges. Then the only products that would bring money or could be exchanged for the necessities of life, were wheat and pork, and these must be transported to the river towns ; nor was this all : there were but few wagons in the country. Sleds were used in summer as well as in winter. Previous to the settlements in Millersburg, only three or four years, the Indians had control of all the country away from the river to Rock Island. Till about 1840 the settlers saw hard times. Their products, wheat and pork, were exchanged at low figures for goods at enormous prices. Many were dependent on credit. But economy and industry, such as the settlers of Millersburg possessed, in such a country of rich land, was soon to overcome the various impediments which then beset her people. The country was wild and the health of the people was not good. Chills and fevers were sure visitors, and not unfrequently permanent inmates of the pioneer homes. With the improvement of health and circumstances. many who had found it difficult to get the benefit of the merchant's credit, established for themselves a better credit than those whose credit they had sought ever had. At the present time some of the most wealthy citizens of the township are those who had hard work to keep the wolf from their door.
The manners and customs of the early settlers and pioneers were those of a plain but honest people. They were social among them- selves and hospitable to strangers. Their houses were small and their food coarse, but welcome to all. Each settler's neighborhood might be
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bounded by a circle whose diameter was twenty miles. Were a family in distress willing hands were ready to administer to its wants.
The entertainments, such as the people now enjoy, were few and far between, and they amused themselves in hunting the wolf, which then could be heard upon every elevation and hollow. The last great hunt of this kind came off in 1840. A large tract of country was surrounded. The point for meeting was southeast of Millersburg, north of the Edwards. Two hundred deer were corralled in the ring, but the wolves. made good their escape. The deer, which at this time were plenty, disappeared almost entirely between 1844 and 1850. Early settlers were annoyed greatly by the wolves. When they killed fresh meat the wolves would come around the house, set up a dismal, heart- rending howl, and even skip about over the roof, but they were so sly that one was seldom killed.
Among the early settlers came a few who delighted to spend their time in hunting and fishing, and others who looked upon horse-racing and other kindred amusements as the highest calling of humanity. These, like the red man, could not endure the telling blows and pros- perity of the more civilized habits and customs which predominated, and have long since disappeared from among the citizens of Millers- burg township.
Mrs. Julette Riggs, the pioneer settler, now living on section 30, had great anxiety to see an Indian baby. She called at a hut near by and implored the inmates to bring the little red skin out that she might examine it, but the mother was not so desirous of exhibiting her offspring as her palefaced sisters seem to be, and coldly imformed Mrs. Riggs if she desired to satisfy her curiosity she must come in, and in she went. William Drury, when he first came to the settlement south of the Edwards, says Mrs. Riggs was exceedingly hungry for meat, Mrs. Riggs being out of that article at the time. Drury went coon hunting and caught several coons, which he had cooked, and they were eaten by him with the remark, "They are superior to mutton in flavor and taste."
Almost with the early settlers of Mercer county there was formed a company of bandits, supposed to have their rendezvous in the north- east of: Mercer and the south part of Rock Island counties, which greatly alarmed the settlers of Millersburg township, especially at such times as they had received any money. The story is told us of Joseph King, living near Millersburg at that time, having received $700. He could not secrete it in his pockets, as it was in gold and silver, and there were no banks in the country. He was so scared that he would not even carry it home, but gave it to a friend, who took it home for
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him. His uneasiness did not cease here. He cleaned up his fowling- piece and stood guard till he could invest his money, which having been done he remarked, "Money is a good thing to have, but a source of pleasure to be rid of when one feels unsafe."
The first death that occurred in the township was in 1835. While Benijah Lloyd was on his way to his claim on section 4, his son, nearly seven years old, fell out of the wagon and was run over by the wheels, killing him instantly. There were no neighbors to assist in the funeral except Ebenezer Creswell and his hired man. The remains were interred at the new home on section 4. We have been told by good authority that Benijah Lloyd was the first to settle in Millersburg town- ship, and equally good authority informs us that Hiram Hardy, Albert P. Taylor (at one time sheriff of the county, at another county clerk) and Ebenezer Creswell were here before him.
Alfred Gray, a wagonmaker by trade, and John Jackson, a black- smith, who had a shop near where Joy is now located, were, we have reason to believe, the first tradesmen of this kind in the township.
The early settlers used to go to Bald Bluff (now Henderson county) for medical aid. Benijah Lloyd thinks the first physician to locate in the township was Dr. Martin Willitts, at Millersburg. Another early physician was Dr. Daniel Pickley, an early sheriff of the county. The first preaching Mr. Lloyd remembers of in the township was at the house of Abraham Miller, by a preacher from (John) Farlow's Grove. named James, a predestinarian Baptist.
VILLAGES.
Millersburg township has two villages, Millersburg and Joy. The former is the oldest laid-out town in the county back from the river, and has a history connected with the county second to none in importance. It was laid out in 1836 by John Miller, after whom the town and township was named. Of the Miller family there were John, George, Abraham, Isaac, and Philip, who were brothers, and Abraham, Jr., son of George. Abraham, Jr., is now living in Oregon. The Millers came to Mercer county from Indiana (they were formerly from Tennessee), and located in Perryton at Sugar Grove in 1834. Abraham, Jr .. was one of the first county clerks of Mercer county. There is not one of the family living in the county at this time. The family was remarkable for their love of pioneer life. and the remaining members, when the country here became settled. moved west.
When Millersburg was first laid out it seemed a fit location for almost anything else rather than a town. The country around could
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scarcely be said to be even sparsely settled. Abraham Miller, Jr., is said to have built the first dwelling-house inside the corporation. James Thompson and William Drury soon after erected the first store- room and sold the first goods. In 1838 Erastus Denison erected the first hotel. The building is still standing. It is a two-story frame. The lower story is now used for a store-room. The upper is occupied by the I.O.O.F. lodge. William Pinckney established a pottery here in 1837 or 1838. The first doctor to locate in the town was Martin Willitts. Among the first attorneys to locate in the town was H. W. Thornton, who has retired from the law practice and now lives on his farm adjoining the village. The first blacksmith shop located here was erected by Thomas Biglow about 1836 or 1837. The first postoffice was established at Millersburg in 1837 or 1838, and mail was received twice a week. William Drury was the first commissioned postmaster. As early as 1839 Millersburg had grown to quite a village.
.The county seat was located here as early as 1836. Courts were held in the hotel till the court-house was completed, which was in 1839. The building is a two-story frame, still standing, and is now occupied by Harrison Bethuram as a wagon and blacksmith shop. The building was when built not only a spacious edifice, but fine. for the time ; now it is a dilapidated structure, presenting every appearance of the ravag- ing hand of time. It was used till 1847 as the office of justice. For several years it was the school-house and church of the town. It stood formerly on the south side of Main street, toward the west end of the town. When the county seat was moved from Millersburg in 1847, H. W. Thornton bought the court-house and moved it to its present location on the south side of the village. He converted it into
a store-room. A jail was erected about the same time. It was a stone structure lined upon the inside with heavy timbers. The first prisoner who became its inmate, had borrowed a horse and failed to return as soon as was expected, hence a warrant was procured and A. P. Taylor. who was then sheriff, set out towards New Boston in search of his game. The sheriff' met the man on his way back to Millersburg with the horse. He. true to his office oath, arrested the man, brought him to Millersburg and lodged him in the jail. But the inhabitants of the town were scarcely wrapped in slumber profound before the prisoner made his escape. All were confident he had no intention of stealing the animal, and no attempt was made for his re-arrest. The second and last person lodged in the building was held prisoner for debt. He enjoyed his meals at the hotel, and was heard to remark that he pre- ferred the lodging and board of the county to that of his own home. He has since become quite well off and now resides in the county.
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The jail was used most of the time by the sheriff for a granary and fodder-house. Sheriff Taylor remarked it ought to be put to some use. It was located on the north side of Main street. a Itttle west of where the court-house stood.
The first wagon shop erected in the town of Millersburg was that of A. P. and Asa G. Shafer in 1856. The former still carries on the business in the same old shop. Then there was no shop of this kind nearer than New Boston. The second was built by Crippin and Powers in 1857. the next by McGlathlin and Jones in 1859, the fourth by James Gilmore in 1861, the fifth by J. H. Longshore about 1862. The last is running a shop doing all kinds of repairing in his line.
The first death in the town was by suicide. The person was a married lady. She deliberately took a handkerchief, put it around her neck and choked herself to death by taking hold of two of the corners with her hands and pulling till she closed the air passage to the lungs.
From the laying out of Millersburg till after the county seat was removed, it was the best business point, outside of Keithsburg and New Boston, in the county. The country trade came here from the east for a distance of fifteen miles. But as other towns sprang up in different parts of the country the trade was divided, and when the county seat was taken away the trade that came here because of the county seat went elsewhere. The unnatural attraction which had brought the business to this point was gone, and Millersburg was cut short in the zenith of her prosperity, and many of her business men went elsewhere. The improvements that have been made here since 1857 are few beyond a few cozy dwellings. But notwithstanding the antiquated appearance of the village, it has a good local trade. It has two stores of general merchandise, one kept by W. W. Eghert. the other by John Farran, two blacksmith shops, one grocery store kept by David T. Howe, one barber shop, one shoe shop. one harness shop. one hotel. kept by William Dunn. The creamery erected here in 1881, by Strattan, is the leading business of the village. It is run by a four horse-power engine, and uses the Elgin cream vats. Its full working capacity is 15.000 pounds of butter per day, and gives em- ployment to twenty men and fifteen teams.
The first and only mill ever erected in the town was built by Steven Strattan about 1850. and run till 1875, when it was torn down and moved south of Millersburg, on the Edwards, and water power is used instead of steam. Since the establishing of the postoffice here, with William Drury as first postmaster. the following persons have had the office : James Thompson. Dr. Allen. H. W. Thornton, JJ. M.
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Nevans, William H. Green and his wife (Mrs. Green held the office for fifteen years, and was postmistress during the war), J. D. Strattan and John Farran, who is present postmaster. Mail is received twice each day.
While Millersburg lost to a great degree her former vivacity in business, she retained her good morals, out of which has grown one of the finest temperance societies in the county, if not in the state. considering her population. Previous to 1868 a temperance society was organized which was of short duration. It seemed to be an aid to the dram-shop, as they located here almost simultane- ously. The more moral and lovers of good society, becoming tired of the increasing vices, products of the dram-shop, met in deliberate assembly for the purpose of driving out from their midst the licensed traffic of intoxicating liquors. The result is, the voice of the people has, since 1868, ruled supreme, and not a saloon has been kept here since that time. The fire that drove the demon from the village has been kept burning brightly since its embers were first fanned into a flame, and out of this, in 1879, grew the Millersburg Christian Tem- perance Union, organized by T. J. Adams, who, prior to effecting the organization, delivered a series of lectures on the subject of temperance. The society was organized with 160 members, and now numbers 400. It uses the blue ribbon badge and the Murphy pledge, and is auxiliary to the state and National Temperance Union. Unlike most societies of its kind, it has no assessments, the funds necessary to defray its expenses being supplied by public collection. Its meetings are held alternately at the Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal churches on Sunday evening of each week. It is now a prosperous society. Its meetings are conducted in the form of entertainments, and the society performs the double office of cultivating the morals of the rising generation and at the same time gives its members an opportunity to cultivate, expand and air their literary powers. Its first officers were : President, J. W. Madox, who still occupies the chair, with Thomas Herman, Mrs. J. M. Gilmore and Mrs. Eddy as vice-presidents ; Recording Secretary, J. M. Grady ; Corresponding Secretary, J. D. Strattan ; Board of Managers, Nelson Taylor, Miss A. Shafer, William Dunn, Rev. G. M. Morey and William Long; Treasurer, Geneva Farran. Present officers are : president, same as the first, with James Repin, Alexander Greene, and James W. Terry, vice-presidents ; Recording Secretary, James Grady ; Corresponding Secretary, Jane Gilmore ; Treasurer, Miss Mattie Bay; Board of Managers, Mrs. Maggie Eghert, Ephraim Gilmore and Annie Williams. The charter was given the society by John P. St. John, president, and J. E. Letton, secretary, of the national society.
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There is yet another society now in operation at Millersburg, for the moral cultivation of its children. This is the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. It was organized in 1880, at the Methodist church. The first members of the society deserve to be remembered by those who come after, as they embrace the ladies of most of the leading families in and about Millersburg. They are as follows : Mrs. Eddy, Mrs. M. Bay, Miss S. E. Thornton, Miss A. Shafer, Mrs. Bur- gess. Mrs. B. C. Greene, Mrs. M. Boyd. Mrs. M. E. Boyd, Mrs. T. Cornell, Mrs. Boyles. Mrs. Vernon, Mrs. L. Thornton, Mrs. L. Landreth, Mrs. M. A. Lee, Mrs. M. E. Sivens, Mrs. Norbury, Mrs. T. Gilmore, Mrs. J. M. Gilmore, Mrs. Dr. Chowning, Mrs. Ellen Everett. Mrs. J. Morey, Miss J. Farran. The funds accumulating from initiation fees and term dues are used to procure reading matter that will interest the children, and direct them in a right direction as to'other literature. The present number of members is eighteen. The first officers of the society were: President, Mrs. E. Eddy; Vice- presidents, Mrs. E. Bay, Mrs. Burges and Mrs. E. Dunn ; Correspond- ing Secretary, Mrs. R. Green : Recording Secretary, Miss S. E. Thornton ; Treasurer, Miss A. Shafer. The present officers are: Mrs. M. Merriman, president, with Mrs. Burges and M. Eghert, vice- presidents : corresponding and recording secretaries same as the first.
The Children's Temperance Society was organized in 1882, with twenty-two members. Its officers are: President, Mrs. Dr. Chown- ing: Vice-Presidents, Miss A. Shafer and Mrs. W. Eghert. This society is kept in the interest of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Credit must be given the ladies of Millersburg and the sur- rounding country for the active and energetic part they have ever taken to build up a good class of society around them. and banish . from their midst those evils and temptations which tend to destroy the harmonious progression of well regulated society.
CHURCH HISTORY.
This part of the history of Millersburg is no less interesting than her temperance history. As we have before stated, in the cabin of the first settler in the town in 1836 begins this department of Millersburg's history. Until the court-house was completed in 1839 the several denominations represented here held their meetings at the houses of their members and in the groves, when, in 1844, the first school- house was built, and meetings were held in it and at the court-house till churches were erected. The first organization of the Presbyterian faith in Mercer county was at what is now known as Pope's Creek, in 1837. with John Montgomery as pastor. The advocates o Presby-
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terianism living at Millersburg and the surrounding country attended church at that place and made up a part of the society. In 1839 they began to have regular services at Millersburg, which were held in the court-house till 1844. but had no organization of their own till about the close of 1843 or the beginning of 1844. John Montgomery was their first regular preacher in the court-house. In 1844, the time of the building of the first school-house in Millersburg. the house was made larger than was needed for school that it might serve for both school-house and church. At this time the following-named persons were dismissed from the Pope Creek church to organize a society at Millersburg : Messrs. E. Gilmore, J. M. Gilmore, Henry Lee, Edward and John Brady, J. T. McGinnis, J. G. Gilmore, A. A. Sherer, Samuel Guffy. John Kiddoo, Graham Lee, David Morrow and H. W. Thornton. The ladies were: Betsy King. Margaret S. Gilmore, Ann J. Taylor, Martha Lee, Mary Marsh. Mary E. Murphy, Sarah E. Lloyd, Sarah Clark. Elizabeth A. Edgar. Elizabeth Davis, Mary M. Steele, Mary Sherer. Eliza Brady. Catherine Gilmore, Tabitha W. Bay, Mary A. McGinnis. Mary Guffy, Eliza Kiddoo. Elizabeth Morrow, E. F. Thornton. Rachel T. Willitts and Hannah Reed, making in all forty- fonr members to organize and establish the first church in Millersburg. The society held services in the above-mentioned school-house till 1854, when was erected the present church edifice, a frame building, at a cost of $1,600. Its size is 40×50, with a seating capacity for 300 persons. It has several times been refitted, and even now, as to outward appear- ances. is comparatively a new building. The ministers who have served this congregation since it began to have preaching are: Rev. John Montgomery, from 1839 to 1843; Thomas Vail, till 1848 or 1849 ; L. V. Crittenden, 1854; A. Loomis, till 1858; J. N. Jamison, till 1861; William Dool. from 1865 to 1869 ; J. McBride. till 1872 ; Joel Kennedy, three years, and till 1879. The present pastor is W. B. Phelps. The first officers of the church were: Elders, Ephraim Gilmore, J. W. Nevius. Shortly after the organization J. T. McGinnis. J. M. Gilmore and Henry Lee were added to the eldership.
The largest membership the society ever numbered at any one time was 140 members. It now numbers little more than one-fourth that number. This reduction has been owing to circumstances. The greatest drain upon the society has been the number that have been dis- missed to organize other societies. At one time there were dismissed forty-five members to organize a society south of the Edwards, at what is now Peniel church : at another, eighteen were dismissed to organize a society at Hamlet in Perryton township : and several were dismissed to unite with the Perryton society in Perryton township. This church
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