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 67

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 904

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 67

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Jons, son of Samuel and Nehusta Griffin, was born in the town of Lee, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 29, 1795. He remained at home with his parents until seventeen years of age, when he went

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

to Athens, New York, where he was apprenticed to learn the weaving trade. Ile followed that business until nineteen years old, when he was drafted, and, with a New York regiment, sent to Brooklyn Heights, where he took part in the war of 1812. He was married in 1816 to Miss Mary Hoag, a native Columbia county. The family emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, in the spring of 1841, and bought land in section 13 in Greene township. He lived on his farm until June, 1865, when he was called away, leaving a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn his departure. His widow, Mary Griffin, still resides on the old homestead. She was born in Pittstown, New York. June 17, 1798. She united with the Methodist Episcopal church in 1821, and has ever adhered to the faith. She states that the family frequently walked to Farlow's Grove, a distance of four miles, to attend religious services. The names of the children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: William H. (deceased), Henry G. (now a resident . of Henry county, Illinois), James M. (deceased), Sarah (deceased), HTuldah G. (now the wife of Anson Calkins, of Henry county), Mary E. (deceased), Septimus, and George (deceased). The grim harvester has robbed her of many of her loved ones, and she will probably soon follow, leaving a noble example for those who survive her.

CHARLES W., son of John and Elizabeth Southern, was born in Giles county, Virginia, in 1829. When thirteen years of age his father's family emigrated to Cedar county, Iowa, where he remained until 1850, when he came to Mercer county, Illinois, and bought land in section 21, Greene township. Mr. Southern was married in 1851 to Miss Ruth Hoover, a native of Ohio. The names of their children in the order of their ages, are as follows : Catharine E. (now the wife of George Martin), Sarah E. (now the wife of Taylor Ashenhurst, residing in Adair county, Iowa), William L., and Levi M. Mr. Southern devoted his entire attention to farming until. March, 1865, when he enlisted in Co. A, 83d Ills. Inf. He was discharged September 11 in the same year. Mr. Southern has served as commissioner of highways six years and is an efficient officer.

WILLIAM, son of Thomas and Hannah Terrey, was born in Smith- town, Long Island, May 17, 1799. In 1808 his father's family removed to New York city. In 1811 William went to Troy and remained one year, after which he went to Vermont, where he remained until the latter part of 1814, when he returned to Troy, and while there wit- nessed the peace celebration that took place in January, 1815. While in that city he was engaged as a clerk in a hardware store, which he continued until the fall of 1836, when, owing to the state of his health he resolved to try a change of climate. Although his physician told

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GREENE TOWNSHIP.

him he could not live two years he still survives, and for one of his age is hale and hearty. He came to Buffalo by canal and there took a schooner bound for Chicago. When off North Point on Lake Erie a severe storm struck them and all the heavy articles, including a stock of hardware belonging to Mr. Terrey, was thrown overboard. This mishap left him without anything to speak of, and after reaching Chicago he came out to Mercer county and bought a claim in what is now section 36, Greene township, borrowing money at twenty-five per cent with which to make the purchase. Mr. Terrey was married December 12, 1824, to Miss Barbara Vanalstyne, a native of New York, born December 16, 1806. The fruits of the union was four chil- dren, all of whom are dead, and whose names are as follows : Mary E. (deceased February 22, 1826), Isaac B. H. (deceased September 17, 1833), Catharine A. (deceased May 11, 1837), and Emily, (deceased July 24, 1840). James William, adopted shortly after the death of Mary E., was born February 17, 1826. His wife, Barbara, died in August, . 1866. He was again married in October, 1868, to Mrs. Chloe H. Burrill, a native of New York. In 1843 Mr. Terrey was elected county assessor, which office he held six terms. In 1849 he was elected county treasurer and served four years in that capacity. When he first assessed Keithsburg there were but three houses in the village.

WARREN L., son of Uriah and Rhoda Smith, was born in Medina county, Ohio, April 27, 1842. The family, consisting of his father, mother and five children, emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, in 1851, and located on section 27, Greene township. His father, in early times, took an active part in public affairs, and was deputy sheriff during the years of 1856, 1857-S. Warren remained at home, assisting his father on the farm until February 15, 1862, when he enlisted in Co. B, 65th Ill. Inf. In 1864, he re-enlisted at Louisville, Kentucky, and was with that regiment during all the terrible battles in which it took part. He was mustered out July 15, 1865, at Greensborough, North Carolina. He was married August 30, 1866, to Miss Orinda Morey, daughter of B. F. Morey, Esq., of Greene township. The fruits of this union are three children, namely : Arthur W., Charles L., and Nellie L. Mrs. Smith died January 25, 1882, in her thirty-fifth year, leaving a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn her loss. Mr. Smith is a member of the A.F.A.M. lodge, No. 577, of which he is a charter member, and was the first Senior Deacon. He is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which he united in 1867.

GEORGE W., son of John and Emeline Morris, was born September 25, 1853, near Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois. In 1879, he pur- chased the farm commonly known as the Cohran farm, in section 16,

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

consisting of eighty acres. Previous to that time, he had made his home with his father. He was married March 13, 1879, to Miss Anna Johnston, daughter of William H. Johnston, of Preemption township. The names of their children are George L., and Frank. Mr. Morris is a farmer of enterprise and industry, and we predict for him a bright . and prosperous future.

EDWIN, son of John and Emeline Morris, was born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1849. He came west with his father in 1851, and has always devoted his attention to farming and stock raising. He was married December 12, 1877, to Miss Emma J. McFate, daughter of Samuel McFate, of Greene township. Mr. Morris, although quite young, has accumulated 160 acres of excellent land in sections 10 and 15.

LUCIUS E., son of Israel A. and Emma Jane Smith, was born in Medina county, Ohio, December 24, 1844. In the year 1850 the family, consisting of the father, mother, and four children, emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and located on section 27, Greene township. . Israel, the father, and the mother, Emma J., were members of the United Presbyterian church, with which they united after coming to Illinois. The subject of this sketch remained at home until March, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. I, 83d Ill. Inf., serving with that regi- ment until mustered out, after which he served two months in the 61st, being discharged in September of the same year. Married in April, 1872, to Miss Harriet F. Thompson, a native of Iowa. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Edith, Lyman, and Leonard. Mr. Smith now resides on section 28, in Greene township.

JOHN MORRIS was born in Somersetshire, England, May 27, 1816. His father and family came to America in 1840, arriving at New York on July 3. They came to Ohio, where the subject of this sketch bought a farm near Cleveland. On March 1, 1847, he was married to Miss Emeline C. Hicks, at Zanesville. In 1851 Mr. Morris and family came to Illinois, by way of the lakes to Chicago, and thence by teams to Mercer county, locating near Keithsburg. His father died here in 1856, in his sixty-eighth year. After residing in Mercer county five years, Mr. Morris moved to Warren county, but again returned to Mercer in 1865, and bought a farm in section 9 in Greene township. to which he has added, by purchase, other land in the vicinity of Viola. Their children, named in the order of their ages, are: Vic- toria M., Edwin and Edmond (who are twins). George W., Clara, Eugene (deceased), Elwood J., Ida S., and Cora M .; besides the above named, three sons and one daughter have been buried in infancy.

ـبدر

A. B. Frazier

701

COMPANY E. NINTH REGIMENT.

COMPANY E. NINTH REGIMEMT.

The Ninth Illinois Regiment was one of the six regiments organ- ized at Springfield for the three months' service. The regiment was mustered into service April 28, 1861, and ordered to Cairo, where it remained during the three months' service in the brigade commanded by Bridadier G. M. Prentiss.

July 26 the regiment was mustered into the three years' service by Capt. Pitcher, U.S. A. About 500 of the three months' men re-enlisted for three years, and on September 1, 1861, the regiment numbered 1040. September 5, 1861, the regiment was ordered to Paducah, where it passed the winter. During the winter expeditions were made to Milburn, Mayfield, Viola, Calloway Landing, and elsewhere in Kentucky. Three hundred men of the ninth, under command of Maj. Jesse J. Phillips, surprised and attacked a force of 200 rebel cavalry at Saratoga, Lyon county, Kentucky, killing eight, wounding several. and taking thirty-six prisioners, besides many horses and equipments.

On February 5, 1862, the regiment moved up the Tennessee river to Fort Henry, and was in the 1st Brig., 2d Div., Army of the Ten- nessee, Col. John McArthur commanding the brigade and Gen. C. F. Smith commanding the division. The brigade moved up the left bank of the Tennessee river, driving the rebels from Fort Heiman and cap- turing all camp equipages and stores there. February 12 they moved to Fort Donelson, and were engaged in that battle with eight com- panies. sustaining a loss of 35 killed, 166 wounded and 6 prisoners. The part taken in this action by Col. McArthur's brigade, of which this regiment formed a part, has no place in any official report of that action. His brigade, which formed a part of Gen. Smith's division, was detached to the support of the first division, commanded by Brig. Gen. McClernand, and was engaged on the right of our army during the fighting of Saturday, February 15, where most of the severe fight- ing took place.

February 22 they moved up the Cumberland river and occupied Clarksville. February 27 they moved to Nashville, and returned March 1. March 6 they embarked for Paducah and up the Tennessee to Pittsburg Landing, where they disembarked March 19. The regi- ment was engaged at the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, and sustained a loss on the 6th of 61 killed, 287 wounded and two prisoners. Out of the twenty-six officers of field, staff and line, twenty-one were killed or wounded. The second brigade was commanded by Brig .- Gen. John McArthur and the division by Brig .- Gen. W. H. L. Wallace.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

During the advance upon Corinth the brigade was commanded by Brig .- Gen. J. R. Oglesby and the division by Brig .- Gen. Thomas A. Davies. On the evacuation of Corinth the division, attached to the third army corps (Maj .- Gen. John Pope commanding), pursued the re- treating enemy to Booneville. twenty-five miles south. They remained in camp at Corinth from Jure 13 to August 16, and at Rienzi, fifteen miles south of Corinth, until October 1. The brigade was engaged at the battle of Corinth, October 3 and 4, and sustained a loss of nine- teen killed, eighty-two wounded and fifty-two prisoners. After the engagement the regiment was ordered, one battalion to Danville and one to Rienzi, from whence they were ordered to Corinth November 27. December 13 the regiment was ordered out on a reconnoissance to Gemtown, Saltillo, Tupelo, and Marietta, Mississippi. The brigade (9th reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., 81st Ohio Inf., 1st batt. Stewart's Ill. Cav., and two guns of Tanrath's battery), commanded by Col. Aug. Mersey, captured seventy-eight prisoners and a large number of horses and mules.

As originally organized, Alexander G. Hawes, of Belleville, was captain of Co. E, which was largely raised in Mercer county. William D. Craig, of Aledo, was first lieutenant, and Roswell B. Patterson, of Belleville, was second lieutenant. The first and last named served in their respective offices until the experiation of their terms in 1864. Wm. D. Craig was promoted June 8, 1862, to the office of first assist- ant surgeon, and retained that position until the expiration of his term, August 20, 1864.

Near the expiration of their term, the regiment was reorganized and consolidated, and Thomas C. Kidd, of Springfield, was chosen captain of Co. E, Thomas F. Mcclintock, of Aledo, first lieutenant, and Wm. P. Reese, second lieutenant. David D. Bigger, of Henderson, was surgeon ; Charles B. Fleming, of Keithsburg, was second lieutenant of Co. A, and was afterward promoted to first lieutenant. For some time before and after the consolidation, the regiment followed the fortunes of Sherman's bummers, as they were styled, through to Savannah, and north through the Carolinas. In all the 9th is credited with being in 110 battles and skirmishes. Thirteen of Mercer county's best citizens, members of Co. E, gave their lives as a sacrifice for their country's salvation.

703

COMPANY C, TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

COMPANY C. TWENTY-SIXTH INFANTRY.

This company was made up largely of men from Millersburg and vicinity. The rest of the company was from Bond county. It was organized August 23, 1861, and mustered into service the same day. George W. Keener, of Bond county, was elected captain, Thomas L. Vest, of the same county, first lieutenant, and James A. Dugger, of Millersburg, second lieutenant. Dugger was, upon the resignation of the captain, and again of the first lieutenant, promoted to each posi- tion, and in the office of captain he was serving when he was killed, July 16, 1863. James H. Comer, of Millersburg, served awhile as second lieutenant, and James Manies and John McAllister, of the same place, each served as first lieutenant. This company was, how- ever, considered a Bond county company, and in the main was officered by men from that county. Seventeen members, formerly residents of Mercer county, were either killed or met their death from disease contracted in the army.

The 26th regiment was partially organized at Camp Butler, August. 31, 1861, and were ordered to Quiney for the protection of that place. Their first arms were as primitive as could be desired, being simply hickory clubs. During the latter part of the year they changed their munitions of war to something but little better, the old English mus- ket. These did quite well, however, as they were not called upon to put them into active use until three other companies (the original num- ber being seven) were added. The marches, engagements, skirmishes and privations, from that time forth, were all that the most heoric could desire. At New Madrid the regiment was first engaged, after whiel Fort Pillow, siege of Corinth (Co. G of this regiment being the .first to enter after evacuation), Iuka, siege of Jackson (where Captain Dugger was killed), Mission Ridge, were scenes of conflict in which the regiment was engaged. At the last named place the regiment suffered greatly, losing in killed and wounded one-tenth of the regi- ment. On June 1, 1864, there were only 515 men present ready for duty, of whom 463 re-enlisted as veterans. After a home furlough the regiment went on the Atlanta campaign, thence to Savannah, and finally through the Carolinas, and participated in the grand review at Washington. The general features of the marches and engagements are so fully given in this book, in the course of other regiments, that details and repetition are not considered advisable at this time.

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

PREEMPTION TOWNSHIP.

Than the township of Preemption, as the traveler now beholds it. it would be hard indeed to conceive a place which affords scenes of greater beanty. homes indicative of more thrift, or resources more avail- able and giving stronger assurance of wealth and luxury ; so diversi- tied is its surface, so various its products. In the north are broad, fer- tile prairies, occupied by prosperous farmers, who have expended no little money in beautifying their homes. Indeed. the gently undulat- ing prairies invite irresistably to expend time and taste in ornamenta- tion. so fully do they reveal and enhance every touch of beauty given them. They have accordingly been studded with fine residences. set amidst ornamental trees and shrubs and full-blooming orchards ; their rich acres enclosed with neatly trimmed hedges, whose dark-green con- trasts harmoniously with the broad fields of waving grain.

In the south the surface is sharply broken and covered in places with a heavy growth of jack-oak and hazel, but well adapted to pur- poses of grazing. Here also are found large quantities of excellent coal and building stone. The Edwards river affords perfect drainage to the entire township, besides adding to its varied beauty of scenery by the deep gorges and precipitous ravines ent by its numerous tribut- aries.

Very different, but scarcely less beautiful, must have been this favored section when, in 1835, John Farlow and Hopkins Boone, in- short snecession, with their families, entered and set about preparing homes. Then the prairie stretched away to the north, brightened with the gorgeous hues of native flowers : about him was the deep silence of a large white oak forest and all the rudeness and lonliness of the un- trodden wilderness. At their doors flowed the beautiful but treacher- ous Edwards river, its banks now rising rough and precipitous, now spreading out into broad, fertile bottoms. Instead of the busy sounds of labor, the cheerful voices of friendly neighbors, were heard the how] of the wolf, the cry of the wild-cat. the hateful rattle of the rattlesnake. Instead of herds of cattle, deer roamed the prairies and started from the thickets ; instead of the cries of domestic fowl were heard the whir of the grouse's wing, the whistle of the quail, and the call of the wild turkey, while multitudes of geese and ducks covered the ponds in the bottoms of the Edwards river. Yet with all its rudeness, its beauty and promise must have foreshadowed to the mind of the pioneer the ¡ resent prosperity and wealth of Preemption township. For nearly a year John Farlow and Hopkins Boone had no neighbors, there being

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PREEMPTION TOWNSHIP.

no family between them and Rock river on the north, and but one between them and Mommonth on the sonth.

In the following spring there came into the settlement, with their families, Rev. John Montgomery, a Presbyterian minister, and James Boone, from Pennsylvania, and from Indiana, Gabriel Barkley, Christopher Miller and Rev. Joseph Jones, a Baptist preacher. But they were still isolated from any considerable settlement, for there was no road. the only line of communication being an Indian trail leading from Monmouth to Rock Island, which could be traveled only on foot or on horseback: there was no postoffice, no convenient market. no mill. But this state of affairs did not long continue ; the natural ad- vantages of the location attracted settlers and the increasing population and production demanded increased facilities for the transfer of emi- grants and the transportation of erops to market.

In 1832 a road had been laid out from Beardstown to Galena, fol- lowing the main route to the lead mines located at the latter place. This road, however, was impassable by wagons on account of the river . banks being so cut out by the swift currents of the streams, until in 1837 the county built across the Edwards river, on section 34, a trestle bridge, covered with oak plank. The only other regularly laid out road previous to 1840 was the state road, leading from New Boston, Mercer county, to a town in Henry county, now defunct, named Rich- mond.

In 1838 there came into the northern part of the township Benjamin Clarke, David Little, John Beirbean, and Charles Minick, settling on section 1 and 2, and E. J. Farwell, on section 14. Only those who went through the trials of these early times can appreciate their so- verity. Now railroads intersect the county in various directions ; hard roads and good bridges make stations easily accessible ; mercantile enterprise brings the products of the best mills and factories to one's very doors. Not so at the early days of which we write. Then the settler must go long distances to mill with his grist, and there wait his turn to have it ground. The particular settlers of whom we write. were obliged to go to Monmouth to mill, fording on their way both the Pope creek and the Edwards river. To market their produce they must go miles away over the prairies to New Boston, or to the town of Stevenson, now Rock Island. Had the prices of their crops brought been proportionate to the labor of getting them to market, or had the cost of the necessaries of life been correspondingly low, their hard- ships, though still great, would have been much relieved. Unfortun- ately, neither condition existed : witness the following schedule of prices : Wheat. twenty-five cents per bushel. to be paid for in goods

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

(at what prices we shall presently see) ; corn, if one could sell at all, ' ten cents per bushel ; dressed hogs weighing 200 pounds and upward. $1.50 per hundred ; hogs of lighter weight at a less price. Mr. Boone relates, as a fair illustration, this incident : learning that a certain merchant at Andalusia, Iowa, was paying $2 per hundred for good dressed pork, and needing some salt, he 'and his hand spent a day at killing and dressing such hogs as he had ready for market. Proceed- ing by a laborious route to Andalusia, lie sold his pork, 450 pounds, for $9. Recrossing the river at Davenport, to Rock Island, he bought his salt, paying therefor $9, or +50 pounds of dressed pork. In 1837 these settlers obtained a postoffice, located at the residence of Hopkins Boone, the second in the county, called the Farlow's Grove postoffice. The postage was twenty-five cents a letter, just the price of a bushel of wheat. The mail came at long intervals and irregularly, carried on horseback along the old Indian trail. As the county grew, the postal facilities increased, till now the office, removed since to the village of Preemption, receives and sends daily mails. With the growth of the farming interests, the development of the mineral resources has kept equal pace. The demand for stone has steadily increased with the population. The quarries have furnished the stone for most of the cellars and wells of the township. Shortly after the settlement of the township, coal was found cropping out in various places. It has proved to be of good quality, abundant in quantity, easily accessible. One vein is five feet in thickness. The depth of the veins below the surface varies from twenty-five to seventy-five feet. This industry has far outgrown the demands of the township and surrounding country, and the railroad, built by Mr. Cable, finds lucrative employment in conveying to other points the surplus production of this and Richland Grove township mines. This brief sketch but very insufficiently indi- cates the great resources of the township. Perhaps the best indication of what is in store for its citizens in the future will be a statement of its present wealth, accumulated in less than a half century since the first settler pitched his tent within its limits. The population has increased to 1,410 in 1880. In 1881 the assessed value of lands was $362, 743 ; of town lots, $1,170 ; of personal property, $125, 164. But this can be hardly more than an earnest of what is yet to be attained here in point of wealth. Besides all this there has grown up a busy village with excel- lent buildings and enterprising merchants. The first hotel, opened by H. E. Wright in 1854, has given place to the excellent house of Mrs. Robt. Hammond. The business of blacksmith shop of Norton Griffith. established in 1853, the wagon shop, opened by W. C. Gray in 1855. has been augmented by the beautiful drug store of Dr. Jas. H. Seyler,

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PREEMPTION TOWNSHIP.

the extensive general store of Win. Hammond, Mr. Brigg's grocery, the large mill operated by Mr. Carver, the lumber yard, and the creamery, controlled respectively by J. E. Otto, and D. W. Little. From this list must not be omitted the name of the veteran merchant, Mr. Phillip E. Stevens, successor with Mr. Wright to Messrs. Whar- ton & Crawford, the first general merchants of the township.

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Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 904

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 904