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 83
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"Oh, vale of Rio Bravo, let thy simple children weep. Close watch about their holy fires, let maids of Pecos keep. For lo, the pale land seeker comes with eager eyes of gain Wide-spreading like the Bison herd on green Salada's plain. Full hot and fast the Saxon rides with rein of travel slack And bending o'er his saddle leaves the sunrise at his back."
The nature and character of the country demanded such a people, and they sprang forth; they had a mission to fulfill, and they addressed themselves to the task of fulfilling it. That mission was the peopling of new states, establishing societies founded on law and order, subduing
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the wilds of the unknown west, and with capital and labor combined preparing this vast region of country as a home for the teeming millions of the future. Those men by their energy and bravery, gave us safety where they found danger, gave us quiet and peace where they found savage warfare. We reckon it almost in days since the time when, where we now sit surrounded by all comforts and luxuries of civilized life, the wild prairie grass waved in the wind, and the pon- derous buffalo galloped over the plain unmolested by the pale hunter, and to quote an eloquent writer, "Here lived and loved another race of people. Beneath the same sun that shines on us the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer; gazing on the same moon that nightly smiles on us, the Indian lover wooed his dusky mate. Here, too, they warred, and when the tiger strife was over, here curled the smoke of peace." This has all passed away, and the pioneer has gone.
Joyful on his way
To wed Penobscot's water to San Francisco's bay, To make the rugged places smooth and sow the vales with grain. And bear with liberty and law the bible in his train."
It is no easy task to determine with certainty who was actually the first to make a permanent settlement in this county, and if a slight error shall be found in this sketch, it will only show the liability of any one to fall into an error, while trusting to memory of others as to dates and events running back for a half of a century. The writer has sought what seemed to be the most reliable source of information. Little could be found recorded to throw light upon the questions.
In 1828 John Campbell came to this section of country and made his home on Henderson river, about two miles east of Oquawka land- ing, on what has been for many years known as the "Devil's Half Acre," a name given the locality by Rev. Peter Cartwright in early times on account, as he thought, of its appropriateness. Mr. Campbell improved the land now owned by Newton Wood on the S. W. } of Sec. 35, T. 11 N., 5 W., being the field that lies north of the Oquawka road and east of Mr. Wood's house. He broke the ground in 1828. and raised a crop on it in 1829. In the year 1828 James Ryerson settled in the territory embraced within this county, on Sec. 3. T. 10 N .. 5 W., upon which he has ever since resided, and broke the land prepara- tory to a crop for the following year. In the same year. however, he raised a crop on the land then owned by S. S. Phelps on Henderson creek, about two miles southeast of Oquawka, on what is now known as the Capt. James Findley farm. Mr. Ryerson still maintains his bodily and mental faculties, although upward of eighty years of age. He is often seen on the streets of the town actively attending to his
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every-day business. Throughout his long life he has ever maintained a high character as a citizen, and in all the relations of life his charac- ter stands without reproach. Prior to 1828 Jeremiah Smith erected a saw-mill near the place where now stands the flour-mill on Henderson, upon the "Half Acre." In the year 1828 Smith and a partner built an addition to the saw-mill and placed two run of stone in it for grinding grain. Shortly afterward Martin Woods settled at this mill. locality and became the active miller at that place. He and his son (Newton Woods) still reside upon premises adjoining the mill. This mill property has changed hands many times, and the locality was familiarly called "Jack's Mills," on account of the name of the owner at one time being Andrew T. W. Jack, an eccentric Scotchman, who for many years carried on the milling business. The mill property is at present owned and operated by Jacob Rodmacher, who continues to do considerable business in a small way.
Large mills with all the modern improvements that science has brought to bear, together with the aid of concentrated capital, have wrought out a new order of things in the milling business, by pro- ducing a better article of flour, and at a lower price than can be afforded by small mills run upon the old style of doing business. These large mills have rendered the small ones comparatively valueless, and no longer in demand by the people. So it is in almost every other branch of business. In lumber, the large mill establishments have practically destroyed the small manufacturers, and compelled them to adopt like systems of combination of capital and labor, or see themselves under- sold until they are forced to leave the market. In the business of pork packing, in early time, every town upon the Mississippi river had its packing establishments, where a flourishing business was done during the winter months, in cutting hogs and curing the meat, and when spring opened navigation the steamers took this meat and lard in barrel and bulk to St. Louis or New Orleans. Now that is all passed away, and the business now is only carried on in the large cities, where immense structures and improved processes enable them to do the work more economically than can be done in small establishments.
Among the early settlers of the territory now embraced within the present limits of Henderson county was Judge John Pence. He was born January 15, 1776. in Shenandoah county, Virginia. In early life he was a slave-holder, but upon the death of his first wife, he freed all of his slaves and removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where he again married and removed to Bartholomew county, Indiana. Shortly after he became a citizen of the latter state he was elected county judge of Bartholomew county, and held the office for a term of six years. At
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this time his second wife died. and he married for his third wife a widow lady by the name of Record, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Heaton. From Indiana he removed to Illinois and settled near Joliet. where he lived for a short time. when he again moved and took up his residence in Rock Island county, in an old block house built by an In- dian chief, Black Hawk. He raised one crop at this point and then removed to a point on Henderson river. about three miles northeast of Oquawka, where he made his final settlement and home. The place has ever since been known by old settlers as the "Old Pence Farm." This was in 1829 that he made his last settlement. In 1830 the county of Warren was organized. and Judge Pence was elected commissioner with Adam (Sandy) Ritchie. and John B. Talbott. Warren county was then divided into two election precincts: the eastern being what is now Warren county, and the western being composed of what is now Her derson county. then known as the Yellow Banks precinct. In the latter precinct Judge Pence and Daniel McNeil. Jr., were elected justices. In 1830 the hostilities were com- menced by the Indians under the great chief. Black Hawk. and the settlers along Henderson river. near Judge Pence's place. feeling inse- cure and fearing the attack of savages, assembled and erected a rude but substantial fort on the farm of Judge Pence. which immediately became the refuge of settlers in that neighborhood. who gathered in to be in readiness to repel anticipated raids of the savage foe. The site of the old fort is well remembered by the old settlers of this section of country. At this fort, during those stormy times. a son was born to the judge, who was known. until he became a young man. by the name of Black Hawk. Judge Pence was one of those noble. great-hearted men. always to be found upon the frontiers. ever ready to aid those around him in need. He lived and died loved and respected by all who knew him. His daughter. Mrs. Catharine Shores. thus remembers and speaks of her father : "Often he would bring the sick and afflicted home with him and take care of them, as though they were members of his own family. free of charge. I well remember the sides of bacon. sacks of flour and potatoes. the gallons of honey. that he from time to time, distributed among his needy neighbors. Our father, by industry and economy, always managed to have a good supply of necessaries of life around him. but he always felt that he held this world's goods only in trust for his suffering fellow man, as well as for himself. While he resided in Ohio and Indiana he was an ordained Baptist preacher. and sometimes. after he took up his residence in Henderson county. he occupied some unprovided pulpit and preached to his neighbors. He was a Christian, and at all times endeavored to live up to the teachings
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of the bible. He was the father of sixteen children, and raised six orphans besides. He died in 1841, at his old homestead, and his wife survived him two years."
Dr. Isaac Garland came to the present site of Oquawka, then known as the Yellow Banks, and erected the first house at that place in 1827. We find in the account compiled for the history of Warren county, that the doctor, in giving an account of his building of his house, says: "There were no white men to help him, save his teamster, and in the emergency he hired six or eight Indians, who were encamped at a point of timber below. He had to pay for each log as it was rolled to its place, and then give them a drink all around. As they were unused to such labor, and particularly after they had imbibed two or three. drinks of liquor, thereby becoming unsteady in their movements, they were unable to perform heavy work. Often at this stage of the labor, the logs, which were unhewn and of black- jack variety, and coming down on their bare arms and breasts, would tear off great flakes of skin. They would give an ejaculatory 'ouch,' and at once quit work for the day. Their love of the 'fire-water' was so great, however, that they would always return the following day, thereby repeating the process until the house was completed." A few other houses were built during this year (1827). In 1828-9 quite a number of settlers came and located in different parts of the county. Judge John Pence settled on Henderson creek, at what is known as the " old Penee place ;" Jeremiah Smith settled on Henderson creek, about two miles east of Oquawka, near what was afterward known as the "Devil's Half Acre." James Ryason located a little lower down the creek.
Stephen S. Phelps in 1828 purchased the improved claim of Dr. Garland, at the Yellow Banks, and removed his family to their new home. Jeremiah Smith and Beatty settled nearly about the same time. At the election held in Warren county in the year 1830, Stephen S. Phelps was duly elected sheriff. At that election there were cast in the county of Warren, including the present territory of Henderson, forty-seven votes, and every voter in the county was present, save three. John Reynolds received thirty-four votes for governor, and for the same office, William Kinney received eleven votes. Mr. Phelps was a native of the state of New York. As a full biographical sketeh will appear in this volume from the pen of Mrs. Phebe Button, his daughter, who is in possession of his journals and papers, it is not necessary here to speak more at length of one who performed a prominent part in the early settlement of the county.
William R. Jamison settled in Henderson county in 1829. He
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was born in Grayson county, Kentucky. January 8, 1808, and removed to Perry county, Indiana, with his parents. Here he remained until he became a man. He married in Perry county. In 1829 he came to Henderson county, landing at the Yellow Banks in the summer of that year, and made a settlement on a farm about seven miles southeast of the latter place. He succeeded, as all enterprising and industrious settlers did, opening a large farm and making fine improvements of buildings, orchards and nurseries. In 1847 he removed to Oquawka and engaged in mercantile business with Alexander Moir. He closed his business in Oquawka and in 1865 removed to the state of Florida. where he engaged in the cultivation of an orange plantation, at which place he died on the 17th of June, 1882. Two of his sons still reside in Illinois, one in Minnesota, one in Nebraska, and one in Florida.
In 1838 Messrs. Robinson and Hopper built the first flour mill on the South Henderson creek, at a point where now Biggsville is located. and operated it as a toll mill to accommodate other settlers in the sur- rounding country. The property changed owners until it became the property of John Biggs, who, after years of experience in running a mill in a new country, disposed of his interest to Messrs. Moirs, of Oquawka, who continued to operate it until about 1860, when it passed into the hands of others.
Mr. Hopper had, prior to the year 1836, built a lumber mill at the place now known as "Hopper's Mills." Afterward it was changed to a flour mill and has continued as such to the present time. Lambert Hopper, son of the original proprietor, succeeded his father in business at "Hopper's Mill." He engaged extensively in mercantile business and carried on his business in all its varied branches with marked success. He established a woolen mill for the manufacture of woolen cloths, and by his enterprise aided in building up a thriving village. He was a man respected and trusted by all his neighbors. and his death was a great misfortune to the community in which he resided. No one succeeded him to carry on the business he had built up, and it gradually went to decay, and now there is little left to tell of the thriving business of which he was the life.
In 1836 Isaiah J. Brook came to this section of country, seeking a location for a home. He purchased the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 34, in T. 10 N., R. 5 W .. in the present limits of Henderson county, and the fol- lowing year removed with his family to his purchase, and made it his future home. The country was new, and he improved his lands, and from time to time added to the same until he could claim the owner- ship of many broad acres. Industry, economy, and a peculiar apti- tude for business soon placed him among the foremost business men
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of the county. His family of sons and daughters grew to maturity beneath the family roof, and are now all situated in homes of their own. Only a few weeks since his two remaining single daughters wedded husbands of their choice, and Mr. Brooks, finding himself and his estimable wife again alone, disposed of his home-farm and now will seek that repose and freedom from active business cares which his merited success will enable him to enjoy.
Another of the early settlers of the county was Matthew Findley, who settled near the Yellow Banks. He was of Irish parentage and born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1793, where he resided with his parents until he was seventeen years old, when his family removed to Muskingum county, Ohio. In the latter place on reaching manhood he married Miss Elizabeth Blackburn, and settled down to farming.
In October, 1835, he removed to Warren county, and spent the following winter on a farm near the present site of Kirkwood. In the spring of 1836 he removed to and settled in Sec. 36, T. 11 N., R. 5 W., in then Warren county, where three of his sons and one unmar- ried daughter still reside. He raised a family of six children, four sons and two danghters, all of whom survive him: David M., Alex- ander, Matthew M .. John Q., Sarah, and Eliza Jane. David, one of the brothers, resided near the old homestead, a prosperous and re- spected citizen, until 1875, when, on account of his health, he removed to San Luis Obispo county, California, where he now resides, engaged extensively in farming. The other three brothers still reside on or near the place upon which their father first settled, engaged in extensive and successful farming. The father died at his home, surrounded by his family and friends, April 1, 1863. He had been chosen by the votes of his fellow citizens to county offices, the duties of which he discharged with signal fidelity. He was justly entitled to the reputa- tion he enjoyed among his fellow citizens of an honest man. His wife did not long survive him, and in her death a tragic event occurred.
It was on September 25, 1863, that Mrs. Findley, who resided with her son and daughter on the old home place, told her daughter that she was going out to pick some wild grapes that grew near the edge of a corn field not far from the house, in a skirt of timber, as she was very fond of them. Her daughter sought to dissuade her from going, as she was old and feeble, although in good health, but the old lady replied that she could go alone, as the distance was short, and she would not be absent long. She took her little tin bucket and started out at about three o'clock in the afternoon. Her daughter being
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engaged in work did not fear any danger, although her mother was absent for a considerable length of time. At last, her mother not returning, the daughter grew anxious, looked out for her. She became alarmed and sought her brother and told him of the mother's absence. They, together with other members of the family, went in haste to make search for their mother. Night set in and they found her not. They searched every path and place where she might have wandered, the friends assisting, and with lanterns and torches they still continued their efforts until at last some time after darkness had set in they came upon the lifeless remains of their mother. She lay near a small tree, upon the ground where she had been picking grapes, her bucket by her side. At first it was supposed that she had fallen, perhaps with some sudden attack incident to old age, and had thus died. They took her up and mournfully proceeded to carry her to their home. She was buried in the family cemetery. The friends felt that a mys- tery was connected with her death. On the day following her burial it was learned that two boys from Oquawka had been in the vicinity where the body was found, on the afternoon of her death, hunting, and that they had told that one of them had fired at something in a grapevine or tree in the thicket, that he thought was a turkey, and that he saw something like a person fall. The boys were frightened and fled without looking to see what they had shot. The body was exhumed, and R. W. Richey, county judge, acting as coroner, held an inquest on the body. Upon surgical examination being made, it was found that a leaden shot had penetrated through the upper lid of the eye and entered the brain, causing death in a short time. The boys, Frank Dallam and Greely Mathews, aged respectively fourteen and and ten years, admitted being in the vicinity and shooting as above described, but claimed that they had no knowledge or intention of doing anything wrong. The friends of Mrs. Findley never charged or believed that the act was an intentional one, but felt that it was the result of that reckless habit of neglect on the part of parents in permit- ing such mere boys to have the control of fire-arms to use at their pleasure. Many casualities, for we cannot call them accidents, have occurred in this county by allowing such reckless, not to say criminal. use of fire-arms by inexperienced boys. This should have been a sufficient lesson, teaching those who have charge and care of such boys, to lay a more careful restraint upon them in this direction. The coro- ner's jury, in this case, found a verdict in accordance with the facts herein stated.
John Curts came to this county prior to the year 1836, and settled on Sec. No. 35, T. 9 N., R. 6 W., about three miles east of Sho-
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kokon, on the Mississippi river. At first he engaged in farming and stock raising as it was carried on in that early day. He had come from the State of Pennsylvania, and was educated in early life in those habits of industry and economy, which lay the sure foundation of com- petency and wealth. He had three sons and five daughters all of whom reached the age of majority. He rapidly, by his business capacity, acquired property, and, assisted by his two sons, Horatio and John Fredericks, he managed a large farm to which he gradually made additions. To make a better market for the products of his farm he shipped his pork and grain to the Wisconsin pine regions, taking in exchange pine lumber which he brought by river to Shokokon and established a lumber trade. Finding this a profitable trade his son Horatio located in Wisconsin, purchased largely of pine lands, and thus with his two sons Mr. Curts carried on a successful and profitable business. Three of his daughters married and settled in Henderson county. One married in Texas, and one in Iowa. His son Thomas lived and died in Pennsylvania. Horatio died in Shokokon. The father, John Curts, purchased a beautiful home in Burlington, Iowa, just south of the railroad bridge, and removed there to spend the eve- ning of his days, leaving John Fredericks Curts, his son, in possession of the home place known as the "Bear Grove" farm in Henderson county. In 1874 the old gentleman met with a severe accident by falling down the basement stairs of his dwelling which resulted in his death in a few days. He died at Burlington March 12, 1874. Upon opening his will it appeared that he had left nearly all of his property, which consisted of lands in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Arkansas, bank stock, and other personal property to his son, John Fredericks Curts. For so doing he felt his reasons were sufficient. His son thus favored had been a true and faithful son, companion and assistant to his father, and his loyalty to his father found this return. The other legal heirs, feeling that they had been dealt unjustly with by the terms of the will, commenced in the circuit court of Des Moines, Iowa, legal proceedings to set aside the will on grounds of undue influence, and mental incapacity.
The case was tried before Judge Drayer and a jury, in the city of Burlington, in 1875, and attracted much attention in this county on account of the magnitude of the amount involved, the interest mani- fested by the citizens of this county, the length of time consumed, and the array of counsel participating in the trial. The trial lasted about four weeks, and on account of the engagement of attorneys. in the case belonging on this circuit, the Henderson county cir- cuit court was compelled to adjourn for one week to enable them to.
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complete the case. Mr. John Curts had long resided in this county, and a deep interest was felt in the determination of the contest. For the proponents of the will there appeared Hon. B. J. Hall, of Burling- ton, Charles M. Harris, Jonathan Simpson, James H. Stewart, and J. H. Jennings, of Illinois. For the complainants there appeared Hon. P. H. Smythe, Messrs. Tracy & Son, Thomas Hledges, and Mr. Antrobus, of Burlington, and Hon. John J. Glenn, of Illinois. After a long contest, as above stated, the case was finally submitted to a jury. who, after a deliberation of two days, were unable to agree, and were discharged by the court. Then a change of venue was applied for, and the case sent to Fairfield, Jefferson county. Iowa, for trial. Not long after, the attorneys, with the consent of all parties interested, made an amicable adjustment of the matter by dividing the property. By this decision John Fredericks Curts received two-thirds of all the estate of his deceased fatlier, and the other heirs received the other third, to be divided among them. Thus ended a contest which gained more notoriety than any case that had been tried in any of our courts for many years. John Fredericks still lives on the old home farm, known as Bear Grove farm, happy, prosperous, and contented. On an eminence near his house he has laid out and beautified a private cemetery. In this spot repose the remains of his father, mother, and brother Horatio. On their graves he has erected three costly marble monuments, to mark the spot where rests all that remains of that father, mother, and brother, whom in life he loved so well. It is his constant care to adorn and beautify this place, and thus keep green the memories of his departed ones. May he long live to enjoy his surroundings, which he has so justly earned.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
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