History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 112

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 112
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 112

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AMUSEMENTS.

If the early days lacked some of the means of amusement furnished the youth of to-day, it also possessed pleasures which the present gen- eration are deprived of. In 1840 a party or a marriage was a neighbor- hood affair. The people came from far and near; the marriage was "our's " to everybody. A dinner was prepared of the choicest kind : deer and turkey from the forest, fresh fish and wild ducks from the streams, grouse and quails from the field furnished the meat, to which the skillful farmer's wife added every delicacy possible to limited means to prepare. After the marriage came the dinner; then around the room these hospitable people gathered and chatted the afternoon away, these simple, merry-hearted folk. With the coming of the evening's dusk came the going of the older ones, while the younger folks remained behind. Then when all was quiet again, through the black- ened rafters of the kitchen would ring the twang of the fiddle-strings as Mr. Thomas Gibson tuned his violin and prepared for the evening's dance (an amusement the Associate Reformed church approved of only among their own families). Old-fashioned games, the very names of which have passed away, were played with a gentle frankness and sincere modesty most beautiful to behold. In the fall corn-huskings would be held, at which the men picked corn, the women quilted, while the children played as only they could play. In the winter a Mr. McCoy went from one private house to another teaching singing-school, using the old system of notes, of which there were four: one round, a second square, a third three-cornered and the fourth like an X.

CHURCHES.

Soon after the coming of the early settlers, pious hearts erected a house of worship, a short distance east of the present United Presby- terian church. The building was of frame, the lumber for which Mr. William Rankin sawed at his little saw-mill on the Ellison. This

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church was erected by Hugh, Joseph and William Rankin, and was 16×20 in size. In one end was a chair beside which the preacher stood. In front of him, on benches without backs, made by placing pins in them, sat the congregation. The custom in those times was to gather in the morning at ten o'clock, and listen to a sermon, after which the people had a recess of some thirty minutes, when they ate their lunch, and then another sermon, lasting until three or four o'clock in the afternoon. It is related that at one time when the Rev. Wallace was preaching he fainted away, one hot summer after- noon. Some of those sitting near brought water, and after he had recovered he announced this psalm, one that to the congregation must have seemed very appropriate : "My bones waxed old, because I roared all day long." In addition to the communion service of our time, they then had on the Thursday before sacrament a fast day, when but two meals were eaten and all the members stopped work and attended divine worship. two sermons being preached as on the Sab- bath. At this time no Sabbath schools were held, and the children were rather instructed in the catechism, which, together with the chap- ter read and explained before the sermon, "which explanation some- times occupied nearly an hour, took the place of the instruction given in the Sunday school of to-day. Among the early church organizations of this township, by far the most important is

The Ellison United Presbyterian Church .*- The printed records say that Ellison congregation was organized in 1859 ; but it must be remembered that its organization consisted principally of an union of the Associated congregation of Bethel and the Associate Reformed con- gregation of Ellison. The integral parts composing the present con- gregation have an early and in the main an honored history in connec- tion with the moral and religious status of Henderson county. Inas- much as our honored brother, Rev. James McArthur, has undertaken to set in order the early history of the Associate congregation of Bethel, we shall confine ourselves to the Associate Reformed branch of Ellison. The history of this church, until the union, is almost entirely traditional, as neither written nor printed records have ever been placed in the hands of the present writer.

The congregation of Ellison was organized by the Presbytery of Indiana, some time between the years 1836 and 1839, and was a preaching station in connection with the South Henderson church. In the year 1839 the first church building was erected near the present cemetery. This was a small frame and is still standing in a rather dilapidated condition, on the farm of Aleck Rankin, Jr., where it is occa-

* Contributed by the pastor, Rev. J. H. Montgomery.

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sionally used as a house for tenants. The first session of Ellison con- sisted of William Rankin, George S. Wallace and John Sampy. The memory of these fathers is as the fragrance of ointment poured forth. The former of these fell asleep in 1870, aged seventy-three, and the latter in 1875, at the advanced age of ninety-five. Among the first of the supplies to the new organization was the Rev. John Wallace, who ministered more or less statedly to the people for two or three years, and of whom tradition says that he labored so long and fer- vently on hot summer days, that he fell to the floor from sheer exhaustion. The first pastor was the Rev. John L. Freatley, who preached at Ellison one-fourth of the time, giving South Henderson the remaining three-fourths, and receiving as salary from both stations the sum of $400.

This pastoral relation, from an unhappy combination of circum- stances, did not prove a very desirable one. IIe was installed over the united charge in 1842 and released in 1846. About this time South Henderson became self-sustaining, and desired the whole time of a pastor, and consequently Ellison as a young fledgeling was left to shift for herself. For several years the congregation obtained supplies from various quarters, all the while growing in number, power and influence, from the tide of immigration flowing in from the eastern states. The congregation having enjoyed for a few months the preaching service of Rev. W. R. Erskine, and liking the general bearing of the young man, proposed a marriage, which was accepted ; and that he might enter officially upon the duties of pastor, he was ordained April 14, 1852, by the Second Presbytery of Illinois, and installed pastor May 15 of the same year. This pastorate continued for six years and one month. During its continuance the congregation was strengthened and encouraged, and the memory of our deceased brother Erskine is very precions. The year 1858 was made memorable by the union of the Associate and the Associate Reformed churches of North America. Soon after this union was affected a movement was made to consolidate the congregations of Bethel and Ellison, which was effected October 18, 1858. In order that the way for a union of these congregations might be entirely free and unencumbered, the Rev. Erskine practically retired from the field. In the mean time a larger church building had been erected near the residence and on the farm of the Hon. David Rankin. To this house the united charge repaired and worshiped in sweet union. The united congregation soon after made out a call for the services of the Rev. James McArthur, late of Ryegate, Vermont, which was by him accepted, and he was installed as pastor, July, 1857. At the time of the union the united

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session consisted of William Rankin, John Sampey, A. O. McQuown, John Carothers, Stephen White, Robert Kirkpatrick, Alexander Spears, and James S. Gowdy, a good, able and formidable session. At the time of the union of the two congregations the membership reported was 180, just twice the present membership. The union had scarcely been accomplished before an organization was asked for at Olena. This was granted, and effected September 8, 1859. This new organiza- tion carried off a large portion of the west side of Ellison, and greatly depleted its numerical strengthi.

In 1866 the congregation at Biggsville was organized, which took off a slice of the north side of the congregation. The pastorate of Rev. McArthur continued over thirteen years, and during his ministry 146 persons were added to the communion of the church, and yet, at the close of his pastorate, his congregation, because of new organizations and frequent removals, was left comparatively weak. During the ministry of Mr. Erskine, the stock and barn-yards of Mr. David Rankin increased in so extraordinary a manner that uninterrupted worship in the old meeting-house could no longer be enjoyed, and con- sequently it was concluded to sell the old edifice to the above named gentleman, and erect a new building at such a distance from the old site that the worshipers might be free from the interruption and annoyance of irrational animals, and consequently the present com- modious building was erected at a cost of $4,200. Also during this pastorate the session was strengthened by the election, ordination and installation of the following elders : A. Bell, A. Small, J. S. King, D. G. Lant and I. T. Pogue ; the latter three continue with us unto the present time. Father McArthur's health, never robust, became severely impaired during 1871-2, and a retirement from pastoral labors was necessitated, and accordingly the relationship between pastor and people was formally dissolved in August, 1872.

This honored father still resides within the bounds of the congrega- tion, and carries with him in his old age the respect and esteem of the entire community. After a vacancy of three years, during which several fruitless attempts were made to secure the services of a pastor, a call was made out for the present incumbent, who entered upon pastoral labors October 1, 1875, but was not installed until June of the following year. In the autumn of 1876 a very commodious parsonage was erected by the congregation for the use of the pastor. At the com- mencement of the present pastorate the congregation numbered but seventy-one members. Since that time seventy-two have been added to the membership of the church, but so great has been the western immigration that our membership, at this writing, comprises just ninety

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members. May peace and prosperity ever remain within the borders of the Ellison United Presbyterian church.

South Prairie Methodist Episcopal Church .- South Prairie Methodist Episcopal church, which is situated in the southeastern part of the township, was organized some time previous to the year 1850. It is composed of some of the best people in the township, and has in connection with it a flourishing Sunday school. In the absence of any church records but little is known of its history. At various times during the past fifty years, since the settlement of Walnut Grove, Baptist, Campbellite and preachers of other denominations have held services here. The Christian church, of which Dykman Shook was the lead- ing spirit, and at whose house the first services of this denomination were held, has now fallen away. Almost every denomination is now represented in this township, though there now exists but two church buildings in the township, yet none of the good seed sown has been seed lost. The results are plainly visible in the integrity, moral tone and noble worth of its citizens. Less directly are the results seen in the schools, the beautiful homes and thrifty farms of the people, for all these are but the outer signs of the inward character, which is the unfailing fruit of the ministry of the word.

CEMETERIES.

The first cemetery in the township was Walnut Grove, which con- sists of three acres of ground on the land first owned by John Sampy, and by him given to the Ellison United Presbyterian church. It lies but a few rods east of the church building, in the edge of the grove. Here are buried some of the early settlers of the township. The first inhabitant of this city of the dead was John Boan, who lived upon the place now owned by William Chard ; the second was George McGrew. After then John Gibson was buried here, all, strange to say, strong men in the prime of life. How often is human strength but sheerest weakness ? The Davidson cemetery consists of three acres of land in section 12, which was, in 1837, set apart by Mr. Davidson for burying places. The first person buried here was one of his children, and here he now lies buried, a magnificent monnment, costing $1,125, marking his resting-place. Sonth Prairie cemetery, which is situated on a high eminence overlooking the Ellison, was set apart by Mr. Adair, on whose farm it is situated.

" The dead are here. I hear their steady throw Of shuttles moving in the upper air, Weaving a fabric pure and white as snow."

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TORNADO.

In the history of Walnut Grove township we have but one tornado to record, one of the most frightful in results known. Probably no more powerful storm ever struck our country, and had the township been settled as thickly then as now, several hundred lives would have been lost. The following account of the storm is taken from the " Oquawka Plaindealer," of June 4, 1858 :

" On Sunday evening last, May 30, about five o'clock, a tremen- dous tornado, which in its force and terrible effect was never equaled in this part of our land, passed over the southern part of this and War- ren counties, in a northeasterly direction, literally tearing to pieces everything in its course, destroying many lives and a great amount of property. The hurricane took its origin in the vicinity of Terre Haute, Henderson county. About a mile north of this town the house of William Bennett was blown down, and among other things a feather bed was carried away which has not since been found. The houses and barns of Elias Keener and George Foote, in the range east from Mr. Bennett's house, were destroyed. The wife of Mr. Keener and the wite of Mr. Foote were somewhat injured. . Mr. J. Peasley's house was much damaged. The house of Mr. George Pence was moved some eight rods from its foundation, but being strongly built was not broken. Mr. Pence's family was in the house, but fortunately escaped all injury.

"The house of Mr. David Thompson, which was about ten miles from Terre Haute, was destroyed, and here is the first place where we have any information of life being destroyed. Mr. William Thompson, a brother of David, was instantly killed, something having been driven completely through his temples. A child of David Thompson was so injured that it died the next day. The storm then passed on directly in range with the town of Ellison, increasing in velocity and power, but narrowing in scope. At a place called the Stone Quarry, about one mile west of Ellison, the house of Mr. Hiram Johnson was fairly blown to atoms, and five of its inmates killed ; their names were as follows : Mr. Hiram Johnson, aged twenty-seven years ; Mrs. Willard Hurd, a sister of Mr. Johnson, aged thirty-three years ; Mrs. Spaulding, a twin sister of Mr. Johnson ; Charles Hurd, a son of Mrs. Willard Hurd, aged thirteen years, infant child of Mr. Johnson. The bodies of the above were found many rods from where the house stood. Those who were in the house, and still living at last accounts, were the following : Mr. Joseph Bannister, Mr. Johnson's hired man. Mrs. Hiram Johnson was blown about eight rods from the house, alighting in a slough. One leg is broken in two places, an arm

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broken, and also one or two ribs. While sitting on the bank of the slough she saw her infant child come floating down the stream. She put out her hand and caught it, but its life had departed. Mr. Willard Hurd, a brother-in-law of Mr. Johnson, is fatally injured, as is his son Bona. A house a few rods distant from Mr. Johnson's was occupied by Mr. A. E. Burton and his wife. Here a party of six young men out for a pleasure walk had taken refuge at the approach of the storm. The tremendous roaring and the fierceness and blackness of the approaching cloud admonished them of danger, and they all ran to an unoccupied house, which was protected by a high and perpendicular bluff upon the side the storm was approaching, and this act was probably the means of saving their lives. The house they vacated was completely annihilated, and the one they had taken refuge in was leveled to the ground. Mr. Burton was but slightly injured. His wife had her collar-bone broken.

"In our visit on Monday to the different houses which contained the dead and wounded, we reached the house of Mr. Little in the eve- ning, about eight o'clock. The sight which met us here was most appalling. The five dead bodies lay in one room. Mr. Hurd and Mrs. Johnson, mangled, cut and bruised. lay in the room adjoining. Rona Hurd had been removed to the house of a neighbor. The coffins for the dead had just arrived. The body of Mr. Johnson and his infant child was brought in at the request of Mrs. Johnson, and with remarkable fortitude she took her farewell view of their earthly remains.

"Mr. Hurd with his family had but recently removed from the State of Vermont. He had several hundred dollars of gold and silver in a small trunk, which was contained in a larger one, no trace of which has been discovered. Mrs. Spaulding also had considerable money in the house at the time. This lady's husband was in Vermont, and was to have started west on Monday. A most horrible recital awaits his coming. Soon after passing the Stone Quarry the tornado, crossing the line into Warren county, struck the little town of Ellison and com- pletely demolished it, killing ten or twelve and wounding about forty. But three of the twenty-five dwellings in the little town were left standing."

After passing over the track of the storm, and gaining such descrip- tions of the storm from the old settlers as they can after the lapse of years give, it would seem utterly impossible for one to describe the force of this tornado: Large and sound stumps were torn from the ground and carried some rods. Every spoke in a log wagon was broken out. The large timber west of Ellison was razed to the ground.

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Small hickories, three to six inches in diameter, were stripped of every particle of bark and twisted into a withe. The tire of a wagon wheel was found broken and one end driven into the ground two feet and a half. Horses and cattle were killed by being carried up into the air aud dropped to the ground.

The storm seems to have been largely electric, as is shown by its leaving glass unbroken. It first assumed the shape of a cyclone when near Terre Haute, and had its origin in the coming together of two storms. To some it seemed to reach down from the heavens, like a gigantic rope, swaying to and fro. Soon it began to whirl; as it advanced it narrowed in width, but developed strength correspondingly. To those at one side it was black as a moving column of darkest night ; to those in the storm it seemed light, and they rose in the vacuum, some say fifty or a hundred feet, in the midst of grass, dirt, clothing and timbers. Some objects were thrown out on the outer edge of the circle, and, as it moved on, these objects falling presented a strange appearance to observers. The center of the track of the storm was swept clean, all objects being thrown out to the one side or the other. Many incidents and experiences bordering on the marvelous are told, and could not be believed, were it not that the narrators are men of unbounded trust and veracity. The loss to property occasioned by this frightful storm we have been unable to estimate, while there can be no computation as to the loss in precious human life.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN POGUE was born in 1819, in the State of Ohio. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. His father was Samuel Pogue, of county of Down, Ireland, who came to America about 1790. On both sides of the family the ancestry was of the old Scotch Presbyterian stock. Samuel Pogue settled first in Maryland. He afterward resided both in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Finally he moved to central Ohio, where the subject of these notes, John, was born. Here he passed his early years, until he was eighteen years of age, when he removed in the fall of 1837 to Henderson county, Illinois. For the first two years he worked around by the day or month, early forming habits of industry and evincing practical business qualities. In the winter of 1839, January 22, Mr. Pogue was married to Miss Elizabeth Brook, daughter of John and Margaret Brook and sister of Isaih Brook. Mrs. Pogue is a woman of great practical ability and native good sense, believing that the patent of real worth belongs to those who do right and live by industry. They have lived together a long and useful life. Forty-four years have passed away and they have

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raised a family of seven children. Samuel H. died at the age of nine- teen. Maria Louisa is now Mrs. J. G. Stewart. Q. T. married Miss Emily Spear, and resides near his parents. William G. now resides on the Aleck Rankin farm, having married Miss L. Rankin. Margaret Jane is now wife of Mr. J. L. Ford. The two younger sons, now young men, are twins, named John S. and James S. respectively. Mr. Pogue began life as a farmer, for which avocation he had a special inclination. Having obtained a tract of land soon after his marriage he was able to bny as much more through his wife's assistance. To this land he has been adding steadily, until he now has some 1550 acres of land. He lived first in a log cabin near the present Ellison United Presbyterian church. The house was built of hewn linn-logs. It will illustrate both the energy of those days and the nature of the houses to state that this house was taken down one morning by Mr. Pogue and his man and moved about one mile and completed by night so as to permit him to sleep in it. In this cabin for years they lived and labored, enduring all the privations incidental to pioneer life. At one time Mr. Pogue gave twelve bushels of fall wheat for a sealskin cap. One bushel brought him two pounds of nails. In those early days men did not need money as they do now. He once carried a ten cent piece around in his pocket for several months without needing it, and the possession of fifteen gold pieces that were put away for safe keeping was after a few months forgotten, though afterward found in the straw tick. Exchange, not cash, was then the working principle. It may be proper here to state that Mr. Pogue was raised a democrat of the Jefferson school, though he is now a firm republican. The cause of his change of party principles was a little incident which occurred while Mr. Pogue was at Louisville on a business and pleasure trip through the south. One day he saw a slave trader go on board a boat followed by a young negro and his wife, who were to be separated, the man to go south to the plantations from which few ever returned, and the wife to remain with their old master. At length, when the bell rang and the plank was to be removed, the poor man strained his wife to his breast, from whom, in spite of her shrieks, a moment later he was torn away and hurried aboard. As long as he could be seen, the slave stood on deck and waived his old hat to the sobbing wife. The scene was witnessed by several northern men, whose eyes filled with tears, and then and there Mr. Pogue determined to help vote down the institution of slavery. Since that time he has been a firm believer in republicanism. In matters of religious faith the family are United Presbyterians. In all the relations of home life, in their children and business, have been greatly blessed. As firm believers in the doctrines

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of the United Presbyterian church their influence has ever been to help on every movement that aimed to reform. They have ever been advocates of temperance and opponents of secret societies, believing their principles wrong.

"Oh, happy, true and honored pair ! Oh, ever leal and loyal ! We pay you willing court to-day, For love has made you royal : All gentle thoughts and hopes are yours, All wishes sweet and tender,- What richer tributes can we bring, What worthier homage render ?

God's cherubs still your steps attend, His peace your true hearts strengthen,

As o'er the sky above your heads, The evening shadows lengthen :

And when the night comes on at last And brings its welcome slumber, Sweet angels from the welcome host, Which none may name or number,

Shall lead your still united souls Through shining arch and portal. To gardens fair and pastures green, Where love shall be immortal !"

WILLIAM G. POGUE, second son of John Pogue, was born on November 3, 1848, on the old homestead where his parents originally settled. His intellectual training he received in the common schools near his home, to which was added two years at Monmouth College, where he pursued a select course. Such was his zeal that when a company to enter the army was being formed in 1864, at the college, he enlisted, and, being unusually robust and strong, was accepted, though but sixteen years of age. But on account of objections to his extreme youth, his name was given up by the recruiting officer. On January 1, 1877, Mr. Pogue was married to Miss Lurena E. Rankin, daughter of S. S. Rankin. To them have been born two children, Chester E. and Olive Gertrude, the former of whom died in February, 1879. Mr. Pogue now resides upon the old homestead of Unele Aleck Rankin, where he gives his attention to farming and stock- raising.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 112

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Mercer County Historical Society (Ill.); Henderson County Historical Society (Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1424