USA > Illinois > Mercer County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 118
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 118
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BIRTHS.
About six months subsequent to the settlement made by Mr. James Ryason there appeared a young wool spinner in his little log cabin, called afterward Mary Ryason, who is said to be the first white girl born in the township, and probably the first in Henderson county, and the second white child in the county. He had to go to Monmouth after a midwife, because no doctor was near; her name was Mrs. Gilson, and she charged him $3 as her fee in the case.
The first white child born in the township, and even in the county, was Henderson Richey.
DEATHS.
The first death of which the oldest settlers remember was that of a young child, which was two years old when death occurred, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph DeHague. Mr. DeHague requested Messrs. James Ryason and Robert Russell to dig the grave on a mound sonth of his house, on the bluffs of the Mississippi, in what is now called the Kemp cemetery. They had dug about two spades deep when Russell came to what he supposed to be a round rock at one end of the grave ; at the same depth, farther on, they found another similar to the first, and a third at the opposite end from the second one, when they took it up; upon examination the supposed rocks proved to be human skulls, which no doubt were the craniums of ancient Aztecs, and probably lain there for centuries. The grave was filled up and another one dug. A man by the name of Vannatta went horseback to a carpenter, had the coffin made and took it to De Hague's house ; from there Vannatta carried the remains to the graveyard before him on the horse, where the last rites were paid to the first death in the township.
Old settlers of Henderson county will recollect the "flush times "
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of the State Bank of Illinois, and the great scarcity of money (we mean gold and silver) that succeeded its downfall. About that time a mint was established down in Bogus Hollow, two miles below Sage- town, where a large number of spurious half dollars were coined and circulated through the country, many of them going over to Burling- ton into the hands of confederates. A clue to the discovery of the place was obtained by officers of the law, and the establishment broken up by the removal of their tools, which consisted of small crucibles, ladles, dies and metal. A number of half dollars just coined were also found. The suspected parties fled the country and have not since returned. In 1862 Mr. Henry Wixforth, just married, moved out to a small house situated on the land now belonging to Mr. C. Rodman, a few miles east of the disorganized mint in Bogus Hollow, for the pur- pose of improving his land, and while engaged in making his garden, his wife, Mrs. Hannah Dorotha Wixfortli, dug up a large crucible and a piece of metal (zinc and pewter) that had evidently belonged to the mint ; the crucible would hold a quart, and the metal was harder than common babbit-metal.
In this county, situate south of McQuown's mill (Ward's), is Sandstone Hollow, worthy of the attention of geologists and others who take any interest in the works of nature. Dr. David McDill, who has spent some time in exploring it, says that it abounds in interest during its whole length. It has been washed out to the depth of more than twenty feet, over a quarter of a mile in length, leaving the walls of sandstone, layer after layer, piled up to the top, which could be easily quarried in any desired length or breadth. The layers are uni- formly about six inches thick. Among other curiosities picked up by the doctor is a sandstone representing that part of a bone which enters a socket. - [Oquawka "Spectator " in 1874.
The organization of the vigilance committee of Warren township, Henderson county, dated back thirty-one or thirty-two years ago, and was the outgrowth of what was called "the horse-thief company," which the old settlers of Henderson had formed to protect themselves against all their best horses being abducted from their stables. But the imme- diate necessity for the formation of the vigilance committee was caused by the Brooks tragedy, which was December, 1864. The persons par- ticipating in the saving the lives of the Brooks family suspected that the friends of the robbers would seek revenge on them. Hence the object of the committee was for "mutual protection of its members " against the "encroachiments and depredations of outlaws," to assist the officers of the law in arresting offenders, "and to expel and exterminate outlaws or desperadoes of every description from community by all justifiable
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means." Mr. I. J. Brooks was the president, and Mr. W. McChesney secretary, after the organization was effected at Brooks school-house, on N. W. 4, Sec. 33, in January, 1865. At first they met in houses of the neighborhood, but some of their proceedings were known outside the committee, by being published, as they supposed by some of the youthful vigils. For awhile when they met in this way it seemed as if all the community knew what the committee was doing and had resolved to carry out. So it became necessary for them to change their place of meeting from their houses to the school-house for future proceedings. The committee was organized by and from a large num- ber of the best citizens, and held their meetings first at each other's houses, but later, for the better security as to proceedings, at school- houses. They had a constitution and by-laws by which they were bound, and have preserved their organization until the present writing. Quite a number of cases have by their influence been brought to the notice of the authorities, and in a general way the knowledge that such an organization existed has been a terror to evil-doers.
THE OLENA TRAGEDY.
According to evidence given, Monday night, December 17, 1864, was set by a band of robbers for the burglary of the houses of I. J. Brooks, John N. Bruen and John B. Fort. Information, however, had been given, by one who had gained the confidence of the rob- bers, to Mr. Brooks and his friends. A party of picked men, con- sisting of Theodore Fort, Jesse Kemp, John Kemp, F. M. Galbraith, John Crane, W. II. McChesney, Isham Pugh, and John Owens, to repel the attack and if possible to capture or kill the villains, was organized. The night set the plan failed, and Tuesday night was then selected by the robbers, and accordingly prepared for by Mr. Brooks and his friends, the result of which was the killing of two of them and badly wounding and capturing the third. It seems that a Mr. David, who gave the information resulting as above stated, had fallen in with the robbers and by them had been impressed into their service for a time, and, after his escape, acted the part of detective in bringing them to justice. Mr. I. J. Brooks, the party whom they had proposed to rob, and murder if necessary, gives the following evidence in regard to the tragedy :
Mr. I. J. Brooks' account of the tragedy, beginning with the first appearance of the robbers. It is given to correct some of above state- ments. When the robbers came to the front door they knocked as though they were neighbors. Mr. Brooks went to the door and opened it. They asked to stay all night; Brooks told them he was not pre-
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pared to keep them. Without further conversation, as Brooks antici- pated they would do, they went into the hall past him. Just as soon as they entered the leader made known their business, following the dropping of revolvers from their coat-sleeves, by demanding of Brooks to stand and deliver up his money. Seeing the light from the north room glaring on the hall floor, and fearing they might suspect something wrong, he replied immediately and indirectly to their demand by inviting them to the stove to warm, which was in south room. They, thinking him quite polite, accepted the invitation. When all had entered the room Mr. Brooks immediately answered their question, saying he was about out of money. The robbers then asked him if he had any arms, and if there were any men about the house ; both questions in one breath. Mr. Brooks replied that the boys were up-stairs in bed. Then the leader of the party placed his pistol in close proximity to Mr. Brooks' head, saying: "Take that light and conduct us to the boys' room, and if you give any alarm you are a dead man." He took the candle and started as if to do their bidding, the robbers following, and just as he stepped into the hall the men in east room fired, as they had heard the signal just before Mr. Brooks had stepped into the hall, killing Darnell instantly, and not the leader, as stated by Davids ; the leader being killed by a fire from the north door.
It was some time afterward ascertained that one of the robbers was A. P. Barnum, a deserter from the army, whose home was Iberia, Morrow county, Ohio. He did not rob because he was in need of money, as he was heir to a large fortune from his father's estate ; that he had $5,000 in bonds deposited at Mount Gilead, county seat of Morrow county, Ohio. The sheriff of Morrow county, Ohio, states after Barnum escaped jail here he went back to Ohio and robbed a train of $150,000, 150 miles east of Mount Gilead.
HISTORY OF GLADSTONE, FORMERLY SAGETOWN, MASONIC LODGE
The petitioners for dispensation to form this lodge were Frederic Kemp, Andrew J. Moore, Andrew J. Hedges, A. S. Swartz, William Kemp, W. II. Bridgeford, A. McFarland, Jesse Kemp, J. B. Fort and Samuel McElheney. The three officers appointed under this dispensation were : A. S. Swartz, first master ; Andrew J. Moore, first senior warden ; Frederic Kemp, first junior warden. Un- der this dispensation the first regular communication was held at Sage- town, Illinois, Monday evening, November 23, 1868, when the master proceeded to fill the remaining offices, viz : A. McFarland, treasurer ; A. J. Hedges, secretary ; E. J. Tremble, senior deacon ; Jesse Kemp,
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junior deacon ; William Kemp, tyler. Names of the stewards were as follows : W. H. Bridgeford and J. B. Fort. The above named officers constituted the lodge. The lodge working under this dispensation was very prosperous, which lasted until October 7, 1869.
The charter of Lodge No. 638, A. F. and A. M., Fortitude Lodge, was granted October 7, 1869, by Harmon G. Reynolds, grand master of the Grand Lodge of A. F. and A. M. of Illinois. The charter members under this charter were : Aram S. Swartz, J. A. Tremble, Samuel MeElheney, Alexander McFarland, William Kemp, Peter Meyer, Henry Wenthe, William Zeipe, Erastus Rise, Robert Burris, Stephen M. Gearhart, David L. McMurtry, Samnel Galbreath, Charles A. Martin, W. H. Cook, Thomas G. Richey, William Lant, John A. Bruin, Joseph Nebergall, Daniel MeMillin Marshal, Ira Putney, Jr., George Curry, Charles D. Fee.
The first election under this charter was held at Masonic Hall, Sagetown, Illinois, December 20, 1869, when the following officers were elected : E. J. Tremble, worthy master ; W. H. Birdgeford, senior warden ; A. J. Hedges, junior warden ; Alexander McFar- land, treasurer ; Robert Burris, secretary. The master appointed the following officers : S. M. Gearhart, senior deacon ; W. H. Cook, junior deacon ; E. Rise, chaplain ; Peter Meyer, tyler ; and Charles D. Fee, marshal ; Stewards were : Charles A. Martin and Joseph Nebergall. The officers were installed according to ancient form, at the Presbyterian church, by J. Simpson, past master, on the evening of the 25th of December, 1869. On this occasion Thomas H. Benton delivered an excellent oration. This installation was witnessed by a large and interested audience. The number of members under this dispensation was ten; under the regular organization, thirty. The highest number attained at any one time was fifty. The present mem- bership is about thirty-five. Fortitude Lodge was very prosperous up to about 1875, since which time the lodge has lost a great many by moving away and death. A. M. Graham, worthy master ; A. MeFarland, senior warden ; George Wilson, junior warden ; Samuel Galbreath, treasurer; J. S. McFarland, secretary ; M. S. Hooper, senior deacon ; J. H. McFarland, junior deacon ; A. A. Cook, tyler ; Charles Martin and William Kemp, stewards, are the officers at present.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school house, if not some empty cabin, was a rude log house, door hung with huge wooden hinges, mud and stick chimney, which was invariably built wrong end up and never turned. For win- dows chinking was left out along the sides of the house and the inter-
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stices pasted over with white paper, which being well greased was a means of letting the dark out. Dave - used to punch holes through the paper so he could see out. The puncheon floor was very open ; a cut from a small tree split into halves and legs put in by boring with a large auger formed the seats. A shelf was attached to the wall for writing purposes. A dunce block, and the outfit was complete.
The requirement for teaching by law was simply to " spell, read, write and cipher," and that very imperfectly, for as late as 1842 appli- cants for schools were asked, "How far have you been on in the arithmetic?" If A could show that he (or she) had been as far as page 150, and B could show that he had been as far as page 165, it was B's school sure. In those days the school-masters (as they were invariably called) needed no time-piece, for they taught all day, from early morn till late in the evening ; one hour at noon, no other recess during the day.
A wooden hook hanging upon a nail just inside of the door showed that all were in, for when a scholar went out he took the hook with him, and brought it in again upon his return. Discipline was much more rigid then than now, and any command from the master was obeyed at once. There was no classification, but each family gave their children just such books as they had in their possession. The old English Reader, American Preceptor, lives of George Washington, Francis Marrion, Christopher Columbus, and the story of Joseph were text books in general use. The quill pen was the only one in use, so that much of the teacher's time was spent in making and mending pens.
The schools were supported by subscription, each patron paying so much per scholar during a term of school. Teachers received from $11 to $13 per month. The first school taught in.T. 10, R. 5, was by W. R. Jamison in 1829, the second by Ebenezer Russell in the same township.
Coloma has rather taken the lead of all the schools in the township, at which place Dr. Wm. McMillan taught the first school, and Wm. D. Henderson the second. Prominent men who were once students of Coloma school were : Alexander G. Leslie, M.D. (now deceased); Daniel I. McMillan, M.D .; George W. Nelson, M.D. (afterward a member of the territorial legislature); Alexander P. Nelson, M.D. (now a prac- ticing physician of this county); Rev. James P. Magaw, D.D. (now of Toledo, Ohio), Rev. John A. Gordon (afterward professor in Monmouth College, and a pastor in Philadelphia, Pa.); Hon. James G. McClinton (afterward a member of the convention that framed the constitution of the State of Nevada, served the state later in the legislature and senate, also filled the position as judge for some years, and is now a prominent
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attorney in California); Samuel P. Magaw and John B. Magaw (the former once sheriff of Henderson county, the latter captain of Co. K, S4th Ill. Vol. Inf., during the late war); John T. Martin (who was elected two terms for sheriff of Montgomery county, Iowa); and David Graham (now of Monmouth).
Of the most prominent teachers in this school were Judge McDill, now in the United States senate, from Iowa, Wilson Hopkins, once county clerk of Henderson county, and Prof. John Tweed, who is still teaching. Mrs. Merrill and Mrs. Carpenter taught on section 28 at a very early date. Miss Eliza Cowden taught in the first regularly built school-house in the same district in 1842.
The first session of what is called Lynn School, in district No. 2, was taught by Ebenezer Russell in his own house, on A. McFarland's place, about 1842. The next one was taught by E. Russell in a little cabin built on Right Lynn's place, in which he " bached " four years previous to his marriage. The first school-house was built in 1848 on the S.W. } of Sec. 10. The first meeting of the inhabitants to vote for or against a tax to pay for building the school-house or other debts accrued, was July 18, 1848, of which David Lynn was chairman and E. W. Lynn secretary. The first board of directors were E. W. Lynn, E. Russell and L. Cook. May 7, 1849, the legal voters of the district met at Lucius Cook's to tax themselves fifteen cents per $100 to pay for a school-house. The first teacher was Wilson Hopkins, at about thirteen dollars per month, from what the clerk's book shows. The wages varied from $13 to $45. Caroline Talcet taught for $13, and J. Tweed and C. Lynn got $45. The school-house was enlarged and the terms of school extended to six months in 1864. In 1859 there were 102 children in the district. In 1866 the district was nine miles long and from two to three miles wide.
The following are the names of the teachers with the time of beginning : Wilson Hopkins, 1848 ; Caroline Talcet, 1857; J. Tweed, 1857 ; J. G. McClinter, 1858 ; A. C. Gilchrist, 1858 ; Miss Russell, 1859 ; Bissell Parks, 1859 (one month, J. Tweed finished term) ; Eliza- beth Ashton, 1860; Emma Darah, 1866 ; C. E. Lynn, 1868 ; J. Tweed, 1870 ; Cora Simpson, 1874 ; Anna Record, 1877; Rusha Carll, 1877 ; -. Reece, 1878 ; Maggie Mitchell, 1878; John Tweed, 1878 ; Sue Edwards, 1879; E. Parsley, 1879; Miss L. McFarland, 1881; Miss O. Baker, 1881; Miss J. Pogue, 1882.
The number of pupils in the district at present is about seventy-five. There were forty-seven enrolled at the last term of Miss Jennie Pogue's school. The grade of the school is not up to the average. The gov- ernment has generally been good.
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CHURCHES.
The Presbyterian church at Gladstone was organized January 24, 1867. The persons who composed the organization were : James McMath and wife Mary A. McMath, Miss Margaret McMath, Mrs. Rhoda Lynn, Samuel Gordon and wife Sarah A. Gordon, Mrs. E. J. Tracy, Albert M. Graham and wife Martha J. Graham, Mrs. Ella J. Kiry, and Mrs. Mary McFarland. Samnel Gordon and James McMath were elected ruling elders. The name of the church as then organized was the First Presbyterian Church of Oquawka Junction, which is the corporate name at the present time.
After the resignation of the first pastor, Rev. W. Kiry, the Rev. J. P. Bliss was stated supply for some time, and for a short time the church was vacant. The Rev. H. Hanson, of the Oquawka church, was invited to supply the church, and began his services as stated supply October 1, 1874, and continues to supply the church at stated intervals at the present time. The first trustees were: Jno. N. Bruen, Alexander McFarland, Erastus Rise, Albert M. Graham and Fredrick Kemp. Erastus Rise and Albert M. Graham were ordained and installed ruling elders September 27, 1868. A. M. Graham is now the only elder the church has, the three others having gone to join the eldership on high, but have left unimpeachable evidence of their devo- tion to the church they loved so well.
The church edifice was erected in 1866, under the direction of a building committee, a majority of which were the first ruling elders. The house cost about $3,000. $1,000 was contributed by James McMath, one of its first ruling elders, the other $2,000 by some of the citizens of the place and adjoining country, and others interested. This church was dedicated, soon after its completion, in January, 1867, by the Rev. R. C. Mathews, pastor of the first Presbyterian church of Monmouth, Illinois. Upon this occasion there was a large number received into church membership upon the confession of faith. There was a whole family baptized, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered.
The present Sabbath school was organized July 12, 1857, in the school-house in Lynnville, by Rev. H. Hanson and R. W. Smiley, elder of Oquawka church. This Sabbath school was the nucleus of the Presbyterian and Methodist churches of Gladstone, which was then known as Oquawka Junction.
The first organization of the Methodist Episcopal church* took place about 1834. A meeting of a few of the very early settlers was
* For the history of the Methodist Episcopal and Cumberland Presbyterian churches we are indebted to Prof. Tweed.
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called at the house of Stephen Short, in the Jamison settlement, on Jamison Prairie, Warren county, to consider the matter of religious devotion, and devise some plan of securing the same. As no regular preaching could yet be had, a class was formed as a vine around which clustered many branches in after days. The names of the members were : Stephen Short and wife, James Ryason and wife, Mrs. Wells and daughter, Paul Griffith and wife.
On one occasion it was known that the Baptist brethren were coming over to attend the Thursday night prayer meeting, so Frank Smith was invited to come and conduct the meeting. He did so, and brought the fire with him, and soon the hearts of others were touched, and in their joy they shouted glory to God in the highest. Our Baptist brethren, not being used to beholding it "after this fashion," became greatly alarmed. This was known as the South Henderson class. The first circuit rider was Barton Randall, who resided in Madison. He was followed by Peter Cartwright, the first presiding elder, who held the first quarterly meeting at the house of Samuel Jamison. Revs. Hobert and Kirkpatrick preached in what is well known as the Kemp and Fort settle- ment in 1836, Rev. Ginter in 1840. Rev. Jesse Pardun held the first protracted meeting in the same settlement in 1842. As log and other school-honses were erected, religious meetings were held in them.
Rev. Newton Berryman held the first camp-meeting on the farm of James Ryason in 1839, after which many other meetings were held on the same ground.
The Methodist Episcopal church, Gladstone, was built in 1867 by the Cumberland Presbyterians and the Methodists. The building, situated in the eastern part of the village at the foot of the bluffs, is a good, substantial one, 35×46, the original cost of which was near $2,000, the members donating the hauling of the stone for foundation and lumber for the building. The money to pay for lumber and build- ing was made up by subscriptions from members of both churches and citizens of the place and surrounding neighborhood, each church owning an equal share. There was an understanding between them that when the Cumberlands wished to build a church of their own, the Methodist Episcopal church was to pay them their share of the build- ing, not thinking that they would ever wish to take the money to help build a church in another town. In 1869 they made a demand for their share of the value of the building. The Methodists objected to paying them, as they wanted it to go toward paying for the building of the Cumberland Presbyterian church in Biggsville, and said they had no right to take the money of outsiders to help build up another town. The difference was soon adjusted by the Methodist Episcopal
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church paying them the amount agreed to by both parties. The progress of the church has been slow and plodding, but there are always a faithful few in all the churches, as it has been in this one, who are earnest, zealous, persevering, and have the cause of their Master uppermost in their hearts. These are the steady pilots who have steered the old ship aright through breakers and off' rock-bound coasts of its enemies and sin of the world, and at last anchored her in the harbor of safety and prosperity.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized previous to the con- struction of the church building, and services held in Lynn school- house. Rev. Bealer was the first pastor. Rev. Kinne was the pastor when the church was built, and to him much honor is due for urging and carrying on the work. He himself worked on the building. Other pastors were : Revs. Coe, Shaffer, Gilmer, Manin, Brink, Hill, Mer- riam, Smith, Rugh and McLeish.
The Cumberland Presbyterian was among the early churches to brave the hardships and privations of a new country and hold up the banner of Christ. Prominent among the first ministers in township 10, range 5, was Rev. Peter Downey, who preached and held a grove meeting on the farm of Harvey Russell in August or September, 1835. Mr. Downey continued to preach at intervals at Harvey Russell's house for some years, living at the same time on Nigger creek. A committee, appointed by the Rushville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, met at the dwelling-house of Abner Short, Jameson settlement, Warren county, Illinois, on November 17, 1838, and was constituted by prayer. The following members of the committee were present : Peter Downey and Cyrus Haynes, ministers, and G. G. Lattimer, elder. Among the first members, most of whom joined by letter, were : John McKinney and wife, Abner Short and wife, Joseph B. Jamison, Elizabeth E. Jamison, Margaret Jamison, Mary Jane and Sarah Jamison. On motion, South Henderson was adopted as the name of this congregation. Rev. Peter Downey baptized five children before the organization of this church.
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