History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 35

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 35
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 35

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PERRYTON TOWNSHIP.

year at Lombard University, Galesburg, Illinois, when she resumed her professional career as teacher in the capacity of assistant to the principal of the graded schools of Aledo, where she remained four years, and was tendered the position for another year, but an unsolic- ited call from a larger constituency constrained her to decline the posi- tion of teacher for that of county superintendent, to which she was chosen, as before stated, in November, 1873.

Miss Frazier entered upon her new work with a determination to labor for the interest and advancement of the schools thus placed under her charge, and her first steps in this direction consisted in the adop- tion of a rigid system of examination of her teachers. It at once became apparent that to obtain a certificate to teach it was necessary for the candidate to be well qualified in all the branches which the law requires to be taught. No half-way work would fill the standard she had fixed upon, and as a consequence many incompetent teachers were dropped off' the roll. To show something of her work in this department, the records show that in a single year out of 388 applicants examined for certificates, 219 were rejected, and but 154 accepted. To assist such as were willing to work for the position of teacher, she re-organized the Teachers' Institute of the county, whose sessions were held during the school year at various points in the county, and early in her official career organized a normal drill, holding the sessions annually during the summer vacation and continuing four weeks. Securing two or three prominent educators from abroad to co-operate with her in these nor- mal schools, the large classes annually in attendance were submitted to a thorough drill in all the branches required to be taught, and the best modes of teaching and government, with pronounced advantages to both the teachers and the schools. These teachers' meetings and drills have been marked features in her administration, and of their utility there can be no question.

Miss Frazier is a woman possessed of many qualities which are peculiarly fitting for one in the position she occupied. Thoroughly qualified for her duties by a liberal education and experience in teach- ing, earnest, conscientious, and careful in her work, courteous and patient in her intercourse with the young and inexperienced candidates for teachers, though firm and unyielding when occasion required, and withal possessed with a strong personal magnetism which attracts while it does not repel, she has succeeded in impressing upon the schools of the county during these eight and a half years of her official life, much of her strong individuality of character, and secured many changes in the manner of examining and employing teachers, in tlie · methods of teaching and governing schools, and, in general, a marked

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON. COUNTIES.

advancement toward a higher standard of education and instruction throughout the county.

The school lands of Mercer county came through two general acts of congress ; the first setting aside section 16 for school purposes in each congressional township in all the states and territories containing public lands, and the second turning over certain low, wet, and par- tially submerged lands for a like purpose. By the original act there were fifteen sections, being one section in each of the fifteen townships, in all about 10,600 acres of very good lands available for school pur- poses. Some of these lands were among the best in the county for agricultural purposes, and the entire body of them were equal in native richness and availability for all agricultural and grazing purposes with the average lands in the county ; and if it had been kept out of the market and held a few years longer, until the "congress lands" were disposed of, when the price of all wild lands advanced from $5 to $10 an acre, the several townships in the county might have realized suffi- cient from the sales of their several school sections to have assured them each a large and remunerative permanent fund. This, however, was not done, and the consequence is that these township funds are a mere skeleton of what they should and might have been, had a more far- secing policy been adopted by the people and those having charge of these trusts. In those days the people were poor; there was then no adequate state fund as now; railroads, with their vitalizing influence. had not yet approached our borders ; new settlers were dropping in but slowly, thus leaving the country but thinly populated, and making it a difficult matter. with the low price of all farm products, for those scattered neighbors to raise the means (as they were then compelled to do mainly from their own pockets) to defray the expense of a three- months' school in winter and two or three months in summer. To lighten their school expenses, and to secure for themselves some of the benefits from the lands donated by congress, the settlers of thirty years ago determined to dispose of these lands, and, in order to succeed. they were compelled to fix the schedule of prices at, or below, the price of congress land, and in some instances the price was very much below that of the government land. At these give-away prices, about twelve sections of this magnificent donation were disposed of during Mr. Mc Whorter's administration of the office of school commissioner from 1849 to 1851. To us of the present day the policy then pursued regarding the school lands appears short-sighted and wasteful, and while no school officer is justly chargeable with blame for the part he took in disposing of these lands at such low prices, it is a matter of sincere regret that the public sentiment of that day compelled the

GEORGE MC PHERREN.

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sacrifice of such a magnificent public trust, in order to secure for them- selves the small proceeds obtained for that immediate present, when we realize that the paltry sums were obtained at the expense of a magnificent fund for their descendants in all time to come, had they but waited in patience a few years longer.

The swamp lands belonging to Mercer county are situated in the immediate vicinity of the Mississippi river, and embrace several thon- . sand acres. This land is loaded with great abundance in all the elements of plant food, but being subject to overflow, is valuable mainly for grazing and meadows, and in seasons of very high waters much of it is not even valuable for these purposes. We have been unable to ascertain, even approximately, the acreage of these lands, as the reports of surveys were not in the proper office when we were there, but we find the people were in some hurry to get rid of these lands also, and that as early as 1857 the swamp land commissioner reported sales to the amount of $8, 194.75, and that up to 1865 the sum total of $9,098.65 had been realized from the sales of these lands, and properly distributed to the several townships of the county, since which time there have been no further sales. There remain of these swamp lands 480 acres, situated in Eliza township, which have not been sold, and which are not situated far enough above low-water mark to make a promising investment.

The township funds vary in amount in the different townships, the maximum being $2,910.90 in Keithsburg, and the minimum $1,186.26 in Green. The total permanent township funds for the fifteen town- ships is $29,918.70. The interest of these funds only is to be used for the annual expenditure for schools in the townships where the funds belong. The permanent county fund is $2,168, which can never be diminished, the interest being annually distributed to the township treasurers together with the state fund.

From the one small pioneer log cabin of 1833, with its ten or twelve pupils and barefooted teacher, the school system of Mercer county has grown until the last log cabin has been abandoned, and four brick and 115 frame buildings, many of them stately and imposing structures, are required to accommodate the wants of our schools. During the last year 2,795 males and 2,587 females, in all 5,382 pupils, were enrolled, while 71 males and 161 females, a total of 232, were employed as teachers. Of the 119 school-houses nine are graded schools, with a total of thirty-five teachers.

When all the schools of the county are in session the least number of teachers required to carry on the work is 145; but the system, still too much in vogue in the country, of employing one teacher for the

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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

winter and another for the summer, increases the number of teachers from 145 actually required to 232 actually employed. During the past. fiscal year there was collected from all sources for school purposes in the county, $53,698.43, and during the same period there was ex- pended in payment of teachers $34,219.11. Three new school-houses were erected during the past year, at a total cost for buildings and grounds of $5,179.04.

In point of excellence the schools of Mercer county will compare favorably with those of the most favored counties in the state. In a large number of the ungraded schools all the branches required for a first grade certificate are taught with such a degree of thoroughness as to enable many of our young men and women to step at once from the condition of pupil to the position of teacher. Our graded schools are in a prosperous condition, and are gradually, but surely, improving in all that pertains to a thorough instruction in the common school branches, while a few of these schools give instruction in some of the higher branches belonging to an academical course. At the graded schools of Aledo and Viola, a well-chosen course of study has been adopted, and upon the completion of this course a certificate or diploma is conferred upon such pupils as pass examination with sufficiently high grade in all the studies prescribed. At the recent close of these schools, Aledo and Viola each conferred diplomas upon eight gradu- ates.

In addition to our public schools the people of Mercer county have not been unmindful of a higher order of educational advantages, and hence from time to time during the earlier portion of our history attempts were made, most unsuccessful, to establish within our borders a collegiate institute. We find that as early as the year 1839 a charter was procured from the legislature for the "Millersburg Seminary of Learning." Millersburg was at that time the county seat, and we pre- sume that the attempt to secure a college at that point was intended to be a means of retaining the seat of justice at that place. Adequate means for so large an undertaking were not within the reach of the projectors of this enterprize at so early a day, and the undertaking was a failure. Later, in 1857, coincident with the establishment of Aledo as the county seat, two colleges were projected, and a charter for the "Aledo Collegiate Institute" was procured February 16, 1857. One of these colleges never rose above the foundation of the proposed build- ing. The other, acting under its charter, erected a rather imposing building which, though enclosed, was never finished throughout. Rev. Mr. Williams opened the first high school in the old court-house build- ing in 1862, and after rooms were finished in the new college he trans-

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ferred his classes to that building in the fall of 1863. After a struggle for existence against many difficulties he was succeeded by Prof. MeKee in 1868. Prof. McKee after continuing the school for a couple · of years abandoned the undertaking, as the building was at that time considered unsafe, and the Aledo collegiate building was torn down and the building material sold.

After Prof. McKee left, Prof. Henderson took up the work for some years, occupying the second story of the building known as Richey's store, and in this building Prof. Henderson was succeeded, in 1873, by Prof. J. R. Wylie, assisted by his brother, J. M. Wylie. After teach- ing one year in this building the Wylie brothers determined to procure better accommodations, and by the sale of scholarships they were ena- bled to purchase block 132 on Maple street, where they erected a two- story academy building, 22×44 feet, exclusive of hall and stairway. This beautiful site and neat little building with the two young ener- getic teachers, attracted 102 students the first year. In 1879, J. R. Wylie became sole proprietor, J. M. Wylie having gone into the ministry of the R. G. church. At the present time, June, 1882, the academy under J. R. Wylie is quite prosperous. It contains a valu- able cabinet of geological and mineralogical specimens, many of which would do honor to any college, besides a good library and an abund- ance of school apparatus. The course of study in this academy embraces all the mathematics, including arithmetic, through plain and spherical trigonometry ; an English course of one and a half years ; drawing, book-keeping, physical geography, United States and ancient history, physiology; two terms in zoology, natural philosophy and astronomy; two years in latin or two years in German, elective. The above course requires three years for its completion. Over 500 students, mostly from Mercer county, have received more or less instruction in this institution. Some seventy teachers have been sent out, and twenty diplomas have been granted since 1877.

In closing this sketch it seems appropriate to' make mention of a few of the old and tried teachers of the county, and such others as have, after teaching for a time, been elevated to positions of honor, profit or trust. Geo. W. Julian, who taught here in 1835-6, has since served long and faithfully as a member of congress. Harvey S. Sen- ter, who was a teacher as far back as 1843, was afterward successively clerk of the circuit court, member of the state board of equalization and state senator. Warren Shed was a colonel commanding the 30th reg. Geo. P. Graham was a member of the legislature after serving sue- cessfully as teacher. Prof. Joseph MeChesney, a teacher thirty-five years ago, was for some time assistant state geologist, and was twice

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

appointed, under Abraham Lincoln, as consul to Glasgow, Scotland, and was afterward chosen professor of national sciences in the Chicago university. B. F. Brock, subsequently district attorney, is now one of the leading lawyers of the county. J. K. Herbert, a teacher over twenty-five years ago, is a prominent lawyer in Washington, District of Columbia. N. P. Brown, J. E. Harroun, S. B. Atwater, and F. W. Livingston, were each chosen to the office of county superintendent of schools. C. S. Richey was for many years, and is at present, county surveyor. Rev. Mr. Jamieson, long a teacher, was afterward mis- sionary to India. T. C. Swaford, a teacher of great success, was after- ward elected city superintendent of the schools of Monmouth. A. U. Barler, E. H. Jamieson, J. A. Goding, J. T. Johnston, and Alex. Stevens were old and successful principals of graded schools. Besides these, Simeon Smith, David Felton, Resin Kile, Cyrus A. Ballard, William N. Graham, G. L. F. Robinson, William Miller, and Warren Biggart may be mentioned as old and successful teachers of a long and continued service in the county.

From the long list of lady teachers who have served in the county, it is a task of no small difficulty to select names for honorable mention without making the list too long for the purpose of this history. There are, however, a few who are pre-eminent, by reason of their long ser- vice, excellent methods of instruction, and unquestioned fitness and success.

Among those we will name Miss Hattie and Miss Emma Hunting- ton, Miss Libbie Perkins, Miss Parney Harroun, Miss Mollie Walker, Miss Emma Stevens, Mrs. A. M. B. Young, Mrs. Melissa Flemming, Miss M. Jennie Marquis, Miss M. M. Burbank, Miss Maggie Clarke, Miss Tillie S. Frazier, Miss Mantie Henry, Miss Mary E. Wolfe, Miss Jo. II. Willits, Miss Abbie M. Burr, Miss Mattie M. Sloan, Miss Jen- nie Henderson, and Mrs. Irene Willits. Besides these there are a host of lady teachers of shorter experience, but abundantly qualified for their work and deserving the warmest commendation were this chapter not already extended beyond the limits at first designed by the author.

SIMEON P. SMITH .- Politically Mr. Smith was identified with the old whig party, but was a radical abolitionist in sentiment. When Fremont and Buchanan were the opposing candidates he was asked on election day "to go and vote for Fremont electors," but declined, saying, "No; I think I shall not vote to-day, but if I do it will be for Buchanan," giving as a reason that he was "opposed to any compro- mise with slavery," a thing the republican party seemed at that time

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willing to do, and he thought "the people of this country need four years more of democratic rule before they get their eyes opened."

Mr. S. was exceedingly diffident in public, and never knowingly placed himself where there was the remotest chance of his being called upon for a speech. Happening in Chicago one time when there was a meeting of the leading teachers of the state, he attended, but knowing no one there he took a seat as far back as possible, "to see and not be seen." Some one, however, seemed not only to know him, but to know he was there, for upon the election of officers he was chosen as one of the vice-presidents, all of whom were requested to "come forward and take a seat on the rostrum." Mr. S. did not respond, and it was found that he had quietly slipped out of the hall. The honors were too much for him. While none present were more interested in the cause of education he could not bear the unsought honors thrust upon him, and in self-defense was forced to retire.

EIGHTY-FOURTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY.

This splendid regiment was raised in the summer of 1862. Louis II. Waters, of Macomb, formerly lieutenant colonel of the 28th Illinois, was asked by Gov. Yates to enlist one of four regiments required of Illinois under the president's call for 50,000 for a reserve force, and he promptly responded, addressing public meetings in Mercer, Henderson, Hancock, McDonough, Fulton, Schuyler, Brown and Adams counties, and enrolling volunteers. Beginning about the middle of June recruits were first sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, but in the latter part of July the rendezvous was transferred to Quincy.

In Mercer county John C. Pepper and Luther T. Ball, of Keiths- burg, began late in July to raise a company. They employed a band, and in a short while had the men ready. On August 13th a mass meeting was held at Sugar Grove and company II was organized, Pepper being elected captain and Ball first lieutenant. The following day the company, having 105 men enrolled, assembled at Keithsburg, where it embarked on a steamer for Quincy. When the organization was completed Henry E. Abercrombie was chosen second lieutenant. The company was mustered into the service with ninety-three enlisted men.

Frederick Garternicht, of Oquawka, a German martinet, formerly lieutenant in the 28th Illinois, raised company G for this regiment. He began recruiting about the middle of June and was cordially assisted by his townsmen generally and by the following persons par- ticularly : William II. Fuller and Russell W. Caswell, of Oquawka, the Rev. Dr. David MeDill, of Biggsville, and Edward Ray, of Young

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

America (Kirkwood). As soon as enough were enrolled squad drilling was commenced at Oquawka. On Monday evening, July 28, the com- pany was mustered in the court-house yard and briefly addressed by the Revs. Hanson, Rutledge, and McDill, the latter, after his remarks, presenting each volunteer a copy of the New Testament. Capt. Garter- nicht shortly after, having about fifty men, marched them to Sagetown, and there taking the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad went to Quincy, where he went into camp, and continued recruiting until he brought the number of his company up to ninety. As long as the command was at that city Capt. Garternicht was regimental drill- master. He was commissioned captain of his company, and his associate officers were W. H. Fuller, first lieutenant, and R. W. Caswell, second lieutenant. Lieut, Fuller was early detailed into the signal corps, and honorably discharged in May, 1864. Lient. Caswell was promoted to adjutant. When the first lientenancy became vacant by the retirement of Fuller, in 1864, Charles Kaiser, who had been pro- moted after the organization of the company to, corporal and then ser- geant, was commissioned to take that place.

Company K was raised at Biggsville with unusual despatch, only a few days in the first part of August being required to secure over one hundred men. J. B. McGaw left his harvest in the field unstacked, and addressed himself with vigor to the work of raising the company, when the urgent necessities of the government were made known by the second call within little more than a month for 300,000 volunteers. His example of personal sacrifice and instant aid was followed in numerous cases. He was assisted at Biggsville by Dr. Alexander P. Nelson and Joseph Brown, and at Stringtown by Myron Mills, who brought from that place a squad of about twenty. On Tuesday, August 12, he started to Quincy with 104 men. The first three nights after their arrival they slept under a tree in their summer clothing. At this place the men balloted for officers, and elected McGaw captain, Nelson, first lieutenant, and Mills, second lieutenant. The company was mus- tered in with ninety enlisted soldiers.

About the middle of August the organization of the regiment was completed. Thomas Hamer was appointed lientenant colonel, and Charles II. Morton, major. It was mustered into the United States service on the first of September, and at this rendezvous was uni- formed and armed with Enfield rifled muskets. One month's pay was advanced and one-fourth of the $100 bounty paid. On September 23d the regiment was put aboard the cars for Louisville, Kentucky, where it arrived the 26th, and was assigned to the tenth brigade, fourth division, the former commanded by Col. William Grose, and the latter

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by Gen. Nelson. The other regiments composing the brigade were "old regiments," 36th Indiana, 23d Kentucky, 6th and 24th Ohio. Starting with the rest of the army in pursuit of Bragg, on October 1st, it did vigorous service and suffered bitter hardships on that disheart- ening campaign. It lay in hearing of the battle of Perrysville and chafed under a criminal restraint while struggling comrades were being slain in that unequal contest .. Company G was detached at the time and took part in the engagement. The regiment went to Danville and Crab Orchard, and marched and counter-marched in that section, enduring what were great trials to fresh soldiers, for lack of food and rest and protection from snow and frosty and stormy weather. All the time they were near the enemy (Buell), doing him the favor to follow close enough to oblige his army to keep up in compact order while retiring leisurely from the state with the immense stores he had gathered. The 84th went to Mount Vernon and from there to Somer- set. The marching was again hard and privation and suffering were great ; cold rains and heavy snows occurred; men almost barefoot left bloody footprints ; and scores went to the hospital. From Somerset the march was continued to Columbia, thence to Glasgow, and crossing into Tennessee moved to Gallatin and Silver Springs, and halted, at last, for rest and recuperation, at the close of the month, three miles southeast of Nashville. This campaign wrecked many a strong soldier. The historian of the regiment, in depicting its severities, says : "It deprived us of more men than any battle in which we were engaged, it swept many into an early grave, it ruined the health of hundreds, but those who did endure its hardships were inured to the rough life of a soldier, and were seldom afterward sick or sore from hard marching." The regiment now had 400 in line out of 951 sworn in at Quincy three months before.

Gen. Rosecrans had relieved Buell of the command of the army, and at once undertook the reorganization of the shattered forces. The brigade with which the 84th was connected became the third brigade, second division, twenty-first corps. The division was commanded by Sooy Smith (who was relieved about the first of December by Gen. John M. Palmer), and the corps by Gen. Thomas L. Crittenden. On the 26th of December the army was put in motion, and soon struck the enemy, who was gradually pushed back on Murfreesboro. Having reached Stewart's creek on the 29th the command advanced in order of battle with light skirmishing, and at night had borne down within two iniles of the town. The left of the 84th was on the pike. In front was a cotton-field, at the southeast corner of which was the Cowan "Burnt house." Next day there was nothing but skirmishing, and the front

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 35

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